It is said that no matter what wrong we do, after it is done, no right can counter it. No good will come of it, and no end will befall it. Catherine Halsey feared this law of life, and knew it was sure to become her downfall.
Eden was, as the marines said, 'creepy as hell'. ONI didn't compare to Dr. Halsey's spook. He was small, thin, and white as a ghost. He'd been on sight at several insurrectionist battles, and yet somehow, always came out unscathed. Apart from that, the onslaught of carnage almost seemed appealing to him.
Halsey was getting older and frailer by the day, and so she had chosen an apprentice to train. No one knew how she stumbled upon Eden, but he quickly became her eyes and ears, and she gained even more along the lines of private knowledge. All in all, the two were both down right creepy.
"Clearance codes accepted, ma'am. ETA thirty-five minutes." The slight hologram of a catholic monk informed, his voice almost like a monotone song.
"Thank you, Dominic." Captain Jovian responded blearily. Ice naps were something she hated. "Dominic?" She asked as she wrapped her long dark hair into a knot at the base of her neck and made sure her hair was set. "Is our guest waking up well?"
"Yes, ma'am." Jovian wondered what he was going to be like. As a scientist, he must be smart, but just how smart? Apart from his occupation, she knew absolutely nothing about him. He had been frozen when she had her crew had boarded, and was only waking now.
"Ma'am, Dr. Parinferno has been successfully awakened and wishes to be granted access to the bridge."
"Let him in." The pressure doors slid open and, to her surprise, a small boy about seven or eight, glided over to where she sat, and strapped himself into a second chair. His hair was almost white blond, and thick amounts of ice still clung to it. It was a few inches long, and seemed to cause his face to appear gaunt. His eyes were large and crystalline blue, and his pale face was slight angled. He himself was a very slight person, even for a child. It seemed to cause him to look sickly under the fluorescents.
"G-Good morning Doctor." Jovian said, attempting to make contact as the boy immediately set to work on the holo-pad, his fingers moving at accelerated intervals.
"It's night." He stated matter-of-factly without a single upward glance. His voice was so soft, it was hardly above a whisper, yet he radiated command.
"We're inbound to Europa in fifteen." She continued.
"Yes, I know." He replied.
"I'm Captain Jovian."
"Of course you are. Do you think I would choose a Captain and not know all I could about them? Needless to say, their name."
"You commanded my transfer?"
"Indeed."
"Why?"
"You were prime. I needed someone who could fly quite well under stress, and you fit the criteria."
"There are plenty of good Captains out there."
"Yes, but I chose you. Must I explain it again?" That sounded like the end of a conversation to her, so she kept her mouth shut after that.
Once they landed on Europa, Eden immediately changed into civilian clothing.
"Why are you dressed like that?" Jovian asked, seeing him in what looked like a student uniform at an educational facility.
"Under cover, clearly." He tousled his hair to rid it of the still present ice, and then smoothed it back. He did, indeed appear to be a civilian child.
"We need to take a bullet to educational facility 563. There, I will go in as a student, and find what I need." He said as they walked to the bullet station. When the train pulled up, Eden pulled Jovian up towards the front.
"What?" She attempted to question. Eden flashed a card at the driver, and got into the front compartment.
"What was that?" Jovian questioned as they sat down.
"Nothing that concerns you, ma'am" He replied as it took off. Moments lapsed in silence, growing thicker by every silent moment. Moments that were shattered when an ear splitting blam! Rent the air and shook the entire train. Eden and Jovian were immediately on their feet.
"Shit. They know." Jovian muttered, angrily.
"Clearly." Eden responded, ever patient.