Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

               Allison leaned on the metal sink of her prefab housing unit.  Her eyes focused on a whitehead that had appeared on the side of her nose.  In her opinion one of her most attractive features, now marred by acne.  She mulled over the fact that humans had managed to breach the light barrier and create artificial wormholes that could travel billions of light years in seconds…  But they still hadn’t found a cure for acne.   Medical science could bring people back from the dead.  Clone organs and limbs.  Integrate cybernetics.   They had t-cell enhancers that made the majority of diseases a thing of the past.  And still here she was with a giant whitehead on her first day of school back from flight training.  She squirted a dab of orange anti-bacterial soap on her palm and washed her face with it.  With a sigh she looked back at her reflection and spoke to herself.

               “The cost of being a teenager.”

               She stood up straight and brushed her long auburn hair out and pulled it into a ponytail.  A non-descript black band on her wrist buzzed.  She tapped it once and sighed again after deciding whatever it was could wait until she was finished getting dressed.  The next step in her morning ritual was to equip something she only had access to because she was in the Systems Alliance Reserves.  They were a pair of military grade augmented reality contacts.  A less invasive substitute to the advanced optics available from cybernetic eyes.  Even if she had wanted the real thing she would have been denied.  Medical’s estimates were that she wouldn’t be able to get her first cybernetics until she was twenty-three based on her body’s developmental pace.  As a minor, only those who had physical disabilities that required limb, eye or hearing replacement were eligible.  Finally, she put a small boomerang shaped accessory behind her right ear.

                Allison slipped them into her golden eyes.  Another feature that set her apart.  No one knew how she ended up with golden irises, but she had.  She moved her head side to side and a HUD appeared in front of her.  When it connected to her military grade holo-phone it flickered before solidifying.  The message she’d received was just a warning of increased solar activity from colonial headquarters. 

She sighed again and pulled off her underwear before going back into her shower.  With her HUD in front of her she didn’t bother with the controls in the shower she just tapped the sun block option.  The shower sprayed her exposed skin with a thin film of potent sun blocking agent.  She gave it a few seconds to dry before getting her underclothes on.  She was one of the unlucky ones, at least on the world she’d been moved too.  She was pale.  Her assigned parent’s ancestors would have been from Africa on old Earth.  Their natural complexions made them immune to the vagaries of the systems sun and Eden Prime’s atmosphere.  Part of why they were among those chosen for the colony.  On Earth as it was now, living in domes under artificial light most people were pale.  Not that Allison remembered Earth, she’d been three when they left.

Allison looked down at her school uniform with a frown.  She picked up the white blouse and pulled it on and started to button it up.  She much preferred her flight suits.  Even her System’s Alliance uniform was less annoying than the monstrosity she had to wear to school.  There was only one school board on the colony of Eden Prime and it was run by the Sisterhood of the Dark Mother.  For some reason or another, they had uniforms and the uniforms were based on old Irish Catholic schools.  Which meant, girls wore skirts and blazers and boys wore pants and blazers.  Allison hated skirts.  She always wore pants when she was in her System’s Alliance uniform.  With a sigh she pulled on her grey skirt and slipped the blue blazer over her shoulders and then stood in front of the mirror to get her blue tie on.  She finished it off with the Dark Mother’s pendant which hung from a synthetic silk cord.  The pendent wasn’t fancy, just a tiny sword with a ruby at the top of the hilt.  She looked herself up and down then shook her head.

“I hate school.”

She heard her mother calling.  Allison grabbed her newly fabricated school bag and walked across the prefab housing unit.  They weren’t luxury homes by any stretch, but they offered a view that would be envied by anyone on Earth.  There were lots of windows that gave a view of trees and actual sunlight.  The walls were white.  Allison couldn’t name the material, but the habitation units were warm in the winter, cold in the summer and sprawling.  Her father was in his System’s Alliance uniform.  Allison looked at him with envy.  The System’s Alliance Space Navy uniform was stylish.  Depending on the season they were black or white if on a ground-based assignment and grey when on a space assignment.  Since it was the end of summer her father was in his whites.  His dark skin stood in stark contrast to the pristine white of his uniform.  Four bars graced his shoulders denoting him as a Captain of the Space Navy.  He smiled when he saw Allison and gave her a kiss on the forehead on his way past.

“See you tonight kiddo.”

Allison was not satisfied with that and gave him a hug. He hugged her back before putting his hat on he waved before he left the house.  Her mother walked out of the kitchen and looked her up and down then frowned.

“You look… frumpy.  I told you to hang your uniform up and not bunch it up in your closet.”

Allison rolled her eyes slightly.

“Seriously mom?”

Her mother walked around behind her.

“And you put sun block on, yes?  It is a solar category five today.”

Allison sighed.

“Yes mom, I’m sixteen, yesh I know how to take care of myself.”

Her mother looked into Allison’s eyes.

“You have your contacts in.  You don’t need them for school.”

Allison didn’t meet her mother’s brown eyes.

“Well, there could be an attack, its better I have then in, one less thing to do.  System’s Alliance regs say I can and should wear them if at all possible.”

Her mother grabbed her wrist.

“And the holo-phone!  You know they’re not allowed at school.”

Allison pulled her wrist away from her mother.

“Again, I’m allowed because I’m in the reserves.  If we get attacked, I need to be able to launch as soon as possible.”

Her mother threw up her hands.

“Why your father signed off on you joining the military at your age, I will never understand.”

Her mother sighed and motioned to the kitchen.

“Go, eat.  It’s like they didn’t feed you at the academy.  Skin and bones.”

Allison rolled her eyes again and sat down.  She started eating synthetic bacon and eggs.  Her mother poured a glass of salberry juice.  It was from a berry that grew only on Eden Prime.  Allison grimaced as she drank it.  She wasn’t a fan.  Especially after having access to real actual apple juice and orange juice at the Academy every morning.  Technically Salberries were much better for vitamin content, but they were sickly sweet.  Her mother crossed her arms.

“I freshly squeeze you salberry juice and cook your favorite breakfast and you make that face.”

Allison down the last of her juice.

“You know why dad rushes out of here in the morning?”

Her mother shook her head.

“It’s so he can get to the base while they’re still serving breakfast.”

Her mother frowned.

“Are you saying they cook better than me?”

“No mom, they just have more stuff from Earth.  Like real apple juice and real orange juice.  Real eggs and milk.”

“Allison Wanjala, you know there are people starving under those domes on Earth, eating rats!  You should be thankful for what you have.”

Allison groaned.

“Really?  The old, people are starving under domes thing again?  That was old when I was five mom.”

Her mother narrowed her dark brown eyes.

“Obviously not because you still haven’t learned that lesson.  We live very privileged lives here.  You should be thankful.  When your father was your age his family lived in an apartment that could fit into this kitchen.  Everything they ate was out of pouches.  No fresh juice from berries picked from a garden.  No fresh vegetables.”

Allison’s face darkened as she stood up. 

“Whatever mom.”

Her mother threw up her hands again.

“Whatever she says!  I thought your attitude would be better after a summer of military training but you are still the little burly mtoto aliykeosewa you always were.  Maybe even worse.”

Allison groaned and grabbed her school bag before storming out of the house.  She hit the end of their walk and promptly spun around.  At the academy she could just walk to her classes.  Here she’d need a ride.  Her mother shook her head as she left the house.  Allison hung her head and walked towards their car.  It was a white wheeled vehicle shaped for optimal aerodynamics.  Which meant it had a lot of curves.  Allison leaned her elbow on the passenger side door and glared out of the window.

“It sucks.  I can fly a starfighter with antimatter weapons, plot FTL jumps, but I’m not allowed to drive a car?”

Her mother shook her head and gave a small laugh.

“I will sign you up for driving classes.”

Allison smiled.

“Thanks mom.  I can’t wait to buy a motorcycle.”

Her mother’s eyes narrowed.

“And what makes you think I’m going to allow that.”

Allison looked at her mom, eyes wide with disbelief.

“Mom, I fly a fighter.”

Her mother shrugged.

“An armored fighter with an ejection seat in an armored suit.  There is no way I’m letting you ride on a motorcycle.  Too dangerous.”

Allison rolled her eyes.

“Next thing you know you’re going to say I can’t get a tattoo.”

Her mother slammed the breaks on and pulled over to the side of the road.  She held up one of her hands and held her fingers about a centimeter apart.

“Allison Wanjala you are this far from being grounded until you’re eighteen.”

Allison shook her head.

“Like that means anything on this colony.  It is at the edge of a galaxy two and a half million light years away from Earth.”

Her mother frowned and pulled away from the curb.

“When I was a girl your age, I would have never talked back to my mother like you do!”

Allison rolled her eyes and glared out of her window and muttered under her breath.

“When you were my age Earth still had trees and a blue sky!”

Allison regretted her words immediately when her mother just got very still and very quiet.  Her mother was one of the rare few from the Earth before the Grey came and caused an ice age.  She lost everything she knew and was thawed out and brought back from the brink of death when she had been found in what used to be Kenya.  It was definitely not a button that should ever be pressed.  Allison hit her head on the window gently a few times and spoke quietly.

“Sorry mom.  That wasn’t fair.”

Her mother didn’t say anything further but when Allison went to get out of the car her mother held out a pair of sunglasses.  Allison took them wordlessly and slipped them on before getting out of the car.  Her mother drove away.  Allison felt like the worst person in the universe.  She glanced towards the system’s sun.  It appeared white but on the charts of star classes it would be called a class O star.  Or blue stars.  It was super-massive, and it was extremely hot and short lived.  Still had a lot of life left in it or they wouldn’t have colonized the system.

Allison shook her head and trudged towards the school’s front doors.  They slid open as she approached a calming female voice declared via her small earpiece. 

“Allison Malaika Wanjala, Grade Eleven Student, Active System’s Alliance Military, Rank Ensign. Active Flight Status Recognized. Additional electronics authorized.  Please have a blessed and education filled day, Ensign Wanjala.”

Allison had arrived ten minutes before classes were set to start.  She tapped the email that held her schedule and opened it.  Then she swept her finger through the attached schedule so it would populate on her HUD’s map overlay.  Then tapped locker on the list of target locations.  An arrow appeared on the HUD provided by her contact lenses and directed her through a couple of hallways and towards a bank of lockers.  The school like everything else in the Eden Prime colony was prefab.  The base structure was dropped from a cargo ship and everything else filled out from self-fabrication devices.  It was effectively plastic that was hard and felt like steel.  Thus everything had a strange looking texture at least to those who were born on Earth.  Her locker was part of a bank of double lockers.  Her access to the locker was blocked by a boy who was her age. 

She didn’t recognize him from her previous years.  He was struggling to get his locker open.  She did not understand his confusion.  They were very simple to operate, you put your thumb on the pad and it recognized the print and DNA and opened.  Pretty basic colony hardware.  She watched him while tapping the nylon strap of her backpack. 

He had a skin complexion that matched her adoptive parents.  Most of the colonists chosen for Eden Prime were dusky or darker complexion to minimize skin damage from the system’s star.  A rare few were pale like Allison which set her apart.  His hair was a wild mop of coily black hair.  Most of the people with African heritage on the Coloney kept their hair short.  Her mother had a sizable afro but usually kept it under control with a colorful wide hairband.  The boy was darker than either of her parents.  Allison blinked a few times when she saw he was wearing actual eyeglasses.  Short-sightedness was considered a disability by System’s Alliance and therefore qualified for cybernetic enhancement if the family could afford it.  They were extremely affordable if they were just twenty-twenty.  Allison glanced at the time on her HUD.  She didn’t really want to be late for class so she cleared her throat.

“Excuse me.”

He didn’t seem to notice her.  She tapped him on the shoulder.  He jumped and hit his forehead on his locker.  A few other students laughed.  He rubbed his forehead and stood up. He looked up at her because he was about four inches shorter.

“Are you talking to me?”

Allison sighed.

“No, I’m talking to the other Earther that just got off a ship who’s blocking my locker.”

He adjusted his glasses and didn’t meet Allison’s gaze.  Allison rolled her eyes, looked directly at the new kid and pressed her thumb on a black pad on her locker and the door opened.  She pulled her tablet out of her bag and tossed her school bag in the locker.  She closed her locker and walked towards homeroom.  She recognized most of the class the colony wasn’t exactly huge though a new batch of colonist must have arrived because there were four new students.  She corrected herself, five, after the boy who’d been blocking her locker walked in after the bell.  The boy nearly tripped when he saw their homeroom instructor.  Allison rolled her eyes.  Fresh colonists always did that when they saw an actual alien for the first time.

Their homeroom teacher, who was also the Religion teacher at the school was Sister Silra.  Sister Silra was a member of a race of humanoid dinosaurs called Sauroids.  They were the first aliens the System’s Alliance had made contact with.  Sister Silra was a priestess of the Dark Mother.  She had brightly colored red and turquoise scales.  Allison had liked her from the start.  Sister Silra was what you’d call a cool teacher.  She was also young.  Though she did have a thing about being on time.  Allison could tell the sister was not pleased with the new kid’s tardiness because the end of her tail was twitching.   Sister Silra and her life mate were the only two aliens on the entire colony.  The boy was trying to fix the desk he’d knocked out of position.  Sister Silra cleared her throat.  To someone not used to the mannerisms of a Sauroid it would sound somewhat akin to a vicious snarl.  The boy jumped and he dropped his tablet.  Sister Silra addressed him in Earth standard, which would have been called English in the twenty-first century.

“Turn around, young human.”

He slowly turned towards her.

“You are newly in from the Earth sphere.  So, I understand this all must be very confusing, but at this school we are in our desks before the bell rings, not five minutes afterwards.”

Something else that should be mentioned about the Sauroid race, they evolved from something akin to Earth’s velociraptor’s, so their mouths were filled with vicious rows of razer sharp teeth.  And their hands ended in three fingers and an opposable thumb, all tipped with razer sharp talons.  The boy looked positively terrified.  Allison mused that it was like he’d never seen a Sauroid before even on the Alliance-net.  Sister Silra looked around the room and noticed Allison’s wristband.  Her tail slapped against the prefab floor.  An indication she was pleased or happy, a Sauroid version of a smile.  Allison didn’t like where this was going at all.

“What is your name child of the Earth Sphere?”

He opened and closed his mouth a few times.

“Tyler.”

He corrected himself.

“Umm, Tyler, uh, ma’am.”

Sister Silra’s tail slapped a few more times as she spoke.

“My proper honorific is Sister.  Tyler, go sit beside Allison there near the back.  She will be your guide until you can show up to class on time.  Go, hurry before morning prayer and reading.”

Sisters Silra motioned with one of her taloned hands.  Tyler picked up his tablet and when he saw Allison glaring between him and Sister Silra he hesitated.  Sister Silra tapped her talons on her desk.

“Hurry now.”

Tyler seemed to decide he didn’t want to antagonize the sister, who by appearances was a flesh-eating predator any further and sat down in the requested seat.  Sister Silra cleared her throat again and motioned for them to be quiet with her talons.  Tyler along with the rest of the newcomers all jumped slightly.    The morning announcements started with a prayer.  Sister Silra and most of the class crossed themselves.  As the prayer started.

“Dark Mother, daughter of our father who art in Heaven, Hollowed be his name Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in Heaven.  Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.  Lead us away from temptation and deliver us from evil.  Daughter of our Lord continue to guide us with your light as we spread throughout the universe.”

The reading from the Book of Shadows was short today, something from the son’s time.  Allison knew exactly who the reader was.  Ajay Avan.  Her ex-boyfriend.  She was thinking very uncharitable thoughts about him.  They finished with another prayer, led by the colony’s high priestess.

“Dark Mother, help guide our students, new and returning, through this year of education.  Please grant us continued peace and prosperity.  And please help make our newcomers feel welcome and blessed.”

The announcements followed.

“We would like to welcome everyone to a new year at Saint Sarah of Savia Secondary School.  We would also like to congratulate: Ajay Avan, Jabari Owolabi, and Ethan Smith who joined the System’s Alliance militia reserves and have graduated from the System’s Alliance Academy!  We would like to give a special congratulation to Allison Wanjala, who not only graduated from the System’s Alliance Academy with honors but also finished military flight school at the top of her class and FTL navigation school.”

Allison blushed as she sunk into her seat.  She should have known that was going to happen.  They congratulated everyone who joined the System’s Alliance reserves the entire time she’d been at the school.  The rest of the announcements were reminders for sports team and extracurricular activities sign ups.  Sister Silra’s tail slapped on the floor as the announcements ended.

“Well, I’m supposed to give you all a lecture on scripture from the Book of Shadows, but we have time for that tomorrow.  I decided that instead of that we will have a telling to share what we did this summer and introduce ourselves for the newcomers.  I’ll start.  I am Sister Silra, I’m a Priestess of the Dark mother and I teach religion and women’s studies.  I took a pilgrimage home to the Temple of the Universe, then went to the Dark Mother’s Cathedral in New Amazon.”

Sister Silra glanced at her list and motioned to Allison.

“We’ll go from the bottom of the alphabet up to give Ajay a chance to get back.  Allison?”

Allison muttered under her breath and stood up.

“Hi, I’m Allison Wanjala.”

Tyler blinked at Allison when she said her name, as did the other newcomers.  The other kids, the ones she grew up with knew her name and who her parents were so didn’t bat an eyelash.

“You know what I did this summer.”

Allison went to sit down but Sister Silra shook her head.

“What did you do when you weren’t training?”

Allison laughed softly.

“I trained and I slept.  I didn’t have time for anything else.  It was the only way to finish flight school.”

Ajay returned to the class and gave Allison a dirty look before sitting down.  Allison fought the urge to flash her middle finger at him.  She was mostly polite but Ajay was on her people she’d let die list currently.  Leth held up his hand.  Sister Silra motioned to him with her index talon.

“Yes Lethabo?”

Leth frowned slightly when he heard his full first name.

“Since Allison doesn’t have much to say, can we ask her questions, like a real telling?”

Sister Silra nodded her tail slapping.

“Yes, yes.  Excellent Lethabo.  I appreciate your knowledge of my culture. Please ask.”

Leth turned to Allison.

“Did you get to fly one of the new VDI-02 Artemis fighters?  Did you blow anything up?  Do you have a personal AI?”

Leth seemed positively excited.  Allison was probably the least popular girl in school if for no other reason during previous years she’d had an almost single-minded devotion to earning her Starfighter wings and she was often referred to as a heinous bitch.  Allison was a bit shocked to see how interested Leth was in her experiences.  She shrugged.

“Yes, Yes and Sort of a yes.”

Leth looked a bit disappointed Allison felt bad.  Leth was very attractive and she’d always had a crush on him.  She decided she’d expand a bit.

“I flew a VDI-02 trainers when I was in flight school which we were able to use to fire micro-antimatter torpedoes.  We couldn’t use much because antimatter generated from FTL travel is used to power wormhole generators for comms and ships.  I have been assigned one of the recovered Synthlin fighters the Dark Mother found that is now part of the CDF err Colony Defense Forces.  The new ones from Earth are for more senior pilots.  Mine is metallic purple the ones from Earth are black.  My AI is named Bit.  I gave her that name because well Synthlin doesn’t really translate into anything we can speak so I couldn’t possibly pronounce her real name.  She has particle beams which I was able to fire on asteroids in the AGNE6 system.  Yes, it was just as fun as it sounds.”

Leth grinned at her.  Allison swept her stray bangs behind her ears and gave him a small shy smile back.  Ajay scowled at the pair.  One of the new girls held up her hand, she was likely from the Africa dome on Earth.  Sister Silra motioned to her.  The girl spoke.

“Why did you join the military industrial complex that empowers the corporations and System’s Alliance to make the entire human race into indentured servants?”

Allison frowned at her.  So, she was one of those.  Sister Silra was about to intercede especially after Allison clenched her fists, but then Allison took a deep breath.

“One, because I get to fly starfighters, two, see answer one, and three we are in an unexplored galaxy two and a half million light years from Earth, it could be inhabited by hostile aliens.  What are you doing to make everyone safer?  You sit on Earth, and you pretend you’re all high and mighty with your superior morals but you’re in the colonies now sister, we’re on the frontier and if you aren’t helping make us safer, or get fed, you’re a waste of oxygen.”

Leth cheered.  Ajay still glowered at Allison.  Most of the students who were born here clapped.  The new girl sat down and looked firmly at her desk. The tip of Sister Silra’s tail twitched when she spoke.

“Allison, we do not mock or make fun of people’s beliefs at this school, whether political, social or religious.  Please apologize.”

Allison smiled very sweetly as she looked at the new girl.

“I am sorry you’re a sheltered, arrogant, sanctimonious bitch and I called you out on it.”

The class erupted into cheers and Leth looked like he was even more into Allison after that.  Tyler edged away from Allison as if his life depended on it.  Sister Silra pointed to the classroom door, the end of her tail was twitching violently.

“Office, now, seriously Allison, you’ve been here for fifteen minutes, this has to be a new record!”

Allison grabbed her tablet and stormed out of the classroom she would have slammed the door but it was a door that slid into the wall as she approached.

Chapter Text

               Allison sat down in one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs in the office.  Since classrooms were monitored at all times by a virtual intelligence there was no need to tell the staff why she was there.  They had a report before she arrived.  Allison was feeling a bit guilty.  Sister Silra was one of her favorite teachers.  She was mentally cursing her lack of filter when she noticed the ornate robes of the colony’s high priestess.  She also had a PhD in Education so served as the headmistress of the high school.  Allison slowly looked up at her.

               “Hi, holiness.”

               The high priestess was a middle-aged woman her black hair was streaked with grey.  She was part of the sect in the church that shunned cybernetics and other physical enhancements.  So that she may be called to the blood.  She did not have any of the cosmetic surgery or hair dyes that would make her look young for her possible two-century long lifespan.  Her kind brown eyes had a few laugh lines already, her brown skin still looked youthful.  When she spoke, her accent indicated she grew up in India dome on Earth.

               “Hi, indeed.”

               The high priestess looked at her wrist.

               “Twelve minutes, and thirty-three seconds.  It is indeed a new record.  You managed to last a week without ending up here last year, Allison.  I shall have to check the Alliance-net, to see if it is a galactic record.  I’m sure your parents are going to be very proud of you.”

               Allison blushed.

               “I’m sorry, holiness.”

               The high priestess sighed and frowned.

               “You always are, and I believe you truly feel bad for it.  Unfortunately, we live in a universe where there are consequences to actions.  Yet somehow the punishments I’m authorized to use seem to pale in comparison to System’s Alliance Basic training punishments.  We shall have to be creative.  You know the drill, school counselor, then my office.”

               Allison stood up with her head hung low.

               “Are you going to call my mother, Holiness?”

               The high priestess gave a small snort laugh.

               “Goodness no, I want to punish you, not kill you.  Off you go try to listen to her this time, please.  For my sake?  If we have another incident this month I will have to call your mother, and no one wants that.”

               Allison nodded and shuffled towards the counselor’s office.  The headmistress shook her head and headed back into her office.  Allison pressed the door panel beside the counselor’s office door and after a few seconds it slid open.  The counselor was another young teacher, she was a black woman in her late twenties.  She motioned to a seat in front of her desk.

               “Hello again Allison, congratulations on the Academy.”

               Allison slipped into the chair and had her forearms over her tablet which she had fingers clutching the edge of it.  Pressed against her abdomen and thighs.

               “Hello Ms. Keelie.”

               Ms. Keelie leaned forward and folded her hands.  She had manicured false nails coated in a soft pink polish.

               “Twelve minutes.  Want to talk about it?”

               Allison shrugged.

               “Do I ever?”

               Ms. Keelie chuckled.

               “You never do.  Why don’t we try something different?  Let’s get this year off to a good start.  Why did you go off on…”

               Ms. Keelie paused to look up the name.

               “Trixie.”

               Allison made a face at the name.

               “That’s a stripper’s name.”

               Ms. Keelie frowned.

               “Let’s try that again, why did you go off on, Trixie.”

               Allison rolled her eyes.

               “Because she’s a bitch.”

               Ms. Keelie sighed.

               “Language, please, you are in a school a religious school at that.”

               Allison wiggled in her chair.

               “Like there is another choice?”

               “We’re getting off topic, why did you go off on Trixie?”

               Allison pulled her hair tie out of her hair and let it slip around her wrist.

               “Because she went off on me first about joining the military and how I was all that was evil in the world.”

               “I doubt she said those exact words or she’d be here too.”

               “It was close enough.  They come here from Earth, Titan or Mars and they all act high and mighty.  Then she tells me I’m a terrible person because I signed up to defend her worthless… body part?  They all learn eventually I just helped speed up the process.”

               Ms. Keelie rubbed the bridge of her nose.

               “I don’t think you explaining that in a better, more socially acceptable way would be bad at all.  The problem is you lack anything close to the word tact.  Next time could we use something like: I respect your opinion, but things are different here in the Andromeda galaxy, we need a strong defense force to protect ourselves, you included.  See if you’d done that, you’d still be in class instead of here, getting lectured by me.”

               Allison blinked at Ms. Keelie in disbelief.

               “But I don’t respect her opinion, she’s an idiot who has no respect for our colony’s society.”

               “I know, but do you think making her feel unwelcome and calling her out on that is going to integrate her better?”

               Allison shrugged.

               “How should I know?  I’m her peer.  I pressured her.  The rest is up to her.”

               Ms. Keelie sighed again.

               “Next time you feel like pressuring a peer, please use a less insulting tone and a better choice of words.  You might have more friends that way.  You’ve finished all that extra work you were doing to get into the System’s Alliance Space Navy and you’re a pilot.  That means most weekends are free and you only work two nights a week.  You can have a social life.  Don’t let high school pass you by without taking advantage of it.”

               Allison shrugged.

               “I’m not going to start talking like an idiot and joining a clique.  They can take me as I am or not at all.”

               “While I admire your self-confidence, you really need to tone yourself down just a smidge.”

               Ms. Keelie held up her fingers and held them a centimeter apart.

               “Go on, go talk to the Headmistress.  I’m sure she has something appropriate planned for your punishment.”

               Allison nodded and stood up.  She walked to the headmistress’s office with her tablet clutched to her chest.  The door panel indicated the Headmistress was busy.  Allison sat down in the chair that had been placed beside it.  She could hear raised voices inside.

               “I will not have my daughter bullied by this colony trash.  Will she be expelled?  You do know we pay your salary with our taxes!”

               She didn’t hear the headmistress’s side of the conversation, but Allison assumed it consisted of the woman being told that in fact the Sisterhood of the Dark Mother funded the school and paid the High Priestess her wage.  And that Allison would not be expelled.  At least she didn’t think so.  She’d done way worse in grade nine.  Eventually the woman stormed out but turned around at the last moment.

               “This is not the last of this, my Trixie is not going to be bullied!  I will speak to Colonial Affairs and your church!”

               Allison bit her lip before she said something she’d regret.  The headmistress seemed to be annoyed by the whole situation.

               “Oh of course, please do, we welcome any feedback.  Welcome to Eden Prime.”

               Trixie’s mother stormed off in a huff.  The headmistress looked down at Allison.

               “Well, that happened, won’t you join me, Ms. Wanjala, I have so much to say.”

               Allison swallowed hard.  She felt really bad now.  The headmistress slipped behind her desk and motioned to a chair.

               “Sit.”

               Allison sat down promptly.  The headmistress smiled.

               “Well, it seems you’ve kicked a bit of a kalstinger’s nest here.  Trixie is the daughter of the new Colonial Minister of Public Works.  I wonder how the conversation is going to go when they find out your mother is his boss.”

               Allison buried her face in her hands.  That was not going to end well for her at all.  It would end worse for Trixie’s parents, but Allison would definitely be in serious trouble.  The headmistress folded her hands.

               “I spoke to the Dark Mother.  She had a grand idea.  Your punishment is an opportunity.  You are going to learn to integrate better with our new students from Earth.  In fact, you are going to be Tyler Grant’s guide to the school and the colony for the next month.  You will learn about where he is from, and he will learn about the colony.  It will be educational and fun.  Also, you need to join a team, or club I don’t care what.  You’re going to get involved in the school this semester.  Otherwise when your mother calls and she asks me what happened with Trixie, I’ll show her the video.”

               Allison groaned.

               “Can’t you just expel me?”

               The high priestess shook her head.

               “No, sorry, finish grade twelve and you can do whatever you want, but until you do that, you’re stuck in school.”

               Allison still felt like negotiating.

               “One month of detention… no… two months.  Please?”

               The headmistress shook her head once again.

               “I would really appreciate it if you could find it in your heart to apologize to Trixie without insulting her at the same time.  Go back to class.  The welcome squad will be in touch later today to sign you up as a volunteer.”

               Allison nodded and went back to her religion class, which was half over.   She slid into the desk beside Tyler.  Trixie had a very smug look on her face.  Allison had an urge to fix that with a nice solid punch but that would cross the line and get her flight status revoked.  She started to think about the fact Trixie’s mother showed up within fifteen minutes of their verbal scuffle and then wondered how she even knew about it yet.  Allison tapped the scanner app on her holo-phone via her AR HUD.  She could barely believe what she saw.  Trixie was wearing AR contacts and had an active holo-phone in the purse hanging off the back of her chair.  Allison grinned and raised her hand.  Sister Silra motioned towards Allison.  Allison smiled.

               “Sister, I just want to make sure all the new students are well aware of the policy regarding tech in the classroom.  Could you go over it for them?”

               Sister Silra’s tail started pounding the floor.

               “Yes, yes of course.  Though you all should have thoroughly read the digital rules pamphlet any non-approved tech brought into the school will be confiscated and a mandatory three-day suspension issued.  We take this rule very seriously.”

               Allison held up her hand again.  Sister Silra nodded.

               “Please go ahead, Allison.”

               Allison looked at Trixie then pointed.

               “Sister, I thought I should let you know, Trixie is wearing AR contacts and has an active holo-phone in her purse.  Rules are rules after all.”

               The tip of Sister Silra’s tail started to twitch and her eyes focused on Trixie.  Trixie feigned innocence.

               “I have no idea what she is talking about.  I read the rules I know they’re not allowed.”

               Allison was feeling vindictive so she tapped her HUD and flicked her finger through the scan read outs.  She aimed it towards one of the screens in the classroom.  Her military grade hardware blew past the weak encryption and the scan showed up on the screen.   Everyone looked at the image and gasped.  Trixie sunk into her seat.  Sister Silra pointed towards the door.

               “Trixie, report to the office immediately.  I might have been lenient since you are new, but you lied about it.  Positively shameful.”

               Allison released the screen and wiggled her fingers at Trixie when the new girl glared at her.  Sister Silra looked towards Allison.

               “Allison if you take over a screen in the classroom ever again, I will ensure you are suspended.”

               Allison sunk into her seat and nodded.  She realized maybe she could have handled all of that better.  Sister Silra finished her lesson as the class filed out the Sauroid tapped Allison on the shoulder.  Allison stopped and turned around.  She had her tablet clutched to her chest.

               “Allison, you have always been a bit, how is it you humans say… rambunctious.  I appreciate that school must be very mundane after your summer, but it is necessary.”

               Allison blushed.

               “I’m sorry Sister.  I will try to be better.”

               Sister Silra shook her head.

               “Do not try, just be better.  You have a lot in common with the Dark Mother.  She often times had to fight against her nature.  She believes in you.”

               Allison nodded.  Sister Silra motioned to the door.

               “Go on, it would not do to be late for your next class.”

               Allison nodded again, then hurried off.  She had math next, a subject she excelled at, and thus enjoyed.  Her prickly nature meant that no one wanted to sit near her.  Leaving the seat beside her was the only one free when Tyler arrived.  He got a slight look of dread, but he sat down anyway.  The class was uneventful.

               Lunch came after math.  Allison picked up her school provided meal and sat down in the cafeteria.  The last few years she would be sitting on her own and studying for the academy and flight school.  With those out of the way she was unsure what to do with herself.  It had been a long time since she felt lost like this, there had always been her goal, now she had none.  She was taking her second fork full of mashed potatoes when she heard a disturbance.  She looked up and saw it was Ajay and his two friends Sam and Andrew crowding around Tyler who was sitting alone.  She frowned.  It wouldn’t bother her if Tyler and the other newcomers up and went back to Earth with their families but Ajay had hurt her so this gave her an excuse to mix it up with him and his minions. 

Allison stood up and strode towards the scuffle.  Ajay was accusing Tyler of trying to get her attention.  Allison thought some very uncharitable thoughts about Ajay before she tapped him on the shoulder.  He spun around with a  sneer on his face.

“Who do…  Allison what do you want?”

She motioned to Tyler.

“Leave him alone.”

Sam shoved Allison’s shoulder.

“Or what?”

Allison smiled she looked into Ajay’s eyes.

“Or Ajay and I will revisit what happened behind hanger eight.”

Sam and Andrew made ooh sounds as if she was referring to something intimate.  She didn’t disagree, she always found violence intimate.  Ajay held up his hands then looked at his friends.

“Let’s go this is getting boring.”

Allison crossed her arms and watched the three retreat.  She looked down at Tyler who adjusted his glasses as he looked her up and down. 

“New guy, you’re such a loser, stop being an easy target.”

She walked off back to her seat, a bit disappointed the three bullies hadn’t tried to fight her.  She heard the chair across from her get pulled out.  She looked up and saw it was Tyler putting his tray down in front of her.  He had a fresh tray and looked like someone had dumped his last one on his uniform.  She sighed.

“What do you want?”

He was more soft-spoken than she’d imagined he would be.

“Can I sit with you?  Everyone seems… scared of you.”

“There is a good reason for it, why aren’t you?”

“You have a kind soul.”

Allison rolled her eyes.

“Whatever, new guy, it’s a free colony do whatever.  Just don’t talk to me, I’m trying to eat my lunch in peace.”

Tyler started eating his new lunch.  Allison did her best to ignore him and finish her own.  The lunch passed without a further word spoken between the pair.  Tyler ended up reading something on his school tablet and Allison spent hers watching footage of her latest combat simulation with commentary from her training officer on where she could improve. 

She received an email as she was watching the video.  She responded to it immediately it was a request for a volunteer to patrol the closest star system for any signs of sentient activity.  It would take up her whole evening, but she was itching to get back into her cockpit.  She received an almost immediate response indicating she was assigned to the patrol.  Her small cheer of victory startled Tyler.  He looked at her in confusion.  Knowing she was going to be back in Bit after school made Allison a little less cranky.

“Sorry, just got assigned to a patrol tonight.”

Tyler adjusted his glasses.  His kind brown eyes still showed confusion.

“You are excited about having to work?”

Allison smiled.

“I get to fly, why wouldn’t I be happy?”

“Oh. I’ll stop talking now.  Sorry.”

He went back to his reading.  Allison shrugged and went back to her simulation review.  The rest of the school day passed without further incident on Allison’s side.  She sent a message to her parents letting them know she’d been assigned to a patrol and wouldn’t be home until late.

Chapter Text

               Allison didn’t waste time after school she rushed to the open field at the rear of the building and tapped her comms to open a line to Bit.   Her AI acknowledged the signal and her voice came through Allison’s ear piece.

               “Ensign, how may I be of assistance?”

               Allison smiled when she heard Bit’s voice.  It was ambrosia for the ears.  Much like all  Synthlin voices.

               “Please come to my location.  We have a space patrol and I need a ride to the base to get my armor.”

               Bit responded.

               “Regulations state you should have your armor available at all times if you are on active flight status.  I am on my way.”

               “I know, I forgot it at the base.”

               “Of course, Ensign.”

               Allison closed the audio connection and smiled.  She heard grass crunching behind her.  Allison glanced over her shoulder and saw it was Besho her former archnemesis.  Former because Allison had probably just promoted Trixie to the position after getting her suspended for three days.  Allison was still linked to Bit through her holo-phone, she tapped the cloak command.  Besho was accompanied by Ajay’s two minions.  Allison turned to face the trio.  Besho grinned.

               “I don’t see any teachers around.  I told you that Ajay was off limits what is your damage?  And you dared talk to him at lunch?”

               Allison cracked her neck and then pointed at the pair of thugs.

               “So, these two clowns are here to teach me a lesson?”

               Besho nodded.

               “I don’t know why Ajay didn’t put you in his place himself, but we will.”

               Allison closed her fists and got ready to get things started when she noticed Bit was rapidly approaching on her display.  She opened her hands. 

               “As much as I’d like to teach the three of you a lesson in manners, I’m actually on duty now, so I could get charged.  However, if you were to start the fight that would be interfering with System’s Alliance personnel in the course of their duties and I think that’s a… minimum two years in lock up?”

               Besho laughed.

               “Bullshit.  Get her boys.”

               Bit uncloaked behind Allison with gunports open.  Her voice came out of the fighter’s loudspeaker.

               “An attack on my pilot is an attack on me, and I am authorized to use lethal force in the defense of myself or her.  Please, throw that punch so I may improve the gene pool of this colony.”

               Sam and Andrew tripped over themselves as they bolted towards the school.  Besho blinked in disbelief.  Bit landed and some of the liquid metal near the cockpit formed itself into a ladder.  Allison gave Besho the same finger wiggle wave she gave to Trixie earlier in the day.

               “Better luck next time, skank.”

               Allison started tapping controls as the canopy closed and she angled the fighter towards the base.  She spoke to Bit as she set her course.

               “Lethal force?  Really?  You’re so bad.”

               Bit laughed, Allison smiled, the musical laughter of Bit always filled her with joy.

               “You cannot tell me you did not enjoy the look of terror on their faces.”

               Allison shook her head.

               “I’m glad I got you instead of one of those stuck up human designed AI’s.  They’re so boring.  You’re more like a partner in crime.”

               “I like that, partner in crime.  So how did we get assigned to a boring patrol of an uninhabited system?”

               Allison blushed.

               “My fault.  I’m trying to avoid my mom, so I volunteered.”

               “What did you do this time?  Fist fight?  Did you tell a teacher they were an insufferable hag again?  Spill.”

               “I told a stripper named Trixie she was a sanctimonious bitch.”

               “Was she truly an exotic dancer?”

               Allison snickered.

               “No, but with a name like that it sounds like her destiny.”

               Allison brought Bit in for a landing with the fighter’s antigravity generators.  She hopped out and climbed down the ladder of liquid metal.

               “Be right back.”

               Allison rushed across the tarmac and into the locker room.  She pressed her thumb on her locker and it opened.  She grinned when she saw her armor.  She quickly pulled off her uniform and got into her flight suit then her armor.  It was made of the same metal as her fighter’s armor.  Only it was black.  It also had her rank markings on the shoulders and her surname on the chest piece.  She was reaching into the locker to grab her helmet when she heard someone clear their throat.  She turned and saluted.

               “Hey dad.”

               Her father had his arms crossed.

               “You signed up for a six-hour patrol on a school night?  Do you know how mad your mother is going to be when I get home because I signed off on it?”

               Allison shrugged.

               “They asked for volunteers.  I didn’t think they’d actually pick me.”

               Her father frowned.

               “You knew that no one wants to do local system patrols, so you knew that if you volunteered you would get picked.  You forget I used to be a pilot and I know how boring two hours in FTL in a fighter is.  You better do your homework when you’re in transit because that’s what I’m going to tell your mother you’re doing.”

               “Sure, I’ll do it.  Absolutely.  Well, I better get going, if that is alright, sir?”

               Her father waved her onwards as she was leaving the locker room he called out.

               “I better see Bit logged as landed on base by 2330.”

               Allison waved to him.

               “She will be dad… can you pick me up?”

               “Yes, now get going.”

               Allison ran out to bit and clambered up the ladder and hopped into the cockpit.  She slid her helmet under her seat and started tapping the holographic controls to prepare for launch.  She tapped the comms.

               “Skull Ten, requesting clearance transatmo, drone wing link up and FTL transit for assigned patrol.”

               She heard her father come through comms.

               “You are cleared for launch.  Be careful out there, Runt.”

               Allison sighed, she hated that callsign, but she was the only non-adult in the squadrons and you don’t get to pick your callsign.

               “Aye sir.”

               She hit the antigravs and lifted off.  Once she had Bit angled straight up she went ballistic.  The fighter was capable of near lightspeed on its own, but in the atmosphere and near-gravity well she was limited to hypersonic flight.  The metallic purple fighter blasted through the edge of the atmosphere and catapulted itself past the single moon that orbited Eden Prime.  Two drone fighters took up position on Bit’s wings.  Allison tapped in the FTL jump coordinates and sent a final message to Eden HQ.

               “Skull Ten, we’ve linked up with our drone wing, transiting to FTL now.”

               She tapped the FTL initiate control.  Real-space dropped behind and a white-blue tunnel appeared around her.  She was used to it now.  The first time she’d been in FTL she’d thrown up, not her proudest moment, everyone assured her only vampires didn’t vomit, and they cheated because they were dead.  She started tapping around to bring up one of her saved shows from the Alliance-net.  What appeared was her first homework assignment.  She groaned.

               “What gives?”

               Bit sounded amused.

               “Homework first.  Your father’s orders.”

               Allison resigned herself to homework.  She was a captive audience.  She finished it before she’d reached the halfway point.  Bit next forced her to review standard patrol procedures.  Then numerous other military processes.  She hadn’t managed to finish them when they dropped out of FTL.  Allison started bringing up her scanners.

               “Bit, open a wormhole comm link please.”

               Bit acknowledged her request and the fighter’s holo-display showed the link was established.  Allison spoke.

               “This is Skull Ten, we have exited FTL and are beginning patrol.”

               Her father spoke.

               “Confirmed.  Be careful.”

               Allison shook her head.

               “Skull Ten, approaching gravity well of the outer planet.  Closing wormhole comm link.”

               Allison took flight control over and skimmed the outer atmosphere of the yellow gas giant.  She spoke.

               “AGN07-6, nothing tactical to report.  New storm in southern hemisphere, looks green from space.”

               Allison plotted another FTL jump, a much shorter one that took a couple of minutes.  She leap frogged between the planets.  As usual nothing on them seemed to have changed.  No signs of any ships.  No energy readings.  Same boring patrol they flew every month.  The reason more experienced pilots dreaded them. 

The innermost planet was in the yellow star’s habitable range.  When they approached, she could see the vast blue ocean that took up one side of the planet.  Allison flipped her starfighter.  She tapped the control to turn off the holographic display that gave her an artificial three-sixty-degree image and make her canopy clear.  She let Bit skim the exosphere.  She reached out and touched the clear liquid metal.

“Its almost like I can touch the ocean.”

               Allison looked forward and saw a dark cloud on the horizon.  Then Bit’s collision warning systems started flaring to life.  Allison quickly flipped the fighter and was forced to weave through a massive debris field that floated above the orbit.  The planet below was engulfed in black clouds of ash.  Allison swiftly pulled the fighter up and out of the debris field and set Bit to match a geosynchronous orbit.  She quickly checked the previous month’s scans.  They showed a blue and brown terrestrial planet with countless life signs, none of them sentient.  Now it was showing rivers of molten rock and an ash cloud that would soon engulf the whole planet.  It was off its axis and the computer projections were showing it would soon hit its own moon then fall into the star.  Allison’s hand went to her mouth.  So many living things wiped out in an instant, the rest doomed to a slow death.

               “What happened to it Bit?  Please tell me we got plant samples.”

               Bit didn’t respond for several seconds.

               “It looks like samples of indigenous species were taken by BMC six standard solar years ago.  My projections indicate a large meteorite caused a chain reaction which resulted in a mega-volcanic eruption.  Scans and projections indicated the planet was extremely geologically unstable and not suitable for colonization.  It would appear they were correct.  This correlates with my own creator’s scans of the planet.  Ensign, I have detected energy readings of an artificial nature on the surface.  Also, an emergency beacon.  My translation matrix has identified the language, Qual’sa in origin, but they are extinct…  System’s Alliance protocol is clear.  We must respond to the distress signal.”

               Allison tried to open a wormhole comm link. She saw a response scroll across her HUD.  Commlink failed, unknown error.  She tried again, and again, and received the same response.

               “What is wrong with the comms Bit?”

               “I am unsure.  The planet, or meteorite seem to have been composed of something that is disrupting several systems.  All human in origin.”

               Allison reached under her seat and pulled on her helmet.  Her contacts and holo-phone acknowledge full link up and her HUD confirmed she was now in full environmental armor.  She started angling the starfighter for atmospheric entry.

               “This is dumb, if they’re extinct its probably some stupid probe.”

               Bit acknowledged Allison’s words, but then said.

               “My creators were extinct until one of you answered a distress call, they are no longer extinct.”

               “Well, here we go.  I’m going to stay low, if there is something hostile or the signal is a trap I’d rather be a sensor shadow than a giant purple target.”

               Allison powered on her shield and angled for a descent into the atmosphere over the ocean.  She dove low and pulled up and skimmed the water.  Within seconds of reaching the surface the fighter was engulfed in black ash.  The planet’s surface was on fire and it was spreading.  She’d seen controlled forest fires on Eden but this was on a global scale.  The excitement Allison had been exhibiting for the whole patrol was dimmed and her voice was soft.

               “How could a ship survive on the surface in this hell?”

               Bit’s tone didn’t change.  She was several hundred thousand years old.  Not much phased her now.

               “Likely a capital ship of some type.  Heavy armor.  The Qual’sa were an advanced species when my creators were gaining a semblance of sentience.  Records indicate they had ships capable of entering a star’s corona.  The temperatures on the surface here are uninhabitable for living creatures but a ship of sufficient size and armor density would be fine unless it received a direct hit from the meteorite.  Plotting an interception vector be aware of lava geysers while the lava will not harm the shields if it reaches my skin it could cause damage and build up that may make it impossible to escape the atmosphere.”

               Allison pulled the craft up and weaved to the side to avoid a gout of molten rock.

               “We should get out of here and call for help.  I’m not ready for this yet.”

               “Ensign, my experience dictates that you often say you are not ready, yet you prove capable.  Lives may be on the line and the loss of a people’s entire historic record could be the result of your choice to abandon this rescue mission.”

               Allison sounded frustrated.

               “Or it could be a stupid probe that got reactivated when the shit hit the fan.  We don’t know.”

               She weaved the fighter through several more gouts of lava.  She swore under her breath.

               “Fly high, fill the fighter with ash, risk attack, fly low risk getting incinerated.  Why didn’t they have a simulation for this?”

               Bit let the rhetorical question sit.  Allison was talking like she always did when she was struggling through something.

*****

Eden Prime CDF HQ, System’s Alliance Colony World

               Captain Wanjala had his arms crossed as he paced behind the duty comm’s operator, a corporal, and a quite experienced comm’s operator at that.  Captain Wanjala sounded concerned as he spoke.

               “Are you sure there is nothing? She should have been at the last planet thirty minutes ago.”

               The operator tried to keep the annoyance out of his voice when he responded to the base’s commanding officer.  There were so many reasons for a patrol to report in late that had nothing to do with anything dangerous.

               “Sir, there is nothing to report.  I will advise you as soon as I receive any information.  It is more than likely stellar activity causing interference.  That star is highly unstable and is very active.  It happens all the time with this patrol.”

               Captain Wanjala frowned.

               “Get me the Endeavor.”

               The comm operator tapped a few controls.  On the operations room main screen, the captain of the Endeavor appeared, she was an attractive woman her forties with greying hair, and grey eyes.

               “Jason, how can I help you?”

               Captain Wanjala nodded to her.

               “Sam, I was wondering if you could use your wormhole generator to pop by AGN07.”

               Sam, or Captain Jolovich as she was otherwise known blinked in disbelief.

               “Why, what is the matter?  Has there been an attack?”

               Allison’s father rubbed the back of his head.

               “One of our patrols is forty-five minutes past due for a report and we cannot initiate wormhole communications.  You know the policy on us sending more fighters.”

               Sam motioned to her left.

               “Give me a minute Jason.  Pull up AGN07 for me  and please give me a report.”

               Sam read over something in front of her that no one else could see.  She finally responded.

               “Sorry Jason no can do.  That system is notorious for comm link issues.  You know the board’s views on unnecessary antimatter use.  I will send the Zeus and the Demeter at max FTL, best I can do.”

               Captain Wanjala nodded, the disappointment was apparent in his voice.

               “I understand.”

               Sam picked up on it.

               “Jason, what is the matter, who is in the patrol?”

               He paused before answering.

               “My daughter.”

               Sam shook her head.

               “Sorry, Jason.  I wish I could do more.  She’s a good pilot, better than most already.  I’m sure she’s alright.  If I send the ships and it’s nothing to worry about, it will not look good for either of you.  Are you sure you want me to send them?  Another fleet admiral would not be inclined to help you so quickly.”

               He closed his eyes.  If he made this call and it was a non-issue he would definitely be reassigned away from his family.   Allison would be furious with him.  But if he didn’t and she was in danger…  He sighed.

               “Hold off, we’ll let you know if she returns.”

               Sam smiled.

               “Deep space scans are showing no unscheduled FTL activity.  She’s going to be fine, old friend.  Space weather can be unpredictable, there is probably something disrupting communications.  She’ll be back before you know it.  When is she due back?”

               “2330 standard time.”

               Sam nodded.

               “If she’s not back by 0530 we’ll send a carrier and her escort.  Keep me updated.”

               Captain Wanjala nodded.

               “Thank you, Sam.”

Chapter Text

               Allison reached the source of the energy readings.  She flipped on the antigrav system and hovered over what appeared to be a ship, though the smooth brown and green hull appeared to be made out of some form of organic matter.  It was three hundred meters long.  It didn’t match any configuration known to the System’s Alliance.  The ship hung precariously on a ledge above an ocean of boiling rock.  Bit spoke.

               “Ensign the liquid beneath is superheated.  Looks like it was a result of the meteorite hit.  If the fighter, or that ship fall into that lake they will be destroyed.  I am picking up faint life signs and the ship itself is alive.”

               Allison sighed and lowered the starfighter closer to the ship.  She double checked her armor’s environmental controls and the outside temperature.

               “I sure hope this armor is as good as they say it is.”

               She opened the canopy and lowered herself down on the ladder that formed.  She landed on the ship but it was far more slick then she expected.  She started sliding down it.  Handholds started to form for her but she missed several.  Finally grabbing one as she fell over the edge of one of the ship’s winglike sides.  She dangled there looking down at the superheated rock a thousand feet below.  She closed her eyes then struggled to get her fingers into another handhold and pulled herself up.  Once Allison caught her breath and the adrenaline that had flooded her system with her near death experience had faded, she realized she should be documenting everything this was a first contact situation.

               “Ship seems to have some form of intelligence.  It attempted to make the surface navigable as I was falling.”

               She looked over the edge of the ship at the superheated fluid below and muttered to herself.

               “They said, first rule in the military is to never volunteer for anything, should have listened.  Looking for an airlock or something.”

               The ship formed foot and hand holds for her, so she followed them and found an air lock.  The ship appeared to be listing to the starboard side so when she opened the air lock she fell downwards and slammed into a wall. The interior appeared more like that of a conventional ship.

               “Interior appears to be metal.  More like a ship we’d be using.  Bit?  Can you hear me?”

               She sighed when she received no response.  The same communications issues she was having with her fighter appeared to be interfering with comms to the AI.  The exterior door closed, and the internal door opened.  Once that happened, she fell on her face again as gravity shifted so the ship’s deck plates became the relative ground.

               “Ship seems to have antigravity to negate planetary gravity and gravity generators to create deck plates as new ground level.  HUD is showing it as near standard.  Interior seems to be shielded.  My suit’s scanners are working.  I’m heading to life signs.”

               She heard Bit’s voice suddenly but not through her comms, it was through the alien ship’s interior speakers.

               “I apologize, the ship’s firewalls were difficult to breach.  I am now in control of minor systems and can direct you to the life signs.  I’m also translating the displays real time via comm link to your HUD.”

               Allison released a sigh of relief when she heard her AI’s voice.

               “Thank the Dark Mother.  I’m making my way to those life signs.  What is the status of the ship.”

               “I am trying to ascertain the status.  The virtual intelligence in control of it is somewhat confusing.  It is adamant that nothing else matters besides the female subject, however it is also resisting my attempts to determine her identity.  They are stasis pods.  The one containing the male subject is stable but not responding to wake up commands, the other has been damaged.  The VI indicates that biological damage has already occurred.  It has also advised if she does not receive immediate medical attention she will die.  However, the medical bay has been destroyed by weapon’s fire.”

               Allison sighed.

               “What kind of FTL velocity are we talking here?”

               “Primary drive is offline.  It has a secondary drive, but it is slower than mine.  At least three hours to Eden Prime, which has the nearest medical crisis center.”

               Allison shook her head, there was no help for it.

               “Fine, does this thing have a landing bay? Fighter Bay or anything like that?”

               Bit took several moments to respond once again.

               “Yes Ensign, it does.”

               “Land there please and give me a map to the stasis chambers and the hanger bay.  You’re going to have to fly her to Eden Prime.  I’ll get the ship out of here and use it.  It can fly right?  The engines are operational?”

               “Yes, Ensign.  I will relay your intent to the VI.”

               Allison started running towards the stasis chambers.  Five minutes into her journey she was tossed at the wall as the ship heaved beneath her.  She picked herself up and thanked System’s Alliance R&D and Aurelius Corp for the armor.

               “What was that Bit?”

               “Another meteorite strike.  There is another large asteroid incoming.  We have approximately fifteen minutes to complete the rescue and evacuate this hemisphere.  I have landed.  The VI has powered up the engines and initiated a system’s check on the FTL drive.”

               Allison started running again.  The doors to the stasis bay swished open.  She rushed in and was knocked against a stasis chamber when the ship lurched again.  The clear chamber was smashed and she was face to face with the desiccated remains of a humanoid.  She screamed and stumbled backwards into another chamber which contained more desiccated remains.  She focused straight ahead not looking at any of the other pods. 

When she reached the destination Bit had indicated on her HUD she saw two stasis pods still powered.  In the one on the right there was a tall, bulky man with a shaved head, his skin was pale with the slightest of blue tinges.  His ears were pointed.  On the left was what appeared to be a teenage girl her skin tone matched the large males.  Flowing silver hair graced her head it appeared to go far past her shoulders, her long silver bangs were tucked behind slender pointed ears.  She was several inches shorter than Allison.

               Allison knelt down and quickly started looking over the control panel.  Her HUD overlayed Alliance standard, she found the option she was looking for.  Emergency waking protocol.  There was a hiss and an alarm.  The teenager fell out of the pod and into her arms when the glass tube opened.  The teenager’s violet eyes blinked open as she looked up at Allison.

               “Do you have their language in the translation matrix?”

               “No, Ensign, but if you remove your glove and touch her you can communicate they are telepathic, touch enhances it.”

               Allison pulled her armor’s gauntlet off and touched the Qual’sa’s hand skin to skin.  She could feel panic.  Rapid thoughts raced through their shared link, Who are you?  What do you want?  Am I going to die?  Then images of war and death.  Dark-skinned multi-limbed aliens shredding  and tearing their way through Qual’sa.  Smoldering planets.  Razed cities. Allison had no idea how to communicate effectively in this medium.  She tried to meditate, the same way she did when she mentally linked with Bit.  When she wanted to become one with her starfighter and its AI.  It worked.  She managed to push through the panicked rush of words and images.  She thought of Eden Prime, and how safe she felt there, of the Medical Center and how good they were when she crashed her bike and broke her arm.  She also gave an image of what was going on outside the ship.  The Qual’sa teenager nodded.  Allison picked up her gauntlet and put it back on.  She scooped the girl into her arms and started rushing towards the hanger bay where Bit waited for them.  The Qual’sa girl spoke.

               “Synthlin?”

               Allison shook her head.

               “System’s Alliance, Humans.”

               Allison put the girl in her cockpit and hopped off.  She patted the particle intake of the fighter.

               “Send everything you have about these guys to my holo-phone.  Slave the drones to my holo-phone.”

               “I will wait until you launch, or the large meteorite hits to go to FTL.”

               Allison gave one last wave before turning around and starting out on a dead run to the ship’s bridge.  She started to notice damage to the interior.  Doors and walls ripped open.  Claw marks.  She could see the bridge at the end of a long corridor.  Then a black shape popped out of one of the side passages.  It had two arms that ended in talons, two legs with talons then four extra limbs that ended in spikes.  It had what looked like a chitin-like exterior.  The limbs on it’s left side hung limply.  It had mandibles and a ring of spiked teeth for a mouth.  Allison skidded to a halt. 

Organic spikes started flying towards her.  She had been standing staring at the creature in shock when the first spike collided with her armor.  The armor was apparently tough enough and it deflected the first few hits.  They took gouges out of the super-hard metal.  She realized quickly if they hit the more flexible parts instead of the plates they would go right threw.  She pulled out her service side arm and started firing.  Her bullets bounced off the hard exterior of the alien.  It squealed and started tearing up the hallway towards her.  Literally tearing it up the spikes were shredding the passageway’s metal floor.  She turned and ran.  The timer on her HUD was steadily counting down.

Allison pulled a flashbang off her belt.  She had a wish that standard weapon compliment for fighter pilots included actual explosives.  One of those handy micro-fusion grenades with the scalable yield would be real handy right about now.  She set the timer and tossed the flashbang and turned away.  Even through her visor that had built in flash suppression tech it was near blinding.  Even the audible component made her ears ring.  The good news was it had a far stronger impact on the alien than her.  It was slashing around blindly and running in circles when its claws and spikes hit the hallway’s walls.  She rushed forward towards it shooting.  Her pistol ran out of ammo.  She reloaded and continued firing.  Sickly green blood sprayed out of it in spots but none of the rounds seemed to have any other visible effect. 

She was growing desperate.  Suddenly time seemed to stop.  It was like the bug-thing was moving in slow motion then she spotted it, was that a soft spot under its mandibles?   She pulled out her combat vibroknife out of her boot and weaved inside madly flailing limbs.  She stabbed upwards under its jaw hoping it was like every other living creature and had its brain in its head.  It squealed again.  It was ear piercing this close up.  It collapsed, the limbs were still twitching and one of the spiked limbs pierced her abdomen, thankfully it was towards the edge so it didn’t damage anything vital.  She cried out and clutched her side.  Her HUD was showing less than seven minutes until impact.  Adrenaline pumped through her veins as she rushed towards the bridge.  There were skeletons in ornate armor sitting at the various stations.  She identified the helm with the help of the translation matrix Bit had sent her.   She shoved the skeleton out of the seat.

“Sorry…”

She slid into the seat and started pounding on the various buttons.  They were physical rather than holographic.  A male voice spoke as she started the antigrav systems she couldn’t understand a word of it, but it didn’t matter.  The ship was responding.  Then it ground to a halt.  She tried the side thrustors, but the ship creaked and shuddered but would not move.  She was having trouble speaking because she was in so much pain.  Her breath was ragged.

“Bit, I am stuck, I need help.”

Her fighter’s AI spoke through the ship’s speakers once again.

“A rock fall is in the way.  Brace for impact.  Firing high yield particle beams.”

The ship shuddered and then suddenly ripped free of its grave.  She cried out in pain as she reached over to power the shields on the science console.  Bit addressed her again.

“Ensign, your life signs are fluctuating.  What is your status?”

Allison gritted her teeth as the G’s from her rapid launch flooded her with more pain from her injury.  The ship’s inertial dampeners kicked in and she was able to speak again.

“Uh… bug attack.  Flesh wound.  I’ll be fine.  I just need to get out of here before I apply first aid.”

Allison watched on the view screen as the black ash gave way to clear space.  Then she saw what most astrometrics experts would call a world-killer asteroid.  She was forced to weave to the side.  The cruiser’s shields flashed as it impacted against debris.  There was no helping it.  The debris field was dense.  She cried out again as she reached over and hit the Qual’sa’s version of a phalanx defense system.  Beams of purple energy lit up space around her ship as they auto-fired on debris clearing a path.  Some still hit the forward shield which was flashing red on the science display by the time she managed to reach clear space.  She saw a rear display on the view screen and enlarged it.  The world killer collided with the planet.  There was a massive release of energy which caused the cruiser to be buffeted by something.  No debris flew upwards.  She was confused but set focus to the forward view.  Bit spoke again.

“Drones slaved to your holo-phone.  Please begin first aid treatment before proceeding to Andromeda-1.  Entering FTL, ETA 15 standard minutes to Eden Prime.  I will warn Andromeda-1 you are arriving in a Qual’sa ship.  Good luck, Ensign, and may the Ancients be with you.”

Allison’s HUD acknowledge the drones were slaved to her holo-phone and her contact’s built in targeting system.  She was already reaching for her auto-seal injector.  She pulled it out of its casing and slammed it into her wound.  There was an initial jolt of pain, but then white foam started to form in the wound sealing it and spreading local anesthetic.  Allison took a deep breath now that she could without stabbing pain.  She sighed and looked down at the helm controls.

“Sorry dad.  Looks like I’m not going to be home on time.”

Allison started tapping in the coordinates for an FTL jump to Andromeda-1.  As much as her dad was her commanding officer, System’s Alliance military standard orders overrode him.  All acquired alien tech was to be brought directly back to Pluto Station, Sol system and for that she would need the stargate at Andromeda-1.  The ship transited into hyperspace after she sent the final command.  She set it to maximum speed.  As Bit had noted, it was substantially slower than it could be because of battle damage to the main engines.  ETA was six hours.

She stood up and winced, but no pain came.  The foam was doing its job.  She looked over the various stations and finally identified the communications station.  She managed to set it to send and receive on Alliance channels.

“Whew, at least now if the message doesn’t get through, I can avoid getting shot down by my own people.”

She stood up and looked around the bridge again.  She hadn’t had a chance to appreciate the fluid design of the Qual’sa’s ship.  Everything was smooth and rounded.  Ornate even.  They seemed to take pride in appearances, human design was definitely function over form.  Blocky and angular.  Except the Athena fighters.  Those were streamlined and smooth.  Flat even.  She assumed they were based on the Synthlin design esthetic.  Their fighters and ships were all designed to reduce cross-section profile targeting space.  Humans had built their ships to be heavily armored for broadside toe to toe combat like the warships of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Allison started going over the various defensive and offensive systems of the ship.  Apparently, the organic hull was adaptive and filled with an energy weave to absorb incoming energy weapon attacks.  Lasers would be very ineffective against it.  All they would do would be to feed energy to the ship.  The shields were similar to System’s Alliance tech.  The main weapons were particle beams and the defensive weapons were something called phasic arrays.  She realized System’s Alliance R&D would love this.

She suddenly realized she was out of ammunition for her pistol and there could be more of the black bugs on the ship.  She stood up swiftly and looked around frantically.  She found the ship’s former captain was armed with a sword.  The leather sheath had long ago turned to a rock-like texture.  She hit the sword against the ship wall and the leather broke away.  When she struck it again the sword sunk into the wall of the ship and got stuck.  She started pulling it and stumbled backwards.  She managed to keep her footing without falling on her butt.  She pressed the sword against the back of her armor and the liquid metal formed a sheath for her.  Two of the skeletons that were the most heavily armored and would have been standing guard by the bridge door were armed with what appeared to be long arms, assault rifles and pistols.  She was surprised to see they still had a charge.  She picked up one of the long arms.  The strap for it was obviously some form of plastic and had not decayed over the millennia.  She strapped it over her shoulder and picked up both pistols and placed them against the armor and holsters formed.

“Well… let’s see if more of those beasties are hiding here.  I need to clear the ship before I can rest.”

She started making her way through the ship with the Qual’sa assault rifle in both hands.  The ship had six decks.  Most of deck six was missing or damage enough the bulkheads were sealed.  The ship had seen better days.  Her scanners showed the air in the ship was good and life support was good.  The crew was dead save for the one passenger in stasis.  She found several dead bugs.  There was basically just a black exoskeleton left of each.  No eggs, no live bugs.  She found an empty cabin and peeled her armor off.  She set an alarm for three and a half hours then collapsed on the nylon-like mattress and abruptly fell asleep. She had been so exhausted mentally and physically it felt like she had barely closed her eyes when the alarm woke her up.

Allison pulled her armor on and groggily made her way to the bridge.  She decided to take a seat at the communications station so she could speak to Andromeda-1 before they decided to fire on her.   Right on time the ship dropped out of FTL and came to a stop when the retro thrusters fired.  Allison opened communications.

“This is Skull 10 out of Eden Prime.  I am in command of an alien ship and request transit to Pluto station.  Sending my security code.”

She sent her security code.  It was basically a package that included a DNA scan from her holo-phone.  Voice print and an alpha-numeric code word.  Her holo-phone could only send it if she was wearing it and alive.

“You are authorized.  You are injured.  Do you need treatment?”

“No, sir.  Standing orders are to deliver all alien tech to Pluto Station at maximum possible speed.  I am physically able and I don’t think anyone else knows how to fly this thing at this point.  I have one passenger in stasis.  He will need medical treatment as soon as the pod is opened.  He is in critical condition.  Pod is fully functional at this time.”

“Acknowledged.  You are clear for stargate transit in five minutes.  Ensure you do not touch the edge of the vortex.”

Allison sighed in relief.

“Could you please open a comm link to Eden Prime?  This ship does not have compatible communications.”

“You are linked.  Good job Skull 10.  Your first patrol is going to go down in history.”

Allison blushed and she saw the comm’s operator for Eden Prime appear on the main viewscreen.  Allison spoke.

“This is Skull ten.  Could I please speak to Eightball.”

The comms operator nodded.

“Patching you through.”

Her father appeared on the screen.  Allison walked down to the middle of the bridge and looked up at her father.  The large screen showed all the lines on his face.  He looked tired but relieved.  Allison folded her hands in front of her, using her elbow to cover the torn open armor and white foam.

“Hello, sir.  I trust Bit was logged as landed by 2330?”

He seemed to struggle not to smile but failed and his lips popped up a bit at the corners.

“She was.  Though her pilot was replaced by someone else.  I trust her pilot is in one piece.”

Allison smiled.

“She is, she is about to transit to Sol system.  She will be home as soon as she can be.”

He nodded.

“She better be.”

Allison nodded.

“Aye Sir.”

Another communication came in giving her thirty seconds until wormhole activation.

“I need to go.  Skull 10 out.”

Allison closed communications and slid into the helmsman’s chair.  She angled the ship and prepared for wormhole transit.  The stargate looked like a starship dry dock.  Allison watched as a pinprick of light started to form at the center.  The ball of light got brighter and brighter.  Then a silver vortex swirled into existence.   She piloted the ship through being careful not to touch the edges.  If one were to touch the edges the ship could disintegrate if you were unlucky.  Though some might consider the alternative worse.  Theoretically you could end up anywhere in time and space with no real way home unless you had a wormhole beacon.  She blinked as she hit the event horizon and by the time she opened her eyes she was flying past dozens of drydocks and moored System’s Alliance capital ships.  Pluto station was fleet headquarters.

“This is Pluto station to Skull 10.  Sending telemetry to your holo-phone.  Please dock in the indicated mooring.”

Allison piloted the ship into the drydock indicated.  Tractor beams locked on once she was inside and held the ship fast.  She had already decided how she was going to get off the Qual’sa ship.  There was a fighter in the port hanger bay that still had power.  She couldn’t resist trying it out.  After getting clearance she launched.  Pluto space control directed her to a hanger bay on the station which had been on the opposite side of Pluto.  She gasped when the massive silvery station came into view.  Spacecraft buzzed around it like busy bees.  She followed the instructions provided and brought the Qual’sa fighter into land.  The fighter was the same color as the cruiser, same organic hull.  She found she preferred Bit, but the fighter itself was passable.  No FTL though, also no fluidic metal ladder so she was forced to use a set of stairs provided by the hanger bay team. 

Allison winced as she climbed down.  The local anesthetic was wearing off.  She was forced to grab the railing at the bottom of the stairs to steady herself.  Someone must have warned them she was injured because a medical team was standing by and laid her on a stretcher.  One pulled off her helmet and she felt an injector press against her neck and she blacked out.

Chapter Text

               Allison blinked a few times when she woke up.  She had a mini-panic attack because this was neither the barracks nor her room at her parents’ house.  She looked around.  She was in a private medical bay.  When her vision fully cleared she realized a statuesque woman with marble-like skin, long flowing black hair and eyes that matched her own was looking down at her.  The woman spoke.

               “Ah, you’re awake.  Good.”

               The woman smiled and turned to leave.

               “Who… are you?  Where am I?  Why are you leaving?”

               The woman turned.

               “I am Isis, you are in the medical ward of Pluto Station, and I am heading back to my ship.  I’m glad you are alright.”

               The woman left and Allison blinked a few times.  There was something oddly familiar about the woman but she could not put her finger on it.  Shortly afterwards a woman wearing a System’s Alliance ground forces uniform walked in.  She was a full bird colonel.  She checked Allison over with a scanner.  The woman who was in her forties with brown hair that had grey streaks spoke.

               “You’re a lucky girl.  Anyone else got stabbed by that thing they’d have died.  They have a pretty nasty toxin; Your body fought it off.”

               Allison rubbed her face.

               “How long have I been out?”

               The colonel smiled.

               “Only a couple of hours.”

               Allison touched the spot where her wound was.  She felt synthetic skin and winced.

               “Careful, Ensign.  We patched you up but even with your enhanced healing factor it will be a few days before you’re fully healed.”

               Allison was a bit confused; She knew she healed fast but had never heard it called enhanced healing factor.

               “I don’t understand, ma’am.”

               “I’m sorry, I thought you knew.  You’re a dhampir.  Odd for one of the tube-born but not impossible.  Likely some vampire blood made it into your supply.”

               Allison was now very confused.  Dhampir?  Vampire?  She’d heard of vampires, everyone had, but she was part vampire?  She shrugged it off.

               “Ma’am, that lady… the one who left just as you arrived, who was she?”

               The medical officer seemed confused.

               “Hmm, we should double check your meds, maybe we have the painkillers set too high.  Your body metabolizes them so quickly it’s hard to balance.  I’ll get a nurse to check.  In the meantime, are you up for a debriefing while you eat?”

               Allison nodded.  The colonel nodded and left the room.  Shortly afterwards an orderly appeared with food, it looked and smelled good, unfortunately she realized the mashed potatoes and synthetic meat tasted watered down compared to the food she was used to on Eden Prime.  Apparently, there was something to be said for colony living.  Shortly afterwards a teenage girl who was deathly pale walked in.  She had long black hair, brown eyes and a kind face.  She was wearing a black suit jacket with a System’s Alliance pin on the lapel, and a black skirt.  She was maybe five feet tall.  She wore an antique silver crucifix around her neck.  It looked like a relic from the twenty-first century, which would have been almost a thousand years before.  The girl smiled.

               “Hello Allison, may I call you Allison?  I am Maria.”

               Allison blinked in disbelief, while she didn’t recognize the girl, she recognized her accent and her voice.  This was no girl; This was the President of the System’s Alliance.  A three-thousand-year-old vampire.  The inventor of FTL, the inventor of wormhole generators, one of the founders of the System’s Alliance.  The living flesh and blood sister of the Dark Mother.  She was a living legend.  Allison nodded.  She didn’t have the capacity to form words for several moments.  Maria waited patiently.  Finally, Allison spoke.

               “Ma’am, I’m sorry, did… am I in trouble?”

               Maria laughed.

               “No! No, nothing like that.  I was on the station for something and I saw you come in with the Qual’sa ship.  I thought I would check on you in person and pass on the thanks for the System’s Alliance governing board for the recovery of such a great find.   You’ll be happy to know your passenger, Mersin, is doing fine.  We managed to patch him up and he is conscious, though he cannot get out of bed yet.  He asked if I could pass on his thanks.  You see, he is the last remaining royal guard of the Qual’sa people, and that girl you rescued, is their Queen.  You’re a hero.  Of course you are.”

               Maria laughed softly again.  If there was a joke there, Allison didn’t get it.  She was just confused.  Maria continued.

               “I understand you are all patched up and have school in an hour.  I know how important school is, so I have arranged to have the Inevitable and her escort drop you off on her way to investigate AGN07.  You’ll find a uniform hanging in the closet there.  Good work, Allison.  I know we will meet again.  Until then, try not to get stabbed by any alien bugs again, would you?”

               Allison nodded.

               “Yes, ma’am.”

               Maria waved and left the room.  Allison sighed.  It would seem even getting stabbed by an alien wasn’t grounds for a day off school.  Her contacts were already updating her on her next assignment.  Report to Hanger sixteen for shuttle launch in fifteen minutes, with a map.  Allison pulled the IV pad off her arm and pulled herself out of bed.  Her side ached dully but she was otherwise alright.  She grabbed her school uniform, the military issue underwear she’d been provided with and started getting dressed.  She’d been provided with leggings, obviously whomever fabricated it had no idea what the weather was like on Eden Prime.  She bundled them up in her hand.  Her armor and the rest of her kit were nowhere to be seen.  She looked at her bed head and sighed.  She pulled it into a bun and used a hair elastic someone had left in the bathroom.  She still looked like a frumpy teenager that slept in but there was no help for it.  She rushed towards a transit hub and managed to make it to the hanger with three minutes to spare.  A private noticed her and rushed over carrying a pack and a hardcase.  Her armor was hooked over it and her helmet hung off the side.  He offered them to her when they reached her assigned shuttle.  Her armor was covered in dried bug blood.  She saw the hole torn through by the claw and twitched.  She took them and the private spoke.

               “Looks like you had a rough night, ma’am.  Hope your trip home is smoother.”

               Allison nodded and got onto the shuttle.  Transit to the Inevitable was very quick, ten minutes and she was walking off the shuttle carrying her things.  A yeoman was waiting for her specifically.  The yeoman looked like a fresh recruit.  Probably eighteen and just through basic, she was fairly non-descript.  She saluted Allison.

               “Ma’am, I am Yeoman Rand, I have been assigned to you during our brief stay.  You may leave your things in the shuttle; It will be landing you on Eden Prime.  The Admiral would like you to join him on the bridge.”

               Allison returned her kit to the shuttle and followed the Yeoman to a transit tube.  The Yeoman was shorter than Allison and kept glancing at her.  Allison let it go.   In the history of the System’s Alliance military only eleven people had signed up and graduated from the Academy by the time they were sixteen, being sixteen and having active flight status in the fleet was unheard of.  Allison heard it all from, you look young, too shouldn’t you be in kindergarten.  The door slid open, and the Yeoman rushed forward to speak to the captain of the ship.  Allison couldn’t see him because his chair blocked her view.  She could only tell the Admiral’s complexion matched her parents from his visible hand.   The Yeoman motioned Allison forward.  Allison saluted as she rounded the chair.

               “I am sorry I am out of uniform sir.”

               She smiled when she saw who was sitting there.  A statuesque black man with a full beard.  His hair and beard were greying.  She’d recognize him anywhere, her Babu.  Grandfather for those who used Alliance standard language.  She leaned down and gave him a tight hug before he could even answer her.  He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek.

               “Little Simba.  I understand you lived up to your nickname yesterday.”

               He stood and looked her up and down.

               “You’ve gotten big.  I’m sorry I missed your Academy graduation.”

               Allison just hugged him again now that she could give him her usual bearhug.  He groaned.

               “And strong.  You almost broke my back.  Too bad we can’t have you on board for longer.  I heard you needed a ride and volunteered.  Apparently, we have a new mission, someone found a planet that was cracked in half, two new alien species and now we need to go investigate.  Some upstart Ensign who can’t help but overachieve.”

               Allison was on the verge of tears it had been two years since she’d felt her Babu hug her.   He put his arm around her shoulders.

               “Bridge Crew, I want to introduce you to my granddaughter, Ensign Allison Wanjala.”

               He glanced down at Allison.

               “So, little Simba, are you certified on the carrier dreadnought class?”

               Allison nodded, she’d spent her spare time in her courses getting certified on piloting almost every class of ship in the System’s Alliance.  He motioned to the helm station which was currently empty.

               “Well then, Ensign, time to earn your passage, would you do the honors of taking us out of Spacedock and getting us to Eden Prime?”

               Allison saluted and smiled.  She was almost bursting.  She’d done this on simulations dozens of times for her certification, but this was the real thing.  Dreadnought carriers were the flagships of the System’s Alliance fleets.  They were almost a kilometer long and carried the heaviest weapons systems and four dozen starfighters.

               “Aye, sir.”

               Allison slipped into the helmsman’s seat and started prepping to leave space dock.  She waited for her Babu’s orders and blew the moorings and slowly pulled the ship out of its docking berth.  Her escort was already in the Andromeda galaxy so it was just a matter of flying her through Pluto Station space and through the stargate.  This time she didn’t blink when they hit the event horizon of the wormhole.  It did not make a difference she was one place, then she was somewhere else.  She spoke up.

               “We have transited the wormhole sir.”

               Her Babu smiled.

               “Link up with the fleet, and set an FTL course for Eden Prime.”

               “Aye sir!”

               She plotted the jump which through the fleet link would coordinate the jumps.  Standard orders were half of the escort jumps in, then the flagship, then the rest of the escort.  The jump only took five minutes.  Wormholes were dangerous to ships on the other side so the designated destinations were no fly zones, but you could not have a no-fly zone in colony orbit so they are always a short distance away.  Allison sighed with relief when her home world appeared on the viewscreen.  She parked the ship in formation with the rest of the fleet.   Another ensign appeared beside her and relieved her.  She stood up.

               “Permission to disembark sir?”

               Her Babu motioned her to follow him after dismissing the Yeoman.  She rode the transit tube next to him.

               “Well done, Allison, I knew you were a pilot from the first day you came home.  I said to your father.  She’s going to fly whether we give her a ship or not.”

               Allison blushed.

               “Thanks Babu.  I didn’t think I’d ever get to pilot one of these even for a few minutes.”

               He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and hugged her tightly.

               “I’m so proud of you, but I should warn you, your mother is on the warpath.  I think she might have even called the President’s office to complain about putting her little girl in danger.”

               Allison blushed.

               “I joined the military what was she expecting?”

               He laughed.

               “You’re her only child.  Of course she’s going to be overprotective.  Some advice, my little Simba, maybe take a break from patrols for a little while?  You’ll likely need a couple of weeks to have your full flight status reinstated be a teenage girl while you can.  From personal experience an angry mother from the Africa dome is the most dangerous thing in the universe, hmm?”

               Allison blushed and leaned her head against him.

               “I wish you could stay longer.”

               He patted her shoulder.

               “Well, my fleet is assigned to the Andromeda galaxy until we’ve assessed these new possible threats you’ve discovered.  I suspect we will be seeing a lot more of each other.  I am sorry, you’re going to have to fly the shuttle.  It’s a delivery for the colony.  I’ve already had comms send a message ahead to have a ride waiting.”

               The transit tube opened on the hanger bay level.  The pair walked to the shuttle.  He gave her one last hug.  She kissed his cheek.

               “I love you, Babu.”

               “I love you too my little Simba.”

               She rushed off to the shuttle and launched once she had clearance.  Landing on base was easy because most of it was handled by autoguidence systems.  She saw her father waiting in a military transport.  If someone from the twenty-first century saw it, they’d mistake it for an armored Humvee.  She tossed her kit in the back and got into the passenger seat.  She leaned across and gave her father a tight hug and kissed him on the cheek.  Her father looked at her.

               “You made it.  I heard you were injured, are you sure you’re alright for school?’

               Allison nodded.

               “I’m fine, all patched up, I hate school but I’d rather go there then deal with mom.”

               Her father nodded.

               “I’m dropping you off and heading home, I’ll try and calm her down before you get out of school.”

               Allison smiled at him.

               “Umm, sorry I was late, dad.”

               “Considering the circumstances I’m glad you made it home at all.  What were you thinking?”

               Allison shrugged.

               “I was following standing orders.  I wasn’t really thinking.  I was doing my duty.  You didn’t watch the holos did you?”

               He looked at her.

               “Of course I did!  Not that I have any feed from the ship yet, but once we’re finishing downloading that data from your holo-phone, I’m pretty sure I’ll never sleep again when you’re on mission.  Thank the Dark Mother its classified so your mom will never see it.”

               Allison nodded.

               “How classified?”

               “Need to know and your mother, never needs to know.”

               “What’s the cover story then?  I mean there is a whole new alien species, one of which is in our medical center.”

               He kept his eyes on the road ahead.

               “That you discovered a crashed alien ship, there were comms issues and rescued two survivors.  You were taken to Sol system for debriefing.  You were never injured during the mission.  Which means you report to the base for the rest of your treatment and your mom, never hears about it, got it?”

               Allison nodded.  They were getting near the school. Her father still had a few things to say apparently.

               “What got you anyway?”

               Allison shook her head.

               “Classified, you said it yourself.  If you need to know, they’ll tell you.  And I just got clipped its not even that bad.”

               He stopped at a traffic light and glanced back at her armor’s breastplate.  His eyes went wide when he saw the massive puncture in the abdomen area.

               “Clipped? It tore right through your armor!”

               Allison shrugged.

               “Its worse than it looks.  I’m walking fine and I carried all of that.”

               He pulled up to the school and parked.  Allison hopped out.

               “See you later dad, thanks for the ride.”

               Captain Wanjala watched his daughter run into the school and sighed.  His wife was going to kill him.

*****

Wanjala Residence, Eden Prime

               Jason was exhausted.  He had not been able to sleep for even a few moments until he saw his daughter in person.  He dropped her kit in her room making sure to press the pierced breastplate against Allison’s closet door so her mother wouldn’t see the damage.  He was dead on his feet and was being powered only by military grade stimulants and coffee.  His wife was waiting for him when he left his daughter’s room.  Apiyo was a formidable woman.  Jason had known this from the very moment he’d met her.  She was a force of nature, but she always had sadness behind her eyes.  He knew it was survivor’s guilt.  She unleashed a tirade on him in Swahili.

               “My husband, sneaks into our house like a thief in the night!  Probably to avoid me.”

               Jason held up his hands in surrender.

               “I am just very tired, my love.”

               Apiyo started poking his chest.

               “Oh, don’t you dare, my love me.  Our daughter is missing for six hours on patrol and what do I get?  A text message!  She’s just a bit behind!  Everything is fine!  Now my father-in-law, who is the highest ranking member in the System’s Alliance shows up!  Then you come home looking like you haven’t slept in days.  You will tell me everything, right this moment, Jason.”

               He swallowed hard.  She was far angrier than he had assumed.

               “My love, she is at school, she is fine.  She just had to go to Sol system for something, it is all very classified.  It was just some communications interference and a rescue mission.  That is all.  She did exactly what she was taught to do and was never in any danger.”

               She crossed her arms.

               “Rescue mission.  You’re going to need a rescue mission if you keep lying to me!”

               He motioned to the holo-projector.

               “You can check the news.  She rescued a teenage girl her age and the girl’s legal guardian from a planet they crashed on.  Our little girl is a hero.  And father is just here because there was a couple of asteroids that collided with a planet.  Purely scientific research.”

               Apiyo wagged her finger.

               “Science!  His ship is the biggest in the Alliance and his fleet is comprised of warships.  Science, he says!  You must think I’m so gullible.”

               Jason stepped back a few steps.

               “Even if something more happened, and I assure you it didn’t, it would be classified and I wouldn’t be able to talk about it.”

               Apiyo stepped closer getting into her husband’s face.

               “You forget I am the Governor of this Colony, if it pertains to the security of this colony I will be read in, then we’ll have this conversation again.  Now go get some sleep I’m not carrying you to bed.”

               She put her hand on his chest and gave him a small playful shove towards their bedroom.

Chapter Text

               Jason woke up from a dead sleep when his wrist started vibrating.  He tapped it and saw it was an incoming call from Sol system, but not military band.  He tapped the projected hologram and a pale woman’s face appeared.  She had long black hair and golden eyes.  His heart nearly stopped when he saw her face.  He’d only met her once.  They hadn’t spoken since.  She spoke and it was the same firm, imposing tone he’d heard before.

               “Hello, Mr. Wanjala.  I trust all is well?”

               He stammered a few times before speaking.

               “Isis… what… why are you calling?”

               She looked him up and down with her golden eyes.  He felt much like he did when they’d met in person, like a predatory cat was sizing him up to determine what kind of meal he would make, and not in the sexual way.

               “I met the child.  She has grown.  You put her at risk.  Our arrangement was that she would be loved, kept safe and out of harm’s way.  You begged us for a child when you did not win the child lottery.  You said your wife was desperate for one, you swore the child would never know a world without love, that she would be safe.  And last evening she arrives with a gaping wound in her abdomen.  You understand I gave birth to her.  Part of me exists in her.  I made a promise you have made me break that promise.”

               Jason felt like he was trapped between two opposing predators.  On both sides stood ancient vampires.  Of the two Isis frightened him more.  The other seemed quite pleasant but could make his life a living hell should she choose.

               “The president told me she needed to be recruited to the military.  I was just doing what she said.  She said it was important.  She also told me she needed to go on the patrol yesterday.  What am I supposed to do?  Say no?”

               Isis’s lips pursed.

               “I see.  Did she happen to mention why these two things needed to happen?”

               Jason shook his head.

               “Very well.  I will investigate.  Mr. Wanjala, the child must never know her true origins.  One of your military’s medical staff told her she is a dhampir.  She will have questions.  You will handle them.  Or there will be consequences.  Do you understand?”

               Jason nodded.

               “I understand.

*****

Saint Sarah of Savia Secondary School, Eden Prime Colony

               Allison was bopping her head to a song that only existed there, it was a song from the last Bollywood holo-remake she’d seen.  The colony of Eden Prime was primarily made up of people of African, middle eastern and Indian descent.  The culture reflected that.  A lot of the music and other media that was consumed were of that cultural heritage as well.  There was other media of course, the Alliance-net spanned two galaxies and thirty star systems split between them.  Allison could easily watch a music video from NAFTA dome, or a surfing video from the Pleasure Domes scattered throughout the alliance.  She tended to stick with the music her parents and friends listened to.  She spoke several African languages, Hindi and the Alliance standard of the colony which was mostly English with a few Swahili, Hindi and Bengali words mixed in.

               Usually, she would be more dour about having to go to school but after the exhilarating patrol she’d experienced the day before and, came through it mostly unscathed she was on top of the world and the song from the last movie was a celebratory one about a woman’s betrothed returning from war.  She felt like jumping around and waving her hands like they had in the movie today.  When Tyler bumped into her while staring at the floor and trying to get to his locker she winched slightly because she was still healing from the injury, but she just moved to the side and forced herself not to skip towards Sister Silra’s classroom.   She missed the other students staring at her and their soft whispers.

               She sat at her desk.  Tyler arrived just after her and sat beside her.  The rest of the homeroom class filed in one after the other.  To Allison’s surprise Trixie took her seat just before she would have been late.  Allison didn’t care.  Not much would dull her mood today.  Even with her full flight status currently revoked she would be hard pressed to find something to be upset about.  That was standard for an injured pilot.  They didn’t want someone with a recent injury out on solo patrol.  Though it occurred to her after her last patrol she’d be lucky if her dad let her off world before she was in her thirties. Her golden eyes focused on the holo-projection at the front of the class.  Sister Silra was discussing why charitable work was central to the proper worship of the Dark Mother.

               The rest of the morning passed the same way.  She was in such a good mood Trixie’s verbal jabs in the hallway and Ajay’s glares did little to dull the shine on her day.  Tyler sat down across from her at lunch straight away.  She even nodded to him politely which is far more then she would usually do to acknowledge someone’s presence.  Ajay’s two minions and Besho showed up seeming to be intent on causing trouble for Tyler or herself.  Something in Allison’s eyes must have scared them away because they beat a hasty retreat when she looked at them and smiled.   Tyler didn’t even notice how close he came to an attempt to make his day worse with a bit of bullying.  The pair said nothing for the entire lunch.  Both were lost in their own thoughts.

               Allison was starting to get ready to head to her afternoon class and knocked her tray by accident and her silverware clanged as they hit the floor.  She reached down and winced.  Apparently, she could walk and sit just fine but anything that required flexibility caused pain to shoot through her from her injury.  Tyler seemed to have noticed her discomfort and crouched down picking up the knife and fork.  He put them in Allison’s hand, his fingers touched her palm, and she felt a tingle.  Tyler looked uncomfortable at the touch and grabbed his tray and retreated.  She didn’t even get a chance to say thank you.  She shook her head and picked up her tray.

               “Weird kid.”

               As Allison started her afternoon classes, she was thankful for one blessing above all others.  Her mother was so used to her not having access to a communications device at school she didn’t bother calling her holo-phone.  She was not looking forward to seeing her that night.  When she remembered she needed to sign up for the Newcomer Welcomer onboarding session after school that night she was extremely happy.  Tyler continued to sit near her in every single class.  The only class they were not near each other was Gym, and that was likely because she was forced to sit out.  Her injury was classified yet still the military found a way to pass along she should not be taking part in any physical education for a few days.

               They were playing outdoors.  Allison had forgotten she had not used her usual coating of sun block until they were halfway through the period and she panicked suddenly and ran inside.  She looked at her skin but it was still the pale white it always was.  The solar radiation of Eden Prime’s sun was not kind to those of European descent.  Especially the pale ones.  She should have been red already and burning up.  She looked in the mirror in the girls’ changing room her face looked fine as well.  She had no reason to assume it was more than a fluke, maybe it was a low radiation day.  She stripped down and rushed to the sun block dispenser and requested a coating.  Nothing happened.

               “Why isn’t the sun block working?”

               The school’s computer helpfully communicated with her.

               “Your biofile was recently updated.  As a dhampir you are immune to the solar radiation produced by Eden Prime’s sun.  You may proceed outside.”

               Allison blinked a few times.  She’d heard the word before.  The doctor had mentioned something to do with vampire blood.  She shook her head and pulled her uniform back on.  By the time she got back outside Tyler was sitting on the bleachers, his knees and elbows were scraped up.  Allison sat down beside him.  He looked up and saw who it was and immediately found a spot on the blue-green grass to stare at.  Allison shook her head and looked out to the field.  They were playing soccer today. When it came to classes, she was good at only three, math, science and gym.  The rest she could muddle through, but she was no genius.

               “Who was it?”

               Tyler looked behind himself as if trying to figure out who Allison was talking too.  He adjusted his glasses.

               “Ajay and Sam.”

               Allison nodded.

               “Yep, figures.”

               The ball came to the side of the field they were on. Allison hopped off the bleachers.  Leth was holding out his hands expecting her to throw it to him because he was closest.  Allison had other plans which she might regret but she did it anyway.  She pulled her foot back and kicked the ball hard.  Ajay wasn’t looking and took it to the side of his face.  He went flying three feet and hit the ground hard.  She blinked.  He wasn’t getting up.  She blushed and went back to her seat.  She hadn’t quite expected that result.  Maybe some redness.  Not a KO and dirt nap.  She sat back down and winced.  Yep, she shouldn’t have exerted herself that much.  She looked at her blouse to make sure it wasn’t turning red because she reopened the wound.  She was relieved to see no blood.  Tyler stared at her for several seconds.  She shrugged.

               “Next time he should remember who he’s pissed off recently.”

               Tyler adjusted his glasses again.

               “Mr. Jane said you’d hurt your ankle so you should sit out, but you seem to have an injury to your abdomen.  I saw three kids following you last night, because of me, did they hurt you?”

               Allison shook her head.

               “No, they ran away when I noticed them.  My fighter might have also told them she was authorized to use lethal means to protect me.”

               Tyler seemed to be more interested in her after she mentioned her fighter.

               “Your fighter… spoke to them?”

               Allison pushed her auburn bangs out of her face and behind her ears.

               “Of course, all Synthlin fighters have AI’s built in.  Mine is named Bit, she’s well, she’s my best friend.”

               Tyler adjusted his glasses again, they had slid down his nose.

               “But she’s an alien intelligence?  How do you relate to each other?”

               Allison shrugged.

               “How should I know?  She gets me, and I get her.  There’s a mental link we can activate if we want to between us we can hear each other’s thoughts, feel each other’s emotions.  It ties us closer together, like a symbiotic relationship.  She’s had other pilots but most humans can’t manage a neural link without some sort of hardware.  And they have no hope with a Synthlin fighter.  I’m weird.  System’s Alliance R&D said some technobabble I wasn’t really paying attention.”

               “Are you linked with her now?”

               Allison made a face.

               “No, why would I be?  She’s sitting in a hanger in sleep mode until I need her.  I mean we talk on hololink sometimes, but she spends most of her time in sleep mode when she’s not needed.  She says she’s sat around alone enough for one AI’s lifetime.”

               Tyler inched closer.

               “If the bullies didn’t hurt you… who did?”

               Allison shook her head.

               “I’m not hurt.  I just slept wrong.”

               Tyler adjusted his glasses.

               “Why are you lying?”

               Allison quirked her head to the side.

               “Well, if I were lying it would probably because whatever happened is something I’m not allowed to talk about.”

               “Oh, I see.  You smell different then yesterday.”

               Allison blinked a few times.

               “What?”

               “You smelled like coconuts yesterday, now you smell like ash.”

               “Wow, that is the strangest thing I’ve ever heard someone say to me.”

               Allison stood up and moved away from Tyler, she leaned on a chain link fence shaking her head.  Tyler looked confused, possibly a bit hurt.  Allison didn’t care, commenting on someone’s scent was just weird.  The class came to an end.  Allison didn’t wait around.  She headed straight to the onboarding she’d signed up for.  Pretty much what she expected.  Show the newbies around the colony try to be friends.  Generally, make the newcomers feel connected to the colony.  The motto for the volunteer organization was: Forward Together.  It was basically the System’s Alliance way of manipulating people into putting roots down on the colony worlds.  As they were leaving she was sent a message containing her newcomer.  She groaned.  She had half expected Tyler, but she was never that lucky.  It was a photo of Trixie and her name Beatrice Wallace.  She looked up and spoke.

               “Dark Mother if I have done something to offend you couldn’t you just kill me instead?”

               She heard the rapid tap of an amused Sauroid’s tail behind her.  Which should be no surprise Sister Silra and her husband were the organizers of the onboarding.  Sister Silra’s amusement showed in her voice.

               “Ah, the Dark Mother and her Father often put us in places we do not want to be, but are where we need to be, my young friend.”

               Allison turned to the sister.

               “Yes, but you put me in this place, not her or her father.”

               Sister Silra shook her head.

               “No Allison, the computer put people who it decided would make good friends in a pool together then selected random names.”

               Allison held up her wrist.

               “Obviously the computer is broken.”

               Sister Silra’s tail slapped on the tiled floor again.

               “You human teenagers are always so dramatic.  You never gave her a chance.”

               Allison narrowed her eyes.

               “I didn’t give her a chance?  She accused me of helping enslave the entire human race because I joined the military.  She does know who my parents are right?”

               Sister Silra put her arm around Allison’s shoulders.

               “Old wounds still fester within the people of the Earth Sphere.  Just as they do on the Origin Sphere.  Some of my people still see only the enemy when they look at the people of eternal night.”

               Allison sighed.

               “Yes, but it’s only been like twenty years for you, it’s been a thousand for us.  Yet she looks at me, sees the color of my skin and calls me a slaver?  No one cares about skin color, these days, you don’t like it?  Change it.  Bet she assumes I picked this look.”

               Sister Silra patted Allison’s shoulder.

               “Assumptions and miscommunication are what this organization are meant to avoid.  Give it a try, please?”

               Allison sighed.

               “Not for her sake, just because you asked, Sister and I need to make amends for acting out in your class.”

               Sister Silra nodded and released Allison’s shoulders.

               “Now I believe you should be getting home, after the news report I saw it seems like your mother might want a word or two with you.”

               Allison shook her head.

               “Maybe I should go introduce myself to Trixie tonight.”

               Sister Silra’s tail slapped the tiles again and she chuckled.

               “You have time, young sister.  Go, I’m sure your mother will be proud of you, on the Origin Sphere such deeds would earn you an award from the Council of Gray scales.”

               Allison rolled her eyes.

               “Here it just gets you yelled at and lectured, and probably grounded in more ways than one.”

               Sister Silra patted Allison’s shoulder one last time and released the teenager.  Allison left the school proper and waited for public transit.

*****

               Maria looked up from the tablet she was reading over when she noticed someone watching her.  She wasn’t surprised to see golden eyes looking down at her.  She was expecting this visit.  Few beings could get access to her so easily.  Only two had any chance, her niece Eyre and Isis, the oldest vampire that still existed.  Maria put down her stylus.

               “Isis, how may I help you tonight?”

               Isis leaned on the desk her marble like fingers spread out.  She was showing an uncharacteristic amount of emotion for an ancient vampire.

               “I thought we agreed the child would be free to forge her own destiny.”

               Maria nodded.

               “We did, that was before I realized my sister left me this.”

               Maria tossed a tablet in front of Isis.  Isis picked it up and started reading through it her eyes growing wider with each line.  She put it down.

               “How?  She didn’t even know she existed.”

               Isis dropped the tablet on Maria’s desk.  Maria picked up and locked it in a drawer.

               “With my sister anything is possible.  You know what she really was… is.  The text only appears when its time.  I guess she didn’t want us reading ahead and spoiling the ending.”

               Isis shook her head.

               “This feels wrong.  Your sister hated being controlled and manipulated.  Why would she do this to her own child?”

               Maria shrugged again.

               “You know as well as I do that my sister always had a method to her madness even when it seemed like insanity.  She was right, look what happened yesterday.  She identified two new species, one is a possible ally, the other is definitely an unknown enemy species.  A species so dangerous a young vampire would be in trouble.  Whatever they are they have the ability to really hurt us.  She would be dead if not for the fact her nanites activated.  Would have been convenient for my sister to tell us about that considering if the System’s Alliance at large figured out what she had floating around in her blood she’d be top of the most wanted list.”

               Isis nodded.

               “And her latent vampire abilities activated too.  I could sense it.  She will realize something strange is happening soon.  I warned the adoptive parents she would have questions and that they would need to find convincing answers.”

               Maria sighed.

               “Why will you not let us just tell them the truth?  The twins deserve to know who their real parents are, that they have family.”

               Isis shook her head.

               “No.  I gave their mother my word they would have normal lives.  If they found out…  if the System’s Alliance found out.  Or the Church of the Dark Mother.  We both agreed they’d be safer after what happened to Amee before the civil war.  Mortals and their religious beliefs…  it is not a good mix.”

               Maria frowned.

               “Neither is stupid.  There are only four people in existence with eyes like yours, the twins, your daughter and yourself.   You shouldn’t have shown up at Pluto station today if you wanted them to remain in the dark.”

               Isis rubbed her forehead.

               “I had to see her.  I carried her for two years in my womb.  It feels like I gave away a part of myself.  She won’t remember I erased her memories.”

               “You forget who her mother was.  She is likely immune to most mental manipulation by vampiric powers.  She was also wearing contacts that record everything.  You’re just lucky I managed to delete the files containing you before the military got ahold of them.  It was careless, especially for you.  I don’t remember having children but I don’t think I was ever that reckless for them.”

               Isis laughed.

               “You took on a Roman legion to protect your grandniece and her unborn child.  I assure you, you were that reckless.  You are right, I’ll need to be more cautious going forward.  I heard she was hurt. I know what she is and what she has floating in her blood.  It shouldn’t have been possible.”

               Maria lifted up her tablet and showed video of the alien that attacked Allison.

               “If there are more of these out there, we have far more to be concerned about then Allison Aurelius finding out who she really is.”

Chapter Text

               Allison’s bus ride was uneventful, she was surprised to see her house was empty when she got home.    She heard her mother’s voice from the house’s audio system.

               “Sorry Allison, your father and I were called in for an emergency briefing, do your homework and make yourself something to eat.  We’ll talk when I get home.”

               Allison felt a cold chill go down her spine.  Somehow the tone on the last sentence in her mother’s message sounded more like a threat than a statement.  She pulled out a frozen pizza and slid it into the reheater.  She could have used the oven for a more authentic cook but the reheater always got everything cooked perfectly.  The oven was less surgical, but faster.  She slid onto one of the stools at the breakfast bar that bordered the kitchen and started working her way through her literature assignment.  She’d finished her evening meal and was about to start on the fun stuff since her homework was done when the house’s VI spoke.

               “There are two military police at the door, Allison.  They are requesting your presence.”

               Allison sighed.

               “What now?”

               The house’s VI did not answer.  Allison stood up and opened the door.  She recognized them from base, though couldn’t place their names.  They were both men in their twenties.  They were non-commissioned members which meant even at her measly ensign rank, Allison outranked them.

               “Hello, what can I do for you guys?”

               The master corporal spoke.

               “Ma’am, SAI is requesting your presence on base.  We’re here to give you a ride.”

               Allison sighed and motioned for them to come in, she pointed to the still warm pizza she’d only eaten half of.

               “I’ll go get changed.  Feel free to grab a drink and some pizza.  It’s not like I’m going to get a chance to finish it tonight apparently.”

               The two MP’s sat down at the bar and accepted her offer.  Allison went into her room and started pulling on her black System’s Alliance Uniform.  She pondered why SAI, or System’s Alliance Intelligence for the uninformed, would want her on base when she was technically on leave due to her injury.  She looked at the synthskin patch as she was pulling on her white blouse.  She decided whatever this was she’d stop by Medical to have the wound looked it.  She did heal faster than a typical person, she’d always been that way, but this thing wasn’t really healing as fast as even a normal person would given the advances in medical technology humans had made since they encountered the Sauroids, Silwrath and Synthlin. 

               The two MP’s had obviously missed supper because when she left her room the pizza was completely gone.  She didn’t mind, saved her composting it later.  They escorted her out to a waiting armored military transport.  None of them said anything which led to an uncomfortable silence.  She assumed they weren’t sure how to respond to a sixteen-year-old girl who outranked them both.  She finally broke the silence.

               “So… any idea why I’m being summoned?  I’m on medical leave.”

               The master corporal who was riding shotgun glanced back at her.

               “Sorry ma’am, no idea.  You know SAI.  World could be on fire at night, and they’d still say no it isn’t, that’s classified, it’s just sunlight hitting some clouds the wrong way.”

               That evoked a smile from Allison and the corporal.  The corporal seemed to relax somewhat at that point.

               “Ma’am, you look kind of young to be an officer, if you don’t mind me saying.”

               Allison nodded.

               “I am, I am sixteen. I just finished flight school.”

               The master corporal glanced back at her.

               “Then I really have no idea what SAI would want with you.”

               Allison shrugged.

               “Probably the patrol I flew last night.  A lot of classified stuff happened, they’re probably just pulling me in to remind me what that means.  Because the president sent me to school instead of to them this morning.  They probably think, I think I’m special or something, when actually I think the president is just scared of my mom.”

               Both MP’s laughed at that.  Then the corporal piped up.

               “If we ever go to war with anyone, I think they should just send all the mom’s and aunties from Eden Prime, the other side will run away screaming.”

               All three laughed.  Allison added.

               “I know I would.  Mom is a force of nature.  SAI is saving me a conversation because by the time I get home I’ll be able to say, it’s a school night, time for bed.”

               They all chuckled.  The transport pulled into the base and up to SAI’s building.  Allison got out.  The two MP’s also got out and saluted her.  She saluted them back and went inside.  Someone must have been monitoring her progress with her holo-phone’s tracker or her ident chit.  Because a Major was waiting for her when she arrived.  She saluted and the Major motioned for her to follow.  They reached a security check point and Allison swiped her hand with the chit over the scanner but nothing happened.

               “Uh, is this thing working?”

               She swiped again.  Nothing happened.  The male Major sighed and motioned her forward and held up his hand when the duty security team stepped forward.

               “It’s her, something just happened with her ident chit when she was on patrol yesterday.  Most of the tech she had with her was disrupted.”

               Allison followed the Major down a hallway and into a briefing room.  He motioned to a seat.  Allison sat down after pulling her hat off.  She placed her hat on her lap.  The room was filled with officers Major and above, one of them her father.  On the holo-display sat the president, and her joint chiefs of staff.  On another was her mother.  Allison felt a bit out of place suddenly.  She was somewhat comforted to see her mother was looking somewhat less angry than she expected and more sympathetic.  The president spoke in her calm, soft tones.  Allison had never been able to place the pale woman’s accent.

               “Thank you for joining us, Ensign Wanjala.  Proceed General Keen.”

               The holo-display shifted to her contacts view of the battle with the black alien bug thing.  Those attending virtually were displayed in a row beneath the three dimensional fully realized hologram.  The general went over Allison’s fight with the bug in great detail.  Pointing out where his analysts found weak spots.  Allison winced when she saw the bug pierce her abdomen.  She was surprised by the overall assessment of the tactics she used in the encounter, the analysts thought she did the best she could with the limited information she had available to her.  She had just been making it up as she went along.

               The briefing continued with a display of locations pulled from the Qual’sa ship.  They were known to be hotspots for this invasive species.  An entire quadrant of the Andromeda galaxy.  Including Eden Prime and planets in its near orbit.

               “The Qual’sa designated these creatures ‘Sal’nash’ or the Plague.  They are known to swarm, a few systems would get attacked.  The Galactic community would respond.  Something happened approximately six thousand years ago that caused them to be much more dangerous.  They spread faster and with more virulence then seen in thirty thousand years of the Qual’sa galactic history.  Entire sentient races were wiped out, including the Qual’sa.  We lack context and thus far the subject at Pluto Station has been unhelpful.  He was injured and put in stasis decades before the end of their species.  The Queen has more pertinent information she did not go into stasis until the end was inevitable.  She refuses to communicate with us beyond requesting the one who came before.  She calls us too primitive.”

               Allison was very confused as to why she was even here.  This was all pretty high-level classified stuff the public would definitely not be let in on.  Maria must have noticed Allison’s look of confusion.

               “Ensign, you are the one who came before.  I wanted you to be involved in this briefing so you knew what information we are looking for to start.  Culture, history, technology can come later.  Right now we need to know how much of a threat these Sal’nash are to our interests.  How they spread, how they hide themselves.  We could have already spread them to all of our colonies, Sauroid Prime and the Sol system.”

               Allison felt put on the spot but when she signed up for the military she realized her life would not be entirely her own until she left.  She could be literally asked to lay down her life at any moment.

               “I will do whatever is necessary to get the information.  I understand how important this is, ma’am.”

               Maria smiled.

               “I never had any doubt.  If I did you would not be sitting in that chair.  We will reconvene after Ensign Wanjala speaks to Queen Quasitori.  Everyone is dismissed.”

               Allison stood up.

               “Everyone except the Ensign.”

               Allison really felt like she was put on the spot now.  One by one the joint chief’s of staff vanished from the holo and everyone filed out.  Allison’s mother hesitated but finally she vanished as well.  This left Maria alone in the SCIF room of Eden Prime HQ.  Maria leaned close to her holorecorder.

               “Ensign, when you finish with the Qual’sa Queen please message me via this SCIF we have other things to discuss.  For now the Sal’nash and debriefing the queen are your priorities.”

               Allison saluted.

               “Aye ma’am.”

               Maria nodded.

               “Thank you.”

               Maria ended the connection.  Allison couldn’t help but feel like the President wanted to say more to her.  She pulled her cap on.  She wasn’t sure why it was referred to a combination cover, but it was.  She assumed it was like a lot of things, tradition from the twentieth century.  She much preferred her black beret, but she was dressed for a meeting with the brass. Not in a flight suit or combat field dress.

               The same major that met her previously was waiting for her.  He motioned down the hallway.

               “The asset is this way, Ensign.  I know you do not have interrogation experience or training.  Start small, build up to questions about the Sal’nash.  Xeno-Psych and Xeno-Med both agree she has been traumatized.  Kid gloves but please remember how important this is.  You aren’t going to be two teenage girls chatting.  This could mean the difference between the life and death of every single person in the Alliance.”

               Allison thought, “No pressure or anything huh?”

               “I understand, sir.  I will get what we need.  You need to understand though, we might not even say anything.  They seem to communicate almost exclusively telepathically.”

               The Major looked confused.

               “That wasn’t in any of the intel reports.”

               Allison shrugged.

               “I don’t know sir, no one actually debriefed me fully.  When I was brought into Pluto Station, they put me under immediately.  The president sent me straight to school.”

               They stopped in front of an armored door.

               “This is where she is, good luck Ensign.”

               Allison stood at attention and saluted.

               “Thank you, sir.”

               He returned the salute and pressed his hand against the panel.  The door slid open.  It was six inches of pure armor.  The same material warships were made out of.  She went inside.  The door slid shut behind her.  The room was well appointed and very white.  It had a comfortable bed, a couch, a holoprojector and a desk with a tablet on it.  The Qual’sa queen was sitting on the couch watching a primer on the System’s Alliance.  The Queen was much cleaner than she had been the day before.  She looked to be in good health.  Her silver hair which hung down past her waist was pulled into a tight braid.  She had magenta eyes.  She hadn’t looked towards Allison.  Allison spoke.

               “Ma’am, we met yesterday when I rescued you from your ship?”

               The Queen’s head turned towards Allison at the sound of her voice.  She stood up and rushed to Allison grabbing her hand.   The flood of memories and thoughts threatened to overwhelm Allison’s mind.  She used the same technique as she had the previous day.  Guarding her thoughts and pushing away the flood of memories.  The pair met in the middle.  It was the same feeling Allison had when she used the neural link with Bit.  It was like she was sharing two bodies at once.  Words formed in their shared mind.

               “I am Tearyna Qualistori”

               Allison visualized an introduction.

               “I am Allison Wanjala.  I’m so glad to see you’re doing better.”

               The room fell away and they stood in one of the Queen’s memories.  They were standing beside a vast garden of alien flowers the garden was a terrace and beneath lay a city of intricately grown buildings.  Marble and stone interwoven with nature.   Music flowed around the pair.  Allison had never felt so in touch with nature as she did in the moment.   She realized the song she could hear was the trees singing.  She could feel the pulse of the planet beneath, almost as if the core was a beating heart.  She could feel the strength of the ageless rock that formed the planet’s crust and its mountains.  Tears dropped from her eyes in the memory and in the waking world.  She realized Tearyna was sharing a memory with all the sensations she felt in the moment.

               “This… is your homeworld.  Do you feel this all the time.”

               Tearyna smiled and nodded.

               “Even here?  On Eden Prime?”

               Tearyna nodded once again.  Then she spoke, her voice was beautiful.

               “Everything in this universe is connected by the energy of creation.  My people can manipulate it and feel it.  You are connected.  It flows from your mother to you and it will flow through your descendants.”

               Allison was confused.  Flashes of rows of fetus’s growing in genesis pods slipped through their bond.

               “I was artificially conceived.  I don’t have a mother.  I am sorry but we don’t have time for this.  I need to know about the Sal’nash.”

               At the mention of the name Tearyna’s traumatic memories flashed through.  The memory shifted to the garden scorched and barren.  The beautiful city was gone, replaced by a radioactive wasteland.   Tearyna released Allison’s hand and collapsed.  Allison was suddenly back in the protective custody room.  Tearyna was in a fetal position holding the sides of her head.  Allison wasn’t sure what to do.  She was pretty sure hugging your interrogation subject was not in the manual but she did it anyway.  She was much larger than Tearyna and scooped her up wrapping her arms around the young Queen. She held her tight.

               Allison was drawn into a whirlwind of memories.  Terror.  Fear.  Pain.  Loss.  Tearyna had felt the deaths of every single one of her people.  One by one they were snuffed out.  Entire worlds obliterated and she had felt it all.  Allison felt herself on the edge of a cliff and she felt like she was going to be pulled into the ocean of pain and suffering rushing through Tearyna’s mind.  She grasped onto her own she wasn’t sure where the memory came from, it wasn’t hers, she assumed it came from Tearyna.  The pair were under a tree on a grassy rise overlooking a road and an ancient city Allison had no name for.  On a blanket.   Allison wasn’t sure what to do, so she kept her arms around Tearyna and rocked her gently.

               “Shh, shh.  We are safe.”

               Tearyna slowly came back from the brink.  Once she was out of her spiral she looked around.

               “Where is this memory from?”

               Allison looked around.

               “I thought it was yours…”

               Tearyna stood up and looked around.  The grassy rise offered a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of the grasslands that vanished into the surrounding sea and into the city.

               “It is beautiful.  Like Celestia’s rise on a clear day.”

               Allison stood up and saw ships in the distance.  They were water vessels.  They looked ancient but she could not place their source.  Orrs propelled them towards the city’s docks.

               “This is Earth as it was before… the Gray.  The human home world.”

               “You said you had no mother… or you imparted it.. birth mother but you have a memory.”

               Tearyna grasped Allison’s forearm.  Allison was suddenly an infant or had the perspective of one.  She looked up and saw golden eyes that matched her own.  She gasped, the woman she saw at Pluto Station.   She whispered to her in a language Allison could not understand.  Tearyna looked at Allison.

               “What did she say?”

               Allison shook her head.

               “I have no idea, I don’t even know what language it was its impossible, I was born in a genesis pod.  I was created from randomized DNA.  We had so few humans left after the Gray the System’s Alliance took preserved DNA from the ice randomized it and created new children in the Genesis Pods.  I’ve known that since I can remember.”

               Tearyna shook her head.

               “My new friend, your memories cannot lie to you in the link.  You have a mother out there and she is not a… Genesis pod.”

               She grasped Tearyna’s hand again and their shared experience shifted to the hanger when Allison first met Bit.

               “I am sorry, I do not want to make you relive the memories but… is there a way you can tell me about… you know what without falling back into those memories?”

               “My memories of them… are not my memories they are my mother’s she gave them to me before she was released from her physical form and joined the ancients.  She was… dying.  Usually, it’s a slow process and the Queen’s daughter can process and assimilate them, but they are jumbled I received them in an instant all at once.  I went into stasis almost immediately afterwards because of my own injuries.  They are mixed with her ascension it was painful and…  I need time.  My mother took our entire people’s collective memories into herself.  She passed them to me.  It is too much.”

               Allison sighed.

               “We might not have time.  My leaders are concerned we spread the Sal’nash already.  That we’ve endangered our people.”

               “My mother held secrets… from the others in the League I have everything that was her in my head but I can’t pull them apart.”

               Allison rubbed Tearyna’s upper arms gently as she felt the young Queen starting to spiral as her mother’s memories threatened to overwhelm her.  As it was some slipped between the link and they found themselves on the surface of another burning world.  Tearyna buried her face in Allison’s shoulder.  Allison was eager to get something, anything for the President.  She spent as much time as she dared gathering what information she could from the memory.  Sal’nash bodies were scattered about.  Most were dead but a few were starting to move and get up.  Mixed amongst the dead were the remnants of an army of various alien species.  The League as Tearyna had called the previous Galactic civilization had bombed this world, scorching the ground and burning the sky and killed their own forces in an effort to destroy the Sal’nash and it had all been for not.  The Sal’nash survived.

Allison pulled them out of the memory.  They were standing in Sister Silra’s classroom.  A safe space for Allison.  The surroundings seemed to calm Tearyna.  Allison realized now that this teenage girl had just watched her mother die.  She held the last remaining memories of her entire species, which meant that she had the last moments of billions of Qual’sa, including their deaths.  Allison suddenly felt very sorry for this poor girl.  Tearyna looked around.

“You don’t like this building, but you feel safe here.  Where are we?”

Allison motioned to the desks.

“Teenagers, and children in our culture attend school.  This is my favorite teacher’s classroom.  She makes me feel safe and welcome.”

“You’re not finished your lessons and you are sent to fight in wars?”

Allison nodded.

“Some of us choose to volunteer for what we call the reserves.”

Tearyna’s eyes lit up with recognition.

“Ah, so you are in the militia, the home guard.  I see.  It is common for the Royalty of my people to serve in the military as well.  To teach us responsibility, but only once we reach adulthood.  I am still two decades of your years off.”

Allison blinked a few times.

“How old are you exactly?”

“By your years?  Two hundred and twenty-six… not including time in stasis.  We mature between two hundred and forty and two hundred and fifty years.”

“So, you should still be in school.”

Allison started to formulate a plan.  It wasn’t a great plan but maybe something akin to normalcy might help Tearyna sort out her overloaded brain problem.

“Do you know our language?  We are speaking…”

Tearyna nodded.

“I have taken your lessons from the link.  I will master it once I can focus on them.  Thank you for sharing them.”

Allison smiled.

“Then you should come to school with me.  Maybe not linking with people… and talking your way through things might give you the time and distance you need to sort out what your mom gave you.  I just have to convince the brass that is what needs to be done.”

Tearyna looked around the classroom then back at Allison when she seemed to realize something.

“Thank you, thank you for rescuing me.  I know it was dangerous for you.  If we were at my home you would be called: Ro’Mer Saras, Crown Guardian.  There would be a parade in your honor and a statue would be added to the Saras Halls.  A blade would be crafted in your name and gifted to you by the crown.  Your house would be added to the noble caste and your family would forever be Nal’sa, considered ‘The True People’.  I can do none of this for you and thank you does not feel like it is enough.  If rescuing me were not enough, you bested a Sal’nash in honorable one on one combat and are still standing strong.  The Grignash would be in awe of your prowess.  The Primarch’s Council would sing your praises in the assembly of sentients.  The Silwrath would call you Slaashan, the highest honor they can bestow on a warrior.  You do not understand the gravity of what you’ve done, my new friend.  Not even a Silwrath Champion could claim defeat of a Sal’nash in one-on-one combat with a knife!”

Allison’s confusion could be felt through the link.

“They showed me of my rescue on your holo-displays.  Primitive but effective.  And too pilot one of our ships.  It is as much mental discipline as it is physical action.  If even a small percentage of you humans are as resourceful, strong and as brave as you, you have nothing to fear from the Sal’nash.”

Allison kept rolling back to the Silwrath.  The humans knew of them.  The Dark Mother had captured a battleship, they had obliterated the Synthlin… and many other races.  They were extremely xenophobic.

“I… you were allied with the Silwrath?  I thought they were xenophobic…  like really xenophobic and basically committed genocide on everyone else in this galaxy.”

Tearyn looked very confused.

“I do not understand.  They are the ones who formed the League.  The Sal’nash never reached them, but they bled and died by our sides until the last of us.  A Silwrath Battle master put me in my stasis chamber and helped us escape.  They are… warlike but they are honorable and noble.”

“But they killed all the Synthlin, my fighter has records…  They went back in time and destroyed them, the only reason any of the Synthlin survived was the temporal shields they developed.  My fighter showed me all of it.  They did it to any sentient species they came across.  They are… monsters.  Trillions upon trillions of lives lost…  They would do it to Earth if our President hadn’t developed the same shields.”

Tearyn was just as confused.

“They would never harm a species that was defenseless.  If one of them did, if their High King did, there would be civil war…”

“Maybe things have changed in the last six thousand years.  Maybe watching all their allies get devoured one by one… I don’t know.  They are why we are here in Andromeda.   They are why the Dark Mother attacked their fleet.  We have their flagship in the home system of the Humans, the Dark Mother captured it twenty years ago.   There is a Silwrath Countess who is helping us prepare for the inevitable attack.  Rubina.”

The connection between them shattered.  The disconnect between what Allison knew to be true and what Tearyna knew to be true were so incongruitous neither of their minds could make them work.

Chapter Text

               The pair of teenagers found themselves back in the white isolation room.  Tearyn blinked at Allison.  She spoke in Qual’sa, which Allison seemed to understand as if she’d been speaking it since she was a child.

               “I am sorry, I do not know what happened.  It was like your memories and mine were incompatible when it came to the Silwrath.”

               Allison rubbed her temples.  The connection had been fine, with no pain but now her head was throbbing.  She was physically fine, but her brain… was so tired she stumbled and had to catch herself on the couch.  She finally collapsed into the cushions.  Allison held up her hand when Tearyn moved to help her.  The Qual’sa seemed to be a touchy feely people.  Likely because that was how they preferred to communicate.

               “I’m fine, I’m fine.  Just a bit dizzy.  Is that because we didn’t break the link ourselves.”

               Tearyna nodded.

               “Yes, I’ve never had it happen before.  I’ve never heard of it happening before.”

               Tearyna rubbed her own temples.

               “Perhaps next time we should avoid anything to do with the Silwrath or approach it differently.  I was trying to share my memories of them.”

               There was a buzz at the door.  Allison pulled herself up.

               “Look, I need to go, just, think about what I said, they’ll ask your opinion, you are royalty after all, but if they do, you might want to keep your status… quiet.  Just one question before I go, why wouldn’t you talk to anyone else but me?”

               Tearyna frowned.

               “They are Tal’nal’sa, not the people.  Betrayers.”

               Allison blinked a few times.

               “Why?”

               “They have dark skin, only the Tal’nal’sa have dark skin.  They broke the circle.  They betrayed their people.  My people.  I have memories of the civil war. I do not trust them.  You rescued me, we linked, you I trust.  And the ones that grabbed me and tried to force a link were mentally feeble.  As much as I despise their kind, I would not destroy their minds for touching me against my will.”

               Allison rubbed her face.  Dark Skin?  Her new friend was a racist?  While some still held to the old grudges for the most part the human race of the 30^th Century were color blind.  They had seen dinosaur people and dragon people…  A cluster of intelligent cells in armor.  Now elves.  Vampires and Wolf-born had always existed.  It was hard to worry about skin color these days unless it pertained to the viability of survival on a colony world and only for the fact certain human skin pigments made them immune to the solar radiation.

               “I am probably going to regret this… but uh, can you show me those memories through the link?”

               Tearyna who was also mentally exhausted still nodded.  She sat beside Allison and took her hand.  Their consciousness merged and Allison was taken back to one of Tearyna’s ancestor’s memories that had been passed from Mother to Daughter for fifty millennia.   Two sisters one dark skinned, one light skinned fought over the throne.  The civil war spanned half the Andromeda Galaxy.  Planets cracked in half, terrible superweapons that could destroy stars.  The Queen shredding an entire fleet with her telekinesis alone.   A war that was so terrible that the Qual’sa retreated to their homeworld and ceased travelling the stars long before the humans climbed out of the mud.   The dark-skinned ones, the Tal’Qual’Sa travelled past the galactic rim on vast colony ships, never to be seen again.  Tearyna released the link and both were back in the waking world.

               “Tearyna, we humans do not care about skin color.  There were too few of us left to bother worrying about such things.  You’re going to see mostly dark-skinned humans here bec-”

               “They are criminals and betrayers.  What crime have you committed to be stuck here?”

               Allison took a deep breath.  Yep, this was going to be a difficult conversation.

               “No crimes were committed.  People entered a lottery and were selected for the colony.  The System’s Alliance does that because we don’t want to overwhelm supply chains and planetary ecosystems.  Our homeworld and the Sol system where we’re from is overpopulated.  The only people eligible for this placement have very specific skin pigments that make them immune to the solar radiation.  I was sent because my parents were posted here.  It has nothing to do with social status, crimes or whatever.  So, the majority of the people on this colony world, Eden Prime, are going to be darker in complexion but only because they suffer no ill effects from this system’s sun.  That’s it.  I am different… I just found out and it’s probably the reason I can join your link with no ill effects and fly a Synthlin fighter.  So please, if you want to thank me, pay me back, reward me for my rescue of you, please treat everyone here with respect until they prove differently.  These people are my friends, my colleagues and my family.”

               Tearyna seemed to consider her words carefully, her magenta eyes focused on Allison’s Golden eyes.

               “It will be challenging, but I will honor your wishes, my new friend.”

               Allison smiled.

               “Thank you, uh, what should I call you?  Majesty?  Queen?”

               Tearyna gave a musical laugh as she heard Allison name off various titles.

               “Please, just Aryna.  It’s my name among friends.  Tearyna is my full royal name.  Te, is our honorific for Queen.  Before I became Queen I was Learyna, or Princess Aryna in your Alliance Standard.  May I call you Ison?”

               Allison stifled a giggle.

               “If you want, but my name is actually Allison.”

               Allison tapped the blackboard on her shoulder with one thin golden line of thread.

               “My rank is Ensign, I’m the lowest ranking commissioned member in our armed forces.  Because I’m part of the Space Navy, I am an Ensign, if I was ground forces, I would be a Lieutenant junior grade. Between us there was no way I’d work out in the ground forces; Green is definitely not my color.  Clashes with my eyes.”

               Aryna laughed.

               “I haven’t laughed this much in many cycles.  Thank you, Allison.”

               There was another buzz.  Allison glanced at her HUD.  Their entire conversation, the memories, the link, it had only been ten minutes.

               “Look, I do need to go, that buzz means they’re getting impatient.  I’ll be back as soon as I can, Aryna.”

               Aryna stood up and waited for Allison to leave.   She sat down and picked up the tablet again.  Allison ran into the same Major outside who looked her up and down.

               “Ensign, how are you speaking her language?”

               Allison glanced at the door that had sealed itself.

               “I do not know sir, but it feels like I’ve been speaking it forever.  I have some intel.”

               He motioned towards the SCIF.

               “The president is waiting for you.”

               The Major escorted her to the SCIF and opened comms to Earth.  The President looked at the Major.

               “Thank you Major.  You may leave.”

               The Major looked a bit shocked but he quickly hid the expression and left the room.   Maria waited until the room was confirmed secure by the base VI.

               “What did you learn, Ensign?”

               Allison stood at attention and opened her mouth to speak.  Maria pointed to the chair at the head of the table.

               “Sit down, be at ease Ensign, Allison, think of me like an Auntie.”

               Allison sat down and placed her cap on the desk.  Aunties on Eden Prime were kind, but feared if one was up to no good.  Considering the President an Auntie didn’t really help her calm down.

               “Ma’am, first of all, they do not communicate or think like you and I.  They have perfect recollection of memories.  They can hear, sense, smell, see, feel, taste, relive the emotions.  If someone can join the link they can share their memories and pull you into them.  They apparently can also transfer memories.  Aryna, I mean Tearyna is the repository for every memory of her entire race.  Tearnya’s mother transferred all of her memories to Tearnya. It is usually done over time but she absorbed them all at once.  Ma’am, Tearnya’s mother… and now Tearnya have the memories of every single death of their race.  They experienced the genocide Qual’sa by Qual’sa.  Her mind is on the verge of collapsing and she is of no real help for the intelligence you need.”

               Maria’s full hologram leaned forward in the seat across from Allison.

               “You got something, did you not, Allison?  I can see it on your face.  You are frightened.”

               Allison gripped the edge of the table from underneath tugging on it.

               “Ma’am, if they still exist and they swarm we’re doomed.  The League of Sentient Races nuked entire worlds and wiped out their own armies and still the Sal’nash didn’t die.  I wish I could show you the memory like she showed me hers.”

               Maria frowned.

               “So, she’s not useful.”

               Allison looked at a spot on the table.

               “I didn’t say that ma’am.  I think we could help her remember; It just might not be… conventional.”

               Maria’s deathly pale blue tinged lips curved into a smile.

               “What is your plan, Allison?”

               Allison bit her lower lip.

               “Ma’am, I think we should put her in school.  Move her in with a foster family.  She is about my age physically.  Though she is over two hundred earth years old.  Not including stasis.”

               Maria leaned back tapping her fingers on her own conference table.

               “Very well.  She is your new assignment, Allison.   Your parents have a sizable estate on the colony.  More then enough room for her.”

               Allison opened and closed her mouth a few times.

               “I’m not sure I’m good enough for that ma’am.”

               “Allison, I trust you with this.”

               Allison froze for a few moments.

               “Ma’am, I might be, but my mom…”

               Maria smiled and leaned back in her chair.

               “It will be fine Allison, I will tell the Joint Chiefs and Eden Prime Security Forces this is the way it is going to be.  Now on to the other thing I wanted to discuss with you.”

               Allison was now very confused.

               “Ma’am?”

               Maria stood up and her hologram walked around the SCIF’s boardroom table and sat on the edge of it.

               “You may have noticed you are going through some changes.”

               Allison blushed.  Was the President of a budding Republic that spanned two galaxies giving her the birds and the bees conversation?  Allison started to fiddle with the brim of her cap while she stared at Maria like a startled deer.  Maria continued.

               “You have heard the word dhampir.  I know because I heard everything the doctor said to you.  The curse of being a vampire ancient.  Supernaturally good hearing, and pretty much every other sense.  Here is the thing about dhampirs.  You have all of our vampiric strengths and none of our weaknesses.  You will heal miraculously fast.  You will take the kind of abuse that would kill a normal human and you will keep fighting.  You are an apex predator.  Do you know why you knew how to kill that Sal’nash?”

               Allison blinked at the President and shook her head.

               “Allison, it is because we vampires, and dhampirs process information far faster then a normal human.  We assess threats, then we assess their weaknesses.  Then we end those threats.  A human in that situation would have died.  Vampires when we are reborn in unlife have access to all of our abilities almost immediately, but for dhampirs, it is a combination of puberty and adrenaline.  I could tell in the video when you activated your latent abilities.  Time slowed down for you, just before you drew your combat knife, did it not?”

               Allison nodded.

               “I bet you felt exhausted afterwards.”

               Allison nodded again.  Maria smiled.

               “You are probably feeling pretty exhausted right now.  Something you cannot quite put your finger on.  You could describe it as a general fatigue, a malaise even.”

               Allison quirked her head to the side.

               “I am sorry, if this is inappropriate ma’am, but if you’re a vampire, how do you know what it feels like to be a dhampir?”

               Maria smiled.

               “Because, Allison, I was born a dhampir.  My father was the first vampire.  He could still have children.  I was never really human.  The fatigue you are feeling is the energy in your blood being depleted.  Think of it as a vitality normal human do not have.  This vitality will allow you to be superhuman, but it is a limited supply, and when it runs out you are going to feel exhausted.  There was some blood loss as well.  Usually wounds would heal much quicker, but something about these Sal’nash is capable of hurting us supernatural creatures in a way that compromises our enhanced healing.  Likely the toxin they seem to inject.  We will have to experiment with it, the Vampire Council already has samples.  So, you are going to be healing for a while, still faster than a normal human.  A normal human would have died from that injury.”

               Allison couldn’t help her curiosity.

               “Ma’am, why are you telling me this and not some VI on the Alliance-net.”

               Maria smiled.

               “I have a special interest in you, and your career, I will be assisting you with this transition.  Normally we would send a representative of the vampire council to assist you but Eden Prime’s sun is somewhat unhealthy for vampires.  I’m still working on a solution.  Until then you’re stuck with vampire lessons from me.  At this point, the next big conversation we’ll need to have about your vampiric heritage is when your fangs show up.”

               Allison blinked.

               “Fangs? What?”

               Maria went to touch Allison’s hand but of course being a hologram their hands passed through each other.

               “You are part vampire Allison.  You can gain sustenance from blood.  You can also use it to replenish that vitality I spoke of.  Your retractable fangs will show up in time.  And your enhanced night vision.  Your ident chit would already have been dissolved by your body.  You’ll need a replacement.  No one else on the colony requires an organic one, so there are none.  You’ll receive a package; It will include instructions, follow them precisely.  This is probably a good time to tell you that you will never be able to get cybernetics or enhanced bio-organs.  Your body will reject them and just regrow what was taken out.  I have had a case of Synth-O sent to your home.  Three bottles a day until you heal, otherwise you will be exhausted.  It is not flavored.  You can switch to that later, but for now you need to get used to the taste and feel of drinking blood.”

               Allison threw up a little bit in her mouth at the thought of consuming blood.

               “Blood?”

               Maria nodded.

               “And before you ask, no we cannot just give it to you intravenously your body will not process it that way and we would just be adding more blood to your veins then your body could handle.  You should get home.”

               Allison stood up at attention.

               “Aye, ma’am.”

               Maria stood up.  She seemed to want to say more but hesitated, finally she said.

               “Good luck, Allison.  If you notice anything strange, any new abilities you’re having trouble controlling contact me immediately.  I’ve sent my direct comm link to your holo-phone.  Don’t share it please.”

               Maria’s hologram vanished.  Allison still felt like the President had left a lot of what she wanted to say unsaid.  Allison left the SCIF.  The Major was waiting outside he looked at her expectantly.  Allison put her hat on.

               “Sorry, sir, she’s gone.”

               The Major frowned.  His greying beard did little to hide his disappointment.

               “You’ll need to be debriefed.”

               “Sorry sir, she gave me orders to head straight home.  I will report for debriefing tomorrow after school.”

               He grumbled and checked something on his AR HUD then motioned towards a row of chairs.

               “There will be a delay before your transport leaves.  Apparently, it will have another passenger.  Have a seat, Ensign.”

               Allison scooped her skirt up under her legs and sat down.  She crossed her legs and started surfing the Alliance-net.   She was deep in a post about another release of twenty-first century media from Winter Wolf Corp.  She wondered how they kept finding these massive caches.  It was exabytes of data.  Not that the quantum computers of the 30^th century used binary anymore, but the terminology had stuck.  The company’s primary shareholder had been sixteen when she founded the corp and was very reclusive.  Allison wondered what it would be like to be sixteen and have a fortune to rival the Aurelius family.  She was only a third of the way through the list of movies and TV shows that were in the latest cache by the time the Major returned.  There were literally millions of video files.   She waved her hand and sent the article she was reading to the edge of the AR HUD her contacts provided.  It was added to the other hundred tabs she had open.  Likely to be forgotten like they had been. 

Allison stood up and saw Aryna walking towards them with an Intelligence officer and two corporals escorting her.  She was wearing a black flight suit with no mission or squadron patches.  Likely the only thing they had that would fit the girl’s slight figure.   Allison smiled at her and went to follow her outside but the Major stopped her.

“Ensign, a word please.”

Allison laughed nervously.

“Okay, but only one sir.”

The Major did not look amused.  He wore a turban with his SAI badge instead of the typical hat.

“Ensign, I hope you didn’t make a mistake in suggesting this.  She could be dangerous.  She is also our most valuable resource when it comes to the Sal’nash and the Silwrath threats.”

Allison wasn’t entirely sure the Silwrath were the threat they had been made out to be.  Her own memories of them were forever intermingled with the conflicting memories Aryna had shared with her.

“Sir, she has the memories of her entire species, her mother and the Sal’nash war jammed into her head.  We’re lucky she can form words.  She needs time and that room you had her in was not the solution.  I just suggested it, the President made the decision.  I mean, with all due respect, sir.”

The Major’s lips pursed.

“In my opinion the President is putting too much stock in a child’s ideas.  I don’t know what her interest is in you, Ensign, but politicians are capricious at best and their favor is fickle and when it is gone, you’ll still be here with us.  Next time you have an idea, speak to a superior officer before you share your ideas with the civilian government.  We have a chain of command for a reason, and we do not look kindly to those who work outside of it for attention.”

Allison felt like he’d just slapped her.  She stood at attention and saluted.  He saluted back.

“You did good yesterday, but you have a lot to learn.  I just hope the lesson doesn’t cost innocent lives.  Dismissed, Ensign.”

Allison didn’t run, but she was definitely walking at a quick pace to get away from the Major.  If she were more mature she might have taken his dressing down of her for what it was, constructive criticism, but as a sixteen year old girl who was at the best of times emotional he may as well have told her she was the dumbest idiot in the entire System’s Alliance.

Allison pulled herself into the transport.  Aryna smiled at her.  Allison didn’t notice she was too busy staring out at the passing fields.  Harvest time was upon the colony of Eden Prime, and she could see the robotic harvesters in the fields working diligently to bring the crops in.  A few tears dripped down her cheeks.   She felt Aryna’s fingers slip between her own and through the link the pair was back at the Qual’sa royal gardens.  Aryna was hugging Allison from behind. 

“Are you alright?”

Allison wasn’t sure how she was so comfortable with Aryna so quickly.  Perhaps it was the intimacy of the link the Qual’sa were so fond of communicating through.  Allison felt like they had been friends, maybe even something more for their entire lives and she’d spent maybe fifteen minutes with the girl.  She leaned back against Aryna.

“It is just a lot.”

Aryna squeezed her more tightly.

“I understand.  I am glad we have each other.  I’ve never had a friend my age.  As princess I was always preparing for taking over from my mother.  I did not have time for friends.  And I was always kept apart.  I don’t know if this is normal for my people.  But I feel like I know you and have for my entire life.”

Allison nodded.

“I feel the same, it is so strange.”

Aryna released Allison and motioned for her to follow.  They walked down the garden path.

“There are stories amongst all species in the League, of two souls that will always find each other.  No matter where they are in time and space.”

Allison smiled.

“Soul mates?”

Aryna shook her head causing her silver hair to bounce against her shoulders.  She got an image of true love… romance from Allison.

“No, not like that, it could end up that way, just that two souls belong together.  As friends, enemies, or lovers.  Our bond already feels like that.  I am glad we did not meet each other as enemies.”

Chapter Text

               Aryna broke the link and started looking out of the window on her side.  She glanced at Allison.  Then around the interior of the armored transport.

               “We did not have things like this on my world, we had Tylaran, four-legged mammals with a horn.  They would pull carriages.   How do you power these?”

               Allison glanced toward the rear.

               “Micro-fusion reactors.  We have civilian vehicles that run off batteries.  The military just doesn’t trust batteries to do the job.  But this does have batteries, the micro-fusion reactor charges them.  That way if the reactor goes offline, it still has some range left.”

               Aryna looked out at the vast farmlands and the habitation prefab’s.

               “I am confused.  The limited access I had to Alliance-net let me see vast cities of metal and stone.  With many bright lights and holograms.  Is there no city here?”

               Allison shook her head.

               “No, people leave Sol System and move to colonies to get away from the domes.  We have several commerce complexes.  Besides the Colony Defense Forces base, those are the biggest structures.”

               Aryna motion to a prefab habitation.

               “They all look the same.”

               Allison nodded.

               “They are manufactured in the asteroid belt in Sol System and dropped from space.  Thrusters slow their descent then they auto-deploy.  We have robots that level the land ahead of time.  It takes about a week to deploy a colony big enough to sustain ten thousand of us.  Provided they have the prefab habitation, barns and other units.  They also drop farming robots from space.  Manufacturing facilities come later.  The corporations have it down to a science.”

               Aryna smiled at Allison.

               “Are you a student of such things?”

               Allison shook her head.

               “No, the corps love to brag about their prowess.  We have to watch these stupid holos that are basically hour-long advertisements thinly veiled as education videos.  We get them at least once a week.”

               Aryna shifted so she could look directly at Allison.

               “Corp?”

               “Corps are business, they’re like… a person, but made up of a bunch of people?  They have shareholders who invest so they can make profit…”

               Aryna quirked her head to the side.

               “Why?”

               “To make credits of course they make the Galaxies turn…”

               “Oh, interesting.  We had nothing like that.”

               “You didn’t have businesses on your world?”

               Aryna shook her head.

               “No, we did not have currency as you would consider it.  We grew our homes from the land.  Same with our ships.  People did what they were skilled at.  We didn’t really have hunger or starvation.  Our lifespans make it, so we do not have any hope of overpopulating a world.”

               Aryna sighed.

               “Made it…”

               Allison patted Aryna’s hand.

               “Don’t think about it, you can’t change the past.”

               The transport pulled into the paved lane leading up to Allison’s home.  Aryna looked it over.

               “This is larger than the others.”

               “My parents were well off on Earth.  My mom is the leader of this colony, and my father is the leader of the Colony’s Defense Forces.  Like I said, money makes the galaxies turn.”

               They got out of the transport.  Allison walked beside Aryna towards the front door.  She stopped about ten feet out.  Aryna took a few steps before she realized Allison wasn’t beside her.  Aryna turned to her.

               “Is something the matter?  Do you need help?”

               Allison closed her eyes and rubbed the bridge of her nose between her thumb and index finger.

               “No, I’m just not looking forward to seeing my mom.  We haven’t seen each other in person since I rescued you.  I didn’t make it home last night.”

               Aryna smiled.

               “Surely you are looking forward to seeing her then?”

               Allison shook her head.

               “Not really.  Look, my mom… she’s a lot.  A bit overprotective.  Probably going to be upset I volunteered us to host you.  So, like this could go one of two ways, one, she keeps her cool because we have a guest, or two she will explode and tell me everything I did wrong yesterday.  Either way she’s going to be pissed.  So just find my dad, he’s the Captain from the base.  I know you’ve met him because he probably met you and Bit thinking it was me.”

               Aryna nodded.  Allison continued once she had that confirmation.

               “Just find my dad, get him to show you your room, close the door and get some sleep.”

               “Oh, we don’t sleep.  We meditate on our memories.  It is how we keep them organized.”

               Allison shrugged.

               “Whatever, just stay out of the way until mom has gotten whatever she’s going to be pissed about out of her system.  I knew it was coming the moment I decided to rescue you and your ship.  At this point I’m just delaying the inevitable.  And uh, look, there is something else I need to tell you so you’re not weirded out.”

               “What is it?”

               Allison took a deep breath.  She was still trying to process what Maria and the Doctor had told her.

               “I’m part vampire.”

               Aryna quirked one of her silver eyebrows.

               “I do not understand.”

               Allison bit her lower lip gently.  The sentence was going to sound so damn weird.

               “Apparently, I need to drink blood.  Don’t worry, we have synthetic blood for vampires… Just thought you should know.”

               Aryna laughed, it was as musical as ever.

               “Oh, is that all?  You are no different than the Spirin then.  Well at least in diet.  They did have six legs and two arms and over half their body was covered in chitin.”

               Allison pointed at a spider web that shimmered in the light from one of the light posts that lined the walk.

               “Like… spider people?”

               Aryna looked closer at the web.

               “Why yes, only much larger.  They used an organic webbing that looked very similar to that, except it was much thicker.”

               Allison was about to say something else when she noticed light streaming from the open front door.  She saw her mom’s silhouette.  She swallowed hard then looked at Aryna.

               “We should go inside.  There are blood drinking flying insects here that carry a bacteria.  We have medication for it but you’ll wish you were dead.  They’ll be out in a few minutes.”

               Apiyo stepped aside and closed the door.  She crossed her arms and looked Allison up and down.  Allison’s father recognized the look his wife was giving all too well.  He spoke.

               “Tearyna, please let me show you to your room.”

               Aryna glanced at Allison who nodded.   Allison’s mother grabbed Allison in a tight hug.  Allison flinched from the pain in her wound.  Apiyo tugged on Allison’s uniform top, pulling it out of her skirt.  She lifted it and pointed at the synth-skin patch.

               “What is this?  You’re injured?  They have you walking around injured?”

               Allison tried to push her mother’s hand away.

               “Its fine mom.”

               Apiyo didn’t believe that for a moment.  She checked the back and saw another patch of synth-skin.

               “What did this to you?”

               Allison shook her head.

               “Mom, I can’t.  It’s classified.  It’s nothing serious.

               Her mother pulled the skin-weave off and looked at the injury.

               “Nothing serious!  It went right through you and it’s an inch wide!  What madness are you involved in?”

               Allison pushed her mother’s hand away and reapplied the patch.

               “Nothing to worry about mom.  I was told there was a delivery of stuff for me?”

               Her mother pulled a bottle of Synth-O from one of the cabinets and put it down in front of Allison.

               “Blood?  They delivered blood?  For a transfusion.”

               Allison shook her head.

               “No mom.”

               Allison picked up the bottle and read it.  If the President was right, this would make her feel better almost immediately.  She popped the cap.  The metallic smell of blood wafted out of the bottle.  She picked the bottle up and pressed it to her lips.  She closed her eyes and drank as much of it down as she could in one gulp.  She expected to vomit it up, but it tasted so good.  She quickly finished the bottle.  Apiyo was staring at Allison who licked her lips.  She felt points on her incisors.  She rushed to the microwave and lifted her upper lip.  As Maria had predicted, she had fangs they were wickedly sharp looking and curved so she could close her mouth. 

               “Allison, what did they do to you child?  Please tell me what is going on.”

               Apiyo cupped Allison’s cheeks in her hands and gasped when the fangs sunk back into her daughter’s gums.

               “Mom, they didn’t do anything, it’s just… some vampire blood got into my Genesis pod’s supply.  It made me part vampire.  It’s completely normal.  I talked to a vampire tonight and she told me this was going to happen.”

               Apiyo looked her daughter over.

               “You seem paler than usual.  Did they turn you?”

               Allison pulled away from her mother and held her hands out in front of her.

               “Mom!  No!  I lost some blood!  I’m fine!  You never listen!”

               Her mother tried to reach out and hug her.  Allison shoved her away with a lot more strength than she expected and shouted.

               “Don’t touch me!”

               Her mother stumbled backwards and caught herself with the kitchen sink.  Her hand smashed through a glass.  She glanced at the blood as it began to mar the stainless steel of the sink.  Then she looked at Allison.  Her eyes went wide.  Allison caught a glimpse of her reflection out of the corner of her eye.  Her fangs were out, and her eyes had a soft golden glow to them.  The teenager’s nose twitched as the scent of fresh blood filled it.  Her eyes focused onto the sink, then Allison’s hands went to her mouth, and she rushed off to her room.   Apiyo watched her go.

               Jason came out just in time to be knocked aside in his daughter’s rush to her room.  He looked at Apiyo with a scowl.  He stalked into the kitchen.  His voice was a harsh whisper.

               “I warned you Apiyo!  I warned you she was going through a difficult time.  Why do you do that?  Why must you pressure her?”

               Apiyo didn’t look at her husband.  She was pulling small pieces of glass out of her palm and dropping them into the sink.  Tears were forming at the bottom of her eyes and she just shook her head.  Then she got mad and wiped them away with her good hand.

               “She is my daughter husband, and I will not have her avoiding my questions!  Why are you being so protective of her?”

               Jason gasped when he saw his wife’s bleeding palm.  He rushed off for the first aid kit and returned.  He tugged Apiyo to the kitchen table and laid out a clean dish cloth.  He pointed at a kitchen chair.

               “Sit woman.”

               Apiyo sat down.  Jason washed his hands then returned and motioned towards the cloth.

               “Hand.”

               Apiyo laid her still bleeding hand on the cloth.  Jason started to clean the wound.  Swabbing up the excess blood and using tweezers to remove a few small shards of glass.  He shook his head as he did it.

               “The two of you are so stubborn.  So much alike.  So prideful.”

               Apiyo took his dressing down in stride.  She winced when he sprayed the bacteriophage solution on the injury.  He continued.

               “If I hadn’t signed the adoption papers and she wasn’t so white I’d never guess you weren’t her biological mother.”

               He dabbed up the excess spray and pulled out the wound sealing foam.  He gently spread it on the wound and made sure it got into the wound proper.  Apiyo relaxed as the local anesthetic that was included in the foam kicked in.   Jason looked up at her face.  Apiyo met his gaze.  She could see fear in his eyes.

               “What is scaring you so much?”

               He shook his head and looked back down at her hand.  He pulled out a patch of synthetic skin and laid it across the cut.  The patch shifted from generic grey to match her dark skin tone.  She opened and closed her hand.  He started gathering up the first aid supplies and putting them back in the kit.  Apiyo grabbed his hand.

               “Jason, talk to me.”

               He closed his eyes and sighed, he whispered softly.

               “My love, there are things you do not know about Allison and how she came to be with us.  Things you’re putting at risk.”

               Apiyo’s eyes narrowed.

               “What did you do?”

               He snapped the first aid kit closed.  He rubbed his forehead and looked anywhere but into Apiyo’s eyes.  She grabbed his arms.

               “Jason, what did you do?”

               He closed his eyes and faced the ceiling.  He sighed heavily and he pulled Apiyo in for a tight hug.  She hugged him back.

               “You were so distraught when we lost the twins to Lazarus Syndrome… then we didn’t get picked in the child lottery.”

               Apiyo broke the embrace and stepped back from him.

               “What?  We were picked.”

               Jason shook his head.

               “No, my love, we were not.  I…  started looking for other ways to adopt, non-official ways.”

               Apiyo gasped.

               “You wouldn’t… Are you telling me you let us adopt a trafficked child?”

               Jason held up his hands.

               “No, no…  You were so depressed.  I was scared for you.  I would have done anything to give you a child.  Paid any price.  But no, she…  came to me.”

               Apiyo narrowed her eyes.

               “Who came to you?  Did you cheat on me?”

               Jason shook his head.

               “No!  No.  A vampire. I had to… make a promise.  That as all she asked for.”

               Apiyo started to shake her head.

               “They are dead they cannot have children.”

               “They can, there is a procedure.  They are not her children.  She would not tell me who the real parents were.  Just that she acted as a surrogate and that their parents died.”

               “There were two?”

               He nodded.  She looked at him in confusion, she could not understand why he would rob her of a chance at a second child.  Why would he agree to separate twins?   After what she had gone through, what she had lost.

               “Why wouldn’t you take both?  Why would you agree to something so monstrous?”

               She turned away and put her face into her hands as she began to choke up.  Memories of a long-lost twin sister started welling up.  He put his hand on her shoulder, and she pulled away.

               “My love, I…  just wanted to make you happy.”

               She turned to him; Her face was moist with tears.

               “What did you promise her?”

               “That I would tell no one where she came from.  That we would never try to find out who her biological parents were.  That I would never let her try.   That she would be safe and she would be loved.”

               “And her sister?”

               Jason sighed and still couldn’t look into his wife’s eyes.  He knew the hurt he would see there.

               “Brother and it was never an option.  Never an option…”

               He repeated it to himself, maybe he could make it true.

               “Did you even ask?”

               He closed his eyes.

               “No, you do not understand, my love.  This vampire.  She is not someone you ask things of, she is dangerous.  She is very old.  She gave me Allison and told me to leave.  She was so small, so perfect.  I knew she was what you needed.  What if I pressed her and she turned me away?”

               Apiyo shook her head.  She was so angry she was shaking.  She pointed to the door.

               “You need to leave this house.”

               Jason went to say something, but Apiyo raised her hand in front of her and shook her head.  Her tone left no room for discussion.

               “Don’t even try.  Just leave.  Now.  Before I say something I regret.”

               Jason hung his head and nodded.  He made his way into the garage.  Apiyo watched his headlights vanish into Eden Prime’s night.  She walked to her room and pulled an ancient photo album out of a drawer in her nightstand.  She opened it and moved through several pages to a photo of her and her twin sister.  Tears dripped down her face.  The photo was a thousand years old, preserved in ice for a millennia but for her it had only been twenty-eight years.  The void was still there in her chest.  Her eyes shifted to a photo of her mother.  She remembered how contentious her relationship with her had been. 

Her gaze shifted to a small holo-projector.  She put the preserved album aside and picked up the projector.  She powered it on.  An image of her and Allison appeared.  They were hugging.  Allison was in her white dress uniform.  They were standing in front of Allison’s starfighter.  The pair were smiling and laughing.  Allison’s AI companion had just made a joke.  Apiyo smiled. 

Since the moment Jason had placed their adopted daughter in her arms, Allison had become her entire world.  She had wanted a child so badly.  She thanked God that day for the precious gift.  Not her husband, not the System’s Alliance government.  Allison was a blessing.  She realized it did not matter how the child reached her.  Allison was her daughter and always would be, no matter what her origins were.  She sighed and put the holo down. 

She moved to Allison’s room and knocked on the door gently.  She received no answer.  She put her hand on the scanner beside it and the door slid open.  Allison’s room was a mess, clothes were everywhere.  Apiyo sighed.  She’d hoped the summer of military service would have gotten her daughter to a point where she was more organized and less chaotic.  Allison had at least changed out of her uniform before bed.  Apiyo shook her head and picked up the uniform skirt, and top putting them on a hanger. She hooked it onto a bar in her daughter’s walk-in closet.  She picked up the dirty underwear and civilian clothes and tossed them into a basket.  Their robot maid would deal with it when they got her back from maintenance.  This would normally be something the robot would do.

Apiyo felt a cold breeze and realized Allison had left her window open.  The anti-insect screen kept flashing as the night insects of Eden Prime flew against it trying to get access to the blood inside.  She tapped the control beside it and the window hissed when it shut.  She pulled one of Allison’s numerous blankets up over her daughter’s shoulders, Allison snuggled into the blanket.  Apiyo smiled at her daughter.  She was still the same little girl after all.

Apiyo drifted to her office.  It was late.  She should have been going over the debriefing she’d received as part of the colony defense planning meeting earlier in the evening.  However, she was more concerned about something else at the moment.  The recent revelations from her husband, and Allison’s changes.  She tapped her computer and established a neural link via wifi through her net-jack, the first cybernetic enhancement she had purchased.

Her avatar formed in her home construct.  Her personal virtual intelligence appeared.  He was an image of her first teenage crush, a character from a show.  He was a handsome white man with quite a bit of black stubble.  He smiled and spoke.

“What do you desire?”

Apiyo always got a bit of a chill when he said it.

“Please start a search for ancient vampires with golden irises.  Who their associates are and any histories on them.  Do the same for Maria Aurelius.”

The VI smiled at her.

“Official channels, or something more… shall we say, risqué?”

Apiyo gave a small giggle.  If only her husband knew what the VI was based on, he would be so upset.  She motioned towards the non-government access port.

“Unofficial channels only.  Use the discretionary fund if you need to.  I’ll start searching on my own.”

Apiyo willed her consciousness and her avatar out into the Alliance-net.

Chapter Text

               Allison woke up and gently rubbed the sleep from her eyes.  Her holo-phone had vibrated and pulled her from a crazy dream that involved Tyler and her in crazy bad Bollywood style space suits fighting off an army of Sal’nash.  She was doing the fighting; Tyler was hiding behind her complaining about how bad the bug guts and blood smelled.  She shook her head and laughed softly.  She didn’t even like him.  She let out a long slow breath before trying to move.  Her side was much less sore today, in fact there was no pain at all.  She lifted off the synth-skin and blinked.  Her abdomen was smooth, no scar, not even red.  She rushed into her bathroom and ripped the synth-skin off her back.  The exit wound was gone as well.  Just smooth pale skin.  She quickly checked her face.  She scowled when she realized the pimple was still there on her nose.

               “Seriously body, you can heal a gaping wound, but you can’t get rid of one stupid pimple?”

               She decided on a full water shower today.  After the water stopped she was blown dry by heated air from the shower walls.  She tossed the synth-skin to the organic recycler and headed out to the kitchen.  She smelled breakfast and realized she was absolutely starving.  She couldn’t ever remember being this hungry.  It felt like her body was about to start eating itself.  Her mother was talking to Aryna.  Allison didn’t interrupt the pair she just grabbed the rest of the eggs and the bacon.  She was in full ‘can’t talk, eating’ mode.  Her mother slid a bottle of Synth-O across the breakfast bar wordlessly.  Allison grabbed it and downed it.  She looked around the kitchen for something else to eat.  Her mother finally addressed her.

               “Allison, what are you looking for?”

               Allison had reached the cooling unit at this point.

               “Is there anything else to eat?”

               Her mother raised her eyebrow.  Allison was a lot of things, but she had never been a big eater.  Apiyo nudged Allison out of the way and broke several more eggs, mixed in some chopped vegetables, a mix of both Earth sourced and new alien ones.  She also chopped up some Mutyuk meat.  They were similar to chickens.  Made a large omelet while Allison and Aryna got caught up.  Allison looked Aryna up and down.  Apparently, her mother and the teenage Queen had been up long before her because Aryna’s hair was now trimmed to just below her shoulders and she was wearing a school uniform.

               “You look good in the uniform.  No one looks good in these uniforms.  Now I’m regretting rescuing you.”

               Aryna let loose a musical laugh.  That drew Apiyo’s attention.  The young alien girl had been fairly dour for the entire time they’d been awake together that morning.  Aryna drew closer to Allison, as if Apiyo’s daughter was magnetic.  Aryna put her hand on Allison’s forearm.  The house vanished and the pair of teens were alone in the Qual’sa palace gardens.

               “Are you alright Allison?  I heard you fighting with your mother last night.”

               Allison nodded.

               “Yes, I’m fine, but we shouldn’t be doing this.  One, it’s rude because my mother is here, and two, you need to give your mind a chance to recover.  Not that I don’t feel better when we’re linked like this.”

               Aryna nodded then rubbed her abdomen.

               “Are you usually this hungry?”

               Allison shook her head.

               “No, my body healed itself last night, my injury is gone, I figure it just takes a lot of energy or something.”

               Aryna released Allison’s arm and they were back in the kitchen.  Apiyo had been talking.  She glanced back at Allison.

               “Allison, how much do you want?”

               Allison blinked a few times.

               “Half… or whatever you don’t want?”

               Her mother broke off a third of the omelet and put the rest on Allison’s plate shaking her head the whole time.

               “I asked you four times, you have the worst attention span.  How do you get through school?  Or even fly a plane?”

               Allison blushed.  Aryna spoke up.

               “I am sorry, Mrs. Wanjala it is my fault.  We were somewhere else.”

               Apiyo started eating her portion of the omelet she spoke after she swallowed the first few bites.

               “Somewhere else?”

               Aryna nodded.

               “The Qual’sa are telepathic, on my homeworld good friends rarely speak.  It’s inefficient.  We join in a mental link.  Allison and I were in a link, chatting.  I’m sorry, she told me it was rude to do when around others.  Now I see why, you were trying to talk to us and did not know.”

               Apiyo smiled.

               “My daughter, actually suggested being polite?  Perhaps I should take her temperature.  Make sure she’s not coming down with something.”

               Allison blushed; She didn’t say anything she just kept stuffing omelet into her mouth.  Her mother poured out a glass of salberry juice for them both.  Allison downed hers and slid her glass closer to her mother.

               “More please?”

               Apiyo gave Allison a strange look but filled the glass up this time.  Allison downed it.  That actually started helping her feel much less hungry.  Unfortunately, she was still feeling absolutely drained physically.  She looked at her mom who was on the kitchen side of the bar.

               “Mom, could I have another bottle of Synth-O please?”

               Apiyo gave her a look.

               “You are supposed to drink one bottle three times a day, not three bottles once a day.  I looked it up.”

               Allison sighed.

               “Please mom?  I need more.”

               Apiyo shook her head but pulled another bottle out and put it in front of Allison.  The teenager gulped it down and licked her lips afterwards.  Apiyo took both bottles and put them back in the case.

               “I’ve ordered three more cases.”

               Allison blinked at her mother in disbelief.

               “Why?”

               Apiyo took the breakfast plates and put them into the dishwasher.  She wiped her hands on a dish rag and leaned on the bar.

               “Because, as a dhampir you need a ready supply of blood; I spent some time last night doing research about your condition.”

               “Condition?  I’m half-vampire, it’s not a condition.  It’s just what I am.  That’s like saying, Aryna has pointed ears because of her condition.  Rude and racist.”

               Apiyo sighed.

               “I misspoke.  You two ready to go to school?  Put on sunblock?”

               Allison shook her head.

               “I don’t need it, or so the computer says.  Dhampirs are immune.”

               Aryna spoke.

               “I did put it on as instructed.”

               Apiyo smiled at her.

               “Good, at least someone listens to common sense.  Allison get your school bag, Aryna, you and Allison will go to the commerce complex to pick one up tonight.  I’m assuming you’ll be handed a tablet at school.”

               Allison slid off her stool.  Apiyo cleared her throat.  She was holding a bottle of Synth-O.

               “For lunch.”

               Allison sighed.  She was hoping to avoid drinking that at school but she knew she’d want it so she picked up the bottle and mumbled.

               “Thanks, mom.”

               Once everyone was ready, they piled into her mom’s car.  Aryna didn’t say anything on the trip to the school she was looking at the fields they passed until they reached the colony’s center.   This was where the larger buildings were.  They didn’t have to pass through the colony’s civilian headquarters sector on the way back from the base.  Unfortunately, it was directly on their route to the school.  It was always slow because of traffic.  Apiyo pointed at the largest prefab on the colony.

               “That is where I work.  It is the capital building for Eden Prime.  As time goes on more farming communities will be built and this will remain the capital.  Representatives will be appointed or elected, and they will sit in an assembly.  Where we will decide the future of Eden Prime.”

               Aryna smiled at Apiyo and nodded.  They drove on and finally reached the school. Allison leaned over and gave her mom a kiss on the cheek.  Apiyo gave Allison her sunglasses once again.  Allison took them and slipped them on.

               “Have a good day at school you two.”

               Allison got out of the car and waited for Aryna to join her.  They were a bit earlier than usual, at least Allison’s usual.

               “Okay, I need to be honest with you here Aryna.  You’re about to enter the most cutthroat, vicious, snarky, hell hole that humans have to offer.  High School.  If someone says something that can be taken two ways, they always mean it to be the worst way.  I’ll do my best to protect you but don’t take any shit from anyone.  Even the teachers.”

               Aryna raised an eyebrow.

               “Why would parents send their children here then?”

               Allison shrugged.

               “It’s a rite of passage.  If you can survive high school, you can survive anything.  Let’s go.”

               Allison started walking towards the school.  A gaggle of older students entered in front of them.  No one paid the pair any mind.  Everyone was either kissing their boyfriend or girlfriend, chatting amongst friends or trying to avoid being noticed.  Allison was describing the different cliques as they walked through the school.  They reached the bank of lockers for the grade elevens.  Allison pulled out her tablet and searched for Aryna’s locker.  It was next to hers.  Tyler was in their way once again.  Allison had decided at this point he had two speeds, slow and stop.  She motioned to him and glanced at Aryna.

               “This is Tyler, he’s weird, and also slow.  Feel free to kick him until he moves out of the way.  He’s from Earth.  I think they put something in the water there.”

               Tyler adjusted his glasses and looked up at the pair.  He fell on his butt when he saw Aryna.  Allison motioned at him again.

               “See?”

               Aryna smiled and offered her hand.  Tyler didn’t take it.  He struggled to get up on his own.  Aryna looked at Allison, who shrugged.

               “Weird.  Tyler, get the hell out of the way, would you?  Pretty please?”

               Tyler scrambled to his feet and closed his locker.  He was about to rush off when Allison noticed Ajay and his cronies on his route.  She had promised the Headmistress she’d look out for the idiot, so she grabbed his arm.  When she spoke, it was more of an order than a request.

               “We’re walking to class together.”

               Tyler froze and nodded.  Allison showed Aryna how to open the lockers and stowed her backpack and grabbed her tablet.  Tyler walked between the two girls as they went to their homeroom.  Allison looked at Ajay and his two friends.  She got an idea, and she wasn’t sure she could pull it off but she tried.  When they got close, she grinned.  She felt her fangs extend.  She pulled her sunglasses down her nose; She saw her reflection in the office window.  Her eyes were glowing gold. 

               “Tyler is under my protection, you mess with him, you mess with me.”

               She pushed her sunglasses back up.  She rushed on to catch up to Aryna and Tyler.  Aryna looked at her.

               “Did you just threaten them?”

               Allison nodded.  Aryna raised an eyebrow.

               “You humans are strange.”

               Allison shrugged.  They reached Sister Silra’s classroom.  Sister Silra’s tail started slapping the ground when she saw Aryna.  Aryna stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the dinosaur woman.  Allison nudged Aryna.

               “Come with me.”

               Aryna followed Allison, her magenta eyes were wide.  Allison spoke first.

               “Sister Silra, this is my friend Tearyna.  She is a new student and hasn’t seen a Sauroid before.  Though she has seen other alien races.”

               Aryna nodded.

               “I am sorry, I… you look like a predator from my world’s jungles.”

               Sister Silra’s tail slapped on the floor several times.

               “Yes, we evolved from a predator on our world.  Have no fear I only eat bad children, I am sure you’re very well behaved.”

               Aryna blinked a few times.  Allison stifled a giggle.

               “Aryna, the light Sauroids like Sister Silra are vegetarians, they don’t eat meat.  Their dark side counterparts do eat meat pretty exclusively or they used too.”

               Sister Silra’s tail slapped a few more times.

               “Allison, you do listen in class.”

               “I’m sorry Aryna, Sister Silra thinks she’s funny.”

               Sister Silra motioned to Allison’s usual seat.

               “Please sit on the other side of Allison, Tearyna, well find a new seat for Bindu.”

               Allison and Aryna sat down beside Tyler.  The class passed without any strangeness, save for the fact Ajay did his best to avoid looking in Allison’s direction.  His face was still bruised and swollen from the soccer ball she’d hit him with.  Math class was the same, save for the fact Aryna was hopelessly lost.  Apparently, statistics and probability were not something she was familiar with.  Allison finished early and did her best to help her new friend.  When lunch came Tyler was just ahead of them at lunch.  Allison leaned in close behind him.

               “You’re going to sit with us if you know what’s good for you.  And you’re going to wait for us to get our food before you go to the table.”

               Tyler stiffened up and nodded.  Allison and Aryna walked with Tyler to Allison’s usual spot.  Aryna looked at Tyler then towards Allison.  She put her hand on Allison’s arms, and they were back in the link.  It was the cafeteria, and everyone was still around them, but there was a blur at the edge of Allison’s vision.

               “Why do you treat Tyler like this?”

               Allison looked at Aryna.

               “I was asked to protect him by the Headmistress.”

               Aryna shook her head.

               “Show me.”

               Allison tried to remember back to the conversation with the headmistress.  Aryna stopped the memory as the pair watched the conversation in the headmistress’s office just after the headmistress said.

               “You are going to learn to integrate better with our new students from Earth.  In fact, you are going to be Tyler Grant’s guide to the school and the colony for the next month.  You will learn about where he is from, and he will learn about the colony.”

               Aryna smiled at Allison.

               “See?  It is easy to misremember things.”

               Allison sighed.

               “She asked me to be his guide, what am I supposed to do?  He’s weird and he doesn’t say anything.  He’s scared of you.”

               Aryna shook her head.

               “I believe he is scared of you.  Treat him like you treat me, he may be more open.  He might just be shy.”

               Tyler was staring at them.  Aryna noticed and broke the link.  Tyler adjusted his glasses when he noticed both girls looking at him and quickly focused on his food.   Allison sighed.

               “Tyler, I’m sorry for threatening you.”

               Tyler looked up at Allison. 

               “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to stare.  I’ll be quiet.”

               Allison looked at Aryna and shrugged.  Aryna spoke to Tyler.

               “Allison is trying to be your friend; She just isn’t very good at it.  I would like to be your friend as well.”

               Tyler looked like a deer caught in headlights.  Aryna continued.

               “Allison needs to take me to the commerce complex today to pick up some things.  Would you like to join us?”

               Allison rolled her eyes and pulled the bottle of Synth-O out of her bag and popped the cap.  The smell of blood wafted out and hit her nose.  Her fangs extended on their own accord.  She hungrily gulped down the bottle.  Tyler stared at her with wide eyes.  Aryna reached out and touched his hand.  Tyler’s expression went blank, then he blinked a few times and focused on Aryna again.  His lips tried to form words.  Aryna released his hand.  He nodded and adjusted his glasses.   Allison barely took notice. 

She was beginning to realize drinking blood was almost… sexual for her.  Intimate even.  She tried to get more out of the bottle but found it was empty.  She was curious what it would be like to drink blood straight from someone’s veins.  She shifted in her seat and crossed her legs.   Her eyes darted to Tyler’s neck then to Aryna’s.  She looked at the empty Synth-O bottle and swiftly screwed on the cap.  It didn’t help.  Everywhere she looked there were people full of blood.  Blood, she wanted more than anything else in this moment.  She suddenly stood up.

“I need to go.”

She left her lunch and the empty Synth-O bottle and her bag.  She rushed to one of the furthest washrooms from the cafeteria.  She looked in the mirror.  She was horrified to see her fangs were still out and her eyes had a golden glint to them.  She paced back and forth.  She heard the door open and close.  She didn’t care who it was.  They couldn’t be near her right now.

“Get out!”

She heard Trixie’s voice.

“You colony peasants sure think you are something don’t you?”

Allison saw red.  Whether it was the lust for more blood, her inherent dislike of Trixie, or just pent-up anger at her mother.  She lunged at the girl.  Trixie had no chance against her strength and speed.  Before either knew what was going on Trixie was pressed up against one of the bathroom stall walls and Allison had her fangs in her neck.  Gulping blood down.  Allison could feel… fear, arousal, and pleasure from Trixie.  She could feel Trixie drooping in her arms.  Hear her gasping for breath.  Allison snapped out of it and stumbled back and fell on her butt in the middle of the washroom floor.  Trixie collapsed onto the toilet holding her neck.  What she said surprised Allison.

“Why did you stop?”

Allison blinked.

“You were going to die.”

Trixie pulled herself up and moved closer to Allison who backed away.

“Do it again.”

Allison caught Trixie when she was an arms length away and held her there with both hands.

“We need to get you to the hospital.  You’re going to bleed to death.”

Trixie pulled her hand away from her neck and besides a bit of blood that trickled down her neck and onto her shirt collar there was no sign Allison bit her.  Allison gasped.

               “The bite… it is gone.”

               “Of course it is, unless you tear it heals.  Are you new?  Oh, was I your first?”

               Allison had released Trixie in her shock.  Trixie pressed her against a wall.

               “I thought you were just a kid like me.  But you’re a vampire.  We’re going to be really good friends.  I thought there were none here.  Its why my parents moved here.  To keep me away from Alona.  How do you survive in the sun?”

               Allison saw her reflection in the mirrors behind Trixie.  Blood had trickled out of the corners of her mouth and onto her chin.  Trixie leaned in and kissed her on the lips.   Allison had never kissed anyone like this before and she was sure this wasn’t how she wanted her first kiss to go.  She struggled with Trixie finally shoving the girl off of her.  Trixie licked her lips.

               “So hot.  Alona was always so neat when she drank.  Could never taste my own blood.”

               Allison really wanted to bite Trixie again.  When Trixie came towards her again Allison’s fangs extended.  Allison shook her head and pushed Trixie away again.

               “Stop it!  Are you insane?  I almost killed you!”

               Trixie licked her lips again and moved her neck to the side.

               “Why are you being such a baby about this?  You need blood I have lots left, just one more bite.”

               Allison ripped a paper towel out of the roller beside her and wiped her face as she weaved around Trixie.

               “I can’t.”

               Trixie put her hands on her hips.

               “But you want to, don’t you?  I can still see your fangs.”

               Allison held up her hands and rushed out of the bathroom.  She had the bad luck of running into Ajay, Besho, Sam and Andrew.   Trixie followed her out.  Ajay said something he probably shouldn’t have.

               “Trixie, we’ll put her in her place.”

               Ajay grabbed for Allison’s arm.  He was bigger than her and their last fight had ended with him on the ground because she sucker punched him after she embarrassed him in combat training.

               “She still doesn’t know how she’s supposed to behave.”

               Allison snarled and grabbed him by the jacket and hoisted him up slamming him into a bank of lockers.  Her fangs were out and her eyes were glowing gold. 

               “You just don’t know when to quit do you?  Girls don’t owe you anything, let alone respect.  I can’t believe I fell for your bullshit.”

               She slammed him into the lockers again.  Trixie spoke.

               “That’s it, teach him a lesson.  Bite him!”

               Sam and Andrew bolted.  Besho tried to grab Allison’s arm but couldn’t budge it.  Allison looked directly at her.  Besho’s eyes went wide and she scrambled away falling on her butt.  She pulled herself to her feet and her shoes squeaked as she bolted down the floor.  Allison could feel Trixie’s warm breath on the back of her neck.  A nibble on her ear.  Then a soft whisper.

               “Look at him, he’s begging for it.  Do it.  Tear his throat out.  Show him he’s the prey.”

               Allison dropped Ajay and shoved away from Trixie, then rushed off.  She wasn’t sure if she was more disgusted by Trixie or by the fact she very nearly did tear out Ajay’s throat.  She realized she needed help and she needed it now.  How long could she resist biting someone else?  Allison heard Trixie speaking to Ajay as Allison rushed away.

               “You’re pathetic.  As if I’d want to hang out with you and your loser friends.  I can’t believe you had her, and you let her go, your blood isn’t worthy of her.”

               Allison lost whatever else was said as she rushed out into the school’s courtyard through a side door.  She opened up comms to the private line the President had given her.  She paced while she waited for a response.   The president’s image appeared in front of her.

               “Allison, your lifesigns are erratic, what is going on?”

               “Ma’am, I bit someone.  I didn’t want to; I don’t know what came over me.”

               Maria nodded she spoke in a calming voice.

               “Shh, Allison, stop, take a deep breath, just calm yourself.”

               Allison shook her head.

               “Ma’am?  Calm myself?  I just bit someone and drank their blood.  She wanted me to bite her again!”

               Maria nodded once again.

               “Some people are… easily addicted to being bitten.  It’s not abnormal.  Just lower your voice.  Take another deep breath.”

               Allison took a deep breath and nodded.

               “Good, good.  I told you to call me when you had your fangs show up.  I wasn’t expecting them this soon.  We’re here now.  If you’re randomly biting people, you likely need to increase your Synth-O intake until the urges aren’t as strong.  Dhampirs… dhampirs who are born from a vampire of a certain age or power level can be on the hungry side.  It appears the blood that caused this was quite potent.  I am sorry, I misjudged how much blood you would require.  The good news is once you’re healed your needs will level off, if you don’t use your abilities, you won’t need any.  From personal experience as a vampire, the hunger never really goes away even if you’re fully satiated.  That is true for dhampirs to a lesser extent.  I am sorry for having to tell you this, but you can mitigate with Synth-O but these urges are something you need to learn to control.”

               “I’m fully healed.  Is the hunger the reason I’ve been starving all day.”

               Maria closed her eyes and opened them a few moments later.

               “We need to talk in person.  Go to the headmistress’s office.  I’ll have Synth-O dropped off.  Drink as much as you need and try to get through the rest of your school day.  I’ll file a flight plan for you to come to Earth.”

Chapter Text

               Allison, Aryna and Tyler were waiting for the bus.  Allison shuddered when she heard Trixie’s voice.

               “Oh, the bus?  Where are you going?”

               Allison sighed when Aryna turned around and spoke.

               “We’re going to the commerce center; Would you like to join us?”

               Tyler was in the middle of shaking his head when Trixie hopped over and wrapped her arms around Allison’s left arm.

               “Sure, but let’s not take the stinky bus.  I have my car.”

               Aryna smiled.

               “Perfect.”

               Trixie started tugging Allison with her.  Allison felt like she had no other choice, so she let herself be dragged to Trixie’s very fancy car.  Allison had seen it advertised on the Alliance-Net.  She found it ridiculous her parents had shipped it here.  It must have cost a fortune.  They all piled in.  Trixie made sure Allison was in the passenger seat in the front.  Trixie’s hand drifted to Allison’s thigh.  Allison shifted her leg away.

               “Hey, maybe both hands on the wheel, please?”

               Trixie sighed.

               “Why?  It’s not like a car crash will hurt you.”

               Allison blinked a few times.

               “No, but it will hurt you and them.”

               She motioned to the back seat.  Tyler and Aryna didn’t follow any of that and Aryna reached for Allison’s shoulder.  Allison pulled away.  She’d had enough touchy feeliness to last her a second lifetime.  Aryna quirked her head to the side.  Tyler adjusted his glasses and looked out the window.  Trixie glanced at Allison.

               “That computer program sure picked perfect partners for the Welcoming thing, didn’t it?”

               Allison sighed.

               “I can see why it did.”

               Trixie smiled and motioned to Allison’s wrist.

               “You got any music on that thing?  Mom refused to hook the car up to the Alliance-net.  She’s so paranoid someone will hack it cause it happened one time to some corpo shmuck.”

               Allison was happy to put music on and waved her hand at her AR HUD music player.  Then she swept her hand toward the radio.  Her military grade attack program broke into the radio and started playing music from when she last stopped it.  A dark beat thrummed through the car as a song from the twenty-first century filled their ears.  It was a cover from a movie Allison had watched once and liked.  Trixie smiled.

               “Oh, I recognize this, Alona loved this one, Carfax Abbey, Cry Little Sister.  So perfect for you.”

               Aryna was moving to the beat.  She smiled at Allison.

               “This is amazing.  Is all of your music like this?  Everything on Celestia was soft and ethereal.  This is so dark and the beat I can feel it in my soul.”

               Allison shrugged and didn’t answer.  She was happy everyone was just enjoying the music instead of talking or touching her.  The song flowed into another dark song.  This was her I want to brood play list which she felt like after her fight with her mother the night before.  This one was slower.  She bobbed her had to the slow dark beat.  Trixie glanced at Allison.

               “What is this one?”

               “Video Kid, by The Birthday Massacre.”

               Trixie turned up the music.

               “I love it.  You need to share this play list with me.”

               Allison shrugged.

               “Sure, whatever.”

               Trixie pulled into the parking lot for the Commerce Complex and parked on one of the middle levels.  Everyone piled out of the car. 

The Commerce Complex, or Center was the 30^th century version of a mall.  While most things could be 3D printed at home, if you wanted specific name brands or styles you had to purchase it from a corp. Either you bought it already fabricated or you had to buy a single use license.  Mom and pop shops were a thing of the distant past.  Every single store in a Commerce Center was corporate owned and operated.  Whether you went to one on Eden Prime, or Majorus Six the only thing different would be the staff and likely a selection of specialized items specific to the local colony culture that were in a corner of the store.  Here it was African, Middle-Eastern and Indian styled articles.   Each Commerce Complex was an identical design, making them easy to prefab and drop onto a planet.  The central hub was a food court style area.  They were a pre-made social center.  They were tailored to appeal to the human condition.   Like everything else on the colony worlds they were designed to build community and manipulate people into setting down roots.  System’s Alliance would always be true to its roots.  A corporation centered money-making machine.

Allison did her best to use Tyler as a shield from Aryna and Trixie.  After the whole washroom fiasco with Trixie she was not in the mood for being touched by anyone and Tyler seemed to be touch averse.  Their first stop was the food court. 

There was the standard African and Indian fair for the colony of course there was other food available.  Allison went for a curry and rice dish.  It was something she didn’t generally get at home.  Tyler bought a burger and fries.  Aryna bought what Allison bought, and Trixie went for pizza.  They all sat down together.  Allison sat beside Tyler making him visibly uncomfortable.  She made sure Aryna sat across from her.  This provided her maximum distance from Trixie.   The majority of the meal was taken up by Aryna asking what seemed like endless questions about the Commerce Complex, what the various foods were like, why they still used money, and who the people with grey hair were.  This one got Allison’s attention.

“What do you mean who are the people with grey hair?”

Aryna pointed at an elderly couple who had likely been in their late sixties when they moved to the colony as the colony had only existed for twenty years and you had to be pretty young to get authorization and support to move to colony.

“They’re old people.  Probably in their eighties to nineties.  Likely born before the latest genetic engineering pass.  And don’t point it’s rude.”

Aryna looked at them again then back at Allison.

“Oh, so humans don’t leave their bodies before they reach ancient status?”

Allison almost choaked on her curry.

“You mean you guys euthanized people before they got old?  Why would you do that?”

Aryna shook her head.

“No, they chose to leave their physical forms behind so they would not be a burden.  A physical body is just the first stage of life.  For a normal citizen two thousand years is more than enough to prepare for the next life.  For royals… it could be as long as ten thousand.  We’ve never had anyone last long enough for their age to become a burden.”

Tyler was listening to the conversation, looking completely fascinated.  Trixie had to interject.

“You know, vampires are immortal, but they do hit a point where they’re just tired of living and go to sleep and never wake up. But their body never decays.  Maybe it’s the same thing.”

Aryna shook her head.

“No, when a Qual’sa choose to move on they’re body is converted into energy.  It is a beautiful moment.  Unfortunately, in war or other violent deaths…  most have not reached that point in their evolution and do not move on.”

Allison dropped her fork.

“Wait, you… are energy beings?”

Aryna smiled.

“Of course.  Our physical forms are just…  like a cocoon.  Once we have grown beyond them, we cannot be contained.  Some physical forms are more durable than others.”

Allison wanted to ask more but realized she would be stepping into classified territory so she shut her mouth and ate the rest of her curry in silence.  She glanced at the countdown clock that was running at the edge of her AR HUD.  Realizing that time was running out before she had to head to Earth she stood up.

“It’s been fun and all but I have to work in three hours.  So can we get that backpack, clothes and tablet for you Aryna?”

Aryna nodded and stood up.  Tyler and Trixie joined them.  After disposing of their garbage they moved on. 

One thing about the 30^th century human culture was that littering, and waste was considered abhorrent.  Everything was recycled.  Everything that could be reused, was reused.  Surviving an apocalyptic ice age with limited resources had deeply ingrained a culture of frugality within humans.  Dome living hadn’t been any different.  Now that they were moving to colonies it might change but this generation was still very familiar with living by the motto, RRR.  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.  Don’t like your old school bag, that’s fine, but you resell it, repurpose it, or you recycle it so the matter could be used in something else.

The group made their way through the complex going on a shopping spree fueled by the System’s Alliance Xeno-Diplomatic Corps.  Allison knew the budget and made sure they used it up.  Not that she needed anything personally.  Her parents made sure she had anything she ever wanted.  Others might call her spoiled, but she never asked for anything she didn’t need.  She got a part time job for that, SASNR.  System’s Alliance Space Navy Reserves.  They would also pay for any post-secondary education she wanted.  What she wanted was really a motorcycle, something fast enough to do something stupid with.  She didn’t stop Aryna from spending money on Trixie and Tyler though.  She called her mother when they finished.

“Hi Mom, Aryna is finished shopping, I got called in to work tonight, and I need to get Bit to pick me up, can you pick her up at the Commerce Complex and give her and our friend Tyler a ride home?”

Her mother looked skeptical on the video chat until Allison flicked her orders from System’s Alliance Command, then she just look pissed.

“Earth?  Why can’t you just communicate via holo?”

Allison didn’t want to go into details.

“Look mom, I’ll be back in time for bed and if I can’t be I’ll stay at a barracks on Earth and be back in time for school.  I’ll make sure you’re kept in the loop.  A lot of the stuff that’s happened is too sensitive to talk about over comm channels.”

Her mother sighed.

“You send me a comm when you reach Sol system and when you reach Earth.  Same when you’re on your way home.”

Allison rolled her eyes.

“Ugg mom, I’ll be fine, I’m sixteen.”

Her mother wagged her finger.

“I know what I was like when I was sixteen.  I’m on my way to pick them up.”

Allison walked with the group to one of the nearest commerce center exits.  Her mother showed up shortly afterwards.  Allison helped Aryna and Tyler put their purchases in the car.  Her mother got out and leaned over the roof of the car.

“Allison, remember what I told you.”

Allison sighed.

“Whatever mom.”

Apiyo narrowed her eyes.

“Don’t you dare whatever, mom, me!”

Allison waved.

“Bye mom, love you.”

Apiyo shook her head and got in the car.  Allison tapped her quick comm link button to Bit and opened a channel.

“Bit, do you have our flight plan?”

She smiled when she heard Bit respond.

“Yes, Ensign, I’m already enroute.  Your new armor is in the cargo hold.”

Allison moved up to the landing pad on the roof of the complex.  It wasn’t used much on Eden Prime.  They didn’t have any of the civilian air cars that were common on Earth.  The vehicles that did utilize it was emergency medical teams, Colony Security forces and military.  Trixie had followed Allison up much to the latter’s consternation.

“You can go Trixie; I got a ride. Thanks though.”

Trixie smiled.

“I figured I could keep you company until you left.”

Allison pointed at a dot that was rapidly closing in on them.

“That’s my fighter, she will be here in less than thirty seconds.”

Trixie clutched onto Allison’s left arm.  Allison sighed.

“Trixie, I’m not a vampire.”

Trixie smiled up at her.

“Sure, sure.”

Bit landed on the pad and her port cargo bay revealed itself as her armored liquid metal hull oozed out of the way.  Allison pressed her hand on the security pad after extricating herself from Trixie.  Inside was a black bundle of what looked like rubber.  She pulled it out and stretched it.

“Bit, I think they mistook my request for a new suit of armor for a wet suit.”

Bit spoke through her translator.

“It is new technology.  Programmable matter armor.  Same armor your Dark Mother wore.  It forms plates as required.  I am unsure who authorized its delivery, but it was delivered yesterday and placed in your locker.  I had it transferred to the cargo hold.”

Allison shrugged and started pulling off her school uniform.  She had forgotten about Trixie who was watching her with a sly grin.  Allison started to stuff her uniform in the cargo hold.

“Ensign, perhaps you should put that away neatly in case you need to wear it tomorrow.”

Allison rolled her eyes sometimes Bit was less partner in crime and more second mother.  She folded it neatly and slipped it into the nylon bag that was used to stow sensitive items.  She pulled out her other kit.  She was surprised to see her service pistol had been replaced with the Qual’sa weapon.  This prompted Trixie to comment.

“Oh, you get a gun?  Just when I thought you couldn’t get any sexier.  And that bodysuit is doing you a lot of favors.”

               Allison glanced back at her and blushed when she realized Trixie had just watched her strip down to her underwear and pull on the skintight armor.  Allison slipped her vibro knife into a sheath that formed on the armor.   She wasn’t really sure what to say to Trixie.

               “You know my weapon has way too much charge for you to be saying stuff like that.”

               Trixie laughed.

               “Now that’s what I call flirting.  See you tomorrow at school.”

               Allison just shook her head and climbed into Bit.  She started plotting her atmospheric exit trajectory then she realized her armor had no helmet.

               “Uh bit, regs say I can’t fly without ready access to full environmental body armor.  Where is the helmet?”

               Bit sounded amused when she responded.

               “Ensign, the armor will form one when you require it.  It syncs up with my systems, and your holo-phone.  We are clear for launch.”

Chapter Text

               Allison tapped in the commands to launch and go transatmospheric.  It took her seconds to reach space.  She flipped the fighter so she could see Eden Prime.

               “Bit send a message to my mother we’re about to transit to FTL.”

               Allison flipped the fighter as she completed an orbit of Eden Prime and angled bit for her jump to lightspeed.  The fighter transited into the blue-white tunnel.  Allison noticed the holo-HUD was indicating arrival to Andromeda-1 in thirty seconds.

               “Bit emergency stop!”

               The fighter transited out FTL of immediately and started to spin out until Allison got her hands on the controls.  She leveled the fighter to what the HUD indicated was the galactic horizon.

               “Ensign, what is the matter?”

               Allison started going through her calculations for the FTL jump.  There was nothing wrong.  Everything was set properly; She’d set the speed variable to her authorized maximum FTL velocity rating.  Everything was right but it had calculated her maximum rating as ten times her actual rating as a human.

               “Bit, what is wrong with our connection with System’s Alliance medical, it has my Max FTL rating as 100 light years per hour.  We’re lucky I’m not dead.  Check my bio signs please.  My holo-phone is malfunctioning.”

               Bit took several seconds to respond.

               “Ensign, you’re in good health.  Better than you have been in the entire time I’ve known you. Your new classification as a dhampir means you are rated for 100 light years per hour.  Your body and mind are more durable than a human.  You could theoretically make the trip across the galactic divide in three System’s Alliance standard years.  Congratulations.”

               Allison took a few minutes to calm down from her panic attack about her impending death.

               “Whew, I wish you’d told me that five minutes ago!”

               “You didn’t ask.”

               Allison noticed something on her scanners.

               “Bit, is that a planet?  We shouldn’t be near any celestial bodies; This is interstellar space.”

               Bit rapidly flashed different star charts over the holo-HUD.

               “We have no records of anything here.  Standard orders are to investigate any anomalies.”

               Allison sighed.

               “I’m going to be late for my meeting.  Open wormhole comms.”

               “That will use up all antimatter in magnetic containment.”

               Allison shrugged.

               “And if something dangerous is down there and no one can find us, we’ll be really screwed.”

               “Opening a comm-link.”

               Allison waited until the wormhole connection link icon on her HUD said established.

               “This is Skull Ten, during a test of emergency FTL all stop systems I encountered a rogue planet.  I have included galactic coordinates for the location and projected trajectory of the rogue planet.  I am halfway between origin point and plotted destination.  I have an appointment.  I am out of antimatter so I will not be able to communicate once I shut this wormhole down either to proceed to destination or investigate the planet.  I need instructions on next steps.”

               She heard Ajay’s voice through comms, and she groaned.  Why did he have to be on duty?  She hoped he wouldn’t screw with her after their encounter earlier in the day.  She breathed a sigh of relief when she realized he wouldn’t be there alone.  Unlike her he’d only finished basic and was likely rotating through on the job training in various trades to determine his next course.

               “Home field responding to request for instructions.  Please stand by.”

               Allison tapped her fingers on her thighs while she waited.  It took a full fifteen minutes.  Ajay’s voice came through again.  He sounded scared?  Intimidated?  Either way there was a quiver in his voice.

               “Dead Girl advises: Use caution. Proceed with standard scan, surface flyover use your own discretion on further investigation, once satisfied you have exhausted your avenues of investigation, proceed to rendezvous.”

               “Skull Ten acknowledges change in orders.  Proceeding to rogue planet.  Closing wormhole.”

               Allison cut her comm line.

               “Bit, disengage wormhole.  Warm up the scanners.  Prepare graviton drive for maximum thrust.  I don’t want to waste any more time here than we have too.  I’ve seen enough dead and dying planets to last me a lifetime.”

               Bit didn’t respond verbally, she just shifted all gravitic energy to the drive core and showed the power shift on the HUD.   Allison accelerated.  

The drives that the fighter used was based on shifting gravity forward and backwards, up and down.  Allison was no expert but the general principle was it the fighter’s mass was brought down to near zero relative to the space around it and then a tube of gravity was used to propel it forward.  It was the reason it could reach near light speed without the FTL drive.  It could be used anywhere, space, planetary atmosphere, and even underwater.  Though within gravity wells speeds were limited because the mass cancellation was also limited.  Synthlin tech that humans had developed on their own long before they met the Synthlin.  Allison had heard rumors R&D was working on weaponizing it.  Of course they were, if it could be made into a weapon, humans would definitely make one.  Even with no apparent threats besides the distant threat of the Silwrath.  Though the Sal’nash might be their next boogie man. 

Allison sighed and decelerated a few seconds after she initiated full burn as her ancestors would call it.  Not that anything burned with the graviton drive besides some easily replaceable hydrogen particles and fusion byproducts.

“Bit transfer power to shields and weapons.  Engage missiles, just in case.”

Bit did so as Allison descended into the thick atmosphere of the rogue planet.  Early scans indicated it was terrestrial.  An example of runaway greenhouse gas.  An alert flashed on her screen that the atmosphere was thick with carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds.  Above the thick layer of gases was a layer of oxygen and ozone.  That actually could support life as the Alliance knew it.  Surface temperatures were a mean thirty degrees Celsius.

“Crazy, I could wear shorts and a t-shirt, if I could breathe carbon dioxide.  Scan for geothermal activity Bit, it’s the only reason I could think it would still be this warm.”

               The fighter struggled against the atmosphere and air currents.  Once she was in the densest parts of the planet’s atmosphere it was almost like she was flying through liquid.  It was brighter than she expected.  Likely due to the amount of electrical activity in the cloud layer.  A few zaps had cracked against her shields, but they held easily, she wasn’t so sure how well Bit would survive without them.  Finally, she punched through it, the surface was pitch black save for her fighter’s lights.  Energy readings flared to life all around her.

               “What the hell is that?  Are we being tracked?”

               Bit replied in the negative.

               “No, stealth systems are engaged.  I’m reading a Synthlin warning beacon.  This planet is considered a class HM1 threat according to my records and the beacon.  It is a hyper-matter exhaust waste dump.  Those energy readings are magnetic containment units.  I apologize you humans refer to it as antimatter.”

               Allison’s eyes went wide.

               “There… must be enough antimatter down there to wipe out a solar system.  Why the hell would they just dump it like this?  This could power our fleet and our wormholes for thousands of years.  This is worth an incalculable amount of credits.  And it’s extremely dangerous!  That beacon should be warning us within light years not when we breach atmosphere!”

               Bit sounded almost amused when she responded.

               “Ensign the only species foolhardy enough to utilize hyper-matter exhaust or antimatter as you call it as a power source and weaponry are the humans.  The rest find planets like this and dump it, or dump it into stars in small quantities.  I am detecting… Sal’nash traces.  Large structures all over the planet.  Possibly hives?”

               Allison hung her head.

               “Can you get eyes inside?”

               “Negative.  We were not deployed with drones so we have no probe launchers.”

               “Well, we weren’t supposed to be investigating an antimatter dump infested with Sal’nash either, were we?  Shift power to optical cloak from weapons systems and shields.  I don’t think a couple of particle beams are going to do much against a swarm of ravenous bug things that can tear through ship hulls, well unless we want to blow up too.  Guess we need to investigate further, or Major Ghai will get mad at us.  Need to know what kind of threat this planet poses before we send a fleet.  So like… what are the chances we can transfer antimatter from one of the containment vessels to our containment to open up comms?”

               “None without catastrophic containment failure that will result in our deaths and the destruction of this planet.   Please refrain from trying.”

               Allison sighed.

               “You could have just said, no.  Yesh.”

               Allison started a low fly over.  The antimatter containment vessels were covered in some sort of black organic matter.  She couldn’t get a good look at it from above.  She pulled away when they got within a kilometer of the large hive like structures.  With a groan she realized she was going to have to land and take physical samples and possibly check the inside of the hive.

               “What I wouldn’t give for a holo web right now.”

               “Your new armor is equipped with one.  The device inserted near the top of your chest is a holographic web that is integrated with your suit and your holo-phone.  It is powered by the suit’s power source, which I have been unable to ascertain the nature of.  It also forms some sort of force shield to protect you from vacuum, extreme temperatures and extreme pressures.”

               “Fancy.  I guess the President really does like me.”

               Allison swept the fighter around and brought it in for a soft landing in what appeared to be a crater that resulted from a failed antimatter canister.  Allison looked out at the dark planet. 

               “You know, I was afraid of the dark when I was little.  This place is reminding me why.”

               Allison checked her kit and then tried to figure out how to get the helmet on.

               “Go go helmet!”

               Her face twisted in concentration as she tried to make a helmet form. She grumbled when nothing happened.

               “Look you stupid armor I’m going outside!”

               Bit laughed.

               “I do not believe it is intel-”

               The helmet slipped over Allison’s head which made her jump because she felt like the armor was eating her.  The armor’s own HUD interfaced with her contacts and vanished.

               “Bit, will this Qual’sa weapon ignite anything?”

               Bit displayed a diagram of the pistol on the HUD and showed the slider that controlled the yield of the blast, and an indicator where it would be safe to hit one of the containment vessels without detonating it.  Allison followed the instructions.

               “Will it even hurt the Sal’nash now?”

               Bit made a non-committal sound then responded.

               “As you humans say, its likely just to piss them off.  It is a stun setting.”

               Allison shrugged.

               “Not like my service side arm did anything to them and a bullet through a containment vessel would be just as bad.”

               She sighed and pulled herself up.  The cockpit canopy lifted up and Allison hopped down the ladder that formed with practiced ease.  Training to get in and out of the fighter while cloaked was also standard for SASN pilots.

               “Alright, here goes.  Gravity seems pretty normal.  Don’t know why I’m surprised.  It does feel weird though.  I wonder if it’s because it’s not rotating.  Anyone else encountered a rogue planet before?”

               Allison paused before she corrected herself.

“Anyone else from the System’s Alliance I mean.”

“No, you are the first, Ensign.”

Allison grumbled as she pulled out her grappler and shot it at the edge of the crater.  It bit into the rock at the bottom and top.  She used it to climb up.

“Couldn’t have given me armor with thrusters in it to replace my other one, could they?  Like one of those nifty power armors the space marines get.  Nope, guess us pilots don’t get enough exercise sitting in our comfy cockpits.  At least this stuff is lighter, if a bit… revealing.”

Bit laughed.

“You have lost some muscle mass since basic training.  It would not hurt to include more PT in your schedule.”

Allison blushed.

“Are you calling me fat?”

“No, just indicating your muscle mass has decreased.  It could be a result of further changes due to puberty.  It is common for females of your base species to gain more fatty tissue to prepare for childbearing.”

Allison was getting a bit incredulous at this point.  An AI made by what amounted to clumps of intelligent cells that piloted power armor was advising her on her growth and biology?

“Are you seriously giving me the birds and the bee’s talk?”

“No, your infatuation with the female human earlier would indicate the chances of you needing that conversation are lower than expected.”

Allison was halfway through her climb, she paused, her cheeks were burning at this point.

“Trixie?  Eew, no, I hate her.  She got me sent to the headmistress’s office in like thirteen minutes.  She’s a snotty Earther.  She has no clue what it takes to survive on the frontier outside of her cozy little domes.  Oh, and she has a stripper name.  No way.  Even if I did like girls, which I’m pretty sure I don’t….  Just eew”

“While anger could explain your heightened heart rate when she touched you, it does not explain why your bodies stress response went down and showed signs of arousal.  My scans indicate the attraction is mutual by the way, Ensign.  Just engaging in this conversation is causing these signs all over again.”

Allison continued her climb again.

“No!  Totally not.  It’s because I’m a dhampir and blood drinking is linked to arousal.  I think.  And she has blood.  That’s it.  That’s all.”

“You are showing indications of dishonesty, Ensign.”

Allison growled.

“I swear, I need a new computer, a VI.  Gah.  Why would you put an AI in a fighter if you weren’t just going to get it to pilot the damn thing?”

Bit laughed softly.

“Very well we shall change topics.  That is because AI’s lack the chaos factor of organic sentients.  While I can perform every single maneuver perfectly an equivalent AI with an equivalent chassis can do the same.  This leads to a stalemate.   AI’s also lead to strange outcomes that are predictable but sentients who create them refuse to project.  I believe humans call this phenomenon as rose-colored glasses?”

Allison was panting after she pulled herself up over the edge of the crater.  She was in peak physical shape, mostly, but scaling a three-hundred-foot cliff had been exhausting.  Not as exhausting as she had expected though.  Her armor’s charge showed eighty percent on her HUD.

“Can we table this for a second, does this armor have enhanced strength or something?”

“Yes.  That is in the specs I was able to access.  Also that it can form weaponry from the plates, and this should come as a welcome surprise, can slow descent with electromagnetic wings.”

Allison nodded.

“Great, so rose-colored glasses. Go on.”

Allison trudged across the broken and cracked surface of the planet.  All the moisture seemed to be in the air.  She kneeled down and used her hand scanner on a handful of soil.

“This is full of biological process byproducts, but there are no signs of any life.”

Bit continued their previous conversation.

“Take for example the memory you described in your last report.  I posit an Artificial intelligence was responsible for the decision to bombard the planet and kill that army.  Sentient’s lack the necessary logic.”

Allison made a buzzer sound.

“Humans would totally do it.  Especially if the army was already lost.  Needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.  Total human philosophy.  If killing an army of a hundred thousand would save billions, I’d make that call.  I wouldn’t want too.”

Bit made a sound as if she were pondering Allison’s words.

“You humans continue to surprise me.  No race in the League would have made that choice.  Therefore, in this case it must have been an AI.”

Allison pulled out a tube from her utility belt and filled it with a sample of earth then stood up.

“So, what you’re saying is, you need me to inject chaos into your tactics?”

“Precisely.  It was something the Synthlin learned a long time ago.  There were a few races that developed AI’s that were destroyed by their own creations that resulted in the League having to intervene and wipe out the sentient constructs.”

Allison continued down the path she was following towards the hive. Her next stop was a cluster of antimatter containment units.

“So why didn’t you turn on the Synthlin then?  They left you sitting somewhere for hundreds of thousands of years.”

“Simply that they treated us like other sentient beings instead of slaves.  Much like you treat me.  A fellow officer and a friend.  It is smart that humans stick with VI’s for their other fighters and ships.  It is also intelligent to refrain from AI research.  Your history is littered with humans enslaving and taking advantage of other humans, I see no reason they wouldn’t do that to an AI.”

Allison moved her head side to side as she walked.

“Fair point.  I’m surprised you’re allowed to exist still.  I’m betting the Dark Mother had something to do with that.”

“She did in fact.  She was a noble soul.”

Allison stopped in her tracks.

“Wait, you met her?”

Bit laughed.

“Of course.  She is the one who found me and my companions at the Synthlin base.  You have a lot in common with her.  She complained a lot.  Tended to resort to violence before talking and she also had red hair.”

Allison stuck her tongue out.

“My hair is auburn; I have a soul thank you.”

“As you say, Ensign.”

Allison continued her trek across the barren planet.

“That is AI for, I’ll let you keep your delusions intact puny human.”

“I do not see the point in arguing about it, you’ll continue your denials as you did during the discussions about Trixie.”

Allison rolled her eyes and slowed her pace when she saw the canisters on the horizon.  She lifted her hand scanner.

“There is way more to that Trixie thing then you know.  And I’m not allowed to talk about it.  President’s orders.”

She looked over the scan results.

“Double check this for me, but like, is that a Sal’nash huddled over that thing?  And there is no… antimatter?”

“I do not believe so, if you narrow the scanning band, I predict you will see it is just inert Sal’nash organic material.  But yes, there is no antimatter in those containers.”

Allison followed the instructions and confirmed Bit’s findings.

“Yep.  Well… lets go see what’s what.”

She moved forward and took a closer scan.  The Sal’nash organic material appeared to be a hard black substance.  Scans said harder than their chitin.  She picked up a chunk and slid it into a sample pouch and sealed it. They were each three feet in diameter and clustered on top of the antimatter containers.  She reached into one and was able to touch the metal inside.  When she brought her hand back out it was covered in green goo.  She held it up in the light of her hovering flashlight.

“Disgusting, and still wet.  The canisters are all covered in them.  They’re all… what are these?  Are they eggs?”

Her armor’s movement detector started going off.  She saw several small pings.

“Uh Bit, I’m not alone.”

Allison pulled out her pistol.

“Ensign, if you discharge your weapon the energy pulse may alert the hive…”

Allison didn’t pay Bit’s warning much heed.  She shifted the power setting to max.  If these were Sal’nash she’d shoot first and worry about the hive later.  She heard the skittering first on her translator via its hearing enhancement.  She waved her pistol in front of her looking for a target.

Chapter Text

               Allison stepped back in the direction she came from.  She had her pistol leveled towards what her motion detector was showing the height to be, approximately two and a half feet tall.   The creature was furry.  Its eyes glinted blue in the light projected by her hover flashlight.  It rushed past her followed by a swarm of multilegged, almost like cat sized centipedes.  They had no eyes and had sensor tentacles and mouths with a ring of vicious looking teeth.  Allison seemed to be of more interest to the insects.  They had massive stingers and one jabbed at her.  Her armor formed a plate on her chest.  The insect was sent flying and was smashed with a splatter of glowing green blood against one of the empty antimatter canisters. 

Another lept at Allison’s face.  She caught it with one hand.  It struggled against the combined strength of her armor and herself.    She stomped on another.  With her free hand she shot another with the pistol it vanished in a puff of turquoise particles.  She stomped another.  The bugs started fleeing, she dropped her pistol and wrestled the one she was holding to the ground and punched what appeared to be its head several times until it stopped squirming.  She was panting when she picked up her pistol.

“I hate centipedes!  So creepy!”

“Are you hurt?”

“No, but my armor took a beating, its saying reserves are down to seventy percent.  Still sealed though… whew.  Okay, I take everything bad I said back about it, except that it’s too revealing.”

She switched her pistol down to maximum stun and shot the bug she’d beat into submission.  It twitched.  She kneeled down to scan it.

“Hmm, nothing in common with Sal’nash.  Has Sal’nash goo on its teeth.  Wonder if they eat the egg goo… or baby Sal’nash’s?  One can hope…”

She felt something pressing against her thigh through her armor.  It was the furry creature that had used her as a distraction.

“Oh, hello little shit that used me as bait.  What are you?”

She rubbed her hands on the ground to remove the guk and couldn’t resist running her hands through the creature’s fur.  It looked like a house cat that had been crossbred with a wolf somehow.  It had a long-pointed muzzle and whiskers.  Large, pointed ears.  It was about the size of a medium sized dog.  It had long teeth which Allison saw when it licked her helmet’s clear faceplate.  On each of its paws were five toes.  Between them were razer sharp claws.  Its fur was white but shimmered and changed as it rubbed against her armor taking on a black tone.

“What are you?”

Bit responded.

“I have no record of either of these organisms in my records, Ensign.  I see no activity from the hive since you discharged your weapon.  It is likely dormant.  I can move closer to take the sample on board.”

“Alright, I’ll wait here.”

Allison stood up.  The furry creature, whatever it was, didn’t like that because she’d stopped petting it.  So, it kept jumping up trying to get more attention.  She sighed.  Whatever it was it had the kind of eyes humans couldn’t resist.  She kneeled down and started petting it again.

“So, were you someone’s pet?  Hmm?  You seem friendly.  How did you last so long here?”

It purred like a cat might as she talked to it and scratched its head gently.  Allison was a bit surprised to see her scanners were indicating it was a mammal.  Must have been hardy because the air here had about half the oxygen of a H class planet, which is the designation for minimum for human colonization.  Strangely it had no microorganic biome.  All very strange.  She saw the dust kicked up by Bit’s landing and stood up. 

The furry creature followed her as she walked back to the bug she’d stunned.  It growled at the bug’s unconscious form.  Allison tossed the bug into the second cargo compartment and activated the stasis field.  The furry creature followed her around as she opened another cargo compartment for it.

“In you go, come on.”

She motioned to the metal compartment.  The creature just stared up at her expectantly.  Allison patted the compartment floor.

“Go in, come on, if you want to get off this rock.”

The creature made no move to go inside.  She pulled out some synthetic meat from her ration pack and tossed it inside.  The creature licked its lips but made no move to go inside.  Allison sighed.  She flicked the meat onto the ground.  She closed the cargo bay.  The creature gobbled up the meat hungrily.  Then it wrapped its teeth around her left hand and started tugging on it gently.

“Oh, now you’re in charge huh?  Fine, let’s go.  Bit this thing… is trying to lead me somewhere.  Hold position here.”

Once Allison seemed to be following the creature’s fluffy tail wagged and it made a purring sound.  She started trying to figure out what to call it.

“What should we call this thing Bit?  Cag?  Cog?  Dat?  Dag?  Dot?”

Bit interjected

“How about Canis-felinis-RP-1?”

Allison rolled her eyes.

“A bit of a mouthful, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but technically accurate.  Which is the best kind of accurate.”

Allison snort-laughed.

“You have the worst sense of humor.”

Allison looked down at the creature.  It was starting to run she was having trouble keeping up.  Eventually it turned into a game of chase.  She saw a large silhouette looming in the darkness.

“Oh, there’s a ship, very low power readings, no life signs.”

It didn’t look any larger than the Qual’sa ship she’d rescued.  It was hard to tell the scale in the dark.  She found a portion of the ship that had been torn open in the crash.  The wreckage was still smoldering in spots.  The crash was recent.  Perhaps only a few days before.  She pulled out her pistol and started making her way through the ship.  It was primitive compared to System’s Alliance standards.  A lot of manual valves and the like.  It reminded her of scenes from twenty-first century movies set in old sailing ships. Iron boats.  She had her hand scanner in her other palm.

“Primitive tech.  No antimatter containment vessel I can detect.  If there were it would likely have burst in the crash.  That means no FTL drive.  Are you picking any life sign’s up Bit?  Yours have better range?”

“No, Ensign.  I am picking up multiple organic remains forty meters aft of your position.  Most of them seem to be in a portion of the ship unnavigable due to damage sustained in the crash.  Some remains seem to be intact four decks up from that position. Also, it seems to have been using a primitive version of nuclear fission to power it.  I’m detecting high levels of radioactive isotopes in the area.  Your armor and your standard dose of N-Rad will be sufficient to protect you.  The alien mammal will be at risk if you venture into the far aft of the craft.”

“Noted.”

Allison glanced down at the creature who seemed intent on getting her to follow it.  She shook her head and let it take the lead.  It took her into a compartment holding dozens of cryotubes.  Some sized for pets, others for children, and others for what appeared to be adults.  None of them survived the crash or subsequent emergency thaw. 

The cryo tubes were all open and thawed now.  It looked recent, unfortunately the cryo-bay was a tomb at this point.  The tubes had humanoids in them of various sizes and shapes.  It appeared their evolution had mirrored humans; Save for the fact they were blue-skinned and on average a foot taller than humans.  They had tentacles coming off of their backs.

“I have no record of this species, Ensign.”

Allison shrugged.

“They could have evolved and died out while you were stashed in that temporal shield.  This appears to be a colony ship.  There were several full decks of these cryo tubes beneath this one at least as far as my scanners are telling me.  This is the only one that survived intact.  I’d say four thousand…  It looks like the crash killed all of them except for the… thingy.”

She saw names on each of the tubes on the one that it appeared her new furry friend had come from was overlaid with Oozenoshae, or that’s what Bit had been able to translate of their alphabet based on the iconography and other text Allison had seen with her contacts.  The creature was scratching at a particular little girl’s legs and whining.

Allison kneeled down and tried to calm the creature down.  A few tears started to grace her eyes.  The animal was trying to get the little girl to wake up and she would never wake up.  If the cryotubes hadn’t released… maybe some could have been saved but they’d been out for hours, and those the crash hadn’t killed instantly had died due to the air.  Allison sniffled as she spoke.

“I’m so sorry Oozenoshae, she’s not going to wake up.”

Bit spoke and sounded like her news was urgent.

“Ensign, I am seeing movement coming towards the ship.  It would appear the Sal’nash have become aware of the presence of new organic material.”

Allison stood up quickly and rushed towards what appeared to be a computer interface.  She pulled out her data tap and yanked out a string of liquid metal and pressed it against what looked like a round network port.

“Interface with the computer.  Pull whatever you can.”

She slapped the data tap against the ship’s hull.

“You said there was a fission reactor here.  Is it possible to cause a thermonuclear detonation with what we have available?”

Bit paused before answering.

“Theoretically, I am detecting explosives on their airlocks.”

“On air locks?  What on Earth?”

“Likely to disengage the doors quickly in event of an emergency landing.  They apparently can be shaped.  Provided you can match this configuration.”

Bit showed an image of a primitive nuclear weapon on Allison’s HUD.

“We could link a detonator to my control systems. I do not understand your reasoning, Ensign.  Nor do I think you have time.  Data download is forty percent complete.  The ships computer is primitive.”

Allison grumbled.

“Look, I still need to see inside the hive.  Maybe we can lure more to this location by killing a bunch?”

“Your logic is faulty.  They would likely avoid sending more to investigate.”

Allison shook her head.

“Yeah, but, like they could do the opposite, send an overwhelming force to ensure they could beat whatever it was that attacked them.  I don’t think they have radio comms or scanners like we do, they would have already come to investigate.  It was probably myself or Oozenoshae disturbing the remains that kicked something into the air, or maybe it just took this long for the scent to reach them.  Maybe the only way they will know what happened is if they send some more?”

Bit’s tone of voice seemed dismissive.

“Either way, it is a moot point.  You do not have time to build such a device.”

Allison snapped her fingers.

“Ah but are there any antimatter containment vessels that are still intact and contain antimatter.”

“Yes, there are six in your vicinity, one contains enough for a one-kiloton blast.  The remainder scale from ten and up the highest being a 1000 teraton yield."

               “Mark the one kiloton and that 1000 one on my HUD please.”

               Allison smiled when she saw that the one kiloton was the nearest and the rest would be outside of the blast radius.

               “Whew, okay.”

               She routed through the cargo bay and found a primitive wheeled dolly.  It was no hoversled but it would do.  Oozenoshae hadn’t followed her, but she didn’t have time to worry about that.  She struggled to pull the heavy metal container of antimatter onto the dolly and started pulling it across the smooth, parched dirt.  She followed Bit’s instructions on how to pull the explosive out of the ring around one of the air locks and slapped it on the micro-fusion power source that held the antimatter in magnetic containment.  Yanked the detonator from one of her flash bangs and stuck it in the putty-like explosive.  She wheeled it down to the fission reactor.   She kicked the antimatter containment vessel off of the dolly and hauled ass back up to the one intact cryo bay.

               “Data transfer finished, Bit?”

               “Affirmative, Ensign.”

               Allison pulled the data tap off and yanked the liquid metal cord causing it to suck back into its housing.  She slipped it into her utility belt.  She sighed.  Oozenoshae was laying down beside It’s previous owner whining.  She had twenty-five minutes before the first Sal’nash reached the colony ship.   It would take her twenty minutes walking, ten minutes in a dead run assisted by her armor to reach a minimum safe distance.  That was unencumbered.  She looked down at the poor cat-dog-thing.

               “Screw it.”

               She picked up the girl whose name was roughly translated to Ion.  She looked down at Oozenoshae.

               “You’re going to get me killed, you know that?”

               Oozenoshae yipped and purred as it rubbed against Allison’s legs.  Allison made her way out of the wreckage and started in a dead run with Ion’s remains over one shoulder.  Her other hand dragged the dolly behind her.  Her armor’s power assist propelled her more quickly than she expected, its enhanced strength helped with her endurance.  Her body still had to make a good portion of the effort though and do all the movements.  She was thankful for all of it because by the time she and Oozenoshae reached Bit they had several minutes to catch their breath.  Allison put Ion in a stasis cargo pod.  She was pacing back and forth.  She motioned for Oozenoshae to join its former master.  The creature ignored her once again.  Allison struggled to catch her breath and finally speak.

               “You… know… it… would be great if I was a full vampire, they never get tired.”

               “Then you would not be able to live on Eden Prime.”

               Allison threw her hands up while still catching her breath.

               “Bit please detonate the antimatter when the Sal’nash are in the colony ship.  I’m going to get the big bomb… err antimatter containment vessel.  Let me know if my plan worked.”

               Bit paused briefly after starting to answer.

               “Wait, Ensign, are you referring to the thousand teraton containment vessel?”

                Allison nodded.

               “Yea, that would be the big one.”

               She was already walking away from Bit with the dolly in tow.  Oozenoshae was running after her.

               “Ensign, you are aware that kind of yield could crack this planet in half?  Possibly change its trajectory, and the resultant electromagnetic pulse is likely to disrupt containment of all hyper-matter exhaust containment on this hemisphere, leading to catastrophic planetary collapse?  The could the pulse travel at lightspeed and disrupt a good portion of the Andromeda galaxy?   No one has ever detonated that much antimatter.  Your own president has detected transdimensional waves during her tests.  You could disrupt FTL travel, wormholes, knockout comms for all of the surrounding colonies and military facilities.  It would be the equivalent of a small supernova.”

               Allison nodded.

               “Yes, there are like, there are billions of Sal’nash on this planet based on the amount of eggs you scanned and they’re awake, a bit of disruption and one rogue planet no one cares about in exchange for a galaxy worth of living things?  Sounds like a good plan to me.”

               “Have you, perhaps considered, that may start another swarm? If they have any sort of… FTL communications?”

               Allison sighed.

               “Duh, yes, but that colony ship crashing here likely already woke them up.  They were sleeping.  Probably because there was no food.  Probably because they ate everything in the last swarm.  They’re already awake, from what I could get from Aryna’s memories they consume everything in their path.  Maybe that’s why they’re dormant?”

               Allison reached the containment vessel that showed that it was still full.  No eggs had attached to it.

               “Perhaps… we could find a way to transfer some antimatter and confirm with System’s Alliance command.”

               Allison groaned as she rolled the antimatter containment vessel onto the dolly.

               “You said we couldn’t without causing catastrophic failure.”

               “Yes, that was before I found out you were considering causing a hyper-matter exhaust explosion that could wipe out a planet, no if we were in a star system you could cause a supernova.  This is a bad idea.  Chaos is one thing, but you humans are completely insane.”

               Allison took a few minutes to catch her breath and stretch.

               “Look Bit, if I get to the hive and see no signs they can leave the planet, I’ll let it go, but if I do see any hint, they’ll be a threat to my home, I will gladly follow standing orders which are to use any and all means necessary to protect System’s Alliance citizens and personnel.”

               “Do you understand you are contemplating the deaths of countless organic beings?”

               Allison sighed and started pushing the dolly forward up the rise towards the Sal’nash hive.

               “They’re bugs.  It’s like using a poison bomb on a Falstinger nest.  Just on a bigger scale.”

               Bit made a sound like a sigh.

               “Well, as my organic pilot I need to support your mission and you are correct about standing orders.  We could wait until a fleet gets here to deal with this, they can coordinate with System’s Alliance command and their board of directors first.”

               Allison was struggling to move the canister up the hill.  Oozenoshae seemed to understand what she was trying to do and was putting its shoulder behind the dolly helping.

               “Look Bit, say we do it that way, I get to Andromeda-1, we give a report, then it goes up to the joint chiefs, the President gets involved, then they have to order a fleet here, the nearest battle-ready fleet would be my babu’s which is at least three hours away.  So, we’re talking minimum of three and a half hours, possibly a day.  If the Sal’nash can travel between planets on their own, they could launch how many in that time? How many unsuspecting worlds could they attack if they don’t go after System’s Alliance worlds?  Do you want to be responsible for ignoring a threat like this?  How many died in the last swarm?  Entire species were wiped out.  What if the Synthlin worlds were close?  What would your last pilot do in this situation?”

               Bit didn’t answer for several minutes.  Allison saw Bit was about to detonate her baby antimatter bomb, so she pulled the canister behind a pile of broken Sal’nash eggs and empty containment vessels.  The ground shook and a woosh of dust blew past Allison who was shielding Oozenoshae.  It started to whine.  Allison held it and kept gently petting with her other hand.  She tapped the command to activate her armor’s holoweb and extended it to cover the dolly, the full antimatter container, herself and Oozenoshae.  The ground started to shake again as a stampede of Sal’nash of various shapes and sizes stomped by.  Some were flying out on wings.  Other larger ones were leaving the hive through massive organic panels akin to sphincters.  Oozenoshae buried its face in Allison’s chest.  She covered its eyes with her arm.

               “Ensign, your gamble paid off.  I am seeing increased Sal’nash activity planet wide.  It would seem the swarm is reacting as if it is under attack.”

               Allison closed her eyes and took a deep breath.  Her armor’s energy reserves did not seem to be having any issues due to her cloak.

               “Hmm, Bit, are you sure this holoweb is connected to the armor’s batteries?”

               “I assumed it was.”

               “Well, it’s not going down.  I bet it’s powered by a micro fusion reactor.  Switching off comms, I’m not sure how the Sal’nash sense things.  Let’s hope the cloak works.”

               She stopped suddenly and stuck her hand into one of the hard eggshells and started wiping the green ooze all over herself, the canister, the dolly and then looked at Oozenoshae.  She reached out her goo covered hands and the creature whined.

               “Its either this or you go back to the ship alone, Oozie.”

               It sniffed her then the cannister and seemed to make a decision.  It jumped into an empty egg and rolled around in the green slime.  It hopped out and licked itself afterwards.  It tried to spit and kept licking the roof of its mouth.  Then it sneezed a few times.

               “Well, you didn’t have to come with me Oozie, this was your choice.  Silly thing.  Now shh, trust me when I say we do not want to run into any of these things.  They’re scary like you can’t imagine.”

               Allison walked towards one of the entry points to the hive.

Chapter Text

Once she passed through the exterior door, she saw that there were no guards but the walls around her seemed to be a chamber with two doors that looked a lot like an organic air lock.  She pulled her light out of the air and attached it to her belt.  The inside of the ship was lit by some sort of bioluminescence.  The walls were comprised of a hardened rock like substance.  She pulled out her hand scanner to get a good reading on the material.  It was showing a density akin to dreadnought armor.  She pulled out her vibroknife and found she was able to get a sample from the interior.  She rushed out forgetting her cloak was covering the container.  Oozenoshae followed her.  She was able to scrape the exterior as well.  It seemed that the Sal’nash relied on layers to protect it, not hardness.  She moved back inside and saw a Sal’nash sniffing at the antimatter vessel.

               She stopped and watched.  It wasn’t like the one she’d fought it was smaller and lacked the spindly spiked limbs that had jabbed her.  It had two legs, two larger arms and four other arms with three fingered claws.  It was more brown than black.  It seemed to have been adapted to match the hive coloring.  It seemed content and skittered off on its two arms and two legs.  Allison breathed a sigh of relief, moved forward and her cloak engulfed the canister.

               She started thinking to herself, “If I do this, if I detonate this bomb…  I could be starting a war.”

               She realized she’d already done that when Bit blew up that colony ship on her orders.  She sighed and trudged forward.  She noticed that the hive had open areas that seemed to have been formed as a place for them to sleep.   The massive doors were open, though on this ship they appeared to be more like sphincters.  There were pods with the same green slime she’d seen in the eggs.  The floor was covered in it leading towards the exit she’d come in.  Obviously the Sal’Nash had been in stasis until she’d poked the nest so to speak.  She moved on and reached what appeared to be a central corridor. 

               Sphincter-like doors lined the passage on both sides.  Content that the Sal’nash drones, she’d already decided that was what to call the smaller brown ones, would ignore it with its goo covering she left it behind and pressed her hand against one of the sphincter-doors.  It opened.  The sound was as disgusting as she imagined. It sounded like a slurping fleshy noise right out of a holo she’d been forced to watch in human sexuality about giving birth.  It brought her right back to the holo.  In her opinion showing teenagers that, especially girls was counterproductive to the System’s Alliance continuously running advertising campaign:  Enjoy sexual freedom, Reproduce, be plentiful!  Have one child, be a champion, have two children, be a hero, have three children be a legend!    She finished gagging at the memory and looked inside.

               The chamber was large and seemed to have organic vents that directed air through the room.  There were glowing plant-like things that grew in rows out of some form of organic compound.  Each had several leaves, but their colors varied between pink and orange.  She slipped inside and took samples of the earth and broke off a plant stem and slipped it into another one of her sample bags.  The door slid open a few seconds later and a drone rushed in.  She stepped back.  A long prehensile style tongue darted between its mandibles, and it licked some green slime Allison had left behind.  It clicked its claws and looked around the room with its six bulbus eyes.  Another drone slipped in.  Before the door closed, Allison scooted out. She continued on her way.  She made a note at how rapidly the drones responded.  Thankfully they seemed somewhat dumb and non-aggressive.

               Her scanner indicated that the room was some sort of carbon dioxide scrubber.  Each room along the central hall which was half a kilometer long was identical.  Some had drones tending the plants.  Several drones scurried past her, none seemed to stop.  It would seem they used eyesight and taste rather than other senses.  The hive wasn’t quiet and easily covered up the sound of Oozie’s paws, her feet and the squeak of the dolly.  Though with such a massive number of scrubbers, the airlock-like exterior access door was leading her to the conclusion this was no hive but a massive three-kilometer-long organic starship.

               She found a passage leading to a massive chamber that would be towards the front port quadrant of the ship.  Inside were Sal’nash of numerous descriptions.  Some were massive and had bulbus lower bodies.  Others were the size of Bit and looked like organic fighter planes.  They were attached to vein-like tubes with green slime flowing in and black slime flowing out.  She took what scans she could, but she didn’t risk climbing down into the massive launch bays.  She backed out of the chamber and inspected some other side passages.  This whole ship was one living organism that seemed to support the Sal’nash, almost like it was a Sal’nash itself.

               The next room she happened upon had a high capacitance fluid in massive, hardened sacks.  It was blue and looked viscus.  It fed into another sack and in that sack the fluid was glowing blue.  It was superheated.  Hot enough Oozie refused to get close, and her armor started complaining about it.  It was reminiscent of the plasma weaponry of Silwrath craft only it was all organic.   She took scans and tore open one of the non-heated sacs with her vibroknife and took a sample.  She could not let an opportunity to get details on weaponry.  SAI would want that above all else.  Her scans indicated the room held enough capacitance fluid to launch at least twenty plasma attacks.  She backed up and weaved through six drones rushing to repair the damage she’d done.

               She and Oozie moved on.  She found appendages that would extend out of the ship in one chamber.  They appeared to be what her scanner indicated might be a force field generator.  She moved aft.  All she needed to do was identify antimatter storage and she could confirm what she suspected all along.  Anything she could get on propulsion, FTL speeds would help identify how much threat they posed.  If they couldn’t use Synthlin tech to track them at FTL then they would have no forewarning of attacks.   All indications she got from what she could glean from Aryna’s memories were that these things attacked without warning.

               She glanced at the timer she’d set for herself.  She was starting to reach the point that she was concerned her diversion was going to stop diverting the Sal’nash troops.   The patrol that had approached the crashed ship had taken around thirty minutes from the hive…  the hive-ship?  She’d been poking and prodding this ship for the better part of an hour.  Eventually they were going to figure something was up and send more than just drones to investigate.  Eventually the troops would return.  She assumed anyway.  She was hoping to find the power core, the drive section and the bridge… though she might actually be looking for a brain or something.

               Allison scratched Oozie’s head.  Then headed onwards.  They started descending a ramp.  The ship wasn’t built like an Alliance ship.  They had bulkheads to limit damage and loss of atmosphere.  Safety mechanisms.  This ship had some similar doors but the engine room/power core she was heading down into had nothing.  It was just one giant scary looking pulsing organ.  It seemed to be attached to the ship via glowing tubes like she’d seen in the plasma chambers.  She turned around and saw three kilometers of green and black sacs attached to countless tubes it took up the entire bottom half of the ship.  She whispered.

               “Over half their ship is taken up by life support.”

               She couldn’t detect antimatter anywhere in the ‘engineering’ space.  She was, however, detecting a massive buildup of gravitic energy in the organ.  Her eyes went wide as she put two and two together.  She thought: “Its prepping to launch.”  This was not good.  Not good at all.  She was happy to see the scanner tell her that it had been building up power for several hours, even before she arrived.   She ran up the ramp, Oozie seemed to think it was a game and rushed ahead of her.  By the time she reached the top of the ramp Oozie was dancing around the canister with a drone in its teeth shaking it.  It dropped it at Allison’s feet.  The words that came out of her mouth next would not be repeated in the log of her adventure on the rogue planet but suffice it to say the intelligence officer who reviewed it needed several translation matrixes to determine the content of her tirade of curse words.   No one would know outside of Oozie and Allison because the transcript just said: The ensign was displeased with the death of the drone.

               She rolled the drone to the side of the ramp and kicked it off.  Oozie rubbed against her legs panting.  Oozie had a claw wound on its side.  Allison grumbled and kneeled down.  She was hoping the wound sealant wouldn’t have ill effects.  She couldn’t have the creature leaving a trail of blood through the ship and frankly if it worked on Sauroids and Silwrath it should work on anything carbon based.  She sprayed the sealant foam on the wound and Oozie made a purring sound as Allison massaged it into the injury.  She whispered.

               “You are… a brat.  You remind me of Sophie.  That cat was a menace.”

               Oozie’s tail was wagging, and its tongue was out.   The eyes.  Allison couldn’t resist the eyes.  She whispered again while scratching under Oozie’s ears which made the creature’s whole body seem to wag with its tail.

               “God damn it why are you so adorable.  Come on we need to set this near the center of the ship and get the hell out of here.”

               The pair ducked down a side passage with the antimatter cannister in tow just as a group of recently awakened Sal’nash marines?  Allison shook her head and decided on a different name.  As a dozen Sal’nash warrior drones rushed by.  She glared down at Oozie and whispered harshly.

               “See?  That’s why you don’t randomly attack things, they always have bigger friends!  Bad alien dog-cat thing.”

               Her tone seemed to have the desired effect and Oozie’s tail drooped, and it seemed to start to pout.  It’s always pointed, and alert ears bent back.  It gave Allison the most adorable puppy dog eyes.  She groaned quietly and scratched its head.

               “Gah, don’t do that.  It’s not fair.”

               She started pushing the dolly holding the cannister down the hall again.  She glanced down at Oozie and whispered.

               “If it was any other pilot in the fleet that found you, you’d have died back at that crashed ship.  But no, you got the one softy teenage girl.  You’re going to get me in so much trouble.  They’re going to see this recording and they’re going to be like, you’re stupid you should have left the stupid cat-dog thing behind.  What were you thinking?  We were idiots to give you access to a priceless alien starfighter.  How could we possibly trust your decision making if you’d risk your life for a dumb ass cat-dog thing that can’t keep its teeth to itself?  Huh?”

               She’d turned a few corners while she was dressing down Oozie and stopped when she saw her perky companion get low and start to growl.  Allison put her hand on Oozie’s nose.

               “Shh, shh, the whole point of this is not to be seen or heard you… grr.”

               She heard movement behind her. 

               “There’s a bunch of Sal’nash behind me, aren’t there?”

Oozie kept growling and hissing.  She turned her head slowly.  She felt like she was having one of those dreams where she was going off about how stupid a teacher was and then realized they were right behind her.  There was a massive Sal’nash with eight visible limbs, half of it was sunk into the chamber’s floor.   It hissed at Allison and spit a gout of green bile at her.  Allison dove to the side.  The ship’s wall started to sizzle.

“Oh, it has acid spit that is so awesome, because my night was going so well already!”

There were dozens of drones that had been tending to the creature.  They scattered.  Allison heard more screeches than even more screeches.  The giant Sal’nash was watching her as she moved.  Apparently, her cloak was completely ineffective against it. Allison shoved the canister behind cover and slapped explosives on the power generator and along the side Bit had indicated was a weak point.  She linked them together with more explosives and then slapped her detonator in the middle of it.  More acid hit the protrusion she’d used as cover.  Melting through the floor.  There was a sub-chamber to this one.  She shrugged and tipped the dolly over.  Allison winced as the canister banged against a wall then another wall and finally rolled to a stop on the floor beneath. 

More screeches echoed through the hive-ship.  Allison looked at Oozie.

“We gotta go.  Now.”

She motioned with her hand and started to run.  As she ran, she spoke.

“Tango-8!  Cancel radio silence!  Now!”

Bit responded.

“Ensign, I am detecting a lot of activity within the hive.  What is your status?”

Allison didn’t slow down.  Oozie kept pace and seemed to think this was a grand old game.  Allison skidded to a halt at an X-junction.  Ahead of her was a full patrol of Sal’nash Warrior drones.  To the left was another group rapidly approaching.  Both started pelting her armor with organic spikes.  She held up her arm and she swore when a turquoise energy shield appeared.  The spikes bounced off of it, every single one seemed to impact her energy reserves.   Oozie was crouched down growling.  It seemed fully ready to get into the thick of it with the Sal’nash.  Allison had other plans.  She threw a synthetic meat pack down the one passageway there were no Sal’nash and then dropped her last functional flash bang.  She then drew her pistol and started firing behind her as she rushed down the one hallway with no Sal’nash.  Oozie grabbed the meat and started chewing it as they ran.  The flash bang went off and disoriented their pursuers.

“Ensign, the hive…  the Sal’nash craft is lifting off and launching airborne forces.  Do you need assistance?”

Allison kept firing behind her.  She felt organic spikes pelting her armor as the Sal’nash came to their senses.  The armor plates seemed to be deflecting, even reflecting them in some cases with such force they were sending Sal’nash flying. It would seem the armor was very effective, but its energy reserves were getting low after her extended mission, and now continuous assault.  The ship was shaking under her feet.

“Wow do you have a talent for understatement!  Yes!  Yes, I need help.  My scans indicate I’m heading towards an exit on the top of the ship.  Meet me there.”

The Sal’nash continued their chase even as dozens were cut down by their own spikes being reflected back at them with twice the force.  The Qual’sa pistol seemed pretty effective once she set it to max.  Though it was starting to get low on charge.  She got to the airlock door, but it was sealed.  She lifted her pistol and shot it.  It burned a hole through it and the other door, but it was nowhere near big enough.  She started wrenching on the hole she’d made with both hands.  Something inside her seemed to pop and she could see the glow of her golden eyes reflected on her armor’s face plate.   She could feel her fangs out.  She could feel the power in her blood flowing into her muscles.  She ripped the ship door apart.  Oozie was crouched down growling.  Allison turned away from the door and fired her last three blasts from her pistol disintegrating three more Sal’nash into flashes of turquoise particles.

“Bit, we’re danger close but I need you to blast the outer hatch with particle beams.  The Sal’nash are almost on top of us.”

She pulled out her vibroknife.  She was still in full vampire mode she could feel the vitality in her blood just like Maria had described it.  It was like the warrior drones and Oozie were moving in slow motion relative to her.  Her entire body was engaged now.  There was no exhaustion.  Only anticipation of the kill.  She could see how they were moving.  She weaved through the first one’s blows and stabbed upwards into the weak point in its lower jaw.  She kicked it off her vibroknife sending it flying into two of its own.  She growled.  A primal part of her was cursing the helmet because she wanted to feel their chitin burst between her teeth.  She wanted to devour the fear in their blood as she crushed them with her bare hands.  She rapidly tore through eight of them.  More were coming.  They hesitated.  Nothing she had discovered so far indicated they had any sense of self-preservation.  Something was giving them pause.  Was it her gore covered armor?  Where they waiting for reinforcements?   Allison snarled.

“Come and die you stupid bugs!  Come on!  Come at me!”

Bit spoke.

“I am targeting the hatch.”

Allison saw a large Sal’nash with red chitin pushing its way through the rank-and-file warriors, but she couldn’t react to him.  She crouched down and grabbed Oozie and shielded them both with the energy shield her armor projected from her left arm.  There was a flash of white light.  A wash of energy shoved Allison back.  Her armored feet skidded across the Sal’nash ship’s hull.  The same blast caused the giant blood red Sal’nash to stumble backwards it was forced to shield its eyes with its thick arms.  The rest behind it were blasted backwards causing a loud cracking sound and resulting in a gout of green Sal’nash blood. 

Allison’s energy shield flickered and vanished.  Her armor was showing critical power levels.  She stood up and cracked her neck.  She crouched.  Oozie started growling at the Sal’nash.  Allison looked at Oozie.

               “Go, now!”

               To her surprise the animal looked up at her and then lowered its head.  It bolted for Bit’s waiting cockpit.  She noted that this giant Sal’nash didn’t seem to have the same weak spot as the lesser warriors.  It was also twice their size.  She backed away.  She felt juiced on vampire blood, but she was having second thoughts about this fight.  It moved faster than its size would predict and landed on her.  She slammed against the ship’s wall.  It had one of its claws around her neck.  She grabbed its neck and was shoving it away with all her strength.  Its crunching mandibles and ring of vicious teeth snapped at her trying to bite her face.  One of its spiked limbs tried to hit her in the abdomen, but she grabbed it with her left hand.  She could feel its chitin cracking under her blood powered strength.  It screeched.  It attacked with another one of its spiked limbs and she kicked it away.  It was rearing for another.  She was having trouble speaking because her armor’s integrity was almost gone and the pressure on her neck was starting to choak her.

               “Bit…  shoot it.”

               “You are in the line of fire.”

               Allison kneed the creature with every bit of her vampiric strength.  She shattered the chitin of what appeared to be its abdomen, causing a gout of green blood to spray all over her.  Between the slickness of its blood and the shock of her vicious attack she was able to weasel out of its grasp, and she slammed herself to the deck in fetal position.  The uberdrone reached back all four of its spiked limbs now that it had her where it thought it wanted her.

               “Fire! Now! Now! Now!”

               With a brilliant flash of white light, the Sal’nash evaporated.  Along with the whole tunnel of lesser warrior drones.  Allison took a few seconds to gather herself before jumping up.  She grabbed her vibroknife and pistol on the way and jumped onto Bit’s wing.  She scrambled into the cockpit.  It was a tight fit with Oozie already there.  The canopy oozed over them.  She could see white contrails as the massive hive ship started disgorging fighter-like Sal’nash.

               She didn’t have time to celebrate or be gentle.  She shoved Oozie who was jumping on her lap between her legs and under the seat.  She took manual control of the starfighter.  She angled to get out of the atmosphere.  Giant blobs of blue plasma started filling the air around the hive ship.  Allison started bopping and weaving.  She shifted power from cloak to shields and weapons.  Bit spoke.

               “Ensign, if we leave the atmosphere we will not be able to detonate the antimatter.”

               Allison nodded.

               “But if we don’t get a safe distance, it will obliterate us and someone needs to get this data to the Alliance.   We’ll have to wait until it breaks atmosphere and detonate it then.  Won’t be as effective as we want.”

               The fighter was taking heavy weapons fire.  There were literally thousands of Sal’nash fighter drones swarming out of the hives all over the planet.  There was no way she could win that fight.  Allison did something Bit did not expect, she stopped evasive maneuvers and punched it.  One of the concerns with going hypersonic and near lightspeed in the atmosphere was the damage it would cause to buildings, the biosphere and to wildlife.  Allison had no such concerns today.  She shifted to max thrust and ignored the warnings.  Bit sensed her pilot’s intentions and removed the limiters.  The sonic boom made when the fighter suddenly lurched forward caused an earthquake.  The Sal’nash in closest pursuit turned into puffs of green blood when the shockwave rushed through them.   The air molecules slammed into her forward shields with the force of a high-powered weapon.  She didn’t slow down. 

Every alarm in the fighter was going off once she hit the thicker carbon-dioxide mix and when she burst into the oxygen/hydrogen area she was going well past three quarters towards light speed.  The fighter’s malleable armored skin of liquid metal was trying to shift and compensate but there was no physical way for the fighter to make what she was doing alright.  The upper atmosphere ignited around her.   Those bugs that had managed to get this high burst into flames behind her.  The shields buckled and the fighter’s armor started to cook.  When she finally made it to vacuum it was obvious Bit would need major repairs.  Allison had broken the airframe and the fighter had lost sixty percent of its fluidic metal armor.  Allison still didn’t slow down. 

As the bugs managed to reach space they suddenly stopped thrust forward and started drifting.  Whatever powered them didn’t seem to work here.  Bit did not sound happy.

“My shield generators, particle beams and my computer core are still fully functional, would you perhaps like to shoot them to finish the job?”

Allison rolled her eyes.

“You removed the limiters!”

Bit was speaking loudly now.

“That didn’t mean you should go to 75 percent of lightspeed in atmosphere!”

Oozie started barking.  Allison looked in the direction Oozie was looking and saw the hive ship break through the atmosphere.  Then another, then another.  There were thousands of them forming up.  The one she’d been on was twice the size of the rest.  She glanced at the potential blast radius in space of a 1000 teraton antimatter detonation.  It was all theoretical, no one had actually blown up that much antimatter at once.  In fact the System’s Alliance after forty years of FTL travel had maybe made three percent of that.

“Detonate it before they go to FTL.”

Bit flashed the blast radius on the screen.  Even at max thrust they were going to be hit by some of it.  Allison flipped all remaining power to the force shield and let the fighter coast at the current speed.  She did something that was theoretically possible, but no one had really tested it yet she turned her graviton core into a graviton shield.  The Synthlin manual said it was a last-ditch tactic.  Only use it if you’re going to die because it could overload the core and knock the drive offline permanently and possibly create a micro-blackhole.  By the same token if she took the full brunt of the explosion she was about to unleash, even at the edge they’d be obliterated.  Bit flashed the button on the HUD. 

“Well, if there is anyone who doesn’t know we’re here, they’re going to know now.”

Allison closed her eyes, took a deep breath and pounded the detonate button with her fist.  She curled around Oozie and prepared herself to die.  Her eyes focused on the Sal’nash flag ship on the fighter’s three hundred and sixty-degree holo-HUD.  There was a brilliant flash.  Then a wave of visible energy rippled outwards one by one the hive ships exploded in flashes of blue light each sending out a ripple of blue energy.  The ships the initial detonation didn’t obliterate were destroyed by secondary plasma explosions.  Eventually the wave hit the planet.  The blast wave stripped its atmosphere almost instantly.  Then the surface lit up with flashes of brilliant energy as canisters that still stored small amounts of antimatter were ignited.  Soon the surface was engulfed in lava as the crust cracked.  The blast wave slammed into the fighter and everything went dark. 

Chapter Text

Allison and Oozie were lost in darkness and bounced around the cockpit.  Once Allison shook off the hit she flipped the manual trigger to make her canopy clear.  She could see cracks on the surface, but her armor said cabin pressure was steady.

“Bit?”

She received no answer.  She closed her eyes and sighed.  She tapped a new HUD command that appeared to make her helmet sink into her armor.  Once it did, Oozie started licking her face.  Oozie started rubbing her face with its cheeks.  She smiled and ruffled the animal’s fur.

“Well, we survived.  We just shot the biggest flare in history, hopefully it’s the System’s Alliance that responds.”

Oozie started barking suddenly.  A massive shape loomed out of the darkness.  Blue plasma fires were burning across parts of its surface.  Those would burn anywhere, vacuum or not.  The fighter was knocked spinning when some sort of small appendage on the hive ship clipped its wing.  Allison held Oozie fast.  Thankfully the fighter had no power at all so the hive ship paid it no mind.  It traveled on and then with a flash of yellow light and a shock wave it vanished into FTL.  The shockwave knocked the fighter spinning back towards the rogue planet, but there was nothing Allison could do about that. 

It dawned on her that she was forgetting one important fact about her whole reversing the polarity on the graviton core…  the fact that its containment could start to fail and with the fusion core offline there would be no backup containment.  She shoved Oozie aside and ripped one of the access panels up and yanked the liquid metal cable from her holo-phone and jammed it into the port.  Oozie tried sticking its nose in the way.

“Stop it.  We’re going to get sucked into a black hole gah.  I don’t want to be spaghettified.  Do you?”

The interface for the fighter came up on her AR HUD and she started tapping through the various fighter systems.   She found the graviton core.  It was in fact losing containment.  She punched the button to eject it.  It flashed red.  She hit it again.  Again nothing happened.

“Come on!  Not like this you stupid Synthlin fighter.”

She kicked the back of the cockpit and the ejection fired.  Her fighter continued to spin away.  Thankfully they were far enough away the only thing that happened was a bright flash of light tens of thousands of kilometers away.  More than enough the black hole vanished into nothingness.

Allison wiped some sweat from her brow.  She was a bit overheated at the moment but she realized that even though the CO2 scrubbers were passive and required no power, Oozie would soon freeze to death, followed by herself once her armor ran out of whatever limited reserves it had left.  The fighter’s interface was running on very limited battery power.

“Well Oozie if my suit had power, and if my fighter wasn’t spinning towards a fiery death on a planet I just blew up, I could go outside and grab that emergency fusion generator.  Of course, then you’d die from exposure…”

Oozie rubbed against her, then licked her face and started purring.

“Don’t worry I’m not going to let you die before me.  We went through too much together.  I wish Bit was online.  She always has great ideas.”

Oozie started licking the holo-web.  She tried to push it away.

“Hey that’s a sensitive piece of technology.”

She blinked a few times and recalled that the holo-web had not been using the suit’s power source and had its own.  She snapped her fingers and started to worm her way out of the armor.  Which was just as challenging as one would expect in a cramped one-person cockpit with a dog-sized alien, in zero-g.

Once she got out of the armor, she fished it out of the air, pulled out her vibroknife and started prying the holo-web out of its housing.  It was quite difficult.  The armor’s charge finally got fully depleted, and the small white and red device popped out.  It started floating away.  Allison grabbed it out of the air.  She grabbed her data tap from the armor’s utility belt and ripped the liquid metal out of its housing.  It was preprogrammed to act as a plug connector.  So, she jammed one end into the emergency power port under the panel she’d pulled off then the other into the micro-port on the back of the holo-web.  One by one the fighter’s systems started coming to life. 

Allison reached out to the AR HUD control to fire thrustors.   She started firing them at regular intervals to slow the spin and adjust the course away from the planet.  She had no real chance at slowing the fighter down at all but she could level it off and avoid the gravity well.   She’d have to be judicious with power usage the micro-cores only had a limited generating potential and overloading them would fry them.  Thankfully they would just fizzle out instead of exploding, unlike graviton cores and antimatter generators.

“We’re so lucky I used up the last of that antimatter.  Emergency containment would have only lasted so long and likely would have burst after the EMP pulse hit us.”

Allison started shutting down anything that wasn’t life support.  She had plenty of rations in the cockpit cargo space.  The micro-fusion core would last indefinitely if all it had to power was her beacon, heat the cockpit and maintain the stasis field on the four cargo holds.  It could also supply Bit if the AI ever came back online.

The fighter cruised by the rogue planet.  The damage she had caused to it was catastrophic.  The atmosphere was gone, and the surface was glowing orange it was starting to break apart.  Lava was everywhere and massive chunks of planetary crust drifted with it.  She shook her head.

“I am in so much trouble, if I survive.  Not even the Dark Mother can say she blew up a planet.”

Allison looked at Oozie who licked her face again.

“That is the second planet that has died with me nearby, maybe I’m cursed?”

Bit’s voice crackled through her translator.

“I believe what you’re describing would be jinxed.”

Allison cheered.

“Bit!  You’re alive!”

She quickly shunted power to the computer core.

“Yes.  Despite your best efforts to destroy us both.”

Allison shrugged and pushed herself away from the cracked canopy.

“Some might say that we’re alive because of my heroic efforts to save us.”

               Bit snorted.

               “And they would be wrong.  I am starting to see how the Dark Mother managed to take out the Silwrath Emperor’s Vanguard fleet and capture their flag ship single-handedly.”

               “How’s that?”

               “She was exhibiting textbook human insanity!”

               Allison pulled herself into her seat and strapped herself in.

               “I’d rather be insane and alive then bug food.  I’m just saying.”

               “We are dead in space, running on a jury-rigged micro-fusion reactor that has no business powering this much and you only have two weeks of food and water if you intend to feed the animal.  We’re in interstellar space moving at a high velocity.  How do you call any of this good, Ensign?”

               Allison covered Oozie’s ears.

               “You be nice to Oozie.  It didn’t do anything wrong.”

               “ ‘She’ didn’t do anything wrong, if you’re going to end up starving to death for an animal you may as well use her proper gender.”

               Allison scratched Oozies head and held her in her lap.  Allison looked at Oozie and spoke in the tone one might use with a baby.

               “Someone’s being a cranky pants AI, isn’t she.”

                 Oozie barked a few times and wagged her tail.

               “Such a good little whatever you are, aren’t you?”

               Oozie struggled to get free.  Allison let her go.  Oozie tried to run but got nowhere.  Bit continued.

               “Your chances of survival are almost nil.  You should at least record a last message to your loved ones so I can pass it along.”

               Allison put her finger on her chin.

               “Let me think about that….”

               She shook her head.

               “Nope, not going to happen.  Now if you’re going to keep being cranky about our situation, I’m going to put music on and crank it up.”

               “Of course, if you ignore your impending demise, it will go away.  Why aren’t you more worried?  You are going to die.  I’m going to lose another pilot and there is nothing I can do to save them.”

               Allison rolled her eyes.

               “I warned you.”

               She tapped her AR HUD music player and pipped it through the cockpit speakers.  She laughed when the randomizer picked Dear Mr. Fantasy.

               “So… typical.”

               “Why are you laughing now?  Are you suffering from low oxygen levels?”

               Allison laughed again.

               “No, this song was in a movie.  The ship in the movie was drifting without power and they were starving!”

               “Why is this funny?  That is exactly what is going to happen to you!”

               Allison shook her head and waved her hand.

               “Never mind.  Just relax and enjoy the tunes.  In about eight hours my Babu will appear out of a wormhole and track us down with the beacon.”

               Bit’s tone sounded skeptical when she spoke.

               “You have more faith in System’s Alliance Search and Rescue then I do.  How is recovering a single fighter profitable for them?”

               Allison put her hand on the cargo port that held her food and water.  It slid open.  She pulled a meal and water ration out.  She ripped it open and gathered up the various portions that were individually wrapped.  She offered half the meat to Oozie whom she pulled into her lap.  She then ate the rest and did the same with the remainder of the ration pack.  She drank half the water and squirted the rest into Oozie’s mouth.  The creature gobbled it up and then the blobs of water that escaped like it was a game.

               “No response then?”

               “Look, my Mom, Dad and my Babu will move Heaven and Earth to rescue me.  Just like I’d do the same for you.  I don’t have to have faith in the System’s Alliance, I just have to have faith in them, but I do have faith in the System’s Alliance.  We don’t leave men behind.  It’s a tradition as old as well Earth or something like that.”

               Allison sighed when Fire and Rain started playing.

               “So, depressing I need happy right now.”

               She moved to skip ahead.  Bit spoke.

               “It suits my mood fine.”

               Allison sighed.

               “Well, I suppose I did almost blow you up twice, I guess I can let you listen to a song.”

               Allison went to say something else, but Bit shushed her.  Allison closed her eyes and waited for the song to finish.  The song ended and moved onto another.  Bit spoke.

               “What were you going to say?”

               Allison kept her eyes closed.  The next song was from the twentieth century too.  She recalled it was Gowen, You’re a strange animal.  She could have opened her eyes and looked at it on the AR HUD but she didn’t feel like it.  Thankfully the HUD turned off when she closed her eyes it would suck to sleep with it glowing in front of her face.

               “I was going to say:  I won’t be upset if you request a reassignment after we get rescued.”

               Bit didn’t answer for several minutes.

               “No.  You’re my pilot.  We’ve bonded in a neural link.  We’re what Synthlin would consider close family members.  In many ways it feels like I have a child now and a parent no matter what species should never abandoned their child.”

               Allison smiled.

               “Thanks Bit.  I love you too.”

               Bit made a non-comital sound.

               “Love is a bit strong.  Loathe but tolerate, like an older sibling that you keep dragging into your insanity!”

               Allison shook her head but kept her eyes closed.

               “It’s not my insanity, it’s our insanity.  I did not want to rescue Aryna, nor did I want to go to that planet, but you reminded me of standing orders.”

               “You are misremembering, you wanted to go to the rogue planet, not I.”

               Allison shrugged.

               “Whatever, it’s just… luck.  Bad and Good I guess.”

               “I do not believe in luck.”

               “Destiny then?”

               Bit snorted.

               “I believe in that even less.  No, running into Sal’nash twice in a row?  This time we were here just in time to stop a full swarm?  No something or someone is manipulating us.”

               Allison laughed and opened her eyes.  She noticed Oozie was floating against the canopy snoring away.

               “That sounds way less believable than luck.  No one knew this was here, or that Aryna’s ship was in AGN07, and this time I was just going to Earth to get my hand slapped in person because I bit Trixie and drank her blood.”

               Allison put her hand over her mouth.

               “Strike that from the record… would you?  President told me not to tell anyone.”

               Bit took a few moments to answer.

               “I’ve erased any references to that from mission logs, and this message as well.”

               “Anyway, the last one was a patrol I volunteered for, and no one wants the scanning patrols they’re boring.  Who could possibly predict these two in no way related events, beyond the fact we were involved?”

               Bit fell silent for almost half an hour.  Allison had her eyes closed and she was just letting the music flow through her.  Bit spoke again.

               “I do not know, but there is a pattern here somewhere.  I will find it once I can get a full power core so I can access my full processing power.”

               Allison opened her eyes.

               “Do yourself a favor Bit, just let it go, it’s just random chance like everything else in the universe.  I’m going to try and get some sleep.  Wake me up if anything happens, please.  Oh, and we didn’t stop the swarm.  One ship escaped to FTL; It was heavily damaged.  There was nothing I could do, it would have been a pointless exercise to ram into them or board them.  Kind of like trying to understand the chaos of the universe.”

               Allison flipped to a relaxing playlist of rain and storm sounds and closed her eyes.  She woke up several hours later because her bladder was starting to complain very painfully.  She quickly released her harness and ripped off her underwear then jammed her legs into the armor leaving the top floating free.  She let loose a sigh of relief as the armor processed it.

               “That almost sucked.”

               “Yes, and just think of what this cabin will look like after two weeks of defecation from the creature.  You are the worst pilot ever.”

               Allison made a face.  Oozie was still snoozing away in the same place she’d been before Allison had fallen asleep.  She checked the time on her HUD.

               “Welp it’s been eight and a half hours since our wormhole comm to SA command.  It’s about time for the calvary to arrive.”

               “You’re expecting riders on horseback in space?”

               Allison pulled her armor over her arms and sealed it then snagged her free-floating underwear she stuffed them into a pouch on her utility belt.

               “If you had ever watched the Space Stallions holos you wouldn’t be so skeptical.”

               “I have seen them.  Low quality holo-animation.  Forgettable characters and a ridiculous premise.”

               Allison laughed.

               “Really? It’s a cartoon for eight-year-olds, I loved it when I was a kid.  And at this point I’d take them or anyone else.  Babu is forty-five minutes late.”

               “Any fleet would likely be starting with the planet.  If they believe we survived, they will likely start a search grid from there.  Our beacon only has limited range. And the power generated from your micro-fusion reactor will likely be fading into the galactic background radiation at any appreciable distance.  We are likely leaking fusion reactant, so we may have left a trail.  That is our only hope.”

               Allison tried to move but her body was totally exhausted.  Like she’d drained it of every bit of vitality.

               “Ugg, I need blood.  I went full vampire on that hive ship.  Now I get it.”

               “Check the starboard cockpit storage.  My weight distribution was off, I assumed it was the armor.”

               Allison groaned as she floated to the panel and pressed her hand against it.  The panel slid open and there were extra rations and zero-g drinkable pouches of Synth-O, dozens of them.

               “What the hell?  There’s enough food in here for a month and blood too.”

               She didn’t waste time worrying about why they were there.  She started sucking them back hungrily until her body felt right, it took twenty pouches of Synth-O enough for three full humans.

               “Yes, that worked, Ensign, your vitals are showing perfect across the board.  Intriguing.  Do you think you could gain sustenance from blood?”

               Allison shrugged.

               “Donno.  I was told I need both food and blood, but not as much as a human or vampire on either side.  Maybe?  With the water filtering from my armor and the survival kit we won’t run out of that.”

               “Do you still believe we’re not being manipulated?  Someone prepped for us to be stuck here.”

               “How could anyone possibly know?”

               Bit fell silent.  Allison sighed and went about collecting stray globs of Oozie urine with the water filter.  Not the most entertaining thing to do but any wasted water was less water they’d have.  She decided they’d use the filtered water as a last resort because while it was pretty standard to recycle it even on the colony the thought of seeing it collected then turned back into recycled water was not setting her stomach at ease.  It was several hours before Bit spoke again.

               “I apologize, due to the limited power provided by the holo-web core it took me a long time to review my databases.  I have reached a conclusion.  The Dark Mother is influencing events.”

               Allison laughed.

               “Oh, come on, that is the best you got?  That’s like saying the Christian’s sky daddy works in mysterious ways.”

               “Do followers of the Dark Mother not also worship the Christian God?”

               “Whatever, it still makes no sense.  She’s been gone for going on eighteen years.  How could she possibly be ‘manipulating’ us?  You’re sounding really paranoid.  This is probably just standard survival rations for a dhampir.  If the central SA command VI knows I’m a dhampir everyone in the military does.  Every time a fighter is launched for interstellar or intergalactic travel it is fully kitted out with full survival rations and kit.  That’s all this is.”

               Allison scoffed and laughed.

               “The Dark Mother.  We need to get your processing core checked.  I can’t believe you’re the one calling me insane.”

               Bit’s voice sounded a bit hurt.

               “It is the only logical conclusion.  Her book tells how she can predict the future.  It is plausible she provided instructions to her sister the President, or left them in the SA command VI.”

               “And the stupid book says Jesus could turn water to wine?  Seriously? Now we’re believing scripture written by humans?  It’s all bullshit.  Religion is bullshit.  I go through the motions because it makes Sister Silra happy.  I get higher marks.  Come on?  Seriously?  You cannot believe any of it is real.”

               “I will take your input under consideration and reprocess this information.”

               Allison threw up her hands.

               “Whatever.  I’m going to watch something, you want to join me I can share my feed?”

               “No, I will continue considering this topic.  We will talk later.”

               Allison groaned.  Bit always got like this when she shot her wild theories down.  Allison was continuously surprised by how much the AI could pout and brood.  This went on for the next day.  Allison was in the middle of watching an episode of Kill, kill, kill, an action holo-show.  She’d fallen behind during her summer of military training.  Bit interrupted her.

               “It has been fifty-six hours.  You have missed two days of school.  I have downloaded the syllabus for your classes.  We cannot do the PE training in zero-G for obvious reasons but we can keep you up to date on the rest.”

               Allison groaned.

               “Are you serious right now?  I could starve to death out here and you want me to do schoolwork?”

               “Yes.  Standing orders are you continue to keep up with any schoolwork while deployed with the assistance of a tutor.  I will be your tutor and your instructor.”

               “By the Dark Mother, is this because I called you paranoid?”

               “No, your education is important.”

               Allison threw up her hands and looked at Oozie.

               “A little help here?  I did save your life and I am feeding you my limited food.”

                 Oozie licked her face.  Allison groaned once again and threw up her hands.

               “Fine but this is cruel and unusual punishment!”

               The trio’s days continued like that for weeks.  Oozie seemed to adapt to the zero-G just fine.  Allison was starting to get a bit stir-crazy.  She was mid-math lesson when she noticed lights moving towards the fighter from the distance.  She cheered.  Finally, they’d be able to get back home.  Which was good because she was running low on food, she still had weeks of blood left though.

Chapter Text

               The large ship seemed to inch closer.  Allison was confused at first.  It seemed like it might be her grandfather’s ship, it was large enough, but it would never be maneuvering without at least a few of her escorts.  She started running through the possible scenarios.  She finally landed on pirates.  She groaned and ran her finger along the seam of her armor.  She looked at the dead Qual’sa pistol with a sigh.  Vibro knife it was.  At least her armor had somehow managed to recharge itself.  Bit asked.

               “What does it look like?”

               Allison squinted.  She couldn’t make out much at the distance while in interstellar space.  It wasn’t like there was light shining here from a star, and she hadn’t bothered to activate her own fighter’s running lights.  Once it was almost on top of them, she started shaking her head.

               “No way, no flipping way, it’s a Silwrath battle cruiser!”

               She let loose a string of Swahili curse words.  There wasn’t much she could do besides hope they didn’t see her.  She turned off the beacon and cut power too everything.  Even life support. Though at this point interrogation by dragon men seemed slightly preferable to starving.  Die a slow lingering death or fight a bunch of Silwrath and try to steal one of their ships.  She had all the data the System’s Alliance had on them.  She could fly their ships and use their weapons…  If the Dark Mother could commandeer a flag ship, why couldn’t she commandeer an FTL transport?

               “Screw it.”

               She activated her distress beacon and turned on her running lights.   The Silwrath battle cruiser came to a stop.  She saw fighters launch.  They did a pass and ran over the fighter with spotlights.  When they came back, they had a larger utility craft with them.  It locked onto Bit with a tractor beam.  Her fighter was dragged onto a hanger bay.  She and Oozie fell to the cockpit floor as the artificial gravity of the battle cruiser started to affect them.  She closed her eyes and tried to vamp out.  All she managed to do was feel like she was about to pass wind.

               “Thanks for nothing… guess I’ll just fight off an army of plasma-breathing dragon people with my armor and a vibro knife.”

               Allison pressed her hand against the panel to open the cockpit and then crouched down with her vibro knife in a backhanded grip.  Oozie was snarling beside her when a female blue scaled Silwrath in a white coat and with a hand scanner appeared after climbing up some stairs.  All Alliance personnel had the Silwrath translation matrix.  The surprised Silwrath’s response to the feral looking human teenager and angry Oozie was.

               “Oh, dear.  Are you alright child?”

               Alison blinked a few times.  She was expecting Silwrath shock troopers armed to the teeth ready to kill the xeno.  Not a… medical tech?  Allison waved her dagger at the medical tech and spoke in Silwrath via her translator.

               “I’ll die fighting before I let you torture and kill me.  I just killed an entire planet of Sal’nash, I’m not going to let you lot get me.”

               The Silwrath seemed very confused.

               “No one will harm you, child.  We detected your emergency beacon and are here to render aid.  Please put the weapon away.”

               Allison waved the vibro knife.

               “You think I believe you?  You’re xenophobic monsters bent on galactic conquest through systematic genocide!”

               The tech backed away with her hands up.

               “Perhaps you’ve been alone too long.”

               Allison kept crouched down.  She’d use the fighter for cover as long as she could.  Another Silwrath came up.  Another female.  This one had purple scales.  Allison knew that meant she was likely from a high-ranking caste.  Command staff or army command.  Allison was at least two feet shorter than the shortest adult Silwrath which made her less than intimidating to them.  This one held up her hands, though she was armed.

               “Little one, put down your weapon.  I have no wish to harm you.”

               Allison slid the vibro knife into a sheath the armor formed.  She stood up and lunged for the Silwrath’s pistol.

               “Good!”

               The Silwrath tried to grab her wrist.  Allison used a basic hand to hand counter and shoved her arm down.  Then leapt past her and grabbed the edge of her fighter’s cockpit finally landing on her feet.  Another Silwrath with purple tinged scales lunged at her she weaved to the side.  Now that she was actively engaged in what she believed was a life and death struggle she vamped out.  The Silwrath hit her with several stunners but her armor shielded her.  In the end it took eight of them to hold her down.  Her armor was fully depleted, and Allison had a black eye.  She hadn’t managed to get a shot off.  She’d be thankful for that later.  The medical tech knocked her out with a sedative.

               When Allison woke up, she was in a cell behind a shimmering force barrier.   Oozie was licking her face.  Allison pushed her away.

               “Enough, Oozie, enough.”

               There was food and water in metal dishes on the floor.  Allison gingerly poked at the corner of her lip where she’d been punched.  She was still in her armor, she still had her contacts and her holo-phone.  Her vibro knife and her utility belt were missing. 

Allison heard armored boots clanking against the metal deck a few minutes after she woke up.  It was the same purple Silwrath woman she’d stolen the pistol from.  She flexed her wings and crossed her arms and looked down at Allison with her two yellow dragon eyes.

“Ah, she’s awake.  I cannot remember the last time it took seven of my soldiers to hold anyone down.   You are an interesting little thing aren’t you.”

Allison shrugged.

“I suppose this is the part where you torture me to find out where my homeworld is so you can go back in time and wipe us out of existence huh?”

The dragon woman quirked her head to the side.

“Time travel?  Just how advanced is your species?  You are an adolescent of your species, yet you can pilot a Synthlin fighter, whose AI will not speak to us, you wield Qual’sa weaponry.”

Allison rubbed her jaw gingerly.

“Allison Wanjala, Ensign, System’s Alliance.  I do not submit to your authority, scans or questioning.”

The dragon woman chuckled.

“I like you already, little pale one.  I suppose that hyper-matter waste disposal planet and the Sal’nash swarm fleet are your doing?”

Allison looked the dragon woman in the eyes and defiantly repeated her previous statement.

“Very well.  May I provide medical assistance to you?”

Allison shook her head.  Which was now throbbing, and her body would not heal without that sweet, sweet blood in her fighter’s cargo unit.

“You’re going to attack them and try to escape, aren’t you?”

Allison nodded.  The woman laughed again.  It was a boisterous and infectious laugh.

“If you had less hair.  I’d believe you were a Silwrath in disguise.  We know the Nargle’s diet, but what do you eat little pale one?  At least eat something so when you do escape you can give it a good go.”

Allison sighed.  She figured there was no point in starving after she’d survived for almost a month in her fighter’s cockpit.

“There are silver pouches in the starboard cargo compartment in my cockpit.  I need those.  And I can eat most Silwrath food, but please not those gross butt fruits.  I do not need any worms thank you!”

The woman laughed again.

“You sound like my daughter.  Never wants to clean her teeth.”

Allison shuddered.  The woman bowed her head slightly.

“I am First Trimark Nutina of the Silwrath Vanguard fleet.  I will ensure sustenance is delivered.  Perhaps afterwards you will be in a more talkative mood, Ensign Wanjala.”

Allison leaned back against the metal wall of her cell.  The First Trimark was true to her word.  The entire supply of blood was delivered to Allison along with a full Silwrath meal, sans butt fruit.  Allison started sucking back the blood one at a time.  The First Trimark returned when she was three in.

“I am told that is blood.  In fact, blood from your species.  Is it common for your species to consume blood?”

               Allison just continued sucking back blood until she felt normal again.  She was down to four containers.  She should have had five.  She looked up at Nutina.

               “One is missing.”

               The First Trimark nodded.

               “Yes, we took it so we could synthesize more.  I am unsure how long it will be until we can return you to your parents.  You are an adolescent, aren’t you?  Not yet mature?”

               Allison didn’t see the harm in answering.

               “Yes, that is true, you’ve got a child in jail.”

               Nutina smiled showing off a row of shining white dragon teeth.

               “A child who somehow managed to best several of my soldiers.”

               Allison shrugged.

               “Seems like you need better soldiers if a kid can do that.”

               Nutina laughed again.

               “If only my daughter had your fire.  She wants to be a sculptor of all things.”

               Allison was feeling very confused at this point.  This was not what she expected.  Was this an interrogation tactic?  Everything she’d heard was that the Silwrath wanted to destroy humans because of the Dark Mother’s audacity.  Then she remembered the report.  Second Trimark Nutina was the Silwrath the Dark Mother had shape shifted into.  She decided she could do some interrogating of her own the First Trimark was feeling talkative.

               “Excuse me, ma’am, is Nutina a common officer caste Silwrath name?”

               Nutina’s wings flexed.  Allison knew that denoted confusion based on her training.

               “Officer Caste?  We haven’t had Castes for thousands of years, not since the Emperor was overthrown.  No, it is not a common name.  I am quite intrigued you seem to know a lot about us for a species we have no records of.  Down to the fact we use butt fruit worms to clean our teeth.”

               Allison was feeling like Alice about now.  Like she’d fallen right down the rabbit hole and was in an alternate dimension where the Silwrath weren’t xenophobic psychos.   This version of them seemed to match up with Aryna’s memories perfectly.  Allison leaned forward.

               “So, you have no record of my species?  Not a single one?”

               The First Trimark moved closer.

               “No, the League has no records of your species.  It has been a matter of some consternation in our Allied Defense Command.  The Synthlin are very curious how you are in possession of one of their fighters.  We generally do not traverse this sector of the galaxy due to the Sal’nash threat.  So, the running theory is you are a primitive species that stumbled onto an abandoned Synthlin base.”

               Oozie curled up on Allison’s lap, much to the teenager’s consternation because she was blocking her view of Nutina.

               “Also, we haven’t seen a Nargle for at least six thousand years.  They were wiped out, along with the majority of the Qual’sa when their star was supernovaed to end the last swarm.  It was a shame we could not rescue some or at least a record of their culture.  The Sal’nash are a plague.”

               Allison nudged Oozie off her lap and scratched her head.  Nutina pointed her nose at Oozie.

               “They do not take to just anyone.  If I knew nothing else about you then that Nargle was willing to fight off my soldiers to protect you, I would know you are a good soul.”

               Allison continued to scratch Oozie’s head gently.

               “Honestly, she led a bunch of I have no idea what they are called towards me, let me fight them off and then wouldn’t leave me alone afterwards.”

               Nutina nodded.

               “Ah yes, hyper-matter waste parasites.  Common on disposal planets, as are Sal’nash breeding grounds.”

               Allison was really feeling like a complete asshole as she was starting to realize she’d attacked a bunch of innocent sentients for the crime of rescuing her from a slow death from starvation.

               “I’m sorry I attacked your people.  I had faulty intel.”

               Nutina laughed.

               “We have all been there, young Ensign.  So, what precisely was your plan?”

               Allison shrugged and then her stomach started rumbling.  She grabbed the fried aquatic animal meat she’d been delivered and didn’t bother with the utensils provided and just started gulping it down.  She did it with the rest of the meal.  She looked at the empty tray.

               “If I tell you, can I have more… something high energy… candy?”

               Nutina nodded and tapped her wrist.

               “Please bring another full meal to the brig and also a few desserts.”

               Nutina blinked a few times when she looked at Allison.  All the girl’s injuries had vanished.

               “You’re already healed.”

               Allison shrugged.

               “Anyway, I was going to steal your pistol, grab that med tech, use her as a shield take out as many soldiers as I could, then cut one of your hands off and use it to open a transport, and then launch it.  Then fly home.  Not your hands, but like one of you Silwrath’s hands.  I’d rather not do that but dragging one of you around dead or unconscious just seemed like a bad idea.  Med Tech was out of reach and your guys got to me faster than I expected.  I was slower than I wanted to be.”

               Nutina nodded along.

               “Not the worst plan.  You did not take into account the impact prolonged exposure to zero-G’s would have on your body.  You are young, now you’ve learned a lesson.”

               “If I’d known you weren’t going to torture me and kill me so you could go attack my homeworld I might have made a different choice.  I’m sorry.”

               Nutina waited while Allison tore through the next tray of food she’d been delivered.  After the high calorie desserts Allison leaned back satisfied.

               “I have a few more questions, if you would agree to answer them.  One, where did you learn about us from?”

               “Countess Rubina Silverscale, Heir to the first house of Murush, keeper of the sacred flame of Toran, granddaughter of-”

               Nutina held up one of her taloned hands.

               “Primarch Rubina Silverscale told you we were murderous xenophobes?”

               Allison nodded.

               “Yep, she taught a whole class on it in the academy, via holo of course.”

               Nutina’s wings flicked a few times.

               “What does she look like?”

               “Ruby colored scales, frosted silver tips.  Smaller than you, like all silver scales.  Very powerful psionic.”

               “And you’ve met her?”

               Allison shook her head.

               “No, you guys want to execute her for: Sedition, Talcatic Terrorist Bombing, Disobedience to the Crown, Murder, conduct unbecoming a noblewoman of high status and the list goes on and on.  Why would she come anywhere near this galaxy?”

               Nutina paused as she paced and looked at Allison.

               “This galaxy?”

               Allison sighed.  She had said too much.

               “Yes, we’re from another galaxy.  The Dark Mother rescued her when she captured your flag ship.”

               Nutina was extremely confused now, her wings kept flicking.

               “You mean this flag ship?”

               Allison nodded.

               “Yes, she destroyed the escort and captured this ship which is sitting in orbit around the furthest planet from our star and has been for the last well since before I was born.  I have piloted it in simulators.  I know it has a crew of six thousand, a complement of sixteen drop ships, and three hundred fighters.  Just like I know if I were to get out of this cell, I would be able to find my fighter four decks up and three hundred meters aft starboard.  For all the good it would do me.  I have walked around this ship in VR.”

               Nutina blinked and her wings kept twitching.

               “One of you wiped out an entire Silwrath fleet and captured one of the dreadnoughts single-handedly?”

               Allison nodded.

               “Well, she was older than me, that’s for sure.”

               Nutina didn’t say anything more and rushed off.  Allison shrugged and laid down.  Oozie curled up next to her.  Allison wrapped her arm around the Nargle and let her eyes close.  She woke up when Nutina called out to her.  Allison rubbed her eyes, she blinked several times until her contacts recentered themselves.  Nutina was standing there with a silver scaled Silwrath and a Synthlin which was wearing its encounter suit, of course it was, the cells couldn’t do much outside of it.

               Oozie took up position in front of Allison and started to snarl.  Allison gently patted her head.

               “Come on, let’s not start that again.  Remember what happened when you tore that drone’s neck out hmm?”

               Oozie curled up beside Allison’s feet.  The Silver Scale and Synthlin both looked at Nutina who nodded.  The Synthlin spoke first.  It was a male and his voice sounded just like chocolate tasted.

               “I am Talarin.  Representative of the Council of Sentient Races.  Do you consent to a scan by this silver scale?  Much of what you have said is… difficult to believe.”

               Allison shook her head.

               “No way.  I do not want a Silwrath poking around in my brain.  Teayrna was more than enough and I actually like her.”

               Talarin moved closer to the force field.

               “That is a Qual’sa Queen the last in fact.  You have met her personally?”

               “Yes, she is my friend.  She’s shared memories with me.”

               Talarin looked at the silver scale who nodded.  Allison glared at the trio.

               “I did not consent to that scan.”

               She shouted some very uncharitable thoughts in her head towards the silver scale who held her temples.  Talarin held up his hands.

               “Calm yourself, child.   She is not probing just verifying you speak the truth.”

               Allison narrowed her eyes.

               “I don’t see a difference.”

               Talarin spoke again.

               “I have spoken with your fighter’s AI, I believe you call her Bit.  She has verified much of your story for me.  Please, just one last question and the silver scale will leave.  Did you lie to the First Trimark at all?”

               Allison glared at the silver scale.

               “No.”

               Talarin motioned for the silver scale to leave.  The poor dragon woman rushed out rubbing her head.  He folded his hands and looked down at Allison.

               “We have two, true statements of fact.  Your people have captured this ship, yet it is here under control of the Silwrath High Command.  You also say that Primarch Rubina has been granted sanctuary by your people because she is wanted by the Silwrath, yet she is sitting in session as we speak.”

               Allison rolled her eyes.

               “So what?  I’m a teenage girl who is in high school, don’t ask me to explain quantum temporal… whatever, whatsits”

               “The Primarch wishes to speak with you personally, child.”

               Talarin motioned to Nutina.

               “Release her.”

               Nutina walked up to the cell and her taloned hand hovered over the panel.

               “Ensign, do I have your word of honor as a soldier that you will not harm anyone under my command or my protection?”

               Allison stood up.

               “Not unless someone tries to hurt me or Oozie.”

               Nutina nodded and opened the cell.

Chapter Text

Oozie followed behind Allison as she stepped out.  Talarin walked in front of the group and Nutina fell into step beside Allison.  The much taller dragon woman looked down at Allison.

“I have seen the holos your fighter shared with representative Talarin.  For an adolescent you have an impressive kill count.  Taking on an Elite Warrior Drone in hand-to-hand combat, daring to fire particle beams with yourself so close to win the battle.  You have the heart of a Silwrath Battlelord beating in that soft fleshy chest of yours.  The Sal’nash are an enemy to all living things.  You have done a great deed for all citizens of this galaxy.”

Allison sighed.

“One ship got away.”

Nutina patted Allison’s back.

“We are already trying to trace it.  What you should focus on is that you destroyed a Super-Hive and several thousand other hives.”

Nutina clenched her fist.

“Detonating that much hyper-matter waste!  Genius!  Tell me, how did you deliver it?  Did you blast your way through the hive spit in the Queen’s eye and drop it?”

Allison shook her head.

“No, I covered myself, the canister and Oozie in Sal’nash egg slime, then used a cloaking field.  I was trying not to be noticed at all then Oozie goes off and tears out a drone’s throat… I was looking for the bridge… but found the Queen.  The cloaking field wasn’t working at all.  She spit acid. I dumped the antimatter… err hyper-matter waste and ran.”

Nutina rubbed her chin.

“Very shrewd tactics.  Not precisely honorable but you were alone against hundreds of millions!  The fight in that passageway where you made your last stand was glorious.  Then blasting upwards using max thrust in atmosphere!  Suicidal but effective.   You must have killed thousands with that alone.  Then igniting the outer atmosphere.  Waiting for them to flee the planet and obliterating almost the entire fleet in one vicious strike.”

Nutina clenched her claw again.

“Glorious.  Legendary!  Your name will go down in history.  Silwrath Trimarks will study this battle for centuries to come.  One Synthlin starfighter and one pilot against an entire swarm of Sal’nash.”

Talarin looked back.

“I am sorry, young pilot, while your AI is fully functional, the fighter she resides in is no longer viable.”

Allison shrugged.

“Well, I put her through more than any ship has any right to survive.  It is not unexpected.”

Allison looked down at her gore covered armor.

“So, is there a chance I can get freshened up or something… before I meet Countess Ruby?”

Talarin stopped in his tracks.

“Ruby?  She lets you call her that?”

Allison nodded.

“She gave us her full title and name, then told us just to call her Ruby, or Countess Ruby.”

Talarin motioned to Nutina.

“The council is still in session for another hour.  See to it she can get cleaned up. Provide her with the uniform we pulled out of her fighter.”

Allison held up a finger.

“Actually, I’ll use my armor… that is my school uniform and I uh, don’t want to explain to my leadership why I showed up in that.”

Talarin rubbed his encounter suit’s chin.

“No, Nutina, have her outfitted with the appropriate ADF uniform.”

Nutina bowed her head.

“As you say Representative.”

Nutina guided Allison into a transit tube and finally to a smaller sized crew’s quarters.

               “Ensign… in your organization where do you fit?”

               Allison bit her lower lip, it would be great to say Fleet Admiral, but she figured the truth was best for this particular situation.

               “Imperial Silwrath fleet?  I would be a Pilot junior grade.”

               Nutina grinned showing her razor-sharp teeth.

               “Indeed.  ADF you would be a Wing Vanguard.  I shall have a uniform prepared.  Your belongings including your weapons have been delivered here.  Well except the parasite, that is in hazardous storage.  And of course the remains.  How did you come into possession of her remains?”

               Allison looked down at Oozie.

               “Well, I wanted to lure the bulk of the Sal’nash forces out of the super hive so I set a trap on a crashed ship, everyone was dead except for this idiot here.”

               She pointed at Oozie.

               “She wouldn’t leave her former master.  So, after I set the antimatter… hyper-matter waste charge there I carried the girl’s body to my ship so Oozie would follow me.  I think Oozie figured out by the time we got there she was dead and started following me.  I destroyed the rest of their remains in that explosion.  The ship had crashed a few hours before I landed.  The passengers either died in the crash or shortly after the cryo tubes opened.  The atmosphere was pretty toxic to carbon-based life forms.  I’m not sure how Oozie here survived.  It was like ten percent oxygen levels.”

               Nutina laughed.

               “Genius!  Go get cleaned up, you deserve it.  We have some Yorleer under garment patterns in the fabricators, they should suit your body type.  They are much the same size as you.  If a little Greener.”

               Allison shrugged and walked into the sonic shower.  It worked much like the ones in the System’s Alliance save that it was designed for a seven-to-nine-foot-tall dragon person.  She found what seemed to be an oddly shaped brush.  She brushed out her hair and pulled it into a neat bun.  When she left the washroom she found a full set of underwear and a uniform.  The uniform was charcoal grey.  It consisted of a skirt, Allison frowned at that, a jacket with a low collar.  On the collar was a single holo pip already pinned on.  There was a place for what appeared to be a squadron and ship badges on the jacket.  The undershirt was white and much more functional than the System’s Alliance undershirt which were always collared and button up.  This was a pullover with a low neck.  It was finished off by a belt with a buckle displaying a human-looking hand, a Three-Fingered armored hand and finally a Silwrath hand all holding the same scepter.  She shrugged and pulled on the belt.  She hadn’t been finished getting dressed for long at all when Nutina showed up.

               “Much better, well at least for the softies on the council.  You seemed more comfortable in your armor.”

               Allison looked down.

               “It’s the skirt mostly?  I don’t like them much, but all the uniforms seem to have them for women?  Like why?”

               Nutina’s wings twitched.

               “My apologies Ensign, ADF has both for female officers, I assumed because your other uniform had one you preferred them.”

               Allison glared at her school uniform.

               “Nope, that is a stupid tradition that should have gone away a thousand years ago, but what can you do?”

               Nutina chuckled and motioned for Allison to join her.

               “This shouldn’t be much more than a formality my young friend.  The Primarch and high council were having a bit of a fit after the holo and report.  I talked them down.”

               “A fit?  Why?”

               “It’s of no importance.  I told them how things are in combat situations.  It has been a long time since we’ve seen any actual real battles beyond pirates and illegal mining operations.  Such things as making the best choice out of a selection of bad choices get forgotten.”

               Allison shrugged.  Nutina sounded so sure of herself she had no reason to doubt the very large woman.  Allison was led to a room with five pedestals, Representative Talerin, another purple Silwrath, the silver scale from earlier and finally Nutina joined the line of people.  Nutina bowed her head to the larger Silwrath.

               “Eminence.”

               Allison glanced at him.  That meant he was the equivalent of her grandfather.  A fleet admiral.   The Eminence looked Allison up and down he nodded to her.  Allison didn’t know what to do so she saluted him at attention, then bowed her head.

               “Eminence.”

               He smiled, showing his teeth.

               “Welcome Ensign.”

               Allison heard a hum, then one by one each of the pads flared to life.  A glowing hologram appeared on each.  In the center was Rubina.  Allison would know her face anywhere.  To Rubina’s left were an orange scaled male Silwrath, and a green skinned humanoid woman, who besides the color of her skin and the shade of her hair could be a human.  To Rubina’s right were a female Synthlin and a smaller humanoid rodent… possibly a squirrel or close to it.  Rubina folded her hands in front of her and looked down at Allison.

               “Ensign Allison Wanjala.  The council is here to address the capital crimes you committed one standard month ago.”

               Nutina stepped forward and opened her mouth.  Rubina held up her taloned hand.

               “First Trimark you have made your opinion abundantly clear; The High Council respectfully disagrees with your assessment.”

               Rubina focused on Allison again who wanted to bolt at this point but wasn’t sure where she could go.

               “Ensign, you stand accused of detonating not one, but two hyper-matter waste weapons of mass destruction.  One that was so strong it registered on the opposite side of the galaxy and caused wide-spread disruption of the Leagues quantum entanglement communications network.  Putting countless lives at risk.  Both carry a maximum sentence of death.  Finally, you stand accused of the destruction of a planet and all life on it.  Also, a death offense.  What do you have to say in your defense before we bring you to the council for judgment and sentencing?”

               Allison opened and closed her mouth a few times, then realized Bit was probably watching this through her contacts.  She whispered.

               “Bit!  Help!”

               Rubina leaned down.

               “What was that, Ensign?  Speak up.”

               Allison cleared her throat and decided to stall.

               “Primarch, should I not have someone who knows your laws speak in my defense?”

               Rubina shook her head.

               “That is for the judgment phase.  The council is here to determine if we should proceed.  We are allowing you to explain your actions.”

               Allison bit her lower lip.  To do so she’d have to admit where their colonies were.  She wasn’t ready to risk her parents’ lives for her own.   Bit started printing text across Allison’s HUD.  Allison breathed a sigh of relief and repeated what Bit was typing word for word.

               “With all due respect, you and your council do not have any jurisdiction over these matters.  These events took place in sovereign System’s Alliance space where I am fully authorized to use whatever force I deem necessary to protect my person, my ship, and the citizens of the System’s Alliance up to and including the use of weapons of mass destruction. I am fully trained and licensed in the use of hyper-matter waste-based weaponry and power systems as well as the transport, maintenance and disposal of hyper-waste storage vessels, this can be reviewed in my service record which can be made available with redactions for security reasons.  The Sal’nash were a clear and present danger to myself, the citizens I am sworn to protect and all other life in this galaxy.  Finally, this proceeding is taking place in said sovereign territory.  If you wish to bring a formal complaint about my actions up with my commander, you may do so as per System’s Alliance laws.  If you, or any of your citizens or corporate entities, have a claim to the rogue planet referenced in your charges they may bring it up with the System’s Alliance board of directors.  As per System’s Alliance laws and directives.”

               Rubina opened and closed her mouth a few times then turned to the council and said something. 

               “We are not aware of your System’s Alliance nor any of its claims to sovereign territory, this is and has been the domain of the League for tens of thousands of years.”

               Allison started reading the new text Bit was providing.

               “Lack of knowledge or of diplomatic ties are no excuse for you trying to enforce your will on our sovereign territory.  As per your own League representative’s admission this sector was abandoned due to Sal’nash risk by your citizens and military for thousands of years.  Our first base of operations was founded in this sector of the Andromeda Galaxy twenty-five of your years ago.  Our settlements and other military facilities have all been in place for at least the last twenty years.  As per your laws, any settlement or claim of territory that is not disputed within ten standard years is considered legally binding and valid.  Our settlements and military installations span one thousand light years.  Which this ship is currently in the center of without proper authorization.  Even by League standards that could be considered an act of war.  Your lack of will to deal with the Sal’nash is not our problem, you invading our territory with a heavily armed battlecruiser and imprisoning one of our citizens is our concern.”

Rubina consulted with the council again.

“And what of the disruption to our communications network?”

Allison continued reading.

“The System’s Alliance will undertake diplomatic negotiations to determine what, if any consequences or reparations will be undertaken.”

Rubina went to say something more.  Allison held up her finger.

“I am not finished, Primarch.  I let you speak, it is my turn now.  I would like to address the crimes your League has committed within our sovereign territory.  We have laws against the disposal of what you refer to as hyper-matter waste.  The Synthlin left a galaxy disrupting mess in our territory with no plans for remediation or clean up.  Individuals found illegally dumping hyper-matter waste could face the death penalty.  Corporations and other entities could be fined up to one trillion credits per instance.  The Synthlin dumped hundreds of thousands of canisters on the rogue planet.  There is also a fine for improper storage of hyper-matter waste, one billion credits per instance.  In addition, their reckless disposal of hyper-matter waste attracted a Sal’nash swarm to our sovereign space.  Putting every single one of our citizens at risk.  Some might say even an act of war!  These are of course in addition to your unlawful invasion of our sovereign territory and the unlawful detainment of one of our citizens.  While your rescue is appreciated the proper, legal course of action under galactic law, by League standards is to provide me with a transport ship to carry my fighter and all its proprietary technology back to a System’s Alliance controlled star system.  And erasing all scans lest you be considered a hostile foreign power that is spying on us.  I am finished now, Primarch.”

Rubina frowned.  Her wings were drooped.

“We shall discuss this with the High Council and Parliament.  Eminence Keer, please treat our guest as a foreign dignitary.”

Nutina crossed her arms and started to grin.  The holograms vanished one after another.  Eminence Keer chuckled.  Talarin looked like he was about to faint.  The silver scale wandered off after nodding to Talarin.   Nutina pounded Allison on the back.

“I’ve never seen the Primarch flustered before!  Surely your species must have masterful orators!”

Allison shrugged and whispered.

“Thanks, Bit.”

Bit printed, You’re welcome, very well spoken. I’d give you a pass on your presentation project coming up this semester. on her HUD.

Nutina laughed again.  Keer looked amused as well.  It appeared the warriors didn’t have much love for the politicians.  Eminence Keer spoke.

“First Trimark, you are relieved of your normal duties until our guest is able to leave, please ensure our guest is comfortable and is well protected.  Not that I think she requires it after her performance against the council, Sal’nash and your elite guard.”

He turned to Allison.

“Ensign, I am pleased to have met you.  I would be honored to fight by your side one day.  May fortune continue to favor you in your path to honor and glory.”

He closed his fist and slammed it on his chest plate.  Allison stood at attention and saluted Alliance style.  Keer moved off leaving Nutina and Allison alone.

“Let’s go get something to eat, and drink!”

Allison followed Nutina to the mess.  The pair picked up food and sat down.  A few Silwrath noticed them, then a few more.  Eventually there was a crowd demanding to hear about her destruction of a Sal’nash swarm single handedly.  After an hour most drifted off to their duties after sharing their own war stories.  Nutina and Allison were talking about starfighter tactics when an alarm sounded.  Eminence Keer was requesting their presence on the bridge.  Nutina motioned for Allison to follow her, and the pair rushed to a transit tube.  A few minutes later they walked out onto the bridge.  On the main view screen was her Babu’s fleet they were approaching rapidly.  The Eminence spun in his chair and looked at Allison.

“Are those System’s Alliance ships Ensign?”

Allison nodded.

“Could I trouble you to give us a communications band we can use to avoid a fight?  We’re reading full shield and weapon charges.”

“Yes, Eminence may I have access to your comm’s station?”

He nodded and was about to point when he realized Allison was already replacing his comm’s officer.  The comm’s officer stepped back when he realized Allison was familiar with their controls.   She opened a link with her authorization code.  Her Babu’s bridge appeared on the view screen.  He didn’t notice Allison immediately and addressed Keer.

“Eminence, you are in System’s Alliance space.  We consider this an act of war.  Stand down and prepare to be boarded.  There is no need for loss of life today.”

Keer grinned showing his teeth.

“Oh, how I would love this challenge, unfortunately we already have one of your representatives on board who would like to speak to you.”

Keer motioned to Allison who stood up and walked to the center of the bridge.  She saluted.

“Skull Ten reporting in, sir, sorry I am out of uniform.  It could not be helped.  Eminence Keer and his crew rescued myself, Bit, and my new friend here.  They have treated me as an honored guest and fellow soldier.  I can confirm they have not powered weapons; Sir and they are here to investigate the antimatter device I detonated.  It disrupted their communications network.  They had no intent to violate our sovereign space.”

Allison motioned to Oozie.  The look of relief that showed on her Babu’s face melted Allison’s heart.  Her Babu ordered his ships to power down weapons.

“We were worried about you Skull Ten.  I expect a full report on your return.  In the meantime, I believe the Eminence and I should have a private conversation after I report to command.  You are cleared for landing once you are able to launch.”

Allison stood at attention and saluted.

“Sir, my fighter is inoperable due to battle damage.  I will require transport for it and myself.”

Her Babu nodded.

“Very well, Skull Ten.  You are dismissed.”

Allison saluted again she looked at Keer.

“You may go, First Trimark, Ensign.  You are free to roam the ship, so long as the First Trimark is with you.”

Chapter Text

               Allison was pacing in her temporary quarters aboard the Silwrath flagship.  It had been two days since her Babu had intercepted them.  She should have already been on board hugging him then been on her way home.  Bit had already been sent over.  She was still here.  She hadn’t been a prisoner, in fact just as Rubina had ordered she was an honored guest.  As charming as Nutina was her loud and boisterous company was starting to wear on Allison.  She had gleaned from her time here that Nutina did not have many friends, either because of her rank or because of her personality.  Allison hadn’t figured it out yet.  She had now been provided with two uniforms, two PT outfits and one set of off-duty wear.  She was in one of the uniforms currently.  The high point of her visit was definitely the Silwrath’s holographic fighter simulator.  The First Trimark was an excellent pilot and she had taught Allison more than one thing.

               Allison was reaching for her clean PT outfit.  She had decided more resistance training would help her overcome the weakness three weeks of zero-G had caused in her muscles.  The Silwrath medical staff had been very helpful in preparing a regimen for her, and Oozie.  The nargle had refused to leave her side for even a few seconds since they’d arrived.  She had the sports bra in her hand when she heard her name on the room’s speakers.  The very loud and bossy sounding Silwrath VI was telling her that her presence was required on the bridge.  She left her room.  Oozie chased after her.  The pair ran into Nutina halfway down the passageway.   The Silwrath smiled at her.

               “It would seem you are on your way home, little human.”

               Nutina had tried to speak the sentence in Alliance standard.  She’d done a passible job, but human came out, uman.  The Silwrath seemed to struggle with the concept of silent letters.  It went against their belief that everything must be heard clearly.  It made them… loud.

               “H isn’t silent.”

               Allison repeated the word.

               “Human.”

               Nutina repeated it a few times before getting it right.  The pair reached the bridge.  Allison stood at attention and saluted Eminence Keer.

               “At ease, Ensign Wanjala.  The Fleet Admiral would like to speak to you in private.”

               Keer motioned to a door that led off the bridge.  Allison knew it led to the captain’s ready room equivalent. 

               “Aye, sir.”

She nodded and entered the room.   Her Babu was on the screen.  He smiled.

“Ensign, I have good news.  We’re taking you home finally.  Now that the diplomats and politicians are done posturing.  We are to continue talks on Eden Prime.  I was hoping you could plot a course for the Eminence and pilot the ship into a proper legal orbit of Eden Prime.”

Allison narrowed her eyes.  She wanted to go home pretty badly but this all seemed a little too good to be true.  She spoke a challenge code.   Her Babu answered.  She did another.  He responded in kind again.  Allison nodded.

“Aye, sir.  Is the Eminence aware?”

“He is.  He wanted me to pass the orders on directly because he thought you might be suspicious.  It appears he was correct.  Good work.  See you soon, Little Simba.”

Allison saluted her grandfather and left once the connection closed.  Eminence Keer saw her appear and motioned to the ship’s helm.

“Please, Ensign, if you would take the helm.”

Allison stood at attention briefly.

“Aye, sir.”

Allison knew the Silwrath to be sticklers for rank if you were on duty from Rubina so she’d done her best to show the officers and crew of the Silwrath flagship every courtesy and deference she could muster as a show of respect.  Allison sat down at the helm.  Oozie curled up at her feet.  She always felt a bit odd with the nargle being everywhere with her.  It was getting slightly suffocating.  She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.  She wasn’t sure about Silwrath protocol for FTL jumps.  So, she just followed Alliance protocol and plotted the FTL jump.

“Course laid in, sir, awaiting your orders.”

Eminence Keer glanced at his comm’s officer.

“Are all fighter patrols and scouts landed?”

The comm’s officer responded in the affirmative after doublechecking.  Eminence Keer looked at Allison.

“Proceed, Ensign.”

Allison hit the FTL jump.  The ship accelerated to speed away from the remnants of the rogue planet and a blue-white vortex formed on the view screen.  Allison moved to get up.

“You have not been relieved of your station, Ensign.”

Allison blushed and planted her butt firmly in the seat.

“Sorry Sir.”

She heard Eminence Keer chuckle.

“Ensign, maintain your station, you have the bridge.  First Trimark Nutina and I have a few things to discuss.  Notify us when the ship arrives and is docked.”

Allison glanced back over her shoulder to see the two Silwrath moving into his ready room.  She sighed softly and wondered if her Babu had put the Eminence up to this, or if this was some sort of test by the Silwrath to see if she was capable.  It was pretty unorthodox to give command of a ship to someone who wasn’t actually part of your military or even your political faction.  Not that she believed for a second anyone on the bridge would follow an attack order or anything similar.  The jump took just over two hours the ship was slower in FTL than even the slowest Alliance ship.  Once the ship transitioned into normal space Allison turned to the comm’s officer.

“Sir, do you have standard System’s Alliance comm link set up?”

“Yes, Ensign, I do.”

Allison nodded.

“Please open a channel, sir.”

“Link established.”

She was amused to see Ajay standing in space control.  Likely yet another on the job training assignment.  He looked surprised to see her.

“Eden Prime Space Control, this is Skull Ten, in command of the ADFS Rampart, requesting geosynchronous orbital placement.”

Ajay looked around and seemed a bit flustered a lieutenant commander appeared.

“Skull Ten, we are sending coordinates for you now.  Welcome home.”

“Thank you, Sir, Rampart out.”

Allison glanced at the coordinates relayed to her from the comm station.  She expertly piloted the cumbersome battle cruiser into the orbit indicated and set the helm to auto maintain position.  She hit the button on her station to request a page.

“Eminence, First Trimark we have arrived and are parked.”

The pair of officers came out of the ready room.  Eminence Keer handed Nutina something and shook his head.

“Very well done, Ensign, you are relieved of your station, I am sure you’re eager to get home.”

Allison stood up as a Silwrath Wing Vanguard took her place.  She felt her stomach drop when she realized being home meant, two things, her mother, and Trixie.  Eminence Keer quirked his head to the side.

“You are happy to be home aren’t you Ensign?”

Allison saluted.

“Aye, sir.”

He motioned to her.

“Then why do you look like your pet just died?”

“I just realized how angry my command and my mother are going to be.”

Her comment elicited more than a few laughs, the loudest of which was Nutina’s.   He responded.

“Tell her to call me, I’ll set her straight.”

Allison gave him a half smile.

“Sir, with all due respect, that is a fight you will not win.”

He laughed while slapping his leg.

“Mothers, they’re the same in every species.  It was an honor to meet you, young Ensign.  I hope it is not for the last time.”

Allison saluted him.

“The honor was mine, Eminence Keer.”

Nutina, Allison and Oozie made their way to a launch bay.  A System’s Alliance shuttle had already landed, and her kit had already been placed on board including all of the clothing and toiletries given to Allison by the League and their Allied Defense Forces.  They arrived at the ramp and Allison turned to salute Nutina but was engulfed in a tight hug by the large woman.  Allison returned it as best she could.  Nutina released Allison.

“Next time, maybe you can meet my daughter.  May you find honor and glory, my young friend.”

               Allison smiled.

               “I wish the same for you as well.”

               She waved and walked on board the shuttle.  Oozie followed her and hopped up on the seat beside Allison.  Allison strapped herself in, then Oozie.   She smiled when she felt the shuttle transition into the atmosphere, she’d be home soon.  She ruffled Oozies fur.  The shuttle landed and she unstrapped the nargle, then herself and stood up.  Oozie ran around the shuttle sniffing and rubbing against everything.  The ramp lowered and Allison walked out.  Oozie raced behind her. 

Allison was faced with two MPs and Major Ghai.  She stood at attention and saluted.  Oozie sat down beside her.  Major Ghai looked her up and down, then glanced at Oozie.

“Ensign.  Only you could turn a simple trip to Earth into a diplomatic incident and a near declaration of war.   Do you realize you also disrupted our wormholes when you detonated that antimatter device?  We were down for six hours.”

Allison stood at attention waiting for him to finish his dressing down.

“Ensign, you have been reassigned from Fleet to Intelligence, and to my command.  You are now considered a military specialist.  I have been ordered to advise you that your flight status has been revoked, and you have been placed under house arrest until a decision can be made by a combined military and civilian tribunal in relation to your recent… antics.  You are allowed to attend school, take part in any school related activities, attend training on base, attend physiotherapy sessions to assist in recovery from extended zero-G, physical training and to complete your visit with the President on Earth, you will be notified of the schedule.  During your house arrest period you can freely travel between your home, your school and this base.  During your trip to Earth, you will be under guard.  We wouldn’t want you to blow up a star system on your next attempt.  Also, a reminder that everything that occurred on this unscheduled and unsanctioned search and destroy mission is classified.  You are not to discuss it with anyone except myself, the president or anyone we personally designate.  Pick up your things from the shuttle, these ladies will escort you home.”

Allison saluted him and spun around to gather her belongings.  Some animal handlers were approaching Oozie who was getting ready to attack them.  Allison stuck her fingers in her mouth and whistled.  Oozie ran to her.

“Sorry, she’s staying with me.  Once a nargle bonds, taking them away from their master would be considered animal cruelty under System’s Alliance law.  I have their behavior and bio-scans from the Silwrath.”

She tapped the file and swept it towards the group of animal handlers and the Major.  Major Ghai waved his Xeno-intelligence techs away.  Allison moved to walk past Major Ghai, he held out his hand to stop her.

“Ensign, I will take this opportunity to remind you, that you are still active-duty military reserves, you will maintain sim hours, continue training on all alien and System’s Alliance ship configurations.  As a military specialist you are also a starfighter pilot who will be called on to defend this colony and the System’s Alliance. Further training in Xeno-Linguistics, Xeno-survival, counterintelligence, surveillance, espionage, digital warfare, power armor, System’s Alliance army tactics and demolitions will be assigned once I am happy with your VR simulation performances.  A Military Specialist is expected to be well versed in all aspects of System’s Alliance combat technology, special tactics and reconnaissance.  You made a commitment of ten standard years when you joined this military, I intend for us to make the most of your service.  A tech will be sent to repair the damage you caused to your armor.  You will be provided with uniforms consistent with your new posting” 

He looked into her eyes.

“SAI is not Fleet.  We take our duty seriously.  As a member of my unit, even as a reservist you will be ready to defend the System’s Alliance at a moment’s notice.  You will be within reach of your armor or wearing it at all times.  Your kit, including assigned weapons, will be in your school locker or on your person at all times.  You will wear your translator, holo-phone and contacts at all times.  Do you understand, Ensign?”

Allison saluted.

“Yes sir!”

“We will be holding daily debriefs about your mission Ensign, 1200 hours to 1300 hours on weekdays.  A room will be provided by the school for this purpose. On weekends these sessions will be for four hours, 0800-1200.  You will then report for Physio, physical training and simulation training for your new role. We will keep to this schedule until I am satisfied that we have learned all we can from your holo recordings and your memory.  I expect the same commitment you showed in Flight school, during your training in Military Intelligence.  You are hereby ordered to report for duty every weekend until I am satisfied with your progress.  You are dismissed, Ensign.”

Allison nodded.

“Yes, sir!”

He motioned to the MPs.

“Please remove this loose cannon from my base.  I have had enough of her for today.”

The MPs saluted Major Ghai and motioned for Allison to follow them.  She glanced back at the Major.  She couldn’t help but think he was happier about her new assignment than she was.  It occurred to her she had never heard of a military specialist.  The MPs didn’t say anything. 

Oozie laid across the other half of the military transport’s back seat with her chin on Allison’s knee.  After three weeks in a cockpit, and a week on a Silwrath battle cruiser it seemed like forever since she’d seen her homeworld.  Fall had come to the Colony of Eden Prime.  The trees were turning into a rainbow of violet, blue, red, orange and yellow.  The red, orange and yellow trees looked like they were on fire, as they did every year.  The harvest had come and gone, the yearly harvest festival had closed down the weekend before.  Allison absently scratched Oozie’s head and behind her ears.  She looked down at the nargle.  Oozie looked up at Allison with her ridiculously adorable blue cat eyes.

“You go in first.  One look at you and mom’s heart will melt.  Then I’ll come in, how about that?”

Oozie purred and wagged her fluffy tail.  Allison smiled and leaned down and buried her face into Oozie’s soft white fur.   They pulled into the Wanjala residence’s driveway.  One of the MPs got out and opened the door for Allison.  Allison gathered her kit and got out.  The MP saluted her.

“Welcome home, ma’am.”

Allison nodded to her.  She couldn’t exactly return the salute.

“Thank you, Corporal.  Sorry the Major dragged you into this.”

The MP gave Allison a knowing look and the pair escorted Allison to the doorway.  The Master Corporal was holding several sheets of paper.  She looked at Allison and offered the letter.  Allison put down one of her cases and took the paper.

“This has the terms of your house arrest.  You are to wear your holo-phone at all times.  If it leaves designated areas, or you remove it you will be placed under arrest for AWOL.  You will subsequently either be booked into the brig, or confined to base, at your CO’s discretion.  Do you understand this document as I have presented it to you ma’am?”

Allison nodded.  The Master Corporal offered another sheet of paper.

“Notice for your transfer to Intelligence and your change of specialty.”

Allison glanced at the transfer order and added it to the house arrest terms.  Allison was offered one last sheet of paper.

“Finally, an order to appear at your tribunal.”

Allison glanced at it; It was scheduled for fall break. In six weeks.  The Master Corporal touched the panel to let the VI know people were at the door.   Allison’s mother opened the door.  That was no surprise, it was a Sunday afternoon.  The Master Corporal offered the last sheet of paper to Apiyo.

“Ma’am, your daughter has been placed under house arrest until her tribunal date.  As she is a minor at this time, as her legal guardian, it is your responsibility to ensure that she follows the terms of this house arrest.  If she fails to follow the terms outlined in this document, she will be either booked into the brig or confined to base until her tribunal.  You and your partner could face fines.  Do you understand this document, as I have presented it to you, or do you require a translation sent to you in your first language?”

Apiyo read it over.

“Well, seems like the Military has done something right for once, saves me from having to ground her myself.  Thank you, I’ll take her from here.”

The Master Corporal nodded.

“I hereby transfer Ensign Allison Wanjala into your custody, ma’am.”

The pair of MPs walked off.  Apiyo put her hands on her hips and looked at Allison then down to Oozie.

“You have brought me home another stray I see.”

Oozie sat down, wagged her tail, and gave Apiyo the biggest saucer shaped puppy dog eyes.  Apiyo frowned.

“You’re one of those, alright get inside.”

Apiyo motioned Oozie looked up at Allison who nodded.  The nargle bounded inside and started sniffing everything.  Then she started rubbing herself against everything.  Allison’s mother looked her daughter up and down.

“Well, at least they cleaned you up this time.  I suppose I’m not going to get any explanation, am I?”

Allison looked at the stone walkway under her feet.  Apiyo sighed and pulled Allison in for a tight hug.  Allison buried her face into her mother’s shoulder and just took comfort in being close to her mom once again.  Apiyo stepped back and cupped Allison’s cheeks in her hands.  Her mother was five inches shorter than her at this point.

“You are cursed to live an interesting life my child.  So, what is that thing’s name?”

Apiyo released Allison’s cheeks and motioned at Oozie.  Allison made a clicking sound with her tongue.  Oozie ran to her and sat down panting.

“Mom, this is Oozie, Oozie, this is mom.  If you are nice, she feeds you.”

Apiyo looked at Allison.

“Oozie?  Is there something I should know?”

Allison laughed.

“No, no, her name is like six syllables long.  I shortened it.  And if I could tell you what happened you would totally get why Oozie fits.”

Apiyo held her hand down.  Oozie licked it and then rubbed her legs.

“And the solar radiation is it safe for this thing?”

“She’ll be fine.  I checked a file on them.  Nargle’s are very hardy.  She can survive with half the oxygen we do, she’s comfortable in zero-G and I haven’t figured out how to get her to leave my side.”

Allison looked around.

“Where are dad and Aryna?”

Apiyo threw up her hands.

“Some representatives of the SA board of directors showed up and whisked her away for some diplomatic function.  They were very light on the details, something about dignitaries were requesting an audience.  As for your dad… In your absence he was temporarily transferred to a new colony in the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy.  Only for six months.  His XO, Major Ghai is now in charge of our defense forces.”

“Yep, found that out when I got off my shuttle.”

Apiyo put her hands on her hips.

“Not your fighter?”

Allison sighed.

“My flight status is currently revoked, and I am not assigned to a starfighter, or squadron.  I’ve also been transferred to SAI.”

Allison offered the official paperwork to Apiyo.  Her mother took and looked them over.

               “Military Specialist?  I’ve never heard of that trade.”

               Allison shrugged.

               “I haven’t either, but I signed up for ten years, so they’d pay for school so I’m pretty much not in charge of my life.   That should make you happy, knowing even after I am twenty-one you know someone is still telling me exactly how to dress, what to do and when to do it.”

               Apiyo hit the top of Allison’s head with the bundle of papers.

               “Hasn’t seemed to make your father any better at being an adult.  Go drop your things off.  I’ll let the… nargle? Out.”

               Oozie was bouncing at the back door.  Apiyo opened it and the nargle started running around in circles outside and rolling in the grass.  Allison gathered her things and took them to her room.

Chapter Text

               Allison did what anyone would do if they’d been stuck in a one-person cockpit for three weeks and then a ship.  She spent her Sunday afternoon running around in her backyard playing with Oozie who apparently loved to play fetch.  Eventually Oozie got bored of that and started diving under fallen leaves then suddenly jumping up and causing them to rain down in a shower of violet, blue, red, orange and yellow.   She’d then try to grab as many as she could before they hit the ground.  The whole scene provoked healthy laughter in Allison.

               As she watched the playful nargle dance amongst the fallen leaves she felt the stress of the last month evaporating.  She hadn’t realized how tightly wound she’d been.  Oozie crouched down and barked at her.  She made barking sounds back.  Then leaned down and tossed a bunch of leaves in the air.  She tried playing Oozies game and seeing how many she could catch.  Oozie got involved and they tripped over each other and fell down. 

Allison lay there in the grass where she fell looking up at the cloudy sky laughing.  Oozie pounced on her and laid across her chest and started licking her face.  Allison ruffled the fur on Oozie’s cheeks and the nargle purred loudly.  Unseen by either Allison’s mother stood at one of the large rear bay windows smiling as she watched her daughter who had not taken time to just play in almost four years.

Allison bent her head back and saw the tennis ball she’d grabbed from her father’s tennis kit and threw it.  Oozie pressed down with her paws.  Allison groaned then the nargle was off chasing the neon yellow ball.  Allison used the opportunity to sit up.  Oozie ran back and dropped the ball on her lap then licked her face.  Allison rubbed her cheeks and Oozie started to purr again.  At this point both had exhausted themselves.  Allison sat there half buried in leaves with Oozie sprawled across her lap.  The sliding door opened, and Allison heard Aryna gasp.

“A nargle! Where did you find her?”

Aryna rushed over.

“Oh, she’s so adorable.  Such a cute little narggie.”

Aryna crouched down and held out her hands.  Oozie perked up and sniffed at Aryna gingerly.  Aryna scratched Oozie in a spot just behind her right front leg.  The nargle went crazy wagging her tail and purr-growling.

“Who’s the pretty narggie?”

Allison watched Aryna as the Qual’sa’s eyes met Oozie’s.

“You poor thing.  Yes, Allison is the best.  You picked well.”

Oozie licked Aryna’s face which evoked a giggle from the young Queen.  Allison quirked her head to the side.

“You know what she is?”

Aryna laughed musically.

“Of course!  I used to have a nargle.  He was fully grown though.  Such a good companion.  Best bodyguard I ever had.”

Allison blinked a few times.

“What do you mean fully grown?  The files said she was fully grown.”

Aryna continued to pet Oozie who was soaking up all the loving she could from the newcomer.

“For a nargle kit, yes.  I’m betting she’s forty, hmm?”

She looked down at the nargle and nodded a few times.  Allison held up both hands.

“Wait you can talk to her?  I thought she was just… an… animal.”

Aryna smiled.

“Of course I can.  They’re like us, they communicate in memories.  They are very intelligent.”

“Wait, I thought…  why was the file all wrong?”

Aryna nodded to Oozie then looked at Allison.

“Because, to grow past this stage they need access to turgen root.  Which only grows… grew on the Qual’sa homeworld, there’s a compound that activates their next growth cycle.  It can be made artificially.  They’re from my homeworld.  They were popular pets in this quadrant.  People just didn’t want them fully grown.”

Aryna stood up and held her hand up to just above her chest.

“No, wait, female.”

Aryna held her hand up to Allison’s abdomen.

“They can be a bit… playful and at that size well.  Loyal till death, or the death of their master.  Once they bond with you, that’s it, they’re with you for life.  Usually, for shorter lived races they tend to bond to one of your children.  She says thank you for trying to save her master.  She likes you and she says she’s going to keep you.”

Allison rubbed the back of her neck.

“So, she like understood everything I said to her?”

Aryna nodded.

“Mostly, she’s still learning your Alliance Standard.”

“Then why would she never stay where I told her too?”

Aryna motioned to the sky.

“Because she could tell you were stressed and frightened.  They are very empathetic.  They’re low-grade telepaths.  Oozie, is one of the stronger I’ve met.  She would be very prized on my homeworld.  The kind of nargle that would serve a Queen as her personal protector.  She knows you saved her, and how much you sacrificed for her.  She will never forget that.  She’ll be here protecting your great, great, grandchildren, provided you give her the enzyme she needs.  Narggies, like she is, without the enzyme, only eighty years or so.  With the enzyme, two thousand isn’t out of the realm of possibility.”

Allison looked down at Oozie.

“So, you can share with her, but she can’t share with me?”

“Normally they can’t really communicate with non-telepaths.  Well, they can in extreme situations, flashes if they sense danger coming or something, but actual memory sharing through a link, not generally.  However, if I can link with you, perhaps she can?”

Aryna knelt down and put her hand on Oozie’s head.  She closed her eyes.  A few seconds later Oozie launched herself at Allison and kept smacking her head against Allison’s hand until Allison touched Oozie the same way Aryna had.  Allison tried to meditate like she would with Aryna or a neural link.  She could feel Oozie there at the edge of her consciousness.  Then she saw herself in Oozie’s memories fighting off the parasites that had been chasing her and nipping at her heels.  Oozie bounced around excitedly and purred.  Allison rubbed her nose against Oozie’s.

“It worked?  Oh, you’re so lucky, my friend.  You will never know a better companion then this one.”

Allison rubbed her arms as evening started to set in.  The swarming insects that would covet their blood would soon be edging in, and her parents had packed away the bug repulsers for winter already.

“We should get inside; I don’t feel like throwing up for the next three days every time I dare to eat meat protein.”

The trio headed inside.  Apiyo had already started a fire.  With 30^th century tech it wasn’t required to heat the house, but she’d always loved having them as a child.  Apiyo was cooking and humming.  She tossed two vat grown steaks onto a plate then put them on the ground.  Oozie got on the ground and started munching away.  Aryna and Allison moved to sit down.  Apiyo snapped her fingers at the pair.

“Oh, you girls, wash your hands!  The lord only knows what this thing has licked and then licked your hands!”

Oozie barked at Apiyo who held up a hand and closed her fingers together in a point.

“You, shush.  If you think you’re getting away without a weekly bath and daily brushing you have another thing coming, young lady.  I will not have my home covered in white fur!  It’s bad enough you and your partner in crime dragged a bunch of leaves in with you.”

Oozie snorted and then started chewing through more steak.  Apiyo waved her spatula at the nargle.

“And don’t you go expecting steak every night.  You’re getting a special treat because I’m pretty sure you’re the reason my little girl got home in one piece.  She’ll move heaven and earth for an adorable animal.”

               Allison and Aryna returned to the dining room and sat down at the table.  Apiyo started dishing out the food.  One of Allison’s favorite dishes.  Kuku Paka.  An African style curry.  Allison and Aryna both dug in hungrily.  Apiyo was an excellent cook and unlike most in the 30^th century she actually knew what twenty-first century cuisine was supposed to taste like.

               The rest of the evening was quiet.  The three women sat down in the entertainment room and watched a movie.  Any thoughts of getting up for snacks during it were dashed when Oozie joined them and did her best to stretch out across all three of their laps to get attention from all three.  Her irresistible eyes were aimed at Apiyo this evening.  Apiyo went to bed early, Oozie decided to join her for some reason.  This left the two teenagers alone. 

Late evening found Aryna who was freshly showered and in the middle of brushing out her hair.  Allison was leaning on her friend’s doorframe her own hair was still wet.  Allison had her arms crossed and she was gently hitting her head against the synthetic wood.

“So, some of your people survived?”

Aryna nodded and pulled her brush through a small handful of her silver hair.

“Umm, no offense, I love having you around and all, but like, why are you still here then?”

Aryna smiled and brushed another handful of her hair out removing some tangles.

“They need a Queen.  I need time to become one.  I am too young.  My mind is too… mixed up.  I just can’t be responsible for anyone else right now.  It’s the right choice.  I need time for myself I think.”

Allison traced the false grain on the stained synthetic wood.

“This is where, I’m supposed to say something like… It is not what you need, it is what your people need.  Or something inspiring or whatever right?”

Aryna laughed.

“Yes, something like that, my friend.”

Allison shrugged.

“Sorry, I’m not great at advising royalty I guess.”

Aryna waved her brush at Allison as she turned to face her.

“You’re a major part of the reason I declined.”

Allison held up her hands.

“Hey slow down, you’re not blaming your abdicat…whatever on me.”

Aryna laughed again.

“No, no, Allison, when we linked, I saw myself through your eyes.  You’re right, I’m just like you.  I need to experience things.  Be a teenager.  Fall in love, get my heart broken.  Play sports.  Have a BFF.”

Aryna put her brush down and walked to Allison.  She took both of Allison’s hands who did not resist.  Aryna didn’t form the usual link.

“Find the sister I never knew I had.”

Allison smiled.  Aryna released her hands.  Aryna motioned to Allison.

“Now you, do you want me to make some calls?  Twist some arms?  Throw my royalty around to get you out of this mess?  The League is really mad at you.  Especially the Primarch.  She was totally not happy when I sided with you.”

Allison shrugged and punched the faux wooden door frame gently.

“Nah.  I did it.”

Allison shrugged again and rubbed her face with both hands.

“I keep going over it in my head.  Could I have tried talking to them?  Did I do the right thing?  Maybe this time it could have been different?”

Aryna pulled Allison in for a hug.

“My friend, the Sal’nash exist to consume that is all they do.”

Allison sighed and kept hugging Aryna.

“Yeah, but I was told and believed from a young age the Silwrath where the boogie men.  They were coming for us, it wasn’t a matter of if, it was a matter of when and now… we’re opening diplomatic ties?   Who says the Sal’nash only exist to consume?  I killed billions of them in an instant.  I blew up a planet.  Not even the Dark Mother was that… terrible in her wrath.”

Aryna released Allison.

“I cannot say I understand what you’re going through.  I do not have to live with your choice.  The last time the Sal’nash swarmed, billions of sentients died.  Entire planets were razed as they devoured everything in their path.  You made the only choice you could.  I wish we could link and I could take that into me right now.  I wish by the ancients I could share this with you.  I am not strong enough.”

Aryna waved her hand.

“We should not speak of such things this late.  It will haunt your dreams and mar my memories.  Tyler is looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.”

Allison blinked a few times.

“He is?”

               “He is.  He told me he likes you.  He thinks you might like Trixie though.”

               Allison gagged.

               “Trixie?  Hell, no.  She’s crazy.  Vampire loving psycho.  Wait, how did him liking me come up?”

               “He said he missed having you sit with us for lunch and sitting beside you in class.  He said you smell like rainbows.”

               Allison rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

               “His obsession with scent is so weird.”

               Aryna shook her head.

               “He experiences the world differently than we do.  He sees smells.  He processes information differently, he smells feelings.  Strange I know, but you humans use body language to communicate a lot, I’ve been practicing.  His body processes that as scent!  So, when he says you smell like rainbows he is saying when he thinks you have a beautiful soul.  I do not see how it is any different than how you and I experience the world in our own ways?  I see your emotions.  I feel this world like it truly is, as a living breathing organism.”

               Allison laughed.

               “The last time he told me how I smelled, he said I smelled like ash.  Sound like he thinks I’ve got a beautiful soul to you?”

               Aryna smiled.

               “Give him a chance.  I can tell you he is a good person.”

               Allison sighed.

               “Sure, whatever.  But I won’t be at lunches for a while, Major Dickhead has me doing debriefs until he's satisfied, he's gotten every little bit of information.  So, in other words by the time you’re an adult, I might be halfway done.”

               Aryna motioned to Allisons eyes.

               “Don’t they record everything you say, see and hear?”

               Allison nodded.

               “Aren’t you afraid he’s going to hear that?”

               Allison turned to the mirror and stuck up her middle finger.  Then she turned back to Aryna.

               “If he sees or hears it, that’s his problem.  All of it is supposed to be deleted by VI unless I’m actively on duty.  Which I’m not.  So, if he sees it, he put a special request in with command, or he broke a rule.  I can just see him rubbing his hands gleefully in his office cackling because he got me into Intelligence.”

               Aryna leaned on a nearby wall and crossed her arms.

               “Why would he do such a thing?”

               Allison threw up her hands.

               “How should I know?  I didn’t even know dad was two galaxies away until I got home. I bet Major Ghai put the transfer in the second my dad’s shuttle left atmosphere.  I donno, maybe he wants to make my life miserable.  Transfers me out of Fleet, kicks me off the squadrons…  he gave me some speech about chain of command.  Like I can help it if the President asks me questions?  What am I supposed to do?  Pretend to be mute?  Maybe that’s it, maybe he’s just that petty.  I was the one who got you off that base and out of that awful room.”

               “It will all work out.  I’m going to go meditate on my memories.  You should get some sleep.  Tomorrow is a new day.”

               Allison nodded and rolled around her door frame and flopped onto her bed face first.  It didn’t seem like she’d slept long enough when her holo-phone started blaring like the world was on fire.  She jumped to her feet, rubbed her face and answered the call.  She was still in her bathrobe and long t-shirt from after her shower the night before.  The Major was the one calling.

               “I didn’t wake you did I, Ensign?  It’s 0530.  You should already be eating breakfast.  This is a readiness check, sidearm!”

               Allison fought the urge to roll her eyes.  She held up her Qual’sa pistol.

               “Combat knife!”

               Allison held up her knife.

               “Armor!”

               Allison fumbled with her armor case and finally pulled out the rubbery suit.  It was tangled and inside out.

               “Sloppy, Wanjala, sloppy.  I expect better next time.”

               He ended the call.  Allison groaned and flopped back on her bed.  It felt like she’d barely closed her eyes when her holo-phone started going off again.  It was the major and wasn’t even five minutes later.

               “I thought we agreed you’d be eating breakfast by now, Ensign.  This isn’t Fleet.  This is Intelligence we work for a living.”

               He disconnected the call.  Allison looked at the ceiling, closed her eyes and wished for so many bad things to happen to the Major.

Chapter Text

               Allison was already having a bad morning by the time she reached the school.  Major Ghai’s wakeup call had made her extremely cranky.  Allison was on her way to homeroom when Ms. Keelie stepped in front of her.  Allison’s tone was anything but polite when she spoke.

               “What?”

               Ms. Keelie frowned.

               “Allison, I need to see you in my office, I’ve already let Sister Silra know you’re going to be late.  Please follow me.”

               Allison rolled her eyes and followed her.  Ms. Keelie opened her door and motioned for Allison to take a seat.  Allison dropped herself into the chair without even bothering to try and be polite.   Ms. Keelie motioned to her tablet.

               “I have received an update on your progress from your VI that acted as your instructor and tutor during your recent, classified ordeal.  It seems you are up to date with all our classes.  That is good.  I’ve scheduled this appointment for two reasons.”

               Ms. Keelie held up two fingers.

               “First, off, I wanted to extend my services to you, I understand you cannot discuss details but maybe talking about your feelings might help.  Second, I have had some complaints about you.”

               Allison blinked a few times.

               “It’s the fifth week of school and I’ve been off for the last month.  Are you being serious right now?”

               Ms. Keelie held up both hands.

               “Now Allison, I hear a lot of anger in your voice.   I understand you’re feeling big feelings right now.  We need to remember how we handle those.”

               Allison took a deep breath and blinked very slowly before responding in the calmest voice she could muster, which wasn’t very calm.

               “Ms. Keelie, do I look like I’m in kindergarten?”

               Ms. Keelie leaned forward.

               “I don’t know are we?  Because nothing else I have tried with you has worked.”

               Allison grabbed her tablet and glared at Ms. Keelie.

               “I’m done.  Send me home or back to class.”

               Ms. Keelie stood up.

               “Sit down, Allison.”

               Allison kept standing and she started shouting.

               “You have no idea what goes on at this school!  How many times I’ve been pushed around, how Ajay and his idiot friends and Besho physically attacked me the day I vanished.  How they tried to pick a fight in the field while I was waiting for my fighter to go on patrol.  All the times I stopped someone else from getting bullied.  No, you just listen to everyone else, because I’m the troubled kid.  Because until four weeks ago, I was the only kid in school with white skin!  I was the only one so obviously different.  I was the easy target.  The one who had to wear sunblock.  You know why I’m the bad kid?  Because I started refusing to take any shit from anyone!  After the month I’ve had and what I’ve had to do… You can’t understand and you will never understand because the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make is whether to get soy or almond milk in your coffee!   So, suspend me or send me back to class, whatever you do stop wasting my time with your stupid psychobabble bullshit!”

               Ms. Keelie was pressed against the windows of her office.  She looked completely terrified of Allison.  Allison caught a glimpse of her glowing golden eyes and fangs in her reflection.  She turned away.   The door to the office flew open.  The headmistress was standing there with one of the colonial security officers that patrolled the colony and investigated crimes.  The officer was reaching for her stunner.  The headmistress stood between the officer and Allison.

               “Everything is fine officer, it would appear things just got a bit heated, it happens from time to time.  Isn’t that right Allison, you just had to let off some steam?”

               Allison took several deep breaths trying to calm herself enough that she felt her fangs retract.  Allison nodded.   The officer relaxed.  Ms. Keelie was still standing as far away from Allison as she could.  The headmistress motioned for Allison to follow her.

               “Come child, go wait outside my office.  I’m going to talk to Ms. Keelie then we’ll speak.”

               Allison sat down.  She realized her rage had triggered a full vamp out as she called it all of her senses were heightened.  She closed her eyes and banged her head on the tiled wall gently.  Ms. Keelie still sounded frightened.

               “Headmistress, what is she?  Why is she even allowed here with normal students?  I heard my desk cracking!”

               The headmistress spoke in a calming tone.

               “She is a sixteen-year-old girl who needs kindness and understanding.   I told you not to antagonize her.”

               “She’s dangerous.”

               The headmistress sighed.

               “Only if you provoke her.  Which you were told not to.  I warned you it was not the right approach.  Neither of us knows what she went through in the last month, and we will likely never know.  We can both agree it had something to do with the explosion that lit up the night’s sky and disrupted communications and electronics for four hours when the energy wave hit us a week after she vanished.  I can only think of one reason that child would have done something like that.  And it means she is probably responsible for deaths on such a massive scale we will never comprehend the toll it has had, and will have on her.  No one at this school is equipped to handle that kind of trauma.”

               Ms. Keelie didn’t say anything for several seconds.

               “She’s just a child.”

               “Exactly, if any complaints come in about her, send them to me.  I will talk to her about them directly.  I think at this point it is best we keep you two apart.  I am very disappointed in you Janice.  This is the kind of thing that makes me rethink your employment with us.”

               The headmistress came out and looked down at Allison.   Allison hung her head.

               “Alright, let’s have a chat, Allison.”

               Allison stood up and after the pair entered the office, she closed the office door and sat down across from the headmistress.

               “So, that happened.”

               Allison nodded.  Tears were dropping down her cheeks.  The headmistress leaned across the desk.  Allison spoke.

               “Before you say anything holiness, it wasn’t Ms. Keelie’s fault.  It was mine.”

               The headmistress sighed heavily.

               “Heard every word, didn’t you?  I understand it is one of the less desirable parts of being a vampire, hearing more than you want.  None of us at the school understand what you’re going through.  Ms. Keelie’s employment status and discipline record are strictly confidential, I know you understand what that means.”

               Allison nodded.

               “Allison, up there, in space, you make life and death decisions in milliseconds, that kind of snap decision-making saves lives in the career you have chosen.  Unfortunately, you have to live in two worlds.  Down here, on Eden Prime, in school, you’re just a high school student.  Snap decisions are awful here.  They lead to wrong conclusions, hurt feelings and bad academic outcomes.  We need you here, when you’re here.  Not up there in space.  Think before you act.  Take a breath before you say something.   You’ve been doing so much better.  Less outright bursts of anger and more passive aggressive snarkiness, not perfect but an improvement.”

               She sighed.

“I know Ms. Keelie prodded you until you lost your temper.  We have a fundamental disagreement on techniques to help students.  She used a controversial technique designed to help you release repressed anger.  Whether it be from trauma or whatever.  I was afraid it may set you back, she disagreed.  I hope you understand, while your reaction was wholly inappropriate, I do not blame you for it.  You are part vampire.  It makes so much sense why you’re so naturally aggressive and territorial.  The fangs and glowing eyes are obviously new, but you’ve always been what you are.  I have to trust that the Dark Mother is providing you guidance in some fashion.  Vampires are her chosen.”

The headmistress sighed again as she glanced at her tablet.

“So, onto the excuse Ms. Keelie used to drag you down to the office today.  Tyler Grant confided in Sister Silra you’ve been threatening him.  Nothing specific, just or else.  Care to explain this?  Is it just a misunderstanding?”

Allison sighed and looked down at her hands.

“Look, I saw some of the seniors and some of the grade elevens were about to pull the fall on your tray prank.  It’s stupid.  Someone could get hurt, and his glasses could have gotten broken.  So I told him he was eating lunch with me or else.  It seemed better then; Hey a bunch of people are trying to bully you because you’re a loser who wears glasses and you just got off the boat from Earth.”

The headmistress sighed heavily.

“You couldn’t have say just asked him to eat lunch with you?”

Allison blushed.

“Well, I kind of called him a creeper the day before because… like he was commenting that I smelled different then the day before.   He seemed hurt.   The other time was when the grade elevens were going to try and break his tablet.  I’ve seen it done like ten times before; They do it every new year, to every new student.  I know they’re expensive and if they get broke the family has to pay.  It’s the same four students…. So, I made sure he walked to class with me because people are scared of me.”

The headmistress leaned closer.

“And I suppose you’re not going to give me the names of any of these hooligans, are you?”

Allison shook her head.

“No, I’d rather just stuff them into their lockers, if it’s all the same, holiness.   Maybe take a little nip of blood first, put the proper fear of the Dark Mother in their hearts.”

The headmistress frowned.

“How about this, you give me the names of all the individuals involved in these annual pranks, and I will forget about you threatening Tyler, and the incident with Ms. Keelie today?”

Allison shook her head.

“Nope.  I’m not going to come running to the Headmistress every time someone gets their feelings hurt.  Guess I can go home, holiness?”

The headmistress laughed at that answer.

“No, you will not be suspended.  However, I’m doubling down on you joining a team.  Something to get all of that pent up energy out of you, for the good of the school.  You’re going to join the cheerleaders.  Trixie saved you a spot.”

Allison blinked.

“Me?  A cheerleader?  I’m sorry, did they put something new in the water here?  Should I get help?”

The Headmistress smiled.

“Why are you being so dramatic?”

Allison looked down at herself.

“Do I look like a cheerleader to you?”

The Headmistress nodded.

“Yes, you’re athletic, in shape, have a brilliant smile and when you try a winning personality.”

Allison rolled her eyes then crinkled her nose.

“Wait, its only sports teams at the school, there’s no school leagues here, not enough schools.”

The headmistress gasped.

“Oh, you missed the announcements, the day after you disappeared.  With the opening of Amee Morris-Aurelius Secondary School in New Mumbai we have six schools on Eden Prime.  Enough for a league.  With the sub-orbital transit system installed last year, we can make it to another school in fifteen minutes.”

Allison blinked a few times.

“That sounds like a secular school, can I transfer there?”

The headmistress sighed.

“One day you’ll appreciate the religious education you received here.  Speaking of which, second period will be starting soon, you should get to Math.  Cheerleading practice tonight, after school, see you there.  We’re picking a mascot, picking our school colors for our sports uniforms and choosing the design for our cheer squad uniforms.  It is going to be exciting.”

Allison stood up.

“I want the one with pants.  See you this afternoon, holiness.”

Allison paused at the door.

“Just so I’m clear, if I show up with the names of the bullies from Grade Eleven who have broken twelve school tablets in the last three years, I don’t have to do the cheerleading?”

“Yes, that is the deal.  Should I expect the names then?”

Allison shook her head.

“No, Holiness, I just wanted to make sure I remembered to add in a few extra punches and kicks for them being the reason I’m forced to wear a small skirt and smile like an idiot, next time they start a fight with me.”

The headmistress sat down at her desk and rubbed her temples. 

“Dark Mother give me strength and grant Allison some manner of peace.”

Allison realized she was too far away to have heard that whisper.  Her vampiric senses were not going away this time.  So, when she got into Math class she nearly gagged.  Hygiene was not the top of several of her classmate’s lists.  Thankfully she could sit in the back corner, where Tyler and Aryna formed a sort of shield for her sense of smell.  It did little to dull her enhanced hearing.  She twitched a few times.  Someone was grinding their teeth, someone else was tapping their stylus and every single time it connected with the desk it was like someone was stabbing her ear drums.  It was impossible to concentrate.  She realized she was hearing every single sound for every single classroom.  Her brain was getting overloaded and she felt like she was going to throw up.  Her hand shot up.

“May I be excused, I’m feeling sick.”

Her teacher waved her out.  Allison rushed to the washroom and turned on all four faucets.  The running water drowned out the sounds in the school. She pulled up the President’s contact info on her phone.  She didn’t want to bother her but she was going to go insane if she couldn’t stop the cacophony going on around her.  Allison had her finger hovering over the dial button. 

She just kept focusing on the water.  She felt air pressure against her skin.  She felt arms wrap around her from behind and lips touch the back of her neck.  The sensation was electric.  She could feel every imperfection on the lips.  The warm breath down her back.  She shuddered.  She was paralyzed by the sensation.  Allison blinked a few times and broke out of the embrace.  She spun around and it was exactly who she expected it to be.  Trixie.  Allison shuddered and felt gross all over.

“Stop it!”

Trixie smiled and inched closer.  Allison backed up holding her hands up defensively.

“Come on, I know what I’m feeling sick is code for, you need a little blood, I get it, just take what you need.”

Trixie moved her neck to the side.  Allison’s enhanced senses could smell how eager Trixie was for this to go further.  She could smell the blood inside her veins.  Her fangs slipped out.

“Trixie, go!  I can’t control myself.”

Trixie pressed against Allison.  All she could smell was that intoxicating blood.  The sound of blood rushing around Trixie’s veins.  She couldn’t resist and she grabbed Trixie hungrily and sunk her fangs in.  Trixie gasped.  Allison could taste the arousal and pleasure in Trixie’s blood.  She gulped down the rich blood then came to her senses and shoved Trixie away violently.

“No.  This is wrong.”

Trixie rushed closer, rubbing Allison’s cheek.  Allison tried to swat her hand away, but the touch was intoxicating with her enhanced senses.  Trixie kissed Allison with open lips.  Trixie pressed her against the tiled bathroom wall.  Allison felt Trixie’s tongue lick across her fangs.  Allison was paralyzed.  In no way was she into this mentally but her body was literally betraying her.  Her two halves fought a duel for control.  Her mind eventually won out and she pushed Trixie away.  Trixie licked her lips.

“So hot.”

“Stop it.  I’m not into this.  Just stop.”

Trixie slid her finger along her neck covering it with her own blood and she pressed herself against Allison again.  Allison moved to push her away until Trixie’s finger hit her lips.  She couldn’t resist.  She licked the blood and sucked it down.  Trixie’s other hand reached under Allison’s skirt.

“Sure, could have fooled me.”

Allison pushed her away.

“Fuck Trixie, no means no.  Stop it.”

Trixie stepped back and held up her hands.  Then she motioned to the running faucets.

“So… what’s with the water?  It won’t actually hurt you, you know.”

Allison clenched her fists and let out a scream of frustration.

“My senses are going crazy, alright, I can hear, smell and feel everything.  It’s like I’m living in a holo and everything, everywhere is turned up to max volume.  They usually go away.”

Trixie smiled and stepped forward.  She reached out to touch Allison.  Allison grabbed her wrist.

“I told you; I’m not interested.”

Trixie put her other finger too her own lips and made a shh sound.

“Trust me.”

Allison was leery of the sex-crazed-vampire groupie but she released Trixie’s hand.  Trixie leaned in close.  Trixie whispered into Allison’s left ear while her finger started to caress the back of Allison’s right ear.  Trixie’s warm breath made Allison inhale sharply.  It had sent a slight shudder down her back.

“Close your eyes.  Shh, focus on my finger.  Up and down, up and down.  Ignore everything else.  The sound of my finger as it glides up and down your ear.  The tingles it sends down your spine as I go up and down slowly.  Focus.  Nothing else exists in this world but my soft whisper, and my finger.  Do you feel it?”

Allison gave a slight nod.

“Keep focusing on my finger, up and down.”

Trixie slowly guided Allison to each sink where she turned the faucet off.  The whole time she kept caressing the back of Allison’s ear gently.  Allison let Trixie press her against the wall again.   She kept caressing her ear.  She whispered into Allison’s ear again.

“Now focus on my lips, nothing else.  Don’t resist, just go with the flow.  Feel every sensation, just feel it.  Don’t think about it, just be in the moment.”

Trixie leaned in for another kiss, pressing herself against Allison.  Their lips met and unlike the hungry kiss of earlier this one was slow and passionate.  Trixie stopped caressing Allison’s ear and broke the kiss.  She stepped back.

“Open your eyes, Allison.”

Allison squirmed slightly. The kiss had woken some feelings she wasn’t ready to deal with in herself at that very moment.   Trixie smiled.

“What can you hear?”

Allison closed her eyes and listened.

“Everything but it’s a low murmur.  It’s like the enhanced senses are there but they’re waiting for me to focus on them.  How did you do that?”

Trixie shrugged.

“It’s a trick Alona taught me after she fed me her blood.  It’s how properly trained new vampires deal with the whole hearing a butterfly fart in NAFTA dome.  Her words, not mine.”

Allison swiped the comm link she’d set up to call the president off her AR HUD.

“Look Trixie, I don’t want to send mixed signals.  I’m not into girls.  I’m into blood…  I guess.  I appreciate the help but this thing… whatever you’re trying to do, it ain’t going to work.  And even if I was into girls, I’m not… ready for whatever.  I’m too fucked in the head right now.  Sorry… it just seemed like the right word.”

Trixie sighed.

“I suppose, at least you’re being honest but if you need blood, I’m here.”

Allison was pretty sure she’d end up with her fangs in some part of Trixie again whether she wanted to or not.  She was starting to get tired of thinking with her fangs already and it had only been a month.

Chapter Text

               Allison spent her literature class staring out the window at the sports field.  She had already finished reading the book they were studying.  Written the essay and exam while stuck in her cockpit.  The whiney angst of Cutter and his crew of misfit teenage mercenaries fighting against corp power.  It had been written one hundred and seventy-five years before.  She had no basis for comparison.  They lived in a dome on an ice ball.  She was millions of light years away.  Also, the author was an adult male, who was long dead by this point.  He definitely could not write teenage girls.  She had nothing in common with the characters.  They were street kids surviving in the service tunnels of the New Amazon dome.  If anything, the author’s rage against the establishment kind of pissed her off because she was technically part of that establishment.

               She blew a stray bang out of her eyes and tapped her stylus on the desk.  The teacher let her be.  Bit had transferred her study log to the school at some point.  It seemed so long as she was quiet and stayed out of the way, they’d just let her veg until they were caught up.  She was about two months ahead of them.  There was a lot of time to pass in that fighter.  The studies had kept Bit from obsessing over her theory that the pair were being manipulated by some higher power.

               She only lasted about fifteen minutes of the class before she got bored.  She accessed a secure data connection and opened her assigned training.  She’d gone from a single one-hour training course on sexual harassment that everyone had to do quarterly, to six hundred hours spread over forty-six courses.  Her eyes went wide.  She swept the window away and reviewed her personnel file. 

Allison scowled at the line that showed her flight status as revoked in a bright red font.  She scrolled so she could see the top.   She was very upset to see that not only was Major Ghai her commanding officer, he was also her direct report.  She had no buffer between herself and him.  She had at least had her squadron leader, wing commander, flight commander and an XO.  She looked for her trade designation, it was right below her pay grade.  She raised an eyebrow at her pay grade, it had gone up two classes. 

She tapped the link for Military Specialist.  It gave her a warning that she was about to view a classified document and warned her of the penalties if she were to leak the information.  She flicked the ‘I understand’ button.  Allison blinked as she read the list of training requirements.  She scanned the bottom of the file.  She noted it had last been updated the day after she was found.  As far as she could tell it was some sort of Special Forces posting.  She was very confused.  She was a pilot and had only basic combat training outside a spacecraft.   She swept her personnel file away, did the same with the trade info and logged out of her military ID.

Her day was finished with PE.  At least she could do that.  She found she was still trying to recover from her zero-G exposure.  Even with her preliminary work on the Rampart to regain muscle mass she was still down fifteen percent, and she was getting tired out faster than she used to.  All of this was expected from prolonged exposure to weightlessness.  She was still in better shape than most sixteen-year-olds.  It was very frustrating for her to struggle with things she had found easy before her ordeal.  

When gym classes ended, Allison started heading to the changing room when she ran into the Headmistress.   Allison remembered she was supposed to go to cheerleading after school so she spun around on her heel and joined the squad that was gathering.   She sat near the back on the bleachers and did her best to be invisible.  She had decided early on to treat it like it was a detention, she’d do her time and get on with her life.  Aryna sat down beside her.  Allison looked at her.

“How did you get suckered into this?”

Aryna smiled.

“I heard my friend was joining.  I thought it might be fun.”

Allison smiled back.

“It is going to be awful.”

Aryna put up her hand.  She gave some suggestions for uniform style, and also suggested Nargle as the mascot.  Once everyone saw the holo’s of Oozie Nargle won.  Allison let her friend do all the talking.  She wasn’t looking forward to this, especially with Trixie in the mix.  She had a whole mess of conflicting emotions on the subject of Trixie and she didn’t want to try and sort through them.  Once the uniforms, mascot and the rest of the details were sorted out.  The headmistress started running them through drills. Allison had to sit down halfway through.  The headmistress approached her.

“Allison, are you alright?  You seem to be getting tired pretty easily.”

               Allison shrugged.

               “I’m fine.  Just need a drink.”

               Aryna ran over and smiled.  Allison looked up at Aryna and started shaking her head.  Aryna held up her hand towards Allison.

               “Headmistress, she can’t say anything because the whole thing is classified, she was stuck in her fighter’s cockpit for almost a month.  It was dead in space, and she was in zero-G for the whole time.  It’s going to take her time to recover.”

               Allison blinked at Aryna in disbelief.

               “That is classified!  Do you know how much trouble you’re in now?”

               Aryna shrugged.

               “I’m a Queen, and not a member of your military, they have no power over me.”

               Allison frowned.

               “They could kick you out of System’s Alliance space.”

               Aryna shook her head and laughed.

               “No, they can’t.  Don’t worry.  Besides how is you being stuck in a fighter for a month going to harm the security of the System’s Alliance?  You barely made it through gym class.  Now you’re doing running drills?  Someone had to say something.”

               The headmistress looked between the two. 

               “Allison, you can sit out and watch.  Aryna get back to the drills please.”

               When the practice ended the Headmistress sat down beside Allison.

               “Allison, I’m concerned about you.  A month alone in such a claustrophobic space.  It brings your outburst this morning into a much clearer focus.”

               Allison shook her head and shrugged.

               “It’s fine.  I had Bit and Oozie.  I wasn’t alone.  I have a physical training regimen from the military doctors and physiotherapy.  I’ll be fine.  I just have to be patient.”

               The headmistress looked out over the gym.

               “You know, the Dark Mother spent three weeks in a starfighter with only an AI for company.  She wrote about the experience.  She equated it to the time she woke up in a coffin and couldn’t get out for a couple of hours.  Only it lasted for weeks.  You should talk to someone about all of this.  The military has councilors for this sort of thing.”

               Allison made a face.

               “Yeah, no thanks.  I’m fine mentally.  Thanks Headmistress, I need to get changed.  I’m under house arrest and am only allowed out for school and related activities.”

               The headmistress stood up and watched Allison walk towards the changing room.  The evening was quiet at the Wanjala residence.  Allison took that as an opportunity to start doing what training she could via holo.  She was going to need to be on the base for weapons, power armor and vehicle training.  Those would require a full holosuite with solid holograms.  They were not ready for civilian use yet.  They were ridiculously expensive.  Enough the System’s Alliance could build a squadron of their new Athena fighters for the cost of one holosuite.  The base had two.

               That was pretty much Allison’s life for the next four weeks.  Aryna had integrated into the school and colony in Allison’s absence, so she had an active social life.  Near the beginning of Allison’s house arrest, she’d tried to stay home more, but Allison just encouraged her to go out.  Allison had fallen back to her old habits by that time, which was, she was constantly doing training for her new role in the System’s Alliance military.  She was in the midst of computer intrusion training when her mother knocked on her door.   Allison hit pause on the simulation she was running to hack into an encrypted database.  She spun her desk chair around.

               “What mom?”

               Apiyo smiled.

               “You have a visitor.”

               Tyler appeared to the side of her mother.  Oozie who’d been curled up under Allison’s desk perked up and sniffed the air.  She looked up at Allison.  After the nargle seemed confident Allison wasn’t upset by the visit, she went back to sleep.  Allison saw that look on her mother’s face.  The same one she’d had when Ajay came to visit for the first time.  Tyler had his school bag with him.  Her mom motioned to the kitchen.

               “Should I bring snacks?”

               Allison shook her head.

               “No mom.”

               “I’ll just close this to give you two some privacy.”

               “No! Leave it open.”

               Her mother sighed and wandered off.  Tyler stood there at the precipice of her door.  Like if he entered he’d be devoured.  Allison looked at him.  She hated being interrupted in the middle of a training session, so there was annoyance in her voice.

               “Tyler, why are you here?”

               He adjusted his glasses and looked towards the east side of the house which would be the front door and his escape route.  Allison frowned.

               “Seriously?  What do you want?  I was in the middle of something, so at least tell me why you thought it was okay to visit me.”

               Tyler had that deer in the headlights look he usually got when Allison spoke to him directly.  Allison looked down at Oozie.

               “Hey, you lazy nargle, I think he lost his tongue go help him find it.”

               Oozie perked up, and then bounded towards Tyler who looked like he might actually runaway until he noticed it wasn’t a vicious guard dog, but an adorable cat-dog hybrid with big blue eyes.  Oozie didn’t jump on him, she just rubbed herself against his legs.  He hesitantly reached out his hand but then pulled it back.  Allison rolled her eyes.

               “Go ahead, pet her.  It’s what she wants.  She’s a total cuddle monster.”

               Tyler reached out hesitantly again and touched the nargle’s white fur.  Oozie leaned into it and soon Tyler was down on one knee petting her with both hands.  Oozie licked his face running her tongue across his glasses a couple of times.  Allison motioned to the door.

               “Oozie, go bother mom.”

               The nargle bounded past Tyler who stood up and pulled a package out of his pocket.  He ripped it open and started cleaning his glasses with the white cloth it contained.  Allison motioned to her matter-recycling bin.  He tossed both the cloth and package into it.

               “Did you get your part of the project done?”

               Allison blinked a few times.

               “Oh, that was tonight?”

               Tyler nodded.  Allison started tapping around her holo-HUD rapidly trying to find her file.

               “I think I got that finished.  I’m sorry I’ve been so distracted with work.  Oh, there it is.  Just put the numbers in, it will do everything we need and make the report.”

               Allison flicked the application she’d created towards Tyler.  He adjusted his glasses and tapped something on his tablet.  He nodded.

               “This…  is amazing.  You wrote a program to do all the probabilities for us?”

               Allison shrugged.

               “I wrote it when I was being homeschooled out of boredom.  I had a tutor helping me.  I had to take a computer course for work and made some improvements.  You really think it’s good?”

               Tyler nodded.  He absently walked further into her room and sat on her bed.  He scrolled through the code.  He didn’t look up as he spoke.

               “We can present on this alone.  We could model everyone’s projects in this.  It’s genius.”

               Allison shrugged.

               “Okay then.”

               She turned back to her wall and resumed her training course letting Tyler do whatever he was doing.  Tyler said something.  Allison didn’t hear him because she was focused on what she was doing.  She was typing up a storm on a keyboard he could not see.  She pressed the commit key and turned back to him after pausing the simulation.

               “Sorry, what?”

               “What are you working on now?”

               Allison glanced at her HUD then answered.

               “I’m hacking through Crusader Technologies ICE to steal their project database.”

               “Cool.”

               Tyler suddenly realized what she had just said and had a what did you just say moment.  He adjusted his glasses nervously.

               “Uh, should I go?”

               Allison shook her head.

               “Why?”

               “Because that’s illegal and I don’t want to get in trouble.”

               Allison laughed.

               “Sorry, it’s a simulation.  Kind of a test exam before my real one Saturday.  Military training.  Do you need something more from me?”

               Tyler shook his head.

               “No, this is everything we need for the project.  I’ll figure out how to get home.”

               Allison looked out her window at the falling snow, then to her HUD and noticed the falling temperature.  It was going to be in the -40 C range that night.

               “You don’t have a ride?”

               Tyler shook his head.

               “My mom is at a party.  She said she could pick me up in two hours.”

               Allison shrugged.

               “Just stay here.  I don’t mind.  Here.”

               Allison swept her hand over her wrist and her AR HUD shifted from augmented reality into actual reality.   The hologram appeared in front of her.  She turned to her desk and resumed the simulation.  Tyler stood up and moved closer.  He was staring intently at what Allison was doing.  He was maybe three inches from her when he leaned down to get a better view.  It was the closest the pair had been in the entire time they’d known each other.  He spoke.

               “Wouldn’t this be easier with a data jack?”

               Allison nodded and kept typing.

               “Even if I was old enough to get one, I still couldn’t.  I can’t get cybernetics.  A halo or data jack was the last course, this is the more advanced one.  Air gapped secure system, only accessible with keyboard interface.  No data ports.”

               She typed in a command to run a daemon.  The display showed another ICE down.  She had one to go.  The simulated VI was threatening to kick her out of the system so she spawned a denial of service attack by typing in a command to run six million daemons to all spam the VI with data requests.  This caused a massive delay in system responses.  She was able to pull the VI’s system access credentials while the data pull request was stuck in memory.  She used that to bypass the last ICE.  She killed her denial of service attack.  Used the VI’s system access credentials and sent a data request for the whole database.  The holo flashed a green box saying success. 

Tyler adjusted his glasses and smiled.  He realized how close he was and backed up so quickly he fell onto her bed.  Allison laughed.

“I don’t bite.”

Then she laughed again.

“Oh wait, that’s a lie, I’m part vampire, I bite a lot.”

Tyler tried to look casual while he straightened up from where he’d fallen.  Allison’s holo-phone rang with the tone she’d set the Major’s comm signal too.  She didn’t switch her display to holo-HUD.  She figured she knew what this was about.  She answered it.  The Major’s face appeared in front of her.

“Readiness check.”

Allison reached into her desk drawer and pulled out her Qual’sa pistol and her vibro knife.  Then she picked up her armor and showed it to him.

He nodded.

“Better.  Good night, Ensign.”

“Good night, sir.”

He ended the call and she put her weapons away.   Tyler was staring at the drawer.

“You’re allowed to have those?”

Allison nodded.

“Of course.  If the colony gets attacked, I’m expected to defend it no matter what I’m doing.  What, did you think they’d have us rushing to the base, get our equipment then rush back out?”

Tyler adjusted his glasses.

“I just thought, it was different here then the domes.  That people didn’t carry weapons.”

“I don’t know.  I’ve never been to a dome.  My dad when he’s here is the same way.  Raiders, pirates, aliens, they could attack at any moment, with little to no warning.  Would you rather us be defenseless?  Or armed?”

“Well, I would rather not have to worry about attack at all.  I don’t like guns.”

Allison raised an eyebrow.

“Wait, you don’t like guns?  So, you’ve never fired one?”

Tyler nodded.

“Tyler, we’re on the frontier, everyone should be able to defend themselves and their families.  I’m going to base tomorrow after school, I need to qualify on a new assault rifle.  You should join me.  I can sign you on base, you can come to the range, and I’ll book some time for me to train you how to shoot.”

“No, I shouldn’t.  My mom wouldn’t like that.”

“You don’t have to tell her.  Just tell her I’m getting you in to see the fighters.  Which I can totally do.  They’re going to be doing their big annual recruitment drive.  I’ll just say you’re thinking of signing up.  People do it all the time.  Please?  You and your mom live on the outskirts of the colony.  I know it doesn’t seem like it, but I like you.  The thought of you out there defenseless its concerning to me.”

Tyler adjusted his glasses and stared at her floor for a few minutes.

“I guess, I could go.”

“Don’t get so excited about seeing the fighters I see you drooling over on your tablet or anything.”

He looked up at Allison and for the first time since she’d met him, his lips shifted into almost a smile.   Allison looked at her holo-display again and tapped the command to send it back to her contacts.  Then she swept the AR HUD off to the side so her vision was clear.  There was something she’d been meaning to ask Tyler for a couple of weeks.  She rubbed the back of her neck causing her long auburn hair, which was currently down to shift and sway.

“So, like, I’m supposed to go to this stupid… thing.  The League of Sentient Races has established an embassy here, uh, you’ve been watching the news, right?  About the whole new diplomatic ties thing?”

Tyler nodded.  Allison bit her lower lip.  How was this so hard?  He was her friend.  He was fascinated by aliens.

“Anyway, there’s this function, a gala, the LoSR High Council has asked me to attend in the middle of fall break on the Wednesday, they want to give me some award or something, and I’m supposed to bring a date.  I mean I’d just bring Aryna but like she’s… got her own thing… anyway, I need a date.  And I thought, since you were so interested in other cultures you might want to… I don’t know.  Come hang out with me there.  And I said date, but that’s totally what they called my plus one, but like just friends.  I thought you’d be interested.”

Tyler opened his mouth and he just stared at her.   Allison blushed.

“It’s okay, don’t worry about it, you’d be bored, and it’s probably going to be lame anyway.  I’ll just go solo.  Or maybe bring Oozie, she did half the work… or something.  I’ll figure it out.”

She turned away to start looking over at her holo-display to get over the embarrassment of being turned down, realized there was nothing to look at because she’d turned it off.  She blushed and just ended up looking out the window.  She tapped her fingers.   Tyler started to say something a couple of times and eventually he managed to get it out.

“What am I supposed to wear?”

Allison shrugged.

“Something fancy?  I have no idea.  I’m just wearing my Mess Dress Uniform.”

Allison walked to her closet and pulled out the uniform which consisted of a near floor length black skirt, short black jacket with golden buttons, and a single golden band around the end of the sleeves, golden cummerbund, and a white dress collared blouse with a short black tie.

“There’s my service pin too.  Kind of wish it had pants.  Seriously it’s the thirtieth century.  You’d think they’d have gender neutral options.  Oh well.”

“I’ll go, if you don’t have anyone else.”

Allison put her uniform back in her walk-in closet.  She smiled.

“Cool.  So… I’m new at having friends over so umm what do we do now?”

Tyler looked around her room and just shrugged.   Allison looked out her window.  Normally if she was going to do something with someone, she’d just go to the Commerce Complex, or the holo-arcade.

“Sorry, I’d say let’s go to the holo-arcade but… I’m still under house arrest.  Well, umm, do you mind if I do more training?  I’m really behind.”

Tyler shrugged, picked up his tablet and started watching something.  Allison swept her hand in front of herself and the AR HUD popped up.  She launched the next training course.

Chapter Text

               Allison glanced at Tyler and smiled.  She had her arms crossed.  Tyler was the shorter of the two.  They were waiting at the landing pad that was part of every single building and parking lot.  Allison was in her black programable matter armor.  Tyler was doing his best not to look too closely at the skintight bodysuit.  She smiled Tyler’s eyes went wide when the newly minted Raptor armored attack craft arrived.  She hopped on board.  Tyler had some issues climbing up.  She offered her hand.  He took a few seconds to accept.  She pulled him up.  She sat down on one of the jump benches.  Tyler sat across from her.  She hit the panel behind the pilot, and he lifted off.  

Tyler looked around the drop ship in awe.  Allison motioned to a row of drop shoots behind him.

“That’s where the Goliath power armor drops from.  Raptor can carry ten.  Haven’t been certified on this thing yet.  Can’t wait.  They have launch tubes for havoc dives along the bottom.  They’re used to clear an LZ… err landing zone.  Concussive charges.  Can even include EMP.  Knock out automated defenses.  It has two autocannons that fire forward.  They can fire five thousand rounds of duralloy ammo a minute.  Latest thing from Crusader Technologies.”

Tyler was grinning ear to ear as they looked around.

“How did you get us a ride in it?”

Allison checked her harness, then checked Tyler’s.

“My CO wants me qualified in this class ASAP.  I’ve done all the simulation training.  I just need to get practical experience, flight training, atmospheric and space.  The first step before they’ll let me handle the controls myself is simulating a drop from a ship.  They love showing off all the fun stuff to potential recruits.  So, they said I could bring you along.”

She turned around and tapped the pilot on the shoulder and pointed up.  She smiled at Tyler.

“Hold on tight.”

Tyler wrapped his hands around the edges of his seat.  His knuckles turned white.

“Tyler, calm down, it has inertial dampeners.  I’ve already done my qualification on un-dampened orbital drops as part of flight school, it’ll be a like a shuttle ride, just a lot faster.”

The Raptor burst out of the atmosphere and stopped there in space before flipping around and plummeting downwards.  The shields lit up orange-red as the drop ship plummeted downwards.  The pilot hit the antigrav system thirty meters above the base’s tarmac.  Tyler tried to catch his breath.  Once they’d stopped, he reached up with a shaking hand to fix his glasses.  Allison grinned.

“See, easy.  Inertial dampeners weren’t quite as effective as I expected.”

Tyler nodded slowly.  The raptor gently settled onto the tarmac.  Allison punched the button at the center of her harness and stood up.  Tyler fiddled with his for a few moments before finally getting it to release.  Allison leaned into the pilot’s compartment.

“Thanks guys.”

The pilot gave her a thumbs up.  She hopped off the edge when the side door slid open.  Tyler climbed down much slower than her.  His knees were shaking.

“Come on, let’s go.  Need to get you a visitor’s pass.   Then Athena visit, and I scheduled us some time in a holosuite.  There’s a trainer version of the fighter I used to fly programmed into it.  Then range time.”

               Tyler rushed to catch up.  She got him through security check-in, then took him to the Trainer Squadron hanger.  They stored all the starfighters modified for flight school.  There were a dozen starfighters in the squadron.  Every single fighter was bereft of their solidified black liquid metal coating.  The one closest to the entrance was in parts.  Much of its interior pulled out.  Allison stopped at the third one down. He looked inside the various areas of the fighter.  Tyler looked back at Allison.

               “Where is the armor?”

               Allison smiled and kicked a clear cylinder the size of a twentieth century oil drum. It was filled with a black fluid that had the viscousness of room temperature mercury.

               “All in here.  There were some issues with the early models.  It is easier to do maintenance if you just remove it.  It’s pretty easy.  You probably already know the VI will shape the liquid metal as required for best performance in atmosphere.  You can also take them underwater.  All you do to remove the skin is tell the VI to liquify it.  The VI’s are all offline.  They’re being replaced.  The Mark 1’s were glitchy.”

               Tyler climbed into the cockpit of Allison’s old trainer.   Allison pulled the liquid metal maintenance cable out of its housing and connected it to the power adapter.  She climbed in the rear seat and closed the canopy then powered on the 360 degree holographic display that formed, it included the starfighter’s HUD and controls.   He looked around in every direction.

               “You can see everything.”

               Allison turned on the targeting system and gave control to Tyler.

               “You can go ahead and target things, the weapons systems have already been pulled out.   Look at something then tap the lock target button there.  If the VI core were connected you could look at something and say target.  You can also set priorities.  These fighters were designed for a human pilot and a VI co-pilot.  You can fly without the VI or AI in my case but it’s not even close to as effective.  You can also link to the fighter with a data jack.  Most pilots have them.  They can treat the fighter like an extension of their own bodies.  The VI takes on some of the mental load for them.  For me I use a neural link with Bit… my AI.   I connect my mind directly with the AI.  Synthlin tech has organic components.”

               Tyler messed around with the targeting controls and asked a million questions.  Allison patiently answered each in turn.  Her wrist vibrated.

               “Hey, we need to head to the holosuite or we’ll miss our time.”

               She powered down the holo-display and opened the cockpit.  There were a few techs in the hanger now, all working on Trainer 1.   They saluted Allison when they noticed.  She saluted them back then went back to disconnecting the power connector from the wall port.  Tyler watched all of this with curious eyes.  She led him towards the training facility which held the holosuites and other simulators.

               “So, you’re an officer?”

               Allison nodded.

               “Yes, passing flight school and getting qualified for starfighters, or any role on the bridge of a starship is an instant commission.  At least in the Space Navy.  Army, you can be non-commissioned and be a pilot.  They typically are not qualified for spaceflight.  If they are, then there is a very good chance they will be commissioned.”

               Allison swiped her left hand over the access panel for holosuites.  Her Ident Chit granted her access.  She swiped again for access to their actual holosuite.  The room shimmered as they walked in.  She smiled when she saw the purple Synthlin fighter.   It formed ladders for both of them.  She climbed in, Tyler did the same.  She started her preflight checks.  Any piloting time in the holosuites was considered simulator time towards her hours and she’d get flagged if she missed any steps.

               “Eden Prime control, this is Shadow One, I have completed my pre-flight checks, I’m showing green across the board, requesting a runway.  I have a VIP on board for a fly-along.”

               “You are cleared to launch Shadow One, runway six, have a good flight.”

               Allison rolled the fighter to runway six and lined it up for takeoff.

               “Shadow One launching now, control.”

               Allison ignited her conventional thrustors and started accelerating down the runway.  Tyler watched the wings extend and stretch to give more air surface.  The fighter lifted off and Allison retracted the landing gear.  She banked and flew over the base and the colony proper, letting Tyler see all of it.  She did the same with all six settlements that were scattered across the planet.  Half in the northern and half in the southern hemisphere so there were crops growing at half the settlements no matter what time of year it was.”

               She opened comms again.

               “Control, this is Shadow One, requesting permission to exit the atmosphere and do a lunar flyby.”

               “You are cleared, Shadow One.”

               Allison angled the fighter to leave the atmosphere.  Her Identify friend or foe system lit up.  The fighter had no VI or AI.  She’d only set it up for Tyler’s show and tell session.  She spoke.

               “Hey, computer, this program didn’t have any hostiles programmed in.”

               The base computer’s voice piped in through her cockpit.

               “The parameters were changed by order of Major Ghai.”

               Allison heard Major Ghai’s voice through comms.

               “Shadow One, we are tracking multiple unknown bogies.  Your drone wing is on route to rendezvous you are to engage and eliminate all targets.”

               Allison swore under her breath as Tyler’s hands gripped the edges of her seat.  Then responded.

               “Control, I have a civilian on this flight.”

               The major sounded amused.

               “I am aware you have a VIP on board.  An attack can come without warning.  What does a Special Operations member do when things don’t go to plan?”

               Allison rolled her eyes.

               “We adapt and overcome, sir.”

               Allison started tapping holographic controls to configure the starfighter for combat.  Then tapped the controls to link her holo-phone with the incoming drone wing.   Two drone starfighters formed up on her wing as she broke atmosphere.

               “Shadow One, linked with drone wing.  Engaging hostiles.”

               She looked back at Tyler who was looking excited.

               “Sorry Tyler, this was supposed to be a fun loop around the moon.  Just hang on.”

               Allison swore out loud when she saw it was a Sal’nash hive.  It had launched a series of drop pods each with a horde of Sal’nash inside.  The hive was firing plasma blasts to cover the pods.  She figured System’s Alliance must have received intelligence from the League.  She spoke on comms.

               “This is Shadow One, what is the ETA on the rest of the defense squadrons?”

               The major responded.

               “You’re on your own.  This test is part of your flight status review.  You fail if any drop pods land, or the hive is able to attack the surface.  The only resources you have are your starfighter, its armaments and your drone wing.”

               Allison flipped up the display to show the armaments she’d been outfitted with.  She swore again when she realized she only had particle beams, plasma autocannons and her missile bay was full of swarm drones.  The swarm drones wouldn’t be able to destroy the pods at all.  She shook her head.  Totally unfair test.

               “Control permission to use extraordinary measures?”

               “You are authorized to use any means necessary, but if you cannot land your fighter, you will fail.”

*****

               Major Ghai crossed his arms and smiled after he informed the ensign of the last requirement of her test.  He stood at the front of what would be a classroom for one of the various trade courses run on the base. Today it was to be an ad hoc demonstration of the kind of soldier Major Ghai was trying to develop.  Beside him were General Caltor, and Admiral Tavrov.  This demonstration had been intended for System’s Alliance command staff only, but the president had agreed to allow alien delegates.  In that contingent, there were two Silwrath delegates, Eminence Keer and First Trimark Nutina.  Finally, a Synthlin military leader, Stellar Guardian Rohsal in her ornate encounter suit.   Rohsal was the first to speak.

               “She chose a Synthlin fighter for simulation?”

               Major Ghai turned to Rohsal.

               “Yes, she has an affinity for your technology.  It has the same modifications her original starfighter had, human tech.”

               Rohsal crossed her arms and shook her head.

               “You have given her an impossible task.  Even our strongest fleet would have difficulties handling a hive ship and a full invasion force.”

               Admiral Tavrov nodded in agreement.

               “I agree, are you trying to teach her she cannot win every fight?”

               Major Ghai shook his head and motioned to the massive screen they were all watching on.

               “I am confident she can succeed.”

               The group watched as Allison dropped her entire supply of swarm drones.  General Caltor scoffed.

               “Those things have no chance against those drop pods.”

               The group watched Allison program a new attack pattern on the fly after ordering her drone wing to focus fire with her.  She destroyed only four of the one hundred pods while reprogramming the swarm drones.  The swarm drones scattered and started doing sweeping blasts along the surface of the pods.  Then moving on.  They were making wide grooves in the pod’s hardened exteriors then moving on to the next.  Rohsal motioned to Allison’s hand.

               “The ensign is programming an FTL jump but those coordinates are in system, is she running away?”

               Major Ghai smiled.  Allison spoke again, but she wasn’t addressing control.  She was glancing over her shoulder at her passenger.

               “Tyler, I can’t do this myself, I’m passing you control of the AM containment unit just move your finger along it so it turns from blue to red on my mark.”

               She hit her FTL jump.  Caltor smirked.

               “The first pods are about to hit atmosphere, looks like your officer has failed.”

               Major Ghai pointed to the first to hit the atmosphere.  It burst into flames.  Then cracked into pieces.

               “She used the swarm drone’s lasers to increase their surface area artificially.  They have no shielding and they’re burning up.”

               Nutina laughed.  Eminence Keer grinned a toothy grin.  Rohsal spoke.

               “She still abandoned her post.  The hive ship will be in range in five minutes.  It will hit the surface with their weapons.”

               Major Ghai held up his hand.

               “Just wait for it.”

               Allison flashed out of her FTL jump behind the hive.  She spoke again.

               “Now Tyler!  Now.”

               They saw her fly close to the hive and drop a container.  She did another FTL jump placing her on the far side of the hive ship.  There was a brilliant flash.  Then a chain reaction on the outer edge of the hive.  Every single one of its plasma batteries blew out the side of the ship.  Then another blue flash and the hive broke apart.  Allison and her drone wing picked off the remainder of the pods that hadn’t reached the atmosphere.  She recalled the swarm drones that remained and sent a comm message.

               “Shadow One to Control.  Splash one hive ship.  Requesting permission to resume lunar flyby.”

               Major Ghai smiled.

               “You are cleared for flyby Shadow One.  You were sloppy this time, I expect better than just barely passing.  You can do that in school, but this is the military, we expect excellence.  You could have done that in ten minutes, you took almost twenty.  Control out.”

               He motioned for his tech to turn off the screen to give Allison some privacy with her friend.  He turned to the assembled military brass.

               “This is what my Military Specialist initiative is designed to provide.  First in, last out, rapid response soldiers who have a wide range of skills and can think on the fly.  They can operate alone or embedded in other squads.  The Ensign is only a quarter of her way through the training regimen for the specialty.”

               Rohsal spoke up.

               “When she looked at her armaments she only had swarm drones and her drone wing.  She had no heavy weapons listed how exactly did she destroy the hive?  Did she cheat your simulation?”

               Major Ghai glanced at the Admiral who nodded to him.  Major Ghai responded after getting confirmation it was alright.

               “Our fighters have an emergency hyper-matter waste containment dump.  She made the longest jump she could to generate antimatter, hyper-matter waste as you call it.  She had her guest dump the antimatter into that containment unit and she dropped it on the hive ship.  Because she didn’t have any actual antimatter launch vehicles it was the only way she could weaponize it.  She had to be right on top so she could hit the point she wanted to.  To escape the blast and EM pulse she used another FTL jump she’d preprogrammed to get out of the radius.”

               Nutina looked at Keer who bowed his head slightly, neither said anything.  Rohsal motioned to the black screen again.

               “What punishment would she face from your government for weaponizing hyper-matter waste?”

               Major Ghai shook his head.

               “Punishment?  She’d probably get a medal if she did this for the colony.   Standard armament on those fighters always includes at least one antimatter launch vehicle.  I left it out on purpose, so she’d have to adapt.”

               Rohsal made something akin to a gasp.

               “You give children access to weaponized hyper-matter waste?”

               Major Ghai got a bit defensive.

               “No, we give access to trained pilots who-”

               Nutina held up her hand.

               “Allow me, Major.”

               She turned to Rohsal.

               “Your people have never been warriors, Stellar Guardian.  The ensign has proven herself in combat against the Sal’nash.  In less then two standard hours she killed more Sal’nash then the Allied Defense Force managed in its entire history.  Has a Synthlin ever managed to kill a Sal’nash warrior drone in one-on-one hand to hand combat?  The Ensign has.  You’re here as a courtesy, nothing more.  The Ensign is no child, she is a warrior who has bloodied her talons in combat.  You would do well to remember that.  The League has been too weak to do what is necessary to combat the Sal’nash threat.  I commend the humans on their ingenuity in using weaponized hyper-matter waste.”

               Rohsal seemed to be sufficiently chastised and bowed her head.  Keer looked at Ghai.

               “Do you really believe she could have done that faster?”

               Major Ghai shook his head.

               “No, but she doesn’t know that.”

               Keer laughed and his wings shifted.

               “Ah, yes, she must dislike you a great deal.”

               Major Ghai nodded.

*****

               Allison spun the fighter and then pulled in close to Eden Prime’s solitary moon.  Unlike Earth’s moon, this one was various shades of pale blue due to the content of its formation.  It was pockmarked with craters.  Tyler touched the canopy.  Allison glanced back.  He was smiling.  She realized in that moment just how infectious it was when Tyler smiled.  She pulled away from the moon and angled towards home base.

               “Control, this is Shadow One, requesting a re-entry trajectory.”

               It was the simulations voice that answered this time.  Allison landed the fighter without the antigrav system to give Tyler the full old style fighter jet experience.  She rolled the fighter into its birth and powered everything down.  Once they climbed out the simulation ended leaving them in the bare holosuite.  Tyler was still smiling.  Allison looked around.

               “Hey, I’m really sorry about that random combat test.  Major Ghai has a habit of making my life miserable.”

               “It was awesome.  Those bug things looked so real.  You guys have people working for you that have crazy imaginations.”

               Allison’s shoulders slumped and she sighed.  Tyler didn’t seem to notice her mood.

               “Imagine if they were real.”

               “Yea, imagine…”

               She motioned for him to follow her.  They arrived at the range just in time for their scheduled start.  Allison helped Tyler get kitted out for the experience.  They both put on ear protection. 

Tyler stood a bit behind Allison, along with a Chief Petty Officer from the Space Marines.  Allison had to do a qualification test on the Space Marine’s primary weapon.  It was a railgun that fired explosive rounds.  It could fire single shots, three round bursts, or fully automatic. It was heavy and usually required a suit of full power armor to utilize, but her armor had enhanced strength, in addition to her own dhampir strength she could use it without the associated armor.  This was the Space Marine range.  So, they gathered round when they noticed her firing one of their weapons without power armor.  Tyler watched on wide-eyed for what seemed like the hundredth time that day.  He was starting to realize just how badass Allison was.  She finished her testing and placed the gun down and turned to the Chief.  He turned his tablet to show her marks.  She’d passed.

Allison took Tyler over to the small arms range which was for pistols, and assault rifles that fired small caliber rounds.  They would be ineffective against full power armor, and even her armor.  They would, however, get through most conventional armors worn by the typical infantry of the day.   They were alone in the range beside the range officer.  They were on an off night for the reserves, and it was seven in the evening by the time they arrived, most regular force soldiers were just finishing their evening meal.  Allison had her ear protection around her neck.  Tyler had copied her.  Allison had checked out two pistols, one was a conventional projectile, the other was a laser pistol.  There were three other projectile weapons.  A single shot rifle, an assault rifle and a shotgun.  Finally Allison had checked out a fully automatic laser rifle.

“Okay Tyler first rule of using a firearm is, do not point them at anything you don’t intend to kill.  In the case of the range, that means at all times your firearm should be pointed down range, if you’re pointing downwards, it still needs to be pointed towards your target.”

The range officer was a corporal, she stood behind the two with her arms crossed.  She was nodding along with Allison’s words.  Allison paused briefly before continuing.

“If you have a jam with a projectile weapon, do not try to fix it.   Place the firearm down, with the barrel pointed down range.  Hold up your hand and the range officer will clear the jam and verify the firearm is still safe to discharge.   The projectile weapons do have a kickback ranging from fairly minor to very strong.  You must maintain control of the firearm at all times.  Do not let them get away from you.  Not only will it be dangerous for everyone around you, but it can also injure you.  Let’s start with reloading.”

Allison demonstrated reloading each weapon in turn.  She was using empty magazines and energy clips.  She drilled Tyler through them over and over again until he was fluid in his reloads.  She motioned to the range officer who placed a full clip down for each weapon on the rack holding them.  Allison stepped back.

“Okay Tyler let’s try the laser pistol first, it’s the easiest to handle.  Remember we’re not being fancy here, we are just trying to put the target down, that means aim for center of mass it is the easiest to hit.”

Tyler aimed the laser pistol down range and missed the target a couple of times.  Allison glanced at the range officer.

“Corporal, may I assist?”

The range officer nodded.  Allison moved over to Tyler and gently kicked his feet until he was in a correct stance for firing a pistol.  She lifted his hands with her palm and motioned to the iron sight.

“If you were doing real military shooting, you’d have contacts or cybernetic eyes they would have targeting reticles, you do not have either, so you need to use the iron site.” 

Alison picked up the empty projectile pistol, then took a proper stance and aimed down the iron site and pulled the trigger.

“Did you see how I did that?”

Tyler nodded.  Allison stood back and Tyler fired another few lasers, both hit the edges of the target.  Allison moved back up and put her hand on his shoulder and pulled it back slightly.  Tyler didn’t flinch. It was the first time she’d touched him and gotten no reaction from him.  She smiled.  Once she stepped back, he fired again, this time hitting the target in the center of mass.  Allison cheered.  They moved through the rest of the weapons.  Tyler didn’t have any issues with the kick back until it was time to fire using fully automatic fire on the projectile assault rifle.  Allison stopped him before the rifle got out of his control completely.  It was the last weapon he’d tried.  They checked all the weapons back in with the range officer.

They finished off the evening on base in the officer’s mess eating leftovers.  Tyler was still doing his best not to stare at Allison.

“Am I making you uncomfortable?”

Tyler almost choaked on the mashed potatoes he’d just put in his mouth.  When he managed to speak again, he stammered.

               “No… uh..  mm… I… your… black stuff there… it’s just.”

               Allison looked down at her armor and blushed.

               “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.  This armor is very easy to forget you’re wearing it, its super comfortable.”

               Tyler nodded.  She smiled.

               “Did you have fun tonight?”

               Tyler nodded again and smiled at her bashfully.

               “I’m glad.  I hope it makes up for umm me being so mean when we first met.”

               “I… I don’t mind.  I know you were just trying to protect me.”

               He rubbed the back of his neck.

               “I overheard you yelling in the office when you first got back.”

               Allison blushed and sank into her seat.

               “Who else heard it?”

               Tyler didn’t meet her gaze.

               “Everyone.  You were really loud.”

               Allison buried her face in her hands.

               “That is so embarrassing.  Why didn’t anyone say anything?”

               “I didn’t want to embarrass you.”

               Allison sighed.

               “Well thanks for that.”

Chapter Text

               Maria sat at the center of the military tribunal and review board.  She and the joint chiefs of staff were attending in hologram form.  Andromeda was a step too far for the board to approve an in-person appearance by any of them.  Maria hit her gavel three times to start the tribunal process.

               “We are all gathered here to review the occurrence near AG-RP-01.  Determine if any System’s Alliance laws were broken and then determine what, if anything could be done differently.   This is not a court of law.  Any laws we determine may have been broken will be referred to the appropriate court martial, or criminal proceeding.  The tribunal will have several phases, phase one, determine if there is any criminal liability.  Phase two will determine if there is any financial liability for any party.  Phase three will be a review of choices made during the encounter by all parties involved.  Phase four will determine what improvements can be made to System’s Alliance policy and process.  Presiding will be myself and the joint chiefs of staff.  Any questions before we begin?”

               Someone at the far table stood up.  Allison couldn’t make them out through the League representatives that had been invited to observe, and bring forth their concerns about the disruption Allison’s actions had caused their society.  The person who spoke was male.

               “Madam President, why are you sitting on the panel for this review, it is highly irregular, and I have good information that you have an existing relationship with the accused as a mentor.”

               Maria smiled.  Allison thought as innocent as the pale girl... vampire appeared that she was watching a cat look at a mouse that had the audacity to come out of its hole in front of her.

               “Chairman Yulan, two things, one, this is not a criminal trial, no one is accused of anything, two, chairing a tribunal requires a fleet admiral or above.  The only fleet admiral in our military is the Ensign’s grandfather.  I would say, my mentoring the Ensign on occasion is the lesser of the two relationships.  You may sit.”

               Keer stood up.   Maria looked at him.

               “With Respect, Madam President, I apologize, I am unfamiliar with your customs and laws, but shouldn’t a warrior’s actions be judged by a warrior, and not a politician?”

               Maria nodded.

               “Yes, her actions should be judged by a warrior.  I will clarify my history for you, out of respect.  My people have fought wars for our entire history, I was a general long before I was a president, and then I was an admiral and fleet admiral.  I have been trained as a warrior since birth.  This politician thing is a relatively recent occurrence.  I assure you; The Ensign is being judged by warriors.”

               The Eminence grinned showing his teeth.  Allison glanced at him.  Based on the look he gave the two council representatives his questions had more to do with some internal political thing than her own predicament. 

Allison was the only person in attendance that was sitting alone, usually she would have an advocate but whomever her representative was, they were conspicuously absent.  Maria seemed content there were no further questions.

“We shall proceed with phase one of this tribunal.  Determination of criminal liability. This tribunal has used the last four weeks to consult with military and civilian legal experts to see if any criminal actions were taken during the events that took place at AG-RP-01.”

There was a commotion at the back of the room as someone entered.  Allison looked back and her eyes went wide, it was the woman she’d seen at Pluto station when she first woke up.  She was wearing a power suit jacket with a pencil skirt.  The woman was statuesque and her skin which must have been dark before vampirism and age had given it the quality of marble.  She walked down the stairs with practiced ease.  All eyes were on her as she sat down beside Allison in the place of her advocate.  Maria smiled at the woman.

“Welcome, Isis.”

The strange woman nodded to Maria.

“My apologies Princess, I was unavoidably detained by your Stargate staff.”

               Maria nodded.

               “I apologize for that, we were about to start listing off possible criminal ramifications of the Ensign’s actions during the encounter at AG-RP-01.  Do you have any statements to make before we do so?”

               Isis nodded and stood up.

               “Yes.  I am here to advise you that the Vampire council has determined that Allison Wanjala has no criminal culpability in these events.  As a dhampir and based on recent DNA tests, a descendant of our royal line, she is beyond this tribunal’s ability to assign criminal blame.  The Emperess can confirm these findings.”

               Isis leaned forward to look at a woman Allison didn’t recognize her at first.  Her hologram displayed her as a tall statuesque woman with red hair, and a silver streak.  There was something eerily familiar about the woman and her bright green eyes.

               “I agree, Aunt Maria, the vampire council has reviewed her actions and determined they were legal and within the laws all vampires and dhampirs are bound by, I have ratified their decision as Empress.  Any criminal culpability is strictly the responsibility of the System’s Alliance Government, and Military bodies as she followed their policies to the letter, as per the agreement signed with my mother, Empress Enid Aurelius.  Any vampire or dhampir signed up with System’s Alliance Defense forces accepts no criminal liability for actions performed so long as those actions conform to System’s Alliance policy.”

               Maria nodded.

               “Ah yes, and that agreement was signed off by the board that same year as I recall.  Well, then, the Ensign’s part in this tribunal is done, until such time as she will be called to provide witness testimony to the events that took place.  Before I dismiss you from these proceedings, I just want to personally extend my deepest apologies that you were incorrectly placed on house arrest and detained.  The military overextended their authority in this matter and that will be investigated and those who are to blame will face the strongest penalties I can pass down.  Your flight status is hereby reinstated, and your illegal detainment is terminated.  You are dismissed, please enjoy the rest of your fall break.”

               When she finished speaking the various delegates in attendance started an uproar.  The loudest being the League council representatives.  Allison looked at Isis, who just smiled at her.   Eminence Keer and First Trimark Nutina were grinning.  Allison looked at Maria who seemed to just be patiently waiting for the ruckus to calm itself down to continue.  Isis motioned towards the rear of the room and looked at Allison.

               “Come child, our part in this drama is done.”

               Isis stood up and started walking out.  Allison followed her while Maria dealt with the fallout of Isis and the vampire Empress’s bomb.  The pair walked down a set of stairs that led away from the tribunal’s proceedings.  Allison gave Isis a few shy glances.  Their eyes were identical.  Allison had never seen anyone else with eyes like hers.  She had so many questions.  Her curiosity finally won out.

               “Ma’am, why did you advocate for me?”

               Isis smiled as they reached the bottom of the stairs.  They were standing on a giant tile mosaic of the System’s Alliance symbol.  At its center was an image of the Earth that was before the Grey, and each of the planets of the sol system on a yellow circle background to represent Sol, the origin system’s star.  Isis turned to Allison.

               “You have so many questions running through your head.  Do not worry child, I have heard all of them, some I can answer, some I will not, and some I could not answer if I wanted too.”

               Allison blinked a few times.

               “You can read my mind?”

               Isis nodded.

               “It is one of the gifts the Emperor’s blood wakened in me.  First, I was assigned to be your advocate by the vampire council and the empress.  Second, no I do not know why my eyes are golden, again something that came of the emperor’s blood.  It affects everyone differently.  Why do you have golden eyes? The answer is simple, exposure to my blood.  How did you get exposed?  I cannot say.  What that means is you are my responsibility as it was my blood that granted you your powers, that is why I was assigned to be your advocate.  Until vampire society considers you an adult you are my responsibility.  The princess asked that she be allowed to guide you and I allowed it.  If she were not presiding over this spectacle, she would have been your advocate.”

               Allison opened her mouth to ask another question then closed it.

               “You know what I’m about to ask, but I realize it doesn’t matter.”

               Isis smiled and put her arm around Allison’s shoulders.  Allison couldn’t believe how cold Isis’s skin felt, or how hard.  It was like the vampire was made out of stone.

               “I am over ten thousand years old.  Yes, I am the Goddess the Egyptian mythology speaks of, and yes, I am the only vampire of that ‘pantheon’ that survived the Dark Mother’s wrath.  The President and I have known each other since Caeser was emperor of Rome.  She has been Crown Princess and General far longer than she has been president.”

               Isis laughed when Allison looked at her.

               “Not much has changed, my child.  Not much.  Humans are still humans.  When I refer to the Dark Mother’s wrath, I speak of what we vampires call the pogrom, the day the sun was removed from the sky.  On that day, the one you call the Dark Mother wiped out a million vampires in an instant.  She used their life energies to restore the sun to the sky.   I have seen a future where she did not do this and it is truly horrific.”

               Allison nodded and glanced outside.

               “Ma’am, how are you here?  The sun… even when its reflecting off the moon…  did you know the Dark Mother?”

               Isis smiled and motioned outside to the cement steps.

               “Let us go outside and enjoy the sun.”

               Allison followed her out of the doors.  Isis sat down on the cement steps with no care for her expensive suit, she patted the cement beside her.  Allison sat down. Isis stretched her legs out.

               “How I can survive this world’s sun is not something I can disclose.  Suffice it to say some rare vampires are blessed with an immunity, and there are certain costs to that immunity.  Yes, I did know the Dark Mother.  I knew her when she was but a child.  I stood beside the Emperor and Empress as they struggled to save her mortal life.  I watched her grow.  I watched her blossom over millennia until she became what she was always meant to be.  Our savior.  All of this, the entire universe, and every living being in it, we owe to her sacrifice.  To me she was Enid, or Empress.  Your picture of her is clouded by religious fervor, how humans love their messiahs.”

               Allison had her knees curled up to her chest and her arms wrapped around them.

               “I don’t understand, I had heard that the older vampires got the less human they became… how are you… like this?”

               Isis smiled.

               “Oh, my child, yet another one of my friend Enid’s many miracles.  Her daughter came to me in the time of the exodus and when I saw them embrace.  The true love of a mother for her child, that display of love planted a seed in me.  A seed that grew into the humanity I have today.  I was ancient even by that time.  I thought I was beyond such petty things as jealousy and love.  As she always did, Enid showed me the way.”

               Allison glanced over at Isis who smiled at her again.   Isis nodded.

               “Yes, the kinship you feel with me has to do with the blood.”

               Isis quirked her head to the side.

               “How do you remember that?”

               Allison closed her eyes as she realized she’d just shared the memory that Aryna had found of her shortly after birth.  Isis nodded.

               “I see, child, well yes, it is true I gave birth to you.  I was the first to hold you.  Yes, I fed you from my own breast until your parents adopted you.”

               Allison narrowed her eyes.

               “Why didn’t you want me?”

               Isis tried to touch Allison’s hand.  Allison snatched her hand away.

               “Child, I would have kept you if I could.  I made a promise to your mother that I would give you as normal a life as I could.  Living with me would not have been a normal life.”

               Allison stood up and glared at Isis.

               “Who is my real mother?”

               Isis stood up.

               “Child, Apiyo Wanjala is your real mother.  You know this.  I carried you in my womb, but Apiyo is your mother.”

               Allison clenched her fists.  She wanted to hate Isis for abandoning her but the vampire’s words had the weight of absolute truth.  Isis continued.

               “I promised your biological mother I would never tell anyone whose child you are.  I can tell you that both of your biological parents would be very proud of you.  You are the best parts of both of them.  I can promise you that I will always be here for you.  In the background, keeping my promise to your biological mother, ensuring you are safe, loved and cared for.”

               Allison closed her eyes.

               “Did my mother not want me?  Did my parents not want me?”

               Isis stood up.

               “Child, your parents were gone before you were born.  I was just a surrogate for you.”

               Allison blinked a few times.

               “She must have arranged for this before she died.  Why would she do that?”

               Isis motioned further down the stairs and started down them.  Allison followed her.

               “Child, I cannot provide too much information.  What I can tell you is that she had her children attacked to get to her before you, and one of them she held in her arms as the child died from one of those attacks.  You’re not a parent so you can’t understand the pain that brings to a parent, a mother.  The secrecy surrounding your biological parents has to do with love.  It is to keep you safe.  I promised to keep you safe for your biological mother and I will keep that promise at all costs.  Even if it causes you to hate me.”

               A black rental car pulled up and a tall girl stepped out.  She appeared to be in her late teens or early twenties. She was wearing black leggings, a leather jacket and a black t-shirt that proudly declared: Fuck the Corps in a blocky white font.  Her ensemble was finished off by a bolter pistol strapped to her thigh.  The kind of weapon that would rip a normal human’s arm off if they tried to fire it.  She had long black hair that matched Isis, and the same golden eyes.  Her skin was dusky, denoting middle eastern descent. 

               “Is this her mom?”

               Isis sighed and nodded.

               “Is that shirt really necessary Numari?”

               The girl shrugged.

               “No, the look on your face is priceless.”

               The girl looked at Allison.

               “Well, I guess you are her, so hop in, we got a few million light years to travel while mom babysits the idiots in there.”

               Allison looked at Isis.

               “I can’t just leave.”

               Isis held up her hand.

               “Shh, I’ve spoken to your mother already, she and I have much to discuss this evening, the Princess would like to speak to you about a matter of importance, in person, Numari is my daughter, she will protect you and get you to that meeting.  Listen to what she says.”

               Isis looked at Numari.

               “You picked up the things her mother packed?”

               Numari slid her sunglasses on after giving her mother an ‘are you serious look’.

               “Mom, I’m a professional, of course I picked up her things.  Now go do your mom stuff.  I got this.  Don’t worry, I won’t have any parties in your ship while you’re gone.”

               Isis grimaced showing her fangs.  Numari flashed hers in return.  Allison looked between the two.  Isis waved her daughter away and turned around to re-enter the proceedings.  Numari looked Allison up and down.

               “Well come on don’t just stand there gawking, I’m freezing my tits off here.”

               Numari slipped into the drivers seat.  Allison shrugged and sat down in the passenger seat.  Numari put the car into gear and pulled away from the curb.  She pulled a U-turn and didn’t even slow down for the guard post.  They saw her coming and just lifted the arm that would have blocked their way. 

               Allison kept glancing over at Numari.  Numari eventually looked back at her when they stopped at a traffic light.

               “What? Do I have something on my face?”

               Allison blushed.

               “Sorry, but, you’re Isis’s daughter?”

               “Unfortunately.”

               Allison looked back in the direction they’d come from.

               “She seems great.  If a little bit cryptic.”

               Numari gave a non-committal grunt.

               “The problem with ancient vampires having children is, they haven’t been kids or teenagers, or hell human for thousands of years.  They have expectations that don’t meet reality.  Now shut up; Aunt Maria contracted me to get you to your meeting safe and sound, I will do that because I’m a professional, she did not pay me to play twenty questions with a teenage girl.  If you keep talking I’ll just tranq you.”

               Numari didn’t look at Allison when she spoke again.

               “Yes, it will work on you, I have the good stuff.  I know what you are.  Yes, I can read your mind.  Gold eyes aren’t the only thing my mother gave me.”

Chapter Text

               Allison sat on the edge of a window looking at the stars as the ornate pyramid shaped ship she was on hurtled through the void of space.  The window had a blanket and pillows, like it was a favorite place for someone to relax.  She’d found some discarded clothing in the room, they belonged to a very tall woman, that’s all she could decipher from it.  The room looked like a teenager’s, but not a full-time room, more like someplace a teenager might sleep if they were on the outs at home.  The ship came to a stop.  A few minutes later Numari appeared at the door to the quarters.

               “Time to go.”

               Allison nodded and hopped down.

               “Is this your room?”

               Numari frowned.

               “You just love talking don’t you.  No, it’s not my room.  Some girl named Hazel used to crash here when she had problems with her family.  My mom loves to tell the story about how she saved my life.  Whatever, she hasn’t been here since I can remember.  Let’s get moving.  Aunt Maria is waiting.”

               Allison followed Numari to a small shuttle.  Numari kept up the mostly silent treatment she been giving Allison since they met.  Allison hadn’t been to Earth since she was three.  She had no memory of it.  She’d seen pictures of it like it was before the Grey, blue and green, like Eden Prime.  Now it was just a grey-white ball of ice.  They broke through a cloud of grey mist then the surface of the shuttle flashed.  She knew that was the anti-nanite system, all ships in the Alliance had them as not to spread the Grey.  There was a massive blizzard so she couldn’t see anything.  Numari was following scanners to pilot the shuttle.

               Suddenly the pitch black created by the blizzard and the Grey blotting out the sun was lit up by a massive dome surrounded by smaller domes.  Numari entered through a massive airlock and flew past dome scraping buildings.  Everything was covered in neon, or massive holograms.  Skycars flew too and frow.  Allison had never seen this many vehicles in one place, or this many people.  Numari leveled off just below the top of the dome which was showing a massive hologram of an overcast night.  She finally landed on a pad on one of the tallest apartment buildings.

Numari powered down the shuttle.  Then pulled out a contact lens case and a 30^th century equivalent of a faraday cage.

“Contacts, translator and holo-phone.  Do not take them out of here until Aunt Maria… the President leaves.  What is said is between those present and no one else.”

Allison pulled out her contacts.  She put their case, her holo-phone and her translator in the offered box.  Numari closed the lid, locked it and then activated the local jamming field.  She offered it to Allison then tossed a black duffle bag at Allison.

“I’m not your servant, you can carry your own shit.”

Numari got out of the shuttle.  Allison hopped out and rushed to catch up with Numari who was already at the front door.  She punched in a code and the door slid open.  Allison followed her inside.  The penthouse was multiple levels.  White sheets covered most of the furniture.

President Aurelius was sitting on a couch sipping blood from a wine glass.  Sitting beside her was the statuesque red-haired woman from the tribunal.  The Empress…  That would make her Eyre Aurelius, daughter of the Dark Mother, majority stockholder of the largest corporation in the Alliance, and nearly two-thousand-year-old vampire.  She was the richest woman in the System’s Alliance.  She was worth an incalculable amount of credits.  Both of the vampires stood up and greeted Numari with tight hugs.  Eyre looked at Numari’s shirt.

“Raiding your girlfriends closet I see?”

Numari shrugged.

“All of mine were dirty.  Speaking of which, I’m going to go home and see her, I brought the package you requested, Aunt Eyre, Aunt Maria.”

Eyre nodded.

“Tell my sister, she’s a brat, would you?”

Numari blew Eyre a kiss.

“I’m not your messenger, Aunt Eyre, I’m not hers either which is why I’m not going to tell you what she told me to tell you.  You two should really just call each other once a week and get it out of your system.”

Numari waved and vanished back out of the door.  Eyre walked up to Allison.  Their eyes met.  Allison felt an immediate kinship with this woman whom she had nothing in common with.  Eyre raised an eyebrow and recognition sparked in her emerald eyes.  She looked back at Maria.

“Aunt Maria, you and I are going to have a very long talk when we’re done here.”

Eyre put her arm around Allison’s shoulders.  For some reason, this felt right to Allison.  Like she was meeting a long lost relative.  Maybe it was a vampire thing?  Eyre yanked a sheet off a chair and motioned to it before returning to her seat beside Maria.  She leaned forward and poured blood out of a bottle into a glass.  Allison reached forward and had a drink.  The blood made every cell in her body suddenly tingle.  It was electric.  She wanted to down it but then decided to make it last.  Eyre took a sip of hers.

“So, Aunt Maria, tell her what you brought her here for.  Now that I know why I’m here.  I just can’t wait to see her reaction.”

Maria gave Eyre a dirty look.

“I am sorry about my niece, sometimes she forgets her manners.  What I am about to share must stay between us.  If anyone else finds out, you will be in danger, Allison.”

Eyre nodded.

“She is right.  You are proof of one of the great conspiracies in the System’s Alliance.”

Maria nodded along with Eyre’s words.  Allison looked between them.

“What?  That vampire blood gets into Genesis pods?”

Maria shook her head.

“No, that some humans are infected with nano-technology.”

Allison blinked a few times.

“What?  I don’t understand.  How… that’s impossible.”

Maria looked at Eyre.  Eyre nodded.

“What my aunt is trying to tell you is that you are a product of two mothers.  One was a vampire; The other was infected with Synthlin nanites.  The same nanites that comprise the Grey.  You are a miracle.  Unfortunately, you’re also full of illegal technology that is grounds for instant disintegration.  It is the only way to destroy your nanites.  None of our tech will find them, my aunt, myself, and Amee Morris have ensured that we did that to protect our friend.  Still, the wrong people found out and destroyed her.  Right now, no one knows you’re associated with her, and no one ever will unless you tell them.”

Maria nodded.

“That is why we’ve kept your origins secret for all this time, but when you nearly died on your patrol you activated them as well as your vampiric powers.”

Allison drank down the rest of her blood and stood up.  She looked around for an escape, because these two vampires were obviously insane.  Eyre stood up first and put her hand on Allison’s shoulder.

“Allison, I know this is a lot.”

Allison started to feel lightheaded.  Then her world went black.  When she woke up next she was in Eyre’s arms.  She wrapped her arms around Eyre’s shoulders and started crying.  Eyre held her tightly.  Allison had no idea why this stranger, this ancient vampire, felt so familiar, so right.  She could just sense that no matter what this woman would have her back.  Allison looked into Eyre’s eyes.

“Why does it feel like I know you?”

Eyre smiled.

“I wish I could tell you, Allison, all I can say is trust your instincts.  If I put you down are you going to faint again?”

Allison shook her head.   Eyre put her down.  Allison was still unsteady on her feet, she stumbled to the chair and sat down.  She looked between the two vampires.

“How is this possible?  I don’t understand.”

Maria answered.

“Your mother’s genetic material was fundamentally changed when the nanites were introduced into her blood stream.  They turned her bones into liquid metal.  They gave her cybernetic implants.  Her eggs changed.  When her egg was combined with your other mother’s egg you became a new host.  Your cells produce them now.  They didn’t before but your body was forced too.  I told you that you survived because you were a dhampir, that was an assumption.   I did not realize how your mother’s nanites worked.  Your body responds to injuries by producing nanites now.  So long as a-”

Eyre put her hand on Maria’s arm.

“Aunt Maria, I know you like your science, but let’s not overwhelm the girl with details.  Her eyes are already starting to glaze over, just like mine do.”

Eyre looked at Allison.

“Here is what you need to know.  You will heal very fast.  You can interface with Synthlin systems like they do.  You have traces of Synthlin genetic material in your body.  Now, you can interface with computers and electronics via your nanites.  Finally, if anyone in the System’s Alliance ever finds out about them you will be the number one most wanted person with a death warrant out for you, only disintegrations allowed.  It sucks, but it is what it is.  Now you know, and you know why your body does what it does you will not have to investigate and risk exposing yourself inadvertently.  Which I believe is what my aunt was trying to accomplish with this meeting.”

Allison blinked at Eyre.  Eyre turned to Maria.

“Now Aunt Maria, tell her the good news.”

Maria looked at Eyre.

“How do you even know about that?”

Eyre smiled.

“What else is a Class Omega antimatter generator going to be for?”

Allison was now very interested in the conversation; She’d never heard of a class omega antimatter generator.  It sounded dangerous, or awesome, she couldn’t really choose which fit better.  Eyre turned to Allison.

“Somehow my Aunt figures we make millions of small form factor antimatter generators.  Go ahead tell her already Aunt Maria, you’ve just told her she’s got a death sentence floating around in her blood, make her day better.”

Maria sighed and stood up.

“Fine, if you want to ruin the surprise. Follow me.”

She led the pair to a plain looking wall and put her palm on a specific part and the wall separated.  Behind it was a fully kitted out hanger.  Missiles were on racks along one wall along with what looked like various modular weapon systems for an Athena style fighter.  Drones were sitting in armored glass containers.  It was large, it took over half of three floors of the building.  There was a row of three hanger bays.  In each was a cloth covered shape.  One was larger than Allison’s old fighter.  The other two were smaller.  Maybe the size of drone wing fighters.  Maria motioned to the closest, which was also the largest.

“Go ahead Allison.”

Allison walked up to whatever the cloth covered; She was trying not to run towards it.  Her hands were shaking with excitement as she gripped the sheet of cloth and yanked.  A newer, sleeker version of Bit’s old airframe was sitting there.  It was covered in black liquid metal.  She ran her hand along the surface.  The space between the main weapon ports and air intakes was a little wider than before.  The cockpit was a two-seater.

“What model is this?”

Maria smiled.

“Custom built, for a very specific pilot.  The one who now owns this apartment, and this secret hanger.”

Allison dared not believe it was her.

“They are very lucky.”

Maria smiled.

“I do not know, is she?”

Allison turned to Maria.

“It’s mine?”

Maria nodded.

“Custom built, specifically for your needs.  The other two are Mark XII drone wing fighters modified for use by you.  All of this is yours Allison.”

Allison took her hand off the fighter like it might bite her.

“But, ma’am, the military…”

Maria shrugged.

“No longer needs to assign you a fighter.  You have your own.  Fully licensed with all the weapons systems here.  Also, the AI, I believe you are acquainted with her.”

Allison wanted to hug the fighter when she heard Bit’s voice.

“Ensign, Allison, I have missed you.”

“Bit!  I thought they’d shut you down!”

Bit sounded amused.

“The President did, for a time while my new chassis was being prepared.”

Allison turned, ran to Maria and engulfed her in a tight hug.  This evoked a laugh from Eyre.

“I think she likes it, Aunt Maria.”

Allison had tears on her face as she looked up at the fighter.

“Why are you doing all this for me?  I don’t understand.”

Maria looked at Eyre, Eyre gave a slight nod.  Maria smiled.

“Because we loved your mothers.  They were like family to us.  We will do anything for people we consider family.  It is the Aurelius way.”

Allison shook her head.

“I can’t accept this; My mother will freak out.”

Eyre spoke up.

“It is my opinion that there are some things mothers don’t need to know until we’re older.  She doesn’t need to know you aren’t flying a military owned fighter.”

Allison touched Bit’s new skin again.

“I can’t afford this, the missiles, replacement parts…”

Maria cleared her throat.

“I suspect the System’s Alliance Military will be happy to pay for any ammunition, and repairs since you are contracted to us for the next nine and a half years.  After that, I'm sure you will find a way, if you decided to go out on your own.”

Allison looked at the hanger then back at the apartment.

“I can’t pay for any of this, this apartment must cost more in rent then both my parents make in a year together.”

Eyre smiled.

“Oh, you misunderstood my aunt, you own this building.  It is managed by my company Aurelius corporation, but your name is on the deed.”

“Shut up!  Are you serious?”

Eyre looked at Maria.

“Can you translate that for me?”

Maria blinked a few times and started stroking her antique silver crucifix.

“I believe, she is saying she does not believe us.”

Eyre nodded then looked back at Allison.

“My mother willed this to you, not you, you.  The child of your mothers, which is you, but she did not know who you were at the time, if that makes any sense.”

Allison looked around then back at Eyre.

“So, you’re saying my biological parents were close friends with the Dark Mother?”

Eyre nodded.

“Though, I hate calling her that, if she ever comes back from the dead again, her head will get even bigger, god help us all if that happens.”

Allison sat down on a set of rolling stairs and ran her hands through her hair.

“This all seems like a dream.”

Eyre motioned to the apartment proper.

“Well, why don’t you sleep on it hmm?  Your mother is aware you’re staying overnight and you’re on Earth the center of the System’s Alliance. I’ll stay here overnight, and we will go shopping tomorrow, my treat.  If that is alright with you?”

“Yea, I mean yes, ma’am.”

Eyre smiled and motioned her onwards.

“The master bedroom has been prepared with fresh linens.  I’m sure you’ll love the view.”

Allison rushed off and found the room.  It looked over all of New Amazon.  She missed the snow-covered fields of home, but this was amazing in its own right.  She was starting to understand why the new kids coming to Eden Prime were so angry.   This is what they had been forced to leave behind.  The bed was a top-of-the-line oak wooden frame with a mattress that was perfect.  She pulled her night clothes from her bag and changed and got comfortable on the bed.  Within minutes she was dead asleep.  Eyre peaked her head in and then closed the door gently.  When she reached the living room she crossed her arms and looked at Maria.

“How long have you known I’ve had another sister out there?”

Maria couldn’t meet her niece’s steely gaze.

“Her whole life.”

Eyre’s eyes went wide she was whispering harshly so she wouldn’t disturb Allison’s sleep.

“Why wouldn’t you tell me?  I could have taken her in.  She is my sister!”

Maria stroked her silver crucifix.

“Eyre, your mother left instructions.  Very cryptic, but very specific instructions.  Just a list of things I needed to encourage to happen.  Like having you here tonight.  I wasn’t going to involve you at all.  You know why she didn’t want anyone to know whose daughter Allison was.  You know what happened to Miko, all the attempts on your life, what happened to Amee.  Allison is a walking target; Her anonymity is her one and only defense.”

Eyre was wagging her finger now.

“I could have protected her.  I would have protected her.  You let her join the military?  Are you insane?”

Maria sighed.

“Your mother left instructions; I followed them.  Be angry with her.”

Eyre frowned.

“Oh, very convenient, blame the dead woman.  You… oh you.  I’m so mad at you right now.  Sixteen years of her life wasted!  Living on some colony in Andromeda, that child is probably one of the richest heiresses in this Galaxy.  You have her living with what… farmers?”

Maria shook her head.

“No, her mother is the governor of Eden Prime, her father is a Captain in the Space Navy.  She lives a comfortable life.  A safe, uncomplicated life away from the mess that is our family.”

               Eyre rubbed her face.

               “And when she goes into an Aurelius corp bank, for anything and they get a sample of her blood and she finds out she’s worth more than the annual planetary production of Earth?  You know I was trying to figure out what mother was doing with her money.  Now I understand.  That girl has a twin out there somewhere, doesn’t she?  Because my mother took her entire fortune and split it into four separate accounts.  One for Hazel, one for Miko, one for Allison, and one for Allison’s twin.  I bet.  And Amee’s money, that’s in their names too, isn’t it?  Amee left everything to her children.  Which is Allison and her twin sister.”

               Maria looked out the bank of windows that lined the west side of the apartment’s living room.  Eyre shook her head.

               “You and my mother, always with these deep dark secrets.  You’d think after the genocide we committed together, there might be a bit of trust between us.”

               Maria kept stroking her crucifix.

               “Her brother.  She has a twin brother.  Enid took him.  I don’t know where or when.”

               Eyre approached Maria.

               “You were just going to let Allison, live, grow old and die without telling me, and Mitena?”

               Maria nodded.

               “It is what your mother wanted Eyre.”

               Eyre frowned.

               “What my mother wants… wanted and what is right for those involved is rarely the same thing.  The fact she left Allison behind is proof of that.”

               Maria turned to Eyre and looked up at her face.

               “Eyre, let it go.  You know it is in her best interest to be as far away from our family as possible.  Also, your mother had plans for Allison, I didn’t understand until.  Until I invited her to Earth on Enid’s say so and she wiped out the greatest threat to all life in the Andromeda Galaxy.”

               Eyre looked towards the room where Allison was sleeping.

               “So, you knowingly put her in that position where she had to kill that many sentient creatures?”

               Maria sighed.

               “I did not know what she was flying into, Enid just told me what to kit the fighter out in.  Told me how much antimatter to leave in storage and when she had to leave.”

               “My mother.  Is so!  Grr.  She hated being manipulated and here she is controlling her daughter’s life like God did to her.  And if you think for even a millisecond, I’m going to ignore the fact I have a sister and stay hands off you don’t know me at all.”

               Maria stroked her crucifix as she looked out over New Amazon. She folded her other arm across her abdomen.

               “That will not make Isis happy.”

               Eyre laughed.

               “Fuck her.”

               Maria shot Eyre an angry look.  Eyre shook her head.

               “I’d say swearing is warranted in this situation, forgive me if I’m a bit insensitive to your sensibilities at the moment, Aunt Maria.  I’ve got work to do, I’m sure you can see yourself out.”

Chapter Text

               Allison woke up to the smell of something downright delicious.  She rubbed the sleep from her eyes.  The apartment had been transformed overnight.  The furniture was all uncovered, including a grand piano.  Eyre was in the kitchen cooking up a storm.  Three women were sitting at the breakfast bar.  Only one of which she recognized, Numari.  The other two she couldn’t say who they were.  One was pale but she could tell that her complexion would have been darker before she was turned and finally a woman with brown hair, and brown eyes, she looked like a teenager, she also had the look of vampirism about her.  Allison had started to notice similarities between vampires, they all had a hint of perfection about their looks and a predatory glint to their eyes.  Eyre smiled when she saw Allison.

               “Come and join us Allison.  You know Numari, the other two are my sister Mitena, and my daughter Violet.”

               Violet spun around and looked Allison up and down then looked back to Eyre with a sly smile.  Violet nodded to Allison and took another drink from a bottle of Synth-O.   Mitena got up and took Allison’s hands.  Something was different about this vampire.  There was a kindness in her eyes Allison hadn’t seen before with any of the other predators she’d run across.

               “I greet you as sister of this Earth.  Please, join us, my sister is an amazing cook.  You’ll love this.”

               Mitena led Allison to the stool beside Violet and took her seat again.  Eyre put a bottle of Synth-O in front of Allison and then slid a plate of bacon, eggs and French toast across the breakfast bar.  She motioned to the other three.

               “I hope you don’t mind I invited some family for breakfast here, in your new apartment, but I thought it might make it less awkward with at least one person near your own age, as much as she tries to pretend she’s some old soul.”

               Numari made a face at Eyre.

               “Bite your tongue Aunt Eyre.”

               Eyre smiled.

               “You first, dear.  Now, what do you three little monster’s want?”

               She looked between Violet, Mitena and Numari.  Numari answered first.

               “A shot of whiskey with a beer chaser, then a cigarette and maybe a rare steak.”

               Eyre slid a Synth-O across to Numari and then a plate of steak and eggs.

               “I’ll give you one out of four and you’ll like it young lady.”

               Numari made a face and dug in.  Eyre leaned on the stove and looked at the other two.   Violet snickered.

               “Why do you bother asking mom-two?  You know what I want, you always know what I want.”

               Eyre laughed and pulled a plate of pancakes and sausages out of the oven and put them in front of Violet who started to eat them right away.

               “And Mitena, my sister, are you willing to take breakfast from one of your corporate overlords?”

               Mitena made a face.

               “Only because she is my sister, whom I love very much.”

               Eyre pulled out a plate of a kind of fried bread Allison had never seen before, on the side were some berries and eggs.  Mitena smiled at the bread as she put an egg on it and wrapped it up and took a bite.  She put it down.

               “You know this isn’t quite the same as traditional frybread right?”

               Eyre nodded.

               “I know how to make traditional Bannock, you get what you get kid.”

               Mitena smiled and took another bite.  Allison dug into hers and realized Mitena was right, Eyre could cook.  Eyre pulled off an apron that read: Complain about the food and you’ll be dinner.  Allison chuckled when she realized that the person wearing it was a vampire.  She couldn’t imagine anyone complaining about this food.

               “Umm, ma’am…  do people ever complain about the food?”

               Everyone except Numari and Allison laughed.  Eyre took a few to stop.

               “No, my mother at one point was a terrible cook.  The kind of cooking you’d find somewhere to dump the food to pretend you ate it.  She got better but she kept pretending to be terrible so everyone else would cook for her.”

               Allison blinked a few times and scrunched up her nose.

               “I thought vampires didn’t eat.”

               Eyre smiled.

               “Not exactly true.  Vampires like Mitena, Violet, my mother, Isis and I can eat.  Lesser vampires cannot.  In fact, if we’re in daylight we’re pretty much mortal.  We need to eat, we get tired.  We’re vulnerable.”

               Allison was really confused now.

               “Why would Isis go to a planet where the only time she’s invulnerable would be indoors or a new moon?”

               Numari leaned forward and looked down the breakfast bar at Allison.

               “You really are clueless.  For you, why else would she go?”

               Eyre shook her head.

               “Not entirely.  Maria asked her to go to get a read on the League delegates.  Your Aunt Maria is worried about their intentions.  They’re an unknown variable.  Last thing we all knew the Silwrath were xenophobic genocidal maniacs.  Now they’re one of the founding species of a republic of alien races?  She’s suspicious, and so are the rest of the board, and the vampire council.”

               Allison took a drink of her Synth-O then put it down.  She stared at her cooling unit for several moments then looked at Eyre.

               “Wait, you planned the Tribunal out?  You…  she knew I wouldn’t be able to be charged with anything, but she…  used me as a pawn?”

               Eyre moved over and stood in front of Allison.

               “She used you as an opportunity, hon.  There are a lot of politics within the high levels of the military, the governing board of directors and well corporations.  You scared some folks when you detonated that antimatter bomb.  Antimatter weaponry was classified; No one knew exactly how powerful the weapons were.  Now they have real evidence of the damage that it can do.  You blew up a planet dear.  Likely wiped out an entire species.  Now the corporations are scared they have lost control of the President and the military.  The board is in an uproar, trust me I’m on it.  Things got so heated yesterday; Maria had to put the tribunal in recess for a day to sort out the mess.  The vampire council was unanimous in their decision about you.  Only Isis abstained.  They are scared you’re my mother in a new shape.”

               Allison put her empty Synth-O bottle down.

               “I thought Isis… liked me or something like that.”

               Eyre nodded.

               “She does, that’s why she abstained.  Isis never votes on a matter she has an emotional involvement in.  The council has voted a total of one hundred and eighty-two times in their history we have records.  Isis has abstained in sixteen of those votes.  All of them included my mother in some fashion, except for two, one was whether to execute Maria, the other was whether they would extend vampire protections to dhampirs.”

               Numari looked at Eyre.

               “Wait, the council is protecting me now.”

               Eyre nodded to Numari.

               “Yes.  Now dhampirs have all the rights and privileges and responsibilities of vampires according to the council.  I told the board of directors for the System’s Alliance and they agreed to amend the contract signed with my mother.  Of course, it was me asking and I could wipe out their business interests in a single holo-call so they didn’t have much of a choice.”

               Mitena looked at Eyre.

               “Oh, you can flex your muscles to protect half-vampires, but you can’t convince them to remove the Grey huh?”

               Eyre held up a single finger.

               “Sis, not the time for this discussion.  You know why we haven’t done it and will never do it.  You want to go back to the old ways, use some of your inheritance, buy yourself a planet and invite all the Gaia loving hippies you want to live with you.  I will provide any support Aurelius Corp can provide.”

               Mitena narrowed her eyes at Eyre.

               “Mother Earth weeps because of what you did, and you want me to just move on?  Ignore her cries?”

               Allison was interested suddenly.

               “You can feel the Earth?”

               Mitena looked at Allison.

               “What do you mean?”

               Allison remembered her late-night conversations with Aryna about how planets were living breathing organisms in their own right.  The memories of how the Qual’sa homeworld felt, how Eden Prime felt.

               “I… I have a friend.  She can connect with a planet.  Feel the core’s heartbeat, well she calls it that.  How all life on them is interconnected.  She showed me.  It felt right.”

               Mitena looked interested now.

               “She can speak to a planet’s spirit?”

               Allison nodded.

               “She hears trees singing.  It was such a beautiful memory.  Eden Prime sings so loudly.  As if it knows its life is shorter than other planets.  I also remember when she shared dead planets with me.  Truly dead worlds where all life has been extinguished by the Sal’nash.  Its like they are sad… it was heartbreaking.  I think… I think the Grey protects Earth from threats like that.  Maybe the Earth is just happy life is still here?”

               Eyre nodded.

               “Yes, anything with an organic hull, or organic that goes through the Grey will be attacked like it’s a disease.  The Grey is the Earth’s immune system.  It has protected us for a thousand years.”

               Allison blinked a few times as if recalling a half-remembered dream.

               “It’s Synthlin tech isn’t it?  The nanites?”

               Eyre looked at Allison.

               “Why do you say that?  It was created by humans in the twenty-first century.”

               Allison looked around at the group.  Eyre gave a small shake of her head.

               “I don’t know.  I’m just being weird.  But, if it is Synthlin tech then they could be reprogrammed to shift so instead of floating with the flat wide side up and down, so that they were to sit laying on their thin side.  That would let light in, just not reflective side down because that would well overheat Earth.”

               Everyone was staring at her finally Eyre spoke.

               “How do you know so much about Synthlin Nanotech?”

               Allison bit her lower lip.

               “Uh, that’s umm classified, but let’s just say I had a lot of time on my hands and access to the League’s version of the Alliance-Net.”

               Mitena quirked her head to the side.

               “And how would we accomplish that?”

               Allison fiddled with her fork.

               “Uh, well you’d need a-”

               Eyre shot her a warning glance.

               “I can’t really talk about it, its all classified.  I’m sure if it is ever something Earth wants to do the Synthlin and League would be happy to assist.”

               Mitena narrowed her eyes at Eyre.

               “You’re running out of excuses sis.”

               Eyre started gathering dishes and putting them in the dish washer.

               “Well, Allison and I have a date with a few stores, so if you’ll excuse us.  Allison please go get something else on.  As much as we try to keep the domes warm, New Amazon is old and drafty.”

               Mitena grumbled and stood up.

               “Yea, just like you sis.  And also worn out from all the same old excuses.”

               Numari waved.

               “Cya Aunt Eyre.  Violet.  Allison.”

               The pair left.  Violet looked around.

               “So, mom three, really left this place to this kid?”

               Eyre nodded.  Violet shrugged.

               “Save’s us dealing with it.  I should go.  Winter Wolf won’t run itself.  Hey, nice to meet you Allison.  Don’t be a stranger.”

               Allison sounded surprised when she spoke.

               “Wait, you’re the owner of Winter Wolf Corp?”

               Violet tugged on her leather jacket.

               “No, I am running Winter Wolf Corp until my sister Hazel comes back from wherever mom took her.  She better be grateful.  I hate running a business.  Why?  Are you a fan of twentieth and twenty-first century media, food and beverages?’

               Allison nodded.

               “Your pizza and soda pops are amazing.  Everything else is so… bland.   And oh my god, I just watched that Fallout show.”

               Violet laughed.

               “Your parents let you watch that?  Mine would have skinned me alive.  But they were religious weirdos.  Anyway, here.  Based on what mom two tells me, Hazel’d want you to have that.”

               Allison looked at the digital card she was handed.  Her face and ID appeared on it.

               “Show that, or scan your ident chit, free lifetime access to all our streaming services and a hefty discount on all our food.  Hey, I guess there are perks to running a corporation.”

               Violet waved and made her way out.  Allison looked down at the card and up at Eyre.

               “Wait, you own Aurelius Corp, and Violet runs Winter Wolf Corp, those are the two richest corporations in the System’s Alliance.”

               Eyre nodded.

               “Yes, and we’re also related to the CEO and majority shareholder of BMC.  You might say, our family is well connected.  Now go get changed.”

               Allison did as she was asked, when she came back out, she was wearing a plain pink T-shirt, a pair of jeans and a hoodie. She was carrying her armor.  She showed the armor and the holo-web to Eyre.

               “Umm, ma’am.”

               Eyre smiled and shook her head.

               “Okay, its Eyre.  Okay.  Or Aunt Eyre if you must.”

               Allison smiled.

               “Well, you do remind me of the Aunties from Eden Prime.  So, Aunt Eyre… do you know somewhere to get this fixed?  I need to replace the micro-fusion generator in this holo-web and get it put back in the armor.  I had to uh… well its classified.”

               Eyre motioned for the holo-web.  She looked at it closely.

               “Oh, well, the micro-fusion is done.  Where did you get that armor?”

               Allison laid the armor out on the breakfast bar.

               “Well, when my old suit got well, I guess you know, got spiked by a Sal’nash I requisitioned replacement armor.  Apparently, my old breastplate was a write off.  This is what was waiting for me when I was supposed to come to Earth last time.  The Major thought I was using standard armor.  None of the techs on base could figure this stuff out.”

               Eyre ran her hand over the armor, her fingers feeling the microscopic bumps on the surface.

               “That would be because this armor is more magic than science.”

               Eyre felt the port for the holo-web.

               “I guess the holo-web fits in here hmm?”

               Allison nodded.

               “Well, I can make a call.  We’ll have to manufacture the micro-fusion reactor.  It’s a custom design by, I assume Maria, could have been my mother.  I don’t know.  They send me requests; I just rubberstamp them.  As for reinstalling that holo-web its beyond me, we’ll need Aunt Maria.  This armor has been reprogrammed and modified and she’d be the only person who would know how to do that, that is still here.”

               Allison looked up at Eyre.

               “Who makes this stuff?  The president?”

               Eyre smiled.

               “That is a very long story, but it is very rare.  Priceless even.  Only a very few elites have a suit and all of them are from the Aurelius family.”

               Eyre pulled down her t-shirt and revealed a familiar black suit of armor.  Allison blinked a few times.

               “Yours doesn’t have a holo-web?”

               “No, it does not.  Someone customized this.  My mother was saying she hated having to recharge it when it ran out of battery power.  She probably put the holographic and quantum processors right in this thing.  Aurelius could make so much money off a holo-web like this.  Oh well.”

               She flipped it back to Allison.

               “You keep that close.  It is literally irreplaceable.”

               Allison looked at the tiny red and white device.

               “How did she fit so much into this?”

               Eyre smiled and shrugged.

               “Do you know, who… what my mother was?”

               Allison shrugged.

               “A really old vampire.”

               Eyre shook her head.

               “No, child, she was an angel.  Quite literally she could mold reality to suit her needs.  I believe there is more of divine will in that thing, than science.  She likely imagined it and made it happen.  Hell, I might have to have someone reverse engineer that micro-fusion reactor to even make it happen, and even then, we might not have the tech.”

               Allison nodded and put her armor away.  Eyre focused for a moment and her red hair shifted to black with two blue bangs.  Her eyes were blue, and her face shifted subtly.  When she spoke, it was still her voice.  Allison stared at her.

               “That was so cool.  How did you do that?”

               Eyre smiled.

               “Well, you being a dhampir means I could teach it to you, would probably hurt you a lot more then me if you tried changing bones and appearance.  You could do eyes and hair though, I’m sure.  If you stay a little longer, I can teach you a few things, if you’d like.”

               Allison put her hands in her hoodie pockets and nodded.

               “I would really like that.”

Chapter Text

               Eyre led Allison to a non-descript looking sky car and motioned to the drivers seat.

               “Would you like to drive?”

               Allison shook her head.

               “I’m not licensed to drive, just fly military craft.”

               “Go ahead, give it a try.  It’s not that different from flying a shuttle.  I’ll make sure you don’t do anything illegal.”

               Allison got inside and recognized most of the controls.  It really wasn’t that different from flying a shuttle, just smaller and planet bound.

               “So… do I have to call New Amazon control or something?”

               Eyre laughed and shook her head.

               “No, dear, just stay in your lane as it shows you there on the HUD.  Transition to lower altitude when it tells you.  It is really simple.”

               Allison lifted off and moved into a lane of traffic.  She followed the HUD to the letter and soon they found themselves at street level and parked.  They got out.  Allison was overwhelmed, there were so many people.  More than she’d ever seen in one spot.

               Eyre put her hands in her hoodie pockets and started walking down the sidewalk.  Allison rushed to catch up.  New Amazon was different than Eden Prime.  It was dirty, it was lived in.  There was garbage piled up.  Almost everyone had cybernetics.  This was the nicer part of the shopping district, and it was filthy.  It smelled.  It was the complete opposite of Eden Prime’s manicured lawns, pristine white sidewalks and pristine roads.  There were no trees anyway, no greenery.  Just concrete, glass and steel.  Eyre spoke as they walked.

               “This must be very different for you.”

               Allison nodded.

               “It’s so closed in; Everything is so close together.  How do people live like this?”

               Eyre shrugged.

               “They adapted.  Some prefer this.  The only danger here is from other people.  On a strange colony world?  Who knows what is out there in the darkness?  It’s never dark here.  It is always warm enough to survive.  Even starvation is hard to accomplish with all the supports in place.  It’s half of the reason we haven’t fixed the Grey.  They don’t want us too.  They say no, spend the money on dome maintenance.  They like living like this.”

               Allison looked over at Eyre.  They were almost the same height.

               “What is the other reason?”

               Eyre looked up at the hologram that covered the dome interior in a realistic hologram of a sunny day.

               “Do you know why the Silwrath didn’t manage to defeat the Synthiln completely?”

               Allison nodded.

               “Temporal shields.  Bit told me all about them.  They were developed so some of the Synthlin could survive and fight back.”

               Eyre smiled.

               “You know your mother was someone who knew a lot about Synthlin tech.  Well, she helped Aunt Maria develop temporal shields.  They’ve been included in every single large space craft and dome we’ve ever built.  We didn’t have the ability to project one over an entire planet until recently.  That’s why we’ve been able to expand out into the stars.”

               Allison gasped.

               “So, you keep the domes… I understand.  Why didn’t you tell Mitena this?”

               Eyre waved her hand dismissively.

               “She won’t listen.  We could have fixed the Grey at any point, though I’d never considered changing the alignment of the nanites.  That would give us our immune system and the sun back.  The thing is, thawing the planet out isn’t an easy fix.  It could damage the domes.  And there are massive stockpiles of nuclear weapons stored under this ice that are unstable at best.  Not to mention the bodies, the organic matter that will rot.  It is a logistical nightmare and expensive.  These domes are money making machines for the corps.  It keeps people nearby, it is a capitalist dream and our entire society is based on capitalism.”

               Allison looked around at the flashy neon and holographic signage.

               “They must hate the colonies, we can grow our own food, make our own goods.”

               Eyre nodded.

               “And there is the rub.  Our policies have caused overpopulation, we need to expand, and domes take too long to build.  The corps and the board are in a real pickle.  What?  People can survive without our corporately generated meat?  They can grow a bigger crop in a season then we can do in two years?  In the last decade food prices have dropped by half.  Geniwheat has lost a quarter of their stock value this year alone.  RealMeat has had to sell their domes and outsource production to the colonies.  We’re heading for a reckoning.”

               Allison looked up at the Aurelius Corp sign on the tallest building in downtown.

               “What about Aurelius?”

               Eyre shrugged.

               “Well, we’re the main bank, we’ve had some losses as loans have gone unpaid, but our manufacturing arm has increased tenfold.  We’ve started building another manufacturing station in the asteroid belt to keep up with prefab demand.  My board was very annoyed when I pushed for reusable antigravs and thrustors for prefab deployment, but the rentals are bringing in more than the sales ever did.  Also, more colonies mean more defense batteries, warships, planetary shields and more fighters.  That means more fusion and antimatter generators which are our primary product.  Colonies were always going to be big business for us.  Mom told me to invest in technology for them, and she was right.  We can’t even keep up.  We’ve had to contract work to smaller fabrication corporations.”

               Allison listened to Eyre, completely enthralled.  Eyre continued.

               “Corporations like BMC are also doing very well.  Colonists are less inclined for cybernetic enhancements.  So organic ones have increased in popularity.  Also every new H class world we run into is a whole new xeno-ecosystem to find and develop new medications from.  New virus’s and bacteria they need to account for and develop cures for.  And GeneTech is always busy adapting human crops to alien ecosystems.  Adapting alien crops to human ecosystems.  Sauroid prime has a type of grain that actually cures and keeps Dome rot at bay.  It’s always been a problem.  It was expensive to manufacture the enzyme to combat it.  Now we just add it to the bread supply.  I believe that grain is one of your colony’s main exports.”

               Allison nodded.

               “I know it is called d-weed but I didn’t know it was from Sauroid prime.  There are four corporate farms on the equator that grow it.  It’s turquoise, isn’t it?

               Eyre nodded.

               “Oh, you said your family has close ties to BMC?”

               Eyre smiled and nodded.

               “Well, I need something made… it’s a very specific organic compound. Going to need quite a bit of it.  I uh, well there is no way I can pay for it myself at cost.  It would take research and then… well could you make a call?”

               Eyre stopped and pulled Allison to the side.

               “Sure, show me what you have.”

               Allison tapped her wrist where her holo-phone would usually reside and blushed.

               “I uh, don’t have my holo-phone.”

               Eyre looked around and saw the store she was looking for.

               “Come on, lets fix that.”

               She pulled Allison into an Aurelius corp store.  The girl behind the counter had quite a bit of chrome.  It appeared that it was more for style than function.  She looked over the pair with a bit of disdain especially when she saw Allison’s ever present Dark Mother pendant.  She looked rather bored.  She’d shaved the sides of her head and what would be a pink mohawk was hanging over her left ear.

               “What do you two want?  And no, we’re not interested in donating to your church.”

               Eyre raised an eyebrow.  Allison went to speak, but Eyre motioned for her to stop.

               “She needs a A-92-Ultra holo-phone,  a T78-Ultra translator and a set of U60-Ultra contacts.”

               Eyre looked at Allison.

               “Would you like them with the color changing feature?”

               Allison blinked a bit.

               “Wait, they can do that?”

               Eyre nodded.

               “Yes, dear, the military ones are pretty bare bones.  System’s Alliance is cheap at best.”

               The girl behind the counter was scratching behind her one organic ear.

               “Uh, those are really expensive.  I’ll need you to pre-pay.”

               Eyre nodded and pulled a black credit chit out of her pocket.

               “If you skip the upsell and the five-hour set up the extra is yours.”

               The cybered-up goth girl picked up the chit and checked it against a tablet.

               “Uh, well there is enough but there’s no name on this, we can’t really take… uh black credits here.  Corporate policy.  And SA law.”

               The girl offered it back to Eyre who smiled and slipped it into her pocket.

               “Good call.  Ring us up please.”

               The girl rolled her eyes, expecting this to be declined but did it anyway, it was a good two thousand commission on the purchase.  Even if she was giving up five thousand on the offered bribe.  She slid her tablet across the counter.  Eyre looked over the cost and swept her hand over the tablet.  The girl behind the counter nodded as the payment cleared then looked at the name so she could use it.  Her eyes went wide, and she looked like she was going to pass out.

               “I am so sorry, Mrs. Aurelius, I didn’t recognize you.  Is there anything else we can get you?”

               Eyre shook her head.

               “No, just my purchases thank you, and please seem more excited about your job in the future, I know its retail, but we pay you well enough to at least look like you want to be here.”

               The girl nodded and went to find her manager who verified the payment, saw the name and started rushing just a little bit faster to make sure he delivered them himself.

               “Mrs. Aurelius it’s such an honor to meet you.  If Anika in anyway upset you I will be happy to walk her out right now.”

               Eyre shook her head.

               “No, its fine, she was fine.”

               Eyre slid the containers over to Allison and glanced at her.

               “Go ahead, put them on, I’m sure Ezekiel can get them activated for you very quickly.”

               He nodded and rushed through several screens on the tablet.  Then finally came to one last screen.  He hesitated.

               “Uh, Mrs. Aurelius who will the monthly bill for Alliance-net access be going too?”

               Eyre held up one finger and made a call.  A few minutes later she flicked something from her AR HUD at the tablet Ezekiel was holding.  She spoke.

               “Just deduct it from that account monthly, please.  Thank you.”

               Allison had finished equipping everything.  The holo-phone was thinner and lighter than her military one.  The AR HUD the contacts was projecting was much crisper than her military contacts.  She quickly logged into her personal account and data started to transfer into the holo-phone.  She blinked a few times then looked at Eyre.

               “How much did all this cost?”

               Eyre waved her hand dismissively.

               “Not that much.  Now send me this organic compound data.”

               Allison flicked the data towards Eyre who accepted the bundle and started going through it.  Eyre led Allison to a store that was filled with all manner of fancy dresses.  Eyre opened the door and motioned for Allison to go inside.  As they entered Eyre’s appearance changed back to her natural one.

               “Why are we here?”

               Eyre smiled.

               “The Gala you’re attending in four days of course.”

               Allison felt some of the material.  With her AR HUD active she noticed prices flashing over each dress.  The dresses here were more than she’d make in a year at her job in the military.  Allison snapped her hand back and started shaking her head.

               “Oh, I really can’t afford one of these.  I really can’t and I’m going as a member of the military I need to wear my uniform.”

               Eyre shook her head.

               “No, you’re going because the Silwrath Fleet Admiral invited you directly through Aunt Maria.  You’re going as you, Allison Wanjala.  Also, I’m paying, so go, pick something.”

               A lady came out.  She’d been around the block a bit.  One look at Allison and Eyre’s wrists told her exactly how deep the credit chit was with the pair.  She appeared in her mid-twenties but that could mean anything on Earth with cybernetics and advanced cosmetic surgical techniques.  She approached the pair.

               “How may I help you two?  Is this a sister’s shopping trip?”

               Allison laughed.

               “No, she’s not my sister.  Just a friend of my parents.  I… uh…”

               Allison looked at Eyre who motioned for Allison to continue.  Allison rubbed the back of her neck and bit her lower lip.

               “I am going to a diplomatic gala to receive an award and I need something to wear.”

               The woman smiled.

               “And… there is a special boy or girl that is going to be there?”

               Allison continued biting her lower lip and nodded as her cheeks became flush.  She felt her ears burning.  The woman nodded.

               “Well then, let’s get you the whole outfit.” 

               The woman glanced at Eyre who pointed to a holo-screen that was playing through a list of high-profile clients wearing dresses made by this designer.  It showed a picture of Eyre at a holo-movie opening wearing one of their dresses.  The woman’s eyes went wide, and she looked back at Allison and continued.

“Clutch, shoes, maybe some matching jewelry and a dress that make you the envy of every other woman there.  This is going to be hard, but fun.  You have a lot to work with.  Come on let’s go make you into a princess.”

Eyre waved to Allison and started making her promised call.  It took Allison a good two hours to decide on a dress.  It was a lightish shade of blue that complimented her golden eyes.  A gold clutch, a pair of beautiful golden high-heeled shoes and a jewelry set with sapphires and diamonds.  The whole ensemble was worth half a million credits.  When it came time to pay Eyre just swept her hand over like it was nothing.  They arranged for everything to be sent to Allison’s new apartment.  They left and Eyre looked over at the massive Aurelius building.

“Well, I have good news, and bad news.  The good news is, BMC can make your organic compound.  The bad news is the price.  Research, then manufacturing, a single run in the amount you require built into a specific food?  She gave me the friends and family discount and it’s still in the ballpark of seven hundred million credits.  The kind of money I cannot just spend.”

Allison coughed on the drink of water she’d just taken.

“Seven hundred million credits?”

Eyre nodded.

“And living blood and cellular samples of whatever you’re planning on feeding it too.  They need to test and make sure the compound is working right.”

Allison sighed and shrugged.

“Oh well, I figured I’d ask.  Guess there’s no way to do it.  The samples are easy but who has seven hundred million credits laying around.”

Eyre chuckled.

“You do.  Well, I mean your trust fund does.  Your parents left you a sizable amount of money.  Accessing it before your fiftieth birthday is a whole other story, but since it’s a trust fund with Aurelius corp, you can request an Aurelius supplied trustee to manage your access in the case of costs the trustee deems appropriate.  So, what exactly do you need an alien enzyme built into an alien food product for anyway?”

Allison blushed.

“Wait, what… how much is in my trust fund?”

Eyre shrugged.

“Hard to say, with interest?  Suffice it to say once you get full access to it you will never have to work again, ever, in your life, and you could buy entire planets.”

“Look this is pretty unbelievable.  I’m some mystery heiress no one knows exists?  Money like that just doesn’t exist in a black hole, right?  There are taxes and…”

Eyre was already walking to Aurelius corp.  When she responded.

“Well unless it’s the kind of money that was already taxed.  Look, there is no inheritance tax in the System’s Alliance, so it’s all yours.  The interest will be taxed once you turn twenty-one, but Aurelius will take care of that, like we do for all our clients.  Since we founded the System’s Alliance, we got some loopholes put in.  Accounts are confidential.  The taxes are paid for numbered accounts.  Good point is, the account and interest don’t increase your gross income for taxation purposes, the bad part is… well, you can’t get deductions.  Just… I can’t really tell you more about your parents because well, this is what they wanted, likely they were keeping you in the dark until you were fifty so you could have a normal life.  Stay anonymous and marry for love of whatever.  Now, why do you need this stuff?”

Allison sighed.

“It’s silly for that much.  No way my biological parents would want me wasting it.”

Eyre shrugged.   They were now in the ornate marble entryway of the Aurelius Corp New Amazon HQ and bank.

“Just tell me.  I’ll make the decision for you as the legal guardian of your money.”

Allison found a video of her playing with Oozie and shared it with Eyre who smiled.

“So, it’s for your pet… alien?”

Allison shrugged.

“Look, she’s sixty years old and she’ll die by eighty unless she gets this enzyme.  It’s like a trigger to their next growth stage.  Once they get it, they get a little bit bigger, a lot stronger and can live for thousands of years.  I just… well I don’t want her to die.  She’s I don’t know, she’s special.  These Nargles, they used to be bodyguards to the Qual’sa queens.  My friend Aryna says Oozie is special, more intelligent, more powerful psionically.  She’s the last of her kind.  I just… I want to save her.  She’s bonded with me now and she trusts me, protects me.  I want to protect her.”

Eyre nodded.

“So, she would function as your bodyguard.  A protector?”

Allison nodded.

“See, your mothers, would support that wholeheartedly.  So, let’s go inside, we’ll transfer control of your trust to me, from whomever we have running it, and we’ll get BMC working on it.”

Eyre waved her hand over a panel.  It flashed allowing her in.  Allison tried to do the same, but it failed.  A security guard rushed over with his hand on his stunner.  He was focused on Allison and missed who was standing beside her.

“I’m sorry ma’am you’re not authorized for entry, I’m going to have to ask you to leave the premises.”

Eyre cleared her throat.  The security guard stayed focused on Allison who froze unsure of what to do.  A woman in a business suit rushed out and grabbed the security guard’s arm.

“Hammer, stop.”

He didn’t look like he was going to back down.  He gently moved the woman back behind him.

“Ms. Taskill, please call for back up.”

The woman referred to as Ms. Taskill tried again.  Eyre cleared her throat.

“She is my guest.”

Hammer kept focused on Allison.

“She’s got no Ident chit!  She’s a dreg.”

Eyre was getting impatient.  Before anyone could blink the security guard was on the ground, disarmed and trying to figure out who handcuffed him.  Eyre sighed and motioned Allison inside.

“Come on.”

Eyre looked at Ms. Taskill and offered her the security guard’s weapons.

“Elanor, fire this man and have him escorted off the premises he’s a bit too quick resort to violence to work here.”

Ms. Taskill nodded and took them.

“Yes ma’am, right away ma’am.”

Eyre got on an elevator, swept her hand over the panel and pressed the button for the top floor.  As they rode it upwards, she looked at Allison.

“I’m sorry about that.  I don’t get here as often as I used to, people don’t know who I am on sight.”

Allison shrugged and looked at her hand.

“My Ident chit should be working right?”

Eyre shrugged.

“Who knows that thing you did disrupted a lot of things, you were closer than most maybe it did it in, we’ll look at getting it replaced.  We’ll discuss it later, when we get home.”

Allison took a few seconds to understand what Eyre was getting at, then nodded.  Once they reached the floor Eyre walked straight to the far end, walked past a secretary who was filing her nails and into an office with Allison in tow.  She didn’t even wait to see who was there.

“Bob, I need to transfer a trust ASAP.  Get me someone good.”

Chapter Text

               After an hour of paperwork, bureaucracy and a DNA test, Eyre was officially the trustee of Allison’s trust fund.  Allison couldn’t comprehend the number she saw as she authorized all of it.  She wouldn’t even lose a zero from the end if she paid for Oozie’s enzyme and special food.  Eyre got pulled into a couple of things and ended up sending someone to pick up her skycar and drive Allison home.  Allison had to use the hand scanner to get inside because of her ident chit malfunction. 

Allison looked around the apartment and tried to figure out what to do with herself.  Her eyes drifted to the hanger then she shook her head.  She’d been doing way too much military training lately.  She needed a break and so far, the visit to Earth had been great.  She was already feeling her stress evaporate.  She’d solved Oozie’s problem.  She would be incredibly rich one day and Bit was back.  She shrugged and finally turned on the main wall screen.  It was easier to watch in two dimensions than three.  Apparently, she had full access to Alliance-Net she put on a live broadcast of a soccer game.  Plopped on the couch and put her head on a pillow. 

One benefit of being on Earth was live feed of sports.  They only got pre-recorded ones on Eden Prime.  Even with wormhole links there was still too much delay.  This week happened to be the Intergalactic Soccer Cup.  Today was NAFTA vs New Toronto.  New Toronto was only about thirteen light years away from Eden Prime.  So, Allison was obviously cheering for them.  She watched another match after that. 

The latest match was almost done when she heard a buzzer.  She blinked a few times and tracked down the source.  It was a video screen attached to a wall by the main elevator.  On the display was a man who was likely in his thirties, he had dusky skin, long black hair, a thick black beard and a lot of cybernetics.  He was also armed with a couple of pistols.  Honestly, he looked like a mercenary.  A dangerous one at that.  Oddly he seemed nervous.  He buzzed again.  He ran his hand through his hair.  He was talking.  She pressed the button to listen.

“Hazel, are you there?  I caught an order here.  Hazel, please tell me if you’re back.”

Allison had heard the name before.  She pressed the speak button.

“I’m sorry, sir, Hazel is gone.  My parents gave me this apartment.  You should probably leave before security notices you.”

He paced back and forth.

“You sound a lot like her.  Hazel?  What gives?  You vanish for twenty years, your mother gives me a cryptic message from you.  Now you ghost me?”

Allison bit her lower lip, she flipped the control to show her image to him.

“Look, sir, she’s not here.  I promise you, it’s just me and my Aunt Eyre here.  You know the really old and powerful vampire?”

He looked shattered.  Allison’s heart broke.  This guy really loved Hazel.

“Sorry, sir, I’m not sure who Hazel was, but I can tell you loved her a lot.  I’ll tell everyone you stopped by.  What’s your name?”

He looked like he was about to leave then he turned around and pressed the button.

“My name is Miles, and if you want to know about your Aunt Hazel, you can usually find me at The Harbor.”

He turned and left.  His shoulders were slumped.  Allison closed the call and wandered back to her new couch.  She lay there until the match finished.  She let it go to the news next.  She rolled onto her back and looked up at the ceiling.  She heard her name on the TV, and that got her attention she looked at the screen, the image was a picture of her standing beside her fighter in her old armor with her helmet under her shoulder.

“We have a breaking news story that a hostile alien fleet was engaged and successfully defeated in the Andromeda Galaxy by the System’s Alliance Space Navy.  The image displayed is Ensign Allison Wanjala, System’s Alliance Space Navy, sources say she was the pilot that single-handedly ended this threat to our colonies in the Andromeda Galaxy in the Allen Sector.  We will be giving more in depth coverage as details become available.”

Allison hit her head against her pillow.  So, her attack on the Sal’nash was no longer classified.  Soon everyone would know she was responsible for a genocide.  Her holo-phone started buzzing.  She looked at the call display.  It was a news network, already.  She flicked it away and let it go to voice mail.  More calls started flooding in.  She flipped on auto-decline unless they were on her contacts list.  The Alliance-Net comm unit in the apartment started going crazy.  The apartment must have popped up under her name.  She folded the pillow up to cover her ears and yelled.

“Computer mute comm unit!”

She pulled her pillow down and it was still going off.  She shouted.

“Computer, mute the damn comm unit!”

Nothing responded.  She walked over to a wall panel and opened up the holographic controls and muted it herself.  She sighed.  The apartment did not have its own VI.  What kind of high-priced apartment didn’t have one of those?  Every house on Eden Prime had one.  She saw hover units start to appear.  She powered on the holo-shades that blocked the view from the outside.  She wasn’t going to get a moment’s peace.  She briefly considered flying home but then realized she’d need to file an FTL flight plan. 

Allison thought about that rough looking, broken hearted mercenary and then figured that if Hazel had lived here before, there was a good chance he was a contact in the comm system.  She rushed over to the comm’s list and there it was, Miles.  Last contact, a month ago.  He’d left a bunch of messages under Hazel’s name.

“Yesh, if I ever have it that bad for someone, I hope someone shoots me and puts me out of my misery.”

She called him from the apartment’s comm link.  He picked up immediately. She could hear road noise.

“Oh, its you, not Hazel, what do you want kid?”

Allison tried to act casual.

“So… you’re like a mercenary then?”

“Yeah, kid, that’s what I am, what do you want?”

Allison bit her lower lip before answering.

“Look, I don’t have any money but I could use some help getting out of my apartment.  There are a bunch of people looking for me and I’d really like to be anywhere but here.”

He sighed.

“I’m not a charity, kid.  You got a job, you tell a fixer, you pay them the money, I do the job, they pay me.  That’s how it works so no one gets burned.”

Allison tried to remember back to the last Merc-based show she’d watched.  Neon Streets it was called.  Then she remembered a lot of crews would do favors in it.

“Hey, I don’t have money, but I do have a very particular set of skills.”

He laughed.

“Kid, you’re what sixteen at the most, what can you do that more experienced people can’t?”

Allison shrugged.

“I’m a pilot who can plot FTL jumps and has military clearance, oh and access to a fully armed personal Athena class starfighter.”

That seemed to get his attention.  He pulled over to the side of the road.

“Wait, you have Hazel’s fighter?”

Allison shook her head.

“No, mine’s brand new, I kind of blew my last one up.  Anyway, I figure a mercenary might need a pilot, maybe some air cover sometime, you know with active stealth and cloak systems?”

He closed his eyes for a few seconds. 

“Okay, there is a back staircase, take it down four flights, get on the cargo elevator take it to the sub-basement.  I’ll meet you there.  Make sure you cover up.  If you got the same armor she had, put it on.”

He started turning around and ended the call.  Allison followed his instructions.  Adding her combat vibro knife and Qual’sa pistol to the mix.  She set it to stun before holstering it.  She pulled on a very bulky hoodie and pulled the hood up before following Miles’s instructions precisely.  She realized she was doing something really crazy right now, but it was also extremely fun, especially after being under house arrest for six weeks.

Miles was leaning against the cement wall with his arms crossed.  Allison felt her heart skip a beat.  She had a new crush.  The man was built.  And his beard!  He motioned for her to follow after looking at her hip.

“Funky gun.  You shouldn’t need it.”

Allison shrugged and tried to sound overly cool.

“You know, I shouldn’t have needed grenades and an antimatter torpedo on a routine trip to Earth, but you better bet I was upset I didn’t have them.”

He shook his head.

“You’re a weird kid.  So was Hazel, I don’t know why I’m surprised.  Her family was fucked up.  Your family I guess.”

Allison blushed.

“I just… my parents were friends of the family, that’s all.”

He motioned at her hair.

“Well, your hair parts just like hers and her mother’s, and her sister’s; Could have fooled me.”

He led her out of a service entrance.  There was a black motorcycle waiting for them.  Now she really was crushing hard.  Bad boy mercenary, who rides a motorcycle.  Tyler had nothing on this guy.  He pulled on a helmet.  She got on.

“Come on kid, get your helmet out.”

Allison blinked as the helmet formed over her head.  He shook his head and leaned forward.

“Hang on.”

Allison wrapped her arms around his waist, and he pulled away from the curb.  He sped past several news vehicles that were all apparently trying to catch a glimpse of her.  He shook his head.  He opened a comm link so they could talk directly without the road noise getting in the way.

“What a gong show, are they who you are trying to avoid?”

               Allison sighed.

               “Yep.  Would have been nice if someone warned me it was coming, I could have flown home first.”

               “Where are you from kid?  You seem pretty wealthy; I’m guessing NAFTA dome.”

               Allison shook her head.

               “No, the only money I have currently is money from my part time job.  I’m actually from a colony world.”

               He laughed.

               “God, this must seem like an absolute zoo to you then.  Where are we headed?”

               Allison shrugged but maintained her grip on him.

               “How about the Harbor?  Not that I saw a lake or any boats or anything.”

               He laughed.

               “It’s a merc bar by the dome’s reservoir, guy named Harbor used to own it, name stuck.  So, going to tell me why the news is all over your place?  Did you murder someone?  Run away from home?  Have an affair with a famous married man or woman?  Are you an anti-corp terrorist?”

               Allison tightened her grip.

               “None of the above.  Though I’m sure some of the corps think so now?  You don’t watch the news, do you?”

               He shook his head.

               “No, I do not.  Always bad news or Corp propaganda.  Or too outdated to be useful in my line of work.  So quit playin’ kid, what has the vultures looking for a piece of you?”

               “I’m not sure what I can say, I blew up a really really big bomb.  Like the biggest ever recorded.  Probably had an electronic disruption about a month ago?”

               He looked back at her as they stopped at alight.

               “No shit, that was you?”

               Allison shrugged.

               “Yeah, I wasn’t expecting the pulse to travel through hyperspace.  It’s not like anyone warned me it could happen, y’know?  Anyway, that’s about all I can say.  Watch the news if you want more because no one has given me any talking points.”

               “Wait, you talk like you’re in the military, how the hell is that possible?”

               “Well, on the colonies, especially on ones in a different galaxy they have an expanded list of who can join the defense forces.  Including kids my age, though, to be honest, usually its seventeen-year-olds.”

               He pulled into a spot set aside for motorcycles.  Allison hopped off and so did he.  He pulled his helmet off and hooked it on the bike.  He just left it like that.  A few mercs who were hanging out in the parking lot smoking vapes nodded to him.  He nodded back.  He ran into a woman who was also cybered up.  She offered her hand and he grabbed it.  They pulled each other in for a hug.

               “Fuck, Hawk, you finally give up on that wolf girl?”

               Miles shook his head.

               “Nah, Tee, this is a client.  She needed some place to lay low.  Give me a heads up if you see any reporters skulking around, will yea?”

               Tee gave him the finger.

               “I haven’t been your look out in a fucking long-time dickhead.”

               He motioned to Allison.

               “Come on Tee, she’s just a kid.  They’re all over her like Kitch on a fucking bottle of Screech.”

               Tee pointed her chin at Allison.

               “Yeah, just a kid with a fucking zapper.  Aww fine, I’ll spread the word.  No reporters tonight.  But you owe me a fucking drink, off the top shelf you cheapskate.”

               Miles pushed Allison inside.

               “Don’t mind Tee, she’s actually got a heart of gold under all that chrome.”

               The pair went inside.  There was a throbbing beat playing.  People were dancing on the dance floor.  Numerous private soundproof booths were scattered around.  Then just some normal booths.  The bar was covered in graffiti.  It was like every merc bar she’d seen in every holo-novel, holo-show and holo-movie about the merc life.  All combined into one.  Along the walls were photos and holos of mercs past and present.  He motioned to the bar.

               “Have a seat kid.”

               Allison shrugged and sat down.  The woman behind the bar was completely cybernetics free as far as Allison could tell.  She could tell quite a lot with her contacts and her holo-phone.  She was in her thirties.  She had sleeve tattoos and wore a pendent of the Dark Mother.  She had her hair dyed dark blue.  The bartender motioned at Allison’s Dark Mother pendant.

               “What can I get you sister?”

               Allison looked at her hand and realized she had a non-functional ident chit.

               “Uh, sorry, I don’t have any credits…”

               The woman glanced at Miles who gave her a wave before heading into a private booth.  The woman pointed at a news broadcast playing on a screen behind her, they were showing Allison’s picture again.

               “Is what they’re saying on the news true?  You fought off some aliens?”

               Allison sighed and nodded.  The bartender slapped the bar.

               “Yeah, no I get it.  Here’s one on me.”

               The bartender put down a non-alcoholic soda.  Then she whistled loudly.  The music stopped.  Heads popped out of the private booths.

               “Hey, no reporters in here tonight, alright?  Private members club tonight.  And buy this kid a drink, she saved the goddamned Andromeda galaxy.”

The bartender pointed at the news which was showing more details of Allison’s heroics.  Allison sunk into her stool and stirred her drink, she looked up at the bartender.

“What’s the legal drinking age here?”

The woman chuckled.

“Whatever we want it to be.  You want something stronger?”

Allison shrugged.

“I don’t know I’ve never had anything stronger.”

The woman laughed.  An older man down the bar who was wearing a surplus System’s Alliance Space Marine combat jacket motioned to the top shelf.

“Give her a shot of tequila.  On me.  The good stuff.”

He touched Allison’s forearm.

“Thank you for your service.”

He gave her a nod then went back to his friend.  Allison looked at the shot of tequila, then rolled the shot glass between her fingers and she chugged it.  She coughed as it burned.  The bartender laughed.

“Yep, that’s how you know it’s the good stuff.”

Miles was in the soundproof booth for a couple of hours.  Allison’s glass was never empty.  She had downed at least fifteen shots with various people and she was feeling a bit lightheaded.  Mostly she was just feeling really hungry.  Like she always felt after she healed.  Miles saw the empty shot glasses and looked at the bartender.

“Ah, Widow, what do I owe you?”

The bartender laughed.

“Nothing, Miles, kid’s a hero, people have been falling over themselves to do a shot with her.  You might need to carry her out of here.”

Allison held up her hand.

“I’m fine.  Just really, really hungry.  You carry Synth-O by chance?”

Widow gave Allison a look but then pulled out a bottle of Vodka infused Synth-O.

“Don’t carry much of that.  Vampires don’t tend to come around here much.  You’re not one of those types are you?”

Allison shook her head and chugged the Synth-O.

“No, only half vampire.  A vampire… was my surrogate mother or something?  Really I’m still trying to sort it out.   Why am I so hungry?  I know I didn’t eat lunch but this is ridiculous.”

Miles offered his hand.

“Come on kid, I know a place nearby, best noodles in the dome.”

He looked at Widow.

“Thanks, you’re amazing as always.”

Widow shook her head.

“I know, so when you going to give up on Raptor’s Sorrow and give this wolf a chance?”

Miles shrugged.

“Maybe one day.  Hey, you might want to introduce the kid to your tribe.  She’s Hazel’s niece.”

Allison was about to protest when the mercs in her vicinity went quiet.  She looked around and saw Numari who looked about as pleased to be here looking for Allison as one might expect.  Most of the mercs stepped aside.  A few tipped their hats to her.  Numari finally stopped when she was standing beside Miles and Allison.  She crossed her arms and glanced down at the row of shots.

“Hawk, what the hell are you doing here with her?”

Allison held up her hands she wasn’t drunk, but she had overwhelmed whatever resistance her body had to alcohol so her words were slightly slurred.

“Hey, Numari, its fine.  I asked him to get me out of the apartment, there were all these reporters and they wouldn’t stop.  He showed up looking for Hazel and I figured he could get me someplace with less reporters.  And he did, here.  Then people saw the news and kept buying me drinks.  So many drinks.  I think I like rum, I’m not sure about tequila.”

Numari rolled her eyes then looked at Miles.

“Hawk, if you know what is good for you, you’ll go get her some food, and some Synth-O, don’t worry, my client will pay for it.  Just hurry.”

Miles just nodded and ran off.  Numari sat at the bar and held up three fingers.

“Let’s try that Fieldman’s Rum, three shots.”

Widow took the bottle from the top shelf and poured out three shots.  Numari slid one to Allison, and the last she pushed to Widow.

“Come on, I know you can’t get drunk but let’s drink to the hero of the hour.  That’s the tradition right?”

They lifted their glasses and clinked them together.  They all drank them down.  Numari patted the glass.

“Two more.”

Widow looked at Allison.

“Are you sure she should?”

Numari nodded.

“Once she eats, she’ll be sober as a High Priestess at Sunday Mass.”

Allison drank the next shot.  Then touched Numari’s arm.

“Wait, I thought you hated me.”

Numari nodded.

“That’s when I thought you were some spoiled brat my mom had a soft spot for because she squirted you out.  Now I know you’re a righteous bad ass.  In case it wasn’t clear, no matter where you are from these are your people.”

Numari had spoken loud enough that a portion of the bar heard her.  They all lifted up their glasses and drank.  Numari pointed at a photo on the wall.  It was a girl with long white hair, blue eyes.  She was about six inches taller than Allison she was built like a truck though.  Muscles for days.

“That’s Hazel.  You know why she’s up there?”

Allison shook her head.

“She ripped two crusader tech battle-bots apart with her bare hands, or well claws, and then stole an antimatter bomb that was meant for New Amazon.  She’s a legend.  That’s what it takes to get on the wall here.  Isn’t that right Widow?”

Widow nodded.  Numari pointed at the news.

“Widow, you think saving an entire galaxy from a bug invasion is legendary?”

Widow nodded again.

“Got a spot all picked out for her.  Right there beside Hazel and her mother.”

Numari took a drink of the beer that was put down in front of her.

“Why there?”

Widow shrugged.

“She’s Hazel’s niece, isn’t she?”

Numari shook her head.

“I don’t think so.  Everyone’s being all cryptic about whose kid she actually is, I think they have no idea.  Whatever.  I mean, they say the Dark Mother saved the universe.  She saved a galaxy, they probably belong together.”

Widow nodded.   Miles showed up with a bunch of food and put it in front of Allison who tore into it like she was starving.   Miles scratched his beard while he watched the feast.

“She sure eats like Hazel.”

Chapter Text

               When Allison woke up her face was covered in drool, and she felt like she’d been punched in the skull repeatedly.  She was in her own bed, well her own bed on Earth at least.  She groaned.  She heard the wall screen going in her living room.  She sat up slowly and held the bed, as if she could make the room stop spinning.  It didn’t.  Her mouth was drier than she’d ever remembered it being.  There was a water bottle on her nightstand.  She drank it down in several gulps.  It wasn’t doing much. 

She rubbed her face again and stumbled out of her room.  Eyre was sitting on one of her chairs watching the wall screen.  Numari was passed out face down on her couch snoring loudly.  She was in one of Allison’s long T-shirts.  Eyre smiled when she saw her.

“Oh, if it isn’t our little juvenile delinquent.  Did you have fun at the Harbor?”

Allison held up her hand.

“Please, not so loud.”

Eyre motioned to the kitchen.

“Drink more water.  When you feel up to it, we’ll get some food for you.  I’m sorry to say, you’re immune to painkillers and most toxins, unless you drink enough you overwhelm your, well you know.  Which, congratulations you did.  I am amazed.  Your mother could never manage it.  You must have been having a lot of fun.”

Allison plopped down in the other free chair.

“I don’t even remember how we got home.”

“Oh, that’s simple, Aunt Maria sent Numari to bring you home, then when the bartender at the Harbor called Kennedy’s mother, Bee, my personal security chief and I saw you dancing on the table in the background with a topless Numari, I realized we sent the wrong merc.  So I told Bee to pick the three of you up and bring you and Numari here.”

Allison took a drink of her water.

“Kennedy’s mom?”

Allison made an O with her mouth.

“Kennedy, was missing a few quarts of blood after a make out session with you and Numari in one of the booths.  She passed out.  That was the point Widow called Bee.”

Allison blushed and rubbed her head.

“I am never drinking again.  I remember everything right up until Kennedy then things get really blurry.”

Eyre nodded.

“That’s because Kennedy was highly intoxicated, drinking alcohol filled blood is the quickest way to a drunk vampire or dhampir.  Numari is well aware of that fact.”

               Allison looked around.

               “Is Kennedy here, I would love to apologize.”

               Eyre shook her head.

               “No, Kennedy is eighteen years old, last night was a school night and she’s still in high school, as you can imagine her mother is rather upset with her.”

               Allison sunk into the chair and nodded.

               “Well, Numari called her.”

               Eyre looked at the softly snoring Numari.

               “I assure you if she was still young enough, I’d be spanking her or something.  The question is, what do I do about you?  I mean technically you’re not my responsibility… but Aunt Maria was trusting me to look after you.  Do we call your mother or what here?”

               Allison rubbed her head.

               “Look, there is no need for my mom to ever know about this.  Like, ever, ever.  She’ll be happy not knowing about it in fact.  I mean she’s so busy, with being a governor and all.  I promise I will never do something like that ever again.”

               Eyre shook her head.

               “Hmm.  Sounds like, I would like your mother.  Alright, here’s the deal.  I say nothing to your mother, or Aunt Maria and when you’re on Earth, no matter how old you are, you tell me where you’re going and what you’re doing, okay?”

               Allison shrugged.

               “Sure, I guess that works.”

               “Good, now about this media storm…  Neither Aunt Maria nor I knew it was coming.  Some PR executives in System’s Alliance got their hands on it.  Ignored the classified banner that was all over the file and decided this was a PR coup for our Military.  This was never meant to come out, but it is here, so we’re dealing with it.  She’s going to make a statement soon.  I had some people start a rumor you were on deep space patrol for your entire fall break until the Gala.  It should put you in the clear, but means you’ll probably have to hang out here on Earth until the Gala.  Isis is doing her best to help your mother, who is being swamped as well.”

               Allison nodded and drank more water.  She was in no hurry to go home.  Her mother was probably about to blow a gasket.  Also, probably why her mother hadn’t called her since she’d been here.  Allison was starting to feel better as she drank water.  Eyre motioned to the wall screen when Maria appeared.  It was flashing special broadcast from the President of the System’s Alliance.

               “Let’s see what BS story they came up with, hmm?”

               Eyre increased the volume.  Maria appeared in a room packed with reporters.  An alien attack was unprecedented, and everyone was eating up the drama.

               “For those assembled here, this is a statement, there will be no question period.  I am required to be at a Tribunal which is reviewing this particular incident.  We are not prepared to release full findings yet.  There have been a lot of conjectures, assumptions and downright incorrect assumptions about this topic.  This is leading to unnecessary panic.  I am going to make this very clear.  I am disappointed with the media and this irresponsible reporting.  I remember a time when it was verify then report, not report then verify.  To that end this statement is more comprehensive and transparent than we would usually provide.  I will now start with the System’s Alliance Governing Board’s prepared statement of fact.”

               She frowned and then continued.

“Citizens of the System’s Alliance, as you’ve recently been made aware in wide coverage from various news corporations, we recently uncovered an alien ship in the Andromeda Galaxy during a routine patrol.  On that ship we found evidence of an impending attack on our interests in the Andromeda Galaxy.  This threat has been named the Sal’nash.  It is an alien species that swarms from time to time devouring all life on planets before moving on.  Once we discovered this possible threat, we took steps to prepare a defense.”

               She looked at the gathered crowd of reporters.

               “We detected an anomaly in interstellar space about halfway between the colony of Eden Prime and our wormhole transit point at the Battle Station designated Andromeda-1.  At the request of System’s Alliance Steller Cartography division, a patrol was added to the rotation.  As this anomaly was detected during our search for any Sal’nash signatures we authorized a single, FTL capable, stealth fighter for this mission.  Ensign Allison Wanjala volunteered for this mission.  This is standard practice.  As a reservist and a starfighter pilot she is required to keep up a certain amount of flight and FTL hours to keep her flight status.  We give preference to reservist pilots who volunteer for patrols.”

               Maria motioned to an image that appeared behind her of the rogue planet.  Allison recognized it as something she took imaging for during her mission.  She’d used special optics to get a good image of the planet as she approached.

               “When Ensign Wanjala arrived at the coordinates she found this rogue planet, designated AG-RP-01.  The fuel source used to power wormhole communications on her fighter was almost empty.  She was only able to establish a single wormhole comm for a limited duration before investigating the planet.  She advised she had discovered a rogue planet.  She requested guidance on how she should proceed.  She had another assigned patrol that evening after a stop at Andromeda-1 for refueling of her comm generator.  We can say with certainty that the reason she did not have more fuel was due to a shortage on Eden Prime.  She was ordered to activate her stealth systems and cloak.  Then proceed with an orbital pass to gather scans, and to decide from there on her own how to proceed further.  She was reminded the primary objective of her mission was to gather all data she could in regards to any Sal’nash presence on the planet.”

               Maria motioned to a close up of the dense cloud layer and lightning storm, it was a repeating video.

               “Following orders the Ensign broke the comm link and approached the planet.  She realized that due to a thick, electrified atmospheric layer she would need to enter the atmosphere and get below the interference to obtain any useful data.  Using her own initiative to fulfill the orders she was given she then made an atmospheric entry.  She noted that the upper atmosphere was a highly volatile mix of Hydrogen and Oxygen.  Her mission log states that when she entered the thicker atmosphere it was a mix of Carbon and volatile organic compounds.  It was thick and there were several lightning strikes against her fighter’s shields.  Below this she found the atmosphere to be very low oxygen and incompatible with human life.”

               She then showed an image of the antimatter canisters lit up by her fighter’s lights.  Maria motioned at the image.

               “What she discovered was a high density of Sal’nash organic matter.  Several large Sal’nash structures, a low-tech emergency beacon and an alien disposal site for FTL by-product.  As we all know, it is one of the most volatile and dangerous substances we’re aware of.” 

               The next image was a blown-up list of standing orders, some were redacted.

“System’s Alliance military has a list of standing orders that it provides to all of its members.  These are used when a member is unable to contact command.  This allows them to react in the spirit of the System’s Alliance to developing situations.  As you see here, the second standing order is to render aid and assistance to any craft in distress.  Ensign Wanjala realizing she would need to respond to the emergency beacon and that she was unable to track it from the air without alerting the Sal’nash that were likely present, set down her starfighter in a crater and approached the beacon on foot using her hand scanner.”

An image of the antimatter parasites appeared behind Maria.

“During her approach she was attacked by FTL waste parasites.  You may refer to the image behind me.  She ended the threat to her life without alerting the Sal’nash and proceeded to her objective.  When she arrived at the beacon she found a primitive colony ship.  It did not match any configuration in the records she had available.  She still attempted to render aid.  She found two survivors.  One was a pet called a Nargle, the other a young girl.  At this point she was alerted by her fighter’s scanners that Sal’nash were inbound to her position.  She had theorized incorrectly that they were dormant.”

An image of the scan showing the swarm of Sal’nash inbound showed up on the screen behind Maria.

“According to the mission log at this point the Ensign made a choice to complete her primary mission, which was to gather as much data as she could about the rogue planet and any Sal’nash presence.  She also knew she had to render aid to the crashed ship and its two survivors.  To this end she scanned for FTL by-product.  Once she determined there were several containers nearby.  She used her available resources to bring one to the ship, jury-rigged it into an explosive device and proceeded to gather all possible data from the crashed ship, and rescued the survivors.  Unfortunately, the girl did not survive the trip back to her fighter, even with an emergency oxygen mask.  She was too injured in the crash.”

Maria took an unnecessary breath and continued.

“Ensign Wanjala had determined by this point that the Sal’nash were active and would be leaving the planet soon, based on previous intelligence she’d been provided.  Seeing no alternative, she followed general order number one, and also her oath as an officer.  Protect the people of the System’s Alliance at all costs.  She recovered the largest container of FTL byproduct and converted it into a jury-rigged bomb.  After this she infiltrated the Sal’nash super hive ship.  While there she gathered data.  During her data gathering she determined the ship had been preparing to lift off for days already.  After confirming this was a ship, she sought a location to place her improvised explosive device.  She found one.  Her next actions would prove vital.  She tried to find a way to rile up the hive.  She succeeded when she found the Sal’nash hive queen and engaged her in combat.  With that action she was able to get the full engagement of the super hive in its defense.”

An image of the swarm of warrior drones chasing Allison showed up.  It proceeded to show a repeating video of her using her energy shield and pistol to defeat several in an orderly retreat.  Allison rolled her eyes, it was basically doctored to look more orderly then she was.  She remembered how much she was panicking in that hallway.  Maria continued.

“Ensign Wanjala proceeded to engage in a running battle to escape the Super Hive.  She used one of their air locks to escape after utilizing her fighter’s VI to clear a path for her.  She boarded her fighter and began evasive maneuvers to escape the planet.  As she had predicted, the Hive ships were all starting to launch.  Faced with overwhelming odds and knowing she had data vital to the System’s Alliance she did not engage and retreated.  She was under heavy fire from both Hive ships and hostile flyers.  Her fighter was heavily damaged, but she escaped the atmosphere.”

An image appeared behind Maria of the Sal’nash fleet forming up.  There were audible gasps from the audience.

“In an act of selflessness the Ensign, knowing she could not detonate her improvised device from outside the blast radius triggered it once the bulk of the Sal’nash Hives had launched.  Based on the scans she took before her fighter was disabled her actions effected a 99.76% destruction of the Sal’nash forces.  We believe their forces numbered in the fourteen-billion range.  One heavily damaged ship escaped. We are now tracking it to see if it will link up with more Sal’nash forces.  We have moved several carrier groups into Andromeda in anticipation of that eventuality.  These fleet movements will not hinder the security of our borders.”

A video of the blast and Sal’nash ships being incinerated played behind her, then the impact on the planet.  There were gasps in the audience again.  Eyre glanced at Allison who was staring at the video and trying to justify it to herself all over again.  Allison was snapped out of it when Eyre touched her hand gently.  Allison blinked a few times.  The image shifted to the remains of her fighter.

“The damage to Ensign Wanjala’s fighter was severe as you can see in this image.  I can confirm what the news reports have already published, her fighter was dead in space waiting for rescue for a little over three standard weeks.  She followed her training and was able to use back up power to provide life support and thrustors to avoid collisions with debris.  We spared what ships we could for the search effort but space is big and she was between solar systems.  We reached out to an organization we had very brief diplomatic discussions with for more assistance.  With their help we were able to recover Ensign Wanjala and her fighter.  At their request she stayed on their ship to provide a debriefing as they have a vested interest in suppressing the spread of the Sal’nash as well.”

On the screen behind her was the ribbon cutting for the League’s embassy on Eden Prime.

“I am happy to announce that because of Ensign Wanjala’s actions we were able to open official diplomatic ties with a likeminded group of individuals in the Andromeda Galaxy, they are called the League of Sentient races.  They consist of several hundred different races that span almost half of the Andromeda Galaxy.  Behind me you can see the ribbon cutting ceremony for their newly minted embassy on Eden Prime.  There is more news to come.  That is it for today’s statement.  Thank you, everyone.”

People were starting to shout and hold up their hands.  Maria turned to leave and her chief of staff whispered to her, she turned back.  She didn’t look pleased.

“Please, everyone, Apparently I covered everything in record time, and we have time for a few, pointed questions, please keep them brief.”

She pointed at a woman near the front.

“You mentioned the Ensign had to recover, was she injured?”

Maria shook her head.

“Due to extended zero-G exposure she lost some of her muscle mass and some bone density, well documented symptoms.  With the assistance of the excellent medical staff on the League battle cruiser that rescued her and our own Military medical experts she has made a full recovery and recently took part in a multi-school cheerleading competition.”

Maria pointed to a middle-aged man and referenced his news corporation.

“Madam President, we have unverified reports the Ensign was sent on another deep space patrol over her fall break.  Is there any truth to that?”

Maria shook her head.

“While I’m not at liberty to discuss patrol schedules, I can verify that Ensign Wanjala is enjoying a well-deserved vacation in an undisclosed location, after providing testimony at our ongoing Tribunal.  I would like to take this opportunity to advise everyone to please respect her privacy.  She was just a soldier doing her job.  Due to military regulations all she can say to anyone is, no comment, please speak to my press office.  We have time for two more questions.”

She pointed at a woman Allison recognized, Marnie Quebec.  A total sensationalist legal correspondent.

“Madam President, FTL By product weaponization is strictly prohibited under System’s Alliance law.  Corporations have been shut down for even mentioning it, what criminal repercussions will the Ensign face for its weaponization?”

               Maria responded clearly and decisively.

               “None.  The tribunal has already reviewed her actions and determined no criminality.”

               Marnie looked disappointed by that answer.  Maria motioned to another reporter and mentioned his corps name.  He stood up.

               “Madam President, do we know what the yield was of the improvised explosive the Ensign detonated?”

               Maria glanced behind her.  Someone whispered into her ear.  Maria frowned but answered.

               “Estimates I have received are somewhere in the vicinity of ten to fifteen thousand teratons.  Far beyond the Ensign’s initial estimate.  We’re still trying to determine exact figures but what we do know has reinforced our commitment to not weaponizing the substance involved.  The blast propagated through real space and hyperspace causing a disruption in communications and FTL travel.  Thank you everyone, that is all I have time for.  If you want further information, please contact the System’s Alliance Press office.  We will release further details once the tribunal is completed, and the results are reviewed.”

               Maria retreated leaving a crowd of reporters that still wanted more.  The broadcast shifted to another one of the Intergalactic soccer championship games.  Eyre stood up and wandered into the kitchen.  She started humming too herself and pulling out the ingredients for a meal.  Allison took another drink of water.

               “Aunt Eyre.  Is it over now?”

               Eyre sighed.

               “I’m sorry, not even by a long shot, hon.  Reporters will do what they always do.  Just keep to the script, no comment, please speak to my public relations and press office, stick to that and no one can yell at you.  Well, the reporters can but screw them, right?”

               Allison sighed and dragged herself to a kitchen barstool.  She leaned on the counter heavily.

               “Why do people care?”

               Eyre smiled and glanced up at Allison every so often as she sliced some actual chicken meat into thin slivers.

               “The vast majority of people live very mundane lives.  They get up, they kiss their partner, hug their children, they go to work, they come home, they eat an evening meal, they maybe watch the news, they go to sleep and then they do it all over again the next day over and over again until they die.  They look to people like us to live through vicariously.  You’re young.  You’re attractive, and you’re brilliant.  You look really good in the uniform.  I know exactly why PR wanted you out there.  Recruitment of young women is going to go through the roof.  You’re a poster child just waiting to happen.”

               Eyre pulled out another cutting board and a new knife.  She washed her hands and started cutting up an orange pepper.

               “You think well, I was just doing my job.  You might even be concerned with the loss of life you caused, hmm?”

               Eyre expertly sliced the pepper slivers the other way.  She slid them into a waiting bowl.  She started on celery next.

               “Now they’re calling you a hero, for what?  Killing fourteen billion sentient creatures?  Seems kind of stupid when you think about it right?”

               Allison took another drink of water and nodded.  Eyre shrugged and swept the celery into its own bowl.  She pointed her knife at Allison.

               “Now you have to decide.  Did you do the right thing?  They can’t tell you that, no one can.”

               Eyre started chopping through mushrooms rapidly.  Allison’s voice was still pretty rough.

               “I can’t think of how else I could have handled it.  It was us or them.”

               Eyre nodded then swept the mushrooms into yet another container.  She pulled out a wok and poured some oil in it then set the heat to high.  She looked at Allison.

               “So, why were you looking like you were going to throw up when you saw the explosion?”

               Allison blinked at Eyre.  Eyre swept the chicken off the cutting board into the hot oil.  Then poured in a good amount of soya sauce and began to rapidly stir the chicken back and forth.

               “Don’t worry if you can’t answer.  It’s not an easy question.”

               Eyre moved the chicken into a bowl.  She fried the other ingredients in turn while Allison sat and pondered.  She pulled some rice out of the microwave and mixed everything together and fried it after breaking four eggs into it.  Allison had forgotten her moral quandary when she smelled the stir fry.  Eyre glanced up at her and started filling a bowl.  Allison didn’t tell her to stop until it was overflowing.  She savored it as the chicken melted in her mouth.

               “Oh my God this is the best food ever.  It’s sweet and salty.  How did you do that?”

               Eyre leaned against the counter beside the cooling unit and took a long pull from a bottle of Synth-O.

               “Orange peppers are sweet.  Soya sauce is salty. Simple.  Glad you like it.  Your mother, after a night of binge drinking would easily eat a whole wok of the stuff.”

               Allison finished her bowl and asked for another which Eyre gladly filled for her.  Allison finished that one off too.  She leaned on the breakfast bar basking in the afterglow of the frankly orgasmic food.

               “Can you tell me something else about her?”

               Eyre smiled.

               “She was a cheerleader, against her will.  Before what happened… happened she was clumsy.  She used to say she could find a way to hurt herself in a padded room.  She was a brilliant tactician.  Driven.  Goal oriented.  She wanted kids more than anything but was afraid of how they would turn out.  Mmm. What else can I say?  She loved the color blue.  She had her first kiss when she was fifteen.  She always put others first.  Her favorite car was a dodge challenger she rebuilt herself.  She was decisive.  She was formidable.  She loved red wine, Pinot Noir to be exact.  She had a rocky relationship with her parents, especially her mother.  She had a lot of trouble in school.  She got picked on a lot, she would push back.  Got her labeled as the bad kid.  She loved literature and poetry.  She could quote Shakespeare better than he could, trust me I met him.  He really liked the drink.  Did most of his writing completely drunk.  Kind of a lush.”

               Allison smiled.

               “You really knew him?”

               “Yes.  I made it a point to meet a lot of artists over the centuries.  van Gogh… mmm.  Met Hitler, I was unimpressed.  It was before the war.  He thought of himself as an artist.  Honestly if I knew what he was going to do, I would have bought all of his paintings and encouraged him to continue with the art.  Oh well.  Hindsight is twenty-twenty right?”

               Allison had forgotten all of her questions about her parents.

               “You must have seen so much!  Who else did you meet?”

               Eyre tapped her chin.

               “Have you ever heard of Chaucer?”

               Allison nodded.

               “Met him when I was a mortal.  He stayed with me while he was writing a book on my mother’s exploits.  It never got published.  He died before it could.  Probably for the best.  My mother’s head was big enough as it was.  I met quite a few popes.  Two angels.”

               “Angels?”

               “One was a cranky old man, the other, well, I didn’t realize it at the time, but it was my mother traveling through time.   Oh, wait three angels, my mom nearly killed Gabrial in 2027 in the Pope’s office.”

               Allison blinked in disbelief.

               “Why would your mom attack an angel?”

               Eyre started putting the dishes in the dishwasher.

               “You know, if you ever met one, you probably wouldn’t have to ask that question?”

               Allison offered her bowl over the counter.

               “What is it like to live so long?  Don’t you miss your loved ones?”

               Eyre started putting the leftovers in a plastic container.

               “You know, I do at first, but eventually it fades, then I just have the happy memories.  And most of my loved ones are immortal so, I kind of get a pass there.  I do miss my stepmom sometimes though.  I’ll tell you a secret, hon.  Even now, sometimes, I go looking for an adult when I need to make a decision.  Funny enough, that adult is usually my Aunt Maria.”

               Allison smiled.

               “Who does she ask then?”

               Eyre shrugged.

               “To hear her describe it, God.  Though she is a medium and can see all manner of ghosts.  She’s got one that’s been following her around since the 2010’s, she has one that has been around since Rome, he’s older than her, so I bet she probably consults him… it?  He’s just a giant grim reaper guy with a massive scythe.  Anyway, I’m sorry but I need to go deal with some things, will you be alright here?”

               Allison nodded.

               “Good, look, I’m probably going to have to get back to NAFTA dome tomorrow.  I’ll stop by tonight teach you a few vampire tricks, then I’ll leave in the morning for home.”

               Eyre pulled off her apron and waved before heading out.

Chapter Text

               Allison yawned and blinked tiredly as she flipped through the various options on the wall screen.  She was slouched on her couch, so her head was barely visible above the cushions.  Her feet were up on the coffee table.  She was wearing a pair of sunglasses, a pink Space Stallions T-shirt, a pair of black leggings and a pair of bunny rabbit slippers she’d found in Hazel’s old room.  They obviously had not fit the girl because they were still in the package and stuffed into the closet.  She was also hung over again.  At least this time she remembered getting there.

She was doing what the rich teens of the thirtieth century would refer to as doom shopping.  She didn’t know this because she’d never had any amount of money to her name.  Before Eyre left for home, she’d transferred the measly sum of three hundred thousand credits to her online account from her trust fund.  She’d made all of fifteen thousand credits since she started in the summertime and that included a month of hazard pay, this was before taxes of course leaving her with a grand total of eight thousand credits to her name, before the whole trust fund thing.  She sighed and clicked on another few outfits before going to the check out.  She’d managed to spend a thousand credits on clothes.   That was her splurging. 

Allison flipped back to the Sabre 9230.  The fastest motorcycle on the market.  No battery, just pure fusion power.  The kind of bike that was fast enough to do something stupid on.  She put it into her online shopping cart.  With delivery to Eden Prime it came to just under two hundred and eighty thousand credits.  She flipped it out of her cart and changed the color to blood red.  Added the extra holo-HUD interface.  Then put it back into her cart.  Cost after taxes and delivery, two hundred and ninety thousand and six hundred fifty-six credits.  Her mom would kill her.  She popped it in and out of the cart a few more times pondering if it was worth the fight. 

Allison groaned and rubbed her forehead when she heard the building’s front door buzzer.  She absently flipped on the front door vid to picture in picture.  It was Miles carrying two cups of coffee and a bag of food.  She scowled because he looked downright perky this morning.  She just hit the unlock button.  A few minutes later he came out of the elevator and knocked on her door, which she unlocked with her holo-HUD.

“Hey!  Good morning kid, how you feeling?”

Allison adjusted her sunglasses so more light was blocked from the annoyingly bright dome hologram.  He put a coffee down in front of her and dropped the bag of food on the couch.  She looked at him through her sunglasses.

“How are you so happy?  We drank half of the alcohol in the bar last night.”

He shrugged.

“You know you can block the light with your windows right, kid?”

Allison groaned.

“Too much effort.  Easier to just put sunglasses on.”

Miles shook his head and went over to the apartment’s control panel and turned-on shade mode.  The apartment darkened.  This left the wall screen as the only real light source.  He stood beside the couch with his arms crossed.

“Wow, a Sabre 9230, must be nice.  Your military gig must pay really well.”

Allison pulled off her sunglasses and leaned forward.  She dropped them on the table and grabbed the coffee.  She took a drink and made a face.

“Soya Milk?”

He shrugged.

“What do you think this is, a colony world?  It’s not like we have cows.”

Allison grimaced and took another drink.  She dug into the bag of food he’d brought her four breakfast burritos and two bottles of Synth-O.  She inhaled the burritos then gulped down the blood and collapsed back onto the couch.

“Thanks for breakfast.”

He handed her the other coffee.

“Drink this too.”

Allison gave him a dirty look.  She drank the coffee down in a few gulps.

“You just stop by to check on me?”

               Allison reached up and tapped the lights on her holo-HUD.   Allison squinted.

               “Lights… bad idea.”

               She picked up her sunglasses and put them back on and closed her eyes.  She heard Miles rub his hands together.

               “You know that favor you owe me?  I’m calling it in.”

               Allison leaned forward, pulled her sunglasses down her nose and looked at him to see if he was serious.

               “Seriously?  Today.  You and your friends got me that drunk the night before you want me to fly?”

               He nodded.

               “Yep, so come on senorita let’s get a move on, we’re on a schedule.  Deals a deal.”

               Allison flopped her head back.

               “Ugh, fine.”

               She grabbed her water bottle took a long drink from it and shuffled to the hangar bay’s panel.  She tapped in her code and the door slid open.  She pushed her sunglasses up to ward off the harsh glare of the brightly lit hanger.

               “Bit… Bit wake up.”

               Miles stepped behind her and he swore in Spanish.

               “Are you planning a war?”

               Bit spoke.

               “Allison, you are not in any shape for flying currently.”

               Allison nodded.

               “Duh, that’s why you’re going to be doing the flying.”

               Miles looked around.

               “Who is that?  You have a co-pilot or something?  Man, her voice makes her sound hot.”

               Allison pointed to the fighter.

               “That’s Bit, my fighter.  Bit, Miles, Miles, Bit.  There.  Now can we all stop talking so loudly.”

               Miles shifted from side to side.

               “Well, we got a ship.  We just need someone to fly it, none of us knows how to plot an FTL course out of the sol system.”

               Allison turned to Miles.

               “Where exactly are you taking me?”

               Miles scratched at his full black beard.

               “Well, we’re uh, breaking into a secure BMC storage facility on Titan, then we’re plotting an FTL jump to Sauroid Prime to drop the package off with the client.  Simple in and out.  All you have to do is get us there.  You can stay in the ship.”

               Allison took another drink of water.

               “Bit, plot a course for Sauroid Prime please, meet me there. Take your time.  Okay?  And Bit if anyone asks, you’re on autopilot because I’m on board and sleeping…”

               “As you wish, Allison, but I am dubious of your choice of friends, and this all sounds highly suspicious and possibly criminal.”

               Allison sighed.

               “See you there, mom.”

               Bit made a sound akin to an annoyed hrmph.  Allison closed the secret door and turned to Miles who was starting to look impatient.  Allison shook her head at him.

               “What?  Are you getting me to steal a ship or something?”

               Miles gave a half smile.

               “Something like that.”

               Allison groaned and shuffled to her room.  She dialed her mom and started pulling off the clothes she was wearing.  She had her armor on up to her waist and was pulling her bra on when her mother answered.

               “Allison?  Are you alright, you look awful?  Are you staying up until all hours?”

               Allison sighed.

               “I was up late last night hanging out with some new friends.  I’m going to spend a day or two on Sauroid Prime.  Do a pilgrimage to the Temple of the Universe so I have something to write my essay about for religion class after the break, is that okay with you?”

               Her mother seemed confused.

               “You, are going to a religious pilgrimage?”

               Allison nodded and pulled her armor over her shoulders and sealed the seam in the front.  Her mother narrowed her eyes.

               “Why are you in your armor then?”

               Allison sighed.

               “Because I’m flying a starfighter and my registration says, must be in full environmental suit when flying this craft.  My armor is a full environmental suit.”

               Her mother frowned.

               “Your attitude needs work, Allison Wanjala.”

               Allison smiled and tried to play nice.

               “Sorry mom, I’m just a bit cranky, you know how I get when I don’t sleep. I’m going to catch up on the trip.  Not much else I can do in FTL.  I’m going to take it easy.  It’s roughly Forty Light years, I should be there in eight, maybe nine hours.  I’ll get there just in time for their breakfast.  I’ll message you when I get there okay?”

               Her mother tapped her fingers for a few moments.

               “Fine, but you call me as soon as you get there.”

               Allison waved.

               “Thanks, bye mom.”

               Allison stood up and held onto a wall.  She was still woozy.  She was proving very good at overwhelming her nanite’s toxin processing power.  She looked in her vanity mirror.

               “I swear, I’m never drinking again.”

               She grabbed her sunglasses on the way by her dresser and put them on her forehead.  She refilled her water bottle and looked at Miles.  He put down two painkillers in front of her.

               “You should take these.”

               Allison pushed them back towards him.

               “They don’t work on me unless I take enough to kill a normal person and that comes with its own problems.  Alright where is this ship you want me to fly?”

               Allison slid her Qual’sa pistol into a holster that formed and her combat vibro knife into one that formed by her boot.  Miles motioned to the elevator.  Allison pulled an oversized hoodie on that she had borrowed from Hazel’s closet.  He looked at her as they rode the elevator down.

               “That’s Hazel’s isn’t it?”

               Allison nodded.  When the elevator doors opened she slid her sunglasses down and squinted when the bright sunny winter sky the dome was projecting assaulted her eyes.  There was a red van waiting.  She got inside when Miles opened the door for her.  She sat down in the darkest corner she could find. 

Miles sat down in the passenger seat.  There were a few people already in the van.  The three men in their thirties were dusky skinned and all looked like they would have originated from New Amazon Dome.  The woman who was also in her thirties was black.  Her skin tone was lighter than Allison’s parents.  Allison didn’t recognize any of them.  That didn’t mean she hadn’t met them.  She’d been really drunk the night before last, especially after the blood from a very drunk Kennedy.  The driver had a fancy looking cybernetic arm.  In fact, everyone in the van had a lot of expensive cybernetics, or chrome as they were more often referred to.  One was a full torso job with reinforced arms and an accelerator.  The woman had cybernetic eyes and a data jack that must have cost a fortune.   Allison didn’t know much about mercenary work, beyond what she’d seen on holos.  She was pretty sure this was a very highly skilled and highly paid crew.  The man with the full torso conversion pointed his thumb at Allison.

“Who is she supposed to be, Miles?  I thought we graduated from micky mouse shit and babysitting years ago.”

Miles pointed at Allison.

“Who?  Her?  You don’t recognize her?”

“No?  Should I?”

Miles shrugged.

“Nah Dimi.  She is our pilot.”

The woman looked over at Allison and without asking felt around the back of Allison’s neck.

“No data jack?  How’s she supposed to fly?  What are we paying her anyway?”

Miles turned back to face the woman.

“Zebra, just chill.  She’s a professional.  She doesn’t need a data jack.  And she’s doing this to return a favor.  Relax guys, I did my research.  She knows her shit.”

Dimi rubbed his thighs.

“Well, she’s pretty hot anyway.”

Zebra smacked Dimi on the back of the head.

“She’s a fucking teenager you perv.  Dude.”

Dimi laughed.

“That’s the best thing about high school girls, I keep getting older and they just stay the same age.”

He punched Miles’s arm.

“Right bro?”

Miles unleased a tirade of Spanish at Dimi about being a creep.  Allison’s translator would have told her exactly what he’d said but she had her eyes closed and couldn’t see her AR HUD.

“Just shut up, please.”

Allison held her head.  Zebra glared at Miles.

“Is she hung over?  What are you thinking el tonto?  You didn’t sober her up?  Give her painkillers?  The fuck man.”

The driver who hadn’t said anything laughed.

“You bet she is hung over.  Between her, Miles, and that Numari chica they must have drank half the beber at Harbor last night.  I ain’t seen no one go toe to toe with Bandito like that.  This chica is legit.  Miles is right, she’s a pro.  We in good hands, once she gets over the hangover.  She is a genuine, one hundred percent starfighter pilot.”

Allison nodded slightly.  Yep, she recognized that voice… Pinto.  Zebra punched Miles in the arm.

“You knew we were pulling this job, and you got her drunk?  You are such a moron.”

Miles turned to Zebra.

“No, she got herself drunk.  She shows up at harbor and everyone buys her drinks.”

Zebra looked between Allison and Miles.

“Shit, she’s her?  That Ensign Wanjala?  Man with a name like Wanjala I thought she’d be black.  How the hell did you get a name like Wanjala?”

Allison sighed and sat up.

“My parents are from the Africa dome.  I’m adopted.  I’m a pod kid… or whatever you call them here.”

Zebra grinned showing her white teeth.

“No shit.”

Zebra spoke in Swahili.

“They teach you the language?”

Allison responded in the same language.

“Yep, make me read in it all the time.”

Zebra grinned again and offered her fist.  Allison bumped it.  Zebra continued in Swahili.

“Preach it sister.  It’s nice to have someone with us that has some culture.  Twenty years of this lot I thought I might go insane.”

Dimi groaned.

“Speak English or Spanish, so rude.”

Zebra stuck up her middle finger.

“You want sex tonight you best shut that chromed up mouth of yours.”

Dimi seemed sufficiently chastised.  Allison noticed the two were wearing matching wedding bands.  She smiled and took another long drink from her water bottle.  They parked at the space port.  Miles was reaching into a gym bag at his feet and tossing overalls out and ID badges.  Then tossed an Ident chit injector at Allison.

“That’ll last you for, two hours, right?”

Allison tried to recall the conversation where she told Miles her ident chits kept getting destroyed or rejected.  She realized it was Numari who was saying she could replace hers with inorganic ones and she’d be able to keep them in for between thirty and a hundred and twenty minutes.

“Give or take, or whatever, I’ve never timed it.”

Miles nodded.

“Wait until everyone gets changed and inject it.”

He tossed her two bottles of Synth-O.

“So, you can heal the injection site.”

Allison blinked at him from behind her sunglasses.

“Dude, it’s not like I control it.  It just happens.”

He shrugged and opened the glove box and grabbed the first aid kit.

“Then find something to cover it up with.”

Allison pulled on the overalls and tucked her hair up under the cap.  She kept her sunglasses on.  Miles motioned for her to inject the new Ident Chit so she did.  She let loose a loud ouch.  They always hurt going in.  She grabbed a bandage and pulled it over the wound.  She chugged the two bottles of Synth-O.  Dimi looked a bit freaked out suddenly.

“She’s a vampire?  What the fuck are you getting us into Miles?”

Allison finished the water in her bottle and hooked it on a belt loop on her overalls.  She looked at Dimi.

“I’m half vampire, okay?  I only bite half the time, and don’t worry I don’t drink cybernetic hydraulic fluid, you should be safe.”

Zebra laughed.

“I really like her Miles; We’re going to keep her.”

Allison stood up unsteadily and shook her head.  She spoke in Swahili.

“My mom would probably tan all of our hides and still have steam left for more.”

Zebra grinned then laughed.

“So true, sister, so true.”

               Zebra helped her down.  Allison adjusted her sunglasses.  They walked into the spaceport.  She’d covered infiltration and espionage basics as part of her Military Specialist training.  She understood the general gist, the golden rule was to act like you belonged.  Allison was far too hung over to act anything but hung over.  The security guard at the last checkpoint before they were in the transport area was giving them a lot of attention.  Allison stumbled and he was forced to catch her arm.  She laughed.

               “Sorry, I was so drunk last night.  I tried to call in, but this asshole was like, no we got a job to do. And he was the one buying the drinks.  Talk about worst bosses.  Usually do maintenance at our corp’s private space port.  Where’s the ladies room?  Is there water fountain?”

               She pointed at Pinto.  The group walked on while Allison distracted the security guard.  He was falling over himself to help the poor damsel in distress.  She went to the washroom indicated.  In truth she felt like she was going to burst with all the water she’d drank.  She took care of business then refilled her water bottle.  She held it up to the security guard who was watching her and waved.  He waved back.  She caught up to the crew.  Miles was directing her via comm link.  They were all leaning on the wall by a hanger door.  Allison swiped her hand and the door opened.

               Everyone walked inside.  Miles pointed at a couple of pilots and was telling Dimi to go knock them out.  Allison put her hand on Dimi’s forearm.

               “Just hang back.”

               She walked up to the two pilots and started chatting them up while they went through their preflight checklist.  When both were turned away from her, she drew her Qual’sa pistol and stunned them both.  She reached down and removed their holo-phones.  She tossed them to Zebra who hacked them and ripped their flight plan authorization, along with their landing codes for Titan Corporate dome.  Zebra put one on and so did Pinto.  Then she dusted her hands off.  Dimi dragged them off.  Pinto injected them with what Allison’s scanner determined was a sedative.  Everyone climbed on board the BMC flagged transport.

Chapter Text

               Allison pulled off her overalls.  She swiped her hand over the theft interlock, then used the codes Zebra ripped from the pilot’s holo-phone to activate the transport’s fusion core and then the other systems.  She went through the remaining pre-flight checks before sending a request for exit clearance and orbital clearance.  She received both and launched the transport.  It was not a ship she’d piloted in a sim before, but it was pretty standard controls.  She started plotting the FTL jump to Titan and realized she didn’t need to, there was an auto calculator for the destination.  She noticed the ships’ primary drive could only do six light years per hour.  She groaned.

               “This thing is slow.”

               Once she reached a safe FTL transit distance she hit the jump button.  She stood up and stretched and took another long drink of water.  She walked back to the group who were checking their weapons.

               “Thirty minutes.  I’m going as fast as a civilian craft is allowed to within the inner solar system, which is two and a half times the speed of light.”

               Dimi looked at Allison.

               “Why is that?  Why only two and a half times the speed of light?  Seems kind of… arb.. arbi… whatsit?”

               Allison got the gist of the question.

               “You’re asking the wrong person.  To get my FTL license I had to learn all the rules, I didn’t care why the rules existed.  I had too much other stuff to worry about.  The good news is that beyond Satern’s orbit is the outer Sol system and then we can do five light years per hour.  Then once we hit the heliopause and wow, we can do an amazing six light years an hour in this pile of crap.”

               Pinto laughed.

               “How long will it take to get to Sauroid prime then?”

               Allison did a quick calculation.

               “Well depending on where it is in its orbit, between six and half and seven hours.”

               “Wow that’s pretty fast.”

               Allison shook her head.

               “Military FTL can do it in four hours.”

               Allison looked around and found a bunk.  Likely for long haul flights to other solar systems.  She curled up on it.

               “Wake me up when we get there.”

               Allison mused that on her first FTL jump she had been throwing up.  After her twentieth it just made her sleepy.  It was relaxing.  Especially now, it felt like her body was better adapted to it.  She closed her eyes.  When she woke up it was because an unknown number was calling her.  Allison blinked slowly and answered it.

               “What?”

               She looked around and suddenly realized she was supposed to be flying.  No one else was around.  She rushed to the cockpit and realized she was in a landing bay.  Miles spoke.

               “Hey ah Mami, we ran into some trouble.  We’re in Corp custody and we could use uh a lawyer.  I’d hate to think I’d miss that appointment.”

               Allison grimaced she decided to stick with code.

               “Uh, can’t your friends go for you?”

               “Nah, mami, they’re all with me here.”

               Allison leaned down with her hands spread over the control panel.

               “Hijo, I will call your cousin Vinnie.  Okay?”

               Mile’s voice sounded confused.  Allison’s holo-phone had traced the source of the call by this time.

               “Okay… whatever you think is good, mami.”

               The call disconnected.  Allison turned around and punched the pilot’s seat.   Her hangover was blissfully gone but she was pretty annoyed.

               “Oh, just a small favor, just set the FTL course, you’ll be staying on the ship….”

               She opened her AR HUD and found the file Miles had sent her before they started the mission.  She hadn’t bothered reading it because, honestly, she was expecting just to plot courses and sleep.  She swiped through the target list.  One solid steel, airtight canister, Nazi markings.  One wooden crate, Nazi markings, containing: one beige nylon bag, one silver sword.  The last one on the list made Allison blink a few times.  It looked like an energy pistol of some description.

               “How the hell did Nazi’s from the mid-twentieth century get their hands on thirtieth century tech and a nylon bag?”

               Allison shook her head and brought up the storage location.  It was a BMC facility three kilometers from the star port.  Miles had provided forged shipping documents.  A location number and ID badges.  Allison could not figure out what went wrong.  She tapped the map to the shipping location and moved it to the center of her display.  She added a map to where the crew was being held and the map of the storage facility.  She opened the ramp off the transport and walked down it.  She walked up to the panel that would let her exit into the star port proper and swiped her hand.  Allison sighed with relief when it flashed green, and the door opened.

               Allison noticed her armor was out of place here.  She looked at a woman and scanned her with her contacts.  She then tapped the duplicate option on her holo-web control as she walked behind a pillar.  She continued to walk on without stopping.  She now appeared to be dressed in a business suit with black leggings.  This space port had heavier patrols than the one on Earth.  When she reached the exterior access door she swiped.  Her false ident chit worked once again.  She wondered where Miles got it and who it was saying she was.  She just kept moving.

               The map Miles had provided indicated a data port that Zebra was going to use to infiltrate the storage facility’s system.  She headed to it and determined that Zebra hadn’t reached it.  She saw ping on her AR HUD.  Something was trying to make a connection.  She tapped the tracer daemon her holo-phone had preloaded and once she locked onto the signal she moved towards it.  When she arrived, she found the crew’s weapons and Zebra’s portable computer.  It was a very compact, very powerful processing device.  Allison picked up the duffle bag and moved towards the data port.  She had intended to try the hack with her holo-phone, but Zebra’s computer would make things much easier.  She moved her wrist over the various devices and realized it was Zebra’s computer trying to make a connection.  She tapped allow.  Zebra’s face appeared on her HUD.  She spoke in Swahili in the message.

               “Hey kid.  We’re burned.  Don’t have long.  I linked access to your holo-phone.  Miles says you know a thing or two about data infiltration.  It should be an easy in and out.  Just plug my deck into the data port Miles found.  Replace the transfer paperwork with our modified ones and you should be able to just walk in with one of the modified holo-phones from one of those transport pilots.  Then walk out with the cargo.”

               Allison swapped hologram clothing for a full cloak from her fully repaired armor’s integrated holo-web.  She pulled a liquid metal cable out of Zebra’s computer and plugged it into the data port.  She linked her holo-phone up with Zebra’s computer and started the process of breaking into BMC’s cold storage facility’s computers.  She had to admit it was much smarter than trying to break into BMC’s actual data centers.  Zebra’s infiltration programs were top of the line.  It made Allison’s task a lot easier.  During her military training in such things, she had to make her own infiltration programs, they were sad pathetic things compared to Zebra’s.  Allison was slightly jealous.  She easily breached security and replaced the documents. 

Allison reached to yank the liquid metal connecter out of the port.  She paused when she realized she had an opportunity to cause a distraction which would make rescuing her… allies?  Friends?  She shrugged; She didn’t need to label them.  A massive breach at the cold storage facility would likely result in a heavy response from corp security especially if it were something nasty.  She searched through the list of storage units.  She smiled when she found two that would get BMC in serious trouble if System’s Alliance were to see them.  One had clones in cryo, the other was a sample of Synthlin Nanites.  Titan was a free research zone.  System’s Alliance turned a blind eye here, by design, but if someone were to escape with proof and publicize it System’s Alliance would need to react.  Which is precisely why any breach of those storage units would be a heavy response.  She used one of Zebra’s daemons to set a timed breach alert on those two storage units in sequence.  She pulled the liquid metal cable out and put the computer back in the duffle bag.

Allison strapped one of the modified holo-phones to her right wrist.  Her actual holo-phone was much smaller and blended into her armor.  She leaned against the wall of the storage facility and accessed her holo-phone’s memory to pull video feed of her attack on the two pilots.  She got a good image of one of them and swept it over to her holo-web’s image repository.  She tapped the command to transform her two-dimensional video into a three-dimensional hologram.  It took her holo-phone five minutes to complete the process.  It was much easier to grab the holo-rendering live, like she did at the Titan Space Port.  She flipped her holo-web from cloak to duplicate and she shimmered into existence and her face and clothing were replaced with the target she’d just rendered.  She left the duffle bag stashed and headed towards the front gate of the storage facility. 

Allison run-walked most of the way there.  While she was heading to the gate she quickly pre-programed a message she could send.  The message was nothing complicated but the fact that she was not a man, and her hologram was showing a man made the idea of speaking sound really dumb.   Once she was just out of sight of the gate she broke into a full run. 

Two armed BMC corporate security guards held up their hands.  They had military style assault rifles and bullet proof vests, white shirts and black cargo pants on.  She made a motion with her hand at her throat and sighed.  The holo-web mimicked her actions. One of the security guards motioned her closer.

“What is your business here?”

Allison made a show of tapping the bulky, cheap holo-phone she’d stolen from the pilot and then sending her prepared message to the security guard along with the appropriate codes for her cargo transfer request.  The security guard nodded.  Her message read: My replacement vocal cords are malfunctioning, and I cannot speak.  Waiting on corporate to authorize repairs.  I am here to pick up cargo to transfer to another secure location.

“Fucking Corporate.  Give us cheap Chipstation cybernetics instead of the good organics, then they fuck you over when the cheap shit breaks.  Should call it Cheapstation.  My fucking wife’s dildo has a better battery life.”

Allison nodded in agreement.  The guard looked over the cargo transfer and storage manifest for the units.

“Everything seems to be in order.  Where’s your truck?”

Allison typed a message on the holo-display of the stolen holo-phone.  It read: It wasn’t there when I arrived, and I couldn’t get one released from the lot.  I had to run here.  It’s like they wanted me to be late.  At this rate I’m going to have to borrow a hoverskid and pull it there myself.

The guard laughed.

“Fucking Corporate.  Hey, we had a shipment come in today and the truck is still here.  Maybe you can take that.  Save someone a trip.”

Allison gave a thumbs up and nodded.  The guard motioned towards the storage yard proper.

“I’ll let the lot manager know you’re coming and about your malfunction.”

Allison gave him a two-fingered salute.  She swiped her hand over the reader.  It beeped in the negative.  She tried again it did the same thing.  She slapped her hand on the side of the reader then swiped again.  It beeped in the affirmative.  She shrugged at the guard who shook his head and chuckled.

“You’re having a shitty day.  Hope your luck improves.”

Allison nodded and rushed onwards.  She was on the clock now.  The ident chit was already starting to be attacked by her Synthlin nanite infestation.  It wouldn’t last for much longer.  She silently wished she had some control over them.  The lot manager found her.  She nodded to him.  He nodded to her in greeting.

“Hey, Walter.  I didn’t know you had a cybernetic vocal processor.  Shitty day for it to go out.  Look, I’m sorry, there was a last-minute change in shipment.  It’s going to be annoying to get them through System’s Alliance scans at your destination.  I’m hoping corporate can sort out this mess.”

Allison nodded.  Then sent him a message: I’ve been told.  Some science guy is all hot and bothered about this shipment.  I need to get it going fast but I have also been told to verify the contents of the crates.  I’m already behind because I couldn’t get a truck, gate said you had one that needed to go back to the space port?

The lot manager scratched his head with his stylus.

“Good idea Walter.”

He tapped a comm link.

“Fitz, Terry, load up shipment 45672 on that cargo truck that needs to go back to the airport.”

The manager started walking towards the main building and once inside they went to the break room.  The manager put down two cups and filled each with coffee.  He reached into his back pocket and winked at Allison.  He poured a shot into each.  Then he handed one of the cups to Allison.  She motioned to the flask and made a motion with her head.  He laughed and poured another shot worth of the liquor into her cup.  He lifted his glass.

“Fuck corporate, am I right?”

Allison nodded and lifted her glass before downing it.  She was hoping the influx of a toxin would distract her nanites from the ident chit.

“You alright to fly after that?  I hear Einstein station is hard to get to, where is it anyway?  I hear it takes like fifteen hours at max FTL.”

Allison nodded and sent a message: Yeah.  Courses are already pre-plotted; I don’t know; I just press the button.  A trained monkey could do my job.  I’ll sleep it off and let the co-pilot deal with it.

The manager laughed.  He got a message.

“Hey, you’re good to go.  See you on the next trip.  You bring the drinks next time.”

Allison gave him a thumbs up and went to the loading dock.  There was only one truck.  She looked inside the cargo bay of the truck.  She saw two wooden crates with faded Nazi symbology on them.  She shrugged and looked around for a crowbar.  It took her a few minutes to find something that would work, and she popped both lids.  The wood smelled mildewy. 

Alison wrinkled her nose.  She verified that everything that had been requested by their client was there.  She knocked on the metal cylinder.  It seemed intact though rust had eaten away at some of the paint on the Nazi grey surface.  There was lettering on it.  She ran her fingers along it.  The enhanced optics in her contacts outlined a swastika above a stylized eagle.  The text was in twenty-first century German.  Her AR HUD displayed the text in Alliance Standard and Swahili: Operation - Black Sun – Subject Two – Berlin 1942. 

Allison ran her fingers over the lettering.  The wood was fairly intact and there was minimal rusting on the tube.  She mused that BMC must have dug it up relatively recently. 

Allison picked up the energy pistol and looked it over.  There did not seem to be a charging port, or even an emitter.  She reached into her utility belt, pulled out her military grade scanner and swiped it over the device.  She quirked her head to the side.  It had the same energy readings as her armor.  Same alien power source.  She did a deep scan and saw there was some sort of crystal in the center that filled the entire casing.  It was full of power.  It had a trigger but as far as she could tell it wasn’t connected to anything.  She shook her head and put it down. 

Allison scanned the sword next.  Her scanner could not identify the composition.  The metal simply did not… should not exist.  She knew she shouldn’t be wasting time, but her curiosity was overwhelming her.  She looked over the sword.  It had been in the ice for almost a thousand years, yet its surface was a mirror.  She put it back in the crate. 

Allison picked up the beige nylon bag next.  It was another material that should not exist.  The molecules were too perfect.  Too well organized.  Too stable.  Not even the best fabrication tech available to them could reproduce any of the articles in the crate, she put the bag back in the crate.

Allison eyed the metal cylinder.  She knew the merc code was don’t ask questions.  Don’t look too closely just do the job.  She also knew her ident chit was in the process of being eaten by her nanites.  She was also on borrowed time.  Her false alarm would trigger soon.  A couple of security guards arrived.  She hadn’t noticed them until one cleared her throat.

“Walter, we’re just here to verify you’re only taking what is authorized.  Please step back.”

Allison nodded.  The two guards checked the crate stamps.  The same one who spoke, a youngish looking woman motioned to the scanner in Allison’s hand.

“Usually, you’re not supposed to open these, it’s all protected corporate information.  What are you doing?”

Allison frowned and shrugged.  She sent a message to the guard: The person requesting them is on comm and asking me to scan every single item to make sure they’re what he is requesting.  This guy needs to get laid, get a drink, or both.

The guard snickered.

“Well once you’re done, you’re good to go.”

Allison nodded and bit her lower lip one more time before proceeding with a scan of the metal tube.  It was a cylinder, inside was a vacuum.  The metal walls were three inches thick whatever was inside the Nazis did not want anyone getting inside easily.  It was still airtight.  She scanned well preserved organic material inside, female, human.  There was an energy signature.  It matched Allison’s own armor. She was also picking up materials that didn’t exist until thirty years ago.  Finally, the tube, the organic material, and sediments inside had no signs of the radioactive material present after the first atomic bomb.  Her holo-phone was telling her that it meant this was forged and sealed before July 16, 1945.  She was getting more and more curious.  There was at least 29^th century tech in a metal sarcophagus that was sealed before 1945.  Oddly there were no signs of decomposition.  No fluids.  It was like the body just didn’t decay.  Allison’s eyes went wide.  She mouthed the words: Time Travelling Vampire?  Scratch the Nazis not wanting anyone to get into it, they didn’t want the vampire to get out.

Allison shook her head then quickly pounded the lids on the crates and hopped down.  She pulled the truck gate closed.  Her mind was racing: What the hell do Sauroids want with a vampire?  The alien tech was obvious.  But a vampire? 

Allison got into the driver’s seat and faced her first real challenge.  She had never once driven a wheeled vehicle of any description.  Nor had her mother signed her up for the promised driving lessons.  Likely because she’d been under house arrest and declared missing in action for three weeks.  She scratched the back of her head.  She thought to herself: Two pedals, one must be go, and one must be stop.  The steering wheel must turn the tires.  She snapped her fingers.  She accessed the Alliance-net from the stolen holo-phone and looked up: Driving for dummies.  She rolled her eyes as the first video she played was basically a primer on how to pass her learner’s permit test.  Which wasn’t how to physically operate a vehicle it was rules of the road. 

She gave up on finding a guide and pressed the button that said start.  The electric motor hummed as it powered on.  She smiled.  Then she put her foot on the left pedal.  Nothing happened.  She pressed her foot on the right pedal.  The electric engine roared, as loud as such things could roar.  No movement.  She closed her eyes and tried to remember how her mom and dad would get things going.  She snapped her fingers and looked around for the gearshift.  She found it.  It had several settings.  She figured D would work.  She tried to shift.  It wouldn’t move.  She felt like she was going to break the shifter, so she stopped.  She pressed the left pedal then tried to shift.  Success!

She lifted her foot off the left pedal and the truck started to roll forward.  She pressed the left pedal again, the brakes squeaked and the truck ground to a halt.  She nodded then put her foot on the right pedal.  The truck surged forward, and she was forced to turn the wheel as the truck almost collided with a cargo container.  The truck nearly tipped.  She let her foot off the gas and let the truck coast forward.  It was creeping along, and she slammed her foot on the brake pedal hard when she got to the front gate.  The whole truck shook.  The same security guard from earlier held up his hand.

“Put the truck into park please.”

Allison looked at the gear shifter saw a P so moved the shifter to that.  She kept her foot on the brake pedal.  She heard the back of the truck open.  A few minutes later the security guard came around and lifted the gate and lowered the spikes.  He motioned her through.  She put the truck into drive and let her foot off the break.  She pressed the gas again and the truck surged forward.  She slammed her foot on the brakes and then let the electric motor just barely push the truck forward around the turn and then she pressed the gas.  It surged forward and she felt like she was going too fast, so she slammed her foot on the brakes again.  She was starting to figure out driving was not as easy as it looked. 

She reached a spot near where she stashed the group’s gear and parked the truck.  She got out and grabbed the bag and tossed it in behind the seats.  She looked around and the road was pretty clear, so she did a U-turn.  It wasn’t pretty, she managed it, but she went up on two curbs and nearly rolled the truck again.  Her contacts provided a road route to the corporate security station.  She still hadn’t quite got the handle on how the acceleration and brakes worked, she could make it go and stop but her driving was anything but graceful.

Allison pulled into a fast-food restaurant.  Mars Burgers.  She wasn’t familiar with them. She looked at her timer for the simulated breach.  She had fifteen minutes.  She shook her head and glanced at the restaurant.  She got out of the truck and went inside.  She used the self-service ordering kiosk and used the stolen holo-phone to complete the purchase.  Her holo-web was doing the trick because it passed the visual ID request.  She went to the pick-up counter.  A robot slid along a track and placed her bag and a drink on the counter.

“Mars Burger for when you need a little green man in you.  Have a nice day, Walter Franko.”

Allison picked up the bag and drink then walked out.  She started her Birthday Massacre playlist, leaned against the front of the cargo truck and ate her burger.  She tried a French fry.  She made a face.  They were mushy, flavorless and they didn’t even have salt.  She rolled her eyes and tossed them out.  She started drinking from the cup of soda.  She made another face.  They were using the much cheaper thirtieth century version of cola. It tasted like they made brown sugar water with some bubbles.  She was taking another drink of the Mars burger cola when she saw two corporate security cars speeding out of the security station parking lot then two security hovercraft.  Allison threw her cup and soda into the recycle repository.  She pulled the form-factor apple pie box out of the bag then tossed the bag into the bin.

She flipped her holo-web to cloak mode and hopped down into the security station lot.  She pulled out her Qual’sa pistol.  The doors to the security station detected movement and slid open.  There was a chubby middle-aged woman at the front desk wearing a corporate security uniform.  Allison made sure her pistol was set to stun.  She pointed it at the woman and pulled the trigger.  There was a flash of turquoise light and the woman fell face first onto her desk.  Two other security officers rushed to see what happened.  She managed to stun them both before either could.  She took a bite from her apple pie.  She bashed the interior security door with her shoulder, her natural dhampiric strength and armor did their job. The door burst open.  Two other officers were rushing forward.  She stunned them both and took another bite from her apple pie.

Allison swallowed her bite and looked around; Her scanner was not picking up any other armed hostiles.  She shrugged.  Put her Qual’sa pistol in its holster.  She bent down and grabbed one of the unconscious officer’s arms.  She dragged him on his back to the holding cells.  Miles, Dimi, Zebra and Pinto were all in the same cell.  They all looked very confused by the security guard being dragged around by what appeared to be a ghost.  She grabbed the pie with her teeth and tapped the holo-web control to show her face but projected an image disruption to fowl surveillance holo-video, and other visual recorders.  The guard started to stir.  Being dragged had apparently helped him break the stun.

“Hey, what’s go-”

Allison released his hand, pulled out her pistol and shot him twice.  He stopped moving again.  She holstered her pistol.  She grabbed the pie that was drooping and about to fall.  She took another bite of the half-finished pie.  She dragged the guard to the far wall and bit down on her pie so she could use both hands to stand him up and hit the holding cell release with his ident chit.  She grabbed her pie again and motioned to the gawking group of mercenaries.

“Come on, let’s get going.  My distraction won’t last long.”

Allison tapped the command on her holo-web to expand her disruption field.  The group was too big for her to cloak all of them but when security checked the videos, they would just see a bunch of black and white polygons and stretched images.  Kind of like graphics glitches in old video games.  She finished her apple pie as they reached the cargo truck.  She tossed the box into the recycle bin.  She tapped her holo-web command and selected Walter’s image from the repository.

“Get in the back.  You guys are going to be all over their security feeds soon.”

She started the truck up and backed up.  She nearly took out a corner of the Mars burger building before she’d managed to stop.  She pressed the accelerator and then stopped really suddenly when she was at the exit to the parking lot.  She then let the truck coast out on its own power much to the annoyance of someone who leaned on their horn.  She slammed her foot on the accelerator then hit the brake when she realized she was going too fast.  She got back into the rhythm of driving.

Security vehicles from other sectors came rushing past her.  She just kept driving at the pace her foot had set which was under the speed limit.  People were rushing past her and making obscene gestures.  She slammed the breaks on when she came to another turn.  Then the truck coasted around the corner and accelerated again.  Hit the brakes causing the truck to shudder but didn’t take her foot off the accelerator.  This was how she’d managed to hit the steady speed before.  She figured why change what was working?  She slammed both feet on the brake pedal when she saw a row of cars.  Security was checking all of them.

Chapter Text

               Allison hit the steering wheel with her fists and swore under her breath.  Of course, they would put up a check point in front of the Space Port.  They had escaped prisoners.  She quickly typed a pre-made message she attached the cargo transfer with the confidential addendum into her stolen holo-phone she hoped her ruse would work twice.  She briefly pondered smashing through the security cars with the much bigger cargo truck.  She shook her head and pushed the idea away.  Triggering any alarms this close to the Space Port would cause a lockdown, including their transport.  Space Port security was yet another thing she’d had to study for her Space certification on her pilot’s license.  She blew out when she reached the roadblock.  One of them motioned for her to get out.  She got out.

               “What’s your destination and what’s in the back?”

               Allison sent the message to the officer.  He scanned it on his tablet.  It read: My cybernetics are malfunctioning, and I cannot speak currently.  I have the attached cargo in my truck, it is marked confidential, and I’ll open the truck, but I’d rather not because I could get fired.

               “Oh, I see.  We have a scanner.  We’re just looking for some escaped illegals.  Two of the idiots came here with open warrants for public indecency of all things.  Morons got their whole group caught.  We flagged them as soon as they left the space port.”

               Allison nodded and motioned to the driver’s side of the truck.

               “Go ahead.  It will just be a few minutes before we can scan the truck.”

               Allison got back in then quickly started digging through her saved daemons.  They were all crude and amateurish, but she didn’t need to be surgical, she just needed the scanner to not work.  As part of her infiltration training, she had been tasked with getting past a bio scanner.  She’d lost marks because the virtual instructor had expected her to tweak her own bio-readings.  In typical Allison fashion, she’d done something completely different and tweaked everyone’s bio-readings by making them just not appear.   It was easier and the daemon was extremely quick acting, almost instant.  With any luck the security officer wouldn’t be familiar enough with the device to notice that no one was showing up.  She scanned the local area for available connections.  She whispered: Yes.  The police bio-scanner was open.  She launched her daemon at it.  He scanned the back of the truck a few seconds later.

               The officer holding the scanner motioned towards the space port.  Allison leaned out her window.  The officer she’d been talking to spoke to her.

               “You’re all clear.”

               Allison gave him a two-fingered salute and pulled away slowly.  She glanced in her driver’s side mirror, and it appeared the officer doing the scanning had realized something was up with his scanner because he was hitting the side.  She pressed her foot on the accelerator and sped towards the Space Port.  She pulled up to the outer bay door to the hanger where they’d docked the transport.  She slammed both feet on the brake pedal and put the truck in park.  She smiled and dusted her hands off.

               “No problem.”

               She grabbed the duffle bag and walked around to the rear of the truck and hit the door twice.  The group lifted the door and started to pile out.  They all looked a little bit banged up and a little green.  Miles shook his head at her.

               “Chica, where did you learn to drive?”

               Allison shrugged.

               “You hired me for my flying, not my driving.  I don’t have a license and I’ve never driven a wheeled vehicle before.”

               She rolled her eyes and went to the pad and swiped her hand several times.  It was refusing to work.  She smacked the back of her hand against the Space Port’s concrete wall and the bay door started opening.  She shook her hand.  She figured the ident chit was done now.  She walked around the back.  Miles was already carrying the smaller wooden crate.  Pinto and Dimi were trying to move the Vampire’s iron tube.  Neither seemed to be able to get it moving.  The wooden box crumbled under the pressure of Dimi’s cybernetic arms.

               “Damn it Pinto, if you’d upgrade both arms this wouldn’t be a problem.  Zebra go find a hoverskid.”

               Allison shook her head and got into the back.

               “Pinto, please get out of the way.”

               Pinto laughed and shook his head.  He held his hands up and moved out of the way.  Allison took his place and tried to lift the tube.  Between her dhampric strength and her armor she was able to help Dimi lift it, but she was struggling.  She closed her eyes; Eyre had taught her to use more of her supernatural strength and endurance without vamping out and using blood.  It was one of their gifts.  When it kicked in, she found the Iron tube felt light.  She hopped down from the truck and the pair of them carried it all the way onto the transport.  Pinto and Zebra brought up the rear carrying the duffle bag with their kit and the remnants of the iron tube’s box.  Dimi and the crew went about securing the cargo.

Allison went to the cockpit.  She swiped her hand over the pad that would let her ident chit activate the ship.  She tried it several more times.  She hit her hand a couple of times and tried again.  Still no response.  She swore in Swahili before standing up.  She punched the transport’s wall as she walked towards the rear.  Miles looked at her as she approached.

“Why aren’t we moving yet?”

Allison disabled her hologram and shook her head.

“Ident chit is fried.  It took us too long.  Without it I can’t power the fusion reactor up or lift off.  It’s a security feature so ships can’t be stolen, and unlicensed pilots can’t launch them.”

Dimi looked a bit confused.

“Then just use yours.”

Allison turned to him.

“Okay genius.  Four problems with that idea.” 

She held up her fingers and pulled each down in turn.

“One, I am not listed as qualified on this class of ship.  Two, I’m not authorized by BMC to be flying this, Three, I would get arrested if it did work because my license has my real ID on it.  And finally, number four, I don’t have an ident chit, or this would have never worked in the first place!”

Dimi pouted.

“You could have just said it won’t work.”

Miles looked at Zebra.

“You can hack this right?  Make it work?”

Zebra shrugged.

“I don’t know shit about hacking vehicles.”

Allison shook her head.

“No, it won’t work, the theft interlock is physical.  You can bypass it but the minute I do it will alert Titan Corporate Port Security.  If they’re as efficient as Eden Prime Port Security response we’ll have maybe five minutes to power the fusion core, charge engines, plot an FTL course and make the jump to hyperspace.  Once time is up, they’ll have fighter squadrons from the base, from the orbital station, and we’ll be dealing with corporate fleet response.  If, and it is a huge if, because this is literally a cargo barge with no actual defensive shields or weapons, if we manage to do all of that.  Then we’ll have to deal with System’s Alliance Fleet response which can trace our FTL trajectory and easily intercept us at the heliopause before we can make the FTL jump to Sauroid Prime.”

               Miles made a face and scratched at his beard.

               “How do you know all of that for certain?”

               Allison hit her head against the transport’s armored hull.

               “Because I’d usually be the one responding to it.  We run drills.  Hello System’s Alliance Starfighter pilot here.”

               Miles looked at everyone.

               “Come on guys, we got the goods, we have a ship.  All we need to do is get it to the client for a big payday.  It’s either that or we wait here until Security starts searching each hanger for us.  We’re escaped prisoners.  We’re fucked either way.  So, think!”

                 Allison closed her eyes.  She would definitely lose her flight status for this, possibly her commission… at least she’d get off as a juvenile.  She shook her head and closed her eyes.  For some reason she could hear Major Ghai shouting at her, Adapt and overcome soldier!  She started whispering, Adapt and Overcome, to herself over and over again like a mantra.  She looked around the transport.  She pulled her scanner out and started walking around.  Eventually her eyes focused on Dimi.  She smiled.

               “Dimi, your accelerator augment, its powered by a micro-fusion reactor, isn’t it?  A really powerful one?”

               Dimi nodded and looked at her nervously then between his friends.  He took a step back when Allison stepped towards him.  Allison held her hands down and low.

               “I will give it back; I promise I just need to borrow it for a few hours.”

               Dimi shook his head.

               “No way.  This chrome cost me a fortune.”

               Miles and Pinto shoved him towards Allison who grabbed his arm.  He struggled against her.  Pinto grabbed his other arm.  Dimi shouted.

               “Get off!”

               Zebra approached and put her hands on his cheeks.

               “Babe, if we don’t get out of here, the corps will rip out all of our chrome give us Chiptronics replacements and sell ours off to pay our fines, including your Supremacy.”

               Dimi sighed.

               “Fuck hon, I just got it, I haven’t even had a chance to use it!”

               Allison pulled out her scanner and ran it along Dimi’s metallic spine.  She pulled out her liquid metal multitool and pressed it against a screw.  The multitool solidified when she pressed the slider down and it formed to the keyed screw head.  Her multitool was only legal for System’s Alliance Security and Military personal.  And this was the reason.  Proprietary screws for tools that would cost millions of credits.  She could do with forty credits worth of liquid metal.  Zebra swore under her breath.  Allison unscrewed the corners of the plate and popped it off.  Inside was a fist sized fusion core.  She smiled.  Ran her finger along the edge of it, then unceremoniously yanked it out of its housing.  Dimi’s legs gave out.  Miles and Pinto let him down easily.  Allison motioned at the duffel bag that contained the group’s equipment.

               “Pull the e-clip from your heavy laser rifle.  It should fit.  He’ll be able to walk but if he tries to use the accelerator, he’ll burn it out.”

               Allison tossed the fusion reactor up and down.  She hummed while she approached the front of the ship.  She pulled her data tap off of her belt and ripped the liquid metal connector out of one side.  The device sparked and complained.  She tossed it aside.  Zebra picked it up and gave Allison a dirty look.

               “Do you know how much this was worth?”

               Allison shook her head as she crawled under the main control bank.

               “No, I really don’t.  I’ll just requisition a new one.”

               She rolled over onto her back.  She pulled her vibro knife out of its sheath then jammed it into the panel and ripped outwards.  The panel complained but eventually tore off.  She scanned the various wires with her contacts. She found the power feed for the transport’s navigation computer, which also seconded as the fly by wire control system.  She pulled it down and then cut it with her vibro knife.  She peeled back some of the plastic coating and then did the same to the wire she’d torn out of the data tap.  She wrapped them around each other.  She patted her hand around by her waist, once she felt the borrowed fusion core she wrapped her fingers around it and held it over her face.  She jammed the liquid metal adaptor into one of the two output ports and there were a few beeps as the nav system came online.  She smiled, then stuffed the fusion core inside the control housing and pulled herself out from under it.

               Zebra leaned against the wall of the pilot’s compartment and crossed her arms as she watched Allison work her magic.

               “Your talents are wasted on the military, sister.”

               Allison dusted her hands off and leaned down on the control panel and started plotting three FTL jumps.   She spoke to Zebra without looking at her.

               “Well, I’m sixteen, and it’s a part time job.  And my Babu and my Dad are both lifelong, career military. And there isn’t much call for mercenary work in the colonies, especially Andromeda Galaxy.”

               She got quiet as she plotted three precise FTL courses.  She looked at Zebra.

               “How long do you think it would take you to back up, then reprogram a ship’s ID beacon?”

               Zebra looked at Allison.

               “What now?”

               Allison motioned for Zebra to follow her.  Allison held her scanner in front of her as she walked.  She found the spot and started knocking around until she found the hollow.  Allison looked at Zebra.

               “If this doesn’t work, I’ll need Dimi.”

               Allison looked down at her fist and shook it a few times.  She decided on a different approach.  She imagined punching the wall and ripping a hole in it.  The armor formed a wrist plate, then a punching dagger and Allison smiled at it.  She punched the wall and the blade sliced through the metal with ease.  The wrist blade sunk back into the forearm plate and the forearm plate vanished.  She pushed her fingers into the tear she’d made in the metal and ripped down with a groan.  The metal screeched and complained.  Allison tapped a cylinder.

               “ID beacon.  It tells everyone who we are.  There is a non-zero chance this is pointless but my experience with Ops scanner techs is, they’re lazy.  We flip this to appear like we’re something else, we steal this ship, and we keep it there for when we run into the Alliance interceptors.  Once we make the second jump, you flip it back to its old self and we cruise right by the System’s Alliance check point in the Trappist system and we land, you guys collect your money and I’m even with Miles.  Super easy.  Just a simple quantum encryption to break.”

               Zebra shook her head, left and came back with her computer.  She pulled a cable from the computer and plugged it into the back of her neck.  Allison started searching through her military training manuals, found the file on fixing your broken ID beacon and sent it to Zebra.  It was extremely important for military ships, specifically fighters because it was how targeting systems did identify friend or foe.

               Allison left Zebra to her work and started scanning for the theft interlock.  She found it in the cockpit under the gravity plating.  She sighed.  This she’d have to be gentle with.  She pulled her multitool out and patiently unscrewed the two plates that covered the interlock.  Thankfully they were in front of the console, so she’d still have gravity in the pilot’s seat. She gathered up all twelve screws and the two plates and stowed them in a cargo pod.  She sat down on the deck by the front view port with her legs dangling down into the gaps left by the gravity plates she’d removed.  She did a deep scan of the interlock and all its connections.  She zoomed into the scan on her AR HUD and started looking through the various circuits until she found the one she’d have to jump to start the fusion core.  She called out.

               “Miles!  Is there any Synth-O left?”

               Miles came into the cockpit holding a bottle.  He tried to find an easy way around but he was much wider then Allison so he couldn’t without falling into one of the gaping holes she’d created.  He threw her the bottle.

               “How much of that do you need to drink?”

               Allison shrugged, popped the cap and downed the blood.  She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and threw the bottle back to Miles.  She kept the cap in her hand.

               “Depends on how often favors where I just ‘sit’ in the ship end up with me committing felony theft, assaulting several officers, aiding fugitives, aiding said fugitives in escape, several violations of System’s Alliance lawful ship command, and finally, my favorite, piracy.”

               Miles rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged.

               “Well, no plan goes perfect right?”

               Allison shook her head and kicked her feet.

               “Okay, Pinto, is your driver, Dimi is the muscle, Zebra is your computer person, what is it exactly you do?"

               Miles grinned.

               “I make bad ass plans.”

               Allison rolled her eyes.

               “Based on my recent experiences, you make crappy plans.  How many times did Hazel have to save your butt?”

               He shrugged.

               “Four, maybe five times.”

               Allison laughed.

               “What exactly did she see in you?”

               Miles leaned on the doorway and crossed his arms.

               “Come on, I’m hot.  Good in bed, and I treated her like a Queen.”

               He grinned.

               “There was this one time after a job… the first one where she wolfed out.  It was on that pyramid ship, it was the first time I wasn’t-”

               Allison held up her hands.

               “Stop, I’m definitely too young for this story especially since I slept in that bed eew!”

               Miles laughed.  Pinto called out.

               “Uh, guys we got company.”

               Allison could hear the security bots from where she was sitting.  Miles went to leave.  She yelled out.

               “Miles, stop.  I need you.”

               He stopped and turned around.

               “What?  They’re going to start shooting soon.”

               Allison pointed at the pilot’s seat.

               “Sit down.  You should see a button that says fusion core cold start.  I’m going to make this connection.  You need to hit that.  Once we do this, the entire planetary defense force is going to come down on us, hard.”

               She called out.

               “Zebra, how are we doing?”

               Zebra called back.

               “Uh, I got it backed up and erased everything…”

               Allison sighed and muttered.

               “Fuck it.”

               She shouted.

               “Close it up.  We’re leaving!”

               Allison looked up at Miles.

               “You hit that button as soon as I tell you.  Then you run back to engineering, and you look for the fusion core control panel and you type in A-R-6-8-A-C, repeat it for me.”

               Allison made him repeat it six times.  Miles leaned over the pilot’s control panel and had his hand over the cold start button.

               “So uh, what exactly does that code do?”

               Allison pushed her fingers together squishing the metal bottle cap so she could fit it into the gap to jump the interlock.

               “Nothing too bad, it’s just the standard disable code for Aurelius corp fusion core safeties.  It lets you speed up the fusion core power on cycle.”

               “Wait, safeties?  What do they protect against?”

               Allison shrugged.

               “Catastrophic overload.  But there’s only a twenty or thirty percent chance of that.”

               Dimi shouted.

               “Hatch is sealed, and security is trying to unseal it!”

               Miles wasn’t looking pleased.

               “Catastrophic overload?  I thought fusion cores were safe, and didn’t explode, that is the whole point of them!”

               Allison glared at him.

               “Not the time to discuss this!  Once we’re in FTL ask me again.  Get ready.”

               Allison reached down and jumped the interlock.  All the lights in the cockpit started flashing red and white.  An angry synthesized male voice started shouting through the speakers.

               “Theft Interlock disengaged!  You are in violation of System’s Alliance law.  This transport is BMC property.  Port security has been alerted.  Stand down and prepare to be boarded.”

               Miles hit the button.  Lights in the rest of the ship started coming to life.  Allison jumped up.  Miles grabbed her arms and pulled her across the open gap.  She slid into the pilot’s seat.  She looked at Miles.

               “Go, put the code in.  Without it we’re not getting out of here before they lock down the port!”

               The transports comms flared to life.

               “Unidentified Transport, you are in violation of the Piracy Act of 2797.  Stand down or we will fire on you.”

               Allison didn’t acknowledge the comm and just talked to herself.

               “Yeah, yeah.  Just try and catch me.  You corporate cheeseheads.”

               She looked back.

               “I need someone in the copilot’s seat, now!”

               She was hoping Zebra would respond, she was sorely disappointed, it was Dimi.  He sat down and gave her a dirty look.

               “Just so you know, I’m not talking to you, but I need to because I don’t want to die… but I’m not talking to you.”

               Allison rolled her eyes.  Dimi was a big baby apparently.  She flicked the FTL controls over to the co-pilot station.

               “Your job is easy.  When the Engage FTL button turns green and flashes, you press it. I’ve already plotted the course presets.”

               Dimi kept pouting but nodded.  She started turning on systems.  She grimaced when she noticed the fusion core was getting close to the red line, then shook her head and flicked the readout off her view.  It would go or it wouldn’t, nothing she could do to change that now.  She swept her finger along the power distribution control, dumping every bit of power the ship had into the thrusters.

Chapter Text

               Allison closed her eyes and as much as she wasn’t usually one to do such a thing.  She whispered a prayer to the Dark Mother, then to anyone else who would listen that this would work, and that the fusion core wouldn’t explode.  She lifted up her Dark Mother pendent and kissed it, then looked at her AR HUD to find the playlist she needed.  She started bobbing her head to the beats.  She pounded the holographic full thrust button and blasted out of the hangar at ten times safe Star Port speeds.  She mentally added that to her list of criminal violations.  She weaved through ships lining up to leave the dome’s air lock.  She was pretty sure all of the pilots were cursing her out.  Dimi was holding onto his console for dear life his eyes wide with terror.

               She was not used to the profile of the transport.  She was likely cutting it a bit closer than she meant to as she weaved between outbound ships.  The ship jolted in a weird direction at one point.  She assumed she’d hit someone or something.  She kept on target though: The slowly closing airlock doors.

Dimi was freaking out and yelling at her.  This was probably because the collision warning alarms were screaming, along with the anti-theft system and numerous other indicators that she was doing things to this transport that should never be done.  She couldn’t hear any of it because she had her translator on noise cancellation.  All she could hear was the music.  She’d turned off all AR HUD functions and pilot ship displays.  All she could see were the controls and power levels.  She had realized as soon as she had come up with this plan it was going to come down to piloting.  No amount of read outs was going to get her through it. 

She reached out and rammed the excess power, the overburn she’d had Miles trigger into the thrustor.  She could feel the transport start to shake apart as she burst through the dome’s exterior doors.  They were almost closed.  She slid her hands back and sent the transport ballistic.  The atmosphere was tearing at the transport, and she could see the hint of red on the edges of her view port.  She burst out of the atmosphere of Titan.  Fighters were very close on her tail.  She spun the transport in a barrel roll and flew straight at the Corporate Security frigate that was moving to block her.  She spun the transport again avoiding a barrage of railgun fire.  She reached out and dumped thirty percent power capacity to the FTL drive as she flew past the thrustors of the frigate.

Dimi stopped his ranting suddenly when he saw the flashing green FTL button.  This wasn’t just something he was asked to do at this point.  It was the end to the madness he’d just been put through.  He punched it with his fist.  The transport shuddered and transitioned into FTL.  Allison collapsed into her seat and blew her bangs out of her face.  She looked over at Dimi.  He was white.  All the color had drained from his cheeks.  He leaned forward and let his head hit the co-pilot’s console.

Allison reached over and punched Dimi.  He lifted his head.  She yelled.  She held up all five fingers of her right hand.

“You’re not done yet.  Get ready to hit it again.  Five minutes!”

Allison pointed at a countdown timer on his display.  Dimi nodded.  Miles came up behind the pair and put his hands over his ears.  Allison didn’t notice she still had her music blasting.  The actual transit time at max speed was theoretically less than a second at standard starship speeds, but the ship had to accelerate to reach top speed then decelerate at the far end of the jump.  You could skip the deceleration, but it could mean a very bad day if your relative velocity was even a fraction of light speed in real space and something was in your way. Normally the trip would have taken seven minutes with acceleration and deceleration.  Allison had cut three and a half minutes off the trip by cutting out the deceleration phase.  The FTL drive core would still need a minute and a half to recycle.  That was the real danger.

Allison watched the timer count down second by second as they were about to drop out FTL she leaned forward and prepared for evasive maneuvers.  With any luck the transport’s relative velocity would be fast enough the System’s Alliance interceptors wouldn’t be able to hit with anything.  Very few ships on Sol patrol duty had energy weapons.  The rail guns might be a problem.  She was depending on the System’s Alliance ships to be expecting them to be at an all stop when they exited FTL. 

The blue-white hyperspace vortex vanished.  Allison spun the ship and blew past the System’s Alliance interceptors.  She zigged and zagged, then rolled the transport again.  Railgun rounds blew past them.  The transport was out of range of the Alliance vessels in less than ten seconds.  She watched the FTL drive core power cycle monitor out of the corner of her eye.  If everything worked as she’d planned it, they’d jump before the Alliance interceptors could accelerate enough to overtake them.  She kept up her evasive maneuvers as the power recycle timer ticked down second by second.

Dimi had his hand hovering over the button.  Sweat rolled down his forehead.  His hand was shaking.  Perhaps it was the stress, or perhaps he was desperate to avoid more of Allison’s fancy flying.  Either way the button flashed green, and he hit as fast as he could.  The transport shuddered and nothing happened.  Dimi hit it three more times then there was a pop from the rear of the ship it shuddered and the FTL corridor appeared.  Of course, none of the three in the cockpit could hear the bothersome noises.  They were drowned out by the blaring alarms.

Allison stood up.  She pulled out her scanner again and kneeled down by the theft interlock.  She found the alarm trigger wire.  She wouldn’t have been able to find it until she’d triggered it.  It was the only one in the interlock that had power.  She followed it along the ship deck and up a wall.  Eventually it led to the cockpit’s power conduit and fuse box.  She found it and pulled the fuse for the alarm system.  She stopped her music and listened.  She smiled and thought: Blessed silence.  Dimi lifted his head and looked around.  He put his head back down after giving Allison the evil eye.

Allison linked her actual holo-phone to the transport.  Since she disabled the alarm and lights on the bridge, it would be the only way she’d get an alert.  She pulled off the stolen holo-phone and tossed it in the cupholder after she picked up her water bottle.  She took a long drink.  Miles was speaking loudly.

“How did you fly with all that noise?”

Allison shrugged.

“I had my translator on noise cancellation and music playing.  I didn’t hear any of it.  Alarms are kind of pointless when you know you’re going to ignore them anyway, if you think about it.”

She pushed past Miles.  He moved forward and patted Dimi on the back.  Allison was heading for the engineering room.  It turned out it was cramped and basically a glorified crawl space.  She wrinkled her nose.  She smelled burned electronics.  Her eyes went wide when she saw a fire.  She rushed out of the crawl space and all the way back to the cockpit.  She grabbed the extinguisher that was attached to the back of the pilot’s seat and rushed back to the crawl space.  She sprayed it on the burning conduits. 

Zebra rushed in to engineering after her and started coughing.  Allison’s helmet had formed as soon as she caught a whiff of the toxic chemical fire.  She pushed Zebra towards the cockpit and grabbed the emergency oxygen supply and pressed it over Zebra’s nose and mouth.  She looked around and realized she didn’t see Pinto.  She sealed the bridge and rushed back to the bunk area.  She found Pinto unconscious.  She kneeled down and checked for a pulse.  He had one.  She picked him up and rushed to the cockpit.  She put him down on the floor.

“Zebra, get him the oxygen.  Keep this door sealed.  I need to vent the rear section.”

Allison rushed through the door and sealed it again.  She rushed towards the life support controls.  Only the large cargo bay and the cockpit were showing breathable air at this point.  She sighed and vented the midships.  The air would be thinner than optimal, but it was better than people dying from toxic air. 

She walked through the airless midships and crawled into the engineering space with her scanner to check the damage.  She breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that the conduit was still transferring power to the FTL drive core.  The wiring was just live.  So long as everyone avoided the place and she didn’t do anything crazy with the FTL drive core, like initiating another jump... 

Which she had to do because she’d set up three jumps to throw the System’s Alliance off their trail.  She picked a route that would pass through several star systems.  She’d set it to go for thirty minutes.  She swore under her breath and pulled herself out.  If she initiated another jump the cables would arc again and this time, there would be no insulation to protect the rest of the conduits.  The ship would basically electrocute itself.

She shook her head and moved further into the engineering crawlspace, being careful not to touch the high voltage conduits that had more current going through them than a twentieth century power plant.  Ripping a hole into another dimension and propelling a ship at fractions of light speed were very power intensive. 

Allison found her initial objective which had been the fusion core control panel.  She brought up the command interface.  The integrity readouts were showing red across the board.  She unlocked the safety settings and reversed the changes she’d had Miles make.

Fusion generators were pretty basic in their operation.  Charged batteries would initiate the reaction.  The initial reactant was hydrogen, easy to replenish even in space and relatively easy to fuse.    That would start the reactor up from a cold start. The byproduct of that reaction was helium.  That was when the fusion reactors really kicked into gear.  Helium was harder to fuse but the power output was exponentially higher than hydrogen, and it was a longer reaction with the same amount of reactant.  The fusion reaction was limited by the amount of reactant fed into the generation chamber.  When Allison had had Miles input the code she’d removed the limitation on reactant injection.  Normally a fusion reactor would use ten or twenty molecules of an element for a month of operation.  Allison was feeding it grams of reactant.  The reactor was never intended for that kind of power output, and obviously neither were the conduits.  Nor was it meant to handle that much beryllium.  The catastrophic overload Allison had referred to was actually the risk that the density of beryllium was high enough in the plasma chamber it could fuse and create oxygen.  At that point the plasma field would be so large it would blow out of the reactor’s shielded core and instantly incinerate anything in the vicinity.  This wouldn’t necessarily blow a ship up, but if say the antimatter containment for the FTL drive were nearby no one on the ship would get home.

Allison started scrolling through the reactor’s diagnostics.  She winced when she saw she’d very nearly caused a catastrophic overload.  The beryllium count was off the scale.  With safeties engaged the reactor would kill the reaction long before it got out of hand.  The reactant levels were still good enough to get them to Sauroid Prime.  She vowed right then and there too never tell a soul how close she’d come to being obliterated in an unintended antimatter detonation of her own making.  She wormed her way out of the crawl space.

Her next stop was one of the wall control panels.  She started swiping through diagnostics for the ship as a whole.  Hull integrity was at thirty six percent, the frame was twisted but airtight.  Antigrav systems were compromised, in other words less than fifty percent of the antigrav plates on the bottom of the ship were functioning. 

She mused that landing on a planet was going to be ‘fun’.  Unlike multi-role starfighters, cargo transports were not meant to be aerodynamic.  They did not generate lift.  They also did not have landing gear in the conventional sense.  They were meant to gently hover down.  She frowned.  She swept on. 

Allison nodded when she saw the air quality report, the cargo bay was toxin free.  The cockpit was showing poor air quality but that had more to do with four humans locked in an enclosed space than anything else. 

The next screen was a report on thrustor integrity and efficiency.  They were not in good shape.  She’d passed too much power through them. Once this ship got into a gravity well it was never getting out.  The strain would burn the thrustors out, not to mention probably break the already heavily damaged frame.

She shook her head.  Landing the ship on Sauroid Prime was going to be more of a controlled crash landing while praying it held together long enough to actually hit the dirt.  She flipped back to the life support screen and opened the cargo hold vents.  She pumped the atmosphere into the midsection and cockpit.  She sealed all the vents in the cargo hold leaving it at a near vacuum.  Her helmet detected clean air so it sunk back into her armor.

Allison walked to the cockpit and unsealed the door.  Everyone was giving Dimi dirty looks.  Zebra walked out shaking her head.

“Dimi, you are never getting those Chap’s Breakfast burrito’s ever again!”

Dimi walked out after her looking sheepish. Everyone went to the collapsible lunch table and sat down.  Miles stopped by Allison and gave her a smile.

“I knew you could do it.”

“I knew I could too.  I just wanted to make it look hard.”

Allison faced the group.

“We’re going to be late for our rendezvous.  The ship needs a few minor repairs.  I’ll make sure I’m quick.  When we drop out of FTL we’ll show up on deep space scanners again.  We probably have a max thirty minutes before they reach us.”

Pinto looked at Allison.  He was still looking a bit green and was sucking back oxygen from the emergency supply every so often.

“What was on fire?”

Allison waved her hand dismissively and tried to seem nonchalant about it.

“Nothing important just some insulation.  I got it.  We just lost some atmosphere.  Which is no problem at all, we had a cargo bay full of air no one needs to use.  I sealed it off.  Stick to the cockpit and here and you’ll be fine.  You guys relax.  I’m going to see what I can find to get these repairs done.”

She smiled and walked away from the group chanting Adapt and Overcome under her breath.  She pulled out her scanner and started checking everything in the ship.  Allison decided that there had to be something on the ship that could act as insulation to stop the FTL drive core conduits from short circuiting.  She was going through the food stores when she said her mantra out loud unintentionally.

               “Come on Allison, Adapt and Overcome.”

               Miles came up behind her and leaned on the transport’s hull.

               “What was that?”

               Allison blushed and shook her head.

               “Nothing, just something my CO keeps shouting at me.”

               She plastered a fake smile on her face.

               “So, what’s up?  Need something to eat?  So far it is all edible.  In one case, it might give you a good buzz…”

               Miles crossed his arms and shook his head.

               “Just how bad is it, Allison?”

               Allison looked up at him from where she was crouched scanning the compressor for the cooling unit.

               “Stop, you know my name?”

               Miles frowned.

               “Don’t change the subject, how bad is it?”

               Allison stood up and dusted her knees off.  She smiled and shook her head.

               “Its not bad at all.  We’re doing great.  So, ah I really need to find the parts for this repair.  Because if the Alliance finds us, it will be really bad.”

               Miles stood in front of Allison and grabbed her upper arms.

               “Allison, stop.  What is going on?”

               Allison shook her head.

               “Go sit down.  I’m the one in command of the ship, it’s my responsibility.”

               Miles kept holding her there.

               “This is not all on you.  Come on, let’s have a team meeting.  Maybe someone will think of something you missed.”

               Allison shook her head.  She was trying to fight back tears.

               “No, I did all of this, I can fix it.”

               Miles sighed.

               “Allison, you got us this far.  Let’s get across the finish line together.”

               Allison looked up when she felt the ship transition out of FTL.  She sighed.  Miles put his arm around her shoulders and led her to the ship’s break room area.  Miles pulled himself up on a row of cabinets.

               “Guys, Allison needs help.  She’s going to tell us what needs to happen and we’re going to teamwork the hell out of this shit.”

               Allison rubbed her face.

               “I was entirely truthful before.  The fire did burn up insulation.  What I didn’t explain was that the insulation that burned up was covering the high voltage conduits to the FTL drive core.  If we jump again without fixing that they’ll arc, short circuit and fry the fusion generator, the FTL core, and probably every other system in the ship.  If we try to go to FTL the ship will kill itself.”

               Pinto held up his hand.  He went to talk but ended up coughing again.  He took a hit of concentrated oxygen from the emergency canister.

               “Is that why we dropped out of FTL?”

               Allison shook her head.

               “No, I plotted a diversionary course to pull the System’s Alliance fleet in this direction.  My intention was to wait for the FTL core power recycle and jump again about three minutes after we ended up here.  Obviously, we can’t now.  We’re sitting ducks for the Alliance.  We’re already on their long-range scanners.  If we’re unlucky it’s a carrier group and they are launching Athena fighter wings with drone support as we speak.  If we’re lucky it’s a cruiser and they have to come after us themselves.  We have maybe twenty-five minutes before the first responders get here.  Unless we’re lucky then we have an hour or two.  I don’t think we’re that lucky.”

               Dimi stood up and rubbed the top of his bald head.

               “You know, what’s that stuff you used Zebra when you needed to crawl across those open conduits at Aztech Corp?  You know… its white.  Expands.  You stick in in…”

               He made cutting motions across his cybernetic forearm.  Zebra looked at him like he was an idiot.

               “You mean, Wound sealant foam.”

               Dimi nodded.

               “Yea!  That’s it.  We got any of that?”

               Allison gave him a dubious look.

               “Sorry, I don’t think that will work, we’re talking gigawatts of power.”

               Zebra shook her head.

               “No, no, it is completely nonconductive.  Like it was initially developed for hull sealant for hydrogen rigs that went into Jupiter’s atmosphere.  It was just later BMC realized you could use it as wound sealant.  It’s still the exact same.  They literally just buy it from the corp that makes the rig sealant, charge ten times what it costs them and slap a new label on it.”

               “Really?  What about the anesthetic?”

               “Its one of the chemicals already in it, part of what makes it such a good sealant.”

               Miles clapped his hands and hopped off the counter.

               “Alright, it’s a plan.  Zebra, Dimi, gather up all the sealing foam you can find.  There should be a few first aid kits.  We also have our canisters from our kit.  Allison will spray it on, she’s the smallest and least likely to get roasted.  What else we got Allison?”

               Dimi and Zebra rushed off.  Allison shrugged.

               “I’m sorry, everything else is on the outside of the ship.  Unless you have some helium or hydrogen in your back pocket.”

                Miles asked.

               “Why?”

               Allison sighed.

               “Because the fusion core only has one more FTL jump in it.  Then we’ll be running on borrowed time and power.”

               Pinto took another pull from the oxygen canister.  He was not looking good.  She motioned to Miles and pointed at Pinto who was leaning forward in his seat.  His head hit the table.  Allison waved her scanner over him, specifically near his chest.

               “His lungs are burnt up.  He needs serious medical attention.”

               Miles rushed over and helped Allison move Pinto to one of the beds.

               “How serious?”

               Allison motioned to her AR HUD which Miles could not see.

               “I don’t know his lungs are all red on my display and its saying seek emergency medical treatment!  Do I look like a doctor?”

               Miles put his hand on her shoulder.

               “Breathe, Allison.  Just calm down”

               She had tears forming under her eyes.

               “I can’t breathe.  This is my fault, if I hadn’t overloaded the fusion core, the conduits wouldn’t have caught fire, and he would be fine.”

               Miles put his hand on her other shoulder.

               “Allison, if you hadn’t taken all the risks you did, we wouldn’t have made it this far.  Send me your scans, and whatever your holo-phone has on his condition.”

               Allison did as he asked.  By this time Zebra and Dimi had gotten back.  Zebra noticed the moistness on Allison’s face.

               “What did you do Miles?”

               Allison shook her head and bit back sobs.  She took the handful of foam cannisters and walked back to the crawl space.  She gulped down air as she wiggled herself towards the power cut off.  She shunted power away from the FTL drive core conduits with a manual switch.  She scanned them to make sure they were dead then started spraying foam all over the charred conduits one canister after another.  She rubbed it over all of them, covering all of the metal in an even layer.  It started to harden quickly.  She flipped the manual valve over and wiggled back out.

               She rushed to the crew area.  Miles had fashioned a rudimentary oxygen tube to provide a steady supply of concentrated oxygen to Pinto’s lungs.  Allison didn’t know much about medicine, but she assumed based on all the red, if he survived, he’d need replacements.  Everyone looked at her when she arrived.  She shrugged.

               “Well, lets see if it works.  I’m going to initiate the FTL jump.  If the lights go out, we better hope the System’s Alliance finds us soon because we’ll have no life support.  If you’re the praying sort, now is the time.”

               She walked towards the cockpit and stopped and turned around.

               “Zebra, we need that ID beacon back to its old self before we arrive at Trappist, you have six hours.  Otherwise, we’ll be facing down a System’s Alliance defense force that can’t identify us, I can tell you this, the fleet is on high alert because of the Sal’nash, so they’ll probably fire first, and identify us later.”

               Zebra patted Pinto’s shoulder and grabbed her computer.  Allison entered the cockpit.   She crossed her fingers behind her back.  She reached over the co-pilot’s seat and hit the flashing green FTL button.  She closed her eyes and held her breath.

Chapter Text

               Eyre had barely reached NAFTA dome when she had to take her private suborbital shuttle back to New Amazon.  They were at Maria’s home.  Eyre was pacing back and forth waving a tablet around like it was a weapon.

               “Aunt Maria, what did you do?”

               Maria watched her very angry and very animated niece walk back and forth in front of her.  She was truly clueless as to what she was so angry about.  Eyre hadn’t managed to get out a coherent reason for her anger.  Finally, she threw the tablet at Maria.  The pale girl caught it easily with her vampiric reflexes. 

               “Just watch!”

               Maria lifted the tablet up and waited for the video to right itself.  She blinked a few times as she watched a bulk class transport do things she didn’t believe were possible as it flipped, dodged and weaved through a busy line of other transports while being pursued by Corporate Security Starfighters.  It barely made it out of the blast doors that slammed shut causing the fighters to have to abort their chase. 

The next video feed she had of the transport was of it weaving around a Corporate Security frigate.  Being chased by space based starfighters.  She quirked her head to the side as the transport weaved through two barrages of rail gun fire and then vanished in a flash of blue light when it jumped to FTL. 

The video cut once again.  To the same transport exiting FTL at 10% of light speed.  It blew past a System’s Alliance Interceptor blockade narrowly missing the escort carrier at its center.  The six ships fired all weapons, but the transport expertly evaded their attacks.  The starfighters and Alliance ships tried to catch up, but the transport never slowed enough for them to even come close before it vanished into another flash of blue light.

Maria looked at the scans of the transport.  The fusion core was red lined.  The hull integrity was almost non-existent, its thrusters were trashed, and they detected toxins in the air supply.  It also had no ID beacon.  Whoever was flying it, seemed to be following the old adage, fly it like you stole it.  She handed the tablet back to Eyre.

“They will never land it in one piece.  I would love to hire them for the military though.  They can fly.”

Eyre gave Maria a look.  Maria was still confused.

“What?  Someone stole a transport, which happens all the time.  Corporate espionage.  Why did you fly all the way back here, you could have just sent me the videos, I didn’t hire anyone to break into BMC facilities on Titan.”

Eyre shook her fists at her sides.  Maria raised an eyebrow.

“Eyre, what is wrong?  The only time I have ever seen you this upset, is with your mom.”

Eyre waved the tablet at Maria.

“You already have this person working for the military.  It’s obviously my sister.”

Maria laughed.

“What makes you think that?”

Eyre shook her head.

“The only person I knew that was dumb enough to pull this… ridiculousness was my mother.  She was also the only one arrogant enough to think she could pull it off.”

Maria stood up and put her hands around Eyre’s wrists.

“Eyre, you are finding things to get upset about.  Allison is not flying that transport.  She is in her Starfighter on route to Sauroid Prime sleeping off a hangover while in FTL.  She is taking a pilgrimage to the Temple of the Universe for a school project.  If you can identify whomever this pirate is though, I would love to give them an offer they cannot refuse.”

Maria released Eyre’s wrists.  Eyre got a look in her eyes and lifted the tablet then tapped through it until she found an image then zoomed in.  She pointed at it.

“Red hair, gold eyes, Atlantean armor.”

She swiped again.

“Red hair, gold eyes, holo-web showing a suit scanned from the last photo.”

Eyre lifted her finger.

“And… and.”

She swiped up and then tapped an icon.  She showed the tablet’s screen to Maria.

“Oh, and I tracked her personal holo-phone all over Titan Corporate dome!”

Maria took the tablet and frowned.  The evidence against Allison was mounting pretty quickly.  Eyre snatched the tablet back and then opened another image.

“Oh, and that delinquent Hazel used to date is on Titan too, along with his crew of miscreants.  Miles is the one she’s gotten drunk with two nights in a row.  You tell me again how she’s not flying that transport.”

Eyre swiped again and pulled up medical reports for some injured officers, she zoomed into a photo and pointed at a burn mark.

“Oh, and this burn mark is unique to Qual’sa pistols on stun setting.  You know the pistol Allison carries around.  Several security officers were hit with a Qual’sa pistol on stun setting, in fact, one was shot three times.  Whomever was firing that pistol, it was Allison by the way, broke Miles and his gang out of a Security Checkpoint.”

Maria nodded.

“Do you have any video of the rescue?”

Eyre pursed her lips.

“No, because she was using the distortion field setting on the holo-web you gave her.  Case closed it was my sister flying that transport.”

Maria nodded.

“Okay, I believe you, but what do you want me to do about it?  Have her arrested?”

Eyre exhaled slowly.  She was still very frustrated with Maria.

“This is your doing.  What did my mother tell you to do this time?”

Maria turned away from Eyre and started to stroke her crucifix.

“I can tell you this, it did not involve telling her to steal a transport and god knows what else from Titan Corporate Dome.”

Eyre dropped the tablet on Maria’s table.

“What did you do?”

Maria sighed.

“The first thing was to send a comm signal to Miles from the penthouse, wait precisely twenty-seven minutes and eight seconds then leak the rogue planet files.”

Eyre paced back and forth.  She looked like she wanted to punch someone, but she wasn’t sure who.  She was usually calm and rational but her mother’s continued meddling with her children’s lives was starting to damage her calm.

“You need to stop.  Just stop.  My mother is dead and gone.  Leave her that way.”

Maria turned around; She was still holding her crucifix between her fingers.

“Eyre, I cannot do that.  Whatever she put into motion is already moving forward at a pace that I cannot stop.  Also, she is my sister.  I swore I would do anything for her.  You do not understand.”

“Aunt Maria, that girl that is my sister.  My baby sister.  She’s sixteen!  She should be worried about pimples, her first love, her first kiss, her winter finals.  She should not be doing… whatever she is doing.”

Maria released her crucifix.

“Eyre, four days ago you had no idea she existed.”

Eyre collapsed on Maria’s couch and wiped away the blood tears that had started to drip from her eyes.

“Aunt Maria she is all that I have left of my mother and my best friend.  I still can’t believe you hid her for me!”

Maria sat down beside Eyre and wrapped her arm around the larger woman’s shoulders.

“Eyre, trust that I am doing what is for the greater good.  I have faith in your mother.  Whatever she was planning is working.  You know Allison exists now.  You were able to spend time with her.  She trusts you.  Do not ruin the relationship you have started with her.  Give her the same freedom your mother gave you.  To make mistakes and learn from them.”

Eyre leaned against Maria.

“I miss them Aunt Maria.  I miss them so much.  I miss Hazel’s smelly feet.  I miss fighting with my mom.  I miss Amee’s smile.”

Maria hugged Eyre tightly.

“If it will make you feel better, I will ask Olga to try and figure out what they were up to.  She is the best asset I have.  That way System’s Alliance and Aurelius corp aren’t involved and we can keep Allison’s name out of it.”

Eyre took a deep breath and nodded.

“I would appreciate that.”

Maria kissed Eyre’s forehead.

“Anything for my favorite niece.”

Eyre smiled.

*****

               Olga got off of her motorcycle and walked inside the Harbor.  She had long since given up her organic body and was now something similar to a full conversion borg.  Not that someone could tell by looking at her.  She’d been forced into this body.  Her old one had failed her.  Exposure to asbestos as a child had seen to that.  First it was lung cancer, then it metastasized.  Even with all the modern science her only choice was to pull her brain out of her body before the cancer reached it.  Maria was like a second mother to her now.  She had taken over for Amee after her first patron had died.

               Maria had offered her a second chance at life, if she wanted it.  She could turn her into a vampire, or she could pay for a body like no other.  She’d seen vampires up close for a decade by the time she had received the offer.  She decided she didn’t want to live forever, but she did want to live a little longer.  Thus, her new body.  With the liquid metal and synthetic flesh, she could be anyone she wanted. 

Olga pulled her sunglasses off and looked around the bar.  It was midafternoon and the unofficial merc headquarters was quiet. Olga approached Widow at the bar and nodded to her.  Widow looked Olga up and down.

“It’s been a while.  What can I do for you?”

Olga leaned on the bar holding the arm of her sunglasses between her index and middle finger.

“I know you hate talking out of turn Widow, but I need some information.  I can pay, or… well we can make a mess of the bar.  You’ll shift, you’ll hit me a lot, I’ll hit you a lot, eventually you’ll get exhausted and tell me what I want to know anyway just so I’ll leave you alone.  So, lets save a repair bill on both sides, huh?”

Widow smiled and shook her head.

“I still want to know who paid for that body.  You’re the only borg I know that can one up a wolf-born.”

               Olga chuckled.

               “Well, well its your lucky day.  My employer is a vampire, a very old, and very powerful vampire.  An Imperial.  She told me to tell you, she demands your aid under the treaty.  That is how important this is to her.”

               Widow dropped the glass she was drying off.

               “Treaty?  No fucking way.”

               She looked into a mirror and spoke briefly to something Olga couldn’t see.  Widow turned to Olga with wide eyes.

               “Guess you pulled the right strings, what do you want to know?”

               Olga pulled out a handheld phone.  She showed an image of Miles then flipped through his crew one by one.

               “They are on a job.  I need to know what fixer hired them.”

               Widow frowned.

               “Those are good people.  Are you going to hurt them?”

               Olga shook her head.

               “No.”

               Widow frowned.

               “That’s all you’re going to give me?”

               Olga nodded.  Widow sighed.

               “I saw them talking to Dante.  I saw Dante speaking to a priestess of the Dark Mother.  Didn’t see her face, she had a cloak and kept the hood up.  A lot of credits changed hands.  When I was delivering a drink order I overheard them saying they needed a pilot who could plot long distance FTL courses.”

               Olga nodded and slipped her phone into her pocket.

               “Is Dante here today?”

               Widow pointed to one of the soundproof VIP rooms.

               “Hey, please don’t break anything, huh?”

               Olga tossed a black credit chit on the bar.

               “Sorry, it’s Dante, he’s going to make me break something.  That should cover it and any inconvenience.”

               Olga approached the booth. Widow unlocked the door with a remote in an attempt avoid damage to her bar.  Olga walked inside.  Dante was a large black man with a lot of flashy chrome.  He was a former mercenary turned Fixer.  He was smoking a cigar and talking to the Blades.  One of the best merc crews on Earth.  The Blades all looked at Olga.  Olga pointed her thumb at the booth’s door.

               “Leave.”

               The Blades all hurried to leave the booth.  The door closed behind them.  Dante leaned forward and tapped his cigar on an ashtray.  He looked up at Olga.

               “I mean this with all due respect but fuck off you crazy Russian bitch.”

               Olga crossed her arms and leaned her head to the side.

               “Why is it when someone says with all due respect, it is always followed by something that is anything but respectful?”

               Dante stood up and extended blades from his arms.  Olga sighed.

               “I told Widow you were going to make me break something.”

               She lunged at him and ripped his mantis blades out of their sockets.  She kicked him in the chest.  He went flying through the armored glass and smashed through three tables and hit the armor-plated bar.  He groaned and held his chest.  Olga nodded to Widow and dug her fingers into the flesh around Dante’s Supremacy spinal mod, she carried him through the bar and kicked the doors open.  Once she reached the parking lot she hurled him toward the reservoir. He smashed into the concrete hard enough to crack it. 

Dante was wheezing and trying to get up.  Olga walked up to him and stepped on his back, pressing him against the cement.  She leaned down.

“Dante, you didn’t even wait until I asked a question.  I thought you were a professional.  You lose some of your brain when you got those eye mods?”

He spit out blood and wheezed while he spoke.

“I don’t care what you want you psychopath.  I ain’t telling you shit.”

Olga sighed.

“What are we going to do about that?”

She put her foot under him and kicked him over on his back.

“Oh, that is a fancy new arm you got there.  Is that a Crusader Tech Max Alpha targeting system?”

She reached down and tore the targeting system out then tossed it over her shoulder into the reservoir.  She eyed one of his cybernetic ears.

“Oh, Echo 6200 ear mod.  Pricey.”

She reached down and ripped the cybernetic ear off and tossed it over her shoulder.  Dante held his hand to the side of his head.  He was screaming.  She reached down and slapped his face plate hard a few times.

“Dante, pay attention.  Miles, and his little band of idiots, you arranged a job with them.  What was it?”

Dante spit out more blood.

“Fuck you.”

Olga sighed.

“Dante, there are a lot of hours in the day, and you have oh so many parts I can rip off without killing you.”

Her eyes drifted down between his legs, his pants looked very full.

“Oh, I just know you got something in there that you spent a lot of credits on.  I wonder, will it feel like I ripped your real one off all over again or not?”

He spit out more blood.

“Fuck, fuck you’re done in this town.  No one will hire you after this.”

Olga punched her hand into his left thigh and pulled out a piston.  White hydraulic fluid started squirting everywhere.  She wiped her hand off on his expensive shirt.

“Dante, when is the last time I took a job from one of you lowlifes?  I’m a one-woman girl.  Hmm, what next… what next.  I would love to rip out your other ear, but then you can’t hear my questions.  Hey, do you have one of those fancy cybernetic livers?  I’ve always wanted to see one of those up close.”

Olga kneeled down and started digging her fingers into his still organic stomach.

“Just give me a sec, I got to get through a few things to find it here.”

Dante screamed.

“Fuck! Fuck! Crazy bitch I’ll tell you!  Stop!”

Olga lifted his shirt and wiped the blood and hydraulic fluid off her hands.  He started holding his gut.  He looked up at her.

“Fuck.  The Dark Mother’s church hired them to retrieve some Nazi shit from Titan.  Some iron tube and fucking other random shit.  Worthless shit.  They think they’re some holy relics.  Fuck.”

Olga started reaching for his abdomen again.

               “Stop!  Fuck.  They’re supposed to arrive in five or six hours.  Cash on delivery to the Temple of the Universe on Sauroid prime.”

               Olga grinned.

               “See how easy that was?  Next time just tell me.”

               She pointed at his chest.

               “You might want to go with the honeycomb reinforced ribs next time.”

               Olga backed away.  TraumaTech had arrived several minutes ago but were waiting for Olga to finish before getting involved she looked at the group of med techs.

               “He’s all yours.”

               She put her hands in her pockets and wandered towards her motorcycle.  She blinked to trigger a phone call.

               “Hey boss, I’ll need a ship, and a pilot.  Something fast. Or I’ll need wormhole approval.  They’re on their way to Sauroid prime and they’ve got a head start.”

               Maria responded.

               “I’ll make the arrangements.”

               Olga ended the call and hopped on her motorcycle.  She pulled out of the parking lot and started towards New Amazon Space Port.

Chapter Text

               Allison took a drink of water from her water bottle and watched Pinto struggling to breathe.  She looked at the countdown timer to their destination.  It was like a countdown to her doom.  They were going to crash.  She knew that.  It was just a matter of whether they’d walk away from it.  The transport’s outer skin had been abused by her reckless escape from Titan and grazes from weapons.  Without energy shields the thermal dispersion hull was all they had to survive atmospheric entry.  She sighed and took another drink.  She looked around.  Dimi and Zebra were snuggled together on the floor sleeping.  Miles was snoring away.  She sat down beside Pinto.  They had used every bit of anesthetic they could find to keep him out.

               Miles began to stir.  He rubbed his eyes and yawned.  It was somewhat comical seeing him sprawled over a bed at least one size too small.  He stood up and stretched.  He motioned with his chin to Pinto.  Allison shook her head.

               “No change.  Good or bad.  Hey, we should talk.”

               Miles sat down across from her.

               “What’s up Allison?”

               “You asked me to work as a team and be completely honest with you about how things are going.”

               Allison sighed and pointed at the wall screen.

               “I was looking things over again.  It is really bad.  If I try to land this on a planet, we are going to crash.”

               Miles grinned.

               “You’re a great pilot, you’ll land this thing fine.”

               Allison shook her head.

               “No, you don’t understand.  We are going to crash.  There is no avoiding it.  The best I can do is try and make it a controlled crash landing.”

                 Miles leaned closer.

               “What is wrong, maybe we can fix it.”

               Allison rolled her eyes.

               “I may be sixteen but I’m a professional pilot.  I know these things.  Just take my word for it.”

               Miles shook his head.

               “Nope.  I refuse to believe we’re hooped.  What is wrong with the ship?”

               Allison sighed and walked over to the wall screen.  She pressed the control to open ship diagnostics.  She pointed at the screen.

               “Hull and thermal protection integrity is down to 18%.  We took a grazing hit when we were running that Alliance Blockade.  We would want at least 30% to survive atmospheric entry without further damage from heat.  The frame is twisted.  Once we hit a gravity well it’s not a matter of if the ship will collapse in on itself, but when.  We just have to hope it’s after we land.”

               She flipped to the next screen.

               “Thrustors are done I am running them at max capacity for this FTL jump so we can get Pinto help before he dies.  The deceleration which is starting in about five minutes is going to burn them out.  We’ll be lucky if they slow us enough to avoid being paste when we hit Sauroid Prime’s atmosphere.”

               She moved to the next screen.

               “Antigravs, if these were working, we’d be fine, but they took damage from weapons fire and I hit a ship or two in our escape.  I can’t even tell if we have any panels left.  It just reads Status: Critical.  Transport’s manual says that’s less than 50% of the panels active.  It was eight.  That means we have three or less.  We’d need five for them to be useful.”

               She swept to the FTL core.

               “Not that it matters but the FTL core is going to burn out when we exit FTL, I’m surprised it has lasted this long.  Our foam solution sort of worked.”

               She swept to the Fusion Core status.  She just held her hand towards it.  The entire screen was red with several flashing red warnings.

               “I don’t even have to say anything about this.  Its red, its bad.”

               She swept to the last screen it was showing green across the board.

               “Our one bit of good news.  The hyper-matter waste… sorry FTL byproduct containment is green across the board.  Its long burn micro-fusion core is chugging away, and the containment vessel is one hundred percent integrity.  That means we could crash into a planet at a fraction of light speed, and it would survive.  So, we won’t die because our atoms were suddenly annihilated, aren’t we the lucky ones.  Of course, we could get the death penalty for the improper disposal of FTL byproduct, so there’s that.”

               Miles shrugged.

               “No problem.”

               “Come again?”

               Miles smiled and stood up.

               “No problem, you got this.  I’m going to grab a ration pack, you want something?”

               Allison blinked in disbelief as the burly black bearded man wandered into the storeroom.  Allison followed him.

               “Did you hear a word I said?  We should throw ourselves at the feet of the System’s Alliance and beg for mercy and hope they can stop us from flying off into space with a tractor beam.”

               Miles shook his head.

               “You’ll get us down safe.  I trust you.”

               He leaned down into the cooling unit while Allison stared at him in disbelief.  He pulled a few of the MRE’s out and looked them over in turn.

               “BMC really hates its employees.  These all look like someone puked in a pouch and called it food.”

               He shrugged and picked one.  He tossed the rest back into the cooling unit.  He put the MRE he’d selected into the microwave.  He looked at Allison.

               “I won’t break anything if I use this right?”

               Allison shook her head.  He pressed the MRE button and tapped his fingers on the counter.  When it came out he picked it up and tossed it from hand to hand.

               “Hot…  I wonder who decided to attach heat sensors in cybernetics and attach them to our nervous system.”

               He finally dropped the pouch.  He picked it up and ripped it open and took a bite.  He shrugged.

               “Not bad, you should have one.”

               “How can you eat when I told you, we’re all going to die in a horrible crash?”

               Miles took another bite.

               “One of two things is going to happen, we crash and burn, or we survive.  If it’s the first one I won’t care if I ate.  If it’s the second about an hour afterwards, I’m going to say: Gee, I’m glad I had that meal.”

               Allison threw her hands up.

               “How are you so… positive?  You have literally been waiting for twenty plus years for a girl who is by all accounts never coming back.”

               Miles took another bite.

               “She’s going to be back; Do you know why I know?”

               Allison shook her head.  He pointed the remainder of his MRE packet at her.

               “Because she promised she would be.  Hazel never breaks a promise.  I will wait until my death bed if I have to, she will come back.”

               Allison caught a good whiff of his food.  She felt her stomach grumbling.  The last thing she had was that really sad burger from Mar’s Burger.  She walked to the cooling unit and looked through the selection.  Fried Rice and Chicken.  She wrinkled her nose it had peas.  Chicken Pot pie.  That also had peas.  Mac and Cheese.  She didn’t grab that, not enough protein.  Roast chicken and mashed potatoes… and peas.  Finally, she found a breakfast burrito.  She grabbed one and put it in the microwave.  She waited for it to finish.  She popped the door open and waited a couple of minutes before pulling it out and tearing open the package.  It did not look appetizing at all.  She wrinkled her nose and took a bite.  She took another bite and ate it quickly.  It tasted pretty good.

               “See, I bet you feel better.”

               Allison nodded.  She looked at the sleeping Dimi and Zebra.

               “Shouldn’t we include them in the decision?”

               Miles shook his head.

               “They’ll choose to land; It will just take them a bit to get around to it.”

               Allison pointed at Pinto.

               “He is not likely to survive.  Are you sure you want to do this?”

               Miles nodded.

               “You don’t become a legend by playing it safe, Allison.  I thought you knew that already.”

               Allison closed her eyes then looked up at the top of the ship.

               “Half of what the President said was complete bullshit.”

               Miles shrugged.

               “I’m just saying a girl who would detonate a bomb that can blow a planet in half while she’s still in the blast radius, now that’s a girl who knows how to live on the edge.”

               Allison frowned.

               “Billions of lives were on the line.  It’s not the same.  This is a meaningless death.”

               “Hey, you can surrender to System’s Alliance.  I’m sure they’ll let you keep flying starfighters for them after this.”

               “You… owe me big time.  All of you do.  If we survive.”

               Miles chuckled.

               “True.  You got us out of jail.  You could have just left with the cargo.  I wouldn’t have blamed you either.”

               Allison wagged her finger at him.

               “If I didn’t have to rescue you idiots, the Ident chit would have worked, and we’d have been there already.  I could have avoided this entire nightmare.  Which two of you were wanted for what was it… public… incident exposure, whatever?”

               Mile’s eyes darted to Dimi and Zebra.  Allison gasped.

               “Why?  How?”

               “Well, you see, young lady, when a boy and a girl like each other…”

               Miles waved his hand.

               “Nah, I’ll tell you when you’re older.”

               Allison punched him in the chest.

               “Jerk.”

               Miles laughed.  Allison walked away giving him the finger without looking in his direction.  She slipped into the pilot’s seat and started a system check.  She knew what it was going to say, but the routine made her feel better.  She started preparing the ship for atmospheric entry.  She checked the water reserves.  They had almost full tanks.  She decided she’d dump anything volatile, except the antimatter before they hit atmosphere.

               She swept her hands across the controls, swiping through the list of all the commands she could issue.  She saw water temperature as a setting.  She smiled and moved it all the way down to near zero.  She then checked the fusion reactor coolant levels;  They were nearly full.  She moved the commands to dump water and reactor coolant to her control surface.  She found the command to do an emergency kill on the reactor, she added that to her control surface.  She found the dump reactant command buttons and added them as well.

               She switched to her AR HUD and started running reentry simulations based on the ship’s mass and shape.  She had it run a hundred attempts.  Then she added in using the near zero kelvin fusion reactor coolant and water to cool the hull at critical points during reentry.  That added a whole sixty percent to their survival chances.  She looked for optimal hull temperatures to do the dumps.  Landing in one piece would highly depend on prevailing winds and air pressure.  Neither of which she had any data on.  Allison looked at the countdown timer.  Fifteen minutes until they crashed.

               Miles came in and sat in the co-pilot’s seat.

               “Have Pinto secured.   Dimi and Zebra are strapped in.  Dimi refused to be up here, so you’re stuck with me.  How’s it looking?”

               “I think I can get us into the lower atmosphere without burning up.  The rest.”

               Allison shrugged.

               “Depends on the weather.”

               Miles glanced at her.

               “The weather?”

               Allison motioned to the front of the transport.

               “This thing isn’t exactly aerodynamic.  If winds are high enough and there is enough air pressure, we might be able to glide a bit.  Like a really big, ugly kite.”

               “Kite?  What’s that?”

               “You know, you attach fabric to sticks and put them on string.  Let it float on the wind?”

               Miles snapped his fingers.

               “Hey like that Ben Franklin guy.  Cool.  How do you know about them?”

               Allison looked at him in disbelief.

               “I grew up on a colony, no dome.  Have you ever seen a real sky?”

               Miles shrugged.

               “Nah.”

               Allison looked down at her control panel then back at him.

               “They’re big.  Try not to pee yourself when you look up.  Or like when I’m landing.”

               Miles laughed then he got a serious look on his face.

               “Hey, in case we don’t make it, I just want to say, Hazel, her stepmom and her mom would love that you got their apartment.  You’re their kind of person.”

               Allison blushed, then looked at him.

               “Wait, Hazel had two moms?”

               “Yep, Enid Aurelius and Amee Jace.  Power couple.  One was the Vampire Empress and the other was the fricking president of an intergalactic power.  Visiting her house was always the worst.”

               Allison gave him a strange look.  Then she shook her head.  Nah, no way the president could be infested with nanites, she’d have been caught fast.  She laughed and shook her head again.  Miles pointed to the countdown.

               “Hey, what’s so funny?  Make me laugh before I die horribly, come on.”

               Allison waved her hand.

               “It’s nothing.”

               “Come on, share it with the class.”

               Allison bit her lower lip.

               “I’ve been told my biological parents were two women.  I’m half vampire.  It’s stupid.  No way I’m the daughter of the Dark Mother and the last President.  Ridiculous.  I’d be living in some penthouse with round-the-clock guards.  Just stupid teenage girl fantasy.”

               The timer started flashing.  The transport tore out of hyperspace, and she started dumping reactant almost immediately.  She hit the retro thrustors.  She got no response.  She hadn’t been expecting any.  She hit comms.

               “Mayday, mayday, this is BMC Cargo Transport Tango-9-Bravo-Charlie-3-4, our thrustors are inoperable, our antigrav system is compromised and we have an injured crew member on board.  We are unable to decelerate under our own power.  We are going to use the atmosphere to reduce our velocity.  I repeat mayday, mayday.”

               Allison set the message to repeat.  The main thrustors were completely done.  She still had maneuvering thrustors.  She started using them to angle the transport for reentry.  Miles grabbed onto his control panel.  The ship slammed into the atmosphere.  Hull integrity alerts started flashing on her HUD.  She ignored them.  It was too late now.  Pieces were starting to fly off and the ship was creaking.  She waited until the hull temperature was showing critical and dumped the fusion reactor coolant.  Thermal warnings stopped flashing.  The ship started to heat up again, she waited until she dare not wait any longer and dumped the water supply.

               She looked at the altimeter and airspeed readouts.  Things were not going well, they still had way too much airspeed.  The ship would not survive the crash.  The view port cracked when the ship creaked and shuddered again.  Rain started slashing at the view port.  Water started leaking in through the cracks and the compromised hull.  Allison looked over at Miles and shook her head.  He nodded.

               “We gave it our best shot.”

               Allison nodded.  She was looking at the ship’s limited topographical scan readouts.  If she couldn’t save them, she could at least avoid killing anyone else.  She hit the maneuvering thrustors to align them with the shadow rift.  More pieces flew off the transport.  She closed her eyes and gave one last desperate prayer to whoever would listen.  She opened her eyes when she heard the rain stop and the ship stop creaking.  A shimmering bubble had engulfed the transport.  She heard Bits voice come through comms.

               “What is it with you and destroying ships you’re still in?”

               Allison cheered.  The transport covered by Bits extended shields smashed through several hundred-foot-wide trees and came to rest near the edge of the temple grounds.  Half a kilometer ahead of them, the Temple of the Universe rose above the jungle. Bit landed beside the grounded transport.  Allison unstrapped herself and tugged on Miles’s arm.

               “Let’s go.  Bit can get Pinto to the station.”

               Miles rushed after Allison.  The transport was in ruins.  Wires and fallen debris hung from the top of the transport.  It was twisted in the middle.  Dimi was helping Zebra out of her seat.  Both had more cuts and bruises than they had before.  Dimi grabbed Allison’s arms and shook her.

               “You crazy girl!  I thought we was dead!  You did it!”

               Allison held up her hands.

               “Celebrate later.  Right now, we need to get Pinto into my fighter, get the cargo to the temple and away from this thing before System’s Alliance responds.”

               Dimi nodded.  Allison motioned for Miles.  He helped her pick up Pinto.  He was still breathing, but he was struggling.  The pair carried Pinto to Bit who opened the cockpit.  Allison and Miles struggled to get Pinto into the cockpit.  Allison patted Bit’s black liquid metal skin.

               “Bit, please get him to the station.”

               She swept her scans of Pinto at Bit.  Bit responded.

               “I’ll take care of it.  Don’t go anywhere while I’m gone.”

               Allison hopped down and backed away.  Bit lifted off and went ballistic.  Miles looked around and then let loose a loud cheer.  By this time a group of Sauroids and Humans in priestess robes were converging on them.  They wordlessly rushed forward to help Dimi and Allison carry the heavy iron cylinder and crate towards the temple.

*****

               Olga glanced back at the temple and shook her head.  She’d never been to another solar system before.  She ran her hand over the cracked view port of the transport.  She was on comms with her benefactor.

               “Target has landed.  She’s unharmed.  She just rushed off with a bunch of the dinosaurs.”

               Maria interjected.

               “Sauroids.”

               Olga climbed into the twisted wreckage.  It had already started collapsing in on itself.  She poked through the remnants, spotted a pink water bottle and picked it up.  She walked up to the cockpit and looked around.  She chuckled and picked up a broken data tap.  Then she reached under the center console and pulled out the micro-fusion core.  She tossed it up and down in her hand as she looked around further.

               “Not much here to trace back to her.”

               She walked to a console.  It still had power somehow.  She typed a few commands and the screen started to flicker and then it showed that it was deleting all data.  Finally, it counted down to zero and sparks flew from the data storage for the transport.

               “Nothing should lead back to the target.  Should I return their stuff?”

               Maria nodded.

               “Go ahead.  Eyre wants to speak to her, make sure she answers please.”

               Olga chuckled.

               “Dah, I have ways of making her talk.”

               Maria laughed softly.

               “Go easy on her, she’s had a rough day.”

               Olga looked around the crashed transport.

               “She’s a hell of a pilot though.”

               “Please don’t tell her that.  She doesn’t need any more ego boosts.”

               “See you soon boss.”

               Olga ended the call, then walked out of the wreckage and ran into a System’s Alliance Search and Rescue team.  Behind which was a System’s Alliance Security Team.  She motioned at the transport.

               “No one’s on board.  Seems like they got away.”

               The lieutenant with the Security Team stepped in Olga’s way.

               “You can’t just remove evidence from an active crime scene.”

               Olga looked down at the water bottle and the tennis ball sized fusion core.

               “Oh, these are mine.  I like to stay hydrated, and I thought I might be able to get something from the computers.  They were all erased and fried.  Oh well.”

               The lieutenant wasn’t happy with her answer.

               “Identify yourself immediately.”

               Olga shook her head.

               “You do not want me to do that.  Because if I do then my boss gets a phone call and then she gets annoyed, then your CO gets chewed out, then you get fired.  Possibly arrested for treason… It’s always very messy.”

               The lieutenant seemed to be about to double down then one of his subordinates whispered into his ear.  He went white.  He stepped aside.

               “Sorry, ma’am.  Uh, what exactly should the report say happened here?”

               Olga looked back at the transport.

               “BMC was hauling illegal cargo.  They dumped it and scuttled the transport.  Leaving a canister of FTL By product just sitting here where anyone could get their hands on it.  That’s against the law, isn’t it?”

               “Understood, ma’am.”

               Olga started walking towards the Temple of the Universe tossing Dimi’s missing fusion core up and down as she went.

Chapter Text

               The group was standing around in a half circle waiting for the payment for the job to clear.  Their client had already sent the message that their package had been delivered.  The Sauroid lay people and priestess were trying to tend to their injuries.  Dimi had been staring in shock at the Sauroids.   Miles was chatting nonchalantly with a dark scale.  Allison pushed away a Sauroid priestess that was trying to tend to a cut on her forehead.  She’d hit her head when she was moving the steel sarcophagus with Dimi.

               “Thank you, Sister, but I’m okay.”

               The Sauroid’s tail twitched.

               “At least let me clean the blood up, child.”

               Allison sighed and stopped resisting.  She knew it was pointless.  The Sauroids were a notoriously persistent people.  Light, Dark, Twilight, it didn’t matter.  Once they set their minds to something there was little chance of deterring them.  The Dark Mother had found that out shortly after meeting them, according to the first contact records.  Allison sat down on one of the stone benches and let the priestess tend to her.  From the moment she arrived they had been treating Allison like a precious flower that could wilt at any time.

               Everyone stopped talking when a dark-haired woman entered the room.  She had pale skin, brown eyes and an intimidating presence.  She was carrying Allison’s pink water bottle and Dimi’s missing fusion core.  She looked everyone up and down.  Miles’s eyes went wide.

               “You?  What are you doing here?

               The highest-ranking priestess present stepped between Olga and the group.  She was a gray scale from the dark side.  The end of her tail twitched.  She held her arms out wide as if to protect the people behind her.

               “I can see you are a woman who is accustomed to violence.  This is a place of peace.”

               Olga smiled.

               “You know, I knew the Dark Mother.  She was anything but peaceful, fear not sister, I am not here to hurt anyone.  I’m here for her.”

               She pointed at Allison.  Allison blinked at Olga.  She truly had no idea who she was.  Miles and his crew sure did though.  They all had their hands on their weapons.  The grey-scale stepped directly between Olga and Allison.

               “The ascended one is under our protection.  I warn you the Dark Mother will not take kindly to harm coming to her chosen in her own house.”

               Olga chuckled and looked around the grey-scale at Allison.

               “You left your military issued data tap and this hot pink water bottle that has ‘Allison Wanjala’ written in black permanent marker on your stolen spaceship.  That is a good way to get caught, kid.”

               Olga motioned with her hand.

               “You’ve had your fun, come with me.”

               Allison was blushing profusely.  She’d missed a couple of pretty obvious pieces of evidence.  She didn’t move towards Olga.

               “Who are you?”

               Miles kept his hand on his pistol as he answered.

               “She’s a Spook.  The person the System’s Alliance sends when they don’t want to get their hands dirty and the need someone to disappear.  Isn’t that right, Olga?”

               Olga did not look surprised when he mentioned her name.  She kept looking at Allison.

               “Every word he said is true.  I’m here for you Allison, do you want to put all these innocent people in danger?  Risk the lives of your new friends?”

               Dimi pulled away from Zebra who had been holding him back, he walked past the grey scale and got into Olga’s face.  He had almost a foot on her.  He flexed his muscles.

               “She don’t have a choice, lady, she’s with us.  You want her, you go through us.”

               He pounded his fists together.  Olga shook her head.

               “Maybe put yourself back together first, Tiny.”

               She threw the fusion core at Dimi who juggled it between his hands before it finally fell on the temple’s stone floor.  Olga shook her head.

               “If I wanted to kill you, there are so many more fun ways to do it then a rigged fusion core.”

               Miles drew and fired at Olga.  He was using a bolter.  The solid duranium shell hit some sort of energy barrier and fell to the ground.  Olga pointed at him, then to Dimi, and finally Zebra.

               “I’ll let that go because Hazel loved you, but if you draw on me again, I will rip your arms off, followed by his spine and her nanowire nervous system.  There is a reason mercs don’t cross me.  Today is not the day to try my patience.”

               Allison was even paler than usual.  She’d seen a lot of hyper-advanced tech in her military service, but a personal force field was still the realm of science fiction.  She’d seen a few in a movie about a desert planet from the twentieth century.  She thought it was ridiculous and farfetched.  This was a fight her friends would not win.  She tapped her display and typed a quick message to Bit.  I’m coming out.  Someone is with me.  I need you to hit her with particle beams on my mark.  Allison then held up her hands.

               “Alright, I’ll come, just don’t hurt them, and they get immunity for whatever the charges are.”

               Olga shook her head.

               “I don’t get sent to arrest people kid.  Come on.”

               Olga motioned for Allison to come with her.  Allison walked beside her, with her hands up.  Olga glanced back.

               “Your fee has been transferred.  Dante had a bit of an accident.  I said I’d take care of it for him.  And put your hands down kid.  I’m not arresting you.”

               Miles rushed forward pistol drawn and aimed at Olga.

               “Stop.  She’s not going with you.”

               Olga flicked her wrist.  There was a flash.  Before anyone realized what was happening, most of all Allison, the teenager, had snatched something out of the air.  She looked down at her hand.  It was a vicious looking durasteel blade that was two inches long with a monoedge, meaning it was only a molecule wide.  Allison’s hand was bleeding.  Monoedged weapons were highly illegal and so sharp they could cut through almost anything softer than the material they were made out of.  Olga chuckled.

               “It’s your lucky day, Miles.  Looks like the Dark Mother is smiling on you.  I suggest you not try me again.”

               Allison held up her other hand.

               “Miles, just stop.  I got this.”

               Miles still had his bolter aimed at Olga.  The grey scale who had tried to shield the group put her taloned hand on his forearm and took the pistol.

               “Trust the chosen.  You are brave, and noble, but she has made her choice.  We must respect that.”

               Allison looked down at her bloody hand and the monoedged bladed projectile.  It looked like a large arrowhead.  She had no idea how she had reacted and moved so fast.  She didn’t even remember snatching it.  Olga held out her hand and made a ‘give it to me’ motion with her fingers.  Allison handed the blood covered blade to Olga who slid it back into a port that opened on her fist.  Allison’s scanners were telling her that Olga was all organic.  The chrome she saw under the skin of the Russian woman’s hand told a far different story.  Allison realized she was four inches taller than Olga as they walked beside each other.  It was funny, the strange woman had seemed so much larger in the temple.

               “If we leave the temple you’re going to die.”

               Olga chuckled.

               “Oh, that message you sent your starfighter.  Sure, it could work.  Not sure if my shield could stop full on anti-ship particle beams.  It won’t matter.  I’ll just use one of my old bodies.  You think my brain is in this shell?”

               Olga handed Allison the water bottle.

               “Here, so it doesn’t get disintegrated.  It’s a good water bottle.”

               Allison stopped short of exiting the temple’s massive front entrance.

               “You knew I was planning on having my fighter fire on you?  And you still left with me?’

               Olga shrugged.

               “I was curious if this body would survive.  Your Aunt Maria would probably find the test data valuable.  She’s been trying to build me the perfect body for almost twenty years.”

               “The President sent you?”

               Olga nodded.

               “Miles was right.  I am the person she sends to do all the dirty jobs that keep the SA’s noble, just, and fair reputation intact.  Today it was making sure you didn’t end up as a headline for a second time this week.  Also, I was sent with a message.  You’re going to receive a phone call in about five minutes.  I suggest you answer it if you don’t want me to carry you back to Earth over my shoulder so you can have the conversation in person.  After that, go back inside, do your ‘research project’ and make sure you’re on Eden Prime for the Gala.”

               Allison motioned to something on her AR HUD.

               “Uh, can I?”

               Olga nodded.  Allison called Bit.

               “Uh, Bit, disregard that last request, pretty please.”

               Bit responded.

               “Understood, I will not fire on the System’s Alliance Special Investigator.   That’s a relief…  My directives say I need to do what my pilot asks, and my System’s Alliance oath says I’m not supposed to harm its representatives…  It was a moral dilemma to be sure.”

               Allison made a motion with her hand as if trying to get Bit to finish.  She looked down at her hand, which had started to hurt but was now feeling fine.  She hadn’t even felt the initial cuts the blade was far too sharp.  Her hand was still covered in her blood which was starting to dry, but the deep wounds to her palm and her fingers were gone.  She was healing faster than ever now.  Olga watched Allison.

               “You heal remarkably fast.  Like Hazel and her family.  You aren’t a vampire or a shifter.  Interesting.”

               Allison blushed and looked at the flagstone floor.  She saw a call coming in from Eyre.  She swallowed hard.  Olga moved her hand in a circle.

               “Answer it, I do not want to babysit you on a trip back to Earth.”

               Allison sighed and tapped the comm link.

               “Hello, ma’am.”

               Eyre raised one of her red eyebrows.

               “I thought we agreed on, Eyre, or Aunt Eyre.”

               Allison blushed.

               “Sorry, Hi Auntie Eyre, how are you?  I made it to Sauroid Prime safe.  I was just talking to the priestess about my project when your… umm friend showed up.”

               Eyre tapped her fingers on her desk.

               “Oh, you were, were you?  Cut the crap Allison.  I know what you did on Titan.”

               Allison blinked innocently.

               “Titan? I’ve never been there.  I’m not sure what you’re talking about, Auntie.  I was in FTL in Bit for the last oh, nine hours.  I fell asleep and she decided to take her time getting here because she knew I was really tired.”

               Eyre narrowed her eyes.

               “Allison, your personal holo-phone was all over Titan Corporate Dome.  Specifically in a BMC storage facility just before they reported a break-in and theft.  And a Corporate Security Station, when four mercenaries escaped.  On a stolen transport that broke so many laws they are still reviewing the footage for the ones they missed.  Not to mention a Qual’sa pistol was used to stun several Security Officers during the escape by the mercenaries.”

               Allison rubbed the back of her head.

               “Wow, that is pretty crazy.  I went drinking last night and lost my holo-phone.  It just got returned to me.  Sounds like it went on quite the adventure.  A Qual’sa pistol in sol system?  That black market pipeline from Andromeda is really getting out of hand.  I’ll make sure I bring that up at our next briefing about smuggling of weapons through our sector.”

               Eyre pursed her lips.

               “And your water bottle, and data tap, found on the stolen freighter?”

               Allison blinked innocently.

               “I know, right?  I was so upset when I couldn’t find my water bottle this morning.  I took it with me to the bar, because you know you should drink a lot of water when you’re consuming alcohol.  I totally thought I’d left it at the bar.  I am so glad this nice lady returned it to me.  And that sneaky little devil of a data tap, how did it end up on a ship light years from where I was?”

               Eyre started to tap her fingers again.

               “Allison, I’m two thousand years old, I’ve raised six children and so many grandchildren.  I have literally heard them all.  So just stop.  I tried very hard to guide you away from choices like this, but apparently my words are falling on deaf ears.  It is time I had a talk with your mother.”

               All of the color washed out of Allison’s cheeks.  Her mother would literally ground her, find a boarding school somewhere that doesn’t let kids off campus, and make her quit the SA military.  That would be just the start of it.

               “Auntie Eyre, couldn’t we be reasonable about this?”

               Eyre raised her eyebrow again.

               “Reasonable?  I was reasonable was before you broke almost every law the System’s Alliance has, and probably some they haven’t thought of yet.  Nine hours.  You took less then twenty-four hours to go from one of the most beloved heroes in the System’s Alliance, to one of its most wanted criminals, and you’re only sixteen!  God, we’re lucky you didn’t kill someone… you didn’t kill anything did you?”

               Allison shook her head and giggled nervously.

               “Only one cargo ship and my lust for adventure.  So, we’re not telling my mom about any of this right?  Auntie Eyre? I mean she’ll never let me leave Eden Prime again… and then I wouldn’t be able to visit you like you wanted.”

               Eyre stood up and faced away from her desk holo-comm.  Allison could see a grey rainy sky outside Eyre’s window.  NAFTA’s buildings looked so much cleaner and sleeker to her eyes.  Eyre crossed her arms and tapped her fingers on her elbows as if pondering Allison’s fate.  Allison bit her lip nervously.  Eyre could literally destroy her life and she wouldn’t even have to turn her into the System’s Alliance Authorities.  Eyre then turned to look at Allison.

               “No, I won’t but you might regret not going with that option.  Stay out of trouble.  We’ll talk soon.”

               Allison blinked a few times.  That seemed a little too easy.  Eyre and Maria were completely unknown quantities to her.  She didn’t know anything about vampires, really.  She’d heard lots of things.  Eyre’s words sent a chill down her spine.  Olga shrugged.

               “Well then, see you around kid.”

               Allison watched Olga turn to leave with her mouth agape.  Finally, she found her words.

               “That’s it?”

               Olga turned to her and put her hands into the pockets of her jacket.

               “Yeah, that’s it.  I told you.  I was here to cover up this mess and make sure you answered the call.  Stay out of trouble, would you?  I have better things to do then cleaning up after teenage rebellion.”

               Allison took a couple steps forward.

               “I wasn’t rebelling, I was just returning a favor.”

               Olga stopped and looked at Allison again.

               “Sure, and I joined the KGB because I loved my country.”

               Olga continued down the massive set of stairs and held her hand up and waved without turning around.

               Allison watched her go, then turned back to the Temple.

*****

               Olga was walking towards the stealth ship Maria had dug up for her when she received a call from her.

               “Boss, what’s up?  Guess it’s a busy week.”

               Maria smiled.

               “It is.  I have a new assignment for you.”

               Olga continued walking.

               “What do you need boss?  Please tell me it’s in a nice warm dome, where it rains on a schedule, doesn’t have megafauna, and doesn’t involve teenagers?”

               Maria laughed softly.

               “I am afraid the answer is no, on almost all accounts.  The megafauna I can do.”

               Olga was at the bottom of the stealth ship’s ramp one foot up on it.  She glanced back to the temple rising in the distance.

               “It has literally been fifteen minutes.  What did she do this time?  Where did you find this kid?  Juvenile delinquents are us?”

               Maria held up her hands and was trying not to laugh.

               “She is a good kid.  She made some mistakes recently, I admit, but for the most part she’s not one to break laws wantonly.  She has not done anything yet.  You are going to ensure she keeps on the straight and narrow, at least for now.  Eyre asked for you specifically.  Double standard fee, plus expenses.  You will like Eden Prime.  It’s like Earth, only with less glaciers.”

               Olga looked up at the overcast sky, rain drops started to fall on her face.  She walked under the stealth ship.

               “What exactly is the mission, boss?”

               “You will act as her bodyguard and a set of guardrails for her.  The situation is far more complicated than you know.”

               “She’s Eyre’s sister.  I clocked that as soon as I saw the face and the hair.  The DNA scan confirmed it.  She’s Amee and Enid’s daughter.  I get it.  What I don’t understand is why she’s not with us on Earth.”

               Maria frowned.

               “I suppose if anyone would figure it out so quickly it would be you.  It is even more complicated than that.  There are forces at work that I do not understand.  Enid left… instructions regarding Allison.  I have followed them to the letter and each time it seems to be getting more and more dangerous.  In some cases, two completely unrelated requests led to what happened today.  Eyre is concerned about her safety and has been threatening to tell Allison the truth.  I cannot allow that.  Too much is at stake.  You are my compromise. I know this seems like it is beneath you, but I promise you, she is the key to the human race’s future.  Look at what she has done already?  She is only sixteen.  Imagine what is to come.”

               Olga frowned.

               “I disagree with this on principle, but a job is a job.  What exactly are my mission parameters?”

               Maria ran her pale fingers along the surface of her desk.

               “You are not going to like this.”

               Olga shrugged.

               “Boss, when do I like anything?”

               “I have a new body enroute to Eden Prime for you.  It will have all of your cover identity with it.  You are going back to high school.  I will tell you when I am doing something Enid requested.  You will let those scenarios play out without interference unless, her real identity is going to be released to her, or the general public, or someone is planning on disintegrating her.”

               Olga shook her head.

               “I’m sorry did you say, disintegrating her?”

               Maria nodded.

               “Yes.  Anything short of that, do not interfere.  Do your best to cover up any criminal activity on her part, and if anyone attempts to draw her blood, see to it the sample never reaches its destination.”

               Olga was very confused, which was very abnormal.  Maria was usually crystal clear with all the details of her mission.  Most of the time with more intelligence than was required.

               “What is she?”

               Maria held up both hands.

               “Not even on our encrypted network.  If those details become pertinent, I will inform you, in person.”

               Olga shrugged.

               “Fine.  In the meantime, am I done here?”

               “No.  You will escort her to Eden Prime.  She intends to stay on Sauroid Prime for another day.  You will ensure she gets on board the Eclipse when it arrives, they will bring you and her to Eden Prime via wormhole.  They have a hanger free for her starfighter.  When she is not in the temple you will accompany her at all times.  Please observe her.  It will assist when you assume your new identity and have to befriend her.”

               Olga nodded.

               “What are the specs of my body for this mission?”

               “It is an improved version of your current model.  Lighter frame more, more compact.  Faster reaction times, thirty percent physical strength increase.”

               “Alright, I’ll go babysit the kid.  I will keep you updated on mission progress.”

               Maria nodded and waved before disconnecting the comm-link.  Olga swore in Russian under her breath and headed back to the temple.

Chapter Text

               Allison was still shaking her head when she arrived back at the group.  The priestesses were discussing next steps.  Dimi was laying face down on a bench while Zebra was trying to figure out how to get the fusion reactor back into his Supremacy.  Allison waved to Miles who looked shocked to see her.  She didn’t stop to talk she just went to Dimi and pulled out her multitool.

               “Zebra, I got this.  I promised I’d give his fusion core back.”

               Zebra moved away.  Allison quickly unscrewed the plate and pulled the nearly depleted e-clip out and slid the fusion core in.  She checked the power gauges on the sides before securing the fusion core and then replacing the cover plate.  She moved out of the way and Dimi stood up and stretched.

               “Oh yeah.  That’s it.  You’re alright kid.  I’m never flying with you again though.”

               Allison laughed.  She noticed one of the Sauroids approaching with a plasma cutter.  They were heading to the steel tube with the sleeping vampire.  Allison rushed in front and blocked the would-be can opener.

               “You shouldn’t do that.”

               The grey-scale who seemed to be in charge of the whole escapade looked at Allison.

               “Why is that chosen one?”

               Allison let the chosen one thing slide for the fiftieth time that morning.

               “There is a very old vampire in there.  I have to think the German’s sealed her in for a reason.  Also, I’m sure she’ll be very, very hungry when she wakes up.  Trust me.  I am a bear in the morning, and I get blood regularly.  If you open that, someone will definitely get hurt, or dead.  Maybe we should take it to the light sider city, open it there.  At least then we’ll have a chance to calm her down, or subdue her?”

               The grey-scale turned to her fellow priestesses and consulted in their native language.  One of the younger priestesses ran off, her talons clicking against the stone.  The grey-scale spoke.

               “We shall consult the prophecy, chosen.”

               Allison couldn’t take it anymore.

               “I’m sorry, but why are you calling me chosen?”

               The grey-scale’s tail slapped against the stone floor.

               “It is who you are.  It is only proper to use your title, and acknowledge your role, chosen one.”

               The younger Sauroid priestess returned, she was out of breath.  She consulted with the grey-scale, who nodded.

               “As the chosen has spoken, it has been foreordained.  We will travel to the City of Light and there we shall free the Apostle of the most holy Dark Mother.”

               The human priestesses present cheered.  The Sauroid priestesses all clapped, all of their tails slapping the stone happily.  Allison scratched her head.

               “Uh, weren’t the Apostle’s Jesus’s thing?  I’m really confused.”

               The grey-scale motioned down one of the massive side passages.

               “All will be revealed to those who seek knowledge.  Let us go, you may consult the holy prophecies.  We will be your witnesses, chosen one.”

               Miles spoke.

               “Uh… I guess… we’ll arrange to transport the goods to the City of Light then?”

               One of the human priestesses, a woman in her twenties approached the group of mercenaries and spoke with them in hushed tones. 

Allison followed the group of Sauroids to a large chamber.  It seemed central to the temple, and it was above the main chapel proper where worship would take place.  A square pedestal on a dais dominated the chamber.  Many sacrifices of grain, flowers and other things had been left on the dais.

On the center of the wall were carvings they were faded with age.  The paint flaked and Allison had noticed them on other walls, but she hadn’t paid any attention to them.  She was used to the churches of the Dark Mother being covered in symbology.  She ignored it most of the time.  These looked old.  Older than the rest.  This room seemed to be carved out of the mountain that backed the temple.  It was rougher.

The grey-scale pointed to the center of the rear wall.  The top center was dominated by the carving of a woman she had massive, feathered wings that sprung out of her back.  Short lines radiated off of her head as if to denote light.  She held a staff, faded paint could still be seen.  It was painted gold.

Below the angel was another woman holding what appeared to be two swords.  The paint was still present on this one.  The woman’s hair was red, her eyes were green.  One sword was painted black, the other white.  Thousands of endless lines radiated out from image, the lines formed a network.  Allison realized she could trace their paths out of the room and into others.

Under that image was the same woman with wings that matched the angel’s and her eyes were painted golden.  She held a staff, the same staff the angel at the top was holding.

The grey-scale pressed her taloned hand against the angel.

“Seraph.”

She motioned to the woman in the center of the wall.

“Seraph in her mortal form.  We know her as the Dark Mother.”

She motioned to the bottom image.

“The Dark Mother’s ascension, when she rose above her father to weave a new creation.  The one we exist in.”

Her hand shifted up and she pressed it against the image of the Dark Mother.  She whispered a prayer then addressed Allison.

“The grand prophecy radiates from our Dark Mother.  She has chosen you for a great destiny, child.  You are one of her Chosen.”

The grey-scale tapped one of the lines that radiated from the image of the Dark Mother’s mortal form.

“This is your line.  Come.”

Allison was getting increasingly dubious of the sanity of the Grand Priestess, but she figured this would make a great report for her religion class.  She’d probably get an A.  Sister Silra would love the fact she spoke to other Sauroids and visited the central temple of the Dark Mother’s worship.  Allison followed the group.  The temple spanned kilometers.  It took them twenty minutes to reach another chamber.  This one had benches.  She was expecting the same faded images and carvings.  She was surprised, these ones seemed fresh.  As if they were done in the last few years.  The priestess pointed to a line that entered the room from the ceiling.

“Your line continued too here.”

The line went down from the ceiling, about half a foot down the line ended with a woman with black hair and magenta eyes.  She was wearing what looked like a suit.  Out of the woman, two lines diverged.  One vanished behind a wall the other led to an image of a tall woman in white robes, a gold and blue Egyptian style necklace, long black hair and golden eyes.  It was easy to figure out it was meant to represent Isis.  The grey-scale’s chipped talon traced the line to a small child with red hair and golden eyes.  Sitting in front of a blue and green image of the Earth that was.  Behind her were a dark-skinned man and woman.  The grey-scale tapped the image.

“The Earth Sphere before the coming of the endless winter prophesied by the Dark Mother.”

She pointed to the child.

“You.  The prophecy states, the Chosen Daughter, She who remains, will be born of Three Mothers.  She will be placed in the care of an ancient barren woman and her mate.  The woman will pray for a child, and the Dark Mother will grant her prayers.”

Allison squinted and leaned into get a better look.  She was extremely skeptical.

“There are lots of girls with red hair and amber eyes.”

The grey-scale chuckled.  She pointed at the next image.  It showed a red-haired woman with golden eyes, from her face radiated lines indicating light.  Allison squinted and saw it was the nose, no a spot on the nose.  She pointed at the image.

“What is that supposed to be?”

The grey-scale patted the image.

“The Chosen Daughter, She who remains, will awaken on the day of her ascension with a sign of her blossoming womanhood.”

She tapped the center of the light beams.

“You became a woman, this was your sign.”

Allison realized what it was supposed to be.  She covered her nose self-consciously.  She was sure she was pimple free today, but still if this was supposed to be her it was embarrassing that her acne was preserved in stone.  Her voice was somewhat muffled because of her hand being in front of her nose and mouth.

“This is not me.  You’re talking to the wrong girl.  Lots of people get pimples, especially teenagers.”

The grey-scale didn’t seem to notice Allison’s discomfort and continued. She pointed at the next image.  It was of a red-haired girl in black armor with her back to the viewer.  She was reaching her hand to another girl with white hair. 

“The Chosen Daughter, She who remains, will reach into the darkness and there she will find a light-bringer.  She will guide the light-bringer back to the light of the Dark Mother so she may once again show her people the way.”

That was getting eerily familiar.

“Okay, a bit weird, but that could be the Dark Mother helping her daughter Hazel.  The Dark Mother’s image after she Ascended had golden eyes end red hair.”

The grey-scale priestess moved on.  Her hand touching the next image, she whispered a prayer of thanks to the Dark Mother.  Allison squinted at it.  It showed the red-haired girl, she had the same golden eyes.  Behind her were two spheres, one black, one orange with a black outline where the spheres met a blue star had been painted with lines radiating off it through the two spheres.  Beneath the spheres were thousands of black shapes that looked roughly humanoid. Above the spheres were shapes reminiscent of the Sal’nash hives.

“The Chosen daughter, she who remains, will enter into darkness and within that darkness she will find the spawn of the great devourer.  The product of an ancient evil.  She will reach out her hand and she will smite this evil.”

Allison kept her hand over her face.  She was starting to feel creeped out.  That last bit was almost right on the nose.  She spoke quietly.

“Are you spying on me or something?”

The grey-scale shook her head.

“No, my child, these were completed thousands of years before I was born.”

She moved on and motioned to the next picture.  It showed the same girl surrounded by stars.

“The Chosen daughter, She who remains, will roam the dark places in the Universe.  There she will find herself.”

She motioned to the next image.  The same red-haired girl, wearing grey.  She is reaching out her hand.  Facing the viewer were the five members of the League’s High Council the girls other hand was reaching out towards a Sauroid and a human.  Allison was beginning to get frightened.  This was too much.  She couldn’t bring herself to flee.  Could this tell her the future?  What to expect?

“The Chosen daughter, She who remains, will bring two great civilizations together, in peace by her words and actions.”

She patted the image again.

“May we all be peace bringers.”

The priestess moved on she patted the next image.  It showed the same girl, standing over a cylinder.  Behind her were four silhouettes.  One far larger than the others, one female.  Across from them on the opposite side were Sauroids in priestesses robes.  She patted the image.  A red sun rising behind the whole group.

“The Chosen Daughter, She who remains, will pull her sister from darkness and bring her into the light.”

The line led into a dead end at this point.  The wall it led to was just blank stone.  Allison looked around.  She touched the wall.  Followed it around but found they were at the end of the temple.  She moved back to the grey-scale.

“Where is the rest?”

The priestess motioned to the floor.  There were grooves as if something massive was dragged across it.

“I am afraid, Chosen Daughter, that it has not been revealed to us yet.  As is the Dark Mother’s will.  Freedom of Choice is her gift.  Your future is like this wall, formless and blank, until you live it.”

Allison still had her hand over her nose.

“Freedom?  You knew all of this was going to happen to me!  How am I free?”

The grey-scale motioned downwards with her talons.

“It is your choices that led to these outcomes, whether they were here or not.  The all-seeing ones who created these, they only painted and carved what the Dark Mother showed them.  She does not dictate actions; She merely sees all of time and space and knows your path before you walk it.  Come, we have one last thing I must do before we waken our sister.”

Allison took one last glance at the wall that had predicted her life so far.  She was feeling uncomfortable in her own skin.  The pair seemed to walk forever through the dark and twisting passages of the Temple.  They arrived in a small chamber.  It was pitch black.  Allison pulled the flashlight from her utility belt and let it hover beside her. 

Only one image marked this room and unlike the others it had no lines leading too or from it.  It showed the red-haired girl with golden eyes wearing what looked like desert wanderer clothes holding a cube on one side of a sphere.  Inside the sphere were cylinders and an altar backed by a pool.  The edge of the sphere was surrounded by turquoise lettering, runes?  It was a language Allison could not decipher. On the opposite side of the sphere was a girl with long blonde hair, blue eyes holding an identical cube.  Above the sphere were an image of two naked human women holding hands.  One had red hair, the other black.

“I do not know what it means, but this is the only other image of you in the temple that has been revealed, Chosen daughter.  There is no prophecy, just this image.  This is you.”

She tapped the image of Allison in drifter clothing.  She tapped the sphere.

“We believe these are the lost children of the Dark Mother.”

She tapped the image of the two naked women.

“We believe this is the Dark Mother and her chosen mate.  We do not know what the cubes represent.”

She traced her chipped and worn black talon around the text.

“We have not been able to decipher this.  This chamber is older than the temple by billions of years.  The image and the colors were burned into the rock.  They never fade.  The wall is impenetrable to all damage.  We have used your scanners, and we can’t even figure out what the stone is, all we can tell is, that it is as old as the universe itself.  This is why the temple was founded here.  The oldest writings of our people tell of this image.”

She looked up at it with her ancient eyes tracing the sphere.  She patted the image and stepped back.  Allison was tempted to test the theory about the indestructible wall with her Qual’sa pistol’s disintegration setting, but then decided she didn’t want to add destruction of a historic site to her already impressive list of crimes for the day.  Allison reached out her hand hovering over the smooth looking stone.

“Go ahead, many of the faithful who find it feel closer to the Dark Mother after touching a direct message from her.  You cannot harm it.”

Allison put her palm on the sphere in the center.  The runes that seemed etched in stone started to spin and split into three concentric rings.  The runes began to glow brightly.  Allison tried to pull her hand away but it was fused to the stone.  Allison’s back arched and her eyes began to glow.  Suddenly she was elsewhere in a dark void.  A pillar of light flashed into existence hovering at this center was the Dark Mother herself.  Her red hair floating above her arms out to her sides.  She was naked.  Allison could see every scar that marked the goddess’s body.  Her eyes opened.  They glowed with a golden light.  She looked at Allison and she spoke.  The words cut through Allison to her very core and rung with the echo of the divine.

“Darkness is coming for you, daughter.  They seek the key to the salvation of your brothers and sisters.  They must not succeed, or all will be lost.  Protect the key at all costs.  Know that I love you and have always loved you, daughter.”

Allison had fallen to her knees and tears were dripping down her cheeks.  She could feel such overwhelming unconditional love in her heart.  It rivaled the love she felt from her mother.

“I don’t understand, Dark Mother.  Help me understand.”

The Dark Mother’s form floated to the ground, and she walked to Allison at a deliberate pace.  She reached down with her pale hand Allison took it and warmth spread through her entire body.  The Dark Mother’s glowing eyes faded and her emerald green eyes that matched Eyre’s looked Allison over then pulled her in for a loving embrace.

“Daughter.  You are not meant to understand yet.”

The Dark Mother released Allison.

“Are you, my mother?”

The Dark Mother touched Allison’s cheek.  Allison leaned into it.

“I am everyone’s mother, daughter.  You are a child of three mothers.  Only one of which has earned the right to wear the title with her blood, sweat and tears.  You know of whom I speak.”

Blood tears dripped from the Dark Mother’s eyes.  The Dark Mother cupped Allison’s face in her palms.

“I wish it were me that you looked upon with unconditional love.  It was not to be child.  You will always be my daughter, but your real mother waits for you at home far from here.  Wake your sister then go to your mother.  Tell her you love her and lay your head on her lap like you did as a small child.  Enjoy and cherish your time with her, it will not last forever.  Keep her in your heart when she is gone.  Remember her smile.  Remember her laugh.  I will always be here for you, but she will always be the mother of your heart.”

The Dark Mother leaned down and kissed Allison on the forehead.  Her blood tears dripped onto Allison’s cheeks and rolled to her lips.  She could taste the absolute and unconditional love of the Dark Mother. 

Allison saw a vision of herself walking up the steps of a temple in a vast desert.  She was older and she had a dull black cube in one hand, the strange sword from the crate in the other.  She reached a set of blast doors that sealed the temple.  She sliced through them with the sword, like one might slice through thick underbrush.  She reached a carving at the center of the temple floor.  She saw herself kneeling down and reaching out her hands.  The cube floated between them, and concentric rings of glowing runes appeared in the air spinning around the cube.  She was chanting but it was unintelligible.  The older version of her started moving her hands, they were moving too fast to see so it was a blur and the pieces of the cube started to separate and form a strange knew shape a shape that could not exist in three dimensions.  The vision ended. 

She was still on her knees before the Dark Mother who smiled.

“Go, my daughter.  Live life to the fullest, love deeply and often.  Be kind, be merciful, be decisive and be you.  Keep an open heart and mind.  I will always love you, and I am always watching over you.”

Allison stumbled back from the wall, she felt moistness on her cheeks, she lifted her fingers to her face.  She swept them across the wetness like she might wipe away her tears.  When she looked her fingertips were covered in blood.  She licked her fingers and closed her eyes.  The blood was so potent she felt energized.  She tried to get all of it off her face and into her mouth.  She looked around and saw that the room and the hallway behind it were packed with Priestesses of the Dark Mother.  She looked at the image and the runes had changed, there were now three rows of them around the central sphere.  The Dark Mother’s image had blood tears on the face and beneath the sphere, a legion of figures seemed to be waiting menacingly in the shadows. 

She looked at the SA standard time on her AR HUD.  It had been almost six hours since she’d touched the wall.  She stumbled when she tried to walk.  She was feeling very disconnected from her body at the moment.  The room started to spin, and Allison felt lightheaded.  The grey-scale priestess caught Allison’s arm.

“Easy, chosen daughter, communing with the Dark Mother is often taxing.”

The grey-scale put her arm across Allison’s shoulders and helped Allison to a bench.  The grey-scale’s tail swished behind her.

“Do you need anything?  Water?  Food?  Blood?”

Allison rubbed her temples.

“No, I just need to get used to my body again?  I think.  I don’t know.”

The grey-scale nodded.

“Take your time. Child.  Your sister has been sleeping for many cycles of the spheres, a few more cycles will do no harm.”

Allison looked up at the grey-scale.

“Sister, don’t you want to know what I saw?”

The grey-scale smiled.

“Of course I do child, but if I am meant to know it, the Dark Mother will reveal it in time.”

Allison shook her head.

“I thought she was just some old dead vampire people worshiped because she was an old vampire.  I didn’t understand.  She is real.  I felt her hug me.  I felt her lips on my forehead.”

The grey-scale sat beside Allison.

“Faith is a strange thing, child.  The Dark Mother doesn’t expect us to have faith in her, she expects us to have faith in ourselves.  I ask her for strength to weather storms, but I know that the strength comes from my heart.  I have always had it she just helps me realize it.  Some of my younger Sisters do not understand this.  Some of our brethren believe that if they are true to the Dark Mother, and do not partake in cybernetics and other modifications to their body they will be reborn of her blood.  It is not for me to question their belief, but I know in my heart, she is not coming down to turn them.”

Allison nodded.  The grey-scale touched Allison’s chest where her heart would be.

“You know in here what you want to believe in, believe in that and you will please the Dark Mother.”

Allison realized she was still holding her water bottle.  She took a drink.  Her body was starting to feel like her own again.  She started to stand up and looked around to make sure the world wasn’t spinning.   She smiled.

“I think I’m alright Sister.  I’d like to go help wake up that vampire, then I want to go home and hug my mom.”

The grey-scale smiled and led Allison through the network of hallways and chambers to the front entrance.  Allison realized she could get lost for days in the massive temple.

“Sister, how do you know this place so well?”

The grey-scale motioned around herself.

“I have lived here all of my life.  I was the all-seeing one before the Dark Mother healed my eyes so I could see her, in all her glory.  She told me I was free of her service, but I know no other home.  So here I have remained.  When you are blind for centuries you learn your way around your home.”

Allison looked at the grey-scale.

“You met her in person?”

She nodded.

“Yes, I helped guide her to the truth.  I should have long ago passed on to the next realm but the staff, and later her touch have kept me alive.”

The twilight rift spread out before them.  Allison looked out at the massive trees, then to the crashed transport.  She blushed.

“I am sorry I crashed a transport on your lawn, Sister.”

The priestess laughed.

“I am sure your people will clean it up eventually.  We will make use of the wood for our settlement.  Cutting those trees down is a challenge, and look you cut eight down for us.  A blessing.”

Allison saw Bit shimmer into existence fifty meters from the bottom of the steps.

“Oh, that’s my ride.  Thank you, for showing me… stuff I guess.”

The priestess bowed her head.

“You are welcome here any time, chosen daughter.”

Allison ran down the steps to Bit.

Chapter Text

               Allison hopped up the liquid metal ladder and climbed into her starfighter’s cockpit.   She hugged the control console and squealed with teenage delight.

               “I’m so glad to be home.”

               Bit seemed happy, or at least her voice did.

               “Did you find any answers in the Temple?  How is your project coming along?”

               Allison’s pale hands danced over the holo-controls for the fighter doing a system’s check and preparing for takeoff.

               “Just more questions.  I cannot wait to get home.  I got the project handled though, got plenty of images of the art.  There must be millions of carvings in there.  I wonder if anyone’s catalogued them all.”

               Bit didn’t answer immediately, she did a few moments later.

               “No, there is no full catalogue of images.  It would appear some of the walls shift revealing extra carvings as time goes on.  Strange.  Did you see anything that would indicate she is manipulating us?”

               Allison made a face and got herself cleared for take off by space control.  Once she got clearance she lifted off and started a slow flight to the city of light.

               “No.  Everything that happened to us was because of the choices we made.  It is as simple as that.  A priestess asked me a question when I asked her about it:  Two meteorites are going to collide with two planets.  You have one defense missile.  Which statement is true?  Planet one is destroyed, Planet 2 is destroyed, or Both Planets are Destroyed, Both Planets survive.”

               Bit sounded annoyed.

               “What a nonsensical question.”

               Allison nodded.

               “That is exactly what I thought.  She told me the correct statement is, both planets are destroyed and both planets survive.”

               “That makes no logical sense.”

               Allison nodded again.

               “Yep, exactly what I thought, but then she told me that all possible pasts and futures have occurred.  So, in one possible reality we made the choice to abandon Aryna, in ours we didn’t.”

               Bit considered for a few minutes before responding.

               “The theory of Eternalism.  Alternate realities, mirror universes.  It has been disproven.”

               Allison shrugged.

               “Bit, I have no idea, the whole talk gave me a headache.  She told me the Dark Mother showed her the multiple realities.  Of course, she also apparently cut her own eyes out so she could see better.  Anyway, you’re being paranoid, no one is manipulating us. Take today as an example.  There is no way someone arranged this mess.  Like, if some idiot in PR hadn’t released top secret information, I wouldn’t have had to call Miles to help me get away from reporters.  How could anyone predict I’d do that?  Or that Miles would get a job after we met that would need a pilot like me?  Huh?  Tell me that.  Not to mention, Miles randomly showed up at the apartment looking for another girl.  So totally disproven.  Unless you’re saying you believe the whole a butterfly flaps its wings, and a hurricane happens a month later on the other side of the planet.”

               “A sufficiently advanced computer could in theory with the proper predictive algorithms predict that chain of events.  It stands to reason a being of divine nature would be able to do so, even two decades ago.”

               Allison held up her hands.

               “I’m done with this discussion you’re being weird and paranoid.”

               Allison received clearance to land on one of the solid stone buildings that populated the city of light.  She found it easily due to SA placed beacons.  If she didn’t have them, it would be quite challenging due to the massive trees that acted as camouflage.  She brought Bit in for a gentle landing.  Allison hugged the control console again.

               “Keep the fusion core hot for me.  Once we’re done here, we’re going home.  Did we get wormhole clearance yet?”

               “We do not need wormhole clearance, we just need to exit Sol system proper.  There is a wormhole generator integrated into my systems.”

               “Say what?  How?  You’re… tiny, they’re huge.”

               Bit flashed the control interface for the wormhole generator.

               “The only limitation on its use is the same as any craft equipped with them.  Wormhole entry points may only be generated outside the heliosphere of a star system.  Wormhole exits may only be generated at authorized points.  Wormholes may not be generated to calculated coordinates and must utilize a wormhole beacon.”

               Allison touched the new holographic control for wormhole generation.

               “Geez.  The president really knows how to take care of her friends doesn’t she?”

               “It would appear so.  Please, enjoy your stay in the city of light, Allison.  Given your recent proclivity for imbibing alcohol, might I suggest you show restraint with your intake of Lofufu Juice.”

               Allison was unstrapped herself Bit continued.

               “It is an alcoholic beverage fermented from the Lofu berry, it is the primary good exported from Sauroid Prime, it comes in two varieties.  The light side variety is known for its warm fruity flavor with woody undertones, due to water being provided from Talss’ura trees.  The Dark side variety is known for its higher alcohol content, and its earthy tones provided by the fungus that grows on the dark side berries.”

               “I know what it is, mom always has a bottle in case Sister Silra and her husband come over.”

               She put her fingers to her lips then pressed them on Bit’s liquid metal armor.

               “If I get drunk, I promise I’ll bring something to throw up in.  See you soon.”

               Bit flexed her wings by sending a ripple through the liquid metal armor.

               “If you’re planning on seeing your mother when you get home you may want to avoid coming back smelling like alcohol.”

               “Thanks mom.”

               Allison went down a set of stone stairs and started following the directions her AR HUD was providing to the coordinates sent by Miles.  She didn’t hurry.  She had never been to Sauroid Prime.  She was amazed at how bright they had managed to make the city, and still conceal it.  Every building exploded with color.  Lightsider Sauroids were going about their daily business.  Many greeted her as she passed.  She gave them a polite Sauroid greeting.  Her route took her through a street market.  Her passage was blocked when a group of children who had just gotten out of school rushed towards her when they saw her.  Mostly girls.  Though she pondered if calling female Sauroid children, girls was the right way to say it.

               “You are Allison of the Eden Sphere!”

               Allison laughed and crouched down to meet the bright turquoise scaled girls gaze.

               “Yes, how do you know that?”

               “On the holo in school.  They showed the President of the Yellow Sphere’s speech.  When I grow up I want to be a starfighter pilot just like you!”

               Allison smiled at the girl.  She spoke in Sauroid.  Her parents had hired Sister Silra’s husband to tutor the whole family in the language.  It meant a pay raise for their father and another farming colony was being planned for the Eden Prime equator, populated by Sauroids.  They were immune to the solar radiation on account of their scales and were adept at farming the d-weed, the turquoise grain native to Sauroid Prime.

               “It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, what is your name?”

               “S’slara.”

               “Well, S’slara, I will look out for you in the squadrons.”

               Allison answered a barrage of questions from the children giving each of them a high five before moving on.  A nearby merchant who had heard the whole exchange approached and offered her a primitive sword. 

The blade was a couple of feet long, and white.  She’d have to scan it to figure out exactly what it was made of, but she was pretty sure it was the carved from an incisor of one of the predatory megafauna that would sometimes find their way out of the twilight rift.  She had images of Godzilla from one of the twentieth century vids she consumed way too much of while younger.  She held her hand out.  A hilt had been carved into it and wrapped in h’sak silk.  It was harvested from h’sak spiders that also lived in the twilight rift.  They were giant arachnids, the size of her starfighter.  It was strong enough if woven into armor it could repel most small arms fire.  It was not so good against edged weapons.  Around that was a cord made of some fiber.  The outside of the curved incisor was sharpened to a razors edge.  Sauroid symbology was etched into the material of the blade.  Compared to the weapons she had access to, primitive, but it was also beautiful in its own right.  She spoke in Sauroid. 

               “I have no money, I’m sorry.  It is a beautiful weapon, sir.”

               The Sauroid, who had fading red scales shook his head.  His tail slapping the ground.

               “It was meant for you.”

               He motioned to the carvings.  It was imagery from the prophecy in the temple, specific to her.  He touched his Dark Mother pendant.

               “In her name, Chosen Daughter. May it protect you when the darkness finds you.”

               Allison took the offered hilt after thinking it over.  She wondered what it was worth here.  The Sauroids had adapted to human weapons over the last two and a half decades.  They no longer used spears and bows for protection.  They had been replaced by rifles.  If they used swords or knives, they were likely made from durasteel, the same thing starships armor was made out of before the President had developed liquid metal.  Though Allison now realized it wasn’t so much developed as adapted for human use.  Her biological mother had provided all the specifications.  Then she wondered if she had inherited that knowledge and just couldn’t access it.  She bowed her head.

               “I am honored to receive this gift.  Did you craft it?”

               He bowed his head, his tail slapping harder.  Allison looked it over.  She wasn’t skilled in swords yet, but she was pondering taking up the art.

               “I will try to be a warrior worthy of it.”

               Smiling was a recent habit picked up by Sauroids.  It was usually the younger ones, but some of the older ones had picked up the habit.  Showing teeth used to be a sign of a battle to come.  It was yet another way the humans had influenced their culture.  The Sauroids who spent more time watching holos and vids on the Alliance-Net, or dealing with humans tended to have more human body language.  Allison bowed her head.

               “My friends need my help to awaken a servant of the Dark Mother.  I thank you for this gift, Wise One.”

               He bowed his head and moved back to his stall; His tail was slapping on the ground the whole way.  Wise One was the respectful way of saying grey-scale, not that saying grey-scale was rude it was the difference between just saying hey you, and hello, sir.   

As her trip through the market continued, she was offered a few more gifts.  She wasn’t sure why, she’d have to ask someone, maybe Sister Silra about it.  Their gifts weren’t anything on the level of the sword.  There was a ring made of a red metal indigenous to Sauroid Prime, a carved wooden animal she did not know the name of, and some Lofu fruit still on part of a vine.  They appeared to be bumpy grape like things.  She devoured the fruit hungrily after thanking the woman who handed them to her profusely.  Eating them made her realize she was starving.  She silently cursed not eating more MREs on the ship.  Miles had been right.

               Her destination was apparently the sun temple of the City of Light.  It was the tallest structure in the city.  It was covered in a rainbow of colored paint.  Brightly dyed banners rippled in the gentle breeze.  They had solid circles of various colors representing the spheres, or celestial bodies the lightside Sauroid’s held sacred.  Before the Dark Mother arrived the light and dark side Sauroid’s entire belief structure revolved around Seraph, their savior and the various spheres.  The spheres still featured prominently in their individual identities.  They didn’t have surnames, they just had a name, and the sphere they were born under.

               The star of the Trappist system featured prominently in the light side temple’s iconography.  A portion of the Sauroid population were able to perform feats of telekinesis.  Being out of the sun’s light robbed them of this power.  Rather, being in the dark robbed them of it.  Any sun would do as far as Allison was aware.  Sister Silra’s husband seemed to use his just fine on Eden Prime.  He had often performed shows to entertain the children of Eden Prime.  She walked up the stairs. 

Most of the art on the sun temple walls was old.  She noticed some new paintings as she moved closer to the top.  One was of the Dark Mother defeating an army of dark side Sauroids.  Another was of her first telling, human’s first contact with the Sauroids.  Another one showed her brokering peace between the Light and Dark side Sauroids.  The war had lasted longer than human civilization had existed.  The last she saw showed the Dark Mother walking between the dark and the light  

Allison realized why the Dark Mother’s religion had taken root so easily among the Sauroids.  The story paralleled Jesus’s and that had spawned a religion that still had believers even three thousand years later.  She brought water to the light side, she brought healing grain to the dark side.  She brought peace to a world that had been at war for almost twenty-thousand years.  A war so old neither side remembered what it was about.  She lifted the twilight rift curse.  She had shown the Sauroid people the path to the stars and helped them dig up their long-buried history.

She paused at the image of the Dark Mother walking a line between darkness and light.  She touched her pendant and remembered what the kiss on her forehead had felt like.  She wondered if she’d had an epiphany or had just passed out from the stress of the day, then had a wild dream.  She shook her head.  The blood had been real.  She had tasted the Dark Mother’s tears. 

Allison was pulled away from her musings when she heard Dimi and Miles arguing loudly up ahead.  She sighed and hurried up the stairs.  Pinto was still nowhere to be seen.  Miles was holding Dimi at bay.  Dimi had a plasma cutter.   Allison tapped her comm link to Bit.

“Bit, could you check through military channels on the status of Pinto?”

               Allison didn’t get an immediate answer, she hadn’t been expecting one. Sometimes Bit was extremely talkative others silent and broody.  Usually broody when Allison disagreed with her on something, like say Bit’s manipulation theory.  She walked up to the group.

               “Hey guys, what’s up?”

               Miles turned to her.

               “You’re part vampire, tell him how flammable you guys are.”

               Allison looked at the metal tube.

               “Uh, well I’m pretty sure everyone is flammable where plasma torches are concerned.”

               The steel had chipped paint and small cuts.  It appeared they’d been trying for a few hours by this time, and nothing was working.  Allison pulled out her vibro knife and tried to cut into the metal.  It was working but they’d be here for hours.  The tube was basically tank armor turned into a sarcophagus.  She thought of the monoedge blade from earlier, she realized it would probably lose its deadly edge after the first few cuts.  Allison stood up and scratched the back of her head.  She made a face looking at the primitive steel that was causing them so much trouble.

               “This would be so easy if someone wasn’t inside.  If only I’d loaded swarm drones in Bit before we left she could use one to do a precision cut.  They would slice through this like it’s a liquid.  I’m not sure how they managed to make it without welds and weak points.”

               Miles laughed.  She looked around and saw the crate with what she assumed were the vampires’ belongings.  She tapped her chin.  Something was there at the edge of her consciousness.  Something helpful.  What was it?

               “My pistol could definitely make a hole; It shot through a ship hull.  Unfortunately, on that setting it’s a disintegrator so I’m not sure what it would do if the beam hit the vampire.   Miles is right, the plasma cutter is a bad idea.  It might boil the vampire… alive?  Ugg.  I need to make a call.”

               Allison moved away from the group slightly and tried calling Eyre.  Eyre did not answer.  Allison left a message: Hey, Auntie Eyre, so umm I kind of helped rescue a vampire, but she’s in some sort of armored Nazi sarcophagus, if we were to say use a plasma torch, would that kill the vampire?  Umm, bye, and stuff.

               Allison rubbed her forehead and bit her lower lip.  She could try and reach Isis.  She looked at her display.  The Tribunal was back in session today, likely that was where Maria, Isis and Eyre were all located.  She walked over to the crate and used her knife to pry the lid open.  Miles, Zebra and Dimi were arguing about what to do next.  The Church of the Dark Mother had apparently offered them a twenty percent bonus if they could get the tube open.  The church felt unequipped to deal with the armored sarcophagus, or a hungry vampire. 

Allison leaned the lid on the crate and looked at the contents.  She pulled out her scanner and ran it along the sword again.  Her scans showed the swords molecular density and hardness were off the charts, literally her holo-phone app just read Unknown Error.  Most importantly it was a monoedge.  If her suspicions were correct, it would likely cut through almost anything not protected by a force field.  She stood up and walked over to the armored sarcophagus.  She looked up at the sunlight streaming through the giant trees and frowned.  Opening this in the sun could end up with a crispy vampire.

She approached the group who were still arguing about the best course of action.  She held up the sword.

“We can try this, but erm, sun is bad for vampire’s health.  So anywhere dark we could take her, here?”

The high priest of the sun nodded to her.  He had bright yellow scales with red and orange highlights.

“Please, bring it this way.”

Allison grabbed one end, Dimi grabbed the other.  Miles put the lid on top of the crate haphazardly and the entire group moved down to the lower levels.  It amazed Allison how the Sauroids had managed to minimize shadows in their city.  It would be impossible anywhere else but here.  The planet wasn’t rotating on an axis it was tidally locked to its sun.  The priest unlocked a cell and motioned to a darkened room.  Probably the only truly dark space in the entire city.  Allison and Dimi put the tube down inside the room.  Allison offered him the sword and backed away.  Dimi scratched his head as he looked at the sword and the tube.

“Uh, whatever.”

He started slicing it lengthwise.  While that would weaken it the group would still have to pry it open.  He got to the far end and smiled proudly.

“Hey no blood, I did good here.”

Miles groaned.

“You need to cut it in half you idiot.”

Allison spoke up.

“I’d just cut the end off then we can pull her out. If she wakes up, she’ll have to wiggle out which will give you plenty of time to run.”

Dimi waved the sword at Allison nodding.

“Yeah, yeah, I like that idea.  Not getting eaten sounds good.”

Miles smirked.

“Like you have anything remotely like blood in you still you chromed up toaster.”

Dimi gave Miles the finger before angling himself to slice the end off the sarcophagus.  He kicked it.

“Hey vampire girl, you awake in there?”

He kicked it again.  There was a feral snarl.  It sounded like a hungry predatory cat.  Dimi had weakened the structural integrity of the vampire’s prison with his lengthwise cut.  The armored steel was wrenched apart. 

Chapter Text

The feral vampire lunged at Dimi who tripped and sprawled on his butt just outside the darkened enclosure.  Apparently, the sunlight did not phase the well-preserved vampire as she lunged out into it.  Allison drew her Qual’sa pistol and fired.  It hit the armor and had no effect.  Her next shot hit the vampire square in the nose.  The feral woman collapsed. 

Dimi tossed her back into the dark room before Allison could stop him.  The vampire stood up.  Her eyes were glowing red, and she was pacing back and forth just outside the sun.  Allison rubbed the back of her head with her Qual’sa pistol still in her hands.

“So, anyone have any Synth-O?”

Dimi pointed at Allison.

“You’re a half vampire, why don’t you talk to her?  Show her your fangs?”

Allison looked at him as if he was an idiot.

“She doesn’t seem like she’s in a talking mood, and who knows what languages she understands, not that she seems like she understands anything. And for your information vampire blood tastes better then human blood so… like she’s more likely to try and eat me.”

Even after Allison’s protest everyone was still staring at her expectantly.  She crossed her arms and shook her head.  After several minutes Miles spoke.

“At least try?”

Allison rolled her eyes.

“I don’t exactly know how to fang out on command.”

Miles shrugged.

“What usually does it?”

Allison blushed and didn’t answer, blood sometimes did, anger sometimes did, the only thing that guaranteed it was too embarrassing to repeat out loud.  Miles looked at her again and repeated himself.  Allison mumbled.  When I’m turned on.

Miles blinked.

“What?”

Allison shook her head.  Zebra pulled out her pocket knife and sliced her hand.  The feral vampire they had released sniffed the air but wouldn’t leave the darkness of her current sanctuary.  Allison could smell it too.  Zebra walked up to Allison and waved it in front of the teenager.  Allison tried to resist but she lost it.  She came to her senses with Zebra gasping.  Her eyes were closed and she was really enjoying herself.  Allison, having drank enough to satiate her initial bloodlust released the hand and blushed.

“Sorry…”

She still felt her fangs out.  She wiped the blood from her lips and walked up to the feral vampire.  The vampire’s eyes locked on Allison’s own, and she snarled like an animal might when another animal entered its territory.  Allison did a small wave.

“Hi, hello, just thought I’d introduce myself.  Allison…  Allison Wanjala here, I’m a dhampir.  I’m uh, sorry I shot you uh, back there but umm… Anyway, they seem to think me being half vampire means you’ll uh… calm down and talk to me.  So like, we’re trying to find you blood so if you could please just avoid trying to eat anyone again…  We would really appreciate it.”

The vampire sniffed in Allison’s direction.  Allison was getting a very good look at the vampire now.  She was a good-looking teenage girl.  Older than Allison.  She had brown hair and eyes.   Allison had expected her to be desiccated or something, but the vampire wasn’t at all.  Besides the fangs and glowing red eyes she looked pretty normal.  The teenage vampire struggled to get two words out.

“Mi bagge.”

Allison repeated them to herself.  It wasn’t a language she understood.  She looked behind her.

“Anyone know what mi bagge means?”

One of the Sauroid priests spoke up.

“It sounds sort of like you humans saying, my bag.  Is there a bag in her belongings?”

Miles knocked the lid off the crate and pulled out the beige nylon-like bag.  He threw it to Allison who caught it.  She threw it into the room behind the vampire. 

The vampire pounced on the bag and pulled out a blood red crystal.  It turned a dull pink.  She then pulled out bottle after bottle of Synth-O and downed them.  Allison licked her lips jealously.  Truth be told she was feeling a bit hungry where blood was concerned even after Zebra’s donation.  Allison edged closer.  The vampire was on her thirty-sixth bottle of Synth-O by this time.  Allison was very confused because the bag was empty when she looked inside it and scanned it.  After another fifteen bottles the vampire started gathering up her empties and dumping them one after another into her bag.  Then the caps.  She seemed pretty meticulous. 

When she turned around the feral glowing red eyes had been replaced by kind brown eyes.  She pointed at Allison’s Qual’sa pistol.  Allison glanced down and realized she was still holding it.

“Are you going to strike me with your Atlantean pistol again, if I step outside?”

Allison blushed and shook her head.  She put it back in the holster her armor had formed.

“I’m sorry about that, you were trying to eat my friend.”

The vampire nodded and stepped outside.  She looked around and blinked in confusion.  When she saw the Sauroid high priest she stumbled backwards and fled into the dark room again.  The vampire’s English was strangely accented.  Allison would say UK Dome if she had to place it but it wasn’t quite the same.

“What manner of place is this?  Did the demons capture me?”

Allison looked around herself.

“Demons?  Uh, so, I don’t know much about when you’re from?  1942?  Like Nazi’s were bad.  It’s kind of ancient history for us.  Like, demons are just superstitious stuff.  Maybe they aren’t?  I’ve seen a lot of weird stuff lately but uh, if there are demons there are none here.  This is R’sla’sa, he is the High Priest of the Sun.  He let us use this room in the temple to free you.  I know they kind of look like they uh, are pretty vicious, but they’re not, they’re vegetarians, umm, here at least.”

The vampire still looked nervous, and definitely freaked out.  Allison turned to Dimi.

“Dimi, give me her sword and her pistol.  Maybe that will make her feel better.”

Dimi handed both to Allison.  He looked a bit sad about giving up the sword.  Allison offered them to the vampire who took them.  The vampire obviously knew how the armor worked because she formed a sheath and a holster.  Allison was crappy at this first contact stuff.  Was this first contact?  The vampire was from Earth.  How do you tell someone who had no idea aliens exist that they did in fact exist and she was on their homeworld?

“So, I guess, I’m the only official member of the System’s Alliance here so I should uh, do this right.”

Allison moved closer and offered her hand.

“Uh, I’m Ensign Allison Wanjala, of the System’s Alliance.  I am pleased to meet you.”

Helen took her hand and shook it.

“Lady Helen Aurelius, Daughter of Enid Aurelius.  What is an Ensign, and what is the System’s Alliance?”

Allison bit her lower lip and folded her hands in front of herself.

“Ensign is a military rank.  I am a soldier, a pilot… sort of a pilot.  You are in System’s Alliance space on one of its member worlds.  Sauroid Prime.”

Helen looked even more confused now.

“Space?  World?  Pilot?”

Allison rubbed the back of her head.  Wow maybe the Nazi’s just found her.  Even people from 1942 should have known what space and the planets were.

“Uh, so, what year do you remember it being?  Or rather, when where you born?”

“I was born in the year of our lord 1144, I was turned in 1162.  I remember being in a port city with pirates, mother said it was 1680.  Then a strange place with bright lights and food.  A ‘shopping mall’.  Mother said there would be a final battle, but I remember none of it.  Where is she? Did she send you to find me?”

Allison quickly tried to find anything she could from 1680 and pirates.  There were stories based on that time.  Pirates were pretty hot for holo-movies and holo-shows when she was younger.  She realized she’d have to tell the Dark Mother’s daughter the bad news.

“Okay… I guess you slept a lot and stuff, but did they even have malls in 1680?  Or 1942?  Sorry, I guess that’s enough.  So umm, look, I’m not sure how to say this, but like, the Dark Mother is dead.   She sacrificed herself to save… everything?  I don’t know, I probably should pay more attention in religion class?”

A pained look crossed Helen’s face.

“And of our sisters Hazel?  Miko?  Matilda?”

Allison shrugged.

“Sorry, ma’am, no idea.  I heard of Hazel.  Not the other two.”

Miles stepped forward.

“Wait, you know Hazel?  Is she okay?  Miko… she died in an attack.  I’m sorry.”

Helen sat down on the ground still in the darkness.  She seemed a bit distraught.  Allison waved Miles away.

“Shoo.  I got this.”

Miles sighed and threw up his hands.

“Fine but ask about Hazel.”

Allison gave him a look.

“Dude, if she knew about Hazel, she wouldn’t have been asking about her, don’t yea think?”

Miles walked away kicking the bright blue stone wall as he did.  Allison shook her head and moved closer.  She leaned on the cell’s stone doorway.

“Umm, sorry for the bad news, but there is good news?  You’re free, you have your stuff, and I know where your other sisters and your aunt are.”

Helen looked up at Allison.

“Where are our other sisters?”

               Allison pointed upwards.

               “Depending on how you get there, about seven hours away by civilian ship, or maybe ten minutes on a military ship.  They’re on Earth.”

               Helen moved closer to Allison.

               “Did they send you to rescue me?”

               Allison shook her head.

               “No, uh I got into a lot of trouble for doing this.  Auntie Eyre was so mad.  She almost told my mom.  Auntie Maria sent a really scary lady after me.  I can guess she’ll have a lecture for me at some point.”

               Helen was confused now.

               “Your mom?  You are my sister, aren’t you?  You look so much like Hazel, and Mother.”

               Allison bit her lower lip and tapped the sides of her armor.

               “No, I do not know who my parents really are.  I was adopted by a really nice family.  I get that a lot though but as far as I know I am not related to the Dark Mother except that she was friends with my biological parents.”

               Helen nodded.  She looked a bit saddened by the news.  Then she focused on Allison again.

               “I have a concern about you, you are obviously a vampire.  You are too young to have been turned.  As a Seer, I will need to investigate it.  I may have to harm your sire.”

               “Huh?  No, I’m umm, half-vampire.  No one turned me.  I was born this way.  Vampire council says we’re fine or so the Empress says.  I don’t know.  It is new to me.   So, like, what now?”

               Helen looked around.

               “How do you have ships that sail so fast?  The sailors talked of journeys that took months.”

               Allison glanced up and motioned for Helen to come out.  She pointed up at a cargo transport flying over the city and gaining altitude.

               “Uh, we don’t really use sailing ships anymore.”

               Helen stared wide-eyed at the transport.

               “It is so large.  I thought only mother and Hazel had flying ships.”

               Allison shook her head.

               “We have ships that can travel between the stars.  We should probably just leave it at that.  Space is the new ocean.  Sometimes trips can take months, or even years.  Depending on how far away things are.  For me to fly home at the maximum speed I can go is like… err”

               Allison tapped the test FTL plot with her max safe speed.

               “Just under three years.  For you as a full-on vampire if you were on a good ship, I think it’s like three weeks or something like that.  Anyway, just think of space like oceans.  It’s big.  We have ships that travel through it.”

               Helen looked up at the sun.

               “So, this is a different sun?  That is why it is red?”

               Allison nodded.

               “Yea, it’s just a tinge, but I notice it too, humans can’t.  It’s like the star where I’m from, it’s blue since I changed, I can notice the blue tinge to everything if I pay attention.  I didn’t notice a difference before.  It was just white.  Kind of miss that.”

               “I believe I understand.”

               “You seem to be handling this alien world thing pretty well.”

               Helen nodded.

               “I have been on one before.  The beings were different, but similar, they had scales, but they also had wings.  Breathed fire.  I thought they were dragons.”

               Allison’s eyes went wide with the revelation.

               “You’ve been to a Silwrath planet?”

               Helen looked at her.

               “Yes, that is what Mother called them.  We killed many of them.  They were quite protective over the demons we were hunting.”

               She sighed and her lips creased.

               “Hazel was out of control.  The… Silwrath were very vigorous in their defense.”

               “When was this?”

               “I do not know.  Mother would move us around to different times.  She didn’t tell us when we were, just that the demons needed to be destroyed and their plot foiled.  Is the food safe to eat here?”

               Allison smiled and nodded.

               “I don’t really have any money though.”

               Helen reached into her bag and pulled out a handful of Spanish doubloons.

               “Do they take these?”

               Allison held out her hand.

               “May I, ma’am?”

               Helen put one of the coins in Allison’s hand.  Allison scanned it.  Her AR HUD indicated the coin was historically legitimate, because of the lack of indicators it was forged and pressed after the nuclear tests and subsequent bombings.  She wasn’t an expert but she was pretty sure there were collectors out there that would pay a lot for each of them.

               “Uh, probably but you’re uh, a vampire, right?  Auntie Eyre tells me that Aurelius corp has been around for well… thousands of years.  Did you get an account or anything?  Back in… whenever?”

               “I do not understand.”

               “We can go see.”

               She turned around and Miles and his crew were staring at the coins in Helen’s hand with eyes so wide Allison could just imagine the dollar signs in them.  She turned to Helen.

               “Put the coins away.”

               Helen nodded then she pulled out a piece of plastic.  It had numbers on the front.  Nothing else.

               “How about this?  We used it to shop at a ‘mall’.”

               Allison held out her hand again and looked it over.  She wasn’t familiar with this sort of money, but it had an expiration date of 03/92.  Even if it was from the thirtieth century it would still be out of date, and technically would be from the twenty-ninth century.  Allison handed it back.

               “Some collector of the Earth that was might be interested but there’s probably a bunch of these.  It is in good condition though.  Plastic lasts forever.  And it doesn’t fade if it’s protected by a mile of ice.   Let’s go check in the Aurelius corp office here.”

               Helen put the plastic card into her bag.  Allison walked up to Miles, Dimi, and Zebra.

               “Ma’am, these are the people who rescued you.”

               Helen thanked each of them in in turn.  Allison spoke up.

               “Just taking her to get something to eat.  I asked Bit to see what she could get about Pinto, she hasn’t gotten back to me, which is a good sign.  If he was… if he didn’t make it, they wouldn’t be tight lipped about medical records.”

               Miles nodded to her.

               “Make sure you say goodbye before you leave, eh, chica?”

               Allison nodded and waved.  Helen followed Allison towards the temple’s exit.

               “You seem to know your way around here very well, do you come here often?”

               “No, my first time, but I have uh, well its sort of complicated.  I have these things that let me see uh stuff you can’t see.”

               Helen pulled a contact lens case out of her bag.

               “Mother gave me these.  I took them out before we left the… mall.  Yes, that is the word.  I wasn’t sure if they were safe in a fight.  They were very helpful.  They were telling me everything I was looking at.  There were so many strange things.  Matilda loved the mall.”

               Allison took a closer look at Helen.  She saw a translator and a holo-phone.  Both were models from before she was born.  They had gotten marginally smaller.  They were likely still good enough.  The corps just love adding a new color and some new buzz words, changing the shape a bit to make it look new.

               “Oh, you have a holo-phone too.  I was surprised you could speak Alliance standard.”

               Helen put the case back into her bag.  Allison was super curious about the bag, but figured she’d wait to ask more questions. 

               “Oh, I thought it was English.  I was born in England.  Mother taught me this language.  And a few others.  Could you explain the pendant you wear?  I see them on a lot of people.”

               Allison looked down at the sword and ruby pendant.

               “It’s the Church of the Dark Mother.  Your mom, uh, she has a religious following.  The Sauroids have mostly converted.  So, you’ll see it a lot here, but other places not so much.  Well, I mean Eden Prime, where I’m from most people do because we only have religious schools.”

               Helen listened to Allison intently then pondered her words for a few minutes.

               “What of Christ and the Lord?  Do people still worship them?”

               Allison frowned slightly.

               “That’s a touchy subject.  Yes.  In fact, the Church of the Dark Mother acknowledge them.”

               “Do you not believe in them?”

               Allison crinkled her nose and scratched it as an insect she did not recognize landed and flew away.  She didn’t answer right away.  She had to think about how to approach the topic with sensitivity.  She didn’t know much about real history but every single movie she’d seen about anything before the twentieth century made them seem like religious fanatics in some fashion.  Finally, she answered.

               “So, I’m not what you would call faithful.  My… problem with the subject is that the Christian church, one specific Christian church killed a lot of innocent people in their… they called it a crusade.  There was a civil war, and it is hard to find someone who didn’t have a family member killed or maimed in their terrorist attacks.  Finally, the System’s Alliance had to turn their colonies and their dome into craters.  It was really bad, and I still remember the holos vividly and I was twelve when they finally put an end to the actual war.  My Babu, my grandfather, had to give the order.  He still isn’t the same.  Some of them still come out and do terrorist stuff from time to time.  So like, unless you’re someone who is beyond reproach and you’re openly Christian it tends to… like… people just don’t like you by default.”

               Helen frowned.

               “So, you kill Christians?”

               Allison was really confused by how Helen reached that conclusion.  She waved her hands and shook her head.

               “No, you are free to practice whatever religion you want in the System’s Alliance.  It was the Christians who wanted to change that.  No.  The President is Catholic.  Christian… whatever.  I suppose it’s hard to worship your sister as a goddess…  Anyway.  No, I’m just saying after the war and the terror attacks, Christians aren’t the most popular people in some crowds.  It’s only been four years.  People take time to heal or whatever.  Auntie Eyre can explain all of it.  I’m not the best person to ask.  I’m like sixteen.”

               Allison stopped in front of a building that was painted in bright shades of yellow and gold.

Chapter Text

               Allison walked inside.  Unlike the Aurelius corp in New Amazon, this branch was small.  Quaint even.  There were only two staff, one Sauroid woman, and a human male.  The woman had various shades of pink for scales.  The human was fairly young looking and wearing a pair of dress pants, a white shirt and had a pocket protector with a mobile phone in it.  Not strange at all for someone who lived somewhere other than Earth.  In fact, Allison’s holo-phone set her apart on Eden Prime.  Most folks had tablets and just went with that.  They were far cheaper than holo-phones, and mobile phones were far cheaper than that.  The human stepped in front of the Sauroid woman who was about to address the pair.

               “How may we help you ladies today?”

               Allison didn’t like him already.  He was totally checking the both of them out.  Even if their armor left nothing to the imagination it was no excuse to gawk.  Especially at a kid.  Helen didn’t seem to notice or care.  Allison frowned.

               “My friend wants to check and see if her account is still valid.”

               He nodded.

               “No problem!  Just swipe your ident chit on my phone here and we’ll check.”

               “She doesn’t have one.  She’s a long-term client who just woke up.”

               He looked confused.

               “Well, hmm, that’s difficult, I might be able to help you.  May take a while, why don’t you give me your number?”

               Allison knew that was patently false because Sauroids who didn’t live on Earth didn’t need ident chits.  She was about to contradict the man when the sauroid woman held up a talon.

               “I can help you.”

               The man turned to the Sauroid and shot her a dirty look.  Allison really wanted to shove the man out of the way.  She didn’t though because that would be assault and she wasn’t sure she could get out of that with the Sauroid authorities.  She mused it was too bad being a creep wasn’t illegal.  She was pretty furious so wasn’t exactly surprised when he stumbled back from the pair.

               “I am so sorry; I didn’t realize you were that kind of client.”

               Allison looked up at Helen.  Helen motioned to her mouth; She spoke quietly.

               “Your fangs are showing.”

               Allison blushed and put her hand over her mouth.  Her words were muffled.

               “Sorry, still… trying to control that.”

               The woman had a name tag on her very nice, if flamboyant tunic.  Y’s’laassa.  She gave the human a dirty look.  Her tail was twitching.

               “I’m sorry, ma’ams, he’s not usually like that.  We should not need any information from you.  Just… I’m sorry we don’t get many black member clients here.  There was something around here.”

               She started searching around under the counter.  She sighed and put her hands on her hips.

               “Herman, please open the safe.”

               He walked over and pulled a string of keys from his belt and kneeled down and unlocked something.  Y’s’laassa shooed him away.  He beat a hasty retreat from Allison and Helen while rubbing his neck absently.  Y’s’laassa came up with a stone tablet.

               “Which of you would like to access their account?”

               Allison pointed at Helen.

               “Her, I don’t have any money I’m allowed to touch.”

               Y’s’laassa motioned to Helen.

               “Please, ma’am, put your palm on this.  It will prick and test your blood.”

               Helen glanced at Allison who nodded to her.  She put her palm down and winced.  Blood filled grooves under the palm and the tablet flared red.  Y’s’laassa quickly wrote down two numbers.  She then pulled out a mobile phone and tapped the numbers in with one of her talons.

               “Ah yes, you do have an account.  How may we assist you today, Ms. Aurelius?”

               Allison took a little too much pleasure when she saw Herman’s face got pitch white.  Not an easy feat considering how tanned he was.  Helen looked at Allison.  Allison bit her lower lip.  She absently scratched the back of her head.

               “Uh, she’ll need enough for food.  Umm.”

               She looked at Helen.

               “Are you planning on staying here for a while?”

               Helen shook her head.  Allison looked up at Y’s’laassa.

               “So uh, food, passage to Earth, umm.  Maybe some clothes.”

               Y’s’laassa nodded.

               “So, a credit chit, and some scales then?”

               Allison nodded.  Y’s’laassa held up one talon.

               “One moment.”

               She started tapping through the phone.  For some reason it amused her seeing a seven-foot-tall dinosaur-person tapping one little button at a time.  She would be way better off with a holo-phone.  Y’s’laassa slid a credit chit into the bottom of the phone.  Typed a number in.  Helen was watching all of this with wide-eyed curiosity.  Finally, the Sauroid put the chit on the counter along with a pouch of coins.

               “Here you are, Ms. Aurelius.  I provided you with enough for first class passage on a transport to Earth and a hundred scales.  If you need anything else do not hesitate to ask.”

               Helen took the pouch and the chit.

               “Thank you.”

               The pair left the small bank and Allison retraced their steps to the market.  Helen stopped suddenly and looked up. She paused for several moments.  Allison was forced to stop.  Helen looked at the younger teen.

               “Why is the sun not moving in the sky?”

               Allison blinked and took a few seconds to figure out what Helen was talking about.

               “Oh, this planet is tidally locked to the star.  It doesn’t rotate… and uh, it wasn’t the sun moving it was the Earth.  Anyway, the sun never sets here.  I don’t know how do I put this for you…  I’m sorry I got nothing.  Just… on the light side the sun never goes away and never moves.  The dark side is always dark.”

               Helen seemed to believe that was enough for her.  The pair entered the market.  Allison hadn’t had a chance to try many of the Sauroid delicacies.  They had their own breads, desserts, dishes.  Helen just seemed confused about what was available.  Allison could tell she was being overwhelmed by information overload.  She looked at the vampire.

               “Let me shop for us, I haven’t eaten much, just a few things one of my teachers has brought in, but Lofu berries are definitely good.”

               Helen handed her the pouch of scales.  Allison purchased them a couple of bunches of Lofu berries to share.  Helen tried one hesitantly then started to eat them one after another.  Allison ate a few.  They sampled several of the street vendor’s foods.  Half an hour later they were sitting on the temple steps sharing a feast.  Allison offered Helen back the scales, and the talons which were the smaller denomination of coins.  Helen put the pouch into her bag.  Allison took a bite of a sweetbread stuffed with Lofu berry jam.  She shook her hand and made an mmm sound.

               “Oh my god this is so good.”

               She wiped some jam that had seeped out and down her chin.  She licked it off her fingers.  She looked at the bag again.

               “So, uh, that bag.  I’m really confused by it.  I scanned it. I looked inside and it’s totally empty and besides being made of a weirdly organized material it’s not special.  Where is all that stuff coming from?  And where is it going?”

               Helen looked at the bag.

               “Mother says its bigger on the inside and left it at that.  I don’t know how it works.  I just put things in, then I put my hand in I think of what I want, and it appears in my hand.”

               Helen reached in and pulled out a dusty bottle of rum.

               “Like this, mother gave me a crate of it to put in here.  Just in case.  It tastes like a sugary poison.  It burns.”

               Allison eyed the bottle.  She pulled out her scanner and waved it over the bottle.  She winced at the results.

               “You’re not far off.  That is really strong rum.  A couple of drinks of that most people would be passed out.  Three they’d have alcohol poisoning or something.”

               “Mother did like her alcohol.  Especially during the day.”

               Allison picked up the bottle and opened the cork.  She wafted some of the fumes to her nose and coughed.  The thought of drinking any form of alcohol made her stomach turn at this point.  She quickly re-corked it, remembering her vow to never drink again.  She offered it back to Helen who put it in the bag.

               “When I woke up this morning, I swore I would never drink again.”

               Allison glanced at the time on her AR HUD.  She’d have to leave soon to make it home for supper with a stop at Earth for her stuff and wormhole transit time.  She noticed Bit had sent her an email about Pinto’s condition two hours ago.  Bit really was angry with her.

               “Typical Bit.”

               Helen looked over at her.

               “What was that?”

               “Nothing.”

               Allison looked over the message, it wasn’t great news, but it wasn’t bad news.  They’d stabilized him and sent him to Earth on a medical transport.  She tapped the email and swept it over to her contact for Miles.  Helen continued to eat.  Allison put her palms behind her and leaned back.

               “I need to leave if I’m going to get home soon.  I was hoping someone, maybe Auntie Eyre or the President would contact me so I could tell them about you.  Miles and his crew are great and all but like, this is vampire business now.”

               “I could go with you.”

               Allison shook her head.

               “No, you don’t want to come with me.  My planet is bad for vampires.  Even the moon will kill you…  but I guess, if the sun isn’t bothering you here…  You don’t want to.  Uh, it’s really far away, like really far away.  And even if the Silwrath said they had no record of us before me…”

               Helen started gathering up the blanket she’d put down for their picnic then she shook it out to get rid of the crumbs.  She stuffed it into her bag and dusted her hands off.  Allison shielded her eyes from the sun and looked up at Helen when she spoke.

               “How far away is it?”

               Allison thought really hard on how to answer that question to someone who was born in a time when they thought the Earth was flat, and the center of the universe.

               “Well, uh, you know how light seems to travel really fast?”

               Allison sat up then snapped her fingers.

               “Ah ha.  Okay, you know how you see lightning before you hear thunder?”

               Helen nodded.

               “Yes, my mother explained that to me, light moves really fast.”

               “Okay, that makes this easier.  It takes light from this sun here, over two and a half million years to reach where I live.   So, when I go home if I looked through a telescope that could see this solar system, I would be seeing in the distant past.  Like this planet would still be rotating on its axis.  Actually, when I think about it that way it’s kind of headache inducing.  Cause I can like check the Alliance-Net and watch a movie made a thousand years ago, being sent from Earth…  and like if I were to look through that telescope, I’d be seeing an Earth without humans.  I’m going to stop talking now this whole topic is weirding me out.”

               Allison moved to get up.  Helen offered Allison her hand.  Allison took it and the vampire pulled her up.

               "What is Earth like now?”

               “Uh, well its covered in glaciers, ice, snow.  It’s a frozen world.  People live in megacities that are under domes.  It’s kind of cool, but at the same time, it made me really miss home.  There are no trees.  They had fake skies. There were so many people, it felt like I had no space.  Eden Prime, where I’m from, is primarily a farming colony.  Green… well near green fields as far as you can see.  There are so many trees.  It is winter there now.  The lake is frozen over, we can skate on it.  Go ice fishing.  Go skiing.  There is a real sky, that is so blue, and real clouds.  The domes, there’s nothing like that, just concrete and steel and so many people.”

               Helen smiled.

               “I would love to see your blue sun.  Is there any reason I am not allowed to go?”

               Allison shook her head.

               “No, I mean, if Isis can survive there, I’m sure you can.  I mean she’s way older than you.  And hey, she’s a member of the vampire council!  Perfect she can take care of all that vampire stuff for you.  Sure.”

               Helen put her sword and her Atlantean pistol in her bag.

               “I am ready to go.”

               Allison held up her finger and called her mom.  It took about thirty seconds for her mother to answer the comm request.

               “Allison, it is good to see you.  Are you enjoying your visit to the temple?”

               “Yes, it was great.  I got to meet so many sisters.  Have lots of good pictures for my project and I met a new friend.”

               Apiyo smiled broadly.

               “I am glad, you seem much happier then when you left.  Did you find a place to stay there overnight?”

               “No, no, I’m going to come home.  I’m kind of tired of the Milky Way.  I’m hoping I can be home in time for supper.”

               “Are you sure?  You don’t have to, the gala isn’t until Friday night.  You could come back tomorrow.”

               Allison shook her head.

               “No, I just really want a hug from you and to snuggle with Oozie.  I’m home sick.”

               “Okay, I’ll make your favorite.”

               Allison rubbed the back of her neck and bit her lower lip.

               “Uh, mom, so, like my friend, I was telling her about Eden Prime and she asked if I could give her a ride.  You think she could use our other guest bedroom for the night?  And stay for supper?”

               “Who is this friend?  Not one of those dome delinquents, is it?”

               Allison looked at Helen.  She imagined the very prim and proper British lady at the Harbor.  It made her smile.  Her mother was looking at her expectantly.

               “No, she’s a British Noblewoman.”

               Allison looked at Helen and shrugged.  It wasn’t exactly a lie; Helen had introduced herself as Lady Helen Aurelius.

               “She’s uh… um a vampire.  Like Isis.”

               Apiyo sighed.

               “She may stay.  Isis is coming to dinner tonight.  So you will be on your best behavior, understood?  She is a very powerful woman in the Alliance.  I do not want to leave her with a bad impression of us.”

               Allison nodded.

               “Okay, we’re just going to head back to Bit, then I need to go to Earth, pick up my stuff so, uh, like fifteen minutes to Bit, fifteen minutes for clearance, half an hour to Earth… forty-five minutes to pack… and uh, fifteen minutes to Pluto station and then wormhole and fifteen minutes to home?  So two and a half, three hours till I’m home?   Hey umm, do you mind if I park Bit in the back yard?”

               “What?  Shouldn’t you be landing the fighter at the base.”

               Allison bit her lower lip.  Her mom wasn’t supposed to know she owned an armed starfighter!

               “Uh, well, umm yea, you’re right.  Yep, it is military property so it should be at the base.”

               Apiyo knew her daughter all too well.

               “Don’t you try and lie to me, Allison Wanjala!”

               Allison winced; It hadn’t been her full, full name but she was edging closer to that.

               “Don’t be mad!  It’s not like I asked for it… uh… The president kind of gave me Bit… like its mine.  I own the starfighter.  And stuff.”

               Apiyo crossed her arms.

               “You’re just telling me this now?”

               Allison shrugged.

               “It umm slipped my mind.  You know Earth is so Earth and there was so much going on, I just totally forgot to mention it.  So, yea, umm can I park Bit in the back yard?  Just for now? Until we figure something out?”

               Apiyo frowned.

               “We will discuss it tomorrow when I do not have important guests coming over.  You may park it there for now but if it ruins our lawn, you’re putting the sod down yourself, with your own money.”

               “Alright, I’ll see you soon mom, I love you.”

               Her mother blew her a kiss.

               “Fly safe.  I love you.”

               Allison pretended to catch the kiss and then waved.  She disconnected the comm link.

               “Let’s get going then.”

               She sent a message to Miles telling him she had to go and saying she’d see them around.  She retraced her steps to Bit with Helen in tow.  Helen looked up at the sleek starfighter.

               “It looks like Hazel’s ship.  Mothers only had one seat.”

               Allison tapped the liquid metal of Bits fuselage.

               “Hey Bit, time to leave.”

               Allison sighed when no liquid metal ladder formed.  She tapped again.

               “Bit… stop pouting.  We need to leave if we’re going to get home on time.”

               Allison looked at Helen and held her hand up.

               “Sorry, she’s mad at me.”

               Allison rolled her eyes.

               “Look, I’m sorry I disagree with your theory, okay?  I should have been nicer about it.”

               The liquid metal ladders formed.  Allison climbed in the front seat.  Helen climbed in the back. It was obvious that she’d done this before because Allison did not have to help her with the harness.  Allison started tapping the controls to launch.  She was in such a rush she lifted off before the canopy closed.  She requested clearance from Alliance control, and they authorized her launch.  Half an hour later they landed in her personal hanger bay.

                They hopped out of Bit.  Helen wandered towards the entry port for the Hanger Bay and crossed her arms while she looked out over New Amazon.  The dome was displaying twilight.  Allison was scratching her head because her two drone wings, were missing along with everything else.

               “Uh, where is everything?”

               Bit spoke.

               “I do not know.”

               “Maybe the President changed her mind.  I guess we’ll find out when we try to use the stargate.”

               “Perhaps we should use my own wormhole generator.”

               Allison snapped her fingers and wagged her finger at Bit.

               “Good point.  We should test that.  How hard is it to plot a wormhole transit?”

               “It is simple.  We will just lock on to the appropriate wormhole beacon.  I have sufficient antimatter after transit to and from Sauroid Prime.”

               “Great!  Get those cargo hatches open please I have lots of stuff.”

               Allison left Helen to her musings and went about collecting her belongings new and old.  Her order had arrived and been brought up by the front desk staff.  She could barely fit all the shipping boxes into Bit’s various cargo bays.  She grabbed the plastic dish of left over stir fry along with anything else that was perishable from the cooling and freezing units, put them in a box and slid it into the stasis pod.  She did one last pass to make sure she wasn’t missing anything.

               “Alright, time to hit the road… or void… whatever.  Helen, you ready to go?”

               Helen turned and nodded.  They got into the starfighter.  Allison requested launch permission from Earth Space Control.  They approved launch but declined her FTL flight plan.  She double checked her jump coordinates and velocity calculations.  Everything was correct.  She sent it again with a message to double check them.  It was rejected once again, this time with a message to contact Alliance Command.  She opened up comms to System’s Alliance Fleet Command.

               “SAC, this is Shadow One in New Amazon.  Control is rejecting my FTL flight plan.  They advised that I speak to you.”

               She received a response a few minutes later.

               “Shadow One, you are ordered to rendezvous with the Eclipse at Sauroid Prime.  Please update your FTL flight plan accordingly.  You will be provided with further orders once you land.  They are aware of your additional passenger.  SAC out.”

               “Sorry Helen, guess getting we’re sidetracked.  Yesh, would have been nice if they’d told us about this before we left Sauroid Prime.”

               Allison launched the starfighter.

               “Bit, call mom, please.”

               Apiyo answered immediately.

               “You’re here already?”

               Allison shook her head.

               “No, mom, sorry.  Something’s going on, I just got ordered to rendezvous with a carrier.  I just wanted to let you know I might be late, or not home at all tonight. I’ll call you and tell you more when I can.”

               “Thank you for letting me know.  Hopefully I’ll see you soon.”

               Allison disconnected the call after nodding to her mother.  Allison shook her head in annoyance at the command and started heading toward the Eclipse.

Chapter Text

               Allison received clearance to land on the Eclipse.  She hadn’t actually made many carrier landings or launches in the real world.  This would be her second time under the starfighter’s own power.  Shuttles landed in larger bays.  Fighters were tightly packed and when they were launched magnetic slingshots were used.  Basically, fighter sized railguns.  She took it slow and steady.  She didn’t rush the landing.  She was paranoid she’d hit something.  The starfighter’s landing gear touched the deck gently.  It had been a textbook carrier landing and Allison allowed herself a little cheer.

               Allison engaged the docking clamps to lock Bit down so she wouldn’t go flying if the ship took a hit.  Not that she was expecting the carrier to get attacked.  Failure to follow proper landing and docking procedures would land her in hot water.  That was the kind of thing that got your flight status revoked and possibly suspension of your pilot’s license. 

With the docking clamps in place there was no need for a ladder.  They could just get out and walk across the raised deck.  Made for a quicker launch the pilot could just jump in instead of climbing up.  Allison got up and out then held her hand down for Helen.  Helen pulled herself up. Allison turned to head into the ship proper and found herself face to face with Olga.  Who did not look happy. She had her arms crossed.

“You were supposed to wait for me at the temple.  You were definitely not supposed make that FTL Jump to Earth.”

“My flight plan was approved!”

Olga nodded.

“Two hours before you left.  If you had checked the update, you would have found out it was denied.  I knew you were going to be a pain in my ass.  I’m having your cargo transferred to the shuttle.  Your fighter can land itself. Come with me.  Both of you.”

Helen looked at Allison, who shrugged in response.   The trio left the hanger.  Olga was still shaking her head.

“You were supposed to be staying overnight on Sauroid Prime.”

“I wanted to go home.  Why are you even here?  You said you were done with me.”

Olga glanced at Allison.

“I wanted to be, but then I was told to escort you to your front door so that is exactly what I’m going to do.”

Allison frowned.  As they walked, she felt the ship shift into hyperspace. Olga led them to one of the shuttle bays and onto a waiting shuttle.  Shortly afterwards Allison’s belongings were stowed in the cargo compartment.  Olga moved forward and started talking to the pilots.  Allison frowned in her direction.  She sat down and buckled herself in. Helen joined her.

“Who is that?”

“Olga.  Some black ops person for the Alliance Board of Directors.”

“Olga?  Hazel said she had a friend named Olga at home.  I wonder if that is her.”

Allison shrugged.

“Hazel had bad taste in friends.”

               “Hazel told me that Olga was from the nineteen sixties.”

               Allison made a face.

               “No way she is from the twentieth century.  I can’t be sure because she’s showing as human, but I think she’s a full conversion borg.  Like her entire body has been replaced with machines.”

               Helen watched Olga as she walked back to the passenger area and strapped herself in.

               “Olga, my sister Hazel told me about you.  She missed you very much.”

               Olga showed uncharacteristic emotion when she met Helen’s gaze.  Allison blinked.  Were Hazel and her a thing?

               “So, Enid had another kid huh?  Doesn’t surprise me.”

               “No, she adopted me when my mother died.  Is Hazel the reason you are so cold now?”

               “No, she is not.  Now shut up before I stake you.”

               Olga leaned her head back and closed her eyes.  Allison mused Olga and Numari would get along famously.  The shuttle launched and flew towards Eden Prime.  Allison realized they must have used a built-in wormhole generator to get the fleet here.  She looked at Olga.

               “Why are they bringing another fleet to Andromeda?”

               “You’d know more about that then me, Allison.  You’re military, I am not.”

               Allison frowned and leaned forward to look out of the cockpit window at Eden Prime.  She smiled when she saw the lights of her hometown.  She leaned back.  The shuttle landed at the base.  There was a military transport waiting for them.  Helen and Olga helped Allison load her belongings into the transport.  Olga hopped into the driver’s seat.  Allison got into the passenger seat and Helen sat in the back.  Twenty minutes later they were at Allison’s house.  Olga was true to her word and walked Allison right to her front door.  Allison looked at her.

               “Are we done now?”

               Olga looked Allison up and down.

               “We’ll see.”

               Allison opened the door.  Her mother was busy in the kitchen.  Aryna was sitting with Isis and First Trimark Nutina.  Everyone looked when the door slid open.  Allison waved to everyone before she started hauling her stuff into the house.  Oozie tried to help, in other words she was jumping all over Allison and licking her face.  Allison rolled her eyes.

               “Oozie, wait until I get this inside.”

               Helen quirked her head to the side and watched the nargle with a smile.  Allison finally managed to get Oozie to calm down.  She picked up the plastic bin of perishables and took it into the kitchen.  She kissed her mother on the cheek as she walked past her.  She started putting everything where it belonged.  Her mom watched her while she stirred the curry every so often.

               “Did some shopping?”

               “No, uh, just, so, umm, there is this other thing we need to talk about.  I umm, you see there was this apartment, and well I have an apartment in New Amazon and Eyre, that’s umm Eyre Aurelius, she kind of stayed with me while I was there and helped me get it all set up.  She ordered all of this but uh, well it was going to go bad.”

               Her mother held up one hand, she spoke in quiet tones.

               “We’ll talk about your trip later.  In the meantime, get out of that atrocious armor, wash up and get dressed in something nice.  We have important guests.  You can leave your luggage by the door for now.”

               Allison nodded.  She picked up the plastic bin and put it with the rest of her things.  She motioned to Helen.

               “Come on, I’ll show you to the guest room.”

               Helen followed Allison who pointed to the room.  Allison put her palm on the door panel.

               “We have a guest; This is Helen Aurelius.  Please authorize her.”

               Allison stepped away and motioned to the pad.

               “Just put your hand there and say your name.”

               Helen did as she was asked.  The house’s VI spoke.

               “Recognized, Helen Aurelius.”

               Allison moved to go to her room then paused.

               “Uh, I don’t have anything that will fit you.”

               Helen smiled.

               “Don’t worry, I’m sure I have something in my bag.  I bought this black dress at the mall.  Hazel said it would work well in this time.”

               Allison nodded and wandered off to her room to get ready for supper.  Allison decided to be nice to her mom and wear the blue dress her mother had bought her that she had never worn.  She even put on a pair of earrings.  Something she hadn’t worn since she’d joined the military.  When she walked out into the dining room her mother grinned ear to ear.

               “Allison, you look beautiful.”

               Helen came in shortly afterwards.  Both she and Isis seemed flush.  They were both breathing as well.  The dining room had a glass ceiling.  The snow had melted.  Eden Prime’s blue moon was full and filled the sky and was shining through the glass.  This left the vampires mortal.  Apiyo had brought out the chair that was reserved for Sauroid guests for Nutina.  Allison looked over the table.  Her mother had made Kuku Paka as promised.  She had also made homemade naan.  Rounding out the dishes was some tikka masala. 

Apiyo started the food at Nutina.  A show of respect in the Wanjala household.  Conversation was sparse as everyone savored the homecooked meal.  Allison helped her mother clear the table of the supper dishes.  There was nothing leftover.  Everything had been a hit.  While they were loading the dishwasher and waiting for the kettle to boil for the dessert coffee and tea, Apiyo spoke to Allison.

“Thank you for wearing a dress.  I know how much you hate them.”

Allison hugged her mom and kissed her cheek.

“Thank you for letting me go to Earth.  Did Isis explain everything?”

Her mother nodded.

“She did, it doesn’t mean I’m any less angry with your father.  You do not keep secrets from your wife.”

Allison kept her mouth shut.  She tried very hard to stay out of her parents’ disagreements.  Her mother looked at the shipping boxes from Allison’s online orders.

“How much of your savings did you spend?”

“A thousand credits, but if I’d had them shipped here it would have cost like ten times that.  I needed new clothes, and some of that is my outfit for the Gala which someone else paid for.”

Her mother started steeping the tea and coffee.

“Well don’t keep me in suspense, show me.”

Allison literally bounced over to the box containing her gala outfit.  She pulled out the shoes.  Her mother nodded with approval.  Allison showed Apiyo the jewelry.

“That looks expensive.”

Allison blushed.

“Like I said, someone else paid, and she can afford it.  You are not going to believe the dress.  I wanted a pantsuit, but they didn’t have any.”

               Allison opened the dress box and pulled it out.  Her mother gasped, putting her hands to her mouth.

               “Oh, you’re going to look like a queen.”

               Apiyo reached out and touched the material.  She noticed the designer label.

               “How did you get this?  You need appointments.  These are the dresses holo stars and the elite wear.”

               “Eyre Aurelius took me shopping, no one says no to her.  We just walked in, and the lady took one look at her and treated me like I was royalty.”

               Her mother’s hands went to her chest as she imagined Allison dressed up.  Then she straightened her posture and looked the dress up and down.

               “Well don’t you ruin it, put it away and don’t you go getting accustomed to this kind of luxury, these high-powered corporate types are notoriously fickle.”

               Allison put the dress in its box with care and closed it.  Her mother motioned to the two pies she’d baked.

               “You get those, I’ll get the drinks.  Pantsuit.  At least someone on Earth has some sense.  Knowing you, you’d wear your armor, or that godawful mess dress uniform you bought yourself.”

               Allison smiled at her mother as she followed her into the dining room. She placed the pies on the table.  Apparently in their absence the conversation had been lively and friendly.  There were smiles and laughter.  Allison went back into the kitchen to get the plates and cutlery.  Soon everyone was eating pie.  As the group drank their respective beverages the banter continued.  Allison was happy to be home.  She looked at her mother.

               “Umm, mom, do we have an after-dinner liqueur?”

               Her mother shook her head.  Allison looked at Aryna.

               “Hey, Aryna can you help me get some glasses?”

               Aryna stood up and followed Allison into the kitchen.  Allison pointed to the shelf with the glasses.

               “Just some tumblers please”

               Allison started digging through her things and pulled out one of the bottles of Lofufa juice Helen had purchased for her.  She looked at it and smiled.  She stood up.  Aryna looked at her friend.

               “What are you so happy about?”

               Allison shrugged.

               “I’m home, I’ve been dying to try this.  Its Lofufa juice from Sauroid Prime, not that stuff that is mass produced, it was made by a small farm.  I hear it’s the best.”

               They made their way back to the dining room, it was empty; Everyone had moved into the living room and were talking while enjoying the roaring fire Allison’s mother had started.  Aryna put the glasses down.  Allison held up the bottle.

               “I just got back from a vacation on a world called Sauroid Prime.  They make an alcohol out of Lofu berries called Lofufa juice.  It is a bit strong, and very sweet.  I made sure it was compatible with everyone’s biology, is there anyone who doesn’t want to try it?”

               She smiled when no one declined.  She poured a good amount in each glass and passed them out.  Nutina raised her glass.

               “To good meals, good company and good times.”

               Everyone raised the glasses and had a drink.  Allison ended up drinking hers down.  It was better than she expected.  She very briefly felt lightheaded, but it passed.  Nutina looked at Allison.

               “This ‘Lofufa’ juice’s name does not do it justice.  It tastes like a noble’s drink but has the punch of a warrior’s poison!”

               “Would you like some more?”

               Nutina offered her glass.  Allison poured a good-sized drink for Nutina.  Helen and Isis looked like it had already gone to their heads.  Allison offered it to her mother who held up her hand.

               “That is, not the same as the one we have on the shelf.”

               Aryna asked.

               “May I have some more?  It reminds me of Qual’sa wine.  Not quite as strong, but the flavor is most pleasing.”

               Allison poured another glass out for Aryna.   Helen and Isis both declined.  Allison decided she’d stop at one.  Drinking enough to feel it would make her regret her life choices for the third morning in the row.  Nutina finished her glass off and put it down.

               “You must tell me where you get this drink.”

               Allison smiled.

               “It’s umm, a few million light years from here.  Helen bought me a few bottles; I’d be happy to let you take one with you.  As a thank you for rescuing me, and not shooting me when I tried to uh, well shoot you.”

               Nutina laughed loudly.

               “Engaging in a scuffle as short lived as it was with a warrior such as yourself was gift enough.  Few species understand the glory of battle.  Rescuing you was a great day!  Are you not going to have another?  Surely a warrior of your prowess could drink that whole bottle yourself!”

               Allison corked the bottle and placed it down. 

               “I am taking a break tonight.  People where we’re from found out about the Sal’nash fight.  I went out to celebrate and well, my glass was never empty.  It was a rough morning; It’s been a long day.”

               Apiyo looked at Allison and narrowed her eyes.  Allison sat down and brushed her auburn bangs behind her ears, avoiding looking at her mother.  She could feel her ears burning.  Her mother was definitely going to ask about that in the morning.  Allison made sure to hand Nutina the full bottle of Lofufa juice she’d promised.  She was exhausted from her favor to Miles and excused herself politely.  She slept extremely well that night… that was until her mother woke her up.

Chapter Text

               Allison woke to a roll of paper hitting her head repeatedly.  It wasn’t thick but it was definitely hard enough that she felt it.  She shielded her head with her arms.  Her mother was going off on her in Swahili.  It took her a few minutes to figure out what her mother’s ranting was about.

               “A motorcycle!  What were you thinking!  We discussed this!  Where did you get that much money?  And who is this Miles person?  Why is he sending you messages like ‘love Miles’?  Were you having sex for money?!?”

               Allison was very confused.  Yes, she had looked at the motorcycle.  She had been really tempted, but she was one hundred percent sure she had not actually placed the order.  Her mother was shaking the wad of papers at her.  Allison weaved under her mother’s latest attempt to swat her with the bundle of papers.  She stepped away from her mom holding her hands up.

               “What are you talking about mom?  I didn’t order a motorcycle!”

               Apiyo crossed her arms.

               “Oh, is that so, then what was that shipping crate doing in our driveway when I got home from the office?  With this attached!”

               That was followed by her mother throwing the wad of papers at Allison, who did not catch them.  She bent over and picked them up.  She looked them over after getting them stacked and in order.  She went pale when she saw that she was indeed an owner of a shiny new blood red, Sabre 9230 if the bill of lading was to be believed.  She looked down at the care of section.  Her eyes went wide, it read: You looked like you couldn’t make up your mind, so I did you a favor and made the choice for you.  Live a little!  Love Miles.

               At first, she felt light-headed.  It was almost all of her money, well the money she could access.  Then she panicked, it was almost all her money!  Then she got mad.  She wondered what the going rate was to hire Olga to skin someone alive.

               “That… street rat!  I’m going to kill him.”

               Apiyo looked at her daughter.

               “Oh, you’re going to tell me you had no part in this?  Huh?”

               Allison let her hands fall to her sides.

               “Its not my fault mom!  I swear.  I was just seeing how much it was.  I wasn’t actually going to buy it!”

               She looked at the papers.  They showed an Alliance-Net link to the terms of sale.  There it was her digital signature on the purchase.  It could be returned but the shipping would be thirty thousand credits.  She had nowhere near that much money.  Nor was she about to ask Eyre for more of her trust fund.  She just imagined how that conversation would go.  Apiyo wagged her finger at Allison.

               “You are going to call up the shipping company and you’re going to get it returned immediately Allison Malaika Wanjala, no ifs, ands or buts.  Now Allison!”

               Allison’s response was almost a whisper.

               “I can’t.”

               Her mother’s hands went to her hips.

               “You think that’s an acceptable answer?”

               Allison flicked the return policy to her mother.  Not only would she lose the thirty-thousand credits she already paid for shipping, she’d get a refund on the bike, but it would be less a twenty-five percent restocking fee, and she would have to pay the thirty-thousand credits in shipping all over again.  When her mother saw how much the motorcycle truly cost her face lost all expression and she left Allison’s room.  Allison winced.  She’d only seen that reaction once before and it was when she was twelve.  She had caused so much trouble at school she’d been escorted home by Colony Security Officers.

               Allison closed her eyes and let loose a few choice curse words before deciding it was time to come clean with her mom about everything.  Well not everything.  She swore she’d never tell her about the whole Titan incident.  She’d die first.  Probably because if her mother found out she’d kill Allison before she could actually explain anything about it.  Not that there was a reasonable explanation for any of it.  She took a deep breath and left her room. 

It seemed that the house was empty save for her mother and Oozie.  The latter of which was curled up in front of a newly lit fire.  The nargle alternated between running around outside like an idiot then shivering by the fireplace.  Allison silently wondered if the nargle was exaggerating how cold it was just to get her mother to light it.  She shook her head and walked to the front bay windows and pulled the curtain aside.  There it was a black shipping crate all the way from the Milky Way. 

Allison dropped the bill of lading on the kitchen counter.  Her mom was doing what she always did when she was angry, cleaning, currently she was scrubbing the sink angrily.  Allison bit her lower lip and stared at the counter blankly while tapping the fingers of her right hand.  Her mother wasn’t shouting anymore, she had reached the point where she just sounded cold.

“Spit it out or go to your room.”

Allison took the cowards way out.

“Is it alright if I get something to eat?”

“Whatever it is you’re making it yourself.  If you can buy a motorcycle like that you can afford your own maid service.”

Allison slipped behind her mother who wasn’t as slender as she used to be so took up a bit of the narrow area between the stove and the breakfast bar.  She pulled the leftover stir fry out and looked at how much was left.  She bit her lower lip.  Maybe some food would help her mother’s mood before she told her even more bad news.

“Uh, mom, are you hungry?  There is enough for both of us, I’m not sure how it’s going to be left over but it was made by a real chef…  I’d like to share it.”

Apiyo looked at her daughter.

“This will not fix the mess you made.”

“I know.”

Allison put the rice in a glass bowl and put it in the reheater.  She figured the extra ten minutes was worth it.  Microwaves were imprecise but cheap and fast.  Her mother continued cleaning and ignoring her.  She dished out the food, took the bowls and cutlery, put them on the table.  She grabbed drinks and put them out.  Her mother sat down across from her with a skeptical look.  When Apiyo took her first bite she had to force herself not to acknowledge how good the food was.  Allison dug in.  They ate silently.  Once they’d finished Allison opened her Winter Wolf Cola and took a drink.  Her mother did the same.  Allison took another couple of sips before she spoke.

“Um, so, some stuff happened on Earth, that I should tell you about.”

Her mother’s eyes darted to her.

“Worse than your motorcycle purchase?”

“Well it kind of, sort of involves that.  When news got out about what happened with the Sal’nash, it was crazy.  I just wanted to hide somewhere so uh, I hired a mercenary to get me out.  And, well, I got drunk.”

“You know how I feel about drinking to excess.”

Allison nodded.

“I was upset and people kept buying me drinks.  I got back home fine and… well, look, I kind of found out some stuff about my biological parents this week.  It kind of messed me up for a bit.”

Her mother didn’t say anything she just looked worried.

“You shouldn’t be looking into that.  It doesn’t matter, you’re our daughter.”

Allison held up her hand.

“Please, mom, let me finish.  So, like, they were really wealthy.  And uh, good friends with the Dark Mother, or she is my mother, or I don’t understand what she was trying to tell me.  Anyway, the Dark Mother left me her penthouse apartment and the building it… is in.  And uh, my bio parents were really, really rich, like buy whole planets rich and umm well there is a trust fund.”

“A trust fund?  What is this nonsense?”

Allison tapped the initial report she was sent once her info was linked to the trust fund.  She flicked it towards her mother.  Her mother took a few minutes to process what she was seeing.

“This is yours?  All of it?”

Allison shrugged and nodded.

“Uh, well not until I’m fifty.  And If I want any of it out early, I have to go through my trust advisor, which is, um, Eyre Aurelius.  She took a personal interest.  She gave me three hundred thousand credits from it, and I was planning on saving it, I swear to you I was just looking at the motorcycle and trying different colors.  Honestly, she’s just as scary as you when she’s being, uh, an adult about stuff.  So like, I wanted to save the money in case we needed something, or I needed clothes or maybe like an anniversary gift or like to buy you a trip to visit dad.  I was dumb, it’s my fault I stayed logged into my account when I got changed because, like I promised to help that mercenary whose name was Miles with something.  He just needed me to fly a ship somewhere.  It wasn’t even hard.  Ugg, he must have hit purchase on me.  And it wouldn’t even let me see how much the shipping was until I proved I had the money.  And I wouldn’t even have ordered this color.  I would have gotten black, but I wouldn’t have gotten black because I would never have bought it.  I screwed up, I’ll figure out how to return it.”

Her mother waited patiently for her to finish her verbal diarrea.  Allison stopped to take a breath.  Her mother jumped in.

“You can keep it.”

Allison blinked a few times.

“Did you say I can keep it?”

Her mother frowned and nodded.  She sighed.

“I keep treating you like you’re my little baby girl, but you’re not.  You’re turning into a young woman.  A brave, mature, young woman.  When I saw the President’s statement, I realized I can’t protect you from the world, or alien invasions.  Then I spoke to Nutina, she told me how you negotiated the high council into submission with words alone.  How courageous and how strong you are.  I realized; I need to let you make your own mistakes.  Isis told me that she found it very difficult to let go with her daughter.  How she saw her as a precious little human, and how her inability to let her daughter grow up and make her own mistakes… how it ruined their relationship.  I am starting to think, maybe I’m not so good of a mother.”

Allison wasn’t sure she liked this.  Sure, she hated her mom treating her like she was eight, but she depended on her mom being there to stop her from doing something stupid.  Especially after the last twenty-four hours.

“Mom, you’re amazing.  Sure, I wish I could get away with anything I want, but uh… I obviously still do stupid teenager things.”

Allison pointed at the bill of lading.

“I would love to have a motorcycle, but I was going to by one of the surplus ones from the colony… I don’t need that thing out there.”

               Apiyo shook her head.

               “No, you are keeping it, you’ll have to pay the insurance on it, you’ll have to pay for your license, driving lessons, registration and you’ll have to get it into the garage somehow.  You made a mistake now you can live with it.  That’s how the real-world works.  But I swear to God if you get one moving violation, I will lock it up and throw away the key and you will be grounded until you’re twenty-one.”

               Allison hung her head and nodded.

               “I understand mom.”

               Allison cleared the table and didn’t say much more to her mother.  Her mother seemed deep in thought.  Allison wandered off and got changed into her armor.  She pulled on her pink winter coat.  It was a fancy poofy one.  She had thought it was cute when she was doing her online shopping spree.  She had been right.  She pulled on her woolen tuque and tugged it over her ears, another product of the shopping spree.  Fresh from the sheep farms of a colony world in another galaxy.  It was dyed pale blue and had a gold tassel on top.  She didn’t bother with gloves or boots her armor was warm enough on its own. 

The sun was low in the sky, so the temperature was dropping rapidly.  If she sealed her armor, she would be able to survive overnight but she wouldn’t be comfortable.  Temperatures could reach the low minus fifties at night.  An unprotected human could freeze in a matter of minutes on a cold night in their colony.  That wasn’t even taking into account the windchill.  November was always chilly for their part of Eden Prime.  This year was worse than any Allison remembered.  It usually warmed up in December to a much more bearable average mean temperature of -10 C.  That was still a couple of weeks off.  Her HUD showed a temperature of -30 C.  Which meant it was downright warm for this time of year. 

Allison looked the crate over and tried to lift one end.  Her armor’s strength kicked in but she couldn’t lift it.  She used the trick Eyre had taught her to use her supernatural strength.  She managed to lift one end.  It wasn’t easy by any means.  She couldn’t carry it on her own, at least yet.  Eyre told her she could learn to harness it better, but it would take years.  There was a certain amount of durability, strength and speed that just came naturally to vampires, and dhampirs that set them far above a normal human.  The truly legendary feats of strength were the purview of older vampires and dhampirs.

She dropped it as her armor was using up power pretty quickly.  Just the brief thirty seconds of holding the crate had dropped power levels by ten percent.  She adjusted her tuque, so it was lower on her forehead and put her hands on her hips.  She silently wished she had a set of goliath power armor; It would be able to do this no problem.  Or that she could do a full vamp out on demand.  She’d have the strength if she did that.

“I don’t care if I scrape the crate… why am I trying to lift it?”

She shook her head.  She crouched and pressed her shoulder against the crate.  She shoved with her natural dhampir strength and armor’s strength assist.  The crate slid towards the garage.  She cheered and hit the control to open the garage.  She shoved again.  She managed to get it into the large garage.  Her father’s car wasn’t there so she put it where it would normally be.  She bent over catching her breath.  Her mother called out.

“Close the garage you’re letting all the heat out, you’re wasting electricity!”

Allison stood up and tapped the control on her AR HUD to seal the garage.  When it closed the interior lights came on.  Allison pulled off her coat and hat.  She hung them over the end of the railing and scratched the back of her head.  She was pondering how to get the bike out of the crate.  Or if she even should.  Her mother made the decision for her.

“You aren’t keeping that crate in the garage!”

Allison sighed and backed up and did a running jump.  She caught the top of the crate and climbed up on top.  It was a hardened clamshell case.  She popped the clips at the top.  She couldn’t stand up on it, the case was taller than her.  She slid off the end of it and started doing the clips along the side.  With a hiss the crate opened.  The two sides slammed into the floor making a loud crash that caused her mother to rush out.  The fusion core was in packing material on top.  The motorcycle itself had been collapsed into a three foot long, two feet tall cuboid with the wheels on either side.   She realized she could fit it into one of Bit’s larger cargo pods easily with half a foot on each side.  That made for some interesting prospects.

She pulled a hardened plastic case out of its housing near the fusion core packing materials; It was decorated in Mototech and Sabre product labels.  She put it on the landing that led to the house and opened it. 

Inside there were stickers.  A tablet and at the bottom a black and blood red riding jacket.  She unfolded it the left breast of the jacket had her name monogrammed into it.  She was grinning like an idiot when she realized it had a programmable back so that she could place whatever image she wanted on it.  She hung that over her hat and coat.  There was a cover for the bike, it had a no-scratch interior and a thicker protective outside.  She looked over the tablet.  It was a top-of-the-line EchoTech tablet, the color matched her bike, they were Aurelius corp’s biggest competitor in the tablet space.  A distant second to Aurelius whose quantum processors were smaller and faster.  The tablet was pretty empty, it had the owner’s manual, the diagnostic program, the encryption key to collapse the bike, another to start it, and the app to program the jacket.

Allison swept her fingers over the tablet and sent each application to her holo-phone in turn.  She set the tablet aside and climbed up on the raised crate bottom and pulled the fusion core down.  To a normal human it would have been heavy.  To her it didn’t feel like there was much to it.  She checked the packaging to make sure she didn’t miss anything then lifted the plastoid board from over top of the motorcycle and leaned it against the stairs. 

She leaned down and found the small data reader on the bike and held her holo-phone against it.  They synced up and Allison hit the command on her AR HUD to expand the bike.  It expanded and the liquid metal that formed its core solidified.  She smiled at it.  She could not wait to ride it, of course that was at least five months away, possibly six if winter didn’t want to go away.  She accessed the bike’s command interface and had it open the fusion core containment unit.  She slid it into the receptacle and told the bike to engage the core.  It took five minutes for the core to start generating power. 

Allison couldn’t resist, she got on and engaged the power systems.  The bike’s holo-HUD flared to life.  She grinned when she saw the speedometer.  It was definitely fast enough to do something stupid with.  It was whisper quiet, but it had settings to simulate gas powered motorbikes.  She giggled when she flipped it to the loudest setting.  Her mother yelled at her to turn it off.  Allison sighed and set it back to whisper mode.  The electric motor didn’t even hum.  There was no vibration.  She walked the bike down the ramp the crate provided and rolled it against the back wall of the garage and powered it off.  She swept the plastoid dust off the shiny blood red paint.  She pulled the cover over the bike.

Allison turned to close the crate up and realized that Oozie had found it.  The nargle seemed to have decided the box was hers.  Allison put her hands on her hips.

               “Oozie, you’re such a cat.  Get out of there furball.”

               Allison nudged the nargle out of the box.  Oozie was not pleased, eventually she moved.  Allison moved to get the plastoid plate that had held the fusion reactor.  Oozie grabbed the other side.  Apparently it was tug of war time.

               “Are you serious?  Grr let go.”

               Oozie held on right until her paws hit a slick part of the floor and she ended up sliding.  Allison fell on her butt the plastoid plate went flying behind her with a crash.  Oozie landed on her and licked her face.

               “You… brat!”

               Allison rolled her eyes and scratched at Oozie’s cheeks.

               “Is this pay back for me going away without you?  You’d hate Earth, you know.  It smells and there is no grass or snow to play in.  Well, there’s lots of snow but winter there makes our winter look like summer.”

               Allison heard footsteps and looked up.  Aryna was leaning on the railing looking down at them.

               “You two are adorable.”

               Allison made a face.

               “Your mom told me to tell you supper was almost ready.”

               Allison nodded she gently pushed Oozie off of her.

               “Ugg, once she gets that special food, I’m not sure how that’s going to go. She’s already pretty strong.”

               Aryna laughed and patted her leg.

               “Come on you.”

               Oozie licked Allison’s face one last time and purred.  She ran after Aryna.  Allison stood up and dusted herself off before repacking the crate and shoving it outside.  By the time she got into the house, Aryna and her mom were already eating.  She hung her coat and jacket up, then got washed up.  She sat down at the table in a baggy sweatshirt and jogging pants.  Apiyo looked at Allison.

               “I sent you an email with our insurance agent.  Tell him you only want theft and fire for now.  Full replacement value.  I also sent you the contact information for a few driver instructors.”

               “Thanks mom.”

               “Don’t forget to ask for the Military discount.  What about that starfighter of yours, is it insured?”

               Allison shrugged.

               “Can you even insure starfighters?”

               “You can get insurance for starships; I don’t see why you wouldn’t insure a starfighter.”

               Allison took another bite of supper.

               “Uh, well starships aren’t usually flying into situations where they’re getting shot at on purpose.”

               “You should ask anyway.  I bet you could get some for when you’re using it for civilian reasons.”

               “Mom, it is worth several billion credits.  I don’t think my job with the reserves is going to cover that kind of insurance; I’m not even sure I can pay for the insurance on the bike.  And is Bit going to be life insurance, because she’s sentient?”

               Allison focused on her food for a while then looked around.

               “Where is Helen?”

               Her mother answered her.

               “Oh, left early this morning to see Isis.  Vampire business apparently.  She thanked me for the hospitality and mentioned she owes you a great debt.  I thought you might tell me what that means?”

               Allison shrugged.

               “Nothing, I just helped her out of a bind on Sauroid Prime, that’s all.  Just uh… urm a little misunderstanding, because I know how to speak the language, I was able to help.”

               Her mother gave her a suspicious look but appeared to let the matter drop.  Allison decided she’d use this as a chance to escape.

               “Uh, so I’m going to go work on that Religion project now.  Got lots of pictures to go through.”

               Allison stood up, put her dishes in the dishwasher and escaped to her room.

Chapter Text

               Allison woke up tangled in her blankets and trying to figure out where the arm that had her holo-phone that was ringing was on.  She tapped it to turn on her AR HUD.  She could see herself on the display.  It wasn’t pretty.  Her hair was a rat’s nest, and her eyes were half closed.  She spared a groggy hello to the caller.  It was Eyre.  She pondered what it would be like to never have to sleep and always look perfect.

               “Allison, how are you doing?”

               Allison looked at the time, it was ten in the morning.

               “Tired.  Did uh… err am I in trouble?”

               Eyre shook her head.  She was looking out over NAFTA dome from the tallest building there, which would be the Aurelius Corp Intergalactic Headquarters.  Eyre turned to face her holoprojector’s camera.

               “No, I just wanted to check on you.  I believe I owe you an apology.  I did not realize you were rescuing my sister on Titan.  I would have loved to have seen her before you whisked her off to Andromeda, but I believe your decision was smart.  It will let her acclimatize to her new reality.  She will be staying on Eden Prime for a while.  I’ve made arrangements.  We’re deploying a couple of new homesteads.  She’ll be in one, next door to you.  I also took the liberty of dropping an extra prefab, for you.”

               “Why me?  I live with my parents.”

               “Oh, no, you misunderstand, it’s for your starfighter and its accessories.  It will be a few days for deployment of course.  Call it an early Christmas present.  A five-minute walk and you’ll be able to take her out.”

               Allison rubbed the sleep from her eyes.  She pondered if she’d remember half of this when she woke up again, she was definitely going back to sleep.  Eyre swept something to the holoprojector and Allison tapped accept on the data transfer.  It was a lot of legalese.  Eyre was waiting for Allison to read some of it.  It didn’t help.  To Allison it was just blah blah blah, legal junk, blah, more legal junk.

               “What is this Auntie Eyre?”

               Eyre smiled.

               “Your insurance agreement for your fighter.  We underwrite several insurance companies, one of which is the one you asked about insuring a starfighter with.  It is a good idea, so I authorized the payments be drawn from your trust.  Six hundred thousand credits per year.  Best I could do for you.”

               Eyre sat down at her desk.

               “I only have a few minutes longer before a meeting, but I see you spent all the money I pulled out for you.  Must have been some shopping spree.”

               Allison blushed and hit her head on her pillow.

               “No, Miles hit buy on something I was looking at but wasn’t going to buy.  Now I’m stuck with it because I’d lose like ninety thousand credits, not that I even have the credits to send it back.”

               Allison could tell Eyre was suppressing a smile.

               “You know what it is, don’t you?”

               Eyre nodded.

               “Yes, I saw that insurance inquiry as well.  You’re what Aurelius calls a black level client.  That means your account manager, that would be me, gets everything that you do through Aurelius.  We do that to make sure you VIPs get consistently good service.  I got you the best rate I could but it’s still going to be a month’s salary for you and that is with the discount for your ship insurance and your account level.  You’re sixteen, it is an expensive piece of equipment and well, as my mother would say if she was here, fast enough to do something stupid with.”

               Allison smiled at that.

               “When I was looking for a used car or bike, that was my first requirement.”

               Eyre shook her head.

               “That does not surprise me in the least.  I need to go to a meeting; This Intergalactic business empire doesn’t run itself.  Remember if you need a little bit extra, a monthly stipend, let me know.  I think I could swing enough to handle your insurance without hurting your balance too much.  Oh, and see what your family’s plans are for the holidays.  I’d like to invite you all to our party.  Enjoy the gala tonight.”

               Eyre disconnected the call after Allison waved.  Allison flopped back on her pillow and closed her eyes with her arm hanging off the side of the bed.  She felt like she’d barely closed her eyes when her mother called her.

               “Allison!  Are you still in bed?”

               Allison groaned.

               “Yeah, it’s not like it’s a school day and I’m on leave.”

               “And you are also late for your manicure appointment.”

               Allison’s eyes went wide.

               “Oh crap.”

               She tossed the blanket off and started rushing to get ready.

               “I told them you got delayed, you better get there soon, I don’t care if you’re a hero, they are not going to hold your spot forever, especially on the day of a big party.”

               Allison just kept saying yes mom over and over again as she was berated.  By the time she left the house her ride was there.  It was one of the VI taxies, normally she’d take the bus, but she didn’t have time.  She slid into the car.  It whisked her to the commerce center.  She had a manicure and pedicure scheduled, along with a hair appointment.  Her last appointment of the day was the one for her make up.  Allison had never been what most would consider especially feminine.  Even if she was, she would have challenges, her mother had difficulties even helping her with her hair because her mother’s hair was completely different than hers.

               Her mother was at the commerce center when she finished.  Allison felt wrong.  She would have been so much happier just wearing her uniform and putting her hair up.  Her mother had pushed her to get done up.  Her mother was looking done up as well.  She was invited, she was the planetary governor of Eden Prime.  They stopped and picked up Aryna on the way home, she had been at the Tribunal.  She didn’t need the magic of cosmetics.  Allison envied the Qual’sa’s natural beauty.  Her hair always seemed perfect.  Aryna’s complexion was milky and smooth.  It was hard to compete with that as a mostly human teenage girl.  If Allison was a more average teenage girl, she would have all kinds of body image issues just being around Aryna.

               Allison vanished into her room to get dressed.  She heard the VI indicate that someone was at the door, but she was in the middle of trying to get her dress on.  Aryna came into Allison’s room when Allison called out asking for help with her dresses zipper.  She smiled at Allison and pulled it up.

               “My friend, you would not look out of place in attendance at the royal court on Qual’sa.  Your dress is perfect for you.”

               Allison blushed.  Aryna nudged her towards her bedroom door.

               “I believe your date has just arrived.  We should go rescue him before your mother convinces him he needs to marry you.”

               Allison giggled softly.  The pair walked out.  Allison still felt like she was the ugliest girl on the planet next to Aryna.  Tyler obviously didn’t when he saw her his jaw dropped and he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.  He was wearing a nice tuxedo.  Not very expensive and likely fabricated at home.  His mother was not very well off.  Allison didn’t care.  To her he looked amazing.  He’d even gotten a haircut.  Their eyes met.  He looked like he wanted to say something, but it came out a jumble.  Oozie came bounding out towards him.  Allison snapped at the nargle.

               “Oozie, don’t you dare!”

               The nargle skidded to a halt on the smooth floor.  Allison pointed to the couch.

               “Couch, now, I left it on your favorite show, behave.  I don’t want white fur all over my date.”

               Oozie’s tail drooped, and she hopped on the couch and curled up with her chin on her paws.  Allison sighed and held up a finger towards Tyler.  She went over to the couch and she petted Oozie’s head.

               “I’m sorry, Oozie you have to admit you drop a lot of fur everywhere.  I promise snuggles when we get back.  I’m sorry.  I asked if I could bring you, but they said no.”

               Oozie licked her hand and purred.   Allison gave her one more rough pet.  She went over to Tyler.

               “Sorry about her.  You look great.”

               He adjusted his glasses.

               “You look good too.  You all do.”

               Apiyo looked everyone over.

               “All right let’s go.”

               The trip to the League Embassy was uneventful.  When they arrived a Silwrath honor guard was lined up on either side of the interior entrance.  One of the green skinned and haired Yorleer was checking guest invitations.  When Allison and Aryna arrived, they were asked to hang back after getting rid of their winter coats.  Finally, Aryna was motioned to head into the event.  Allison heard her friend announced.

               “Her royal highness, Tearyna Quasitori, of the Qual’sa.”

               Allison was motioned forward.  She was a bit surprised to see twenty Silwrath honor guard lined up along the entrance hallway.  She was announced.

“Ensign Allison Wanjala, Savior of the Qual’sa, Destroyer of Worlds, Slayer of the Swarm, of the System’s Alliance.”

As Allison entered the honor guard slammed their closed fists to their chests and as she passed each, they bowed their heads in respect.  Allison would have preferred some other titles, ones that made her sound less bloodthirsty.  She felt a bit put on the spot as everyone watched her enter.  She whispered to herself: Just breathe.  Her eyes found Tyler, who was staring at her in awe.  She smiled at him.  She noticed Isis was in attendance, standing beside her was Helen.

Allison was relieved when the whole pomp and ceremony of her entrance was done.  She made her way to Tyler and slipped her arm into his.  He looked up at her.  Her heels added an extra two inches, leaving her almost a half a foot taller than him.

“Why did you ask me here?”

She glanced down at him.

“Who else would I ask?  You’re my friend and you love anything about non-humans.  You’re in a room full of them.”

He looked around.

“You could have asked any boy at school, and they would have said yes.”

Allison shook her head.

“I didn’t want to ask anyone else.  When I imagined coming here, you’re the only one I could see.  I have no idea why.”

Tyler was about to say something else but stopped when he noticed the eight-foot tall Nutina looking down at him.

“You must be a remarkable specimen of male human to have won the Swarmslayer’s affections.”

Tyler adjusted his glasses.  He didn’t know how to respond to her.  Allison jumped in.

“You’ll have to forgive Tyler, this is his first time seeing so many non-humans in one spot.  He’s extremely curious and has a lot of questions, he just doesn’t know where to start.”

Nutina laughed, her wings flicking as she did so.

“I will answer any I can.  We are honored to have the mate of the Swarmslayer in attendance.”

Allison was about to dispel any assumptions about what Tyler being here meant but realized she didn’t want to get into a discussion on human sexuality and dating.  So, she just went with it.  She figured smarter people than her could sort out the misunderstandings.  Allison looked at Tyler.

“Well, here is your chance, Tyler.  First Trimark Nutina is the equivalent to one of our Generals.  She is head of the Silwrath Special Forces.  Also, she has a daughter who is a sculptor so she might be able to answer questions on art.”

Tyler took a deep breath and spoke.

“Do you have a religion?”

Nutina grinned showing her teeth.

“Yes, we do.  We used to believe the emperor was divine until the Triumvirate arrived to destroy him and his twisted servants.  Legend says the sisters, the Destroyer, The Maiden and their mother, whom we refer to as the All-Mother, descended on the emperor’s palace and wiped out every living thing in moments.  They say The Destroyer’s claws could rend even starship hulls, that the maiden’s silver blade would cut through anything and that the All-Mother had power over time.  Now we worship them.  The warriors such as myself pay homage to the Destroyer.  The healers and scientists to the Maiden.  Our diplomats and politicians to the All-Mother.”

Allison glanced at Helen.  She had a thought that these legends weren’t so much legends such as time traveling werewolves and vampires.  Eyre had told her that her mother could literally stop time, literally she could pause time for everyone in the universe but her.  She had to ask.

“What form do the legends say the Destroyer took?”

Nutina pulled a pendent from under her dress armor.  Allison nodded.  A wolf.  Tyler said what Allison was thinking.

“That is a wolf.  They are extinct now.”

Nutina looked at him.

“Truly this is an animal from your world?”

Allison nodded.

“Uh, look… its just a coincidence probably.”

Nutina narrowed her eyes.

“You are not being honest with me, Swarmslayer, what do you know?”

Allison sighed.

“What do they say the All-Mother looked like?”

Nutina tapped her claw on her chin.

“Her head was covered in flames.  Her eyes glowed green and she could obliterate people with a glance.  She wielded a lance of pure light.”

               Allison bit her lower lip.

               “Uh, that sounds like the Dark Mother and her daughters.  One was a werewolf, and the other was like me…  a blood drinker.   I have held that sword you’re talking about.”

               Nutina was looking at Allison, her wings were moving in a way that indicated she was somewhat confused.   Allison tapped her wrist and turned off her AR HUD and shifted her holo-phone to holographic projection mode.   She tapped the video of Dimi cutting through the armored tube with the sword.   Nutina’s eyes went wide.  Allison tapped through her images until she found one from the temple that showed Hazel, Helen and the Dark Mother’s assault on the emperor’s palace.  Not that she had realized it at the time.  Nutina touched the hologram.

               “Where did you find these carvings?”

               Tyler looked between the two.  Allison canceled holoprojection mode when she noticed Isis watching her.

               “A place called the Temple of the Universe.  Its walls hold the Prophecies of the Dark Mother.  They had my destruction of the Sal’nash on the walls.  Me rescuing Aryna.  Their attack on the emperor and the destruction of the demons.  The Dark Mother’s ascension to divinity.  There are millions of them.”

               “Do they still live? The triumvirate? The Destroyer?”

               Allison shook her head, she refused to out Helen.

               “No, her name was Hazel.  She vanished with the Dark Mother, no one has seen her in almost twenty-three years.  I am sorry.  Another one of the werewolves told me her true name was Raptor’s Sorrow.”

               “There are more of these werewolves?  Are they all so dangerous?”

               Allison shrugged.

               “I don’t know, I’ve never seen one wolf out.  I know how dangerous I am when I vamp out.  I tore open an armored wall on the Sal’nash super hive.”

               Nutina’s wings drooped.

               “I am truly glad we have found peace with your people.  For we would have no chance in a war.”

               Allison touched Nutina’s upper arm.

               “I am glad too, First Trimark.  I would rather make friends then enemies.”

               Nutina smiled.

               “Good!  Now, come, I have something for you to try!”

               Allison and Tyler followed Nutina to a bar.  Nutina asked for three glasses of something called Runque.  Nutina held up her glass.  The glasses were larger than human glasses.  Likely because Silwrath were on average a foot and a half taller than humans.

               “To new allies!”

               Allison held up her glass and drank it down in one go.  She found that was the best way to deal with new alcohol in case the taste didn’t agree with her.  Tyler mimicked her.  He suffered instant regret as he started coughing.  Nutina pounded him on the back.  Allison was less affected, but she knew her nanites were not happy with her because she was starting to get hungry.  Nutina laughed loudly.

               “Yes!  Most Silwrath will not drink so much in one sitting!  You are truly a warrior.”

               Allison looked at Tyler still coughing, she felt bad for him.  If she’d known they were about to drink liquid fire she’d have dissuaded him.  She should have known.  The Silwrath often took part in feats of strength and fortitude to prove their worthiness as warriors.  Several of the Silwrath soldiers in attendance were cheering and chanting the Silwrath word for more.  Allison sighed and put the glass down and looked to the Yorleer tending the bar she spoke the Silwrath word for More and tapped the glass.  This elicited a cheer from the gathered Silwrath.  She looked at Tyler who had to sit down by now.  Nutina looked at the raised dais for the coming speeches and awards ceremony, then looked at her own empty glass wearily.  Allison held up the glass she called out.

               “Who will drink with me?”

               Many glasses of the potent drink were poured out.  She held up her glass.

               “To my brother and sister warriors of the League.”

               The group raised their glasses.  Allison downed the glass and slammed it on the bar.  There were more cheers.  She was pretty sure she was going to regret the second full glass.  Her nanites were nearly overwhelmed.  Two glasses of the Silwrath version of hundred proof rum had almost accomplished what had taken hours of human alcohol.  She was going to need energy in the form of high sugar foods.  She leaned over the bar and asked the bartender.

               “Do you have anything non-alcoholic that has a lot of sugar?”

               The Yorleer poured a glass of glowing blue liquid.  Allison took it and drank it down.  She almost instantly felt less hungry.  It tasted like she was drinking liquid sugar.  She looked at the gathered Silwrath and slammed her fist to her chest in a Silwrath salute.  They returned it.  She rescued Tyler and took him to get some water.

Chapter Text

               After some water and an hour Tyler was intoxicated but not in danger of passing out or embarrassing himself.  Allison on the other hand with a couple of glasses of the glowing blue sugar bomb she had no name for yet was feeling one hundred percent stone cold sober.  This seemed to confuse the Yorleer organizer.  Who kept asking if she was okay to take part in the upcoming award ceremony.  The Silwrath who had joined her were all intoxicated.  Nutina was by far the worst off.

               “Are you sure, we can wait longer if required.”

               Allison nodded.

               “Yes, I am fine, ma’am.”

               The Yorleer rushed off.  Allison had been chatting with a lot of League representatives.  They were all enamored with the one the Silwrath called Destroyer and Swarmslayer.  This evening was making it apparent that the Silwrath were the backbone of the League war machine.  So, anyone who earned their respect was someone who was worth knowing.  There was a lull in Allison’s alien visitors.  Her mother used that as an opportunity to speak to her.  She was speaking quietly.

               “Allison, what was that at the bar?  You had no idea what that alcohol would do to you.”

               Allison shrugged.

               “I was doing what the SA asked me to do, impress the League.  I barely noticed it.  Must be a dhampir thing.”

               Her mother motioned at Tyler.

               “Why did you let him drink it then?”

               Allison shrugged.

               “He didn’t want to be rude.  He’s fine.  I got him lots of water.”

               “You need to be better Allison.  The League looks at you as an example of the best humanity has to offer.”

               Allison rolled her eyes.

               “It’s not my fault they are bad judges of character, is it?”

               Apiyo gasped.

               “Allison Wanjala, I do not like this attitude.”

               Allison was saved from the full wrath of her mother when the Yorleer representative appeared and motioned for Allison to follow her.  Allison looked at her mom.

               “Mom, please keep an eye on Tyler.”

               Her mother crossed her arms and nodded.  Allison was sure she would hear more about this later.  She followed the Yorleer up on the stage.  The consulate head was one of the Squirrel like Vortique.  He stood up on the low stage and spoke.  His voice was being projected through a speaker system.  He seemed very soft-spoken.  A trait that Allison would soon realize was common to the species.

               “May have your attention everyone.”

               He repeated himself a few times.  Allison in an act that would embarrass her mother for years to come put her fingers in her mouth and whistled loudly.  She’d been hooked up for sound as well.  Everyone in the room immediately turned to the stage.  Allison blushed slightly and looked at the Vortique ambassador.

               “Sorry, sir.”

               The ambassador looked at her and bowed his head slightly.

               “Thank you, Ensign.”

               He turned to the Gala guests and spoke.

               “Welcome everyone.  I will keep this brief.  I know we’re all enjoying ourselves and would like to get the party started in earnest.  I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge how thankful we are to open this embassy.  This is the first time we’ve made diplomatic ties with another multispecies organization.  It is gratifying to know that there are others out in the void of space that agree that color, shape and size should present no barrier to peaceful co-existence.  Let us all hope this is a first step to a new and shining future between our two governments.”

               Everyone clapped.

               “Now onto the reason we’re holding this Gala tonight.  We are gathered here to honor the bravery and dedication of this young warrior.  Allison Wanjala.  To the System’s Alliance she is called Ensign and Hero.  The League, has its own titles for her, Destroyer of Worlds and Swarmslayer.  It is a long tradition of the Silwrath, who form the main body of our armed forces, to declare such things on warriors of who go above and beyond the call of duty.  These are unofficial titles.  We have all been called here to witness the awarding of a title that has not been officially provided in five centuries to this young warrior.  Silwrath high command has recommended, and the council has unanimously ratified the decision to bestow our highest honors on Ensign Allison Wanjala.  She is named Battlelord and is to be awarded the Galactic Medal of Freedom.  She is granted these titles and honors in recognition of her defeat of a Sal’nash swarm that threatened to eradicate all life in this galaxy and beyond.”

               Nutina came out and bowed her head to Allison who bowed her head in return.  Nutina hung a purple ribbon holding a medal around her neck and offered Allison two cases.  She spoke quietly.

               “I am honored to call you friend, Battlelord.”

               Nutina moved away.  The ambassador spoke again.

               “Her Royal Highness, Tearyna Qualistori would like to say a few words and provide an award unique to her people.”

               The ambassador stepped aside and Aryna walked up to the center of the low stage after giving Allison a warm smile.  Aryna looked at the crowd.

               “The League representatives present are well aware what my people lost in the last Sal’nash swarm, but our friends in the System’s Alliance may not be.  My mother and my people chose to use a weapon of terrible destructive power to initiate a supernova in our home system.  This sacrifice put an end to the last swarm.  My friend, and sister, Allison prevented this tragedy from replaying itself on a much larger scale.  Her actions have not only rescued me so that I may one day return to the remnants of the Qual’sa people to lead them into a new future, but prevented that future from being cut short by dealing with the swarm before it could begin anew.  For these actions, I declare her: Ro’Mer Saras, Crown Guardian.  When we read the names of the great houses, Wanjala will be added to the list.  She and her descendants are forever more, declared nobles of a great house.  I grant her the title Duchess and finally, it is my pleasure to name her my sister in spirit.”

               Aryna looked at Allison.

               “When I am once again with my people, you will be granted a blade to recognize your prowess as a warrior.  Until then, sister, I present you with these as a gift.”

               A Yorleer approached Allison with a case, which the Yorleer woman opened.  Allison smiled.  Inside were a matching set of Qual’sa pistols.  They were slimmer than the one she had been using.  They were silver and sized for her hands which were larger than was typical for Qual’sa.  They featured the same smooth shape of all Qual’sa designed equipment.  Allison bowed her head and took the offered case.  Aryna stepped away and Eminence Keer stepped up.

               “Greetings.  The Silwrath would like to honor the Battlelord’s contribution as well.  We are here to present her with armor fitting her new title.”

               Nutina came out with a suit of stylized Silwrath armor.  It was dark purple.  It appeared to be made of the same material as the Silwrath special forces battle armor.  Only it was designed specifically for Allison.  Allison bowed her head and accepted the armor carrier.  The Eminence bowed his head to her then addressed the Gala.

               “Please enjoy the rest of your evening.”

               Allison carried her things off the stage.  The Yorleer who had been helping organize things escorted Allison to a side chamber where she was able to lock it all up.  She was happy to get back to the Gala.  She approached Tyler.

               “Sorry about that, you want to dance?”

               The first song was definitely not slow.  It was Silwrath throat singing apparently.  Allison wasn’t familiar with the style, but the beat made her want to bang her head and bounce a lot.  Tyler got into it.  They were the only humans to get involved in what frankly turned into a Silwrath mosh pit.  It had started to occur to Allison that out of the league, the Silwrath were the fun ones.  Next was almost a waltz like song.  This some humans danced to.  She grabbed Tyler who was trying to escape and pulled him towards her.

               “Are you leading, or am I?”

               Tyler seemed pretty go with the flow at the moment, likely because he was feeling the Silwrath drink fro earlier.  They watched the Yorleer who were dancing and mimicked them.  Allison had never lacked finesse with her physical movements.  Tyler on the other hand had some challenges.  She caught him a few times.  They danced to several more songs from representative races of the League.  They were dancing to an Earth song when Allison noticed her mother approaching the stage.  The music suddenly cut off.  Her mother spoke.

               “Hello everyone, I am sorry for interrupting.  I’ve just been advised that a severe winter storm is going to arrive shortly.  We thought it was going to pass us by, but it changed directions.  It is so bad I’ve been forced to declare a state of emergency.  I would ask that everyone return to your homes, or to your ships in orbit.  Or within the next twenty to thirty minutes, you will not be able too.  I would encourage everyone who has open space in their vehicles to share rides as we’re already experiencing interference with our robot taxis.”

               Allison released Tyler.  Tyler seemed confused and asked Allison.

               “Does this happen a lot?”

               She shook her head.

               “No, first time my mom’s declared a state of emergency in the history of the colony as far as I know.”

               Everyone started rushing about.  Her mother was busy organizing rides and helping to get people on their waiting shuttles off world.  Eventually it came down to a couple of on duty CDF members, Allison, her mother, Tyler and Aryna.  Allison spoke up.

               “Mom, just get them to the base, I’m a pilot, I’m not flying in this, they’re Army, you’ll need them for cleanup.  Tyler and I can stay here.  There’s no way he’s getting home before it hits.  You can drop Aryna off and just run the emergency response from the base.  They have lots of space here.  I’m sure the Ambassador won’t mind.”

               Ambassador Tusqueek nodded.

               “Yes, we have plenty of supplies, the Battlelord and her companion may stay here until it passes.”

               Allison felt like there was more to his agreement than she was seeing but shrugged and let it go.  Apiyo looked like she would disagree but then nodded.

               “I will pick the two of you up the moment I can.  Behave.  You’re representatives of Earth.”

               Allison gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek.  Her mother gave her a strange look after glancing at Allison’s waist.  She didn’t say anything though and walked off.  The staff were busy tidying up the Ambassador motioned to Allison.

               “I have allowed you and your friend access to the kitchen and other non-private rooms of the Embassy, please make yourself comfortable.”

               Allison glanced at Tyler.

               “I’ll meet you in the kitchen, just don’t touch the bumpy purple fruit that looks like an apple, won’t kill you but they’re full of worms.”

               Tyler blinked a few times then walked off and asked a wall panel where the kitchen was.  Allison crossed her arms and looked down at the Ambassador.  He was at least a foot shorter than her when she wasn’t wearing heels. 

“So, care to explain the real reason you were so eager to have me stay?  Not that I mind, sir, but I’d like to know if I need to be prepared to shoot anyone tonight.”

His pointed ears went back slightly, and he rubbed his small hands in front of him.

“The uh, Silwrath do not consider this Embassy at risk so evacuated.  The contingent of Yorleer security was delayed and will not be able to land until the storm has passed.  I was hoping you could, act as security until they arrive.”

Allison nodded.

“Sir, please, next time just ask.  As a member of the Colony Defense Forces, I am happy to help but please don’t manipulate me.  It tends to make humans angry.”

The wind was already starting to howl over the embassy.  Green lightning flashed in the sky.  Allison uncrossed her arms.  He jumped when thunder crashed.  Allison turned to look in the direction Tyler went and walked off.  The Ambassador hurried to catch up to her.

“The reports your mother provided say it could get as low as -80 tonight.  I was not aware it could get colder than 0.  Are we at risk of power failure?”

Allison stopped and quickly typed in a conversion request for -80 c to standard League temperatures.  Her connection to the Alliance-Net failed.  She sighed and closed her eyes.

“No, that’s -80 Celsius, 0 being the temperature water freezes at, and no, the power will not fail, all of these structures are built from non-conductive materials.  And only a direct lightning strike might knock the fusion reactor offline.  We’re fine, sir.”

  He kept rushing to keep up.

“And the cold?”

Allison stopped and turned to him.

“Sir, these fusion reactors are designed to work in space.  We’ll be fine.   And before you ask, no, there is no risk of collapse unless we suddenly end up floating in a gas giant.  These habitations can be deployed in up to four thousand feet of water.  They are built in space and are pressurized, and people work on them without vacuum suits.  Everything will be fine.”

               The Ambassador still seemed concerned.  Allison was starting to understand why the Silwrath didn’t have much love for his species.  They were the complete opposites.  Allison waited patiently for him to voice his further concerns.

               “Your mother said she had never seen a storm like this here, how do we know it won’t get worse?  And what if it lasts for months?”

               Allison nodded along with him, trying to keep her expression empathetic to his concerns.  The anxiety with these guys was off the charts.  She wondered what kind of world they evolved on.

               “Yes, but we have had winter storms before, just not this bad.  They always pass in twelve to fifteen hours.  The CDF and civilians will get the roads cleared.  Your shuttles can land, and I can go home.  If it lasts for an extended period of time.  We have military space craft more than capable of landing and evacuating us.  Humans take our safety very seriously.”

               Another clap of thunder shook the building.  He jumped again.

               “Sir, I suggest you take one of the translators that was provided to you, put it on, once it syncs with your device use the option for NC.  It is noise cancellation.  Put some music on, read a book and relax in one of the interior rooms.  You won’t hear a thing.  By the time you wake up, this should all be over.”

               He rubbed his furry hands together.

               “Yes, yes, that sounds like an excellent plan.  You are a credit to your people.  If only our own soldiers would so such patience.”

               Allison bowed her head and watched him run off.  She suddenly envied her mother who didn’t have to deal with him.  She went to the kitchen.  Some staff were busy packing up left over finger foods from the Gala.  Two Yorleer and two Vortique, all women.  Tyler was trying to stand out of the way he looked pretty traumatized.  Allison looked down and saw one of the butt fruit in his hand.  Nasty black worms wiggled around the bite he took.  Allison gently took it from his hand wiped the worms onto her palm and tossed all of it into the compost bin.  He quickly wiped his hands on his tuxedo in disgust. 

               “It looked so good but tasted… like.  Why did it have worms?”

               Allison glanced at the compost bin.

               “So, the Silwrath break them in half and pull the worms out to clean their teeth.  They don’t eat the fruit; They’re called butt fruit because it tastes like… well… you can guess.  Don’t worry the worms won’t hurt you the Silwrath swallow them when they finish cleaning their teeth.  Silwrath basically eat the same stuff we do, more meat though.”

               Allison tapped one of the Vortique women on the shoulder.

               “Excuse me ma’am, my friend here ate some butt fruit and a few worms. Is there anything you have that can help him get the taste of it out of his mouth, and is there anything for us to eat?”

               The woman had white and brown fur and by all appearances seemed less bothered by the storm and state of emergency then the ambassador.  Her ears perked up and she laughed.  She spoke in League standard to her coworkers who all laughed.  It appeared Tyler was the butt of a joke…  Allison chastised herself for the unintentional mental pun.  She finally turned to Allison.

               “Of course, Battlelord, Ezeen is the chef and will take care of it.”

               One of the Yorleer women started digging through the cooling unit and poured a glass of thick cyan fluid and put it in front of Tyler.

               “Drink up, young human.”

               She turned to Allison.

               “I will make a meal worthy of a Battlelord, my lady.  Please have a seat.”

               Allison sat on a breakfast bar stool.  The habitations were prefabricated in certain formfactors with furniture bundled in them, then linked together to build a bigger structure, so this kitchen was identical to the one at her house.  The embassy staff had not had a chance to customize it.  Tyler sat down beside her and looked at the blue fluid skeptically.  Allison took it and took a sip.  She put it down and shrugged.

               “Texture of milk it is a bit sweet.  I’d drink it, unless you want that taste in your mouth.”

               Tyler picked up the glass and took a cautious sip.  He took a bigger mouthful afterwards.  He wiped his mouth off.  Allison shook her head.

               “I’ve figured out that I need to try everything once, no matter what it looks like.  Provided I’ve scanned and made sure it’s compatible with our biology.  The League has been very good about getting food labeled.  I spent a week on a Silwrath ship.  Some of the food looked downright disgusting but tasted so good.”

               Allison’s eyes drifted over to the Yorleer chef who was frying up noodles with a mixture of vegetables and meat.  She portioned it in half and put a bowl out for both of the teenagers.  Allison used the Yorleer version of chopsticks that were provided and dug in without any hesitation.  Tyler watched her.  Allison nodded to the chef and smiled.

               “It’s delicious thank you.”

               Ezeen bowed her head then went back to assisting with the cleanup.  Tyler hesitantly tried his after glancing at Allison to see how she was managing to eat with two sticks.  He tried each individual part then started eating.  Tyler finished his bowl off.  Allison elbowed him gently and motioned to Ezeen.  Tyler adjusted his glasses.

               “Thank you, Ezeen.”

               The woman turned to him and smiled.

               “You’re welcome.  Now, shoo so we can finish up here.  Unless Battlelords and their dates like to do dishes.”

               Allison picked up both bowls and the utensils and put them in the dishwasher.  Ezeen smiled at her.

               “I’d like to see a Silwrath warrior do that, just once.”

               Allison shrugged.

               “If my mom heard I left dishes sitting on a counter she’d ground me and give me a lecture on respect.”

               Ezeen who was a chubbier version of a Yorleer then Allison had seen before smiled.

               “If you need anything else, just grab the leftovers, we have plenty of human food in here as well, I take it you also do more cooking then your Silwrath brethren?”

               “Yes, ma’am.  Thanks again.  Come on Tyler lets go find someplace to get out of the way.”

               Tyler waved to the kitchen and wait staff as Allison dragged him out of the room. 

Chapter Text

Allison looked around and found some Sauroid, hence, Silwrath style furniture in the form of padded benches.  The benches were in the ballroom which was just a school gymnasium that hadn’t been converted for sports.  She kicked her heels off and tucked them under the bench and laid down.  Tyler did the same on another bench.  Their feet were facing away from each other.  The windows were white with snow and green lightning was lighting up the night.

               Allison folded her fingers across her midsection and looked back at Tyler.  When she spoke, he looked at her but had to catch his glasses.

               “So, our first sleep over.  Did you imagine it would be like this?”

               Tyler shook his head.  He pulled his glasses off and slipped them into one of his shoes.  When he came back up Allison booped his nose.  He smiled bashfully.

               “Tyler, you know, you look weird without glasses, but at least now I can see your eyes.  Which are cute, by the way.  Why do you even wear glasses anyway?  I have never seen anyone else wear them ever.”

               He looked up at the ceiling.

               “Surgery is too expensive, and I’m not compatible with organic stuff.”

               Allison was confused.

               “Like, no one wears glasses because no one has bad eyesight, at least as kids.  Because poor eyesight was edited out of well us.  So, uh, how did it happen?  You know what, it’s probably personal, sorry I shouldn’t have asked.”

               Tyler looked at the ceiling for several minutes before he answered her.

               “Well, my dad and mom, they uh, weren’t born in the dome.  Well dad was born in a dome… on Tritan.   Mom grew up under the Africa Dome.”

               Allison looked at him.

               “Your dad was in that church?”

               Tyler got quiet again.  Allison rolled over so she could see him better.

               “I don’t hold it against you.  I won’t tell anyone, I know… I know what people might do.”

               Tyler tapped his long slender fingers on his stomach.

               “Mom got fired.  I was getting beat up…  She begged for a spot on a colony.”

               Allison put her chin on her hands which she folded on the cushioned bench.

               “I see why you didn’t say anything.  Did you have family on Tritan?”

               Tyler moved his head from side to side and then nodded.

               “Yeah, my dad’s whole family was there… when… when the System’s Alliance bombed it.  Dad and my older sister left.  Mom didn’t want to go with them.  I was too young to understand.  We haven’t seen them since the day after the attack.”

               Allison frowned.

               “I am so sorry Tyler.  It must… be hard.  I didn’t even think.  I’m sorry I dragged you to the base.”

               Tyler rolled over and leaned his head on his elbow.

               “I don’t mind.  I had fun.  Even firing the guns.  Mom… she didn’t want guns in the house.  Dad used to have them.  Lots of scary people would visit.  I don’t blame the System’s Alliance.  My dad did though…”

               Allison reached out her left hand and put it on Tyler’s.

               “It would be alright if you did.  I… have a confession to make, and if you never want to talk to me again, I understand.  It was my grandfather who ordered the attacks and was in command of the fleet that attacked Tritan. I’m sorry.”

               Tyler shifted to look into Allison’s eyes.

               “Why are you sorry?  You were twelve, like I was.”

               Allison sighed.

               “He didn’t want to do it you know, but killing five hundred thousand innocent people…  what choice did the System’s Alliance have?  Even I lost family in that.”

               Tyler nodded.  He squeezed Allison’s hand.

               “War is bad.”

               “Amen to that.”

               Allison looked around the empty ballroom.

               “I was actually kind of surprised there was no attempted attack tonight.  This seems like a prime target.  Godless aliens rewarding one of the System’s Alliance soldiers for committing a genocide…  it kind of writes itself.”

               Tyler shook his head.

               “Is that why you seemed on edge all night?”

               Allison shook her head and avoided meeting Tyler’s gaze.

               “On edge? No, I wasn’t.  I was having fun and partying.”

               Tyler pointed to Allison’s dress.

               “Then why do I see a knife hilt sticking out there.”

               Allison blushed and readjusted her dress to conceal her vibro knife.

               “Just making sure I followed regulations.”

               Tyler frowned.

               “You said you were on leave.”

               Allison rolled on her back and folded her hands over her stomach.  She got quiet.  He sighed and adjusted his head, so he was laying on his palms.

               “Allison, it’s alright to need help you know.”

               Allison scowled.

               “I’m fine.  Yesh.”

               “It’s not normal to carry a weapon everywhere.  I don’t see Ajay and the others.”

               Allison closed her eyes.

               “They don’t have Major Ghai breathing down their necks.  The universe is a dangerous place.  Just because everyone else refuses to acknowledge it doesn’t mean I will.”

               The pair fell into silence.  The lights flickered then went out.  Allison sat up quickly and tapped night-vision optics on her contact lenses.  She didn’t put her shoes on when she hopped off the bench.  She crouched down beside Tyler and whispered.

               “Get your glasses on go to the kitchen.  Tell the staff to seal it off.”

               Tyler looked around, he whispered.

               “It’s just a power outage.”

               “We don’t get power outages.  Each habitation has its own fusion reactor.  Something isn’t right.  Go.”

               “This is what I’m talking about Allison, you’re being paranoid.”

               He went to say something more but was interrupted when Allison put her finger on his lips.  She looked around.  The night vision optics only gave her black and white.  Content they were still alone she pulled his glasses out of his shoes and put them in his hand.

               “Put your left hand on the wall and follow it around, you’ll reach the kitchen. Go.  I’ll go spring whatever trap someone set by the fusion reactor.”

               Tyler relented and Allison watched him until he was around the corner and stood up.  She pulled her Qual’sa pistol and knife out. She muttered to herself.

               “Yes, Ambassador we’re perfectly safe… just had to say it didn’t you Allison.”

               She slid along the right wall, if it was like all the other habitation the life support and fusion reactor were in a core utility room.  She tapped on thermal optics with the hand holding her knife.  She flipped it to identify humans.  She saw six around the fusion reactor.  Four outside the utility room, two inside.  Her contacts started identifying weapons.  They also identified body armor.  She slowly snuck away wishing she had her armor and holo-web the whole way.  She tried to reach exterior comms but the electrical component of the storm was interfering with them. 

Allison heard them walking down the hall and she started to run away.  She fired a few stunner blasts, forcing them to dive for cover.  She skidded around a corner and fired around it a few more times.  They returned fire with projectile rounds.  The habitation domes weren’t exactly armored.  She was showered with chips of the ultrahard foam used in their construction.  The wind was howling through the newly formed holes.  She fired two more shots and dashed down the hall toward the side room her gifts had been secured in. 

She tried to unzip the dress and sighed.  It was going to be impossible to get out of it quickly alone.  She closed her eyes and ripped the back apart.  The dress dropped to the ground, followed quickly by her slip. She dropped her weapons on a table and started pulling the Silwrath armor on.  It certainly felt like it was the real thing and not ceremonial.  The armor had built-in webbing, it was easy to find appropriate holsters for her dual pistols.  She slid the knife into a wrist sheath on her right hand. 

Whoever the humans were, she could see them on thermoptics just outside the door.  She pressed her back against the wall and glanced over her shoulder.  The largest of the group motioned at the door, one of them moved closer and popped the panel.  Allison could open the door, but she wanted the bulk of the group to be further away.  She pulled the knife out of her wrist sheath and flipped the switch to power it on and holstered her pistol.  It was a good assumption in her opinion that these people were here to do her and the others inside harm.  These weren’t Sal’nash.  These were other humans.  She wasn’t entirely comfortable with killing one. 

The door slid open and Allison grabbed them from behind.  Her vibro knife was pressed against their throat and gauntlet was over their mouth.  She whispered into the woman’s ear.

“If you make a sound I will kill you.”

Allison pressed the knife against the woman’s neck and ripped the translator off.  She tossed it aside.  The woman moved to escape; Allison’s knife grazed her neck.  It would have beheaded the woman if Allison hadn’t been so averse to killing her.  Before the woman could call out Allison got her hand over her mouth and slammed her into the hardened foam wall until she stopped resisting.  The woman started to resist again as the daze caused by the bashing wore off.  Allison lifted the woman up by the front of her ballistic vest and punched her in the face.  The woman’s head lulled back, and blood began to leak out of her broken nose.

Allison checked the woman’s wrist for a holo-phone.  She found one and ripped it off tearing the band.  She held it against her own holo-phone and tapped one of her attack daemons.  It told her it would take several minutes.  She tossed the holo-phone aside and picked up the translator.  She synced up with their comm frequency by infiltrating it.  She spotted a cross pendant on the girl’s neck.  She frowned and shook her head.

“I knew it.”

She leaned on the wall again and listened to their comms.

“Keira, did you clear that room?”

A few minutes later.

               “Frank, Victor, check on Keira.  Be careful, that alien is out there somewhere with that zapper.”

               Allison sheathed her vibro knife again.  She crept out of the door and across the hall to another door they’d hacked open.  She drew the pistols Aryna had given her and leaned against the wall.  It was obvious the terrorists were using some form of night vision, but not thermoptics or they would have seen her easily.   Their comms came up again.

               “Keira’s down. She’s alive but that alien did a real number on her.” 

Allison glanced around the corner.  They were both kneeled down.  She spun around and shot a volley of stun blasts at them.  The pair took several hits and fell down in a heap.  She shot the woman they’d called Keira twice just to make sure she didn’t wake up anytime soon.  Their comms flared to life again.

“Victor? Frank? Keira?  What was that?  Answer me.”

Allison hit the control on her AR HUD to speak on their Comms.  She spoke in Silwrath.  If they were planning on attacking the Gala she assumed they’d have the translation matrix for Silwrath loaded.

“You have invaded the wrong embassy, human.  You face a Silwrath Battlelord.  Your allies have been disintegrated and you are next.  Surrender or die.”

The rage in the leader’s voice when he answered wasn’t exactly what Allison had expected.

“I’m going to kill you, you scaly cunt, if it’s the last thing I do!  I’ll fuckin murder your entire family if you harmed a hair on her head!”

Allison decided to push more buttons.  It was something she excelled at, and angry people were dumb people, or so her recent military training told her.

“Oh, you cared about the woman.  It is good I disintegrated her.  There wasn’t much left of her face.  You humans are a squeamish lot.  Not meant for real battle.  She begged for her life before I beat it out of her.  Pathetic.”

They changed comm channels.  She didn’t need access to hear him.  He was furious and was shouting.

“Find that scaly bitch.”

Allison dragged all three of the unconscious attackers into the room across the way, threw her dress in with them and sealed the door.  The three remaining terrorists were running in her direction.  She retreated down the hall.  She was pretty sure she could engage in a gun battle with them without cover and come out on top in her armor but a stray bullet could hit her head.  She hadn’t quite figured out how to activate the armor’s helmet.  Allison hit her gauntlet on the wall as she ran, to keep the group engaged.  She figured if they were chasing her the Ambassador, Tyler and the staff would be less likely to become targets.  Whoever the man in charge was, he taunted her over comms.

“I heard Silwrath were honorable warriors, come out coward!”

Allison was unphased.  Pride was not one of her vices.  She pressed herself against the wall in the ballroom.  She fired at the first person who came through the door with both pistols.  He collapsed.  She slid behind the bar.  One of them knelt down and checked their companion.  He spoke in Swahili.

“Breathing, but unconscious.  She’s playing with us. Probably wants to eat us slowly.”

She heard a scuffle and then Tyler’s voice yelling.

“Stop!”

Allison stood up ready to unleash everything in her clips to save Tyler from the terrorists.  The lights came on suddenly.  Allison’s contacts flipped to natural vision almost instantly.  She was face to face with two men.  One was black and the other was Caucasian.  She had her pistols pointed at them.  The black man who looked older had his gun pointed at Tyler.  The white man grabbed Tyler and put his gun to his head.  Tyler kept staring at the older man.  The younger man looked surprised to see Allison.

“It’s her, the butcher’s granddaughter.”

Allison kept her pistols leveled at them.

“You harm a hair on his head, and I will stun you both, then make what happens next take a long time.”

Tyler was struggling to get away he was glaring at the older man.

“Dad why are you doing this?”

The man holding Tyler released him.

“Will, is that true, is this your kid?”

“Yeah, Andy, it is.”

Allison’s arms drooped slightly but she leveled the guns again.

“Stand down.  I have armor that will stop your bullets, your armor will not stop my weapons.  No need for anyone else to get hurt tonight.  Tyler, get out of the way!”

Will addressed his son and pointed at Allison.

“Tyler, your sister was here with me tonight and she killed her.”

Allison shook her head slightly.

“Tyler don’t listen to him; He’s lying.  You know I don’t kill people.”

               His father kept one gun trained on Allison and offered Tyler another.

               “You remember how Keira used to spin you around.  You know how much she loved you?  If we’d known you were here, we’d have come looking for you sooner.  Your mother took you away from us.  Take the gun and let’s put an end to this monster.  Her family butchered ours and she just killed your sister.  How many has she killed?  Fourteen billion?  What is one more?”

               Allison pleaded with Tyler.

               “Tyler, don’t do it.”

               Tyler looked angry.  He took the gun in both hands and leveled it at Allison.  She crossed her wrists in front of her face and dove down as all three of them started shooting at her.  She hit the ground so hard her pistols went flying.  They got behind the bar and kept shooting at her.  She crossed her arms behind her head.  When they were all reloading, she rolled over and threw her knife at Andy.  The vibro blade sliced through his ballistic vest easily.  She drew her original pistol and shot Tyler’s father.  Tyler was struggling to get his gun reloaded.  Allison pointed the Qual’sa pistol at him.

               “Tyler, I didn’t kill your sister. Drop it, please I do not want to shoot you.  I don’t know what this will do to someone with a heart condition.”

               Tyler squeezed the trigger.  Time slowed down for her.  She moved her head to the side and felt the bullet graze her head.  She didn’t hesitate any longer, she pulled the trigger on her pistol and Tyler went down.  She held the side of her head and used the thumb of her gun hand to set the pistol to max discharge. She pointed at one of the fallen barstools and fired.  The blast hit the stool and it vanished in a flash of blue light.  She pointed it at Andy who was trying to squirm away.

               “Remember I’ve already killed fourteen billion sentients, a few more isn’t going to bother my conscience. Is there anyone else?  I’m not going to ask twice terrorist.  Don’t bother lying my scanner will see right through it.”

               Andy held up one hand.

               “No!  Don’t shoot.  I’m not a true believer I was just hired for a job.”

               Allison set the pistol to stun and shot him twice.  The pistol beeped, indicating it had been fully discharged she slid it into a holster.  She retrieved both fallen pistols and holstered one of them.  She kept her hand over the graze caused by Tyler’s shot.  She looked at him and shook her head.

               “Ugg, idiot.  Why did he shoot me?”

               Several staff came rushing out.  The Vortique who’d spoken to them in the kitchen was trying to look at Allison’s injury.  Allison motioned at Andy with her pistol.

               “Him first, wound sealant foam.  I’m fine.”

               Allison regretted saying that almost as soon as she finished speaking as the room started spinning and she was forced to hold herself up on the bar.  Ezeen grabbed Allison’s arm to help steady her.

               “Though I may have a concussion.  Get these guys restrained, there are three more in the hallway over there.”

               Allison pointed with her pistol.

               “Strip them down to their underwear and make sure to remove their holo-phones…  the black things on their wrists.  The translators too.”

               Ezeen motioned to a bench.

               “Battlelord you’re injured you should lay down.  What about your date?  Is he with them?”

               Allison shook her head.

               “No, he just got caught in the crossfire.”

               Ezeen sent one of her assistants to go get some ice for Allison’s head.   Allison put her other pistol back in its holster.  She let Ezeen help her to a bench.  Once she got sat down Allison quickly cut the gun fight out of the video record on her holo-phone as well as any admission of who Will was to Tyler.  She wanted to send it to a secure storage space and delete any records of the files, but she still lacked a connection to Alliance-Net.  This was a mixed blessing as it meant none of the video made it out of the Embassy so the military’s VI wouldn’t have access to any of the feed.  She instead renamed them to data files and encrypted them.

               By the time the ice arrived her injury had healed itself.  The concussion didn’t seem to be healing quiet so quickly.  She let Ezeen put the ice pack on her head.  She didn’t see the point in arguing.  She wasn’t in pain she was just really dizzy.  Ezeen looked at Allison.

               “Where is your beautiful dress?”

               Allison motioned down the hallway.

               “I had to rip it to get it off.  Better than being shot without armor, right?”

               Ezeen looked Allison up and down.

               “You know, you look like our ancient warrior queens who were dressed for battle.  Very regal, even with the blood.”

               Allison chuckled.

               “No queens here, just unlucky high school students.”

               She watched as Will and his two henchmen were led away.  Their hands had been tied.  She couldn’t see Tyler.  She stood up quickly and was forced to reach out to the wall.

               “Where’s Tyler?”

               Ezeen tried to sit her down again, but Allison forced herself past the woman.  She realized she was suffering from vertigo and had to struggle to make it to the bar.  The contents of her stomach were threatening to come back up.  Tyler’s lips were turning blue.  Her contacts indicated he was in cardiac arrest and wasn’t breathing.  Allison pushed past the two-embassy staff trying to help him.  One had the electric paddles.  She shook her head.

“No, his heart’s not beating at all.  Just get back.”

She ripped off her gauntlets and started giving him CPR.  She felt his ribs break but she kept going.  She leaned down to give him air.  Then she returned to chest compressions.  She kept going until her contacts showed his heart was beating and he was breathing.  She didn’t try to get up.  She sat there on her knees; Hands folded in her lap.  She closed her eyes, but everything was still spinning.

Chapter Text

               Allison hadn’t moved from her spot behind the bar for several hours.  She found out the hard way being still was the only sure way to keep herself from throwing up.  She’d never suffered vertigo before, and she was pretty sure it was the worst thing ever.  Tyler had long ago been moved into the infirmary.  They had a med tech from the Yorleer at the embassy.  Allison hoped the fact they were part plant wouldn’t hinder Tyler getting medical attention but there was nothing she could do, and she wasn’t sure if she should be anywhere near him after nearly killing him.  Ezeen had stayed with her the whole time.  Allison still had her eyes closed.  It didn’t stop the spinning, but it helped with the nausea. 

               “Ma’am, you can go, I’m fine just a bit dizzy.”

               “Exactly what my son would say after he hit his head in a Bator.”

               Allison had no idea what that word meant, neither did her translator.

               “Bator?”

               Ezeen searched for the words.

               “Hover racers?  Very fast.  Very dangerous.”

               “Oh, I understand.”

               Ezeen continued.

               “He would get into accidents, hit his head then say, mom, I’m fine.  Three times he cracked his skull.  Mom, I’m fine.  Stay awake, Battlelord.”

               “If you think I can fall asleep after nearly killing one of my best friends… I wish I could.  I don’t want to deal with it.  Aren’t you plants?  Do you have bones?”

               Ezeen spoke quietly.

               “I saw it, you didn’t have a choice, Battlelord.  I can guess why you’re protecting him, and I won’t say anything.  You’re lucky he missed, or we would not be talking.  And no, we do not have bones like you would have, my son is adopted, he is Silwrath.”

               “Yeah, lucky.”

               “This is not your fault, Battlelord.”

               Allison sighed.

               “Actually, it is, I taught him how to shoot.  I should have assumed that was going to bite me in the ass one day with my luck.  Tell me about your home world?”

               Ezeen smiled and adjusted herself, so she was leaning against the outer wall of the ballroom.  The pair talked long into the night.  Comms started working at 0400.  Allison advised command of her situation.  They must have told her mother who called her immediately and told her she was sending help as soon as possible.  The promised help arrived at 0430 in the form of a Silwrath medical evacuation shuttle which took Tyler, Allison and the terrorists to the battlecruiser they had in orbit.

               Allison refused the hover-gurney and made her way to the medical bay on her own.  The Silwrath medical staff were apparently used to soldiers being morons and didn’t argue the point.  When she arrived, she saw Tyler was still unconscious and had been put into some sort of regenerative device.  She could see the repairs being performed to his ribs in real time.  Andy was awake and surrounded by four armed Silwrath guards.  All of them seemed eager for him to make a move.  They saw Allison and slammed their fists to their chests.

               “Battlelord!”

               Allison returned their salute and she looked around.  Before she could ask for help a familiar-looking, blue-scaled medical tech approached her.  Allison saw her name on her white coat.  Futara.

               “Battlelord, please, come with me.”

               Allison let herself be helped to a bed.  While the tech ran a scanner over Allison, the teenager blushed.

               “Sorry about uh, well you know, ma’am.”

               Futara nodded, she spoke as she reached up to check under Allison’s blood-matted hair.

               “A misunderstanding, Battlelord, warrior blood runs hot.  Your wound is healed.  Strangely it does not seem it was done by the Synthlin super soldier nanites you injected during your encounter.  I did not realize humans utilized that technology.”

               Allison went pale.

               “We don’t, they’re illegal and uh, if my people find out about them, they’ll disintegrate me so could we just leave those out of any umm reports?”

               Futara blinked and her wings twitched.

               “That is a remarkably strong reaction to a simple nanite injection.  If they are so illegal, why would you inject them?”

               Allison lowered her voice.

               “I didn’t.  My body produces them naturally.  My biological mother had them in her system.”

               The blue-scaled Silwrath nodded.  She kept her voice low.

               “Intriguing, that would explain the high concentration.  I had assumed you injected them to heal your injury and give you an edge in the fight.  Our soldiers use them in extreme situations.  They put a large strain on non-Synthlin.  You show no signs of damage to your heart, brain or lungs.”

               Allison kept her eyes focused on Futara.

               “Then why is the ship still spinning ma’am?”

               Futara smiled and picked up an injector.  She pressed it against Allison’s neck.  There was a hiss.

               “Calcium particles in your inner ear were agitated by a quick movement of your head.  Likely when your head was hit by the projectile.  I gave you an anti-nausea med, mixed with a sleeping aid, and a nerve deadener.  Now turn your head to the left quickly please.”

               Allison blinked at Futara.

               “Are we trying to make me throw up?”

               Futara chuckled.

               “No, it’s part of the treatment.  We’re trying to cause an acute episode.  Then we’re going to try and get those naughty little crystals somewhere they cause less harm.  The anti-nausea meds will hopefully stop you from throwing up.” 

               Allison did was she was told, and the room started spinning so bad she grabbed on to the bed because her mind told her she was going to go flying off.  Futara then walked Allison through some head movements.  When they’d finished Allison still felt off, but the room was not spinning.

               “You’re a miracle worker, ma’am.”

               Futara patted Allison’s shoulder.

               “No, human medical files are very comprehensive.  The VI I contacted when I was told of your symptoms was very precise with treatments.  Unfortunately, your nanites cannot heal this particular problem.  Off you go, Battlelord.  You’ve been assigned the same quarters as before.  Do not eat anything.  Go get some sleep keep your body at a thirty-degree angle.  I’ll have someone drop off an appropriate uniform.  I’ll inform your mother you’re doing fine and that I gave you a sedative.  She seems rather, how do you humans say, excitable and you need rest.”

               Allison hopped off the bed.

               “I am not sure about medical privacy… or umm… is my friend Tyler going to be alright?”

               Futara looked at Tyler.

               “I do not have any information to provide, Battlelord.  We are repairing the damage to his ribs.  His brain has suffered oxygen deprivation and that is not good for any species.  We can repair the damage, but in many cases, it is up to them to wake up.”

               Allison bit her lower lip and then nodded.

               “Thank you for helping me, and him.”

               Futara waved her hand dismissively.

               “It was my honor, Battlelord.  We were the closest ship and your medical facilities were overwhelmed and not equipped for such traumatic damage.  He must have been very brave to have suffered such catastrophic damage to his chest.”

               Allison blushed.

               “That was me, his heart stopped.  We’re told if you don’t break the ribs you’re probably not pressing hard enough.”

               Futara raised a claw.

               “Ah, that would explain the nature of the fracture.  Manual compressions.  You likely saved his life in that case.  Why did his heart stop?”

               Allison patted her Qual’sa pistol.

               “He was caught in the crossfire. I didn’t realize it would do more than knock him out or I wouldn’t have fired.”

               Futara tapped her chin.

               “That would indicate a congenital heart defect.  We shall repair that.  His eyes are also defective.  A child with such a defect would have had it corrected shortly after birth in the League, why has he not had the procedure done?”

               “His family couldn’t afford it.  Medical treatment is not free in the System’s Alliance.”

               Futara’s wings and tail twitched.

               “What an obscene concept, charging for medical treatment.  Barbaric even.”

               “Credits make the System’s Alliance turn or the saying goes.  I’m sure he’d appreciate anything you can do for him.  What about the woman that was brought up unconscious?”

               Futara motioned to a surgical room.

               “She requires a little more manual work by a doctor.  Someone fractured several of her facial bones.  We were able to pull an image of her from her data device and are reconstructing her bones.”

               Allison felt sick to her stomach.

               “I did that much damage?”

               Futara nodded.

               “Considering if it were Silwrath guards they would have killed her, I’d say you showed restraint, Battlelord.  She will be as good as new for her trial.  You should go get some rest.  My scans indicate you are suffering from exhaustion.”

               Allison made her way through the ship.  She realized this was the first time she’d been allowed to roam the battlecruiser without an escort.  None of the Silwrath challenged her.  A few greeted her by her title, mostly they were going about their duties.  She didn’t waste any time getting herself out of her armor.   After setting her pillows up to try and sleep how Futara asked her she fell into a fit sleep. 

When she woke up it was late afternoon, nearly early evening.  She sat up slowly and looked around.  The room was not spinning.  She sighed with relief and pulled herself up.  Her first order of business was to get cleaned up.  When she moved into the outer room of the quarters, she found an ADF uniform with a lot of pips on it along with fresh underclothes.  She shrugged and pulled it on.  She sighed.  They’d given her the skirt again.  Her battlelord armor was crafted in such a way that she could hook the various pieces together to form a carrying case.  She sorted that out.  Her uniform had come with a sheath, and three holsters.  She equipped her weapons.  The wall panel flashed, indicating she had a message.  She spoke.

“Computer, what is the message?”

The angry voice of the Silwrath VI gave her a start as it spoke.

“Battlelord!  Investigator Kuvarn requests your presence!  Follow the indicated path!”

Allison was really glad she wasn’t hungover.  She still did not understand why the Silwrath VI shouted everything.  She followed the path indicated. She heard the VI announce her presence loudly and the door opened.  Inside was a silver scaled Silwrath he had images of all the accused on a video screen and a list of charges he was adding.  Allison was glad to see Tyler wasn’t on the board.  He turned to her.  She was surprised when he spoke.  He was the softest spoken Silwrath she’d ever run into.

“Greetings Battlelord.  Thank you for coming.  I am Investigator Kuvarn, as the assigned investigator to the Rampart, I have been instructed to investigate the attack on the Embassy last night.  We are lucky you were there to stop them.  Your government was very eager to provide all the information they could on these criminals.  They are very dangerous.”

Allison folded her hands behind her back.

“How may I help you, sir?”

He smiled, showing his teeth.

“As Battlelord, you may refer to me as Kuvarn.  You are my superior.  Even the Eminence is expected to show you deference.  Now then, ma’am, I believe I was able to piece together all of the events with the data your government provided me with from your recording device.  It seems we’re missing a five-minute period of video.  They were unable to tell me what happened to it.  I was hoping you could explain the gap and provide me with your recollection of events.”

Allison frowned.  A silver scale would be able to detect a lie easily.  She hadn’t thought the League would be taking them into custody but then again, she should have the embassy as per human tradition was sovereign league territory.  Therefore, they were attacked.  Allison bit her lower lip.

“So, what is the… say someone shot me but didn’t do anything else in the Embassy and weren’t with the group attacking, would they be charged?”

He frowned.

“You were injured Battlelord?  I did not know; We can wait for these questions.”

Allison held up her hand.

“No, I’m fine.  It was a graze, your med bay already fixed it all up. Please, would you be charging them?”

He pondered her question.

“What was the nature of your conflict with the individual?”

Allison shrugged.

“Personal disagreement.”

               He nodded along.

               “And were you both armed?”

               Allison nodded.

               “Yes.”

               He motioned with his claws to the board.

               “And they’re not on this board?”

               Allison nodded again.

               “Well, if it was an honorable duel then Silwrath law states no charges.”

               “Yep, okay, it was just a misunderstanding, they thought I killed their sister, and they wanted satisfaction.”

               He grinned.

               “It is a fool that chooses to cross blades or pistols with a Battlelord.”

               Allison rubbed the back of her neck.

               “So, uh, I’ll tell you what happened, but leave the duel out of the report, as a personal favor would you?  My government wouldn’t be too happy with it.”

               “Of course, it happened in League territory, I see no reason to inform them of anything beyond the charges we are filing.”

               Allison let out a sigh of relief.

               “Okay, well, I lured them into an open area where I could get cover.  Someone got the power turned back on and it turned into what we’d call a Mexican standoff.  Sort of.  Don’t ask me why, I have no idea.  I had them both sighted, they had their weapons on me.  I had armor, they didn’t.  Should have been a forgone conclusion but then my date… friend showed up and they had a hostage.  A gun fight ensued.  I was on the back foot.  I took one out with my knife and I shot the other with my pistol.  The uh… duel happened, and I knocked him out too after he grazed my head with a bullet.  I disintegrated a barstool and told the one calling himself Andy if he didn’t answer me truthfully, I’d disintegrate him, I asked him if there were more.”

               Kuvarn nodded.

               “All true.  You hesitated because of your friend then?”

               Allison nodded.

               “Hmm.  Unexpected Battlelord, but understandable.  This is the friend who is in our med bay?”

               “Yes, is he awake?”

               “No, unfortunately not.  I was hoping to question him.  Well, that is it then.  Commendable work bringing these six to justice Battlelord.  It would seem you continue to prove your right to wear the title.”

               “I’m unfamiliar with League laws surrounding the crimes they committed.  What sort of penalty will they be facing?”

               Kuvarn looked at his wall screen.

               “Well, I am still reviewing possible crimes, based on the evidence provided by yourself and verified by me, attempted unlawful killing is the biggest, they could face five to ten standard years on a prison station.  Of course, your government will be eager to take them into custody from us once they have served their sentences.  We still do not know their objective, which could provide more charges.”

               “Why does the System’s Alliance want them?”

               “Oh, they are suspected in the bombing of some habitation dome, they killed a lot of people.  I suspect as with us; Such a crime would lead to the death penalty.  I am surprised your government isn’t demanding we turn them over.”

               Allison shook her head.

               “I’m not.  Trial like that would open some fresh wounds.  They’re probably hoping they will die in prison.  I’m surprised Keira would be involved.  Her record says she’s twenty.  That happened four years ago.  She’d have been sixteen.  She’s not even an adult yet by our law.”

               He tapped Keira’s picture.

               “This one is considered a minor still?”

               Allison nodded.

               “Until we’re twenty-one.”

               “Hmm.  Well, that will be taken into account.”

               Allison walked up and looked at the board.

               “I might be able to… get more information out of them if you’d like me to try?”

               Kuvarn turned to Allison.

               “Oh, you’re an experienced interrogator?”

               Allison laughed at the thought.

               “Uh, no, I’m not experienced at anything.  I did do an interrogation course recently though, but umm, my Babu, my grandfather, uh, he wiped out their families in retaliation for the Mar’s dome attack.  They hate my whole family.  They hate my family a lot.  My training said, angry people are dumb people.  They might say something helpful if I poke them.”

               Kuvarn nodded.

               “Yes, any assistance you think you can provide Battlelord.  They are in holding, as Battlelord your clearance will allow you entry.”

               “Cool.  Keep an eye on the vid feed.”

               Allison made her way to the holding cells.  Everyone was in their own cell.  Even Keira was here, though her face was still one big bruise with several visible cuts.  Allison recalled a time not so long ago she was in Keira’s cell.

               “So, you’re Tyler’s sister.”

               Keira didn’t look up.

               “Butcher.”

               Allison spoke loudly, recalling Andy’s eagerness to distance himself from their movement.  She wondered if anyone else would be happy to turn on the organization.

               “I’m a butcher?  You’re the ones who killed five hundred thousand humans.  I killed bugs.  Giant insects’ intent on devouring everything and everyone.  You killed innocents.  There were children in that dome.  How do you justify that?  You caused everything that followed.  I cannot wait to tell Tyler his sister he worshipped killed children…”

               That got her to look at Allison.

               “I didn’t, we didn’t.”

               Allison motioned to Will’s cell.

               “Oh, they have your father all over it, and you running off with him just afterwards, it doesn’t look good.  Your mother and your brother had to move here, to the edge of the System’s Alliance to escape what you all did.  He was getting beat up.  She couldn’t find work.  Once you go to trial, the new lives they built will be all over.  Then they both get to hear about all those people you killed.  Your mom is such a good woman.  It is going to destroy her.   It is going to destroy Tyler and I can’t do anything to stop it.  Believe it or not I care about him a lot and he cares about me.  This is going to destroy him.”

               Keira, through her messed up face, seemed genuinely afraid.

               “No, you don’t understand, we’re being framed, you can’t tell them.”

               Allison shrugged.

               “I wish I could believe you, but you attacked a bunch of innocent diplomats and staff.  All I know is that the lead investigator here saw the evidence against all of you from System’s Alliance and he is leaning towards just handing you over.  By morning you’ll be all over the Alliance-Net.  Even if I don’t say anything.  You will be the six most hated people across five galaxies.  They’ll be protestors in the streets demanding your public executions.”

               Keira touched the barrier.

               “Please, you need to listen.”

               Allison shrugged.

               “I’m sorry, I have no say in this.  I protected your brother, but this is League legal stuff.  It’s the Investigator you need to convince.  Maybe he can review the evidence with you, make sure those of you who talk can get a fair chance.”

               Will punched his barrier.

               “Keira don’t listen to her lies, she’s the granddaughter of the Butcher of Tritan!  She killed your whole family.”

               Allison shook her head then shifted her AR HUD into a full hologram and showed pictures of her and Tyler dressed for the Gala.  An image of them with their mothers.

               “Tyler and your mother seem pretty alive to me.  Your father convinced Tyler to shoot at me.  So, I had to defend myself.  I was using non-lethal means, but your brother has a heart condition he couldn’t get fixed because your father was too busy fighting a war that has already been lost.  A heart condition that my friends, the Silwrath have corrected free of charge.  Because we’re the monsters.”

               Will pounded on his barrier.

               “Keira, you don’t need to see those lies.  They killed your grandparents, your aunts.”

               Allison pointed at Will.

               “Sounds like there is something your dad doesn’t want you to see.  I don’t know about you, but that would make me want to see it all the more…  I’m sure the investigator would be happy to arrange a visit with your mother and Tyler, once Tyler feels up to it.  He just has some questions about why you were at the embassy.”

               Will shouted.

               “Keira don’t listen to her!”

               “It’s up to you Keira, right now, if what you’re saying is true, all you’re guilty of is breaking and entering, along with some weapons charges.  Maybe you can find out some secrets your father doesn’t want you to know.  Maybe because he is the monster.”

               Allison moved on.

               “That goes for all of you, whoever talks first, gets to stay in a nice comfortable League prison, the rest, well, the System’s Alliance is eager to get you on trial.  Oh and, we all know how those courts work.  You’re guilty.  They just need to decide how horrific they want to make you look while getting there.”

               Allison paused by Keira’s cell as she was leaving.  She spoke quietly.

               “I would want to know the truth.  Please don’t break your brother’s heart.”

               She left and went back to the Investigator’s office.  He had a toothy grin when she walked in.

               “They’re already arguing, except the girl.  Wonderful.  You seem very experienced to me.  Though I’m unsure of the lying.  It is not allowed by investigators.”

               Allison shrugged.

               “Honestly, I just watched a bunch of cop shows, and I’m not a League investigator, lying is perfectly allowed and encouraged in System’s Alliance interrogations.  That might just be Military Intelligence though.  I didn’t take the Military Police training.  I think Keira will tell you whatever you want to know, if you can get her mother up here to see her.  Trust me as the daughter of an African mom, if anyone could make me talk, it would be her.”

               Allison glanced at the time.

               “Speaking of which I should see if I can get a ride to the surface.”

               Kuvarn slammed his fist to his chest.

               “Thank you for your assistance Battlelord.  Glory to you and your house.”

               Allison saluted him back before heading out.  She opened a comm link to her mom.  Her mother was actually in C&C at the base.

               “Mom, I’m about to find a way home.”

               Her mother nodded.

               “I’ll be here for a while yet, you and Aryna will be on your own.  You’ll have to find your own way down here though; We’re all spread thin.”

               “I’ll just get a ride from Bit.”

               Her mother looked a bit sheepish.

               “She’s flying Search and Rescue.  Sorry.”

               Allison sighed and shrugged.

               “Okay mom, I’ll figure something out if I can’t I’ll be home when I can be.”

               Her mother nodded and disconnected the call.

Chapter Text

               Allison realized getting to the surface wasn’t really what she wanted to do, especially with Tyler still on the ship.  She sighed and went to find food.  The mess was packed.  She hit it right at their evening mealtime.  She picked up a tray and walked along the line picking out various things she’d grown to like during her stay on the ship.  She found a table that had recently emptied and slowly ate her food.  She could have probably sat down at any table and been accepted here.  Unlike school.  She pondered why she found more acceptance amongst a race of dragon-people than her own.  She overheard much of the conversation.  The crew were eager to get back to League Space and were frustrated by further delays.  Allison ended up having three servings before heading out.

               She made her way to the medical bay.  Tyler was still unconscious, but he wasn’t attached to any physical monitors.  The bed had a scanner displaying Tyler’s vitals and brain waves.  Not that Allison could understand half of it.  She was no doctor.  She wrapped her fingers around his hand and leaned her chin on the raised side of his bed.

               “Sorry, I never wanted to hurt you.  I shouldn’t have let your father think Keira was dead, you wouldn’t be here.  It’s my fault.”

               Futara put a hand on Allison’s shoulder.

               “Yes, that is it, stimulation is the key.”

               Allison sighed.

               “I don’t think he wants it from me.”

               Futara patted Allison’s shoulder.

               “Battlelord, his brain waves are telling me, he wants you.  Keep it up.  I’ll have a seat brought to you.”

               Futara walked off to tend to more patients.  Eventually a tech came by with a stool.  Allison took a seat and settled in.  She wrapped her hand around Tyler’s hand once again.  She wasn’t sure what else to do.

               “Come back to me Tyler.  I’m not upset you shot me.”

               Allison sighed and leaned her chin on her forearm.  She glanced back when she heard a commotion at the med-bay’s entrance.  Kuvarn, along with two armed guards and Keira entered.   Futara had gone off duty by this time, so the other med tech greeted them and guided them to Tyler.  He scanned Keira while they walked.

               “Your wounds and surgical incisions are healing very well.  I predict very little if any scarring.  Which after your incarceration should be a small matter to correct.  Here is your brother.  I am afraid we have very little to report on his condition.  The doctor has corrected his congenital defects and repaired the damage from the Battlelord’s lifesaving measures, as well as the associated oxygen deprivation.  It takes time for the rebuilt neural pathways to reintegrate.”

               Kuvarn looked down at Keira.

               “Do I have your word of honor you will seek no harm to those here or yourself?”

               Keira nodded.  Kuvarn motioned to one of the guards they removed Keira’s binders.  Kuvarn motioned for Keira to join her brother.  She rushed over and took Tyler’s other hand.

               “Tyler, its Keira.  I’m back. I missed you.”

               Tears dripped down Keira’s face.  Allison looked across to her.  She was the same complexion as Tyler.  She had her hair in long tight curls.  There wasn’t much change in her facial injuries.  She didn’t seem to be in too much pain though.  Keira’s brown eyes met Allison’s.

               “You really do care about him.”

               Allison nodded.  She wasn’t sure what to say to Keira.  There was no way she believed a sixteen-year-old girl would attack a dome of five hundred thousand innocent people.  Allison knew she’d never do it, no matter what her orders were.  She also knew there was no way she could have done what her grandfather had done.  Then she suddenly realized she’d killed fourteen billion Sal’nash in an instant based on the information she had available.  She also realized she would have done the same to the Silwrath if she thought it would save humanity.  She sighed.  She could be wrong.  She hoped she wasn’t for Tyler’s sake.

               The pair sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity.  Each holding Tyler’s hand.  Another disturbance disrupted the peace of the med bay when the door opened, and Tyler’s mother rushed in.  The Silwrath guard escorting her didn’t make a move to stop her.  Her eyes were on Tyler the whole way.  The moment she reached the bed she put a hand on his head.

               “My baby.”

               She glanced at Keira but promptly ignored her to wrap her arm around Allison’s shoulders and kiss her on the head.

               “Thank you.  The investigator told me what you did for Tyler.”

               Allison put her other hand on Tyler’s mother’s hand that was wrapped around her shoulders.

               “Here, take my seat.  I’ll give you guys some privacy.”

               Allison stood up.  Keira was staring at her mother.

               “Mom, why won’t you even look at me?”

               Her mother didn’t look up.

               “It was better when you were gone, you did this to your brother.  You and your father and his obsession.  Go back to your cell where you belong.  I have no daughter.  Not after what you did on Mars.”

               Allison watched as Keira was shattered into a million emotional pieces.  Her mother may as well have stabbed her in the heart.  Allison motioned to Keira who stumbled away from the bed in shock.  She wasn’t sure what to do so she just hugged the young woman who less then twenty-four hours before she’d been locked in mortal combat with.  Keira’s whole body was shuddering with sobs.

               “Shh, she’s just upset.  Tyler will wake up, and she’ll calm down.  Come with me.”

               Allison released the embrace and turned to Kuvarn.

               “Kuvarn, I’ll take responsibility for Keira, I think some food and company will assist her to be more helpful.  She should not go back to the cells.”

               Kuvarn bowed his head.

               “Please, Battlelord, do as you may, I will arrange quarters for her and a guard.”

               Allison motioned to the door.

               “Keira please, let’s go to the mess and get you some food.”

               Allison led Keira to the mess.  She led the young woman through the food line and indicated what to go for and what to avoid.  The pair sat down at a table.  It was early breakfast by now and the Silwrath were filing in.  Allison was forced to greet several who acknowledged her presence.  Keira had obviously not eaten well recently because she ate like she hadn’t eaten in weeks.  Allison escorted her to get a second helping.  It was almost three quarters of an hour before Keira spoke.

               “If you believe I was involved in the attack on Mars, why would you sit with me?”

               Allison looked around at the full mess.

               “I realized by Tyler’s bed that given the right circumstances I could be convinced wiping out an entire planet was a good idea.  All life, everything.  Then I realized I could have done that to the dome.  I’m the same age you would have been.  I don’t know what you were told, or if you were even involved, it’s not for me to decide.  I just know if my mom told me she had no daughter I would be absolutely destroyed.”

               Allison motioned to the room.

               “I killed fourteen billion sentients.  To the Silwrath that makes me a hero.  If you were involved in the Mars dome… it made you a monster.  It is all about perception.”

               Allison waved her hand.

               “Ignore me I’m making no sense.”

               Keira looked at her empty tray for several minutes then to Allison.

               “How do you live with what you’ve done then?”

               Allison shrugged.

               “I don’t?  I don’t know.  I still have no idea if what I did was right or wrong.  The System’s Alliance and The League of Sentient Races…  They believe what I did was right, but they don’t have to live with the choice.  I don’t even have the, I was ordered to do it to fall back on.  I just have to have faith that my decision was the right one.  Who knows, one day I might be the one people look at and call a monster.  Honestly, I just try not to think about it.  It just upsets me.”

               Keira looked like she was emotionally crushed all over again.

               “My mother looked at me like I was a stranger.  Like I was a monster.  Maybe I am.”

               Allison shook her head.

               “No, you are still a kid, I have to believe that counts for something, because if it doesn’t then what am I?”

               “No what you said by my cell, it was right.”

               Allison waved her hands dismissively.

               “Ignore that, I was just trying to get someone to talk to the Investigator.  It was an interrogation tactic.”

               Keira took a drink of her juice.

               “What does he want to know?  He just told me I could see my brother and mother.  No offer, no questions.”

               Allison folded her hands.

               “Look, I need to tell you everything you say and do in front of me is being recorded before you say anything.  You’re not allowed an advocate in the LSR until the trial starts but you are in the SA.”

               Keira nodded.

               “I understand.  What did he want to know?”

               “His main concern is your motive for attacking the Embassy.  It will inform his charges.  If he has to assume one, well it could be as bad as you’re trying to kill their citizens, or a terror attack.”

               Keira didn’t look at Allison when she answered.

               “My father wanted to assassinate you publicly.  When we realized the Gala was closed down he said he didn’t care and just wanted to hurt your grandfather.”

               Allison frowned.

               “Well, the Dark Mother once said: ‘If someone isn’t out to kill you, you’re not trying hard enough’.”

               Keira touched her cross pendant.

               “Do you believe in her, truly believe?”

               Allison shrugged.

               “Up until a few days ago, I’d tell you no.  I had… an experience recently it changed my mind.  You Christians would call it a ‘Come to Jesus’ moment.  It made me realize I don’t know anything about anything when it comes to religion.  I do know that she would never demand I kill anyone in her name.  I also know there is no way Jesus would demand it either.  So, I do not understand the war, why it happened or why people care so much about religion at all.”

               “You’re close with Tyler, if you believe I didn’t do this…  he’ll believe you, right?  How do I convince you?

               Allison sighed.

               “Submit to questioning and scanning by Investigator Kuvarn.  Silver scaled Silwrath are Telepaths.  They can scan your mind and pull memories out.  They can also tell if you’re lying without an invasive scan.  If he tells me, you are innocent… I will make sure your mom and Tyler understand that.”

               Keira’s shoulders slumped.

               “I’ve done other things…”

               Allison held up her hand.

               “The investigator could find every single one of your deep dark secrets.  You do not have to consent to the scan, but he doesn’t need anything besides permission from your parent to question you.  So, he’ll figure out the truth eventually.  Andy will talk.  He turned on you guys the moment I threatened him.  Ask yourself, what would Jesus do, the real one, not the one your father’s church made up.”

               Keira nodded.

               “I’ll answer his questions…  I’ll let him scan me if it can prove I didn’t do it.”

               Allison stood up and gathered their trays.

               “Well let’s go then.”

               The pair made their way to the medical bay.  Allison pulled Kuvarn aside.

               “She will talk, she’ll consent to a scan, so long as you also question and scan her for the Mars Dome attack and are willing to provide testimony to a System’s Alliance prosecutor and court.”

               Kuvarn smiled.

               “Impressive.  I can make that agreement.  Justice being served to the right perpetrators is my purpose in life.”

               Allison motioned towards Tyler’s mother.

               “I’ll speak to her mother and convince her to join you.”

               She moved over to the bed and took Tyler’s hand.  She looked at his mother who looked heartbroken.

               “Mrs. Grant?”

               The woman looked up at Allison.

               “Yes, Allison?”

               Allison glanced at Keira and Kuvarn.

               “Mrs. Grant, the Silwrath need your assistance.  The LSR has laws preventing them from questioning minors when a legal guardian or parent is not present.  Keira would like to answer questions and consent to a scan by a telepath.  She is not allowed too; You would need to authorize it and be present.  I know you’re upset with her, but I think you need to hear what she has to say.  Please understand that the Investigator is an honorable man, and he will find the truth of everything, he can detect lies.  If you want to know for sure Keira is guilty of the monstrous things you’ve been told she has done, this is your chance.  It is also her last chance to do the right thing.  Please don’t rob her of it.  I will stay here with Tyler.”

               Mrs. Grant nodded and stood up.  She wiped away her tears.  Allison took up position on the stool and held Tyler’s hand again.  Kuvarn spoke.

               “Battlelord, please, we require your presence as a witness to the inquiry.”

               Allison sighed and released Tyler’s hand before joining the group.  Kuvarn took them to a conference room.  It was likely used for small briefings.  Kuvarn sat Allison down at the head of the table.  He motioned to the guards.

               “You may leave.  I am sure the Battlelord is more than enough security for this.”

               The guards bowed their heads and slammed their fists to their chest then left.  Keira and her mother both visibly relaxed.  Silwrath were very imposing in their armor.  Kuvarn interlaced his clawed fingers and spoke to no one in particular.

               “This is the first interrogation of Keira Violet Torban in relation to the attack on the LSR’s embassy on Eden Prime and an attack on our allies, the System’s Alliance in their home system which resulted in the deaths of some five hundred thousand non-combatants.  Present are the suspect’s mother, Mrs. Delilah Grant as her legal guardian and Battlelord Allison Wanjala, Duchess of the Qual’sa, Ensign of the System’s Alliance Armed Forces, as a witness for the System’s Alliance.”

               He looked at Delilah and bowed his head.

               “Mrs. Grant do you consent to the questioning and scanning of your daughter for the intents of this investigation and only this investigation?”

               Delilah spoke clearly.

               “I do.”

               His eyes shifted to Keira.

               “Do you, Keira Violet Torban, with knowledge that your legal guardian has given her authorization for this questioning and scanning, consent to said questioning and scanning, knowing that the only information I am legally allowed to divulge under severe penalty of law is in regard to this current investigation?”

               Keira nodded.  Kuvarn shook his head.

               “Please, I need you to give verbal confirmation that you understand and consent.”

               Keira spoke clearly.

               “I consent.”

               Kuvarn nodded.

               “Thank you, now, please, tell us what the objective of the raid on the LSR embassy was?”

               Keira didn’t look up.

               “The public assassination of Allison Wanjala in retaliation for her grandfather’s attacks on Tritan, and allied colonies.”

               Kuvarn pointed at Allison.

               “The assassination of the Battelord present in this questioning?”

               Keira nodded.

               “Yes.”

               Kuvarn frowned, his wings twitched.  Allison didn’t quite like that reaction.

               “What was your part in this conspiracy to assassinate the Battlelord?”

               Keira kept her eyes on the table.  Delilah was staring at Keira in disbelief.  Allison knew that look well; Her mother would get it when she was about to make her regret ever being born.

               “I was supposed to use my skills to break into the embassy, disable the fusion generator and break into the various rooms.  I was supposed to disable security.”

               Kuvarn motioned toward Allison.

               “So, you were going to take no part in the actual attempt on the Battlelord’s life?”

               Keira shook her head.  Kuvarn frowned.

               “Assassinations are cowardly acts.  There is no honor in them.  Within the LSR they are considered one of the highest crimes.  Especially of a high ranking official or noble.  The Battlelord is now both.  To even plot such a thing, let alone attempt it…”

               He shook his head.

“The punishment for this will be severe I am afraid.  Your cooperation with no considerations on our part will be taken into account.  If you testify against your fellow conspirators and taking into account you are a minor, we can mitigate the penalties.  A good word from the Battlelord can also go a long way with the council.”

Allison raised an eyebrow.

“The council?  Not a judge?”

Kuvarn nodded.

“I am afraid such charges are high crimes, therefore it will be the high council that passes judgement.”

Allison frowned.

“Now, on to the questions regarding the attack on Mars.  What was your part in it?”

Keira looked at him.

“I had no part in it, I was on Earth at school.”

Kuvarn nodded.

“Do you have any knowledge of who was involved in the attack?”

Keira looked away.

“No.”

Kuvarn frowned.

“Keira, full and truthful cooperation is what is required for lenience.  What do you believe your father’s part was in it?”

Keira tapped her fingers on the table.  Her mother smacked the back of her head.  Allison was well aware of how that felt.

“You tell him what he wants to know, everything.  You are in serious trouble.”

Keira looked up at her mother, tears were dripping down her face.  Those words and the smack on her head were the first time her mother had directly acknowledged her presence beyond telling her she had no daughter.  The first signs her mother actually still cared about her.  Delilah pointed at Kuvarn.

“Tell him everything you know.”

Keira looked at her mother then to the Investigator.

“I overheard my dad talking about something big just before the bombing.  He was talking about trying to get more FTL By Product and how to get it into a dome.  I didn’t know what it meant.  He’s never said he had anything to do with it but…  I…  now I think he did.”

Kuvarn nodded.

“Thank you.  With my scan, and your answers I have enough.  Please consider making a full confession to the Battlelord, in my presence.  If you do, I will speak on your behalf to the council, tell them you are remorseful, and that when it comes time for your punishment that any time you serve should be done within the System’s Alliance so that your family who were not involved in these terrible affairs may visit you.”

Allison held up her hands.

“I can’t allow that; She’s allowed an advocate within the System’s Alliance.  I can’t give her any promises or anything about leniency.  Everything I see and hear is recorded and it is irrefutable evidence.  Because I’m a military officer I am official representative of the System’s Alliance.  I’m bound by same restrictions as police officer.  She has to be given an advocate and know her rights.”

He looked at Delilah and Keira.

“I believe that would be an advisement of your rights.  Do you consent to speaking with the Battlelord in relation to your other crimes, knowing your rights and that you are being recorded?”

Delilah nodded.

“She does, and she will if she ever wants to come home again.”

Keira spoke quietly.

“I consent.”

Allison sighed.  She couldn’t refuse this; She’d be in serious trouble with the System’s Alliance Internal Security and the Military if she had a chance for a full confession in front of a literal mind reader.  She motioned with her hands.

“Well, let’s get started then.”

Chapter Text

               Allison was back in med bay after Keira’s confession and a night’s sleep.  Keira and Delilah showed up shortly after she did, a single Silwrath stood guard over Keira.  He looked quite bored guarding what he apparently considered a juvenile delinquent.  Kuvarn had been generous to Keira and her freedoms onboard the ship.  Her cooperation went a long way, that and a promise to the mind-reading silver scale that she would not attempt to escape, to harm anyone or to aid the other prisoners in any way.  That would typically be enough to have no guard, but she wasn’t a Silwrath so they did not fully believe her word was her bond.

               For the guard’s part he kept a discrete distance and did not have his weapon out.  Allison was quiet, at least for her.  She still blamed herself for Tyler’s condition.  No number of voices telling her differently would convince her that her use of force was fully justified.  She had expected Tyler’s mother to be upset with her, to blame her, but she just seemed to blame herself and his father.

               Allison looked up when she saw Tyler’s father come in, he wasn’t in any sort of restraint.  He was followed by two guards and Kuvarn.  Kuvarn seemed shocked when Will lunged across the med bay and grabbed Allison from behind.  He slammed her on the footboard of one of the beds.  The guards were rushing to restrain him, then realized who he was attacking.  They stood back and smiled.  Then they laughed.  Apparently the Silwrath guards wanted to see the Battelord’s prowess for themselves.  Allison would have loved some help.  Will was half a foot taller than her and in good shape for his age.  He swung her around and smashed her against the window of the medical staff’s office space.  He punched her in the face.

               “You! You stole my family from me!  Your family!  Butcher!”

               He was screaming at her.  Allison was thrown into another bed.  A normal human teenage girl would have been pretty much done at that point.  She wasn’t a normal girl though.  The last hit triggered something inside her, and she snarled.  Will had woken the sleeping beast and she vamped out.  She lunged at him.  Will didn’t look worried at first.  Then he was overwhelmed by her sudden burst of supernatural strength. 

Allison slammed him into a wall and started punching him.  She slammed him into another wall and threw him into one of the beds.  The bed crumpled under the force of his body hitting it.  He stirred and that was enough.  She was on top of him, and her teeth sank into his neck.  He screamed when she tore into his flesh with her razor-sharp fangs.  Her feeding was anything but gentle or clean.

               When all was said and done it took fifteen Silwrath soldiers who responded to the alert from med bay, to subdue Allison.  It was her most brutal vamp out yet.  Trying to snap herself out of it had been impossible.  Once she snapped, she had seen red and she had one goal, the complete and utter annihilation of Will Torban.  Allison blacked out at some point during the conflict.

               When she woke up she was on a bed in the med bay.  Futara was standing off to the side.  She turned to Allison and smiled.

               “You are awake, Battlelord.  I apologize for the headache.  It would appear your nanites adapted to the sedative I used before and fought against it, I had to give you a dose that would kill even the largest of my race.”

               Allison blushed and buried her face in her hands.  She vaguely recalled getting thrown around like a ragdoll by Will, but the rest was a hazy blood red blur.  She looked up at Futara.

               “Did I kill anyone?”

               The blue Silwrath shook her head.

               “No, you did not, one was close, but we were able to stabilize him.  I suspect our guards are regretting not stepping in sooner.  You banged a few up.  I synthesized some of the blood you require.  I also ensured you had a high sugar content drip attached to counteract the drain on your body’s energy stores from your nanites.”

               Futara placed down five bags of the Silwrath copy of Synth-O.

               “I apologize all I have are what we would use to supply it intravenously.”

               Allison took the first bag and used one of the tubes like a straw.  It didn’t taste perfect but her body didn’t seem to care.

               “Thank you… uh, so how much trouble am I in?”

               Futara tapped a few items on her tablet.

               “Oh, you’re fine, legally speaking, you were attacked.  Quite honestly, I’m surprised you were still moving under your own power based on the injuries you’d sustained.  Broken ribs fractured spinal bones, broken tibia, I believe that is the bone’s name, concussion, fractured skull.  He meant to kill you.  An attack like that on a Silwrath would have ended in the attacker dead.  It would have if the Investigator did not need him alive.”

               Allison closed her eyes and just sucked back more synthetic human blood.

               “One interesting fact we discovered was that you did consume Silwrath blood and seemed to have no ill effects.  This suggests your blood intake is not limited to your species.  She is fine by the way.”

               Allison shifted so she could get out of bed after finishing the last pack of blood.  Futara removed the pad they’d been using to provide her fluids.  The medical technician held her clawed hand up.

               “Battlelord, your body was very low in several essential nutrients and metallic elements, we have replenished them.  I found the mechanism by which your body generates nanites.  You need to take a supplement daily.  The nanites will generate themselves at the cost of other bodily functions.  This could impair you as much as intoxication or worse.  I have sent you a list of minerals and supplements you must take.  Do not skip a dose.  I highly recommend you schedule regular visits to an LSR medical facility to ensure you are keeping up with your body’s needs.  There are no legal ramifications for having them in your system in the LSR.  Your body will grow and change as you age, you need to ensure you keep the supplement intake up to date so you do not suffer ill effects.  I have sent you a list of facilities that meet your needs.  I have also attached a special rider to your file, I did not provide details, but I did ensure there was a note that due to medical reasons you qualify for Asylum status with the LSR in the event you apply.  I highly suggest if your people seek your death for your mutation, you seek asylum at the Embassy, your noble status, influence with the Silwrath and my rider will make it a certainty the council will intervene on your behalf.”

               Allison nodded.

               “I appreciate that.”

               Futara shook her head.

               “I thought your people enlightened, but I’ve seen one of you try to murder another for superstitions and to condemn you to death because of a mutation you have no control over, simply barbaric.  Among the Silwrath you would be celebrated.  You are a soldier that can heal from everything short of death.”

               Allison shrugged.

               “It makes sense, Earth, our home world, nanites escaped a facility a thousand years ago, turned our planet into a frozen world and killed ninety five percent of the population, almost destroyed all life on the planet.”

               Futara crossed her arms.

               “What does that have to do with you precisely, Battlelord?  Your nanites outside of your body will self-destruct, they will only work for your genetic structure.”

               “It won’t matter.  There are no exceptions.  Thanks, I’ll run to the embassy or LSR space if anything like that happens.”

               Allison went to leave and Futara stopped her once again.

               “Before you leave would you like to talk about what happened?”

               Allison made a face.

               “I thought talking things through was the last thing Silwrath would do.”

               Futara tapped a control on her tablet and the door to the room closed.

               “Battlelord, you are not Silwrath.  My research into humans has indicated that talking about issues has therapeutic benefits.  I would suggest that I am uniquely qualified to have such discussions with you.  The threat of exposure from your nanites must be a constant worry for you.  All of my scans indicate a heightened stress level across the board.  I understand this is detrimental to human health.  Adolescents of your species are particularly vulnerable to it.  Medical journals from your species indicate an increased risk of self-harm and suicide, sometimes manifested as risk taking.”

               Allison held up her hands.

               “Look, I appreciate all of this, Futara but I’m fine.”

               The Silwrath tapped her tablet.

               “My scans indicate otherwise, Battlelord.”

               Allison motioned to the main med bay.

               “I shot the boy I really like and nearly killed him.  He’s in a coma.  Of course I’m stressed.  And apparently, I almost killed his father, and caused his sister to require major reconstructive surgery.  I destroy everything of his I touch.  Oh, and he shot me in the head.”

               Futara leaned her tail on one of the desks and folded her clawed hands around the edges of it.

               “How are you going to fix it, Battlelord?”

               Allison blinked at her in disbelief.

               “Fix it?  I can’t fix it.  I’m lucky his mother is even talking to me and letting me stay near him.  Hell after what I did to his dad, I’d bet she moves planets to get Tyler away from me.”

               “I would say you might be exaggerating slightly; However, you make valid points.  There is a saying among my people: Have the honor to change the things you can, have the courage to understand there are some things you cannot change.  That is a rough translation, but I think the meaning makes it through.  It acknowledges that there is only so much we can do, and control.  You need to acknowledge what happens with your friend is not within your control and accept that fact.”

               Allison sighed.

               “Now make me believe that.”

               Futara smiled.

               “Battlelord, there are some things even I cannot heal.  Please if you need to talk, use the embassy’s hyperwave comm unit I am happy to talk with you about anything at all.”

               Allison nodded.

               “Well, for a person from a race of people who don’t believe in therapy, you’re pretty good.”

               Futara smiled.

               “I am glad I helped in some small way.  Your friend was transferred to a medical facility on the surface, his mother went with him. I do not know the disposition of Keira.  I believe your fighter has arrived for you, or so I’ve heard through the rumor mill.”

               Futara stood up and tapped a stack of clothing.

               “A fresh uniform, there wasn’t much left of the other one.  Your weapons and armor are in your temporary quarters.  I had them delivered there.  Remember the supplements Battlelord.”

               Futara left the room.  Allison pulled off the hospital gown and got dressed.  She left the private room.  She saw the results of the brawl.  The med bay looked like a tornado ripped through it.  The medical beds that were still in one piece held a few stragglers from the group that had tangled with her.  Will was under guard by two Silwrath.  He was sedated and was covered in wound bindings.  He had several tubes going into him.  Allison didn’t let her eyes linger on him. She waved to Futara, made her way to her quarters, equipped her armor and headed to the hanger bay in which the angry sounding VI indicated she would find Bit.  Allison smiled.  Bit was probably the one entity in her life that would never let her down.  She got into the cockpit and slid her hand across the holo-control surface.

               “Hey, I hope the last few days were better for you than they were for me.”

               “I was flying near constant search and rescue patrols.  Several people were caught in the storm.  I am glad to report there were no casualties.”

               Allison muttered.

               “Besides my dress.”

               “Given the circumstances, I would say that is an acceptable loss.  You hate dresses and skirts.  Not that I will ever understand your dislike of specific clothing.  I have no basis for comparison.”

               “Imagine I moved all of your liquid metal to the top of your airframe and turned it into a liquid metal skirt and a breeze left your lower airframe naked.”

               Bit pondered.

               “I see.  Why would humans put themselves through that?”

               Allison shrugged.

               “Because being a girl sucks, well it sucks sometimes.  Guys are big, we’re small.  If I wasn’t a dhampir I’d be dead right now because some gorilla tossed me around like a ragdoll this morning.  I felt powerless.”

               “That seems illogical, you are a trained soldier.”

               “I wasn’t expecting someone to randomly attack me in what I thought was a safe space.  My guard was down. Then the guards just watched.  Ugg.”

               Bit remained quiet as they descended into the atmosphere and came to a soft landing in Allison’s backyard.  Bit spoke up.

               “I will return to the base.  Perhaps some sleep will help.”

               Allison waved to Bit and went inside quickly the temperature was ridiculously low and her coat was at the LSR embassy.  Her mother was not home.  Aryna was home and bundled under blankets.  The habitation unit wasn’t freezing, but it wasn’t exactly warm either.  Allison shivered when the door shut.  Aryna didn’t take long to tug Allison under the blanket.

               “You’re alright!”

               Allison gave her a look.

               “Of course I’m alright.  Why is the house so not warm?”

               “It has been abnormally cold at night and your mother hasn’t been home to light a fire.”

               Oozie came bounding from deep within the house and jumped on Allison and started licking her face.  The nargle snuck under the blanket and on both of their laps.

               “Well, if the one with all the fur is cold something isn’t working right.”

               “I am not very technical, so maybe I did something wrong.  Your mom hasn’t been home since the storm hit.  She’s been sleeping on base coordinating… whatever she coordinates.”

               Allison sighed.

               “Leave for two days and the whole colony falls apart.  I’ll go look once the furball has had enough.”

               She kept petting Oozie under the blanket.

               “If she does this once I get her food with the enzyme, this is going to be a bit more painful.”

               Aryna giggled.  Allison looked down at Oozie.

               “Okay, if you want me to get a fire going and get the habitation warmed up, you’re going to need to move your furry butt.”

               Oozie purred, whined, tried the big blue puppy-kitty look then moved when Allison shoved her gently.  Allison started a fire after.  Then she wandered around trying to figure out why the heating system was failing them.  She assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that Aryna had already tried that.  She ended up getting her military scanner out.  Nothing seemed physically wrong, at least inside, so she accessed the VI’s back-end settings.  She realized there was an issue with the external thermostat, so she manually set the temperature.  The heating system kicked in.  By the time Allison got back both Oozie and Aryna were huddled in front of the fire.

               Allison plopped down on the couch.  The room was already starting to heat up.  Aryna drifted back to the couch and sat down beside Allison.  She glanced at Allison.  Allison smiled at her.

               “Your gifts probably saved my life, by the way.  That pistol I had keeps running out of battery power sooner then I’d expect.  Too bad it doesn’t work like our energy weapons; We just swap out batteries.  Or e-clips.”

               Aryna quirked her head to the side.