Hunter remained silent for a moment, thinking about several things, especially the past. She missed the old days, Dagon was talking about. It made her actually sad to see how much the situation has changed. The silence went on for a couple of minutes before she turned herself to the guards.
Get the hell out of this room, let us alone.
They were confused and didn’t react after she said these words.
Are you f$%&ing deaf ? Move it, or else I will make sure your future life will be living hell.
They finally moved out of the room. Hunter looked angry and sad. She took the bottle and emptied the last remaining half of it within seconds and threw the bottle into the corner where it exploded into little pieces. A tear was flowing down her cheek.
The old days...I miss them as well, the parties in the bar after burning the Liberty Navy, oh god I loved them. And the cold nights in ouray...
She started to smile.
Hell, I am pretty much sure you enjoyed them as much as I did. I remember the times when I joined the Legion. I was only “the girl from Crete” for most of the other Legionnaires, you were different. You were the first one who actually respected me.
Another tear flowed down her cheek and she tried to hide it as good as possible, she wanted to aviod to show any kind of weakness.
Watching that tear rolling down her face erased away Dagon's smirk.
He slowly lowered his head and it could be said that a small hint of regret was seen in that steel like face.
Damnit, Cristy. Damnit.
He whispered. As she heard that, she was confused.
Don't you know that i keep the playboy act so that i don't get hurt? And here you go, breaking that with a gorram tear.
He chuckled, and soon Hunter joined him as she wiped her eyes. After an easy seconds, the silence fell into that room like a ton of iron. Unwanted. Unconfortable.
Finally Dagon started to speak, causing Hunter's heart to skip a beat.
I did missed this a lot. You too. And i knew you were the Star Colonel material the moment i laid eyes on you, and here you are.
Eh. Yeah. I miss those nights in Ouray. They were imperfectly perfect.
And everything was good..It's just that...
He passed his fingers through his hair and sighed.
What happened, Mell?
Hunter asked coming closer to him.
Two months ago.. Right after my last contact, as i exited Vespucci.. There it was.. A Nyx.
In that cold room, with the hint of blood in his lips, Dagon continued to tell the why a Star Colonel leaved everyone that followed him behind.
And that just churned him inside, since it wasn't fair neither to him, to Hunter or to everyone.
One of my sister's Nyxes. Unmanned.
Hunter raised an eyebrow, and Dagon looked at her.
I ain't joking or lying. Don't need to. The bloody Nyx was there to deliver a programmed message.
That my sister was imprisioned for more than three months, by the Gallic Royal Navy and that there wasn't any further contact with her.
With that, a routine kicked in and it went to find me.
He rubbed his hands again, like a nervous twich, but Hunter quickly grabbed his hands and gently pressed them to keep him relaxed.
It's okay.
She said, looking at him fully in the eyes, just causing his heart to be torned a little more with regret.
I asked how did it find me, right there. Tisiphone answered that the location of the Vespucci jump-hole was inserted by my sister during the Merc Wars in Liberty.
How did she gained that knowledge? The A.I. didn't knew. If i can trust it? Hell yes.. My father developed it.
He gently removed Hunter's hands and rubbed them now, feeling slighty relaxed with it. She let it happen, but her eyes were ever questioning.
An Alpha 7 right in front of my face, created by my family. The A.I. suddenly started up the Nyx and left.
It's orders were to await my sister's return in a safe location. And off it went.
Dagon gritted his teeth as remembering this was causing him to live all those feelings once again.
So.. I decided to find how big was the damage. And to know what happened to my sister.. I couldn't drag the Legion into this.. It would take too much time, too much danger to everything here with a whole unit snooping around Gallia. I had to go alone.
He looked at Hunter, and stroke her cheek and with a face torned with regret he said one of things he never thought to say to anyone in his life.
I'm.... I'm sorry. I'm sorry i left you behind. I'm sorry that i left everyone here without knowing. I'm sorry.. But i.. couldn't.
She smiled a bit and looked him directly in his eyes. She saw despair, fear, but also a lot of hope and she understood how he must have felt during the past months.
You didn't want to drag the Legion in this, your sister knows about the location of our home. Now she is in the hands of the gallics...
She sighed...
The Legion was dragged into this from the very beginning, but it was not your fault.
She walked towards the wall and leaned herself against it. She was thinking of something and focused her eyes on the remaining pieces of the bottle for some time before she turned herself again to Meallan.
But let me tell you, I am not worried at all, simply bacause when I look at you I can imagine how your sister could be. I am pretty much sure she won't tell our enemies where our home is.
Her eyes became a bit more serious...
But still, it was a mistake to go alone, you know we have unlimited ressources, unlimited possibilities. I will not hesitate to send the whole SAD and AR to Gallia to search for your sister. Not only because the Legion is in danger, also for you, because I don't want to see you like this, worrying yourself about your sister the whole day, not even able to have a clear mind. I'll make sure that your sister will return to you.
Dagon watched Hunter trying to give him hope. To excuse him in some way. He combed his hair back again with his hand.
Gallia.. Isn't easy. It's a hellhole that no one knows from where and when the enemy will come. Or in what form.
I brought back some intel, but sending SAD or AR without it, blind to say the least, would be a foolhardy thing to do.
He lifted himself from the chair and wiped the remaining blood from his lip and walked over to stand in front of Hunter.
Plus, Cristina.. I ain't dumb. We know very well that given enough time.. Anyone breaks.
He walked slowly and covered the small distance between them. There was only the wall and her right now. He sighed and looked at her.
Whatever you do, banish me, throw me back to PFC, i don't care. I want to be there... Please.
Dagon looked at her and slowly grabbed her hand.
... And whatever may happen... Thank you, Cristy. For being here.
They stood there for a good couple of seconds, each one waiting for a move. Time was ticking and blood was rushing alongside with thoughts.
The silence went one for a couple of seconds, when suddenly Cristina started to hug Meallan. She remained silent and started to cry. The tears were flowing down her cheeks.
The past months were living hell, I felt so alone without you. Please, promise me to never let me alone again. I don't want to lose you again, it would break me.
She whispered to Meallan, they stood there silent for another couple of minutes before Cristina released the hug and walked arround in the room. She grabbed a little cloth to clean her face from all the tears. She seemed a bit depressed but also happy, she felt strange.
Your intel will help us a lot.
She scratched her head, sat down on the chair and crossed her legs. She grabbed for a packet of cigarettes, took one and lit it up. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
Right, you are still part of the SAD, Star Captain. We are running out of time, your sister needs us, she needs you.
She stood up and nodded to Meallan...
These are hard times for the Legion, let's face them...together.
Meallan still felt her warmth while she was sitting at the table. He took a deep breath adn tried to send the feelings in his heart back to a colder and much deeper place.
This wasn't the time to.. loose perspective.
Thank you, Cupcake.
He walked and sat in front of Cristina and his old smirk found it's way back to his face.
I have the contact of a local Junker, she was the one that facilitated some of the bits i could get. As i left, she was supposed to get her hands in some schedules. For what i could gather, my sister is being held and interrogated in Planet Nevers.
He suddenly clicked on his own right forearm and a small data chip emerged.
He grabbed it and placed it on top of the table. Cristina raised an eyebrow at the display.
Yeah.. Err.. Gallia has some mean bio-components. I managed to replace my forearm... It was injured for so long and i didn't had the reflexes i had with it. But that's not important.
What's important is that the AR has a tough cookie in front of them. It isn't easy, cool or anything like a walk through the park.
Plus.. We can't just waltz in a system and attack what is probably the best defended planet that there is in the whole Sirius sector.
He slid the data chip to her, and touched her hand tentatively while at it.
Err.. But i guess you'll get around with this...
Cristina chuckled, and they sat there, in silence. He looked at her and the smirk went away to give off a rather nervous look.
You know we'll have to talk, don't you? I mean.. Us.
Cristina grabbed the data ship and analyzed it with her eyes. This little piece is extremely important for the upcoming operation. Feeling it in her hand, gave her a good feeling for the next steps that had to be done. Her eyes returned to Meallan.
How should I say it Mell, we will have a nice future together...
She smiled a bit and kissed his left cheek.
We will have a lot of time to talk, I am sure that our mission to Gallia will take some time.
Cristina stood up after these words and walked slowly towards the door.
I have to discuss some things with High Command and I have to make preparations.
She turned herself again to Meallan.
You should take a break after all these things, get some sleep or just visit the bar.
She smiled again.
Oh and say thanks to Morton from me, he should be in the bar, as it is his second home. Visit me later, you know where to find me.
Cristina left the room with these words. Locklear was waiting outside with some officers. Cristina showed him the data chip.
Let’s go to the High Command room, we have a lot of things to discuss with Markson. The Legion is in danger, but we will be able to solve it with this little thing here.
They walked off. Her thoughts were still with Meallan...
Dagon leaned on the chair and savoured that kiss. Plus, seeing Hunter walking to the door was just..
I need to get out. I need to fly. I need to think.
He thought. With that, he left the room and looked around for the fastest way to get to the barracks.
In half an hour and with his new ID, he jolted to the ship-bay. In there, one of the marines quickly saluted him and Dagon looked at the nearest tech.
Ey you.
The tech looked at him and noticed the Star in his lapelle. The young man walked towards him and saluted him.
Yes, Star Captain?
He smirked at being called that, and remembered Hunter again. Dagon just couldn't get her out of his head.
I just got back and i'm without a ship. Guess i need a Sabre.
The tech pulled off a small data pad and with some quick commands, he replied.
We have a couple free at the moment. KLW-06 is one of them. That one right there. Fully serviced.
Dagon gave him a nod and walked to the Sabre the tech was pointing.
Two minutes afterwards, that Sabre was going at full speed in the middle of the Vespucci system and with Dagon smirking at its controls.
Time to spread my wings. And show them that i'm still Hellfire.