Destiny

[jammi]

New Berlin was cold. The Transport had flown halfway around the planet due to the docking rings geostationary orbit placed it in the Sundown, or dark year, which plunged temperatures to below minus forty on average. Here on sunside, it was a balmy zero degrees centigrade which stood ready to greet me as I stepped off the boarding ramp.

As my foot touched down on the frosted spaceport surface, I heard a dull crackle as spilt H-Fuel was evaporated by the heat radiating from the soles of my feet. Pulling my coat tighter around me, I set off for the spaceport terminal building, the RFP officer tailing close behind. On either side of the door a marine stood, identified as members of the GottKanzlers Legion by the insignia stitched onto their combat smocks. One of them barred my entrance with an expensive looking rifle.

Well be needing da passes, now. The Officer stepped up and handed over a data slate. The guard skim-read it, ticked something on the screen and hoisted his weapon out the way. Both him and his comrade clicked their heels together, as a sort of salute before barking, For da GottKanzler. The doors behind him glided open, allowing us to walk into an airlock type system, which I presumed was used to conserve heat during the Sundown year.

Inside was marginally warmer than outside. Steel girders lined the walls, giving the room the feeling of a hastily repurposed manufactory rather than a continental class spaceport. ceiling high posters ordained the walls - sepia coloured pictures of a powerful looking man. Praise the GottKanzler was stencilled below in huge bold letters.

I had fixed feelings for the GottKanzler'. I quietly admired him, he was after all, an embodiment of power his people worshipped him as a living God, but there was also a sharp voice that rang clear in my mind, that possesed only scorn. There were greater things in this galaxy than the Chancellor, namely the great and powerfull Dom Kavosh I had dedicated by education to studying. I was dragged back to reality by a desk clerk coughing at me.

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[jammi]

An hour later I had cleared the hurdles of the Immigration forms and been escorted out by my police bodyguard. Outside I was once again met by the stinging cold; a bitterness that made my memories Cambridges climate feel almost tropical. I looked around, surveying the industrial monstrosity towering around me.

Tall chimneys belched pollutants into the atmosphere, while shuttles and land speeders roared back and forth. This was a planet unfettered by petty restrictions and industrial laws like on Cambridge. A grin warmed my cold body. New Berlin was going to be perfect.

A sharp beep from my left snapped my wandering eyes back from the sprawling cityscape to see a heavily bearded man leaning out of a cab. He waved a sign at me which had my name written on it. I walked over, my luggage following me on a floating hover board.

Hey kid, you Steven Aldridge? The Uni said youd be here. Despite the driver's attitude, I got in - the prospect of having to walk through the cold to get to the university did not appeal to me. Leaving the driver to drag my bags into a storage compartment to the rear of the vehicle I settled in on the back seat. A minuet later we were airborne and speeding away towards the centre of the city.

To the left and right I could see vast factories, belching smoke and steam. Posters demanding vigilance and the eternal worship of the Gottkanzlar from all of Rhienland's citizens were painted across entire faces of buildings. What little space remained was dotted with advertisements ranging from second hand furniture to top of the range space fighters. I leaned forward to ask the driver a question, straining my voice against the roar of engines.

What do those factories produce? he turned around and fixed me with a beady eye.

What do you think they make? I shrugged lethargically. Guns, ships, anything like that. I looked back at the buildings considering what was going on inside. It would appear Rhienland was arming for War.

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[jammi]

The university resembled a gigantic cathedral more than anything else, a monolith of steel and stone. I got out of the cab staring up at one of the looming towers. It reminded me of Solarian architecture from the Gothic period.

The taxi driver finished hauling luggage out onto the pavement before grunting about how the university had already paid him. I waved him away, eyes still glued to the massive building sprawled in front of me.
Several droids had already appeared out of one of the many numerous doors and started to pick up luggage and haul it inside. I followed them in, hoping to be out of the biting cold as soon as possible.

Inside was indeed warmer and continued the exteriors themes perfectly. The walls were made from huge blocks of stone, with massive iron girders supporting the roof and walls. I continued to follow the mechanised workers until they halted in front of a large wooden door.

The door opened slowly and a bespectacled man peered out cautiously. He seemed relieved to see a student, rather than who-ever hes been looking out for. As he edged around the door, his coat fell open, revealing a pendent hanging around his neck. I stared at it for a moment, before he rapidly pulled his coat closed again. The pendent looked familiar, but I couldnt put my finger on where I had seen it before.

Oh. He said sheepishly. I take it youre new then if the droids took you up here. I nodded. Well Im Hans and I suppose Id better show you around. He fidgeted for a moment, perhaps wondering if I'd seen his pendent, before continuing. The University employs me to show foreign students around and get them settled in. I was a Student studying Bretonian during my education you see. I nodded again. Now, the droids will be taking your luggage up to your room, so unless youd like to proceed there now, Ill take you on a tour of the campus. Or at least this quadrant if you wanted to see the entire thing, youd need to pack for a several day expedition, he said smiling wanly.

Well, either way wed better be going. As he walked off, I noticed he looked either way down the corridor, as if paranoid. Then there was the pendent around his neck. Why had he tried to hide it?

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[jammi]

I walked through canteens, halls, churches, some of the classrooms and finally up to the residential areas. Hans finally ground to a halt here, ceasing his mindless chatter. The events of the previous day were starting to catch up with me, with pains starting to gnaw at my back. With disdain I noticed my hands were involuntarily shaking too. Hans turned to me.

Well, youll be in this room for the duration, he said gesturing at a door with my name written on it. Your luggage should already be up here. If you want to talk about moving out to the city or another room, you need to talk to one of the faculty.

With that he sauntered out, peering around with his seemingly trademark paranoia. Rubbing my back I pushed open the door and wandered in. My legs were cramping up now too. I began to wonder what that doctor had given me. Granted bones, bruises and lacerations had been cured, as well as immediate pain relief, but I was imagining the pain relief would be short lived. I was guessing the drug was based on a variation of nano-technology.

Inside the room, there was a large, comfortable looking bed covered in heavy sheets. I assumed Id need them due to the terrible weather. I rolled onto the bed with a barely audible groan. There was a set of night sheets resting on the pillows so I changed and slid under the sheets, allowing my mind to unwind and relax.
Calming waves rolled over me. Pained and jet-lagged, I was asleep within three minuets.

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[jammi]

I sat up with a jolt. I was back on the Dauntless. I slid off the work surface I had found myself on and cautiously walked towards the door. There was a dull explosion from the ships bowels and smoke began to billow in. My skin crawled as a realised it was happening again the Corsairs would be coming.

I could hear whispers on the edge of my hearing, muttering and cursing, boring into my very mind. I began to shake as the voices became louder, twisted voices murmuring my name, chanting in an unholy worship of a thing, a heart of darkness that boiled and burnt nearby. Something I could see in my minds-eye closing the distance between us. I began to scream in horror as my fathers voice cackled from the mass.

I fell to my knees, the cold metal biting at my legs. Doors along the corridor exploded open, filling the small space with tongues of flame. A dark shape rose from the fires at the far end of the passage and the whispers abruptly ceased.

It began to walk forward, smoke wrapping around it like a cloak, the flames churning and boiling behind it nipping at its charred heels. The chatter started again, repeating my name over and over, growing louder and louder. I closed my eyes, sobbing, rocking back and forth and wishing the nightmare to be over.

I opened my eyes and recoiled in horror, for the thing stood before me; its flesh fried and skin cracked and blackened. With a loud crunch that broke open the roasted skin it raised its arm and pointed at me, the whispers escalating to a fevered scream in a twisted ecstasy of rage. The flames billowed up behind the abomination and crashed down, enveloping me in an inferno of torture. As my skin boiled I heard the abomination speak.

My traitor son I have come for you!

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[jammi]

I sat perched on the end of my bed shivering, black lines punctuating the otherwise pale skin under my eyes. An inferno of flames still crackled on the edge of audible hearing, the whispers continuing their deceitful chanting.

As I calmed the noises faded, leaving only heavy silence in their wake. I hugged my knees again, still shaking, memories washing over me. I had seen my home burn, murdered a man by blowing his head wide open and watched another killed in front of me. I looked down at my hands, seeing a red sheen spreading across them.

Screaming as I desperately rolled backward, trying to distance myself from what I had just seen I wiped my hands on the sheets, leaving crimson trails. I clawed at my palms, trying to tear the despoiled skin from my flesh.

Then it was gone - leaving only my skin. I clapped my hands over my eyes sobbing. Was I descending into madness? I tried to rationalise, wracking my brain for anything that might be wrong with my mind... Post Traumatic Stress disorders? Was I insane?

What was real? Was I still dreaming?

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[jammi]

A digital alarm bleeped, signalling a new day while the rooms lighting system switched to a day cycle. I had remained shivering on the end of my bed for the rest of the night, staving off my inner demons. The dreams and hallucinations had subsided around two am.

I dressed myself nervously and left the room, heading downwards, towards one of the cafeterias that Hans had shown me the previous day. After a few short moments I arrived, with a wall of noise hitting me as I walked through the door.

Suddenly social anxiety struck, making me feel more nervous and isolated than I had alone in my room. Shaking once more I walked towards the counter and received a meal a sort of fried Rhienlandic dish. Taking it back to an empty table I poked it apprehensively with a fork before eating a small amount. I gagged, my body not willing to accept food after the rough time it had received over the past few days. A shadow fell over me as another student walked up and pulled a chair out.

Hey mate, you mind if I take a chair?

I glared at him accusingly. Yes, I do. He shrugged and walked off. I heard him talking to his friends a couple of tables away. Glaring over my shoulder, I saw him jerk his thumb at me, provoking a round of laughter. Twisting the knife in my hand over and over I concentrated on eating again.

Then I saw her.

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[jammi]

I just gawped as she walked out. I had never expected to see her again, then to find she was in the very same building? It was the woman that saved me on the Dauntless Leoni! The odds of that happening were astronomical, but then the conditions of our meeting were hardly usual. I was paralyzed by uncertainty should I go after her? What would I even say if I did?

My hesitation cost me, for as quick as I had seen her she was gone again. Inwardly I cursed my indecisiveness and vowed that next time I saw her I would say something. But then, she could be anywhere in the university campus, which as Hans had explained was a structure of massive proportions. Would I even be able to find her again?

I finished my meal, thoughts racing around my head and left to head back to my room. There was a man in a somber black suite loitering outside. I squared my shoulders and walked up with a scowl on my face. The man saw me and looked at a piece of paper.

Excuse me sir, but would you be Steven Aldridge? I nodded curtly. He sighed, as if resigned to a dire fate before continuing. Im afraid I have some bad news about your father. Is there somewhere more private we can talk?

I had wondered when this would happen. Suddenly the image of my burning home was thrust into my mind, making me slightly weak at the knees. That had been an atrocity on par with burning money.

I feigned shock, not wanting to give my game away. I also made a conscious note of dropping the impatient face and replacing it with one of my practiced looks of concern. Why what has happened? We can talk in my room.

I buzzed the door open then ushered the man inside.

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[jammi]

He paced for a moment before continuing. Mr Aldridge, please take a seat. I am a representative from the BPA, Detective Peter Green. I am sorry to inform you that your father was murdered two days ago, at 1pm Cambridge Mean time. I pretended to look horrified, quietly pleased with myself for the as so far perfect deception.

Do... Do you have any idea who is responsible? I considered how to make the appearance of devastation more complete; thoughtfully I swallowed hard, as if attempting to suppress tears. The farce obviously achieved its purpose seeing as the detective squirmed uncomfortably.

We believe the pirate group the Corsairs are responsible, the very same group that attacked your ship as a matter of a fact. We are currently looking various lines of enquiry as to how the fiends managed to carry out the attack. I sniffed to myself, worried that they had managed to join a line between the two events so quickly. I attempted to pass it off as another suppression of tears.

I was sent here to inform you of your fathers funeral and will reading, which will be taking place two days from now. There is a ship on the landing pad waiting for you and this time there will be a fighter escort, so there is no need to worry Mr Aldridge. Once you have returned to Bretonian sovereign territory, you will be placed under armed guard to prevent any strikes against your person. I bowed his head for a moment before continuing. I presume youll want to be left alone for a while. I nodded sharply and the detective let himself out, probably taking up guard outside my room.

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[jammi]

An hour later I found myself at the spaceport once more. Another Armoured Transport awaited me, this time with Bretonian heraldry painted on the side. It was the Eastbourne according to the name emblazoned across its flanks.

As I boarded the ship I caught one last glimpse of the baleful New Berlin sun. After that the door was sealed and I was bathed in artificial light. I was escorted by the Detective up to the bridge where a pale looking man with lank greasy hair which clung to his forehead waited. He was probably in his mid twenties. I took him to be the ships captain, considering the lack of other staff.

He held out a frail looking hand to shake. I had a sudden compulsion to snap one of his stick-like fingers, just to observe his reaction. In order to preserve my deceptive facade, I grasped his hand and shook. I made a mental note to wash my hands at the first opportunity.

Good morning Mr Aldridge. Im Paul Smith, and I run the Eastbourne. Technically Bowex owns and operates this ship, but the BPA own it on a lease basis. Well be heading to Cambridge after a brief stop at Bonn Station to take on supplies and crew. A Rhienland fighter escort of three Valkaries will be accompanying us as far as the jump gate to Omega 3 from Omega 7. In Omega 3 well RV with either BAF or BPA fighters cover. Is that to your liking sir? I nodded and looked around the bridge.

It appeared to be well maintained, with various data banks humming and screens reeling off detailed statistics on something to do with the ship. Smith took a seat at the helm and pressed a few buttons, probably activating the auto-pilot. The ship lurched as it angled upwards towards the docking ring, something I watched with trepidation through the fore view screen.

Eventually we broke loose from the atmosphere, and the inky black nothingness of space embraced us.

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