Revival
Personal log: Stardate 49255.7. Captain Eric Ansaris speaking. I am currently undercover on Ilium, an Asari world in the Terminus systems. This part of space is known for having a higher amount of criminal activity than any other sector of the galaxy. Ilium itself seems to be the silver lining of this dark cloud. My mission here is to break up an arms deal between an Asari corporation and a mercenary group known as Eclipse. Hopefully, it will prevent a lot of innocent deaths in this part of the galaxy.
Eric walked into a bar on Illium, dressed in a faded leather jacket and old Zetan body armour from the days of the Empire. His hope was that he could portray himself as a grizzled, disenchanted war veteran looking to settle a score.
He sat at the bar, and an older purple-skinned Asari beckoned to him. "What it'll be, stranger?"
"The strongest stuff you have," he replied.
The Asari smirked. "The Krogan Ryncol then? Your funeral." She poured him a green alcoholic drink and passed it to him.
"Honey, I survived the purge of Thespis Prime. This ain't nothing."
"I bet you did," The Asari remarked.
"I put my life on the line for the Empire. And how do they thank me? By forcing me into retirement and acting like nothing I did ever happened."
"Well, the Empire doesn't exactly exist now, does it?" The Asari told him.
"Exactly. Bunch of spineless bastards."
"Hey, if you want to bitch and moan, fine by me. Just don't ask me for a head massage or things like that. I'm not that kind of Asari"
"I'm not here for you. I'm looking for Eclipse."
"Oh?" The Asari's eyes widened. "And what makes you think you'll find them in this crummy bar?"
Eric shrugged. "Thought maybe you could point me in the right direction."
"Well, I know someone who knows someone in the Eclipse."
"I'm listening."
"There's an Arendellian girl who comes here sometimes. Her name's Amanda. She's apparently had a girlfriend in Eclipse."
"Good to know. If she comes in, tell her I'm looking for her."
"I don't know when she'll be coming around, but if you want something to do right now, I know there's an Eclipse guy recruiting in a strip club not far from here."
"Oh? Why didn't you start with that?"
"I'm 700 years old, sugar. My memory's not as good as it used to be."
"Whatever. Who's doing the recruiting?"
"A Salarian named Gresh. He'll be the only guy there with green skin, can't miss him."
"All right. I'll keep my eyes open. Thanks."
Eric then left the bar and took out a small communicator. "Dashing Prince to Mother Bird."
"Mother Bird here," replied Commander Kira Yamato. "I still say you should've let me pick the codenames."
"Well, Elsa won the coin toss," Eric remarked.
"Any leads?"
"An Asari bartender just informed me of an Eclipse recruiter in a nearby strip club."
"Did you get a name?"
"Gresh. It's a Salarian name."
Kria then looked the name up on a console. "Ah hah, got him. His full name is Gresh Nus. He's one of the top lieutenants in Eclipse, wanted in ten systems for murder, arson, theft and about a dozen other crimes."
"Sounds like he's my kind of guy," Eric remarked.
"Pretty much, yeah."
"Well then, I guess I should introduce myself."
"Be careful, Cap."
"I will, and don't call me Cap. I don't like nicknames."
"Melody gives you nicknames."
"She's my daughter. That's her special privilege."
"Yeah, whatever," Kira replied, his tone denoting a verbal eye-roll.
Eric then headed towards the strip club, eager to meet this "Gresh".
The strip club, called "Nightshade", was very busy that night. As Eric entered, one of the dancers, a female Kolechian, approached him. "Hello, handsome."
"Hello," Eric replied, nonchalantly.
"Would you like a dance? My blue skin may be cold, but I'm sure you can warm me right up."
"Perhaps later," Eric told her. "Excuse me." Eric then headed to the back of the bar, where he found his target.
The Salarian known as Gresh was sitting in a private room, sipping on a drink. He was wearing the trademark cream and black armour of an eclipse mercenary. He then eyed Eric with his beady black eyes. "Ah, hello."
"Are you Gresh?" Eric asked.
"Might be," he responded, taking a large gulp of his drink. "Who wants to know?"
"I heard you were recruiting new Eclipse members."
"Yeah, I am. We need some new guys after our base in the Krell asteroid belt was raided by Star Command a few months back. Lousy Space Rangers."
"The name's Dax Olesa. I was with the Zetan Empire for years."
"I see. Kicked you out, did they?"
"More or less."
"Well, what's a old warrior like you wanting from a guy like me?"
"Payback. Plain and simple."
Gresh smiled. "Well, as it so happens, our organisation was recently contracted for some major work here on Ilium. Could be quite profitable and enjoyable for a soldier like you."
"Oh really? What kind of work?"
"Well, I can't exactly tell you in here with all these lovely ladies to distract me," he joked.
"Can't say I blame you."
"Follow me out back. I'll explain everything," he instructed.
Eric followed Gresh out of the club. "So what's the deal?"
"This." Gresh pushed his hand out and a biotic blue energy glowed from it.
Eric was then hit with a powerful blast and pinned against the nearby wall.
"Hey! What the hell?!"
"Did you really think I was that stupid?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't play coy with me," He remarked. "I could see it in your eyes as you walked up to me. Those weren't the eyes of a veteran. They were more like those of a stinkin' cop."
"Cop? What are you talking about? This planet has no law enforcement."
"I know you're not who you say you are, pal," Gresh reminded him. "I'm gonna enjoy killing you."
"What are you doing, you lunatic?!"
"Tying up loose ends. Can't have a cop knowing that Eclipse is on Illium."
"For the last time, I'm not a cop! I used to be, when I was with the Empire! They got rid of me because they're a bunch of weak little pansies!"
"Don't lie to me to me, Zetan. I've had enough of this!"
"He's telling the truth," a female voice said. Gresh turned to see a young woman with short brown hair walking towards them. She wore the familiar Eclipse armor as well. "I saw guys like him during the invasion of Arendelle."
"Amanda?" Gresh looked at her. "What are you doing here?"
The woman then pulled out her gun. "Put him down, or I'll make you wish you hadn't hatched from your egg."
"Like hell I am!" Gresh snarled.
The woman then pulled the trigger, firing a bullet into Gresh's head. "I warned you, frog face."
Gresh slumped to the floor, dead, and Eric was freed from his biotic restraint.
Eric brushed himself off. "Thanks for that."
The woman then pointed her gun at him. "Who are you?"
"Woah, easy. I'm not your enemy. My name's Dax Olesa. I was looking to join up with Eclipse."
"Yeah right, I saw the way he was looking and talking to you," the woman growled.
"He was being paranoid."
"That guy was never paranoid. He knew when someone doesn't say who they say they are."
"Everyone makes mistakes."
"Not Gresh," The woman pressed the pistol up to Eric's skull.
"And yet you killed him."
"Because I want to rid Ilium of scum like him. And if you were trying to partner with him or something, then that makes you just like him."
"Wait-you're not with Eclipse?"
"No. Well, I used to be."
Eric's eyes narrowed. "Now who isn't who they said they were?"
"I never said I was Eclipse now."
"You're wearing Eclipse armour."
"As a reminder of my past. You're wearing old Zetan armour under that jacket of yours"
"As a reminder of mine."
"So what are you then, Dax Olesa? If that's even your real name."
"Ex-military. From the days of the Empire."
The woman gave him a look that said, "Seriously?"
He sighed. "Alright. You win. You tell me who you are, and I'll tell you who I am."
"Amanda Moore," The woman introduced herself as she put her gun down.
"You know what I meant, Amanda."
"I want to end Eclipse," Amanda told him. "And all crime on this rock. Because of what it did to me."
"And what, pray tell, did it do to you?"
She looked away. "I'd rather not talk about it."
"Suit yourself. I'm Captain Eric Ansaris, of the Alliance starship Minerva. I was undercover to find out about a possible gunrunning operation."
"If that's all you heard, your intel must be really shit. Eclipse is planning something big on Ilium, bigger than simple arms smuggling."
"Well, start talking."
"Not here," she replied.
Amanda then led him back to the bar where Eric had met the older Asari.
Amanda held out a small device that projected a hologram of the city they were in, Nos Astra. "The Eclipse have been working for the Sirta Foundation, a company owned by an ex-diplomat named Suri Dalata. Apparently the Foundation wants to become the top dog here on Ilium and push all other companies out."
Eric nodded. "Okay, I'm with you so far."
"They're currently planning their first big offensive, here," Amanda pointed to a large skyscraper. "The Vortex Industries tower. That company supplies weapons and medical supplies to both the Federation and Alliance."
"And we have to stop them."
"Precisely, all in the name of free trade."
Eric stroked his chin. "Alright, I'll call some of my friends for backup."
"Please do."
xXx
Soon, Elsa, Kristoff, and Sapphira arrived in the city. They were all dressed in unmarked body armour so as to not arouse suspicion.
"So where are we meeting Eric?" Kristoff asked.
"He said something about an apartment owned by one Amanda Moore," Elsa answered.
"Sounds good," Sapphira commented.
"Now remember team, if anyone asks, we're just mercenaries looking for work," Elsa instructed.
"I hope I don't have to spend too long in this getup," Sapphira remarked.
"I actually kinda like it," Kristoff commented. "Reminds me of when we were back on Decine. Remember that, Els?"
"We never wore body armour, Kristoff," Elsa reminded him.
"True, but we were still smugglers."
Elsa and the group caught a skycar over to the apartment building and took an elevator up to Amanda's apartment.
"What do you know about Eric's contact?" Kristoff asked her.
"Only that she's Arendellian, and ex-Eclipse."
"Well, let's hope she can be trusted," Sapphira said.
"If Eric trusts her, we should too."
As they entered the apartment, Elsa finally got a good look at Amanda. Her eyes went wide. "No way..."
Amanda raised an eyebrow. "What? Is there something on my face?"
Elsa walked up to her, trying not to cry. "R-Rapunzel...? Is that...you?"
"Who the hell is Rapunzel? I'm Amanda."
"Umm, Elsa? is there something wrong?" Eric wondered.
Elsa shook her head. "N-no. She just...looks like someone I knew a long time ago."
Sapphira looked at Eric. "So what's the plan?"
"Go to Vortex Tower and stop Eclipse."
"That's not much of a plan," Kristoff commented.
"We haven't had a lot of time to think."
Amanda tapped her earpiece and nodded. "Uh huh. I got it." She then looked at the others. "One of my contacts just told me that Eclipse mercs have just stormed the tower."
"Sounds like it's go time," Sapphira stated, cracking her knuckles.
xXx
They arrived at the tower via skycab, and Sapphira smiled. "Good thing I charged up before we left."
"Charged up?" Amanda asked, confused.
As they entered the tower and spotted some Eclipse thugs, Sapphira closed her eyes, her tattoos glowing as she transformed into her true Knydaxian form.
"Woah!" Amanda exclaimed.
Elsa, Eric and Kristoff pulled out there guns. "Alright team, let's go!"
Sapphira charged forward, taking out two of the thugs with her energy blasts.
Eric took out a group of thugs on a higher walkway with a sniper rifle.
"More incoming from the left!" Amanda shouted.
Elsa tossed a grenade over at the group, taking them out.
"That's all of them!" Sapphira called out. "Come on!"
Amanda opened up a nearby elevator. "Their commander should be in the main office on the top floor."
As the elevator opened, one of the Eclipse mercs took out a pistol and shot Amanda in the chest.
"Amanda!" Elsa cried out.
Sapphira rushed to her side. "She needs medical attention!"
Amanda opened her eyes. "I'm...I'm okay. It hurts like hell, but I'll live."
Elsa shook her head. "No, the bleeding could get worse."
"I'll get her to the Minerva," Eric replied.
"No way," Amanda said defiantly. "I'm gonna see this through to the end." Amanda then coughed up blood over the floor. "On second thought, never mind." She looked at Elsa. "Give 'em hell for me."
Elsa nodded. "We will."
Eric took Amanda away and Elsa and the others entered the elevator.
"You know, I could've healed her," Sapphira said.
"It doesn't matter, the tech on the ship can heal her a lot better than you."
Sapphira's eyes then widened. "I just realized something. That pulse I sent out, to revive everyone...what if it brought Rapunzel back too?"
Elsa shook her head. "No, Rapunzel is dead. I saw it myself."
"Then why did you call her Rapunzel when you first saw her? Wait… that's why you sent her to the ship, so you could find out."
"She just... I don't know!" Elsa slammed her fist on the side of the elevator.
"Well, we'll find out," Kristoff put in.
As the doors opened on the main office, the Eclipse commander glared at them. "Look at what we got here."
The commander was an Asari, possibly young. She had yellow tattoos on her face. She was holding a human hostage behind a desk.
"Let the human go," Sapphira said calmly. "You've got nowhere to run."
"No, I was hired to kill these people, and I'm not letting some Federation scum get in my way!"
"Go ahead, then. Kill them. And when you do, I'll roast you like a cheap steak."
The commander sighed. She put her gun down and surrendered without a fight. "You win, Federation."
"Smart choice," Sapphira replied, changing back to her normal form.
Elsa's commbadge then beeped. "Elsa? You there?"
"Yes," she replied. "What is it?"
"There's something you should see here, Elsa."
"What?"
"It's about Amanda."
Elsa froze. "Beam us up there. Now."
Elsa was then beamed up onto the Minerva, Kristoff and Sapphira being left behind to take the Eclipse commander into custody.
xXx
Elsa went into the medical bay. "What is it?"
The Minerva's medical officer, Dr. Belle Watson, greeted her. "You're friend is not who she says she is, Captain Frost."
"What do you mean?"
"We have found a positive ID match for her DNA," Belle said. "Princess Rapunzel Corona of Arendelle."
"She's your cousin, Elsa," Eric said.
Elsa didn't say anything. She just pushed Belle aside and went into the sickbay, walking up to Amanda.
Amanda smiled at her. "Hey."
"Who are you?" Elsa demanded, tears in her eyes.
"I told you. Amanda Moore. At least, that's the name they gave me."
"They?"
"The Eclipse mercs who found me. I was stuck on some empty planet when they showed up."
"So that's why you were wearing their armour," Elsa realised. "But why did you leave them?"
"Because they killed my sister. We weren't blood related, but we were so close that everyone called us sisters."
"What was her name?"
"Keira. Keira Hallows. She made a mistake on a job we were doing and… paid the price."
Elsa held her hand. "Well, Amanda, would you like to know who you really are?"
"What do you mean?"
Elsa sighed. "Your name is not Amanda Moore. You are not even human."
"W-what...? That can't be."
"Your real name is Rapunzel Corona of Arendelle. I am Elsa Fryst of Arendelle. We're cousins."
"Rapunzel...why do I know that name? I know I remember the invasion for some strange reason… but why do I know that name?"
"The Invasion happened on your wedding day," Elsa explained. " We escaped our homeworld together, but you were killed when we jumped to warp in our ship."
"But...that's not true. I'm not this Rapunzel girl. I'm Amanda."
"You are her, I know you are." Elsa then left her and headed out of the medical bay.
xXx
She went to the conference room, where Eric, Kristoff, and Sapphira waited for her.
"I can't believe it!" Elsa slammed her fist on the table. "All these years I thought she was fucking dead!"
"Mom, calm down," Sapphira comforted her.
Tears formed in Elsa's eyes.
"Elsa, whoever this person is, Rapunzel or not, she needs you," Kristoff told her.
"How do we know she is Rapunzel?" Elsa argued. "She could be some kind of clone or something."
"The DNA is an exact match," Eric said. "Nobody but you knows where you buried her after she died."
"Then how did the Eclipse mercs find her then?"
"Must have been a random scan or something," Eric assumed. "But whatever it is, we need to know what to do with her."
"She remembers the invasion of Arendelle," Elsa then said. "She told me that she knows the name Rapunzel."
"She has to be her, Mom," Sapphira interjected. "My energy wave must have travelled out of the solar system and somehow made its way to the moon where you buried her."
"If that's the case, why doesn't she remember me? Or fully remember her past?"
"I don't know."
"Maybe the energy got weaker somehow?" Eric theorised. "And that's what caused her amnesia?"
"If she is Rapunzel, I know a way we can maker her herself again," Kristoff stated.
"How?"
"We could have her memory engrams reconstructed. The Zetans have the tech to do that."
"That's risky," Elsa stated. "It could end up completely breaking her if it goes wrong."
"But it could also bring your cousin back," Kristoff told her.
Elsa sighed. "I don't know what to do."
"Have her go through the procedure, Mom," Sapphira stated. "For her sake, and yours."
"Well...Arendelle does need a leader while I'm out here."
"And if she doesn't take up a leadership role, she can at least start a new life there, in peace and happiness," Sapphira then replied.
"I guess so." Elsa sighed. "Do it."
xXx
A while later Elsa and the others were outside of sickbay, watching Rapunzel go through the memory procedure.
Rapunzel was wired up to a machine that was attached to the end of the bed where her head was. The machine was stimulating a current through her mind, allowing her memories to be reprogrammed like code on a computer.
"I hope this works," Elsa said.
Sapphira held her mother's hand. "It will, Mom."
Soon, Dr. Watson left the sickbay.
"Is it done, Belle?" Elsa asked.
Belle nodded. "Yes, the procedure is complete."
"Good, I'll go in and see how she is."
Elsa entered the room and sat by Rapunzel's bed.
The young woman slowly opened her eyes. "W-where am I…?"
"You're in a sickbay, on a starship," Elsa explained. "Please don't try to move; you've just been through a very delicate operation."
She looked at Elsa. "I…I know that voice."
Elsa's eyes widened. Did she finally recognise her?
She sighed. "I can't quite place it…my head feels fuzzy. But…whoever you are, I know you. I'm sure of it."
"Do the names Elsa and Rapunzel ring a bell?"
"I…I'm not sure. I know those names, but I don't know how I know them." She was silent for a few moments. "I…I remember a wedding."
"Yes. Remember that beautiful dress you wore."
She closed her eyes. "I'm at a party…someone just got married. Then…big starships in the sky. People running. Screaming."
"Yes. That was the day of the invasion."
"Someone grabs my hand…we get in a ship and try to run away…I hit my head really hard, and I see someone looking at me. Then…everything goes dark."
"That was the moment you died. But you're alive again now, my cousin."
"Wait—there's more. It's dark. I can barely breathe. I…I'm underground. I struggle, and I claw my way up out of the ground. It's cold. I don't know where I am…or who I am. All I remember is…is the invasion."
"That was when you came back."
"A ship lands near me. People walk out. They're arguing. They see me, and they bring me with them." She sighed, opening her eyes. "I think…some of the haze is clearing. I'm starting to remember."
"That's good."
Elsa sat by Rapunzel and hugged her.
She looked at Elsa again. "The person who grabbed my hand at the party…I think it was you. I remember your face, and your voice."
"It was me, Punzie. It's me, Elsa." Elsa looked into her cousin's eyes.
"Elsa…" She smiled. "I…I remember you. We used to play together when we were kids."
"Yes we did. After my parents died, you were the only person who talked me other than your father and mother. We were so close, the best of friends."
She nodded. "Yeah. I remember all of that. But there's someone else…someone who played with us. A boy."
"Eugene," Elsa said. "He was another of our friends. He eventually fell in love with you and you were married."
"He was the one who got married?"
"To you, yes."
She slowly nodded. "Yeah, I remember now. The fog is lifting. It's all coming back to me now."
"Good," Elsa hugged her. "I'm glad."
She smiled. "I missed you, cousin."
"I missed you too, Rapunzel," Elsa replied, crying tears of joy.
xXx
Captain's log, Stardate 49255.8: Captain Elsa Frost speaking. After retrieving my cousin successfully, we are now preparing a shuttle to take her back to our homeworld of Arendelle.
Rapunzel sat in the mess hall, chatting with Kristoff. "So I've been gone for how long?"
"About 80 years," he told her.
"Wow. I have a lot to catch up on it seems."
Elsa then arrived in the mess hall with Sapphira. "Shuttle's all set for you, Punzie."
Rapunzel looked at her cousin nervously. "It's been decades since I was on Arendelle. Is it…any different?"
"It has changed a little bit, but it's mostly the same."
"I hope so." She hugged Elsa tightly. "Promise you'll come back and visit when you get a chance?"
"I promise," Elsa told her.
"Thank you, Elsa. For everything."
"My pleasure, Rapunzel," Elsa replied, happy to see her cousin once more.
