Love So Unreal, Part II: On The Dodge

By C. Mage

"How we doing, Jacob?"

"This thing's a total piece of shit, Nate. The drive's nearly shot, and the electronics are totally outdated."

"Can you get it spaceworthy?"

"I can…but it's gonna take time. Time and money."

"We've got some of both. Let me know what you need." Nathan walked back into the building of the ghost town that used to be a military base on Kaulus. The planet was strategically important, a hundred years ago. Now, it was a rusting derelict on an unimportant planet, not even worthy of mining rights.

Of course, value changes based upon how desperate people can be.

Nathan walked back into the base, smiling a little at the condition. The base had been stripped, but the buildings were still in good condition and the electronics worked. Okay, so they pulled everything that wasn't nailed down, but the environmentals worked and the rent's cheap. Nathan tapped the keycode for entry into the main barracks. They even took the pots and pans.

Diana was in the mess hall, a bowl of soup cooling in front of her. She dipped her spoon in, raised it and watched it as she turned the spoon in her fingers, watching the amber-yellow food drip down into the bowl again. Nathan walked over to the table and sat down across from her. "How are you doing?"

"Pretty good…for a dead woman." She turned to him. "How's the ship?"

"Jacob's working on it."

"No hurry…" She looked at her soup again. "How's Ne'Ban…I mean, Rogue?"

Nathan rubbed his temples. "He's mourning in his room."

"Who's he mourning?"

"Himself. Seems that every time one of his race dies, everyone of his race goes through a period of mourning. For a lesser caste, it lasts only a few minutes, for royalty, a day or more. The more personal, the more time."

"How long has he been down there?"

"A week. Guess one's own death gets pretty personal. However, he's going through some ritual. When I asked him about it, he told me he had become one of the Treakh. I looked it up. In a prominent religion on his planet, the Treakh are kinda like angels, but are more kin in temperament and purpose to the Christian Angel of Death. He feels duty-bound to avenge his own death, and views us all like angels in the same vein. He's pretty serious about it."

"Glad to hear it." Diana took another spoonful.

"Listen…"

"Don't….just don't." Diana dropped the spoon into the soup. "I don't want to hear it."

"And what do you plan to do, Diana? Just stay here and rust like the rest of the equipment here?"

"What do you expect me to do?" She glared at him accusingly. "Be happy I'm 'alive'? Go on some vengeance-from-the-grave crusade? Forget it. I'm not supposed to be alive and all of you are too gutless to kill me…"

Nathan slammed his fist on the table, knocking the bowl of soup off the table. Diana stopped, but her angry look didn't flicker. "You selfish bitch…!"

"What did you just call me?"

"Shut up and listen. Is this what you think this is? Revenge? An attempt to get back at the system? Is that all you think this is?"

"Isn't it?"

"Diana, I want you to take a good hard look at yourself. Do you know what he plans to do with anyone that won't toe the line in Colonel Dawson's new Order? He plans to make them like you, only he's going to stick a bunch of behavioral modification programs in your head so they'll cheerfully, with smiles on their faces, jump into the path of an oncoming groundcar, jump off cliffs, kill their own families. That's right. He's going to make the universe in his own way and to hell with anyone's rights. You think you hate what's happened to you? Imagine it happening a million times over. A BILLION. How long do you think it'll be before he decides that the human race in general is expendible?"

Diana didn't answer, but some of the fire in her expression had died.

"Know what amazes me the most? Rogue and Jacob figured it out, same as me…you're the only one who hasn't gotten it and you're supposed to be the intelligence operative." Nathan stood up angrily and stomped out of the room, slamming his fist against the doorjamb as he left. He didn't know what hurt most; that Diana wanted to just fade away…or that a part of him wanted to fade away right along with her.

Nathan was falling in love with Diana, and it was killing him to see her like this.

"So what's the plan?" Jacob asked as he looked across the conference table at Nathan. He'd abandoned his usual coveralls for a combat jumpsuit, but held on to his tool harness. Rogue, for his part, was dressed in his enviro-suit. Jacob had streamlined the suit, added a few options, even a rudimentary weapons package. The weapons were little more than hold-out weapons, but bound to be a surprise for anyone who might assume the alien was an easy mark.

Nathan pulled up a display showing the spacelanes and markers showing their relation to them. "Right now, we have to assume that our getaway was clean. It won't take long for the synth production to go back online, but our escape and the subsequent destruction set them back at least a few months, not to mention the fact that they're going to have to lie low to avoid too much scrutiny about what really happened. Unfortunately, they'll have plenty of opportunity to acquire new genetic samples while they're rebuilding. As soon as their production goes back online, they can start making replacements of people at mass-production levels."

"What is our new mission?" Rogue asked. His voice-modulator was the same as the one he had in his old suit, but at his request, he had the tone of the voice sound more powerful and intimidating. What sounded charming, even cute before, was a reverberating growl.

"We bury them. We can't just destroy their facilities, they'll just build new ones. We have to discredit their research, show them that their successes are too dangerous to offset the possible rewards. If they plan to replace politicians and CEOs, we make it look like their creations went berserk, making them useless. If they create them as spies, we have to make it appear as if the spies were flawed, their intelligence faulty. Even if they market them as toys for the rich, we have to convince, or fool their clients into thinking the toys aren't safe for children aged nine months...and up."

"Sounds like a plan...except how are we going to finance this mission? It's not like we can just walk back into a Marine base and fill out some requisition forms." Jacob sighed. "Supplies and weapons don't come cheap."

"I think I've got a way to cover that." Nathan tapped a button on the viewscreen and an ad for the UNREAL TOURNAMENT came up. "Prize money."

"Nate, mind if I ask a question?" Jacob asked neutrally.

"Sure."

"Have you completely lost it?" he suddenly exclaimed. "Do you have any idea what kind of psychopaths and murderers show up in those tournaments? They're animals!"

"Don't worry. I can handle them. Thanks to the Skaarj, not to mention the training I experienced just before I 'retired', I've got a shot at winning the prize money. But I will need a crew..." He looked up as the door hissed open, Diana walking into the conference room and sitting down. "Hello, Diana."

She sat down at the other end of the table. "Nathan."

"So, Diana...what's the score?"

She looked at Nathan steadily and simply stated, "What do you need?"

Nathan considered bringing up how glad he was that she'd given up her self-pitying mood, but decided against it. She wasn't the type to appreciate it. "So you're in?"

"Of course I'm in. You'll all be chalk outlines without me."

Jacob smiled. "All RIGHT!"

"Exultations and congratulations are in order!" If Rogue was capable of facial expressions, Nathan knew he'd be smiling.

"Alright, alright...let's get to work. Diana, we need to get a sponsor for our team. They won't let us in without one."

"I'll have one for us within a week."

"Good. Okay folks...we need to get this show on the road. Jacob, I need you to get that ship up and running. We won't be able to do anything until we can get off this planet...and I don't know about you guys, but I am bored stiff by the scenery here. I'd rather face down armed lunatics than stay here another minute."

"You got it, boss."

"Class dismissed." Nathan turned off the holoprojector and stood up as the conference room emptied out. He went over to the desk, taking out a cigarette and put one in his lips.

As he lit it, he heard Diana's voice behind him. "Those things'll kill you."

Nathan turned, smiling a little as he saw Diana lounging in one of the chairs. Jacob and Rogue were nowhere to be seen. "I hope I live long enough for these things to kill me."

Diana chuckled. "You don't think much of your chances in the arena, do you?"

"On the contrary, I think I can whip any combatant there." He took a draw on the cigarette and grimaced. "God, I hate these cheap military cigs. No, what bothers me is trying to stop the production of the synths. I think there's too many ways to misuse..." He stopped as he remembered that he was in the same room with a synth. "Does it bother you when I talk about this subject?"

"It used to...but it gets easier. I had the chance to take a look at the files you stole regarding synths. According to the files, synths are capable of feeling all the emotions of the donors of the DNA templates. It's not just an illusion...I can tell you that from experience, believe me."

"All the more reason why synths can't be exploited." Nathan took another draw, then scowled at the bitter taste and ground it out on the metal table. "I think I just quit smoking."

"Nathan..."

He turned and Diana was a lot closer, only a few feet away. "Yes?"

"...I still remember you." She looked down slightly. "I remember leaving you...before you left me. I remember why. I remember John. I remember what he taught me, just before I...died." Diana looked up at Nathan, her expression desperate. Nathan realized with some alarm it was the same look she wore when she realized he was leaving, when he almost turned back, change his mind...but it had been too late. He had seen that look through the porthole of the shuttle leaving her, and he had gone. "Nathan, I need you to tell me something, and be honest, please."

"Alright, Diana."

"Promise me, Nathan...this is important."

"I promise."

Diana walked up to him, placing a hand on his arm, waiting for him to pull away. He didn't. She took a deep breath, then said, "Nathan...do you think you could ever feel for me...what you felt for Aida?"

Nathan looked at her for a few moments. "Do you want it sugar-coated, or right between the eyes?"

"...hit me."

Nathan smiled a little. "Diana, the last time I saw Aida, I was still in love with her. But she didn't want anyone. If you remember her, you remember that, don't you?" Diana nodded guiltily. "Well, I never stopped loving her, but I stopped knowing her. It's been years since I saw her, and I don't know how much she's changed...how much you've changed. I really don't know who you truly are, and I think you're not too sure about that yourself. I can't promise to love you...but I can tell you that I really want to find out about you, and see if maybe we can love each other. But we've got to focus. Survive now. Do you think you can give it a little time to find out?"

Diana looked at him for a long time, her expression neutral. Finally she nodded, giving him a small smile that looked a little forced. "I can do that. I suppose it was a little unfair of me to drop that on you like that, knowing what I am..."

"Now, don't start, it's not like that..."

"Isn't it? Let's not fool ourselves. It's not fair what happened, but that's the way it is. But at least there's hope, right?" She smiled a little more and turned, walking out of the room. Nathan watched her go, then shook his head.

Why do I feel as if I completely augered in on that one? He sighed and sat down, then went over the files on synths, trying to make sense of the research, trying to pick up anything he'd overlooked.

He studied the research completely unaware of Diana, sitting on part of an engine dumped in the middle of the hall just thirty feet from the door to the conference room. She was obscured for the most part by the door, but Diana could see him clearly through the small window in he door.

She watched him for hours before going back to her own room.

"Come on, you old whore!" Jacos swore as he primed the main engines again. The ship stubbornly refused to lift off. Rogue sat in the pilot's chair, twiddling his thumbs. Nathan looked back at Jacob while Diana lay back in her acceleration chair, gazing at the ceiling.

"What's wrong?" Nathan asked.

"What's wrong is this tub is older than I am and she's being a stubborn bitch, 'atsall!"

"Perhaps I should get out and push?" Diana suggestedly unhelpfully.

"Maybe you should...!"

Nathan sighed. "Don't make me give you both a time out."

Jacob primed the engines again, hearing them belch, cough, give an unsteady rumble, then die out with a low whine. He took a deep breath, then swore a blue streak.

"Such language, I declare," Diana smirked, doing her best Scarlett O'Hara impression, "my delicate ears are unused to such coarse language. Ah may faint."

"Then do it already and shut the hell up!" Jacob kicked the console's base three times viciously, then primed the engines again. This time, the engines sputtered, then roared into life. "Hahahhh!" he yelled triumphantly as the ship moved free of dry dock and headed out over the desert dunes, gaining altitude all the time. "I think we got us a ride!"

"Fortuitously so. Paroxyisms of pleasure greet me at being in vacuum once more."

"Couldn't have put it better myself." Nathan looked at his control panel. "Okay...we've cleared the upper ionosphere. Take us out of this start system, full sublight speed. Find us a jumpgate."

"Aye, aye, sir!" Rogue said happily, obviously overjoyed at the prospect of a new adventure. As the alien piloted the craft away from the planet, Nathan turned to Diana.

"What have we got for possible sponsors?"

"Not many. They like that we can supply our own tech and equipment, but we're unknowns and that makes them nervous. However, we did get some offers from other teams."

"Sound 'em off."

"The first one was from a relatively-high profile team sponsored by the Korevsky Mining Corporation. They call themselves the Phantoms."

"What's their record been?"

"Superior. Problem is, they've been known for excessive use of force, making the players of other teams suffer deliberately."

"Pass. I just left one group of sadists, not planning on joining another. What else we got?"

"Another team, the Raptors. Flawless win record, but no one wants to be a rookie on their team."

"Why not?"

"Rookies have a nasty habit of being made pointmen on suicide attacks. Casualty rate is the highest in the League."

"Tempting, but no."

"My, aren't we picky." Diana smiled, turning the sheet over. "Here's something. The Vampires. New team, up-and-comers. Some talent, pretty good survival rate. They could probably use you, Nathan."

"Who's sponsoring them?"

"Oddly enough, it's not a company. It's a lone individual. Leroy Bidwich...this guy's pretty well off, but not quite in the range of the industrialists that usually sponsor the teams."

"What's his angle?" Jacob asked with renewed interest.

"He's a dreamer, an idealist. According to an interview he gave last year, he said, 'I always wanted to be a part of the competition, but I didn't have the background to be part of a team.' Seems a little weird, considering what happens to the players." Diana looked up. "What do you think, Nathan?"

"Sign me up for the Vampires."

"Nathan," Diana interjected, "we still have five pages' worth of possibles."

"Trash 'em. This team is perfect." Nathan smiled. "They're desperate, they won't ask too many questions...and I think we can help them out. People love to root for the underdogs."

"Or in this case, the Undead." Rogue said, a hint of amusement in his modulated voice. "Seems fitting."

"All agreed then?" Nathan looked around. "Good. Set up an appointment with the owner...we've got a team to join. Jacob, check the armory, see what we have to offer as far as gear. We also need to sign on as crew."

"And the synth scenarios?"

Nathan considered. "Those will have to wait until we get established. For now, let's concentrate on survival."

"Aye, aye." Diana stood up, heading for the comm room. As she left, Rogue walked over to Nathan and sat down next to him.

Nathan still found it eerie. The suit Rogue wore to get around looked a great deal more streamlined and reacted with an agility very close to human norms. Unlike the old suit, which was more on the bulky side and only had the capacity for life-support and giving Rogue the ability to pilot spacecraft, the new suit was more limber, and moved with more grace. Nathan fully believed that, if Rogue had the inclination, he might be able to use the suit to try out for the Terran Olympic Gymnastic Team. Also, the suit was black, close to human height and weight, looking more like a human wearing an armored jumpsuit than an alien in an exo-suit. Even the sensory unit, the "head", looked like a streamlined swoop-bike helmet. "Nathan...I have a matter to speak with you about."

"What is it, Rogue?"

"We must tell John."

"Rogue, we can't. Telling John would jeopardize the mission. The fewer people that know we're alive, the better."

"Nathan...we owe it to him."

Nathan was taken aback by the steel in Rogue's tone, not expecting the mild-mannered alien to be so determined, almost driven. "Rogue, listen. Any one of us goes to look him up, especially considering he's with the military and the Colonel is probably watching him like a hawk, and we'll be spotted. We can't risk it."

"You mean, you can't risk it."

Nathan stared at Rogue. "Mind explaining that?"

"I may not be human, but I wonder if your motives aren't selfish. As it is now, someone you care about deeply is now completely dependent upon you. By circumstance alone, you are both bound together. Were she to encounter John again, that bond would not be as certain to strengthen, would it?"

Nathan stared at Rogue in shock. "Are you seriously telling me I WANT to isolate Diana so I can get into her pants?"

"Is it true?"

"NO! It's not true and I resent the implication!" Nathan said angrily, but a part of his mind wasn't quite so outraged. Maybe you are. Maybe you want her to depend on you. "This isn't some sort of game!"

The room went silent for a while...a long while. Jacob shook his head. "Nate, easy...he didn't mean anything by it. You know how he is, he was just curious, that's all."

Nathan forced himself to ease up, calm down. "I'm going to say this one more time for the nosebleed section: I am NOT trying to manipulate her that way."

"Alright, Nate. We'll try later, once we're not so far under the gun. Right now, we need to work on our tactics and our formations. We have to try not to look like a bunch of neophytes when it comes to arena combat."

"Which we are

"Point made, Rogue...but I've had enough close-quarters combat and small-unit tactics experience to make it look like we know what we're doing. Unless there's anything else, let's get to work."

The three sentients left the room and headed for the cargo bay. As Nathan went downstairs, he was bothered by the concept that he was trying to take advantage of Diana.

What bothered him so much was how hard he tried to deny it...

TO BE CONTINUED...