“You knew this was going to happen, Alex.” Captain Jason Argo rested his black spotless, booted feet upon the stainless steel table that held a glowing monitor. He brought a steaming hot cup of coffee to his lips, eyed it warily and continued to sip, violently spitting it out when the molten liquid touched his tongue.
“You’ve been watching this from the beginning, Jason. I have no idea if my sister is alive. The sensor I implanted subdermally in Blink keeps giving such odd data.” Alex let out a deep breath and adjusted the worn leather jacket that kept him warm. In the abandoned train stations of Chenolla VI’s moon, extra clothing layers were essential. He fidgeted, wrapping his gloved fingers around the pilot’s wings that decorated his collar. Even through the cotton fabric, he could feel frigid metal.
“She’s a tough kid, Alex. You know we had limited options, here. It was either the uncertainty with this, or leave her to the same fate that befell your parents. You and I both know she would have been a barren and mindless slave, before suffering to death under Trageth rule.” The young captain blew into the mug again, and watched the steam curl into different patterns.
“You have no idea what this is like for me. I don’t understand why we just can’t go in and get her!” Alex’s tantrum echoed through the large and empty room. Caught of guard, Jason immediately set down his mug and stood. At full height of 6′2, he was eye level with his subordinate.
“You will shut your mouth right now Lieutenant! Is that clear?” Upon hearing his rank in the resistance, Alex immediately silenced himself and stood at attention.
“You know damn well that we can’t go in after her. The Space Force has the planet under immediate quarantine, allowing for the Trageth to sweep it clean. Chenolla VI is a lost cause. We can’t do anything to compromise our location. You’re just going to have to trust in everyone involved in Sophie’s well being, including me. This isn’t the first extraction we’ve done.” The Captain kept his blue eyes focused on his LT, impressing the importance of his rapid words. “You’re one of my best pilots. Don’t make me address you with rank again, is that clear?”
“Sir, yes, sir!” Alex stiffened and saluted.
“Now, talk to me like your actual friend.” He reached for the coffee that was now icing along the top and sighed. “There are no good guys in this situation, Alex. Even the resistance has done shameful things to protect our own. Your sister is an important person in all of this, and when the Trageth realize what she can do, we are all in very big trouble.”
“So what now?” Alex asked as he rocked back and forth on his heels watching the static of the monitor.
“We wait.”
I like this tangent, and I think it actually could lead to a really good wrap-up. (hint, hint remaining writers.)
Kate, way to introduce a whole nother (I’m sure there’s a descriptive for splitting a word and inserting another whole word into it, but I think it’s usually done with the F word) sub-plot into the situation! In this, my fiction debut, I’ve just been tamely following a single line. I’m amazed at the many different ways you writer-type people can go off in a new direction! It seems I may need to learn how to think poly-tangentially (also know as “knotty thinking”).
Nathan, I know numbers aren’t your forte (unless they’re connected to a movie), but since you are linking to Kate’s Part 28, your Polybloggimous link should actually say Part 28. Let me see, 32 (16 twice) - 28 leaves just 4 parts remaining! Woo-hoo!
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