Chapter 18

“Hope.” Faith said, “I need to see my brother. Just play along. I am going to let you, Aries and Charity take me captive.”

          “What? You can’t.” Hope protested.

          “I have to give my surrender to a Gemini agent.” Faith explained.

          “But I’m not one...” Hope began.

          “I know you still are.” Faith interrupted before Hope could finish.

          “But how?” Hope conceded with a sigh, defeat on her face.

          “Because of that creature you spat out. That creature was a Saffron healing bug. They heal their host the expel themselves when they are done.” Faith explained to Hope. “It does not control others at all.”

 

          “Charity,” Aries called, “they are on their way. What is the plan?”

          “Let them make the first move.” Charity replied, “Then we simply just play along.”

          “Right. Play along.”

          Faith was the first to set foot on Charity’s ship. Aries took note that Faith had her hands in the air. Hope was behind her, laser gun out.

          “Hope, the gun is not needed,” Faith said, “I gave you my word, that no one will be harmed.”

          “Yeah. Right.” Hope said. “Charity, Aries, come to me, now!”

          Aries was the first to arrive, running to obey. Charity walked round , slowly. Hope ignored this.

          “You commanded us into your presence, Hope.” Charity said with distaste and disrespect dripping from her tone.

          “Yes I did.” Hope spat. “Charity take my mother to the holding cells.”

          “What?” Charity exclaimed. “That is the kind of job for Aries.”

          “It is now your job.”

          “Why?”

          “Because of your tine of voice. You will learn to respect me like you respect my Uncle.”

          Charity stepped up to Faith and grabbed her roughly by the shoulder.

          “Ow!”

          “Charity, don’t cause her harm, because if she lashes out at you, I will not stop her.”

          Charity, carefully, took Faith down the corridor.

          “Aries, you are to come to the bridge with me. I need to contact my Uncle. We are going home.”

          “Yes, ma’am.”

 

          “Lord Zardac,” a com officer said into a com link, “you have a transmission from Hope.”

          “Say that again.”  Zardac’s voice commanded.

          “You have a transmission from Hope.”

 

          “I will take it here.” Zardac said standing up from his throne.

          A hologram of Hope appeared in the centre of the throne room.

          “Greetings Uncle.”

          “Hope.” Zardac replied coldly.

          “Have I upset you? You sound displeased.”

          “You broke our link. Why?”

          “To avoid any suspicions, should they have come my way.”

          “Is that your justification for making me worry so much?”

          “Yes. Plus I have brought my mother into custody. Charity is watching her right now.”

          “You have her?” Zardac asked shocked, pride sparkling in his eyes.

          “Yes. She also came willingly.”

          “Really?”

          “Yes.”

          “Then when you return, she must be brought straight to me.”

          “Yes Uncle. I will see you soon.”

          “Yes. See you soon.” The transmission ended. He stayed standing, and could not contain his joy so turned on the spot. “Finally! Things are going our way, Gemini. Faith Moonstone is on her way.” Zardac cried out with glee. “We will win this war yet, and see in the return to democracy.”

          “And what about Loki?” asked the voice of Gemini.

          “I...I have mistreated him, my only friend.” Zardac replied with sadness. “I must apologize, and admit he was right. After that I must hope he will forgive me.”

          “That is the right thing to do.” Gemini approved. “Make it so.”

 

          “You know what Faith?” Charity asked from the stool she sat on, which was by the door of the holding cells.

          “What?” Faith replied softly from the bed within her cell.

          “I don’t understand you or your brother.” Charity said.

          “What don’t you understand about us?” Faith asked sitting up on the bed.

          “How he focuses all of Gemini’s war efforts on finding you, without killing anyone were possible, and that despite all the signs, you have only just started believing the truth.”

          “Did you say no killing?” Faith asked shocked.

          “Yes I did.”

          “But, thousands have died.”

          “Most by Libra’s hands.” Charity said, “I have seen the slaughter myself. But never on the worlds that you have been on.”

          “So I built my life on a lie?”

          “No one blames you. Besides it’s never too late to do the right thing.”

          “I’m sorry for burning you and your squad on Emerald.”

          “No worry. You lost control because I pissed you off.”

          “But I’ve scarred you.” Faith said. “I can never take that back.”

          “But you just did.” Charity said smiling. Faith returned the smile with tearful eyes.