A guy walks into a bar... and leaves with a sister.
23 Feb 2024Andromedae
Well, that might sound like a weird punch line to a really bad joke, but it is true. Here is my side of the story, I assume my sister will have a version of the tale.I had just finished a trade mission at Titius Station in Cemiess. I was tired and decided to head back to the carrier orbiting Emerald. As I was flying towards Emerald, I paused to notice that the sun was going to rise, and Mackenzie Relay would be in the right position to enjoy the view. I quickly diverted to Mackenzie Relay with plans to view it from the bar.
I got off Princess, my Imperial Cutter, and did a quick walk around the ship. I noticed a bunch of laser burns and damage to the tail. "Damn pirates!", I muttered to myself. I will need to pay to repair for that little brush with death. I informed the ground crew, and the supervisor said "Draconis... I'll let you know when it's done. You going to the bar?" I thanked him and headed up. I hope I didn't miss the first rays breaking over.
I walked into the bar. "Great I made it." I saw Jill working the bar. She made eye contact and smiled. "Indi Gin neat" was her response to me. As I walked to the bar, I made some casual nods of recognition to fellow CMDRs as I walked past, and they made eye contact.
There was a red head gal with a space next to her, and Jill put my drink down in the open space. I sat down took a sip and looked through the toast rack. "Just in time", I muttered. "Excuse me?", the little red head remarked. I pointed towards the toast rack, and she turned to enjoy the show.
The rays of light forming a little sun burst above Emerald are a beauty to behold. If only for a fleeting moment. In what seemed like moments, the whole station was filled with bright light. If you have never been the Mackenzie Relay, it is a beautiful station lined with palm trees I am told are from Sol.
As I was sipping my gin, an old friend patted me on the back and said, "I heard you had a little brush with some pirates." I replied, "Aldrich talks too much. I made the delivery. That's all that matters." He laughed and we enjoyed another drink and toast to living dangerously. "I heard that the Qi Yomisii Council has quite a bounty on your head. I should see about claiming it myself." I retorted, "Last time you said something like that, I was the one shooting it out with a bunch of pirate Anacondas while you jumped away." "Ahh right, maybe I won't claim that bounty, who else will save my ass!" we laughed to another drink.
"Andromedae?." came from the entrance of the bar, I stood up and turned around and said "Yes?". I noticed the little red head next to me stood up too and said "Yes?". We both looked at each other puzzled, and then at the repair supervisor. He quipped, "the gal." We looked at each other again ackwardly laughed at each other, and she replied. "Thank you so much. I hope it wasn't a bother." " "Nah miss, it's on the house." "Thank you, Thank you."
I stood looking at her, when she turned to look at me... I felt something. A familiarity... something. "Interesting last name miss, where are you from?" She had a sudden panicked look. I know that look. "Cemiess." she replied. You know when someone is lying, but I could see some hidden fear. "Nice, what are you flying?" An orange sidewinder. Another lie. "Just starting out?" "Yes, just... I need to run." "Nice meeting you...? "Sarah... my name is Sarah." That was truthful. She started to walk... "Sarah what is your ship's name? I'll keep an eye out for you." "Andromeda Lost" as she started to move. It was my time to gasp and I said... "The generation ship Andromeda? That is what it is named after is it not?" She stopped like a deer frozen in the head lights, and quickly turned to me with a shocked look. The air was suddenly thick, and its heavy weight seemed to hold us both in place.
"Sarah... we need to talk!'
I wasn't sure if she was going to run or pass out. I pointed to a couch in the corner, and her eyes followed my fingers. "Jill I will take another Indi, and whatever she was drinking." Sarah moved quickly to the corner as instructed, and Jill handed me two drinks with a quizzical look. "She's a little young for you and a greenhorn." was Jill's quip. "Jealous much?" "Hah, you wish.", was her retort.
As I walked towards the corner, I could hear quiet whispers coming from around me. "Andromeda...", " A generation ship?", "Did they discover something...". I realized my voice when I mentioned the ship was probably just a little too loud. Curious glances, and more whispering.
I placed the drink down. Sarah grabbed it with shaky hands. Then it was gone in a gulp. She was looking past me at the exit and looking around at the curious whispering pilots. I gently grabbed her hand. Just enough to restrain her from her obvious instinct to run. She was still focused on the exit until I whispered to her. I am from the Andromeda, or at least I was. Her eyes switched from the exit to piercing right into my own. Fear was now displaced by multiple emotions: fear, dismay, disbelief. "Impossible" she muttered. This was followed by "You can't be... impossible." My "mother" was "Gamma-7" I whispered. She bolted back and tried desperately to free her hand from my grasp. I now realized; I was restraining her from running. "Impossible... you couldn't possibly know that." Her voice now a shriek. All the eyes in the bar were now focused on us.
"Who are you really?" I said in a hushed whisper. She now realized the scene at a glance around the bar and looked into my eyes imploringly. The words came out almost imperceptible. "My mother was Eve 7 and my Father was..." I replied "Adam 12". Her look was now almost begging me to stop speaking.
"We need to leave!" I have a sister.