This is my first Fan Fiction here, though I have written Fan Fiction elsewhere. If my information is incorrect/inaccurate (especially for ships), then correct me.

Prologue

GÇ£Athena, run!GÇ¥

The tank fired, hitting the wall next to me. I started running. Dying wasnGÇÖt permanent, but it still hurt and wasnGÇÖt exactly cheap. The tank fired another round volley, tearing the wall next to me to ribbons. My options were disappearing, fast. I sprinted towards the nearest turrets, keeping cover between myself and the tank. The tank kept pace with me, keeping the pressure on. I rounded a container, spotting an enemy mercenary.

He saw me at the same time I saw him. He fired off a burst from his rifle. I let my shield take the shots as I rushed him. He didnGÇÖt expect me to tackle him, slamming him into the wall. A knee to the gut and a fist to the face stunned him and put him on the ground. I drew my assault rifle and fired.

Nothing. I cursed under my breath as I remembered I was out of ammo. The man went for his gun. I kicked him in the face. The tank rounded the corner, unloading at me as I took off again. My shield took most of it, though one shot hit my left shoulder. A heavy trooper was standing next to a railgun. GÇ£Marttel!GÇ¥ I yelled, running towards him.

GÇ£Get down!GÇ¥ he yelled back. I hit the ground and rolled. Marttel threw an AV grenade. The tank turned the corner, stopping on the grenade. The explosion rocked the tank, which took the full brunt of MarttelGÇÖs HMG and the railgun. The tank operator panicked, firing randomly and not hitting anything. The vehicle erupted into flames.

GÇ£Crap,GÇ¥ Livi said over the radio. GÇ£He blew right past me, and his lackeys are keeping me in orbit. Eyes to the sky, you got incoming.GÇ¥ I stood up, looking towards the sky. A Cruiser was in the sky, launching multiple MCC.

GÇ£Reinforcements,GÇ¥ Marttel said, sighing. GÇ£As if this battle wasnGÇÖt hard enough.GÇ¥

I didnGÇÖt answer. The name of the cruiser had my attention. Doveblood IV.


My eyes opened. After getting over the initial jitters over changing bodies, I started to prepare for battle. The war room had a nice view of the battle taking place over the planet. I joined the other mercenaries roaming the waiting area. A woman in Gallente armor was staring at me. After I stared back, she waved me over with her finger. I stepped in front of her. She sat there, looking me over. GÇ£Can I help you?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£Cocky, ainGÇÖt she,GÇ¥ a man said. His armor was heavy, but painted in Minmatar colors. I thought only Amarr made heavy armor.

GÇ£No,GÇ¥ the woman said. GÇ£Just curious.GÇ¥ She spoke softly, her voice powerful. GÇ£WhatGÇÖs a Gallente doing here?GÇ¥

I looked her over. GÇ£The same thing youGÇÖre doing.GÇ¥

GÇ£Doubtful,GÇ¥ she said. I could hear the smile in her voice. GÇ£Marttel, what do you think?GÇ¥

GÇ£IGÇÖd have to see her in combat,GÇ¥ the heavy said. GÇ£Tell me, what do you do on the battlefield?GÇ¥

I was confused. GÇ£I donGÇÖt understand the question,GÇ¥ I said.

Marttel scoffed. GÇ£Rookies.GÇ¥

GÇ£What role you prefer,GÇ¥ the woman said.

GÇ£Logistics,GÇ¥ I said. GÇ£Medical.GÇ¥

GÇ£Good enough,GÇ¥ the woman said. GÇ£IGÇÖm Iridina. Why donGÇÖt you join my squad for the mission?GÇ¥

GÇ£Why would I want to do that?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£I have a good feeling about you,GÇ¥ Iridina said.

GÇ£And why is that?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£Gallente, female, medic, and new,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£I was just like you, once upon a time. Besides, itGÇÖs not like you have any other offers.GÇ¥

GÇ£Just say yes,GÇ¥ Marttel said.

GÇ£Yes,GÇ¥ I said.

GÇ£Good,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£I assume you have a name?GÇ¥

GÇ£Athena,GÇ¥ I said.

GÇ£You already know Marttel,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£YouGÇÖll meet Dormid and Piiko when our boots hit the ground.

GÇ£When will that be?GÇ¥ Marttel asked.

Red lights started flashing. GÇ£All ground troops, prepare for the drop.GÇ¥

GÇ£ThatGÇÖs our cue,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£Marttel, Athena.GÇ¥ Iridina started walking towards the dropships.

I was about to follow her when Marttel stepped in front of me. GÇ£Sorry, sweetheart, but youGÇÖre going to be the first pair of boots to land.GÇ¥

GÇ£Lucky me,GÇ¥ I said, following Marttel to the Mobile Command Center.

We strapped in. The MCC left the war barge, flying through the battle taking place above the planet. GÇ£WhoGÇÖs the girl?GÇ¥ a man in Caldari armor asked Marttel.

GÇ£Our new friend,GÇ¥ Marttel said. GÇ£Athena, meet Piiko.GÇ¥

GÇ£Why would a Caldari work for a Gallente?GÇ¥ I asked. GÇ£And why would I work with one?GÇ¥

GÇ£Pay for the first,GÇ¥ Piiko said, GÇ£and pay for the second. I thought IGÇÖd never see a Minmatar work with an Amarr, but Iridina has those two working together. IGÇÖm a mercenary, just like you. As long as we arenGÇÖt paid to kill each other, we should be fine.GÇ¥

GÇ£A Minmatar and a Amarr, together?GÇ¥ I asked. GÇ£I know they barely tolerate working for the same paycheck, but working as a squad?GÇ¥

GÇ£Surprising, I know,GÇ¥ a man in Amarr armor said. GÇ£We arenGÇÖt best friends, but we get along.GÇ¥

GÇ£Of course we do,GÇ¥ Marttel said. GÇ£Oh, introductions. Athena, Dormid. Dormid, Athena.GÇ¥

GÇ£The pleasure is mine,GÇ¥ Dormid said.

GÇ£It is,GÇ¥ I said.

GÇ£Three minutes until deployment area,GÇ¥ the TacNet voice said.

GÇ£Three minutes until the fun begins,GÇ¥ Marttel said.

First Impressions

The MCC stopped, a lone green light illuminating the ship. GÇ£WeGÇÖre here,GÇ¥ Dormid said. GÇ£I will not hesitate when the test of Faith finds me, for only the strongest conviction will open the gates of paradise. My Faith in you is absolute; my sword is Yours, My God, and Your will guides me now and for all eternity.GÇ¥

GÇ£I donGÇÖt need prayers,GÇ¥ Marttel said. GÇ£My faith is in my hands.GÇ¥

GÇ£I would like to avoid another incident,GÇ¥ Dormid said. GÇ£Especially before this conquest.GÇ¥

GÇ£Fine,GÇ¥ Marttel said. GÇ£Rookie, youGÇÖre with Dormid.GÇ¥

GÇ£My name is Athena,GÇ¥ I said.

GÇ£I donGÇÖt care,GÇ¥ Marttel said.

GÇ£Ignore him,GÇ¥ Dormid said, directing me towards the opening in the ship. We stopped at the edge. GÇ£Marttel is somewhat of a brute. Iridina trusts him. Piiko does as well.GÇ¥

GÇ£What about you?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£That is a touchy subject,GÇ¥ Dormid said. GÇ£You know about the inertia dampeners, right?GÇ¥

GÇ£Yeah,GÇ¥ I said.

GÇ£Good,GÇ¥ Marttel said, patting me on the back and looking over the edge. GÇ£Use GÇÿem.GÇ¥

Marttel gave me a hard pat on the back, sending me over the edge. The ground was rushing to meet me. I took a deep breath and enabled the dampeners. Dirt flew away from the point of impact. Standing, I drew my rifle. GÇ£That wasnGÇÖt funny,GÇ¥ I said.

The ground around me shook from the multiple dropsuits landing around me. I saw Marttel, Dormid, and Piiko waving me over. GÇ£That was hilarious,GÇ¥ Marttel said.

GÇ£Pirates are dropping,GÇ¥ Piiko said. GÇ£TheyGÇÖre rushing towards us.GÇ¥

GÇ£Then their rear is unguarded,GÇ¥ Iridina said over the radio. GÇ£Marttel, push with the other grunts. Dormid, Piiko, Athena, hit them from behind. IGÇÖm sending a LAV to you now.GÇ¥

GÇ£Looks like IGÇÖm getting all the fun,GÇ¥ Marttel said. GÇ£Maybe IGÇÖll leave some for you.GÇ¥

The dropship carrying the LAV came into view. GÇ£Just keep them away from us,GÇ¥ Piiko said.

GÇ£Passenger,GÇ¥ Dormid said.

The LAV took off through the barren desert, Piiko at the wheel. Dormid was scanning the horizon with the turret. I just sat there, feeling useless. GÇ£WhereGÇÖs Iridina?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£She doesnGÇÖt go on every mission,GÇ¥ Piiko said. GÇ£She isnGÇÖt a clone.GÇ¥

GÇ£What?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£SheGÇÖs Intaki,GÇ¥ Dormid said. GÇ£She wishes to be reincarnated through another.GÇ¥

GÇ£ThatGÇÖs going to make for interesting conversation,GÇ¥ I said.

GÇ£WhyGÇÖs that?GÇ¥ Piiko said.

GÇ£IGÇÖm Intaki,GÇ¥ I said.

GÇ£Interesting indeed,GÇ¥ Dormid said.

We rode on in silence. GÇ£Watch the road!GÇ¥ I yelled as a pirate LAV drove in front of us.

We t-boned the pirates, sending both LAVs crashing. I flew out of the LAV and rolled on the ground. Both vehicles were on fire. A figure stepped through the smoke. GÇ£Athena,GÇ¥ Dormid asked, GÇ£are you okay?GÇ¥

GÇ£Nothings broken,GÇ¥ I said, getting up.

GÇ£Piiko didnGÇÖt make it,GÇ¥ Dormid said.

GÇ£Better him than you,GÇ¥ Marttel said over the radio.

GÇ£Yeah, shut it,GÇ¥ Piiko said over the radio. GÇ£IGÇÖm inbound now.GÇ¥

A bullet glanced off of my helmet. GÇ£Sniper!GÇ¥ I yelled, sprinting to cover.

Dormid was hiding behind a different rock, sniper rifle in hand. GÇ£I canGÇÖt see him,GÇ¥ he said. GÇ£Can you get a visual?GÇ¥

GÇ£On it,GÇ¥ I said. I looked over my cover, trying to spot the sniper.

GÇ£Anything?GÇ¥ Dormid asked.

The muzzle flash gave away the sniper. I started to tell Dormid where the sniper was, but a sharp pain in my throat caught my attention. The sniper shot me. I hit the ground, grabbing my throat, felt the blood seep between my fingers. Darkness crept on the edge of my vision. I took in one final breath before I felt life leave my body.

Trust

I sucked in all the air I could as I dropped to the ground. I was hyperventilating. GÇ£Breathe,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£Breathe. YouGÇÖre fine. Just breathe.GÇ¥

GÇ£What happened?GÇ¥ I asked, taking deep breaths.

GÇ£You died,GÇ¥ Iridina said.

"Died?" I asked.

GÇ£The first death is hard," Iridina said. "They do get easier.GÇ¥

GÇ£Sorry about that,GÇ¥ Dormid said over the radio. GÇ£The sniperGÇÖs down. HowGÇÖs the signal on my drop beacon?GÇ¥

GÇ£Good,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£Athena will join you shortly.GÇ¥ She put a hand on my shoulder. GÇ£How are you holding up?GÇ¥

I took a final deep breath. GÇ£IGÇÖm fine.GÇ¥

GÇ£Good,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£Get ready to jump.GÇ¥

GÇ£When?GÇ¥ I asked.

Iridina opened the back of the dropship. GÇ£Three, two, one, jump!GÇ¥

I ran out of the back, getting a nice view of the battle below me. GÇ£How high are you?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£Sub-orbital,GÇ¥ Iridina said over the radio. GÇ£Any higher and you wouldnGÇÖt go down.GÇ¥

GÇ£Great,GÇ¥ I said, falling.

GÇ£Could you fall faster?GÇ¥ Dormid asked. GÇ£Eight pirates are interested in me. Make that seven.GÇ¥

I continued to fall. It was rather peaceful, falling from space. GÇ£Almost there,GÇ¥ I said.

GÇ£Three left,GÇ¥ Dormid said. GÇ£When you land, face east. YouGÇÖll be behind them.GÇ¥

GÇ£Copy.GÇ¥ I took a deep breath, activating the inertia dampeners.

I hit the ground, pulling out my knife. The pirates saw me, turning to shoot. I stabbed the first pirate in the head, taking out the second with the first pirateGÇÖs gun. The third took cover. Dormid took her head off. GÇ£Clear,GÇ¥ Dormid said.

GÇ£Same here,GÇ¥ Marttel said.

GÇ£Payment is going through,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£Regroup on DormidGÇÖs position. IGÇÖm on the way.GÇ¥

GÇ£Good job, Athena,GÇ¥ Dormid said.

GÇ£You could have told me the plan,GÇ¥ I said.

GÇ£Bait works best if you hide the hook,GÇ¥ Dormid said.

GÇ£I guess it does,GÇ¥ I said.

**********

The dropship landed on the war barge. GÇ£This is my stop,GÇ¥ I said.

GÇ£It doesnGÇÖt have to be,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£You could work for me.GÇ¥

GÇ£Work for you?GÇ¥ I repeated.

GÇ£Sure,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£I stay out of wars between the factions, instead focusing on assaulting pirate bases or protecting colonies. PayGÇÖs good, at least enough for bitter rivals to feign friendship.GÇ¥

GÇ£Why me?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£Is this chick dense or what?GÇ¥ Marttel asked.

GÇ£I like you,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£YouGÇÖre a good soldier, and I want to pay you money to shoot things. What more do you want?GÇ¥

GÇ£Better than nothing,GÇ¥ I mumbled. GÇ£IGÇÖm in.GÇ¥

GÇ£Livi,GÇ¥ Iridina said, GÇ£take us home.GÇ¥

GÇ£Copy that,GÇ¥ a woman said over the radio.

GÇ£So where is this home?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£My ship,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£I call her Calm Fire.GÇ¥

GÇ£SheGÇÖs a real beauty,GÇ¥ Marttel said. GÇ£Training room, personal quarters for fifty, and the most well stocked galley IGÇÖve ever seen.GÇ¥

GÇ£How long until we get there?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£Not long,GÇ¥ Iridina said.

The dropship opened up. A lone woman was standing there with a smile on her face. GÇ£Welcome back,GÇ¥ she said.

GÇ£Always a pleasure,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£Athena, meet our pilot. Bulivida, meet our newest member.GÇ¥

GÇ£Call me Livi,GÇ¥ Bulivida said, sticking out her hand. I shook it. GÇ£Stong, silent type?GÇ¥ she asked.

GÇ£SheGÇÖd have to be strong first,GÇ¥ Marttel said. GÇ£No, just an Intaki.GÇ¥

GÇ£Ah,GÇ¥ Livi said. She ran to catch up with Iridina. GÇ£Where to?GÇ¥

GÇ£Rumors of another pirate attack,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£I have a system, but we need to see where they would put their base.GÇ¥

GÇ£Hey, Athena,GÇ¥ Piiko said, GÇ£let me show you to your quarters.GÇ¥ Piiko led me past the galley, training room, and personal showers. GÇ£And this is your room. ItGÇÖll probably be weird, trusting people from other factions, but you can lock the door. Rest up. WeGÇÖve got work to do.GÇ¥

GÇ£What brought you here?GÇ¥ I asked.

Piiko shook his head. GÇ£Later. Right now, you should probably get some sleep.GÇ¥

GÇ£Sleep?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£Trust me,GÇ¥ Piiko said, walking out of the room.

I locked the door. Stretching across the bed, sleep was the farthest thing from my mind. I replayed the dayGÇÖs events in my head, and somewhere along the line, passed out.

History

I was sitting on the bed, trying to remember where I was. The Calm Fire, Iridina's ship. My head was pounding. "Athena, you up?" Marttel asked from the other side of the door.

"Yeah," I said.

"Head down to the galley," Marttel said. "You need food."

"Why would you say that?" I asked.

"You really are dense," Marttel said. "You have a headache, temporarily forgot where you where, and your stomach's rumbling."

"My stomach isn't rumbling," I said. Of course, my stomach growled loud enough for Marttel to hear it.

"Right," he said. "We've all been in your boots. Get dressed and get some food."

Looking down, I realized that I was, in fact, naked. "Where's my armor?" I asked.

"Relax," Marttel said. "Iridina took care of it. I only peeked once."

I heard him chuckle as he walked away. A note was on the bedside table. "Athena, check the closet next to the bed. Put on whatever you like. And ignore Marttel. I made sure he didn't see anything. Iridina. P.S. Do you know how boring it is to float outside of a ship in an exosuit for three hours? You owe me. Marttel." Smiling, I opened the closet. Clothes from all over Gallente space filled the closet. My eyes went to a pair of black baggy pants and a green long sleeved shirt.

After throwing on the clothes, I noticed I had long red hair. "Strange," I said aloud. "Clones don't usually have long hair. Especially red hair." Shrugging the thought off, I quickly brushed my hair. Funny, how I died yesterday and now I'm brushing my hair today. Giving myself one last look in the mirror, I accepted the look as passable in public.

I walked into the galley, smelling the sweet aroma of Intaki tea. A man was sitting at a table, tea cup in hand. He was about five feet tall, had long blonde hair, green eyes, and a two foot long beard. "Huh," he said after looking at me. He saw the confused look on my face. "Really? You don't recognize me?"

"Marttel?" I asked.

"Dense as ever," Marttel said.

"Leave the girl alone," Dormid said. His brown hair was short, his eyes pale. "Your voice sounds lovely."

"Yeah, Dormid can't see," Piiko said, bumping me out of the doorway. His brown hair was barely long enough to cover his blue eyes.

"On the battlefield, I see through the eyes of others," Dormid said.

I stood there, trying to sort out the sensory overload. "Can't make sense of it?" Iridina asked. She handed me a cup of tea. Her black hair was shoulder length, though I was looking at her eyes.

"Your eyes," I said, "they're purple."

"Just tell her," Marttel said. "Her head's about to explode."

Iridina handed me the tea. "While onboard the Calm Fire, you are going to be in an exact replica of your true self."

"Like a capsuleer," Livi said, walking into the room. Her brown hair was in a bun, and her blue eyes shone.

"Exactly," Iridina said. "This is what your teammates really look like."

I sipped the tea. "Well then," I said, "who's cooking the food?"

Marttel's eyes widened. "The food!" he yelled, rushing to the burner. Marttel started stirring something bubbling in a pot.

Iridina was smiling. "Marttel is a talented cook," she said, "if somewhat forgetful."

"Iridina," Dormid said, "should we begin."

"Now's the best time," Marttel said. "Food's almost done. Homemade stew, like my mother taught me."

"Stew again?' Piiko moaned. "Fast simple, and won't scare off the rookie," Marttel said. "No offense."

"Please, sit," Iridina said. I sat down at the table. The only person standing was Marttel, who was pouring a brown liquid into bowls. "Now, we all have our own history, and I would prefer you keep it short. Marttel, you're up."

"Of course I am," he said. "I killed enough people to catch the attention of several other people. Unfortunately, the spotlight wasn't good. After getting into a fight with a particular woman, she convinced me to join up with her. After she agreed to pay off my debts, which included several up-and-coming pilots."

"You're still working off my debt," Iridina said.

"Yeah yeah," Marttel said. "Anyway, I'm stuck with Iridina, whether she likes it or not."

"Glad to hear it," Iridina said. "Dormid, your turn."

"I am a Ni-Kunni," Dormid said. "My family was enslaved because we were too poor to support ourselves. After finding out I was blind, I was kicked to the streets while my family was still forced into slavery. I need isk to free my wife. Iridina is paying me."

"Because he knows what it is like to be a slave," Marttel said, "I can tolerate this particular Amarrian."

"Piiko?" Iridina asked. "Interesting story," Piiko said, "but I was a bounty hunter. My last, or second-to-last, contract was Iridina. After losing to her. she paid me quad what I was getting to kill the person who wanted her dead. I stuck around, for a nominal fee. She also lets me hunt people, which is always a plus."

"My turn," Livi said. "I'm Piiko's sister, and his personal pilot. After Iridina hired him, she hired me as well. I'm unmatched in hand-to-hand combat as well. Even Marttel hasn't beaten me."

"She means she's won twenty eight out our thirty battles," Marttel said.

"And lastly, Athena," Iridina said.

"What about you?" I asked.

"I pay you to shoot things," Iridina said.

"What's your history?"

"My father disowned me because of the cloning, and my mother is too hopped up on drugs to remember my name," I said. "That's about it."

"What a sad story," Marttel said. "I'll be in the training room. If the rookie wants to learn how to really fight, then she'll be there." He got up, leaving the rest of us to finish our stew.

"Good luck," Iridina said. "You'll need it."

"I get to go toe-to-toe with a man who calls me dense every second of the day," I said. This couldn't possibly go wrong."

Rivalries

Marttel was slamming his fists into a punching bag when I entered the room. GÇ£Ready?GÇ¥ he asked me.

GÇ£Yes,GÇ¥ I said.

GÇ£Step into my office,GÇ¥ Marttel said with a smile. He stood in the center of a circle that was on the floor. GÇ£Say when.GÇ¥

I stepped into the circle, staying near the edge. GÇ£Ready.GÇ¥

Marttel assumed a fighting stance. GÇ£WhyGÇÖd your father disown you?GÇ¥ he asked, stepping towards me.

GÇ£Who wants to know?GÇ¥ I asked, raising my hands defensively.

GÇ£I do,GÇ¥ Marttel said. He swung at me, and I blocked it. GÇ£I doubt it was just because of the cloning.GÇ¥

I tried a roundhouse kick. Marttel caught my leg. I was slammed onto the ground. GÇ£No,GÇ¥ I said, standing up. GÇ£He tried to press his views onto me.GÇ¥

Marttel sent his fist straight at me. I sidestepped and elbowed the back of his head. He grabbed me around the waist. Next thing I knew, Marttel was holding me upside-down. GÇ£Was he Intaki?GÇ¥

GÇ£Yeah,GÇ¥ I said, wrapping my arms around his legs. I pulled his legs out from under him. Marttel landed in his back, with me on top of him. GÇ£I interpreted Ida differently. He refused to acknowledge any views but his own.GÇ¥

GÇ£Are you sure he wasnGÇÖt Amarr?GÇ¥ Marttel asked. He rolled over, sat on top of me, and put my leg in a lock.

GÇ£Not funny,GÇ¥ Dormid said.

GÇ£After I went through the procedure, was no longer myself, he said his daughter was dead,GÇ¥ I said. GÇ£In a way, she is.GÇ¥ I kicked with my free foot, catching MarttelGÇÖs face. While Marttel was stunned, I slipped out from under him. GÇ£In another, IGÇÖm not.GÇ¥ I twisted, kicking Marttel in the head again. He hit the ground with a thud.

GÇ£Pretty good,GÇ¥ Piiko said. GÇ£Not as good as a Caldari, but pretty good.GÇ¥

GÇ£Next time,GÇ¥ Marttel said, standing and rubbing his head, GÇ£I wonGÇÖt hold back.GÇ¥

GÇ£Job well done,GÇ¥ Dormid said.

GÇ£Shame your father hates you,GÇ¥ Piiko said. GÇ£ItGÇÖs not natural for a father to hate his daughter.GÇ¥

I stood in front of the Caldari. GÇ£Excuse me?GÇ¥

GÇ£Your father doesnGÇÖt want you to have his name,GÇ¥ Piiko said. GÇ£My father was honored the day I became a bounty hunter. My mother said that was the happiest day of her life, my sisterGÇÖs birth and my own notwithstanding. Did your mom even have say in your disownment? Or was she, how did you put it, GÇÿtoo hopped up on drugs to remember your nameGÇÖ?GÇ¥

GÇ£I would advise that you hold your tongue,GÇ¥ I said.

GÇ£Why?GÇ¥ Piiko asked. GÇ£A Gallente is allowed to make his or her own choices, right? Your mother chose wrong.GÇ¥

I punched him square in the jaw. Piiko stumbled back, fire in his eyes. Marttel got between us, holding us back. GÇ£Knock it off,GÇ¥ he said.

GÇ£You two are acting like Matari,GÇ¥ Dormid said.

Something, mostly resembling rage, passed over MarttelGÇÖs face. GÇ£WhatGÇÖs wrong with acting like Matari?GÇ¥

GÇ£Savages fight because they canGÇÖt talk,GÇ¥ Dormid said. GÇ£Civilized people fight because the savages donGÇÖt listen.GÇ¥

GÇ£YouGÇÖre going to regret that,GÇ¥ Marttel said, stepping towards Dormid.

GÇ£Enough!GÇ¥ Iridina yelled. GÇ£Personal quarters.GÇ¥ We stood there, stunned by the forcefulness of the commands. GÇ£Now!GÇ¥ Marttel, Dormid, Piiko, and I scattered like flies. After making it to my room, I sat on the bed. Time passes slowly when your next paycheck is on the line. I was holding three hundred and seventy eight threads of hair in my hand when Iridina walked through the door. GÇ£What happened?GÇ¥ she asked.

GÇ£Piiko probably told you it was my fault,GÇ¥ I said.

GÇ£I want to hear your side,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£You and Marttel finished the fight. What happened?GÇ¥

I sighed. GÇ£Piiko insulted my parents. They may not be the best examples of parents, but I still love them. I swung, knocking Piiko back. Marttel separated us. Dormid said we were acting like Matari. Marttel took offense to that. You stepped in before we killed each other.GÇ¥

GÇ£I could care less about you four killing each other,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£You are clones. IGÇÖll give you the guns myself. But, while you are on my ship, under my command, there is no Amarr, Caldari, Minmatar, or Gallente. There are only your friends and your enemies. Are we clear?GÇ¥

GÇ£Perfectly,GÇ¥ I said.

GÇ£Good,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£WeGÇÖre getting some down time soon. I want you to go out, blow off some steam, and not kill each other.GÇ¥

GÇ£What planet are we stopping on?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£Actually, itGÇÖs a station,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£I got to earn your pay somehow.GÇ¥

GÇ£You own a station?GÇÖ I asked.

GÇ£I invested in one,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£Get some sleep. YouGÇÖll want to be well rested when weGÇÖre there.GÇ¥

Shore Leave

The lights flashed on. GÇ£All hands, prepare for boarding procedures,GÇ¥ Livi said over the intercoms.

GÇ£And what are we doing, exactly?GÇ¥ I heard Marttel yell.

GÇ£Getting ready for a night on the town,GÇ¥ Livi said.

Looking through my closet, I found a purple dress that didnGÇÖt show a lot, but it was showing enough. After a momentGÇÖs thought, I grabbed a robe and headed for the showers. I ran into Dormid, who was walking down the hall. GÇ£Hello,GÇ¥ he said.

GÇ£Dormid,GÇ¥ I said. GÇ£How do you know where you are going?GÇ¥

GÇ£A mapping system running through a neuro-interface,GÇ¥ Dormid said. GÇ£It makes a projection of the ground and marks moving objects on my radar.GÇ¥

GÇ£Your combat radar?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£Yes,GÇ¥ Dormid said. GÇ£I canGÇÖt visualize the people, but I can at least gather where I am going.GÇ¥

GÇ£What about your clones?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£On the battlefield, I can see,GÇ¥ Dormid said. GÇ£Do not worry about that.GÇ¥

GÇ£Okay,GÇ¥ I said. I started to walk away.

GÇ£It must be strange,GÇ¥ Dormid said, GÇ£getting your body ready for other people to look at.GÇ¥

GÇ£I must admit, I did miss it,GÇ¥ I said.

GÇ£ThatGÇÖs part of the reason Iridina does it,GÇ¥ Dormid said. GÇ£She wants us to be more than clones. By living, we are still alive.GÇ¥

GÇ£How are clones different?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£Clones are empty shells,GÇ¥ Dormid said. GÇ£Bones are broken, blood is spilt, and the soul is damaged. Bones heal, blood comes back, but the soul requires a more delicate touch. Most clones are desensitized because of this.GÇ¥ He continued down the hall. GÇ£Iridina saw this happen first hand. When she is ready, she will tell you.GÇ¥

GÇ£Tell me what?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£That is for her to say,GÇ¥ Dormid said, leaving me alone in the hall.

I reflected on what Dormid said while I showered. The soul doesnGÇÖt heal like mortal wounds. Iridina must have seen a soul destroyed in order to know how to save it. The question is, whose soul? I shook the question off as I dried off. IGÇÖll be told when the time is right.

I was putting the finishing touches on my hair when Iridina entered my quarters. GÇ£DonGÇÖt do anything too stupid,GÇ¥ she said.

GÇ£Why the concern?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£Liquor is cheap,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£So are guns.GÇ¥

A thought crossed my mind. GÇ£Wait. Are we where I think we are?GÇ¥

GÇ£A space station in Intaki Syndicate controlled space,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£IGÇÖm going to get some jobs, maybe some new gear. You enjoy yourself.GÇ¥

GÇ£Easier said then done,GÇ¥ I said.

GÇ£You look great,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£YouGÇÖre more likely to make a new friend than get shot.GÇ¥

GÇ£ThatGÇÖs encouraging,GÇ¥ I said as Iridina left the room. After declaring myself worthy of attention, I left the Calm Fire.
Stepping off the ship, I was greeted by several customs officials. They made sure I was a part of the Calm FireGÇÖs crew, and I wasnGÇÖt smuggling any illegal weapons into the entertainment district. When I inquired about the black market, they said to check with the market district and that they didnGÇÖt want any weapons in the hands of drunken patrons. After passing through customs, they gave me a pamphlet with several stores, bars, and restaurants in it.

After spending the next hour scoping the district out, I decided that I needed a drink. There was a decent pub not to far from customs. I swerved my way through the crowds of people. There people dressed in clothing from each of the empires. Nobody really paid attention to me, except for the occasional man trying to get a good look.

When the bar was in sight, I glanced around. The bar was along the main pathway, with several escape routes close at hand. GÇ£Always be ready for a fight,GÇ¥ my fatherGÇÖs voice echoed in my head. GÇ£Those who know the land are that much closer to victory.GÇ¥ Shaking the sour memory free, I walked into the bar.

False Security

Rhythm heavy music greeted my ears. There were couples making out in the entry hall. Walking past them, and hearing more than a couple slaps as I past talking couples, I found the main room. A dance floor with flashing multicolored lights was in the center of the room, with the bar wrapping around three fourths of the room. Finding an open seat near the less rowdy part of the bar, I sat down and said yes to whatever the bartender offered. GÇ£Athena!GÇ¥ Livi said, plopping onto the seat next to me. GÇ£What are you doing here?GÇ¥ Livi was in a sky blue dress, showing plenty of cleavage.

GÇ£Looking for a drink,GÇ¥ I said. GÇ£Judging from your wobble, you found one.GÇ¥

GÇ£It was more than one,GÇ¥ Livi said. GÇ£Bartender, how much did I consuGÇöconsGÇödrink tonight?GÇ¥

GÇ£Twenty six so far,GÇ¥ the bartender said. GÇ£YouGÇÖve won six drinking contests tonight as well.GÇ¥

GÇ£That explains it,GÇ¥ Livi said. GÇ£They serve weak stuff here. Throw in the lightweights, and I probably had a little much.GÇ¥

I picked up my drink. GÇ£Probably?GÇ¥ I asked, sipping the drink.

GÇ£Granted, I will have to fly the ship,GÇ¥ Livi said.

GÇ£DonGÇÖt tell me you fly when drunk,GÇ¥ I said.

GÇ£Okay, I wonGÇÖt tell you,GÇ¥ Livi said.

GÇ£I feel better already,GÇ¥ I said, finishing off my first drink. Signaling for another drink, something felt off. As if someone was watching me. Livi was staring at me as she downed another drink. GÇ£What?GÇ¥ I asked her.

GÇ£Nothing,GÇ¥ she said.

GÇ£Is my hair messed up?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£No,GÇ¥ Livi said.

GÇ£Seriously, what is it?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£Do you really want to know?GÇ¥ Livi asked me.

GÇ£Yes,GÇ¥ I said.

GÇ£Let me whisper it,GÇ¥ she said. GÇ£ItGÇÖs a secret.GÇ¥

GÇ£Fine.GÇ¥ I leaned in, tilting my head slightly.

GÇ£Closer,GÇ¥ Livi whispered. I moved in even closer. Livi grabbed me and planted her lips on mine. Stunned, it took me a second to push her off me. GÇ£Aww,GÇ¥ she said.

GÇ£What was that?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£A kiss,GÇ¥ Livi said. GÇ£IGÇÖm drunk and I know that.GÇ¥

GÇ£I know that,GÇ¥ I said, GÇ£but why?GÇ¥ I chucked my drink and waved for another.

GÇ£Well,GÇ¥ Livi said, counting off her fingers, GÇ£YouGÇÖre pretty. Well, more than pretty, but I canGÇÖt think of a bigger word. Second, I like you, and I was always told to go for what I like. Three, IGÇÖm drunk. Four, uh, did I mention you were pretty?GÇ¥

GÇ£Okay, I get it,GÇ¥ I said. GÇ£That was a little unnecessary.GÇ¥

GÇ£Not really,GÇ¥ Livi said. GÇ£Did you enjoy it? I know I did.GÇ¥

I felt my cheeks flush red. GÇ£IGÇÖll get back to you.GÇ¥

GÇ£Sure, sure,GÇ¥ Livi said. GÇ£Maybe when IGÇÖm not intoxGÇöintoxicGÇödrunk.GÇ¥

A trio of guys walked up to us. GÇ£Do you two ladies work on the Calm Fire?GÇ¥ one of them asked.

GÇ£Sure do,GÇ¥ Livi said.

GÇ£Klixo here,GÇ¥ the man said. GÇ£We have two of the crew here. Bringing them to you now.GÇ¥

GÇ£Where are we going?GÇ¥ Livi asked.

GÇ£Your shipGÇÖs captain ticked off Joln,GÇ¥ Klixo said. GÇ£He wants to return the favor.GÇ¥

GÇ£Oh, okay,GÇ¥ Livi said. GÇ£Can one of you strong men help me? IGÇÖm kinda tipsy.GÇ¥ Two of the men grabbed Livi by the arms. GÇ£I said tipsy.GÇ¥

Klixo nodded, and the men let go of LiviGÇÖs arms and rested their hands on her shoulders. GÇ£TheyGÇÖre cooperating.GÇ¥

GÇ£Really?GÇ¥ Livi said. She dropped and spun, tripping the men at her sides, then rose while still spinning, kicking Klixo in the face. The man on her left started to reach for a gun. Livi stabbed him with a knife she grabbed from the other manGÇÖs sheath. He opened his eyes, only to get an eyeful of heel. GÇ£Klixo, IGÇÖm drunk, so youGÇÖre going to talk slow and simple, understand?GÇ¥

GÇ£How?GÇ¥ Klixo asked.

GÇ£Want to find out?GÇ¥ Livi asked.

GÇ£Doveblood III,GÇ¥ Klixo said. GÇ£IridinaGÇÖs already there.GÇ¥

Livi placed her heel over KlixoGÇÖs throat. GÇ£Directions.GÇ¥

GÇ£Market district,GÇ¥ Klixo said. GÇ£ThereGÇÖs an abandoned restaurant. Hidden stairway behind empty storeroom.GÇ¥

Livi twisted her heel. I heard the snap over the music. GÇ£Thank you."

Joln

GÇ£I think itGÇÖs here,GÇ¥ Livi said.

Looking in the storeroom, I spotted a small crack in the wall. GÇ£If I wasnGÇÖt looking for a secret room,GÇ¥ I said, sticking a knife into the crack, GÇ£IGÇÖd think this is just a crack in a broken wall.GÇ¥

GÇ£Hey,GÇ¥ Livi asked, GÇ£do you smell something?GÇ¥

I sniffed the same time Livi fell over. Knockout gas. Holding my breath, I started to drag Livi out of the room. Someone in a gas mask turned me around and punched my stomach. I gasped, breathing in the gas. Darkness took over.



I opened my eyes. Blood was rushing to my face. Fighting off grogginess, I assessed the situation. Livi was next to me, still unconscious. We were tied up, hanging from the ceiling. Iridina was tied to a chair, struggling to break free. GÇ£Where are we?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£Shh,GÇ¥ Iridina hissed.

GÇ£ItGÇÖs too late for that,GÇ¥ a man said, walking into the room. He was bald and clean shaven, complex tattoos covering his entire head. GÇ£IGÇÖm Joln. Welcome to the Doveblood III. I understand you work for Iridina. Iridina refused to pay me dues, so I am collecting. If you donGÇÖt resist, you wonGÇÖt get hurt.GÇ¥

GÇ£Except for this girl,GÇ¥ Klixo said, leaning against Livi. GÇ£She resisted.GÇ¥ Livi started to open her eyes. GÇ£Morning. Remember me?GÇ¥

GÇ£Crap,GÇ¥ Livi said. GÇ£I donGÇÖt suppose you have anything for headaches?GÇ¥

Klixo looked at Joln, who nodded. GÇ£Sure do,GÇ¥ Klixo said. He pulled out a knife and stabbed Livi in the chest. GÇ£HowGÇÖs it feel?GÇ¥ he whispered, stabbing her again.

Blood came out of LiviGÇÖs mouth, going down her face and covering her hair. Her eyes rolled back. GÇ£Poor girl,GÇ¥ Joln said.

GÇ£I will kill you,GÇ¥ Iridina said.

GÇ£I doubt it,GÇ¥ Joln said. GÇ£You will pay. Of course, your shipmate will first.GÇ¥

Joln stood in front of me. He pulled out a knife. GÇ£You canGÇÖt kill me,GÇ¥ I said.

GÇ£Watch me,GÇ¥ he said, slitting my throat. As I felt my lifeblood leave me, Iridina leapt from her chair and grabbed Joln.

I sucked in a breath. The body I had inhabited was still in the clone storage pod. GÇ£Are you sure you heard something?GÇ¥

GÇ£Yeah. Someone is in here.GÇ¥

GÇ£Search the area. Joln wants the ship secure.GÇ¥

I didnGÇÖt recognize the voices. My best guess was that the Calm Fire was being boarded by JolnGÇÖs thugs. Luckily, my new body was fully armored. I opened the small viewing port, looking out into the ship. Three thugs were looking around the cargo hold. A plan formulated in my head.

Arming the emergency release lever, I waited. The thugs walked in front of the pod. The first man past by, the second close behind him. Smiling, I pulled the lever. The door basted off, hitting the guy in the middle. Rushing out of the pod, I stabbed the lead man in the throat. The last man tried to hit me with his rifle, but I ducked under the swing. Getting behind him, I slammed the manGÇÖs head into the wall several times.

Retrieving my knife from the first manGÇÖs throat, I heard footsteps. GÇ£Hey there,GÇ¥ Livi said. GÇ£Wow. Did they even stand a chance?GÇ¥

GÇ£Doubt it,GÇ¥ I said.

GÇ£The rest of the ship is clear,GÇ¥ Livi said. GÇ£Marttel and Piiko are rescuing Iridina, and Dormid is on his way back. IGÇÖll get the ship fired up. You lower the ramp and wait for the team.GÇ¥

GÇ£Got it,GÇ¥ I said.

GÇ£Dormid to Calm Fire,GÇ¥ Dormid said. GÇ£Come in Calm Fire.GÇ¥

GÇ£Athena here,GÇ¥ I said. GÇ£Where are you?GÇ¥

GÇ£Outside the ship,GÇ¥ Dormid said. GÇ£The ramp isnGÇÖt responding to remote signals.GÇ¥

GÇ£Working on that,GÇ¥ I said, starting to override the manual lockdown.

GÇ£Hurry,GÇ¥ Dormid said. GÇ£Iridina is injured. Marttel and Piiko almost have her here.GÇ¥

GÇ£Just about, there!GÇ¥ I said. The ramp started to lower.

GÇ£Just in time,GÇ¥ Marttel said, rushing up the ramp with a bruised and battered Iridina in his arms.

GÇ£What happened to Joln?GÇ¥ I asked. Dormid and Piiko ran onto the ship.

GÇ£Went down with the ship,GÇ¥ Piiko said, raising the ramp.

GÇ£What?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£Livi, get us out of here!GÇ¥ Piiko yelled.

GÇ£On it,GÇ¥ Livi said over the intercoms.

GÇ£Iridina wounded Joln before priming a grenade next to the munitions,GÇ¥ Piiko said. GÇ£The ship erupted, damaging several nearby ships. Iridina was pretty beat up, even before the ship exploded and threw her into the wall.GÇ¥

GÇ£Do you think sheGÇÖll make it?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£SheGÇÖs tough,GÇ¥ Piiko said. GÇ£The medical equipment on the ship is state of the art, so she should be fine.GÇ¥

GÇ£You guys should look out the back,GÇ¥ Livi said.

Piiko and I crowded the viewport. Part of a ship was floating away from the station. GÇ£Say goodbye to Joln,GÇ¥ Piiko said.

GÇ£Good riddance,GÇ¥ I said.

Inhuman

I was pacing around the ship when I passed by Marttel. GÇ£Hold up,GÇ¥ he said. GÇ£Iridina wants to talk to you.GÇ¥

GÇ£Okay,GÇ¥ I said. Marttel opened the door he was leaning on. When I walked through, he shut it.

GÇ£Hey there,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£YouGÇÖre looking pretty good for dead.GÇ¥ She was stretched across a hospital bed, covered by a paper thin sheet.

I smiled. GÇ£You look like you took a beating.GÇ¥

Iridina smiled, despite the large bruises on her face. GÇ£Joln got a couple lucky shots in. But, I broke his arm and blew up his ship with him in it, so I think I won.GÇ¥

GÇ£IGÇÖd say so,GÇ¥ I said. GÇ£You wanted to see me?GÇ¥

GÇ£IGÇÖm sure youGÇÖve heard that I donGÇÖt use clones,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£ItGÇÖs time I told you.GÇ¥

GÇ£Everyone else already knows?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£Of course,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£Ready for a story?GÇ¥

I found a chair. GÇ£IGÇÖm all ears.GÇ¥

GÇ£I knew this woman,GÇ¥ Iridina said, GÇ£who was a clone. DidnGÇÖt pay much mind to her, at first. We ended up going to the same objective one day, and held off an enemy assault together. One thing led to another, and I would join her on contracts and vice versa. Time went on, and she would take on riskier assignments. After I had a close call on one of the worse ones, I stopped working with her.

GÇ£Several years later, and I ran into her again. She was different, almost like she had gotten colder. I asked her about it. She no longer cared about dying. Death was nothing more than an inconvenience. For many, that sounds like heaven. My friend proved wrong. She killed with reckless abandon, didnGÇÖt matter whose side you were on. It was almost as if she forgot that other people werenGÇÖt immortal.

GÇ£By the time she realized it, my friend was overcome with grief. She went in front of a Gallente judge, who threw her in jail. I paid her a visit.GÇ¥ Iridina sighed. GÇ£My friend never forgave herself.GÇ¥ Iridina was silent, reliving memories.

GÇ£She was Gallente?GÇ¥ I asked.

GÇ£No,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£My friend never talked about her past. Never mentioned what empire she was from either. She chose Gallente, because she had been on their wanted list the longest, and so I could see her.GÇ¥

GÇ£She was a criminal, then,GÇ¥ I said.

GÇ£Hired by criminals,GÇ¥ Iridina corrected. GÇ£She lost touch of who she was, so she worked for the highest bidder. My friend did some things she wasnGÇÖt proud of.GÇ¥

GÇ£I thought the Gallente would execute sworn enemies of the empire,GÇ¥ I said. Iridina didnGÇÖt respond. I replayed what I just said in my head. GÇ£IGÇÖm sorry.GÇ¥

GÇ£I got to bury her,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£I knew where she wanted to be buried. The body was turned over to me.GÇ¥ I saw a tear leave IridinaGÇÖs eye. GÇ£IGÇÖve seen what happens when you lose your humanity. I never want to see it happen again.GÇ¥

GÇ£I understand,GÇ¥ I said.

GÇ£Iridina, are you up?GÇ¥ Livi asked over the intercom.

GÇ£What?GÇ¥ Iridina asked.

GÇ£Joln is on the comms,GÇ¥ Livi said.

GÇ£Help me up,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£Livi, IGÇÖm on my way to communications. Keep him on the line.GÇ¥

GÇ£ShouldnGÇÖt be too hard,GÇ¥ Livi said. GÇ£He wants to talk to you.GÇ¥

I supported Iridina as she made her way to communications. We entered the room. I let go of Iridina. GÇ£Stand tall,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£We won, he lost. LetGÇÖs rub it in.GÇ¥ She pressed a button.

GÇ£You blew up my ship,GÇ¥ Joln said.

GÇ£And you,GÇ¥ Iridina said.

GÇ£I will kill you,GÇ¥ Joln said, GÇ£and I will find a way to kill your clones too.GÇ¥

GÇ£Tough talk for someone who just lost a ship to one person,GÇ¥ I said.

GÇ£YouGÇÖre first,GÇ¥ Joln said before disconnecting.

GÇ£Livi,GÇ¥ Iridina said.

GÇ£Yes?GÇ¥ Livi said over the intercom.

GÇ£Figure out which contract we took that will hurt Joln the most,GÇ¥ Livi said, GÇ£then head there immediately.GÇ¥

GÇ£WeGÇÖre ten minutes out from the planet,GÇ¥ Livi said. GÇ£Figured thatGÇÖd be your next move.GÇ¥

GÇ£Good girl,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£Marttel, Piiko, Dormid, head down to the teleporter. Athena, youGÇÖre going to learn about teleportation.GÇ¥
Iridina led me to the teleporter room, which was right behind the clone storage pods. GÇ£So, ready to go halfway across the galaxy?GÇ¥ Marttel asked.

GÇ£We're not going that far,GÇ¥ Piiko said. GÇ£WeGÇÖre almost to the planet now.GÇ¥

GÇ£What are we doing down there anyway?GÇ¥ Dormid asked.

GÇ£Stopping a mining operation,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£Owned by none other than the Petra Ruptor mining company. Joln has has his hand in the money, so the money needs to stop. After landing, the contractor will determin the best way to shut down the company.GÇ¥

GÇ£So the contractor is working with us on this one?GÇ¥ Marttel asked.

GÇ£Hired other mercs, yes,GÇ¥ Iridina said. GÇ£Time to get going.GÇ¥

GÇ£Hey, rookie,GÇ¥ Marttel said, GÇ£watch this.GÇ¥ He put a gun object to his head. There was a snap, almost like an electric current, then Marttel hit the ground.

GÇ£DonGÇÖt worry,GÇ¥ Piiko said. GÇ£ItGÇÖs relatively painless.GÇ¥ He zapped himself.

GÇ£IGÇÖve done this before,GÇ¥ I said. GÇ£Easiest way to quickly kill the mind, right?GÇ¥ I picked up the gun, put it to my head, and zapped myself.

Battle: the Beginning