Chapter Text
When Sarah Morgan reached out to Red about assisting with a potential Terrormorph threat, it was met with mixed feelings. On one hand, he was excited for the opportunity to do something new and potentially make a positive impact on the ongoing fight against the Terrormorph threat. On the other hand he couldn't shake the feeling of apprehension that came with every mission involving Constellation. Red was no stranger to danger. He had faced it countless times before as a veteran soldier and Captain of the UC Vanguard, as well as in his missions as the top agent of the UC's secretive Subsection 7 organization. Red was primed for just this sort of thing. He had also been led on multiple high-risk missions with various factions, which were often chaotic and unpredictable. His experiences had taught him to always expect the unexpected.
With determination in his heart, and a bit of trepidation, Red set out for the Lodge to meet with Sarah and Major Sanon to get more details about this mission.
Sarah greeted him warmly as he entered her office. "Red, good to see you," she said with a smile.
"Miss Morgan," Red replied, nodding to her smile. Then he greeted Major Sanon, who was seated nearby. "Major, what's this about a mission?"
Major Sanon gestured for him to take a seat before explaining everything in detail and he did so. She sat up straight and started into her account to catch him up to speed, and the more she talked the more alarmed Red became. According to her source, there was a group of scientists that had created a serum to genetically alter Terrormorphs so that they would evolve into a deadlier variant.
"With the use of the serum, these Terrormorphs have evolved," she explained. "They now have the ability to shape shift and can camouflage with their environment. We were told that a base has been set up on an isolated planet where a group is experimenting with this new ability. If it's true and the Terrormorphs have the ability to blend in with any environment and take another form, then it can make them almost impossible to detect."
"Is the planet under UC jurisdiction?" Red asked.
"No. It's outside of any faction jurisdiction. It's a perfect location for them to carry out their experiments without interference."
Red nodded in understanding and took a mental note of every detail Major Sanon shared with them about the Terrormorphs' capabilities.
"I won't sugarcoat it," Major Sanon said gravely. "It's going to be dangerous and I can't guarantee your safety. But we believe in you, Red. You have the skills and determination to help pull this off."
Red nodded, his expression grim as he took in the gravity of the mission. He had faced many challenges before, but this felt... different. "What's the plan? What do you suggest we do?"
Major Sanon handed him a data pad containing all the information the Terrormorph Management Division (TMD) had gathered so far on the Terrormorph threat. "We need to infiltrate the base and retrieve any information or data that could help us in our fight against the Terrormorphs."
Red scrolled through the data pad, taking note of the security measures and possible entry points. "This won't be easy," he murmured, rubbing his chin. The thought of infiltrating the stronghold and facing a new variant of Terrormorph sent a shiver down Red's spine.
"When is it ever easy? But with Michaela absent, you're our best chance at success."
Red met her gaze. “Michaela?” Major Sanon looked at Sarah.
“He doesn't know about Michaela?”
Sarah shook her head. “No and that's not important right now.”
Red hesitated a moment, holding Sarah's gaze, then nodded. "When do we leave?" he asked.
"Tomorrow morning." Sarah added, “Mia will be going with us. Major Sanon has cautioned us about the security measures in place. Mia is excellent when it comes to getting past computer security obstacles. She will also be an asset when it comes to hacking into the systems to get data.”
“More people means more risk. Can she hold her own in a fight? As in, against rogue scientists, Xenoweapons and Terrormorphs?”
“Mia is experienced in combat. That's all I know.”
“Great,” he said with sarcasm, “One more I'll need to watch out for." He sighed and stood up, "I hope luck is on her side. She's going to need it. Tech Girl better not get herself killed.”
Mia happened to be standing by the doorway when she heard Red's remark. “Don't worry about Tech Girl. I can handle more than just computers.”
Sarah grinned.
~~~~
Magnar (Delta Pavonis System)
As they landed on the planet's surface, Red couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.
"Don't worry," Sarah reassured him, sensing his mood. "We'll be ok."
Red looked at her and took a deep breath. "It's not what you think... something's not sitting right with this one."
They went out the air lock and Red took point, rifle raised to his shoulder and calling for silence. He led the team as they made their way towards the base, holding every few yards to make sure they went undetected. Approaching the front of the building, Red motioned for everyone to stop and get low.
“Wait.” He looked around. “I haven't seen any movement around the base. There should be security patrolling the premises.”
Mia reached into her bag and pulled out a pair of binoculars, scanning the area for any signs of movement. After a brief moment, she placed the binoculars back in her bag. In a calm voice, she declared, "There are no patrols. They're all dead."
Major Sanon shook her head. “This makes me think of the situation on Tau Ceti II.”
"Me too." Red murmured.
The team carefully made their way into the building and navigated through the winding corridors, doing their best to remain silent. As they continued, they passed by more bodies of people that had been slaughtered. Red couldn't shake off the feeling they were being watched and kept his head on a swivel. He had been trained to trust his instincts, and they were screaming at him to send the rest of the crew back to the ship. Yet he knew they wouldn't leave. This mission was too important and they couldn't back down now. The team rounded a corner and into a laboratory, where they were met with an unexpected surprise. The room was filled with a strange blue light emanating from a large cylindrical device in the center.
"What is that?" Red asked, his weapon trained on the glowing apparatus.
Major Sanon's expression turned serious as she gestured to the serum in front of them. "This is what causes the Terrormorphs to evolve into their ultimate form, known as the Occisio Machina Maximus or Terrormorph X."
"So destroying the cylinder and serum will stop them?" Sarah asked hopefully.
"I'm afraid it's not that simple," Major Sanon replied. "Destroying the cylinder would only cause a catastrophic explosion that could potentially spread the threat even further."
That itch came back between Red's shoulder blades as he listened, eyes darting around the room and watching for movement. Turning to Major Sanon he said, “What do you know about the informant?”
“All I know is that it is someone that works here and decided that what they were doing here is unethical.”
“So a whistle-blower. How did this anonymous person even know to contact you? How would they know about the TMD?”
“I... I don't know.”
“Great." He slung his rifle on his back and approached the blue-glowing cylinder for a closer look. "So what else did this anonymous contact tell you?”
“They mentioned that there is a computer terminal where detailed information about the project is stored.”
Red snorted and glanced at Mia. “That's where you come in, Tech Girl.”
Mia rolled her eyes. “Thanks. I never would have guessed.”
Sarah spoke, “Red and Major Sanon, why don't you two look around some more. Mia and I will look for the computer.”
Red crossed his arms over his chest and said, “I'm not sure separating is a good idea?”
Sarah insisted, “We should be fine.”
Not used to taking orders from non-military types, he shook his head, “If you say so.”
Just as he and Major Sanon were headed toward the door something caught Red's eye; behind the large cylindrical device was a small figure huddled against the wall. "Wait," Red said, pulling his side-arm and pointing, "There's someone there!"
The four of them cautiously approached the figure, who turned out to be a young girl around10-years-old. When they saw her Red glanced around the room again, that uneasy feeling tingling up his spine.
"Don't hurt me," she whimpered, holding up her hands in defense.
"We're not here to hurt you," Sarah said gently. "We're here to stop these creatures from hurting others."
The girl looked up at them with tear-filled eyes before nodding timidly. The three women looked at each other in disbelief and Sarah crouched, extending a hand to the girl. That feeling was overwhelming... something definitely seemed off to Red.
“Not so fast," he warned, stepping forward. "This doesn't seem right.”
Red's sidearm came up and he pointed it at the child, all fear leaving him. His fingers tightened around the grip of his gun, feeling the familiar weight and texture of the metal in his hand. It was like an extension of his arm, a tool that he had honed and perfected over time.
The three women gasped.
Sarah exclaimed, “Red! What are you doing?”
Red stared at the little girl and spoke. “Think about it, Miss Morgan. Why would a child be in a place like this? Everyone else appears to be dead, slaughtered by these creatures. How did she survive? The Major said those variants can shape-shift into another form.”
“But would they be able to speak?” Sarah asked, horror rising in her voice.
The clicking of the gun's safety being released echoed in the room. "You may not have access to all the latest information. The Terrormorph's that were left in Londinium and those that attacked the starport in New Atlantis... they couldn't speak, but they certainly could communicate."
Major Sanon spoke up, "He's right! They have a psionic ability and if you're not careful they can overpower your emotions and thinking!"
Red moved his finger to the trigger. His finger became the bridge between the cold steel of his weapon and the innocent, trembling form of the little girl before him. His hand shook slightly as he hesitated. The sound of his own heartbeat echoed in his ears, growing louder and quicker with each passing moment.
"She's just a little girl!" Sarah cried.
Red didn't back down, standing firmly in front of the child and locking his gaze with hers. Sarah's voice, pleading and panicked, was but a distant echo in the chaos of his mind. Beads of sweat suddenly popped out onto his forehead and a single bead trailed down his temple. His face contorted with the weight of the decision he needed to make, the one he knew he must make. Slowly, the pressure on the trigger increased, his finger taking on a life of its own as it inched towards the point of no return.
Red's hand gripped tighter on the pistol grip, trembling slightly as he held the gaze of the small child. He could feel Sarah's eyes on him, pleading and desperate, knowing she would never forgive him if he was wrong. If… could he be wrong about his gut this one time? He couldn't shake off the image of all those innocent people slaughtered by the Terrormorphs as they had made their way into this laboratory, their bodies ripped apart and their blood staining the ground. The little girl cowered, her eyes wide with fear and confusion, her hands raised to cover a face full of tears. He could see she appeared to be just a frightened child. How could he even consider taking her life? His training kicked in again, reminding him that this could all be a ploy by the Terrormorphs. The new variants were known to shape shift into other forms to deceive their enemies. What if this little girl was one of them? What if he let her go and she turned out to be a deadly creature in disguise?
Red squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out every distraction and focus on his instincts. His finger twitched on the trigger, and a bead of sweat trickled at the edge of his pulsing temple. Then suddenly a whimpering voice cut through his thoughts…
"Please don't hurt me."
Red's eyes opened, gazing at her with his Martian-colored eyes, the result of years working with the UC’s Red Devils and often a tool used to intimidate. She returned his stare with her wide blue eyes looking back at him, her lip quivering in obvious fear. With a deep breath that was released slowly, Red lowered his gun. He couldn't do it. What if he was wrong? He couldn't risk the chance of taking an innocent life, especially that of a child. Holstering his weapon, he crouched down, eye level with this frightened child and extended his hand to her.
“What's your name, kid?” He asked, softly.
The little girl ignored Red and with a sob of relief bolted over to Sarah.
Sarah let out a sigh of relief and eyed Red more critically. She knelt in front of the little girl and said, "It's okay, we’re not going to hurt you.” Pushing the girl gently out to arm's length she looked her in the eyes and asked, “Will you tell us your name?"
The little girl hesitated for a moment before inching closer to Sarah. Biting her lip and looking down at her feet she said quietly, “Emma.” She shivered then, looking up at Sarah with tear-filled eyes and whispered, "Those monsters... they killed everyone."
Sarah's heart broke at her words and she pulled the little girl into a hug. "I know," she replied softly, “I know. You’re safe now.”
Red looked on at this exchange and a heavy weight of guilt and regret settled into his chest. Had he really almost killed a child? Was his gut this far off the mark? Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. His instincts were seldom wrong.
Sarah spoke, “We'll continue with the plan. Red and Major Sanon, you two keep looking around. Mia and I will look for the computer.” She looked down and put her hands gently on the little girl's shoulders, “And Emma will go with us.”
There was much that Red wanted to say to protest, too many alarm-bells going off in his head. Instead, he gave a simple nod and turned to join Major Sanon.
~
Sarah and Mia finally located the room where the facility’s mainframe computer was kept. Mia immediately got to work, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she bypassed security protocols and accessed the main data network. After a few moments, Mia let out a gasp. “I don’t believe it. The company funding this place and its experiments… Roscorp.”
“Roscorp? So they’re behind this evil too?” Sarah asked, her voice full of anger and disbelief.
Mia nodded grimly. “It looks like it. They have been secretly funding this research for years, even before the Colony War started. From what I can tell, they're planning to use Terrormorphs as weapons.”
“Gather all the data that you can.”
“This type of data is risky and could tie us more closely to Roscorp. How much deeper are we willing to go with this?”
Sarah hesitated. “I'm not sure. We'll figure that out later.”
Mia nodded.
~
Red followed Major Sanon as they made their way through the complex, searching for any sign of the Terrormorphs or any survivors. As the went from room to room, Red's mind was still clouded with doubts and guilt about how he might have misjudged the situation with the child, Emma. He kept revisiting the reports that had been passed to the Red Devils about this place, and he couldn’t let go of the idea that maybe, just maybe… shaking his head he still could not see through the cloud of doubt that had risen up in his mind. Pushing it all aside, he gritted his teeth and refocused on the mission at hand. Following Major Sanon deeper into the facility, the two of them searched every room looking for any clues or information about the projects that had gone on here. They came across several gruesome scenes, each one confirming their worst fears. The Terrormorphs were not only evolving but also growing in numbers. As they made their way towards the control room, Red's senses suddenly went on high alert. He could feel eyes on him, watching his every move. He turned to face a dark corner of the hallway and saw nothing but shadows.
"Did you see something?" Major Sanon asked, noticing Red's tense posture.
Red shook his head, his eyes lingering on the dark recesses. "No,” he finally said, “just felt like we're being watched."
Major Sanon gave a nod and checked her weapon again before continuing down the hallway. They both knew what the possibilities were, maybe more than Sarah, and adding a little extra caution went a long way. They entered another room, scanning their surroundings for any sign of danger. Red's eyes landed on the empty cages in the corner of the room.
Stepping closer he examined them saying, “These cages were recently used, probably for Terrormorphs.” He shook his head at the thought of someone trying to manipulate these deadly creatures and use them as a tool for any purpose. “The big question.. where are they now?”
Major Sanon surveyed the room while Red more thoroughly studied the empty cage. The claw marks and fecal debris matched the signs he had expected to see from a Terrormorph in captivity, but this cage wasn’t broken like so many others he had come across. The thought that one of these creatures had convinced someone to let it go made his skin crawl.
Suddenly, the Major called out to him urgently. "Red! You need to come see this!"
Stepping quickly out of the cage he made his way over to where Major Sanon was standing. Her face had gone pale. “Red.. isn't that...”
As Red approached, he saw the lifeless body on the ground. He covered his nose with the sleeve of his suit before crouching down to examine the body closely. “It's...” A chill ran through him as he realized what had happened, “it's the little girl and she's been dead a while.”
Red stood up, the doubts and questions dissolved as the realization set in that his instincts had been spot on. He looked at Major Sanon and said, “So that child in the lab was the Terrormorph all along.”
Her mouth dropped open. “That means…”
Major Sanon was interrupted as screams echoed through the hallway.
Red's face suddenly turned to panic. "Sarah and Tech Girl are in danger!"
Red and Major Sanon bolted from the room heading directly toward the screams. Red's mind raced with frustration and adrenaline, knowing full well the potential of horrors that awaited them. As he and Major Sanon entered the room, they saw Sarah and Mia backed up against a wall, a huge Terrormorph cornering them. The creature was snarling and hissing as it stared at the women.
As Major Sanon stared in disbelief, the expression on her face changed into a mix of fear and horror. "Oh my God..."
Red reacted as he looked at the massive Terrormorph in front of him, weapon trained directly at the beast. "That is one damn big Terrormorph!”
Without hesitation, Red started firing at the creature, unloading his clip from the GX17 Tactical pistol he had used to take out many other Xeno-threats. Major Sanon joined in, her aim steady and precise. To their surprise, the combined barrage of bullets seemed to have no effect on the Terrormorph. It shifted its enormous, grotesque body to face them, letting out a deafening roar that shook the very ground they stood on.
"Shit!" Red exclaimed, quickly reloading.
"This is bad. Really bad." Major Sanon added, a sense of panic rising in her tone.
Red and Major Sanon locked eyes as the Terrormorph charged towards them.
"Fall back!" Red shouted, pulling Major Sanon towards an open doorway.
They sprinted down the hallway, the Terrormorph's roar echoing behind them.
“I hope you... have a plan!” Major Sanon gasped.
“Not dying!" He shouted, "How's that for a plan?”
The ground trembled beneath them as the chase continued. Red analyzed various strategies, discarding each one immediately.
“We can't outrun this thing forever,” Major Sanon said breathlessly.
“I know,” Red replied. At a hallway junction, Red yanked her into a room on their left. Despite her confusion, he pushed her in and slammed the steel door shut.
“This thing isn't like anything we've seen before!" Major Sanon exclaimed. "Now what?"
“Gimme a sec, I'm thinking!” Red snapped, barricading the door with a cabinet.
The Terrormorph's impact shook the walls and shattered glass beakers. Red and Major Sanon exchanged glances before taking positions on opposite sides of the room.
"Think faster," she retorted.
Their barrier exploded inward as the Terrormorph charged, its glow reflecting rage in its eyes and saliva flying from its mandibles.
Red called out to Major Sanon. “I'll get its attention," he yelled, "You get back to the others!”
“I can't just leave you here.”
“Don't argue with me, just go!”
Red charged the Terrormorph, evading a barbed arm and firing point-blank shots at its head with his auto-pistol. His goal was to buy time for Major Sanon's escape. She hesitated, concern evident in her eyes, before seizing the opportunity and fleeing the room.
As Red dodged another attack from the swift Terrormorph, he could feel his strength waning, oxygen depleting, and fatigue setting in. Regardless, he persevered; his mission was to protect his team.
A pause in the relentless onslaught allowed him to focus. The Unity. Starborn. Clenching his fist, he accessed the ancient power discovered within the multiverse. Red activated Phased Time. His eyes dilated as everything slowed around him. Dust particles descended lazily while sparks from his right cast a lingering glow. His hearing pulsed in sync with his heartbeat, and he took a deep breath, rejuvenating himself. Red's movements became a blur, outpacing the world around him. He effortlessly dodged the slow-moving arms of the immense beast, positioning himself for an effective strike.
Drawing two Plasma Grenades, Red smiled as he jammed the explosives into the joint of the Terrormorph's arm. Swiftly, he positioned himself behind its colossal form, using it as a shield from the impending blast. As the grenades detonated, a searing wave forced the air from his lungs and flung him against the wall. Though winded, he remained standing.
As the smoke cleared, dread gripped him; the Terrormorph was unscathed. Its monstrous gaze met his eyes. The creature let out an ear-shattering roar and lunged toward him with incredible speed. Pinned against the wall by its massive claws, Red had no time to react.
For the first time in a very long time, Red was afraid.
From the corner of his eye, Red saw Mia burst into the room bearing a weapon of some kind. She aimed at the creature, leveling directly at the spot on the underbelly that would have taken out a ‘normal’ Terrormorph. She fired multiple shots; Red's vision blurred from the force. The creature released Red, screeching in pain.
"Shoot it!" Mia yelled.
He complied, his bullets now causing visible damage. Defenseless, the Terrormorph couldn't retaliate. Red advanced, firing relentlessly as his clip emptied, each impact spraying the room with a gruesome rain of blood. Even after the chamber clicked empty, he pulled the trigger a few more times before finally lowering the weapon. With a final burst of anger, he kicked the massive beast.
The Terrormorph lay dead. Red, his face splattered with gore, holstered his weapon. He breathed in deeply and said, "You just saved my ass.”
Mia smirked. “I told you I can handle more than just computers.”
Red took another deep breath and nodded. “Yep. Sorry I ever doubted you." They moved into the hallway. "So, what did you do to it? I hit it with a double hammer strike of Plasma Grenades, and it didn't slow down at all. What is that weapon you're holding?”
“A stun gun," she explained. "Not just any EM weapon, but one that was purposefully designed to weaken these variant Terrormorphs, making them vulnerable to other weapons. Without being weakened, these Terrormorphs are damn near invincible.”
Intrigued, Red asked, “How'd you know this?”
“I found intel in a data file and discovered where to get the gun.”
He chuckled, “Convenient.”
As they continued through the corridors, Mia added, “Major Sanon alerted us of your situation. Luckily, I'd just learned about the weapon.”
Red looked at Mia and made eye contact. "I'm grateful. Thanks, Tech Girl. I doubt I would have survived if you hadn't shown up when you did."
They reached Sarah and Major Sanon's location and stopped short when they saw Emma standing beside them. Red couldn't believe his eyes as he rested a hand on his sidearm, bracing for another possible fight against a child-turned-monster. His hand trembled. He managed to say, “Where... did she come from? Where was she when the Terrormorph was in here?”
Sarah glared at him. “Emma was hiding.”
Red shook his head. “She shouldn't be here.”
“Clearly, she's not the Terrormorph.”
“That doesn't mean she isn't one.”
Sarah scoffed. “Seriously, Red?”
“You're not understanding, Sarah. Major Sanon and I... we saw her body in another room.”
Major Sanon's expression was one of concern. “He's right, Sarah. I'm the one that came across the body. We both saw the body of a little girl. That little girl looked exactly like Emma.” Red, Mia, Sarah, and Major Sanon all exchanged glances at one another in silence.
Then a small voice filled the air. “She’s my sister.”
All eyes turned to Emma as she trembled. She stepped closer to Sarah, who had the urge to move away but stayed still. “Your sister?” Sarah asked.
Emma nodded, “My twin sister Evelyn.”
The group exchanged shocked glances as they processed the revelation. Emma's voice trembled. "I thought she escaped. Was she hurt by one of those monsters?"
Sarah felt anger and fear rise within her but pushed it down to say softly, "I'm sorry, Emma. Your sister didn't make it to safety."
Emma hugged herself, silent tears staining her soot-smudged face. Sarah looked at Red, her head shaking once and then knelt in front of Emma, bringing her in gently. She held Emma close as the child sobbed into her jacket. The moment lingered longer than Red liked.
Red, growing restless from the lingering moment, spoke up. “We need to leave.”
Sarah nodded. “Emma is coming with us.”
Red objected immediately. “Wait... what? That's not a good idea.”
“We can't abandon her here.”
Red's anger flared. “Dammit woman! You'll get us all killed!”
Sarah stood up abruptly, taken aback. “What did you just say to me?”
His patience thinning, Red confronted her before realizing their shared past didn't exist in this universe. He sighed. “I'm sorry, that was out of line.”
Sarah crossed her arms. “Yes, it was.” Sarah turned to Mia and Major Sanon. “What about you two? What is your opinion about Emma?” Mia and Major Sanon glanced at one another, both not wanting to upset Sarah further.
Mia shrugged. “We know that she wasn't the Terrormorph that Red and I killed. Maybe she's telling the truth about having a sister.”
Major Sanon concurred. “It seems like Emma could be telling us the truth.”
Red looked from Mia to Major Sanon, then to Emma. “Or she's one of the Terrormorphs created in this laboratory."
“Enough, Red. The matter is closed." Sarah practically snarled. "Emma will be leaving with us.”
Red let out a tired sigh and rubbed his temples. He wanted to object, but he knew it was pointless. His experience with more than one Sarah Morgan had taught him that the woman was as stubborn as the day was long. Once her mind was made up, it was seldom changed. He motioned for her to follow and led the team from the facility, with little Emma accompanying them.
~~~~
New Atlantis-Red's Apartment
From the balcony of his rarely used New Atlantis apartment, Red watched the city below, alive with its endless hustle and bustle. One advantage of being among the few active Vanguard Captains who had earned their UC Citizenship through service was the ownership of this luxury apartment, which offered a grand view of the city skyline and the wilderness beyond. But he rarely stayed here.
It reminded him of Sarah. His Sarah.
He sipped at the warm bottle he had picked up earlier down at Jake’s, in The Well, a heavy booze that cleared his head. That altered Terrormorph had actually created a feeling in him that had long been lost in the memories of other lives.
Fear.
That itching, burning sensation of anything ‘unknown’, that crawled up the spine and latched onto the mind like a…. well, like a heat leech to a cargo hauler’s engine bay.
He shook his head. The part that he played was well and done, and the Red Devils and the UC had moved on with the mission without him. Something about ‘insubordination’.
It was that Sarah…
THIS Sarah. He took a long draught of stout and settled back to watch the skyline. A freighter was just pulling up and away from the Starport, its vertical trajectory steep as it left the grip of gravity behind.
Maybe it was time for him to move on. Maybe the Unity called to him once more. He had done much in this Universe to shut out the memories of his relationships… especially with the Sarah Morgan from the last universe. His wife. The one he watched die as the Hunter and the Emissary swooped in to shut down Constellation once and for all. In that universe, anyway.
He had killed them both. Ruthlessly. Remorselessly. Furiously.
And then he had left that universe behind, just like the many he had left behind before. This time it was different, though. This time he didn’t want anything to do with Constellation. Or Sarah Morgan, for that matter. This time…
A buzz from the doorbell pulled him from his morose musing. Draining what was left of the bottle in his hand, he stood and made his way to the door. He wasn't expecting any visitors. He never had visitors. No one knew where he was, more often than not. That wasn’t by accident, for certain.
With cautious steps, he approached the door to see who it could be. “Who is it?”
“It's Sarah.”
Dammit. Red squeezed his eyes shut and said, “A moment…” Taking a deep breath and holding it for a few seconds, he sighed it all out slowly before opening the door.
"Hello, Sarah.” He said with forced pleasantness, “What brings you by?”
"I just wanted to stop by and talk with you. If you have a moment."
"Of course, Sarah.” He said, “Would you like to come in?”
Sarah nodded and stepped inside. This Sarah was not his Sarah, he reminded himself, and as she walked past him he could very literally smell the difference. Nothing terrible, just different. His Sarah always smelled of cured leather and scotch. The good stuff.
Sighing again, he said, “The view from the balcony is fantastic, if you haven’t seen it.” Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked through the apartment, stepping onto the balcony. Resting his elbows on the railing, he gazed out at the bustling crowd below. A moment later, Sarah joined him, leaning against the railing beside him as she took in the skyline stretching before them.
"I wanted to thank you again, Red," she said, her voice soft. Softer than he had heard it recently, anyway. "Without your help, we might never have uncovered Roscorp's plans."
Red nodded but did not take his gaze from the milling crowd. "It was a close call, but we all managed to survive."
An uncomfortable silence settled between them, punctuated by the sound of a ship lifting off again in the distance. Sarah turned to face Red, her expression growing serious.
"I also wanted to update you on Emma's situation," she said, referring to the child they had rescued.
Red's eyes narrowed as he looked at her, his suspicions about her not entirely quelled after they left her with the UC Child Services Officials.
Sarah didn’t seem to notice his suspicious look, or chose to ignore it, then said "Unfortunately, they haven't been able to locate any living relatives yet, but Emma seems to be doing well. They’ve decided to put her in with the general children’s population in the shelter.”
Red snorted and looked away, then started rubbing his temples. Was he really the only one that saw the potential danger here?
Finally, he said, “And they thought it was a good idea to let her mingle with the other kids? With all that she knows? With everything that happened?”
Sarah stood up straight and turned to look at him with concern in her eyes, “After an examination at Reliant Medical, she was deemed healthy, and cognitively aware, and more importantly she’s definitely human.” Sarah took a short step closer to Red, “She's adjusting to life outside that horrific facility where we found her and has even made friends with some of the other children at the shelter. It’s miraculous."
That uncomfortable silence returned again, and after a few too long moments while he looked out at nothing, memories of lives forgotten flashing through his mind, Red asked, “Who is looking after Emma?”
“The UC has appointed a temporary caregiver for Emma. The hope is that a relative will be located soon.”
Red smiled then, just a soft upturn at the corners of his mouth. He shook the nonsense from things that weren’t in this reality and came back to the present, truly glad to hear that Emma was doing well despite her traumatic experience.
"That's good news about Emma.” He said, quietly. Breathing a heavy sigh, he turned to look at Sarah now and said, “I'm sorry that I reacted the way I did about her. It's just... you know, what happened at that facility… it’s nothing I’ve ever experienced and I can't shake off this feeling that there is more to it than what we uncovered."
Sarah nodded, “There is always more. Isn't that how it goes? Roscorp is behind it. There is no telling what we will uncover. Mia is going to sort through all of the data slates and other information that she was able to download from the computer.”
“Tech Girl.” Red shook his head, a wry smile crossing his face. “She really came through for me. Saved my ass.”
Sarah smiled mischievously. "So I heard. Mia may have bragged a bit."
Red laughed out loud at that, in true amusement. The irony was thick. "Tech Girl definitely earned the bragging rights." He chuckled again at the thought of his derisive dismissal of the ‘computer nerd’.
The two of them laughed softly for a moment at the memory, and then Red remembered something else. He looked out again at the city for a moment before taking another deep breath.
"Sarah, this might be out of place... but who is Michaela? I keep hearing the name casually come up, but no one will say more about her."
Sarah's expression grew somber as the name obviously brought up some heavy thoughts and emotions.
She took a deep breath and looking out again at the skyline, quietly spoke. "Michaela is my wife." A long moment went by as Sarah fidgeted. "We're currently separated." She paused again, seemingly unsure how much to share with Red.
He nodded and stared down at his hands. He had worn a band there before, symbolizing the union with this woman that stood three feet from him. This Sarah might be standing here, but she couldn’t be farther than any known quantity of distance to Red from the woman he had held in his arms as she bled out.
His silence must have encouraged her, and she spoke again. “I'm hoping to find her and reunite," she continued. "Our marriage has been going through some tough times lately. We've actually been separated for quite a while now." She chuckled ruefully. "I guess you could say it's a long and complicated story."
Red nodded sympathetically, sensing that there was much more behind Sarah's words than what she was sharing now but also knowing full well the depth of that statement. Remembering those soft moments with his own Sarah where their conversations would take them deep into the twilight hours of the night, he turned to her and said gently, "I don't mind a story, but only if you're ready to tell it."
Sarah looked at him gratefully, obviously touched by his understanding. "Thank you, Red. You’re not such the brute you like to portray, I think.”
Sarah couldn't explain it, but there was a strange sense of familiarity about Red. Even though they had only known each other for a short time, she felt as though she had known him much longer. She couldn't pinpoint exactly why she felt this way, but it was a comforting feeling nonetheless.
Red stood there, his tough exterior seeming to melt away and a softness around his eyes told her she could trust this man. Sarah found herself easily confiding in Red, trusting him in a way she hadn't with anyone else in a long time. It felt good to have someone to talk to and share her thoughts with.
She opened up about Michaela and shared some of the details. Although she briefly considered telling him about her experience with the Artifacts and Starborn, she ultimately decided to keep that information to herself.
The experience was relieving in a way she had not expected, and after leaving his apartment and making her way back to the Lodge her thoughts turned to Michaela once more. Even though she had enjoyed her conversation with Red and felt a sense of comfort in his presence, it only reminded her of the pain she felt at being without her wife.
She missed Michaela more than words could express. They had been separated for over two and a half years now, and every passing day only intensified Sarah's ache for her wife's embrace and touch.
Despite the distance between them, Sarah held onto hope. She refused to believe that their love was over or that she would never see Michaela again. She still had faith that one day they would be reunited, and until then, she would never give up searching for her.
~
Later That Night
Red leaned again on the balcony railing, the evening hours alight from the city gleaming around him. The noise had died down a bit, but this city never really slept, not in the way much of the rest of the colonies slept. It reminded him that he, too, was much like the city of New Atlantis. Resilient, constant and never changing.
This evening spent with this Sarah had reminded him that there could still be something new he had not discovered. Some new horizons that hadn’t been explored. He had come to this universe with the plan to stay and settle and do as much good as he could possibly do with the collected knowledge of his many lives he had lived in countless universes.
The Sarah in this universe was different than any of the other Sarahs he had come to know, and it reminded him that the journey was not over. What started as an accidental induction into the Constellation family in that first life he had lived – what seemed like so many lifetimes ago – and had grown into a passion for exploring the universe had been forgotten along the way somehow.
This Sarah reminded him that he was an explorer, first and foremost, and the answer to so many questions still remained a mystery. Who was he to decide that the journey had come to an end? Who was he to declare that passing through the Unity was a mistake for anyone?
Looking out at the city, with all its lights and bustle below, and then glancing out at the darkness beyond that stretched on into the unknown… he came to a decision. His time had come once more, and he turned from the expansive view with a heart full of excitement for the next leap into a life where the story had yet to be written.
He was Starborn. This would be his legacy.