Chapter 17

“The threat has been neutralized,” Lydia said to Amulius, “they shouldn’t interfere. But they are a force to be reckoned with. We should prepare for them if they ever wanted to start a fight. I will upload the data we collected from them.”

“Very good, Lydia,” Amulius said. “We will develop a backup plan for them.”

“How goes the civil war?” Lydia quickly changed the subject before Amulius could ask for more details about the bradist mission.

“Very well,” Amulius added. “Warren had missed his calling. He should have been a writer. Warren is coming up very creative material for Captain Ra-Mat-Wat to say. The movement has a new face as well, Wak-Ric.”

“Who is Wak-Ric?”

“Very little intel on him,” Amulius said, “but he is making a lot of noise in the revolution. But he needs some help.”

“Why type of help?”

“Don’t worry, he doesn’t know that you will be helping him.” There was a pause in the transmission. “A peace envoy is being put together; you must stop that from happening. We do not have enough intel about the peace mission, but once we get it, your team will neutralize it, by any means necessary.”

“Understand.”

The transmission ended. Killing civilians wasn’t high on Lydia’s list, she hoped that Amulius would never locate the envoy. But she knew Amulius, he was cold, calculating and very efficient. Lydia admired those traits about him, she emulated those traits in herself, but it was becoming hard to maintain. Was she calculating? Yes, it was second nature to her. Was she efficient? Yes, her father raised her that way. Was she cold? At times, but that was changing. This mission, Project Faith, had changed her. Faith was a weapon, a weapon to be fired and discarded, but it was more than that. Faith was a friend, a lover and someone that Lydia cared about. That wasn’t the plan, but that was the reality.

Ezi should be locked up in the brig, not resting in sickbay. Lydia made this decision with her heart and not her mind. Ezi was part of the crew, not another tool to be used. Lydia worried about the safety of her crew, and the effects that this mission was having on them or could have on them, especially Faith. Faith, the raven hair daring, it was all about her. Was this a problem? No.

Faith saw her friend in the briefing room. Lydia was leaned back in the chair with her eyes closed, shoulders dropped, head back and her hands interlocked on her stomach. Lydia looked so peaceful. Faith didn’t want to disturb her friend.

“I know you’re there,” Lydia said in a low voice.

“I won’t be killing you in your sleep,” Faith joked. “What’s our next mission? Who do we have to kill now?”

Lydia sat up in the chair. “We don’t have any missions at this time. For now, we are free to do want we want.”

“Good,” Faith said. “I would like to make a request.” Faith straddled Lydia and kissed the redhead on the lips. Lydia rested her hands on Faith’s hips. “I want to visit Earth.”

“Earth?”

“I’ve never been,” Faith said. “I never got a chance to see the ‘Motherland.’ I want to visit Earth before I die. I was born on New Hope. I was raised by a Drillus for practically all of my life. I studied Earth’s culture, history, and customs, but I have no connection to Earth or other humans in that matter. Maybe mom and dad had relatives? I might have uncles, aunts or cousins. I need a sense of belonging.”

Lydia stroked Faith’s long raven hair. “I understand. You feel alone in this universe. Your parents were killed and Roat-At-Tat is gone. Your concept of family is destroyed. You’re trying to find yourself. Trying to discover who you really are? It can be scary.”

“I’m not afraid,” Faith answered. “I need this.”

“I’ll help you,” Lydia said. “This is a journey that you don’t have to do by yourself, but it will have to wait until this mission is done. I promise. I will take you to Earth. We’ll see it together.”

“Thank you.” Faith paused, she thought long and hard about her next statement. Faith rested her hands on Lydia’s shoulders and looked into her friend’s pretty green eyes. “I love you.” It was a big step for Faith, she had these feeling for a while. At first, it was going a crush, something harmless, but it was real and it scared the shit out of her.

“I love you too,” Lydia responded. This was an even bigger step for her. In her thirty years, she never said those words to another person. To Lydia, relationships were something to use or manipulate to one’s advantage. The feeling had nothing to do with it. But Faith was different. Lydia fell for Faith, Lydia tried to deny these feelings but failed. Lydia trained to be cold and detach, but Faith brought down those defenses and melted Lydia’s heart. The two engaged in a long embrace. They confessed their love to each other. They felt no force in the universe could break them apart until Piet’s voice came over the intercom.

“Piet to Lydia.”

Lydia rolled her eyes and as she was not ready to end this connection with Faith. “What is it?”

Piet didn’t need to see her face to know that she wasn’t happy about the interruption. “Ezi is awake. Come to sickbay.”

“I’m on my way.” Lydia waited for days for this. There were so many questions and very few answers. Faith and she rushed to sickbay, a smile came to both of their faces as they saw a healthy, but a tire Ezi talking to Piet.

“Piet filled me in about my coma and some of my new abilities,” Ezi joked. “I should be clear for duty.”

“What else can you do?” Lydia asked.

Ezi got out of the bed and looked at her hands. “The experiment was a success. To answer your question, in theory, there is a lot I can do. I can generate lethal shocks from up close and from a distance. The can create an electrical force field around myself and maybe others. My sisters will be proud of this achievement.” Ezi looked down and her tone became sadden. “Many have died during this experiment. Now their death will not be in vain.” Ezi noticed a concerned look on Lydia’s face. “Don’t worry, Lydia.” Ezi slowly stroke Lydia’s chin. “I’m loyal to you and your mission.”

Lydia felt the energy coming from Ezi’s touch. Lydia’s hair was full of static electricity and goosebumps covered her arms. “That is good to know. Maybe you could test your abilities when we get a chance.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” Ezi said with a small smile on her lips. “I should inform the shavili’s science team on Uma about this. It could stop unnecessary experiments on my sisters.”

“It could be risky flying back to Uma,” Lydia said. “Can you send them a message?”

“This experiment was classified,” Ezi responded. “I don’t want this information to get out over INH. I could send an encrypted message to my mother.”

“Is that risky?” Faith shined in.

“If Lydia couldn’t crack the code of my people, I don’t think some random hacker could do it as well.” Ezi turned to Faith. “I could use your assistance in creating the encryption?”

Faith’s brows rose. “I don’t know shit about encryption.”

“But your knowledge on the drilli could add another layer of security from my sisters.”

“What?” Faith was still confused.

“Just make it fast,” Lydia ordered. “We will be disconnecting from INH shortly.

Ezi grabbed Faith by the hand and lead the woman to the lab. Faith still puzzled on why she was needed. Faith wondered if Ezi had ulterior motives. Maybe Lydia was right, to be cautious about Ezi. Maybe there was an agenda that Ezi was keeping away from the rest of the crew. Faith really liked Ezi and there was a bond between the two, but Faith wasn’t going to betray Lydia. No matter what Ezi’s plan was.

The two arrived at the lab and Ezi went to work on the encryption. After a couple of minutes, it was clear to Faith that Ezi didn’t need help. Faith thought to herself, ‘What was Ezi the real reason?’

Ezi continued to work on the code. “You are aware this wasn’t the reason I brought you here.”

“I sensed that,” Faith said. “So, what is the real reason?”

“Lydia needed me to crack the Svantevit’s code. While I was working on it, I came across some file about Project Faith.”

A puzzled look came over Faith’s face. “In the Svantevit’s data?”

“No, little one.” Ezi explained. “I found it on SINDRI mainframe.”

“Lydia is not going to be happy about that,” Faith said.

“It only took a little hacking. Just enough to get information about you, I wasn’t trying to destroy her organization. I left no trace I was there. Do you want to know what I found?”

Faith had a sick feeling in her stomach, she felt that she was being disloyal to her friend and lover, Lydia. What secrets did Ezi find? Faith wanted to know. “What is it?”

“I found several hours of videos, maybe you can assist me in telling me the story.” Ezi played one of the videos. It appeared to be from a body cam. The video showed drilli getting shot and killed. “What is this?” Ezi asked.

Faith didn’t need to watch any more of the video to identify it. “It’s the raid of the prison camp on Prozz. The camp I was kept.”

“A rescue operation?”

“That is what the non-existing report said. It was more of a recruiting trip.”

“Recruiting?”

“Lydia would have to explain that to you.” The video to run until the image of Roat-At-Tat and Faith appeared on the screen. “Stop the video!” Faith yelled. She walked up to the screen. “Roat-At-Tat,” she said quietly as she touched his image.

“Roat-At-Tat? Your drillus friend.”

“Yes,” Faith cried as the memories rushed back. Faith closed her eyes and reflected on that day.

Roat-At-Tat and Faith were having dinner. At first, Faith hated drilli food, but after fifteen years she came a custom to it. There was a question that was eating at Faith for a long time and she wanted to ask Roat-At-Tat, but never had the nerve. Faith didn’t know if it was her place to ask, but she finally did.

“How did she die?” Faith asked.

“What?” Roat-At-Tat said with a little irritation in his voice. But he understood why she asked.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend?” Faith put her head down in shame.

Roat-At-Tat placed his hand on her chin and lifted her head up. “It’s all right, little one. She died in battle.”

“She was a soldier?”

“Yes, killed in a sneak attack by the bradits.”

“Bradits?”

“A large reptilian race,” he explained. “Your kind had no contact with them, which is quite fortunate. They are brutal and cruel.”

“Some might say the same about the drilli,” Faith said with a little hesitation in her voice.

“It is a fair statement coming from a human. Most of your race only seen us in battle, you have seen us differently.”

“I’ve seen you differently, Roat-At-Tat,” she explained. “The others are still monsters to me.”

“I understand.”

Faith felt the uneasily about the direction of the conversation, so she went back to the original topic, his daughter. “Why you feel guilty about her death?”

Roat-At-Tat let out a loud sighed, “You humans ask a lot of questions.” He put down his utensil. “I was supposed to be there. In charge of her unit, I gave the assignment to another. A less experienced officer.”

Faith noticed that Roat-At-Tat fists clenched and his fur on his neck stood up. Faith defused the situation by getting him to focus on his daughter. “What was she like?”

“She was beautiful, smart and strong.” His face lit up when he talked about her. “She had white fur and the darkest brown eyes you ever have seen.” He fists relaxed and his fur went back to a normal state. “She was a fighter. I trained her. Like, I trained you. There no bond stronger than when a father trains his offspring.”

“You must really miss her.”

“I do.”

“Does it still hurt?”

“Not as much as it used to.”

“Really? Why?”

“My soul has been filled with another.”

Faith smiled. “I love you too, Roat-At-Tat.” It was the first time she ever said those words to him. “You are like a father to me. You could have killed me when you first found me. You could have killed me anytime over the past fifteen years, but you didn’t. You respected me, trusted me and loved me.”

“I do love you,” he explained. “I like a father loves his daughter.”

Faith got up from her seat, walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck and gave a kiss on his snout.

“I will never let anything happen to you,” he said.

“I know.”

A small explosion could be heard in the other room before Faith and Roat-At-Tat could respond, a squad of soldier filed into the dining room with rifles pointing at Roat-At-Tat.

“Get away from the beast,” the squad leader ordered.

“” questioned Faith.

Roat-At-Tat looked at Faith. “”

Faith walked over to the other side of the room. When Faith was a safe distance, the squad open fired on Roat-At-Tat.

“” Faith cried.

Roat-At-Tat collapsed. Faith ran over to him and held his bloody body in her arms. She couldn’t lose Roat-At-Tat. He was the only friend Faith ever had. Roat-At-Tat coughed up some blood and looked into Faith’s bright blue eyes. He caressed the side of her face with his massive hand and whispered to her, “”

“” Faith kissed him on the snout, her tears quickly dried up and she stood up and faced the squad.

“The camp is secure,” the squad leader said. “All drilli dead.”

“” Faith said. “”

“What?” said the squad leader with a puzzled look on his face.

Faith opened her eyes as the memory subdue. The rest of the video showed Faith single-handily killing the platoon that raided the camp. In the video, Faith showed no mercy and no regrets. The video ended.

“You were so brutal,” Ezi said.

“I was driven by passion,” Faith said. “They killed what was left of my world. They had to pay. They were going to burn.” Faith closed her eyes and did some deep breathing and calmed herself down. “I’m in control. I’m a warrior, not a murderer. Why did you show me this? I knew what I did and I’m not a shame.”

“There are video logs from Lydia about the project and you. Do you want to see them?”

“No!”

“It will only show you the truth. How she compares you to a monster with issues. An emotional wreck that can be easily manipulated with kind words and affection!”

“She said, ‘No!’” Lydia walked into the room. “What the hell is going on?”

Ezi faced Lydia. “I could say the same to you.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Lydia asked. “I’ve been straight with you, Ezi.”

“Bullshit!” Ezi snapped back. “Did I use that term correctly? I cracked the Svantevit’s code and analyzed the data.”

“I ordered you to crack the code,” Lydia said, “not analyze the data.”

“What are you hiding from us?” Ezi asked. “Besides the truth.”

Faith looked at Lydia. “What is she talking about? What’s on the data?”

“A client’s list,” Lydia answered, “all the people and governments that did business with the Svantevit. It links them to terrorist activities and that could lead to war crimes. It is very sensitive. It could dissolve the Association.”

A bright electric charge came over Ezi’s body. “I don’t care about the Association. I only care about one thing in the data, the attack of Uma and who ordered it! Does the name Suiluma mean anything to you?”

Lydia’s hand went to her face as she heard the name. “Oh shit.”

“Who the hell is Suiluma?” Faith asked.

Lydia’s face rose from her hand. “It Amulius spelled backward. SINDRI ordered the attack on the base.”

“You bitch!” Ezi yelled as she hit Lydia with an electrical jolt that sent the redhead flying across the room. Ezi didn’t want to kill Lydia, but the blast knocked the doctor out.

Faith wasn’t aware of Ezi’s intentions, so Faith rushed the Ezi and tackled the shavili to the floor. Faith landed several punches until Ezi was able to let off one powerful shock that sent Faith flying off.

Faith flipped and landed on her feet. “Is that all you got?” Faith taunted.

“My fight is not with you, little one,” Ezi answered.

Faith clenched her teeth. “It is now.” Faith rushed her purple friend. Sparks flew with every punch and kick that Ezi blocked. Ezi shocked Faith with several electrical punches that knocked Faith back. The warrior wobbled as the blows affected her balance. Taking advantage of the situation, Ezi grabbed both of Faith’s wrists.

“This is going to hurt,” Ezi said and delivered a devastating shock to Faith.

Faith screamed and fell to her knees. Her hair stood on end, it felt like every cell in her body was exploding all at once. Blood dripped from Faith’s eyes and ears.

Ezi continued to shock her old friend. “Submit. Dammit!” Ezi pleaded with Faith. “I don’t want to kill you. Please, I beg you. Fall!” Faith screamed, but she wasn’t going to submit. Ezi was slowly killing her friend.

Lydia got to her feet and saw Faith being electrocuted. “Let her go, you purple bitch!” Lydia drew her sidearm and fired an explosive round. The shot didn’t do much damage to Ezi, due to the electrical field. Lydia fired several more rounds. “I told you if you hurt her, you will see how passionate I can be.” The shots distracted Ezi, just enough for Faith to get an upper hand.

Faith crept up on to her feet and headbutted her attacker which caused the shavili to let go. Faith followed with several punch combinations that pushed her opponent to the wall. Faith kept on punching and kicking, having flashbacks to the drillus that tried to rape her. Ezi fell to counter the young woman’s attacks and tried to create to a field, but couldn’t focus due to the numerous blows. Ezi collapsed to the floor, but the fight continued.

Faith jumped on top of Ezi and continued the bombardment of fists. Ezi couldn’t defend herself as Faith laid repeated blows to shavili. Lydia ran between the two and pleaded Faith to stop the onslaught. Lydia wrapped her arms around Faith.

“It’s okay,” Lydia said in a calm tone. “It’s over. I got you, baby. I got you.”

“I don’t feel so good.” Faith closed her eyes and collapsed in Lydia’s arms.

Sickbay was becoming a familiar sight for Faith. Lydia was there, holding her lover’s hand, praying to a God that she didn’t believe in. Lydia needed Faith to get better. Two weeks passed. The electrical charge had done internal damage to Faith, but her body was healing. Faith had to return. Lydia thought to herself. ‘Faith might not want to return.’ Lydia didn’t know how Faith was going to act. Was Faith going to be forgiving or spiteful? Only time would tell and time was running out as Faith slowly opened her eyes.

“Welcome back,” a tearful Lydia said.

Faith cleared her throat. “Where is Ezi?”

“Don’t worry about that?” Lydia said. “You need to take care of yourself and get better.”

“Dammit!” Faith yelled. “Where is she?”

Lydia looked down and let out a deep breath. “She is recovering in the brig. She will be okay, but she did take a beating. Piet did what he could for her. It is all up to her.”

Faith tightly closed her eyes. Tears escaped the corners of her eyelids. “I couldn’t stop. I wanted to kill her. I wanted to kill her because of you. I lost control because of you. I am the monster that you fear.” Faith rolled her back to Lydia. “You don’t love me,” she said. “How could you?”

“You scared me,” Lydia said. “I did what I did to control you. I manipulated you. I took advantage of your affection for me and used it against you. You were a project to me, a mission that needed to be completed. I hurt you.”

“You played me like a lovesick puppy.” Faith’s back still facing Lydia. “That will do anything for the love of her master. I was so stupid.”

“You are stupid,” Lydia said, “if you don’t think I don’t love you. I didn’t want to, I tried to deny my feelings for you, but you made it impossible.” Tears returned to Lydia’s face. “You are amazing. You make me feel. You make me love you.”

“I don’t like games.” Faith stiffed several times as she talked. She turned and faced Lydia. “I lost so much. I can’t lose you.”

“You won’t lose me,” Lydia added, “and you won’t lose your family again.” Lydia handed Faith a package. It was rectangle box wrapped in lime colored paper.

“What is it?” Faith asked.

“Something you need,” Lydia answered.

“Another bone,” Faith answered. “To keep me happy?”

“Just open it.”

Faith ripped open the present. It was the first time in fifteen years that she did something like this. For a brief moment, she felt like a kid. Once the package was open, there was a blank picture frame. When she touched the center of the frame and an image of her parents on their wedding day appeared. Tears ran down her cheeks. She was speechless.

“It took some time, some strings and a lot of credits to pull it off,” Lydia said. “But it needed to be done and it was worth it. Maybe it will give you a sense of belonging. That you are not alone.”

Faith caressed the image over and over again. She couldn’t take her eyes off of it. Her father was wearing a purple suit. His dark hair was in a crew cut, his goatee and mustache had a touch of grey. He looked so handsome on his wedding day. Faith’s mother was wearing a beautiful white gown. Her hair was just as red as Lydia. Faith couldn’t stop crying. She had a new image of her parents that would replace the one that been tattoo in her brain for the past fifteen years. “Thank you,” Faith whispered.

“I love you,” Lydia said.

Faith flashed a smile. “Show me.”

Before their lips met, Piet’s voice came over the intercom. “Lydia, I need you to come to the brig. Ezi wants to talk.”

“Your timing sucks,” Lydia replied. “I’m on my way.”

“No,” Faith said. “We’re on our way.”

“You don’t have to come.”

“I need to.”