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Virtually Real Part 33: Evacuation

Returning Characters:

Prowl-Ar/Kyle/Shock/Frost/Rin

Tank/Tuft

Badlands/Paradise

Commander

Cutter/Hacker/Driver

Kicker/Slider/Lee

Shadow/Phantom/Djinn

Shades

I watched as a shuttle descended from orbit. It had been a month, game time, and nothing had happened. No cybersaurs, no bugs, and no secret military operations. Frost and Snow had become as competent, if not better than Katana or Flashfire teams. Even Shades hadn't been back. It was rare for a game to have such a long rest interval. It was obviously building up to something big.

"Are we going to stand here staring or complete our patrol and find out what's going on?" Drake asked.

I shook my head, which of course translated to the suit doing the same thing.

"Hey Prowl, can you hear me? Switch to channel 619838924."

"That sounded like Shades. Doesn't she know or communications system doesn't go above 99?" Shock asked.

"It's a cypher. I hate to say it, but she has something important to say and it's for my ears only. Don't worry, I'll catch you up when there is no chance of us being recorded."

I switched the com to channel to 64 and switched on my suits scrambler. "This better be important, Shades."

"Wow, it works! Listen something big is going down up here. I pop in with a special delivery only to be forced back out of the inner system by a Federation armada. They have enough firepower to destroy the planet! This might be a good time to pull one of your miraculous escape plans out of your ass. Otherwise you can kiss it good bye. Oh shit! More ships are arriving I've got to leave the system completely. Good lu-"

The communication went dead. I pulled up the Meta data and found Rogue left me an explanation in the form of an emergency jump tag. Shades was safely away.

"Team, we need to double time it back to-"

"All units return to base. Repeat all units return to base."

"Pull up your command systems. Enter the file marked LR and activate. Place your palm on the pad."

"Ow, what the hell!" Fox yelled.

"They're now locked to our DNA. I'm guessing LR stands for last resort?" Drake asked.

"That's right. It's a little something I added after the last time they tried to take our suits. Now if we're not piloting them the power core overloads."

"Just our suits?" Drake asked.

"No, Snow has been quietly installing the system on all the suits. The moment we activated the system they all copied us with a recorded message on what was happening and what to do to make the suit their own. When we get back, if that shuttle is coming down to replace any of us they are in for a big surprise."

"Yeah, and they are going to be super pissed at us." Fox added.

It only took half an hour to get back to base. The first thing I noticed was the Exploration Team was in attendance. In fact it looked as though everyone except Katana's team was in attendance. It was to be expected since they were due to leave an hour after we did, but Frost was with them today. I scanned the crowd, but there was no sign of Snow. However, the members of the Hunters Camp were also here. We docked our suits and as I was riding the lift to the ground floor I noticed Snow peeking out of my office.

"Dad, I knew something was up when the LR program went live. I hid my suit in the jungle and slipped in here without anybody noticing. They seem to be rounding everybody up. This isn't an end game, no win scenario, is it?"

"The game is open ended. I don't think there is a no win scenario, but you'll have to ask Fox. He's the one that set up this game."

"Lieutenant Colonel Nightiger?"

"Yes, Private."

"Who's the kid? She isn't on our books."

"I'm Rin Nightiger, private contractor from Shadow Tech."

"Listen, I don't care if you're a five star general. If you're not on the list, you're not on the list. In which case you don't matter."

I heard the scrabbling of claws on metal a second before the Private hit the floor an angry fox on his back.

"I suggest you apologize to our daughter, before Fox starts to shred the skin from your body."

He rolled, knocking Fox off his back and then kicked him away while pulling his side arm. He froze as he realized I had my arm around his neck.

"You are going to slowly lower your gun, apologize to my daughter, and then beg my husband not to kill you. Then maybe, only maybe, I'll have you up on charges for striking and pulling a weapon on a superior officer, instead of snapping your worthless neck."

"I'm just following orders. I'm to get everyone on the list gathered outside for immediate planetary evacuation."

"That's not what you were supposed to say."

"I'm sorry, really I am, but I was told only the ones on the list were to be evacuated."

"Is Russell Nightiger on the list?" Fox wheezed as he shifted and slowly stood up clutching his ribs.

"No, with the return of your MAS team only three names are left, and that isn't one of them."

"Tiger, let him go, for now anyway. I think there's some calls we need to make." Fox growled.

"You can't. All communications have been blocked."

"Really?" I dragged the private into the office. "Where's Drake?"

"They caught him and escorted him outside. They're likely still searching my hangar to find me."

I activated my system and found that it was indeed blocked. The Private gave a little laugh.

Fox punched him. He doubled over and fell on the floor. “Make another sound and the next one will be lower, and twice as powerful as that little tap.”

"Give him a break." I said.

"I thought that might be going too far."

"I meant have the decency to let him moan once and maybe a few cries of pain. We're not completely inhuman after all." I switched to a private channel that I knew couldn't be blocked. "Tuft, we've got a bit of a problem here."

"No kidding, the whole system is crawling with Federation ships."

"You still have your Federation transponder right?"

"You're not going to ask me to sneak through a Federation Blockade are you?" Tank asked.

"It seems they're planning on a mass evacuation. The problem is they're only taking those of us on some official list, which doesn't seem to include Rin and Frost."

"We're coming down with the first group of evacuation shuttles. If the Federation doesn't like it they'll have made an enemy far more dangerous than the Bugs." Tuft replied.

"That's good to know, but right now I need you to be a relay. We're currently in a blackout situation and I want confirmation that this is real."

"Relay set. Call who you like." Tuft announced.

I placed the call. "Prowl-Ar, I knew you'd be calling. Still, I find it amazing you can transmit through the blackout. Not surprising, of course."

"General, what is this about a mass evacuation?"

"Not my decision. The council has ruled Fallow to be a protected planet. They feel once we abandon the planet the Bugs will as well, leaving the Dinosaur species protected until the war is over when scientists can safely go in and study the animals."

"That has to be the dumbest idea I've ever heard. The Bugs are cybernetically enhancing them into cybersaurs. Right now they don't seem to have a lot of control but given time they'll perfect the system. Then they'll be able to transport them off world."

"I've read your reports and I presented them along with evidence from the Exploration Team, but the council is adamant."

"Do you have the list of evacuees?"

"Of course."

"Did you notice Russell Nightiger and Rin Nightiger had been left off?"

"Frost is the clone that was created from your husbands DNA. Hmm, it shows here he was moved from Fallow to Sanctuary shortly after arrival. No listing for Rin."

"Frost has been here the whole time holding rookie status and working as a MAS suit pilot."

"A damn good one at that. Rin may be listed as Hatori Rin?" Fox said.

"Not on the evacuation list give me a moment. According to records Hatori Rin died with her parents in a Bug attack. This can't be right it also lists her as being under your guardianship and a petition for adoption paperwork that was canceled. Let's see there is a redirect to a file for Rin Nightiger. Adopted daughter of Prowl-Ar, Kyle, and Kelly Nightiger currently serving the Federation as a special mechanic on Fallow base. There you see it was simply a military oversight. I'll get them added to the list before the second lift group."

"I've already made separate arrangements."

"Of course you have, and I wouldn't be surprised if you've rigged your suits to explode if anyone other than their designated pilot tries to activate them."

"You are getting to know me." I replied.

"I meant that as a joke."

"One more thing is the black ops base also being evacuated?"

"What? Fallow base, the Exploration Team outpost, and Hunter's camp are the only human habitations left on the planet after Fallow Base Beta fell."

"Sir, you've been misinformed. There is a secret base somewhere nearby and I, under orders from the base commander, have been weeding out the spies on the base."

"I'm supposed to get reports on all operations pertaining to military operations."

"I'm transmitting copies of all our records and evidence collected so far."

"I'm not questioning your integrity. I'm just concerned that the Council is being influenced by subversive forces. Listen, I couldn't stop the evacuation but I was able to keep your people together. Your next assignment is Greenwood. It is another primarily forest planet, only this time it is a temperate deciduous forest with open prairies instead of rainforest. However the trees are gargantuan."

"You in there open the door this instant that is a direct order from General-"

Fox yanked the door open and the soldiers stood in stunned silence staring at the Supreme Earth Federation General.

"Sir, thank you for confirming the orders." I said smugly.

"It's always, interesting speaking with you Lieutenant Colonel." The relay shut down.

"You were saying, Major?" Fox asked.

"Um, Sir, what happened to Private Bentley?"

"He insulted my daughter, kicked Major Nightiger and then pulled a gun on him. He's lucky I let him live."

"Daughter? She's not on the list."

"That was why I called the General. They are not official soldiers so they'll be evacuated by a special envoy."

"No offense, but you a Lieutenant Colonel, can just call the General in overall command of the war against the Bugs, through a jamming field created to block all communications? How is that possible?"

"That's classified. Now if we really are being evacuated, I suggest you let us start locking down our suits for transport. If anyone other than the designated pilot tries to use them they are set to explode."

***

Fox and Snow were escorted out and I was taken to the command tower. We hadn't even reached the control room and I could hear Badlands yelling.

"Listen, I don't care what your fucking orders say the Exploration Team, doesn't fall under the war department. We are part of the research and exploration department and as such I can take my team wherever the hell I like. And I really like this planet."

"Major, I suggest you and your men stay back. I can continue on my own from here." I told my escort.

"Do you see these stars on my shoulders? Do you think they're a fashion statement?"

I held up four fingers and silently mouthed 'four'. My guards immediately stepped back. It didn't matter their rank, everyone knows better than to piss off a four star general. I opened the door and stepped inside. I immediately noticed that there were five stars on each shoulder. "I thought it was because you were trying to corner the brass market. Anyway, don't mind me, they dragged me out of my hangar and I need to contact my four missing pilots." I walked across the room and sat at the communications terminal. Badlands, Prof. Larson, the Commander and presumably the evacuation officer stared at me in shock.

"This is MAS Commander Tiger to team commander Katana. Get back to base as quickly as possible, dock, and prepare your suits for evacuation. We've been reassigned to Greenwood."

"Acknowledged, Commander."

"That information is classified!" The Evacuation officer yelled.

Badlands laughed. "That's never stopped Wildside from getting the information he wants.” He turned toward me. “I suppose you called, the supreme commander General Kertzfeld, before they dragged you out?"

"Of course. However if I knew about that fifth bauble you're sporting I wouldn't have bothered. Still, he gave me all the information I needed."

"So the shit this messenger is flinging is true?" The Commander asked.

"Officially we're being moved because the council believes if we pull out and act like the planet has no strategic value the Bugs will leave as well."

"A titanosaurus with diarrhea leaves a smaller load than that." Badlands yelled.

"It gets better the order is for all human occupation including Fallow Base, the Exploration Team, and the Hunter's Camp. However due to a 'military oversight' Frost and Snow were to be left behind. And you know who else was left off the list?"

Badlands grabbed the messenger. "Tell me, is the name Spielberg of the Exploration Team on your list?"

"I can ch-check." He stammered.

"Not who I was talking about, but I'm interested to hear as well." I said.

"N-no Sir, there is no listing for Spielberg on the list."

I nodded to Badlands. He obviously understood the implications. "What I'm saying is we are being replaced by an unknown military force that may be outside the military command structure."

"The Exploration Team is staying here. Our mission is to study the indigenous wildlife."

"My camp is staying as well. I've served my military time and I'm running a civilian business that I've sunk every last asset into. And as the Commander here has pointed out, on numerous occasions, my camp gets no protection or aid from military forces. "

"I'd like to say the same, but orders are orders and it looks like the rest of us don't have a choice." The Commander growled.

"Pause game. Computer, activate Shadow Runner protocol."

"Activated."

"Resume game. Commander, I suggest you officially turn the base over to Badlands. That way it can’t be claimed as abandoned."

He glanced at me and shrugged. "No harm in that, I guess. General Badlands, Fallow base is yours."

"Thank you, Commander." He walked over to the communications console, pushing me aside. "Demo, drop the hammer. Paradise, you and Skyfall take the dragonfly and secure the gates. No one gets in. All Exploration Team members if you see Spielberg take him prisoner. If he resists lethal force is approved. Soldiers of Fallow base, this is General Badlands speaking. Orders have come down that you are being relocated to a new planet. Collect your gear and personal effects and assemble for evacuation."

"General, you're going to want this." I said.

"A data chip?" Badlands asked taking the chip from me.

“Once you plug it into your pad you'll have complete access to everything on this base including the hyperspace transceiver in my hangar."

"You're not taking your suits?" He asked.

"Oh I'm taking them, just not on military transport."

"It's finished?" Badlands gasped.

"It is. Commander, with your permission, I'd like to transport the suits and a small recon team, composed of two or three suit teams, ahead to Greenwood in order to scout a good location to set up the new base."

"You'll likely do it anyway, even without my permission."

Badlands laughed, "Sometimes it feels like he just lets you lead so that he doesn't have to deal with responsibility, doesn't it? Trust me, if you say no he'll follow orders. However, I've learned through experience he usually has a good reason to make such 'suggestions' and doing so makes life so much easier."

"Fine, but your recon team has to be volunteers only." The Commander stated.

"I wouldn't have it any other way, Sir. Badlands, I'm going to be making another outpost circle on the opposite side of the base."

"How big?"

"Three to three and a half kilometers in diameter."

“You're going to put the fear of God into the Federation and a fear of humanity in any bugs watching." He shook his head. "I can't believe you're going to reveal Shadow Tech's most classified project."

The messenger laughed. "It'll take you a year to clear that much jungle. Hell, it would take a month of precision orbital fire to clear that much area. No matter what sort of secret weapon you've developed-"

I ignored him as he continued. Instead I turned back to the console. "All suit pilots, meet in the barrack’s cafeteria for further information on the transport of your suits. Tiger out"

There was a loud beeping and we turned to the messenger, again.

"It's just my watch alarm letting me know the transport shuttles are on their way down."

"General,"

"Go organize you pilots. Oh, and Wildside, if I don't see you later, it was good working with you again. And for the record when you get tired of wasting your time with the regulars there’s always openings for you and your family with us."

"Don't get soft on me, Sir. However, let Hardline know that I was kidding about still needing to get revenge. I've actually considered his debt paid after the ride I gave him his first day here."

Badlands shook his head and smiled. "Dismissed."

***

I finished telling the pilots about my plan on transporting their suits. I was light on the details of how, other than it would be with a Shadow Tech transport.

"We're in." Kicker, Cutter and Shadow said simultaneously.

"In what?" Coldsnap asked.

"He was going to ask for volunteers to go with him and I wasn't going to miss my chance." Kicker answered. Cutter and Shadow nodded in agreement.

"So we're done here. All of you get your suits ready to move, but wait here for the show to finish. Frost and Snow, you're staying with me. I don't know why, but it seems the spies wanted you left behind, so we're going up on the Bad Luck. Are you packed and ready?"

Frost held up a backpack and Snow lifted a small duffle bag and a toolbox.

"Everybody, move out." I ordered.

The cafeteria cleared leaving only my team.

"I figured you'd fight harder to stay here." Drake said.

"Does the world matter? As long as we're together. What I want to know is what you're planning on doing to transport all the suits without hangars?" Fox asked.

"We'll be starting fresh. That means new hangars and fresh new quarters."

Fox suddenly glared at me. "How did you do it without my permission?"

"What did he do?" Snow asked.

I sighed, "Any game, no matter the creator, that I'm playing, if it has spaceships, I can activate the Runner Protocol generating a replica Runner in the game."

"Why aren't we going up with you, as well?" Drake asked.

"I need you here to make sure our suits remain secure until we can get them loaded. I wouldn't put it past our enemies to blow them up given half a chance."

"I don't like it." Drake growled.

"I'm not thrilled myself. You know I prefer to do the flying myself, but I trust Tuft and we'll jump as quickly as possible."

"It's nice to know you trust me, but you need to hurry. Things are getting heated out there. It seems each shuttle has a list of who goes up first and your pilots aren't leaving without their suits." Tuft said, startling all of us. "Hey, you're the one that made sure I can move so silently." He laughed and headed for the door.

"Go, we'll make sure to have everyone organized by the time you get back." Drake said.

***

"Damn, this looks really familiar." Tank murmured.

"Not surprising considering the only changes are the flight decks being converted to allow MAS suit transport as well as star fighters."

"Mahan, is the Runner primed to jump?" I asked.

"Always."

"Has the primary weapon been loaded?"

"You're going to fire the main gun?" Mahan asked in surprise.

"We're going to be landing, so I need a three and a half kilometer circle cleared and leveled."

"That's, ambitious. Do you realize the size of material I'm going to have to be working with?"

Tuft closed his eyes for a moment. "Depends on if you're talking about the material needed to produce energy plasma or the plasma itself."

"Tuft, you're thinking big. Mahan is referring to how small a sample is required. I'm guessing roughly six atoms."

"Try two, and that is if we fire from the edge of the system. Any more or closer and you'll split the planet in half."

"Holy God! Does the real Runner have that kind of fire power?" Tank asked.

"Maybe. Come on, we need to get to the bridge."

Once we arrived everyone chose seats. They started buckling in as the merge pod slid shut.

"Must I remind you, you are locked out of the system for two years?"

"We're not merging I'm taking direct mental control of this Runner. I'll remain myself, but with access to all systems. Sort of like the pre-merge prototype control system. After all I've got to hit an exact target, on a moving planet, from the edge of the star system, without destroying any Federation ships or evacuation shuttles."

"No, we will be merging. Remember you're going to need my functions to hit that accurately from such a distance with a shot traveling faster than the speed of light. I’ve already calculated planetary positioning. I'm now launching the warning buoys." Mahan said reluctantly.

"Contact Shades."

"Prowl?" She answered.

"That's right, are you anywhere in the Fallow system?"

"Yeah, but I'm well hidden."

"I'm transmitting coordinates. There will be a ship there. Position yourself three hundred meters above the right wing."

"Then what?"

"Enjoy the show. I'm going to make the Federation wet themselves."

"Yeah, right."

"I suggest you hit the head now so you don't have a similar reaction. Prowl-Ar out."

"The buoys are ready." Mahan said.

"To all Federation starships, this is Special Admiral Nightiger, move two hundred thousand meters away from the corridor formed by these buoys. Fallow is going to be hit with a prototype hyperspace weapon. If you have ships on the ground order them to hold position. If they are in the air get them on the ground, or out of the line of fire. Mahan, loop the message along with the countdown clock. Go for merge."

I made the micro jump into position. Shades was already there and I could hear her blaring obscenities about nearly hitting her. She moved into a protected position so I ignored her. I watched the cameras along my firing path. Ships were rapidly clearing the area. The clock was running out fast. The act of firing was nearly unconscious the instant the countdown hit zero the weapon had fired. I made a quick check and then jumped to altered space knowing that Shades was inside the jump field. We came out over Fallow. The distance that would take a beam of light hours to travel had been nothing but an instant for the hyper beam. I scanned the planet. My aim had been off. The blast area was 100 meters closer to the fence than I had planned. I'd fired late. I was getting a lot of chatter but no reports about ships lost. I contacted Rogue and told her not to follow me and then headed down. I used the friction to slow down. The heat was nothing to me. I headed for deep water. Always better to hit deep ocean rather than land, if I'd misjudged entry. I hadn't, so as soon as I was stable I turned and leisurely drifted over the base. I reached the new landing area and extended the twenty primary landing struts and nearly 100 secondary struts. The blast had turned the area into molten slag, now it was a sheet if cooled rock. It cracked and crumbled under my immense weight.

I gasped as I was kicked out of the link. "Mahan, open channel to all suit pilots. This is Tiger, get your suits moving."

I stood at the edge of the loading elevator. It could lift up to eighteen suits at a time. I had everyone split into units. I directed Drop Kick team on, followed by Coldsnap, Cutter and Shadow. Katana team and Flashfire teams followed. I activated the lift leaving the rest to wait.

"Each of you will remain in team formation. Back up to the hangar bay but don't enter it. A ramp will extend exit your suit, and return to the lift. Kicker, go right. Coldsnap left, Cutter right, Shadow left, Katana right, Flashfire left."

"Sir, our flight packs won't fit in a standard hanger." Shadow said.

"Just follow orders."

Once they had all returned to the lift we watched as the automated systems scanned and then began breaking down their suits.

"What are you doing?" Lee yelled.

"Don't worry, it's easier to service and store the suits and weapons this way. When you arrive at Greenwood it'll be like your suit is both brand new and customized to your preferences."

Tuft drove up with a troop transport. "I figured you were going to need this to get back to the base."

"Thanks, Tuft."

"So are you going to get that white suit I borrowed as well?"

I stood in stunned silence for a moment. With everything going on I'd forgotten more suits had arrived along with a pair of tanks and aircraft. I hadn't even had time to assign pilots to them.

"We'll be taking all of them. Everyone load up and buckle in." I started the trip back down.

Once on the ground Tuft drove the truck off. Three suits remained to be loaded, The Commander's heavy Armor, the Corporal’s Recon suit and the replacement orange Elite suit.

"You didn't plan on leaving these behind did you?" The Commander asked.

"No Sir."

"I never thought I'd see the Runner on the ground like this. It really makes you realize how big it is."

"Fox, aren't you supposed to be standing guard?" I asked.

"I am, or at least my suit is. We've still got seven suits without pilots to move."

"Yeah, along with two aircraft and two tanks. Get on the lift. Mahan will take you three up and tell you what to do. I'll pick you both up on the next round." I climbed into the transport and Tuft moved out of the driver's seat.

"I'll take the gun, you drive." Loud groans came from the troop area. I dropped into gear and we started rolling. I grinned as I activated the anti-grav and the transport lifted off the ground. I engaged the thrusters and we were traveling faster than the Outrider with its rocket boosters. As we approached the base I increased the lift and we shot over everything only dropping back down once we were in the clear.

"You miss base!" Cold Snap yelled.

"Detour." I yelled back. As we approached the outpost I slowly cut the anti-grav and we leisurely rolled up to the hangars. Cutter and Driver retrieve the two tanks. Shadow and Phantom you get the jets. All of you, head directly back to the Runner, don't stop for anyone. That's an order." They saluted and got out. “Tuft, cover them until they're moving."

The two tanks rolled out first, one in green the other tan, and they immediately headed back the way we came. Seconds later the hangar roofs retracted and two fighters, one white and the other gray, lifted vertically and shot away. I followed passing the tanks before engaging the anti-grav. I stopped in front of my hangar. "Djinn, Hacker, and Team Kicker pick out suits from those left and head for the ship. Everyone else get to your shuttles. Tuft take the transport back and pick up Fox, Frost, Snow, the Commander, the Corporal, Shadow and Phantom. I'll be waiting here for you."

Tuft took off as soon as the pilots were out. I entered my hangar and crawled into my suit. "Drake, escort the current group of suits to the Runner. Fox and I will stand Guard."

"Don't wait too long or I might decide to leave you."

"I'll make sure to hurry."

I watched as shuttles started to lift off. Obviously they'd been waiting on the suit pilots. Soon the tanks rumbled by. I knew very little time had passed, but I was getting nervous. Shortly the transport rolled into view.

"Sorry for taking so long, but I can't figure out how you convert this thing to hover mode. Have you ever considered marking things?" Tuft chided.

"And make it easy to steal? I don't think so. Shadow and Phantom, take the last two suits. Tiger team, get to your suits. Commander, the recon team will meet you at Greenwood."

"When we arrive I'm going to have a lot of questions about your transport."

"I know, impressive isn't he?"

"He's as big as a battleship"

"A bit larger actually, still he's the runt of the family."

"Family? You've got more of him?" The Commander asked in surprise.

"Of course not. He's a prototype. His sister ships have their own designs. Maybe one day when I'm not so busy I'll get around to building them." I could see the commander laughing as he headed for the command center. He turned and looked at the last shuttle. I turned up my external microphone.

"I told you I'm not leaving until everyone else under my command is safely away. I don't care if that's in the second lift or third!"

I turned and found everyone waiting. "Sounds like it's time to go recon team, move out."

***

I stepped in front of a hangar and exited my suit. As soon as I was on the deck disassembly started. It stalled for a minute when it reached the waist, but restarted by extending heavier grappling arms to move each leg as single units.

"I guess our non-standard customs confused the system for a moment." Drake said, placing his hand on my shoulder.

"Pilot's, get in formation." They quickly formed up. "Tuft, I wasn't referring to you. Get your tail back to your ship and be prepared to disembark as soon as we are past the armada.”

"Yes, Admiral." He quickly headed toward the forward hangar.

"Admiral?" Kicker asked.

"What is it Kicker?"

"Your rank, Sir? How do you go from being a Lieutenant Colonel to an Admiral?"

"We have special ranks provided by the Federation High Council. When we are aboard this ship, or any Federation installation in space Prowl-Ar has the rank of Admiral. Shock and I share the rank of Captain, even though he is my first officer." Drake informed him.

"The special rank was Admiral Nightiger's requirement for allowing this ship to be called on for battle." Shock added.

"There was no way I was going to take orders from stupid humans who see battles as markers on a screen half a galaxy away from any fighting." Mahan said.

"Who was that?" Cutter asked.

"That is Mahan, the Shadow Runner's consciousness. He'll be watching everything you do, so try to behave yourselves. Mahan, Other than Tank and Tuft is this everybody onboard, no stowaways?"

"No, this is everybody. I am ready to lift as soon as they are settled."

"Snow and Frost, that door over there is a lift. Enter it and Mahan will take you to your new quarters. Mahan, these two are-"

"Your children. Frost through genetic combination and Snow by adoption. I'm tied directly to the Shadow Tech archives so I know everything. Rooms connected to your quarters have been prepared."

I shook my head. “Everyone else, please follow me." We walked toward the lift. The door opened. Fox and Drake with Frost and Snow entered. I nodded as the doors closed. “The rest of you are headed for the pilot's barracks." The doors at the back of the hangar opened on a small amphitheater.

“This is the main briefing room. At the front on the first and second floors are the Wing Commander's quarters and conference rooms. To either side are the pilot's quarters." I lead them down the first hall and opened a door and entered. "Each room is identical this is the pilot's common area. As this is set up for fighter pilots you'll notice flight simulators on each side. Inside each of these doors is the pilot's bunk with a door to the pilot's private head."

"Damn, most Federation ships are flying sardine cans. This is more like a luxury liner." Lee said.

"There are plenty of rooms so you can double up or pick a room to yourself for an extra layer of privacy. What are you waiting for? Pick your rooms, stow your gear, and meet back here for the rest of the tour." They immediately started choosing rooms.

"Admiral, may I speak with you a moment, in private?" Slider asked.

I nodded and entered the room he had chosen. He closed the door.

"I know this is against regulations, but seeing as you are currently the ranking officer, do you think-"

I nodded. "I'd be happy to officiate your marriage. Unfortunately it won't be recorded on any military documents. However it will be recorded in civilian documentation."

"Um, not what I was going to ask."

Lee opened the door of his bunk. "We appreciate the offer, but we're not quite ready to take that step. We plan on waiting until we're back on Earth, so our family can attend. What we wanted to know, could we put both of the beds in one room?"

I laughed. "Sorry about that. Mahan, please send some drones to reconfigure this room to a couple's bunk."

"Really, you don’t have to go to that much trouble." Slider insisted.

"Listen, these rooms have multiple configurations. It is no trouble removing one of the heads, moving the other to the corner next to a private shower. Thereby combining the two bunk areas into a single with a larger bed. You will still have two doors connected to your common area so anyone that glances in will think you still have the same room. Before you tell me I don't have to go to all that trouble again trust me this is more about keeping me from feeling guilty about my own quarters than anything else."

"Your quarters?" Lee asked.

"Yeah. My mate's and I don't maintain a residence on Earth. This ship is our home. So of course we have rather comfortable living arrangements. Now that you've chosen your room we best get back out in the hall so I can continue the tour."

I was surprised only Kicker and Cutter were waiting for us. "What were you three up to?" Kicker asked.

"Just explaining how the flight simulators work. I know you're not star fighter pilots, but they can still be used as PVP video games. It helps to keep the monotony of space travel in check."

"Huh, never thought of that. I might even give it a try." Cutter said.

Hacker, Driver, and Djinn joined us. I rolled my eyes. "Mahan, if Shadow and Phantom are testing the simulators shut them down with the message that they are disobeying orders."

Within seconds they were in the hall.

"Sorry, Sir." was all they could get out before I started down the hallway. I opened the door at the end and entered the cafeteria. "This is the dining area." I walked over to one of the four matter generators. "Steak, rare with mashed potato, mushroom gravy, two rolls and a glass of red wine."

"I'm sorry, but all alcoholic beverages are locked out." A plate with the rest of the order materialized and the smell circulated. "You can order just about anything you can imagine, but as you heard there are certain limitations." I walked across the room as every eye followed the food. I promptly dumped it plate and all into the bin for recycling.

Everyone gasped and looked at me in horror.

"When you finish your meal everything goes in the bin for recycling. I know we've been surviving on dino-burger and ration bars, but trust me, you don't want to eat anything until we have jumped out of the system."

"It's not like we haven't traveled through hyperspace before." Driver pointed out.

"Mahan, what is the travel time to Greenwood traveling through hyperspace?"

"Four months, two weeks, and six days."

"How long will it take us to get there?"

"Ship time or real time?"

"Both."

"Ship time three weeks and two days. Real time, three tenths of a second."

"That's not possible." Phantom mumbled.

"The Runner travels through what I call altered space. It exists outside regular space and time. For the outside observer we enter and then we exit the other end sort of like an artificial wormhole. However we still experience a certain amount of time passing inside the altered space."

"How long would it take to get to Earth?" Kicker asked.

"Twelve hours." Lee quickly added.

I shook my head. "The trip would appear to be instantaneous."

"But-" Lee started.

"The twelve hours you're thinking of was for landing, retrieving the package, take off, and landing again on Fallow. However, you are correct about the only other ship in the galaxy to have the same type of drive system. Moving on."

We entered another door leading to a hallway. "This is the rec area. The first door leads to the locker room. If you work out, be considerate of your fellows and shower before going back through the cafeteria. This next door is the gym area. It contains just about every form of workout station that exists." I stopped at the end of the hallway and waited a second before the door opened. "This door only opens when you are right in front of it for safety reasons. Do not try to block it open."

We walked in and everyone gasped at the sight of an Olympic size pool. "As you can see every surface is done in waterproof tile, even over the light sources. If the lights ever turn red get out of the pool as quickly as possible. It means the artificial gravity or power has cut out and the room is running on an emergency battery. You'll have fifteen minutes to get out of the water before the backup fails, ten minutes later if power or gravity hasn't been restored the doors will no longer open. When power is restored the first thing to happen will be the air and water is sucked out of the room. So if the lights go red get out fast. Now, everyone return to your rooms, get into the flight simulators and buckle in. I'm heading for the bridge to get this beast off the ground. Our flight will be streamed directly to the simulators so you don't miss anything. Remain belted in until I give you permission to move freely." I immediately headed for the bridge.

***

"Listen, I know you don't trust me, but you've got to warn Prowl that every ship up here is moving into firing position!" Shades yelled over the intercom.

"We can see that. I'm telling you they can hit us with everything they've got and it won't touch us." Shock tried to reassure her.

I walked to my command seat as she continued yelling.

"I know that! What I'm concerned about is my investment. The ships out here aren't known for their skilled aim like Prowl."

"Shock, tell her to run now. We're lifting and the Federation is about to get very anti civilian."

"Did you get that?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'm gone." Shades stated.

"Shock, open channel to Fallow base."

"Channel open.”

"Fallow Base, this is the Shadow Runner requesting launch clearance."

"You're cleared for launch. We'll miss you guys."

"We'll miss you as well, Paradise. Runner out."

"Ship wide communication, I hope everyone is strapped in. Mahan, give me flight controls." I slowly increased the antigravity "Damn we're heavy."

"Are you calling me fat?" Mahan asked.

"Why would I do a stupid thing like that?" I asked as the forward section tilted upward. "Come on dammit, lift your fat ass! Someone retract the landing struts!" I yelled, as I pushed the antigravity generators to maximum. "Kyle, get in the auxiliary command seat and bring the thrusters online. Ten percent only, we don't want to ignite the atmosphere."

"Landing gear retracted." Shock yelled.

"Shit, we're going to have to circle half the planet. Thank God we're already pointed against rotation." I said.

"I'm getting an air break warning?" Fox yelled, as the ship had started shaking.

"Oh hell, retract the breaking flaps. I had to leave them extended to cool after landing. This is why I prefer water landings."

"Flaps retracting." Fox said, as the ship immediately stopped shaking. "We're gaining altitude."

"Not enough. Kyle, increase to fifteen percent."

"The wings are now producing lift." Fox reported.

"Not for much longer." I watched the altimeter. "Increase thrust to seventeen percent, nineteen, twenty, that's it just a bit more . . . We're clear of the atmosphere increase thrust to twenty five percent."

"Unidentified vessel, stand down and prepare to be boarded."

"This is the allied starship Shadow Runner. By whose authority are you attempting to detain us?"

"Captain Nocoma, sector fleet commander."

"Well, Captain, this is Terran Federation Special Operations Officer Admiral Nightiger. As far as I'm concerned you can go inspect your aft thruster, because you are not boarding this ship. Everyone, remain strapped in." I hit the switch and the merge pod started to rise.

"We're going to merge?" Kyle asked.

"No, we're going to starfighter mode."

"Everyone, there are space sickness bags in a compartment under your seat. Pull them out now and have them ready. Mahan, are the kids secure?" Shock asked.

"I sedated them and strapped them in, they won't notice a thing."

The pod sealed shut. "Kyle, I need you to keep an eye on the situation and warn me of incoming fire. Mahan, connect me to the Luck."

"That was one hell of a takeoff. You releasing us now?" Tank asked.

"Sync your Freem drive to the Runner's navigation computer. We've got a bit of a situation. I'm going to micro jump and immediately reverse thrust catapulting you out of the hangar. As soon as you're clear your drive will activate and you'll jump to Earth."

"They're firing!" Kyle yelled.

"Micro jumping now!" We only jumped a quarter astronomical unit forward. The Bad Luck was away before I could blink.

"They're using hyperspace missiles. Mahan plot jump for Greenwood." Kyle yelled.

"We burned off too much power on takeoff." I spun the ship and fired the dorsal thrusters narrowly avoiding the missiles.

"Second volley incoming and the first volley is changing course." Kyle said calmly.

"Time to do something unexpected."

"Everyone still watching their monitor, don't panic over the Admiral's next action. The Runner is running low on power, so we need to refuel. However, the Shadow runner is a finicky eater. To refuel we have to, fly through the sun's corona. Far closer than any other ship could possibly survive. So again, don't panic this is something that we've done multiple times before." Shock reported.

"Thanks Shock. Kyle, give me every last bit of thrust we've got.”

"Increasing thrust to maximum."

Ten minutes later I started to notice a difference.

"Two minutes of thrust left.” Kyle announced, “I'm shutting down the mains leaving us traveling on impulse and gravity."

"Mahan, how much farther?"

"We're charging, but it won't be fast enough from this distance."

"Shadow Runner, you're caught in the sun's gravity well. Six minutes and you'll be beyond rescue. We can still tow you to safety." Captain Nocoma radioed.

I spun the ship laterally facing our pursuers. "If you approach I'll fire. I'd rather burn than turn my ship over to anyone."

"Tell me Major Nightiger, are you going to let your imbalanced husband kill both you and your son?"

"Initiating full thruster burn."

"Good now . . . Wait! You're moving closer to the sun."

"Oh, did I forget to say reverse? I'm such a bad dragon."

I giggled and Kyle flipped me off. "Shush you, it's my turn to be irritating."

"Two minutes to point of no return. Captain Nightiger, You've proven to be the voice of reason, surely you can't want your family to die?"

"Mahan, are all internal hangar doors airtight?" Fox asked.

"Of course, otherwise there would be a risk of, explosive decompression.”

“Open forward landing bay doors." Shock ordered.

"I knew you were the reasonable one."

"Drop safety shields." Shock laughed as the decompressing bays increased our reverse speed.

"What are you- No you can't."

"I have. Mahan reseal hangar bays, drop shields, and engage the absorption field." I ordered. "You see Captain, in Shadow Tech, madness is almost a prerequisite. How else could we conceive of a ship that refuels by flying into the sun?"

"Fire you fools! Hit them with everything we've got!"

I laughed. "To late, we're close enough that conventional weapons will detonate long before they reach us, and energy weapons, well the Runner is feeding on a star, what good do you think they'll be?"

"Recharge at twenty percent." Mahan announced.

"Goodbye Captain. Can't sit around and talk all day. We have a new base to set up on Greenwood. Admiral Nightiger, out." I lazily spun the ship and head deeper into the corona, dipping and rising playing with the gravity and mass ejections. When the readings were at full power I jumped to altered space.

"I think we've made a special friend today." Shock said, as the pod started to descend.

"I know, but it sure was fun. I especially liked how you came up with your own way of pushing us beyond his reach."

"I'm sure you had already planned on doing the same thing."

"Okay, so maybe that was my next plan. I'm still glad you got to prove to them that they can't turn us against each other. Now then, Mahan ship wide communication."

"Oh, I was supposed to cut the line? I thought you just wanted your pilots to hear everything."

I rolled my eyes. Pilots, as of this moment you are officially off duty. Enjoy your little vacation. Just try not to break anything, this is my home after all. If you need anything ask Mahan. If you want to talk to me Mahan can direct you to my office. Just try not to need me to soon. Right now I just need some time to get cleaned up, get something to eat, and then a bit of sleep. Close communications.

***

I leaned back in the chair and watched as everyone sat down to lunch. We'd been in altered space for six days and I'd gotten in the habit of spending lunch in the cafeteria, in case anyone needed to talk, but were too intimidated to make the trip up to the office. So far everyone seemed to be in good spirits.

Kicker, Cutter, and Shadow sat down at the table.

"So, are you going to tell us why we're here?" Shadow asked.

"We've got to scout out and set up a new base on a basically unexplored planet. While it's true my team could have done it on our own I figured it would be a whole lot easier with help."

"Considering the size of this ship you could have transported the whole base."

"We wouldn't have made it off the ground. While the Runner can land it isn't something that shouldn't be attempted very often." Ordinarily I would have launched any ship that could fly on its own and then picked them up in orbit. However, with the armada gunning for us I had to lift with the Bad Luck and the weight of the suits. We very nearly didn't make it."

"Admiral, you're needed on the bridge." Mahan announced. There was a lurch as we dropped out of altered space.

"You three come with me." I said as I headed for the lift.

The lift opened several seconds later. "Commanders, find a seat. Don't worry the controls are only for show. Mahan, what's happening?"

"It's a planetary system. One that doesn't exist on our star charts. We had to drop out of altered space to transit the system."

"Unidentified ship, this is prison planet Freedom. Identify yourself and state your reason for being here."

"This is a Federation mission, we are transiting the system. You do not have the clearance to question us. I suggest you forget you ever noticed us. In fact it would be a good idea if you erased all information pertaining to our presence immediately. Communication ends."

"Fine, but do not approach the station or the penal planet."

"Pause game."

"What's up Tiger?" Shock asked.

"Mahan, what is going on? I locked out all of my stories so why is this here?"

Kyle glanced at the main monitor. "This is from another of your stories?"

"I'm accessing the game's program. The map of the Federation was fully generated from the beginning. Multiple additions have been made like the planets created for public gaming and Mærik’s home world at the very edge of the map. Interesting, there is even an analog of Big Hub in the game. It's an early form being composed of two rings instead of three. I'm getting of topic. This was all created before the lock out."

I nodded. "Is the prison program being broadcast?"

"Not yet, they are just getting the prisoners into the drop pods."

"You're going to rescue someone, aren't you? Need I point out that is a prison planet?" Kyle asked.

"No, you don’t, and the people I'm planning on rescuing aren't all innocent either. Resume game."

"Admiral, the station is broadcasting a hyperspace signal back to Earth, should I tap into it?" Mahan asked.

"On screen."

"Welcome to Freedom, a penal planet with only one rule, survival. You get to see what they see and hear what they hear. The first 24 hours are free. Subscribe now and get twenty percent off the rest of the season. Now let's meet our contestants. First up meet the women. Make no mistake these are not ladies."

The announcer ran through the list giving statistics and synopses of their crimes.

"Next up we have the men." Again the announcer ran through the men's statistics. I noticed that one was missing.

"Finally what is a show without a bit of drama? This little stow-away thought he could rescue his boyfriend. How long do you think he'll last with all these hard core criminals? Let's find out."

We watched as the first pod released and they woke the prisoners. It was following my story exactly.

"Ugh, Now I understand the constant harping about safety restraints. Cutter said, as one of the prisoners was splattered by sudden acceleration.

"I see the kid, I wonder which one he was trying to rescue?" Shadow asked.

"My money is on the Yakuza Hiro." Kicker said.

"Not a chance. It's Jason, the kid hasn't taken his eyes off him." Kyle pointed out.

I did my best to keep from smiling.

"The female prisoners have just touched down. What will they do now? Crates have been scattered around the landing zone with different types of survival gear." The announcer said as the pod's hatch opened.

"Wow, look at her move. That one, Carline, seems to have some smarts." Cutter pointed out.

"She's got an eye for survival, that's for sure. Look she's out of sight of the pod and nobody's noticed." Cutter said.

"She's found another crate. Oh, they're serious about survival. That's a weapons crate." Shock glanced at me in concern.

"What was her crime again?" Shadow asked.

"Murder, she shot her ex-husband twelve times." I pointed out.

"The second pod is down and she's running toward the hills. That will slow her down a bit, but it'll also provide more cover." Kicker said.

"Interesting, Marten, Jason, and Hiro seem to be teaming up. What were Jason and Hiro's crimes?" I asked.

"Jason was convicted of sexual assault and statutory rape. However, I don't believe the charges were true. The assault was against Lucinda Lucre, likely the most evil and dangerous woman on Earth. She's the reason Shades refuses to go near the planet and why Prowl-Ar Shock and Kyle live one the Shadow Runner. If someone is accused of a crime and she is involved it is a good bet the accused is innocent. Hiro is charged with industrial espionage and conspiracy to commit murder, both against Lucinda and her company, however it seems he was never tried. Carline, as you also seem interested in her story plead guilty without remorse to shooting her ex-husband. What they aren’t reporting is that it was after she caught him raping their twelve year old daughter. This can't be right." Mahan paused.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Carline, or Carl as she prefers, is Violet's biological mother."

"Our Violet?" Kicker asked.

"It would explain a lot." Shadow murmured.

"Marten, is Lucinda's son and Jason's boyfriend. She, Lucinda, actually had him castrated for being with Jason." Mahan continued.

"She mutilated her own son?" Shadow asked.

"Yes. It is a good bet that Jason and Martin are both innocent." Mahan confirmed.

"It looks like they're following Carl." Kyle pointed out.

"What about Hiro?" I asked.

"Yakuza, believed to have been sent to deliver a message to Lucinda. The charges against him are likely true. However he has never been convicted of any crime. He was due to be deported back to Japan, but seems to have been misdirected. I should point out that his grandfather’s company has ties with Shadow Tech."

"Admiral, is there anything we can do?" Kicker asked.

"No matter what she's done, we owe it to Violet to keep her mother from being, well, what those animals are likely to do to her for other's entertainment." Shadow insisted.

"Mahan, how long to transit the system?"

"Two hours."

"The sooner the better. To answer your question, no there isn’t anything we can do. We’re a military unit and this is a civilian matter.” I smirked and winked at Kicker. I suggest you return to your teams. We'll be leaving this system as soon as possible. You will not discuss what we said or what you've just seen. Forget it ever happened."

Kicker glared at me for a moment and suddenly smiled and shook his head. "As you command, Admiral."

They left the bridge obviously unhappy with my decision.

"So when are you do back?" Shock asked.

"I'm not leaving, at least not until we jump out of this system. Mahan, I'm going to need the stealth shuttle and a nanite suppressor."

"All of our shuttles are stealth capable. As for the nanite suppressor, are you certain? It'll render your nanites inert as well."

"It's a risk but we have to be careful not to be seen freeing convicted criminals."

"Two criminals that have completed their prison terms, an individual never charged for any crime, and an innocent." Kyle pointed out.

"True, but we still have to maintain a certain degree of respectability."

"I'm going with you." Shock quickly said.

"No, I'm taking Rin this time."

"What?" Kyle yelled.

"Carl doesn't trust men. Rin is the only one on the ship that can vouch for the rest of us being trustworthy."

"Don't worry I'll be directly monitoring the game. If things get too tense I'll pause and we'll think of something else."

"Thanks Mahan, way to be supportive."

***

”How dangerous are they?” Rin asked as we hovered about a hundred yards over the convict’s camp.

“They can’t kill us at the current game setting but serious injury is a possibility. I’m hoping we can convince them that we’re here to rescue them before it comes to a firefight.”

“They’re back and it looks like they’re starting a fire.”

“Then it’s time to land and pray this works.” I carefully eased back on the anti-grave taking us down as slowly as possible. So slowly that I didn’t even realize we were on the ground until the lever wouldn’t move any farther. “We’re down.” I whispered.

“The stealth field blocks all signals including vocal waves, so why are you whispering.”

I glanced at Rin. “Somebody’s been studying. I’m surprised you weren’t an honor student.”

“If they’d offered courses in mobile suit construction, alien technology, and interacting with immortal shapeshifters I’m sure I would have been.”

I laughed and shook my head as I stood up and headed toward the back of the shuttle. I opened the hatch and stepped out. The group were only a few feet from the edge of the stealth field. I pulled out the nanite suppressor and made sure it was activated.

“That thing blocks all nanites, is that why you insisted I change into another uniform?” Rin asked.

“Yeah, we wouldn’t want to try and convince them we can be trusted while standing here naked.”

Rin laughed as I took a moment to come up with a plan of action. I stooped down and picked up a small stone. I carefully tossed it so that it landed in front of where Jay was sitting.

He spun with his gun out pointed directly at me. Even though I knew he couldn’t see me it was a disturbing feeling.

“I suggest you come out of hiding before I start firing.”

I held the nano suppresser directly in front of me and stepped forward letting it and my hand pass through the field. Everyone was now aiming directly at me. I took another step out of the field. “What I’m holding is a nanite suppressor. Right now anyone trying to see or hear what is happening here is getting an error message.”

“Who are you?” Carl asked.

“I can’t tell you that. What I can tell you is that I have no love for Lucinda Lucre, and I know none of you deserve to be here. I’m not saying you’re innocent but two of you have already served your time, one of you would be guilty if you’d had the chance and one of you is completely innocent.”

“Everything we’ve been talking about has been recorded. You could have gotten all of that just by listening in.” Carl pointed out.

“Hiro, all of your nanites are offline including the ones that allow you to heal. Only one group in the galaxy besides your grandfather’s company has that kind of power. I’m here to rescue you because I owe your grandfather a debt for assisting with creating the suppressor along with a great deal other nanotech devices.”

I watched as Hiro carefully cut a thin line in his palm. It didn’t heal and he gasped and stepped forward. “You’re-“

“How do we know that going with you isn’t worse than this Godforsaken place?” Carl asked keeping her pistol pointed at my head.

“Carl, you don’t have a choice. You’re coming with us whether you like it or not.” I pointed out.

“Like hell I am.”

“If you don’t, Violet will be very disappointed.” Rin said, as she stepped out of the field. “Before you shoot my dad, look at this picture. This is Cold Snap, Hazard, and Violet. I’m the one down in front. This was taken a few days ago, just after my first patrol with their team. If we leave you here she’s likely to try and come rescue you herself. That would be bad for a lot of reasons.”

Carl lowered her pistol. “She joined the military? I never wanted that for her.”

“She’s an imbedded reporter and communications expert. With my husband’s help she was actually instrumental in saving all of our lives. Saving you will go a long way to repaying my debt to her.”

“So what are you going to promise us? It’s not like you have any connection to either Marten or myself. Other than your claim that you hate Lucinda.”

“I wouldn’t say that he hates her. It’s more like she hates him more than anyone else in the universe. He’s-“

“Hiro, not another word. I can’t risk-“

“My God, you’re . . . Jay, I trust him. We have to go with him.” Martin insisted.

“What?”

“He is likely the only one powerful enough to protect us from Lucinda.”

“I can do more than that, I can fix the damage she has done to you.”

“What are you talking about?” Martin asked.

“You haven’t-“. I started.

“You shut up. I don’t care if you’re God himself. One more word and I’ll put a hole in your head.” Jay yelled.

Marten stepped between us. “Jay, what is he talking about?”

“I need to talk to you in private.”

“Don’t go more than fifty yards from the scrambler or your nanites will reactivate.” I quickly said as they started to walk away.

“So, going or staying?” Rin asked.

“I’m going, but if you’re lying I’ll kill you, and I’ll make it slow and painful.” Carl said.

“Then I’d better point out that we’re on an advance team scouting out a new planet for a base. We’ll arrive in two weeks and three days. Violet is with the rest of the unit and won’t be arriving for about four months. You’re really not going to like this but the advance team is composed of four three man teams. Violet would have been with us except her unit commander wasn’t fast enough volunteering for the mission.”

“So that’s twelve men?”

“Thirteen, counting my son and you’ve met Rin. That’s the entire crew. Well apart from the ship’s A.I. and though he gender identifies as male he is technically genderless. We also a have female anthropomorphic otter medical drone.”

“I don’t like it but I’d do anything just to see my daughter again, so I’ll deal with it, but if any of them try anything I’ll put them down faster than I did my ex.”

“Let them know that and they’ll behave themselves.”

“Hiro?” I asked, turning toward him.

“I owe a debt of honor to Jay and Marten. If they decide to stay, I’ll remain here to protect them. I was ready to give up just after landing.”

“When you found your broken Katana. I didn’t say I wasn’t watching. I have a molecular generator on the ship so I can repair it. That is if, it wasn’t broken on orders from your Grandfather, of course.”

“Of course.”

“Can you really repair me?” Martin asked.

I jumped, not realizing how close Marten had gotten. It was obvious he had been crying.

“It isn’t that difficult to program nanites to regenerate the missing tissue. Even Lucinda, with her substandard tech could do it. However, I require a sacrifice, from Jay.”

“What kind of sacrifice?”

“I’m going to remove one of your eyes.”

“What?” he yelled.

“Rin, go get the paper.”

She ran back into the field only to return a few seconds later wearing gloves and holding a laminated piece of paper. She held it up for everyone to read.

“Thank you for helping us reconnect, Mom.”

“I don’t get it?” Carl said.

“By setting that up with Jay’s eye every time anyone checks Jay’s channel they’ll see that message. Imagine how mad Lucinda will be that Marten and Jay are not only together, but thankful because she was the one that made it possible, even though her intention was likely to make them both suffer. By ending it with Jay calling Lucinda Mom is just the icing on the cake.”

“So you were planning on ripping my eye out all along?”

“Well, yeah, but ripping it out is a little violent. I’ll sedate you, carefully remove your eye, place you in my shuttles stasis pod, and when we get back to my ship I’ll have your eye regenerated at the same time as Marten is healed. I’m not an animal.”

Rin laughed.

“Okay, I’m not a monster then.”

“That’s debatable.” She said.

“Rin, are you absolutely sure you’re not my biological daughter?”

She just laughed harder.

***