Naoka was a prolific mother and had seven daughters, the youngest being Pei Yuhn. All became sisters, but her affection was for Pei who proved to share their mother's vicious streak. While most who become sister marines wince at the initiation ritual, like her mother she calmly led her prey and a full three minutes danced with him before returning through the airlock.
Her only misfortune being 3 years older than Kallos. To my dismay, I started to realize that they had known each other for many years and she was the one who taught him how to survive in the tunnels and for a time what seemed like innocent absences, it was to meet with her in secret up until a few months ago. It was about then he broke it off with Pei.
He knew enough about the sisters and I asked him why he shunned Pei, earning both of us the ire of her mother. It would have been better he remained with her and happy with such a beautiful prize.
Kallos conceded that at first he was enthralled and could not believe his good fortune. Pei was everything he could have ever dreamed or imagined, but he quickly realized it was hollow and an elaborate ruse. In her desperation, she also broke her sister silence and revealed to him that he is a descendant of the Knut and he had known for quite some time.
I began my training with Pei who indoctrinated me in the way of the sister marines. Her level of instruction was far more rigorous and advanced than anything I had learned from Marina, she was a patient teacher. Correcting and making adjustments many times until I was somewhat decent.
Pei set me at ease as she wanted us to be true sisters and told me everything about her past relationship with Kallos. She still holds feelings for him and like her mother, they had yearned for this opportunity, but it would be against the sisters ways to disregard his wishes. And she would do everything to assist me. Although she was my teacher, I considered her becoming my friend and I placed my hand on hers and said if things were to change, I would do the same for her. She was touched by that.
The Grand Traveler rendezvous with the inner rim fleet orbiting around Mars. Captain Gregor left the ship in the hands of Yuna as he and the senior officers went to convene with the other ships Captains for several days.
Pei took this as an opportunity to visit Mars. She invited Kallos along and we took one of the shuttles. Kallos remained a little uneasy and Pei teased him more than usual. By now we all knew everything, having spent several months together. I joined in the fun and asked why he hasn't called her by her nickname Pei-Pei?
We arrived at the main capital dome. Captain Gregor was also on Mars and at fleet headquarters. We marveled at the immense size of the capital domes and they sprawled for miles in all directions. At least twenty million people lived and breathed under those capital domes.
Mars is known for their night life and Pei was well acquainted and took us to her favorite haunts. She took us to a bar she frequented known as the Himetsu and famous for its fresh sushi and strong drink. She introduced us, especially Kallos to another of her ex-boyfriends Arlen. Arlen was the sole proprieter of the Himetsu and became friends with Pei over a year ago when she was on Mars for training. He was a man several years older than her and shouted Pei-Pei when she entered the room. They embraced and he glanced at Kallos and ruffled his hair with his big hands who was turning a bright red.
Arlen reserved a private room on the second floor and we were served countless trays of sushi and several bottles of expensive liquor. I could barely stand and all we could do was laugh and giggle as the four of us whiled the night away in pointless banter. Pei and Arlen were locked in an embrace and Kallos instinctively hugged me closer.
We felt close enough to ask some personal questions and Pei asked me what qualities of Kallos that attracted me. I confessed that I found him to be authentic and that I felt I knew who he was. He may have secrets and his faults, but I could trust him and know how he felt and what he thought would be genuine. I then asked Kallos who did he find more attractive and he turned the brightest red and quickly changed the subject.
Arlen surprised us with his more serious and introspective musings and asked why the Grand Traveler miraculously found a rare part that enabled it to become a warship again. He thought it not mere coincidence and speculated the sisters likely have withheld certain bits of knowledge and supplies to maintain the status quo.
A well armed militia of hundreds of heavily armed warships would tip the balance of power in favor of the colonists. But with barely a dozen star ships capable of war, most are relegated to the task of ferrying cargo and passengers throughout the inner and outer rims. None dare venture farther than Neptune and to other star systems.
Only one ship is capable of faster than light travel and it was the Grand Traveler, but its star drives have been inoperable with only one known recorded attempted jump to the nearby Alpha Centauri star and back, over three centuries before.
The Grand Traveler was once the flagship of Madam Olivia and the first of the sister marines. After its mysterious voyage to Alpha Centauri it never ventured farther than Neptune and in short time began to malfunction and deteriorate, thus being abandoned by the sisters and for a time sat unused at Io Station until it was repaired and used again in the colonial wars.
We all laughed that it was a foolish thing to call a ship destined for deep space travel the Grand Traveler when it spent most of its life carting vegetables between Earth and Io Station. A more fitting name would be the Onion Trawler.
And we agreed, the ship had an unusual past and now was being prepared for war. Arlen and many on Mars were aware of the growing threat of the Proto-Artesians who have grown in numbers and strength amongst the outer rim and they now hold influence over half of the star ships capable of battle. Arlen knew as he was previously a sympathizer and served with the Proto-Artesians. He maintained contact with a few of his old shipmates and it was revealed his connection with Pei who had earlier infiltrated the Proto-Artesians in her first assignment on Triton station.
They can joke about it now, Arlen was meant to be her target for assassination. Naoka called it off at the last moment and withdrew Pei for reasons unclear. To her disappointment the mission was abandoned. They remained friends and none the wiser until Pei in a drunken mood boasted to him her reason for their first encounter.
On occasion, Arlen passes on the identity of Proto-Artesian agents who attempt to establish themselves on Mars. Even now, Pei is stalking yet another and a more worthy mark, a rogue sister and her secondary reason for visiting Mars using us as cover.
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