Jeanne

[Tango]

PART 1

Planet Pittsburg. New York System. Three weeks ago.

It would have been just another day at the "Scratching Inn" bar. There, as happened each month, officer Jameson meet a rookie a boy no more than half his age. It was pay day for the Liberty officials and the Rogues happily paid as it meant they were able to keep their battleship parked in Manhattan's backyard. And Buffalo and the stories of its existence could remain as nothing more than a legend.

Payment transfered, officer Jameson tapped his cap twice and put it in his head. He walked towards the door that leads to the hangar, not saying a word. The bar was poorly lit, the main reason being that the main source of illumination was the communication screens which were showing The Colony News and were babbling on about the raise of cardamine use in Manhattan.

As he was about to leave the young pirate in the shadows, all of the screens displayed a huge amount of static, distorting the images and sound that were being shown. Gradually this was replaced by the image of a woman looking straight to camera to the accompaniment of some sombre music. It appeared that all of the chanels on all of the screens had been interupted and replaced with this one single broadcast. As the transmission stabilized, she started talking in a stern, but measured voice: "I am Jeanne. I'm here to tell you, Libertonians, the truth.".

Jeanne's face was beautiful, but also hard. Dark haired, and wearing old-fashioned glasses with red lenses, typical of fighter pilots from decades past , the image reflected in the lenses was that of the sun and planet Manhattan.

Officer Jameson stopped by the door, looking back over his shoulder into the dim bar. As he did so he caught a glimpse of the image that was now being displayed on the screens. What he saw caused him to pause and to pay attention to the image being displayed, and there was recognition in is eyes. He stood transfixed by the face of the young women on the screen, "Je...Good Lord...It can't be!". His cap fell to the floor with a dull thud.


Planet Houston. Texas System. Fourteen years ago.

It was a cold night.

"Jeanne, quit this for today. It's time to go to bed."
The young girl with big shiney greyish eyes and dark hair was fixing a newspod. Two more screws and it was done.
As she walked to her bed she gave her mother the pod. "It's Tom's pod. It's now fixed, mom.".
"Thank you my dear. Sleep well."
Some minutes passed by in silence.
"Mom? Will dad back from the Wall anyday?"
"Don't know, dear. They say when you are in there you start a new life. I want to hear you praying before sleep. Have nice dreams, my darling."
"But the voices told me he is dead. Is it true, mom?"
"No, darling. It's just your imagination. I've already told you. There are no such things as voices talking to you.There's only you and me. We are together and thats how its going to be. You have seen too much for a girl at your age. Now go bed and have a good rest, Jeanne."

Jeanne's mother walked to the door of the poor house to lock it for the night. When she put her finger to the lockpad someone knocked loudy the the door.
"Whos that?" She asked opening the door halfway and taking a look outside. It was very dark outside and she barely could see their figures in the shadows.
There were three men at the door. She could see one was holding a cap under his arm, which he tapped twice before asking "Good evening, madam, is this Ms. Jeanne's house?"
"No, sir." She lied, and started to push the door closed. But before she could close it the two other men forced it open, and revealed their grinning faces: "Ples, don clos da door yet, M'dm". She saw many of their teeth were covered by dirty steel caps.
Hearing the voices, the girl came from the room, dressed in her old flannel pyjamas.

Mom? Who's there?
Run, Jeanne! Run and hide!
Jeanne saw a flash of light from the door followed by a loud burst and a stomp sound. Her mother was now lying on the floor. For a moment she could see a young man, holding a cap under his arm and a pistol in his hand. He was wearing the Liberty Police uniform. The same uniform the men who took her father were wearing. He then pointed his weapon at her and fired at the shocked girl. Another flash of light.
Quick. Take them to the ship. I'll clean this mess up.
She fell uncounscious.




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EDIT: topic description.

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Corsair Tango Benitez biography

Jeanne A xeno biography of faith (boring and incomplete)