Bits of songs and broken drums
Are all Rakurai could recall
So Ael Grene spoke to him only in his dreams, rare
moments of bliss and happiness
in a world that seem to punish everyone.

Consequences

Six years later.

Very slowly, he becomed aware of his surroundings, his eyes still closed.

His entire body ached, his head most of all. It felt like someone hit him a couple times with a steel rod in the face just for the fun of it. He was aware of three others in the room with him. Two of them standing at his bedside and looking at him.

"How is he ?" The voice was deep, an older man. He was speaking in the ancient language.

"He will live. The medic has given him a painkiller." This voice was softer, more rolling; definitely a young female.

They're talking about me, and they think I'm asleep! thought Rakurai. Well, what they don't know can't hurt them ...

"Do you know who he is ?"

"He goes by the name of Rakurai."

Who is this woman, and how does she know me ? I do not recognize her voice.

"You know him from the Academy ?"

The Academy! Is she a Guardian too ?

"He probably would not remember me from that. I knew him since he was born."

What ? She sounds quite young, not old. Who is she ?

"Hmmm. Well, when he is well enough, bring him to me."

The sound of the door sliding open and closing. He waited. Thirty seconds should be long enough.

He twisted his legs slightly and moaned, "Where am I ?"

He, of course, already knew. She looked at him, as if examining him. "I knew you were awake."

He sat up. The woman is, he guessed is about his age; her long, wild silver hair held off her forehead by a wire circlet. Her eyes, a warm amber. He tried to play innocent, "What ?"

No use lying. She is not falling for that. "How do you know my name? You do not look old enough to have been around when I was born."

"You do not recognize me, do you ?"

"No."

"How could I not know your name? And no, I am not much older than you, really. I am pleasantly surprised that you know the ancient language. Most don't."

"I learned it from ... " he broke off and looks down.

The woman studies him for a second. "Tahl Leae Magami?" she finished for him. "I knew her."

Mother.

Rakurai's head jerked up. "Wha, how, She's ... " He looked down again. The woman said nothing, neither confirming or denying it.

"You know my name. It's only fair that you tell me yours."

"En Tiaro Dayla. Call me Dayla." she said.

He was shocked. Nioah's younger sister. I do not remember ever meeting her before, yet I know so much about her.

She started pacing. "You know why you are here, in this infirmary and under heavy guard ?"

He nodded. She paused before continuing, "You realize you held hostage the lives of 448 people and attacked a starship's command center, and its staff."

He nodded again.

"You hi-jacked a battlecruiser, ready go your damn kamikaze mission ? What were to planning ?"

He looked up at her, "Revenge."

"Revenge for what ?"

"Revenge for the seven friends I lost. They were killed during the attack on our homeworld."

"Almost everyone in this sector has lost someone during that attack. You do not see them that doing what you did, now do you ?"

"Almost everyone who I cared for is dead because of them." he said defensively.

"That still gives you no right."

They look at each other in eerie silence. Her voice turns softer and calmer. He learned long ago, this is usually a bad thing. "You damned fool." she paused. "Know what the punishment is, for gross violations like that and attacking the crew of your own ship ?"

He felt as if his skin was being peeled away, slowly. He nodded again in shame. The insane anger of the moment he felt when he took over that ship left him. But he wished for a means to lash back at the enemy who destroyed him inside. A "little" vengeance.

"The punishment was lifelong labor camp or exile ... " she let it hang.

She sighed again, "Consider yourself lucky. I did I could to avoid that from happening. However, effective immediately you are stripped of your rank and required to take a year's absence from the Guardian Collective."

Rakurai reeled mentally. Dayla starts walking towards the door, "I really wish we met under better circumstances younger cousin."

His face become pale, his stomach churning. With that said, Dayla walked out of the door and was out of sight a few seconds later. Doctor Miau was pretending to check records and overheard the entire conversation. Rakurai was in shock and her presence did not quite register on him. Miau exited the room a minute later, heading to her quarters to contact Laenia.

Five minutes later, her shocked face appeared on Miau's monitor. "I am on my way. Thank you." Laenia said, shutting down the communicator.

Next Chapter
New Beginnings

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