Chapter 17

“But you cannot be sure they are there!” Charity snapped at her sister.

          “I know Faith.” Aries argued. “She will still be on Quartz Minor.”

          “But you refuse to factor in Hope.” Charity protested, “Hope will want to get off Quartz fast.”

          “But Hope’s locator is coming from Quartz.” Aries reasoned. “We have to check it out!”

          “Fine! I will concede my point,” Charity said, “but how do you suggest we get down there to check. Quartz is a Libra strong hold, remember?”

          “You could pretend to be my prisoner, and that I escaped.” Aries offered as a plan.

          “Fine.”

 

          “Commander, there is an unidentified ship entering our solar system.” A communications officer reported to Faith.

          “Private Sims, have the people aboard that ship made any attempt to make contact?” Faith asked.

          “No, Commander.”

          “The scope is reading heavy damage to the ship’s coms, weapons, shields and life support systems, mother, however it could be fake.” Hope said, looking over the shoulder of the tactical officer’s station read-outs. “But I recognise it as an enemy ship.”

          “Thanks Hope.” Faith addressed her daughter swelling with pride. “Have you any other recognition for that ship?”

          “I think it might be Charity’s ship.” Hope said, sounding unsure.

          “Track its vector, let it land. Hope, we’ll get a security team ready, we are going to greet our guests.” Faith said darkly. “Charity and I have some unfinished business.”

          “Yes, Commander.” Hope replied, scared, as her mother was acting like her uncle. The command centre was silent.

 

          “Why are we landing like this Aries?” Charity asked alarmed, as their ship began a controlled crash landing.

          “To be a convincing rescue so they don’t kill us on sight.” Aries explained. “Do you want to die, Charity?”

          “No, even though Faith wants me dead, so I think I don’t have a say.” Charity retorted.

          “She won’t kill you.”

          “Yes, Aries, yes she will.”

          “Not if it is in Libra’s best interest to keep you alive.” Aries reasoned.

          Charity slumped back in her seat defeated, gripping on for dear life.

 

          Faith, Hope and a contingent of security personnel marched through the dying forest, Faith a score to settle.

          “Please, mother, I implore you,” Hope pleaded, “don’t do this, Charity might have more up to date information. Don’t let your emotions cloud your judgement. Don’t do what your brother always does. Mother, please, you are better than this. MOM!”

          Faith froze. “You never call me ‘mom’, it has always been ‘mother’.” Faith whispered, shocked. “Why the change?” The guards walked back out earshot, they understood it was personal.

          “Does it matter?” Hope asked. “I just need you to see things from a non-emotional view. Things in Gemini could have changed a lot in the past few days. Charity could have more up-dated intell, if we could just get her to talk.”

          “Yeah I’ve heard that before,” Faith said, “coming from my own mouth.”

          “Please, just give her a chance.” Hope begged. “She was your friend.”

          “Exactly,” Faith said coldly, “she was my friend. Not anymore.”

          They were near the space-craft that within Charity was. Her sister too. Faith stared intensely at the craft in front of her. It was dented all over, probably had the shine of chrome once. It was also rocket shaped. Constructed for speed and sharp, tight turns. But to Faith it was also the container of evil, betrayal and hate.

          “Hope,” Faith said, “you and I are going into that ship. We will, if we can, bring anyone that is in there, out alive.”

          “Really?” Hope asked with pride in her eyes.

          “Yes, you know I don’t kill. If I can help it.” Faith replied with a smile.

          “Commander, I must protest,” a sergeant said, stepping forward. “You are the highest ranking person here, and you are only taking your daughter with you. That is not...”

          “Protocol.” Faith interrupted, “I know, by the life-signs detector, there are only two life-signs on that ship. Hope and I can handle it so stand down.”

          “What about droids?”

          “Hope, do you sense any electrical signals that could be linked to any kind of droid?” Faith asked annoyed. Hope closed her eyes for about 1 minute, then opened them shaking her head. No.

          “But...”

          “Me and Hope can handle it Sergeant. Now stand down!”

          “Yes, commander.”

          “Hope, I’ll go in first.” Faith said walking up to the evil space ship. Hope followed behind, nervous of what they might discover on board Charity’s ship.