Chapter 5: Double trouble.

After having that uneasy talk with my wing about Xena's condition and informing medical personal, I went to the Sidonia's brig where two of my old "friends" were being held for treason and crimes against humankind. Andrews the old sub-commander of the Freedom who took the captain's chair after killing him, and Thomas the Ochiai of the Freedom. I plan to talk to both to learn more about Ochiai and the threat that lay ahead of the Sidonia.

"So the creature shows himself again, what do you want with us?"

"Well Andrews a simple talk, I ask questions you answer we don't get violent, sounds simple enough?"

"What's there to ask, any question you had all ready asked?"

"Ochiai tell me why he is in Thomas's research."

"Hmm reasonable, he was sharing research to us as he did his experiments with hybrids his last message was when it went out of control and nearly destroyed this ship."

"Hmm ok."

I move to the next cell where Thomas holding a cross and praying to the god of Earth.

"Well Thomas, it looks like your courage is gone, what's the matter scared of what you created?"

"Leave him alone abomination!"

"Andrews he has truly gone insane it seems."

"He lost his will when the Gauna nearly killed him!"

"And whose fault is that? His or the one who decided to take on a union ship, you or him?"

"I had good cause!"

"Oh and this gravity cannon you created using research from Ochiai, how did it help?"

"It destroyed it didn't it, that proves it worked. But then the hybrid here reflected that Gauna beam and destroyed it!"

"It takes a lot to make me angry several years have led to that, but she is no hybrid her name is Tsumugi, either say her name or don't mention her again."

"And what would he say?"

I turn to see Kunato there, just my day.

"Why are you interrupting my interrogation?"

"I was told that the scientist that created the Freedom's hybrids was here and came to talk."

"Hmm good luck he is more than insane, tends to happen when you nearly die fighting a union ship."

"The Freedom fought a union ship?!"

"Yes and they destroyed it using a prototype salvaged from this Ochiai's research."

"Interesting."

"Now I am busy would…"

"Your attracted to this Tsumugi aren't you like an animal it's disgusting!"

"Do you want to take this outside Andrews if so say one more word."

"Umm Master John let go of the sword!"

I didn't realize that I griped it… these phases are annoying. I let go of the sword and it unwraps back to its original shape.

"Thought so."

"Andrews… you are lucky that Ben is around, otherwise you would be dead."

And with that I turn and walk out, this is the fourth time Andrews was spared do to Ben knocking me back to my scenes… what's wrong with me? Normally I am ok and hard to anger but just mentioning Tsumugi's name has become a weakness of mine. It's… different, almost alien to me why I have been so… different. When she is mentioned… maybe just maybe this is just me being defense full for another hybrid. I hope that's all it is, and not something more. I need to clear my head… maybe talking with Tanikaze… no, maybe upgrading my Garde… nothing seems to get my mind off of it… again.

"Master John you seem agitated perhaps it was a bad idea talking to Andrews."

"Something's wrong with me Ben, I just don't know what."

"My scans show no illness or injuries."

"I don't think that's the problem anyway."

"Master John what about that match with Tanikaze?"

Oh yeah… forgot about that… oops.

"No, he is a good kid and at the moment it would most likely end badly."

"Oh you're very agitated… I will be silent to avoid angering you further master John."

I went to the beach area to cool off and maybe let the clean air and smell of the water cool my head… in those three days I was out… during that crazy dream I remember Tanikaze saying he and Tsumugi had their first kiss here, this makes me chuckle a bit. And yet it doesn't feel like it was a dream… it felt real… like I was there… maybe I need to distract myself somewhere else? I head to the bridge maybe giving some tactical advice would help. On my way there I hear clapping and cheering, apparently the mark 19 Garde model was just finished… interesting.

Upon getting to the bridge I asked if I could see our tactical report and what we are up against, mainly the union ship. I was granted to look at developments with Garde and hybrid statuses. The reports point out an increasing amount of Kabi rounds, and Garde type 19 being constructed, most likely for the preparation of the attack on the union ship. Wait… why does it say 18 hybrids? Including me, Reaper wing only has 16 and Tsumugi makes 17… maybe they but down the unborn child? I still found the earlier conversation with Andrews… troubling. Does this mean Thomas although he made the serum; Ochiai was the "father" behind the scenes? Perhaps I should tell the captain… or maybe Tsumugi.

"Is something the matter?"

"Oh, no nothing is the matter was just thinking."

"Oh and John next time you take Tsumugi without asking, there will be consequences."

Now everyone in the bridge was staring at me.

"Thought the captain told you, I had permission from her."

"What?"

"I asked the captain, besides no one was hurt and with the stabilizing rods nothing could have happened unless someone turned gravity off, by the way has Rex come by yet?"

"No, why?"

"He was meant to help upgrade the gravity and sensor systems, and see if the Sidonia can use the cloaking tech the Freedom had made. Would mean we could sneak right up on any Gauna, or cloak and let them pass us by."

"We will look out for him."

Forgot that this sub-commander was nosey about EVERYTHING, was only a matter of time before she found about the party, which she wasn't invited to. After updating the report of the Freedom's serum history I went to the hanger and freak out.

"What did someone do to Herald's Garde!?"

"Oh hey Uncle John, nice ride huh?"

"You painted the Phantom like that!?"

"Well yeah, my dad said he didn't like that it was black, and he did say he liked red."

"So you painted it like the Crimson Hawk Moth?!"

"Yeah, it's a Garde piloted by a hybrid it deserves special touches."

"Roy if I were your mother or father I would ground you for a month."

"What why I think it's creative?"

"Now the Gardes may shoot at it thinking it's a Gauna!"

"Rex said it looked cool, and with the prototype phase cloak it's better than your Garde."

"What? I hardly doubt it can compare with it."

"Can yours change turn into a ghost and slip between timelines?"

"What?"

"A different timeline with different events and effects, there's 3 of the Sidonia."

"What?"

"Three different Sidonia, only two have Tanikaze and Tsumugi ours and the one we call X."

"You you call it X?"

"Because unlike here the Sidonia didn't find the Kabi, and relied on Ochiai's research."

"And?"

"Still happened but the hybrid's Kabi was used to save the Sidonia."

"Wait… how do you know all this?"

"Oh over the last hour Rex, Herald, and I were jumping through them and seeing what could have happened."

"That's dangerous why would your father agree to that?!"

"He said it would be cool and the only problem we had was a fight between Tanikaze and Tsumugi during that hole that was fixed."

"Wait what?"

"In timeline X Tsumugi doesn't see eye to eye with Tanikaze… the Freedom was there."

"WHAT!? In timeline X the Freedom and Sidonia travel together?!"

"Yup."

Now that's a messed up timeline I don't want here.

"The Sidonia-X was about to try and use a phase cloak too, I hope it doesn't cause an explosion or anything."

"What did you do?"

"We accidently blew a circuit and merged almost completely with timeline X and umm we got scanned."

"Oh dear, let's go tell the Sub-commander."

Another timeline, where the hell was I when Rex made that thing? I remember when we rescued him from the Freedom, half of us thought he was a cyborg the other half thought he was a hybrid like he claimed… kind of feel sorry for the kid. I mean he was so smart and quick, but Andrews… butchered him, cut off his left arm from shoulder to hip, ripped out his right eye, and… used his mind for his own ends.

"What experimental tech was tested without being authorized?"

"A new form of cloaking, which bends time and space, or a phase cloak."

"And what happened that you all ran here to report it for?"

"Well you see, Rex must have missed calculated and umm… a circuit blew out."

"And this is a concern why?"

"They merged with timeline X, basically the same here but not as many good things."

"Such as?"

"You know that Gauna attack that landed on the hull?"

"Yes get to the point."

"And how Tanikaze and Tsumugi worked well together?"

"Yes."

"That timeline they don't get along… at all. Like bloodshed bad."

"Ok and this is a concern why?"

"They scanned the Garde's systems and hacked the data core, from our scans Gauna 550 had attacked and all the events were the same up to planet nine and now they are barely able to fight."

"Once again I ask for a straight answer, why is it a concern?"

"Rex, you never did tell me why it's a problem."

"Well… you see… umm… the… Sidonia in X, doesn't have any defenses against the Gauna other than their Tsumugi. And they got an in depth details of that Gauna, meaning they know what will happen, and try to avoid the fight… I think they will try to phase cloak. And due to Sidonia's mass and energy output it will cause an explosion and… may send some of the X timeline's people here."

"Wait… your saying they hacked a Garde and downloaded all data about the cloak?"

"Yes Sub-commander."

"Why are you shaking?"

"Sorry our sub-commander did this to the kid, you will forgive him for being nervous when using that title or captain's title."

"Ok how many may survive?"

"Only the hybrids on the Sidonia, would survive an explosion like what I am talking about."

"You're saying that only their Tsumugi would survive the blast and get sent here?"

"Yes, but the Freedom is with them, chances are some hybrids are there too and will come through."

"Estimated survivors?"

"Anywhere from 5 to 6, even some hybrids would get torn apart from such a blast."

At that moment I realized the mug sitting on a desk shaking and moving… but we weren't moving… please don't tell me what's about to happen doesn't, Rex let's hope your intellect and sniper like precision is wrong for once.

"We may want to hold onto something."

"What?"

"The ship is moving and I don't think it's us."

"Scan area 145.76 on band .00657 please."

"Scan is showing some kind of… something."

"Is it shaped like a cone?"

"Yes."

"Recommend we launch Gardes and get Reaper wing airborne this could get messy."

"Rex stay here try to get something worked up to be able to tell survivors apart from our own, cause if it doesn't get messy we should welcome them in, if we are truly fighting the Gauna cluster, than we need any available hands."

"Yes commander, will do."

I rush to the hanger and see the rest of the wing getting in their Gardes too, if this is as bad as I think it will be may the stars watch our backs and guide those who perish on this day. Tanikaze and several Gardes launch. Tsumugi is here too.

"The rift is expanding detecting debris and 1 life sign."

"One oh that's a bit better."

"It's their Tsumugi."

We see the injured hybrid float out of the rift as it collapses. Well not complaining that only one made it and it's out cold… but now Xena is going to pester me, after all there's going to be two Tsumugi now… great.

"Orders?"

It takes a few minutes of silence.

"Take her alive no point in killing her."

"Roger that Sub-Commander."

We take her into the ship and get the X hybrid into a tank its injuries are bad but are healing… how am I going to explain this to Tanikaze and Tsumugi?

"Wait so there's now two Tsumugi on the ship?"

"It appears so Izana, however this one will be different as she has had a different life compared to Tsumugi."

"How different?"

"Well Tsumugi, we will see, the only bad thing about this at the time is telling you two apart from each other."

"I find this all troubling personally Master John, I mean if what Rex said is true we will need to try to comfort her… I mean her entire ship is just gone now."

"Meaning she can't go back to timeline X, and according to the readings everything that happened to this ship happened to hers too, however it changed when the Crimson Hawk Moth showed up at planet nine."

"How?"

"Only Tsumugi and Izana survived both were barely alive."

"What happened to Tsumugi's pilot?"

"Died from a blow to the head, internal bleeding during the fight."

Well not only do we have two Tsumugi, but only one can have someone with them. And according to Rex's white lie… Tsumugi from their timeline hurt Tanikaze before planet nine… what else happened?

To be continued…

Author's note….

I know it took a weirder turn at the end but after a talk with someone, I decided that the best way to have an overall happy ending was two Tsumugi. Meaning an experiment had to go wrong and I figured another Sidonia having a time/space explosion would be better than crazy accident in the normal Sidonia.