Written for the GHHQ Exchange. This multi-chapter work is gifted to Snavej. I hope to update regularly in order to have this story completed by August.
She was in a world of pain. Heat pulsated through her veins as her head spun. Her stomach churned when she leaned forward in a desperate attempt to relieve herself of the burning agony. Strong, steady hands held her in place after she had fallen to her knees. With blurring vision she lifted her head. Her mouth hung open, but she was unable to make a sound.
The convulsions started soon after her knees had dug into the sun baked sand. The two masked soldiers maintained their grip as they glanced at one another. A third knelt before the twitching woman, observing her flushed face. He watched as beads of sweat collected at her hairline and as tears streamed down her hot cheeks. Beneath her stringy, ragged bangs dark brown eyes brightened. The color of her eyes lightened as streaks of green and azure blue tainted her irises.
"She's another one, like the brat that got away. She'll survive the serum," spoke the soldier staring into her face. "We need to return to Nergal. The emperor will be most pleased we have found someone else."
"And what of the remaining peasants? Is there any need to continue searching for another?"
"She is the only other inhabitant of the Geminian System that has ever survived. The odds are low we will find another here. I suggest we eradicate the planet entirely. No one will miss Zeta Geminorum C."
All three soldiers looked at one another before nodding in agreement. Their young prisoner managed a yell in protest as her body continued to tremble.
"No! You can't!"
They focused their attention on the woman again. The grip on her shoulders tightened as the soldier in front of her reached out to take her cheek in his hand. When his gloved fingers brushed against her skin the woman shook her head.
Gasping, as a clump of her hair was yanked, she snapped her gaze to the soldier. She was unable to see his eyes through his dark, shiny mask. She was only able to see a reflection of her terrified expression.
As she attempted to speak again the sensation that made her blood like it was boiling intensified. She sucked in a breath and her body crumpled forward. The soldiers all released their hold on her, allowing her to crash into the ground. Grains of sand dug into her forehead at the time of impact, and she squeezed her eyes shut. She began coughing, as she had unintentionally inhaled the arid soil.
"Get her on board immediately," ordered the soldier that had been kneeling. He rose to full height, smirking behind his mask. "We'll prepare for takeoff within the hour."
Crimson lights flashed and alarms blared throughout the ship, sending the crew into a frenzy. Many had abandoned their duties to crowed the bleach tinted corridors. As the men and women aboard the Lugalirra shoved each other through the halls, the captain sat in the bridge, mute. The ringing drone from the ship's emergency system he had initiated seconds before sounded distant. His sight was set on the window ahead of him, where an image of an updated map from the navigational system was projected. As his slender fingers lingered over the control panel he tightened his jaw. Never had he expected such a move from his opposition...nor did he fully understand it.
His first mate standing to his left, and two other trusted members of his crew standing behind him, the captain inhaled deeply. As he expelled the stale air in his lungs he stiffened his posture. He touched a finger to the panel and watched carefully as the area interest on the map expanded.
"This confirms it…" he whispered, eyes still trained on the map. "It really happened."
"How?! How can they do that! I didn't think it was possible!" shouted one of the crew members. He leaned over the captain, reaching for the toggle switch. The captain slapped his hand away.
"There is no need to witness it again, Takigawa."
"But Captain Shibuya-"
The captain angled his head back and glared, "I understand that it must be difficult for you to accept. It wasn't a mistake, and it was confirmed via the navigational system. I'm afraid you will not find any evidence that this tragedy was a hoax."
"It was my home!"
The four men sat in silence as the sirens continued to resonate. Glowing lights bathed the bridge with a red hue. They cast dark shadows across the captain's features as he maintained a stern visage.
"Brown," spoke Captain Shibuya, "escort Takigawa to the lower deck." The shorter of the men standing behind the captain nodded. He took his comrade's arm and urged him to move back.
"I'm not leaving."
"There is no need for your presence with your current state of mind. As of this moment, you serve no use to me."
Takigawa lurched forward, a hand raised. His attempt to smack the youthful captain was thwarted by his fellow mate.
"There isn't any need for violence, Takigawa. You know the captain has a point. It's best you take yourself out of this situation for now," said John Brown. He loosened his hold on Takigawa slightly as he closed his eyes. "Come on, let's go."
The larger man refused to move as John nudged him. He held his clenched fists at his side as he cast his gaze down. A dry laugh escaped his lips.
"No need for violence? Did you not just see what happened?"
"I meant-"
Takigawa interrupted John, "An entire planet was destroyed! And every single life on that planet was lost! Now you're telling me this isn't the time for violence?! This is time for a revolution! Waiting any longer would be foolish! To know they can just...obliterate an entire people like that…"
Sighing, the captain crossed his arms. He returned his focus to the center window, studying the holographic map splayed over the glass.
"To begin a revolution at this moment would be foolish. It is highly unlikely that any civilians in the empire will learn of this event. If there were to be uprisings, they would not be of substantial size. They would start small. Anyone, or any planet associated with one, would likely meet a fate similar to Zeta Geminorum C. A successful revolution needs to be carefully cultivated. The people must also have a figure to which they can look for hope. Unfortunately, no such figure exists as of now."
"So we're just going to sit back and watch them take out planet after planet?!"
Holding a hand to his face, Captain Shibuya rolled his eyes, "You don't seem to understand. There is currently no groundwork for a large-scale rebellion. If we were to instigate uncoordinated uprisings now there would be a massive number of casualties. It would serve as a warning to others that might be inspired to join the cause. The support for a rebellion must be large enough that the empire can't simply annihilate every threat without endangering its own economy and standing as a galactic power. Until there is enough underground support, there is nothing of consequence that can be done."
"Then broadcast this to the whole damn empire! That'll gain plenty of support!"
The first mate, Lin, spoke in place of the captain, "Yes, you are correct, but it would also lead to many unorganized protests. Lives would be wasted due to initial reactions of some citizens. People like you, Takigawa, would act blindly and rashly. That wouldn't do any good in starting a revolution. It would give the empire the opportunity to make an example of those that cross them."
"But-"
"Enough of this," the captain didn't allow Takigawa the chance to continue his argument. "Brown, escort Takigawa out, now. And do not allow him back in here until he has gotten his emotions under control."
Scrambling, John pushed against Takigawa. He was desperate to get him out before the situation tensed further. Once he managed to get Takigawa a few steps back before Lin moved to assist him. After the two left the bridge with Takigawa between them, the captain stood. The navy tails of his coat licked at the back of his heels as he walked to the window. He gazed through the transparent map and out at the stars. Wondering what Urado's motive was in destroying a planet so recklessly he brushed a hand through his dark hair.
Captain Shibuya was aware that there had been no talk of uprisings on Zeta Geminorum C. Takigawa had once told him that the planet's inhabitants tried to remain neutral after the fall of the monarchy. There were those that did resent the empire, of course, but most of them opted to stay silent to live out their lives quietly. A good number did join the Pollux Pirates when Captain Shibuya began recruiting members for the sake of a better future... Really, the captain had Takigawa to thank for convincing a solid third of his crew to join…
Regardless, there didn't appear to be a logical reason as to the sudden genocide. There was no point to prove that Captain Shibuya could see.
As he turned back, Captain Shibuya squinted. The constant flickering of the red lights was bothering him, however, it did remind him that he needed to address his entire crew. They needed to know of the events that had transpired, as many of them once called a plant that ceased to exist home.
Captain Shibuya returned to the control panel and swiped his hand across it. The projection of the map vanished, and the system alarms were silenced. A section of the panel opened with a hiss, and a small camera rose to the level of the captain's eye. He stepped back as it hovered. A light embedded to the lower right of the lens blinked green three times prior to turning solid orange.
With a completely stoic face, the captain began his broadcast to the crew. He maintained a level tone as he spoke.
"As your captain, it is my obligation to inform you all of the egregious actions the Geminian Empire has taken in the name of their emperor, Urado, just only moments ago. We have all witnessed the ruthless nature of the empire since the downfall of the federation, yet these latest atrocities have set a new, alarming precedent." He paused, wanting to make certain he had everyone's attention. "It is imperative that we continue with our mission to dismantle the empire in order to prevent future catastrophes."
Another pause.
"I offer my deepest sympathies to all of you that once lived on Zeta Geminorum C, as it has been permanently eradicated by the Geminian Military. The reasoning behind the destruction of this planet remains unclear. Though many of you are likely devastated by this fact, and wish to take immediate action, I must order that each and everyone of you keep this news secret. I fear that a similar events may ensue if the general population of the empire were to learn of this massacre. So I repeat: I order you all to keep this secret. This matter is of great importance, and therefore I will not be merciful to anyone that dares to defy me."
"You're damn lucky there wasn't a mutiny," Lin scolded his captain. "You do realize that more than sixty percent of your crew detests you at present, yes?"
"But do they detest me more so than Urado?"
"Kazuya, that isn't the point. You're walking a thin line at present. If you make one single mistake it could very well cost you your life. I understand that everyone aboard needed to be made aware of the situation, but I think it was a mistake for you to make such a bold threat."
Slouched in his chair, the captain crossed his arms and shrugged, "I had no choice. They had to know what happened. I couldn't hide that kind of information from them, especially once Takigawa found out. If this news were to leak to the general public, from us, things would not end well. Of course, we want to preserve as many lives as possible. But if the information were to leak before any announcement, if the empire announces anything, it would be obvious that we have some to their private channels. It took me far too long to get into them once. I cannot imagine the amount of time we would waste if I had to repeat the process. We would lose contact with Madoka. Those channels are our only link to her, and she is too valuable an asset to lose."
Lin had no retort. The captain's points were valid, but he was still on thin ice. It worried Lin that Kazuya didn't appear to take his own safety into consideration the majority of the time. It was almost always and afterthought….
"I'll be careful," Kazuya made eye contact with Lin. "You have my word."
Staring into the captain's violet blue eyes, Lin slowly spoke, "Don't do anything stupid."
With a raised brow Kazuya replied, "I already gave you my word, or are you deaf? I'll be careful."