Silence.

A bird sang briefly in the distance, then was quiet. Such was a typical December morning in the coastal town of Sirens' Call. Most of the buildings were concentrated near the shoreline, spreading out into smaller communities further inland. The sun was barely showing above the horizon to the east, small pinpricks of its light reflected off the taller skyscrapers in the provincial capital of Pacifica. Most of the residents were still asleep, the stores in the marketplace closed for several more hours. Except for one young woman in the Kaneda district, a small community nestled at the foot of a small mountain to the northwest.

The young woman would normally be asleep at this hour, but for the new addition to her routine: her daughter. Now awake at the slightest sound from the infant, she'd gone from routinely sleeping for fourteen hours a day to barely six. Right now, she was sitting up in bed, her PDS and stylus in her hand, writing. Her daughter was asleep again next to her in a small on-bed crib, having only needed a diaper change and a quick meal before falling asleep again.

She looked back and forth from the PDS to her daughter, smiling as she wrote.

I'm pretty sure I can say that, overall, this has been the best year of my life. I've been blessed with a daughter, and while I've had a failed marriage (the anniversary of which is today, incidentally) and two other relationships that didn't work out in the end, I have someone with me now, and we've been engaged since October. (We still haven't settled on a wedding date, but that was because of my daughter not having been born yet). My sister Joyce and her husband (my brother-in-law, Erik) are speaking to me again; after how I hurt them this summer, I never would have expected to have seen them just come and visit in the hospital after Hitomi was born, but they did... and I still don't know how to thank them. Maharu-oneesan has a boyfriend now; after about fifteen years I thought she'd given up on it, but I guess it does really just take "Mr. Right" after all.

I've been active in a trading and mining company called Sigma Shipping since late January; I still don't understand why I was given one of the two Lieutenant positions when I joined, and I doubt I ever will, but... I think I'm glad that I took it. In September I was promoted to Commander, and while I enjoy the perks and responsibilities that come with the position (well, okay, being able to set a message of the day isn't *that* much of a perk), sometimes the work does get a little overbearing. Thankfully everyone else in the guild is as helpful as they are, sometimes I wonder how I survived without them before I joined.

The Makchuga is still open, and while there was a slow period during the summer, business has picked up a bit recently, what with Corvus hiring unaligned mercenaries to do their dirty work and the protectors of free trade rushing to greyspace to beat them back. I'm not able to go to the bar in person for a while because of Hitomi, but I have a sophisticated holographic projection system in place that allows me to work from home; the projectors in the bar have been modified to use the station's artificial gravity generators to turn the air inside authorized users' holograms "solid", that is, provide tactile resistance so that the user can interact with physical objects in the bar. People have become accustomed to the presence of holographic visitors, and some of the newer customers take delight in how the system works. All in all, business is good at the bar, and it seems that it will stay that way for a good while.

I have other things I'm doing while I'm officially on maternity leave, like writing a book (long story, pun intended), picking up my old violin again and seeing how much I can remember... other things that I never had the time to do while I was out and about, running around on Sigma, Makchuga or personal business. Not that taking care of Hitomi leaves me with loads of free time, but there's enough to get a little bit done each day, especially with Daggoth's help.

Daggoth is my fiance, and before we were even engaged he had taken it upon himself to be there for me and Hitomi, to help with anything we might need at any time. I'm indebted to him for how well he's taken care of me the past few months, keeping me out of trouble. I don't know where I'd be without him.

I also don't know where I'd be without Erik and Joyce. As much as we have had our differences at times, they have been there for me when I needed them. It's their wedding anniversary today too, and I for one hope it's only the first of many to come. If anyone in the universe deserves a happy ending, it's those two.

Now that I'm home, I'm getting a chance to relax when Hitomi's asleep. It's just something people don't do much anymore. It's too bad, really. I know a lot of people who could use a good week off from everything, but they're "too busy to relax". What nonsense, ne?

She yawned, stretching her arms. Her daughter and fiance were both still asleep. She looked at the screen of the PDS again, thinking a moment before starting to write once more.

Being able to relax at a time like this lets me see just how messed up the universe is. People kill, and hurt, for what?

Happiness? No. If people were truly "happy" killing and hurting each other, there wouldn't be any humans left. So it must be something else.

Safety, perhaps. But from what? I know Itani fight on the Deneb-Geira border to protect the safety of our nation's citizens. Is it the same for the Serco? Are they really fighting for the safety of their citizens? Or are they fighting to hide something? Insecurity, maybe? Insecurity that they were wrong; that when the Itani sent scouts back to Sol II we weren't actually intending to invade or start war, that perhaps if there is no war, the Serco population suddenly will lose focus and drive? The war with the Itani is an integral part of their culture now. It can't be removed. And so we're stuck, until one side destroys the other.

What about the pirates in greyspace? What kind of safety could they be trying to fight for? Economic? Social? I'd say insecurity also might be the culprit here. The economy has been booming lately; new pilots are making their first million credits within a week of obtaining their flight status, rich traders and corporations are only getting richer. They're afraid eventually the average pilot will be too rich to be afraid of their attacks and that people will just ignore them, or worse yet, start fighting back.

People have already started fighting back, in fact. Latos was the site of a furious conflict during November and the first week or two of December; a Councilor of one of the pirate factions declared ownership of the system, and the pilots of several trade guilds were quick to respond, with deadly force. The entire month was an effective stalemate. Broken morale on both sides, pilots crying foul when they were outnumbered sometimes five to one, some using cowardly tactics that would have gotten even an Akanese thrown out of flight school.

Hostilities seem to have died down as of late; some think the pirates are just licking their wounds and waiting to strike when we least expect it. Some think they've moved on to "better pastures". I say it's a combination of both. Some of the pirates previously affiliated with the previously-mentioned faction have split ways and are now working on their own, attacking trainee pilots in the heart of Union space. Others have broken off and created a splinter group dedicated to "teaching the true ways of piracy". And the rest are still with the old faction.

I'd like to think I'm mostly unaffected up here in Eo, but I know that isn't the case--I am the commander of a guild that is based in Union territory. I may not personally be affected, but people that I care about and am responsible for are affected by this conflict and its results. I am also worried about my home and family; I have heard rumblings about a possible Serco invasion attempt, and large amounts of evidence that such a thing could occur soon, but I cannot say for certain when it will, if at all. I just hope that the Goliath Cannon will be able to fend off any attempt; as blasphemous as it is to say it, I fear that the Akanese will not show to help us this time.

I will remain here with my family until the evacuation order is given. Until then, I will keep a close eye on the comm relays and lend assistance where necessary.

She yawned again, this time sliding the stylus into the storage slot in the side of the PDS and then setting the whole thing down on the nightstand by the bed. She smiled again, looking at the room's other two occupants, then lay down and closed her eyes to sleep for a few more hours.

<< As an OOC note, this is NOT a "Co-op" RP thread. This is a story thread, so while comments, constructive criticism, etc. are welcome, side tangent RP is not. >>

She was afraid.

She hadn't been afraid like this in a long time.

It had been a routine morning, at least until he'd shown up. Hitomi had woken up around four-thirty in need of a diaper change and something to eat--normal by all standards. The other person in the room was asleep, so she grabbed a sweater and went to the bathroom quickly before taking Hitomi out to the living room.

After Hitomi had been given a new diaper, she stepped into the kitchen and made a mug of cocoa before going back into the living room to feed the child, who'd become quiet again after her diaper was changed. While Hitomi nursed, she checked the news on her PDS, quietly drinking the cocoa.

She'd just put the mug down on the table again when the infant started crying. She was about to help her burp when she suddenly felt something cold being pushed into her back. She froze out of instinct, and Hitomi continued crying.

"So, you're awake," a quiet voice behind her said. "Make that brat shut up already."

She froze, holding Hitomi tightly. "How the hell did you get in here?" she asked, realizing that the object pressing into her back was a blaster of some sort.

"This thing pressing against your back is not a finger, you know," he responded, as if to confirm her thoughts. "And if I fire, the shot will go right through you and blast the brat. So make her shut up. Now."

She tried to calm down Hitomi, giving another reassuring hug. It seemed to work, but despite Hitomi calming down, it sure didn't make her feel better about the blaster pressed against her back.

"Now, do you have everything you need to take care of that... thing... here?" He almost spat his words, as if it pained him to think that there was an infant in her arms.

She nervously nodded an affirmative, pulling off her earpiece and earrings--the latter of which held a carefully-concealed comm unit. He wouldn't know what they were beyond earrings, but anyone else in the house would. Gently taking the blanket off of the couch next to her, she wrapped Hitomi up and put on the sweater, clutching the bundle to her chest.

"Grab what you need and get moving."

She nodded and grabbed a bag of things for Hitomi out of the cabinet near the kitchen.

"What's wrong with the one on the table?" he hissed at her, waving the blaster in her direction.

She responded that it had no more diapers, and that unless he wanted to deal with the byproducts of Hitomi's digestive system not being properly disposed of, she should be allowed to take the full bag. He responded by pointing the blaster at her face.

"Try to get cute with me and both of you will be puddles on the floor. This is set on wide bore."

She stared back. He motioned toward the front door with the blaster. "Move it, towards the street. Nice and slow." She started walking in the indicated direction. As she passed the wall console by the door, he added, "Don't bother with the security system... or with your drone AI. He's... busy."

She ignored his comment and walked out the door, the blaster shoved into her back again.

"Turn right and keep walking." She complied, and he kept talking.

"I love this neighborhood. Quiet, quaint, peaceful... why, you can kidnap someone in the early morning and nobody notices!"

She glared at the ground in front of her as she walked, clutching Hitomi close to keep her warm. "What are you doing with my PDS?" she asked irritably.

"That is for me to know and you to find out. Keep walking, don't look to the sides, don't try anything cute." He jabbed her between the shoulders with the muzzle of the blaster again.

"What?!" she snapped.

"See that black groundcar? Walk up to it and get in when the rear door opens. I suggest you use the baby seat on your right."

"I'll hold her, thanks," she said, climbing slowly into the seat.

He smirked at her. "I'd advise against that. The... seatbelts... aren't designed to let you hold her." He gestured again to the seat. She grumbled in response and strapped Hitomi into the chair, checking that it was secure.

"Sit up. Hands to your sides. And don't flinch." He reached inside his pocket.

Before she could ask "why not?" he'd pressed something in his pocket and she was wrapped so tight that she couldn't even move her fingers.

"I told you not to flinch," he remarked. She glared back at him.

"What is this," she asked vehemently. "Some kind of sick fantasy of yours?"

He ignored her and continued talking. "Now, if you try to struggle, the binds will tighten more and more... so if you want broken bones, you know what to do." She muttered under her breath and leaned back into the chair, watching Hitomi carefully.

He grabbed her chin and turned her face so that she was looking at him, then covered her mouth with something. She turned away, fuming. He responded to her gesture by making a few misogynist remarks before climbing into the front seat.

He proceeded to ramble on and on about how everything was going according to plan, about the "things" they would "talk" about. She sat there and tried to ignore him, but he jabbed again and again at raw nerves. The most she could do was scowl and glare at the back of his head. Eventually he pulled the car over outside a small house that she'd never seen before. He got out of the front seat and walked around to the other side, opening the door and moving Hitomi and the carseat out of her sight.

Her heart almost stopped when he pretended to drop Hitomi. He put the carseat down out of her vision, and walked around to her side, leering at her as he released the bindings.

"Get out. Slowly. I have a present for you."

She complied, slowly climbing out, glaring at him. He held out a small object in his hand. It was a collar. She stared at it in disbelief.

"I suggest you put it on quickly." She stared at him in response, trying to see if he was joking, but the blaster in his other hand told her he was perfectly serious. She snatched it out of his hands violently and put it on, her hands trembling.

He proceeded, after insulting her intelligence, to explain how the collar would kill her and Hitomi if either of them left the house, or if either collar (Hitomi had had one put on her wrist) were turned off, or if either of them should die for another reason, that they would be killed in an explosion. He then added as an aside, that if he himself died, that it would also set off the explosion. She didn't believe him fully, but didn't want to test it with Hitomi's life at stake.

She picked up Hitomi and clutched her to her chest. He led her into the house.

"Food's in the fridge," he said, pointing. "That door leads to the bathroom, and I'm sure you can see that the windows are shuttered." He then tried to incite her anger again by insulting her sister before locking her in the house after showing her the room she would be staying in. She managed to refrain from lashing out, and curled up on the bed she had been provided with Hitomi, crying.

She wondered when her family would realize she was gone, and guess that she'd been forced out of the house. She wondered when, or rather, if, they would try to find her. She wondered what was going to happen to Hitomi, what sort of things he would make her do, or do to her.

She wondered if she was going to leave the house alive.

Yawn. Little freaky, but yawn.

One thing I must poke you about is that you mention a lot of objects, but don't describe their qualities before she actually realizes what they are. Could be more vivid if you did include some more senses. (Not that I even do this myself :S)
"side tangent RP is not [welcome]." DANGITS *slams door on the way out*

No, no gillamonsters raining from the sky of Eo for you today, Katarn. The Galactic News desk always welcomes you, though.