"Nagor, get us out of here. What's another place for shore leave?"
"No. There's no time for that. He'll try to kill you and Adrien and all costs Reegen."
"Then let's get out of here and look for another place somewhere else." Nagor offers
"Yes, that- that is good."
"Right then, charge."
"Yes, sir." Stars whiz by the front window as planets disappear one by one.
When we stop I ask, "Nagor, scan for nearby planets and report."
"Negative."
"Now that we can-"
"Sir, I'm picking up a ship."
"What class?" Juna asks.
"Custom, red, warp drive-"
"Mongordo."
"How did you..." Nagor begins, "Fred."
Juna's only response was her head bobbing and tears streaming down her face.
"Juna he can't be that bad."
"He almost destroyed my father's fleet."
"Does he still have the army?"
"He never had an army, nor a crew. He is the only person onboard that ship. He is cunning Reegen and he will not stop until you are dead." Her hanging hair shadows her head as she refuses to lift it.
"Juna, he is a single man and we have an army!"
"So did my father."
"We have an army that also nearly destroyed your father."
"Over 5 thousand soldiers lost their lives that day!" She shouts at me.
"I- I don't want to lose you to him as well Reegen."
"We'll be fine. Like you said he did nothing to harm you."
"I lied."
"What?"
She pulls up the long sleeves that are Goldon custom and shows scars that go all the way the up and down her arms, "He hurt me bad Reegen. I didn't just lie to you. I lied to everyone... including myself."
"What do you mean?"
"For the longest time I thought I left him because my father told me to. But, I've been thinking about what he said and... he was abusive. I never saw my friends when I started to date him. I didn't fight to keep him, even though I said I loved him. I only did that to avoid more abuse. Eventually, that stopped working, but I kept up the habit. I-I," She breaks down into tears.
When she finally finishes, I look around, disoriented, blind. Blind. That's strange, my vision has been perfect all my life. Did Nagor get her scales dyed? They look good red. Wait, why is everything red? Hm... "Hey Nagor?" I ask still in my haze.
"Captain? Are you all right?"
"Fire up the transporters." Haze. What haze? My purpose. My life. My love. It all leads to this one... DEATH. That's strange. I was hungry three seconds ago for... meat? Yes, meat... what kind of meat... hmmm I don't remember. It was golden. Yes golden. With blue flecks in there too. Blue? But everything is red. Hm I remember Dad describing this, ah that's right... I'm not normal... I laugh.
"Sir are you all right?"
I get closer to Nagor, "No darling I'm not. Didn't you know? I'm my father's son. Not my mother's."
"Amanda? You grew up with him. What does that mean?"
"Well, well. Someone's letting out their inner psychopath."
"No, my father hated that misdiagnosis. Psychopath means we have no conscience. No. We are... nothing. No words. We are... misfits. The weird ones. Humans call us Psychos. But we are not. We have no name. I don't think we do... hm strange. Well then, I guess I'll be-"
"Sir?"
"What is it?" I roar at the young pirate sitting at comms.
"T-there's a hail incoming from the sh-ship."
"Kid you better get used to this if people like him will be after her more often." Amanda says.
"They shouldn't" Juna reassures.
"Open it!"
"Hello th- Captain Reegen? Are you all right?" The captain of the other ship asks.
"Amanda-"
"No. I will not fire."
"Oh, come on."
"Reegen, you are in your father's state of mind."
"You're right I would have much more fun toying with him," I turn from Amanda to Fred "Good morrow Captain!"
"What? Juna your taste has gotten worse over the years."
"I think it means to have a happy day tomorrow or something."
"So. I will assume Juna has filled you in on all of my past escapades, do you still wish to fight?"
"Why did you follow us?"
"Excuse me?"
"Why… did…. you ... follow… us?"
"You have my fiance."
"Excuse me?"
"Must I simplify everything?"
"You mean my girlfriend, right?"
"Oh please. You really think she would date a man like you? No wonder you got kicked out of the military with a psych record like this!"
"How do you know about that?" Colors bleed together… splotches of red blind certain things, my vision narrows onto his face.
"I have my ways."
"You listen here, she is my girlfriend, and she broke up with you. You dare talk to me about my sanity when you are the one who gave her scars!"
"She told you, huh?"
"It takes a much more insane person than me to kill an entire army like that too. So shut the hell up."
"Well, I assume it would take the insanity of your father to pull a stunt like that. To bad I'm not as famous."
"You shut up about my father!"
"Reegen!" Juna runs in front of me, "He's trying to piss you off, to get you to be reckless, don't let him."
"What are you still doing on bridge Juna?"
"Calming you down."
"Wha-" I suddenly get light-headed as the splotches of red fade away.
"Well, well, well. I guess every psychopath has their own way of calming down. While love may work for you, it obviously didn't work for your father."
"You know, you remind me of him Fred."
"How so?"
"Your manipulative, annoying voice."
"Excuse me?"
Amanda steps in before I can say another word, "I apologize for my captain's blatantly rude behavior sir."
"Hmph."
"I think what he meant to say was that Juna will not be returning to you."
"You. You're worse than him."
"At least I am diplomatic and psychopathic."
"Nice rhyme."
"Thank you, sir."
Juna pulls me to the side and in a whisper yell, "What the hell were you thinking Reegen?"
"I wasn't."
"Obviously. What if he fired on the ship?"
"She would hold."
"For how long?"
"That- that I don't know."
"Just keep your mouth shut and let Amanda do the talking."
"But he wanted to take you Juna."
"I assure you Reegen, he will not be taking me anywhere soon."
We turn to see Fred's response to Amanda's thank you right on time. The stars replaced his face again and his weapons visually charged before firing at us.
"Oh yeah, because diplomatic was such a better move!" I shout as I brace, "Nagor, fire back, aim for the bridge."
"Yes, sir."
Our beams miss every time, "Nagor, what is the issue?"
"His ship is agile sir, he can move before the laser makes contact."
"He's playing chicken."
"Exactly."
"Keep firing. Amanda report."
"We got reports from all over the ship so many injured but no dead… yet."
"Life lesson Manda, never say yet is a bad way no matter how bad things are."
"Yes, sir."
"Nagor."
"Yes, sir?"
"Can you quick shoot?"
"No, sir."
"Shit. Move."
Nagor gets out of the aiming console and I flip the safety gear off, "That's why. Right then, let's have some fun pretty boy." I aim for his cockpit not paying much attention and then immediately shoot a circle around the ship's previous location. Direct hit, "Damage report Amanda."
"No damage to the enemy ship."
"Ok, so we can't fire on him. Great. Just fre-" Red. Red. Him. Threat, "Oh hey guys I'm normal…" Color. Peace. Juna. The ship jolts, throwing me to the ground.
"Shields at 250 sir."
"Damn, how strong is that guy we got 1000 shields."
"Sir, Juna said he took down an army single-handed in that ship."
"I mean, you're not wrong."
"Dad?"
"Aiden? Aiden! Get off the bridge."
"What's going on?"
"Aiden listen to your father." Juna pulls out her mother's voice.
"Yes, ma'am."
"That was a little scary."
"Not the time Reegen!" She shouts back.
"Ok ok."
"Reegen, we need to get out of here, the shields are only at quarter health."
"No, I'm not leaving."
"Reegen! Reegen sometimes it's good to surrender." Juna begs.
"Juna, remember."
"What?"
"Do not fall"
"Until your knees hit the ground."
"There is no ground, so I will not fall."
"You told me that when you left."
"Remember how I got you to fall in love with me."
"We do not die."
"Until we draw out last breath."
"Yes, I remember. I just- I'm worried."
I kiss her on the head, "Don't be. Hey Nagor?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Still got those transporters up?"
"Yes, sir."
"Get me out of here."
"On it."
One minute I'm on The United and the next I'm standing surrounded by different shades of gray.
"Computer?"
"Guess again."
"Fred."
"He's smart. Come on, I'll light the way to the bridge."
"Why are you doing this?"
"You do not deserve her. You aren't even part Goldon. I can promise mostly Goldon children."
"You seek to please her father."
"And you do not?"
"I was the escape from her father. That is why she stayed."
"Ah, I see. You are saying I did it all wrong."
"Besides, she never loved you no matter how much she said it."
"You lie!"
"I'll see you on the bridge."
I follow the streaking lights through the darkened ship, gun held at the ready. He will know what I am. That's the word. I know it now. Monster.
I arrive at the bridge and am immediately ambushed, the old rifle breaking in half right along with my right arm as it shatters against the hard metal floor. I scream in pain. No. I can't lose it. "Where's all that big talk now, huh?" He picks me up by my left arm only to throw me onto the wall, right first. Calm.
"So fragile, humans. You break so easily." He knees my groin and then breaks my kneecap.
"Like so," I crumple to the ground, "You're not even bleeding yet!" He procures a knife from his pocket. I feel the warm liquid seep out from my arm, not feeling the pain anymore.
"Oh, so sad, can't feel anything."
He's right I can't.... Why. Why am I showing mercy? I laugh, "Oh how stupid am I?"
"What for not screaming?"
"For showing mercy." The wound scabs over in a few seconds, arm and knee setting right along with it. I stand up to face him and say, "You… you called me a psychopath. I am not. I am a monster." I grab the rifle and it joins with my arm, pointing the new rifle arm at him, with just thoughts, I fire.