Rachel was struck by how different this man seemed from her mentor, Judge. How could they both be from the same family?

Judge always held himself upright and with authority. He walked into a room and commanded it with his presence. This man looked better suited to slinking about and throwing tantrums.

And his voice was so slimy, so creepy. This was the person who represented all of humanity?

More importantly he looked nothing like Astarte. If Rachel hadn’t personally confronted Judge she would have believed Astarte to be his child. His face was soft, his shoulders thrown back like he putting on a show of confidence, and he barely came up to Astarte’s chest. The only similarity were the eyes.

All three of them possessed the same eyes that felt like they could fillet a person with just a glance. But even then there were subtle differences.

Judge had eyes that could search a person’s very soul looking for any flaw of character or personal sin. Eyes that couldn’t be fooled by the lies people told themselves.

Astarte’s looked at the world as if it were all one big puzzle, she looked at people like they were pieces fitting together in a pattern only she could solve. She spared people only the briefest glance to figure out how they fit before moving on.

But this man, he looked at the world as if everyone should be bowing and scraping. He looked at people as only a means of getting what he wanted, like everyone else was there simply for his benefit. Not bothering to look any deeper.

Astarte had lost her air of confident amusement. Her parents didn’t notice it, or at least didn’t think too hard about her change. Likely attributing it to Astarte realizing that she was no longer the most important person here. But Karega saw it.

He saw Astarte’s reaction and the man’s appearance and put two and two together. More importantly he saw that Rachel knew as well. The look he gave her was cold and calculating, like he’d kill her right there if she tried anything, Rachel turned away.

“Gin Kenzo” Astarte said slowly, “By any chance would you be related to Gin Hanzo.”

The man’s face flashed with displeasure. “Yes, he is my brother, but he squandered his chances where I have seized them.”

Astarte frowned, a look that Rachel felt didn’t fit her face, “I see. I met him at the previous party the Hearts put on and couldn’t help but notice the family resemblance.”

Kenso frowned; unlike Astarte he wore his displeasure far better than she did. “I would not equate the two of us so easily. I rise where he falls.”

“Is that so?” A new male voice said, one that Rachel was more familiar with. Judge approached their gathering group. “If I recall correctly, you only took our fathers place because I felt it was beneath me. I never had any interest in being Ozzath’s lapdog.”

Kenzo glared at his brother “And so you would rather be a petty bureaucrat than seize the power of your own birthright.”

Astarte frown only deepened, her eyes darting between the two, then to Karega. Karega gave small shrug of his shoulders. So they didn’t know the truth exactly, just that one of them was her father.

“I only walk the path I have chosen. Whereas you follow the path of others. The only things you seize are the things I don’t care to touch, the things that are beneath a man of honor.” Judge said with a derisive sneer. A double meaning behind his words.

Her mother stepped forward “Gentlemen please, this is a party, there’s no need to air familial troubles here.” She said placatingly.

“Indeed” Kenzo said “Your right as always Alexandra.” he gave her a sly smirk. When did her mother become so friendly with the head of Ameterasu?

“Shall we sit then?” her mother offered, her tone a little stiff.

Judge cleared his throat “If it is alright with you Alexandra I came to discuss my seating. I find that my current table mates are not to my taste.”

Rachel glanced to the table Judge had arrived from and saw the gaggle of her mother’s Harpy’s, the collection of wizened ‘friends’ her mother reserved for the people she invited but were actually unwelcome. She sent out the invitations for politeness’ sake, but would rather the recipients not attend. It appeared that Judge accepting the last two invites had thrown a wrench into her mother’s games.

Alexandra looked like she was about to turn Judge’s offer down, but Karega spoke up before she could get a word in. “Why not join our table then, I can’t imagine the chief of Station Security to be lacking in social graces.” He said with a boisterous smile.

Astarte eyes narrowed on Karega before her signature devilish smirk returned to her face. Replacing the troubled frown. “That sounds like a wonderful idea, I had some questions I had been hoping you might answer about the state of affairs here on Unity.”

Her mothers smile became strained. “Well, I’ll need a minute to rearrange a few seats, if you’ll excuse me.”

Her mother stepped away and had a hushed conversation with some of the serving staff. In only a few minutes of small talk Alexandra had the whole room rearranged to fit the new seating chart. It was a testament to her talent and skill as a social manipulator that she got it done so fast and with so little complaint.

In no time at all, a new table had been arranged for them. Her mother had tried to seat Rachel right next to herself, but a word from Astarte had Rachel moved to her side instead, putting her opposite of her parents. Oddly enough Rachel felt more comfortable at the pirates side than her own parents.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The two brothers were seated opposite each other, and in between them and Astarte’s side of the table were a few of the non-human guests. Admiral Tharadun had been moved away from a side table filled with military contractors to their table, as well several other important Union officials that were likely to entice Astarte.

Conversation was slow to start off, the few attempts Alexandra made resulted in petty verbal sniping between the two brothers. With Astarte only adding fuel to the fire of their mutual hate, which appeared to be something of a talent of the pirate.

Things finally got started when Tharadun chose to engage Astarte after a lull in conversation. “I had a chance to view your ship, Captain Astarte. I must admit it’s a beautiful, if unusual vessel.”

“She, Terran ships are always referred to as fine ladies. And your right, the Astaroth is my pride and joy.” Astarte said with a genuine smile.

“As you should, she’s a fine vessel. Though I am curious about some of your design choices. That shape can’t be a random choice.”

“It wasn’t. We based her lines off the looks of an old Iowa class battleship. We wanted to pay homage to Earth’s naval history.”

“Would that not affect the strength of such a ship?”

“Not as much as one might believe, the Astaroth is both lighter and nimbler than your average Union cruiser, and even a few destroyers. We found that the advantages offered by size couldn’t compare to those offered by compact engineering.”

“An interesting design philosophy.” Tharadun mused.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your riveting conversation” Kenzo interjected, somehow making the word riveting sound like a synonym for painfully boring. “But Astaroth. Is that not the name of one of your western devils?”

Astarte plastered on a fake smile “Western is a bit subjective given that I’m half Japanese, but was born and raised in Africa. But in the Abrahamic belief system Astaroth is considered a devil.”

Kenzo’s face twitched at Astarte’s admonishment. “Are devils not considered evil?”

“Depends on who you ask. Old faith Abrahamic’s would say yes, they are evil, no nuance or redeeming qualities. But for many people of the Newer faith, of the New saints, we view the devils less as villains and more like anti-heroes. Avatars of darker less pleasant truths.”

“And you are one of these ‘New Saint’ followers?” He asked.

“I don’t consider myself a person of deep faith, but I was raised in an environment steeped with the rhetoric of the New saints.”

Her father cleared his throat, clearly upset. “You and your ‘new faith’ convert venerate sinful musicians to an inappropriate level.”

“And those of the old faith put too much stock into a dusty book with little bearing on modern life.” Astarte retorted easily.

Kenzo snorted, it made his face look even more pig like. “Religion. It is another reason why Union culture is superior to any others. Religion is the lie a species tells themselves to feel special. A rhetoric for dividing.”

Astarte turned hawkish eyes on her father. “While I cannot refute any of that, I will challenge the idea that any culture is superior to another. It is talk like that, that justifies genocide and conquest.”

Kenzo smiled. “Come now sweetheart, you cannot deny that Union has brought together over a hundred species and issued a long era of peace. You can’t think that’s an accident.” He said smoothly. Or what Rachel assumed was supposed to be smooth, inside she was retching.

Astarte’s eye twitched at the sweetheart remark. “Peace, is subjective. Just because the Union hasn’t entered a state of total war doesn’t mean its conflict free. Just look at the Bedona crisis. An attempted succession, some Union intervention, and now that entire sector is bathed in the fires of genocidal race war.” She turned to Tharadun “You yourself returned in a heavily wounded battleship. What kind of peace time navy experiences that much damage?”

“Tensions have been ramping up.” Tharadun mused grimly. “Lots of things moving in the shadows.” There seemed to be a hidden meaning behind his words, and made the shadow comment in Astarte’s direction.

Astarte gave Tharadun an appraising look before turning back to Judge. “And while the Union had blended many species together into one comprehensive culture, it was done at the ostracization of deathworlders. Since coming to this station my crew have had more violent run ins with the local SS than anywhere else. My own Chief of security and Chief doctor got tazed and arrested for escorting a lost Drohodron girl to her mother. I had a crewmen returned to me in a women’s underwear and a dress. I even received reports of a human woman with a broken arm being handcuffed and detained at gun point.”

“I highly doubt any normal officer could break a human’s arm.” Judge said with gritted teeth.

“Your right, according to the report I received the human had been fleeing an attacker. And instead of protecting her your officers drew weapons on her.”

Oh, that was her. When had Astarte received a report of her first encounter with Zera?

Judge realized who she was talking about and averted his eyes. “My officers were spooked by the human’s sudden appearance. They only drew weapons because they feared for their lives.”

“I see, they were afraid of the scary unconscious, injured, human. And my crew had obviously provoked your other officers by simply standing there menacingly.” Astarte said with false sincerity.

Kenzo’s face lit up. “Are your officers really that incompetent brother. Are they not supposed to protect the citizens of the Union?” he said, capitalizing on the weakness Astarte had exposed. Kenzo turned to Astarte “You have my condolences on behalf of your crew for my brother’s failures.” He said with a smile.

Rachel noticed Astarte’s fist clench under the table. “Thank you councilmen.” She said stiffly.

Karega cleared his throat. “As my partner has pointed out, we’ve been experience much trouble from the local authorities. You always hear rumors about this sort of thing in Orion, but they seem to have undersold the severity of the problem. It’s been so bad that we’ve been reconsidering our business plans in the core region.”

Alexandra’s eyes flashed with panic before she covered it up with a false smile. “Surely it’s not that drastic.”

Astarte glanced to Karega and unspoken words crossed their faces. Astarte seriously expected Rachel to believe there was nothing going on between the two of them. She was everything a man would want in a woman, smart, cunning, strong, and dripping in confidence.

Rachel felt her face flush.

“Of course it hasn’t been so bad” Astarte said, her tone placating. “We can’t just give up on our plans for the core.”

“But the issues belie an underlying cancer.” Karega finished.

The people around the table all exchanged glances.

Kenzo frowned, and then with little indication of his previous displeasure he gave Astarte a sly sympathetic smile. “It sounds like you’ve had a rough time here on Unity. It appears my brother’s incompetence has led to an unfair prejudice against the very people our family has represented for centuries. I don’t suppose you’d be interested in talking this over in a more… private setting.”

Astarte blinked, the blinked again. Then her jaw worked as she tried to keep the disgust off her face. “That’s, a, uh, kind offer.” She said, her voice faltering.

“It would be pleasure to better discuss with some someone intimately versed in this sort of thing.” Kenzo pressed, showing no sign of giving up the chase.

Was he… was he flirting with her? It was clumsy and unsubtle, but Rachel had a feeling Kenzo believed himself to be charming right now. No wonder he often found the need to use force.

Oh that was so wrong on so many different levels.

Rachel felt uncomfortable watching it, she could only imagine how Astarte felt right now.

“Kenzo!” Judge barked. “Is now really the time for that?” He knew Astarte’s actual relationship with Kenzo and obviously felt the same as Rachel.

Kenzo scowled “Come now brother, you can hardly judge me. At least I can see the beauty of the fairer sex, unlike others I know.” He said with a sneer. Rachel knew what he was implying and felt her own fists clench.

Judge’s face went blank “I have no idea what your implying.” He said stiffly.

At that moment a ringing sound came from Astarte’s chest. The pirate smiled apologetically. “Sorry, that’s me.” She reached into her dress and removed a small communication device. “I need to take this. Is there some where I can step outside for a minute.”

“Just that way” Alexandra directed.

Astarte stood and left.

But as she got up Rachel saw Karega slip his own phone back into his pocket. Rachel had seen the icon of Astarte sticking her tongue out at whoever took the picture to realize that Karega had been the one to call her.

Astarte left the table, and as she left Judge sent Rachel a pointed look.

Rachel stood up. “I need to use the facilities.” She said with her eyes facing downward.

Alexandra looked unconvinced. “Don’t take too long. Remember what happened the last time you disappeared for too long.”

Rachel remembered. She had stepped away because her ? had been swimming, and Vivian had followed her. After that she had been screamed at by her father and thrown out of her own home. Alexandra was warning her not to further embarrass the family.

As if Rachel would ever do something like that again.

She walked towards the facilities, walked right passed them and out onto the veranda. It wasn’t the same exit Astarte had used so she had to do a little searching. But Rachel knew all the hiding spots on this property.

She found Astarte hidden under a balcony. She saw the pirates shoulders shaking, and Rachel assumed her to be crying.

She felt herself approach to try and comfort her, but a flash of skin blurred at the pirates side as Astarte buried her fist into the stone façade of wall. Literally buried, bits of plaster splattered back as the pirate left a hole in the brickwork of her parents house.

No amount of exercise or conditioning should make anyone strong enough to do that. Even Deathworlders had their limits. What the fuck was with this women.

“I’m to fucking kill all of them” the pirate growled lowly.

Rachel took a step back at the pirates rage, and backed into something solid.

Rachel turned, and skittered forward as she realized who was behind her.

Astarte turned at the noise and her murderous glare sharpened into something deeper.

“Temper, Temper, Daisey.” The mechanical voice of Zera said behind her new mantis mask. “Wouldn’t want your new girlfriend to see you in a state now would we.” The assassin teased.