When Allison woke up her face was covered in drool, and she felt like she’d been punched in the skull repeatedly. She was in her own bed, well her own bed on Earth at least. She groaned. She heard the wall screen going in her living room. She sat up slowly and held the bed, as if she could make the room stop spinning. It didn’t. Her mouth was drier than she’d ever remembered it being. There was a water bottle on her nightstand. She drank it down in several gulps. It wasn’t doing much.
She rubbed her face again and stumbled out of her room. Eyre was sitting on one of her chairs watching the wall screen. Numari was passed out face down on her couch snoring loudly. She was in one of Allison’s long T-shirts. Eyre smiled when she saw her.
“Oh, if it isn’t our little juvenile delinquent. Did you have fun at the Harbor?”
Allison held up her hand.
“Please, not so loud.”
Eyre motioned to the kitchen.
“Drink more water. When you feel up to it, we’ll get some food for you. I’m sorry to say, you’re immune to painkillers and most toxins, unless you drink enough you overwhelm your, well you know. Which, congratulations you did. I am amazed. Your mother could never manage it. You must have been having a lot of fun.”
Allison plopped down in the other free chair.
“I don’t even remember how we got home.”
“Oh, that’s simple, Aunt Maria sent Numari to bring you home, then when the bartender at the Harbor called Kennedy’s mother, Bee, my personal security chief and I saw you dancing on the table in the background with a topless Numari, I realized we sent the wrong merc. So I told Bee to pick the three of you up and bring you and Numari here.”
Allison took a drink of her water.
“Kennedy’s mom?”
Allison made an O with her mouth.
“Kennedy, was missing a few quarts of blood after a make out session with you and Numari in one of the booths. She passed out. That was the point Widow called Bee.”
Allison blushed and rubbed her head.
“I am never drinking again. I remember everything right up until Kennedy then things get really blurry.”
Eyre nodded.
“That’s because Kennedy was highly intoxicated, drinking alcohol filled blood is the quickest way to a drunk vampire or dhampir. Numari is well aware of that fact.”
Allison looked around.
“Is Kennedy here, I would love to apologize.”
Eyre shook her head.
“No, Kennedy is eighteen years old, last night was a school night and she’s still in high school, as you can imagine her mother is rather upset with her.”
Allison sunk into the chair and nodded.
“Well, Numari called her.”
Eyre looked at the softly snoring Numari.
“I assure you if she was still young enough, I’d be spanking her or something. The question is, what do I do about you? I mean technically you’re not my responsibility… but Aunt Maria was trusting me to look after you. Do we call your mother or what here?”
Allison rubbed her head.
“Look, there is no need for my mom to ever know about this. Like, ever, like ever. She’ll be happy not knowing about it in fact. I mean she’s so busy, with being a governor and all. I promise I will never do something like that ever again.”
Eyre shook her head.
“Hmm. Sounds like, I would like your mother. Alright, here’s the deal. I say nothing to your mother, or Aunt Maria and when you’re on Earth, no matter how old you are, you tell me where you’re going and what you’re doing, okay?”
Allison shrugged.
“Sure, I guess that works.”
“Good, now about this media storm… Neither Aunt Maria nor I knew it was coming. Some PR executives in System’s Alliance got their hands on it. Ignored the classified banner that was all over the file and decided this was a PR coup for our Military. This was never meant to come out, but it is here, so we’re dealing with it. She’s going to make a statement soon. I had some people start a rumor you were on deep space patrol for your entire fall break until the Gala. It should put you in the clear, but means you’ll probably have to hang out here on Earth until the Gala. Isis is doing her best to help your mother, who is being swamped as well.”
Allison nodded and drank more water. She was in no hurry to go home. Her mother was probably about to blow a gasket. Also, probably why her mother hadn’t called her since she’d been here. Allison was starting to feel better as she drank water. Eyre motioned to the wall screen when Maria appeared. It was flashing special broadcast from the President of the System’s Alliance.
“Let’s see what BS story they came up with, hmm?”
Eyre increased the volume. Maria appeared in a room packed with reporters. An alien attack was unprecedented, and everyone was eating up the drama.
“For those assembled here, this is a statement, there will be no question period. I am required to be at a Tribunal which is reviewing this particular incident. We are not prepared to release full findings yet. There have been a lot of conjectures, assumptions and downright incorrect assumptions about this topic. This is leading to unnecessary panic. I am going to make this very clear. I am disappointed with the media and this irresponsible reporting. I remember a time when it was verify then report, not report then verify. To that end this statement is more comprehensive and transparent than we would usually provide. I will now start with the System’s Alliance Governing Board’s prepared statement of fact.”
She frowned and then continued.
“Citizens of the System’s Alliance, as you’ve recently been made aware in wide coverage from various news corporations, we recently uncovered an alien ship in the Andromeda Galaxy during a routine patrol. On that ship we found evidence of an impending attack on our interests in the Andromeda Galaxy. This threat has been named the Sal’nash. It is an alien species that swarms from time to time devouring all life on planets before moving on. Once we discovered this possible threat, we took steps to prepare a defense.”
She looked at the gathered crowd of reporters.
“We detected an anomaly in interstellar space about halfway between the colony of Eden Prime and our wormhole transit point at the Battle Station designated Andromeda-1. At the request of System’s Alliance Steller Cartography division, a patrol was added to the rotation. As this anomaly was detected during our search for any Sal’nash signatures we authorized a single, FTL capable, stealth fighter for this mission. Ensign Allison Wanjala volunteered for this mission. This is standard practice. As a reservist and a starfighter pilot she is required to keep up a certain amount of flight and FTL hours to keep her flight status. We give preference to reservist pilots who volunteer for patrols.”
Maria motioned to an image that appeared behind her of the rogue planet. Allison recognized it as something she took imaging for during her mission. She’d used special optics to get a good image of the planet as she approached.
“When Ensign Wanjala arrived at the coordinates she found this rogue planet, designated AG-RP-01. The fuel source used to power wormhole communications on her fighter was almost empty. She was only able to establish a single wormhole comm for a limited duration before investigating the planet. She advised she had discovered a rogue planet. She requested guidance on how she should proceed. She had another assigned patrol that evening after a stop at Andromeda-1 for refueling of her comm generator. We can say with certainty that the reason she did not have more fuel was due to a shortage on Eden Prime. She was ordered to activate her stealth systems and cloak. Then proceed with an orbital pass to gather scans, and to decide from there on her own how to proceed further. She was reminded the primary objective of her mission was to gather all data she could in regards to any Sal’nash presence on the planet.”
Maria motioned to a close up of the dense cloud layer and lightning storm, it was a repeating video.
“Following orders the Ensign broke the comm link and approached the planet. She realized that due to a thick, electrified atmospheric layer she would need to enter the atmosphere and get below the interference to obtain any useful data. Using her own initiative to fulfill the orders she was given she then made an atmospheric entry. She noted that the upper atmosphere was a highly volatile mix of Hydrogen and Oxygen. Her mission log states that when she entered the thicker atmosphere it was a mix of Carbon and volatile organic compounds. It was thick and there were several lightning strikes against her fighter’s shields. Below this she found the atmosphere to be very low oxygen and incompatible with human life.”
She then showed an image of the antimatter canisters lit up by her fighter’s lights. Maria motioned at the image.
“What she discovered was a high density of Sal’nash organic matter. Several large Sal’nash structures, a low-tech emergency beacon and an alien disposal site for FTL by-product. As we all know, it is one of the most volatile and dangerous substances we’re aware of.”
The next image was a blown-up list of standing orders, some were redacted.
“System’s Alliance military has a list of standing orders that it provides to all of its members. These are used when a member is unable to contact command. This allows them to react in the spirit of the System’s Alliance to developing situations. As you see here, the second standing order is to render aid and assistance to any craft in distress. Ensign Wanjala realizing she would need to respond to the emergency beacon and that she was unable to track it from the air without alerting the Sal’nash that were likely present, set down her starfighter in a crater and approached the beacon on foot using her hand scanner.”
An image of the antimatter parasites appeared behind Maria.
“During her approach she was attacked by FTL waste parasites. You may refer to the image behind me. She ended the threat to her life without alerting the Sal’nash and proceeded to her objective. When she arrived at the beacon she found a primitive colony ship. It did not match any configuration in the records she had available. She still attempted to render aid. She found two survivors. One was a pet called a Nargle, the other a young girl. At this point she was alerted by her fighter’s scanners that Sal’nash were inbound to her position. She had theorized incorrectly that they were dormant.”
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An image of the scan showing the swarm of Sal’nash inbound showed up on the screen behind Maria.
“According to the mission log at this point the Ensign made a choice to complete her primary mission, which was to gather as much data as she could about the rogue planet and any Sal’nash presence. She also knew she had to render aid to the crashed ship and its two survivors. To this end she scanned for FTL by-product. Once she determined there were several containers nearby. She used her available resources to bring one to the ship, jury-rigged it into an explosive device and proceeded to gather all possible data from the crashed ship, and rescued the survivors. Unfortunately, the girl did not survive the trip back to her fighter, even with an emergency oxygen mask. She was too injured in the crash.”
Maria took an unnecessary breath and continued.
“Ensign Wanjala had determined by this point that the Sal’nash were active and would be leaving the planet soon, based on previous intelligence she’d been provided. Seeing no alternative, she followed general order number one, and also her oath as an officer. Protect the people of the System’s Alliance at all costs. She recovered the largest container of FTL byproduct and converted it into a jury-rigged bomb. After this she infiltrated the Sal’nash super hive ship. While there she gathered data. During her data gathering she determined the ship had been preparing to lift off for days already. After confirming this was a ship, she sought a location to place her improvised explosive device. She found one. Her next actions would prove vital. She tried to find a way to rile up the hive. She succeeded when she found the Sal’nash hive queen and engaged her in combat. With that action she was able to get the full engagement of the super hive in its defense.”
An image of the swarm of warrior drones chasing Allison showed up. It proceeded to show a repeating video of her using her energy shield and pistol to defeat several in an orderly retreat. Allison rolled her eyes, it was basically doctored to look more orderly then she was. She remembered how much she was panicking in that hallway. Maria continued.
“Ensign Wanjala proceeded to engage in a running battle to escape the Super Hive. She used one of their air locks to escape after utilizing her fighter’s VI to clear a path for her. She boarded her fighter and began evasive maneuvers to escape the planet. As she had predicted, the Hive ships were all starting to launch. Faced with overwhelming odds and knowing she had data vital to the System’s Alliance she did not engage and retreated. She was under heavy fire from both Hive ships and hostile flyers. Her fighter was heavily damaged, but she escaped the atmosphere.”
An image appeared behind Maria of the Sal’nash fleet forming up. There were audible gasps from the audience.
“In an act of selflessness the Ensign, knowing she could not detonate her improvised device from outside the blast radius triggered it once the bulk of the Sal’nash Hives had launched. Based on the scans she took before her fighter was disabled her actions effected a 99.76% destruction of the Sal’nash forces. We believe their forces numbered in the fourteen-billion range. One heavily damaged ship escaped. We are now tracking it to see if it will link up with more Sal’nash forces. We have moved several carrier groups into Andromeda in anticipation of that eventuality. These fleet movements will not hinder the security of our borders.”
A video of the blast and Sal’nash ships being incinerated played behind her, then the impact on the planet. There were gasps in the audience again. Eyre glanced at Allison who was staring at the video and trying to justify it to herself all over again. Allison was snapped out of it when Eyre touched her hand gently. Allison blinked a few times. The image shifted to the remains of her fighter.
“The damage to Ensign Wanjala’s fighter was severe as you can see in this image. I can confirm what the news reports have already published, her fighter was dead in space waiting for rescue for a little over three standard weeks. She followed her training and was able to use back up power to provide life support and thrustors to avoid collisions with debris. We spared what ships we could for the search effort but space is big and she was between solar systems. We reached out to an organization we had very brief diplomatic discussions with for more assistance. With their help we were able to recover Ensign Wanjala and her fighter. At their request she stayed on their ship to provide a debriefing as they have a vested interest in suppressing the spread of the Sal’nash as well.”
On the screen behind her was the ribbon cutting for the League’s embassy on Eden Prime.
“I am happy to announce that because of Ensign Wanjala’s actions we were able to open official diplomatic ties with a like minded group of individuals in the Andromeda Galaxy, they are called the League of Sentient races. They consist of over a hundred different races that span almost half of the Andromeda Galaxy. Behind me you can see the ribbon cutting ceremony for their newly minted embassy on Eden Prime. There is more news to come. That is it for today’s statement. Thank you, everyone.”
People were starting to shout and hold up their hands. Maria turned to leave and her chief of staff whispered to her, she turned back. She didn’t look pleased.
“Please, everyone, Apparently I covered everything in record time, and we have time for a few, pointed questions, please keep them brief.”
She pointed at a woman near the front.
“You mentioned the Ensign had to recover, was she injured?”
Maria shook her head.
“Due to extended zero-G exposure she lost some of her muscle mass and some bone density, well documented symptoms. With the assistance of the excellent medical staff on the League battle cruiser that rescued her and our own Military medical experts she has made a full recovery and recently took part in a multi-school cheerleading competition.”
Maria pointed to a middle-aged man and referenced his news corporation.
“Madam President, we have unverified reports the Ensign was sent on another deep space patrol over her fall break. Is there any truth to that?”
Maria shook her head.
“While I’m not at liberty to discuss patrol schedules, I can verify that Ensign Wanjala is enjoying a well-deserved vacation in an undisclosed location, after providing testimony at our ongoing Tribunal. I would like to take this opportunity to advise everyone to please respect her privacy. She was just a soldier doing her job. Due to military regulations all she can say to anyone is, no comment, please speak to my press office. We have time for two more questions.”
She pointed at a woman Allison recognized, Marnie Quebec. A total sensationalist legal correspondent.
“Madam President, FTL By product weaponization is strictly prohibited under System’s Alliance law. Corporations have been shut down for even mentioning it, what criminal repercussions will the Ensign face for its weaponization?”
Maria responded clearly and decisively.
“None. The tribunal has already reviewed her actions and determined no criminality.”
Marnie looked disappointed by that answer. Maria motioned to another reporter and mentioned his corps name. He stood up.
“Madam President, do we know what the yield was of the improvised explosive the Ensign detonated?”
Maria glanced behind her. Someone whispered into her ear. Maria frowned but answered.
“Estimates I have received are somewhere in the vicinity of ten to fifteen thousand teratons. Far beyond the Ensign’s initial estimate. We’re still trying to determine exact figures but what we do know has reinforced our commitment to not weaponizing the substance involved. The blast propagated through real space and hyperspace causing a disruption in communications and FTL travel. Thank you everyone, that is all I have time for. If you want further information, please contact the System’s Alliance Press office. We will release further details once the tribunal is completed, and the results are reviewed.”
Maria retreated leaving a crowd of reporters that still wanted more. The broadcast shifted to another one of the Intergalactic soccer championship games. Eyre stood up and wandered into the kitchen. She started humming too herself and pulling out the ingredients for a meal. Allison took another drink of water.
“Aunt Eyre. Is it over now?”
Eyre sighed.
“I’m sorry, not even by a long shot, hon. Reporters will do what they always do. Just keep to the script, no comment, please speak to my public relations and press office, stick to that and no one can yell at you. Well, the reporters can but screw them, right?”
Allison sighed and dragged herself to a kitchen barstool. She leaned on the counter heavily.
“Why do people care?”
Eyre smiled and glanced up at Allison every so often as she sliced some actual chicken meat into thin slivers.
“The vast majority of people live very mundane lives. They get up, they kiss their partner, hug their children, they go to work, they come home, they eat an evening meal, they maybe watch the news, they go to sleep and then they do it all over again the next day over and over again until they die. They look to people like us to live through vicariously. You’re young. You’re attractive, and you’re brilliant. You look really good in the uniform. I know exactly why PR wanted you out there. Recruitment of young women is going to go through the roof. You’re a poster child just waiting to happen.”
Eyre pulled out another cutting board and a new knife. She washed her hands and started cutting up an orange pepper.
“You think well, I was just doing my job. You might even be concerned with the loss of life you caused, hmm?”
Eyre expertly sliced the pepper slivers the other way. She slid them into a waiting bowl. She started on celery next.
“Now they’re calling you a hero, for what? Killing fourteen billion sentient creatures? Seems kind of stupid when you think about it right?”
Allison took another drink of water and nodded. Eyre shrugged and swept the celery into its own bowl. She pointed her knife at Allison.
“Now you have to decide. Did you do the right thing? They can’t tell you that, no one can.”
Eyre started chopping through mushrooms rapidly. Allison’s voice was still pretty rough.
“I can’t think of how else I could have handled it. It was us or them.”
Eyre nodded then swept the mushrooms into yet another container. She pulled out a wok and poured some oil in it then set the heat to high. She looked at Allison.
“So, why were you looking like you were going to throw up when you saw the explosion?”
Allison blinked at Eyre. Eyre swept the chicken off the cutting board into the hot oil. Then poured in a good amount of soya sauce and began to rapidly stir the chicken back and forth.
“Don’t worry if you can’t answer. It’s not an easy question.”
Eyre poured the chicken into a bowl. She fried the other ingredients in turn while Allison sat and pondered. She pulled some rice out of the microwave and mixed everything together and fried it after breaking four eggs into it. Allison had forgotten her moral quandary when she smelled the stir fry. Eyre glanced up at her and started filling a bowl. Allison didn’t tell her to stop until it was overflowing. She savored it as the chicken melted in her mouth.
“Oh my God this is the best food ever. It’s sweet and salty. How did you do that?”
Eyre leaned against the counter beside the cooling unit and took a long pull from a bottle of Synth-O.
“Orange peppers are sweet. Soya sauce is salty. Simple. Glad you like it. Your mother after a night of binge drinking would easily eat a whole wok of the stuff.”
Allison finished her bowl and asked for another which Eyre gladly filled for her. Allison finished that one off too. She leaned on the breakfast bar basking in the afterglow of the frankly orgasmic food.
“Can you tell me something else about her?”
Eyre smiled.
“She was a cheerleader, against her will. Before what happened… happened she was clumsy. She used to say she could find a way to hurt herself in a padded room. She was a brilliant tactician. Driven. Goal oriented. She wanted kids more than anything but was afraid of how they would turn out. Mmm. What else can I say? She loved the color blue. She had her first kiss when she was fifteen. She always put others first. Her favorite car was a dodge challenger she rebuilt herself. She was decisive. She was formidable. She loved red wine, Pinot Noir to be exact. She had a rocky relationship with her parents, especially her mother. She had a lot of trouble in school. She got picked on a lot, she would push back. Got her labeled as the bad kid. She loved literature and poetry. She could quote Shakespeare better than he could, trust me I met him. He really liked the drink. Did most of his righting completely drunk. Kind of a lush.”
Allison smiled.
“You really knew him?”
“Yes. I made it a point to meet a lot of artists over the centuries. van Gogh… mmm. Met Hitler, I was unimpressed. It was before the war. He thought of himself as an artist. Honestly if I knew what he was going to do, I would have bought all of his paintings and encouraged him to continue with the art. Oh well. Hindsight is twenty-twenty right?”
Allison had forgotten all of her questions about her parents.
“You must have seen so much! Who else did you meet?”
Eyre tapped her chin.
“Have you ever heard of Chaucer?”
Allison nodded.
“Met him when I was a mortal. He stayed with me while he was writing a book on my mother’s exploits. It never got published. He died before it could. Probably for the best. My mother’s head was big enough as it was. I met quite a few popes. Two angels.”
“Angels?”
“One was a cranky old man, the other, well, I didn’t realize it at the time, but it was my mother traveling through time. Oh, wait three angels, my mom nearly killed Gabrial in 2027 in the Pope’s office.”
Allison blinked in disbelief.
“Why would your mom attack an angel?”
Eyre started putting the dishes in the dishwasher.
“You know, if you ever met one, you probably wouldn’t have to ask that question?”
Allison offered her bowl over the counter.
“What is it like to live so long? Don’t you miss your loved ones?”
Eyre started putting the leftovers in a plastic container.
“You know, I do at first, but eventually it fades, then I just have the happy memories. And most of my loved ones are immortal so, I kind of get a pass there. I do miss my stepmom sometimes though. I’ll tell you a secret, hon. Even now, sometimes, I go looking for an adult when I need to make a decision. Funny enough, that adult is usually my Aunt Maria.”
Allison smiled.
“Who does she ask then?”
Eyre shrugged.
“To hear her describe it, God. Though she is a medium and can see all manner of ghosts. She’s got one that’s been following her around since the 2010’s, she has one that has been around since Rome, he’s older than her, so I bet she probably consults him… it? He’s just a giant grim reaper guy with a massive scythe. Anyway, I’m sorry but I need to go deal with some things, will you be alright here?”
Allison nodded.
“Good, look, I’m probably going to have to get back to NAFTA dome tomorrow. I’ll stop by tonight teach you a few vampire tricks, then I’ll leave in the morning for home.”
Eyre pulled off her apron and waved before heading out.