Location: Outside City Hall, Third City, Mars.
- 7:53 AM
Alice was on the balcony enjoying the aromatic fragrance that her chamomile tea had been emanating, she hasn't had much free time lately and today she took a little break, while she laid back in her chair, sipping from the small cup in her hand.
Terry broke in with his countenance shadowed "You really gave that to the boy?".
"Sure. Why wouldn't you give it to him after he passes the test?" He replied without setting the cup down on the table, he took another sip.
Terry's hands shook in anger "I...".
Alice turned her eyes towards Terry "I know it's unfair, as I told you that you would be my disciple."
"I know... I don't have the necessary talent" He covered his eyes with his left hand and sat on the railing.
｢The truth is that at this point even I'm not sure if it's like that...｣ Alice sighed undecided on what to say next.
Terry removed his hand from his eyes slowly, in the end there was nothing to do than accept the reality "I hope it fell into good hands."
Alice nodded "It would be a shame for someone with his talent to abandon the right path."
The memory trap was opened, several memories came back to her mind...
With a flip of her hand, she wiped away those memories ｢I can't let such a good tea get cold｣.
After raising her cup and taking another sip she said "I should have given him a map...".
Terry's face paled "No.... You didn't give him a map?"
Alice closed her eyes and sipped from the cup again. After a few seconds of silence it was pronounced "I forgot."
Terry sighed "He won't get far without a map...".
"Well" Alice drank the last bit that was left in the cup "First of all he has to use the card.... Otherwise it will be useless."
Terry watched silently as Alice refilled her cup with tea again.
As soon as Alice's lips touched the edge of the cup Terry sighed "Don't you want to give him the map?".
Alice settled the cup on the table, turned her head in Terry's direction and said with a smile "It's too much work for an old lady."
"They haven't even left, you can fly away" He replied with a glib laugh.
"I already said that" He picked up the cup, putting the conversation aside "It's too much work."
｢...｣.
✠ - ✠
Inside his ship Jack was about to turn on the main engine when he decided to stand up.
He returned to the centre of the ship, to a comfortable room with couches on either side and a table in the centre along with a food compartment.
"Now that we're leaving the planet... What will you do next? He asked carelessly, "What are you going to do next?
"Take a shower" Brendan replied.
Zeke sighed "That's not what I mean" He looked to the side and held eye contact with Jack for some time. He raised his right hand to shoulder height, palm up and pointing at Jack "What are we going to do after we complete our getaway? Technically we have already completed everything we need to...".
He then turned it 45 degrees to the right "However.... I thought we made our position clear in the earlier talk."
Jack smiled slightly as he sighed mockingly "Yes, it is meant that we will have another battle in a very short time. This also means that we are going to fight it as a team.... ".
"I see" Zeke crossed his arms, placed his hands under his elbow "You want me to make a formal statement, if that is what you wish...".
He sighed before continuing "I have no intention of leaving the group. Although I'm not officially joining the army, I have no place to return to and no family to go.
Brendan wheezed thoughtfully, leaned his right arm on an armrest of the couch and looked at Ledia "My situation is not much different. I was born and raised on Earth...".
Ledia leaned back against the backrest, tilting her head towards Brendan "It doesn't change all that much either. In fact... I think I've seen you before, I'd like to talk about it later."
Jack nodded slowly before turning his gaze to Kelly "What do you think?".
"I..." Kelly twirled her right index finger wrapping a curly lock of her hair around it "My family lives in Alva Proxi...".
"So you plan on going back to them? I can schedule a pilot to take you whenever you wish."
"I... No..." Kelly froze, not knowing what to answer ｢May I approach directly? No, no, no. That would leave me in a questionable position.... I'll answer ambiguously｣.
''I want to stay in the group.
"I see... I think I need to make something clear before you choose anything.... No matter what you choose I won't judge you, living like this means embracing the death that lurks around every corner..."
Zeke laughed full of disdain "Jack. You should understand, she was... She's an officer... Don't you feel the same sense of duty as she does?"
Jack remained silent, a complicated expression formed on his face.
"... I see, I hope you'd better consider it before we park..." Jack turned his back on them, returning to the command cabin.
For the first time in a long time his fingers struggled to obey.
Perhaps it was restlessness that held him back during the process. Preparations for flight were always easy for him.
Yet a knot in his throat made him feel that something was wrong.
...
...
During the journey the only thing Zeke felt was an uncomfortable look from Jack.
It really is strange...｣.
At one point Zeke smiled in a condescending way "Don't you think it's nice to travel on this route without so much fuss?" He then brought his gaze to the void "There are no ships covering the stars."
"...".
At this point even Kelly frowned "...".
Zeke fixed his gaze upon one of the many stars in the vastness of space "So calm.... It's desolate... Almost a bad omen.
The star dimmed, its light blocked by a silhouette that quickly swallowed the rest of the image.
Zeke took a few steps back. Jack dashed off towards the control room.
The ship made a sudden, though not particularly well-timed, turn.
The force of the impact caused a deformation in the inner layer of the ship. While the strongest part was not spun out, damage to the crystals was avoided.
Jack immediately fired the order "Brendan, Ledia, Kelly. Take weapons."
It was clear to all three which weapon they would choose as none of them took the same path.
Kelly took the turret at the top. Brendan the rockets on the sides and Ledia the laser equipped under the main body.
Zeke sighed, from the corner of his eye contemplating the null availability of options for him.
"Well?"
"Since you're such a good observer.... Try to predict its movements."
Zeke brought his gaze back to the unobservable creature "Good."
As it moved he was able to deduce its shape. It definitely looked like a blue jellyfish.
Even the transparency revealed its core, however its size was a problem.
At least 20 metres tall against 12 metres long.
From such a size one would expect considerable slowness, an attribute it was not given.
The limited vision that the windows yielded are not sufficient to assess its movements at such speeds.
Although it is obvious that it is fleeing from the sight in the turret.
Of course, the chase did not last forever. Kelly fired in a rapid horizon sweep.
Bullets bounced off the outer layer. As quickly as he froze, the rockets established their target.
Intact... The target was intact after the attack.
The only thing that caused damage was the laser that cut through the exterior.
Zeke smiled "Ledia, slice the surface in an irregular pattern, Brendan, fire the rockets when the chunks are small, and... Kelly, crush as soon as they break off."
After following the above directions, Brendan released the warheads that were soon to be explosions.
The fragments flew everywhere and immediately the bullets followed, never ceasing to impact, bruising the insides to a pulp.
However... The pieces regenerate slightly slower than they are destroyed, resulting in very little progress.
Attacks towards the ship were not uncommon. Jack was dodging every enemy move.
"This is the first time I've ever had to swing a ship so many times" Jack exclaimed.
Zeke sighed "Dive into the wound".
"...Huh?"
"That's right, enter the wound forcing forward. Then Brendan fires."
"... I guess I'm in no position to turn it down" Jack resiliently steered the craft towards the creature's wound.
He forced his way in by digging through the squeezing edges.
Only 5 meters from the core Jack ordered Brendan to fire continuously.
The missiles impacted the inner structure of the beast one after another.
Eventually the core was exposed and then destroyed.
The regeneration stopped completely, the ship slowly retreated, abandoning the corpse.
✠ - ✠
Location: Venus orbital base
- 01:08 PM
The cold light outside the facility finally reached his eyes.
The ship's speed gradually decreased.
At a certain point a projection of Otis' face manifested in space in front of the ship.
"Present your identification" was the only statement he gave.
Jack sighed, slid his arm and a card was projected. An ID card.
____________________________
Name: Jack Kram
Rank: Captain
ID: 60072379
Blood type: O-
Religious Affiliation: N/A
-------------
A photo was attached to the left of the information.
The projection dissipated after passing.
Jack gasped before collapsing into the seat, one by one he shut down the ship's systems as it was pulled into port.
He extended the ship's legs and waited until he heard the soft sound of the packages folding.
When that sound filled his ears he stood up, passed through the corridor, arriving in the lounge.
He waved his hand and headed down the hallway with the door to the outside.
As the door opened, the port was unveiled.
However, something else was discovered.
Otis found himself a few feet from the door with a smile, he raised his hand and shook it lightly "I see everything went well".
Then his eyes focused on Jack's clothes. "Or maybe not," he said as he looked at the stains and rips.
"This place doesn't seem to have gotten off too badly" Jack replied.
Otis let out a giggle "Could be".
He narrowed his eyes "The escape didn't just work out well for you...".
Jack stepped away from the entrance, to the left side of the frame. Making way for the rest to exit the ship.
He cleared his throat "They are..." He hesitated for a moment on how to answer ".... My crew."
Otis grimaced with his mouth, stretching his right side "You don't look very convinced."
He scanned the 4 accompanying Jack "At least introduce yourself, I don't want to call them boy one, two...".
Kelly sighed, brought her right hand just above her abdomen, inches from touching "Kelly Smith, senior officer".
"Joo" Otis replied.
Zeke didn't really move, he simply tilted his face sideways, looking his usual apathetic self "Zekevrriel Vonhaz Nastryk.... Though I think you already know that."
"I'm afraid you overestimate me.... While I know you, our information network is not as sophisticated as yours" Otis let out a chuckle "A different thing is the central cédula, of course".
Zeke flashed a tiny smile.
Jack was silent ｢.... This is a clear hook.... We'll settle the score｣.
"Uhm..." Brendan broke the silence by advancing his voice "Brendan Thompson Hyndergen".
"Nothing special?"
"Not at all" He replied.
Otis scratched the back of his neck as he turned his gaze to Ledia "Just missing...".
"Ledia Vonagrid."
"Vonagrid?" Otis stroked his chin "I feel like I've heard that last name somewhere."
Ledia waved her hand denying what Otis mentioned "Must be a coincidence. I'm not something special either."
"Wow..." Otis swept his gaze back up to Jack "At least it all ended well."
"Well... You could say, though not particularly good."
Otis grinned "You want to see what's not good at all?"
"Oh?"
"Go with Beatrice" Otis took a step forward "I'll talk to your team in the meantime."
Jack swallowed "Did an incident occur on the trip?".
"You could say that. Not on the trip though."
Jack left the scene as soon as Otis finished his dialogue.
Otis then looked at the remaining 4 "Well.... How much do you guys know about the mess you just got yourselves into?".
...
...
...
Jack stands in front of the metal door leading to Beatrice's room....
A few millimetres away is the detection radius. At any moment he could take the next step and enter.
However, Otis' words flooded his mind ｢What incident could happen after they arrived...｣.
As his hand moves to the front, a feeling makes it impossible for him to do anything.
The same feeling as on the ship, his fingers resisted his command.
Jack returned his hand to his side ｢.... What the hell, why do I feel... Fear?｣.
Jack closed his eyes before taking the defining step. The door opened instantly, without waiting in any way.
A small light corresponding to a quarter of a circle flashed in front of it and immediately crumbled.
...
Silence.
From the doorframe he could sense loneliness.
The response to his signal made it clear that he was inside.
The sight in front of him did not help his strange state.
Quickly he stepped into the room.
His vision widened, visualising the whole room after passing the frame.
A silhouette made its presence known.
On the couch next to himself.
From the corner of his eye he could see the figure of a woman.
Sitting silently, moving her right index finger in the shape of an ellipse.
"...".
Jack sighed in relief "Fuck.... I thought something had happened to you... Why so dull?".
Beatrice sighed "In what way did you expect me to act after being tricked?".
"...What do you mean" Jack raised his right eyebrow.
"You kept the bio-raises from me all this time."
"It's confidential information, even if I wanted to tell you I can't" Jack replied.
Bullshit.
The dull look on Beatrice's face disappeared, in its place was bewilderment.
"But... Why didn't you tell me when we split? I was so worried... You even forgot to communicate with me."
Jack smiled "I told you when we parted. We talked about me, even without augmentations I can deal with those creatures."
Obvious and blatant lie.
Beatrice jumped up in tears to hug Jack "Don't ever worry me like that again...".
Jack was about to remove one of the arms around him, however he stopped her hand ｢This time it's my fault...｣.
He brought his hand to the top of Beatrice's head and began to stroke it gently.
Her fingers mingled with Beatrice's hair ｢I thought it would be comforting to her.... But... I think I could do it all day｣.
...
...
Jack contemplated Beatrice with a small smile, he finally cleared his mind of the above and found himself drinking some tea ｢I should never have hidden it from begin...｣.
At that moment Jack noticed something strange, he brought his hand up to his chest and frowned.
What the hell?