Running from Nightfall

[Jeremy Hunter]

Jeremy sat on the bridge of the Oathkeeper, alone among the blinking consoles. It was quiet in Omicron-100. Rarely did anyone ever enter the Order's sanctum. He sighed as he orbited Braga.

"Namine, how's Seth doing on the Ghost Eye?"

Namine's hologram appeared. She gently lifted up her sketchbook.

"He and his XO, Alyson, have...taken a liking to one another."
Jeremy chuckled. "Leave it to Seth to sleep with the crew."
"Only Alyson. No one else."

Jeremy paused. Sighing, he pressed a button. A few minutes later, an Ensign delivered a glass of Root Beer. Taking a swig, he turned to Namine.

"Tell me. How is Izzy doing?"
"She is still trying to find evidence of the SCRA-Order relations while attempting to stay covert. Its hard, having the BNG attacking and trying to keep her identity a secret."
Jeremy sighs. "We need to get her hard evidence. Anyways, update on Axel?"
Namine looked at her sketchbook. "He's currently on Freeport 4, he had escorted a USI transport from Theta to there. Left it in the care of the BAF."
"Same as I woulda done." Jeremy drained half the root beer. "Anything else?"
"Your mother wrote in her diary a certain McDowell asked her on a date."
Jeremy sighed. "Greeeat...any more good news?"
"No." Namine's hologram disappeared.

Jeremy sighed. Draining his glass, he leaned back.

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

Onboard the Ghost Eye, Seth opened his eyes. Looking downm, he saw Alyson's head on his chest. Gently wrapping her in his arms, he looked over at the time. They had to get up.

Gently shaking her, he chuckled. "Wakey wakey Ally. Gotta wake. Time to work."
Alyson opened her eyes. Sitting up, she let the covers crumple around her waist. "Do we have to?"
Seth chuckled. Gently pulling her back down, he kissed her. "Now now. Lets not go showing your assets off."
Going AH! She gently slapped him.
Grinning, he tickled her. As she thrashed a bit, Seth, quick as a wink, grabbed the sheats and her clothing and locked himself in the bathroom.
Screaming, Alyson banged on the door. "Let me have those back!"
"no!"
"You'll make me try and get to my room without being seen?"
"Maybe..."
"Whats the catch?"
"Well..."
Alyson sighed. "Please?"

The door opened. Seth threw the articles on the bed. Grinning, he hugged her.

"Just messing with you. Take a shower; I'll fix this place up."

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

Jeremy keyed open his cabin on the Oathkeeper. Hanging his jacket on the back of his chair, dropped his gun on the table, and dropped onto his bed. Putting his hands behind his head, Jeremy stared at the ceiling. It immedietly brightened to show a map of the Sirius sector, which then magnified to Liberty, then New York, then Manhattan, then his mother's Apartment.
There, sitting on the balcony, singing, was Rika.
Jeremy paused. He never liked her on that balcony anymore.
Taking a moment to deploy some operative that where on Manhattan, Jeremy closed his eyes and fell into a welcome sleep.

---

May you ever walk in the Light, Shizune.