Book 4: Chapter 212: The Price of Victory

Book 4: Chapter 212: The Price of Victory

USD: 6 days since Ertan Fleet surrender and clearing of the orbitals.

Location: Meltisar, MIL-1A, Fleet Medical Bay 12e, Recovery Ward

Alex hurried down the corridor at the fastest walk she could manage without being disrespectful. Shed worked her way through the maze of bureaucracy and security all the way from the Ironhorses mooring arm to finally arrive on the same floor as her sisters recovery room.

There had been a dozen other places calling for her attention, including a priority request from Tia, but shed ignored them all. Or well, she told Tia to wait unless they were going to die, and ignored the rest of them.

Theas report on her sisters injuries had been vague, but what she had gleaned was that Elis would have likely died if not for timely nanite medical intervention.

That shed taken down an Ertan NAI and boarding assault team during the battle wasnt comforting.

Actually, the entire wormhole incident had been a disaster, opened a third point in the sun somehow, and spilled out a massive amount of energy that fried any unprotected electronics in the system.

There werent very many of thosethe entire civilian infrastructure was already hardened against worse things, just as a matter of course. But it had still fried a lot of handheld devices and soft things on the moons surface. Which meant it wasnt able to be hidden.

The fact that it had confused and wiped out the Ertan fleet was a minor comfort.

Alex turned the corner and then spotted the room number she was looking for. The door was slightly ajar, and she slipped inside quietly.

Elis was lying in the bed, her eyes closed, chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. The room was quiet, and the lack of beeping machines was a good sign.

It felt like dj vu.

Maybe it was because it was the second time shed found herself in one of MIL-1As recovery rooms with her sister.

You got here fast, a voice sounded from behind.

Alex muffled her startled squeak as she spun around to find Thea leaning against the wall.

The woman raised an eyebrow. You alright Big Blue?

There were a lot of questions that came to mind, but Alex settled on the one that was most important to her. How is she?

Theas expression softened, blue eyes sliding over to Elis. Shes doing fine. The doctors pumped her full of growth hormones to speed up her recovery. I was there before she went unconscious and have been sitting on her since.

I hope not literally, Alex said, her lips pressing together.

Thea huffed. No, not literally, although I ought to. She was well beyond her suits capabilities for triage. Nothing but a NAI would have been able to plug all of her holes.

Alex glanced over at the bed. I heard there were a lot of boarders. That she had to fight a NAI.

Thea nodded. Up close and personal, too. It was dicey there for a bit, not just the boarding but the fleet action itself. Luckily, they were interested in figuring out what the hell we were doing instead of just torpedoing the rock.

Alex nodded. Did they get any information?

Thea shook her head. Not from the boarding, but you might want to give it more than two seconds of thought. They will know about the wormhole drive. The moonlet was the only thing that could have opened it.

I know. That was a given, since we had to use it. Alex sighed. She had thought about it. It was part of the negative mood. Tia wants to have a meeting about it.

Well, unless you want to have a digital meeting or have it in your sisters room, I wont be able to come, Thea said. I cant maintain her nanite patches, and while she is stable, her own tissue hasnt finished regrowing.

Alex blinked. A digital meeting. That was a good idea, although it made her feel slightly anxious.

The insanity that had occurred when she had been struggling for a plan before the battle had been a bit much. Nameless had been strange as well, almost like he was ignoring her.

When they had come within range to reconnect in real time to Meltisars system-net, she had expected him to take back over management of the moons infrastructure.

Shed sent the smart munitions to their deaths. That wasnt something shed done in desperation, either.

It had been her idea. Nameless had methodically helped her plan it out. Then things had fit together like a perfect puzzle, and shed slaughtered tens of thousands of people with them.

Shed done that.

She hated it.

If turning that feeling on the four ruling PSIs would make the world a better place, she thought she could do it.

But...

How did she know things would be better? Changing the people in charge... no matter how that happened, people would suffer because of it.

From what she had learned, they had some sort of a secret agreement in place... and it involved making sure NAIs were in control.

But why?

She didnt know.

She didnt know anything.

She was the wrong person to be the Omega.

She was just a young woman, who happened to wake up in a manufactured body and with an artificial voice in her head.

I promise Im not dead this time, either, Elis mumbled.

Alexs eyes widened in surprise as her sisters hand came up to cup her cheek. Sorry for worrying you.

Alex took the warm hand and held it. Im glad youre okay.

Thea was there a few seconds later. Youre supposed to be resting.

Elis eyes slid onto the previously Corpo NAI. I dont need a mother hen. Maybe a girlfriend who can put up with me, but not a mom.

Alexs eyes widened as Thea spluttered uncharacteristically.

Besides, who could sleep when their little sister is in distress? Elis added.

Sorry. I came to see you, and then... got sidetracked in my head, Alex replied.

A small smile appeared on Elis face. Im glad youre okay. Whats going on that has you upset?

Well... wasnt that the problem? Everything felt like a jumbled mess. Im trying to figure that out, Alex replied. I think having these reunions with you being in a hospital bed might be a starter.

Elis choked on a laugh and then coughed. Ill try to break the habit.

Before Alex could think of anything to add, Thea suddenly froze, then jerked toward the offline holo monitor on the wall. A wave of a hand turned it on.

The screen showed a large rally at some sort of outdoor monument, with tens of thousands of people in attendance.

Meltisars colors and dozens of different banners fluttered in a soft breeze while the crowd waved them about. As the camera zoomed in, the roar became audible.

Alex recognized the man behind the podium immediately.

It was Thraker.