Chapter One: Reunion

The first two weeks were in Eli's words; "A fucking snoozefest." Adjust a power cable here, fix a gravity tether there, it was always the easy going assignments for Eli, whilst his mentor handled the heavy duty tasks. It left him with alot of spare time, perhaps too much spare time.

But it wasn't all bad, the swimming pool took alot of edge off of him, but always had his RIG at the ready. After a quick swim and a cold shower, he suited up and set off to find something else to do. As he wandered the crew deck, he noticed one or two posters regarding the Church of Unitology, it always felt like the religon had too much of an influence on the masses. All for what? The so-called messiah Michael Altman? The fabled Marker? It didn't make sense why Michael was just another man who became a matyr.

Eli wasn't normally a judgmental individual, but his past experiences of Unitology left a bad taste in his memories. When he was a teenager, he witnessed a mass suicide within a town square. His sister helped in healing his mind, pushing past the nightmares and strengthening himself.

"I told you I'm not interested." A voice snapped Eli out of his trail of thought, "Get it through that thick skull of yours!" This made him halt his movement, it was a voice that sounded so familar to him. Eli moved cautiously, hiding around a corner and peering his head out. He could see the back of the woman's head, who seemed to be rejecting unwanted advances from a P-Sec officer. This one had a shaved head, his face clean with defined cheekbones. Whoever he was, he clearly thought highly of himself.

"Oh come on Millie, I got you this job. You owe me one. I could easily send a message to Earth Gov right away. . ."

Eli emerged from the corner, marching towards the ongoing squabble. "I don't think blackmailing would look good for your commanding officer." He spoke aloud, making sure he was heard.

The Officer in question talked back, "Who the fuck are you to talk to an officer like that?" He was stopped by Millie who blocked his way..

"That is enough Kurtis. Remember who your boss is." She sternly said with a glare of anger. Almost like she herself was about to punch him herself.

Kurtis Harold looked at Eli and scoffed. "Fine. You better watch your tone next time engineer." He turned around and walked off, and Eli mentally remembered his face.

Millie turned around, "You didn't have to-" She suddenly stopped mid sentence as her eyes met Eli's, gasping in shock.

The young engineer took a moment to look at her. Her hair, her eyes, her face. It was no illusion, no dream.

"L-Lexine. . ." Eli said quietly, "You're alive." He stated the obvious.

Lexine replied, "I'm. . ." Tears fell as she spoke, "Thank god you're okay. . ." She embraced her brother tightly, who returned the hug in silence. They broke off the hug quickly. "What are you doing here?" She asked worringly.

"I could ask the same. . . It's been two years. What the hell happened out there on the Sprawl?" Eli asked calmly as best he could. Mixed emotions flaring.

Lexine was quick to shush him. "I can't explain yet. . . and frankly I don't want to tell you what happened. But I know you'll believe me."

"Okay. . ." Eli accepted. "I'm not going anywhere sis. I won't abandon you, nor my niece or nephew." The last word in that sentence made Lexine give a saddened smile.

She laid her hand on Eli's shoulder, "You're a good man Eli. I'll explain everything. . . But you'll need to wait until tomorrow. You can meet me in the Medical Deck in my office. I'll make it like a mandatory check-up. Afterall, I'm Doctor Millie Stevenson."

Eli suppressed a snort, "What a fucking terrible name." This prompted Lexine to laugh too.

"Says the man who'd use Mike Hunt as a psudonym." She answered back, and they shared a sibling reunion. For a brief moment, the two acted like they were teenagers again.

Eli and Lexine calmed themselves, "Okay sis. I'll see you tomorrow morning. If this Kurtis guy harrasses you again, let me kick his ass."

"Get in line brother. I can look after myself. I'm a Murdoch and a Weller you know."

As Lexine left, Eli felt emotional. His sister was alive. But how?

He would have to wait until tomorrow to learn the truth, and whether he accepts it or not, one thing is clear.

Everything he thought he knew could change. . .

End of Chapter One

Author's Notes:

What is Lexine doing on the ship, using a fake name as reunites with Eli? Will she reveal why she had supposedly vanished for so long?

The Answers will be hard to swallow.