Chapter Two

Réna sat and the small table in the galley across from Shawn. She kept her eyes averted from him, as if something under her short fingernails was more interesting. She was bothered Hansen didn't answer her question right away and instead complained about how small the ship was. 'Don't want me to know something, don't talk so damn loud,' she muttered to herself as she softly chewed on one of her nails.

She stopped and put her hand down as Hansen came in and she looked at him with a serious expression. She was intrigued to know what was up. What was it he needed to tell her?

Hansen sat down across from her. Shawn sat in the back corner. “Well I suppose you want to know what we are hiding?”

"Like I said before Captain," began Réna with a sigh, "we 'all' have our secrets. If you so obliged to let me know what's going on, then yes, please tell me. You are the one that said 'We're gonna have to tell her'. If you don't, then don't. I'm Baijin. I'm used to being told to keep to my own business," she said looking at her fingernail again.

Hansen sighed feeling disappointed. “Very well, then but I will tell you anytime you really want to know.” He stood up then looked down at her. “Réna, curiosity is a survivors instinct not just a respect issue.” He walked away heading back for the cockpit.

Shawn stood up after he left. “Still feeling like an obedient slave huh?”

Réna looked after him with a somber expression. Three years being treated like an equal by him and she was still afraid to act like one. She almost believed he would never hurt her, but three years was short compared to the twelve years of hell she suffered beforehand. Could he blame her for being afraid?

She looked up at Shawn with cold eyes at his question, then looked away as she muttered, "By how you treat me, yes."

The mechanic shrugged, “Well perhaps you might let those vicious fangs out every now and again, because Baijin, you will need them where we’re going." He turned to walk away then heading for the back of the ship. He stopped a short way down the walk way. “Oh and a top tip, I think you may want to hear his story with earnest before you get any further into this.” With that he left.

Hansen took his seat again. The computer started to chirp at his arrival. “No she didn’t hear it,” he answered. Another series of tones followed. “Well, perhaps I shall when she wants to hear it. At this rate though I will make her drag it out of me. Now who made you my shrink? I shut you off for a reason. Now you're talking through my indicators?"

A mournful ring answered him. As though it was suddenly sorry for speaking. Hansen leaned back in his chair to enjoy the silence and view.

She curled her hand into a fist as he called her a Baijin again and not her name. She curled her lip slightly at the back of his head as he started to leave. She was moments away from shouting at him again that she had a name, but he turned and continued. Her face slowly softened and she looked away thinking.

Several minutes passed before she stood behind him in the door way. "Hansen," she said softly. "May I?" she asked, asking to come in.

Hansen looked over his shoulder then turned to face his view. “Certainly Réna what do you need?”

Réna took a seat in the doorway, her legs hung over the ladder like steps into the cock pit. "I apologize for my behavior in the galley. It's just…" she looked down at her hands that rested in her lap. She looked ashamed, yet frightened at the same time.

Hansen waited patiently. He started to fiddle with some of his instruments, waiting for her to speak.

"There's something I need to tell you," she said. "You're not the only one with secrets sir." She looked up at him as she swallowed nervously. "I probably should have told you this when you found me… but to tell the truth I was afraid you wouldn't want to risk it. There's a reason I don't like leaving your ship and it's more than just the fear of being a slave."

Hansen stopped what he was doing. "I'm listening Réna ."

"Promise me you won't tell Shawn," she said looking at him desperately. "The gods only know what he would do if he found out," she said before telling him.

"Okay, I won’t tell him for now.”

Réna didn't like that answer, but she knew it would have to do. Besides, what choice did she have. If she wanted respect and wanted to be part of this crew, she needed to trust. And trust couldn't exist if everyone kept secrets from everyone. "I - I may be wanted by the empire for murder," she said with her head down. "I k-" she paused as it was very hard for her to speak it out loud. She instinctively looked behind her then back at Hansen. Utter fear in her eyes. "I killed the man who owned me," she said quietly. "He was a high ranking commander of the empire…." she spilled out. "It-it was an accident…." she added looking away.

It may have been an accident or self defense to her or another Baijin, but to the empire and to those that didn't care, called it murder.

"I see then," he said. "What was his name?"

She looked at him a little taken back, surprised he wasn't upset for not telling him sooner. She cocked her head slightly to the side, intrigued. "Commander Khelland Blackard," informed Réna.

“Blackard!” he said suddenly. “I think you’re now my most favorite person!” He suddenly fell into a convulsing laughter.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Réna jumped as he shouted his name. She looked at him both shocked and nervous then looked around to make sure Shawn wasn't near and looked back at Hansen with a look as if she wished he'd be just a little more quieter. She gave him a nervous smile as she watched him laugh. "Y-you knew him then," she said questioningly.

He took a breadth to calm his laughter. I think you're going to be interested to know that we were colleagues at one point. The man was an ass. Always riding his rank and having no back bone in the end.”

"Y-you were colleagues?" she stuttered surprised and looked at him questioningly. "You-you were a member of the empire?" Her chest tightened slightly.

"Eh yes, of a sorts, but they kicked me out. Something about a disagreement.”

"I - I didn't know one could leave," she said. "Is - is that what you were trying to tell me in the galley?"

Hansen smiled, "Technically you can’t leave. Only in a grave. But I can say that me and some others found another way. It’s part of how I have this ship.”

She gave a slight nod as that was how she thought most people left the empire - they were killed. "Some others? You're talking about those Squad mates on the moon Karka, aren't you," she said suspecting that was who Hernando the Politician was talking about. "That's what this mission with the girl's about. We drop off the girl near Andromeda and you get your mates back, right?"

“Oh no, I'm sure it won’t be that easy. In fact I doubt Hernando has anything of great value to offer. You see, Karka is a the highest security prison in the empire. It is buried into the moon with literally one exit. No compartments either. Blow their door open wrong and you vent the whole place. Guards and prisoners.” He stopped himself to shack his head.

“But yes, I flew with some others. We were a squad together. I lead the Sun Falcons. In ships like this one. One day we decided that things weren’t to our liking and wanted to make a difference. Well, you can see the outcome. I’m now a mercenary for hire and Shawn is my lovely mechanic. We’ve been keeping this baby flying ever since."

"Then, was he threatening you," she asked, looking at him confused. "Why mention your friends, if he isn't going to … I don't understand. Did - did I miss something?"

“No Réna, the Politician is offering me information. I have my doubts, however, but I don’t see what…. “ he paused for a moment. “I think I know what he wants to do.” He just sat back in his chair. Taking another breath. He flipped a switch on his console. "Lanca, run a diagnostic on our newest life form and while you're at it please start analyzing the latest blockades for Andromeda."

"Thank you sir for finally turning my matrix back on. I must say that it’s very refreshing to be able to use my full abilities,” The voice from the com of the cock pit was a child sounding almost playful. “Oh and Réna, I am so happy to be able to meet you finally. Well at least to be able introduce myself."

She looked around slightly started. In the three years she had been on the ship, she never knew it had an AI. "Um…it's nice to meet you Lanca," said Réna while looking at Hansen impressed. "What are you thinking Captain?" she asked.

“I think we are going to run into a snag with our dear Politician. He has had a history for Human tampering.”

Lanca spoke up, ”It would appear your right Our passenger has some unusual characteristics. Ones that coincide with the old conqueror experiments"

Hansen felt his heart fall at the news. “How long till she needs a host ship?” he asked.

“Exactly one month. Her current cellular levels are holding but their regeneration rates are falling at a micro but steady rate.”

Hansen sighed heavily and looked at Réna. “I’ll tell Shawn about this. I want you to keep an eye the child throughout the voyage. If she starts to act at all strange let me know. We have about three weeks to fly to Andromeda and drop her off. Hernando is a fool but he’s a smart fool. I can’t believe they are still working on that project. It galls me even more that they are activating it in children now.”

Réna's heart fell to her gut at the realization of what she heard and what was going on. She had heard about these "Hybrid Humans" before. Conversations between Blackard and others she wasn't supposed to be listening into. She swallowed somberly. "Yes sir," she said to his order. "Just one more thing. Was Shawn part of your squad?" she asked wondering if Shawn would be as pleased as Hansen that Blackard was dead if and when he found out. She just wanted to make sure she didn't have anything to worry about in the future.

“Yes he was. Shawn was the best mechanic I had; at the time.” He gave a smile at a distant memory. “I need you to understand something Réna. The girl is still very much a human so treat her her age. Most likely she doesn't even know she’s not normal. Can you do that?”

Réna looked at him as if he had just insulted her. "Of course I can," she said softly. "She'll be in good hands under my care," she added. "Is it because of these experiments you left the empire sir," she asked in a wondering tone.

Hansen shrugged and said, “I just know what these things can do to people."

Réna gave him a somber expression. She wasn't going to push if he didn't want to tell her. She wasn't like that. But she hoped that if he felt like sharing, she'd listen to him next time. She just needed to get what she had done off her chest before she felt it right. "I'll go see to the child," she said getting ready to turn away as she lifted her legs up to the ledge to stand.

Hansen saw that she was still interested. It would save him time to tell her now. “Ah well, before I left the military they were conducting experiments on humans to achieve a new breed that could ultimately survive in space. It was a medieval practice with a gruesome history. But they succeeded. Well in part at least. By using ships like this one they developed the first of what was called the Conquerors. Strike force teams that could survive even the most perilous of circumstances. They were well beyond what could be thought of. In fact, I will share an example with you. You were still a slave, but about fifteen years ago the Baijin had a rebellion. Almost even made it home free. The military was desperate to settle the matter. You would have heard that it was a simple negotiation. That terms were in fact reached. Well, I can tell you that terms were reached, by letting a squad of Conqueror pilots blow them all to dust. The leaders were already cloned and then given fabricated memories. The Baijin think of them as heroes. That they were heard. They weren’t; all of it happened the way the Empire wanted it to.“

He paused thinking that maybe he had said too much. “However that was the extreme of it. They have also managed to create miracles because of those experiments. However after a certain matter happened. The whole project was cancelled and smothered."

She lowered her legs back down as he started to speak. She looked at him with a studying expression as he told her the story. She remembered this well. Though Blackard had not been her first owner, he was one of many. He had been the roughest. Fifteen years ago was when her life in slavery had just started. At least her life in slavery alone…. Her people had always been in slavery, but most had stayed in family units. It was shortly after all this that it all changed.

She was fourteen, just a child, but old enough to be taken from her family and worked. His story was just the starting of when things got worse .. at least for some. The horrible memories of her more severe years were still so fresh and vivid that she barely remembered her life as a 'free' Baijin. However, she did vaguely remember where her people were less than slaves as they were now. They were never free, they were still under strict law and disrespected as a race, but they weren't treated less like animals as they were now. She remembered her father speaking of a rebellion. Her brother had joined them. He wanted to free his family. But he never came home one night after a brutal attack on one of their moons. This had been before their leaders supposedly been cloned and they thought they had gained freedom.

As he continued, things made a little more sense, but regardless of what the Empire made them think, it was just the beginning of the worst for some. Shortly after it all seemed well, her father disappeared. They never saw him again. At the time Réna didn't understand but she knew he was dead now. It was only the matter of why and who had done it. Questions that would most likely never get answered.

She was then taken from her mother and younger sister. She figured that her mother was dead, like her father, but she had no idea what happened to her sister. Mostly liking still a slave, like she had been, but she didn't know where the first place she could look for her.

She looked down at the floor of the cock pit when he finished. "Yes," she said softly. "I remember this….but it may have seemed like things were getting better sir, at least what the empire wanted us to believe, but that was around the same time I was taken away from my family. We thought things were looking up, but, they weren't. It didn't take me long to realize something had happened. The empire had somehow tricked my whole race. We weren't free and we never will be," she added in a whisper. "So… the child… she may be one these Conquerors," she asked looking up at him with somber eyes.

“I think she is an attempt at a reboot. But I’ll be damned if I let this just happen. Hernando is living up to his reputation as a trouble maker.”

A siren started blaring over ahead as the proximity alarm went off. They could hear the engines starting to abort there jump drive sequence.

“Oh want now!” Hansen cried out picking up his helmet. He flipped a switch to activate the head up display. The Scanners showed his most feared nightmare as they fell out of the jump. A Demon Class stalker was on the outer reaches of the long range scanners.

“Rena, get to your laser turret now. We are in trouble.”