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Once Aboard the Host vessel, Kimmic was escorted to her holding cell. It was a long while before she saw anyone. She found herself close to tears over Hubero wondering if cleansing wasn't a better fate than the one she would face at the hands of Tatow. But she quickly focused on getting off this ship. Even when her food was brought the server was not allowed to talk to her. She felt like an animal.
At one such 'feeding' Nicca joined the server. She didn't bother to dismiss her.
In her slow deliberate manner Nicca began her interrogation. "Kimmic we know you are with the Resistance. We found your supply of anti-contagion on board the cargo vessel. What did you think you could do with only a few thousand doses?"
*A few thousand? There was enough to rid an entire system of the contagion! That PK captain wasn't as dim as I thought* Kimmic tried not to laugh. Despite her situation the Resistance scored another victory.
"Your silence is not helping your case. If you tell us all that you know Kimmic you can avoid the Cleansing. I can make certain of that. One day soon the contagion will take effect and the Establishment's plan will find fruition regardless of your Resistance. The galaxy needs the Nebari, we will restore order to these barbaric species."
"You will get nothing from me" Kimmic said all the while still conscious of the device in her spine.
Nicca activated the button on her forehead, Kimmic writhed in pain. Nicca stopped.
"Nothing… I'll… die... first." Kimmic pushed left left and started counting *One, two, three, four, five, six, seven….
"That is your choice and probably your fate Kimmic. The Establishment has no more use for you." Nicca turned away.
Kimmic stopped the count.
“We will be on Nebari Prime in two solar days.” she said as she left.
The server turned and looked at Kimmic. Their eyes stayed locked for several microts, then she hurried away.
At the next day's meal time, the servant stayed. She started the conversation. "My name is Alyesh, I… I heard you say you were ready to die. Are you that certain your cause is right?"
"Yes, yes I am." She remembered her hesitations to leave the Establishment when she was introduced to the Resistance. She knew she could convert this one, given the time.
"This plan that the Establishment has, will it hurt many people?" Alyesh asked.
"Yes, millions."
"How do YOU know this?" Alyesh needed a little more information to be fully convinced.
"I was a scientist working for the Establishment, I helped develop an anti-body for a disease. I was quite proud of it, until I found out why we developed it. Before I came into service for the Establishment they had produced a contagion, the Establishment will use this disease to weaken other governing systems and then step in while they're recovering. Millions of innocent people will die, and more will be cleansed."
"I must go" Alyesh sped away with much to ponder.
*Did I have enough time with her?* Kimmic asked herself. She could only hope.
On the very next rising Alyesh entered the cell, she unlocked the control collar. "You have to leave now!"
"How?"
"There's a transport pod in hangar two."
"How will I get away? They'll chase me for sure." Kimmic couldn't think right now. She was too surprised at the chance to escape.
Alyesh looked puzzled, she hadn't thought of that.
"We need a diversion."
"I have an idea, a stun grenade in command. Would that do it?" Alyesh didn't sound too confident in her own plan. The grenade would work, but getting away was another issue.
"How will you get it there? You'll be caught and…" Kimmic was concerned.
"You leave that to me."
"Why are you helping me?" Kimmic was glad for a comrade but was cautious.
"Two cycles ago my father changed my DNA-Ident in the Establishment's main data stores. Then he disappeared. He told me it was for my own good and that I should try and get off Nebari Prime. Serving aboard a Host Vessel seemed like a good idea."
"How could he change your bio-data like that? Only..." Kimmic's shock was evident, but the revelation was a comforting one.
"Yes, my father was Brizah. He told me that something big was going to happen and that I must not trust the Establishment. I was starting to believe the propaganda that they were spreading about him, until now." she went silent for a moment. "NO time now... Let's go. Give me a hundred microts and then go."
"Thank you Alyesh." Kimmic knew that she couldn't take her along but wanted to.
"One hundred microts."
Alyesh bolted from the cell area. Kimmic knew in the back of her mind that she would never see her again. She sat there counting the microts and waited.
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Alyesh approached the weapons storage area. Showed the guard her ID and went in.
She told him she needed a stun grenade in case Kimmic tried anything, 'For the vessels safety' she lied.
The guard nodded he turned and was looking for the correct bin. As he was doing that Alyesh saw a bin of incendiary grenades, she palmed one and took the one the guard gave her as well.
She then sprinted to the bridge.
"Pardon the interruption Nicca, but I thought you'd like to hear something that the prisoner said. She talks constantly" Alyesh was scared.
"Please continue." Nicca's curiosity was piqued.
"She said she had to meet Brizah." Alyesh thought she might learn something.
"Oh she will, if she prefers I'll arrange her to have the cleansing chamber next to his." Nicca sounded almost pleased at this.
Alyesh just stood there.
"Is that all?" Nicca asked. Noticing the blank stare on Alyesh's face.
"No… There’s more. Catch!!" the incendiary grenade flew through the air at Nicca.
Nicca caught the grenade by reflex, she had just enough time to recognize what it was.
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Kimmic finished the count and started to run. She had gotten several strides away from the cell area when she heard it. The explosion was NOT a stun grenade. Kimmic found the hangar with few hurdles. Every crewmember was attending to the fire that now engulfed the bridge. Kimmic piloted the shuttle away. She was free again, but at what cost. *Why did she do it?* Kimmic felt responsible for the life of Alyesh. Now she knew why Nerri would scream and toss in his sleep, it was a difficult thing to bear.
*Nerri!!*
She had already set a course for the Tarsus system. If she could get there, or even part of the way she would be safe. The transport was stocked for eight people for two weekens. She settled in for a long trip.
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It took Meelak two arns to convince Nerri that Kimmic was gone.
Nerri went to his quarters to work through this himself.
‘If she isn’t dead she’ll be a Nebari puppet in a hundred cycles.’ Meelak’s phrase rang in his head.
Later that night Nerri stole a transport ship from one of the hangars on the Host Vessel, and headed out to rescue Kimmic. His course was set, Nebari Prime. He risked everything going there but he would not lose someone close to him again.
Nerri had left the Resistance behind. For now.
