{"id":1179,"date":"2015-12-24T07:16:00","date_gmt":"2015-12-24T13:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1179"},"modified":"2015-12-26T07:22:09","modified_gmt":"2015-12-26T13:22:09","slug":"the-cimalian-princess-clone-part-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1179","title":{"rendered":"The Cimalian Princess: Clone – Part 8"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Cimalian Princess: Clone<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

by AJ Marks<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 8<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Meia waited until the doctor had finished before turning towards the mirror. She still felt a bit of shock at the reflection despite expecting it.\u00a0 Her normal dark blue hair was now an almost strawberry blonde.\u00a0 The reddish hue gave the blonde hair an interesting tinge.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, couldn\u2019t make it completely blonde. The reddish hue is due to an unknown reaction to the blue hair,\u201d the doctor said.<\/p>\n

\u201cD-don\u2019t worry about it,\u201d Meia replied, fingering a lock of the hair. It reminded her of her natural hair color, and her mother\u2019s color, at least what she could remember.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

Meia took several more seconds looking at the mirror before replying. \u201cFine, a bit shocked at how well it came out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood, you\u2019re to report to the admiral when we\u2019re finished,\u201d he said to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d Meia said, as they cleaned up and she made her way out of med lab and towards the elevator passing a few people. She saw several people stop and star at her as she passed before she got onto the elevator.\u00a0 Looking at her reflection a picture of her mother came to her mind.\u00a0 There were some difference, but she looked very much like what she remembered of her mother.<\/p>\n

The opening of the doors broke her out of her musings and she made her way to the conference room. Walking down the corridor she spotted another person she knew, who stopped and looked at her as well.\u00a0 She paused at the entrance to the conference room to gather her courage before walking inside.<\/p>\n

She tried to gauge their reactions to her presence. It was a few seconds before the fully recognized her.\u00a0 Kim\u2019s face showed a bit of shock, Victor had a similar look but Randy appeared in thought about something.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t like it?\u201d she asked, fiddling with a lock of hair.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, we\u2019re just not used to you looking like this,\u201d Randy finally said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought that was the point, to not look like myself,\u201d Meia replied confused.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, no, I mean, I don\u2019t know what I mean,\u201d Randy said. They both looked over at Kim\u2019s chuckle.\u00a0 \u201cSomething you want to add captain?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019ve never seen you so flabbergasted in all the time I\u2019ve known you,\u201d Kim replied back to Randy.<\/p>\n

Meia looked over to Randy for a few seconds before understanding he liked her blue hair. It was an interesting revelation of her but they had a mission to finish.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll need civilian type clothing,\u201d Meia said looking at their dress.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat type?\u201d Randy asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlain, nothing fancy or any designer brands for obvious reasons,\u201d Meia replied. \u201cEverything in the empire was plain and simple to maximize efficiency.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen off to the supply room to see what works,\u201d Randy said. \u201cLet me know when you have everything, I\u2019d say take small weapon but don\u2019t know if that helps or hurts your mission.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCivilians don\u2019t carry weapons of any type, but we headed to a hostile area,\u201d Meia replied, giving it some thought. \u201cWe\u2019ll stop by the armory and see.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood, I don\u2019t like the fact you might be defenseless. One thing before you leave, we\u2019ll have a time limit, if you don\u2019t return in twenty-four hours we\u2019ll be forced to leave thinking you\u2019ve been capture, or worse,\u201d Randy said to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand,\u201d Meia said, hoping that would not be the case and looked over at Victor. He stood waiting for her at the door.<\/p>\n

Meia looked back at Randy once more before leaving the conference room and towards the supply room and armory before heading out. She looked over at Victor for a second.<\/p>\n

\u201cRemember, this might be a simple recon mission, but if you do something they will punish you,\u201d Meia said. \u201cWe can\u2019t afford to be discovered.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry, I know,\u201d Victor replied.<\/p>\n

Meia hoped he understood the severity of the situation. Any wrong move and the authorities would not hesitate to use force, even deadly at them.\u00a0 She also knew she could not reveal where they came from.\u00a0 If any of the authorities of the empire discovered they were from the Alliance, neither would live for long.\u00a0 She did not dwell on what might happen to her if they discovered who she was.<\/p>\n

She walked onto the elevator focused on the mission.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Randy look on as the shuttle received its orders to launch. To him, this part represented the most dangerous part of the mission.\u00a0 If they discovered the shuttle the entire mission could fail.\u00a0 The fleet had taken position behind a moon hoping to avoid any scans.<\/p>\n

\u201cShuttle away,\u201d Aaron said.<\/p>\n

Randy looked at the monitors watching the shuttle move away from the fleet. He could do nothing from this moment out, everything was dependent on them and their abilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cScanning intensity?\u201d Randy asked, hoping nothing would change.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll scans remain normal,\u201d Kim replied back to him.<\/p>\n

Randy nodded, unsure if he should be glad, or worried about that. He remained tense until the shuttle finally arrived on the surface of the planet.\u00a0 He knew Meia\u2019s piloting abilities were almost unrivaled but he understood luck had downed many such pilots in war.<\/p>\n

\u201cShuttle entering planet\u2019s atmosphere,\u201d Aaron said.<\/p>\n

Randy watched as contact with the shuttle was lost, and unpleasant feeling but expected. Meia had mentioned it before take-off.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep the fleet on yellow alert,\u201d Randy said. \u201cBegin countdown.\u201d<\/p>\n

He knew the hardest decision would be if the time was up and Meia had no returned. It was a decision he hoped to not have to make.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

\u201cAdmiral, we have an unknown ship approaching the planet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jezic turned towards the scanner noticing the approaching craft on the monitor. He took a few seconds to back-track the course of the ship and felt certain it was from the Alliance fleet hidden behind the moon despite the tracks not heading back there.<\/p>\n

\u201cSmart pilot,\u201d Jezic said, knowing only one pilot who could fly like that. \u201cCovering your tracks like this, it has to be you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSir?\u201d the scanner operator asked confused. \u201cShould we alert planetary defenses?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, do nothing but track it. I want to know where it lands at once,\u201d he ordered knowing who he had to inform next.\u00a0 \u201cOpen a private communications to the emperor.\u201d<\/p>\n

He walked over to a more private area and put on a set of headphones assuring that only he could hear what the emperor said. Waiting he thought about how to mention Meia was on board without others knowing about it.\u00a0 If word got out she was not only alive but the true heir it might spark another revolt.<\/p>\n

Jezic cared little for the lower classes and if they did revolt, but the loss of the workers would be devastating to the war effort.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdmiral, you have news?\u201d Emperor Henry asked, his blue eyes staring at him through the screen.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes sire,\u201d Jezic replied. \u201cScanners spotted a single craft, probably a shuttle, heading to the planet\u2019s surface.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou allowed it to land?\u201d Henry asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, we are tracking it now and I\u2019ll know where it lands,\u201d Jezic replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cExcellent, let it land, I\u2019ll have the information we need shortly after it lands,\u201d the emperor said. \u201cWait for my orders.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBy your will emperor,\u201d Jezic replied hoping this did not backfire. It was a dangerous game the emperor was playing.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Meia piloted the shuttle down to a remote location on the surface of the planet that looked undeveloped. The entire planet bore scars of quick urban development making her wonder how long the empire kept the planet secret for emergencies.\u00a0 Taking a glance over at Victor who appeared calm at the moment.\u00a0 She hoped he remained that way for the mission.<\/p>\n

Landing the shuttle with a slight bump she knew the hardest part of the mission now would take place, blending in with the locals. She checked her appearance one last time before opening the door and heading out.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe ready for anything,\u201d she told Victor, who nodded back at her and they made their way out of the shuttle seeing no one.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks like we got lucky,\u201d Victor said, as they gained their senses.<\/p>\n

Meia looked around wondering how much the empire had changed, if at all, in the past six months. The mission was dependent on her ability to blend in with the others.<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably best if we remain quiet, find out who we can trust,\u201d Meia said.<\/p>\n

\u201cGot it.\u201d<\/p>\n

They made their way through the forested area and towards what she hoped was a Gamma or Epsilon village. It would make things so much easier for the mission.\u00a0 The lower classes might now know as much, but they could blend in easier with them.\u00a0 The upper classes knew a bit more, but were most suspicious of others.<\/p>\n

She hoped the hike did not take long. Looking down at her way she noted the time left to return to the Akagi.\u00a0 She wanted to make contact with a local, and gain some information and leave.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Meia looked around the streets for a bit before coming out of their hiding spot. She did not want to appear out of the bushes, such actions would only raise suspicions.\u00a0 She wanted to fit in not stand out.\u00a0 The area appeared to be a Gamma area, a bit higher than she expected, but better than an Alpha or Beta area.<\/p>\n

She spotted an opening with no one in sight, and looked back at Victor.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d she said to him as they moved towards the open street. \u201cStay close and be ready for anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

She took them down a few streets passing several people with few looking their way. She felt some relief that they were able to fit in a bit.\u00a0 Meia was unsure of what the current situation was, hoping there was no lockdown going on.\u00a0 She could use a little bit of the invasion to start a conversation as a group ahead of them caught her attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis way, quickly,\u201d Meia whispered to Victor pulling him to the side to avoid being seen.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cQuiet,\u201d Meia hissed, watching the men walk slowly by looking around. They were enforcers of the empire, and usually Beta class citizens.\u00a0 They enforced the laws of the empire, and had no problem dealing out punishments on lower class citizens for any infraction.<\/p>\n

She waited until after they left before coming out of hiding and continuing on their way.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho, or what, were we hiding from?\u201d Victor asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnforcers, the police of the empire,\u201d Meia replied back to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe police, huh?\u201d Victor said quickly causing Meia to look over at him. Victor appeared to be thinking about something.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, let\u2019s find someone who might be able to help us,\u201d Meia said, continuing their walk. So far she had not found anyone who might be able to help them.\u00a0 She looked around for someone who might prove friendly.<\/p>\n

\u201cSee anyone you recognize?\u201d Victor asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Meia replied, not adding that she hoped not to. It would be a disaster to the entire emission.\u00a0 She also knew she could not waste much time looking around either.<\/p>\n

Turning the corner she spotted an older woman looking right at her who gasped. Meia quickly tried to think if she had ever seen the woman before and came up empty before feeling Victor move up beside her.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s get out of here,\u201d he told her.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight,\u201d Meia replied, moving quickly with him away from the woman hoping nothing else might happen.<\/p>\n

End part 8<\/p>\n

Continued in part 9<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Cimalian Princess: Clone by AJ Marks Part 8 Meia waited until the doctor had finished before turning towards the mirror. She still felt a bit of shock at the reflection despite expecting it.\u00a0 Her normal dark blue hair was now an almost strawberry blonde.\u00a0 The reddish hue gave the blonde hair an interesting tinge. […]
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