Personal Log 124: Correspondence
19 Oct 2016Jemine Caesar
In an earlier log I mentioned speaking by k-cast on April 21st with Kyle Senreiko. During that conversation I briefly referred to my very good friend, Nathalie Hudson, praising her excellent skills as the pilot of her Fer-de-Lance, the Darkangel. Three days earlier, on April 18th, I had sent Nath a recorded message, which resulted in an exchange of k-casts between us...
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+++ k-cast encrypted message +++
From: Jem Caesar
To: Nathalie Hudson
Sent: Apr 18th, 3302
Hello Nathalie,
I hope you are well. The last time we spoke you were involved in a battle with some of Tatiana's gang. Have you managed to make any progress towards getting her on your side against Delaine?
You may not know that I was recently kidnapped by the person who was killing the girls on the harem list. I did mention it on the Pilot's Federation chatpage. The captivity was painful, to say the least. I'm physically recovered now, but the mental scars will take a little longer to heal.
I'm glad to say that the ordeal of the last few months is finally over. The murderer was caught and is now dead. I was told not to disclose any details, but as you are one of my closest friends I think I can make an exception.
The murderer was John Graham's mother, Gayle. She basically wanted revenge on all the girls because she thought we had all rejected him. She made the torture worse for me, because I was the one John asked to marry him. I still have nightmares about it all.
Anyway, let me know how things are going for you. It would be nice to meet up again sometime.
Take care,
Jem
x
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The reply I received from Nathalie consisted of a k-cast recorded message. A message she had in turn received which claimed to be from Archon Delaine...
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From: Nathalie Hudson
To: Jem Caesar
Sent: Apr 19, 3302
Nath', ol' Nath'... I'm pretty sure you have no clue of what you have just started, sweetie. Dismantling Vidrovka's cell was a pretty good skill test! Bravo! I'm almost impressed...
Let me tell you one thing or two. First of all, even if Vidrovka was useful in her way, her crew was like... One fucking percent of my overall power! You are really thinking you're gonna hurt me like that, bitch? Don't be so certain about that. I have so many tricks, baby, you can't just touch me. Unless I let you, heheh...
Second of all, let's see... Samuel J. Hodkin, Aidan Venters, Jemine Caesar... Yeah, I can sense your fear from here, bitch. I know every name of your contacts, and I tell you this; we can end this properly. You can face your death, your incompetence, right now, and I'll kill you the decent way. Touch another one of my cell around the galaxy, and I'll kill every single person in this fucking bubble before you'll join them near Gaia.
Don't mess with me, bitch. You are not powerful enough to do so. Not even the Federation, nor the Empire can.
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It was impossible to tell whether the message had come from Delaine himself. More likely it had been sent on behalf of the Pirate Lord by one of his minions. Nevertheless, the message sent a huge wave of fear rippling through my soul. Nathalie was in deeper trouble than I had ever imagined...
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From: Jem Caesar
To: Nathalie Hudson
Sent: Apr 19, 3302
Oh, Nathalie!
This is truly awful.
I know you vowed to rid the galaxy of Archon Delaine, but I'm so frightened for you. As your friend, I beg you to give up your mission. Delaine is notorious for his cruelty, and if he finds you he will kill you, and I can't bear to think of what he might do to you first...
I know you are a magnificent pilot, and the Darkangel is a wonderful ship. But Delaine has a huge army behind him, and you are just one woman. The odds against you are simply too great.
Come home, Nathalie, please. There are surely other ways you can help to bring goodness to the galaxy.
And I don't want to lose my friend.
May the Gracious Lady Gaia watch over you and keep you in Her care.
Love,
Jem
x
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Two nerve-wracking days passed before I received a reply from my friend...
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From: Nathalie Hudson
To: Jem Caesar
Sent: Apr 21, 3302
Hey Jem,
I know where I am into, seriously. But I can't give up. You are asking me to let down my reason to push forward. I am a bounty hunter! That's my job to... chase those junks out there! I'm not selfish at all by acting like this! I love you, you know that and I, huh... I just want the galaxy to be safer for you, and all of my friends.
But if you insist, I guess I can surely slow the pace for a while, do some... classic bounty hunting... I'm hiding in the Tun system for the moment. One system, one habitable planet, I can easily have an eye on what's going on around here. Charities are very active too, so I give some of my credits to help them.
And I can't go home just yet. If Delaine's after me - again - I won't come to you, for the simple fact that he will get the opportunity to harm you as well. But do come to Tun, the space station out there is kind of cool!
Love you, my friend!
xo
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I was relieved to hear Nathalie say she would relax her pursuit of Archon Delaine. But I knew she was not ready to give up entirely. There was no further contact between us for another three weeks or so...
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From: Nathalie Hudson
To: Jem Caesar
Sent: May 14, 3302
Hey Jem,
I'm sending this message because, well... I can't reach you just yet. I... I decided to let down my... obsession for Delaine for a bit, until I can build a proper, large group to face his, by being friends with other bounty hunters, something like that. But I can't show up in the bubble right now, traveling all the way across it. I'm hiding in Tun right now, nice system to hide, because there is only one station, near a single habitable planet, very easy to have an eye on ships.
How are the things on your side? I miss you so hard Jem, I wanna know everything is happening to you because it matters to me, really. Tell me everything, I have some time to kill anyways so don't be afraid of details, haha!
I love you Jem, we will be face to face soon enough, I promise.
Nath'
xoxo
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Poor Nathalie. I didn't envy her, still in hiding at Tun. I sent a message to tell her all my latest news...
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From: Jem Caesar
To: Nathalie Hudson
Sent: May 15, 3302
Hello Nathalie,
I'm glad you are keeping yourself safe at Tun. And I want you to know that I miss you, too, and love you very much.
How are things going for me? Well, let's see...
I'm making good progress in recovering from the ordeal of my kidnap. Poor Sam has been very patient with my irritability and wild mood changes. But I'm improving. Oh! Did I tell you that Gayle Graham had taken my prized lockets from me? She told me she'd destroyed them. I was heartbroken. But then, amazingly, they were given back to me at a jewellers' in Sol. That's a long story, but their return worked wonders for my state of mind. I just get the occasional panic attack now.
It was my birthday on April 23rd. Sam bought me a beautiful crimson strapless evening dress, with a ruched bodice and a crystal applique at the waist. You'd love it! We went to a grand ball on Earth to celebrate St George's Day. We also watched a performance of a play by William Shakespeare, called 'Henry The Fifth'. It was fascinating, though a little longer than I expected. My bottom felt quite numb when the play had finished!
I'm still doing plenty of delivery jobs. I was talking by k-cast to a pilot named Kyle Senreiko. Kyle flies a Fer-de-Lance, and I told him about you and the Darkangel.
I had a call from my father at the end of April. My real father, I mean, Edward Harvard. He moved to a system called Turir not long ago, and opened a jewellery shop. He asked me to pay him a visit, saying he had something to show me. When I got there he told me he'd met a woman, and they had fallen in love. He wanted to show me the engagement ring he'd chosen for her, and to ask for my blessing. Of course I gave it.
His fiancée is called Diadem Palama. She didn't turn out to be quite what I expected! For a start, she's only a few years older than I am. At a guess, I'd say she's about 35. She's quite tall and slim, with dark-brown skin, and masses of jet-black frizzy hair. She wears lots of gold jewellery, including dangly hoopy earrings and several bracelets on each wrist. Her makeup is immaculate, and her taste in clothes is typically Imperial in its ostentatiousness.
She is very pleasant to talk to, and the two of us got on very well. The main thing is she seems to be genuinely in love with my father. It's easy to see why he's fallen for her.
They met in father's jewellery shop, in early March. Diadem had taken in a bracelet to be mended, and they got chatting. They quickly found that, despite the fifty-year age difference, they had a lot in common, and started seeing each other regularly. Father said he was too embarrassed to tell me about Diadem in his weekly k-cast messages.
What else...
Sam and I decided to go to PLX 695, because we each have a permit for it. We found it a rather unfriendly place, though, with a lot of lawlessness and pirate activity. I was attacked in an ambush by four ships. I didn't stand a chance, and The Last Thing was destroyed. We left after a short stay.
My grandparents (that is, my real mother Rebecca and her husband Barnes) have decided to return to their careers in acting. Grandmama has been offered a part in a holovid version of a soap series called 'Heart And Sol'. Barnes has had no offers so far.
After PLX 695 Sam and I went to Puiki. This was an even worse place, and I was interdicted four times in two days. I wish I was as good a combat pilot as you, Nath. The Last Thing was destroyed three times out of four. Thank Gaia for insurance, and escape pods.
I read an article in Galnet about Jaques Station appealing for hydrogen fuel for a jump to Beagle Point. I'd already learned about Jaques and his starport in Valentina! magazine, so I thought it would be nice to go and see it for myself. Sam and I made the 200LY trip. We were a little too late to contribute to the appeal, but I'm hoping to be able to watch the station leave for Beagle Point in the next few days.
That's about it, I think. I hope we'll be able to meet up again soon, my love.
Take care,
Jem
xxx
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Her reply arrived just as Sam and I were making love. The beep of my dataslate coincided almost exactly with the moment I reached the most massive orgasm. I felt sure Nath wouldn't mind if I didn't check her message straightaway, given the circumstances...
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Sent: May 15, 3302
From: Nathalie Hudson
Recipient: Jem Caesar
Hey Jem,
Fuck, I missed your birthday. That means I'll have to make a bigger present than everyone else! I'll have a look around the stations' shops to see if I can take you some interesting things!
You know, Sam is a very nice guy to have by your side. I'm happy that he did take the time to help you get through all of that. I experienced that as well, and you know, that's exactly when we met face to face the first time. I know it's hard to not think about it, that's why you need to fill your days with everything profitable or enjoyable. Making yourself busy will help you as much as it helped me.
A Fer-de-Lance huh? Seems like everyone likes that ship, haha! I can understand though, it is one of the best ships for bounty hunting. Comfortable, deadly, agile, fast... I wonder what did you say about the Darkangel! That is my proud companion, and we are a deadly duo for sure. We are strong girls. You and I we are like... You are the Femme Fatale and I'm your hawk, roaming high into the sky! Haha!
Edward, opening a jewelry shop? Well, wow. That's a bit of a change. The one time we met him he was living in a... freaking junk house or something like that. Glad to know that he found a beloved one. But just a bit older than you? Ew, I find that a bit... awkward, but anyways, that's his life so.
PLX 695 and... Puiki. Okay, that's noted. As soon as I can leave Tun safely I'll go there for some income. Huge income, to prepare my future investment. You know, Jem, you can't be great on every single point. Where I'm deadly in combat, you're an excellent trader. But if you need assistance (once I can get out of here, of course) for some risky runs like you experience, just give me a call, I'll be glad to be your escort girl. Well, huh... Bad choice of words huh? Haha! But you get me! (note : I can be that escort girl just for you but shush, secret! Haha!)
Yeeah, I heard about that Hydrogen need on fuel. Jaques station wants to enter in history it seems! First station to travel all the way through the galaxy? Wow, that would be a huge accomplishment if that works well!
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Her message made me smile with fondness. I missed Nathalie terribly. I decided that, once I had seen Jaques Station depart for Beagle Point, I would go to the Tun system and pay her a surprise visit. It had been too long since we were last together.
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Thank you to Nathalie "Nagita" Hudson.
And thank you also to all who have taken the time to read my logs thus far.
Log 124 is the last in a backlog which I have been uploading. There's still a gap to be covered, the logs for which I still have to write, so future posts will be less frequent.
Take care.