Shadows of the Ethereal - Part Five

      Stopping in front of the quarters, Nyree pressed the button beside the door. Evan came to stand beside her, a look of annoyance continued to flash across his face. They had spent an hour tracking down her contact. First going to his work station, then to a cantina, only to find he left for his work station again. The space station was so crowded it took them several minutes to get from one place to the next. When they finally arrived at his work station, he had gone home for the evening.
      “If he’s not here…” Evan grumbled underneath his breath.
      “Who is it?” A deep masculine voice asked.
      “Nyree Sakeri.” She responded, and the sounds of the door unlocked when he told them to enter.
      His quarters were dark when they entered, and seemed to consist of two rooms. One room had a kitchen next to the door, a dinning table placed to the right of the door, and at the back end was the entertainment area. Evan guessed the door to the right was to the bedroom and bathroom, unless the couch folded out into his bed.
      The man stood up from the couch, his hair blonde and his eyes gray. He smiled at Nyree, and gave Evan a questioning look. “And here I thought Nyree Sakeri worked alone.”
      She smiled, “He tagged along.”
      The tall, slender man held out his hand to Evan, “Gerard Corrin.”
      Evan shook his hand, “Evan.” He responded, purposely leaving out his last name.
      Gerard looked offended for a moment, but turned his gaze to Nyree, “I didn’t know you were coming.”
      “Yeah, I am sorry to have stopped by unannounced, but it was rather urgent.”
      He pointed to the small table that could sit no more then four people. Once they were seated, Nyree looked over the large group of data disks on the table.
      “What are all these?”
      Gerard frowned and looked over at Evan with reluctance.
      “It’s alright, you can trust him… for the most part.” Nyree answered, when she saw his worried glare.
      “The eighth anniversary of your death is coming up. Alaric, Kasia, and the rest of them are getting together like we do every year. They wanted me to make a memory pads of you as keep sakes.”
      Nyree frowned, “How is Kasia doing?”
      “Still taking it hard. She relied on you to be her rock, you know? The rest of us, we try to be there for her, but we just don’t have the patience that you had.”
      She sighed, “You know she took it the hardest after they died, Gerard.”
      “I know, but she just can’t let things go. Our parents have been dead for twenty years, and she still makes us all get together at their graves. Same with you… but it’s different with you though. Even I have a tough time remembering mom and dad, and you were like our mother all those years in military camp.”
      Evan finally understood the situation, as he looked between the brother and sister. What made things worse was that he finally identified Gerard’s uniform, it was used in the Regime for officers that were stationed in other government sectors.
      “I just don’t know what I can do to convince her to let Kylene go.” Gerard sighed, and watched Nyree shiver at the sound of her old name. “She sends us messages once a week to make sure we are alright, if we don’t respond she goes insane. It gets worse when death anniversaries are coming up. I mean the rest of us don’t want to relive our pain over and over. It worse for me, because I have to lie to their faces. I know you are alive, but I have to sit there and pretend I am hurt…”
      “Gerard, please.” Nyree held up her hand, “There is nothing that I can do about it. The Regime has to think that I died, and they just can’t know… not yet.”
      “When?” He snapped.
      “Soon. I am on a mission right now that could start a war against the Regime from all governments.”
      Evan’s eyes snapped over to her, “What?”
      Nyree ignored him, “If I can get these codes, then the Regime will fall. They will have no choice. Then Kasia, Alaric, Maeve, every one, will know the truth. Right now, they can’t handle it, and would think I am a traitor. The proof needs to be seen first, the Regime needs to fall.”
      Gerard nodded his head, “I hate it, but you are right. God damn it, I hate it.”
      Evan thought the man would cry, but he held back his tears.
      “What do you need from me?”
      “I need codes for the jump hole to Regime space from here.”
      He rose an eyebrow questioningly, “Why didn’t you enter in through neutral space?”
      “It’s a long story, but we got company there.”
      Gerard nodded, “Yeah, hand me your data pad.”
      Nyree offered it to him, and he punched in the codes. “Thanks, Gerry.” She said when he handed it back to her.
      “You promise this will be an end?” He asked, when she stood up and Evan followed her lead.
      “You know that I can’t promise anything. But I am almost certain of it.” She put her hand on his shoulder and shook him gently. “Take care, and say some nice things about me my memorial.”
      Gerard smiled and patted her hand.
      Nyree walked out into the hall with Evan by her side, when they got a safe distance away from her brother’s room she looked up at him. “You didn’t hear any of that.”
      Evan nodded, “I didn’t think so.”

      “We shouldn’t be wasting time at the cantina.” Evan snapped as they stepped into the drunken crowd.
      The U shaped bar appeared in front of them and to the right was the dance stage, which caught Evan’s eye for a moment. Nyree chuckled, when she realized he was too busy watching the dark haired dancer to hear her response.
      Placing her hand on his shoulder, his attention was pulled back to her. “I said, it’s always good to relax every so often. Besides, your crew is probably stressed out about being in jail and their new positions, they need to rest.”
      He frowned as he pushed her hand off him, “They can rest on the ship.”
      Nyree rose her eyebrow, “You don’t feel comfortable off the ship, do you?”
      “What the hell is that suppose to mean?”
      “No, I’ve heard about this before. Some people spend so much time on their own ship that they don’t like being on planets or space stations. They can’t take…”
      “I am perfectly capable…” Several people brushed between them heading towards the exit, when they finally cleared out of his way, Nyree spotted Main Frame at the bar. She seemed to forget that Evan was in the middle of telling her something, and walked away.
      “Hey.” Nyree smiled when she stood next to the small man.
      “Hi.” He looked at Evan who had a deep scowl on his face, “I’m just getting drinks, the waitress was taking forever. Mitch and Sparks are at the booth over there.” He pointed across the crowded cantina.
      “Alright, we will be over there then.” Nyree patted his back.
      “Do you want anything?” He asked as she walked away, then looked at Evan. He had never seen Evan drink before. “Do you want something?”
      “No, I don’t drink.” Evan told him, “She looks like a wine drinker… sweet wine. Get her something like that.” He ordered before turning to catch up with Nyree.
      She was sitting down beside Mitch, when he found them. Evan realized he had a choice to make in that moment. He could sit down besides Sparks or next to the woman he had been following all day. He wanted to sit down next to Nyree, but didn’t want Sparks or Mitch to think they saw anything that wasn’t there. There had been a lot of information learned in their short time together, and he wanted to discuss it with her.
      “Sit down.” Nyree ordered, “You are making me nervous.”
      Evan reluctantly took his seat next to Sparks.
      “Well, well, look who is in the cantina.” Dill walked up to the booth with Dirk right behind him.
      Nyree smiled, “Have fun?”
      “With a red head.” He smiled and pulled on the belt of his pants before sitting down beside her.
      Evan frowned, a little jealous that Dill had the nerve to sit down beside her when he didn’t. Dirk squeezed into the booth beside Evan, forcing Sparks to scoot closer to her brother.
      “Here we go.” Main Frame approached the bar and put down drinks in front of Mitch and Sparks. “And Maroque for Nyree. The bartender said it’s a sweet wine.”
      “Thank you.” Nyree took it from him, “How did you know that I liked Maroque?”
      Main Frame shrugged and looked over at Evan briefly, he decided that Evan probably wouldn’t want the woman to know he had ordered it for her. “Just a hunch.”
      Evan’s frown deepened, when Main Frame didn’t give him credit. “Move!” He ordered Dirk, who immediately stood up.
      When Evan was out of the booth, Dirk sat back down, and Evan went no where. Just stood next to the booth, trying to intimidate everyone to leave. His eyes angry and his arms crossed, he hovered above the table. His anger only grew when no one seemed to take notice of his threatening stance.
      “You have fun too, Dirk?” Nyree asked as she sipped some of the crimson colored liquid from her glass.
      “Come with me next time and find out.” Dirk smirked.
      Dill laughed, “Could hear that woman screaming from his room.”
      “Had you been doing your woman right then you wouldn’t of been able to hear it.” Dirk retorted.
      “Screaming in pain, probably.” Sparks snorted, she hated when they talked about such things, it made her uncomfortable… and jealous.
      “You would know.” Dirk elbowed her in the shoulder.
      “Would she now?” Nyree rose an eyebrow.
      Sparks felt her cheeks flush. Main Frame’s did as well, but his was out of anger and not embarrassment.
      “You get those codes?” Dill asked, when there was an uncomfortable silence for several long moments.
      “Yep, as soon as we are ready to go, we can.” Nyree looked up at Evan, who was still scowling down at the table.
      “Well, hey there.” A brunette woman in a short dress appeared from the crowd. Her greeting was directed at Evan.
      “Yes?” He turned his scowl to her.
      “You a body guard or something?” She teased and reached out her hand, squeezing his upper arm.
      The crew laughed, and Evan frowned, “No.”
      “Oh.” Her bright red lips parted in a smile, “My name is Doria.” She held out her hand.
      “What can I do for you?” Evan asked, seeming oblivious to the woman’s advances and ignoring her extended hand.
      “Could I buy you a drink?” Doria asked, and pointed with her thumb to the bar.
      “No, I don’t drink.”
      Dill smacked his forehead.
      “Oh.” Doria responded, and looked down at her feet for a moment, “Would you like to go for a walk then? Somewhere quiet?” She winked at him so that the other’s couldn’t see.
      “No, I am busy.”
      She shrugged, “Alright, can’t blame a lady for trying.” With that she disappeared back into the crowd.
      “Are you an idiot? She would of probably given you what Dirk and I just paid for!” Dill barked.
      Evan gave him a cold stare, “I know what she was doing, but I have more pressing matters.”
      Nyree sat with a large grin on her face.
      “What is so funny?” He turned his glare to her.
      “You must have no sex drive.”
      Dill laughed and turned to Nyree, “This man is as cold as a fish. He never wants to stop anywhere for entertainment. Doesn’t drink, doesn’t have sex, doesn’t even flirt… hell, all he does is eat, sleep, fly, and frown.” The entire time that Dill talked he pointed at Evan with his thumb.
      Nyree giggled, “Someone has to keep the rest of you pigs grounded, I suppose.”
      Everyone laughed, including Sparks. Evan continued his scowl, and reset his folded arms. “I think it’s time to go.” He announced, when Nyree drank the last of her wine.
      “Might as well, Evan might break down and start crying if we don’t get back on the ship.” Nyree shooed Dill and Main Frame out of the booth.

      Within the jump hole to Regime space, Nyree leaned back in the pilot’s chair and put her hands behind her head. She was wearing her space suit, as was the rest of the crew. Evan looked at her out of the corner of his eye, and watched her cross her legs. She was beginning to remind him of his late wife, though they looked nothing alike. Triana had been a kind woman, but with a strong and demanding demeanor. No one seemed to mind taking orders from her, almost as if she weren’t their superior but a friend. She also could convince him to do things that he would rather not do, and it wasn’t until he was in the middle of doing it that he realized he didn’t want to.
      Triana was actually his captain, until he was stationed under another company. Took him two years to return to her and ask for a date, but she had always been on his mind. She had also been mysterious, even the day of her death was shrouded in mystery. It was his fault that she met an early end, had he just killed that Liberation civilian then they would of never went after her.
      He was sentenced to twenty five years in the brig after his betrayal, but only served three. Men that he worked under were discovered to be corrupted, and had Triana killed to punish him further. When their plots were uncovered, the Regime gave him a full pardon to try and make up for what their officers had done. It wasn’t enough, and in truth he would of rather been put to death then forced to live on. But he still believed in the Regime, like Triana did. It was her whole life, and he wasn’t about to turn his back on it now. Not even after what a small group had done to him.
      Nyree was like Triana in that respect though, she truly believed in her government. Yet, he had heard her brother, and understood clearly enough. Kylene, that was the name that her brother had called her. That was the woman she was when she lived in the Regime, it brought more questions to mind, then answers. Why did she betray the Regime? Why did they think she was dead? He needed to know the answers.
      “Can I ask you something?”
      Nyree sat forward and turned the chair to face him.
      “About what Gerard said.”
      She sighed, “Look, I won’t question your past, if you don’t question mine.”
      Evan watched her stare across the console at him for a moment, “How about a question for a question?”
      She grinned, “Are you that curious, that you would give up information about yourself, just to know a little more about me?”
      “It’s not knowing about you, but rather what I am up against.”
      “You aren’t up against anything, Evan. You have the crew and me beside you. This is my battle after all, I just didn’t want you guys sent back to the Regime as traitors. It was my fault that you ended up with us to begin with.” Nyree leaned back in her chair.
      “So, no question for question then?”
      She grinned, “Alright, go for it.”
      “Your brother, he called you Kylene and said you were dead. What did he mean?”
      She swallowed, “Just jump right in there with the tough ones, don’t you?”
      Evan tried not to grin, “I don’t like to mess around.”
      Folding her hands in her lap, she thought for a moment, “I am not entirely sure if I feel comfortable answering that.”
      “I won’t tell anyone.” Evan didn’t know why he said it, but he did mean it. He had to know the answers, why was this woman fighting a government that made her who she was.
      She saw the sincerity in his eyes, and decided to trust him, “It’s a long story.” She chuckled nervously.
      “I’ve got time.”
      “I told you about my planet being attacked, and how I was taken in by the Regime government. They trained me and my siblings as soldiers, but kept us together for as long as they could. My sister, Kasia, she’s a little unstable. She was in the house when they killed my parents. They showed them no mercy as my father had killed several of their men already. She was hidden in a cupboard, and watch them beat him to death. I wasn’t the oldest, but I was the eldest girl. I took over as the mother figure, and my siblings relied on me.” Nyree ran her hand over her face.
      Evan wasn’t sure where this was going, but he understood that Nyree was giving him the long version of a tale, and he was starting to wish he hadn’t asked to hear.
      “When I was fourteen, they sent me away to a squad. A special one that would be doing critical missions for the Regime. Sneaking across neutral space and blowing up Liberation sights of importance. I met a boy not much older then me named Elliot, who was a senator’s son, he wanted to become a politician. And you know that it’s almost impossible to become one if you haven’t served in the military.”
      Evan leaned back in his chair to get comfortable.
      Nyree took his reaction as a sign of boredom, “I told you that it was a long story, but if you want to understand it entirely then you will have to bare with me.”
      He shook his head, “No, I asked and I want to know.” Besides, she was answering several of his questions that he had planned on asking.
      “Anyway, when I was seventeen, we went on a mission to destroy a data chip library. It contained some records of Regime movement. Me and my squad of three others, including Elliot, set up the bombs. But they were sabotaged, and one exploded. When one goes off they all go. Elliot and I got out of the building, but not far enough away from the blast. My arm, leg, and nearly half of my face was blown off, and Elliot didn’t come away much better.” She rubbed her hands together and licked her lips.
      Evan could see that she was having trouble telling him this, and remained quiet as she spoke.
      “Regime left us for dead, and claimed no knowledge of our squad. Called us terrorists, and told them to let us die. The Liberation knew better, they kept us alive, and we both endured a long process of getting cybernetic parts. A large portion of my brain was severely damaged from a piece of metal, that some of my gray matter had to be removed. They didn’t think that I would survive, no one had lived with such a large cybernetic brain.” She looked up at him with a grin, “Still with me?”
      He nodded, and was leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.
      “We came to find out that the bomb was ordered to be sabotaged by the Regime senate. They felt that we knew too many of their secrets, and that the newer squad should take our place. Elliot didn’t want to believe it, even with all the proof they had. Video of the senate making the decision, signed documents, it just couldn’t be denied. His military training allowed him to remain blind to the truth.”
      Evan wanted to snort, but held back.
      “When I was nineteen, he left me pregnant and returned to Regime space. He couldn’t tell anyone who he really was, and hasn’t yet told anyone that I am still alive. The Regime believes both he and I died in that blast. We both took new names, new identities, and we broke all contact with our families. My face had to be completely reconstructed because of the blast. Was easier to carve out and break bone then fix the metal in my face. Took me two days to convince Gerard that it was really me.” She sighed, “Anyway, think I am rambling now, that answer your question?”
      He leaned back in his chair and frowned, “I don’t know if I would believe the Liberation’s version of what happened, but…”
      “The Regime has Kylene Corrin marked as an executed terrorist for crimes against the Liberation, look it up.” She looked herself up and down, “Do I look dead to you?”
      “Is that your question to me?” Evan rose an eyebrow and smirked.
      Nyree smiled, “No.”
      “Let’s have it then.” He wasn’t going to argue with her about it.
      She uncrossed her legs, and leaned back in her chair, “Hmm, haven’t really thought of anything.”
      “There is nothing that you are wondering about me?”
      “Alright, how did you come to be indebt to Sahale?”
      Evan chuckled, “Made a wrong bet on a fight, and lost big. Instead of breaking my knees, he put me to work.”
      Nyree looked at the ground a little disappointed in his answer, “Had I known we were giving crappy versions, I would of just said something about being betrayed and joining the Liberation.”
      His smile faded, “My wife was murdered ten years ago, while I was in the brig. The Regime found out it was some military officers that killed her, afraid she would cause a scene about my imprisonment. Which she was, she was getting in contact with news agencies and telling them my story. After she was killed, the Regime said that three years was enough, and that I didn’t have to serve the rest of my twenty five year sentence.”
      Nyree looked up from the floor to him.
      “They didn’t remove my prison record, so no one would hire me. I ran into a friend who was stealing ship parts and replacing them with cheap ones and selling them to this guy named Sahale. We worked on this small planet, and there were a lot of ring fights. Was this huge guy named Dirk, who was a fighter, and we became good friends. I always bet against him even though he always won. It was kind of a joke between us. Then one day, he tells me that Sahale ordered him to take a fall on the next fight. I bet double my money down against Dirk, and the fight began. Dirk hit the guy twice to make it look real, and the guy died. He just collapsed and died.”
      Nyree’s mouth opened slightly in shock.
      Evan sighed, “So, I had to pay off a huge debt that I couldn’t afford. Dirk and I started working together, since he had to pay off Sahale for money that he lost because he killed the guy. A couple years later, Sahale tells us that he wants us to start shipping weapons and drugs to suppliers, and we ended up with the rest of the crew.”
      “That’s quite a tale.” Nyree said and turned her chair back to the control panel.
      “Don’t believe me?”
      She grinned and looked over at him, “I believe you, I just don’t know how to react to sad tales.”
      Evan nodded his head, “Your sister, Kasia, sounds like she really misses you.”
      “Yeah, she was my best friend, even if she was a little crazy. I feel bad that she couldn’t off been there to see Atira as an infant. That was always her dream, to be able to help me raise my children.”
      “Help you? Didn’t she want any of her own?”
      Nyree shook her head, “Kasia couldn’t have any, besides she is afraid of men who aren’t her brothers.”
      “Afraid, why?”
      “That’s another hard question, but I don’t think I am going to answer it. Besides, it’s my turn.”
      “Alright.” Evan chuckled.
      “How long were you married?” Nyree asked as she began to check where the rest of the crew was.
      “Seemed like forever, but not long enough.”
      “That’s not an answer.” She turned her chair to face him.
      “Two years, I knew her for a lot longer though. What about you?”
      She laughed, “I was never married. Elliot left me when a was a few months pregnant, we were planning on getting married. He’s never met his daughter… I doubt that he even knows that it’s a girl or what her name is.”
      “I can’t imagine having to become someone else the way you have, and to just pretend my former life never existed.”
      “I don’t pretend my life as Kylene didn’t happen, Evan. That life is important to me, it taught me not to believe anything blindly, and that you have to love the people that are with you now, because they might not be here tomorrow.”
      He couldn’t believe she said that while looking directly into his eyes, “I don’t know if I could live my life that way.”
      Nyree shrugged, “You do what works for you, Evan. I just know that certain people come into your life to teach you something, and when that lesson is over then they leave. And when they’ve learned all they need to, they die.”
      He scowled, “My wife was murdered, she wasn’t done learning anything. Someone else took that away from her.”
      She shook her head, “I didn’t mean that. Don’t be so selfish to think that everything I say revolves around you.”
      His frown faded and he snickered, “You know, my wife said that to me within the first hour of our meeting.”
      Nyree smiled at him, “I think she and I would of gotten along quite well.”
      Evan returned the smile, “I think so too.”

      Twelve hours in the jump hole seemed like an eternity, especially with their space suits on. When Aisac began the thirty second count down, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Nyree was sitting in front of her control console, when Evan entered into the control room. She didn’t acknowledge his presence, but he was beginning to understand that was just her way. Sitting down in his chair, he prepared for them to reconstruct.
      The feeling of his stomach lurching forward told him that the time had come. As soon as they exited the jump hole, a small fleet of Regime patrol was awaiting them. Nyree pulled off her helmet, and removed her gloves as they hailed them.
      “Unidentified ship, your authorization codes are invalid. Prepare to be boarded.”
      “Your brother gave us away!” Evan yelled.
      Nyree look at him, he still wore his helmet, “My brother would never do that.”
      “Then how the hell did they know we were coming?”
      “I don’t know, but that’s not important right now. We need to get the hell out of here.” She hit the ship’s inner comlink, “Everyone report to battle stations!”
      “What’s going on?” Dill asked as is screen opened up between them.
      “How many ships, Aisac?” Nyree demanded.
      “One battle ship, and fifteen fighter ships. It seems to be a patrol, we must of entered Regime Space as they were passing by.” Aisac told her.
      “Bullshit, they were waiting for us.” Evan snapped.
      Dill interrupted before Nyree could argue, “They are opening their clamps.”
      “Sparks,” Nyree said over the comlink to the engine room, “I need you to help Aisac divert as much power as necessary to our boosters.”
      “I’ll do my best.” Sparks answered before Nyree shut off the comlink.
      “Where are we heading?” Dill asked.
      “Anywhere, but here.” Nyree mumbled her answer, and Evan felt the ship beginning to move forward. There wasn’t enough room between them and the fleet to maneuver around them.
      “What are you doing?” He asked, knowing full well that she was going to break through their center.
      “It’s this or be arrested.” She answered.
      “This could get us killed.”
      “Unidentified ship, shut down your engines or will we consider you hostile.” The male voice from the Regime battle ship announced.
      “We need to make it to max 6, Aisac.” Nyree ordered.
      “There isn’t enough room between us and them, we don’t have time to reach that speed.” Aisac told her calmly.
      “Then you are going to blow up.”
      There was a moment of silence, before Aisac replied. “Max 5 is the best I can do.”
      “It will have to be good enough.”
      “Whoa, whoa! What are you planning to do?” Evan tried to ask calmly, but the sound of confused panic was clear in his voice.
      Nyree was inputting several commands into the control panel, as he awaited her answer. “We have to break through their block. If we go through fast enough they might ricochet off our shields, it’s going to cause a lot of damage either way.”
      Evan looked out over the patrol, “You want to crash through them?” It was a rhetorical question. He watched as Nyree prepared the ship, though he didn’t know exactly what she was doing. Watching the patrol outside, he heard the patrol begin to give another warning for them to power down. “Battle ship!” He yelled as the large ship approached the small patrol.
      Nyree eyes popped up from the control panel, “Mother ship.” She corrected, “That’s where the patrol docks and gets it’s orders from. Also, where they want to take us. Aisac, are you ready?”
      “All systems are prepared.” Aisac responded.
      “Let me fly.” Evan ordered more then asked.
      Nyree looked across the panel at him, “You’ve never done this before, nor are you familiar with the Aisac’s controls.”
      “Try to fly between them, so they don’t give us direct hits, right?”
      She nodded her head gently.
      “What the hell is going on in there?” Dill’s voice asked. “Are we going to comply or what?”
      Neither of them answered him, instead Evan continued to speak. “Look if I am going to die by doing something stupid, I want to be the one flying. Besides, if we make it out of here, I have a mechanic friend on Frelus that can fix the ship and keep from reporting us.”
      Nyree stared into his eyes for a moment, “Alright, you fly. I’ll try to hack into the Mother Ship, and get her to power down. The fighters share radar with it, and will be blinded…”
      “Unidentified ship, you are now considered hostile. This is your last chance.” The voice said.
      “Do whatever you do, Nyree.” Evan ordered, “Aisac, power up the thrusters.”
      The ship suddenly jolted forward, Evan’s heart beat frantically, as Nyree began to plug herself into the communication systems.
      “Shield’s power at maximum.” Aisac informed them, “Max four has been achieved.”
      “I need Max five, Aisac.” Evan shouted.
      “Attempting.”
      Evan turned on the inner com, when he realized that they hadn’t warned the crew yet. “Everyone brace for impact!”
      “Max five will be achieved in five second, collision with first patrol ship in three seconds.” Aisac told him.
      The ship began to jerk as the first of the patrol slammed into their shields. The mother ship took notice of this, and immediately began to send fighters after them. Once Evan cleared the initial block, he prepared the ship for Frelus, a small moon not far from them. However, they would need to ensure that the patrol did not see where they were heading, but that was Nyree’s task.
      “Shields at fifty seven percent.” Aisac said.
      Dill’s face popped up between them, “We took on some damage here, Evan. One of our thrusters is out and the rest are damaged, we can only reach max three.”
      Evan looked towards Nyree, who had opened her eyes. “Finished?”
      “They aren’t answering my hails, they must be informed of that trick.” Nyree looked over the controls, “A lot more damage then I expected.”
      “We have a fleet of fighters on our ass.” Evan was a little perturbed that she looked so calm.
      She gave a nod, “I’ll think of something.” The ship shuddered as they were hit by the fighters lasers, then Nyree grinned. “I think I got something. I just need them to open a link to me.”
      Nyree began to hail the mother ship’s kitchen, in hope that it would bypass the block that the main communications had. It worked and within moment’s she was inside the ships controls. Yet, she couldn’t reach the radar through this particular com link. She began to check what she did have access to, and found that she could send messages to the fighter ships. The large mother ship couldn’t keep the speeds that they were flying at, and was getting further away. Nyree knew she had to work fast, even as Aisac began to announce more damage that they were taking from the fighters.
      Quickly, she sent out a message for the fighters to abort their mission and return to home base. It was all she could do, and hoped that the fighters didn’t check the location of the signal. The kitchen, of course, has no control over their tasks.
      “Fighters have disengaged.” Aisac announced.
      Nyree unplugged herself and leaned back with a sigh.
      Evan, as well, relaxed in his seat. “I don’t know what you did, but you have to be the luckiest person alive.”
      She chuckled, “What’s the damage?”
      “Three thrusters are unresponsive, the engine core is over heated, haul damage is extensive…” Aisac began.
      “How is the crew?” Evan asked interrupting her.
      “Sparks has sustained small burns from the engine. Dirk is unresponsive, though still showing life signs. All other members of the crew are in satisfactory shape.”
      “Where is Dirk?” Nyree asked.
      “He was on his way to the torrents, when we broke through the blockade. I believe he fell and hit his head.” Aisac reported.
      Evan stood up, “I’ll get Dill and we will take him to medical.”
      Nyree nodded, “Did you input a course to Frelus?”
      “Yes.”

      “Here, Doc, be useful.” Evan said as he and Dill dropped Dirk’s large form on the stretcher.
      Main Frame wasn’t far behind them, as he walked Sparks into the medical bay. She had some burns on the left side of her body including her hand, face, and neck. After laying her down on the stretcher, he mumbled something about checking the computer system before leaving.
      Mitch began a scan on Dirk to ensure that he hadn’t suffered any brain damage. “How much pain are you in?” He asked his sister, after hearing her moan.
      Evan and Dill stood idly by, waiting to see if they could be of any help.
      “Seven.” Sparks said. They used a scale of one through ten to determine how much pain they were in, ten would normally mean inherent pain.
      Mitch nodded his head, “I’ll give you some pain medication in one moment.”
      “You could use the medical droid to administer medication to your patients.” Aisac chirped in.
      “Medical droid, where?” Mitch asked.
      “In the closet behind you, he has to be manual powered up.” She responded.
      “I got it.” Evan said, as he walked over to the closest and pressed the button that opened it.
      The medical droid used tracks that were built into the ceiling of the ship to move around. Evan had noticed them before, but had no idea what they were used for. It had a white shell, and looked similar to a spider. With eight legs, and a three camera eyes, one on it’s under belly and two that pointed in different directions, and spun around at the droids will. They could only comply to commands, and therefore could not act on their own accord. Evan found the control panel and began to power up the mechanical assistant.
      “What is my task?” The droid asked as it moved from the closest.
      “Dispense some Alfex to Sparks.” Mitch ordered.
      “More specific?” The druid’s mechanical voice asked.
      Mitch sighed, “Dispense three hundred ccs of Alfex to the patient in medical bed two.”

      Frelus was a small mining moon with no more then ten thousand people living within the small base that was built on the surface of the uninhabitable moon. The neighboring planet of Tyhon used the metal that was harvested on the moon for much of their daily items. The city on the moon was nothing more then a dome that produced oxygen from plant life for its inhabitants. Nearly eighty percent of the people living on the moon were miners, and most others were there to support the mining population.
      It took Evan two hours to get in touch with his old friend, who turned out to be in charge of all the docking bays. Josef Tewdor gave them landing rights within moments of seeing his old friend’s face, and met them on the landing pad. He was slightly older then Evan, patches of gray hair above his ears were just beginning to form. His height matched Evan’s, though he weighed a little more. In all his years of service, Josef had been the only man that Evan knew he could trust without hesitation.
      “That’s some damage you took on there.” Josef said as he looked over the ship, he hadn’t met anyone but Dill and Evan yet. “Not the pilot that you use to be, are you?”
      Evan frowned, “Hard not to get hit when you‘re flying through an entire fleet.”
      “Oh, you are out running fleets now are you?” Josef chuckled, before rolling his eyes at Dill. “Beautiful ship though. Where’d you come up with the caps for this?”
      “Uh, not exactly our ship.” Dill mumbled.
      “Hey, this isn’t stolen?” Josef snapped, “I can’t be authorizing landing sites for stolen ships.”
      “It’s not stolen, Josef.” Evan sighed, “Owner is inside.”
      He nodded before folding his arms and glaring at his old friend, “So, what happened? You going to tell me or what?”
      “What happened to what?”
      “Your old ship and your smuggling career, and why Sahale put out a bounty for any information leading to you and your crew’s whereabouts.” Josef leaned against the ships ramp.
      Evan sighed, “A bounty? Just for information?”
      “Yeah, but once he finds out you are working for someone else, it’ll be your heads.”
      “It’s a long story, Josef, just trust me that it wasn’t any doing on my part.” Evan looked at the ship, “Think you’ll be able to fix this?”
      “It won’t come cheap, and I don’t work free… you know that.” He looked at Dill who had stumbled away from them, and was playing with some of the smaller tools on the work bench.
      “Why isn’t the ship being worked on yet?” Nyree asked as she walked down the ramp.
      Josef turned around just in time to watch her backside wrapped in the tight black jump suit. Running his fingers through his hair, he ensured that he looked presentable, despite the stains on his work jumper.
      “We are just about to discuss price with Josef here.” Evan told her as she came to stand between them.
      Nyree looked Josef over a moment, “I don’t care how much, just get it done now.”
      Josef grinned, “You are Evan’s new boss, I assume?”
      “Hardly my boss.” He growled underneath his breath.
      “Josef Tewdor.” He extended his hand, “Evan and I are old war buddies.”
      “Nyree.” She shook his hand, before looking back at Evan. “Just get it done.” With that she turned around and headed back up the ramp.
      Evan glared at his grinning friend, “Don’t say anything, Josef. Not one word.”
      “Well, I can certainly see why you would leave Sahale for that.” He said as he pulled out his data pad.
      “It’s got nothing to do with that. She tricked us… no, she blackmailed… that is an evil woman! Devious, sly, deceitful, lying, and…”
      “Seductive.” Dill mumbled as he came to stand next to Evan.
      “Seductive.” Evan barked, “Wait, no not seductive, you idiot.”
      “Beautiful, smart, clever… she’s got Evan all in a bunch.” Dill told Josef.
      He laughed, “Does she now, Evan?”
      “I don’t know where you would get that, the woman has done nothing but annoy me endlessly. It’ll be my pleasure to finally be rid of her.” Evan growled.
      “Oh, then you won’t mind if I ask her out to dinner. It’ll be better then the slop you eat on the ship.” Josef asked as he finished entering his estimate into his data pad.
      “Go right ahead, she won’t say yes anyway.” Evan snapped and turned around to head back into the ship.
      Dill grinned, “All hot and bothered about it. I told you.”
      Josef laughed, “That’s Evan for you, never could admit he was attracted to a woman. Not even his wife, which is why it took them so damn long to get together.”
      “Never knew that he was married.” Dill tried to look at the data pad, but couldn’t see anything.
      “Was, she past a while back.” Josef grinned, “Actually took me asking her out to get him to admit anything to her… hence my earlier comment.”
      Dill smiled, “Might not be a bad idea, wouldn’t mind see the capt’n a little jealous and unwilling to confess.”
      “I will if we make it interesting.”
      Dill rose an eyebrow, “How interesting?”
      “If she says yes, then I’ll bet 15 caps that he just sits on the ship and stews about it.”
      “I’m going to bet that he goes to find you two, Evan has a rule about shipmates always sticking in groups of two or more.”
      “You got a deal then.” Josef slide his data pad into his pocket, “Well, I better go show her this estimate and get myself a dinner date.”
      Dill laughed the entire time they walked up the ramp, he just couldn’t wait to see how this one played out. He would have to let the others in on it, this was some action that Dirk would love to be part of. As it wasn’t uncommon for them to set each other up for a fall, and bet how they would handle it.

      Inside the ship, Nyree was to the left of the entrance. Kneeled down on the floor, she had one of the panels opened and seemed to be trying to fix the wiring. Josef cleared his throat to get her attention, while Dill tried to disappear down the hall, but be within hearing range.
      “Got an estimate here.” Josef said, as Nyree turned around to face him.
      She took the data pad that he offered her, and she snorted. “Don’t try to con me.” With that she shoved the data pad back into his hand.
      He grinned, “Hey, I think my time is worth it. I am after all one of the best, and people have come from all over the Regime to get me to repair their ships. Normally, they are on a waiting list, which can take up to months to get me to even give them an estimate. But, hey, you are a friend of a friend, and I am doing you a favor.”
      “Doing me a favor?” Nyree grinned. “How about you just sell me the parts and rent me your tools?”
      “Oh, you think you can repair that damage?”
      “I’ve gotten older ships then this back in space when I was on a deserted barren planet, and could only use what was already on the ship. I think I can manage.” Turning back around she began to tinker with the wiring in the open panel again.
      “Tell you what. You let me take you out to dinner tonight, and I’ll do the work for free. You just pay parts.” Josef grinned down the hall at Dill, who was trying not to laugh now that he understood his plan.
      Nyree stood up, and looked over her shoulder for a moment. Finally turning around, she nodded. “Alright, deal.”
      Josef smiled, “Good, I’ll be buy later to pick you up then.”
      She gave another nod, “I’ll be waiting.” Her eyes turned to the hallway, “Dill, put me on that bid for 15 caps as well. I bet Evan will stew and then lecture me on an irrelevant topic when I get back.”
      Dill looked around the corner, “Huh? What?”
      “You heard me.” She turned her attentions back to the open panel.
      Josef chuckled, “Dill was right, you are clever… so was Evan about you being devious.”
      Nyree grinned to herself as the sound of Josef heading down the ramp, echoed out the entry ramp.
      “You heard us, eh?” Dill asked, as he leaned against wall near the panel.
      Looking up at him, Nyree frowned, “Let’s get something straight here, Dill. This may be the way things were before you joined with me, but I don’t like this type of behavior happening behind my back. You need to remember that Aisac is everywhere… and she tells me everything.”
      He gave a quick nod, “Got it. I didn’t mean to offend you, it was all in good fun.”
      “Don’t let it happen again. Now, go check to see if Mitch needs any help in the medical bay, and on your way up check on Main Frame. He’s been in the engine room for a while now, and I told him to use the computer console near the cockpit. Pipes keep blowing in there, and we don’t need anyone else injured.”
      “Aye, aye, capt’n!” He saluted before disappearing down the hall.

Go to Part 06.