Duty, 31: Where the Hopes are Revived
23 Mar 2023Meowers
I received a reply from Mion several hours later. Can't say I wasn't nervous waiting... Although it seemed like she also had to take some time to process. Hah. Yeah, we both have seen... things. But that doesn't mean we like to discuss them in a casual manner, or even discuss at all. Like there's nothing else to talk about.
"Our shifts will begin at the same time tomorrow. Meet me in my hangar two hours before. I need to speak with you."
* * *
It was early morning by the local cycle, a few minutes before sunrise. I woke up and, putting on my uniform, wondered for a minute, like, should I take any heavy stuff or not? Decided not to. Even if Mion was somehow connected to the traitors and we're at the opposite sides now, I'd better show my trust in her personally. That I have. Took some time to build and I don't want to derail it.
Turns out, she wasn't. Still, left me with some things to consider.
"Get in. I have to show you something. Nobody knows the full story," she said, starting the electric car and opening the passenger door. And there was no one but her inside. "As much as I want to end that senseless grudge, I also want you look at the whole picture from my point, to understand me. 'Cause if you won't, then there's no meaning in whatever is going on between us."
Mion drove the car towards one of the distant hangars, with an Eagle stationed there. Unlike the other ships, this one looked more fresh and intact, without signs of field repairs and extensive usage. It was even covered in a layer of dust. But she told me the ship is spaceworthy and fully functional, it wasn't used because of being too basic, outfitted with standard, non-upgraded modules. Quite a curious thing, I haven't seen that Eagle in any documents; she told me to wait and listen.
She entered the cockpit and sat in the pilot seat, inviting me to stay close to her. Putting her hands on the sticks, Mion let out a long sigh and started talking.
More than a decade ago, when she was younger, she had to work hard to keep living, literally like me, in places with questionable work ethics and of dubious legal status, until eventually she found a better job, a job that could give her a shot at building a future. A position in the large transporting company: she was provided with an almost new Adder to deliver small packages and fragile cargo. Working there for several months, Mion stacked up enough money to sign a long-term rental agreement, finally moving into her separate apartments planetside.
Then this Paul guy happened. He wanted to accompany the shipment, and she agreed... To be assaulted by him, during the hydrogen scooping stop in some almost empty system. Having... quite a manly intentions, and pointing a pistol at her, he demanded her 'services'. But she's a pilot, a spacer, she knows those zero-gravity moves way better, so, jumping out from the line of fire, she hit the man with a taser and tied him to the handrail.
And it could've been a story with a happy ending... If not for his certain connections in the Alliance Security department on the starport of their destination. So, instead of putting him in a jail, they did that to Mion, accusing her of 'assault and attempt to appropriate the cargo', and trying to incriminate her even more vicious stuff, done by other people who were still on the loose. Apparently to 'close' their cases and grab the bonus. Putting Mion behind the bars for decades.
A friend helped her to escape. He was flying an old exploration-outfitted Anaconda those days, the ship was stripped down for a longer jump range, though after installing some weapons it became a force to be reckoned with, more than enough for a short fight. Interdicting and attacking the Viper which carried Mion to the prison, he damaged its drives and shattered the cockpit canopy; threatening the pilot, aiming straight at the exposed cockpit, he forced them to release Mion, picked her up and jumped away, being already chased by the arriving forces.
Eagle, a small and lightweight spacecraft, was hidden in the vast cargo hold of the almost empty Anaconda. Police had a hard time catching the exploration ship with an enormous hyperjump range, but still they managed to arrange an ambush. A fight started, with odds that were looking grim. And, in the heat of that fight, friend told Mion, almost shouting at her, that she'd better leave him here and escape to safety while their ship is still holding together. She opened the cargo bay doors, jumped into that Eagle and slipped away, getting off the hook and finally making her way here. Using the coordinates friend gave her, exact coordinates of this settlement.
It was this Eagle. And she never heard from her friend again.
So, many inhabitants of this town had a similar story to share. Refugees, escapees, people who were born in awful places, victims of political and corporate games, and so on. And the rules were simple: no crimes, no unwanted attention. There were several hideouts like this. Placed on the very border, in the neutral space, out of jurisdiction, they were... at least a little more safe. Even being trapped between two stones. The authorities and the Thargoids. But they needed the Thargoids around. Omnipol agents were too scared of them, and the top ranks of Anti-Xeno formations knew about those settlements, refusing to send their forces to provide cover for the agents. Moreover, they were secretly supporting the uncharted towns, in exchange for recruits, recon data, assistance with logistics, etc. That's why this place has its ties to AXDF.
Many of them had nowhere else to go.
"That's why I can't tolerate violence... Especially from the outside. I thought we could handle things on our own... Until recently. I want... To keep this place safe. No matter from whom... Or what. To give those people... A chance. A hope. A future. That chance... It might be their last one. Our last one."
I looked at Mion. Tears fell down her face, her hands were gripping the sticks as it was at that day, years ago. She was still there, running away, leaving everything behind. That's why this Eagle isn't taking off anymore. It has too many memories tied to it, too painful to recall, but still too valuable to lose that ship.
I came closer and put my hand on top of hers. We went silent for... It felt like hours. Staring forward through the thick dust-covered glass.
Hope she saw a future in front of her.