Shelled



The landing wasn't as smooth as the company had advertised, but quite a bit smoother than anything I had experienced. Normally the Third Wing was an exploratory …fleet, I guess you could say. With the outbreak of tensions on Earth we had been ordered home to 'preserve the peace'. As anyone could tell that didn't turn out the way it was supposed to.

Shortly after touching down the boy, Duo, climbed down out my bunk. I concentrated on being more or less invisible wishing to observe his next actions. He glanced towards me on the opposite wall, then both ways down the corridor. With no one about yet he raced down one hall, becoming no more than a blur of light. Strange that…… I shook my head minutely and got up from my place at the wall. Like most people he had seen exactly what he wanted to see. A sleeping soldier. A slight smirk flitted across my face. I still had the touch.

The ladder wavered for a second and I put my hand out to steady myself, unsure of whether it was my vision or truly the ship that had changed. The solid feel of metal reassured me. I could deal with my own health changing but not reality. All the same my throat was now dry as I heaved myself up to my bunk, yet again avoiding the hand of the same passenger as before. There laying on the pillow was a chain with a burnished cross and a note. I lay down, there not being enough room to sit, and opened the note. Written in no less then three languages was a short message.



Hey!

I wasn't quite sure what language you knew how to read so I just did all the ones I knew. Thanks for your help pal. I owe you one. Of course, it would have helped if you had given me your name……oh well. Meet me outside an hour after disembarking. I'd be there sooner but I do have work. I'll help you out with lodgings and a job. You'll need the money.

Duo S. Maxwell.



Maxwell…Where had I heard that name? I cast about in my memory bringing to mind all the ship gossip or news I had ever heard. Before long my eyes had widened as I recalled the place where I had heard it. It may seem a common name but the incident was anything but common.

Maxwell Church was a well known church. It took in orphans, not only of a single colony but of all colonies and even from Earth. There orphans received education fitting to their physical and mental needs. Even the "special" ones. Then something strange happened. The Church caught on fire. Although it was pouring the whole time the flames refused to die out. Firefighters by the dozens all turned out to help. Nothing doused the flames. Even with such a fire there still should have been survivors. There were none. Everyone perished. It was one of the most puzzling stories ever to hit the news. If Duo was from Maxwell Church…

No. It was just a coincidence. No one survived. Still…maybe I would take up his offer, and learn more about him.