A quiet hum, and the distant whisper of voices
penetrated Aurora's cloudy mind. She tried to force her eyes to open but
it took so much effort. They were so heavy. Her mouth moved but no sound
escaped. The owner's of the whispered voices must have realized she was
awake. A hand caressed her forehead.
"Sleep, you're safe
here." A strong voice told her. "Sleep." It ordered. The painless void
of sleep rushed up and pulled Aurora down into it's dark embrace.
"Oxygen depravation,
it's a wonder she's still alive." Trance murmured out loud. Dylan who leaned
casually against a nearby counter, just nodded.
"She's not what I was
expecting." Tyr informed them.
"Just what were you
expecting Tyr? And why did you keep the signal a secret?" Beka stood with
her hands on her hips, confronting the Nietzschean warrior. Though his
head was down, Dylan glanced towards Tyr, waiting for his answer.
Tyr shifted uncomfortably
for a moment, realizing the truth was the best explanation he started.
"I heard the signal
three days ago. It's an ancient Nietzschean code, an Imperial code. Only
those who's strength and intelligence were beyond exceptional and became
a member of the Imperial Guard were taught it. They knew it as well as
their own name. My great-grandfather was a member, he taught some of it
to me when I was just a boy. My people were taught to protect the Guard
and whatever it protected with our lives if need be. The Imperial Guard
doesn't make war on others, friend or foe. That's how I knew none of you
were in any danger. The Guards only purpose is to protect, as it
is also my duty and that is what I was doing." He justified himself with
his explanation.
"Why protect a human
female?" Rev Bem asked the next question.
Tucker laughed, "Are
you kidding? Take a look at her, who wouldn't ? I know I would." Both Trance
and Beka shot him a look of annoyance. He just shrugged, grinning.
"If this was such a
secret code, that even I was not aware of it" Rommy spoke as she entered
the medical room, "how did she know it?" Rommy knew and fluently conversed
in over a thousand different languages, secret and otherwise.
"I do not know. But
when she awakes I intend to find out." Tyr promised.
"According to her onboard
computers, the fighter was part of an escape ship called 'Shaloria' and
it was part of a Nietzschean Imperial Fleet. The fleet came under attack
from unknown foes, when they realized that they might not be victorious,
the Shaloria escaped. It received heavy damage, it's support systems were
nearly destroyed. All members of that ship died within weeks after it's
escape from the battle. How she survived I do not know. She took the fighter
in attempt to save herself." Rommy shared the info she had gathered with
the others.
"Were you able to find
anything out about their mission, what were they guarding?" Tyr asked.
"There are vague mentions
of
something sacred, having to do with the future of the Nietzscheans.
But nothing more than that. It doesn't tell what the sacred thing is or
what it has to do with the future. I will keep going through the ship's
records in case I missed something, but I doubt I will find anything more.
I was very thorough." Rommy answered.
