I wont say Goodbye

[Jeremy Hunter]

It had been a month since Alexis had arrived on the planet. She had taken to cooking for the family, which comprised of the mother, Frau Voelker, the daughter, Felicity, and Felicity's quiet sister Lauren, who did not speak, did not leave her room, and never once looked up when Alexis left her dinner. The rest of the time, Alexis would clean, which wasn't hard since the Voelkers were tidy. Most of the time Alexis would sit in the bath, soaking in warm water. The Felicity would tease her, but always friendly. Mostly she would sit by the tub and chat with Alexis. Both girls found it soothing, and Alexis...she felt something else, some she had not felt since she first met Thomas, all those years ago. It was strange, but she did not dwell upon it...but those feeling would replicate, years later.

It was quiet for Alexis, mostly. She loved the quiet. After all the fighting and pain and torment she had to suffer through, just sitting on her bed, watching the NueralNet or reading. She found the quietness of the New Berlin home was something she yearned for, and now had. It was pleasant, peaceful...but she still had no memories, and she couldn't leave the house. She was a prisoner, essentially, but she did not mind; the Voelkers were neither jailors or watchmen, but friends, and she found that every day that passed, she grew closer. Even when the eldest daughter, Seryna, stopped by, she was wlecomed with open arms.

That all changed in a short, short week. She had just gone out front when a RFP vehicle drove past. She could feel the eyes of the officers on her as she shoveled snow from the driveway. She got inside as quickly as she could, rushing to her room and closing the door. She shivered with fright. She did not know if they just thought her pretty or suspicious. She just wanted to get out of sight.
It was too late, unfortunetaly. Just two nights later, the RFP came to the house and demanded to see her. She came out.
It was short.

Alexis, who knew barely any word in Rheinland's tongue, was arrested on the spot. Seryna came and managed to convince the officers that the family had nothing to do with it; they just did the Good Samaritan thing and gave shelter to someone in need.
But for Alexis, the best thing Seryna could do for her was to fly her personally to the prison that most Libertonian Prisoners, espeically ones that were obvioulsy military, go.

Vierlende.

-------------------------------------

"Listen...Alex....I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault Seryna."
The Rheinwheir Kommodore looked at her. "Ja, it is not. But you still were a guest of my family. It is only my rank that allowed my family to be spared; And we have no idea who you are either."
"Neither do I...I'm just Alexis."
"Ja, but they think you are a spy from the Navy."
"What if I am part of the Navy? I could be some lieutenant that got...."

Alexis broke off. The brown and white planet...
The whine of weapons...
the explosions dotting the space around the ship...
The blue fighter careening into the bridge as it was torn asunder from the dark fighters...
Then...silence...


"Alex? ALEX!"

Alexis snapped back to reality. Seryna was looking at her as the ship moved towards the cube prison of Vierlende.

"Once I hand you over, you are on your own...please...be careful."
"Best I can do is keep my head down and hope for a miracle."
"All we can do is pray."
"I ain't gonna have you pray to some guy I can blow to hell with a sidearm for my safety."
"Then I shall pray to the Almighty."
"If you choose so..." Alexis sighed. "Handcuff me. Also, hit me hard in seperate places. I look to clean to be a prisoner."

Seryna handcuffed her, then gave her a quick hug.

"Forgive me."

Seryna cocked her arm back, smashing into Alexis's cheek. Alexis's head snapped back, but didn't finish its journey before another blow landed in Alexis's stomach, and another her chest. Alexis landed on her back, cracking her head against the ground. A few kicks to her side, as well as a quick stomp on her left breast, finished the beating.

"That hurt." Alexis used her arms to check herself as best as she could. "Did you have to stomp me?"
"Well, it had to look authentic." Seryna sighed. "And believe me, if I were a man, raping you would have been an option."

Seryna helped Alexis up, then kissed her now-bruised cheek. she dabbed some of the blood that was running from a small cut above Alexis's eye away. she then grinned.

"Kidding about the rape." She then messed up Alexis's hair, tore her clothing in a few places, and then checked to make sure that Alexis was barefoot.

"Stay safe, Alexis."
"You too."

Seryna took Alexis, and lead her out of the shuttle.

"Also. You owe me a new shirt."

---

May you ever walk in the Light, Shizune.