Paradigm Mine

Distance

A helmet sprouted from behind the escorts head. Within an instant the once "escort" was now a fairly popular freelance bounty hunter. His Full body armor had a small red fabric Sash around his hips. The devices used to summon weapons flashed two High velocity weapons into his hands. He wasn't going to leave without a fight it appeared.

"Cred." A voice said with no hint of surprise. He looked to Van-Drow. She smiled as her blue eyes glowed purple under the moon light.

"Why? Why do you think that drawing your weapons is going to help in this situation my friend..." the woman spoke and then she trailed off looking at the girl.

Lady Van-Drow was the leader of her people. Revered as royalty. Yet her Armor was very similar to a common Laquin Solider. A small blocklike triangle tattoo under her left eye displayed her House Glyph. It became visible as her helmet rolled back from her face on its own.

She squinted slightly and then made eye contact with Cred. "Who's this?"

"This is my passenger." Cred said evasively and recalled the girl to his side. Not using her name.

The small figure had a type of armor protecting her too.

The woman looked up to creds eyes and then back down to the girl.

"Does she know?" the woman said softer as she stood the closest to Cred.

"No. Ember changed the deal!" He grunted just over a whisper. His hands trembled.

There was a long pause as the girl and the woman looked each other over. She whispered quietly "I'm so sorry." Taking a deep breath, she faked a smile and turned to the girl.

"Come on little one, I have something very very interesting to show you." The girl looked up to the Man for direction.  He looked down and knew what he should do...But an unseen war of the right thing to do, and the wrong thing; waged in his mind.

So rather than making a choice; he solidified.  Emotionless He could only stare blankly at her face plate. Behind it he knew the beauty of her wide silver eyes. Regret took hold of his heart and there was nothing he could do about it.

As his indecision was his decision; the little girl walked away with the woman. The 6 warriors that arrived with the woman, watched him closely.  One that was standing next to Cred as they one by one filed into the sea; spoke.

"It might not mean anything to you commander; but you did the best you can with what you got." The persons face that spoke these words was hidden. As was Creds Distain. 

"Trooper," He said unmoved by his honest reassurance; "I believe you are under orders to depart to the ocean; i understand that to mean; you would do so in "silent" obedience." nodding slowly the trooper re-joined his squad-mates.  A sonic boom cracked over the hunter's head, as he sat in his thoughts.

A small Swallow Class Vessel landed behind him as he stood there looking at where she walked away. His world now burning inside his mind he only silently stared and wished and wished he had done something better. Looking down he told himself it was safer for her. But really, he knew that thought just made HIM feel better.

He would return to hunting Ember for some 20 years later. In that time the Little girl grew in the knowledge and training that only the Laquin Advance Special Forces could give her. In a word: it was "Hard" for her. Cred knew as much as little Zephyr knew. She would not forgive her dad for this.

The AI system Chimed as the docking ring opened. The Air balanced and hissed as a woman strolled onto her vessel. "Good morning, Zephyr." The Ai pleasantly greeted her. Without missing a step, she made her way to the bridge. Again, the AI greeted her. And yet again, the woman marched with irregular pattern. "Zephyr are you alright?" Seemingly there was something wrong.  Convulsing she fell to the floor. Small what seemed to be like insects filtered through the air. gradually like snow accumulating, an android formed.

"Zepher!" MIA the AI now in android form, cradled her as she fell. Exhausted she laid in MIAs arms. Flickering blue sparkle like orbs smaller than small flies flaked off of her exhausted body. Her cellular structure was editing. Almost a defeated look crept across the black-haired silver and black-eyed androids face.

The two had been exploring trying to stay "out of trouble." in the process they did much worse than that. However, in this moment in time; the young commander had just arrived back from her mission. A mission even SHE didn't quite remember all the details.

An Atomical Anomaly known little by few had infected Zypher. At this stage she suffered from black outs. Mia an Android with its own advance AI operating systems could see a steady decline in her health.

From outside of Zyphers Ship "The Enigma" Cred scanned towards the ship possibly hoping to check on her. The large docking port of New Riddia could dock upwards of 20 Captial ships. The average sized Enigma was both feared and respected. It was a Reaper Class Vessel. Build for speed and Evasion. The weapons systems were formidable however rarely used.

From behind Cred an NCO (Non-commissioned Operative) Stood at attention. "Sir. Most excellent to see you have made it back to the fleet. I trust the mission went well."

Cred thought back to the mission step by step. It started with a Halo drop- then he was to disable all who stood in his way. Rescued an operative, flee said planet of incursion, stay alive long enough to make it into another vessel only to be shot down on a slave planet.  Freed slaves and sabotaged enemy equipment. Stole another ship and fled that planet and made it back to the bright world of New Riddia.

He took his time trying to form and choose the right words. So, he took a deep breath and smiled;

'Without a hitch..."  He turned his back and walked away from the crewman. Ignorance is just poor information. It was likely that or; Cred honestly really didn't feel like talking at the moment.