“I’m sorry Mrs. Ryan...” Doctor Allen’s face was sullen as he delivered the blow.
Though she’d been fearing it and perhaps even expecting it, it was still impossible to control her emotion as the last shimmer of hope they had was snuffed out. “It didn’t work.”
The doctor shook his head. “We have your test results and while your numbers are very promising...I’m afraid your husband’s....” he trailed off and looked toward Elias Ryan. “The likelihood of the two of you conceiving a child together is nearly a million to one.”
“I’m so sorry honey...” Elias seemed to crumple under the news and cupped his wife’s face with his hands. “I’m so very sorry...I - I know how much...”
“Oh Elias!” Anya Ryan was fighting back tears even as she tried to comfort him. “It’s not your fault love.”
While it could technically be argued that it was, in fact, Elias’s fault - no one said as much. Dr. Allen nodded his way out of the conversation as the couple consoled each other. Nurse Davis was leaning against the bulkhead, a small frown on her face as the scene unfolded. “They’re devastated.” she said quietly as the doctor passed her.
Dr. Allen looked back at them and nodded solemnly. They stood aside for some time, quietly watching and waiting. In time, after many tears, the Ryans left the medical ward. Elisa’s arm was wrapped tightly around his wife’s shoulders.
Inwardly, Doctor Spencer Allen scolded himself for not offering them an alternative - there was one after all. He glanced over at the cold storage that housed the DNA samples for the embryotics with a grieved expression on his face. “They’d never be approved for use - you know that Spence...” Nurse Davis said, placing a hand on his arm. “They’re embryotics themselves...”
He nodded. He didn’t need to be reminded.
It was hours later, when all the outside lights had been dimmed to simulate evening and all the shop doors were closed and locked tight, that found Dr. Allen still considering the Ryan’s case. He’d tried, and failed, to riddle a way around their predicament. There was no medicine or surgical procedure he could offer. The only hope was a donor of some sort and the most likely candidate was sitting somewhere inside that cold storage locker.
‘They’d never be approved...’ Nurse Davis’s words played over in his mind again and again until he was near to the point of bursting. Unbeknown to the Ryans, infertility had been rising dramatically in embryotics as of late. Research suggested it had to do with the degradation of the DNA samples over time but none of that with public knowledge and the Council had already cut off all resources to these unlucky couples. The doctor mused on the problem for some time before he decided the only viable course of action.
He’d have to break the law.
You see, Doctor Spencer Ryan was a very good sort of person who became a doctor in order to help people - all people. He didn’t care who his patients’ great grandparents were in the same way the Council did.
The only problem with this ill-formed planned was that even he couldn’t break into the cold storage and just steal a DNA sample. It wasn’t that he wouldn’t but that he couldn’t! He didn’t have the necessary access codes without a second person. But he’d long since eliminated the ancient DNA samples from his mind and was considering a different donor now. With a slightly shaking hand, he punched a couple commands on the console and made a very late night call to the Ryan’s quarters.
------
The medical log that detailed the circumstances and the procedure was brief and left Freya with a lot of questions but Captain Hunt had seen to that as well. Included on the data pad were personal logs from Doctor Allen and even from a young (then) Lieutenant Hunt.
Freya glanced over at the sleeping form of Meng once more and then continued to read the story of her own conception.
------
“Is this legal Doc?” Elias asked, rubbing sleep from his eyes. At the doctor’s urgent behest, they had hurried down to the medical ward in the middle of the night with renewed hope in their hearts.
“No.” Doctor Allen said without pause. Anya stepped out wearing only a hospital gown and looking fearful. “I can’t give you a sample from storage, I can’t perform any procedure to help you reproduce with a willing donor, not legally... but I’m doing it anyway.”
“Why?” Anya asked, her voice barely a whisper.
“Because you deserve a child as much as anyone else... you understand everything yes? You won’t be able to tell anyone - even the child - the truth. Or we’ll all get in trouble. When the time comes I’ll...I’ll do what needs to be done.” Doctor Allen said thinking of all the trouble he’d have to go to to hide the truth. “If anyone asks, you, Elias, are the biological father and you got that one in a million chance. Understood?” They both nodded and Elias helped his wife onto the bed. They had a dozen or more questions but with one more look at the doctor’s determined face they fell silent and opted to cling to hope.
------
Meng shifted beside her and Freya quickly shutdown the data pad, extinguishing the light. “Freya?” he asked sleepily. She considered speaking up, waking him and telling him everything but decided to keep this secret close for the moment. She shifted on the bed and laid back down, Meng draped his arm over her as she scooted closer to him. "You okay?" he asked quietly.
"No." she said simply, closing her eyes tightly as if it would shut out the pain.
His hold tightened and instead of pushing him away as she might have just the day before, she absorbed his strength and let it roll over her to fight back a fresh wave of tears. Why Andy?! Still clutching the data pad in one hand, she let herself be lulled back to sleep by Meng's steady breath and presence.
After a few broken hours of sleep in which Andy’s death inhabited her nightmares, Freya finally gave up and opened her eyes. She knew, before looking, that Meng was already awake but glanced over at the hole his body had occupied the night before anyway. In a moment of panic, she remembered the data pad and reached out for it. To her relief, it was still sitting, untouched, exactly where she'd left it. She felt ashamed of her thoughts that Meng may have stolen a look at it. "Morning." Meng said as he stepped out of the tiny bathroom that had been carved out for him. He looked at her hand resting on the data pad and seemed to read her very thoughts but said nothing.
Freya lowered her feet to the floor, gripping the data pad tightly and nodded at him, murmuring a pitiful greeting. Meng, thankfully, opted not not to comment. He offered her use of the shower to freshen up and she longed to take him up on it. A few steps from the bathroom door she glanced down at the data pad in her hands and paused. Why shouldn't she tell Meng? She frowned, 'because I'd tell Andy before anyone else.' she thought to herself. But for all their fighting...she shook her head quickly, hoping to erase all those tender feelings that had been threatening to overpower her for weeks. ‘After what happened with Julian....’ she didn’t complete the thought but the truth was she didn’t want to risk her heart again.
"Freya?" his voice was full of concern. How long had she been standing there thinking? Had he been watching her the whole time - perhaps trying to sort out his own thoughts?
She spun around to face him and locked her eyes on his. With two strides she was standing directly in front of him and pressed the data pad into his hands. "Just...I - I want you to read this." she shook her head and turned back toward the bathroom before he could say anything. She sealed the door behind her and sank down onto the cold floor as grief overtook her.
Freya couldn't be sure how long she spent on the floor but her moment was interrupted by a light knock on the door. "Freya...." Meng. She stood and shucked her clothes before stepping into the shower, ignoring his knock. Meng, not one for being ignored long, triggered the door and stepped into the small space. “Freya...” Though she’d started the shower, she could still hear him. “You could talk to me now or I could come in there ya know.”
A small smirk escaped her lips as she imagined the cocky expression on his face as he said it.
“I’ll take that as an invitation then.” Meng said. He must have discarded his clothes in record time because it seemed only seconds passed before she felt him standing beside her.
“I didn’t know.” she said quickly. She wasn’t sure why it was so important to tell him that but it had been stuck in the back of her mind ever since she’d first read the records. “I had no...”
He silenced her by pressing his finger to her lips. “I believe you Freya.”
“Does this change anything?” she asked, realizing she was actually nervous he’d reject her because of her lineage.
“Are you going to change sides?” he asked, a tiny smile playing across his lips.
“What?! No! Of course not!” she protested before realizing he was just teasing her.
“Then it doesn’t change a thing.” Meng leaned forward, forcing Freya to lean back against the back of the small shower stall. He reached out and stroked the side of her face before pressing his lips against hers.
"You're a dangerous man Meng Asada." Freya said with a moan as he wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her towards him, the water that was once warm had turned cold as it cascaded down their backs.
"So I've been told."
------
"Spread the word Mr. Jamison." Captain Hunt's expression was guarded but a glint in his eyes revealed anger buried within. "I want you to start reassigning quarters of all embyotics and Quuvarii - and known rebel supporters."
"Segregation sir?" Jamison asked in surprise. The majority of embryotics and Quuvarii descendants already had quarters in the lower decks so he didn't catch the Captain's meaning.
"Not exactly. Relocate them to the Third." he said, referring to the section furthest away from the operational core of the ship.
"All of them sir?" Jamison raised his eyebrows.
"As many as can be arranged. Do it as quietly as possible...you understand?" The Captain raised his eyebrows and gave Jamison a look that might wither some men.
Jamison nodded. "Yes sir." He hesitated a moment until Hunt waved him out as a means of dismissal.
Hunt turned to look back at the still forms of Lady Ice and Commander Bonwick on his computer screen and cursed under his breath. Things were unraveling faster than he would like.
He was still staring at them when the doors swished open again and he swiveled around intent on shooing Jamison back out. It wasn't Jamison at his door, however, but Ash. "I'm sorry Captain, I needed to see you." he said, clearly out of breath.
"You shouldn't be here Ash." Hunt glanced back at the screen and wondered how soon they'd be summoning Ash for 'questioning'.
“I found this Captain. I don’t know what it means or even who wrote it but felt you should have it.” Ash produced the slip of paper he’d found with Andy’s handwriting on it.
Captain Hunt took it from his hands curiously and read it twice before looking up in surprise. “Where?”
“It was in a corridor in the Second, I know nothing else I’m sorry to say...” Ash’s words were cut off by the unceremonious entrance of two security officers.
Captain Hunt got to his feet as one of them stepped over and slapped a small data pad onto his desk. “Excuse the intrusion Captain but Mr. Swanson is needed for questioning.” The guards’ eyes never left Ash.
“Questioning about what?” Ash asked calmly, the picture of confusion and innocence.
“Your dealings with the rebels, the Sons of Liberty.” the lead guard practically spat the name out.
“I’ll save you the time, I have no dealings with the rebels.” Ash said, if Hunt didn’t know otherwise he would have believed him as well.
The guard faltered for only a second, possibly taken in by Ash’s statement. “Nevertheless, Commander Bonwick requests your presence. Immediately.”
“That sounds less like a request and more like a demand.” Ash waved off the protest on the guard’s lips. “But I’ll come anyway. Shall you lead or shall I?” he nodded to the Captain as the guards led him out of the office.
Hunt dropped into his chair and rubbed his forehead, squinting his eyes against the glare off his computer screen. “Damn you” he said to no one in particular. “Damn you to hell and back.”
------
“So you weren’t on the deck at the time of Lieutenant Kowalski’s death?” Bonwick didn’t even look at Julian as she asked the questions. She wouldn’t have even dragged him in if the Captain hadn’t insisted.
“No ma’am.” Julian replied in a perfectly even tone. As she wasn’t watching him, she didn’t notice his hand twitching but Katou did and she furrowed her brow.
“Had you seen the Lieutenant prior to her death?” Bonwick asked though she already knew the answer to this question, she’d seen them herself.
“Yes, she needed help finding someone but we separated.” His hand gave a tiny tremor but nothing more.
“Who was she looking for?” she asked as she continued to peruse the security report of the previous shift.
The hand trembled more violently but Bonwick took no notice, “Lieutenant Eislan” he said. “The engineer...” he offered when Bonwick showed no sign of recognition.
“Ah yes, okay, thank you Mr. Ice for coming in.” she stood and showed him out of the office.
Katou was standing and looking stunned when Bonwick turned back toward her. “I’ve heard tell about your interrogation techniques - that did not meet my expectations.”
“I would hardly call that an interrogation.” Bonwick said with a scoff. “I only brought him in satisfy Hunt - Lady Ice was furious!”
“Surely you saw how his hand twitched with every question...” Katou was cut off when two of Bonwick’s men came in with Ash Swanson tucked between them.
“NOW you can see a proper interrogation Commander.” Bonwick had a wicked grin on her face as she motioned them back toward the brig. Unlike Julian’s interview - this one would be conducted behind the security of bars and forcefields. “Coming Commander?” she looked expectantly at Katou. Reluctantly Katou followed the small parade into the inter-sanctum of the security center.
------
They were so absorbed with each other that neither Freya nor Meng heard the knock or call from the otherside of the door. They would never have known anyone was out there had Lana not stepped into the room and then, wide eyed, promptly turned around. She cleared her throat loudly a couple times. “When you’re done, we have a situation...” she said loudly before walking out of the room.
Meng’s head snapped up and Freya couldn’t help but laugh. It was probably the first real laugh she’d let out in months! Meng just shook his head but smiled as well.
A few minutes later, they both stepped out of the bathroom and looked directly at Lana - almost daring her to say something. She didn’t.
“You said we had a situation?” Meng prompted. She nodded and led them both into the small space - once a cargo bay of some sort - that temporarily served as their central headquarters. A handful of Sons were sitting around, eyes fixed on the monitor that had been tapped into the central ship’s systems.
Lady Ice looked as poised as ever, and as cold. Standing rigidly behind was Julian. His eyes seemed vacant and Freya couldn’t help but ache when she saw him. Captain Hunt was standing beside Lady Ice - much to her dismay it would seem as she attempted to discreetly adjust herself so she was standing in front. Hunt matched her movements - small as they were - and finally she gave up.
Lady Ice held a data pad in her hands but hardly looked at it as she began to speak. “'In order to bring a swift and complete end to the criminal rebellion, the 8th Ancestral Council,” she glanced toward Captain Hunt but he didn’t show any sign of acknowledgment, “has declared that all persons of embryiotic or Quuvarii birth will present themselves for questioning as requested by Council or the Security department. Failure to do so will result in arrest on sight regardless of circumstances. Any other person suspected of supporting this illegal rebellion will also be taken in for questioning as needed. Resisters will be taken by all necessary force.”
The smile she presented was not one of a firm but just person; it was cold and cruel! Everyone watching knew exactly what “necessary force” meant in Lady Ice’s mind. “As you can see, the edict has already been put into effect.” Her face, and those standing with here, was replaced by a view of the brig where a number of Quuvarii descendants were already being held. The children were clutching their parents and crying.
Before anyone could do more than gasp, the image on the monitor shifted again and they saw Ash slightly slumped forward and bound to a chair. The chair may have been the only thing keeping him upright which appeared to delight Bonwick and her goons.
They cut away quickly as Bonwick appeared to be closing in for another attempt at wheedling information from Ash. Lady Ice fill the screen once again and looked to be filled with remorse but Freya detected a hint of glee in her eyes. “Now, yesterday we lost another fine soul to this needless struggle. Lieutenant Andrea Kowalski was a loyal member of the crew and of fine ancestral birth. Her father...” Freya wanted to screech at the woman as she rambled on about Andy’s lineage but merely stalked away from the group. “Let us take a moment to remember all those who have been stolen from us by the Sons of Liberty and their crimes.”
Meng slammed his hand onto the button to silence the woman. “Bet they don’t care much for the lesser blooded ones that have died at THEIR hands...” someone in the crowd muttered.
"Andy!" Freya clutched her friend's face and shouted at her. "No Andy! Look at me!" Andy's eyes were fluttering closed, barely responding to each stimulus.
Freya turned her trained eye toward the wound and yanked at the fabric, trying to find something to repair. "F-Fre...." the words seemed to gurgle out of Andy's mouth and died there as her eye began to close once again.
"Andy! Stay with me! I will fix this!" Freya felt tears flooding her eyes and brushed them aside with her bloody hand. She stared at the blood for a fraction of a second in surprise.
"Doctor..." Captain Hunt hissed from behind her. In the distance they could hear the heavy footfalls of people approaching. "Doctor Ryan!" he repeated when she didn't respond. "You need to leave....now!"
"What?!" Freya whirled her head around to look at him in horror. "I can't leave her now!"
"Dr. Hapsberg is already on her way with a team." Hunt said just as the nearest crossover airlock hissed indicating someone would be crossing into this section momentarily. "As is Commander Bonwick no doubt..."
"I don't care about getting arrested Captain." Freya said stubbornly. She looked down at Andy again and shuddered as her beautiful eyes stared back at her, devoid of life.
"I know, but you need to go." Captain Hunt repeated, pulling her away from Andy's body. She could see Ash motioning anxiously from his darkened hiding spot and her body betrayed her, allowing her to be shoved in his direction.
She broke into a run just as Hapsberg and a team of medics converged on Hunt and Andy.
Once out of the light, Freya turned back despite Ash's protests and watched as the medical team started working frantically on Andy. Within moments Bonwick and a security team rushed onto the scene and surrounded them. "We have to go Doc." Ash said, one hand on her shoulder and one holding his personal weapon.
Captain Hunt was point off in the opposite direction and talking quickly, recounting what happened no doubt but they were too far away to hear anything he was saying. Hands still covered with the blood of her best friend, Freya brushed the tears from her eyes once more before letting Ash pull her away, deeper into the bowels of the ship.
------
He cursed under his breath as he watched Captain Hunt and Freya descend on the body so quickly. He had to be sure she was dead! They wouldn't leave her side long enough for him to search her for the blasted strip of paper!
The approached of the medical staff was his cue to leave though as security would descend soon no doubt. He disappeared into the same shadows he'd fired from and took a circuitous route through the sleepy corridors until he reemerged on the main deck. He'd replaced his scowl with a look of concern before he approached the small crowd. Andy was gone now, no doubt in the medical ward. All that remained of her presence was a pool of blood and a lot of confusion.
------
Hunt patiently answered all the questions Bonwick asked with mostly truths. He had no choice but to lie about why he was there but Bonwick didn't question him further no matter how much she might have wanted to. "If you'll excuse me Commander, I need to go check on Lt. Kowalski." Hunt said after it seemed like she was about to launch into another round of questions.
Bonwick nodded, though reluctantly and turned her attention to the scene as Julian Ice approached looking confused and concerned. "Captain? What happened?" he asked, his eyes locked on the pool of blood winding it's way through the grooves of the deck.
Though Julian's voice sounded genuinely concerned, his eyes betrayed him to Hunt. The captain tilted his head for a moment before answering. "Lt. Kowalski was shot..." he said carefully. He was disappointed to find Julian appropriately shocked and horrified. "If you'll excuse me..." the captain said quickly.
When he arrived in the medical ward, he saw Dexter's wife - also an engineer - anxiously waiting for news. Normally she would have jumped up when he entered but he waved her off and paced the small waiting room for a few minutes. He'd seen the Andy's lifeless eyes looking back at him on that deck. His pacing was stopped as Dr. Hapsberg walked out from the surgery area, her face nearly unreadable.
She shook her head and Jordan Dexter started crying silently. Dr. Hapsberg looked down at the ground while the news was absorbed. Captain Hunt shouldn't have been surprised but he felt like he'd been gutted. The door flew open as Dex flew into the bay. He looked from his crying wife to the doctor and his eyes finally rested on Hunt.
Dex didn't have to be told.
"This has to end Cap" he said quietly. His notorious temper was only held back by the shock and grief. "This has to stop." he repeated, mostly to himself.
"I know." Captain Hunt replied. There was really nothing else he could say in response.
"Do you? Do you really?" Dex's voice was raising and he was now rippling inside. The smallest disturbance might send him into full boil. "Andy....A-Andy..." his voice caught and he was unable to finish his thoughts.
"I do know Dex." Captain Hunt said quietly. "I do know..." he repeated to himself.
Dr. Hapsberg and Jordan Dexter had been waiting quietly to the side as the men argued but once Dex's temper was calmed, Jordan stepped in and put her arm around him. They were both friends of Andy's and both would need time to grieve her loss.
Time, however, wasn't a luxury they often had in these times.
"I'll let you know if I find anything helpful." the Doctor said quietly when Captain Hunt turned his attention toward her. What, if anything, could be found really? Would something point them toward Andy's killer or was she another casualty of the rebellion?
Captain Hunt nodded, he paused a moment by the Dexter's but said nothing. With a heavy sigh, he left the medical ward. Would they ever come back from this?
------
The pair entered the small, hidden cafeteria with a series of scrapes and the sound of struggle so Meng was on his feet when Ash came in, practically dragging Freya. He was about to question Ash when Freya's eyes locked on his and filled with fire and rage.
"How could you!?" she launched herself at him. Ash, who still had a hold on her, struggled to keep her from clawing Meng's eyes out. "How could you order them to shoot her? What did she EVER do?!"
Meng motioned Ash to let her go and Freya stumbled forward as she was granted her freedom but she quickly righted herself. "What are you talking about? What happened?" he asked, looking from Freya to Ash.
"They shot her! Your goons you sent after me - th-they shot her!" Freya shouted, her voice catching. Tears began to pool in her eyes and soon fell, slowly at first.
"Who?!" Meng asked, looking at Ash. "Why?"
"Andy Kowalski - the engineer." Ash said quietly, not looking up to meet Freya's eyes. "But it wasn't our guys." he added quickly.
An involuntary sound - maybe a gasp, maybe an intake of breath - escaped from Freya and Meng turned his attention back to her. "You sure?" he asked. Though he was looking at Freya, desperately wanting to reach out to her, he was still talking to Ash.
"Yes. The shot came from the other side of the deck. I didn't see who it was though. Wasn't us though." he said. He started to reach out to Doctor Ryan but she pulled away. "I promise Doc, it wasn't one of ours..."
She didn't respond. After several minutes of silence, Meng sent Ash away under the guise of checking on Andy's condition. Ash tried to protest - they all knew - but when Freya shuddered again, he left quickly.
Though there was a chance she'd reject him, Meng stepped forward and slowly put his arms around Freya. She collapsed into them, her body heaving several times as the crying worsened.
"She was my best friend." Freya whispered into his jacket. "What do I do without my best friend?"
------
"There will be no more arrests or detainments made unless you have tangible proof to justify it!" Hunt shouted. He'd already tried being calm but Commander Bonwick had argued back with him - was STILL arguing with him about this. "That's an order Commander!"
"I have proof for every detainment I make Captain!"
"Being born an embryiotic or Quuvarii does not equate to proof! I expect to see evidence and reasonable suspicion in every report or you are not to take them in for questioning! Do you understand me?" Hunt argued. "I don't want to hear any more reports of random citizens being dragged in and interrogated for weeks on end simply because of an accident of birth!"
At some point Commander Katou had come in but neither of them had stopped yelling long enough to pay her any mind.
The silence in the room became thick after that as they stared at each other - each willing the other to begin the argument anew. But neither Bonwick nor Hunt were the first to break the silence, it was Katou. "I came regarding Lt. Kowalski's death."
Hunt and Bonwick both swirled toward her. "What is it?" Hunt demanded at the same time Bonwick scoffed, "There's no need for that, it's obvious she was killed by the rebels." she said, gaining a glare from Captain Hunt.
"I'm not debating that possibility." Katou said quietly.
"It's only that...I was in the lab at the time and I saw Julian Ice lingering nearby. I didn't see the shooting, but perhaps he did and can shed some light on it. He may have even seen the shooter." Katou said steadily.
"Julian?" Captain Hunt asked, practicing to keep his voice level. "You saw him?"
"Yes Captain. He was just in the area...perhaps he saw nothing. But he was there..." Katou replied.
"I think you ought to question Mr. Ice then." Captain Hunt said to Bonwick. "You understand my orders?" Bonwick grudgingly nodded, a snarl firmly fixed on her face. "Good." Hunt said with a crisp nod as he left the security office.
------
For the second time that day, Ash made his way toward the main deck using the intricate weave of tunnels and old maintenance hallways. How he wished he could just walk right across the deck as he once had but Meng wanted everyone to stay out of sight as much as possible even if they weren't a known rebel. Though Ash had been with the Sons of Liberty almost as long as there had been a Sons of Liberty, he had never officially been tagged as one. That suited him just fine because it allowed him to get closer than Meng or Freya could for example.
Once he reached the medical ward, he didn't even have to pass through the doors to know the truth. There were a couple engineers talking sadly just outside the ward about a memorial of some sort.
Andy Kowalski was dead.
Before anyone noticed him, he slipped back into the shadows and began the journey back to the core of the SoL hideout. He checked frequently for any followers but there were none. During one such check, his eye fell on a discarded piece of paper and he picked it up. Paper was an odd enough sight but scrawled across the paper was a dire warning. "aliens, attack, 7...???"
He shoved the paper into his pocket and picked up the pace. Seven what? hours? days? And when had this note been written?
Time was running out, for everyone.
------
Before Ash could return with what was sure to send Freya into another round of hysterics, Meng scooped her up into his arms and carried her toward his own bedroom.
For once, she didn't fight him. She didn't even whimper as he laid her down on the blanket. She instantly curled up into a trembling ball. Meng stretched out beside her, letting his fingers graze hers.
"Freya..." Meng started, though he wasn't sure what he would say to her. Though he was close to Brandon and Lana, he'd never really had the comfort of a best friend and he'd never had a family really.
Of course all his worry didn't matter as she didn't respond to him. If it weren't for the occasional shudder and sob, he would have thought she'd fallen asleep.
"I'm sorry." he whispered finally, stroking his thumb along her fingers.
"Of all the people that have died in this...I don't think I ever cried for them." Freya's voice was tiny, barely even a whisper. "I feel each one but...but not like this..." She didn't move from her position at first, she didn't even open her eyes as she spoke. "She was one of the good guys Meng - and the good guys aren't suppose to die..." Without warning, she rolled over so her back was to him and slid between his arms, pressing herself against him.
He wrapped his arms around her tightly. "I don't think it works that way in real life..."
"No, no it doesn't..." Freya said. After that she finally did fall asleep, comforted by his arms and his presence.
------
"You wanted to see me Captain?" Rob Jamison asked, stepping into the office. He was surprised at the darkness for a moment but didn't say anything.
Captain Hunt nodded. "Bonwick works fast...Lady Ice has handed down a new edict - in the name of the Council."
"I wasn't aware that the new Council had been seated yet." Jamison said.
"It hasn't." Hunt said. He punched a few keys on his computer and seemed to be glaring at the bright screen with all the fire of a thousand suns. "'In order to bring a swift and complete end to the criminal rebellion, all persons of embryiotic or Quuvarii birth will present themselves for questioning as requested by Council or the Security department. Failure to do so will result in arrest on sight regardless of circumstances.' etcetera etcetera...."
The two men fell silent and a million unvoiced thoughts lingered in the air.
"This may be our darkest hour Mr. Jamison." Captain Hunt said as he flicked the computer off. The office was submerged in near total darkness once again.
For the second time in as many hours, Freya opened her eyes to stare up into the bright lights of her own operating room. She felt like she'd gone through hell and back but had survived to tell the tale. Before anyone noticed she was awake, she had time to think back on how she'd ended up here, recalling the explosion and the note. She quietly reached into her pocket where the note had been tucked and clutched her hand around it reassuringly. If it was still there it was unlikely anyone had found it while transporting her or treating her.
Slowly she rose and instantly wished she hadn't. Her head was pounding and the upward mobility was enough to make her feel light headed and unstable. "Whoa there Doc, not so fast." Ash was at her side and trying to push her back down on the cold, hard operating table.
"I'm fine." she slurred. She cringed at the sound of her own voice but pushed against his firm hands.
"Uh huh, right. You said that before and then got yourself all sorts of blown up." Ash protested, not letting up on her.
"One thing has nothing to do with the other." Freya argued. "Just let me off the damn bed Ash."
His hold on her wavered for a moment as he turned toward the other side of the room where she noticed Meng was standing.
"Oh right - check with the boss..." Freya said sarcastically and rolled her eyes. She used his lapse in focus to shove past him and get off the bed. Her legs buckled under her and she nearly met the floor once more but she caught herself on the table just as she felt Meng's strong arms around her waist. "Get off of me..." she muttered, pushing away from him. For all her effort, she stumbled into the wall but didn't crumble or groan - no matter how much it hurt to further beat up her muscles.
"Doc! Really you just survived an explosion!" Ash called after her. Meng raised his hand to silence him and followed Freya out of the medical bay.
"Freya..." Meng said, taking half as many steps as she did.
"Go away..." Freya muttered. "I just want to go get cleaned up..."
"So you can meet Captain Hunt?" Meng asked, stepping in front of her and forcing her to stop walking and back up into the wall. Freya kept her face neutral and her mouth shut while he glared at her. He leaned in close to her, his hot breath on her neck as he reached into her pocket and pulled out the note. He held it close her face and raised an eyebrow. "You meet with the good Captain often?"
Freya snatched the note from his hand and returned his glare. "And if I did? Captain Hunt is a good man!"
"He's our enemy Freya!" Meng hissed back, glancing down the hall. He grabbed her by the arm, pulling her into an empty room. Freya bit her lip so she didn't grimace as he abused her already wounded muscles in the process. She may not have kept the pain out of her eyes though because as soon as they were in the room and he whipped around to look at her, he dropped her arm like a hot pipe and stepped away from her.
"He may be your enemy Meng but he's never been mine." Freya said as she carefully rubbed her throbbing arm. "I don't know why he wants to see me but he does - and I'll go because he may well be the only hope we have of coming out of this thing alive."
Meng seemed to be considering his arguments against this but just shook his head. "I don't like it...but be careful." he said before leaving the room.
Freya took a sharp intake of breath before she leaned back on the wall and slid down to the floor. She would very much like to stay there until her body stopped hurting but knew that couldn't happen. After a few minutes to collect herself, she slowly got back to her feet and limped quietly toward her room and the promise of a shower. Inside the shower, she gave herself a self examination of all the bumps and bruises. She certainly felt worse than she looked - aside from a particularly vicious looking gouge on her stomach where a piece of the metal bulkhead must of sliced into her.
------
Commander Bonwick walked along the main deck at a slow but steady pace, one hand constantly hovering over her weapon. The place was very nearly deserted but that didn't mean it should go unchecked - nothing went unchecked on her watch. She heard boots clanking on the metal deck and turned quickly in the direction but only saw Lt. Kowalski and Lt. Ice walking away from the mess hall.
She didn't try to hide her sneer as she watched them. She didn't trust them as far as she could throw them and would just as soon like to see them side with the rebels so she'd have an excuse to throw them in the brig with the rest of the traitors.
She watch them pass through the airlock to the next section before completing her cycle and returning to her office. She barely nodded to the officer on duty before he disappeared into the brig and dragged a bruised and battered rebel out from the depths of the brig. He roughly shoved the woman into a cold metal chair and shackled her in front of Bonwick. Bonwick nodded approvingly and then turned her attention to the woman in the chair. She was covered in bruises of varying stages of healing; most of those Bonwick had dealt herself. "Are you going to waste my time again today?" Bonwick asked, eager to break this one.
------
Captain Robert Hunt hid deep in the shadows of the old bar. No one came here anymore, no one ventured out their own doors if they could help it lately. He could just see the traffic on the deck outside the bar but unless someone came inside, he knew they wouldn't be able to see him lurking there. While he was only expecting one person to enter the bar, his hand rested on the butt of his weapon just in case.
He saw Andy pass with Julian and frowned. He couldn't hear what they were saying but Andy looked almost frantic and Julian still had that, somewhat unnerving blank, nearly dead, expression on his face. Though he had no reason to suspect they'd seen him or knew he was there, Hunt pulled back into the shadows even further until they passed the bar.
------
Commander Katou grumbled as she picked her way through her lab. The place had been decimated by a rebel raid on the place and almost all her research had been compromised in the process. Most of the specimens she'd collected over the years had been killed when they'd smashed the tanks and vented gas into the space but even that was only a minor irritant to the real damage that had been done.
The few remaining DNA samples had been destroyed so there would never be another generation of new embryotics. The chambers that had been specially designed to grow and nurture the infants in lieu of a biological carrier mother were the real target. She had two embryos developing at the time of the attack, one of which was viable and had presumably been taken by the rebels before they initiated a massive explosion in each of the chambers. Given the state of things and the resources required - it was unlikely she'd ever be able to recreate even one of the four chambers, not that she had a need anymore without any new DNA samples.
Even though weeks had passed and no progress had been made on restoring the lab to its former glory, Katou still came back to the wreckage and felt the wounds ripped open anew each time. As if the damned rebellion hadn't taken enough from her when half her scientists had turned traitor!
------
Freya was walking a few paces ahead of Ash, refusing to talk or acknowledge him. Of course she knew he was there, he made no effort to hide himself afterall, but she still prickled with annoyance that Meng had sent him along behind her in the first place. Even further behind Ash were two others as well, though they at least tried to hide themselves from her as they followed. They just weren't that good at escaping her observant eye.
When the little convoy approached the main deck, her three shadows hung back a bit while Freya peaked out around the bend. The bar was only a few paces away and, as it often was of late, the deck was clear. Freya hugged the wall and shadowy areas just outside the arcs of the dim lights until she reached the door of the bar. She glanced back at the deep shadowy area she'd come from and caught a flash of Ash's blue skin as he waved her on. Before she could open the door, it opened and she was gently pulled inside before it was shut again submerging her in near darkness.
"I'm glad you could make it Doctor." Captain Hunt said, stepping just inside the swath of light so Freya could see him.
"Yeah - I can't say I have long..." Freya said, glancing nervously out the windows back onto the deck. From her position she could see the security office and the old wrecked science lab as well as the doors to the medical ward.
"Of course not." Hunt said. "I won't keep you any longer than necessary." he reached into the shadowy area and picked up a data tablet, presumably from a table, and held it out to her.
Freya took it carefully but didn't activate it. "What's this?"
"Your medical records." Captain Hunt said.
Freya furrowed her brow. "No offense Captain but I have my medical records memorized - hell I have YOUR medical records memorized." she said.
"Not these - the records you know and have seen were altered - under orders - when you were only an infant." Hunt said. Freya's fingers hovered over the screen and she looked up at him as if asking permission. "By all means." he said, stepping out of the light as she read through the quickly.
"I don't...I don't understand..." Freya said to the darkness. "This makes no sense..." She read the data again and shook her head. "Why are you telling me this now?"
"Because knowledge is power." Hunt said, stepping back out of the shadows, this time right next to her. "And there may come a time in the not too distant future that you'll need the truth." He paused and though Freya could barely see his face, she thought he might be considering his next words carefully. "Plans are in motion where I would likely not have the chance to get this information to you Freya. Use it or don't, but at least you know..."
"Captain?" Freya asked, her voice now edged with concern due to his foreboding tone.
Hunt shook his head. "Time's running out Freya. The Council will be back in power by the time the week is out and then....things will be worse. Worse than they are now for any captured rebels or even suspected rebels..."
Freya nodded, understanding instantly why he was concerned. She gnawed on her lip as she thought and Hunt stayed mercifully silent. "They're talking about blowing a section off the ship - of separating..." she said quietly, as if afraid even the walls had ears.
Hunt nodded as if he'd already known this, or maybe he was just expecting it. "One week Freya - after that..." he trailed off but Freya nodded. She thought she understood his meaning. Hunt's eyes were no longer on her as he looked passed her through the window. His face with crossed with confusion. Freya turned around in time to see Andy pass the window and she yearned to step out and hug her friend. Steeling her resolve she turned back to the captain but his attention was still on the window and his brow was furrowed.
------
The broken woman was whimpering and slumped weakly in the chair, blood dripping from her nose and mouth. Commander Bonwick sneered as she was dragged back into the brig and stepped over to the window with a small smile. The information from the woman may very well turn out to be old or false considering how long she'd been locked up but Bonwick wasn't particularly concerned with validity with this one.
She saw Lt. Kowalski crossing the deck again, this time alone, and was about to step out to ask her what she was up to when she heard the ruckus from the brig. With a sigh, she turned away from the door and window in order to silence to prisoners.
------
Andy looked back behind her once again, wondering what had become of Julian. They'd walked all the way to the Captain's quarters and found them empty. Somewhere on the way back toward the Deck she'd lost her companion without so much as a word. It was like he'd just vanished into thin air. She shook her head and continued peaking into the dark shops, still looking for Captain Hunt.
Andy looked down at the crumbled paper again, rereading the information and trying to make sense of it all before spinning around to keep up the search.
The disrupter fire echoed across the Deck and Andy felt the sting and pain just second after she heard the shot. She had second to look down at the pool of blood before the collapsed onto the deck. Her grip on the paper loosened and she watched, in agony, as it fluttered away from her and soon slipped between the cracks and was lost to the lower levels.
She realized the pain was going away as she heard the boots coming toward her. 'Maybe it's not so bad after all...' she thought to herself just as Freya's face swam into view.
