Redemptions Revolution PT3: Lessons from Persephone

Mid January 2507, Persephone

“I want you to go to Jiangyin with my family. It won’t be as comfortable as you have it here, but you’ll be safe.” Allen says as he sits in a wooden chair. Though slender the young woman standing behind him is most definitely pregnant. She braids his long hair as he closes his eyes and seems to meditate for a moment.

“This white streak in your hair is getting thicker. I think we should dye it.” she replies with seemingly more to say. “I’ve never been off planet. Well, there was that time we borrowed that shuttle before we were married but that was for a whole different reason.” She finishes the braid by tying it off with a piece of red cloth before wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Reaching up slightly Allen holds her hand together on his chest as to help her hold him tighter.

“It isn’t safe here now and after we’re done the Alliance will be lookin’ for us and nothing will stop them. They will call what we do a criminal action and I don’t want you havin’ to suffer for any part of it.” Allen lays his head against the inside of her arm. “T’was a hard enough fight getting’ you to marry me and I’ll be fighting just as hard to git back to you.”

Leaning forward she kisses him lightly at first then deeper and deeper as the moment drifts on.

KNOCKKNOCK KNOCK KNOCKKNOCK

Allen slips from her arms and reaches for his pistol belt hanging near the door. Relieving the pistol from its holster the distinct engraving of NIGHTMARE on the side of his Model 1911 Earth That Was sidearm catches his eye as it passes. He had engraved the name in honor of the unit that embraced him so readily. Though he had felt acceptance before, this was acceptance of a different sort. With them he was not primitive or uneducated or a peasant. With them he was a comrade. An equal. A brother.

Racking the slide of his weapon Allen holds it at his side as if trying to conceal it while opening the door. As it opens the sound of a person snapping t