Chapter 2
Brian
x

It is warm day as usual and he has been standing with Steven and Diana as they discussed the security needed for the medical building. Brian has made sure that his face is set hard and with no emotion. Standing in attention with his hands behind his back and having to watch Steven and Diana come close to verbally attacking each other has not been comfortable. Diana in Steven's opinion had crossed the line when she threatened the troopers, she had told them if there was a security breach they would be dealt with most severely. He has come to realize hurting a trooper would not be a problem for her. This is why the Doing Our Own Thing, must always do as commanded, always silence. He has found out just how easy it is for her to end someone's life. He watches as Diana walks away as both she and Steven give each other a dark look.

Steven then turns his attention from her with a look that indicates how much she irritates him, then he turns to the troopers. "Take a few extra minutes for a break and understand that the work you have been doing is as expected and I know you will continue to do so." They nod and appear to appreciate the words from Steven and they leave immediately. Then he turns and at first his focus seems to be elsewhere for a moment. "Brian, you are excused, if you wish to take a few minutes for yourself, go ahead. You as well have performed your assignments as expected, do not let someone tell you something else."

"Thank you sir." He takes a breath and relaxes for a moment, "I wanted to thank you for bringing in Gordon into this new division. You will find his leadership to be everything you expect it to be."

"I believe that would be me thanking you," Steven nods his head to Brian. "Already he has been there when needed and able to ensure that everyone does as directed. You've done a good job at preparing Gordon. I was quite happy to promote you further as my second. I am sorry we could not remove you from the Youth Corp, but they won't allow you. Just a reminder you will find your new duties will bring on further stress, so be prepared." He nods his head to the door, "At least go get a drink of water as today will be a very busy day or eat something. It is always good when the humans see you eating, not something most of us can do. Always best to keep them from wondering why."

Brian licks his lips nervously, he is not hungry and he dislikes being directed to eat so that humans would not know how most of their people actually eat. Walking into the hallway of the hospital he looks about, he is most certainly thirsty. He finds himself rubbing his fingers across the collar of his uniform. He hates this new hideous uniform that he and several others have been recently given. The stiff gold fabric on the collar rubs on his neck and the gold band feels like it is digging into his arm, both bother him and not just physically. The band on his arm reminds him of Earth history where Nazi's wore something similar. Do his superiors not understand the very history that he and other Youth Leaders were forced to learn, that the uniform changes are one of a people following an evil dictator. Humans must be thinking that his people are similar to Nazi's, this can't be good. Then again he hates the Regime himself, hopefully though this doesn't increase the hatred of his people. Too many protests and resistance is building among the humans and unrest amongst the ship personnel although it is quiet, it is still there knocking at little bit louder each time. This is going to make, Doing Our Own Thing even more difficult. What was the Great One thinking of to make them a representation of that one time dictatorship and the thought is, one time dictatorship.

Finding the water he takes a long drink from the fountain and sighs, that is better. Then he hears a voice yelling, "You will do what I say, when I say!" That is Diana walking towards his direction. He turns his head and sees an open door to a room and hurries towards it. He has no idea what or who may be in the room, but if he is lucky he will be free to hide there. Brian walks quickly as possible and enters the room, but before he can look around to see if anyone is there. . . . .

"This must feel better than being out there with. . . Diana," Martin says with a smile. "Great hiding place."

Brian finds himself pressed against the wall and feeling foolish with Martin watching him. "Hiding, no just, ah. . ."

Martin stops him from speaking by putting a finger to his lip and with the other hand indicating Brian should stay where he is. Then he steps out of the room holding his device in his hand, "Diana! I hope you got the information I sent."

"Yes, at least someone knows their job." Diana appears to be looking about, "Did you see Brian? I was sure I saw him when I was coming down the hall."

He looks at the device and then looks about, "Brian? No, if I see him do you want me to tell him you're looking for him?"

Diana frowns, "No. I just thought. Never mind." She then continues down the hall snarling at those who are attending her.

Martin returns to the room smiling and shaking his head, "You are not the first you know."

"Not the first sir?"

"I believe that you are one of Diana's lovers or rather wishing you weren't one." Martin says still smiling. "You began by thinking she was the love of your life and later all you want to do is get as far away from her as possible."

"No, sir."

Martin levels his stare at him, "Let me call her back for you then. She certainly is looking for you."

Brian swallows hard and looks toward door, the last thing he wants is Diana anywhere near him. He sighs, "You aren't going to tell her I was. . .ah, hiding from her. I mean, just being. . .ah, I. . ."

Martin holds a hand up so that Brian stops trying to find an excuse for his behavior, "No, I won't say anything." Then he looks to the door and back to the Youth Leader, "I wish you luck in your wish to redraw from her attention. It may take awhile, but she will get bored." He snorts, "She does get bored. Just be careful, there are two young men who tried to escape and they have moved on to what you Whipelli call the next path."

"Two?"

"Uhmmm," Martin cocks his head and gives him a smile. "Then you knew of one losing his life, but not the second. I would give you advice, but truthfully when it comes to Diana I have none."

Brian rubs his lips and chin, not sure what to do next, he looks back to the door and then back to Martin. "Thank you, I better go."

"One more thing, I have listened to your speeches," Martin seems to be sizing up the Youth Leader. "You have been mindful that words and passion are more dangerous than weapons. However, you seem to using them as though they are your weapons. I have heard that you and another named Alfred from the Berlin ship are both asking to give speeches. The two of you are quite dedicated," He crosses his arms for a moment, "Truly your dedication to the Regime is without question." With a nod of his head, "Have a good day and good luck with hiding today and still carry out your duties. Today promises to be a very busy day."

Brian simply stares blankly back at Martin, "Thank you." He nods and begins to walk out the door and suddenly turns. "Again, thank you sir."

Walking down the hall he continues to see if Diana is about, finally he decides it will do him no good to stay inside. Diana will not go out back and right now that appears to be the safest place to hide out until he needs to return to Steven or is called back to fulfill an assignment. He watches the troopers as they check people walking about. Some of the troopers have those gold helmets now and from what he is hearing they hate them as much as he hates the stiff gold trimming on his collar and arm band on his jacket.

He walks past two men dressed in blue hospital clothing, he has no idea if they are nurses, doctors or some other medical staff. They turn their heads away from, this makes him uncomfortable as it means they have some fear. He doesn't want people fearful of him, it makes it harder to read them and fear brings on repercussions. As he passes them he catches site of Gary who has a mouse in his hand that he has taken from a large orange garbage container. He has a feeling that Gary intends to eat the mouse and as quickly as he can without making to much of a scene of it he tries to reach Gary before he does so. Unfortunately, there are to many walking about and the quicker he walks the more turn their heads towards him, however he does not think they see Gary who now is swallowing the mouse. When he reaches Gary he violently grabs him by the arm, "Just what the hell do you think you are doing?" Then he sees an old man drinking from a bottle of which he assumes is alcohol, this is likely what the veteran does with the money he gives him, the veteran is forever drunk. This older man has the same look and smell as the veteran.

Gary smiles, "Mousie."

The drunk is trying to look up at them and Brian is pretty sure that walking away is not on the humans list of things he can do right now. He turns his head and sees what appears to be two nurses coming out of the medical building. It does not appear that they have seen anything, but Gary is completely done in by the haze. He pushes him back a bit and glares at him, "Humans must never see us eat, never."

His heart is racing, he takes out his device to call for security to come and take the old man, but just as he is ready to do it, he sees the veteran he gives money to in the old man's face. Brian finds himself shivering, he can't do it. He looks about, no one has seen anything and the old man is completely drunk. He walks over to the old man and glares at him, "I guess you saw him eating garbage out of there?" Brian points to the orange container.

The old man's head comes up with a snap like someone poked him with a stick, "Mowse?!"

Brian looks in the orange container until he finds what looks like some sort of wrapper with food in it and pulls it out. "Like this?" If he can't get the drunk to have his memory altered even the slightest he will not have to call and have him removed. He glares at the old man, otherwise he will have to as protecting the movement is first and foremost for him. Then he turns and glares at Gary, he may have been the one who got him to Beautiful Smoke, but today the favor has been paid back. This is also the second time he has confronted Gary, recently it was for threatening those at Beautiful Smoke. Gary has gone from being helpful and needed to being a risk to the movement.

The old man shakes his head no and appears to have a bit more focus as he snarls at Brian. "A mouse, mouse."

Brian holds up the white wrapper that he has tried to manipulate into a mouse shape and bending a bit towards the old man he shows the wrapper and the man looks at it as he pulls back the paper a bit.

The old man looks at it with a confused look and with a hiccup asks, "Is that mowse?"

"Does it look like a mouse?" Brian glares at Gary for a second and then points to him. "That idiot has a thing for garbage food. Please excuse his behavior, I know it must be offensive."

The old man shakes his head slowly and takes a sip from his bottle, "Loookeeed moose like." He takes another drink from the bottle and Brian drops the wrapper with the very disgusting rotting smell at his feet. The old man touches it and wrinkles his nose, "Stinks." Then he takes a deep sigh. "No, not eat mouse." The man looks at the wrapper and puts a finger to his nose, "He shouldn't eat. . . that." Then he goes back to drinking from his bottle and they become apparently oblivious to him.

"Ah, thanks." Gary says with a very glazed look. Brian grabs his arm and pulls him away from the old man.

"I am going to get you taken to the ship and report you as ill, somehow we'll get you there so you don't get into trouble. If you tell anyone what happened today you may stop breathing, Diana is not in a good mood today." Brian gives him an angry glare, "Do you understand?"

"Yeah, got it," Gary giggles and then stops as the name Diana finally resonates within him. He looks a bit nauseous, "Uhmmm, Diana. I am sick, I should go."

"My favor to you has now been paid back!" He shoves Gary back and then again. "Life is rough and I understand wanting to hide from everything that is happening, but you can't."

"I am sorry. . .I will be more careful." Gary says quietly as he looks down at his feet.

"You better, because I won't always be there to help you." For the first time he would really like to hit someone, but anger won't help the situation. Control, manipulation and dedication are the only tools he has at this moment. He closes his eyes for a moment and takes a deep breath. When Brian looks up he can see Aloohula and Arai, he waves them over. When they come up he explains what Gary has done and can one of them get him back to the ship quietly and see if they can manipulate the situation. Arai nods and says that he can, he then escorts Gary away to a small shuttle where a few troopers are standing in line to go back to the ship. Brian sends a message to the ship and will speak to Daniel and alert him he will need another Youth Corp member to assist him.

Aloohula looks at Brian giving him an unhappy look, "Never let him find out about us. He could turn out to be very dangerous to our cause." Brian nods in agreement and they both watch Arai walking Gary away to the shuttle where now the troopers are beginning to enter.

"He used to be this amazing smuggler, if not for him we would not have Beautiful Smoke. Hell, we wouldn't have. . .you know." Brian knows that the trooper knows he is speaking of Doing Our Own Thing. "He's not stupid, anyone brought here is not stupid. What happened to him?"

"You know what happened to him, hard for him to deal with the day." Aloohula doesn't have to say. They both know that the Regime and its control over them has become ever tighter. "Just remember we are supposed to do as commanded." He then nods over to the old man in the distance. "Something happened over there, does it need further care."

"No, to many around and besides I think I took care of it. I will tell you tonight or later today when we don't have watchers so to speak." He turns his head to a group of humans who are watching them as they begin to walk back to the building.

"Arai and I were sent to look for you, Steven has an assignment for you. Your device has the room and who we are to take back to the ship. I am afraid that you are likely getting used to this kind of assigned task, we certainly have done several in these last few weeks. Figure you did not hear your device go off with all the happy time you were spending with Gary and his friend. Not sure if I care about the story now that I have gotten to know Gary it is likely something stupid he did." From there Aloohula gives the details of the assignment Steven has for them.

XxxxX

Brian stands stiffly with his arms behind his back, supposedly the human will be here shortly. There is nothing to prepare for, just take the individual in his visual. He has no idea why this individual is to be brought up to the ship, but one thing is certain the human will undergo conversion. This makes him uncomfortable as Diana takes great pleasure in watching the process, better when she can do it herself. However, it is a process that takes time and with her multiple projects she generally does not have the time anymore. His hope is that she is too busy and someone else will be directed to do the procedure or begin preparations and she will not come to check on the progress until after he has made his delivery and left. So far he has been lucky with the humans he has brought up to the ship, she has been either too busy to attend or delighted with the conversion to be done on a particular human to speak to him.

The door opens and an older gentleman begins to enter, Brian levels his gaze to the man, "I've been waiting for you." Two troopers come up behind Dr. Walker and Aloohula then enters the room, "Please, we will be escorting you to the shuttle. Would you like to do this quietly or we can have you take a nap. Which do you prefer?" He walks towards the man who gives him and then the troopers a defiant stare.

"No. . ." He looks again to the three of them and stands stiffly awaiting them to take him away. "I am fine doing as requested, I knew this day was coming." There is no fear in his eyes as he shrugs and turns to walk out the door between the two troopers.

They sit in the shuttle while the troopers weapons remain aimed at the doctor until they arrive to the ship. The doctor never says anything, he asks for nothing. The quiet seems odd as he has regrettably as of late been bringing people up to the ship for what he knows is the conversion procedure. Until today they always begged for help in some way. This always reminds him of Robin and never helping her and making promises he knew he could not keep. Today, you would think it would be better with the human not talking or crying, but it bothers him for some reason. This human is so willing to face the unknown. Something else though keeps nagging at him and it comes to him as they enter the elevator for the conversion chamber. What was it like when his own father was arrested, tortured and executed. All he can really do is remind himself that he must do as commanded no matter the command.

When they exit the elevator there is Jason, "All right then." Two troopers come up and Dr. Walker is placed in between the four troopers, Jason and Brian walk behind them.

"I didn't think that you were doing this kind of thing," Brian says very quietly to Jason. "I thought you did ancient stuff."

"The Big D; Diana is angry with me so this is my punishment." Jason shrugs, "Anyway I do the preparations and that is all. I haven't the knowledge or desire to learn and she prefers doing as much as she can. Lately she doesn't have the time for much."

"Totally understand and I like that, Big D thing." Suddenly there is that strange knocking he gets when he is being summoned to the dream world. "Are you okay with me leaving, I want to go to my room for a few minutes."

"No, problem." Then Jason says with a frown, "If I were you.." he points down the hall, "Run. . . run now."

Aloohula walks up to them and stands at attention, saying nothing.

He gives a nod to Jason and Aloohula before leaving he turns to them, "Do you remember a couple nights ago Kelly played that song for us?"

Jason looks at Aloohula and back to Brian, "Which one? You two love music. Oh, and Alex."

"Another One Bites the Dust."

"What about it?" Aloohula asks and then returns to standing at attention.

"Sick thought," Brian says as he frowns. "The song says another one gone and another bites the dust." Then he looks to the door to where the conversion work is done, "Something about bullets to the sound of the beat. How long before we, I mean another bites the dust?"

Aloohula's stance looses some of its stiffness as he shakes his head, "Been thinking about your father again."

Brian just nods his head.

Jason and Aloohula look at another and then the trooper sneers, "We won't be biting the dust."

"I agree, another one bites the dust will be each time we progress in our movement." He grins, "We are doing our own thing and not the Regime's."

They stand there for a moment and then Jason points down the hall again and says with a smile. "Run, now!"