Author's note: This story is about my Navy char (who is Jeremy's mom) and where she was while Jeremy was in Cryo/First year back in the Order.
Alexis Hunter
LNS-Say My Name, Planet Wrangell, Alaska, 813 AS
Commodore Alexis Hunter stood on the bridge of the dreadnought as it swept the area around the planet, all but one,Guardian wing sweeping the area. Alexis didnt wear her uniform on the lone jobs. Most of her crew didn't. She was a laid back Commodore, known to be compassionate and merciful. As she leaned against a bulkhead.
"Commodore, all is-" Alarms blared. First thing in two days.
"Incoming Nomads, Guardian team..."
The man's voice died as another contact appeared. Alexis froze.
A Nomad battleship.
"Commodore?" Her XO, Aaron Rivkin, shook her. "Alex! Orders!"
Alex snapped out of it. "Recall Upholders, call Mitchell and Fairbanks, launch all forward batteries, prepare one heavy round."
The Say My Name let loose, its full forward barrage unleashing hell on the Marduk. At first, Alex thought they might not need the Upholders.
"Alex, its opening fire!"
The dreadnought took the full brunt of the blast, its shields depleting to half.
"Alex, Upholders on intercept course!"
"Head,us past Wrangell, us the Planet as cover!"
"Alex, anomaly detected, confirmed as Jump-Hole to Omicron Minor!"
Alex knew of the Order. They would hopefully be forgiving.
"Take us in!"
The Say My Name accelerated towards the jump hole, unleashing a mortar and another salvo as it went.
the Marduk crossed Wrangell and was hit. Its veil down, the Say My Name fired another mortar, catching the Marduk on the nose. More turret salvos were unleashed. But the Marduk fired, depleting the shield and,hammering the dreadnought.
"Commodore, she won't hold!"
"Keep it going! Where is Captain Riker?!"
"This is Riker, sorry we're late!"
The Upholder wing powered in, unleashing a storm of Novas. Guardians let loose with Magma Hammers. It looked like the Say My Name would make it.
Then the engines were hit.
Before anyone could speak, the core went critical, just as the Say My Name accelerated.
The dreadnought was cut in two, the forward half accelerating with Alex and a few dozen,crew, and leaving hundreds to perish as the Marduk ripped the second half apart.
Riker took revenge, burning all Nomads left. and left, thinking Alex had perished.
Omicron Minor
The forward half of the Say My Name exited, throwing the remaining crew forward.
"Status!"
"The jump hole wasnt phase-aligned, how the hell are we alive"
"Ma'am...its only us.
Alex cursed. "Everyone, search the remains, be careful."
But her orders spelled doom for the crew. As they did their best to save who they could, Sascyas attacked, ripping into the hull. Alex watched in horror as her friends were blown out.
Then they aimed for her.
Before they could fire, lasers erupted from out of view. Then a wing of Nephthys fighters roared in. they ripped apart the Sascyas.
Then the Gunboat arrived.
Alex ran to the weapons console, activating everything she could.
Two pulse guns erupted, catching the gunboat by surprise. Its shields down, Alex fired the mortar, obliterating it.
Her elation was short-lived as a lone Sascya careened into the bridge, having a huge chunk of it's drive parts blown to hell by a Cannonball, shattering the glass and blowing Alexis Annabeth Hunter into space.
Medical Bay, OCV-Reliance
Alex woke to find herself under covers, in a hospital gown, her clothes stacked to the side. Alex sat up. She gently pressed her hands to her chest, then settled them into her lap. She looked around frightfully.
"Where am I?"
"Medical Bay of the Cruiser Reliance."
Alex looked to see a man in a doctor's coat there.
"Hello. I am Doctor Braun. Do you remember your name?"
"Alexis. But I go by Alex."
"Surname?"
H-Hu..." Alex couldnt finish. "I cant remember..."
"What do you remember Alex?"
"Born...765 AS."
"Thats not possible." Braun handed her a mirror. Alex looked.
She was twenty, maybe twenty one. Alex looked down.
"What can you tell me?"
"Nn-nothing." Alex looked up. "I cant remember anything."
Alex sat in a conference room, her hands on the table. An armed guard stood at the door. Alex kept her hands in view like she was told. She moved a lock of hair from her eyes.
"How...how long will I be kept here?"
The man stayed silent. Alex looked to the side, out a window. She sighed. She wanted to leave.
"Um...can't you at least speak?"
He remained silent. Alex sighed.
Climbing onto the table, she stretched out and oillowed her head on her hands. Closing her eyes, she took a nap.
"Time to wake up Alexis."
Alex jerked awake. Looking uo, she saw the man had left to be replaced by a different man. He wore the uniform of the Order, but he carried no weapons.
"My name is John Smith."
"You must watch too many movies."
He laughed. "Now, why would an Order agent give out his real name?"
"I have amnesia?"
"True. Now. We of Order Intelligence think you are not a safety hazard. We are outfitting a Nephthys VHF with enough fuel to get you to Freeport 11, with enough credits to purchase a more suitable ship."
"Thank you."
"Please come with me."
Alex got off the table and smoothed out her clothes. Following "John Smith", Alex was blindfolded by a waiting guard.
Alex saw the Nephthys crouching there. Its Reapers sat,at the ready. She noticed something on the nose.
Upon closer inspection, Alex discovered what it said.
Tears of a Nobody
"Why was it called that?"
"A girl named Audriana Grey flew this. She was a nobody from the slums of Cambridge. She cried at every death. She was killed during a BHG attack. She named her fighter thus, because every time she cried, they were tears of a nobody. But in the end, she died saving dozen people. If it wasnt for Audriana, a dozen innocent lives would have perished. She no longer was a nobody. She was a hero."
Alex touched the ship. "What will happen to it on the Freeport?"
"We will retrieve it."
"Can I keep it?"
Smith chuckled. "We thought you might ask that. You may."
Alex nodded. Turning,to climb in, she looked back. "Do you know who I am?"
Smith cracked a smile. "Yes."
Alex climbed into the Nephthys and powered the engines. She looked out.
Smith motioned to her console.
Alex looked down. A picture appeared on the screen.
Alex gently touched the screen. The image changed.
May she be your strength as she was his
Alex looked back at Smith.
He was gone.
Alex looked back to her console. She grasped the controls.
"Here goes."
The Tears of a Nobody lifted off and floated to the open hanger doors.
The Nephthys descended, then powered to Omicron Delta.
The Nephthys exited Omciron Minor and its asteroids to the dark black of Delta. Doing a few loop-de-loops, she saw the green and the beauty. Sighing, she set course for Freeport 11, dodging the occasional Bounty Hunter and in one case, a Sascya. All the while she toyed with the two pictures, having put them on hard-copy format.
"Who...are they?" She asked herself.
Alex sighed. She slipped them into her belt, clipped her PDA on, and looke forward as Freeport 11 filled her view.
"Freeport 11, this is Alex...um...just Alex. Requesting to dock."
"Docking bay Three Opening. You are clear."
Alex took a breath and let the autopilot take over. As she entered the bay, she checked for a weapon, finding a sidearm below her seat. Clipping it on, she got up and exited the Neph.
Hitting the ground, Alex stretched, looking around. She spotted a Manta Fighter nearbye, and, knowing the Order-BHG fighting from a mechanic who warned her before launching, she kept one hand on her sidearm and moved to the bar.Entering, she took a seat and ordered a shot of vodka.
"You new?" The bartender asked.
"Yeah..."
"Where ya from?"
"I...don't know. All I know is I woke up on...on...that battleship back in the other system, and given a Nephthys..."
"Order, giving a Nephthys to a stranger? I never trusted thier Intelligence divison. The spooks to work in the intel branches of anything always got hidden agendas."
"Well, It's a good ship. Got me here."
"Who died it in?"
"Audriana Grey."
The man looked sober. "So poor Audrey's gone?"
"I was told she died in a BHG attack. She went saving lives."
"Aye, thats the way she woulda wanted it. 'Im a nobody; On Cambridge, I would die a nobody. But here, in the Order, I will die for a reason.' The poor girl had nothing on Cambridge. Single-handiedly took down three Mantas and cleared the way for a Sekhmet wing to launch a Nova strike on the BHG Core's Mako Battleship Fist of Zeus. So...she's a hero?"
"That's what Smith told me."
"Ah god, are all Intel guys named Smith?"
"Thats what I wondered."
The man laughed. He poured another shot on the house and moved to service some Hunters that had entered the bar. Alex kept a hand on her sidearm the entire time. She finished her shot and motioned the man over.
"Is there a room I can rent for the night?"
"Yeah, head back that way, take a left. You'll find a guy at a desk. Ask him, he'll set you up."
"Thanks."
Alex left the bar and started to walk when a drunk Hunter stumbled out from the left. Taking a step backword, she prepared to step around him.
"Where ya gooooin' babe?" The guy said. "If you're lookin' fer a room...I cna oblige."
Alex looked a bit revolted. "I'm good, thanks."
The man didn't like that.
"You come with me know and be a nice right dog."
"How about...no." Alex suddenly spun and launched a back-kick to the man's solar plexus, dropping him. Dropping on his chest, she drew her gun and aimed it at his head. "Now, how about you go and take a nice loong nap and forget this happened."
The man looked at her. "No."
Alex pistol-whipped him and stood up as a few more Hunters exited the bar.
Seeing thier buddy down, they tensed.
"He's fine." She said. "Idiot was drunk, decided to hit up the wrong person."
The leader stepped forward. "Sorry then ma'am."
A woman stepped up. "She came in that Order fighter. The coward."
Alex raised the gun. "Im not Order. Im not one of them. I killed three of their guards and stole that."
The leader laughed. "A little thing like you? if so, why don't you-"
"No thanks." Alex turned and walked away.
Gaining a room, Alex entered and dropped onto the bed. "I wish I had another change of clothes..." Walking into the bathroom, she stripped naked and took a quick shower.
Drying her hair, she set them to the side.
"Wonder if they have a cleaner's." Alex mused. Picking up the comm, she found out they did. Setting her stuff by the door, she entered the bathroom when they knocked. Exiting after they left, Alex ditched the towel she had been using and crawled under the covers.
Freeport 11, Omicron Delta; The next day
Alex woke up to find her stuff neatly folded to the side. Sitting up and letting the covers fal around her hips, she got up and went into the bathroom. Looking in the mirror, she checked herself.
There was a scar across her chest, starting near her shoulder and ending between her breasts. She traced it softly, then stepped into the shower. Washing her hair, she watched the soap go down her body. She went rigid. Her breathing quickened. She clenched.
The quietness of the bridge.
The sudden alarm.
People shouting.
A huge teal beam erupting from mere meters away and heading to a blue object.
Alex unclenched everything, no longer rigid.
Sitting down, she her breathing slowed. Taking a deep breath, she hugged her knees and let the water run for a few minutes before lathering herself up, washing the soap away, and stepping out.
Freshened up and dressed in clean clothes, Alex moved through the Freeport to the docking bay where the Tears of a Nobody sat.
Climbing back in, noticing the Manta was missing, she powered the ship up.
"This is Alex, requesting launch clearance."
"This is Flight COntrol, Order Gamma 3-1, you are cleared to launch."
Alex coasted out then hit cruise.
Omicron Delta, Tuvalu Orbit
Alex looked at the blue planet. She had the coordinates to get to Omicron-74 and then Theta, but she was drawn to the big planet in Delta. Taking a moment, she unbuttoned her jacket, slipped off her shirt, and used a mirror to look at the scar. it was a white line about half an inch wide.
Then the alarm sounded.
Alex slipped her shirt and jacket back on and powered the Reaper cannons as three Mantas closed in.
"Order scum."
it was the woman from before. Alex hit the thruster, engine killed, thrustered to the side, and opened fire, catching the side Manta with her guns, dropping its shield. it rammed into the mine she had dropped.
The other two cut crusie.
"Alan!" The woman cried. "Order bitch, I'll make sure you live so I can show you HELL!"
Alex took the picture of the little girl from her belt and held it as she grasped her controls. "I'm the seven layers of Hell. Didn't you hear?" Alex powered forward, her Reapers trading Buckshots with the Core.
Thrusting upwards and flipping downwords to a frontflip, she hit the third Manta as it went by, catching it's left wing and leaving a gaping hole. Powering forward, she fired the mini-razor, ripping the third Manta apart.
the lead turned.
"I'LL KILL YOU!"
Alex thrusted to the side as Buckshots rained on her shields, taking them down and gouging the armor plating. She gritted her teeth and yanked her ship into a barrel roll, avoiding a burst of laserfire and swinging around to chew the Core woman's right guns.
Letting loose with her left, the two fighters danced around Tuvalu's gravity well, heading closer to the small moon. Alex let loose another mine, downing the Manta's shields and a quick Reaper burst sheared off the thruster.
Screaming, the woman hit crusie.
Alex tried to dodge, but the Manta impacted with her Nephthys, sending them both spinning. Alex looked to see the Manta crusie into Tuvalu's gravity well and disintigrate.
Alex did what she could, but in the end, one of her guns exploded from the strain and she smacked her head.
All she saw was black.
The last thing she thought of was the girl.
She remembered the girl's name.
Alejandro Valdez tapped his clip board as he approached the new arrival. Libertonian,by her looks, she was sleepimg soundly. He checked the report.
"Madre de dios...that scar must have hurt...mi dios...this is one tough,chica to still be in,one piece after that incedent." Valdez gently laid a hand on her head. "Hm..." He checked the side of her neck for a pulse. "Pulse normal...well chica, seens you'll be fine."
Valdez turned and left the infirmary on the Praefact-class cruiser Espada de Fuego. As he threaded to the cargo bay, he stopped by the mess to get a quick bite.
Valdez entered the hanger and surveyed the wrecked Nephthys. It was a mess. Though largely intact, its entire port side was gouged out. A gapping hole was there, marking the spot where the Manta had collided. Valdez ran a hand along the name.
Tears of a Nobody...a bleak name."
Infirmary
Explosions rocked the ship
A man yelled something
A green nebula
Them...
Alex woke up. She blinked and sat up slowly. She looked over herself. Her body had a few burns, a scraoe or two, a bunch of bruises, but other than that, nothing serious. Except she had no clothes. Again.
"Why do I never have clothes?" Alex said. She drew the covers close. "Hello?"
She heard a stylus drop onto a desk, and a young female nurse entered. "Hola. Welcome back senorita, to the land of the living. How do you feel?"
"Like crap. Can I have my clothes?"
"I am sorry, but your clothes were wrecked. We have a replacement pair for you to wear. Do you feel up to it?"
Alex sighed. "Yeah."
A few minutes later, Alex had a ill-fitting outfit. She wasnt complaining; least it was clothes. The nurse lead her to an,office. Knocking, she heard someone say enter. Entering, she sat down.
"Hello...?"
"Hola. I am Capitan Emillio Cruz. Welcome onboard Espada de Fuego, or the Sword of Fire."
"Why am I here?"
"Core fighters ambushed you. Yaren detected the battle and diverted us to check it out. We found your fighter in orbit. You are one tough chica to survive that."
"I...just survive I guess."
"We are preparing to take you back to Omicron Minor."
"Im not Order. They just gave me the ship."
Cruz sighed and lit a cigar. "Well mi amiga, where was your destination?"
"Freeport Nine...then Kusari."
"I shall take you as far as Freeport Nine. After that...you are on your own."
Alex nodded. "Thank you."
Freeport Nine
The Praefact moored and transfered the remains of the Nephthys. Cruz stopped Alexis from exiting.
"Senorita Alex, please keep this as a token of our hospitality." He handed her a patch for his ship. "It is not every day we have a Libertonian amnesiac flying an Order fighter who can take on Three Mantas and live." He turned around. "Adios Alex."
Alex checked with the mechanics. For the repairs, she would be left with just enough for a personal sidearm.
Walking to the bar, she took a seat.
"Whacha havin'?"
"Is water free?"
"Poor as hell?"
"Ship, sidearm. All I got."
The man poured a shot of vodka. "On the house. Look like a vodka girl."
"Aye." Alex drained it. "Now...I should see about..."
"Accomadations? Ask Elyssa. She usually is lonely. She probavly would love the company."
"Where is this Elyssa?"
"Port Biodome."
Alex got up and left.
At the biodome, Alex found a sole girl sitting on a bench.
"Elyssa?"
The girl turned. "Yea?"
"Um...the bartender told me to talk to you about accomadations."
The girl giggled. "No money, ship a wreck?"
"Sadly."
Elyssa stood up. "Then my room is your's." Elyssa looked,at Alex's clothes. "I think I have hand me downs...oh, right. What's your name?"
"Alexis. But...i perfer Alex."
Elyssa smiled. "Pleased to meet you Alex."
Alex didnt know why her luck was good, but she knew, sooner or later, it would run out.
Alex had no clue how she ended up with sharing a bed with Elyssa. The girl, maybe a year younger, had checked her wounds. Changing her dressings, Elyssa, or Lyssa, had forced her to share the bed. Lyssa was as stubborn as she was kind.
Alex woke and stretched. She looked over at Lyssa, who was awake, propped up on one arm, watching her.
"I'm that intresting?"
"Yes...you have amnesia, the fighter skills to take on three Mantas, and you have the patch from the Espada de Fuego."
"So?"
"You must be a very special person."
Alex smiled and sat up. Climbing out of bed, she went into the shower. Fifteen minutes later, she surrendered the bathroom to Lyssa, who had given her clothes that...
"Lyssa, these look like what I had worn back on Isis."
Lyssa just winked and hugged Alex.
"Goodbye Alex."
Alex took a moment. "No. I won't say goodbye."
"Why?" Lyssa asked.
"Goodbye is final...I never want this to be forever."
Lyssa hugged her again and kissed her cheek. "Yeah. It shouldn't." Lyssa removed something from her pocket. "You...were a kind roommate, kinder than any other I let stay with me when they had no money. And...you were the most stubborn ever."
Alex giggled. "Thanks."
Alex looked at what she had been given. It was a locket.
"Place all your pictures on it, and it wil make a holographic slideshow."
"Thanks...wait, why is there already pictures on here?"
Lyssa only smiled michevously in return.
Freeport Nine Hanger
Alex ran a hand along the fighter. "Why is there two fins?"
"Well, eh...we kinda switched your's with this..."
"Why?"
Yeah..." The mecahnic scratched his head. "Your Nephthys was a complete writeoff...so...we took the cash to completely restore this. It's a Bastet. We were given this in return for s Roc bomber. Our compemsation."
"For what?"
"Hiding the carrier Son'Ra and giving a Roc."
"Son'Ra?"
The man just smiled.
Alex climbed in. Everything was the same as the Nephthys. The techs had even renamed this Bastet Ocean of Memory . How appropriate.
"What will happen to my old craft?"
"We'll send it to Isis."
Alex nodded and powered up the Bastet.
"My luck is going to change so drastically, it won't be funny. At. All.
//Rated T or M for torture. Maybe mild nudity. I make it up as I go *shrug*
The Ocean of Memory entered the Sigmas soon after it had left Freeport Nine. Alex examined the locket. Her pictures were there, as well as a picture of her and Lyssa in the biodome.
"This will be an ocean of memory."
Alex turned back to flying. The nebula was dense, and she had to fly slow to avoid any accidents. She sighed, and sped up a little bit. As the end came near, she paled. On an intercept course was a Sabre accompanied by two Switchblades.
"Dammit!" Alex said. "What is this?"
"Better stop."
Alex stopped. She clutched her locket and took a breath.
"Order...tell me... Why are you here?"
"I'm not the Order."
"Then...how...intresting."
"Who are you?"
The woman paused. "Pirates. Thats all you need to know."
Alex had a bad feeling that something bad was about to happen.
---------------------- Yanagi Depot
The woman threw Alex into a room and closed the door, locking it. She hauled Alex onto the bed, dragged a chair over, and straddled it, toying with a knife.
"Let's start with who are you."
"Alexis...or Alex..."
"Hmm...surname?"
"I don't know."
The woman sighed. "Why don't I believe,you?"
"I don't! I only know I woke up on a battleship..."
The woman cut her off.
"Where are you going?"
"I don't know. I'm just...going. Hoping I could find my memories."
The woman shook her head. She stood and kicked the chair away.
"Strip."
"What?"
"Strip. Now."
"Why!?"
The woman drew her gun. Alex shut up and undid her jacket, settting it aside. She continued until she was in her underwear.
"Stop."
Alex stopped and sat there. The woman shoved her flat, straddled her waist, keeping her thighs pressed against Alex's, forcing the unsuspecting Alex's hands into handcuffs which brought her arms up and effectively kept her from trying to,fight,back. She then grabbed Alex's chin, forcing it up as she placed the knife there
"Who are you?"
"Alexis. Please, I don't know more!"
The knife was removed. Then the woman drew back and pressed the serrated edge against her stomach, digging it in,and dragging it back slowly to cause maximum pain and damage with a shallow cut. Her hand covered Alex's mouth.
"Again. Who are you."
"Alexis...I,swear, its all I know...please..."
The knife glided over the wound, and again the serrated edge making an X on her stomach.
"New question. Where did you get the Nephthys?"
"A....a...a guy from the Order...he...just gave it to me..." Alex struggled to stay concious. The woman knew exactly where to cut to cause the most pain.
"Hm...ok. How did you get the Bastet?"
"Freeport Nine...to replace the Nephthys...Mantas..."
"Lucky...where were you born?"
"I told you, I don't know..."
The woman traced Alex's scar. After a moment, she made a shallow cut on her arm. The woman paused.
"You still concious?"
"Yes."
"One last question, then we'll see about cleaning you up: Who,is this boy?"
The woman held up the locket, which played the slideshow. She paused at the boy.
Alex took a breath. "I..."
The woman,sighed. "Really amnesia?"
The woman probed Alex's skin with her hand, pausing at her side. She placed the knife and made a cut slightly deeper than the others.
"There. Now...I'll leave you here while I go talk with my merry band of misfits."
"Wait!"
The woman leaned in.
"I let my...victims...bleed out. Loosens tongues."
The woman left, leaving Alex to fight to remain concious.
Later
Alex woke up to find herself bandaged, clean sheets. The woman stood to the side.
"Had to see how long you could fight. You are one tough bitch. Three hours. You passed out two minutes after the third hour. Me and Ally bandaged you up."
"Ow...so...what now?"
The woman came over and sat down. She stroked Alex's arm.
"My little pirate band was offere twenty million to capture and,extract information. I then found out he was a fake. Its buisness."
Alex tried to sit up, but the woman pushed her down.
"Yeahno. How about staying down? You still gotta heal."
"Torturer to doctor?"
"Many hats."
"So...what now?"
"You heal, I take advantage of you, then send you off?" At Alex's stare, she cracked a smile. "I will joke around. Since I am your doctor."
"Um...."
"Before I knew that the guy I took the contract from was a sadistic bastard."
Alex gently probed her stomach. It was tender, but not too painful. She closed her eyes.
"Got a name?"
The ex-torturer paused. "You can call me Athena."
-------------------
Alex was able to get up without Athena helping her keep the bandages on in a few weeks. A few weeks later, the bandages were removed. Alex took a long shower after that. Athena had turned from cold-hearted torturer into friend. It was...crazy.
Alex sat naked on the bed as Athena piled clothing next to her.
"Here. Got more. Sent a smuggler over to Munich, grabbed some clothing."
Alex slipped on some underwear. "Why the hell are you,doing this?"
Athena shook her head. "I neve should have done that to you. My old employer...just accept it."
"Fine."
Athena smiled. She looked over, then traced Alex's scar with her finger.
"What happened?"
Alex sighed "I...I'm not-"
The green-yellow nebula
Asteroids
The Nomads ripping into the ship
Then something rammed into the window
"Alex?"
"I... I remember... I was on the bridge of a ship. A...Nomad...smashed into the,bridge..."
Athena winced. "Ouch."
Alex sighed. "I'm alived."
Athena sat down beside Alex. She gently probed her stomach.
"Hm...scars are healed...lucky."
"Yeah..." Alex paused. "Athena? Never do that again."
"Torture?"
"Yes."
Athena looked at Alex.
"Why should I?"
"It's wrong."
Athena took a moment. She then pushed Alex down and flipped on top of her.
"How about you persuade me?"
"How?"
Athena didn't answer with words. She kissed Alex.
"Athena! What are you doing?!"
"I did say I would take advantage of you."
"You said-"
"I lied."
That made Alex laugh. She slowly undid her underwear.
"Well...I don't think...I ever..."
Athena laughed. She removed her garmets too.
"First time for everything."
"Do I at least get to know your real name?"
"Maybe. Now shut up. We can talk later."
----------------- Later... Again.
Alex woke up. It had been...a very weird night, but... Good? Nice? Pleasureable?
"You going to look over here?"
Alex looked over to Athena.
"Um...why did I just have sex with you?"
"I'm a pirate; I pillage and plunder. I pillaged your clothes and plundered your body."
"Sounded better in your head?"
"You have no idea."
Athena sat up. She motioned Alex to rise. Sitting up, Athena turned Alex around. The girl felt a heavy chain. Her locket.
"Thanks."
"Lori."
"Oh..."
"Lori Voelker."
Alex got up and dressed. Packing her bags, she turned to Lori.
"Why a pirate?"
"Ask me again in a few years. Now...Go to Kreutzberg Depot, get a CSV, and go to Planet New Berlin. Look for my sisters, Felicity and Lauren."
"Why?"
"You got a better place?"
"No..."
Loro kissed her cheek.
"Get out of my sight before I rape you."
Alex half-grinned and walked away.
"Goodbye."
"I don't say goodbye." Alex turned back. "Stay safe."
Lori nodded. Alex went to her Bastet, climbed in, stashed her new duffel, and launched.
"Luck went bad, then good......Oh, this so-o will end badly."
---------------
Back on Yanagi, almost as soon as Alexis had launched, gunfire echoed in the halls, and the Sabre that was Lori's launched, leaving the bodies of her fallen "comrades" behind.
"Next time, I'll kill you bastards sooner." Lori said.
The Bastet slid into the docking bay at Kruezberg, settling down gently. Alexis slid out of the ship, wincing at her aching body. She was still sore from her torture experience with Lori; That, and her scar was tugging. Alexis, after asing around, found a bathroom, where she rubbed water on the scar to soften it up. Sighing with resignation, Alexis made her way to the ship broker on Kruezberg.
"Guten Tag Fraulin (//Horrible spelling, oh well.) How may I help you?"
"I need a CSV. I want to head to New Berlin."
"Ja, I have a few CSVs. One thousand credits and one's yours."
Alexis sighed.
"I got...six hundred..."
The man frowned. "That is-"
"Thousand."
The man paused, then smiled. "One CSV."
Alex paid the docking fees for her Bastet, leaving it in what she hoped were good hands. Climbing into her CSV, Alex powered up the engine and lifted off, setting a course for the planet. She was there in no time.
As the Docking Ring came into view, Alex took a breath. She sent her request, and then gained clearance. Sighing, Alex guided her ship down to the spaceport, hoping she could mimic the Rheinland accent and avoid being caught; Liberty and Rheinland were not on the best terms, and war was just around the corner. As the CSV settled down, she noticed a blonde-haired girl working on a Dromedary freighter. As she climbed out, the girl pushed out from under the freighter and stood up. Spotting Alexis, the girl walked over.
"You Alexis?"
"Um....Yes."
"My sister, Lori, called ahead. Said you needed a place to stay."
"Y...yes....if it's not a bother."
"Nah, it's not. Ve kinda like company; My sister, Lauren...though...is kinda traumatized...so if you could be careful around her?"
Alexis nodded. She brushed her clothing smooth.
"Um....lead the way miss Voelker..."
"Please. Call me Felicity."
Alexis nodded, hugging herself.
"Ok Felicity...um...please, call me Alex."
Felicity nodded. "Pleased to meet you Alex."
"Pleased to meet you Felicity."
Felicity led Alex to a small car near the spaceport. Soon they wree driving towards Felicity's home.
"So...what brings you to Rheinland Alex?"
Alexis sighed. "I want to find my memories."
//Shorter than the rest, and wow, I actually was arsed enough to post here again...
It had been a month since Alexis had arrived on the planet. She had taken to cooking for the family, which comprised of the mother, Frau Voelker, the daughter, Felicity, and Felicity's quiet sister Lauren, who did not speak, did not leave her room, and never once looked up when Alexis left her dinner. The rest of the time, Alexis would clean, which wasn't hard since the Voelkers were tidy. Most of the time Alexis would sit in the bath, soaking in warm water. The Felicity would tease her, but always friendly. Mostly she would sit by the tub and chat with Alexis. Both girls found it soothing, and Alexis...she felt something else, some she had not felt since she first met Thomas, all those years ago. It was strange, but she did not dwell upon it...but those feeling would replicate, years later.
It was quiet for Alexis, mostly. She loved the quiet. After all the fighting and pain and torment she had to suffer through, just sitting on her bed, watching the NueralNet or reading. She found the quietness of the New Berlin home was something she yearned for, and now had. It was pleasant, peaceful...but she still had no memories, and she couldn't leave the house. She was a prisoner, essentially, but she did not mind; the Voelkers were neither jailors or watchmen, but friends, and she found that every day that passed, she grew closer. Even when the eldest daughter, Seryna, stopped by, she was wlecomed with open arms.
That all changed in a short, short week. She had just gone out front when a RFP vehicle drove past. She could feel the eyes of the officers on her as she shoveled snow from the driveway. She got inside as quickly as she could, rushing to her room and closing the door. She shivered with fright. She did not know if they just thought her pretty or suspicious. She just wanted to get out of sight.
It was too late, unfortunetaly. Just two nights later, the RFP came to the house and demanded to see her. She came out.
It was short.
Alexis, who knew barely any word in Rheinland's tongue, was arrested on the spot. Seryna came and managed to convince the officers that the family had nothing to do with it; they just did the Good Samaritan thing and gave shelter to someone in need.
But for Alexis, the best thing Seryna could do for her was to fly her personally to the prison that most Libertonian Prisoners, espeically ones that were obvioulsy military, go.
Vierlende.
-------------------------------------
"Listen...Alex....I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault Seryna."
The Rheinwheir Kommodore looked at her. "Ja, it is not. But you still were a guest of my family. It is only my rank that allowed my family to be spared; And we have no idea who you are either."
"Neither do I...I'm just Alexis."
"Ja, but they think you are a spy from the Navy."
"What if I am part of the Navy? I could be some lieutenant that got...."
Alexis broke off. The brown and white planet...
The whine of weapons...
the explosions dotting the space around the ship...
The blue fighter careening into the bridge as it was torn asunder from the dark fighters...
Then...silence...
"Alex? ALEX!"
Alexis snapped back to reality. Seryna was looking at her as the ship moved towards the cube prison of Vierlende.
"Once I hand you over, you are on your own...please...be careful."
"Best I can do is keep my head down and hope for a miracle."
"All we can do is pray."
"I ain't gonna have you pray to some guy I can blow to hell with a sidearm for my safety."
"Then I shall pray to the Almighty."
"If you choose so..." Alexis sighed. "Handcuff me. Also, hit me hard in seperate places. I look to clean to be a prisoner."
Seryna handcuffed her, then gave her a quick hug.
"Forgive me."
Seryna cocked her arm back, smashing into Alexis's cheek. Alexis's head snapped back, but didn't finish its journey before another blow landed in Alexis's stomach, and another her chest. Alexis landed on her back, cracking her head against the ground. A few kicks to her side, as well as a quick stomp on her left breast, finished the beating.
"That hurt." Alexis used her arms to check herself as best as she could. "Did you have to stomp me?"
"Well, it had to look authentic." Seryna sighed. "And believe me, if I were a man, raping you would have been an option."
Seryna helped Alexis up, then kissed her now-bruised cheek. she dabbed some of the blood that was running from a small cut above Alexis's eye away. she then grinned.
"Kidding about the rape." She then messed up Alexis's hair, tore her clothing in a few places, and then checked to make sure that Alexis was barefoot.
"Stay safe, Alexis."
"You too."
Seryna took Alexis, and lead her out of the shuttle.
Alexis padded off the ship, being shoved a few times by Seryna. Guards moved forwards, stopping the now-harmed girl in her tracks.
"Kommodore Voelker!" One saluted. He spoke in his native tongue to Seryna, who nodded and returned the salute. Seryna then turned Alexis to face her.
"They will take you to orientation. This is prison, and it will be hard, but have heart that this place is not a pirate's den; You will be treated as a Prisoner of War."
Alexis nodded, then turned around to face the others. She began walking with the guards, stopping to look over her shoulder as Seryna said goodbye.
"I don't say goodbye."
---------------------------------------
The warden looked up as Alexis was shoved in. She was forced into a hard metal seat across from the man. He took a drag of his cigarette and set it in an ashtray.
"Well, frau...hm. Let us start with your name."
"Alexis."
"Last name?"
"I have none."
The man eyed her, looking through his report, then looking at her bruised face and ripped shirt.
"I see you mouthed off to Kommodore Voelker."
"What can I say, she doesn't bat for the same side."
The man chuckled, writing something down on his tablet. He looked into Alexis' eyes, and held his gaze. What he saw was defiance, innocent, and something else. He did not know what, but he saw no fear in her eyes at the present time. If that would change, then it would not be anytime soon. the warden, underneath this bruised girl of twenty-two, held the heart of any soldier. He broke eye contact and wrote something else.
"Fraulein, I am the warden for a reason. I can profile people very well. Do not cross me." He looked at the guards. "Take her away. Clean her up and give her clothes. Take her to section D-4."
The guards saluted and yanked her up, nearly dragging her out. She regained her footing and walked with them down the hall to where she was put into a room with a middle-aged female nurse.
"Strip." was all the woman said, taking the ruined clothes and throwing them in a bin. She then pushed the girl into a cubicle and closed the door. High-powered jets sprayed her all over with lukearm soapy water, then washed her down with a cold spray. Dripping wet, she stood there, taking the moment to close her eyes and breath. She looked down her body; Few bruises, her left breast was slightly bruised, her scar was soft and did not strain. She waited until a towel was thrust into the cubicle. She grabbed it, wrapping herself up and huddling close. No where near scared, she continued to collect herself.
"Fraulein, once you are done drying off, the nurse will lead you to the scanner. Just lay down, and in a minute you can get dressed and then go to your cell."
Alexis took her time; No one came back to berate her and hurry her along, so she guessed she was lucky enough to be the only new prisoner. Stepping out, the nurse took the towel and led Alexis to the scanner, motioning her to lay down. Complying, Alexis laid down.
"This will take one minute. Your clothes are right over here, and no dawdling now." was the last thing the nurse told her. Alexis nodded.
The scanner began to hum, moving over her body, casting a greenish light over her. She looked at the screen. It was constructing a 3-Dimensional rpresentation of her body, taking in every pore, every hair. It stopped and took a few seconds over her scar before continuing on to her head.
"Scanning complete, get dressed. Now."
Alexis stood and up and went to the prison attire. She slipped on the plain grey underwear; Yep, as uncomfortable as the rest of the outfit. Fun. After she was dressed, the nurse took her to the waiting room, where an older guard took charge of her and escorted her into the block that she assumed was D-4.
"Here." he said.
Alexis took a look inside; There were two cots, one blanket per cot, one thin pillow, one sink, one toilet. On one cot lay a woman of around thirty, with a ring of tattoos around her neck and swirling designs going up her left arm and heading up under the prison outfit. Alexis was pushed in, and the door was locked. Not looking at the other woman, Alexis sat on the other cot and took a deep breath, finally able to have uninterupted time to think.
--------------------------------
"My name is Henrietta Heinkel."
It was the first thing the other woman said. She was, in any stretch of imagination, kind. She spoke roughly, always with a thick accent. She spoke decent english. In regards to Alexis, she did not look down nor pester; She instead struck up conversation, usually with a steel tone.
"Alexis. No last name; Have amnesia, will travel."
The woman gave a hearty chuckle.
"Not one thing?"
"Besides the name Rika, and weird flashbacks, I got nothing. I've met people along the way since I woke up on the Isis, but that's it."
"Isis?"
"A battleship....in the Omicrons."
"Corsairs?" The woman's steel tone dripped with venom.
"Order."
"Hmph. Better than those cannibals."
Alexis went silent, hugging her knees to her chest.
"I am a Red Hessian girl; I have downed many a Decurion."
"I'm from Liberty, that's all I know."
"Ah, no wonder you have ended up here."
Alexis nodded. "And without a clue for what. All I know is that Liberty and Rheinland are at war."
Henrietta leaned back against the wall.
"Ja, my Vaterland fights yours. A bitter struggle, with many a casualty for all, inlcuding civilians."
"I was not shot down in the war."
"Oh? Where then?"
"I don't know."
"You don't remember? Anything?"
"Well...I know I'm on the bridge of a ship. Then this whining sound, like...like weird guns? Purple bolts, and these blue thing is shooting at us."
Henrietta fell silent. She leaned forward, resting her hand on her knee and her face in her hand.
"Nomads." She looked up. "You have been attacked by a Nomad capital ship. The purple, the whine...it adds up."
"We then jumped to this green system with asteroids, and a smaller one smashed into the bridge."
"Ja...what type of ship?"
"No clue. All I know is that we fired something back...like...a huge teal bolt?"
Henrietta fell silent. "You were on a Liberty Dreadnought Fraulein. What perpsective? Standing up, sitting down? From where did you see it?"
"Center. I'm defienatly in the center."
"Hmm...did anyone shout orders?"
"I...I think I did."
Henrietta sighed. "Well then...Captain Alexis. You are a missing Dreadnought Captain."
"Captain doesn't sound right."
"What else can you have been?"
Before she could respond, she froze. Another flashback.
"Commodore?" Her XO, Aaron Rivkin, shook her. "Alex! Orders!"
Alex snapped out of it. "Recall Upholders, call Mitchell and Fairbanks, launch all forward batteries, prepare one heavy round."
She took a breath. "Commodore."
Henrietta drew a breath. "Dammit."
---------------------------------------
Alexis was ushered back into the warden's office the next day. She again was shoved down into the chair.
"Ah Fraulein, how do you like your hospitality?"
"I perfered the Voelker's more."
He laughed. "Ja, i am sure you do...Commodore."
Alexis looked down. "I swear, I did not know. I still don't. I get bits, pieces."
"Ja, well. That does not satisfy me." He flicked his wrist at the men, who grabbed Alex. "Take her to Interrogation Room D."
------------------------------------------
Room D was not your normal interrogation room; it looked like a high-tech scientific torture chamber. Alex struggled as she was strapped down to the table.
"What are you doing?!"
"Getting answers." Came the reply.
Two men walked in, the first one going to pull a cart with electrodes and a small box.
"Hey, come on, this has to be against any and every convention known to man."
They ignored her, cutting her shirt open to tape electrodes to her chest, breasts, and stomach. They put a few on her neck and sides, then checked her pulse and blood pressure.
"Who are you."
"Alexis."
"Name, rank, serial number."
"Alexis, Commodore, no frakkin clue."
They shocked her. She jumped against the restraints; it was little more than a wake-up shock.
" Name. Rank. Serial Number."
She repeated, getting more and more voltage as it went. An hour later, she was dumped back in her cell, a change of clothes on her cot. She was throbbing with a headache, her body convulsed in pain. Her clothes were soiled. Henrietta dropped by her side.
"Alex?"
"I'm fine...I've almost bled out before."
Somehow Alex undressed, throwing the soiled and ruined clothes into the hall. She slipped on the panties, but Henrietta stopped her from covering her scar up.
"This is your souvenir from that day?"
"Yeah..."
Henrietta stepped back, allowing Alexis to resume getting dressed. Once she was done, she laid down on the cot and closed her eyes.
"I think that was against the Curacao Convention, or whatever is the equivalent of the Geneva Convention."
Days passed by. Every other day, she was taken into the interrogation room and asked the same question. She continued to say the same thing, and without fail ended up lying under her covers, her soiled clothes taken to be washed, with the Red Hessian called Henrietta standing guard.
"Why do you care?" Alexis asked after Henrietta had helped her climb into bed; her body was sore all over.
"Why would I not? The enemy of my enemy is my friend most of the time, and so far, you have not proven to be my enemy."
"Wish everything was that simple."
"Ja." She said. "Now rest."
Two days later, Alexis had been given a reprieve from the chamber. Henrietta did not seem surprised; she actually expected it. The Rheinland Revolutionary seemed preoccupied, and, near lunch time, thrust something onto Alexis' chest.
"Leave that on, do not take it off."
Alexis looked at it. A sticker with a red pickaxe? "What is this for?"
"So you do not get shot. Now get ready. Rescue is coming."
"I need to get my locket."
"We have no time!"
"It has all the memories I have now, I can't leave it!"
The woman groaned. "Fine, we'll get your locket. Now brace yourself."
Vierlende shook like a thing possessed. Outside, a Vidar cruiser with two Hiemdall escorts and multiple Odins had launched a raid, catching the patrols off guard and breaching the main hanger. Sounds of fighting filled the station as Red Hessians fought with the Military, catching the bored guards with their pants down, sometimes literally. Blood flowed as cells were open, with Red Hessians joining their fallen comrades. Henrietta dragged Alexis out of their cell and down the hall, accepting an assault rifle from a passing Hessian and gunning down guards as she went.
"Go! All things are there!"
Alexis pushed the door open and stopped. Belongings filled bins, none of it in any way sorted. Groaning, she began to dig through everything, desperately searching for the locket. She was having no luck as the fighting grew closer. If she did not hurry, she was going to be left behind.
"You have fifteen seconds!"
Alexis started to throw bins on the ground, kicking things aside in haste. After the second bin, she found it. Scooping it up and throwing it around her neck, she rushed out.
"Got it!"
Henrietta nodded, firing. The Hessians around them started to speak in rapid Rheineland, and Henrietta responded in kind.
"What's going on?"
"Two Military Cruisers are coming. We must get to the Gunships now!"
The Hessians began to retreat to the hanger, gunning down anything that stood in their way. Alexis saw the nurse that had admitted her lying in a pool of blood, her sightless eyes staring at the ceiling. Closing her eyes, she clung to Henrietta and ran, stumbling onboard the Heimdall. The two gunships pushed off with thier jets, firing as they went. Henrietta pushed Alexis into a seat and sat beside her, buckling in.
The Gunships back out and then turned around as the enemy crusiers arrived, the Vidar moving in to open fire. The Odins were busy, leaving the Hemdalls to run as fast as they could.
"We'll be at the rendezvous with the Hohenheim shortly."
Henrietta looked to Alexis. "We need to get you out of here."
"My ship is in New Berlin, the Junker station."
"I'll arrange transportation soon. First off." She produced a blindfold. "Must keep secrets. I am sorry."
"At least hold my hand so I know I'm safe." Vierlende wasn't fearful for her, but this was.
Nodding, Henrietta slipped the blindfold on Alexis, tightened it, then grasped Alexis' hand. The Heimdall sped towards the RV, and then finally, after what seemed like hours, arrived at it's desitnation.
Vogtland Station.
____________________________
Alexis was huddled in a room with twenty-four hour guards as Henrietta made the arrangements. Not much of a known force in the Hessians, she did her best, until sh argued enough to send the woman to Kreuzberg. Soon enough, Alexis was on her way there, clutching her locket tightly.
When she stepped out of the freighter that had brought her, Henrietta hopped down beside her.
"Where is your ship?"
"There."
Alexis pointed to her Bastet, which Henrietta whistled at. "Full of surprises."
"Yeah..."
"Good luck on your memories." Henrietta gave Alexis a hug. "I'd kiss you...but I don't bat for your team."
Alexis smiled and hugged back. "No worries. Stay safe."
"Not likely. Someone has to fight for the Revolution."
As Alexis boarded her Bastet, she reflected she would never see Henrietta again in person. All she had was a picture on her locket. She sighed. Soon after Alexis had managed to slip into the Omegas, Henrietta Heinkel was shot down and killed during a skirmish in the Omega-7 system.
________________________________
Alexis finally made it to Dublin. She had criscrossed the Omegas, been chased by pirates, talked Corsairs away from her, hid from Coalition forces, resupplied on Freeport 1, and finally made it to Dublin. Soon, she thought. She'd be in Kusari; There, hopefully, she could hide and piece her memory back together.
Hopefully.
Alexis sighed as the Ocean of Memory settled down in the Hood. She just needed fuel before heading into the Taus.
She sat away from her ship, turning the locket over in her hands. Soon, this nightmare would end. She hoped.