Chapter 2 : Betraying the Empire

The Terran pilot had followed their target's trajectory into the atmosphere and landed not far from the crash site. Not because he wanted to make sure he was dead : nothing could survive an explosion like this, nor the fall that followed. And even if, by some miracle, he did, his suit would be damaged, and he wouldn't last in the atmosphere of this moon !

No, the reason why he was now combing through the debris of the SFVI-01 was to find the black box. Neither his superior nor the other collaborators wanted to be implicated in the destruction of the prototype and its pilot. They were vindictive, but not crazy !

But, as he was throwing away another piece of the fuselage and scanning the surroundings, he spotted something… impossible !

« What the… It can't be ! » His voice muffled by the helmet and the lack of oxygen in this atmosphere, the pilot staggered backward as he saw something approach nonchalantly.

Indeed, the suit was damaged and even the helmet wasn't on the head anymore. But he… it was walking. Its face wasn't warped with pain, and he didn't even seem to be suffering from the poisonous and acidic gases. No burns that he could see, no strange color on its skin ! What was this monster ?

Raising his hand and pointing at him, he shouted, in a bid to gather his courage or out of incredulity, he didn't know :

« You ! You're no Terran ! What the fuck are you ?! »

Suddenly, it turned its gaze on the pilot, as if it had not noticed him until now. It tilted its head, as if surprised…

* * * * *

Simon's low voice passed his lips :

« What's a Terran pilot doing on this rock ? I haven't managed to send a distress signal… Oh ! »

His comment might have seemed stupid but he was still recovering from the process following his bonding with Crys. Crys was actually what he'd taken to call the crystal in his head, though it was apparent the crystal itself wasn't sure whether he even needed a name or not.

Like a revolving lantern but backward, Crys had sifted through the memories of his life, from his crash here to his earliest memory of childhood. By doing so, he and Crys had also discovered the Terran's military conditioning he had been subjected to and undone it. This was why, when Crys asked to be taken back to the crash site because he wanted to figure something out, he did so almost robotically. He wasn't paying attention to where he was going or what was around him… His thought were focused inward and backward into the past : he was reliving the atrocities he committed, saw the good times spent with his family despite the disease…

Needless to say that Simon was conflicted. He was somewhat happy to be alive, mostly because his parents had done their utmost for this. Also, he could (finally) experience life. The first thing he wanted to do was listen to music… Unfortunately, music had changed a lot in the time he was frozen and he didn't really like what it had become. He'd rather listen to music from when he was on Earth.

On the other hand, he was ashamed of what he'd done ! Sure, he didn't really have a choice in the matter, trapped as he was by the bureaucratic machine of the Terran Empire. Not to mention that after his initial brainwashing and conditioning, he couldn't go against his orders, no matter how conflicted he felt about them. Still, he was seeing the faces of his victims : the Terran rebels and their families, the alien species he was sent to subjugate… Tears were coming to his eyes as he thought about them all and his heart and guts were in excruciating pain.

So, when the Terran pilot shouted at him, he couldn't really place him or the situation he was in. After maybe half a minute, he nodded to himself before declaring :

« You're one of those who shot me down, huh ? What are you doing here, man ? »

The voice wasn't particularly loud but the man could hear it nice and clear thanks to the sensors on his suit, and it startled him. It was as if the entire situation didn't impact him in the least ! Fumbling, he tried to retrieve his energy weapon from his belt holster. Simon exclaimed :

« Calm down, man ! Why the hell would you try to kill me anyway ? »

For some reason, whether the situation still hadn't caught up to him in his mind or as a consequence from the bonding, Simon wasn't particularly worried. In fact, though he didn't notice, some part of him was curious… He, too, knew that he shouldn't be alive. He also knew that his bonding with Crys had changed him somehow but he wasn't sure as to the extent of the change. He just… was not feeling threatened by the Terran or his weapon.

« Weird… » Simon muttered to himself.

Having used similar weapons himself, he knew how effective they were. More accurate than handgun and as powerful as rifles, this was the standard of the one-handed energy weapon wielded by Terran Empire's soldiers. Not only did they have stopping power, they did a number on their targets : puncturing a hole, and melting it and cauterizing it. Often times, even if the shot wasn't in a vital spot, the complications brought on by the burns could kill a person if it wasn't treated. And here, there was nothing to treat it.

And yet, despite knowing all of this, Simon still wasn't afraid. Instead, he was just curious as to why he was targeted… Though, on this point too, he had a guess.

« Are you one of those Supremacist dumbass who thinks I'm not Terran enough ? Is that why you and your friends tried to kill me ? »

Ever since he was 'recruited' into the military, there were these people… Almost fanatics really, who only swore by their Terran origins. Highly xenophobic, they were among the most fearsome and disgusting group when encountering other races. He, too, wasn't even considered a Terran, despite coming from their original home world because of his DNA. They considered it too removed from them to be considered Terran.

So, when he was chosen as a pilot for an experimental starfighter… These nut-jobs probably felt hurt in their useless pride as Terran.

And when, he saw him flinch and miss his gun once more, Simon had his confirmation.

Slowly walking toward the man (or woman, he couldn't be sure with the suit), he resumed talking :

« You know… I should probably thank you guys. You've given me a chance at freedom ! I mean… I can't have survived this crash, can I ? » He exclaimed as he gestured all around them. Pausing for a moment, he then asked : « You're probably here for the flight recorder, right ? »

Mentally, he enquired Crys as to its location. Surprisingly, a reply came almost immediately and he pointed at a direction :

« It's under this debris a dozen meters on your left behind you. I'm guessing you're either here to destroy it or lose it, right ? Please do so ! Then, I'll truly be free ! »

Although he was still frightened because of this incomprehensible situation, the talk of this soldier made him angry :

« You're betraying the Empire ? »

Simon shrugged, even though the soldier now had his weapon trained on him. He explained himself :

« I'm only taking the chance offered. Besides, unlike you, I wasn't a willing recruit and I never had much loyalty or trust in the Empire. If you think that's betrayal… » Another shrug.

Sneering, the Terran declared :

« I think I'll just finish the job… Die, you worthless waste of air ! »

Instantly, the weapon's barrel lit up and with a sound similar to 'pew', fired its bolt toward Simon…