Fate, like Fortune, could be fickle when she wanted to be. She could bless or curse with the slightest whim. Gamblers often prayed to the goddess Fortuna, and if she found favor with their supplications she rolled the dice just so or delt that capstone card that assured them victory. Fate was harder to appease. Fate required far more of a sacrifice, but if she found favor in the offerings, she would re-write the stars for the supplicant. Change their Fate as it were.
Viper Pilots also believed in Fate as much as her sister Fortune, but prayed to the latter for the ability to prolong their winning streak and delay the final judgment of Fate. They prayed to Lady Luck to see them safely through the battle, to bring them safely back to their mother ship, to their friends, and eventually home to their loved ones safe and sound. Fate and Fortune either frowned or smiled upon everyone.
Even assassins.
No one was in sight in the launch bay when Phoenix went looking for Azriel. She had thought to find the Tauron working on her Viper as she couldn’t be found anywhere else. The main lights had been turned off and the crews were elsewhere now, tending to more important duties. It was Azriel’s habit not to turn all of the lights on when she worked on her ship anyway.
A dark figure slipped into the launch bay as her back was turned and melted into the shadows unseen and unheard.
Phoenix turned, looking all around her, but her friend could not be found.
The assassin crept around the far wall of the bay studying the quary. A heavy wrench had been left out by on a bench and the assassin picked it up. Quieter than a blaster, the wrench would do its job and cold be disposed of more easily than the energy weapon. Fortune seemed to smile as the hunter moved into position. The quary was heading for the door. Now was the time for revenge. Stepping out from behind the engines of the Viper, the wrench rose high to strike a killing blow. He’d be rid of the one person who had killed his family by setting the world on fire. It might have been the brief glance of a shadow moving out of the corner of her eye, the sound of a breath being taken, or perhaps just that odd feeling that something was wrong, but Commander Phoenix turned suddenly and raised her left arm in defense. The heavy metal wrench came down on her forearm and a noise like the sapping of a twig echoed through the bay followed by her cry of pain.
The woman fell into the pathway of the light that poured into the bay from the outer corridor and as the shadowy figure approached her attacker’s face was revealed.
“YOU!” she gasped.
The instrument of her near demise rose, poised to strike again. Just as the man brought down the tool and Phoenix rolled away. The noise of the wrench hitting the deck sounded like thunder as it echoed off the bay walls. She struggled to her feet, one arm now painfully out of commission.
“You’ll rot in the brig for this, Jartan!” she exclaimed. A p[art of her hoped there was someone, anyone nearby who could hear them, but she doubted it. She was on her own once more. Seeing the security alarm button she made a run for it but her assailant cut her off, brandishing the wrench.
“Fortune’s smiled on you one too many times you murdering shielsak. Now I’ll have my revenge on you and your monstrous partners in crime.”
She moved off from the door and he followed, keeping himself between her and her only escape route. The only other way out was through the launch tube. If she shoes that way, then he’d be satisfied with that manor of her demise, just so long as she died.
As they circled each other Phoenix held her arm close. It was pretty much useless now and she didn’t want it flapping about making the pain any worse than it already was.
Instead, the man came at her for another swing. She ducked again and, bowed low, rushed the man, catching him in the stomach with her shoulder. The worst she could do to him through he security flack vest he wore was to knock the breath form him. Her momentum knocked him off his feet and they both went sprawling to the deck. As she rolled over onto her back the man’s full weight pinned her to the floor as he straddled her waist and his hands clamped about her throat. She tried kicking, but couldn’t connect with anything. Her good arm came up and she clawed his hands with her fingers trying to force him to release her. She gasped and the bay echoed with the struggle.
Just when she thought she was going to pass out the grip on her throat loosened.
“It’s only fair you know why you have to die, bitch. My family moved to Antaros Four from out home world of Pisceria when I was a baby. I grew up there. I was at the Academy on Caprica when I heard about the plague. The base commandant told me I had to call home immediately. I didn’t know at first what was happening. My parents were well respected politicians and scientists. Mother said everything would be alright. She said they had made a mistake, but Pallos and Father would find the cure. My brother and my father were working on the cure for that plague when you and your hellspawn of a partner came in and destroyed the planet. Millions of people died the day you set off the terra forming device. EVERY… SINGLE… LIVING… THING… ON … THAT… PLANET… DIED! ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!”
Terra forming had been a little used yet highly effective method of making an uninhabitable planet or planetoid livable for humanoid life forms. It was also the only method the Colonies had for irradiating the virulent and devastating flesh eating plague which had accidentally escaped from the laboratory it had been contained in. Not exactly one of the Colonies more shining centons to be certain.
The man’s voice faltered, choked with emotion and he paused. Hot tears rolled down his face as he glared at the woman beneath him and splashed onto her skin. The memories overtook him. Memories of being on a video chat with his younger sister during which he witnessed the plague ravaging what remained of his family. His mother’s pain filled sobs had ended, yet the boy could only stare at the screen through his tears and watch as his sister, ravaged by the disease as well, turned to see a bright white hot light coming through the very walls of their abode before the connection was lost. Jartan would never forget the sight of her former beauty peeling away from the bone, the holes in the body and the blood and gore the disease had created. She had assured him a centon before that their brother was working on the cure not knowing that she was possibly the last living thing on that planet. The meeting hall at the Colonial Warrior’s Academy on Caprica echoed with his horrified screams.
She saw a slim chance and she took it, sliding one leg back and under her, she pushed with all her strength and using the center of gravity in her hips she toppled the man off of her. As he rolled, the commander rolled to her knees, bracing herself with her good hand.
“Killing’s just a game with you Sagittarans, isn’t it?” He exclaimed, pushing himself to his feet and whirling on her. “You people don’t feel omnipotent until you’ve had your morning blood with first meal!”
She sprinted for the safety of the Viper’s wing and she heard the man’s sidearm slide free from its holster as she dusked down behind it, hoping to make herself as small a target as possible. Her voice was horse and her throat hurt, but she had to tell him the truth.
“The planetary Governor had already called for The Vote. The people were already dead and they knew it. They didn’t want the plague to spread so THEY asked for The Cleansing. The Council of the Twelve could not deny their request. They accepted their fate. Why can’t you see that?”
“NO! They wanted to LIVE!” The man shook with his sobs, the blaster wavering in his hand.
“Don’t disgrace their memory by doing this. Put the blaster away. Let us help you.”
She leaned against the ships wing and almost threw up. The pain was incredible. No longer could she focus on the Security Chief or even his location now. If he rushed her she’d be dead and there was nothing she could do to save herself this time.
Somewhere in her mind there was the sound of blaster fire and her pain consumed her as the lights went out.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2014-12-01 01:46 am (UTC)Fate, like Fortune, could be fickle when she wanted to be. She could bless or curse with the slightest whim. Gamblers often prayed to the goddess Fortuna, and if she found favor with their supplications she rolled the dice just so or delt that capstone card that assured them victory. Fate was harder to appease. Fate required far more of a sacrifice, but if she found favor in the offerings, she would re-write the stars for the supplicant. Change their Fate as it were.
Viper Pilots also believed in Fate as much as her sister Fortune, but prayed to the latter for the ability to prolong their winning streak and delay the final judgment of Fate. They prayed to Lady Luck to see them safely through the battle, to bring them safely back to their mother ship, to their friends, and eventually home to their loved ones safe and sound. Fate and Fortune either frowned or smiled upon everyone.
Even assassins.
No one was in sight in the launch bay when Phoenix went looking for Azriel. She had thought to find the Tauron working on her Viper as she couldn’t be found anywhere else. The main lights had been turned off and the crews were elsewhere now, tending to more important duties. It was Azriel’s habit not to turn all of the lights on when she worked on her ship anyway.
A dark figure slipped into the launch bay as her back was turned and melted into the shadows unseen and unheard.
Phoenix turned, looking all around her, but her friend could not be found.
The assassin crept around the far wall of the bay studying the quary. A heavy wrench had been left out by on a bench and the assassin picked it up. Quieter than a blaster, the wrench would do its job and cold be disposed of more easily than the energy weapon. Fortune seemed to smile as the hunter moved into position. The quary was heading for the door. Now was the time for revenge. Stepping out from behind the engines of the Viper, the wrench rose high to strike a killing blow. He’d be rid of the one person who had killed his family by setting the world on fire.
It might have been the brief glance of a shadow moving out of the corner of her eye, the sound of a breath being taken, or perhaps just that odd feeling that something was wrong, but Commander Phoenix turned suddenly and raised her left arm in defense. The heavy metal wrench came down on her forearm and a noise like the sapping of a twig echoed through the bay followed by her cry of pain.
The woman fell into the pathway of the light that poured into the bay from the outer corridor and as the shadowy figure approached her attacker’s face was revealed.
“YOU!” she gasped.
The instrument of her near demise rose, poised to strike again. Just as the man brought down the tool and Phoenix rolled away. The noise of the wrench hitting the deck sounded like thunder as it echoed off the bay walls. She struggled to her feet, one arm now painfully out of commission.
“You’ll rot in the brig for this, Jartan!” she exclaimed. A p[art of her hoped there was someone, anyone nearby who could hear them, but she doubted it. She was on her own once more. Seeing the security alarm button she made a run for it but her assailant cut her off, brandishing the wrench.
“Fortune’s smiled on you one too many times you murdering shielsak. Now I’ll have my revenge on you and your monstrous partners in crime.”
She moved off from the door and he followed, keeping himself between her and her only escape route. The only other way out was through the launch tube. If she shoes that way, then he’d be satisfied with that manor of her demise, just so long as she died.
As they circled each other Phoenix held her arm close. It was pretty much useless now and she didn’t want it flapping about making the pain any worse than it already was.
Instead, the man came at her for another swing. She ducked again and, bowed low, rushed the man, catching him in the stomach with her shoulder. The worst she could do to him through he security flack vest he wore was to knock the breath form him. Her momentum knocked him off his feet and they both went sprawling to the deck. As she rolled over onto her back the man’s full weight pinned her to the floor as he straddled her waist and his hands clamped about her throat. She tried kicking, but couldn’t connect with anything. Her good arm came up and she clawed his hands with her fingers trying to force him to release her. She gasped and the bay echoed with the struggle.
Just when she thought she was going to pass out the grip on her throat loosened.
“It’s only fair you know why you have to die, bitch. My family moved to Antaros Four from out home world of Pisceria when I was a baby. I grew up there. I was at the Academy on Caprica when I heard about the plague. The base commandant told me I had to call home immediately. I didn’t know at first what was happening. My parents were well respected politicians and scientists. Mother said everything would be alright. She said they had made a mistake, but Pallos and Father would find the cure. My brother and my father were working on the cure for that plague when you and your hellspawn of a partner came in and destroyed the planet. Millions of people died the day you set off the terra forming device. EVERY… SINGLE… LIVING… THING… ON … THAT… PLANET… DIED! ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!”
Terra forming had been a little used yet highly effective method of making an uninhabitable planet or planetoid livable for humanoid life forms. It was also the only method the Colonies had for irradiating the virulent and devastating flesh eating plague which had accidentally escaped from the laboratory it had been contained in. Not exactly one of the Colonies more shining centons to be certain.
The man’s voice faltered, choked with emotion and he paused. Hot tears rolled down his face as he glared at the woman beneath him and splashed onto her skin. The memories overtook him. Memories of being on a video chat with his younger sister during which he witnessed the plague ravaging what remained of his family. His mother’s pain filled sobs had ended, yet the boy could only stare at the screen through his tears and watch as his sister, ravaged by the disease as well, turned to see a bright white hot light coming through the very walls of their abode before the connection was lost. Jartan would never forget the sight of her former beauty peeling away from the bone, the holes in the body and the blood and gore the disease had created. She had assured him a centon before that their brother was working on the cure not knowing that she was possibly the last living thing on that planet. The meeting hall at the Colonial Warrior’s Academy on Caprica echoed with his horrified screams.
She saw a slim chance and she took it, sliding one leg back and under her, she pushed with all her strength and using the center of gravity in her hips she toppled the man off of her. As he rolled, the commander rolled to her knees, bracing herself with her good hand.
“Killing’s just a game with you Sagittarans, isn’t it?” He exclaimed, pushing himself to his feet and whirling on her. “You people don’t feel omnipotent until you’ve had your morning blood with first meal!”
She sprinted for the safety of the Viper’s wing and she heard the man’s sidearm slide free from its holster as she dusked down behind it, hoping to make herself as small a target as possible. Her voice was horse and her throat hurt, but she had to tell him the truth.
“The planetary Governor had already called for The Vote. The people were already dead and they knew it. They didn’t want the plague to spread so THEY asked for The Cleansing. The Council of the Twelve could not deny their request. They accepted their fate. Why can’t you see that?”
“NO! They wanted to LIVE!” The man shook with his sobs, the blaster wavering in his hand.
“Don’t disgrace their memory by doing this. Put the blaster away. Let us help you.”
She leaned against the ships wing and almost threw up. The pain was incredible. No longer could she focus on the Security Chief or even his location now. If he rushed her she’d be dead and there was nothing she could do to save herself this time.
Somewhere in her mind there was the sound of blaster fire and her pain consumed her as the lights went out.