(10:32 Am Current time)

 

Erf........ I have spent the last few hours worrying myself sick over what just happened. Some morning this was turning out to be. The trip we had planned for months was shot to hell with one phone call, we had to rush all the way to the base, And now I was going to have to say goodbye to Cody for God only knows how long. Now don't fret about me too much. I was fully capable of taking care of myself and the house without Cody around. That hardly means I am willing to be alone that long. Think of me as a pup if you will, but I detest being alone for long periods. I thrive on having company. I am not an attention whore, but just having another person in the house is very comforting. Still....It was not just that he was going to be away for so long. I could not put my finger on it, but something else was eating away at me. Something just did not seem right and it was starting to get me worried. I was trying not to look worried as I knew it would make my brother uncomfortable. He was just as worried about me as I was about him. I walk next to him just outside the hangar. Watching a lot of tearful good byes. My heart sinks into my stomach. Cody can see the gloom hanging over me. His right hand finds my left. I look up at him trying to smile. "It's going to be ok, sis. You can stop worrying now." He says softly trying to hide his own concern behind his military bravado. I can see right through that. " I can't stop. " I squeaked trying not to sound concerned and failing hard at it. " Erica....... I will be ok. I promise. I wouldn't lie to you." He sounds a little more composed now. I come to a stop suddenly and hold his hand tight causing him to stop as well. I want to tell him how I feel. Tell him something more is bothering me. I want to tell him how scared and worried I really am. " I don't like this, Cody. Something about this whole ordeal feels.... " I hang my head a little and avert my eyes from him "....wrong. Really really wrong." Sounding like a pup again.....he was the only one I couldn't hold up the tough act with. There was silence. looking up slightly I could see he had a worried look in his eyes as well. As if to say he was feeling the same thing. "Yeah...." Cody half turns away to glance out over the flight line at the row of transport aircraft being loaded up in preparation for departure. " Something has bothering me as well. Something about this whole deal makes no sense. " He looks back with a deep gaze. He was serious. I knew that look very well. seen it many times in the last few years. I feel him squeeze my hand a bit. " Cody? " He hears me and seems to snap out of some trance. For a second he looks as though he totally forgot where he was and what he was doing. " It's nothing. Just a weird feeling we have been through something this before.....I...I will be fine, sis." Those are not very reassuring words in an even less reassuring tone. Not convinced he is stable I slide closer bumping my hips to his. "Hey." I give him my best smile. Trying to comfort him as much as he wants to comfort me. For a moment he just looks at me dumb founded and then finally smiles back at me. That was better and helped get rid of a little stress.

 

Behind us we could hear several aircraft engines spinning up. Two of the transports were ready to leave. Soon Cody would have to get on his transport and depart for the Lexington. His fighter was already on it's way to the ship. These days it was just quicker to load the fighters up on transports and fly them up in those rather than wasting more fuel to launch each fighter on it's own. Not to mention it meant that all the fighters from the squadron would arrive at the same time and be moved, in their own launch racks, right to the launch bays. Cody's grip just got tighter. In the four years since we lost mom and dad we had never been apart. I mean, we have been apart, but he was never deployed like this. Maybe one or two days for Squadron drills or movements, but never for a possible combat situation. All we had was mom and dad back then. Now we only had each other. I only had him. Most of our family was gone. My only two grandparents had passed away long before I was born. Mom was an only pup. Dad was an orphan who never sought out his parents. Cody was all I had left for family and he meant everything to me now. "Erica? I will be fine. I promise I will be back for you." He knew I was bound for the base shelters. No way they were going to allow a 18 year old to just go home with no one to keep her in line right? We hardly talked to neighbors and most of Cody's friends were deploying with him and no way I was staying with any one of his friends families. I did not want to be alone, but I refused to be a burden to anyone else. Even if they offered. " I know. " was the only things I could say at the moment. My mind was flooded with a million different things right now. I could sense Cody's lament at my reply. " Please don't do this, Sis. I need your support right now not you being stubborn. " His tone went way down. he was deeply worried about me being alone and he knew fully I did not handle charity that well. "I am not trying to make this hard, but seeing as how it already is hard I fail to see how our current situation will make it an easier." I felt like going off. God what was wrong with me. this strange feeling of anger and fear just slapping me right upside my head. I was angry that he was going away even if he was being ordered to do so. I was afraid that, once he was gone, it would be the last time I was ever going to see him again. Both emotions seemed to just well up all at once. It was enough to get me shaking in my boots almost literally. He knew it or, at least, I thought he did. With a sigh and the shake of my head I trod off ahead of him. "Erica......" it was a mutter and I only just barely heard him utter it. I didn't respond. I could not. Behind me I could hear the whining of turbine engines as they spun up. Our time was growing very short.............

 

 

 

End of Chapter 1


Another Day
Chapter Two

Anxiety had grown. It was now to the point of breakdown. It was now 57 hours since the Curzeman had arrived in lunar orbit. So far a brief skirmish had erupted as two patrol ships had been driven off by C.D.F vessels and there were now 20 of them orbiting the Moon and lunar colonies. All patrol ships had been ordered back to their ports to avoid any further confrontation. At least until the E.D.A Fleet could be re-deployed to deal with the incursion into Earth space. Still... the real question was not the fact that the C.D.F was in serious violation of the peace agreement, but why they were so bent on defending a rouge vessel that would, otherwise, pose no real threat. Was whatever was on the Curzeman important enough for them to risk a war? There was no doubt now that they intended to go that far. Members of the United Earth Council were still deliberating over whether or not to take direct action over the skirmish concerning the two patrol ships that had been attacked. Neither vessel had sustained more than minor damage and no casualties had been reported. It seemed as though the C.D.F vessels were content to escort the rouge Curzeman and had taken no actions against any other vessel whether it was military or not. The docked patrol ships had not been attacked even though the C.D.F vessels had flown right by the orbiting defense installations. Orders were to monitor the C.D.F only and not take any hostile actions as of yet. So far there had been no reason to violate those orders or to change them. The only change that had taken place was when a small shuttle craft had been detected leaving one of the Destroyer Class ships, now identified as the Bozeman, and headed for the Curzeman some 35 hours ago. That shuttle had yet to return to the Bozeman and he Curzeman had not altered her course at all. So far all attempts to make any kind of contact with the C.D.F ships had failed. There were no responses to any hails. A time limit of no more and no less than 72 hours had been placed on the matter unless the C.D.F replied or began attacking. After 72 hours, should the C.D.F fail to respond to attempts at contact, the matter would be declared an act of aggression and the United Earth Council would be forced to take a more aggressive stance against the incursion it was now highly probable that this was going to be the case. The most likely course of action would be for the council to declare this an act of aggression. There would be a formal and public declaration on open subspace broadcasting channels and another deadline would be set. Most likely an additional 24 hours. If, at the time of that deadline, the C.D.F or the Colonial government fails to respond it would be declared and act of war. At that point the E.D.A ships would be forced to engage and drive off or destroy the C.D.F ships. Such an act would almost certainly guarantee an all out war between Earth and the outer colonies. Something that, hopefully, neither side really wanted.

At any rate the lines were being drawn and the picture would soon be complete. He was silently cursing himself as he nervously paced back and forth across his small office. General Flynn W. Wilcox. A 25 year veteran in the E.D.A and easily the most recognized tabby in the E.D.A. He had almost single handedly pioneered the colonization of Mars as the first and, unfortunately, only neutral colony. Mars 1, Mars 2, Mars 3, Mars 4, and Mars 5. He headed the colonization of all 5 along with High ranking officers from the Colonial forces nearly 15 years ago. Now he faced a very difficult choice. One that could plunge the E.D.A into an all out war. He was acting advisor to the United Earth Council on this incident. So far he had managed to convince the council to have patience and refrain from taking any aggressive action. This served both to give the colonials more time to respond and, hopefully, avoid conflict as well as to allow more time to get the fleet into position to gather more intel. This would also allow the fleet to make a more decisive strike that would be quicker and cleaner than going in blind. White and tan patches with just hints of gray in his fur. His wife loved to tease him about the gray. He could never see it though. he was still to young to be gray. At least in his mind anyway though he would often claim to be too old to deal with things like this. He scratched behind his right ear. an itch that would not seem to just go the hell away. he reached one side of the room and caught a glimpse of a glint from the four stars adorning his right shoulder. he stopped to look at the faint reflection in the window. Still fit and trim for a cat his age. He looked good, but felt ugly right now. Golden eyes narrow slightly at the reflection and he snaps his head away and turns from the window feeling somehow disgusted. With a huff and a small mewl he strolled calmly back over to his desk and quietly sat down at his chair. "Fifteen hours..." He muttered in a soft yet annoyed tone to himself. he was already running on less than 5 hours of sleep and could not bring himself to laying down for a few hours. he was far too anxious for that now. What he wouldn't give right now to be snuggled warm in bed with his wife making passionate love rather than pacing the floor of his office in nervous anticipation every 5 minutes. Even now he was tapping his foot! "Damn those Colonial bastards." He turned his attention towards his computer monitor which now displayed the same image it had been displaying for the last 40 hours. A live feed of the Curzeman from a surveillance satellite in asynchronous orbit with the vessel. "What secrets are you hiding from us? Why are you here?" His 6 million dollar question would be answered and he hoped it would be the Colonial government or the C.D.F that gave him those answers.









At this very moment the Bismark, Longhorn, Saratoga, Dunkirk, Yorktown and the Lexington were holding position halfway between earth and the moon. Their advanced halted by the arrival of additional C.D.F forces. Since the Lexington's launch 11 more ships had appeared in lunar orbit. Strangely enough not a one of them was so much as 200 km away from the Curzeman. Something else that had been perplexing UEC. Why hang back so far? They wanted the ship bad enough that they openly attacked two E.D.A patrol ships risking open conflict. They blatantly sent additional ships in as reinforcement. It was clear they did not intend to allow E.D.A anywhere near the ship if they could prevent it. So why give their prize such a wide berth? It didn't make any sense. And then there was the single shuttle they had sent over? Why only one? and why had it not returned nor had the Curzeman changed course? If something was wrong aboard the ship why not send more personnel to correct the problem? Unless... unless the problem was not something that could be solved so easily with a bit of applied force. Maybe it was the lack of sleep or just the sheer, intense boredom, but Wilcox was deep in thought. These questions kept plaguing his mind and it all boiled down to one final question. He knew the Curzeman was the research vessel the C.D.F had sent to aid in the investigation of the Mars 4 colony disaster. In fact it was the ONLY research vessel period investigating the disaster. Now his only question was... What had they found? He snorts lightly and mewls at the image on his computer screen. " What secrets are you hiding, girl? What brought you to our neck of the woods?" He mutters to himself again. He was just about to get up and pace the room again when his office door opens. In steps his Executive Officer, Colonel Marly. Now she was definitely a welcomed site.

Elizabeth Ann Marly. A 36 year old Doe (Female reindeer to be exact) was his XO and most trusted friend. He had been her commanding officer years ago when she was still only a butter bar LT. The lady quickly became well known as she rose quickly through the ranks. She was hard, she was serious, highly intelligent, very easy on the eyes in that uniform, and a natural leader in her own rights. She was donned in her normal attire. A set of tight Dress Greens and a piss cutter cap. Her birds were polished and her ribbons all neatly aligned. She had always been a bit on the neat side. Her brown eyes met with his and he knew instantly she had some news. She smiled a little as she watched him sit up with renewed interest. She slowly approaches his desk and stops right in front of it. "The Council sends new orders, General. The file should have reached your terminal by now." And then, as if on command, he heard his terminal chime for him. A message for his eyes only. He was almost purring as he would finally have something to do. He could only pray it was orders to call the fleet back because the Colonials finally wised up. He was about to be disappointed heavily. With a few taps on his lit display he accessed the message with baited breath:

TOP SECRET: For your eyes only.....

To: General Flynn W. Wilcox, Commandant Earth Defense Alliance
From: Franklin C. Brothers, Head Council, Secretary Of Planetary Defense
Subject: Change/update to current orders outstanding

Orders are as follows:
Deadline will occur in approximately 14 hours 30 minutes from time of reception of these orders. Upon reaching said deadline an official decision will be made determining this to be an ACT OF AGGRESSION AGAINST THE EARTH AND OUTLINED TERRITORIES by the Colonial forces. Upon this declaration your orders are to deploy the following E.D.A vessel to Lunar Orbit:

E.S.S Lexington (Central Flagship/Command Ship E.D.A)
E.S.S Bismark (Nova Class)
E.S.S Saratoga (Nova Class)
E.S.S Longhorn (Nova Class)
E.S.S Dunkirk (Nova Class)
E.S.S Yorktown (Nova Class)
E.S.S Acer (Norad Class)
E.S.S Boston (Norad Class)
E.S.S Dakota (Norad Class)
E.S.S Orlando (Valiant Class Heavy Carrier)
E.S.S Akbar (Mercedes Class Light Carrier)
E.S.S Fox (Fox Class Missile Cruiser)
E.S.S Taurus (Fox Class Missile Cruiser)
E.S.S Gorgon (Fox Class Missile Cruiser)
E.S.S New York (Fox Class Missile Cruiser)

These vessels will be in position prior to the Initial deadline and ready for deployment. The Order in which these vessels are to be deploy is being left up to you as this council trusts your judgment in this matter. No hostile actions are to be taken upon completion of deployment unless enemy forces act first. After which you are authorized retaliation measures in accordance with the outlined Peace Agreement of 2091. Any act of hostility on the part of any colonial ship will be declared an official ACT OF WAR at which point your orders will be subsequent to change. That is all for now.
End of line..................................

He sighed loudly enough that Marly looked at him with some measure of surprise. " Nothing has changed? " she asked trying not to sound too serious. Flynn only shook his head. " No. The council's plan is still going ahead. Which means those damned Colonials have not responded or replied yet. Idiots. what is it they want on that ship so bad that they would risk a conflict like this? " He sighed slumping backward in his chair again. Marly merely put her palms up and shrugged at him. " I wish I had that answer for you, sir. " she now sounded almost as disappointed as he was. "And they are sending 15 ships in against 20. Even with the Lexington there it will still be a mismatched fight if one ever breaks out. " And he was hoping this would not lead to that. "General?" Marla Strode around the desk Watching his reaction. " Our Pilots and crews are far better trained than any colonial ever was or will be. Our ships are just as sophisticated if not more so than theirs are and probably more heavily armed than their most powerful ship. To top that off they are in OUR space. If anything they are the ones who are outmatched. Not us. Not to mention WE have YOU and they don't. " Obvious compliments that were directed at trying to cheer him up a bit. It was not working. Flynn merely shifted in his seat. " Never underestimate your opponent, Colonel. It seems they are not willing to underestimate us otherwise they would not have sent in this many ships. They know we will try to drive them off. They are aware we are aware something is amiss aboard the Curzeman and that we aim to find out just what that something is. They are fully aware of the ships that are massing at Point Lamas at this very moment. This situation can and, most likely, get ugly and get ugly real fast. We must exercise the same thing they are at this very minute.........Caution. And we must be the more cautious. They are spoiling for us to try something." He was rubbing his temples now. Marla merely sighed lightly having failed to lighten the mood. "You are right, sir. Of course you are, but at the same time you also need to have more faith in our own men and machines..." She found herself cut short when he almost snapped at her "I do have faith! I know what those ships and their crews can do! I also know what the Colonials can do with what they have! We are not talking about some retarded, inbred degenerates here! We are talking about highly trained military members who are very capable in their own rights." He was calming down now though still appeared to be aggravated. Marla took a few wise steps back around his desk. She knew better than to get the old feline really worked up once he got going. Flynn took notice of her retreat and sat back firmly in his chair. " I...I am sorry, Liz. I didn't mean to snap like that. This whole ordeal just doesn't make 100% sense to me. It is driving me nuts." He heard her chuckle a little and looked over at her. "No apologies needed, Flynn. This ordeal seems to have a lot of people up in arms." She turns her hips slightly sitting on the edge of his desk with a quaint smile and a wink. God damned she looked good. He found himself staring for a second. Her uniform was tight and the way she was sitting on his desk only made it hug her form even tighter. "Mmmmm" He purred right before he realized where he was and snapped out of it. Marla merely smiled slyly at him as she watched him snap in and then snap out of his trance.

Caught staring he meekly tried to pass it off as nothing. He cleared his throat and reached for the monitor in front of him with his left hand turning it for her to see. "Since I have already seen this and I trust you fully....." Quick change of subject that he couldn't tell didn't really work. She feigned interest and turned her attention to the screen. It took her only a few moments to look it over and read it through. " Well....The orders are simple enough on their end. Dumping the rest off on us is typical Council bullshit. Nothing new there." She was trying not to sound too uninterested. Trying not to draw attention back to herself and the fact she was now staring at him. They had known each other for a few years now. About 3 years almost to the day. And in that time they had gotten to know each other a lot better than most knew. Nothing they had ever done together ever got her promoted, but that had never been her aim anyway. They were lovers in the most basic of senses. They had slept together several times. She was married and so was he yet they still found themselves drawn to one another more than once. Right now he was under a lot of pressure and stress and it was distressing her to see him like this. "Hey.." she whispers sweetly getting off the desk and strolling around to his side again. " Liz? " He only watched her. To dumb founded to say anything else as he watched her unsnap the two top buttons of her blouse...........

Fall back. Retreat. His radio, somehow being jammed, was dead and when his ammo ran out so would he be as well. The narrow corridors gave him little maneuvering room. He simply back peddled quickly trying to stay the distance between him and those….things. Like raving beasts they pursued him. Shouting at him in blind rage and lust for blood. He snapped the assault rifle back into the pocket of his shoulder and popped off another round. The round quickly found the skull of one of his pursuers dropping the male fox right to the ground to soak in his own brain matter and blood. Head shots only now as ammo was getting critically low. He wasn’t going to resolve to go down this way. Like his men who had been torn to shreds. At least those who had not turned on him. His mind raced with a million possibilities. They may be zombie like , but they still breathed, had heartbeats, and they were thinking. He knew full well they were trying to rally together. Surround him in the narrows of the corridor. Cut him off from escape before they closed in on him. They were leading him into a trap. Had they really wanted him dead they could have tried to kill him many times by now. Instead they hung back pursuing only close enough to keep him moving. By now he had realized his men were simply fodder to them something that was merely in the way of what they really wanted. They wanted him. Another leaps to the fore and he spent the last rifle round splitting the things head down the middle. The rifle was discarded as he drew one of the two pistols he carried with him. Was that their plan? Chase him all around the ship until he ran out of weapons and ammo? Run him until he could run no more? There was no hope of making it back to the hangar now. No way to reach the escape pods that were just one deck below his position. There were simply far too many to take on even with his pistols. The very second he had to reload? They would have him flat out on the spot. He took a few more steps back and leveled the pistol in front of him. His pursuers merely slowed a bit as if sizing up their options. They outnumber Everett 20 to one with more of them flanking him down the side corridors. Not like this, not this way. Alone and out numbered with no hope of survival in sight. He refused, even now, to admit his defeat. He cleared his mind for a second. He was on the command deck. The Bridge, officer’s quarters, Captain’s Quarters, and a Small armory were all on this deck. He knew for certain the armory was ahead of him and to far to reach right now. The Bridge was his only hope at the moment. This was a research vessel, but there was a minimal chance there was still a small arms weapons locker there. There wouldn’t be much there though. Maybe a shotgun and a few pistols if they had not been taken by fleeing crew members trying to escape this things. That is if the locker was there at all. Still it was far better odds then trying to punch through the raving lunatics in between him and the armory.

Everett spun back around to glance down the corridor behind him. Still empty. “What are they up too? Why haven……” It dawned on him. He wasn’t being chased at all. They really were leading him into a trap. He was being corralled down the corridor leading to the bridge. He heard the snarling and growling growing closer and closer pulling his attention back to his pursuers. The rage and hate in those eyes almost sent chills down his spine. He dropped his pistol. His pursuers crept even closer now, but refrained from doing more than that. They weren’t going to kill him, at least, just yet. No there was something else they sought to do and he now knew all his answers lay on the bridge. “So that’s the game now, is it? You want me to go there? “He half turned around to point down the hall to a bulkhead door about 60 feet away. The sealed door that lead right to the bridge. They only snarled and growled louder maybe trying to convince him to keep going or die where he stood. “Yeah. Fuck you too.” Everett snapped back at them. He wasn’t about to just cave in and go like a good puppy. Ever defiant of his odds should he choose to fight he was not stupid either. If it bought him any time, if it got him close enough to the communications station on the bridge, he would have to play by the rules laid out for him for now. “Right. Fuck this noise. “ he raised his pistol again. If they really wanted him on that bridge he wasn’t going to make it easy for them. Even if it was his only hope at the moment he wasn’t going to be pushed around. They couldn’t kill him if their goal was to get him to that bridge. He slowly drew a bead on the lead male. A young skunk from the looks of him. “I’ll do you a favor and end you existence.” he stated coolly with a small smile drawing over his lips. He was just about to pull that trigger all the way back when he heard the ship’s intercom squawk to life overhead. That drew his attention enough for him to ease off the trigger and lower the pistol again briefly.






“ You would be doing the lad more of favor by lowering your weapon and calmly proceeding to the bridge, Captain Everett. I don’t believe you honestly want to die by being torn to pieces and digested in the stomachs of your former peers. “ The voice was that of Captain Frost, the ship’s captain. He recognized it almost immediately. Almost because it also sound somewhat strained and forced. Not in a natural or panicked tone either. “ What in the bloody fuck? “ Everett neatly croaked in both bewilderment and surprise. “ An interesting question. One that will only be answered when and if you decide to join me on the bridge though I do recommend haste. My minion grow hungry and they will not wait forever for you to decide. If you wish to live you will come to the bridge and come soon. “ The intercom squawked again and went silent. Whatever Frost had to say, he intend for it to only be done in person. Everett took one last, long look at the skunk again. He didn’t need to look to his left or his right to know more of those things were now surrounding him and cutting off any path of escape. All route except the obvious one. Reluctantly he holstered his pistol. His suit suddenly felt heavy and useless. Those things had ripped the suits off like tin foil from his men. With as many of them as there were it was nothing short of an easy feat. “Fine. We do this your way then.” He defiantly points at the skunk who hisses loudly at him. Everett turned and marched down the corridor the full 60 feet. His pursuers, seeing him go, merely stood right where they were and let him be. There task completed they had only to sit there…for now.

Everett, not convinced he was doing the right thing anymore, approached the bridge door and punched in a security code. After a few beeps the door slid open to a grisly site. The bridge was the scene of a slaughter. Every bridge station had at least one corpse draped over it, slumped in the chair, or laying near it. Every station except for the Captain’s central command station. That was virtually untouched and…. “Empty” Everett stated with a slight gasp. It screamed at him that this was a trap. He quickly reached for his pistol again stopping only after seeing something…someone out of the corner of his right eye. There he saw a shadow standing on the loft of the bridge. The Loft was a raised section of the bridge used for observation as well additional science stations with direct access to all the ship’s external sensor and any installed science equipment for the mission. Everett turned his head slightly getting a better look at Captain Frost standing there in the shadows. The bridge lighting had been turned down to a dim low light setting. Everett knew almost instantly the figure before him. “Long time, Benjamin.” Everett tried to sound friendly, but under current circumstances it was rather hard to maintain the pleasantries. “Captain Everett..” The figure replied as he finally stepped forward. An older brown bear, around 55 years old, strolled down the ramp from the loft into the dim lights of the bridge. He was dressed in his uniform. A drab green get up closely modeled after the service greens of the former United States Marine Corps though much looser fitting. “You will remove your helmet now, Captain Everett. The air on my ship is quite breathable and I’d imagine your supply of oxygen is quite low by now. That was an order and not a request by the way.” Frost hardly even turned his head to look at the dingo as the bear strolled to the forward section of the bridge to gaze out at the stars. Everett paused. After seeing those things out in the corridor he was unsure he should do ask Frost asked. “ Come now, Everett. I have not turned into one of those things now, have I? Please…..take off that blasted thing before you suffocate in it. “ Again Frost did not so much as turn around to look. The dingo kept his eyes locked on the Bear in front of him as he reached up and unlocked the clasps that held his helmet to his suit. There was a small hiss and a pop as the helmet finally came off. “There now. Breathe in the fresh air and relax. You are more than safe here with me.” Now Frost spun fully around to face the Dingo.

Everett was already sizing up the situation. Those things out there. The crew of this ship somehow transformed into ravenous, maddened creatures. Mere shadows of the people they had been only days ago. A Captain who seem completely unaffected and eerily calm under the circumstances. The Dingo was already sniffing the air. Sure enough it was fresh air though mixed with the stench of the corpses around him. He almost slid his helmet back on, but that meant he would only run out of air that he may yet need should this situation turn away from his favor. He also knew that something was different and also very wrong with the captain of this ship. This raised his suspicion even more. So much so that it was evident even to Frost The bear raising an eyebrow and smiling at him as if he had expected this. “You….suspect I am not really the man you believed me too be? Is that what is getting you so worked up, Captain Everett?” Frost’s tone was way too calm now. The kind of calm that sent chills up your spine. Everett couldn’t find words to convey what he wanted to convey. Instead he slowly reached for the pistol strapped to his right breast plate. Frost merely tilted his head a bit and smiled.
“If I wanted to cause you any harm, Captain? You would have been writhing in pain by now. Come now. Let us talk like adults. You certainly have a few questions and I, fortunately for you, have the answers you want.” Frost said calmly and in a more friendly tone. It almost disarmed the dingo, but he held his resolve and kept his left hand on the pistol. “Who are you really? You….you smell like Benjamin, but something is off.” Everett made damned sure his tone was anything, but friendly. Everett bared his fangs a little. A show that he was not going to let his guard down, even for an old friend, for a fraction of a second. Frost seemed to be interested in his reaction and sized the situation up for himself. “Very well. I am Benjamin Frost though not the person he once was. The Benjamin you knew is dead. I have replaced him. I can assure you that I have all of his memories and experiences….and his body, of course.” Frost placed his hands palms up and stretched out his arms in effort to show what he meant. Everett had enough already and grab the grip of his pistol. Before Everett could draw it out he was stopped dead in his tracks. Frost stood right before him. Arms outstretched and a defiant look on his face. He wanted the Dingo to shoot him. This wasn’t merely him showing off. Frost’s last statement was meant to push the dingo’s last button and it nearly worked. Frost merely smiled ear to ear. “Not so foolish I see. I was right to spare your life, old friend. Yes. You and this one were indeed long time friends. Shooting me would have certainly meant your doom. I am the only thing keeping the minions outside that door. I die…..so do you. Then again how could you even know whether your shot would kill me?” He bellowed triumphantly. Everett smiled and laughed at him which confused the bear a moment. “Who said I would have only shot once? At any rate I am not concerned with your drones out there. You said it yourself. YOU have the answers I want.” The dingo was the one smiling ear to ear now as he pointed towards the bear. “You spoke of talking like adults. Not playing little mind games.” Everett snapped lightly hoping to reroute Frost and hopefully buy himself a little more time to find a way to either over come the bear….or kill him. Frost nodded sagely at the dingo in defeat. “Indeed I did. I imagine you have more than a few questions about what all has happened aboard this ship.” Frost motioned towards a door to the port side of the bridge. “Why don’t we talk in private. That is the Bridge Officer’s lounge. We can talk there.” Frost takes a few steps towards the door. Everett, wary of his company, reluctantly began to follow him into the lounge………

Earth

I could still see the azure clear skies in my head. My head that now pounded much like two burly guys pounded a wooden stake into the ground with 10 pound sledge hammers. I could feel this sickening spinning sensation coupled with a few bumps and jars hear and there. The vision of those azure skies finally gave way to a low red lighting and the silence was broken a bit by the sound of nearby voices. I wanted to move and get up, but I found myself unable to do so. Hazily I struggle a bit, but, not finding the strength I need, soon surrender to my apparent restraint. The room still spins even as my vision finally manages to start clearing a bit more. I am greeted by a dimly lit space crammed with medical gear and one or two Corpsmen strutting about in the dimly lit confines of this space. I try to think, but it is hard and I can’t seem to focus. Vision fades in and out and the voices come to me as not much more than random mumbling and inaudible speech. Then I hear him. Though I can hardly make out the words I know full well the sweet sound of his voice. “Cody?” That was what I was thinking, but I doubted it came out as much more than a strained whine or at least some form of structured drivel. I force my eye to focus as much as they can taking notice of a blotchy, yet familiar form coming to hover over me. “Cody?” the words sounded meek that time though I was aware they were a few fold clearer than before. A soft touch comes my forehead as he brushes a few strands of stray hair from my still unfocused eyes. Ears slowly perk to his words as I hear him speak.

“Hey.” he pauses briefly attempting to allow that one word to sink in before continuing. “You suddenly passed out in front of me. Smacked your head pretty good on the ground when you did. You have been out for the last 5 hours.” I could hear him clearly, but I could not focus on what he was saying. Incoherent and still woozy from just waking up. “wha…” I felt my head thump the pillow as I tried to lift it. Strength was fleeting and I could hardly move without this intense throbbing. My mind was racing as I tried to recall the last few moments of my waking memory and came up only with a blur and a blank. I can feel the timid vibrations in the bedding and suddenly I am aware that the gravity in this place is nonexistent. At that same moment I feel one of the straps securing me to the bed pulling me back down. I am no longer on the surface of the Earth where my last vivid memory, my anger at Cody, placed me. “Erica? You’re on the Medi-Vac transport headed for the orbital dry docks. We are both going to the Lexington, sis. Can you understand me?” He spoke ever so softly. Concerned and trying to be sympathetic. It took me a second or two to process what was being said and comprehend it. Finally I was staring to piece the situation together. I recalled the talk we had and how I had become upset with Cody and what was going on. Then there was darkness followed by…..a very faint memory hit me. There was something else. Something….strange. I remembered it only for a moment or two. A voice calling to me from afar. Very faint and strange yet…..familiar. My thoughts were once again interrupted as I heard my brother speaking again. I only nodded trying to give some indication I could hear him even if I could only understand a portion of what he was saying at the time.

The shuttle buffeted again as it passed through the upper layers of the atmosphere and into the vacuum of space. We had achieved orbit and changed course to head out to higher orbit and the dry-docks where our ship was waiting. The Lexington was far too big to dock at the orbital facilities and so was forced to remain just outside Earth orbit where she was supplied by smaller cargo ships and medium transport vessels. She was our ride to the moon. The world begins to fall silent again. I feel my fleeting strength fade s my head begins to pound relentlessly. Once again I hear that faint voice calling to me. So sweetly and so tempting to my ears. Cody merely sighs and sits back. Seeing me once again passed out. Once of the crewmen, a medic, which was on the transport with us, places her hand on his shoulder. A female, white rabbit, smiles re-assuring. “She has a concussion. Once we get her aboard the Lexington we will have the proper facilities to care for her. She will be fine as long as she remains sedated and rests until then.” Cody only nods at the words not really finding any real comfort in them.









In high orbit the traffic thins out. This area is normally used for staging area. Here ships often prep jumps or military vessels will gather for movements or deployment. Smaller patrol ship also use the higher orbital areas for drills or changing shifts before either heading into lower orbit or heading out further on their routine patrols. The small medi-vac transport moves easily through the open space. In another 15 to 20 minutes the Lexington will be in range. Cody begins to get a bit anxious. He always did when he was worried. The other crewmen begin preparations for docking with the Lexington. The transport was small enough to land aboard the ship, but that would take far longer than it would to simply dock alongside, disembark crew and equipment, and then leave. Head pounding I silently slip back into darkness again. I hate being sedated……..


Then light. Faint at first then it slowly grows until it is all I see. The darkness abates as I float aimlessly awash in brilliant white light. Now the voices start in. They too start out very faint and grow slightly louder as time passes. Or at least I think time is passing. It feels as if I am dreaming, but only the voices are here along with myself. They seem to be aware of my presence as whatever topic had been discussed seemed now to turn towards me. “She is…..aware.” I can’t make out the sex or location of the voices. They come from all around me in the light. “yes….it has taken so long, but she is finally aware we are here. The other has not yet realized our presence. This will complicate matters somewhat. Still she is the one we really need at the moment.” I shake my head a bit trying to clear out a few cob webs and try to make sense of what is going on. “Confusion? …. No. These drugs they used. They are interfering with her mind…..with our link….with us.” A brief moment of silence follows as if they are thinking or summing up the situation. “w…Where are you? Who are you?!?” I bark out trying to get in the middle of this somehow. I finally manage to orient myself again….or did I? It was impossible to really tell when there was neither ground nor sky here in this place. They stay silent only making me feel as if I was now the subject of an intense observation. “You already know us. You have been with us since……The crash.” A soft reply. As a mother would speak to her young daughter. “We have been with you and the other…waiting for you to finally become aware.” I feel my heart sink a bit. A vague answer if ever there was one, but there was only one crash I was aware of. “ The Mars 4 colony……” Dredged up memories are always the worst. The fight with Cody. The hurtful things I had said. Then the loud boom and the screaming. People crying out as the colony decompressed. The ear splitting sound of the air rushing out into deep space. The strange thing was? Both Cody and I were supposedly found in the center of the impact zone and we are both still alive and unconscious. “ Yes. Memories. She remembers only so much, but it is enough…for now. She is not yet ready for the truth, but soon….” The voices finally fall silent. My questions still unanswered or at least that is what I want to believe though some part of my mind seems to believe the vague answer they gave. Whatever remaining consciousness I had finally slipped away……..End of this day. On to another…..



End of Chapter 2