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Brekken Military Base, Terra V – 4049

The base was quiet except for the occasional sound of the guards marching down the steel corridors. The two moons of Terra V hovered in the night sky, lighting the stone walls in a pale white glow. Most of the inhabitants were either sleeping or standing watch.

A dark shadow moved between the buildings stealthily, keeping away from the moonlight. It entered one of the dorms from the back way and carefully made its way to the room at the end of the hall. The room was empty but for a young boy on one of the pallets, his breathing soft and steady with slumber. The shadow approached him quietly before shaking him roughly.

“Helios! Son, wake up!” Thor whispered urgently. “We have to leave. Now.”

“Father?” Helios sat up, rubbing his eyes with one hand before blinking rapidly in the darkness, allowing his glowing eyes to adjust. “What is it?”

Thor spoke as he stuffed some clothes into a vacuum pouch. “We have to leave, Helios. I’ve received word that the Brekken security squad has found the bug I planted in the council room. It’s only a matter of time before they trace it back to me.” He threw some pants to Helios. “I’m…sorry it’s come down to this, Son. I know you just got used to life here.”

Helios’ young face was stony, even in the darkness. “It’s fine, Father. I trust you know what you’re doing…even if I don’t understand why you have chosen to betray our people like this,” he mumbled as he pulled on his clothes.

Thor paused in his packing and looked at Helios. “Helios, let me get one thing straight with you. I am not betraying our people.” He renewed his packing with extra fervor. “I’m fighting for our people.”

“By joining the rebels, the Outcasters.”

“They’re not rebels – they’re true Brekkens.” He looked at Helios and said quietly, “One day you’ll understand.” He paused. “I hope you’ll understand anyway.”

Thor tossed Helios the pouch. “Let’s go. I disabled security and surveillance in one of the hangers. We have about seven minutes to get out of here before they realize something’s wrong.”

The two stealthily snuck out the back of the compound, their heightened senses on alert as they made their way to the hanger. They remained as silent as they could until they were strapped into the cockpit of one of the small fighter ships. Then all hell broke loose as father and son shot and spun their way through the compound defenses and launched into space.

They drew their first deep breath of relief when all was silent again except for the soothing sounds of the ship ’s engine.

“Now, Helios, set a course for Terra II. It’s neutral territory, and I hear there is an Alliance refugee camp there where we will be safe for awhile.” He glanced at Helios. “This is the last time. I promise, Son.”

Helios said nothing as he set coordinates for the Outcaster planet of the Terran system.

It was a long, tense flight.