A few days had past since her date with Eric and aside from reporting positively to her father, who cared little for the intrapersonal matters, Jeta had been swamped with her studies. She was finally get time to herself and she was looking forward to spending it with friends.
Jumping up onto the highest platform on the ship, Jeta looked up through the large plasma window above. The solar sail was shining brightly against the sun. "It sure is nice to get away and finally be able to relax." She stretched her arms up above her head.
Cyrus and Symphony had already been on the platform conversing when they saw Jeta. They both laughed as she commented on the sail. Ever since they were little Twilinger she always had to say something, even though it hadn't changed in their lifetime.
"I couldn't agree more, Lt. Raava is a real stick in the mud with the constant questions about protocol. How the hell am I supposed to know what the proper Legion hand signal is for attack. They are a warrior race, they have over six hundred hand signals for that one word." Cyrus took a hit off the joint he'd just finished rolling.
Symphony pretended to blow up, "Well at least you get to learn hand signals, some of us actually do real work! Cleaning up this ship after your asses isn't the easiest thing in the world. Don't get me started on Jeta when she paints, do you know how to put the brush on the paper?"
Jeta just flopped down on one of the empty beanbags. "Let's not talk about work." Jeta motioned for Cyrus to hand her the joint.
Cyrus passed it to her, and playfully punched Jeta's arm. "So your staying overnight?" He could see her fear and worry, giving her a grin, "Calm down little bird. You'll enjoy yourself."
She nearly choked on her inhale, "No, I just got back late. He had a business meeting I waited to finish. Actually he was really decent." She passed over to Symphony.
"So it sounds like you guys are hitting it off great than?" She commented before smoking.
Jeta shrugged, "Meadows doesn't trust him. I'm not sure how to take that." Hoping to change the subject off herself. "Are you excited?" Jeta looked to Symphony who was also being 'sold' to a Corp.
"Yes! I cant believe your not, their food, clothes, and the lifestyle! I am thrilled for the experience." Symphony laughed, "It's not the blackness of space."
Groening, "I want to live in the vastness of space. I want to join a pirate crew and travel the galaxy where ever the solar winds lead us!" Jeta closed her eyes, allowing herself to daydream a few moments.
"And I want to make sure you two don't start an interspecies war." Cyrus laughed as he rolled another.
A flash of light flew past as the rolled herb was burned to dust. "Why are you smoking in the common room?" An older Twi-far walked toward them. Frost was Jeta's half brother on her mother's side. They had a close relationship, but it was often complex due to the tension between Frost and her father. He was five years their senior and had joined the fighter squadron so he carried a bit of a ship on his shoulder.
"Why are you blasting in the common room?" Cyrus began rolling again. "Descending from on high?"
Jeta scooted over so Frost could join her on the beanbag. "Did you get to see it?" She heard he was getting back from God's wrath, a salvage pick up for something for the planet.
Frost collapsed into the chair. "Yeah, it was cool." He was trying to hide his excitement the way the Nephilim commander had. "Big, but I've seen more impressive things beyond their understanding."
Symphony grinned, "I'll be happy when none of us are running errands for supplies, a few convenient marriages and we'll run the corporation soon enough." She took the rolled herb from Cyrus taking a deep breath, "We'll be meeting Jeta on Alabaster One, drinking fine wine and talking about stock prices."
Cyrus laughed, "In her bird cage. I'm a Phoenix, born to fly free. You'll never see me serving or being served." The venom in his words grew harsh as he spoke them.
"Sounds like someone is a little racist?" Frost asked taking his turn inhaling.
"No, I have nothing against them. They can buy anything they want, including Twi-far women." He stood and walked over to the edge of the platform. The Captain had scolded him about keeping his views away from Jeta, but he hated the idea of a Corp keeping them apart.
Frost's face went stone. "Leave now." He hissed.
"Come off it Frost, you can't tell us what to do." Symphony set forward the tension in the air.
Cyrus smirked, "Frost, one day following orders is going to get you what you've always wanted. You'll be alone and your going to wish you had just enjoyed this time together." He jumped off the platform.
Jeta put her head on Frosts shoulder. "You big jerk." She pulled closer as he wrapped his arm around her.
"Don't listen to a word he says. Your beginning an amazing journey no Twi-far has before. The adventure will be a song sung for generations." Frost looked up at Symphony who had sat back and relaxed. "I hear your excited?"
"Why wouldn't I be? Say what you want to about the freedom we have, it will be nice to not have to fight for basic supplies." She leaned across and took the herb from Jeta. "What about you Frost, any Nephilim get your attention?"
"Why yes. Their commander had an amazing energy, the way he barked commands and his strength on lifting the engine into place. They will be fun at least for a few hours." He ran his fingers through Jeta's hair. "Eric going to be any fun?"
Shaking her head no, "He got winded after running a few blocks. I've got my work cut out for me, but I did meet a really nice Remnant."
They had both heard of them, but neither had meet one yet. Symphony spoke, "And?"
Jeta laughed, "No! Nothing like that happen, he talked to me about their All Being. Though, I'm not saying I would be opposed to anything like that." She tried to hide her smile with her hand. "It would be very different, so alien, with any of them. You know what I mean?"
Frost nodded, "Their views are so limited. The Legion are so large and powerful, but they only believe in procreation so their population is actually decreasing every year." His studies were paying off after all.
"I want to try one of each of them, eventually." Jeta took the herb. "Maybe all at once?"
Symphony gasp, "Jeta! I can't believe I hadn't thought of that. It would be great way to make peace with each other."
"Not likely to happen though, most of the other species don't share our love for the physical arts. They see it as a deeply personal relationship between mates. Exclusive I believe it's called." Again Frost found his studies of the other races coming in handy.
"Why are you so mean to Cyrus? You know he cares for me?" Jeta asked sleepilly.
Frost hummed in approval. "Because that's what big brothers do." He took another deep breath, handing it to Jeta. "What does Meadows thing of Eric?"
She was going to miss this. He was suppose to be her XO, but now who knew. "I don't think he likes him, but I'm not sure if it's him or my emotions."
"Listen to him, he is telling you something. But don't confuse what he is saying with what your fears are telling you he is saying. The Great Tapestry has a place for all of us, and I know in my heart yours is walking this path." Frost watched as Jeta finished off the herb.
Jeta closed her eyes, the warmth of Frost's faren, and the calming movement of Meadows she faded off to sleep quickly.
Jeta woke a few hours later. Her head resting on the beanbag. Frost and Symphony had left, below the platform she could hear Eric talking with her father.
She Jumped down to join them, "Good morning father. She bowed slightly toward Eric, "husband." Her confidence at trying out the word was nearly non existent.
Eric beamed, "I wasn't expecting that, but it has a nice ring to it." He kissed her hand.
Her father tried hiding a smirk, but Jeta caught it. "I'll leave you two alone. Don't forget to pack your things only a few more weeks now."
Eric took her hand as they walked the corridor of the Rising Sun. " I was just telling your father about a huge opportunity."
Jeta smiled, "Did they change their mind about giving your company the contract?" Hoping to revive some of the feelings they shared that night.
Eric smiled, but shook his head no. "No, the Remnant are still doing it for free. This is actually a bigger deal than even that was. It was in the contract, but I didn't expect it to be actually grow the size it has." He stopped and put his hands on her shoulders, "Please sit down."
Jeta looked cautiously at him as she sat, "What do you have up your sleeve?"
"Okay, so originally the wedding was just going to be ran over the closed network on Alabaster 1. A friend of mine put in a few calls and has gotten it arranged so that it will be picked up in syndication throughout the whole Var System! This will be huge! Its expected to make billions in viewership alone, the product placement, and ad revenue will be tremendous. Obviously your people will get a portion of it as well…"
Jeta was shocked. He was going to profit off this wedding. He didn't care about her this was all for money. She pulsed with rage. "You mongrel. This was all an investment for you?"
Eric's hand burned under her grip. Pulling away, he was going to have to do something about her faren's temper, "Of course it's an investment. Profit isn't a dirty word, it's not like your not getting something out of this!"
Jeta was shocked, his usually cool composure was broken. She open her mouth to shout back, but was cut silent.
"Silence! That's an order!" Her father shouted as he put himself between them.
Jeta was livid at both of them. Her father for agreeing to any of this and Eric for pretending she was something more than a business venture. And while she understood the rules of the ship, Meadows couldn't give a damn.
She moved to cross her arms and in that instant Meadows took his opportunity to attack with a massive Faren blast, a ball of white hot plasma shot from her hand toward them. Jeta didn't even have time to react as her Father's Faren obliterated them both with a smaller, but much more powerful attack.
She woke in bed. Symphony setting next to her. "You really messed up. I guess the Corp is bringing in a mediator who you have to meet and you won't see Eric again until the wedding."
Jeta rolled over in bed, "I would give anything to get out of this!" She cried herself back to sleep.