Sins of the Fathers - Part 3

Part 3

Jerryn stood in front of the mirror as she fixed her hair. She cut a stunning figure in her uniform. Tall, slim but all was hidden by the uniform jacket. Blonde locks held up in an intricate twist. Clear intelligent blue eyes and striking features. Jerryn was stunning by anyone’s standards. After her hair was done she put on her field cap and slipped on her great coat. Dark grey with red epaulets adorned with her commanders rank. Pausing to check herself again, Jerryn turned and left her apartment to the waiting transport. She settled into the vehicle and instructed the sergeant assigned to her to drive to the central Archives.
“What are your order’s Ma’am?”
“I shall be there for sometime. You may return to barracks and I shall call you when I wish to leave”
“I’m sorry Ma’am, but my orders are to remain with you. No one is to be alone in the Native zone”
“Very well you shall park outside and remain at the entrance” sighed Jerryn, then she settled back in her seat and watched the city rush past her window. The affluent suburbs gave way to more heavily built up areas, “Aesir Out!” and other such slogans adorned the walls. The closer to the Native zone they got, the more derelict the areas became. The transport slowed as it approached the checkpoint, Jerryn’s window rolled down and she passed her hand over the biometric scanner offered to her.
“Thank you Commander, you may go” said the checkpoint guard snapping a salute. The window rolled up as the transport moved on into the Native zone. Ten minutes later they pulled up in front of the imposing building that housed the Central Archives. Jerryn strode purposefully up the front steps, the sergeant quickly falling in behind her. Upon entry she was greeted by a nervous Native who would show her to the materials she sought.
“Sergeant, remain here. If I need you I summon you.”
Not bothering to wait for his reply, she followed the young archivist to the reading room.
“The Chief Archivist arranged for all the journals you requested. Most are now available electronically however we have yet to digitise some of the older journals. If you do need to go that far back the Chief has requested you contact her. They are quite fragile some of them”
“Dismissed”
Jerryn walked round the table removing her cap and placed her coat over the chair and sat down. Taking out her note pad she opened it at the latest notes:

Genetics
Variation
De-selection
Speciation
Loss of fitness

She frowned at her notes and tapped the monitor in front of her and began to search.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A knock at the door roused Kalin from what she was reading. Tapping the monitor, she closed the file she had open.
“Come in”
“She’s here Chief. I showed her to the room you set aside”
“Good hopefully she will find what she’s looking for. Let me know if there are any problems”
“Eh…a sergeant is posted outside”
“We have nothing to hide Michael, if he wants want anything get it for him, otherwise stay out of his way”
“Yes Chief”
The door shut behind him. Sighing, Kalin pinched the bridge of her nose. Why was the Aesir Commander looking at Native journals? What was she looking for? Kalin re-opened the file she had been looking at and hit a few key-strokes; suddenly she was viewing the search strings used by the Commander: bio-engineering, selection, variation, immunology…

A few hours passed, puzzled at the search strings, Kalin was also intrigued. What could the Commander be looking for? Another few key-strokes and all the Commanders search strings and selections would be recorded. Switching the monitor off, Kalin leaned back in her chair. Coffee, that’s what she needed!

Pushing back from her desk, Kalin got up and left her office. As she left she heard raised voices coming from the foyer. Upon exiting the corridor Kalin could barely believe her eyes. The sergeant had her junior archivist up against the desk.
“C’mon you know you want it”
“Please…please let me go” the young woman whimpered.
“Let me go….Sir!” snarled the sergeant.
“S..sir please” pleaded the young woman.
“What is the meaning of this!” roared Kalin fury filling her face, “Let go of her now!” Although petite Kalin was a formidable presence and a force to be reckoned with when angered. Shocked at how he was being addressed, the sergeant loosened his grip on the young woman who quickly wriggled free and ran behind Kalin.
“Who do you think you are talking to me that way…Native”
“Sergeant,” began Kalin, her anger barely contained “we are placed here by your government, but we are not your playthings!”
A cruel smile curled his lips as he walked toward Kalin. Taking a deep breath she pulled herself up to her full height, but she still fell many inches shorter than the sergeant. He pulled his scanner from his belt.
“Your arm” it was not a request. Kalin resisted.
“I said you arm!” Kalin didn’t see his arm coming towards her but she most definitely felt it as he backhanded her. She fell to the floor dazed and confused tasting blood. Roughly the sergeant grabbed and twisted her arm, pain coursed through it and a gasp escaped her lips.
“What is going on here?” demanded a cool voice. Kalin turned her head to where the voice was coming from and issued a small cry as her arm was roughly released. Cradling it too her, she tried to focus on the figure who had spoken.
“Sergeant I asked you a question?” Kalin’s eyes slowly regained focus and she was stunned when she saw the beautiful young woman who had spoken. An angel! The commander began to speak to the sergeant in Aesirian, ignoring Kalin and the younger woman.
“Laura, help me up?” and Kalin felt the young woman help her to her feet. “Are you OK Laura? Did he hurt you?”
“N…no you came before, before…he…” said Laura choking back a sob. Tenderly Kalin put her arm around Laura comforting her. She realised the commander had stopped talking; turning to her Kalin could not help but marvel at how beautiful she was. They were all stunning but this woman was exceptional.
“Your name…please?” asked the commander.
“Morvern, Kalin. Δ7-9α-69120. Chief Archivist. This is my junior archivist”
“Tanner, Laura. Ξ5-8δ-69252” whispered Laura.
“I must officially protest at the actions of your subordinate Commander”
The commander held up her hand forestalling her.
“I must insist!”
“Chief Archivist Morvern, I heard what transpired”
“But…” Kalin was even more shocked when the commander reached into her pocket removing a crisp white handkerchief and held it out to her.
“You are bleeding”
Thoroughly confused Kalin took the offered handkerchief.
“I shall retrieve my belongings; I have finished for this session. I will download a data set. I will inform you when I need to return” and with that Kalin watched the commander return to her allotted room.

Jerryn let out a breath she didn’t realise she had been holding in. That woman’s hair! Laced with fire and with blue eyes! Eyes that blue on a Native! She did not understand why this shocked her so. Her mood quickly darkened as she remembered what the sergeant had done. Trying it on with that young girl! Shaking her head at his behaviour she couldn’t understand the attitude of some of her people. She didn’t really understand why the Natives where treated as they were. Yes they were different, but what that such a bad thing? Oh she had heard the talks, inferior species, poor stock. It never sat right with her, but she kept quiet and got on with her job. She would find a cure and they could go home. Home. Jerryn had few memories of Valerian but they were happy ones. Running through a field, being scooped up into her fathers arms. Her mothers laugh. As the memories flooded back she could feel the tears form behind her eyes and that wouldn’t do. Composing herself she gathered her things and downloaded the data set. Pulling on her coat, adjusting her cap she set off cutting a dashing figure as she strode through the foyer. At the reception desk she halted turning to Kalin:
“We are not all monsters” and with a brief, barely imperceptible nod of her head she was gone.

Chapter 1 - "Sins of the Fathers" Part 2

Across the city, Kalin greeted the new day with her usual disdain, every day as she woke in her assigned unit was a reminder of what she had lost. Meeting Charles last night had not helped. Oh it had been good to meet an old friend but to accept his fate so readily! No, that was not Kalin. She ran her hands through her hair as she walked to the bathroom, the light flickering into life as she entered. Looking at the red-rimmed eyes staring back at her, she turned in disgust as she had yet again succumbed to drink. The dull throb in her head a constant reminder of the previous nights excess. Uttering an undignified grunt, Kalin returned to the bedroom to change into her work clothes and set out for the Central Archives.

Stepping out of her building, the cold wind caught her unexpectedly and she pulled her overcoat tighter around her neck. The trolleybus station was only around the corner but she had to run as she was late, as usual arriving at the station just as the driver began to pull away.
“You’re always late lady!” chuckled the driver.
“Keeps you on your toes Franz” replied Kalin forcing a smile as she climbed the steps onto the trolleybus. Finding an unoccupied seat she took it, keeping her head down to hide the look of disgust that must be on her face. A trolleybus for God’s sake! Until ‘They’ arrived she had never ridden in one. Whilst Kalin was sure she was not a snob she had used more pleasant means of transport. Her house on the northern side of the city was one of the few overlooking the bay and afforded her the luxury of walk or jog to work. Jogging, Kalin snorted at the memory. She used to take more pride in her appearance but had ceased to do so when she lost the trappings associated with her former life. Adapting to the changes had come easily to some, but for Kalin she could not escape the reminders which she saw all around her.

Some thirty minutes later the trolleybus arrived at the station outside the Central Archives; a grand building and a reminder of more affluent times. Kalin stood for a moment looking up at the building when a figure pacing near the top of the steps caught her eye. A slow smile spread across her lips and she walked up the steps toward him pulling her collar up against the cold.
“What have you got for me?” asked Kalin.
“Managed a score, but it’ll cost you,” replied the youth “not so easy to come by these days.” The scruffy young lad shifted on his feet constantly, eyes sweeping the area, looking for patrols.
“You know, I don’t think you could act any shiftier if you tried.” stated Kalin.
“How much?”
“75 credits”
“75! Are you having a laugh?” barked Kalin outraged.
“Look if you don’t want it, I have others who will” he growled as he started to walk away. As he descended the top few stairs Kalin hissed “Wait. OK, OK, I need it. But this is day light robbery. Plenty of others who will supply me.”
“Your lookout…Dr.” Kalin snatched the package from his hands and through the credits at him and turned to enter the main door.
“Fucking bitch” she could hear him growling behind her. Angry with herself she stormed into the huge foyer, footsteps ringing out and took the third exit and walked down the corridor to her office. Once in her sanctuary, she closed the door behind her and carefully placed the package on her desk. Removing her coat, she hung it on the stand and sat down behind her desk. Reduced to this; buying on the black-market. Almost reverently, Kalin began to open the package and savoured the smell. Ah, coffee! Quickly closing and sealing the coffee, Kalin opened her desk and placed it inside, removing a smaller almost empty package. Thankfully she was able to replenish her supply; Kalin moved from her office to the adjacent kitchen and began to make her morning cuppa before checking her inbox. Once made, she returned to her office, cup in hand and sat behind her desk. Tapping her monitor, she called up her inbox. Raising her cup to her lips she paused as her eyes caught a message:

To: Central Archives
From: Cmdr Jerryn Helkovaara
Subject: Visitation and Access

I shall require access to the biomedical journal section. Make all materials available to me. Expect my arrival at 2pm.

Cmdr Jerryn Helkovaara
Chief Biomedical Scientist
Bioengineering Institute
Galen Province

“Oh Shit” whispered Kalin.

Sins of the Fathers - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Native Quarter, Galen Province

“She was like a monster; seriously…you should’ve seen her. One minute she’s all normal like…the next she, she’s… Tommy was lying there but, but at a funny angle….he wasn’t moving…Bret and Karl she got them too…”
Kalin sighed as she listened to the young lad recount the events whilst gazing intently into the contents of the glass in her hand. She drew it up to her lips and swallowed the contents feeling the burn in her throat and stomach spread to her body. “Same again Pete” holding her glass out to the bartender who dutifully filled it up.
“Quite a tale from young Ricky boy is it not? Mind you after all this time you would think they would realise they can’t up against them” said the barman shaking his head ruefully. “No they never learn do they” said Kalin a small smile playing on her lips, “Going up against them half-cocked is only going to get them killed. Young Rick was lucky, very lucky. We can’t match them; they are stronger, quicker and faster than us. Quite remarkable really”
“You sound like you’re quite taken with them?” came a deep voice to her right. Kalin looked up at the voice and smiled as she recognised the speaker.
“Charles, how are you?” she asked taking his hand in hers.
“You want to watch what you say Kalin, not everyone finds them so intriguing!”
“I know, I know.” hands held up in submission “But you have to admit they are fascinating!” whispered Kalin conspiratorially, blue-grey eyes twinkling.
“Kalin, you are the very limit” laughed Charles, “How are you these days? It’s been such a long time.”
“Yes, since before…” her voice trailed off, face hardening at the memory. “Well we all know. They have me overseeing the archives, filing and such…keeps me out of trouble. What about you?”
“Construction…they like to use us Natives for the grunt work; although it is a down turn from being CEO of a construction company!” Charles sighed, “…but at least I have my health!”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Northern Suburb, Galen Province

Jerryn passed her hand over the biometric lock to her apartment and quickly entered leaning back against the door as it shut behind her. The attack by the Natives was unexpected, audacious even so close to the heavily guarded research facility. She shut her eyes and concentrated on her breathing remembering the look on their faces when she struck out. At first surprise followed quickly by fear, they were unaware of how powerful she was, of how the Aesir are. As her breathing slowed a small smile crept over her face and her eyes flew open, shinning blue and bright. Exhilaration coursed through her body, never endings tingling and blood singing in her veins. Exhilarated, yes and something else…aroused! Chuckling to herself, Jerryn pushed herself from the front door setting the lock and strode into the living area.
“Computer blinds open” she barked and a low hum could be heard as the blinds began to slowly open and the twin moonlight flooded in the room. She stood in front of the large windows looking out across the bay marvelling at the view. Leaning down, she removed her boots and tossed them carelessly to one side, uniform jacket joining them. Tugging her shirt out from her trousers she began to unbutton her shirt. Trousers where removed to reveal long, supple legs which gracefully strode over to the side board. Jerryn, in a decadent mood selected a full bodied red wine which she opened and disdained from allowing it to breath, poured a generous amount into a glass. Carrying both bottle and glass she walked out on the balcony and sat them down at the side of her hot tub. Her guilty pleasure and turned it on. The smile returning to her face as the water instantly heated up and bubbled furiously. Her shirt was dropped to the ground and her hands reached behind her head to remove the pins keeping her blonde flowing locks restrained. Once removed her hair fell around her shoulders whilst undergarments where dispatched swiftly and Jerryn stepped daintily into the hot tub closing her eyes as the warm water enveloped her body. Leaning back she sighed as she felt her body relax. Reaching for her glass she took a generous gulp, with no work for two days she could afford to indulge. Settling her glass down she realised that not all her muscles where relaxing, but the little ‘knot’ of tension at the juncture between her legs was still there. Slowly she brought her right hand between her legs and endeavoured to ‘work’ that little knot out.

The following morning Jerryn painfully opened her eyes a crack and spied the empty bottle of red on the bedside table, proof that she had indeed drank it all the night before although the cacophony in her head was already testament to that. Groaning, she turned over in bed and pulled the covers over her head in a vain attempt to hide from her hangover.