Voldep III Part 1

I run through the no longer empty-or dark- halls of The United, chasing my son all across the ship in a game of tag, dodging past and weaving through my new crew that seems to worship me as a god. I quickly catch up to the small boy and instead of touching him I pick him up and spin him around in joy, eliciting a laugh from him. He counts to 10 as I set him down as soon as his feet are on the ground I dash in the opposite direction like some kind of man child and almost run headfirst into Juna. "Hey babe! Bye, babe!"

I hear behind me, "Hey Mom! Bye Mom!" Crap.

I feel a small hand touch my calf and look down, it's Aiden, "Gotcha." His smug face says it all

"Why yes you did. Why don't we go check on how much longer till we reach Voldep?" I walk into the bridge with my son asleep in my arms, it's a lot busier now with everyone at a station.

Amanda stands and comes to me, "I was about to come get you. We're here. Jet lag much kid?"

"No, I tired him out with a game of tag."

"Ah."

"Anyway, let's all go out on leave so we can have repairmen repair the ship for us."

"Sounds like someone is being smart for once."

"Am not!"

"Sure."

Juna walks on the bridge and I immediately hand Aiden over, "Honey, can you get Aiden off the ship? I need to stay behind to help the repair crews finish up here."

"Don't stay too long. Amanda?" She shifts her attention, "Make sure he does nothing stupid... please."

"Part of the job description Juna."

"Oh, come on guys I'm not that bad."

"Oh no. You? Amanda you think he's that bad?"

"No, not at all..."

"Ok now you're just patronizing me. Out with you already woman!"

"See you soon babe."

"See ya."

"Ok so what first?"

"The bridge I guess." In a few hours Amanda and I are tired and ready for vacation.

"All right let's go."

"I need to go find my boyfriend."

"Let's both go find our better halves."

"Ain't that the truth."

"More than I would like to admit."

Over the next few weeks I sit on beaches with a drink in my hand doing absolutely nothing and it is absolute bliss. I play a few games with Aiden and Juna. We're playing beach volleyball when Juna sees someone she thinks she knows.

"What is it hon?" I come up behind my girlfriend and give her a hug around the waist, burrowing my face into her strawberry smelling hair.

"Nothing, I just... I thought I saw something... weird."

"What did you do you see?"

"Hopefully nothing," She turns back around and we dance to Amanda's classical music, "It's in the past, let's ju- "Her eyes dart over my shoulder, flecks of silver bleeding into them, a sign of worry in Goldons.

"Hey, if something's bothering you, you can tell me."

"Nothing is worrying me."

"Is that why the edges of your eyes are silver."

"Sometimes I hate the fact that you know Goldon body language."

Chuckling I say, "And sometimes you love it."

"Say where did Aiden go?"

"He went off with some other kids that the pirates brought on board."

"I think we should go find him."

"Juna?"

"What?"

"He will be fine. You are talking about a kid who has grown up with a neglective grandfather and the ability to sneak onto ships in a barrel. I think if we worry about him more than normal he will not like us."

"Oh, now who's worried about something?"

"What?"

"You never worry about your image."

"What image?" Amanda retorts over her shoulder.

"Exactly my point. Look, please? Unless you want a girlfriend with silver eyes."

"Ok ok."

"Hey there friends." A Goldon approaches us with... neon blue hair?

"Hello there."

"Princess."

"Not anymore."

"Don't be like that Juna."

"Go away Fred."

"No."

"I don't know what's going on here but I suggest you listen." I pipe up in the middle of the obvious tension.

"You're right, you don't know what's going on. Come on love, let's get out of here."

"No."

"What?" The white goes blue, that's strange... that's not natural Goldon, "Oh so you'll leave me when your father tells you too, a half blood Goldon but you won't leave some dipshit human like him. Is that it?"

"Reegen let's go."

"The fuck you going?"

"Hey Reegen, I think they finished with our ship." Amanda shouts.

"Well then, I will follow you."

Standing up Amanda pulls a gun from under the towel and points it at his head, "I'll say this one time and one time only. You dare hurt my oath brother or his family and I will put a good ol' fashioned bullet in your head. Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal."

"Good. Let's go."

"Where are we going again?" Juna asks, shaken.

"The ship... where else?" Amanda turns around dumb-founded.

"Amanda, can you give us a minute?" I ask.

"Sure, whatever."

"Amanda? What' wrong? Did he hurt you?"

"He's a nobody."

"Then what about the things he was saying?"

"Just some made up stuff ok. Drop it, let's- let's go back to the ship."

"Juna."

"I said let's go!" She snaps.

When we get back to the ship I press her more, "Juna please, if he hurt you I want to know."

"I told he's just a random nobody who lies. You saw his hair." Speaking of Goldon colors I check her eyes, silver.

"If he was a random nobody then why do you have silver eyes?"

She stops, "I-I don't. You're mistaken."

"Juna? Please."

She sighs, "all right... he's my ex. He's not just any ex though."

"What does that mean?"

"He's jealous of you. When he gets jealous, he gets lethal. I'm scared Reegen. That's why I wouldn't tell you."

"Juna. I will be fine; I'm captain of the largest pirate gang in the galaxy."

"I know I know. That is another thing to worry about because you are also the biggest man child in the galaxy."

"Hey! That's not fair."

"Why cause it's true?"

"Why else?"

She laughs, "He makes me wonder though, why was I so quick to leave him?"

"Well, how did you meet him?"

"What does that matter?"

"I'm trying to help."

"Fine."

-----/\/\/\/\------/\/\/\/\-----

"Father, why must I meet this man?"

"He his a wealthy young suitor."

"But I don't want a suitor."

"Too bad."

My dress flows around me in blues and whites, perks of being Goldon princess of Solaris IV. Although there are also drawbacks, like suitors. We step into the throne room with my many servants and bodyguards behind us, "Good morning Sir Fredrick."

"Good to see you Princess Juna." He bows and I nod my head.

"What brings to the royal wing?" I ask, although I already know. This system is so outdated.

"I ask your father for your hand in marriage."

"Sir Frederick I don't even know you!" My anger surges. He's not even going to court me?

"Now now Juna dear," Father intervenes "We will gladly accept your proposal."

What? "Father?"

"Yes, dear?"

"May I speak to you? Privately?"

"Of course." I take him aside and in the most angry whisper I can muster, "WHAT THE HELL?"

"He is richer than us and has more political power."

"So? Marriage is not always the answer."

"You will marry him and that is final."

A few months later and I'm walking down the aisle in a long silver dress that my hair blends into. His face fills my view and I notice something, his eyes, his eyes are blue. What about white? Or the silver? I don't understand why I said anything to my father but before the priest started to talking I asked, "Father? Why are his eyes blue?"

"What?" The confusion is clear in Father's voice and the boy's mother's eyes go silver.

"I-I" She stammers.

"He is half human Juna. You will not marry."

"Yes, father."

"Juna wait!" He shouts after me.

"No. You are an abomination." I say in a monotone voice. My heart breaks inside as I call him the horrid name.

-----/\/\/\/\------/\/\/\/\-----

"Reegen?"

"Yes?"

"Don't tell Adrien. I don't want him thinking I was serious, I wasn't. It broke my heart to call anyone an abomination for something they had no choice of."

"Don't worry, I won't."

"Thank you." Her eyes water and go silver, "What if? What if he does somehow find out? He would hate me!"

"Shh. He wouldn't hate you."

"He would though! He would think I hate him and that no one loves him anymore even though it would be so far from the truth. I just. I just want to leave. To get far away from him."

"Why? Why so far?"

"He said one thing before my father exiled him."

"And what's that?"

"That he would make sure I was never happy and never had a family. I'm scared Reegen. I'm scared he will come after you and he will come after Aiden."

"Even if he does, we'll be ready." I tap the comm band on my arm, "Captain to Bridge, get us out of here."

"Yes, sir."