Remnants and Fallout

[Shagohad]

Recovery had been painful. Such exposure to two separate cryogenic suspensions had taken their toll on everyones' bodies. A few had died in their tubes due to the extensive damage to the ship; others had been mummified inside their pods when the life support systems failed in certain areas. It was depressing to go through all the physicals, reeducation, and an annoying period of 'questioning'. It felt more like interrogation. She would have who ever conducted her interview shot immediately.

Upon passing Xiaobei, there was a fit of rage and a serious beating that no one interfered with. It came as no surprise that a former Liberty Rogue would beat down a nerd, but it came as a shock that a Vice-Admiral was beating up the very man who had brought her home safely. Then came the screaming, "Nothing was accomplished! Everything has merged, you ingrate! If you ever make a scheme like this again, I will brain you with a spoon, so help me God!" And she left him face down in a slowly expanding puddle of his own blood.

The ride back to Jiangxi was lonely. The screens inside the transport held the face of Alvin Katz, talking calmly to the people about the next greatest plan to bring in an era of prosperity and conquest. The only man she ever loved and he probably didn't love her back. With eyes closed, she continued the rest of the journey digging up memories to overtake the sound of his voice.

And then there was 'home'. Or what could be called home. Equal living had left officers in the same sort of apartments that civilians held. The only difference was size and what was inside. Upon opening the door, she was greeted by the sound of the television, blurting out some corny jokes or the loud bang of gunfire. And there he was, lying on his belly with his legs crossed and swung up in the air, teetering back and forth. The television he watched showed the morning cartoons, regulated by the Commissariat to brainwash small and naive children.

He looked back at her, his eyes conveying an intelligent look and a face that was a carbon copy of his father's. The wavy red hair that stuck out at every end and angle was the only feature his mother had given him. A smile crossed his face as he regarded, then frowned when he got to her hands. "Mom...I thought I asked you to bring back pop tarts..."

Yup. She was home.

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"THE HULL HAS BEEN BREACHED AND THE SCIENCE IS LEAKING OUT!"