My father had always blamed me for his misery, he blamed me for my mother’s death and told me I was nothing but a mistake. He made sure that I would I live a life of nothing but sorrow, pain, and regret. Before I ran out of the house attempting to escape his last attempt to finally rid me from the world.

He told me:

“No matter where you go, no matter who you become you’ll be nothing, you’re weak and nobody will ever love you.”

I carried those words throughout my career as a Mercer. I hated those words. I hated my father and I hated myself.

Now I am here looking at a carbon copy of that person. And this stranger, Amelia Cloud, she sees me as a spectacle that can be redeemed. So, I will play her game, I scratch her back she scratches my back.

I fill out the paperwork she gave me. She strongly advises I’d take up a new name so that my identity remains concealed while we attempt to solve our respective problems. So, I pick a name, Andora DeSoto. A name of no significance, just a name, nothing more. Until I return to my own time and to Earth, I will not attach myself to anything here. I don’t need a friend, I don’t need family, or a lover. The only thing that matters and will continue to matter is me.

I fill it all the paperwork and I try on the new uniform. It’s unusually comfortable and flexible. The uniform I wore as a Mercer was durable and somewhat comfortable. This on the other hand almost feels like another skin, like it’s a part of me. It’s strange considering my body isn’t even real, nothing about it is natural. Although considering everything I’ve seen and all the different kind of technology I’ve come across I shouldn’t even be surprised by any of this.

Amelia walks into the room, she stops and analyzes me. “It’s looks magnificent. These Paladin uniforms, no matter how many times I see them I can’t believe they even exist.”

“Don’t the noble officers of this federation get these uniforms?”

“No, unfortunately we can’t touch the uniforms. The United Paladin Initiative is its own private organization. They were once a part of the Interplanetary Justice Federation until they became their own entity. Of course, it wasn’t so easy, and we technically still have some control.”

“I see, so that’s how you got the uniform.”

“Yes. As chief I have certain perks, but I can only use them a bit at a time. I overstep my welcome and even I will be blocked out.”

“I decided I won’t be taking the serum.”

Amelia sighs, “Astrid I told you, it is necessary.”

“I’m not some amateur Amelia. Besides once I get my original body, I want nothing to do with this one. As far as I’m concerned it should be burned.”

Amelia growls, but immediately gives up on the idea of convincing me to take the serum. “You seriously have some vicious demons in you. And here I thought I had problems.”

“Want to compare? I bet mine are wose.”

It doesn’t take much to see that I have stepped on a landmine with that comment. I realize that I do not know anything about Amelia and yet she acts like she knows me. If this partnership is going to work, I guess I’m going to have get some information on her. It’s already obvious Amelia is going to be a tough nut to crack and simply asking questions isn’t going to take me anywhere.

“Let’s go, let me show you around.” We walk into a long and wide hallway teeming with activity. I guess it makes sense that the room would be soundproof. All the noise could be bothersome to someone trying to recover in the room. “This is the federation’s main medical station and it’s largest. And to answer your question of “where are we?” from earlier on, were on a small planet called Sheol. The initiative also has their medical station on this planet.”

“So, you have a planet specifically for hospitals?”

“Yes, also it’s only a couple clicks away from our main headquarters.”

“And where is that?”

“Crevale Republican on Jovian Planet Terra 2, a planet much like your home world, Earth, except bigger and younger.”

“Speaking of Earth, how is it?”

Amelia stops in her tracks; she fidgets with herself and turns around to face me. She lets out another sigh, “Listen, Earth is how you say, uh, it’s not what it once was.”

“I know, three hundred years is a very long time of course I expect there would be tons of changes.” I say naively.

“What I’m referring to is that it is no longer hospitable for human life. You see it is not really known what happened but from what we can gather, only forty eight percent of humankind managed to escape the planet and out of that forty-eight, only one percent were off planet long before the technology was even available on Earth.”

“That’s impossible, I was only gone ten years they couldn’t have come up with that kind of technology in such a short time.”

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“Well, that’s because it happened decades after and even then, they received help from the outside.”

“Who? I mean why would anyone help them. As far as they were concerned, they were the center of the universe.”

“Astrid, it was only a matter of time before the rest of humanity would inevitably meet alien life. Do you really think in their time of great need they are going to forsake that kind of help? Humankind may be greedy, selfish, and ignorant but doesn’t mean they don’t want to live.”

“Is there anyone monitoring any activity?”

“Earth is a low priority so naturally it wouldn’t be on our radar.”

“Then going back….”

“Astrid, the future isn’t written in stone. When you return to your time, I’m sure you’ll figure out how to prevent it all.”

“I’m not some hero.”

“Who said you have to be a hero to save your home?”

After about ten minutes of walking and listening to Amelia ramble about the facility we come to a stop, a room. The room also seems to be the only one with maximum security. Amelia types in some sort of strange code, the keyboard then morphs into a pad with a handprint on it. She places her hand, and the door unlocks. When we walk in there is another door but instead of a pad or keyboard there is a speaker and a button. Amelia presses the button and talks into the speaker.

“Amelia Cloud. I have arrived with the package.”

“You did not just refer to me as a package?”

She chuckles, “Secret remember?”

The door unlocks and we walk into a large room with a large monitor attached to the far wall and several tables with highly advanced machines and equipment. As a Mercer I didn’t have any use for fancy equipment or devices other than a starship. Mercers are brawlers not geeks.

“Astrid these two people here, they are Brandon and Miriam Nova. Your descendants.” She points to a man and woman dressed in strange uniforms. They present themselves before me.

“Amelia, I think you’re confused. They can’t be my descendants. I was an only child.”

“You were an only child.” Says the woman named Miriam. “You’re father our ancestral father remarried a couple years after your disappearance. He had a son, Ryan. Ryan married and had children of his own and his children had children and so forth.”

“You must be fucking with me. My father was a mean, worthless drunk. He didn’t care about anything or anyone but himself.” I try my best to choke back the anger and tears. I can’t believe the bastard had a son. Bastard son probably received all the love and warmth that was denied to me. This is all very fucked up.

“Astrid, it’s because what he did to you that he changed…”

“No! don’t! don’t you fucking say a word more. You know nothing. None of you know jack fucking shit about him. I was nothing but a piece of garbage to him. He couldn’t have changed, no fucking way. Not possible.”

It’s getting hard to hold back the anger and tears, the powerful warrior known as Astrid Gaia is being reduced to tears like some emotional, broken-down teenager. It’s insulting. It just doesn’t happen.

“Astrid calm down.” Says Amelia. “We never said we know better. We are just telling you the information that was gathered throughout the years. Miriam and Brandon are currently the only people tied to your family.”

“What family? there was no family. At least not for me.” I say with defeat in my voice. I don’t remember ever feeling so defeated and with such a simple thing as the word “family”.

Amelia changes the subject, “The courier disks were invented by Miriam and Brandon.”

“What?”

“Miriam and Brandon are CEOs of the Nova Tech Corporation. They invented something called the Courier Transfer Program. Another giant leap for mankind.”

“This program, how many people have used it since its creation?”

“A select few.” Answers Miriam. “The program launched a mere two years ago. It is not yet completely perfected which is why it is not readily available to everyone who wishes to use it.”

“But it seems to work perfectly already otherwise why even let people use it?”

“The material isn’t yet ideal, so the disks only have a five-year lifespan. We need a stronger material so the disks can last a person’s lifetime.”

“What kind of material do you need?”

“As of now the outer material is made with altered titanium but the energy output of the disk begins to corrode the titanium after about five years. Hence, we need a stronger material.”

I chuckle, “I can’t believe my family is responsible for granting humanity a step into immortality.” I shake my head, “This is completely fucked.”

“Humans have played by nature’s laws long enough. It’s our time now.” Miriam says confidently.

“Tipping the balance can have serious consequences. I hope for your sake those consequences don’t affect you directly.”

“Come on, there are a couple of people I need you to meet.” Amelia finally says breaking the brief silence.

I follow her out the door and back into the busy hallway. We walk in silence until we get to the next room. This room doesn’t have any security on it. We walk in and to my surprise it’s a simple rec room. Inside are a man and woman. The woman is young, short, slender, and pretty. The man is tall, middle aged and dons a gruffy beard. Their uniforms immediately suggest they are Paladins also. They stand to attention once they see Amelia approaching.

“Andora, these two are Tenner Brime and Irma Violet.”

Amelia is now using my new name. It has an interesting effect; it’s beginning to feel like I am no longer myself rather than I am slowly becoming other people. I can’t lose focus on who I am, not now, not ever. Vera Nova is dead, and Astrid Gaia is on a temporary hiatus, but Andora DeSoto shall never live past it’s time here.

“Hello, I am Andora DeSoto.” I introduce myself.

The girl Irma smiles gleefully and bows, the man Tenner is like a stone, his expression doesn’t change, rather it’s obvious that he isn’t happy to see me. Almost like he can see through the disguise. It could be my imagination; I only hope he doesn’t become a problem down the road.

“Tenner and Irma are father and daughter. I asked them to work with you and show you the ropes.”

“Paladins have partners?”

“Yes, but it’s optional.”

The girl Irma steps forward, “We won’t bite. Tenner and I are very competent, and you seem like someone who needs to relax a bit and we can show you some cool places.”

Relax? I am not here to relax. I lock eyes with Amelia and responses with a shrug. It’s clear I’ve been taken off her hands for now. It’s a been a while since I’ve done undercover work and forgotten how tedious it can be considering sometimes it can take months or even years depending on the mission. This mission is personal and if possible, I want it resolved as quickly as possible.

Irma and Tenner lead me out the door, Amelia waves goodbye at me. I clench my fist and tighten my lips. Prudent bitch.

“Where are you taking me?” I say choking back my pride.

Irma smiles, “Crevale Republic on Jovian Planet Terra 2. Surely Amelia has mentioned it during your briefing earlier today. As you already know Amelia instructed me and Tenner to work with you and show you around, so ideally Crevale Republic is the ideal place to start. Oh, and don’t worry about your weapon, you won’t need it as it won’t be ready for you for another week or so.”