Page 81 of Aurelian Prisoner

Finally, the computer projects a single, fuzzy picture – probably extracted by a security camera. It showcases a younger-looking Allie – along with a smaller woman who appears slightly younger still.

The AI labels her as: “Lilac.”

A name. I have a name. That’s a start.

“I took a recent DNA sample today,” I tell my triad. “Our records found an initial sample with some discrepancies. Her sister shares Allie’s DNA – same mother, same father – but whoever they were, they aren’t in the system. It was just luck Allie got scanned once, when she had a medical procedure at the age of three.”

This is hardly abnormal. There are billions of humans within the dominion of Aurelian Empire-protected worlds, and generally only an arrest or some interaction with Empire administrative centers would result in a DNA sample being taken.

In Allie’s case, it was the latter.

“One of Queen Jasmine’s roaming medical centers,” I explain – referencing the free healthcare centers the human Queen had established, to provide badly-needed medical treatment to worlds where it was difficult to get access to. “I guess Queen Jasmine is doingsomethings right.”

Kitos stands up from his gunnery post, getting a closer look at the picture.

“So, what’s the story?”

I explain in detail what happened to Allie’s sister. Now we all understand the pain she’s been living with for the past three years.

Kitos’ eyes widen.

“I feel for her – but there’s no bloody way we’ll find her sister!”

“That’s not the attitude to have,” I warn him. “She was taken in this sector – we know that much. If anyone knows where she went, they might be on Salcus. It’s outside of direct Aurelian protection, and a haven for the likes of those space-pirates. When we land – before Dantus and his triad rendezvous with us – we’ll have a full day to conduct an investigation.”

My battle-brothers nod.

“Listen,” I tell them. “We have to do as much as we can before that triad arrives with the prisoners. Even if we don’t find Allie’s sister – or even any fucking trace of her – we still need to show Allie we give a shit about what happens to her. Understood?”

I realize I’m yelling. My voice echoes in the closed cockpit. Kitos looks down, cowed. I feel his shame at doubting our purpose.

“If there are no other objections, let’s focus. We have a plan to execute. We’re going to fucking execute it.”

We’ve lost everything.

Our careers. Our honor. Our position in the Empire.

And what we’ve gained is slipping through our fingers like sand. If we don’t make a move, Allie is going to abandon us at the first chance she gets – and make her way out into the universe, where we might never find her again.

She’s being doing very bloody well on her own so far. We need to demonstrate to her that we can make things better.

In less than twenty hours, we’ll be touching down on a hostile planet with just one shot at escaping with a fully functioning Reaver. Before that, we’ll have only a short day to start gathering leads to see where we can go next to find any clues about the fate of Allie’s sister.

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