Jade Dragon - Ch. 9

9

“You have to get your friend out of here NOW!” Ruby stepped back slightly and looked at her, confused.

“What? Why?”

“Rape is a crime here.”

“I should hope so…” Janan bit her lip and groaned, frustrated. A tear escaped her eyes.

“Not just rape…Being raped is, too…At least when the person who is raped is a woman…” Ruby’s jaw dropped. “It’s part of New Mesopotamia’s religion…Men are supposed to be stronger than that, so if a man rapes a woman, it must also be the woman’s fault…at least subconsciously…”

“You can’t be serious…”

“I’m DEAD serious!” Janan screamed.

“Alright…I take it you have first hand experience with this?”

“Yes…” Tears started streaking out of her eyes. “I…I could only get a job as a whore…It was the only job I was allowed legally…and I was pregnant and…and I had no choice…Please, just get me out of here so I no longer have to wear these shameful clothes…The sooner the better…”

“Alright,” Ruby looked down at her watch, “Sharon’s probably not out of surgery yet…I can run you to the ship now.”

“Thank you…” Janan said, crying tears of joy.

“I should warn you that our ship’s not going to be going anywhere until it gets repaired.”

“It’s okay as long as we’re off the planet…worse comes to worse, you can lie to them and say I am…servicing your crew’s needs.” She hung her head. “I never really got to recover…recover from it…It will be nice to just…just be able to relax and focus on my child…” Janan and Ruby got into Ruby’s car. Janan buckled up her son in the back seat, wishing she had a child seat for him since he was only two.

“Do you mind me asking what exactly happened to you?” Ruby asked as she started her car and drove off.

“No, I don’t. I’ve played through it in my mind enough times that the event itself no longer pains me. It did lead to the birth of my wonderful son, Gideon.” She smiled briefly, but went solemn again. “There was this professor…a doctor in the field of gene augmentation, who was always doing genetic experiments of one kind or another…he hired me as a nurse because I’m an augment…He studied my genetics and eventually began trying to turn himself into what he called ‘homo superior’ through post-birth augmentations with chemicals and retroviruses, but one day…”
Janan was wearing a white nurse’s uniform and smiling when she walked into Professor Zimmer’s office. He was studying a blood sample through a large and powerful microscope. Frustrated, he took the blood sample and threw it across the room, then picked up the microscope and smashed it on the floor.
“Is something wrong, Professor Zimmer?” She said horrified. He had been getting angrier and angrier the more experiments he performed on himself.

“My genes have been altered, but I’m not showing any physical changes from them!” He stepped on and crushed part of the microscope. “It’s not enough! It’s never enough! I’ve got to do something drastic…” He took a deep breath and collapsed into a chair. “But…I don’t know what it is.”

“Maybe you should just relax, sir. If you do something too drastic, you could end up killing yourself. Just wait it out…” An epiphany hit Janan. “Maybe you won’t benefit from your enhancements, but your children might.” The doctor looked up.

“Children?”

“Yes. Maybe you could find that special someone…”

“No…you’re the only woman on the colony that tolerates my…quirks…Unless you…” She decided to change the subject, a horrible feeling washing over her.

“Well, maybe you could hire a woman to have the child. I’m sure there’s one that…”

“No, the woman would have to be an augment for all of my augmentations to take hold, and you’re the only one on the colony.” Professor Zimmer stood up, cornering Janan and approaching her. She put her hand out to stop him.

“You…you could register with the Science Association…I…I’m sure that someone somewhere would…” She tried to push him away, but he grabbed her wrist and bent her arm away, making her yelp in pain.

“What we’re doing is ILLEGAL, Janan! There won’t be any registering. You’re my only choice!” He twisted her arm behind her back and slammed her against the wall. He tore off her skirt and she screamed.

“DON’T!”

“Come now, Janan, you had to know there was a reason I hired a nurse fresh out of college when I really didn’t need an assistance.” Janan started to cry. “The pregnancy will only last six months and I will pay you handsomely once I have approval for my mods.”

“But I’m saving myself for marriage…”

“Then we’ll get married, and you can start my lineage of…”

“NO!” She managed to get free of his grip and started to run away, but he picked up a chair and threw it at her, hitting her in the back and knocking her down. He walked over to her and turned her on to her back, pinning her arms over her head.

“This is happening, like it or not!” He kneed her in the ribs.
“Then…” Janan wiped a tear away from her eye, “then he said…‘Just relax and try to enjoy it’ and he…My son’s his son…I wanted to keep it a secret, but when I started showing signs of pregnancy, my boyfriend who I was making wait for marriage reported the rape…He was imprisoned, and I was heavily fined…the only way I could pay was to become a prostitute after my child was born…and it was the only job I was ‘allowed’ after…I was found guilty of ‘enticement’ and COLLABORATION with the Professor’s plan!”

“Collaboration? God damn…We HAVE to get you out of here.”

“I suppose I got off lucky…Professor Zimmer was executed. I got to see him die…and I’m glad, too. It was the first time I was happy in a long time.”

“No offense, but your religion’s crazy!”

“It is not my religion as it is not even a true version of the religion it stole…I am a Darwinist…or somewhere in between science and religion, I suppose, so I take no offense in you saying the…Crimson Crescent is insane.” She hung her head. “This colony is broken.” Ruby pulled up to the shuttle in the bay. “Get your friend out of here while you still can.” Ruby nodded and walked with Janan to the shuttle. Manny ran off it to her.

“Ruby! Connor…Is what I heard happened to Sharon true? Was she raped…almost killed?”

“Yes…” She gave him the keys to her car. “Go, take my car. Don’t let anyone from the planet’s police into her room, no matter what…” She turned to Janan, “right?”

“I would be careful of most doctors as well.” He nodded, not asking who Janan was, just running to Ruby’s car. Andy ran after him, carrying a large stack of paper in her arms.

“Wait for me!” She stopped by Ruby briefly, barely hanging onto the paper. “Ruby, I’m sorry. We’ll have to get me new bras later…Sharon was violated…”

“It’s okay. I’ll pick some up you’ll like, Andy.”

“Something frilly and pretty, with matching panties!” Andy yelled as she ran to the car. Ruby smiled.

“I really love her. I needed that.” Janan nodded.

“I can wait in the shuttle if you want to go with…” she was interrupted by the car peeling off and heading for the hospital, “…your friends…”

“It’s okay, your safety’s important, and I’ll pick up Gabe’s car from the ship.”

“You took a rental car up to your ship?”

“No, Gabe owns a car and keeps it up there.”

“I see…”

“It’ll let me get that and get Doc so we know Sharon can be treated without worrying.” Janan nodded again.

“Good idea.”


Nicole and Kelly were lying on the beach, wearing bikinis. A part of Nicole couldn’t believe Kelly was actually able to talk her into wearing a bikini instead of a one piece swimsuit. She knew everyone was staring at her tattoo, but Kelly talked her into not caring. Kelly was also the reason they were at the beach. Nicole was focusing on what happened to Connor too much, and Kelly didn’t want her to, so she took her to the beach to distract her. Nicole did her best to pretend that she was having a good time with her, but she was still preoccupied with Connor. Kelly laid down next to her in the sand and notice how distracted she was.
“This was a horrible idea, wasn’t it?”

“No, it was probably the best idea we had come up with to distract ourselves while Connor was still in surgery.” She kissed Kelly. “All of this got me thinking…I came close to being raped…I don’t want to risk my virginity being taking by some sick stranger anymore, I want you to be my first…”

“You mean you’re still…” She shook her head slightly to focus on what was important. “Does that mean you’re ready to…”

“Yes. Today with you has been perfect…so I don’t want to wait…and I’ve always wanted my first time to be on a beach.” Nicole kissed her deeply. Kelly kissed her back, sliding her bikini top off.


Ruby was on her way back to Connor, pulling Gabe’s car out of the shuttle’s cargo bay. As she started to drive off, she saw someone in a military uniform that was deep red instead of blue approaching her shuttle and stopped recognizing her.
“Michelle?” She thought out loud as she rolled down the window as fast as it could go. “Michelle O’Brien!” She shouted to her and stopped the car. Michelle turned around and smile, walking over to her car.

“Ruby Conroy, just the woman I wanted to see.” She leaned onto the open window. “But you know, it’s Richards now.” Ruby chuckled slightly.

“Sorry, skipped my mind.”

“Where are you going?”

“To see my friend…She was hospitalized when a group of raiders…”

“Say no more, I know what raiders do. Maybe I can help her.” Ruby nodded and unlocked her door, letting Michelle get in. “Have they catch bastards that did it to her yet?”

“Not yet, but they have genetic matches for them so they can catch them.” Michelle flipped open her communicator.

“Captain Richards to Aries, send down a platoon of marines to aid the capital city’s police to find suspects in the…”

“Sharon Connor.”

“Sharon Connor rape case, except I’m authorizing the use of lethal force against the suspects, shoot on sight.”

“Roger that, ma’am. Over and out.” She closed her communicator.

“Better?” Ruby nodded.

“Thank you.” After a brief silence, Michelle spoke up.

“I…” She was going to tell Michelle that she wore the skirt uniform for her, but decided on something else, “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“Yeah…I’ve been dreaming about you recently. What have you been up to since we parted?” Michelle reached into her pocket and pulled out a small picture screen and showed it to her as she pulled up to the hospital.

“That’s my husband with our two kids. The girl is Mae, my oldest, and the baby is my son, David Junior. I’m leaving in the next couple days for Megan’s sixth birthday and David’s second. I think you’d love Megan, I know she’d love you.” She turned her head to Ruby from the picture. “Would you like to meet her? You’d have to go with me back to Earth, but…”

“Well…from the looks of it, the Midnight Storm’s going to be going under repairs and upgrades for some time now…So…assuming we get Sharon to safety…I’d love to go.”

“Safety?” Her voice was extremely perplexed.

“It’s a long story…”


Nicole caught her breath, panting and relaxing her entire body. While Nicole and Kelly were making love, she started to have another panic attack, but she ignored it. Kelly kissed her passionately and collapsed next to her on the beach and laughed with a mixture of pleasure and glee.
“Oh wow…Are…are you sure you haven’t done this before?”

“Done what? You did everything…” Nicole said, still catching her breath. Kelly smiled and kissed her again.

“Well…Did you like it?” Nicole nodded.

“It was everything I thought it’d be.”

“Did you have a panic attack?”

“Yes…but you…made it worth it.” They kissed again. Kelly put her arms around Nicole, holding Nicole’s head to her chest.

“Yeah…it was pretty great…but…why’d you choose the beach?”

“It’s romantic…the sand’s great…the surf…and Ruby talked about a time with Gabe on the beach and made it sound pretty good…why?”

“No reason…” She said, deciding her complaint about getting the sand out of her hair was too stupid to bring up. Suddenly, Nicole felt like they were being watched and looked up, seeing a group of policemen standing about thirty feet away. She scrambled and got the beach towel they brought over herself.

“Kelly!” She looked up and groaned as the police approached them.

“Oh great…Ruin the whole thing just because of public nudity…”

“It’s worse than public nudity, whores.” One of the police said as they came over.

“Whores!?” Kelly said as she tried to stand up, but one of the police hit her in the back with a rifle and knocked her down. Two more held her down and she heard the sound of device being disconnected and realized she couldn’t wiggle her cybernetic toes any more. “Did you bastards just take off my leg!?”

“Silence!” A guard kicked her across the face, knocking her out.

“Kelly!” Nicole screamed as they were both dragged off to the police cars.


Gabe and Harrison were standing guard in front of Connor’s door when Manny joined them. Gabe stopped him before he went in the room.
“Manny, you might want to stay out here.”

“Sir, I know what happened to her…and I know it’s not going to be pretty to see, but…”

“No, you might want to stay out here because we need to keep the police out.”

“What? Why?” Gabe quickly explained the situation to him. “That’s nuts!”

“Yeah, so stand guard. Don’t worry, Doc made sure she was okay and went back to the ship, and Andy’s in there to keep her company if she wakes up.” Manny nodded and stood next to Gabe.

“With Harrison here, what purpose do we serve, sir? He could stop them if they tried anything.”

“Moral support, Manny. Moral support.” Manny nodded. As they stood guard, Lois walked up to them. “YOU!”

“I ‘eard what ‘appened to your cute li’l engineer, so I…” Gabe punched her in the jaw, knocking her down. “What the ‘ell!?” Gabe grabbed her by the collar and slammed her back down on the ground.

“How dare you show yourself around here after what your men did to Connor!” Lois decided to be kind and kicked him in the stomach, knocking him away. H drew his pistol and aimed it at her. “Give me a reason not to shoot you in the head right now!”

“You bastard! You think I actually ORDERED my men to do this to ‘er?”

“You were going to let one rape her on the ship!”

“There’s a difference between letting and ordering! Between one man and three! And between just getting some jollies and gang rape and attempted murder!” Gabe noticed tears growing in Lois’s eyes. “If you think I’d be that cruel, go ahead and fire!” Gabe groaned slightly, put his gun away and went to help Lois up. Lois took his hand, stood up, and then punched him in the stomach. With him winded and unable to talk, she leaned in and whispered in his ear. “I ‘ave been in ‘er position before, and if you EVER suggest that I would order my men to do something like that again, I’ll kill you. Got that?”

“Yeah…” He whispered back. “You were gang raped?”

“Might as well ‘ave been. Didn’ wan’ to do it, but when you’re a cap’n’s woman, and ‘e orders you to do something with a group…” Gabe groaned and straightened out.

“Damn it, Lois…Wha’ did ye do with yer life?” He whispered on last time, switching back to his real accent. Lois cleared her throat and straightened her clothes.

“Apparently, my men…that are Dragons…thought she killed the man that tried to rape ‘er. I straightened things out so they know the truth.” Dragons were a group of Raiders that recruited anyway possible, to have a structure in the various ships and  know what they were all doing.

“Are you a Dragon, Lois?” Lois groaned and rolled up her sleeves to show she had no tattoos on them. “And your back?” Lois lifted the back of her shirt, revealing an oriental dragon tattooed on her back.

“Five claws…it means I’m a captain’s woman and off limits…like it was for royalty back in the day.” She lowered the back of her shirt. “The ship’s named the Crimson Dragon, you ‘ad to know at one point I was…”

“Are you still…”

“There’s no leaving once you’re a member…but I’m distancing myself from ‘em, though some of my men are still members…obviously. Ruby might want to watch ‘er back while you two are ‘ere.”

“She can take care of herself…Wait, you just called her Ruby?”

“Yeah…That’s ‘er name, isn’t it?”

“What happened to ‘Alien’?”

“She’s another woman, she deserves respect…” She joined Gabe and the rest in the line to protect Connor. “You’ve got yourself a real beauty there, Gabriel. She’s one of a kind, I hope you treat her like she deserves.”

“I do.” While she stood next to Manny, all he could think about was the dragon tattoo on her back and how Chan had the intricate dragon tattoo around his arm, leg, chest and back.

Ruby and Michelle parked the car in the hospital’s parking garage. As they walked towards the hospital, a man fired a silenced shot at their feet.
“You! Alien! You’re coming with me!” He held out an assault rifle with a silencer on it. Michelle grit her teeth, having a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.

“I can feel it. You’re the one who raped that girl!”

“Be quite, ‘Captain’ M. Richards.” He read off her name plate. “You, alien, are coming with us.” Ruby noticed the shape of a man standing behind him.

“Why?”

“Because you’re the one that killed Greg, not the one we already got revenge on.”

“Wh…what!? You did that to Sharon because you thought she was me!?” She grit her teeth and clenched her fists. “Why don’t you put down your gun and try to rape and murder…” Michelle drew a pistol and shot the man with the rifle in the head, “me?” The other man scurried off, calling to the ship and telling them about Michelle. Ruby punched the wall and yelled a profanity. “DAMN IT! The raped her because of me!? BASTARDS!” Michelle put her hand on Ruby’s shoulder.

“You couldn’t have known they would go after her.”

“It’s MY fault. I killed him, they should have come after me! Gang up on me! Not her!” She hit her head against the wall. “I’m going to have to tell her and hope she forgives me…” Michelle bit her lip.

“Speaking of forgiveness…the Enhance Marine that was on your ship and that you killed…was from my ship.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know your ship was…well…your ship. I assumed it was just another raider ship. What damage did he do?”

“He scared the hell out of my friend An…nie.” She said, realizing the Enhance Marine was sent to retrieve Andy and Chan. “And he…kind of slammed me against the wall, shattered a lot of bones and ruptured some organs.”

“You mean…he almost killed you?” Michelle said, going pale from the thought of killing Ruby on accident.

“Yeah, he went after my friend, and I jumped on his back…and he jumped backwards against a wall.”

“You’re joshing me. You’d still be in intensive if you…”

“I don’t know how I was healed…but it’s how we managed to get the Zieke ship we have.”

“Then how did you…” Ruby shrugged, wishing she knew how she healed so fast, too.


Connor’s eyes burned as she opened them. As much as she wanted to believe what happened to her was a nightmare, the residual pain that was burning in her shoulder, stomach, arms, shoulders, ribs, and a number of other places wouldn’t let her. She stared blankly at the ceiling and started to cry, wondering why they raped and beat her so violently.
“Sharon…” She raised her head and looker around, seeing Andy sitting at the foot of her bed. “You don’t have to say anything…I can feel your pain…Don’t worry, Thomas is protecting you personally from now on…” Connor noticed Andy had her hands behind her back. “Oh…I sort of gave away that I had a present for you, didn’t I?” Connor nodded slightly. Andy held her hands out. Her hands were full of dozens and dozens origami flowers, cranes, and other animals and covered in countless paper cuts. The paper colored slightly with her blood. “They’re all for you.”

“Why?”

“I wanted to make you happy again…” She put them down on a table next to Connor’s bed. “Lilith taught me how to make more animals…I didn’t know which one was your favorite, so I…”

“Your hands…” Connor gently took both of Andy’s hands into hers.

“Oh…Those are nothing…”

“They…They look like they hurt…” Connor’s eyes started filling with tears again. “I’m not worth it…Any of it…Your blood, your work, your pain…I’m not worth any of it…I’m worthless!” Andy kissed her on the cheek.

“No, you’re not. You’re an excellent engineer. Gabe thinks the ship wouldn’t  be running as well without you. And Kelly thinks you’re the hottest white girl she’s ever seen and that it’s a shame you’re ‘not at least bi’.” Andy scratched her head. “Whatever that means…But I think you’re beautiful, even now. Nothing could ever make you any less beautiful.” Connor broke down crying, putting her arms around Andy and pulling her close, burying her face in her shoulder. Andy felt warm in her arms and knew she felt better with her close.

“Can…can I hold you for a while?”

“I’ll stay with you as long as you need.”

“E…Even when I sleep?” Connor realized she might sound weird, even to Andy, and explained herself. “I don’t feel safe alone…”

“I’ll stay, even when you sleep.”

“Connor, thank god you’re awake.” Manny said as he came in the room. Connor tensed up immediately, holding Andy too tightly and hurting her slightly.

“Stay away, Manny.”

“Sharon, I…”

“Stay away! I don’t want any men near me!”

“Sharon…”

“GO! Please…” Manny nodded and started heading for the door. “Don’t let any men in. I…I don’t…” Manny nodded and left.

“I think you really hurt him, Sharon.”

“You don’t know what those men did to me…If three random men raped you for no reason, you would not feel comfortable around them either…” Andy nodded and put her arms around Connor to comfort her.


Ruby and Michelle finally got to Connor’s hospital room. Gabe and Michelle recognized each other almost instantly.
“Lieutenant Gabe Hawke, is that you?”

“O’Brien…” He read her name plate. “Sorry, Richards. Good to see you again.”

“It’s good to see you, too.” They hugged briefly. “I’m sorry we couldn’t met again under better circumstances.” Gabe looked back at the door to Connor’s room.

“So am I…God to see you made captain, though I don’t recognize the uniform.” Michelle recognized Harrison standing next to Gabe and knew what he did, but let it go.

“It’s a specials uniform. My ship, as well as a few others, were commissioned to hunt raiders. We have all the newest and best tech and weapons, including a nuclear cannon.” Gabe whistled. He didn’t know nuclear cannons had been reduced to fit on a ship. “I notice you’ve picked up some stragglers.” He nodded.

“Try to take them from me and you’ll have to give your n-cannon a work out.”

“Why would I try to take them? Who are ‘they’ anyway?” Michelle asked, perplexed. Ruby gestured for him to stop, but he went on.

“I know Andromeda and Chan were government projects, and I won’t let you take the back to the lab they came from.” Gabe spoke stern and cold to her. Ruby hit her forehead.

“So you’re the ones that took the ‘projects’ from their labs.”

“More like rescued them. And PROJECTS!? They’re people!”

“That depends on what you consider ‘people’, Mister Hawke.” Gabe clenched his fists.

“What do you mean?”

“The lab assured us they were blank, and the only reason someone would TAKE them is to SELL them, cell by cell.” Gabe was about to yell something in Michelle’s face and Ruby knew it, stepping between them and pushing them apart.

“They told you Andy was blank?”

“I take it that’s your name for Andromeda? Of course, we wouldn’t let them do experiments on them if they weren’t.”

“Andy and Chan aren’t blank. They both thinking and feeling individuals. In fact, Andy’s…”

“Right in there if you want to talk to her.” Gabe said calmly. “Go ahead, unless you’re afraid to…” Michelle didn’t wait, wanting to confirm her information. Connor sat back in bed, sliding backwards up against the pillows.

“Who are you?” Connor asked, still holding Andy.

“I’m the captain of the ship that saved yours. You must be Sharon Connor.” Connor nodded. “I want you to know that I’ve assigned a platoon of men to find the last man that raped you and ordered them to shoot on sight.”

“Thanks…Last man?”

“The other one came after Ruby and I and I killed him personally.” Andy gasped.

“Is Ruby alright!?” Michelle was shocked to see Andy actually talk.

“Yes, dear. The bastard didn’t even lay a finger on her.”

“Good. I’m glad you killed the man that did THIS to my friend Sharon.” Andy realized who Michelle was and smiled, moving to the end of Connor’s bed. “You’re Ruby’s lover!” Connor looked at Michelle strangely.

“I…uh…yes, in the past, I was. Did she tell you that?”

“Actually, I know from one of her dreams…I accidentally picked up on one from when it was her birthday and you…” Michelle cleared her throat.

“May I talk to you in private?”

“I do not wish to leave my friend.”

“It’s okay, Andy…You can go talk to her…” Andy nodded and kissed Connor on the cheek before standing up and going with Michelle into the bathroom.

“So you’re…you?”

“Who else would I be?” Andy said and cocked her head sideways.

“I mean, you’re not being controlled or something like that?” Andy nodded.

“I have been controlled in the past, though…David started me acting out what you and Ruby did on the morning of her nineteenth birthday on Ruby while I was asleep…I feel so bad about it…but at least he’s gone now.”

“David?”

“He’s a man that died on the Midnight Storm.” Michelle nodded, feigning understanding. “I think you’re absolutely beautiful…do you mind if I say that?”

“No, dear, I don’t.” Michelle smiled. “You’re very pretty yourself.”

“You really think I’m pretty?” Michelle nodded and Andy smiled brightly and hugged her. “Thank you so much!”

“Y…you’re welcome…What’s your relationship with Ruby, exactly?”

“She took care of me after Chan and Gabe saved me from the lab. It was terrible, I couldn’t do anything by myself…” Andy’s eyes started tearing up. “Ruby had to bath me, feed me, and change my clothes…and asked for nothing in return. I could barely even walk…they kept me tied to a chair most of the time, and now I’m small because of it…but Chan and Gabe saved me, isn’t it great?” Andy cheered up again. “Now I have lots of friends, not just Thomas, and I even have a lover.”

“A lover?” Andy nodded.

“Chan. After Ruby was almost killed…we made love. We’ve made love three times so far…is that a lot for being ‘together’ for a month and a half?”

“No, not really.”

“Good…I was worried I might be a slut…but then again, Gabe and Ruby make love whenever they can, and she’s certainly not a slut.” Michelle nodded, confused by the whole thing.

“So, Gabe and Ruby are in love?”

“Yes. Though sometimes she has conflicting emotions about you, she’s almost always focused on Gabe.”

“That’s good. I feel the same way about my husband.”

“I know. Your daughter’s as beautiful as you.”

“Thank you.” Michelle and Andy left the bathroom. Andy rushed back over to Connor’s waiting arms. Michelle left the room, convinced Andy was aware and not blank. She didn’t even mind that Andy saw her daughter in her mind. Michelle left the room entirely. “Alright, I’m convinced that you’re right about Andromeda. She can stay on your ship, this ‘Chan’ can as well.”

“Good. Are you going to bring charges against the company that made and experimented on them?”

“I can’t. That would reveal I know where they are, and that would risk them intensifying their search for them.” Ruby nodded.

“Damned if you do, damned if you don’t, eh?” Gabe said, figuring she was just making an excuse.

“They won’t get away with any more. I’ll assign a Ranger spy on them, and if they’re doing ANYTHING else even remotely like them, hell will be down on them so fast…” Kelly hobbled up on a crutch, wearing only a bikini.

“Captain! We have a serious problem!”

“Kelly, what happened to your leg?”

“The ‘religious laws’ don’t allow cybernetic appendages, lesbians…or sex on the beach. But that’s not important…”

“Where’s Nicole?” Gabe asked, knowing they were at the beach together.

“That’s the problem, they fined me and let me go, but a while back, Nicole was sexually assaulted and they’re holding her until they decide what happened!” Kelly said, shaking with anger. “They’re going to telepathically scan her and make her relive it all!”

“Sir, permission to get Nicole away from those bastards?”

“Permission gran…” Michelle put her hand out.

“Wait, wait…” A faint memory stirred in the back of her mind. “New Mesopotamia…What’s the name of its religion?”

“I…Hmmm…” Gabe drew a blank. Ruby couldn’t remember either, but Harrison spoke up.

“It’s the Lily Red Crescent of Mesopotamia, a branch of…”

“Islam…More famous as the Bloody-Crescent Moon…‘Crimson Crescent’ to other followers of Islam, it’s the last branch of Islam, the one that wiped out all of the other branches and sects, almost destroyed Judaism, and started World War Three. Where’s the capital building?”

“I know this one.” Kelly spoke up. “It’s the same place as the prison, police HQ, town hall, and…”

“Got it, where is it?”

“You know that building that’s taller than all the others with the huge tower? That’s it.” Michelle nodded.

“Harrison, you’re with me. Ruby, Gabe…” She could tell at a glance what Lois was, “…Raider, stay here.” She flipped open her communicator. “Aries, send down four more platoons of marines and a squad of tanks and a wing of fighters. We made need them.”


Nicole was in a dark room with a spotlight on her. She was trembling with fear, afraid of what they were going to do to her. They hadn’t even given her clothes back yet, giving her a heavy cotton blanket to wrap around herself instead. A man dressed in black came into the room. She could tell he was a telepath almost instantly.
“What do you want!?” The man didn’t respond to her question.

“You are a victim of the ‘Tattoo Breaker’ from Alpha Centauri?”

“Y…Yes…” She said, usually preferring to keep it a secret.

“I thought he killed all of his victims.”

“I…I was lucky number thirteen…I got away and he was executed.”

“Thank you, that’s all the information I needed.” He lifted his arms and stretched out his finger tips to her head. With a light touch, a scream ripped through Nicole’s mind. She squirmed to get away from him, but he planted both hands on her head. Suddenly, in a flash of light, Nicole was back in her high school days when she was attacked.
She was walking down the street with a friend, holding a thick history book to her chest. Her friend grit her teeth.
“Do you have to bring that EVERYWHERE you go?”

“Pretty much.”

“It’s my birthday, Nicky. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

“It does, Anna, but that doesn’t change the fact that we have a history final tomorrow.”

“Just call in sick, Nicky.”

“April…If they found out I skipped, it would be a zero on the test…I know they may not find out, but I…” April took the book from her.

“What’s more important? A test, or celebrating my first and only eighteenth birthday by using our fake ideas to get into a strip club and get drunk?”

“I…they…uh…” Nicole lowered her head. “The test…”

“That’s it!” April yelled and threw the book into the dumpster. “I’ll go alone. Screw you, you fracking bookworm.” She left. Nicole stood still, not sure what to do.

“April, wait…” April flipped her off and kept going. Nicole decided it was important to get the book and let April cool off. She went into the dark alley to get it, reaching into the dumpster. Suddenly, someone grabbed her arm and bent it back behind her back, popping her shoulder out of its socket with a loud pop and crack. When she went to scream, her attacker covered her face with a rag and she passed out.
Nicole started crying in the real world, looking into the telepath’s eyes that was scanning her and pleading with him.
“Please don’t make me relive this…please…” The man ignored her pleas and they plunged back into her memories.
Nicole woke up with her arms chained over her head, stripped down to her bra and panties with a piece of duct tape over her mouth. Her shoulder still screamed with pain. The man came in the room and laughed, punching her in the face. She screamed, feeling her nose was broken from the hit. The man laughed again and hit her in the stomach twice, then put his hands on her shoulder and jerked her down, dislocating her other shoulder and making the chains wrapped around her wrists dig in. She started to cry as she felt her blood running down her arms.

“Oh, we’re going to have fun together, girl.” Nicole kicked her legs to try to reach the ground, but couldn’t. She screamed again as he ripped away her bra and panties, but went dead silent when he picked up a crowbar. He laughed and hit her leg. Nicole almost passed out while the crack of the bone rung in her ears. The man grabbed her hair, pulled back her head and pulled of the duct tape across her mouth. “Don’t pass out yet! We’re still having fun!” He broke her other leg with the crowbar, making her cry out in agony.

Hours passed and Nicole was a bloody pulp, covered with long, black bruises across her entire body. Tears flowed uncontrollably from her lifeless eyes, the only sign other than her breathing that she was still alive. The man hit her in the back with the crowbar, expecting to hear her scream, but getting nothing out of her.
“Broken already?” He hit her in the side with the crowbar. “Alright then.” He cut loose her chains and let her crash to the ground. The impact drove her broken leg bones through her inner thighs. The man expected her to yell, but only got a small yelp of pain. The man came over and pushed her broken legs apart, but Nicole reacted in no way. “I’m about to rape you. Don’t you even care?” Nicole stared at the ceiling. “I suppose I poured everything on a little too thick…” He stood up and grabbed a tattooing needle. “I suppose I can give you some time to come back while I brand you.” Nicole gasped in pain as the tattooing needle ripped in and out of her skin. He groped and grabbed at her body as he tattooed the jagged spiral tattoo between her breasts and on the upper part of her stomach. He took his time with the tattoo, fondling her while she was entirely helpless. “There, all finished.” He put the needle back on the table and licked the blood off her tattoo. “Well, it’s now or never.” He lifted her legs up, causing her more pain, but as he did, the door to the room kicked open and police poured in. As he grabbed for a weapon, a jumpy policeman shot him in the head, spraying his blood over Nicole. He fell onto her, causing her the last bit of pain he would ever cause anyone.

Harrison kicked down the door to the interrogation room, slamming two police officers against the doorframe before he went in. Nicole was collapsed on the floor with the telepath hanging over her with his hands still on her head. Harrison tapped him on the shoulder.
“Excuse me.” The telepath turned to him and he punched him out. Nicole was almost lifeless, laying naked on top of the blanket the police gave her. Harrison wanted to, but resisted the urge to, look her over. “Miss Nicole, everything’s going to be okay.”

“Wh…what?” Still dazed and weak from the scan, Nicole hallucinated briefly.

“Everything’s going to be okay, Miss. It’s over now.” A police woman kneeling over her said. She fluttered her eyes and was ecstatic to see Harrison standing over her. She jumped to her feet and put her arms around him and started crying. He put his arms around her and held her close.

“Harrison! Thank god you’re here!” She buried her face in his shirt. He took off his fatigues coat and put it around her so she wouldn’t be naked. “Thank you…” Harrison nodded. “They…they arrested Kelly and I because we’re lesbians…”

“I know. It’s okay. A Captain Michelle Richards is making them let you go.” A gunshot rang out. “I don’t know what happened to her, but when she heard what they’re trying you for, she…”

“They took her cybernetic leg!” He nodded and held it up.

“I got it back.” He put it on his belt.

“Thank you…” She tried to keep herself from weeping, but wasn’t succeeding. “They made…they made me relive when I was kidnapped and almost raped…I…I spent a lot of time getting over that…and they brought it all back to the surface!” She cried. “I was in a hospital for months, getting physical and emotional therapy for months and months after that, and I was finally, FINALLY to the point where it didn’t hurt to think about it any more, and they made me relive it all again!” He put one of his arms around her waist and rubbed her back.

“Don’t worry, I’ll never let them or anyone else do this to you ever again.” Nicole smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

“Thank you…That’s sweet.” She put her ear against his chest. “You remind me of an old boyfriend I had…” She looked up at him. “It’s a good thing…I loved him dearly…but he was drafted and killed in the Telepath War.”

“That’s a shame, Miss Nicole.”

“You can call me Nicole or Nicky if you want.” He nodded again.


A nurse was tending to the wound in one of the security guard’s arms, one that was stupid enough to aim his rifle at Michelle. She shot him in the arm as soon as he did.
“What do you think you’re doing, putting women on trial for being RAPED!?”

“It is the laws of our colony, Captain…” The Prime Minister of the colony said, frightened. “If you have a problem with…”

“Of course I have a problem with it! Do you think women do something to bring it on themselves?!”

“Our religion says…”

“Your religion, the Lily Red Crescent of Mesopotamia, is illegal. You will stop following its teachings and turn over control to the colony to the Terran System immediately, or…”

“We have freedom of religion, Miss…”

“Not when that religion almost destroyed the world! Even the few Islamic survivors banned it!”

“Miss Richards…”

“I have a ship in orbit, battalions on the ground, and fighters in the air. As of now, a shot hasn’t been fired. Now, you have no real defense against us, and it would be bad press if we just pushed you over and took over, but if you were willing to JOIN us of your own free will, I’d be more and happy to have my ship help you update all of your technologies. You’ll be allowed to follow a non-violent branch of Islam, instead of this violent cult, and will be provided with a defense fleet so you don’t have to hire mercenaries and raiders. Do we have a deal?”

“That’s all you request?” Michelle nodded.

“We will keep a small defensive post on your colony, nothing big, just large enough to defend yourself and repair friendly vessels. Do we have a deal?”

“Yes, we do.” He shook her hands.

“One compromise is that you’ll have to pardon rape VICTIMS.”

“Consider it done. Send me a treaty and I’ll sign it.” Michelle nodded.

“I will have my first officer send you the standard treaty.” Michelle turned and left in disgust.


Ruby and Andy were helping Connor get back to the ship. Manny was walking with them, but Connor didn’t want him to help her, still weary of all men. Her wounds were mostly healed, but she was still weak.
“Your friend was nice, Ruby.”

“Yeah, she is. I’m going with her to her daughter’s sixth birthday back on Earth.”

“OH, can I come?”

“I’m afraid not, dear.”

“Why not?”

“I…”

“I haven’t seen Earth in years…” Connor complained slightly.

“I don’t know if they want strangers at her party.”

“But I’d like to see a sixth birthday…”

“Don’t worry, Andy. To get back at her by having a birthday party for Snow.”

“That’s not fair. I know Snow, you guys don’t know Mae or Michelle.”

“I wouldn’t want to hurt Ruby, Connor…” Andy turned to Ruby. “How long will I be without you, Ruby?”

“About a month and a half.”

“A MONTH AND A HALF!? How will I…Who will I…Loud static…I…” Connor put her hand on Andy’s shoulder.

“You can sleep with me if you’re afraid, Dear.”

“Really?” Connor nodded.

“I don’t want to sleep alone…”

“I can take care of that, too, Sharon…” Manny suggested.

“Manny…I…”

“I know, I know…I’m not saying we’ll have sex right away…or even sooner or later…I would just feel better with you close so I’ll know you’ll safe…”

“She’ll be safe with me, Colin. I will watch her, Thomas will watch her, and Chan will watch me watch her, so she’ll be safe.” Manny nodded. “It’ll be really fun, won’t it, Shar?” Connor smiled.

“Yes…” Connor enjoyed spending time with Andy more and more, coming to think she was very pretty and extremely kind and caring, seeing all of the little gifts Andy made her reminding her of that.
As they approached the shuttle, Ruby noticed Gabe standing next to the stairs and walked over to him, letting Andy and Manny help Connor get onboard. She kissed him deeply as he put his arms around her waist.

“Hey.” Ruby said before she kissed him again. “I talked to Michelle, and we’re leaving for earth in the morning.”

“How long will you be gone again?”

“A month and a half, so we should probably make tonight special.” Gabe nodded and kissed her. “If Andy has an attack while I’m gone, call me.” Gabe looked up into the shuttle and saw Connor and Andy having a conversation. Andy was her usual cheery self, and Connor as even smiling.

“Don’t worry, she’ll be fine.” Ruby nodded.


Nicole was still wearing Harrison’s shirt as they walked to the shuttle. It was long enough to hide that she was just wearing a bikini under it and hid the scars on her legs from the attack years ago. She was staying close to Harrison, holding the hand he had on her shoulder.
“Thank you for listening, Harrison…It helps…” She hung her head slightly. “Most people don’t listen…and it hurts. I suppose it’s too violent for them, but…it still hurts.”

“Nothing is too violent for me, Miss Nicole.”

“Do you have any events in your life that just haunt you no matter what you do to forget them?” Harrison nodded.

“Yes, but it is too violent to lay on someone as kind and caring as you.”

“Maybe you’ll tell me someday?”

“Maybe.” As they walked, Kelly hopped over to them quickly. “Kelly!” Nicole left Harrison rushing over to her with tears in her eyes. They put their arms around each other and kissed intimately. Harrison looked away, wishing briefly that he was the one kissing Nicole. “Thank god you’re okay…”

“I’m sorry I didn’t get to the police station sooner…It’s hard to move fast on one leg.” Nicole smiled and kissed her again.

“It’s alright, dear…Harrison saved me from anything too bad. He has something for you.” Harrison gave Kelly her cybernetic leg.

“Thanks…but…do you know how to put it back on?” He nodded and took the leg back, picking up her leg slightly.

“Press and twist.” He pushed the cybernetic leg against her leg and twisted, locking it in place with a loud click.

“Thanks.” Harrison nodded and left. “I don’t think he likes lesbians.”

“No, that can’t be it”

“I’m telling you, I got a serious vibe fro him and…”

“Harrison’s not like that, Kelly. He’s just not, okay?”

“Alright, alright. Sorry.” She kissed her. “Guess I’m use to playing the homophobe card too often.”

“How often do you have to play it?”

“TOO often.”


It was late at night on the Midnight Storm. Work on repairs and upgrades on the ship had stopped, making the ship almost eerily silent, but that wasn’t the reason Connor couldn’t sleep. Every time she closed her eyes to sleep, even if her dreams were elsewhere, she heard her own muffled screams and the laughter of the men that attacked her, so she just stopped trying to sleep. She decided to watch Andy sleep if she couldn’t. Andy’s skin almost glowed in the moonlight, and she had a gentle smile on her face, keeping both of her arms around Connor. Connor gently took one of her arms off her side so Andy could lie on her back, though there was barely enough room for her to. She put her hand on Andy’s stomach, to feel her breath when a random thought in the back of her head started to grow into an idea. It quickly became a powerful urge she couldn’t resist and she kissed Andy deeply. Andy woke up startled and scrambled backwards slightly, still laying down and hitting her head.
“Wh…what was that?” Connor blushed and kissed her again. Andy kissed her back briefly, then pulled away.

“I…I’m sorry…I thought it would…” She took a deep breath. “You can go into my mind if you want…I just thought it would make us both…” Andy kissed her deeply.

“I want to make you feel better…but I don’t know if this is okay…”

“Let’s just keep it a secret then…No body needs to know what we do, and it will make me feel better…” She looked down at the bed.

“Is…is this wrong?”

“I…” A tear fell away from Connor’s eyes, “I don’t know anymore…” Andy could feel Connor’s sadness in the pit of her stomach. She put her hand under Connor’s chin and raised her head back to eye level and kissed her deeply again. She wasn’t sure what was happening, but would do anything to make Connor happy again.