Chapter 20
TRISTEN
She woke up in her bed like usual. She took a shower, got dressed, and headed to the mess hall. The other pilots gave her looks of uncertainty as she sat with them. “Morning,” she said. None answered her, instead they stayed silent, judging her. “Oh come on, I freak out once and I’m a pariah?”
“It’s not that,” one said. “You’re our boss now.”
“Am not,” she said.
“Well technically you are,” Jake said sitting beside her.
“Like hell, I just assign the squads, and evaluate mission reports, and... well then. I guess I might as well be the boss.”
“You’re the boss,” someone said to a chuckle.
There was a loud groan in the hull. “I guess that means we’re out of hyperspace.” She stood up, only half done her meal, and took the plastic plate of food with her.
“Not hungry?” Jake asked.
“Might as well save it for lunch, our rations are running low as it is.”
“Care to meet me for a run?” He asked.
“Not today, I’ve got a lot of paperwork to get through.”
“No problem boss,”
“Oh, stop it. Besides, if we’re playing that game I’ve been your boss for years as your squad leader.”
“Did you hear the latest news about our next destination?” Another pilot asked.
“No, I haven’t. What’s new?”
“We’re headed for a spaceport in a couple days apparently. They want to debrief us about LM-27 and what went down there.”
“I see,” she said. She wondered what her fate would be. Would she be placed on leave, or would she be allowed to remain?
“Better get your mission reports written up, just keep ‘em brief and to the point, I don’t wanna be stuck reading them forever.”
“Sure thing,” Jake said. She took her leave after that.
She wandered down the halls for a couple minutes until she was alone. Once no one else was in sight, she removed the wall panel and entered the maintenance corridor. She found the old man in the same spot he always was.
“Brought you some breakfast,” she said. He groaned himself awake, blinked twice, and took the food.
“It’s blurry, but I think I’m starting to see again,” he said.
“Not much to see.”
“I can see your face,” he said. “I knew it, you are a pretty one.”
“Oh, hush. I’m probably half your age, old man.”
“Probably my son’s age, no doubt. Maybe you’ll meet someday.”
“Not likely,” she started. “In a couple days we’re headed for a station outpost and I’ll likely be reprimanded for not following orders. They could send me home for insubordination.”
“I feel as though you’ve served your punishment for that, otherwise they’d keep you locked up. But what do I know?”
“Maybe you’re right, I could be overthinking it. But something is unsettling about it. The news is claiming your planet was not populated when it was bombed, I’m wondering if they’re going to try and keep us quiet about it.”
“You mentioned there was a rebellion yes? Perhaps you should join them.”
“Not a chance, I already worry too much about my family as it is. To have the Empire threaten them once I defect? No way.”
“Ah, so you’re not alone in this world after all.”
“No, it just feels that way most of the time over in this corner of the galaxy.”
“Tell me about them.”
“I have a brother, he was too young to know much about the world when I left. I don’t even know what he looks like now, it’s been so long. My parents worked government appointed jobs just like anyone else. There’s not much to tell, really.”
“So you don’t keep in contact?”
“It’s hard. There’s rules about how frequently you can contact your family, and I just haven’t mustered up the courage to call them. We didn’t exactly leave things on a good note.”
“Oh?”
“It was military service or juvenile detention for me when I left. Let’s just say I had a habit of misbehaving.”
“My son too, let me tell you. Kid had a real problem following orders. But look at him now, ace pilot much like yourself.”
“I hate to run on you, but I have a lot of work on my plate. I’ll see you around.”
“I’d like you to reconnect with your family. After all, family is all we have in the end.”
And with that, she took her leave. It was still early morning. She could have gone for a run with Jake if she wanted to, but her mind was distracted from the present. Something about what the old man said bothered her. He was right about the importance of family, yet here she was shaking unable to open a call to them.
She worried after so many years they would not want to talk to her. They disapproved of her going into military service, but it was the only way she had to progress in society after the incident at the refinery with her cousin Jarred. “What’s wrong with me? They’re my parents! It’s fine.”
She only had to press the button. But would she be able to, she thought?
“Here goes nothing,” she said pressing the button.
The call rang. Then again, and again. It rang for a good ten seconds before someone came to answer. “Yes? Who is it, do you know what hour it is?”
“I’m afraid not,” she said. “Dad?”
“Wait, who is this?”
“It’s Tristen.”
“Is that really you? I hardly recognized you! Let me wake your mother—
“No, that’s alright. I need to talk to someone, but I have no one to talk to. This line is secured.”
“Are you in trouble dear?”
“No, not exactly. I’m sure you’ve heard of the Atmospheric Deprivation Device test that happened around LM-27?”
“I am,”
“Well, that was us. Dad, I— I can’t. All those people! I couldn’t do it.”
“Slow down, what do you mean?”
“The planet wasn’t void of life like they claim. We destroyed an entire civilization and now they want to keep us quiet. Tell no one I called you, I just—
She began to tear up, sobbing would follow.
“I see,” he said. “The Empire made you attack the innocent. This is why we worried for you.”
“I have been reprimanded for disobeying orders to fire. There’s a chance I will be heading home soon.”
“Do you feel in danger?”
“No, not quite. Maybe? I don’t know.”
“Let your worries pass, there’s no use worrying about things yet to happen.”
She nodded. “How’s Caleb?”
“Doing about as well as can be expected. He’s a rebellious one much like you.”
“I shouldn’t be calling you, someone might notice. Once we reach the station I will call again.”
“Tristen.”
“Yeah?”
“You did the right thing. I’m sure of that.”
“Thanks,” she said before ending the call.
She placed her face in her pillow and screamed at the top of her lungs until tired out. Her nerves were on edge, and she now worried calling her family would put them in danger. She knew better than to trust the security of the call but hoped no one would be able to listen in.
She stood up, took a deep breath, then sat down at her desk with the tablet. Stress or not, she had work to do.