Coeus?

Chapter 29: ~Return.~

The Drazi are one of the very few species which got marked for extinction by the civilised races. Their inability to control their population and live in peace with their surroundings is the reason why they got this judgement. Yet they are avoiding their death sentence due to their nomadic nature and the explosive growth rate of their population.

They are an aggressive and treacherous race which is responsible for the extinction of several weaker races.

-Galactic History

***Sol, En route to Forge***

***Gideon***

I enter the coordinates of the Forge and accelerate the ship. Finally home! I can't wait to see my family again. I clap my hands together. It's not often that I feel anticipation, but after being for over two months on the Coeus it started to feel a little tight, even for me. The return trip consumed a little more time since we took another route back. We stopped in several systems to set up relay points and recon-platforms.

The network of nodes is growing steadily around Earth, which should give us enough time to react when the aliens show their furry noses again.

According to the latest information from home we have to deal with at least two different races. It's not confirmed, but after analysing the wreckage of the ships and the battle at Jupiter it looks like the last ship in the attacking formation was chasing the other three.

It's too early to judge their relationship though. Why are their ship designs so similar for example. There must be more to it, maybe a necessity of FTL-flight?

Gideon, We have to talk about something. Cyla wakes me from my daydreaming. She disconnected from the ship and is kneading her hands while sitting in the chair at my side.

Yes? I ask.

What are we to each other? She asks me, taking me off my feet with the question. Luckily I am already sitting.

I am no good at relationships and especially when it comes to talking about them. We read each others minds. I know what I feel for you.

Yes, to cut the topic short, that's sexual attraction, Gideon. The question I am asking is if there is more than that between us. Do you like being with me otherwise? To the point of entering a real relationship? Cyla points at me and then at her.

You mean like in marriage? I ask, licking over my lips.

Let's not overdo it. I meant like lovers, boyfriend and girlfriend, mutual partner in crime. She waits for a moment, but apparently I didn't answer fast enough. Let's give it two weeks to cool down. You have to talk about a lot with your family, just like me. And when we've sorted out our personal stuff we'll go on a real date?

The ship will also undergo a heavy reconstructions in one of Paul's docks. We won't go anywhere for a while. That... sounds reasonable? I ask. Though it feels a little like being put on withdrawal? What if-

You'll survive two weeks without attacking other women! She suddenly calls out. If not, then we don't know each other as soon as we leave the ship!

Seems like that was the wrong choice of words. That's not what I meant! You know me! Two weeks, give me at least a status update over the net. And you remember everything I told you about my mother? Don't let yourself fall into one of her traps. She'll surely show interest in you.

If I meet that bitch, I'll do my best to break her legs. Cyla nods and folds her arms in front of her chest.

Sadina is showing herself just as an avatar though. How does Cyla intend to break the legs of an avatar?

***Sol, Earth, Australia***

***Galia***

I pace up and down my room without finding any rest. What I found out yesterday doesn't leave me any rest. I've let myself falling into the belief that the people of Earth are doing well on their path to a unified society.

But today the president and I were taken on a little tour and what I saw there let my blood turn cold.

Rob Sheffield, Earth's president, was elected into his office by vote just seven months ago. He was a Canadian ranger up until then. That doesn't mean that Rob is unqualified, he got a good education like all Russian citizens.

After working for ten years in a small and unrecognised job he decided that he wanted to do more, so he founded his own party and went for becoming president.

It was only then that he discovered his real talent. And that's inspiring people with his simplicity, which is by no means meant in a bad way. What's important is that everyone who hears Rob talking knows that he is an earnest and good person.

He has his faults like being forgetful and being too emotional from time to time, but that's how he turned from an underdog with almost no support into Earth's president. He is a people's man and the common folk loves him.

It also means that he isn't introduced to many of the inner workings and politics behind the big political powers. More than once I had to do my best to force him to be pushy when dealing with officials who tried to treat him like a figurehead.

If I hadn't done that we would've never found out about the secret operations of a certain government agency. They are dealing with all matters regarding mages.

We were led into a secret facility in South Africa, far away from any settlements. There they were holding captured mages like animals inside secured cells.

I know my governments policy regarding those of us who didn't want to leave Earth, but this isn't right. Some of them even had kids and families, children who never had the chance to choose what they wanted.

And then their research and the human experiments. They are trying to create some kind of supersoldiers to hunt down the last remaining mages on Earth.

Rob voiced his objections to the inhumane treatment, but the official who led us through the facility simply ignored him and explained to us that we would be removed if we told anyone about this.

That day Rob found out that he is really just a front for other powerful people behind the scenes. Without any powerful backers he is just for show.

I've sent a full report to the faceless and the elders, but so far I didn't get an answer. It's infuriating how slow they are from time to time. But then again we have another crisis on our hands which threatens the entire solar system.

The buzzing of my apartments doorbell stops me dead in my tracks. I don't have any relationships on this world. If I don't count the nice guy in my office who is trying to invite me to dinner every day.

There no reason for anyone to visit me here at night. I head over to the door and activate the security system to see who is on the other side.

It's a man in a grey suit. I activate the speakers. Yes?

Samantha Helm? There is something we need to speak to you about. The man's voice answers over the microphones.

Who are you? I wouldn't know what there is to speak about in the middle of the night. I reply and step back from the door. The whole situation is fishy. Have they somehow found out that I am a mage? We ran through a lot of checkpoints when we entered the facility.

That's when I hear something smash through my apartments window right behind me. I instinctively turn around and send a bolt of electricity at the people who broke into my apartment. One of them is flung right out of the window, falling to his doom. This is the sixth floor, they must have roped down from the roof.

The two others are already advancing, shooting at me. I feel fine needles piercing my skin, sending jolts of electricity through my body. I use the energy to fuel and charge myself with it, firing lightning at the other two attackers.

But they move inhumanly fast, throwing off my aim! The first one who reaches me attempts to hit me, but the built up energy within me releases itself as he touches me. The resulting spark chars his flesh and the tensing of his muscles throws him backwards.

The third attacker reaches me and throws a violent kick against my belly. The force sends me flying and I impact the wardrobe behind me, breaking it. Strangely enough I feel no pain.

He lunges forward, but a ball-lightning from my open palm slays him before he reaches me.

I try to get up, but my legs don't move. I can't feel my lower body! With horror I realize that I was  kicked seven metres through the room.

That's when the door to my apartment opens and the grey suit steps in. I wish this would have gone down a little easier Mrs. Samantha, but we really want to know how a mage managed to become the aide of our beloved president?

How? I gag and my body convulses suddenly.

Don't be too hasty, we have more than enough time to talk. There was a powerful toxin on those needles. Though I believe that we should remove the stun-function. The electricity did nothing else than charging you.

My head drops to the ground and the world turns dark.

***Sol, Aether***

***Gideon***

I am home! I call out as I enter the big mansion. My grandmother peeks around a corner of the entrance hall and rushes towards me. Then she hugs me fiercely, pressing her cool silver hair against my chin.

Gideon, I am so glad that you are back! It would have been horrible if we had lost you too. She starts sobbing.

What are you talking about, Grandma. You won't lose me so fast. I am a genetically enhanced... something human. It would be very uncool if someone with my case history would die for something less than saving his loved ones. That never happens in comic books.

You mean you didn't hear it? Finally Grandmother lets go of me. Galia died during her mission. They don't even have her body for us to bury her. She wipes away the tears from her face.

Suddenly it seems like the world drops away from under my feet. What do you mean, died? The brute can't be dead! She is sturdier than a steelbar.

Galia is like a small sister to me! She may be older, but the fact that she was mentally younger than me when we met makes her the smaller one.

Melan wipes a tear from her eye. What's that outfit of yours?

I look down on my black and grey uniform which is similar to the outfit of a faceless. That's the official dress of the SDF. I got forcefully enlisted if you remember? I'll deal with it for the time being until it doesn't suit my purposes any more.

Grandmother leads me back to the living room, where the rest of the family is gathered. I greet all of them and listen to their story.

All I knew about Galia's work is that she joined the office of foreign affairs, which is dealing with all matters concerning Earth. They are handling the immigration of mages from Earth into our society. There are actually still quite a few of them left on that shithole of a planet. They refuse to leave their home.

But that doesn't mean that their children want to live a life of hiding and so there is a small, but steady stream of people who turn their back our planet of origin.

Apparently Galia got appointed as a spy on Earth's government. And in a high position at that. She was the adviser of Earth's president, which isn't much more than being a secretary to be honest.

Her secret identity was Samantha Helm, a university graduate who was working her way upwards until she ended up in the president's party.

According to the reports she had a fucking car accident and the vehicle burned completely out, not leaving anything behind.

The OFA is relatively sure that she got found out, but they refuse to send anyone else into danger.

I lean back after listening to the story as it was told to me by Uncle Arend. Aunty Rhiannon broke out into tears while he was doing so.

I thought she had some kind of desk job! I furrow my forehead, realizing that someone is missing. Where is Saden?

She's with Paul. Hedeon smiles weakly and takes another sip of something alcoholic. The two of them want to marry soon.

Ah. Finally. I wondered when Paul will collect the guts to ask her. I answer with a sour voice. The two of them were beating around the bush since years.

Right now it feels like sharing my own adventure to the family can wait. I don't even want to tell it to them when they are already suffering. Though wouldn't it be better to tell it to them now? They can't feel any worse from it, can they?

I activate my ability to think over it long and hard. This is one of those delicate situations which Grandmother warned me of.

When I return from my forced isolation I stand up. I've got to go somewhere for a few days. Don't worry, it's just a matter of the SDF. They have to debrief me about the mission in enemy space.

I hug my grandmother and storm out of the room before anyone can stop my hasty retreat.

On my way out I access the net to get the location of the office of foreign affairs. Outside the mansion I hurry to the closest teleportation chamber and teleport to the street which is pointed out on the virtual map in my head.

From there I walk directly to the OFA which turns out to be a really big and expensive looking building. I head through a huge double door and end up in front of a secretary with red hair. She is smiling at me.

Steeling myself for what I am about to do I go over everything what I know about human interactions. I am always saying that I don't understand the actions and reactions of the average human, but that doesn't mean that I am unable to push their buttons if I want them to do something.

I don't return the gesture of her smiling face and pull an identifier card from my pocket instead. My name is Gideon Alvar, captain of the SDF. Where is someone who can give me access to the reports of your active agents?

The secretary looks intimidated, just as I intended it. She answers with a stuttering voice. Floor two, office 43B.

Thank you. I leave before she can think about my right to be here. To my luck, the SDF is a fairly new organisation which got tasked with the military defence of human-occupied star systems. Not many people know how far our arm is actually allowed to reach, but it's not much shorter than that of the faceless.

Cyla and I already reported back to the SDF right after returning from our mission. We had to hand over all our gathered data to a staff of analysts and were debriefed on our mission.

After we gave our recommendations on which changes have to be made to the new ships we headed our own paths as we bargained.

We also got a provisional rank inside the SDF, as we are the only people with actual combat experience. The SDF as it is now is just a random bunch of people with useful skills. To my luck the black and grey uniform which we got looks halfway intimidating.

Since mages are just humans with a little enhanced and mutated genetics at the end of the day, they are still bowing to authority. All I have to do is being bold enough to play my role.

A security guard falls to the same trick on my way up, then I search the office in question. After having figured out the system behind the office labels it takes just a short walk to my destination.

I open the door without knocking and enter. Inside I find a blue haired woman behind a desk. She is looking at me in a displeased manner.

I draw my card once more, carefully ensuring that my finger is above my family name, and rub it into the woman's face. My name is Captain Gideon from the SDF. I have to research an important issue which is involving one of your agents. Give me access to all reports on and from Galia Alvar.

You have- The battle-axe in front of me starts mocking up, but I hammer my flat hand onto the table in front of her. I wouldn't delay this matter or did you fail to read the new guidelines regarding our offices? We have an alien incursion on our hands! You guys from the OFA went down two stairs when it comes to importance! So where are those FUCKING REPORTS!

My voice went from low to screaming during my little speech. The woman looks at me like she just encountered a faceless who intends to hold her responsible for mass murder. She types a few commands into her computer. Two rooms to the left is an empty office with a free computer. I made all the reports available to that device.

I nod and return my card to my pocket. I swear to you. We'll protect the world from the killer hamsters. They will not overrun this system.

Ki- Kil- Killer hamsters? She gasps, not getting what's going on.

Oh, sorry. You weren't cleared for that information yet? Don't worry. It'll be all over the news tonight. I turn around and leave the office, hurrying to the indicated computer.

Probably I have only a handful of minutes until she gets over her shock and asks someone above her about my authorities. Luckily techno-mages can read really fast if they have to.

I enter the office which was pointed out to me and connect to the computer on the table, then I start reading.

Half an eternity later I am reading Galia's reports for the ninth time. Suddenly the device in front of me is forcefully disconnected and the screen goes black.

A projection of Sanguin appears in the room. He looks royally pissed off. You do realize that you just misused the power which was given to you? You got your rank just two hours ago!

I wave a hand at him. Yes, yes. And do you realize that you wrote my cousin off as dead without even checking what the normals did to her? I stab my finger at the black screen. A car accident which completely burns the body? How stupid do you guys think I am? Cars don't burn in this day and age, even if you drop them off a cliff. It would take a damn tank wagon to do that!

Our policy regarding Earth says that we stay out. Sanguin answers with a blank voice. It's a normal's report. We didn't come up with that car-shit.

Yes, and our policy with the aliens says we stay away. Worked fine it seems. I scowl, feeling something burning inside me. The difference is just that they took one of our own this time and not just any wild mage.

He tries to calm me down. We are trying to find her, but the chances aren't good.

What's there to find. Her report says it all! Go in with your guns blazing and get her out! I call out.

Sanguin closes his eyes and rubs the bridge of his nose. You don't understand. We made agreements with the ruling powers of Earth. They don't touch those who stayed behind and in return we stay away.

I gesture at the computer. They don't touch those who stayed behind? Worked fine it seems. Looks like a major breach of contract from their side.

They only catch those who break their laws or are too stupid to hide their powers. Sanguin replies weakly. Galia knew the risk.

Either you get her back, or I'll use my not so small financial resources to tear that planet apart. I whisper.

Sanguin starts chuckling. That's the first time you are threatening to use your wealth. I wonder why you didn't do it when I enlisted you to the SDF? Your mother would be proud of you.

So what is your answer? I ask.

Sanguin shakes his head. I can't overturn the decision of the council. We will not show ourselves on Earth in numbers.

Then I'll go there alone and give them a little show of force. I answer and mumble. Maybe I should also drop a few words in front of the faceless about this dubious agreement.

The elder's eyes turn glassy for several seconds. That might just work. In the treaty we promised to never return in force. But sending a single ambassador might just work. I could get that through the decision process.

Don't call me an ambassador. I answer.

What then? Saguin asks astounded.

Call me a reminder of the past.

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