[font=Century Gothic]Arthur looked around his ship, sighing, seeing that, this time, it is indeed his new home.
He had relocated back into Omicron 90, after a brief incident with a Red Hessian cruiser, who, by the order of the Dons, chased him shamelessly around whole Omicron Alpha and back into the nomad world.
The dons did not take liking in what he had done for the past few weeks, attacking an outcast vessel was only one thing...random junker vessels, combined by a blood dragon boats scrap now floated around near the outcast graveyard, not to mention a poor transporter back in the Omicron 90 area, all were destroyed.
Less and less respect was given, more insults came, the lad was getting more and more irritated.
He remembered as only a day ago, he had opened fire upon a ROS vessel who wandered too near the graveyard and the gate to the nomad worlds.
Exiled from somewhere he was told to call his home, exiled by those who he once protected, yet now had all the mind to kill on sight...Arthur was indeed angry....yet something would soon change, he hoped, the outcast shipyard would be more than a target, and if he will pull it off, the future of larger ships entering the nomad worlds would be bleak.
The female was once again walking up to the pilots chair from behind, letting her fingers slide through the hair of the lad who sat in it, as he watched the scanners as well as the comm system, the ship idly drifting somewhere above the Omicron Alpha nebula, that protected the jumpholes within.
He watched her walk over to the main console of his ship, the few empty seats of the non existent crew quite inviting, yet it seemed she chose not to trust them.
Sil seemed to watch through and inspect his ship, not that Arthur objected, of course, he watched her move about, before she once again wandered over to the console.
She smiled.
Arthur gave a soft nod and let his own smile counter hers. ''Indeed...'' He spoke ''Indeed, this shell, masterfully crafted, yet humanly flawed...made without love or care, made to be sold, to be destroyed, only to be rebuilt once more...''
Sil only laughed, almost maniacally as she just as lightly strolled over to a wall, her fist slamming right through the reinforced interior, ripping out a handful of cables and wires of all sizes and colors, a few warning sounds showing the ship was protesting against such a rude behavior, yet they were ignored, soon enough a few lights on the console dimmed and went dead, Arthur only sat and chuckled ''I see what you mean...yet as i said...humanly flawed...''
She only smiled once more as she sat down on the now dead console and looked at him, the words ''Change'' and ''Ours'' echoing through his mind, to which he nodded once more and stood up from his seat to wander over to her side ''I would love to, dear one, yet how?'' he asked.
She turned so that her back faced him, the boy inclining his head a little, wondering what was she up to, her hands though now rested on the console, her eyes glowing blue, before she let out an ear piercing, ghostly scream, her body suddenly claimed by white and blue flames, the console shattering, a blue and white liquid sipping from her fingertips and disappearing into the shattered console, her eyes fading to black, the lady collapsing onto the deck, the flames fading, yet only to be replaced by Arthur's arms as he held her back to his chest, her head under his own, hugging the fatigued Sil to him and letting her rest.
As he did, the liquid slowly started to spread through the ships systems, merging, forming and growing...
The whispers ''Our'' ''Creation'' running through his mind and he smiled gently, knowing that he should look around the ships interior and memorize it...soon...it would not be the same.
The usual static from the radiation in the nebula was disturbed by the transmitter, that belonged to a civilian transport ship, approaching the outcast graveyard with some hesitation. The ship had stopped right near he anomaly of the jumphole that lead into the nomad systems, before the ship disappeared within
On the other side, the beauty of the Omicron 90 system greeted the ship with its brightness, yet then, it disturbed by a screetchy transmission from a gunboat, that was right behind them, the voice seeming almost mocking the souls within Wrong choice, human brethren
There was a static discharge as the bubble of the shield around the transport gave away, then the flash of armor melting as a pair of missiles ripped through the ships hull, destroying it within moments, the blast was unheard in the airless surroundings of the cosmos, while the melted alloy of the once proud ship and its cargo slowly hardened once more, forming a flying tomb and memorial of those who were within.
After what seemed a few minutes, a tractor beam picked up anything that was salvageable and guided it all into the ever hungry cargo hold of the gunboat, within the scrap and what seemed to be a small shipment of cardamine, there was an escape pod. It was grabbed by an automated claw of sorts to bring to the airlock room that kept apart the cargo hold from the lower levels of the ship itself, while the thick blast-doors closed behind it, there was a hissing sound, the room filling with breathable air, while the front doors slowly opened to reveal a young man, barely reached the point of maturity, wearing what seemed to be a battered and worn outcast pilots uniform, his brown eyes now falling upon the pod that he had collected and he sighed.
While in the ship, a certain mechanism in the pod itself showed green and the pod could be opened safely, yet as the reinforced doors of the cage fell open, Arthur Dgahr suddenly was assaulted by what seemed to be a mere child, yelling and crying, running right up to him, trying to knock him down. There was a simply push to be done and the smaller boy was lying on the cold metal panels and Arthur spoke A youngling no less, human brother, yet still your heart yearns to cause pain to someonewho are y
He was cut off by a scream of pure hate and sorrow; the childs face flushed red from the crying. MURDERER..YOU MURDERER! How COULD YOUWHY! he screamed and then croaked as his voice gave away, making him cough, his hands hiding his face, yet the sobs did not lessen from that.
MomDadWhere are they, where ARE they!? He screamed at the lad, who was watching him with a completely emotionless expression; there was a silence, only interrupted by the sobs coming from the guest before Dgahr spoke.
They made a mistake by defiling the lands of those I call my teachers and my family, they threatened those who I call dear to my heart, they had to pay the price
The boy stood up once more and burst out in another wave of screams Threatened! HOW.HOW COULD WE DO SO.THE SHIP WAS COMPLETELY DEFENCLESS! YOU HEAR THAT? WEAPONLESS! YOU KILLED THEM!
And once more the child launched to attack the taller man, trying to punch him or kick or bite, somehow trying to let him feel just a part of the pain that tore him apart, yet once again he was pushed away to the ground and Arthur shook his head silently.
Learn, little one, take note, as this is what we call lifeIt brings us joy and pain, this time, it brought you pain.
The boy did not bother to get up, he was crying into his palms, his knees to his chest as he tried to simply hide from the one who murdered his parents. WhyWHY, What did we do to you, WHY...? He then stopped sobbing for a moment to whimper quietly Motherdad.mom.I am alone now.I have no one to go to He then whimpered once more. Kill me, you murdererKILL ME.I want to go to them, I dont want to be here, alone!
Arthur simply watched the boy and shook his head slowly You are but a younglingI wont kill you.
He then looked down at the boy and chuckled You have yet to bring harm upon those around you, yet you will soon enough, as it is the humans way. He actually chuckled at this and shook his head.
Why do you care.you killed the only two persons who loved meI am now ALONE! The scream came from the boy, another sob was heard yet he continued.
I have no one to go to back to Maltawe are poorwe tried to go to a place my dad called Delta, we wanted to earn some money to keep us fed! But now you killed them, you killed my FAMILY..the ONLY thing I had left. And nownow you left me to die alone from starvation, homeless. He watched the older boy whose face had changed a bit, it seemed like he was lost in thought
A hi-tech room came into view, many tables, many faces, Arthur, who was not older than 7 was sitting and watching the teacher explain the first steps in controlling a ship when in a area with natural navigational hazards, yet there was a knock on the door and a young woman came in who seemed a bit nervous, she motioned for Arthur and told him to follow
A room that seemed more cosy, almost like the headmasters office, the view on the passing craft was more than lovely, yet the old man who sat in the seat before the window made the boy, who was sitting on the other end of the table a little nervouswhat had he done wrong this time
The man spoke Arthur Roland Dgahr, born on Manhattan, Liberty, son of Ingun Dgahr and Roland Benth?
The boy nodded, seeming a bit more nervous than he was before, yet he nodded. Yesthat is mewhy?
The older man sighed, it was clear he did not like to inform such I must inform you, that your parents were lost in a battleThat Liberty government feels your loss, yet that there is enough money on your fathers saving net to sustain your further education and a home till you turn 16now you may go. The people from the respective biros will meet you tomorrow. You may go now, stay strong, recruit.
.ParentsI cannot believe they are gone. The boy was still shivering and sobbing, yet as he looked up, he saw Arthurs gaze to be more interested in the reinforced doors behind him, than his person.
Arthur spoke then, his voice a bit odd Itit will be allright, little human brotherII will give you some credits for you to sustain yourself
The smaller boy seemed bewildered in this sudden change of personality, yet it did not seem he felt even a bit sorry for the boy, instead, he seemed to be more angry than before. MoneyMONEYTHAT WONT RETURN THEM TO ME! He yelled out and moved a bit to sit up a bit. I dont need your help, you murdererbut at least tell mewhy you keep me calling human, much less your brother?
Arthur seemed to be a bit confused at this and shook his head Are you notyoure a human arent you? A human just like everyone else I have grown to despiseyou will grow up like themmerciless, corrupted, evil vile creaturejust like the restjust like You?...
Dgahr raised an eyebrow a bit I do not see what you mean, little one.I follow a much better cause than the rest, I follow those who can change this world.
You seem human to meare you not? The boy asked, for once sounding calm.
InoI thinka little, I guess
You are a human too, just like meit does not matter if you follow someone above you, you are still like all of us! The boy yelled out and shook his head angerly You say better causeyou killed the only close people of a childdo you feel strong? Do you feel the universe suddenly got better?! ANSWER ME!
Arthur opened his mouththen closed it once moreThe ship had already jumped back to Omicron Alpha, left without any navigation, it had drifted out of the nebula, the star that shone upon this system was not hiding planet Malta, they could see it far away.
Welldid you do great justice now? You killed an innocent man and woman...you killed my FAMILYwe did not bring any harm upon you or those you protect! The boy yelled out yet again and stood up, shaking his head.
You call yourself not humanyou describe them as evil and merciless? LOOK AT YOURSELF! He shouted.
Dagahr simply watched the child for a moment, then shook his head, turning away to watch the planet he once was told to call homePeople who had saved him from a slow deathpeople who he now hated for a reason he did not even remember. You do not make any sense He finally spoke, yet the words that come from him sounded uncertain The human kind is corruptedthey betray, they kill for money, they do not care in others
Then go kill yourself as you did with my parents, as you are a human like them and me
Arthur watched as the escape pod headed out to the direction of Malta, his head filled with thoughts upon what he had heard, what he had remembered and felt.
Was it truedid he see himself as higher as the people around him just because he saw the errors of his kins wayshe saw them, yet did he ever tried to not do the same mistakes.
He felt illdisgusted and tinted with shame upon the realization TheyI
He shook his head and sighed They do not know what family isthey betraythey forget
As he spoke this he felt a mind touch his, like a slender palm it slipped into his memories to bring out small glimpses of what had happened before *flash*
He was in New York, the smell of the brand new ship, a Patriot filled his nostrils, by his side a few more recruits of the Liberty Navy, the joy of the first real flight around Manhattan orbit
*flash*
Arthur was laughing with a few more boys behind a table of the local drink shop, bickering among themselves about their first flight, the feel of the ship as it fired
*flash*
He was in the Taus, the 101st tagged Sabre guiding him to Tau 37 and beyond
Dont worry, lad, youll be fine with us, soon you will call Malta your new home
*flash*
He was laughing with another group of people on Ibiza pub, each bickering how they had defected the corsair raid, a man patting him on the back, telling him he did a good job indeed.
*flash*
He was on his way to the Cosica Outer Sanctum in his newly outfitted Sabre
*flash*
He was in the 101st HQ, smiling as he shook the hands of the new teammates as his new uniform made him wonder about the future battles he would win with his.friends
*flash*
He was in Gammathe battle was long, yet he suddenly felt the darkness of the life pod as his saber was ripped in two by a Praetorians antimatter cannonyet suddenly he was tractored onboard by his teammate, his voice yelling We leave noone!
*flash*
Arthur Dgahr was sitting on the cold deck of the gunboat, his face hidden behind his palms.what has he doneFamily.Friends.He had them all along.
Arthur shook his head and sighed Greetings, Raul.It has been a while since I called you by your name, hasnt it.a long wile, many things have happened, yet.I just wanted to tell you something. When I was first brought to Alpha by one of the 101st, I did not know what to expect, what people I would find or meet, yet you were one of the first who called me friend, you looked out for me, you were there to give me a pat on the back when I was down, or to kick me in the shin when I was too high He sighed and paused for a moment and murmured a bit more quiet Do you remember what I told you in the Malta bar, how I was raised as a man, without a familySoon enough, I met the Spirits and they changed my life, they opened my eyes, they et me understand that everything I had thought was real.yetSoon I was accepted, I had those around me who I could call my Family He then sighed and smiled sadly I was but a fool, Raul.how could have I not seen it beforeyouthe 101st, you all treated me like a brother and a friendnow i look back on what was told and.I deserved the exile for not attacking that man.I was ungratefulI forgot that those who I started to hate were the first true friends and family I ever had. He croaked and rubbed a eye, smiling Remember as you trained me, when I first ever sat behind a saber.you remember you never gave up the training, no matter how many times I lostYou and the others never turned your backs on me, yet i. He sighed once more I am sorryI always saw humans lesser than me, as theywe.that we never see what we do, lost in our darkness and evilRaul, I never stopped to look In the mirrorI now look back at what happened all these months.how I acted around you allhow I became to be despisedyet I cannot blame anyoneit was all my fault. He paused once more and then looked at Malta once more I miss the old timeswhen we spent time in Malta high orbit, we were laughing and talking, we all, you were my friends, yet I threw that friendship away, never noticing it, never stopping to think about how lucky I was to be alive Arthur only sat down into the pilots chair and strapped himself in Raul, please tell the othersI RememberI did find a family, a close family, teachers and someone to guide meyet what I did after, was never noticed I ever had a familyever had friends, and I deserve not to be forgivenYou may choose not to reply to this, I will understand, my friend. Yet I remember the old timesI see how they changed to worse, only because of meI am sorry.
The once quiet system of Omicron Delta had turned into a battleground once more, silent explosions of man made vessels lit up the empty void. Humans, united once more to bring down a larger threat, corsairs, hunters as well as zoners, all were opening fire on the wierd alien forms, that ripped through their armoured ships with balletic grace. All but one human had them targeted, Arthur Dgahr's face was lighted in the darkness of the gunboat's main deck as a corsair gunboat slowly fell apart peace by peace, some of the pods, that the crew took refuge in, now were floating in the newly made scrap field. Arthur felt his friends retreat slowly back into the Iota system. More and more ships were on a course to join the fight, and advanced as they were, the nomad forms were a few.
The heavely modified gunboat slowly turned to activate it's engines, before a warning light lit up. Six civilian class bombers were on a direct intercept course, and were moving in to attack anything, that looked suspicious. Instantly a barage of torpedos was launched at Dgahr's ship.
"Come on...move...come" the boy murmured, watching the readings of the console port slowly rise as the cruise engines warmed. The lethal warheads were closing in.
"Forget this, blast!" He growled and slammed the abort key, taking the control over and pitching the ship's nose down rapidly, activating the afterburner to launch the ship forward, away from the torpedos enough, not to let them hit. A sigh of relief was heard, before a red mark zipped past the left side of the once human vessel on it's close range scanner.
"What the hell..." He murmured, then looked up on the main display...
A few years had passed, from the incident in Omicron Delta, the gunboats more or less destroyed from the few hits of the nova torpedos.
***
The young man silently sighed as he sat down in the pilot's chair of the old looking Eagle, looking over the console and control panels, before murmuring something and checking the transmitter signal and identification plating.
Fool...I pitty the freelancer, who had the right mind to seek personal gain by invading these lands...especially in a brick like this....
He chuckled silently and looked around once more, to make sure he did not forget anything he might need, his new home having enough scrap and devices tractored from destroyed ships, that would make any Junker jealous. Mounting a few of the old guns he had the time to fix with the help of some lifters, he finally had made the ship able to fly and defend itself, hopefully it would be enough to survive the trip back to the Omicron Alpha system.
It's been so long...heh...
The ship would be much quicker, than his previous ones, yet hopefully he would get used to it soon enough, looking back at his home, the young man only chuckled, seting course for an odd contraption ahead.
The loud clung of a sheet of metal plating dropping to the ground was heard throughout the allmost empty bay, the Altair facility providing enough materials and instruments to maintain a few human ships. One of them was a Roc that looked so worn down, that Xeno ships looked brand new with it in the background.
A young man with ripped clothing, stained with old oil peered at the engine, that he had uncovered, smiling some as he saw the bluish mass forming and pulsing, alive, growing, moving. Series of tendrils seemed to cover the reactor core like blood vessels would enclose an internal organ, feeding the nomad for now.
Sil had done a marvelous job, yet even if Arthur had first thought that the infestation of a much smaller ship would be easier, he was wrong. A gunboat had more room, more power. The fact that the seed needed to survive till it merged with a power source made Sil use even more energy then last time. Needless to say she was worn out.
Dgahr manuvered the rusted plating back into place and began to weld shut any hole that exposed the growing organism within, unlike the forms the Nomads used while in open space, surrounded by a carapace of sorts, this early form was very very vulnerable to risk it's damage.
The newly recovered plating of an outcast gunship named Infamous was already neatly placed not far from his ship, the armor a little too thick to be used, yet the armor held a few electronics within, which he could use.
He sighed silently, he was no junker or anyone who would understand how to perform such task the easiest way possible. Right now it was trial and error. It was sure, however, that the ship was no good for planetary landing. The armor would not protect the interior from the heat.
The ship, in general, looked a little bit flimsy, apart from the front of the ship, the cockpit heavily reinforced with whatever armor he could find while salvaging through Iota, especially near the anomaly which could take him to Delta. The area was simply filled with young and old wrecks of various ships.
Arthur sighed silently, if things would work out as planned this time, the ship could be modified fully and maybe this time it was agile enough not to suffer the same fate as the gunboats.
A recent test fly through the Sigmas was more or less successful and he was rather proud, even if the Outcasts did not seem happy with his ship of choice, he couldn't pick a Falcata, it would rise too many questions of his actions and those who give him shelter...
There was far too much to do, so much to fix and replace. It seems the next few months would hold a salvage hunt...lucky him....