Chapter 34
Nancy
Disagree

The emotional exertion of working on the deceased LaMar has taken a toll on her. Not making it easier was that Steven was there, but she used her nervousness as a way to answer his questions. Luckily Aaron has no idea about the sacrifice LaMar has made for them. Aaron's grief was honest, but then so was hers. Giving his life for the human was a generous gift to a people who would never make that sacrifice for her people. She wants to feel for the human named Julie, but she is finding it difficult. LaMar needed grief counseling and not being used to save the human. Another way should have been found to rescue her.

After returning to their work rooms and Aaron finishing a scheduled appointment, he gives her a sad look and asks to take a break. This is first time he has done the verification procedure on a deceased individual. Wouldn't you know it, it was done on someone he has worked with and developed a friendship with. She dismisses him for the night, she doesn't care if others find this a waste of time as Aaron needs time to process what has happened.

She takes the next appointment that Aaron was scheduled for and once finished she then goes to complete the forms on her computer. This is when it is announced that Lorraine would like to speak to her. Jack is working at the Earth based Security building, so today it has just been her. Nancy checks for monitoring and finds none. When Lorraine comes in she sits at the opposite of Jack's desk and for a moment neither say anything.

"Nancy, please let me just say I understand how difficult this is for you." The tone of her voice is sympathetic.

Lorraine then tries to reach out to touch her hand, but she pulls it back and places both hands on her lap. "How is it our people have become so expendable?" Nancy knows there is a sharpness to her tone, but it is exactly how she feels.

Letting out a deep sigh, Lorraine sits back in the chair. "Not expendable, but a price must be paid in order to move forward to complete the goal. This is not a price the humans should have to pay as we have come and are taking control of their world."

Nancy struggles with her own thoughts as she understands what Lorraine is saying, but lately it feels like their people are paying a stiff price. Right now unrest on the ships is building as well as protests at home due to the human resistance. People want their loved ones back home and the conflicted crew wants to go home, so therefore all of this is working as the Fifth hoped for. Still how long before it backfires. She supports the Fifth, yet she is bothered by the escalating deaths of her people.

With a shrug she simply says, "I understand what you have said." Nancy then turns her gaze to the ceiling and back to Lorraine, "I find it hard to accept the escalating deaths of our people. So many of them think they are here for our people. They are dying for our people. . ." It is hard to continue as she and Andrea had done the identification work on those from the hospital and then from the supposed resistance headquarters. So many of them had been very young people and one she knew was married with a young child at home. A child who will never know their father.

"It is hard on all of us," Lorraine says very quietly and then there is a long silence between the two women. Then she gives Nancy a strange look, "Do you know the Youth Leader Brian?"

Tilting her head for a moment she can't understand why Brian's name has just come up. Is it that his friend was killed by the resistance and that the Fifth assisted the humans. Nancy makes a brief statement, "He comes for his skin care. I know that he has an opportunist nature and apparently had a sexual arrangement with Diana. Apparently an arrangement he is now sorry for. As for his personal nature, no not really. Why?"

"Something is up with him," There is a long silence before Lorraine continues. "This is going to sound weird. I went to get a part for the shuttle that I am assigned too; nothing huge. They didn't have what I wanted and when I left I saw Brian go into the staircase where the water pipes run through. It seemed odd as why would he go down there, but he has the code to due to his position in Security." There is almost like a floating question that is going unasked as Lorraine looks towards the wall and simply stops speaking.

"What?" The rest Nancy says almost in a whisper as a shiver runs down her spine. Something is very wrong and Lorraine is uncertain about something. For a woman who has no problems speaking her mind this seems odd to her. "You're making me a bit jittery. There is something wrong with what he did. Please what is it?"

"I followed him very quietly. I felt like an imbecile. I thought he is most likely just meeting some girl that he doesn't want anyone to know he likes, especially after his dalliance with Diana. I almost turned around when. . ." Lorraine pauses and squints at the wall as though lost in her own thoughts.

Nancy can feel the cold shiver running up her spine, why can't the woman just say what happened. There is something that is truly bothering Lorraine and now it is making her uneasy. "When, what?"

"There was someone else down there and they were talking about a drone and spying on some humans and that all was good as the humans. . ." Lorraine makes an odd face, "The beautiful people or something like that is what they called them. Due to the noise the pipes were making I couldn't hear everything. It seemed off and then, I swear the other voice said they thought they had about five thousand for doing our thing and at least three hundred humans who were now doing their thing. All so confusing." For a moment she bites her lips before continuing. "Then something was said about when the time was right they should have enough to strike out. None of them should see it coming and we have all we need to to continue doing our own thing to complete our goal."

Then silence seems to take over the room. What could Brian and others possibly be up too. "Strike out? Who shouldn't see it coming?" There is no doubt that Brian and the Youth Corp are entirely devoted to the Regime. What could they possibly be striking out against.

Lorraine's eyes move about the room and then she speaks in a whisper. "Yeah, that's what I want to know. When they strike out and they have all they need to do their own thing. I heard Brian say that the humans are in places that none will know of after they do their own thing, including other humans if they don't want to alert them afterwards."

She finds herself speaking not in a whisper, but still very quietly. Nancy can feel her heart pounding as though something very frightening is waiting outside the door. "This sounds like an army or something, but an army for what?" Her eyes are roaming around the room as she can't in anyway figure out what Brian and others could possibly be doing.

"Yes, it does. We need to talk to Martin as soon as possible. I think that the Youth Corp isn't as devoted as the Regime thinks. If they are they have an odd way of showing their devotion."

Her breathing shutters for a moment as the cold chill seems to embrace her completely now. "The Youth Corp! Everyone talks about how they are bringing others their own age to complete devotion. Could it be that this devotion isn't as it seems." Nancy looks around the room, "And why does it scare me if they're not like we think. I mean the Youth Corp."

"I would never, never think that the Youth Corp could be anything, but devoted. Maybe I was wrong about their devotion and they have their own resistance."

Nancy immediately counters, "No! The Youth Corp and especially the Youth Leaders have not only been trained, but have had their minds corrupted to keep their devotion always to Our Leader."

"Then why hide to have this conversation?" Lorraine responds as she begins to rub her hands nervously.

For a moment Nancy finds a wishful smile gracing her face. What if this very well trained Youth Corp was not as it seemed. Then the moment of hope disappears, "Wish I could say. That last bonding has been everything the Regime could have asked for. I have a hard time seeing them betraying or striking out." Then she frowns, "Are you sure they said strike out?"

"Yes, I am sure that is what was said. . .I think." Now it is Lorraine who is frowning, "I believe what I heard was, 'When the time is right we should have enough to strike out'. . .There was too much noise." She shakes her head, "Damn! Maybe Brian has some secret project he is doing for Diana, he is like so many of her sex toys. You know, under her weird spell. Martin was sure he was hiding from her one day, but maybe that wasn't Brian's plan. Maybe he was to meet in secret with Diana, but Martin messed it up by being in the room."

"We should tell Martin about Brian and the secret group he's working with that includes humans. Why he calls them beautiful people doesn't make sense, but. . ." Nancy starts chuckling, "They do hang out with humans a lot of the time. Why not call them beautiful as the Youth Corp has had that facial fuzzy thing done to them so they see less alien to make it easier to work with humans. So why not have a secret project with them." Then she smacks her forehead, "That staircase for the pipes sure is a popular place for secret meetings. Getting to be that we have to have a schedule so that no one disturbs others holding a secret meeting. Don't want to interfere with all the intrigue going on in our ships."

After laughing about the Youth Corp and making a few jokes about the staircase they both become very quiet. For Nancy her thoughts have returned to LaMar who has given his life. It feels like they used his grief to get what they wanted to get the impossible done for the human woman being held. It was suicide with benefits for the Fifth. She has a feeling that the humans could care less about them, but Martin, Barbara and Lorraine are correct. They, her people are the monsters if you look at this through human eyes. The Regime on the other hand is correct that humans are well on their way to killing their own planet. Parts of their world will drown, while other places will not see water. Their people should know they are at the brink of killing their own world with no way to fix it if something isn't done immediately.

Lorraine stands and walks over to Nancy, "I know this is hard on you. You joined the Fifth a very long time ago and the reason was to bring the Regime down and all you're seeing is the death of our own people, but. . ."

Nancy finds herself tensing and interrupts Lorraine. "Stop! Yes, I know we are killing humans and we are taking their water. We are the big bad monsters, but remember one thing." Standing and staring Lorraine right in the eye. "Yes, right now all of this is causing unrest and protest not only on our ships, but at home as well. Eventually, something will happen that will have the complete opposite effect and may very well unite those against the Regime to the Regime. All of those deaths of our people by humans are going to be remembered in a way that will hurt our movement. We need the unrest and the protests, but it was better when our people felt for the humans. The change to fear of humans is not the way to go as the Regime is going to find a way to turn this fear to their advantage and remove all compassion that was originally there for the humans."

"This is about LaMar," Lorraine's voice is sympathetic as she gives Nancy a gentle stare in return.

"Maybe, yes. . ." Nancy backs away from Lorraine and gives her a short smile. "Right now all is working for our benefit, I can't deny this. Hundreds at home are dying every day because of the anger against the Regime. No, one understands why we must have the water from here. It makes no sense to anyone."

"Martin says that it is due to the vast amount of water that is easy to obtain and that the water is of a quality our planet needs." Lorraine sighs, "So, simply put although further away from home than other places, the water is better."

"No, that is not why we are here," Nancy says firmly. "The Leader wants this world for his own insane reasons. Maybe to turn this into another colony. Everyone knows that the Youth Corp is being trained to be left and assume permanent positions. They are mostly males and this will keep there from being children and a change of devotion so that they will want to protect this planet for their own children. Later I imagine will come those that Our Leader will bring for colonists after the humans are not enough in numbers to fear." Her face takes on a more fierce look, "We are not here for water. There is an abundance of water, but we could have made it up by taking it from other planets close to home. They don't have to be planets that are able to support life. We just need the water and there are so many ways to get it besides the many, many asteroids that also have water. The water's quality here is no better than anywhere else and if needed we have the technology to make the change to the harvested water into what we need. So stop using this supposed reason for why we are here."

"Okay, let's agree to disagree. I will continue to agree with Martin as I believe he knows what he is speaking about."

"Okay, we disagree." Then Nancy walks back to Lorraine and gives her hug. "Let's tell Martin, but let him know that we will start to watch the Youth Corp. No, I mean watch the Youth Leaders."

"Especially, the ones that are close to Brian."

"Agreed." Nancy has no doubt that Diana would use the Youth Corp for her own special squad if she could. "It could be nothing, or it could be they are doing a secret project with Diana."

Lorraine nods in agreement, "Or it could still be an odd resistance group. If they have come to understand what has been done to them and overcome it. Distrust would certainly be the word for them."

"Yes, one group that you could truly understand why they would not be trusting of anyone would be any of those that may have come out of bonding. Although I don't see them resisting. However, if there is a group that would have no problem on working on a long term scary project it is the Youth Corp."

"The truth is the Youth Corp is devoted to the Youth Corp before anyone including the Regime." After Lorraine finishes this thought she lets out a long breath of air through pursed lips.

Nancy agrees stiffly, "That was the idea. The idea that if they are always devoted to one another, which means they will always be devoted to the Regime. However, devotion first to the Youth Corp. It is actually a good plan, sadly a very good plan." She would never have thought it possible to wonder about the Youth Corps loyalty. The Youth Leaders working continually with humans means that they will meet like minded individuals of staff and humans. What kind of mini army would that make. "And they are now bringing others of their own age into whatever they are up to and that may include humans. Maybe that is why that group of humans are called beautiful."

There is a deep gentleness in Lorraine's voice, "Maybe, and it will be interesting to see. However, my first thought is, are you okay? Seeing LaMar's body and all you have to process. We may disagree on so many things, but one thing I will tell you is. . .that you will always matter to me and to Martin and so many others."

Blinking as though it is a way to keep her emotions in check she walks back to Lorraine and gives her another quick hug. "Thank you. If we can have only one thing, let it be friendship and be willing to put up with each others moments or to accept that we cannot always agree on everything." Nancy sighs deeply, "You were correct, LaMar's death was hard on me, I won't lie."

"And you are right we seem to be losing someone all of the time lately."

"I guess, it matters not if there was a Regime or not. There is always something that keeps life from being perfect. Which reminds me, we will be watching Brian and his friends as if they are up to something. Well. . . " Nancy points first to herself and then to Lorraine, "We will verify their loyalty is as the Regime thinks and see if we can figure out what project they have for someone like Diana." Then she chuckles, "Or are they planning something different." Lorraine gives her a smirk as Nancy continues. "Then they are going to find that they and their mini Sirian slash human army is joining the Fifth if they are a resistance group."

With a very wide smile Lorraine says, "Like it or not!"

Nancy turns her eyes to the ceiling for a moment, "It is likely Brian was flirting with some girl and it had nothing to do with some secret project with Diana or Steven or resistance. You said it was very noisy and what they said may not exactly be what you heard. Still I like the idea of adding a mini army if they are indeed unhappy with what has been done to them since young children." She laughs again at the thought and Lorraine joins her. Nancy finds it good to laugh, as it is hard to watch people you know being killed and saying it has to be.

There is a sound in the waiting room and Lorraine gives her a smile, "Sounds like you better go back to work."

Nancy gives a deep sigh, "Yeah. Work is always calling." They both walk to the door, but she knows that LaMar and the recent deaths of others since the hospital are weighing on them both. However, it is like a little adventure trying to figure out if the Youth Corp is really devoted or not. Is Brian actually a supporter of the Regime or one seeking to do something to destroy or unhinge the Regime. Her true thoughts are that not just Brian, but none of the Youth Corp would ever betray the Regime. If their devotion wasn't as it expected to be they could not have gotten by those that have been controlling them all of their lives. Most likely he was just meeting someone for his own reasons and didn't want anyone to know; he is young and in some ways naive in the more personal aspects of his life. Lorraine has misunderstood what was being said.

Lorraine raises her hand and with a smile, "See you later. Lots to think about."

"Yes," She waves her hand at Lorraine as she leaves. To bad the whole thing with the Youth Corp isn't for real. How good it would be for the Fifth to have an entire army at their disposal. An army with additional human resistance members and the Youth Corp are literally being trained to take control of ships, to command and control humans and to do all the other jobs that are needed. If all officers and regular staff disappeared the Youth Corp and younger staff could easily take over any of those positions and Youth Leaders could takeover the role of ranking officers.

These thoughts remind her of Aaron and Andrea in their own office, they are being trained to take over if ever needed to do so. Every position could be filled by younger staff that came aboard when they left home. They were from age sixteen to twenty when they came aboard, but they are maturing and learning. Now, she finds herself scowling. A group of people that do not need their ranking officers, or anyone else on the ships and wouldn't even have to pause to consider what needs to be done. As for the humans, if these so called beautiful humans are anything like a Brian or a George, they could be a scary bunch of young people who think they know everything as well. Maybe this would not be such a good thing after-all, but then a small well trained army is always a good thing. However, that would mean if there is something going on with the Youth Corp that they will have to find a way to force their leaders into the Fifth. How do you do this when all of Youth Corp has had their minds corrupted.

Conflicting thoughts and she can't seem to agree with herself, how stupid is that. She is literally becoming confused by her own thoughts. Pretty bad when you are disagreeing with yourself. Maybe after they begin to watch Brian, George and likely Shayne or Shy as everyone calls him maybe they will see if they are up to something. It may be more difficult to even track them or ever really know one way or the other, but Martin is smart. Yeah, Martin will have ideas on how to do this. With a sigh she goes into work mode leaving the thought of a young, over emotional, and we know everything better than everyone else army. She touches her wig and smiles, just like Marilyn Monroe. As if she had any idea who that woman could have truly have been.