Darkside: Extermination
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Guessmyname
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- Joined: 28 Apr 2005, 21:07
Some short, succulent reading before I turn in.
A return to a planet that starts with a D and its not Dantana...
Mike looked up. There was a man standing there. His skin was darkish brown, black hair and brown eyes. His suit was finely pressed, clean. He was well shaven, witch seemed to be a miracle on Dantana. His shoes were very nice, possible designer models. They also would have fallen apart in about ten seconds walking over the ruined and shattered remains of the Capital City's streets. All this and the slightly too easy way the man held himself all made him feel alien.
His limbs were flaccid, almost completely motionless. It was deathlike. When he did move it was with a fluidity matched by nothing short then an octopus. ├óÔé¼┼ôHello├óÔé¼┬Ø the man said again. It came out as He low, with a bizarre emphasis on the L. ├óÔé¼┼ôHi├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôWho are you?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am called Taraka├óÔé¼┬Ø the man said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I really need to find someone├óÔé¼┬Ø. He pulled a picture out of his breast pocket ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's my niece├óÔé¼┬Ø. He handed her the picture. Mike, who was still laying on the ground next to a dying Gloria, found this more then a little silly. But he still looked at the picture.
It was Eve. ├óÔé¼┼ôSee├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôI've been looking for her for quite some time├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is Eve Montoya├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, feeling like laughing hysterically ├óÔé¼┼ôher mother doesn't have brothers or sisters. Well her stepmother, so would that make you a stepuncle?├óÔé¼┬Ø. He laughed ├óÔé¼┼ôNow I'm going crazy here, cause I'm sure you just said your the Uncle of a woman who's from another species├óÔé¼┬Ø. Taraka smiled as Mike continued to ramble ├óÔé¼┼ôand I think Gloria here is dying├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, pointing at the woman next to him. Taraka stopped smiling ├óÔé¼┼ôListen├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI have about...this much time├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike looked at him ├óÔé¼┼ôWell I have all the time in the world├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôNot getting of this rock with my shuttle smashed all to hell!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Taraka curled his finger. Mike felt a hand grab his shirt front and haul him to his feet. Then the hand slammed him into the side of the shuttle ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôI have about this much time. I've traveled thousands...thousands of light years. I've lived over six billion of your years and I've killed entire spices! NOW TELL ME WHERE IS EVE!├óÔé¼┬Ø. He almost spat as he screamed the last words. Mike's jaw hardened ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're one of those├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am not one of the puppets that you've been used to├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'd destroy your solar system before I'd let you, or one of your race, even TOUCH me├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy do you want Eve? Why?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked. The invisible hand grabbed his face and smashed it into the side of the shuttle ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy!├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôWHY! WHY! WHY!├óÔé¼┬Ø. With each why he slammed Mike's head into the side of the shuttle.
Mike was dazed, head spinning. Blood trickled down the back of his neck. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWe don't just let kids run around where they can do some damage. We didn't let Prime run around, and we're not going to her daughter run around. We are not going to let another species muck about with our kind├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôTheres more of you?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts hard to describe how backwards your spices is├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôHow incredibly pointless your existence is. Now tell me where Eve is an I'll spare her life├óÔé¼┬Ø. Gloria gasped as an invisible hand dragged her off the floor. Her wounds started to bleed again.
├óÔé¼┼ôEve├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's in space, in a...a space ship. Somewhere about ten light years, falling back to SOL├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd for that├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm killing your friend├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôWait! If you know where Eve is, why ask us?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know where Eve is now. She was using her powers for the past week. But now she has stopped, and I can't pin her down again. And I don't want to let her...I want to get her back as soon as possible├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike gulped ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's in the asteroid belt last time I checked├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow just leave Gloria alone├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said. Gloria's right arm snapped, bending in the wrong direction with a wet crack. Gloria shrieked. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat was for lying├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said. Then he winked out of existence.
Everything was fine. Keller was looking forward to speaking with the enemy captain, as maybe he could get a cease fire. He was sure his crew was tired of fighting, tired of casualties. Eve was sitting in his chair, but he didn't really mind all that much. She was happy, and she had practically won them that battle, and so he was happy. Then suddenly a man in a very nice pressed suit showed up. He had brown skin, black hair, and brown eyes. He looked around the bridge. ├óÔé¼┼ôHello├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôMy name is Taraka├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôEve├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell is this!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôDon't interrupt├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said. Keller felt himself picked up and thrown against the wall. He saw stars, then he was out. Blood trickled out of a gash on the back of his head. The sensor officer ran to his captain, looking him over. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said, looking Eve. Eve was sitting as far into the back of the chair as possible, pressing into the foam cushion. Her eyes were wide with terror, finger nails digging into the arm rests. ├óÔé¼┼ôA-a-a-a-a-ah!├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve gibbered. Taraka smiled. Eve screamed, crawling backwards over the chair. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt seems├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou are not looking forward to this├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Eve stood up, backing away from Taraka ├óÔé¼┼ôWho are you!├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy...why are you here├óÔé¼┬Ø. Fear just radiated off him, a irrational terror that almost overloaded her ability to speak. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am called Taraka├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you have to come with me├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve shook her head ├óÔé¼┼ôTaraka...├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI've heard that name before...├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve's eyes widened. She remembered memory's that she had never had, memory's crammed in her skull by a dying mother. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou killed my mother├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI only kill those who resist├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said, raising his finger ├óÔé¼┼ôBut think...Eve your a first. You are not just one of us, you're a crossbreed├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Eve bristled ├óÔé¼┼ôSo?├óÔé¼┬Ø She asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo?├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôNot a single member of our kind has every breeded with any member of any other spices, let alone produced a child. You're special and the others of our kind want to see you, just to find out what you can do├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat I can do?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked ├óÔé¼┼ôYou killed my mother├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôA mother I'll never know, a mother that i will never talk too. THIS IS WHAT I CAN DO!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Taraka saw the attack a second before it came. Thats why he survived. Taraka flew backwards into the wall, denting it outwards.
Lizzy watched this all. Then she blinked. She had been there, after Prime and Taraka had fought. It had not been pretty. Taraka had done...something to kill Prime, something that looked excessively painful and slow. But it was a bit too slow. Prime had managed to kill him before she died. She had killed him so completely that his body had never been found. Well here it was, supposedly. She pulled her gun out even as Taraka pulled himself off the wall. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôwas your first mistake. Lets take this to a better place, without any├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy fired. The bullet fell to the ground and clattered around. Then Lizzy's gun crumpled in on itself. ├óÔé¼┼ôdistractions├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka finished.
Then he and Eve were both gone. Keller got up, feeling his head and wincing ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the fuck just happened?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere did they go?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHell if I know├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou even hear of the Q hypothesis?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Q hypothesis was suggested by my ex-husband├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôHe was a fan of old television shows, and in one of those shows a characters was a super powerfull being named Q. He basically did whatever was on his mind, screwed with the characters and was generally hilarious. The Q hypothesis is that any being that is of sufficient strength and power will just not CARE about us lower folk├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo what does this have to do with this?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Q hypothesis...well├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôif its true, then that man just doesn't care to tell us where he go's. He might have taken her to another plane of existence├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou seem remarkably unworried├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf I could I'd rip the bastards balls off. But he's not here, and he can probably tear me to my component particals with his mind├óÔé¼┬Ø. She sat down in Keller's chair ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe wait for them to come back├óÔé¼┬Ø. Keller sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI think├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôif anything new strange happens, I'm going to kill myself├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy sighed, putting her head in her hands.
├óÔé¼┼ôNice choice├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said. ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you like it?├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI have no idea where it is├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, looking around ├óÔé¼┼ôBut it is nice├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDoesn't the sky tip you off?├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said, pointing up. Eve looked around. They were both standing in an icy place, with huge ice crystals shoving out of the snow. The sky was roiling...purple. A massive purple cloud seemed to cover the planet they were on. Then Eve sank to her knees, realizing where she was. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh god├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm home├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWelcome to Darkside├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said. He was sitting on one of the ice crystals, his finely pressed suit changed from the business styles he wore before to a stranger, somehow more ancient one. It was a open jacket, with no sleeves, open down the middle. A knife, oddly curved, was set on his side and his shoes had toes that curved upwards.
├óÔé¼┼ôThis is home├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, her face aglow ├óÔé¼┼ôI can see my house again...I can see...my school, the colony├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe colony?├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe colony! You don't know?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôKnow...know what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked, standing up. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour mother left this planet five years after the death of your father and your kidnapping. Five years after that...├óÔé¼┬Ø he snapped his fingers and they were suddenly standing in the middle of a road. Same sky, same planet, different city. But it looked all too familer to Eve. It looked like the capital city. The street was littered with ruined cars, smashed glass, broken walls and more then a few skeletons. ├óÔé¼┼ôSee what's left?├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka asked, walking over to a skeleton and pressing his foot into the skull. It exploded under the pressure.
├óÔé¼┼ôNothing├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe colony was destroyed when this landed on the planet├óÔé¼┬Ø. He threw out of his sleeve, snapping his wrist. A rock jumped into his hand like a gun shooting out of someones arm holster. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis. A little rock, a simple thing. The Shroud├óÔé¼┬Ø he pointed to the purple cloud ├óÔé¼┼ôIts over thirty million years old. Unfortunately it missed this├óÔé¼┬Ø. He cracked the rock and inside a single shred of black grit was encased ├óÔé¼┼ôThis grew into a creature, a bit of S-02. The Shroud reacted, but unfortunately the S-02 bit was too large to eradicated easily├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat occurred after this was...interesting├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said. Eve was having a hard time following as she was too busy staring around at the devastated colony.
See honey. This is where mommy works. The Security divisions building was shattered, bits of it blown in every direction. That was what Eve focused on. Then she gasped, realizing how close Lizzy had been to dying. If she had stayed her longer, just five years, then she would be dead. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt got to stage three├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt became this├óÔé¼┬Ø he snapped his finger and they switched locations. They were now in a bank. The vault door had been torn off. Inside the vault was a creature. It was completely black, with eight spines shoved out of its back. The spines were slowly moving around, swishing through the air. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis Hyde├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôI call him that. He, or I should say, It, doesn't have a name. It doesn't really have a name, as it has no mind. It was a first of its kind as well├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôHow so?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked, her voice trembling. Hyde felt...wrong. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's insane├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôSimply put, insane. Something went wrong in its formation. Rather then ripping someone's mind apart to get their sense of personality, it just...killed. It killed and killed and killed, till there was nothing left. Now there is just death and Hyde├óÔé¼┬Ø. Taraka smiled at Hyde ├óÔé¼┼ôNow Hyde is a nice case, compared to you, Eve├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm a bad case?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked ├óÔé¼┼ôI'M THE BAD CASE!├óÔé¼┬Ø she jabbed her finger out the window, pointing at the corpses and destroyed buildings. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôHyde is contained, stuck on this planet. He is simple, easy to understand. You flit around the universe, give our secrets to other race's, and you...use your powers constantly. Its...dangerous├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve looked at him ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy is it dangerous?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou are a third stage├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôHave you asked what would happen if there were...a fourth?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
A return to a planet that starts with a D and its not Dantana...
Mike looked up. There was a man standing there. His skin was darkish brown, black hair and brown eyes. His suit was finely pressed, clean. He was well shaven, witch seemed to be a miracle on Dantana. His shoes were very nice, possible designer models. They also would have fallen apart in about ten seconds walking over the ruined and shattered remains of the Capital City's streets. All this and the slightly too easy way the man held himself all made him feel alien.
His limbs were flaccid, almost completely motionless. It was deathlike. When he did move it was with a fluidity matched by nothing short then an octopus. ├óÔé¼┼ôHello├óÔé¼┬Ø the man said again. It came out as He low, with a bizarre emphasis on the L. ├óÔé¼┼ôHi├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôWho are you?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am called Taraka├óÔé¼┬Ø the man said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I really need to find someone├óÔé¼┬Ø. He pulled a picture out of his breast pocket ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's my niece├óÔé¼┬Ø. He handed her the picture. Mike, who was still laying on the ground next to a dying Gloria, found this more then a little silly. But he still looked at the picture.
It was Eve. ├óÔé¼┼ôSee├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôI've been looking for her for quite some time├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is Eve Montoya├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, feeling like laughing hysterically ├óÔé¼┼ôher mother doesn't have brothers or sisters. Well her stepmother, so would that make you a stepuncle?├óÔé¼┬Ø. He laughed ├óÔé¼┼ôNow I'm going crazy here, cause I'm sure you just said your the Uncle of a woman who's from another species├óÔé¼┬Ø. Taraka smiled as Mike continued to ramble ├óÔé¼┼ôand I think Gloria here is dying├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, pointing at the woman next to him. Taraka stopped smiling ├óÔé¼┼ôListen├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI have about...this much time├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike looked at him ├óÔé¼┼ôWell I have all the time in the world├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôNot getting of this rock with my shuttle smashed all to hell!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Taraka curled his finger. Mike felt a hand grab his shirt front and haul him to his feet. Then the hand slammed him into the side of the shuttle ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôI have about this much time. I've traveled thousands...thousands of light years. I've lived over six billion of your years and I've killed entire spices! NOW TELL ME WHERE IS EVE!├óÔé¼┬Ø. He almost spat as he screamed the last words. Mike's jaw hardened ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're one of those├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am not one of the puppets that you've been used to├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'd destroy your solar system before I'd let you, or one of your race, even TOUCH me├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy do you want Eve? Why?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked. The invisible hand grabbed his face and smashed it into the side of the shuttle ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy!├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôWHY! WHY! WHY!├óÔé¼┬Ø. With each why he slammed Mike's head into the side of the shuttle.
Mike was dazed, head spinning. Blood trickled down the back of his neck. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWe don't just let kids run around where they can do some damage. We didn't let Prime run around, and we're not going to her daughter run around. We are not going to let another species muck about with our kind├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôTheres more of you?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts hard to describe how backwards your spices is├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôHow incredibly pointless your existence is. Now tell me where Eve is an I'll spare her life├óÔé¼┬Ø. Gloria gasped as an invisible hand dragged her off the floor. Her wounds started to bleed again.
├óÔé¼┼ôEve├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's in space, in a...a space ship. Somewhere about ten light years, falling back to SOL├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd for that├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm killing your friend├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôWait! If you know where Eve is, why ask us?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know where Eve is now. She was using her powers for the past week. But now she has stopped, and I can't pin her down again. And I don't want to let her...I want to get her back as soon as possible├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike gulped ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's in the asteroid belt last time I checked├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow just leave Gloria alone├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said. Gloria's right arm snapped, bending in the wrong direction with a wet crack. Gloria shrieked. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat was for lying├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said. Then he winked out of existence.
Everything was fine. Keller was looking forward to speaking with the enemy captain, as maybe he could get a cease fire. He was sure his crew was tired of fighting, tired of casualties. Eve was sitting in his chair, but he didn't really mind all that much. She was happy, and she had practically won them that battle, and so he was happy. Then suddenly a man in a very nice pressed suit showed up. He had brown skin, black hair, and brown eyes. He looked around the bridge. ├óÔé¼┼ôHello├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôMy name is Taraka├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôEve├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell is this!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôDon't interrupt├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said. Keller felt himself picked up and thrown against the wall. He saw stars, then he was out. Blood trickled out of a gash on the back of his head. The sensor officer ran to his captain, looking him over. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said, looking Eve. Eve was sitting as far into the back of the chair as possible, pressing into the foam cushion. Her eyes were wide with terror, finger nails digging into the arm rests. ├óÔé¼┼ôA-a-a-a-a-ah!├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve gibbered. Taraka smiled. Eve screamed, crawling backwards over the chair. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt seems├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou are not looking forward to this├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Eve stood up, backing away from Taraka ├óÔé¼┼ôWho are you!├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy...why are you here├óÔé¼┬Ø. Fear just radiated off him, a irrational terror that almost overloaded her ability to speak. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am called Taraka├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you have to come with me├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve shook her head ├óÔé¼┼ôTaraka...├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI've heard that name before...├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve's eyes widened. She remembered memory's that she had never had, memory's crammed in her skull by a dying mother. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou killed my mother├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI only kill those who resist├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said, raising his finger ├óÔé¼┼ôBut think...Eve your a first. You are not just one of us, you're a crossbreed├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Eve bristled ├óÔé¼┼ôSo?├óÔé¼┬Ø She asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo?├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôNot a single member of our kind has every breeded with any member of any other spices, let alone produced a child. You're special and the others of our kind want to see you, just to find out what you can do├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat I can do?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked ├óÔé¼┼ôYou killed my mother├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôA mother I'll never know, a mother that i will never talk too. THIS IS WHAT I CAN DO!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Taraka saw the attack a second before it came. Thats why he survived. Taraka flew backwards into the wall, denting it outwards.
Lizzy watched this all. Then she blinked. She had been there, after Prime and Taraka had fought. It had not been pretty. Taraka had done...something to kill Prime, something that looked excessively painful and slow. But it was a bit too slow. Prime had managed to kill him before she died. She had killed him so completely that his body had never been found. Well here it was, supposedly. She pulled her gun out even as Taraka pulled himself off the wall. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôwas your first mistake. Lets take this to a better place, without any├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy fired. The bullet fell to the ground and clattered around. Then Lizzy's gun crumpled in on itself. ├óÔé¼┼ôdistractions├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka finished.
Then he and Eve were both gone. Keller got up, feeling his head and wincing ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the fuck just happened?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere did they go?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHell if I know├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou even hear of the Q hypothesis?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Q hypothesis was suggested by my ex-husband├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôHe was a fan of old television shows, and in one of those shows a characters was a super powerfull being named Q. He basically did whatever was on his mind, screwed with the characters and was generally hilarious. The Q hypothesis is that any being that is of sufficient strength and power will just not CARE about us lower folk├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo what does this have to do with this?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Q hypothesis...well├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôif its true, then that man just doesn't care to tell us where he go's. He might have taken her to another plane of existence├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou seem remarkably unworried├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf I could I'd rip the bastards balls off. But he's not here, and he can probably tear me to my component particals with his mind├óÔé¼┬Ø. She sat down in Keller's chair ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe wait for them to come back├óÔé¼┬Ø. Keller sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI think├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôif anything new strange happens, I'm going to kill myself├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy sighed, putting her head in her hands.
├óÔé¼┼ôNice choice├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said. ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you like it?├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI have no idea where it is├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, looking around ├óÔé¼┼ôBut it is nice├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDoesn't the sky tip you off?├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said, pointing up. Eve looked around. They were both standing in an icy place, with huge ice crystals shoving out of the snow. The sky was roiling...purple. A massive purple cloud seemed to cover the planet they were on. Then Eve sank to her knees, realizing where she was. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh god├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm home├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWelcome to Darkside├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said. He was sitting on one of the ice crystals, his finely pressed suit changed from the business styles he wore before to a stranger, somehow more ancient one. It was a open jacket, with no sleeves, open down the middle. A knife, oddly curved, was set on his side and his shoes had toes that curved upwards.
├óÔé¼┼ôThis is home├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, her face aglow ├óÔé¼┼ôI can see my house again...I can see...my school, the colony├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe colony?├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe colony! You don't know?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôKnow...know what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked, standing up. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour mother left this planet five years after the death of your father and your kidnapping. Five years after that...├óÔé¼┬Ø he snapped his fingers and they were suddenly standing in the middle of a road. Same sky, same planet, different city. But it looked all too familer to Eve. It looked like the capital city. The street was littered with ruined cars, smashed glass, broken walls and more then a few skeletons. ├óÔé¼┼ôSee what's left?├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka asked, walking over to a skeleton and pressing his foot into the skull. It exploded under the pressure.
├óÔé¼┼ôNothing├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe colony was destroyed when this landed on the planet├óÔé¼┬Ø. He threw out of his sleeve, snapping his wrist. A rock jumped into his hand like a gun shooting out of someones arm holster. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis. A little rock, a simple thing. The Shroud├óÔé¼┬Ø he pointed to the purple cloud ├óÔé¼┼ôIts over thirty million years old. Unfortunately it missed this├óÔé¼┬Ø. He cracked the rock and inside a single shred of black grit was encased ├óÔé¼┼ôThis grew into a creature, a bit of S-02. The Shroud reacted, but unfortunately the S-02 bit was too large to eradicated easily├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat occurred after this was...interesting├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said. Eve was having a hard time following as she was too busy staring around at the devastated colony.
See honey. This is where mommy works. The Security divisions building was shattered, bits of it blown in every direction. That was what Eve focused on. Then she gasped, realizing how close Lizzy had been to dying. If she had stayed her longer, just five years, then she would be dead. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt got to stage three├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt became this├óÔé¼┬Ø he snapped his finger and they switched locations. They were now in a bank. The vault door had been torn off. Inside the vault was a creature. It was completely black, with eight spines shoved out of its back. The spines were slowly moving around, swishing through the air. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis Hyde├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôI call him that. He, or I should say, It, doesn't have a name. It doesn't really have a name, as it has no mind. It was a first of its kind as well├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôHow so?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked, her voice trembling. Hyde felt...wrong. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's insane├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôSimply put, insane. Something went wrong in its formation. Rather then ripping someone's mind apart to get their sense of personality, it just...killed. It killed and killed and killed, till there was nothing left. Now there is just death and Hyde├óÔé¼┬Ø. Taraka smiled at Hyde ├óÔé¼┼ôNow Hyde is a nice case, compared to you, Eve├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm a bad case?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked ├óÔé¼┼ôI'M THE BAD CASE!├óÔé¼┬Ø she jabbed her finger out the window, pointing at the corpses and destroyed buildings. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôHyde is contained, stuck on this planet. He is simple, easy to understand. You flit around the universe, give our secrets to other race's, and you...use your powers constantly. Its...dangerous├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve looked at him ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy is it dangerous?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou are a third stage├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôHave you asked what would happen if there were...a fourth?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
and now, just to screw with your heads.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôWould it be cool?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy not?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said, closing his eyes ├óÔé¼┼ôWe don't know, but the Concisenesses feels that if it happens something big will happen. And big things have always been bad news. Thats why you have to come with us, away from all this├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve sighed, leaning against the wall of the bank. She looked over the destroyed colony, the dead people. Eve blinked away some tears ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't want to go├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm finally home after ten years of pain. I don't want to go...not just yet├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Taraka sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôLook around├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're not human. You never were and trying to fit in with this society, with this race. Why try? Why bother. Its just going to hurt you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôJust because something is pointless├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt means we shouldn't try?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Taraka looked at her ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do you mean?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI remember one of my history lessons. It was about a man. I don't remember it well, but this man was standing in front of a line of tanks, holding his hand out. He could never stop them, never actually stop them. But he was still trying├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve looked at Taraka ├óÔé¼┼ôthat was what was important├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't...I don't understand├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said slowly.
├óÔé¼┼ôI didn't think you would├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôIs there any way that I can stay with my family...with my friends?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour family!├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôYour friends? You don't have either├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI do├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôI do!├óÔé¼┬Ø. She stood up and looked at Taraka, eyes flashing ├óÔé¼┼ôI do!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôStop it├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôHow can a insect be a friend with god?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve growled ├óÔé¼┼ôTake me back├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôTake me back to the Hannibal├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have to come with me, and learn what its like to be among equals├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't...I don't want to...├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve trailed off ├óÔé¼┼ôI want to be human├óÔé¼┬Ø she finished, looking at the ground. A tear trickled out of her left eye ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't want to be...different anymore├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Taraka gaped at her. Eve shoulders shook as she cried. She put her hands in her face ├óÔé¼┼ôI...├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I want to be normal├óÔé¼┬Ø. Taraka looked at his arm. He had never seen something like this before. It scared him. ├óÔé¼┼ôEve?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy asked. Eve's head shot up. She was standing on the bridge of the Hannibal. Taraka was no where to be seen. ├óÔé¼┼ôEve!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy ran into her daughter and squeezed her hard around the middle. Eve hugged her back. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat happened?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked, running over ├óÔé¼┼ôReport!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI was taken├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôTaken back to Darkside├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy looked at her ├óÔé¼┼ôHome!├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôHow is it? Is it prospering!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Then she saw the look on Eve's face. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy breathed, looking completely drained. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø a familer, not quite human, voice said. Everyone turned to look at the gunner console. Taraka was sitting there, wearing the uniform of the Colonial Navy. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is a matter for the parents├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can leave├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to speak with...├óÔé¼┬Ø he paused ├óÔé¼┼ôYour mother├óÔé¼┬Ø. He spat the word as if it were a profanity. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou want to talk to me?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy asked, looking down. Then she leaped forward, reaching for Taraka's throat. Taraka waved his hand and deflected Lizzy aside. She almost hit the wall, but was stopped by the same force that threw her. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to discuss custody of the child├óÔé¼┬Ø he said.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôCustody?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôPrime...now Prime was a true Stage Three. Eve is a spineless, weakling. She was actually crying about being different├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka looked insulted by the thought ├óÔé¼┼ôShe WANTS to be human!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve bristled at the insults, despite the fact that some of them were true. Lizzy growled ├óÔé¼┼ôMy daughter is not a weakling├óÔé¼┬Ø she snarled. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhatever├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said, waving his hand ├óÔé¼┼ôNow I'm going to offer you a deal. I take Eve's powers. She become human, normal and useless. She stays with you├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve gaped ├óÔé¼┼ôMy...powers?├óÔé¼┬Ø She asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy take...you can!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôI've done it three times before, each to kill one of our own. We can't die otherwise. The first was a being I called Judas. The second was another being called Shitan, he was causing trouble on Earth. The third was...Prime├óÔé¼┬Ø he opened his hands ├óÔé¼┼ôIts rather simple. You just infect them with specialized cells that convert their normal, S-02 cells, into whatever race they had assumed at the time. It takes about five minuets and all I need to do is prick your finger with this├óÔé¼┬Ø. A fingernail on his pointer finger sharpened itself. ├óÔé¼┼ôI scratch you with this, and your human├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can stay with your family, stay with your...friends├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts...that easy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked. Lizzy looked at her ├óÔé¼┼ôEve├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou don't need-├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôMom├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf I was normal we'd be left alone├óÔé¼┬Ø she walked over to Taraka. ├óÔé¼┼ôDo it├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said. He ran his finger nail along her skin. Blood welled. Eve refused to show pain, just to show him. She wasn't a weakling. Then she felt a horrific, agonizing pain. The pain moved up her arm, to her shoulder and spread through her entire body. Then it passed. It had lasted half a second. She collapsed to the floor and curled up. ├óÔé¼┼ôEve!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's just hurting├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow you're spices has nothing to do with me. Good day├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then he was gone.
├óÔé¼┼ôI swear├óÔé¼┬Ø the doctor said ├óÔé¼┼ôWow...├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôThere are no HEPE readings. No S-02 cells, no mutations, no alterations. Eve is human├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve felt herself over. Everything felt...better. She realized that everything had been felt through second hand. Now she was actually feeling it. Every emotion was newer, more vibrant. Every feeling was more alive, somehow. She wanted to experience things, live things. She felt ten ton's lighter, as if the wight of the universe was off her shoulders. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're actually human now. Feel worse?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôI feel better. Much better├óÔé¼┬Ø. She then realized she was very thirsty,very hungry and really really needed to go to the bathroom. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan I be excused?├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, squeaking slightly.
The night set. Mike threw another bit of wood on the fire and sighed contentedly. Gloria was actually getting a bit better, now that he had bound her arm and set up a trauma kit on her wound. The trauma kit was feeding her the blood she had lost, and would supposedly keep her alive. The fire was easy enough to set up, after he had found the lighter and S-02 was roughly five miles off. Now he just hoped his signal had come through, getting to the Hannibal. Gloria moaned ├óÔé¼┼ôMike├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôShhh├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou need sleep├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôMike├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria repeated ├óÔé¼┼ôAm I pretty?├óÔé¼┬Ø. He looked at her ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow go to sleep├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria said ├óÔé¼┼ôI was just...checking├óÔé¼┬Ø. She trailed off and was asleep again. Mike sighed and wondered why the hell he had come here. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm getting out├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôGetting out of this shit hill Corps├óÔé¼┬Ø. He sighed and looked back at the ground. Then there was a rattling roar in the distance. ├óÔé¼┼ôA shuttle├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, standing up. A shuttle was dropping into the atmosphere, roaring down towards their position. Mike grabbed his flare gun and fired it into the air gun. The shuttle started hovering. Then it flew in his direction.
Mike was laughing hysterically as the shuttle set down. ├óÔé¼┼ôI was expecting an extended vacation├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. The shuttle door opened, an odd embalm emblazoned on it. It looked like a sharpened metal stick. Then two marines ran out of the shuttle, rifles at the ready. Mike raised its hands ├óÔé¼┼ôHey├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm a friendly├óÔé¼┬Ø. The marines looked at each other, then at him. Then they shot him. Mike looked at the two darts protruding out of his chest. ├óÔé¼┼ôTranquilizers?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked ├óÔé¼┼ôHuh├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then he fell backwards onto the ground. Gloria looked at him ├óÔé¼┼ôWake up sleepy head├óÔé¼┬Ø she said blearily.
Keller looked at the enemy captain. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôCapitan Michelle├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes?├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle smiled, her teeth flashing. She was surprisingly young woman, with long brown hair, youthful smile. ├óÔé¼┼ôSeems we've got ourselves in a pickle├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôwe need to kill you, and you need to kill us. Most distressing, but not something we can just stop├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôActually├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said, leaning on his console ├óÔé¼┼ôWe'd like to discuss our cease fire├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe have orders to confiscate the Bio-War property that you have on your ship: One Eve Montoya├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôLets get this straight├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôsense when can a Colonial ship get ordered around by a cooperation?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Lizzy tapped him on his shoulder. Keller looked at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's working for the Black Ops. Bio-War is being funded by both the Transcendi and Black Ops. Cyanide was working for the Transcendi, and now this Michelle bitch is working for the Black Ops├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know I can hear you├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said, her voice deadpan. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you know what├óÔé¼┬Ø She pointed at the screen ├óÔé¼┼ôYou do know that you are working for a bunch of power hungry assholes, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd they also pay millions on millions of credits├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôListen├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI bet I can triple your offer├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôTriple?├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle asked, eyes dancing. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe'll call you back in a second├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait wait wait├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said, holding up one of her hands ├óÔé¼┼ôWe've gathered to rather important people. Or we think they are important. One of them keeps asking for you, Elizabeth├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôLizzy├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy corrected her. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats what I said├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôElizabeth├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho's asking for me?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôA man named Dogson, I think├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said. ├óÔé¼┼ôDobson├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy corrected her again. ├óÔé¼┼ôStop correcting me. It's sickening├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said, turning off the connection. ├óÔé¼┼ôI really like cheesing that bitch off├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy smiled.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked ├óÔé¼┼ôThey must have seen the shuttle hit atmo├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats what I was thinking├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I need to send a secure Tac-Con message to SOL├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know who can triple their price├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôA man I like to call...the Marshall├óÔé¼┬Ø. She walked out of the room and into the captains quarters. ├óÔé¼┼ôI swear├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm spending the trip home out of cryo, just so I can relax├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSir?├óÔé¼┬Ø The sensor officer asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôPut her message through the screen in my rooms├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I'll be in Sarris's bunk├óÔé¼┬Ø. He walked out of the room. The sensor officer banged his head against the console ├óÔé¼┼ôIs everyone crazy here?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked.
Eve was sitting in the mess hall, eating her head off, when a man sat down across from her. It was that depressed marine..hicks. That was his name. ├óÔé¼┼ôhrroo├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, her voice muffled by a crumpet and a half. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks asked, leaning over the table. Eve swallowed with considerable difficulty ├óÔé¼┼ôHello├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôHi├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said ├óÔé¼┼ôIs the whole 'your wanted by the M.Ps' issue gone and done away with?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm a useless tactical item now. I mean I can't kill people with my mind now, so I'm useless to the Capitan and the war effort├óÔé¼┬Ø. Hicks went right over the 'killing people with my mind' part and said ├óÔé¼┼ôIsn't the whole useless thing something to feel bad about?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôI can eat, I can shit, I can even fuck now. I'm as normal as you or that guy, or that guy├óÔé¼┬Ø she pointed at other people while still holding her cup of coffee. Coffee dribbled and flew all over the place. Hicks backed up his chair slightly, so as to not get wet. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôthink you can ever be normal, Eve├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, smiling as she shoved another two bagels into her mouth. She washed it down by her fourth cup of coffee. ├óÔé¼┼ôEve├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said ├óÔé¼┼ôare you open for the evening?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôI am open for a romantic night on the town, a quick undressing and a fast trip to your bed├óÔé¼┬Ø. Hick's eyebrows shot to the top of his forehead ├óÔé¼┼ôUh├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI...that was sudden├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôI can actually...do things. I'm human├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou weren't before?├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow I bleed, have bowl motions, can have fun and such├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôI never thought I'd hear bowl motions, bleed and fun in the sentence├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said dryly. ├óÔé¼┼ôHicks├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, leaning over the table ├óÔé¼┼ôI feel great. I feel crazy. Maybe those are two things, one in the same. I want to feel everything, as much as I can without exploding. I want to LIVE!├óÔé¼┬Ø she slammed her hand down on the table. Then she pulled it back into her, closing her eyes in pain. ├óÔé¼┼ôOw ow ow ow ow├óÔé¼┬Ø she moaned. The table wasn't even slightly hurt. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats...new├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve forced a smile. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have to be more careful├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you weren't human before, you are now├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Lizzy put down the newspaper and smiled. Eve was certainly happier now, but unlike her daughter, Lizzy knew that their problems weren't over just because she was not any value. Lizzy dashed that thought. Eve would never be valueless. Then she saw the rather dashing young corporal sit down at Eve's table. Lizzy's first impulse was to get up, storm over and punch his lights out for looking at her daughter like that. She calmed herself down as much as she could by tearing the newspaper in half. Then she quartered it. Then she halved those quarters. Then she saw Eve and the corporal walk of together, talking.
Lizzy got up and followed them. Then she stopped, remembering her first romance. Her mother had been a pain in the ass about that guy. What was his name? She couldn't remember. It had been a crush really. Then Lizzy sat back down at her table. While she had been mooning over one man or another, for at least a decade, Amber was there wanting her. Now, after looking at it with an extra century of time added onto it, it was very obvious that Amber had loved her. Now she was dead. Lizzy felt depressed. At least Mike was being held by marines, who were bound by the Articles of War to treat prisoners with a modicum of respect and dignity.
The punch hurt more because he was expecting it. Mike tensed up, trying to ready himself. Then the blow landed in his stomach. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø his interrogator said ├óÔé¼┼ôTell us about this 'Eve' person├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôBy the Articles of War, you are supposed to provide with food, support, and medical attention until I can be parleyed off to my ship. I refuse to answer├óÔé¼┬Ø another punch ├óÔé¼┼ôany questions while you fail to follow the Articles of War├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou've been trained well├óÔé¼┬Ø The interrogator said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut that doesn't tell us what we need├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôBy the Articles of War, you are supposed to provide with food, support, and medical attention until I can be parleyed off to my ship. I refuse to answer├óÔé¼┼ôany questions while you fail to follow the Articles of War├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike repeated. The Interrogator sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôGet the woman├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. There was a pause ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd rough him up a bit more├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then he stood and walked out of the room. The beating started. Mike felt his shoulder pop slightly, and his left ribs felt cracked. He was having a hard time breathing. ├óÔé¼┼ôBy the Articles of War, you are supposed to provide with food, support, and medical attention until I├óÔé¼┬Ø he trailed off ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I├óÔé¼┬Ø he couldn't remember how it ended, his mind swamped with pain.
The door opened and two guards walked into the room, holding Gloria between them. She was looking better, now that her hole had been patched up. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø The interrogator said ├óÔé¼┼ôShoot her├óÔé¼┬Ø. One of the guards pulled out his gun and shot Gloria. She collapsed to the ground, her calf exploding as the bullet went through her shin and out the other side. She screamed, feeling the wound. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø the interrogator said ├óÔé¼┼ôTell us about 'Eve'├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike groaned ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's...she's on the Handball, hush hush├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôKill the woman├óÔé¼┬Ø the Interrogator said. ├óÔé¼┼ôNO!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôNO! I don't KNOW! By the Articles of War, you are supposed to provide with food, support, and medical attention until I can be parleyed off to my ship. I refuse to answer. I refuse to answer!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The Interrogator looked at the guard.
The guard fired again. Gloria was hit in the left lung and she fell backwards. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe can still patch her up├óÔé¼┬Ø the interrogator said ├óÔé¼┼ôJust tell us what you know├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôI refuse to answer├óÔé¼┬Ø. He felt faint, he couldn't breath. ├óÔé¼┼ôTell us what you KNOW!├óÔé¼┬Ø the Interrogator shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôOr we won't help her. We will let her bleed to death, and you'll have to watch. You'll have to watch as she dies in agony├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then the a person walked into the room, stepping over the bleeding body of Gloria. He leaned over and whispered to the Interrogator. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet a medic├óÔé¼┬Ø The Interrogator said, pressing a button. The shackles on Mike snapped open. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø the Interrogator said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're being handed over to the enemy ship. We've received a better officer├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou're going to burn├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll make sure to tell them every detail, every last bit of tourcher├óÔé¼┬Ø. The interrogator smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôYou think that├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou think that├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then he walked out of the room, leaving Mike standing there, his boots tracking Gloria's blood on the ground.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôWould it be cool?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy not?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said, closing his eyes ├óÔé¼┼ôWe don't know, but the Concisenesses feels that if it happens something big will happen. And big things have always been bad news. Thats why you have to come with us, away from all this├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve sighed, leaning against the wall of the bank. She looked over the destroyed colony, the dead people. Eve blinked away some tears ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't want to go├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm finally home after ten years of pain. I don't want to go...not just yet├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Taraka sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôLook around├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're not human. You never were and trying to fit in with this society, with this race. Why try? Why bother. Its just going to hurt you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôJust because something is pointless├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt means we shouldn't try?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Taraka looked at her ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do you mean?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI remember one of my history lessons. It was about a man. I don't remember it well, but this man was standing in front of a line of tanks, holding his hand out. He could never stop them, never actually stop them. But he was still trying├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve looked at Taraka ├óÔé¼┼ôthat was what was important├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't...I don't understand├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said slowly.
├óÔé¼┼ôI didn't think you would├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôIs there any way that I can stay with my family...with my friends?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour family!├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôYour friends? You don't have either├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI do├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôI do!├óÔé¼┬Ø. She stood up and looked at Taraka, eyes flashing ├óÔé¼┼ôI do!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôStop it├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôHow can a insect be a friend with god?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve growled ├óÔé¼┼ôTake me back├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôTake me back to the Hannibal├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have to come with me, and learn what its like to be among equals├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't...I don't want to...├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve trailed off ├óÔé¼┼ôI want to be human├óÔé¼┬Ø she finished, looking at the ground. A tear trickled out of her left eye ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't want to be...different anymore├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Taraka gaped at her. Eve shoulders shook as she cried. She put her hands in her face ├óÔé¼┼ôI...├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I want to be normal├óÔé¼┬Ø. Taraka looked at his arm. He had never seen something like this before. It scared him. ├óÔé¼┼ôEve?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy asked. Eve's head shot up. She was standing on the bridge of the Hannibal. Taraka was no where to be seen. ├óÔé¼┼ôEve!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy ran into her daughter and squeezed her hard around the middle. Eve hugged her back. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat happened?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked, running over ├óÔé¼┼ôReport!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI was taken├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôTaken back to Darkside├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy looked at her ├óÔé¼┼ôHome!├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôHow is it? Is it prospering!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Then she saw the look on Eve's face. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy breathed, looking completely drained. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø a familer, not quite human, voice said. Everyone turned to look at the gunner console. Taraka was sitting there, wearing the uniform of the Colonial Navy. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is a matter for the parents├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can leave├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to speak with...├óÔé¼┬Ø he paused ├óÔé¼┼ôYour mother├óÔé¼┬Ø. He spat the word as if it were a profanity. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou want to talk to me?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy asked, looking down. Then she leaped forward, reaching for Taraka's throat. Taraka waved his hand and deflected Lizzy aside. She almost hit the wall, but was stopped by the same force that threw her. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to discuss custody of the child├óÔé¼┬Ø he said.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôCustody?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôPrime...now Prime was a true Stage Three. Eve is a spineless, weakling. She was actually crying about being different├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka looked insulted by the thought ├óÔé¼┼ôShe WANTS to be human!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve bristled at the insults, despite the fact that some of them were true. Lizzy growled ├óÔé¼┼ôMy daughter is not a weakling├óÔé¼┬Ø she snarled. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhatever├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said, waving his hand ├óÔé¼┼ôNow I'm going to offer you a deal. I take Eve's powers. She become human, normal and useless. She stays with you├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve gaped ├óÔé¼┼ôMy...powers?├óÔé¼┬Ø She asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy take...you can!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôI've done it three times before, each to kill one of our own. We can't die otherwise. The first was a being I called Judas. The second was another being called Shitan, he was causing trouble on Earth. The third was...Prime├óÔé¼┬Ø he opened his hands ├óÔé¼┼ôIts rather simple. You just infect them with specialized cells that convert their normal, S-02 cells, into whatever race they had assumed at the time. It takes about five minuets and all I need to do is prick your finger with this├óÔé¼┬Ø. A fingernail on his pointer finger sharpened itself. ├óÔé¼┼ôI scratch you with this, and your human├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can stay with your family, stay with your...friends├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts...that easy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked. Lizzy looked at her ├óÔé¼┼ôEve├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou don't need-├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôMom├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf I was normal we'd be left alone├óÔé¼┬Ø she walked over to Taraka. ├óÔé¼┼ôDo it├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said. He ran his finger nail along her skin. Blood welled. Eve refused to show pain, just to show him. She wasn't a weakling. Then she felt a horrific, agonizing pain. The pain moved up her arm, to her shoulder and spread through her entire body. Then it passed. It had lasted half a second. She collapsed to the floor and curled up. ├óÔé¼┼ôEve!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's just hurting├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow you're spices has nothing to do with me. Good day├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then he was gone.
├óÔé¼┼ôI swear├óÔé¼┬Ø the doctor said ├óÔé¼┼ôWow...├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôThere are no HEPE readings. No S-02 cells, no mutations, no alterations. Eve is human├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve felt herself over. Everything felt...better. She realized that everything had been felt through second hand. Now she was actually feeling it. Every emotion was newer, more vibrant. Every feeling was more alive, somehow. She wanted to experience things, live things. She felt ten ton's lighter, as if the wight of the universe was off her shoulders. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're actually human now. Feel worse?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôI feel better. Much better├óÔé¼┬Ø. She then realized she was very thirsty,very hungry and really really needed to go to the bathroom. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan I be excused?├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, squeaking slightly.
The night set. Mike threw another bit of wood on the fire and sighed contentedly. Gloria was actually getting a bit better, now that he had bound her arm and set up a trauma kit on her wound. The trauma kit was feeding her the blood she had lost, and would supposedly keep her alive. The fire was easy enough to set up, after he had found the lighter and S-02 was roughly five miles off. Now he just hoped his signal had come through, getting to the Hannibal. Gloria moaned ├óÔé¼┼ôMike├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôShhh├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou need sleep├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôMike├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria repeated ├óÔé¼┼ôAm I pretty?├óÔé¼┬Ø. He looked at her ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow go to sleep├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria said ├óÔé¼┼ôI was just...checking├óÔé¼┬Ø. She trailed off and was asleep again. Mike sighed and wondered why the hell he had come here. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm getting out├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôGetting out of this shit hill Corps├óÔé¼┬Ø. He sighed and looked back at the ground. Then there was a rattling roar in the distance. ├óÔé¼┼ôA shuttle├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, standing up. A shuttle was dropping into the atmosphere, roaring down towards their position. Mike grabbed his flare gun and fired it into the air gun. The shuttle started hovering. Then it flew in his direction.
Mike was laughing hysterically as the shuttle set down. ├óÔé¼┼ôI was expecting an extended vacation├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. The shuttle door opened, an odd embalm emblazoned on it. It looked like a sharpened metal stick. Then two marines ran out of the shuttle, rifles at the ready. Mike raised its hands ├óÔé¼┼ôHey├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm a friendly├óÔé¼┬Ø. The marines looked at each other, then at him. Then they shot him. Mike looked at the two darts protruding out of his chest. ├óÔé¼┼ôTranquilizers?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked ├óÔé¼┼ôHuh├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then he fell backwards onto the ground. Gloria looked at him ├óÔé¼┼ôWake up sleepy head├óÔé¼┬Ø she said blearily.
Keller looked at the enemy captain. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôCapitan Michelle├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes?├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle smiled, her teeth flashing. She was surprisingly young woman, with long brown hair, youthful smile. ├óÔé¼┼ôSeems we've got ourselves in a pickle├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôwe need to kill you, and you need to kill us. Most distressing, but not something we can just stop├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôActually├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said, leaning on his console ├óÔé¼┼ôWe'd like to discuss our cease fire├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe have orders to confiscate the Bio-War property that you have on your ship: One Eve Montoya├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôLets get this straight├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôsense when can a Colonial ship get ordered around by a cooperation?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Lizzy tapped him on his shoulder. Keller looked at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's working for the Black Ops. Bio-War is being funded by both the Transcendi and Black Ops. Cyanide was working for the Transcendi, and now this Michelle bitch is working for the Black Ops├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know I can hear you├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said, her voice deadpan. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you know what├óÔé¼┬Ø She pointed at the screen ├óÔé¼┼ôYou do know that you are working for a bunch of power hungry assholes, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd they also pay millions on millions of credits├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy blinked ├óÔé¼┼ôListen├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI bet I can triple your offer├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôTriple?├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle asked, eyes dancing. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe'll call you back in a second├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait wait wait├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said, holding up one of her hands ├óÔé¼┼ôWe've gathered to rather important people. Or we think they are important. One of them keeps asking for you, Elizabeth├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôLizzy├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy corrected her. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats what I said├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôElizabeth├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho's asking for me?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôA man named Dogson, I think├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said. ├óÔé¼┼ôDobson├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy corrected her again. ├óÔé¼┼ôStop correcting me. It's sickening├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said, turning off the connection. ├óÔé¼┼ôI really like cheesing that bitch off├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy smiled.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked ├óÔé¼┼ôThey must have seen the shuttle hit atmo├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats what I was thinking├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I need to send a secure Tac-Con message to SOL├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know who can triple their price├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôA man I like to call...the Marshall├óÔé¼┬Ø. She walked out of the room and into the captains quarters. ├óÔé¼┼ôI swear├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm spending the trip home out of cryo, just so I can relax├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSir?├óÔé¼┬Ø The sensor officer asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôPut her message through the screen in my rooms├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I'll be in Sarris's bunk├óÔé¼┬Ø. He walked out of the room. The sensor officer banged his head against the console ├óÔé¼┼ôIs everyone crazy here?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked.
Eve was sitting in the mess hall, eating her head off, when a man sat down across from her. It was that depressed marine..hicks. That was his name. ├óÔé¼┼ôhrroo├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, her voice muffled by a crumpet and a half. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks asked, leaning over the table. Eve swallowed with considerable difficulty ├óÔé¼┼ôHello├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôHi├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said ├óÔé¼┼ôIs the whole 'your wanted by the M.Ps' issue gone and done away with?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm a useless tactical item now. I mean I can't kill people with my mind now, so I'm useless to the Capitan and the war effort├óÔé¼┬Ø. Hicks went right over the 'killing people with my mind' part and said ├óÔé¼┼ôIsn't the whole useless thing something to feel bad about?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôI can eat, I can shit, I can even fuck now. I'm as normal as you or that guy, or that guy├óÔé¼┬Ø she pointed at other people while still holding her cup of coffee. Coffee dribbled and flew all over the place. Hicks backed up his chair slightly, so as to not get wet. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôthink you can ever be normal, Eve├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, smiling as she shoved another two bagels into her mouth. She washed it down by her fourth cup of coffee. ├óÔé¼┼ôEve├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said ├óÔé¼┼ôare you open for the evening?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôI am open for a romantic night on the town, a quick undressing and a fast trip to your bed├óÔé¼┬Ø. Hick's eyebrows shot to the top of his forehead ├óÔé¼┼ôUh├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI...that was sudden├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôI can actually...do things. I'm human├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou weren't before?├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow I bleed, have bowl motions, can have fun and such├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôI never thought I'd hear bowl motions, bleed and fun in the sentence├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said dryly. ├óÔé¼┼ôHicks├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, leaning over the table ├óÔé¼┼ôI feel great. I feel crazy. Maybe those are two things, one in the same. I want to feel everything, as much as I can without exploding. I want to LIVE!├óÔé¼┬Ø she slammed her hand down on the table. Then she pulled it back into her, closing her eyes in pain. ├óÔé¼┼ôOw ow ow ow ow├óÔé¼┬Ø she moaned. The table wasn't even slightly hurt. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats...new├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve forced a smile. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have to be more careful├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you weren't human before, you are now├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Lizzy put down the newspaper and smiled. Eve was certainly happier now, but unlike her daughter, Lizzy knew that their problems weren't over just because she was not any value. Lizzy dashed that thought. Eve would never be valueless. Then she saw the rather dashing young corporal sit down at Eve's table. Lizzy's first impulse was to get up, storm over and punch his lights out for looking at her daughter like that. She calmed herself down as much as she could by tearing the newspaper in half. Then she quartered it. Then she halved those quarters. Then she saw Eve and the corporal walk of together, talking.
Lizzy got up and followed them. Then she stopped, remembering her first romance. Her mother had been a pain in the ass about that guy. What was his name? She couldn't remember. It had been a crush really. Then Lizzy sat back down at her table. While she had been mooning over one man or another, for at least a decade, Amber was there wanting her. Now, after looking at it with an extra century of time added onto it, it was very obvious that Amber had loved her. Now she was dead. Lizzy felt depressed. At least Mike was being held by marines, who were bound by the Articles of War to treat prisoners with a modicum of respect and dignity.
The punch hurt more because he was expecting it. Mike tensed up, trying to ready himself. Then the blow landed in his stomach. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø his interrogator said ├óÔé¼┼ôTell us about this 'Eve' person├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôBy the Articles of War, you are supposed to provide with food, support, and medical attention until I can be parleyed off to my ship. I refuse to answer├óÔé¼┬Ø another punch ├óÔé¼┼ôany questions while you fail to follow the Articles of War├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou've been trained well├óÔé¼┬Ø The interrogator said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut that doesn't tell us what we need├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôBy the Articles of War, you are supposed to provide with food, support, and medical attention until I can be parleyed off to my ship. I refuse to answer├óÔé¼┼ôany questions while you fail to follow the Articles of War├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike repeated. The Interrogator sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôGet the woman├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. There was a pause ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd rough him up a bit more├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then he stood and walked out of the room. The beating started. Mike felt his shoulder pop slightly, and his left ribs felt cracked. He was having a hard time breathing. ├óÔé¼┼ôBy the Articles of War, you are supposed to provide with food, support, and medical attention until I├óÔé¼┬Ø he trailed off ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I├óÔé¼┬Ø he couldn't remember how it ended, his mind swamped with pain.
The door opened and two guards walked into the room, holding Gloria between them. She was looking better, now that her hole had been patched up. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø The interrogator said ├óÔé¼┼ôShoot her├óÔé¼┬Ø. One of the guards pulled out his gun and shot Gloria. She collapsed to the ground, her calf exploding as the bullet went through her shin and out the other side. She screamed, feeling the wound. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø the interrogator said ├óÔé¼┼ôTell us about 'Eve'├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike groaned ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's...she's on the Handball, hush hush├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôKill the woman├óÔé¼┬Ø the Interrogator said. ├óÔé¼┼ôNO!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôNO! I don't KNOW! By the Articles of War, you are supposed to provide with food, support, and medical attention until I can be parleyed off to my ship. I refuse to answer. I refuse to answer!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The Interrogator looked at the guard.
The guard fired again. Gloria was hit in the left lung and she fell backwards. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe can still patch her up├óÔé¼┬Ø the interrogator said ├óÔé¼┼ôJust tell us what you know├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôI refuse to answer├óÔé¼┬Ø. He felt faint, he couldn't breath. ├óÔé¼┼ôTell us what you KNOW!├óÔé¼┬Ø the Interrogator shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôOr we won't help her. We will let her bleed to death, and you'll have to watch. You'll have to watch as she dies in agony├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then the a person walked into the room, stepping over the bleeding body of Gloria. He leaned over and whispered to the Interrogator. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet a medic├óÔé¼┬Ø The Interrogator said, pressing a button. The shackles on Mike snapped open. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø the Interrogator said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're being handed over to the enemy ship. We've received a better officer├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou're going to burn├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll make sure to tell them every detail, every last bit of tourcher├óÔé¼┬Ø. The interrogator smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôYou think that├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou think that├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then he walked out of the room, leaving Mike standing there, his boots tracking Gloria's blood on the ground.
A disscusion! A funny turn of events! A very serious sounding reading!
I...I still can't believe you did that...
I didn't have a choice. I mean...she...she wanted to be a lesser race. A lesser race! If Prime scared you, then Eve would have sent you fleeing this entire supercluster.
Prime was a just a waylaid child. Eve is a threat
Eve WAS a threat. She is now...human. She's below our attention.
Is she? Is humanity worth ignoring? They have so many unprecedented twists, things we've never seen before. Crossbreeding, experimentation...right now they are already trying our patience, fooling around with tachyons. Its almost as if they have a death wish.
What are you suggesting? That we take more...extreme measures?
What...what? You can't be serious
Can I? Eve is just an example of what these creatures can do. If they can...warp one of us into...that... they need to be exterminated.
Very well... I think your right again, Taraka.
Don't call me that.
Jason rubbed his temples ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do you need now Lizzy?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, cross. ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf this is a bad time I can call back later├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just we've caught some hackers sent in by the Transcendi. They've been causing problems├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry to say that I have at least a dozen new problems to add├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jason sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou'd better tell me what happened├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell it all started├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy started to tell him the story of the last few minuets.
├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said. They were silent for a bit longer. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe now have a human Eve...and a galaxy of people who think she's superhuman├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut at least Eve is enjoying being human├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow much?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôFirst thing she did was grab herself a man├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy smiled. ├óÔé¼┼ôHuh├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason murmured. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôCan't we just tell everyone that Eve is human now?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm afraid they would never...believe├óÔé¼┬Ø he trailed off.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said, pulling up his keyboard. He started to type ├óÔé¼┼ôIf I put this information in a high security file, then let it fall into hacker's hands, then everyone will know and they'll believe that because I've tried so hard to keep it from him. And yet I've given it too them. Its a neat trick, hard as hell, but with a high success rate├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow many times has it worked?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt worked the last...never times I've done it├óÔé¼┬Ø he smiled at Lizzy. Lizzy rubbed her temples ├óÔé¼┼ôI have a headache├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôMe too├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said.
Eve panted, rolling onto her back. Hicks simply lay where he was, breathing heavily. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôThat was...interesting├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou tell me├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said, cross eyed. Eve rolled onto her side and slid her left hand over Hick's chest ├óÔé¼┼ôLets do it again├óÔé¼┬Ø she sighed. Hicks groaned ├óÔé¼┼ôGive me a second├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Eve's hand went lower. Hicks groaned again ├óÔé¼┼ôOr you could do that├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Eve hooked her leg over him and crawled back on top. She grinned ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is fun├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôFun is fun├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said. Eve kissed his forehead ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm open for something new├óÔé¼┬Ø. Hicks smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is new├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, grabbing Eve's sides and pulling her down to him. His lips found her nipples and Eve giggled ├óÔé¼┼ôI love those├óÔé¼┬Ø She murmured.
After a few moments Eve pulled away. ├óÔé¼┼ôHicks├óÔé¼┬Ø She said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou ready?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy don't you find out├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said. Eve felt him with her knee ├óÔé¼┼ôI think I need to help you with that├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, moving down. Hicks groaned ├óÔé¼┼ôYour good at that├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. He hissed ├óÔé¼┼ôReally good├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then there was a knock on the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôHello├óÔé¼┬Ø A muffled voice came through ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm looking for Eve├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve got up ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm coming├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, grabbing her shirt. After getting dressed she walked to the door and opened it. Two M.P's were outside, behind them the Capitan. ├óÔé¼┼ôHello Capitan├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, whipping her eyes ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats up├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Keller sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Capitan of the Excalibur demands to have an opportunity to examine you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI just got examined├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, looking over her shoulder at Hicks, who had gotten to his feet and saluted. ├óÔé¼┼ôAt ease├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said, nodding over Eve's shoulder. Hicks dropped his salute and started putting on his clothes. ├óÔé¼┼ôAll right├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll come├óÔé¼┬Ø. She stepped out the door. Then, as an afterthought, she leaned back into the room and grinned at Hicks ├óÔé¼┼ôSee you later├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, snapping off a salute. ├óÔé¼┼ôOkay├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said, zipping up his fly. Eve leaned out of the room and the door closed behind her.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike stared at her over two black eyes. The beatings had been pretty bad, but the food had been worse. His throat still felt like it had been run over with a cheese grater. ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked ├óÔé¼┼ôand I was worried about your manners├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôsometimes my subordinates get...overeager. So your interrogators will be punished├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôTell that to my ribs├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said, holding out her hand ├óÔé¼┼ôI hope you and your friend get back safely├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike took her hand. Then he squeezed. There was a crack ├óÔé¼┼ôJust don't shoot us down├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said.
The shuttle disembarked, its engines lighting up. Michelle felt her hand gingerly. ├óÔé¼┼ôI think its broken├óÔé¼┬Ø she muttered, trying to move her fingers. It was already starting to swell. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it├óÔé¼┬Ø She muttered ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't shoot them down├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then she remembered there was no one around. She turned around and walked out of the room. As she walked down the hallway a shadow detached from the wall. ├óÔé¼┼ôCapitan├óÔé¼┬Ø The Interrogator said ├óÔé¼┼ôyou will punish me most severally for my overeagerness, no?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Michelle smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôOnly if you don't figure out a way to wrangle us some more money├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø the Interrogator said, walking in pace with Michelle, ├óÔé¼┼ôwe could put a bomb in the woman's chest├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's already gone├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôAlready halfway to the enemy ship by now├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo, I meant...the woman they are sending over. The one that we were sent to collect├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAh├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôHer...well...you think we could ransom her back?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôMaybe├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said, stopping at the doctors. ├óÔé¼┼ôI really need to get this hand looked at├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. The Interrogator took the hand in his hand and looked it over.
├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is broken├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen let it go├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said, jerking her hand out of the Interrogators as best she could. The Interrogator smiled his lopsided smile and Michelle walked into the doctors place. The Interrogator then turned away and walked down the hallway. Then he stopped, listening for something. ├óÔé¼┼ôDid...├óÔé¼┬Ø he murmured ├óÔé¼┼ôdid I hear something?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then her recognized the sound. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo...they've arrived├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Then he turned an about face and walked up the stairs to the shuttle bay.
Eve stepped of the shuttle, flanked by two M.P's from the Hannibal. ├óÔé¼┼ôthis seems├óÔé¼┬Ø she muttered ├óÔé¼┼ôExcessive├óÔé¼┬Ø. Twenty three marines, from the Excalibur, where lined up, weapons ready. In the middle of them was Capitan Michelle. Eve looked at her. She looked at Eve. Eve felt a slight trickle of fear down her back. If these marines wanted to shoot her, then she couldn't do anything. What had once been a annoyance was now something deathly serious. So this is how Mike, Helena, Sarge and Mankowski felt going into battle. She gulped and took a step forward. Michelle took a step forward and reached her hand out. It was wrapped in a semi-translucent bandage. ├óÔé¼┼ôGently, please├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôI broke it a few minuets ago├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Eve took the hand and shoot it, gently. Michelle smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôOur doctor wants to check you over, just so we don't do something stupid├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôI was already checked over, so how much worse could this be?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Michelle smiled, wondering how gullible Eve thought she was. You don't just...lose your superpowers. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said, gesturing to the door out of the shuttle bay ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve followed her. Two M.P's followed her. Those were followed by twenty marines.
├óÔé¼┼ôDear god├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said, looking at Mike's face ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell happened to you?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI was given the once over by the enemy├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said. Lizzy touched one of his bruises ├óÔé¼┼ôCome├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll tend to your wounds├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow I get the special once over by the allies├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy grabbed his arm and walked him out of the room. Gloria had already been carted out of the room, being taken to the doctors for a check up. She was completely out, through a combination of blood loss and pain. Mike walked out of the room, leaning on Lizzy.
Keller sat down at his desk, sighing. His office was locked up, the ship was quiet and Eve was already on her way back. He half expected that she would be ransomed to her. Then he felt two hands land on his shoulder. ├óÔé¼┼ôHi├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris murmured, whispering into his ear ├óÔé¼┼ôwas your day as easy as mine?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said, rolling his head back and looking at Sarris ├óÔé¼┼ôwhat was so easy about your day├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAll I needed to do was the humdrum duty's of a general who has next to nothing to command. That is, jack shit├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou lucky...├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller trailed off ├óÔé¼┼ôI've had to deal with aliens, their mothers, other aliens and some very worrying breaches in how the enemy acts. They seem to have ignored the Articles of War for a bit...not that I'm not surprised. They seem to be more like mercenaries then anything else├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Sarris raised her eyebrows up ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you have an appointments for this night├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôWant to have some fun?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I was thinking of something different for tonight├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDifferent?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe've been mining the asteroid belt, and we've been getting a lot of ice. So we have extra water...├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe shower?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked ├óÔé¼┼ôI think my back needs scrubbing├óÔé¼┬Ø he smiled. Sarris grinned back at him ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go then├óÔé¼┬Ø She said. Keller stood up, pushing his chair away from the desk.
The sensor officer sighed, drinking his coffee. ├óÔé¼┼ôI bet├óÔé¼┬Ø he muttered ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Capitan is screwing his girlfriend. Sense when does he get a girlfriend? Isn't that against the regs?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôA lot of things are against the regs├óÔé¼┬Ø the gunnery officer said, his left arm still in a cast ├óÔé¼┼ôI think using a minor in warfare is against the regs too├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's a minor?├óÔé¼┬Ø the sensor officer asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø The gunnery officer said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's eighteen├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôEighteen? Looks twenty├óÔé¼┬Ø the sensor officer said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhatever├óÔé¼┬Ø the gunnery officer said ├óÔé¼┼ôEither way she's still a minor├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The sensor officer was about to say something, but his console cut him off, bleeping madly. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø the gunnery officer asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts...its...├óÔé¼┬Ø the sensor officer said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts the HEPE scanners├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôShit├óÔé¼┬Ø The gunnery officer said ├óÔé¼┼ôThats the...thats what the girl uses to do that crazy shit!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø The sensor officer said, looking at his console ├óÔé¼┼ôbut...this says...thats a lot of HEPE readings├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø the gunnery officer walked over there and looked at the console. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats also five light years away. Why are we detecting anything?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø The sensor said ├óÔé¼┼ôthats because those are very strong signals. I think we should contact the chief├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôoh...oh...oh...oh...oh├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris' voice carried into the main chambers. The sound of water running drifted into the main chambers. Then there was a loud knock on the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôFuck├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris said. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh just ignore them├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said. Sarris sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôIts probably important├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, sliding open the shower door. She stepped into the shower antechamber and grabbed the towel. She wrapped it around her waist. Keller followed her into the antechamber and kissed the back of her hair. Then he moved into the main chambers and opened the door part way. ├óÔé¼┼ôSir├óÔé¼┬Ø The sensor officer said ├óÔé¼┼ôwe're getting a reading├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôGood├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôPatch it though my console├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôright├óÔé¼┬Ø the sensor officer said. Keller closed the door and turned back to Sarris, who was standing behind him.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo this is what they wanted to show us?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris asked, turning around and bending over the desk. Keller walked behind her ├óÔé¼┼ôWe can worry about that├óÔé¼┬Ø he slid her towel off ├óÔé¼┼ôin the morning?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sarris turned around, sitting up on the desk and spreading her legs. ├óÔé¼┼ôSure├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, smiling. Keller leaned over her. Then he saw the scanner read out over her shoulder. ├óÔé¼┼ôFUCK!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris giggled. Keller pushed her away slightly, grabbing for his pants ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to see Lizzy on this├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Sarris sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôJust kiss me before you go├óÔé¼┬Ø She muttered. Keller pushed her face up, putting his finger on her chin. ├óÔé¼┼ôSure├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, kissing her.
Mike lay in bed. Lizzy daubed at his bruises with a wet cloth. ├óÔé¼┼ôI expected more kissing├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike muttered. Lizzy smiled faintly ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôSomething...somethings come up├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike sat up on his hands ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. Lizzy looked away ├óÔé¼┼ôMy first husband├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's alive...├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike looked away ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôSo it just...it just wouldn't be right├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI understand├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, laying back down ├óÔé¼┼ôbut...its just a shock. Are you sure its him?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes, I think├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôOr at least...I want to think├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI can understand that├óÔé¼┬Ø he said.
Then there was a knock on the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked. The door opened and Keller ran into the room, his hair still dripping. ├óÔé¼┼ôLizzy├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôLook at this├óÔé¼┬Ø. He tossed a data slate at her. She looked at the data slate and read it over. ├óÔé¼┼ôhuh├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. Then. ├óÔé¼┼ôHoly shit├óÔé¼┬Ø She gasped ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to send a message to the Marshall├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe who?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked as Lizzy walked out of the room. She turned around ├óÔé¼┼ôMy first husband├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy smiled. Then the door closed and Mike was left alone in the dark.
I...I still can't believe you did that...
I didn't have a choice. I mean...she...she wanted to be a lesser race. A lesser race! If Prime scared you, then Eve would have sent you fleeing this entire supercluster.
Prime was a just a waylaid child. Eve is a threat
Eve WAS a threat. She is now...human. She's below our attention.
Is she? Is humanity worth ignoring? They have so many unprecedented twists, things we've never seen before. Crossbreeding, experimentation...right now they are already trying our patience, fooling around with tachyons. Its almost as if they have a death wish.
What are you suggesting? That we take more...extreme measures?
What...what? You can't be serious
Can I? Eve is just an example of what these creatures can do. If they can...warp one of us into...that... they need to be exterminated.
Very well... I think your right again, Taraka.
Don't call me that.
Jason rubbed his temples ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do you need now Lizzy?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, cross. ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf this is a bad time I can call back later├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just we've caught some hackers sent in by the Transcendi. They've been causing problems├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry to say that I have at least a dozen new problems to add├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jason sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou'd better tell me what happened├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell it all started├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy started to tell him the story of the last few minuets.
├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said. They were silent for a bit longer. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe now have a human Eve...and a galaxy of people who think she's superhuman├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut at least Eve is enjoying being human├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow much?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôFirst thing she did was grab herself a man├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy smiled. ├óÔé¼┼ôHuh├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason murmured. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôCan't we just tell everyone that Eve is human now?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm afraid they would never...believe├óÔé¼┬Ø he trailed off.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said, pulling up his keyboard. He started to type ├óÔé¼┼ôIf I put this information in a high security file, then let it fall into hacker's hands, then everyone will know and they'll believe that because I've tried so hard to keep it from him. And yet I've given it too them. Its a neat trick, hard as hell, but with a high success rate├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow many times has it worked?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt worked the last...never times I've done it├óÔé¼┬Ø he smiled at Lizzy. Lizzy rubbed her temples ├óÔé¼┼ôI have a headache├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôMe too├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said.
Eve panted, rolling onto her back. Hicks simply lay where he was, breathing heavily. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôThat was...interesting├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou tell me├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said, cross eyed. Eve rolled onto her side and slid her left hand over Hick's chest ├óÔé¼┼ôLets do it again├óÔé¼┬Ø she sighed. Hicks groaned ├óÔé¼┼ôGive me a second├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Eve's hand went lower. Hicks groaned again ├óÔé¼┼ôOr you could do that├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Eve hooked her leg over him and crawled back on top. She grinned ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is fun├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôFun is fun├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said. Eve kissed his forehead ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm open for something new├óÔé¼┬Ø. Hicks smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is new├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, grabbing Eve's sides and pulling her down to him. His lips found her nipples and Eve giggled ├óÔé¼┼ôI love those├óÔé¼┬Ø She murmured.
After a few moments Eve pulled away. ├óÔé¼┼ôHicks├óÔé¼┬Ø She said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou ready?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy don't you find out├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said. Eve felt him with her knee ├óÔé¼┼ôI think I need to help you with that├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, moving down. Hicks groaned ├óÔé¼┼ôYour good at that├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. He hissed ├óÔé¼┼ôReally good├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then there was a knock on the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôHello├óÔé¼┬Ø A muffled voice came through ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm looking for Eve├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve got up ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm coming├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, grabbing her shirt. After getting dressed she walked to the door and opened it. Two M.P's were outside, behind them the Capitan. ├óÔé¼┼ôHello Capitan├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, whipping her eyes ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats up├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Keller sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Capitan of the Excalibur demands to have an opportunity to examine you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI just got examined├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, looking over her shoulder at Hicks, who had gotten to his feet and saluted. ├óÔé¼┼ôAt ease├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said, nodding over Eve's shoulder. Hicks dropped his salute and started putting on his clothes. ├óÔé¼┼ôAll right├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll come├óÔé¼┬Ø. She stepped out the door. Then, as an afterthought, she leaned back into the room and grinned at Hicks ├óÔé¼┼ôSee you later├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, snapping off a salute. ├óÔé¼┼ôOkay├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said, zipping up his fly. Eve leaned out of the room and the door closed behind her.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike stared at her over two black eyes. The beatings had been pretty bad, but the food had been worse. His throat still felt like it had been run over with a cheese grater. ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked ├óÔé¼┼ôand I was worried about your manners├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôsometimes my subordinates get...overeager. So your interrogators will be punished├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôTell that to my ribs├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said, holding out her hand ├óÔé¼┼ôI hope you and your friend get back safely├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike took her hand. Then he squeezed. There was a crack ├óÔé¼┼ôJust don't shoot us down├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said.
The shuttle disembarked, its engines lighting up. Michelle felt her hand gingerly. ├óÔé¼┼ôI think its broken├óÔé¼┬Ø she muttered, trying to move her fingers. It was already starting to swell. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it├óÔé¼┬Ø She muttered ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't shoot them down├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then she remembered there was no one around. She turned around and walked out of the room. As she walked down the hallway a shadow detached from the wall. ├óÔé¼┼ôCapitan├óÔé¼┬Ø The Interrogator said ├óÔé¼┼ôyou will punish me most severally for my overeagerness, no?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Michelle smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôOnly if you don't figure out a way to wrangle us some more money├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø the Interrogator said, walking in pace with Michelle, ├óÔé¼┼ôwe could put a bomb in the woman's chest├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's already gone├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôAlready halfway to the enemy ship by now├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo, I meant...the woman they are sending over. The one that we were sent to collect├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAh├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôHer...well...you think we could ransom her back?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôMaybe├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said, stopping at the doctors. ├óÔé¼┼ôI really need to get this hand looked at├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. The Interrogator took the hand in his hand and looked it over.
├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is broken├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen let it go├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said, jerking her hand out of the Interrogators as best she could. The Interrogator smiled his lopsided smile and Michelle walked into the doctors place. The Interrogator then turned away and walked down the hallway. Then he stopped, listening for something. ├óÔé¼┼ôDid...├óÔé¼┬Ø he murmured ├óÔé¼┼ôdid I hear something?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then her recognized the sound. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo...they've arrived├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Then he turned an about face and walked up the stairs to the shuttle bay.
Eve stepped of the shuttle, flanked by two M.P's from the Hannibal. ├óÔé¼┼ôthis seems├óÔé¼┬Ø she muttered ├óÔé¼┼ôExcessive├óÔé¼┬Ø. Twenty three marines, from the Excalibur, where lined up, weapons ready. In the middle of them was Capitan Michelle. Eve looked at her. She looked at Eve. Eve felt a slight trickle of fear down her back. If these marines wanted to shoot her, then she couldn't do anything. What had once been a annoyance was now something deathly serious. So this is how Mike, Helena, Sarge and Mankowski felt going into battle. She gulped and took a step forward. Michelle took a step forward and reached her hand out. It was wrapped in a semi-translucent bandage. ├óÔé¼┼ôGently, please├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôI broke it a few minuets ago├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Eve took the hand and shoot it, gently. Michelle smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôOur doctor wants to check you over, just so we don't do something stupid├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôI was already checked over, so how much worse could this be?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Michelle smiled, wondering how gullible Eve thought she was. You don't just...lose your superpowers. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said, gesturing to the door out of the shuttle bay ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve followed her. Two M.P's followed her. Those were followed by twenty marines.
├óÔé¼┼ôDear god├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said, looking at Mike's face ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell happened to you?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI was given the once over by the enemy├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said. Lizzy touched one of his bruises ├óÔé¼┼ôCome├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll tend to your wounds├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow I get the special once over by the allies├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy grabbed his arm and walked him out of the room. Gloria had already been carted out of the room, being taken to the doctors for a check up. She was completely out, through a combination of blood loss and pain. Mike walked out of the room, leaning on Lizzy.
Keller sat down at his desk, sighing. His office was locked up, the ship was quiet and Eve was already on her way back. He half expected that she would be ransomed to her. Then he felt two hands land on his shoulder. ├óÔé¼┼ôHi├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris murmured, whispering into his ear ├óÔé¼┼ôwas your day as easy as mine?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said, rolling his head back and looking at Sarris ├óÔé¼┼ôwhat was so easy about your day├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAll I needed to do was the humdrum duty's of a general who has next to nothing to command. That is, jack shit├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou lucky...├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller trailed off ├óÔé¼┼ôI've had to deal with aliens, their mothers, other aliens and some very worrying breaches in how the enemy acts. They seem to have ignored the Articles of War for a bit...not that I'm not surprised. They seem to be more like mercenaries then anything else├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Sarris raised her eyebrows up ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you have an appointments for this night├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôWant to have some fun?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I was thinking of something different for tonight├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDifferent?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe've been mining the asteroid belt, and we've been getting a lot of ice. So we have extra water...├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe shower?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked ├óÔé¼┼ôI think my back needs scrubbing├óÔé¼┬Ø he smiled. Sarris grinned back at him ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go then├óÔé¼┬Ø She said. Keller stood up, pushing his chair away from the desk.
The sensor officer sighed, drinking his coffee. ├óÔé¼┼ôI bet├óÔé¼┬Ø he muttered ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Capitan is screwing his girlfriend. Sense when does he get a girlfriend? Isn't that against the regs?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôA lot of things are against the regs├óÔé¼┬Ø the gunnery officer said, his left arm still in a cast ├óÔé¼┼ôI think using a minor in warfare is against the regs too├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's a minor?├óÔé¼┬Ø the sensor officer asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø The gunnery officer said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's eighteen├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôEighteen? Looks twenty├óÔé¼┬Ø the sensor officer said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhatever├óÔé¼┬Ø the gunnery officer said ├óÔé¼┼ôEither way she's still a minor├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The sensor officer was about to say something, but his console cut him off, bleeping madly. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø the gunnery officer asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts...its...├óÔé¼┬Ø the sensor officer said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts the HEPE scanners├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôShit├óÔé¼┬Ø The gunnery officer said ├óÔé¼┼ôThats the...thats what the girl uses to do that crazy shit!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø The sensor officer said, looking at his console ├óÔé¼┼ôbut...this says...thats a lot of HEPE readings├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø the gunnery officer walked over there and looked at the console. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats also five light years away. Why are we detecting anything?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø The sensor said ├óÔé¼┼ôthats because those are very strong signals. I think we should contact the chief├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôoh...oh...oh...oh...oh├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris' voice carried into the main chambers. The sound of water running drifted into the main chambers. Then there was a loud knock on the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôFuck├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris said. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh just ignore them├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said. Sarris sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôIts probably important├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, sliding open the shower door. She stepped into the shower antechamber and grabbed the towel. She wrapped it around her waist. Keller followed her into the antechamber and kissed the back of her hair. Then he moved into the main chambers and opened the door part way. ├óÔé¼┼ôSir├óÔé¼┬Ø The sensor officer said ├óÔé¼┼ôwe're getting a reading├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôGood├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôPatch it though my console├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôright├óÔé¼┬Ø the sensor officer said. Keller closed the door and turned back to Sarris, who was standing behind him.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo this is what they wanted to show us?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris asked, turning around and bending over the desk. Keller walked behind her ├óÔé¼┼ôWe can worry about that├óÔé¼┬Ø he slid her towel off ├óÔé¼┼ôin the morning?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sarris turned around, sitting up on the desk and spreading her legs. ├óÔé¼┼ôSure├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, smiling. Keller leaned over her. Then he saw the scanner read out over her shoulder. ├óÔé¼┼ôFUCK!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris giggled. Keller pushed her away slightly, grabbing for his pants ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to see Lizzy on this├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Sarris sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôJust kiss me before you go├óÔé¼┬Ø She muttered. Keller pushed her face up, putting his finger on her chin. ├óÔé¼┼ôSure├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, kissing her.
Mike lay in bed. Lizzy daubed at his bruises with a wet cloth. ├óÔé¼┼ôI expected more kissing├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike muttered. Lizzy smiled faintly ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôSomething...somethings come up├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike sat up on his hands ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. Lizzy looked away ├óÔé¼┼ôMy first husband├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's alive...├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike looked away ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôSo it just...it just wouldn't be right├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI understand├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, laying back down ├óÔé¼┼ôbut...its just a shock. Are you sure its him?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes, I think├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôOr at least...I want to think├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI can understand that├óÔé¼┬Ø he said.
Then there was a knock on the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked. The door opened and Keller ran into the room, his hair still dripping. ├óÔé¼┼ôLizzy├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôLook at this├óÔé¼┬Ø. He tossed a data slate at her. She looked at the data slate and read it over. ├óÔé¼┼ôhuh├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. Then. ├óÔé¼┼ôHoly shit├óÔé¼┬Ø She gasped ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to send a message to the Marshall├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe who?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked as Lizzy walked out of the room. She turned around ├óÔé¼┼ôMy first husband├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy smiled. Then the door closed and Mike was left alone in the dark.