Starchildren Options

[Kane]

Nice to see Andromeda and Sarah make amends. I like the possibility that Andromeda may not be done with the Constellation �" they really do seem a pretty good lot.

So the temple is ‘calling’ her this time and, somehow she knows it will not harm her.

Absolutely magical and captivating description of her time inside the temple!

Oh my, the concerns she has about how the power makes her feel are rather ominous. . . . Perhaps the ‘benign’ temple has plans for Andromeda that are not so benign.

Constellation are 100% the idealistic explorer's group out for the betterment of humanity. I can't really think of another faction BGS has made that's so noble.

There is definitely a lot to unravel about these structures and their purpose!

========================

Twenty Three – Pivot

Plateau, Piazzi II, Piazzi System

A dust storm had kicked up outside while Andromeda, Andreja, Sarah, and Barrett unraveled the secrets of the second Temple and blanketed everything with fine sand and pebbles blown about by harsh winds. Hopeful for another demonstration, but eager to get out of the storm, the four of them dashed back to the Frontier to hunker down until the gales blew through. Everything about the tiny ship was just as Andromeda remembered it, including the inability to host a group their size should they need to sleep there until morning arose. Two beds and two chairs in the cockpit. Not exactly the Neon City Skysuite.

But that conversation could be tabled for the moment. The first order of business was getting out of her damn spacesuit. She and Andreja had been wearing their suits for the better part of a day and Andromeda shuddered to imagine the amount of body odor clinging to her. She secretly hoped they all stunk just so she wouldn’t feel out of place.

With Andreja’s help, the blasted thing finally fell to the ground. And with Andromeda’s help in return, Andreja’s suit also fell to the ground. Knowing her partner was a considerably less lax about flaunting her body, she quickly handed Andreja a jumpsuit to don.

“Thank you, Annie. Perhaps you should put one on too?” Her eyes fell to the barely disguised curves Andromeda’s undersuit covered. “At least while Barrett is around?”

“I’m sure he’ll survive. Besides, they can look all the want, but only you get to touch.”

“Damn right,” said Andreja. “I do not share.” She gave Andromeda a long overdue kiss before climbing the ladder to the main hab where the others waited. With a tired grunt, she took a seat at the small table near the galley and tapped her fingers impatiently on the fiberglass tabletop. “How do the meteorological scans look?”

“Grim, I’m afraid,” answered Sarah. “You two are stuck with us for at least nine hours if the current low pressure belt holds steady.”

“Fantastic,” said Andromeda, with barely disguised sarcasm. “I’m starving. Anyone else up for dinner? I’ll cook.”

“You mean I get a night off from playing chef?” Barrett chimed in. “Hallelujah!”

Andromeda chuckled and proceeded to inspect the fridge for possible ingredients she could concoct something with but their supplies appeared to be limited. The best she could manage was a few gyros which, thankfully, would not take long to whip up. She busied herself with chopping up some lettuce and tomato while the synthameat lamb sizzled away in a skillet filling the small hab with an enticing aroma.

“How are you feeling this time?” Sarah called over to her. “Any ill effects?”

“None that I can tell.”

“Hm. I guess whatever altered your DNA did so to make the process easier going forward. How curious. And what sort of power did it give you this time? Something you can demonstrate for us?”

“Nope.”

“I see.” Sarah recognized pursuing the issue wasn’t a valid option and she was loathe to rekindle the animosity towards Constellation that Andromeda only recently set aside. Instead, she got up to help with diner. “I’ll pour some drinks and set the table. That about ready?”

“Sure is. Here, just hand me the plates and I’ll load them up.”

She assembled four gyros and passed them out to the crew packed tightly into the Frontier and went at her own with little regard for manners. The reisling Sarah had chosen for their wine bulbs complimented the pita sandwiches nicely, and it didn’t take long for empty plates and empty glasses to win out. They spent a little time afterwards catching up on things at the Lodge before the conversation inevitably got steered towards what came next.

“So, back to New Atlantis tomorrow?” proffered Sarah. “We need to review our new data.”

“No. Andreja and I are going home. We’ve been surveying planets for weeks now and I miss my bed. And I miss her in it with me.”

Sarah began to gently protest but Barrett jumped in to smooth things over.

“Ah, the renowned Villa Renault! I’ve heard so much about it!”

“You’re welcome to come with us,” smiled Andromeda. “Every damn one of you could probably use a vacation. I recommend you bring some earplugs though - ow! Hey, what gives?”

Having just pointedly kicked Andromeda in the shin, Andreja simultaneously smiled at Barrett in a reassuring manner. “You are of course welcome to use the guest room for a few days, my friend.” She turned to Andromeda and chided her playfully. “You do not always need to be so lewd, Annie. They know we are together and that is enough.”

“I’d be honored to relax by the pool for a while,” said Barrett. “As long as I can mix a few drinks while I’m at it.”

At this point, Sarah wisely gave up and shook her head while laughing. “Alright, alright, I can see I won’t be winning this one. Come on, let’s clean up our mess from dinner and get ready for bed. Unless you three are up for a game of poker?”

That was an easy sell. Their meal got cleaned up in record time and soon a small stack of credstiks were heaped at the center of the table while cards were dealt and more wine flowed from the bottle. Nearly a dozen rounds were played but it became evident after only two that Andromeda Renault was not cut out for gambling – her face betrayed too many emotions. Andreja, on the other hand, was apparently the perfect foil to Barrett’s own skill at the classic card game, and by the time things were winding down, they possessed the entire pot between them while Sarah and Andromeda watched. Or at least, the latter tried to watch. But it had been a long day and the wine proved to be the final nail in the coffin during their after dinner camaraderie and caused her to fall asleep sitting at the table, her head bobbing on her shoulders.

Bedtime had come. Andreja folded and left the winnings for Barrett to counf while she shuffled her cards into the deck and roused her sleeping companion.

“Time for bed, Annie. Barrett has gallantly offered to sleep in the pilot seat. I hope you do not mind sharing a small bed with me.”

“I can think of worse things,” yawned Andromeda.

She staggered to her feet and moved groggily over to the close at hand bed and fell into it with a distinct absence of grace and a sigh of relief. She patted the small space next to her and the moment Andreja laid down, Andromeda pulled her in tight. A long night of rest beckoned, but not before a final check-in.

“Annie?”

“Hm?”

“Are you sure nothing harmed you in the Temple?”

“Mhm.”

“And you gained more power? Is it disruptive? Like the first one?”

Andromeda sighed again and opened her eyes. “Ya know, if it was anyone else, I’d tell them to piss off and go to sleep.” She squeezed Andreja tighter before continuing: “Lucky for you, I can’t think of a single person I care more about. No, it’s not disruptive. I can sense other lifeforms around me when I use it. Even through solid walls.”

“Fascinating. That would be a very useful skill in my old line of work.” She kissed Andromeda on the forehead and ran her fingers through the messy tangle of opalescent hair. “Thank you for sharing that with me. I will not pester you any longer – I am... quite exhausted... my… self…” Andreja shook her head in amusement at the raucous snoring that already escaped Andromeda’s nose.

“Good lord,” chuckled Sarah from the other bed. “How can you sleep so close to that much noise?”

“You grow accustomed to it. And even though I am still unsure of exactly how she managed to put such a spell on me I would not trade her for anything.”

* * *

The Eye, Jemison, Alpha Centauri System

The soiree at Villa Renault only lasted three days, but all three parties enjoyed themselves immensely. As it turned out, Barrett was a lot of fun, which is something that it took Andromeda longer to realize than it ought to have. Her initial meeting with him on Vectera and everything that followed had strongly colored her perception of the man, and she was glad to be able set that aside and give him a proper chance. This was someone Andromeda could see herself becoming great friends with. Barrett had a seemingly endless supply of stories to tell from his adventures with Constellation, and his late husband, Ervin, and he was a sight to behold in the kitchen. Every meal he cooked and every drink he mixed knock Andromeda’s socks off.

And Barrett also happened to be the singular person who understood some of what she had gone through since finding her first Artifact on Vectera. He was the only other member of Constellation to have pulled one out of bedrock and experience its affects on the unassuming mind. Andromeda felt comfortable enough by the second night to open up about it and was pleased that Barrett was willing to do the same. Through it all, Andreja listened with rapt attention and came away with a resolve to never touch one herself. The way it had affected Andromeda was enough to dissuade any possible upsides.

But the short vacation was now over, and the Verity of Fate’s docking port lit green on Andromeda’s console. Far below she could see the blue-green sphere that was Jemison floating in the deep black of space. That was their next stop… after Andromeda boarded The Eye and gave Vladimir Sall a piece of her mind. She stormed through the airlock and up the long hallway to the station’s control room ready to unload on the old man but he heard her coming and due to some hasty interdiction she never got the opportunity to do so.

“I did not know about the Temple when I gave you the slate, rook!” he called from his station in the control room. “The scans only showed it afterwards and I couldn’t get a message to you in time!”

Andromeda deflated as she entered the room. “Seriously?”

“Deadly,” said Vlad. “I’dve given you a different slate, Dro. I swear on the head of Lady Luck herself. But if you still feel the need to punch something gratuitously you are welcome to pay a visit to my gym. It’s down the inner habitat ring hallway.”

“Ugh. Goddammit.” Andromeda took a seat in the chair next to Vlad and glanced around. The deep scanning and the subsequent data flowing across the screens were far beyond her comprehension and she couldn’t help but wonder how a former pirate managed to be so intelligent. The man must have been that in name only, for there was a kindness in his eyes that took the fight right out of her. “Alright, I believe you.”

“Good. Now then, what can I do for you?”

“Here.” She handed him the slates, brimming with data from her planetary surveys with Andreja. “Got some credits for me? Dre says our ship could stand to use a weapons upgrade. She’s fond of particle cannons.”

“I certainly do,” said Vlad. “Honest pay for honest work – and the data will help parse the background noise while the station peers into the black for those elusive anomalies.” Vlad picked up his personal slate and transferred Andromeda their pay. “Don’t spend it all in one place,” he chuckled. “Oh, and tell Andreja I said hello.”

“Can do. “Andromeda brought up her account balance and nearly fainted. “Vlad!? What the [censored]!? Are you joking!?” Her Galbank account showed a balance of over forty-thousand credits – four times the amount she had left after the down payment on her home. “All we did was point our scanners at some rocks and plants! This is way too much!”

“Surveying is not easy work, Dro. I took you a few weeks just for those three, did it not? Besides, most of that is from the Eridani II job. Lush planets like that one offer very valuable information.”

Andromeda thanked him profusely but he waved it off and insisted it was the standard rate and that plenty of the others in Constellation had signed up for similar jobs and been paid just as well. She still refused to leave without giving him a hug, and she practically skipped back to the ship with her spirits soaring. They could afford the cannons and the faster engines Andromeda had her eye on.

Andreja will be thrilled. Maybe I can talk her into doing some shopping in New Atlantis, too.

* * *

The Lodge, New Atlantis, Jemison, Alpha Centauri System

Jemison’s sun had long since set when Andromeda and Andreja finally made their way to the Lodge after an afternoon of shopping and an evening of drinking. The lights were dimmed, and only Vasco remained powered on to greet them after passing through the vestibule. Trying their best not to wake anyone up, the two women stole up the staircase and tipsily stumbled past the bar – where Andromeda grabbed another bottle of wine – and down the hallway to the living quarters. Andromeda’s room was closer, but Andreja steered her down the small hallway across from Matteo’s room instead, and opened the door to her own bedroom. Andromeda started to question why they went to her room instead until Andreja explained that their night was not yet over, and being further from the others would be more respectful. And then she through Andromeda bodily onto the bed.

By the time morning decided to return, neither one of them had slept long enough to be truly rested, and after getting dressed, they headed back towards the dining area hoping someone had made breakfast. And coffee.

Their wishes were granted by none other than Barrett himself: Constellation’s resident amateur chef. One of the tables had an urn of fresh coffee steaming away and waiting for them to pour out hefty mugs of the rousing beverage, and another had a stack of plates and a small tray of silverware. There was also a pitcher of orange juice, but it looked a bit too pulpy for Andromeda’s taste. They loaded up on eggs and bacon before joining Sarah and Noel at a nearby table.

“Morning you two,” said Sarah. “Didn’t realize you were here – got in late I take it?”

“They sure did,” giggled Noel. “I heard them stumble up the stairs and down the hall.”

“You were awake?” asked Andromeda. “And you didn’t say hi? What gives?”

“Yeah, I was in the library. Couldn’t sleep. And you were talking louder than you think you were, and I heard more than I needed to.”

Andromeda shrugged and took a bite of bacon while Andreja blushed and attempted to hide her embarrassment in vain. She sipped timidly from her piping hot coffee and politely steered the conversation elsewhere.

“Ahem. It is good to be back at the Lodge. Is there anything on the agenda today?”

“Well, that all depends.” Sarah looked pointedly at Andromeda. “First, we have to deal with the elephant in the room.”

“Rude,” countered Andromeda, jokingly. “Anyway, don’t bother asking – I already made up my mind. Yes, I’m back. If you’ll have me.”

[Acadian]

’The reisling Sarah had chosen for their wine bulbs complimented the pita sandwiches nicely, and it didn’t take long for empty plates and empty glasses to win out.’
- - I really like your clever phrasing here.

“You grow accustomed to it. And even though I am still unsure of exactly how she managed to put such a spell on me I would not trade her for anything.”
- - Aww.

Well, a night aboard the tight quarters of the Frontier, then to Villa Renault for a few days of rest and recreation. Then a whoppingly big paycheck from Vladimir Sall, followed by some shopping. Finally, Andromeda confirms she’s ready to rejoin the Constellation. Good choice, I think.

[Kane]

Twenty Four – Into the Breach

The way in which Sarah’s demeanor completely changed suggested Christmas might have come early, rather than her latest unique recruit coming back into the fold. Constellation’s leader beamed from ear-to-ear, and Andromeda half expected her to lean across the table and plant a kiss on her cheek. Andreja probably wouldn’t appreciate that though.

“That is wonderful news!” gushed Sarah, thankfully forgoing the more physical show of appreciation. “Oh, we have so much work to do now! Noel here needs to run a plethora of scans on you, and we’ll need another demonstration.” She paused to ladle a concerning amount of sugar into her coffee and suddenly Andromeda understood exactly why her boss often burbled with so much palpable excitement. “And we need to talk to Vlad again – he has a lead on more Artifacts. Sam needs called back too, he’s run into a wall on Akila.”

“[censored]’s sake, Sarah, slow down and take a breath!” said Andromeda. “We just got back. Can’t we start small?”

“You’ve had plenty of time to relax, Ms. Renault. Andreja has, too. Speaking of which… I never got to ask either of you – how the hell did such an intimate romantic relationship develop in the time after we went our separate ways?”

Andromeda grinned while Andreja continued to blush and sip from her piping hot mug of coffee. This was definitely a question for the more outgoing of the odd pair to answer – Andreja rarely expressed anything resembling a feeling to others. She saved those for her partner, which meant those emotions were typically very intense. Which Andromeda loved. Still though… it was not the easiest endeavor to explain. There had certainly been a mutual attraction between them when they first met, but that first mission in the abandoned mine had been rocky, to say the least, and by the time Andromeda and Andreja had linked up with Constellation again, a deep bond had already developed.

Not feeling like the intricacies needed delved into, Andromeda settled for a bit of deflection.

“Not important. Besides, do you really want to know, in detail I might add, just how attracted we are to each other?” Andreja hid herself behind a slate to avoid having to leave the room entirely while Sarah shook her head vehemently. “No? Didn’t think so. Let’s settle for this: we like each other. A lot. Like, a stupid amount of a lot. A fact which I’m sure you’ve picked up on by now, so let’s just leave it at that. Sound good?”

“I can live with that,” agreed Sarah. “Hurry up and eat so that we can start the scans.”

‘Sarah…” sighed Andromeda. “I’m a human being; not a guinea pig.”

“Annie is not wrong in this,” Andreja spoke up. “You are being callous again, Sarah. Do not make her regret the decision to join Constellation again. We understand how important all of this is, but we cannot lose our humanity in the pursuit of exploration.”

Sarah apologized profusely and headed downstairs before she dug a deeper hole, leaving Noel to finish breakfast with Andromeda and Andreja. The following silence had a not-so-small touch of awkwardness to it and lasted for several minutes before Andromeda rolled her eyes and lobbed a crumpled up napkin at the young scientist whom she could tell was fit to burst with new questions regarding the Temples and her strange abilities.

“Just ask, Noel. You look you’ll explode if you don’t.”

Noel fidgeted nervously. She did have about a million questions, and at least two million follow-up questions, but she was also more empathetic to Andromeda’s situation that Sarah appeared to be. Or, at least, more willing to sacrifice the pursuit of this incredible advance into uncharted scientific waters than their charismatic leader was, if it meant the young woman from Neon City didn’t come unraveled. Thankfully, Noel learned a long time ago to trust her gut; and her gut told her to be a friend, first and foremost.

“Only if that’s okay with you, Dro. I, um. I know this has been hard on you. Are you still, you know, anxious? About what we’re doing?”

“Anxious?” Andromeda let out a hollow laugh. “We’ve been over this, Noel. I’m [censored] terrified. That hasn’t changed. The only reason I haven’t dissolved like wet tissue paper is because of Andreja.” She firmly gripped the hand of her lover that now rested on her leg and smiled gratefully at her for the gesture of support.

“Look, we don’t have to keep talking about it,” offered Noel. “You can come to me on your terms if that’s easier. There’s plenty to do in the meantime.”

“No, it’s fine,” said Andromeda. “Let’s just get it out of the way.” She finished her breakfast and topped off her and Andreja’s coffee and followed Noel down the hall to the small lab she had set up near her bedroom.

Andromeda privately thought that Sarah had some freakish sixth sense, for she showed up unprompted mere seconds after Andromeda sat down, and, alongside Noel, started peppering her with question after question after question while the various diagnostic machines ran way more tests than before. Noel explained that the equipment she had brought to Villa Renault was more limited due to it being designed for field work and therefore was not as robust as what currently examined every nanometer of her body and mind. This went on for nearly three hours until all the coffee she’d consumed told Andromeda enough is enough and she yanked the various leads from her skin and ran to the bathroom.

“Did we get enough data, Noel?” asked Sarah. She giggled at the sight of the door still rocking on its hinges after Andromeda burst through it at a run yelling her head off about peeing her pants. “Goodness knows we kept her long enough.”

“Not sure there is much more to get,” said Noel. “This’ll keep Barrett and me busy for a while.” Setting her clipboard down, she turned to Andreja who had been reading in a chair opposite the scanning equipment. “Andreja? Did she, er, leave anything out we should know?”

“Of course not,” said Andreja, setting her slate down. There was a slight edge to her response, but she felt it warranted. “Annie is a lot of things, but never once has she misled any of us.”

“Sorry. Had to ask – especially with her past.”

“She stole from those who deserved it and no one else.”

Noel decided it was time to shut up. “Ooookay. Forget I said anything.” Andreja nodded tersely and left to find Andromeda. “Do you think I pissed her off, Sarah?”

“Yep.”

* * *

New Atlantis, Jemison, Alpha Centauri System

“Will they integrate with the Verity’s existing power systems? I do not want them to fail should a pirate or spacer attack us.”

“They’re fully compatible with your reactor,” said the Ship Services Technician. “Test them and come back if you don’t believe me.”

Andromeda waited by the ramp with Sam and Cora and watched Andreja haggle with the technician. Something about the way she gestured and spoke with her hands always tickled Andromeda. Andreja typically chose her words thoughtfully, so to see her conversing with a stranger on the fly offered a glimpse into her that was rarely seen by any of her associates. She thought about stepping in, but she knew her that companion took their new particle cannons very seriously and wanted to be doubly sure nothing would go wrong with them. Casting her gaze at the one mounted directly above her, Andromeda wondered how many palms Sarah had to grease to procure them. Civilians weren’t supposed to have access to Vanguard weaponry since they were considered military grade, yet somehow she managed to help get four Obliterator cannons mounted to the Verity of Fate’s hull.

“I’m with you, Dro,” said Sam, interrupting her train of thought. “Those guns are impressive. It’s no wonder Andreja wants to make sure they were installed properly.”

“Dad, can I try them out sometime!?” squealed Cora. “Please!?”

“Absolutely not, kiddo.”

Thank god he at least has that much sense, thought Andromeda.

She still opposed the idea of having a kid on her ship, but everyone involved assured her over and over again that there was no harm in jumping from Jemison to Akila; the two most well-guarded planets in the Settled Systems, and the capitals of their respective organizations. Akila was also the home of Sam and Cora, so it was a regular route for them. And they supposedly were going to stick around Akila City after the adults completed the mission they were going there for. That having been said, Andromeda still laid out some ground rules.

“I agree with your dad. Also, don’t come up to the cockpit unless Andreja and I say otherwise. The ship will have plenty enough for you to without getting underfoot.”

“Awwww, but that’s sooooo boring!” Cora protested. “Dad lets me sit in the copilot’s chair all the time!”

“It ain’t our ship, Cora,” said Sam. “We go by Dro’s rules, got it?”

“Ugh, fine.”

“Here comes Andreja,” said Andromeda. “And she looks satisfied. Get on board and strap in.”

* * *

Akila City Outskirts, Akila, Cheyenne System

The hard ground beneath Andromeda’s back felt familiar. It was not the first time she experienced it, and with the way her life unfolded these days, it likely would not be the last. The pop of Sam’s rifle firing from nearby, and the thrum of Andreja’s odd weapon – which she finally showed Andromeda was just a specialized particle beam rifle modified by House Va’ruun – elicited the smell of burnt ozone as its beams whistled through the air and away from them. A steady stream of blood from her forehead obscured Andromeda’s vision as she succumbed to unconsciousness with the cold Akila air billowing through the scrub land.

After a few dozen rounds were spent between those still awake, the fearsome ashta that almost caught them unawares gave its final painful spasm at their feet. A renowned predator; the ashta were the apex predators on Akila, and the capital city had walls and guards to keep beasts out, rather than to defend against ne’er-do-wells. This one had been a particularly challenging obstacle and despite the unrelenting efforts of Andreja and Sam, it managed to get in close and take a brutal swipe at Andromeda.

Kneeling in the dirt with two first aid kits open, Andreja tended to the gash in Andromeda’s scalp that bled profusely. A good slathering of healing gel sealed up the wound in short order, but they wouldn’t know if the glancing blow had any effect on her brain until she regained consciousness, and a concussion at the minimum could not be discounted.

“Can’t you give her an Amp or something?” said Sam. “We need to be on the move or more ashta will find us. Staying in one place will be signing our death warrants.”

“It would not be safe if there is head trauma. Perhaps we should -”

“Mm. Ow.” Andromeda shifted uncomfortably in the dirt. Her eyes blinked open a couple of times, but they were still out of focus after a few attempts. “Ow. [censored]. My head hurts.” Two Andreja’s swam into her view and she managed a weak smile. “Hey, beautiful. I think I won the lottery… there are two of you now.”

“Damn it. She is concussed; I can see it in her eyes. Do we have any boosted injectors?”

“Fresh out,” said Sam.

“Jinan’s pants. Andromeda, do you think you can stand?”

“No promises. Got any painkillers?”

“Just a sec.” Sam grabbed a battlestim out of his aid kit and fired it into her thigh. “That should help until we get back to the city. Hang back and let us handle the Shaw Gang when we get to the Empty Nest. You’re in no condition for another fight.”

“If you, ow, insist,” said Andromeda. With Andreja’s aid she managed to get to her feet and take a few deep breaths. “Ugh, why is it always me?”

“This one’s my fault,” said Sam. “I should have flanked it from the left but my teamwork is a little rusty. I can tell Andreja’s been teachin’ you a few things about combat and you were doing great until I gave the beast an in. Drinks are on me next time.”

“Sam is correct, Annie. Do not be hard on yourself.”

Andromeda shrugged and followed in behind them as they set off again. Their words were kind even if they didn’t make her feel any better about it. Of the three of them on this expedition, she was still the only to get inured. Again. All in the name of recovering another Artifact, or so they hoped. This entire ordeal predicated on a Coe family legend that Sam recalled from his youth and it led them to his homestead where they had to deal with his estranged father. Not awkward at all.

It had been fun to tease him about his heritage, though. It’s not every day you get to me a descendant of the man who founded the Freestar Collective, and Sam at least had the courage to act properly embarrassed about said teasing, which Andromeda appreciated. She had no room in her life for self-obsessed divas, and Sam Coe was anything but. That didn’t change how she felt about Cora exploring the stars with him. Nothing about her experiences in space thus far convinced Andromeda that the starfield was any place for a child.

As she walked and thought, a large rock nearly caused her downfall again though she managed to stay upright and follow her four, er, two companions through the dusty desert. After another hour of walking haphazardly towards an area Sam referred to as The Empty Nest, Andromeda realized her vision had corrected itself, and the headache subsided. She was pretty sure that wasn’t supposed to happen and called a halt to the proceedings.

“Dre, can you scan flip your handscanner to medical and scan me again? I feel a lot better. Somehow,” she added.

“Very well. Please stand still.” Andreja aimed the scanner at her and tapped the screen a few times. Her eyebrows rose higher and higher with each subsequent scan result. “I do not know how this is possible. The scans say you are in perfect health.”

“How can that be?” asked Sam. “Maybe another side effect of what happened to her?”

“That is as good a guess as any I suppose. At any rate, I suppose you can help us up ahead after all. And hopefully we do not cross paths with any more ashta -” She fell silent and strained her ears towards the south where a familiar roar could just be heard on the wind. “Damn it. We should move on before it catches our scent.”

“No, wait a sec,” said Andromeda. She closed her eyes and called upon the knowledge bestowed in her at the Temple on Piazzi II. Feeling a newfound sense pouring out of her, Andromeda opened her eyes and gasped at the amount of life glowing all around them. Bugs scuttling underfoot; huge herbivores nibbling on leaves beyond the ridge line; birds soaring high and out of sight; and most importantly, a massive ashta chasing its prey in the opposite direction they were headed. “We’re clear. The ashta has its sights on something else already.”

“How…? Oh! Did you use the power you spoke of before?”

“Mhm. I can sense all life. It’s a bit overwhelming if I’m being honest. There is a lot of it here.”

“Then let’s get a move on,” advised Sam. “We’re almost there.”

The Empty Nest turned out to be a small valley tucked between two tall outcrops of rock. Too small to be considered cliffs, and not tall enough to be a proper ridge, it at least offered shelter from the elements. And, if the tales were to be believed, the ever-feared ashta. The problem it posed came in the form of the Shaw Gang, of which some members were arrested just as the trio landed at the Akila City spaceport and passed through town. There were a few outpost structures and walkways scattered about the makeshift den along with two laser turrets and a reprogrammed robot. Andromeda reached out with her unique sense and counted eight humans nestled among the inanimate objects permeating the camp.

“What do ya think,” said Sam. “Pincer movement from three sides?”

“Too risky,” said Andreja. “There is not enough cover on the opposite side of the valley. What do you think, Annie?”

Andromeda paled. She never expected to look tactically at a combat situation, but she should have figured it was coming eventually. It seemed like most places they went outside of civilization placed obstacles just like this one in their path.

“Um. Well…” She glanced around at the rocky rises, and then at her scoped Beowulf, and Sam’s scoped Lawgiver. The kernel of a plan started forming in her mind: they had the element of surprise, the range advantage, and were on higher ground. “Let’s catch them in a crossfire. I’ll plant myself on the rocks to the southwest. Sam, you move north about twenty meters along this ridge. Andreja -”

“I shall stay here and keep stragglers from flanking you.”

“Just be careful, hon. If any of them spot us they will rush up this path and right into your position.”

“I do not plan on making it easy for them.” Andreja lowered her overland bag gently to the ground and pulled three fragmentation mines from a pocket on the side, and began placing them in a staggered line where the path leading into the valley cut up towards their current position. “They will not be expecting this.”

“You’re so goddamn devious,” grinned Andromeda. They shared a kiss while Sam moved off.

And a slap on the ass from Andreja. “Get moving. Make your shots count. Remember: exhale, and squeeze the trigger. Do not pull it.”

The plan went off without a hitch, and after clearing the perimeter, they headed inside a natural cave, dispatched a couple lingering gang members, and found what they were looking for: another Artifact. Andreja had already made a vow never to touch one, which left it to Andromeda and Sam.

“Yeah, so, I don’t really want to deal with that either.”

“I hate you both,” grumbled Andromeda. And then she touched the Artifact.

[Acadian]

Sarah unintentionally overloads Andromeda, and it seems the sugar-laden coffee explains at least part of it.

Anyway, off on another mission and we get to see a couple magic features that Andromeda has gained – self healing and detect life – pretty handy.

Uh-oh, Andreja puts Annie on the spot as part of her continuing tactics training – to devise a plan vs those Shaw Gangers. And Annie acquits herself while remaining on her feet this time!

Whether she likes it or not (and she certainly doesn’t), it looks like Andromeda is Constellation’s designated 'grabber of scary things'.

[Kane]

Twenty-five – Anomaly

The Verity of Fate, Akila City, Akila, Cheyenne System



“Incredible,” remarked Andreja studying the results of Andromeda’s latest bioscan. “It does not appear as though your body reacted in any way to the Artifact. Yet you still had the vision?”

“Same as always,” shrugged Andromeda. “A crescendo of music followed by being whisked across the comsos. Are you done scanning? I could eat a whole ashta.”

“Of course you could. Are you never not hungry?”

“I seem to recall being the only one mauled by an alien beast. Are you really that surprised?”

“...That is a fair point,” Andreja conceded. “Have a seat in the galley and I will make you something.”

‘Something’ turned out to be a reuben, of which Andromeda had mixed feelings about. She liked the idea of a reuben but never really had a taste for thousand island dressing and based on the amount of it slathered over the synthameat and fermented cabbage, Andreja did not share that same opinion. She ate it but found herself left wanting and ended up snacking on a Chunks cake too.

Then it was time for a desperately needed shower in the tiny stall crammed into the living quarters. As Andromeda scrubbed herself down with a bar of soap, she wondered how the supposedly climate-controlled spacesuits managed to keep her from staying clean. She could even pee in the damned thing yet spending more than two hours cooped up in one left them all ripe enough to clear out a concert venue. All in all, Andromeda was thankful the Verity even had a shower because the Frontier did not.

“Will you get a move on it!” Andreja rapped on the door. “You are not the only one who smells like a groat pen!”

Andromeda chuckled and turned off the water. It normally was customary for a ship’s crew to wear a bathing suit while showering onboard but since Sam and Cora were staying home for a few days, they had the ship to themselves. And so, Andreja rolled her eyes with a distinct lack of surprise when Andromeda waltzed out of the stall fully nude.

“You do know that it is okay to be modest even when it is not required, yes?”

“Yeah, but then I can’t tease you,” said Andromeda. “Go ahead an act all prim and proper but I saw you biting your lip when the door opened. Now hop to it while I mix some drinks. I’m not ready for bed.”

A few minutes later she stood (mostly) dressed in the kitchen and chewed at the inside of her cheek in annoyance. The gin was gone and so was the vodka. All they had left were two bottles of red wine and that always gave Andromeda a headache if she drank more than two glasses. She bounced from side to side on the balls of her feet debating internally on whether or not they should just go to bed when Andrea saved the day.

“There is a pack of beer on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator if that is more enticing.”

“Ah [censored]! You startled me!” Andromeda noted her wet hair tied up with a towel and cocked her head to the side. “Wait, how did you shower that fast?”

“Not all of us need to contemplate. Hand me a beer, Annie.”

The hiss of escaping air followed by hoppy foam punctuated Andreja’s point. They took a seat and drank most of the six pack while discussing came next. Andromeda was all for returning to The Lodge for the promise of that wonderfully soft bed in her room, but they were burning through credits in a hurry on these expeditions. Constellation paid well, though not well enough to make the continuous improvements and upgrades to their ship that both of them had in mind. Andreja suggested picking up some more bounties while they were still in the city and in range of the bounty terminals. Andromeda, on the other hand, felt less enthused – her luck in the injury department was terrible when it came to raiding spacer or pirate outposts.

The bounties paid well though, and after knocking back three pilsners she acquiesced to her lovely companion.

“Fine, we can link up to the terminal and grab a bounty in the morning.”

“Thank you, Annie. Do not worry… I will keep you safe.”

“Damn right you will.”

* * *

Verity of Fate, Sagan I, Sagan System

Normal space returned around the ship and the icy rock of Sagan I floated in front of Andromeda and Andreja. Somewhere on the planet below, braving the deep freeze, hid their target: a pirate captain with a twenty thousand credit bounty on their head. Andromeda called up the ship scanners and began to analyze the surface while her other half scanned local space for any signs of trouble. The trouble of that sort usually took the form of enemy ships, though this time something entirely different caught her watchful eye - a space station that was not where it ought to be.

Andreja’s heart thumped loudly in her chest. How could this be here? Refusing to believe the initial scans, she ran it again. And then a third, fourth, fifth, and sixth time. The confirmatory beep on the seventh scan left her hand shaking as it hovered over the display to start an eighth scan when Andromeda’s hand gently clasped her wrist.

“What is it, Dre? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” She studied the station’s profile displayed alongside the data from numerous scans and frowned. It looked like any other station she’d seen.

“That is The Oracle”, said Andrea. “And it should not be there.”

“Obviously. Where is it supposed to be?”

“I cannot –“

“Andreja,” soothed Andromeda. “If not me, then who else?”

Her eyes remained fixed on the screen as Andreja considered her companion’s words. The presence of The Oracle offered to change… everything. And while it was true that Andromeda did not care about what little of her past she already shared, choosing to do anything other than flee the system and pretending they never saw the station meant a long overdue talk had finally come to a head.

Which, to Andreja’s surprise, did not seem all that intimidating. She finally tore her eyes away from the screen and met Andromeda’s face and encouraging smile. Butterflies danced in her stomach steeled her resolve, and she launched right into it with zero hesitation. “It should be in orbit of Va’ruun’kai. My home.”

“Oooookay,” nodded Andromeda. “It sounds like we have a long conversation ahead of ourselves. Good thing we didn’t drink all the beer last night.” Andromeda took Andreja by the hand and led her back to the galley. She thrust a cold beer into her hand and sat down opposite her. “You don’t have to tell me everything, hon. Just what you are comfortable with.”

“Ugh. Why must you be so considerate when it comes to me. I see you act so abrasively with others and wonder why it cannot be as easy with us.”

“The heart wants what the heart wants, Dre.”

“Indeed.”

The Verity of Fate orbited Sagan nearly three times while Andreja divulged what amounted to her entire life’s history to Andromeda Renault – the woman she found herself falling further and further for with every passing moment. She spoke of everything from growing up in the capital city of Dazra, in the confines of her strict, orthodox family home to how she eventually volunteered for the assignment that brought her to the Settled Systems – where she would be unable to return from.

“Assignment?” said Andromeda. “I thought you got into smuggling to help your family?”

“That was not entirely honest, and I have regretted misleading you since the moment I uttered those words. In truth, my role as a smuggler served as a cover while I gathered information on different factions in the Settled Systems. Even joining Constellation stemmed from that.”

“Wait, so I’m dating a spy?”

Andreja nodded meekly and held her breath. She felt they had reached a point of no return in their relationship – would Andromeda be hurt by her actions? Were things about to come to an end? House Va’ruun to this day was feared by the Settled Systems following the Serpent’s Crusade, and she had just revealed herself as an operative to the one person Andreja cared most about. And that she had hid the truth about what she was from that very same person.

Feigning indignity, Andromeda dramatically placed a hand across her forehead and sighed. Then she smiled broadly and winked at Andreja. “Just when I thought you couldn’t get any sexier.”

“I… what?” Andreja didn’t know what to expect after her confession, but it wasn’t that. “You are not upset with me?”

“For telling me what I already knew? Nah.” Andromeda took a pull from her beer and set it back down. “Don’t look at me like that; all I did was fill in the blanks. I think you always wanted to tell me because you certainly left enough breadcrumbs to follow. I’m assuming Sarah knows this as well?”

“She does,” confirmed Andreja. “It did not take long for her to sniff out what I was. And she accepted me anyway. It is why I owe so much to Constellation.”

“They allowed you to be yourself – to embrace the person you could be – that was buried beneath years of service to your people. I can empathize with that.”

“Correct. I am grateful you are not upset by this, Annie. I am not sure what I would do without you in my life.”

Andromeda felt her knees knocking together after that heartfelt profession and tried not to choke on her beer. A warm feeling rose to her face as she felt her cheeks flush, and she leaned across the table to kiss Andreja. “I’m not going anywhere, Dre. You’re stuck with my annoying ass.”

“There are far worse things in life,” beamed Andreja. She finished her drink and pointed back towards the cockpit. “Shall we investigate that station now? There is no logical reason for it being so far from Va’ruun’kai.”

One final swig drained Andromeda’s can and they headed for the cockpit to review the scan logs from Andreja’s early frantic analysis of the seemingly dormant structure. What power levels they could detect were very low and fluctuated erratically. Only the thruster systems were firing to keep a stable orbit around Sagan I, which also meant they would be able to dock easily if necessary. Life signs were present, but very faint, and there were also weird spikes of anomalous energy readings that the Verity’s scanners struggled to parse out. A passing glance between the two of them brought with it an understanding born of familiarity that was followed by Andromeda locking in a flight path for docking procedures while Andreja headed towards the rear companionway to make sure their suits and weapons were ready to go. By the time the docking clamps were moored, both suits were ready to go, and pile of ammunition sat on a table near the docking hatch.

“We all set?”

“Yes. Suit up – I will take the lead.”

Their boots clanged on the rungs of the ladder as they ascended through the hatch and into The Oracle. Dim lights barely illuminated the vestibule they floated weightlessly into. Tools, equipment, bits of food, and other objects drifted by in the zero g environment along with blobs of dark liquid that looked suspiciously like blood. Andromeda called up her scanning HUD and peered around the entryway but there were no signs of life nearby which meant that whatever the ship scanners picked up must be further in. Taking the lead as promised, Andreja fired a short thruster burst from her boostpack and sailed across the vestibule to where a bulkhead door stood partially ajar. She stole silently through it with competent ease, weapon trained for any sign of movement while Andromeda filed in after her, scoped rifle at the ready.

“Anything on your scanner?”

“Not really,” said Andromeda. “Just the occasional spike of that weird energy we picked up from the ship.”

“Might it have something to do with that?” Andreja indicated a corridor off to the left with the tip of her inflictor. A faint blue light eked through the doorway as if it were beckoning them on. “I have been aboard this station before, but I do not recall there being any light sources of that color.”

“Hm. The energy readings are spiking in that direction, so… lead on?”

“Follow me and watch my six.”

“Always.”

Through the door they went, one after the other, and a dead body immediately floated into Andromeda’s path. Her scream would have echoed through the entire station had it not been contained by her suit helmet. Instead, Andreja took the brunt of it and winced at the piercing decibel level while shoving the body aside. She then touched her helmet to Andromeda’s and told her to breathe. After taking a moment to collect herself from the sudden fright, Andromeda signaled she was ready to move on. Further in they went – past another dead body that thankfully drifted well within their view – until a voice crackled over their comm channel and brought them to a dead stop in the long corridor. Disjointed and incomprehensible, Andreja tried unsuccessfully to hear what it said while Andromeda stared open-mouthed at the unexpected audio intrusion.

“What the hell was that!?”

“I do not know,” said Andreja. “But I fear we are not alone on this station. Eyes up and keep alert.”

Andromeda nodded and they pushed on. At the far end of the corridor another door led to another ruined control room filled with floating debris. More blue lights shone from a room beyond, and when Andreja pushed open the next hatchway they stepped through and came to a dead stop. A multilevel chamber spanned the area around them and about halfway across stood two figures that appeared to be arguing animatedly in front of a curtain of pulsating blue energy that rippled like the surface of a lake. It grew so intense near the fringes that it turned white and arced with something resembling electricity that occasionally flashed in a blinding manner.

And if that wasn’t weird enough, the figures were composed of the same energy effect.

Why does all the weird [censored] happen to us? thought Andromeda just as the weird phantoms began to speak.

[Acadian]

“You do know that it is okay to be modest even when it is not required, yes?”
- - That would a “Nope.”

“Thank you, Annie. Do not worry… I will keep you safe.”
“Damn right you will.”
- - Annie’s reply there is quite Gwyndala-esque. As is this one:
“I’m not going anywhere, Dre. You’re stuck with my annoying ass.”

Well, more bounty quests to earn more credits!

Andreja elaborates on her previous confession and, not surprisingly, Andromeda takes it completely in stride.

Wow, you painted the inside of that space station with full horror movie suspense! Can’t wait to find out what happens next!