Consquences for one's Choice

THE DAREDEVIL'S LOUNGE

Nestled comfortably in a small refinery station orbiting one of Crielere system's many moons, The Daredevil's Lounge is a cozy social establishment located at the top of the facility. With one entrance exit at the center through a hydraulic lift, this circular space is lined with comfortable seating overlooking a pristine view of space through clear plating surrounding the room.

Holovision projectors peek from the ceiling for easy viewing pleasure, displaying high-velocity sports action from all over the universe. Music flows from all around the room, trendy but unobtrusive. The bar itself is an arc on one side of the circular room and is tended by two identical Khanid twins. A small helical stairway leads upward to another room above, but appears off limits to regular patrons.

Kybernetes Moros wanders into the lounge in his customary suit and tie, sitting down with a slight sigh. I entered the lounge with my hair in many cornrows, two silver tags hung from around my neck. I was wearing a pair of black tight combat pants, crimson red tank top with my mid drift showing and my black flight jacket was open. I looked around the lounge to see who was about. He nodded to me from the bar, reaching to pour himself a whisky. I walked over to the bar with a curious nod at Kyber. I looked for a cup of tea "Hey you, what’s new?" I put a finger to my lips and taps it against them studying him closely

He shrugged his Amarrian shoulders. "Not a great deal... change of employer, but that's about the limit." I tapped my finger against my lips still; I pulled out my data pad and taps on it. After a few moments my eyes went wide with shock, my hands dropped to my side and my mouth was gaping.... "Why?" He winced. "...calm down, please." Tears welled up in my eyes as I almost shied away, and audible gulp came out of my throat "Kyber....why?" He hesitantly laid a hand on my shoulder. "Look. I know, it looks bad... to condense it, I'm trying to do what I think is right. Perhaps I'm being naive...and yeah, I know how bad that in itself could sound.”

Tears rolled down my face, I just shaked my head "You saw what they put me through....you where there when my mom and sister were taken." I quickly moved behind him checking for injection points on his neck. "I don’t understand." I saw none, I started to pace, I held my stomach, trying to breathe, tears still rolled down my face. He watched my pacing, nervously wringing his hands. "The Nation's done some awful things, I know... but the potential it has is tremendous."

I gritted my teeth "Your Nation nearly ended my existence. Your Nation tried to take away everything I care about and break me and now the one person who saw it all is with them." I said with a hurt and a betrayed tone... “After all they have done to me....Oh gods Kyber.”

He shaked his head. "One person did that. Drake did that, not the Nation."

I rebutted “Ghost helped him.”

He retorted “Doesn’t make it that the Nation did that. Does one or two people doing bad things make the Republic any less?”

I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to collect myself “Ghost Hunter transported my mom and sister." I looked at him with complete astonishment and shock "But they are all doing it. Across the cluster."

He stopped wringing his hands and downs a shot of whisky, distressed. "I'm not."

I wiped away the flowing tears from my cheeks “You will, they will get you to kidnap people. They will get you to use your wondrous intelligence to hurt people, innocent people." I clutched my stomach tight.... "You are better then that Kybernetes."

He headed over and stood near the Brutor awkwardly, bending down slightly. "The last thing I'm out to do with this is hurt anyone, Literia. Be it someone I've never seen before or someone I care for."

I was visibly trembling, as tears run down my face, I tried to swallow but I had a hard time. I looked up at him with my teary dark brutor eyes "I guess we will see in time. There is so much blood that has been spilt already."

He laid a hand on both of my shoulders, trying to steady me gently. "That's exactly why I joined, you know. So much bloodshed."

“You expect to stop them?” I said questioningly.

He said whole heartedly believing “I’m trying to work for the dream behind it all. The utopia, as naive as that sounds.”

“Your Nation taking people from their homes, making children know a life without parents. Living in fear of if their planet is going to be next.” I shaked my head, with a bitter cold sounding voice "I thought that too, I was nearly killed for it, my mom and sister are now enslaved.”

He sighed “It's done some awful things, but... well. I do believe that those leaving the planets are doing so of their own free will. Mistakes have been made in the Nation, sure, but... the dream's worth something. That utopian ideal.”

I shaked my head “At what cost?"

He said “I know about the True Slave programme. Who doesn't? But who sees past that, too?”

I stomped my foot "I don’t care about that, I know about it too. I have asked questions about it. I care about the innocent lives that they are destroying."

He rebutted “Has my 'innocent life' been destroyed?”

I said “You are so gifted Kyber.....you could do so much..you deserve so much more.”

He stepped back and rubbed the back of his head. "I'm nothing special. I do what I can, and if I can do something good for the Nation... I want to do it. Improve upon it."

I glanced at him sideways, my tears were slowing, and my body was still shaky "Good? Good? And I thought I was naive one." My face paled and eyes sadden.

He said softly “It’s flawed, failing. If I can salvage the important bit...”

I put my hand in front of my mouth, swallowing hard "Flawed? Flawed? It’s full of holes...they will twist you; into a creature that none of us will know. They will pollute and confuse you. Trust me I know"

He said confidently “Well, I'll patch up the holes as best I can. I'm the same guy you knew months ago, the same awkward bastard you met in the Gate, and I'll continue to be him. I'm not going to end up polluted and confused.”

I shaked my head sighing heavy, pain still stricken across my face, I was still trying to catch my breath. My arm still held my stomach I gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. My eyes showed how betrayed I felt, I whispered "You already are.”

I straightened myself up and walked towards the door with tears flowing heavier now, my heart torn from the betrayal I felt "I have to protect Duncan....I will be around...Good Bye Kyber."

He sighed and headed back to the bar, draining another shot of whisky, then abruptly slamming a fist into the surface and throwing the glass against a wall.

I slammed my fist into the wall walking out of the Lounge.....I left in silence, holding my then bleeding and possibly broken hand.