Several long hours passed after the events in Zurich. Finally, Juliette regained consciousness... Her head hurt badly, but this was perhaps the only one of the injuries that were. Of course, the bodies of the infected are capable of regenerating at an amazing rate, but in this case, this was not at all the case. She examined herself, and then the room in which she found herself, trying to piece together a picture of the latest events. Surprisingly, she did not really remember anything, from the very moment she arrived in Zurich aboard the Mirande and went to meet with her informant. "Merde... Where the hell am i?" - she said in a whisper, peering into the surrounding space.
The marines in the med bay reported that their "guest" regained consciousness. After a while, Pariseau entered the med bay and started talking.
Bonjour madame, I am Sous-Lieutenant Gérald Yolande Pariseau. Right now you are our guest at GNS-Rocher.
We found you in Zurich. Your ships power core exploded after we barely managed to save you.
But where my manières.
How do you feel yourself, madame? Can you say your name?
Even though he knew her name from emergy transmission, he feel some interest in how she will introduce herself.
He never liked aristocrats, one of them was his former captain. He was negatively disposed to her from the moment when he heard Countess title in her name.
Realization came to her faster than the lieutenant entered the medical bay. Without a doubt, the soldiers equipped in the military uniform of Gaul meant only one thing - that Juliette was on board the Union's warhip, however, it was still not clear whether she was a prisoner, or? - Bonjour, Sous-Lieutenant. My name is Juliette Pascal de lorraine, but I prefer to speak without officialdom. Just call me Juliette, after all, you are my savior, oui?
It looks like this time luck was on her side and the rescuers do not know anything about her, otherwise they would have already tried to kill her.
Juliette raised an eyebrow and then tried to get up. - Military affairs, I understand... Once i served exactly like you. And then there was a revolution and much more... Now I am just living out my life. Even the past awards and title are gone, not to mention the inheritance...
If she feigned casual friendliness, she did it believably. - What... What happened to my ship?
Pariseau knows very well how someone aristocrats serve.
Their life always was easier.
Their blue blood opened them a lot more ways than usual people and even now they have an advantage.
Their rot blood led our people to the biggest fall, which divided Gauls people.
Maybe she is from Gallia but she is not one of them, not anymore. Meeting people like her is unpleasant, since its recall old memories.
Your ship exploded. madame Pascal.
Pariseau slightly smiled and continued.
Orlean is not the best place for buying a new ship but I am sure you will find something that can fly.
He took out a cigarette case, an old case with heraldry in Royal colours, took one cigarette and smoked it. This old cigarette case for sure belongs to some family with an old history and for sure not matched with someone like Pariseau.
Seems, it was a trophy and only a few people know to whom it belongs since the old family mark was scratched away.
The head doctor throw a tired look at the captain who smoked in the med bay but said nothing, Pariseau ignored him.
Unfortunately, we did not find any unlawful ships nearby, so I hoped that you can enlighten us on what happened.
Zurich was a safe system for a few months but seems this is in past now.
He expectantly looks at the Countess. And while she did not start talking he continue to smoke his cigarette.
Juliet looked at the doctor, sighed, and returned her gaze to the lieutenant. - If I say that I don't remember half, will you believe me? However, I remember what happened before all this happened. Now I am forced to survive having only what is given to me by experience. My fighting skills... I had no choice but to get a job as a mercenary. And while fulfilling one of the contracts, I was ambushed by ships of an unfamiliar design and with weapons... Let's just say, very specific. They used something like EMP. But... It sounds weird, there was something else. The feeling that this very "EMP" turns off not only the systems of my ship, but also my brains. Perhaps this is due to several augmentations in my skull, but this has not happened before.
She winced at the smell of tobacco smoke and coughed dryly, covering her mouth with hand. - Merde, my ship... I did everything to improve it to the maximum. The devil knows when I will be able to assemble the second one...
Pariseau took a deep drag and released a cloud of smoke.
It's pretty sad Madame Pascal.
Pariseau slightly smiled and continued.
Madam, you must see a positive in this situation. You are still alive and the ship may be replaced.
He took another deep drag and thought that it is pretty funny. The Countess, who becomes a mercenary and does not remember who attacked her and speaks about an unknown enemy.
Pariseau thought that it's all lie, and she just doing something against law here in Zurich. Who gonna believe in fiction about unknown ships?
Of course, she may say true about her work as a mercenary. But he not gonna surprised if she is just addicted to Nox and received some hallucinations from it.
Seems, she has fallen even lower than he thought.
Later I will report about this incident to the fleet command.
He thought a bit and decided that better leave it to Maréchal, he will report that there chance that she uses Nox due to her weird story. He took a deep drag and released another smoke cloud before continue.
Perhaps the situation is more serious than we thought at first. I think you will need to meet with someone from the Fleet Command. They might even solve your problem with a new ship.
He dampens his cigarette about the cigarette case and threw cigarette butt to the nearest biohazard trash bin.
So Madame Pascal if you don't have any questions, I will go. When you will feel better marines will escort you to your room, and for your safety, they will stay near.
Pariseau looks at her waiting for whatever she will say.
She stared into his eyes for a dozen seconds before answering. In that brief moment, the Lieutenant could feel as though they were trying to read him. A strange feeling of an outsider presence, as if the enemy was listening to a radio frequency. However, it could be from the usual stress.
- Good, thank you. As soon as I feel better, I will ask your people to take me to my cabin.
They needed her for some reason. She understood this from his emotions and intonation. Perhaps any other time he would have just dropped her off at the nearest station, but someone far above demanded restraint from him. She guessed who it might be, since the order for her elimination had not yet been given. But if it was "He", then why they do not found her much earlier? With a question to herself, she lay back on the bed.
"You already know the answer, right, oh my Carrier? No one except that arrogant person needs you alive here. Perhaps he decided that our favor could be bought. Or, more likely, forcefully knock you out of you. Well, let's see what he tells Us."
Pariseau seems not to notice anything his only desire was to leave her so fast as he can.
Then madame Pascal, I will leave you after we will arrive at our destination in Orleanais I will send someone to escort you from the ship.
Pariseau walked away to the marines who guard the med bay entrance and gave them orders about Countress. "Sergeant Bernard, when madam Pascal, will feel herself better you must escort her to an individual room. Place a few additional marines in the corridors seems she have a drug addiction.
And I don't want her to be near officers rooms in my room, vacate any barrack and be sure that she will stay here until we arrive Orleanais."
After he ends he just walked out.
