Project Unity: Season 2

Chapter 15

"Would ya just stop fussing over me woman? I'm fine!" Dex's words, though slightly slurred as a result of the stroke, rang clear through the medical ward. Jordan was unmoved as Dex tried to push past her in an attempt to rise from the bed. Standing in the door frame, Freya covered her mouth quickly to hide the chuckle.

With a kind but firm touch, Jordan pushed him back down and crossed her arms across her crest. "You will not get out of that bed until the doctors say you can!" He glared at the two of them and harrumphed before crossing his own arms.

Freya stepped forward, "glad to see you're awake Dex." She scooped his chart up and started skimming through it, avoiding his intense gaze.

"What's with the uniform change?" Dex asked, glancing over her traveling ensemble. "You going some where?"

"The surface. We arrived in orbit of Ne'Vha a few hours ago," Freya said, still skimming the chart. "I'll be escorting Lieutenant Ice and Commander Bonwick down to the hospital in the colony."

Jordan frowned, "has there been any change for Julian?"

Freya shook her head silently. "Well, looks like you'll be spared a trip after all Dex. But," she said quickly interrupting his renewed attempts to rise. "You'll need a lot of physical therapy to recover completely. The muscle stimulators we gave you will only last so long. Then the hard work begins."

"Can I take him home?" Jordan asked, gripping her husband's hand tightly.

"Not quite," Freya said, setting the chart back into the wall slot. "But soon I imagine, if he doesn't do anything too foolish to derail recovery," she added with a grin. "It'll take time Dex but in a few weeks, this will all be a distant memory. In the meantime, you are off-duty. Understood?" Though he grumbled and groused about it, Freya could see the tiredness in his eyes. "Okay, I better go. I just wanted to check in before I left."

"Be careful Freya," Jordan said as Freya turned to go. "I'm sure those doctors down there are great but we don't know anything about them really. So be careful down there."

"And you be careful up here," Freya said, thinking of all the strange engineering personnel that would be swarming the ship soon for the overhaul.

------

Captain Hunt stared out the window toward the sprawling space dock, wondering how much he could trust the people who would be fixing up his ship soon. It was more than his engineering team could manage alone, even if they had the resources, but it was hard to open those doors to people they barely knew.

"Robert?" Her voice was soft, edged with concern. She laid her cheek against his shoulder and waited, patiently, for him to turn toward her.

"You're not real," he said, not daring to pull his eyes from the space dock. Not daring to look at her long gone face.

"I'm here aren't I?" she whispered, running her fingers into his hair. He closed his eyes, allowing himself to feel her touch as it parted the thinning strands on his neck.

The clank of boot heals on the metal deck broke the spell, sending her away in a wisp. "No, you're not," Hunt said under his breath. He took a long breath and shook the memory of her away.

"Captain Robert Hunt I presume?" Hunt turned on his ankle to greet the newcomer. "My name is Chief Garr't – I oversee all our major repairs here." Unlike the others they'd seen so far, Garr't was neither human nor Quuvarii. His green tinted skin had a scaly, reptilian quality to it and his coal black eyes were tiny and sunken, giving him a snake like face.

"Pleasure to meet you," Captain Hunt said, extending his hand. The alien looked at it curiously for a moment before recognition dawned and he returned the gesture.

"Such an odd gesture, the shaking of hands. I've seen only a few of the humans continue it over the years," Garr't said. He mused briefly before holding up the pad in his hand. "I have the results of our initial scans of your ship to go over. We've highlighted what we consider the most important repairs...." he paused and looked down the hall anxiously.

"Is there a problem Chief?"

"No, only I usually do this with the ship's engineer present. We find it saves time and general bickering in the long run."

"Sorry Captain! Sorry!" Jordan jogged toward them. "I was in the medical ward – Dex woke up finally, and then he tried to force his way out of bed when I told him about this. You know how he is," she stopped, finally seeing the unfamiliar alien. "Oh, sorry. Hello," she said, thrusting her hand out to Garr't.

"Chief Garr't, this is Lieutenant Jordan Dexter – my acting Chief Engineer. Lieutenant, Chief Garr't will be overseeing our repairs," Captain Hunt said as they shook hands. "Shall we Chief?"

"Of course," Garr't said. "Naturally there are several main systems that need maintenance and repair – I admit we were fascinated by your vessel. Not many generational ships come through here. It's clear you've encountered many species over the course of your travels – we only directly recognized about fifty percent of the technology." With that opening, the pair of engineers were engrossed with each other, leaving Captain Hunt to trail behind with only half a mind on them.

"That was you once," she said, slipping her hand into his and matching his pace. "The eager young engineer who could talk for hours about engines and testric fields." Hunt faltered a step at her materialization but the pair took little notice of him. "Do you remember him? The boy I fell for? I do – back before...well, just before." Robert glanced over at her, hoping for a glimpse of light in her crystal blue eyes but she had turned away from him. For a moment he was sure he saw a tear slide down her cheek but that seemed impossible. Could ghosts cry?

He was still musing on that possibility when Jordan drew his attention back into the present, "right Captain?" she asked, smiling at him. Clearly she hadn't noticed his inattention yet.

"I trust your judgment in these matters Lieutenant," he said, flexing his fingers where her hand had just been. "If you'll both excuse me, I need to speak with Doctor Ryan before she leaves. I assume the two of you can assess the ship."

"Of course Captain," Chief Garr't said, feigning confidence. In fact, this was all highly unusual to him but he'd never dealt with humans outside of the colony. Beside him the lieutenant was nodding awkwardly as well, giving her commander reassurances despite her general uncertainty.

Hunt either didn't notice the falsities or didn't care because he nodded and spun around to march away in the other direction.

------

Freya double checked Bonwick's dressings one more time before nodding to the waiting nurse. "Tell Lieutenant Franklin I'll be ready in ten minutes please." She'd already watched as they guided Julian's bed toward the hangar bay and now only had to grab her gear and follow her patients.

His anxious fidgeting drew her attention. She'd seen the young man hovering over the commander's bed before but hadn't taken the time to speak to him yet. "Will she be okay?" he asked, just as Freya grabbed her bag from the lockers. "Will my mother be okay?" When she caught his eye, she saw unshed tears at the brim, threatening to spill at any moment.

"I don't know," Freya replied honestly. "Her injuries were..."

"Extensive. I know," he said, cutting her off. "I... I've come before but never know what to say to her. We haven't really spoken much in the last year."

"You're only seventeen, do you not still live with her?" Freya asked, unable to squelch her curiosity.

He shook his head, "I left after the rebellion started. Let's just say we didn't see eye to eye on most things. She wanted me to hate you," he grimaced as the words left his mouth. "Not you specifically but..."

"I understand," Freya said. "Has anyone explained her condition to you?" He shook his head quickly. "She was burned, quite badly, as I'm sure you know. We've had her sedated so she could heal. However, her body is now fighting an infection where we used new skin grafts."

"She's rejecting the grafts then?" he asked.

Freya nodded appreciatively. "In a manner of speaking, yes. It's possible that we can get the infection under control but if we can't...."

"She could die," he concluded, nodding slowly as he absorbed this knowledge. "Thank you doctor – for doing everything you can to save her even though..."

"Everyone who comes through here belongs to someone – and deserves our best effort," Freya said, reaching out to lay a comforting hand on his arm. "Personnel transports should begin in a day or two – you should be able to come see her then. If you're interested, I'll make sure you have priority? Your name is Jake right?"

"Yes, thank you Doctor, I'll let you know," he turned and practically ran from the medical ward.

Freya followed him out, glancing the way he'd gone briefly before turning toward the lifts. She barely made it three steps before Captain Hunt fell into step beside her. "It's getting worse," he said, his voice low.

"I told you it would," Freya didn't need to ask to what he was referring. "You should have come in for a full scan as soon as the symptoms began."

"I don't need a lecture Doctor," Hunt protested, glancing around him as they walked.

"Robert, listen to me. You have a tumor in your brain – I don't know how big it is or if it can be treated. I only know it's there now and it wasn't there six months ago. It's going to get worse if you don't let us do a proper exam and begin some sort of treatment."

"That sounds an awful lot like a lecture," Hunt said as they approached the lifts. "When will you be back from the surface?"

"Will you let me examine your brain? If so, I'm back already..." Freya said with a small smile.

"When you get back from settling your patients in," Hunt said. "I'll submit to the doctor's orders then."

Freya narrowed her eyes suspiciously for a moment but nodded. "Keep taking the medicine – hopefully it will keep the symptoms at bay for a few days longer." A team of space dock engineers glanced their way, accompanied by one of their own. After exchanging nods, Freya looked anxiously toward the Captain. "Are we sure about this?"

Hunt watched them silently for several seconds before nodding. "It's what needs to be done. We can't keep limping through space indefinitely. Safe travels doctor."

As soon as she stepped out of the lift, another set of footsteps joined hers. "You disappeared this morning again," Meng said, struggling to appear casual.

"I had to pack," Freya said tapping the duffel bag that hung off her shoulder. "I'm going to the surface – as I'm sure you know." Meng nodded but said nothing more as they closed in on the hangar bay. "I'll be back in a few days." She hesitated just outside the double doors and turned toward him suddenly. "Keep an eye on the Captain for me..." she said, her voice low. Before he could reply, she triggered the door sensor and took long strides toward the shuttles.

Meng, not to be deterred so easily, jogged after her. "The captain? Why?"

Freya plastered a fake smile on her face and shrugged. "Just because of the refit – it's going to make him crazy having all these aliens poking at his ship." She waved to Lieutenant Franklin and then climbed into the shuttle, stowing her medical gear and duffel in the forward compartment. As she turned to check on her patients, Meng followed her in. "What are you doing?"

"Oh I'm coming with you," he said, a mischievous smile playing across his lips as he dropped into the pilot's chair.

"No, you're not," Freya said. "See the cramped quarters? Room for two patients, a doctor and a pilot. So unless you're critically injured..."

"I'm your pilot," he said as Lieutenant Franklin poked her head through the hatch. "We're just about set Lieutenant."

"Very good, safe travels. Watch the landing Commander," she warned. Meng's hands were already moving across the control panel as he powered up the shuttle and prepared for their flight.

Freya looked between the pair of them, confusion etched across her face. "You don't know how to fly though..."

"Oh he can fly this bucket just fine Doctor. Don't worry, you're in good hands," Lieutenant Franklin said with a reassuring smile.

"Fly? Yes. Land? Ehh...." Meng glanced over his shoulder at them and shrugged casually.

The Lieutenant chuckled. "He was an ace student – don't let him fool you," she said before grabbing the hatch and closing it for them with a loud hiss.

"Oh he rarely does..." Freya muttered to the sealed door. "So, flying lessons then?" she asked as she checked over Bonwick's vitals and tugged carefully at the straps.

"You weren't the only one who couldn't sleep," Meng said. "You about done back there?" Freya gave Julian's straps a final tug and then nodded before climbing into the seat beside him. "Control, this is Pod One – permission to disembark?"

After a brief pause, the final red light on the panel switched to green. "Granted Pod One. Fair winds Commander," Captain Hunt's voice replied. "See you in a couple days." In front of them, the metal barrier that separated the bay from space began to creak open, revealing the curve of the planet below and the massive metal cages of the space dock.

As the pod slid out of the bay, Freya noticed dozens of smaller vessels darting between the grid arms at the port, no doubt shuttling engineers to and from the vessels in need of repairs. "Wow," Meng said, watching the scene unfold as he guided the pod away from the safety of Unity. A half dozen ships, all of them a small fraction of Unity's size, were docked or waiting for instruction. They skimmed past in silence, both absorbed in the massive operation and their own thoughts.

Finally, as the space dock slipped beyond their view ports, Freya slid her medical kit out from under the chair and loaded an injector. "Here, you'll need this," she said, holding it up for him to see.

"What is it?" Meng asked.

"The gravity on the surface is heavier than that on the ship and the atmosphere has a slightly varied chemical make up then ours. This," she said, jiggling the injector, "is to counteract the body's reaction to environmental changes."

Meng nodded and twisted his head to expose a small section of his neck for her to administer the drug. "Will everyone have to take this?"

"Yes, unless they want to feel nauseous, light-headed and stumble for the first twenty-four to forty-eight hours. If we went planet-side more often, it probably wouldn't be necessary," Freya said. She returned the empty injector to her medical kit and then moved back to the rear of the shuttle.

Meng swiveled around in his chair and watched her check over her patients again. "So, it occurs to me that maybe I should be offended – or at least taking a hint – from your morning disappearing acts."

"I told you, I had to pack," she said, glancing his way briefly.

"Mmhmm, yeah I know that for this morning. But you've done this every morning," he pointed out. "Is there something..."

"I couldn't sleep," Freya said quickly, cutting him off. "I can't sleep. And I'm not going to waste my time staring at the ceiling."

"So that's it? You just can't sleep? Nothing more?" Meng asked, the picture of calm.

Freya nodded weakly, her hand straying to her stomach as a twinge of nausea took root. "What else would it be?" she asked quietly.

"I don't know Freya. I never know with you." Meng said with a shrug. "Truth be told, I'm not sure I know you at all some times."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Freya asked, her face twisting in anger. Meng held up his hands defensively and shook his head, trying to drop the subject. Though part of her wanted to push the issue, wanted to trigger the inevitable fight, she closed her eyes and slid down the wall. "Do you remember what we were doing before the first time we...." she trailed off, a tiny smile on her face as the memory came back to her.

Meng, though startled by the topic shift, merely shrugged. "Not really."

"We were arguing – about the massacre in bay twelve. All those civilians, and children," Freya swiped at her cheek as a few tears started to fall. "I was angry, so angry and I blamed you."

"Well I was to blame so it was justified," Meng said as he sat down on the deck across from her.

"No, you weren't really but that's not the point. The next time it happened – do you remember?"

"What we were doing before hand? No I don't really," Meng said, confused.

"We were arguing. Again. And the next time, and the next time until it became habit," Freya chuckled sadly. "Don't you see Meng?"

"See what Freya? That we argue?"

Freya shook her head, "we used each other as an outlet for our emotions. It was easy, it was convenient. It wasn't supposed to be anything more."

"But it is!" Meng said, sliding closer to her and grabbing her hands. "Maybe it started off how you said but that was then. And now..."

"And now – I'm not ready," Freya whispered. She looked over his shoulder toward Julian's prone form.

Meng recoiled from her after following her gaze. "Because of him?" he asked, jumping to his feet. "How can you still feel anything for him Freya?"

"I don't!" Freya shouted, getting to her feet. "I don't FEEL anything for him but h-he..." she trailed off, unsure of the right words.

"He destroyed you Freya. And he killed your best friend and you're letting him..."

Freya's eyes grew wide as she looked from Julian to Meng, "what did you just say?"

Meng's face, usually the picture of calm and serenity, fell as he realized what he'd said. What he'd done. Freya slid back to the floor in a heap, an anguished sob escaping her lips. "Freya, I - I'm sorry. I didn't want..."

"It's not possible. He - he wouldn't..." Even as she protested she knew she was wrong. She looked past Meng toward Julian's broken body and shuddered. The Julian she knew - her Julian - wasn't there anymore.

She felt his hand on her shoulder but didn't turn to face him, her gaze was transfixed as thoughts tumbled through her head in a dizzying blur. "I'm sorry Freya. I am so sorry." Meng leaned closer, ready to envelope her in his arms but she recoiled, twisting toward the tiny bathroom as the nausea finally overwhelmed her. Meng jumped aside at the last moment, hovering awkwardly as she threw up her meager breakfast. "You okay?"

Freya shook her head slowly, letting the wave of nausea pass before slumping back. "No, no I'm not," she said, refusing to meet his eyes. Despite his silence, she could feel his steady gaze watching her. Silently she wished he were back on Unity, far from here where she could continue to avoid these awkward moments. "I'm pregnant Meng," she said, training her eyes on a divot in the bulkhead.

The silence that followed her revelation was deafening and unnerving. When she finally looked up, Meng was grinning broadly, unable to hold back the sudden swell of emotion he felt. His smile faltered when their eyes locked and then faded completely. "You're not happy about this," he concluded.

Freya shook her head, "as I said, I'm not ready." She carefully pulled herself up, resting briefly against the wall to recover her balance. Meng's usual emotional shroud had returned and his face was a mask once more. If she looked hard enough she could probably discern the emotions simmering just beneath the surface but he didn't give her the chance. Without another word, he returned to the pilot's seat and focused his energy on the flight.

"We'll be landing in fifteen minutes," he announced a moment later without looking back.

Though he couldn't see her, Freya nodded in response before turning her attention to her patients. Fifteen minutes. She could handle fifteen more minutes. As if sensing her desperation for distraction, the monitor attached to Bonwick began wailing. The incessant beeps echoed off the walls of the tiny pod until Freya bullied it into silence. "Meng! Hand me my medical bag," Freya said, staggering

toward Bonwick's side.

"What's the matter?" he asked, making no move toward the bag stowed near his feet.

"The bag Meng!" Freya shouted, pressing her fingers against Bonwick's neck. No pulse. She looked back at Meng expectantly but his eyes were fixed on Bonwick's failing body. His expression, so capable of warmth and love, was icy as he stared at her. "Meng," Freya spoke softly, as if approaching a wild animal, "she's a horrible person. She is, there's no denying that. But there is a seventeen year old boy on Unity who just wants to see his mother again. And I want to be able to tell him I did everything I could to make that happen."

Meng, though ravaged by memories of his crumbled, broken father, nodded silently and reached for the bag. "What can I do?" he asked as he held it out to her.

"Call the hospital, tell them one of the patients has coded and to have personnel standing by when we land. And get us there faster," Freya said, rummaging around in the bag. "Much faster," she muttered under her breath.

------

"Patient is forty-one year old human, female," the nurse said, shouting over the chaos of transporting her from the roof landing pad to the unit. "Suffering secondary infection following skin grafts to treat severe plasma burns. Cardiac activity ceased...." she trailed off, looking toward Freya expectantly.

Freya glanced at her chron, "twelve minutes ago," she said meekly. Across the bed, Doctor Azael's eyebrows shot up. "She has a son, Jake," Freya said, pleadingly. "It'll take at least an hour to get him here..." She couldn't finish her thought but they all knew.

Meng, who had been standing in the corner uselessly while they attempted to revive Aribeth Bonwick, caught her eyes and nodded. Without a word, he ran back toward the roof where the pod, and Julian, had been left behind just minutes before. "Pod One to Unity, come in."

"Go ahead One," replied a static filled voice.

"You need to get Jake Bonwick on a shuttle immediately," Meng said, slumping back into the seat. He was still there, staring out across the colony, when the two medics came for Julian Ice. They may have said something to him, he may have even grunted some reply, but Meng made no attempt to move until Freya slid into the seat beside him. "He should be on his way," he said, glancing over at her questioningly. "Will she make it?" he asked, when she offered no immediate reply.

Freya shook her head. "She's hooked up to machines to keep her breathing. But after he comes..." she trailed off.

"After he says goodbye," Meng said, filling the silence. She said nothing, but she didn't have to. Without a word, she left the shuttle, walking slowly back toward the hospital interior. Every step she took seemed to require sheer force of will to keep moving forward and occasionally she'd stop, as if to catch her breath before pushing on. He wanted to summon her back. Or better yet, run towards her and

scoop her up to relieve her burden but she wouldn't welcome him. Not now. With a heavy sigh, he turned his attention to the controls. The door sealed closed with a mournful hiss. "Goodbye," he muttered, as the pod lifts off from the roof.

End Chapter

Project Unity: Season 2

Chapter 14

Freya ran her hands over the smooth surface again, tracing the letters with the tip of her finger slowly. In ordinary circumstances, the cargo bay would have been reverted back to a cargo hold in the shift following the service. Now, more than a week later, the trappings had not been removed or stored. A fine layer of dust had collected on the displays, obscuring the names of the dead.

"Freya?" His voice broke through her reverie again, making her flinch slightly. How long had he been standing in the doorway? He shifted, his boots made a scrapping sound against the metal flooring. "Freya."

"Shut up," Freya said softly without turning toward him. She didn't want to see him – not right now. She continued her course along the wall of names, stopping before a familiar name to disturb the dust.

"Excuse me?" he asked, standing up a little straighter in annoyance. It took all his willpower to remain rooted in the doorway instead of getting in her face and forcing her to acknowledge him.

"Shut up," she repeated. She paused, sucking in several deep breaths and leaning against the wall for support. "Just shut up," she whispered with her eyes closed tightly. She reached out for the display, intent on removing the film of dust, but recoiled at the last second as if burned. "Oh Andy..."

------

She sat away from the other children, curling up into the smallest space possible in order to hide from their view. She had a data pad in her lap but the words on the screen couldn't hold her interest. A cascade of red hair fell across her face but she could just peek between the strands to watch them laughing and playing together. No one noticed the quiet new girl.

"Hi," she said, squatting beside Freya and grinning broadly. Correction, almost no one noticed. Freya twisted around toward the source of the greeting and gulped. The girl's hair shot in just about every direction as if it hadn't been brushed in days and had bright pink tips. "You the new girl? Mrs. Hunt said we were getting a transfer from the tertiary class today. I figure you must be her. Big jump from tertiary to primary! You must be really smart! Are you?"

"Am I what?" Freya asked, her eyes still wide.

"Smart? Oh! I'm Andrea Kawolski by the way – but you can call me Andy, in fact I'd prefer it," Andy stuck out her hand expectantly.

Freya glanced at it for a second before offering her own hand in timid response. "Freya. Freya R--" she trailed off. Her family name would give her away as an embryotic – not that she could keep the secret for long – "You can call my Freya," she concluded with an awkward smile.

"Nice to meet ya Freya. I can introduce you around if you want?" Andy said, straightening up and offering her hand to help Freya up as well. Freya glanced over at the other children and shook her head quickly. "You don't have to be shy or anything, they're all pretty nice. Mostly anyway....you tend to get used to the less pleasant ones." When Freya shook her head, Andy shrugged it off. "Suit yourself."

The children grew quiet and parted as Mrs. Hunt, their teacher, approached the small school. "Good morning children."

"Good morning Mrs. Hunt," they chimed in near unison. Freya, still tucked into the corner, remained silently in awe of them until Andy nudged her with her foot. Freya, reluctantly, got to her feet beside her new potential friend.

The teacher and the other children noticed the movement at the same time and soon all eyes were trained on the timid red-head. "You must be Freya Ryan," Mrs. Hunt said with a pleasant smile on her face. Freya nodded grimly and glanced over at Andy as the others mulled over her name. Most of them seemed ignorant but she could see a few raised eyebrows in the mist, Andy's amongst them. But unlike the hateful look on one of the boy's faces, Andy merely looked surprised. "Mrs. Collins has never spoken so highly of any of her pupils Freya. I think you'll do well here."

"But she's one of them," the hateful boy spat. Those who hadn't made the connection yet glanced his way curiously. "She's an embryiotic," he said, funneling all his anger into the final word.

No one else seemed as bothered by this fact, certainly not Mrs. Hunt. "Xavier James Rheyer, you will keep your prejudice and hatred away from my classroom, do you understand?" Though he was momentarily culled, Freya could see him fuming silently to a band of boys around him. "We should find you a desk Freya."

"The spot next to me is free ma'am," Andy spoke up quickly. "Emily just tested for her ascent last week." Freya smiled, grateful not to end up next to any of the others – especially Xavier.

"Perfect," Mrs. Hunt said kindly. She turned to the rest of the group and ushered them inside. "We have a lot to get done today and I still have to teach the secondaries after you lot so get to your desks all of you. Andy, would you help Freya catch up today?"

------

"What are you doing tonight?" Hoshimi Katou asked, dropping down onto the lounge without preamble. Ari grumbled at the sudden intrusion but Hoshimi could always see right through the facade she put up. The fact that Ari's face lit up and her mouth curved into a mischievous grin may have also given her away. "You're not! Ari! You know it's against the rules!"

"We're just friends," Ari lied. She glanced away, refusing to make eye contact with her inquisitive friend. "And even if we weren't, it's just a dalliance. It's nothing..."

"If you get caught, you'll lose your position Ari! You've worked half your life to be selected for the security team. Do you really want to throw that away for a boy? Especially one of them?" While Hoshimi could respect Ari's physical attraction to Jake, she couldn't understand her friend's growing attachment.

"Well I have no intention of getting caught Hosh. You're not going to tell and I'm certainly not – nor is Jake. It's not like we're meeting on the main deck or anything..." Ari jumped to her feet and danced away with a giggle. "I have to go get ready!"

"I thought it was just a dalliance." Hoshimi said grimly. "Ari!" she called out as her friend reached the door way. "Just don't do anything too stupid?"

"When have I ever done anything stupid?" Ari asked grinning.

"Too many times," Hoshimi said under her breath. With a sigh, she pushed off the lounged and followed Ari out onto the deck. Her path back to her family's quarters meandered through half of the second section. She didn't realize until then that she'd been counting on Ari's availability tonight so she wouldn't have to go home for dinner. Twice she spun around, intent on going back to the lab and feigning work but both times, fealty turned her back toward home.

"Hoshimi!" her mother smiled broadly as she entered. "I hoped you'd be home for dinner this evening, I'm making your favorite – Trilec Soup."

"That's Han's favorite," Hoshimi said, barely resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

As if on cue, the aforementioned Han ran out from his room, thrusting a data pad excitedly in her mother's face. "Look Mom! I finished it!" The blond haired, blue eyed boy looked nothing like the rest of the family of course. To Hoshimi, he was a unpleasant blemish that she'd like to erase from all the pictures and memories.

To her parents, however, Han was a salve that eased their secondary infertility. After years of trying to have a second child, they'd entered an application into the Embryiotic Host Program. Given their status, it took the committee less than a week to approve the application. It wasn't long before her parents were gushing over the pregnancy and soon a newborn with whom they shared no biological connection.

Apparently forgotten, Hoshimi turned her attention to the Trilec soup that was simmering on the stove top. She frowned as the vegetables and meat rose the surface with each twist of the spoon. "I think I'll get something in the mess..." The meat, though undoubtedly replicated, made her stomach churn on sight.

"Now don't be silly Hoshimi. We're going to have a nice family dinner," her mother said, using her scolding voice. "Han, darling, please set the table. Your father should be home any minute."

"He's not his father," Hoshimi said, earning a admonishing look from her mother. "And I'm a vegetarian remember? I'm going to the mess."

"Hoshimi! You come back here right now," but the words were lost as the doors slid shut behind her. She practically ran from the quarters, praying she didn't pass her father in her retreat and face further censure.

She wandered the main deck for a few minutes before setting her course for the lab. With any luck she could bury herself in work until everyone had gone to bed. First thing in the morning, she'd put in a request for her own quarters. Maybe she could find refuge with Ari until it processed.

The science lab was dark and empty already as the ship had entered the simulated evening phase. Hoshimi found the solitude welcoming tonight and slipped behind her computer station. As her station was booting up, she heard a stifled sob and twisted around to find the source. A sliver of light from one of the tanks fell across Ari's feet, revealing her hiding place. "Oh Ari! What's wrong?" Hoshimi said, jumping up from the chair and to comfort her friend.

"He....he....he was..." Sobs erupted again, shattering the speech into incomprehensible bits. Hoshimi reached out a comforting hand but that only served to make Ari cry harder. "He was with someone else!" Ari finally managed to shout, between gasps. Hoshimi wrapped her arms around Ari and let her cry for several minutes in the darkness. She whispered soothing lies all while cursing the boy who'd betrayed her friend. "He waited to get what he wanted and then just... he just moved on..."

"What he wanted?" Hoshimi asked, feigning innocence. Ari's renewed jerking cries confirmed her fears more than any words every could. "Oh Ari...."

------

"Commander? We have new scans," a young, unfamiliar lieutenant clutched a data pad close to his chest.

Robert glanced up at the timid face and smiled reassuringly. He held out his hand expectantly but the lieutenant remained rooted in place, unsure of his next course of action. Robert cleared his throat and glanced at the data pad. With a small jump of realization, the new officer thrust the report into outstretched hand. "Thank you," he said, ignoring a small smirk coming from the station behind him. "How current are these?" he said, skimming the data.

"Um, within the last hour sir," the officer said, gulping.

"Thank you, you may go," he said with a frown. Behind him, Dex waited for the lift doors to hiss closed leaning forward to comment. Robert, expecting this, held up a hand to stop him. "There's been activity."

"Near the asteroid field? Gahzi?" he asked, letting his rebuff die. Robert nodded, still reading the data. "Should we cancel the operation? I don't need to tell you how badly we need that ore Robert," he dropped his voice to a near whisper.

"No, you don't," he said, sighing. "I'll be in the office – you have the bridge Dex." Once he was safely ensconced in the Captain's office, he dropped into the desk chair and swiveled casually back and forth as he read and reread the scan report. "It's just a patrol," he mused out loud. "We negotiated with the Valran for mining rights." He ran his hand through his hair, a nervous habit that would probably make him a candidate for early hair loss, as he considered the options. Making his decision, he pressed the comm button, "Dex, bump the morning briefing back an hour – we're going ahead with the op but we should take a few extra precautions. And have Lieutenant Nally send a squad leader to the brief."

"You sure about this?" Dex asked when they were alone a few hours later, still waiting on the others to arrive. "We could wait for the Gahzi to pass through..."

"The Gahzi don't pass through anywhere quickly Dex. Time is not a luxury we have and we have a deal with the Valran," Robert said, trying to sound confident. For the first time since assuming temporary command, he longed to step back and let someone else make the tough decisions. "We're going ahead with it." Dex nodded but made no further comment. In a few minutes the mining team Dex had assembled filed into the conference room. Darius Hunt came in last, looking slightly frazzled and out of breath. "Run the whole way Lieutenant?" Robert asked, raising his eyebrows.

"I – I only just got the message Da- Commander," he said, blushing. "You could have commed me," he whispered under his breath.

"Well where would the fun in that be?" Robert grinned and pointed out an empty seat at the table. "Take a seat Lieutenant." He waited for the general scuffle and scrape of chairs to stop before calling their attention forward. "Most of you have already been briefed by Lieutenant Dexter on the mining operation so we'll skim over that part. What you need to know is that a Gahzi patrol was picked up in the field on scans last night. As of this moment, there are two small ships – standard Gahzi formation. They're not directly in our path and we're outside of their short range scanners."

"What about long range?" Darius asked, raising his hand slightly as an afterthought.

"Gahzi patrol ships have limited long range capabilities. Usually because there is a larger mother ship somewhere in range; we don't know where she is yet. The point is, we need to get in and get out as quickly as possible," Robert said, turning toward Dex.

"Will take us at least twelve hours," he said, while the engineers around him nodded in agreement.

"You probably have six – maybe. But we'll give you as long as we can. Lieutenant Hunt will lead a squadron to escort you all to the rock and patrol."

"I will sir?" Darius asked, his eyes wide. A few of the engineers snickered. "I mean, shouldn't Lieutenant Nally be here?"

"Lieutenant Nally has already been briefed and assigned you. If there's no trouble, he'll bring in a new squadron to relieve you after six hours. I don't need to remind any of you how desperately we need to pull this off do I?" Robert asked, meeting each of their eyes for a moment. "Alright, Lieutenant, get your squad assembled. Departure is in two hours, good hunting everyone."

Darius took his time collecting his single data pad and getting to his feet. He glanced up as the last of the engineers – Dex – left the room. "You didn't...you know...arrange this assignment, did you?"

"Darius, you've been a squad leader for six months and have barely seen the inside of a cockpit – let alone any real flight time. It's just time. Besides, this will hopefully be nothing more than a babysitting mission," Robert said.

"Yeah, okay," Darius said with a sharp nod.

"Stop by and say goodbye to your mother before you leave," Robert said.

"Dad, it's a six hour mission..."

"Darius, you know how she'll worry the moment she finds out you're out there. Just do me this favor please?" Though he rolled his eyes, Darius nodded once more before leaving his father alone in the briefing room. Robert ran his fingers through his hair nervously. "And she won't be the only one..." he mused aloud.

------

Julian lunged forward, throwing himself at the other boy and dragging him to the ground. Even now, only moments after the various insults had been tossed around, Julian couldn't recall what had been said. All he knew was the red hot feeling of rage coursing through him as he and the boy brawled in front of the school room.

"Julian! Stop being such a jarek!!" Andy shouted from the sidelines. She pushed through the gawking crowd and tried to get close enough to pull the fighting pair apart but was too slow. One leg whipped out and caught her ankles, bringing her too the ground with a huff.

Freya was at her side in a moment, offering her a hand. "Are you okay?" she asked.

Andy grumbled a few choice words for the boys and brushed herself off. "I'm fine," she muttered. "He's such and idiot! Why is he such an idiot?" Freya, unsure of what answer was expected, merely shrugged her shoulders.

Andy was seconds away from launching back into the fray when the booming voice of Mrs. Hunt sent the audience scattering and gave each boy pause. "What are you two doing?! Stop it right now!" The boys stumbled away from each other, each nursing a few new bumps and bruises. "Both of you – in the classroom now! The rest of you I imagine have places to be and things to do?" Those who hadn't left, wilted under her glare and hurried away.

Andy hooked her arm with Freya's and dragged her away from the scene as well, lest they suffer the same fate as the two brawlers. "Do you know him?" Andy asked, when they were several feet away.

"Who?" Freya asked, looking around for the 'him' in question.

"The other boy – the one Julian was beating up on," Andy said with a small smile.

"No – why would I?"

Andy just shrugged, "I guess I just thought...I mean he is an em..." she trailed off, glancing over at Freya anxiously.

"An embryiotic? What, you think I know every embryiotic on the ship just because we're of the same class?" Freya asked, her anger building quickly.

Andy shook her head quickly. "No I didn't mean it like that...I was just curious. I'm sorry Freya." Before Freya could reply, they were shoved aside by a frantic yeoman running back the way they'd come. "Hey watch it! We're walking here!" Andy shouted after him. He didn't even turn to acknowledge them. "Rude!"

Back in the classroom, Julian and Meng glared at each other over their respective data pads. Mrs. Hunt had assigned them a load of extra work as punishment but neither was getting much accomplished. She hovered between the two of them, occasionally reverting their eyes back to their work.

"Ma'am?" Mrs. Hunt whirled around toward the sound, a harried looking service man. He stood in the school house doorway, clutching a pad between his trembling fingers.

"Can I help you?" she asked, giving each of the boys a warning look before stepping away from them.

"A message ma'am," he said, holding out the pad. "From Commander Hunt."

She took the pad from him and waved him away as she read. She let out a strangled gasp and stumbled back a few steps. Both boys jumped up immediately, coming to her aid, but she pulled away from them. Leaning against the wall to catch her breath she glanced at them both. "You're both dismissed," she whispered. Julian started to protest but she shooed them from the room before dropping onto the nearest desk.

Confused but relieved, Meng hurried away from the school room. He was nearly home when he pulled up short and spun around with a grin. He checked his watch to be sure and then ran toward Engineering, where his father should still be on shift. As usual, Meng glanced around the bay before slipping in, unnoticed, and crept up behind him. "Boo," he said with a chuckle.

"What are you doing here?" Hiro Asada asked, looking over at his son. "Shouldn't you be in school..." he trailed off, getting a good look at Meng's face and sighing. "Have you been fighting Meng?"

"No!" Meng said, instinctively reaching up to touch his bruised eye. "I mean yes I was but it wasn't my fault. He wouldn't leave me alone."

"He who?" Hiro asked, setting down his tools to focus his attention on Meng.

"Julian Ice," Meng said, looking at his feet. Hiro, despite his horror, merely shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry Dad – I am, he just...ugh he's such a jarek! You wouldn't believe some of the stuff he was saying."

"I'm sure I would," Hiro said soberly. "They're just words Meng. Violence is never the answer, do you understand me?" Meng mumbled under his breath but Hiro caught his chin and made him make eye contact. "Tell me you understand me Meng. This is important."

"Alright! I understand!" Meng said, pulling away from his father's grasp.

Hiro wasn't convinced but let the subject drop for the moment. "Now, tell me why you're here? Were you sent home early because of the fight?" he asked as he picked his tools back up and resumed working at the console.

"No, it was weird actually. Mrs. Hunt had us doing this extra work and then got some message that upset her so she made us go," Meng said. He hopped up on an empty workstation and swung his legs idly. Hiro murmured some sort of acknowledgment but his attention was clearly diverted by work now. "So can I hang out here? I'll stay out of the way..."

"You really ought to go home Meng," Hiro argued just before sliding under the open console. Meng grinned, knowing his father wouldn't put up much of a fight if he was working. "Why don't you go see what your mother is doing."

"Daaad, she works in the laundry," he said, rolling his eyes.

"Meng Asada, I can't be sure but I'm certain you are rolling your eyes – stop it, right now," Hiro admonished. "Your mother works hard at a respectable job."

"I know that Dad. I didn't mean that she didn't – just that it's kind of boring compared to engineering."

"What have we here?" her voice, though pleasant, had a hint of malice that frightened Meng before he even looked up. Her black hair was pulled sharply back and she stood with one hand resting on her phase weapon. "Are you supposed to be here young man?"

Meng gulped as Hiro started to slide out from the console. He was in such a hurry to defend his son that he sat up too soon, conking his head on the console. "Niso lemat tegt!" he cursed as he rubbed his forehead.

"Excuse me?" Bonwick asked, looking down her nose at him.

Hiro got to his feet and dusted off his pants once before straightening up. "Sorry about that Lieutenant. Is there something I can do for you?"

"Children are not permitted in the engineering bay," she said, glancing passed him to glare at Meng. "Given the state of your work area," she picked up the only errant tool and flipped it once in her hand, "it's hardly safe. And it's against regulation Mr...."

"Asada ma'am. Hiro Asada. And my son was just stopping by to tell me about something that happened at school – he'll be leaving right now," Hiro looked back at Meng who slid off the console obediently. "And I'll just put that in my box..." he said, reaching out for the tool in her hand.

"Oh you will, will you?" Bonwick asked. "Asada you said?" Without warning or provocation, she whipped the tool around until it struck him in the face. Hiro crumbled to the ground and Meng screamed. With a satisfied smirk, she dropped the tool into his lap and began to stride away.

"Come back! You can't just...!" Meng shouted as he dropped down beside his father and wiped at the slow trickle of blood. "Wait! He needs help!"

Hiro reached up and grabbed Meng's wrist, "let her go son. I'll be okay – you just get Dex for me okay?" He heaved a heavy sigh and groaned. "You remember Dex right?" Meng nodded anxiously. "Good. You'll go get him?" Meng nodded once more.

------

Commander Hunt shifted awkwardly behind the podium, "we honor the fallen amongst our crew with the sounding of the bell and today that bell will chime a dozen times. One toll for each of the fallen. It hasn't been sounded so many people at once in this past generation. I pray it never does again."

When her father's name was read, Freya let out a strangled sob. Andy reached out for her hand and her mother stroked Freya's hair quietly.

Julian sat stoically between his mother and his aunt. Lady Ice showed no visible pain when her son's name was read; a stark contrast to Mrs. Ice, who cried openly.

A sullen teenage girl, Kieran Hunt, was the only other representative of the Hunt family. Mrs. Hunt hadn't come out of their quarters since receiving the news of Darius's death.

Though Hiro Asada hadn't been part of the ill fated mining operation, his death had been absorbed into the memorial service simply due to timing. No one from the Asada family was at the memorial service to hear his name read.

------

"I know that you blame me. And I accept that Freya but please just talk to me," he was standing behind her now, unable to keep himself confined to the door of the cargo bay.

"What was the fight about?" Freya asked, still not turning around.

"Excuse me?" Meng asked, confusion etched across his face.

"You had a fight with Julian...years ago. What was it about?" She turned around toward him and raised her eyebrows expectantly.

Meng shook his head and shrugged. "It was twenty years ago Freya, I didn't even remember it until now."

"That's not true," Freya narrowed her eyes. "You do remember. You'd never forget that day, not the day your father died."

Meng sighed, "he and his friends were saying some crude things about a new student in their class. A new embryotic student..."

"Me," Freya nodded, as if the answer made perfect sense though it flew in the face of the Julian she'd always known.

"Well I didn't know that at the time," Meng pointed out.

Freya nodded, "you defended my honor?"

"As I said, I didn't know that at the time," Meng said with a tiny smile.

End Chapter