Solitary Differences

 

          The weather tingled to the buildings sides, the night was silent the sound of the cars erupting the cold silence, all is quiet in the Venus capital of Venouslea. The hours of late night staring the city’s sight of turn. The Command deck was quiet as the rest not the faintest movement to the inner sides of the structure of the tower on the high tower of the city.

 

          “Thitaya… are you awake…?” Thitaya Markson heard a soft voice coming from the doorway. “Yes…” Thitaya said silently, she was laying on her bed staring at the pitch black ceiling, cold thoughts seeping through her mind, she could not think as well … she had a headache for almost weeks. Thitaya sighed then she stood up solemnly to the night sky sighing again. “What’s wrong…?” the voice from the door said slowly

“The dream again…” Thitaya said slowly and softly as a soft wind filled the calm air.

Thitaya heard footsteps coming towards her then a soft hand resting on her shoulder.

Thitaya knew whom it was right away she knew the soft touch of her dear friend Rogan Thealle, her long friend from since the war ever escalated and came to a hard end.

          “The dream again…” Thitaya heard her friend mumble softly. “Yes…” Thitaya turned around and faced her friend, she was wearing her uniform as always, Rogan’s soft light red hair running freely on her shoulder, Rogan had a concerned look on her face though it was dark in the room she could still tell it was her friend.

          “I’m all right … it’s nothing serious …” Thitaya said softly to her loyal friend.

“Are you sure…?” Rogan said softly. “Yes… I’ll be out in a second,” Thitaya answered in a low tone.

          She saw her friend nod and walk out the doorway, Thitaya sighed softly as she saw the door slide closed. What is wrong with me…? Thitaya thought to herself in her mind.

          Thitaya flicked the lights on and she saw herself after such long while, her blonde hair was in tatters all over her face she must have been tossing and turning around bed, she looked terrible Ever since…Thitaya thought in her mind as images from her past flew through her hard and tired mind, she saw herself in a room plants all around and a green fluid seeping into herself and her name being yelled at her several times then she saw nothing as if her memory had been erased from that day on.

          When Thitaya was done dressing she peeked outside the door at first, she saw nothing at first then her eyes adjusted to the damp reddish morning of Venouslea.

          “Thitaya…” she heard the soft voice of Rogan Thealle, she looked towards the calm voice; her friend was sitting on a bench staring out bright sun.

          “Rogan…” Thitaya said softly, Rogan Thealle turned to her voice, her face was a soft as ever, not like in the earlier times of the war, she was stiff and often showed no emotion at all, it surprising to Thitaya how much she changed since then.

          “Are you ready?” her friend asked softly, “Yes…” Thitaya answered lowly her eyes slowly adjusting to the bright lights of the far. It was morning as Thitaya could tell, the solemn silence of the building told her no one else was awake at the time, as she felt more awake in the hour, her fiend walked up to her slowly and put her hand on Thitaya’s shoulder. Thitaya nodded slowly then they both walked off into the corridor, the twinkling lights of the city gleaming the outside window, and cars making a solitary appearance at times and time. Thitaya could tell her friend was stressed, a harder look filling her friend’s face and mind Something’s happened… hasn’t there…Thitaya thought in her waking mind.

         

          The two stopped moments later at the doctor’s office the quietness of the place tingled Thitaya’s spine, it was always a place with activity almost no one was there, she only saw a couple of the staff members at time and time walking around and working the electronics. Rogan led Thitaya to an observation table and laid her down there.

          Thitaya’s eyes bursted into some sudden teary ness of the bright light the shown in her eyes, she looked away and saw another figure coming towards her, she was dark in her eyes at first but her eyes slowly adjusted from having the bright light in her eye, she knew who it was, it was Nicole Heartland, another one her old time friends from back then in the war, Nicole had been the Doctor onboard their old ship, the Sovereign

          “Hey Thitaya…” the doctor said slowly. “Nik… Nikki?” Thitaya answered with a small grin. Thitaya heard the doctor giggle slightly at her old nickname.

          “I didn’t think you were still calling me that, after such a long time…” Doctor Heartland blurted “Now…” the doctor continued “Just the normal brain scan … nothing to worry about” Thitaya nodded slowly then she relaxed on the table and closed her eyes, she heard the sound of the several masses of equipment rotating swiftly around her body then a small pinch in her neck, she fell asleep soon after. Thitaya was plunged into dreaming her mind wandered from end to end, she saw bright lights as if she was flying through the universe

         

          It was hours later when Thitaya finally awoke her mind was at ease the table light seeming like the beaming sun from the afar. Thitaya heard mumbling at first but later as it appeared as people were talking, at first it seemed like she was in heaven then her mind slipped back into reality she was on the table, she had been asleep for nearly four hours. She saw her friends at the desk, who seemed to be arguing over something, Rogan had teary eyes and was banging on the desk; Nicole was trying to calm her.

          Thitaya was confused at how long she was sleep for, but she was even more puzzled at what Rogan was shouting at.

          “I can’t believe it!” she heard her best friend shout aloud, Rogan slammed her hand on the keyboard as she slid down the panel and on the floor, Nicole ducked down with her and held her.

          Thitaya blinked several times then she sat up rubbing her eyes, her two friends didn’t pay attention to her, they were to busy themselves. Thitaya’s first reaction was to get up quickly and see what the fuss was about but she found she was too weak to even stand up properly, she leaned on another table and slowly worked her way to were her friend had been

            “What’s wrong…?” Thitaya said finally at Nicole and her sobbing friend, her face filling with concern. Nicole was very silent and just stared at her, then in what seemed like an eternity she spoke lowly.

          “Admiral Thealle has been murdered… Thitaya…” Thitaya blinked and stumbled back hanging onto the desk, Nicole immediately got up and steadied her, Rogan was still under the desk curled up sobbing to herself.

The doctor gently lifted Thitaya up and rested her on the nearest vacant table.

          “Please rest for now Thitaya…” Nicole said softly as she turned back to attend to Rogan.

 

          Assassination … not a pretty thing in life… the thought ran through  Thitaya’s head as she rested in her room, she had been taken back to her room to rest while Nicole was taking care of Rogan. I should be there with her… Thitaya told herself but she remembered the good doctor pleading that she stay and rest until she was at full strength. But why was she asleep for such a long time, normally she was only asleep for a half hour, but 4 hours? Thitaya imagined Nicole having been called over before she would have been awaken to the scene of the murder… but she knew the anesthetic wore off.

          Thitaya puzzled herself for over an hour until she finally fell asleep.

In her dreams she saw a cold face of her own staring at her, she didn’t know what it meant, but she didn’t want to find out, blurry at first appeared in the darkness of her sleep. Thitaya tried to run but she couldn’t, she was frozen staring at a cold evil face of her own.

 

          Morning struck her alarm clock, the soft beeping sound the device shook Thitaya from her slumber, at first she was dizzy, and then she was scared by what she saw in her dreams. Thitaya rubbed her head several times, then she got up and looked at herself in the mirror. Thitaya was puzzled to see that she had a strange scar just under her ear, she didn’t remember getting one the days before, but she just sighed and dressed up.

          Though slightly tired, Thitaya was anxious to get to her best friend in her life. Thitaya rushed out the door and headed to the crew’s quarters of the command structure. Thitaya stopped at the door and knocked softly, not wanting to bother her if she did not want her presence. The yellow light beside the door turned green indicating she was allowed entrance, the door slid open slowly, Thitaya peered in with a concerned face. Rogan had been lying on her bed face down into the pillow.

          “Rogan…” Thitaya said softly “Are you all right…?” she continued.

Rogan just rubbed her face in the pillow and lifted her head up to her friend at the door; Rogan’s face was red with tears. Thitaya immediately rushed over to her and hugged her tightly.

          “I’m so sorry Rogan…. I really am” Thitaya projected mournfully. Rogan took deep breaths and held her friend tightly.

          “It… It wasn’t your fault...” Rogan said with a shaky voice, her words jumbled and blurted out.

 

          “So… I was asleep the entire time” Thitaya said softly as she sipped her coffee. The two had been up for a long time talking things over and what happened when she was asleep. Apparently Rogan’s father was killed by having his throat slit; the evidence left behind revealed that he had been slashed perfectly at the neck area with a sword or knife. The murderer did not leave any footprints no finger prints … nothing at all, it as if the Admiral had killed himself. An investigation immediately took place but there was not the time or money to find out who killed Admiral James Thealle. The Earthen alliances were in devastation of the event, Venus’s military grew low in power, due to the death of Venus’s head commanding officer for all operations. It was a jab to the throat as the reporters said to the worlds of Mars and Earth, some said it was Jupiter’s Special forces unit that might had survived years ago, but it was not possible, only one this was certain at this point, someone is trying to take over the Earthen alliances by means of assassination of the great leaders of their societies. Every major commanding Admiral, General, Commodore, the President were all put in high security defensive places to ensure their safety. The Earthen alliance’s Venus allies were corrupting and under siege by their own political societies demanding the next courses of action.

          “So we’re in deep hell …” Thitaya said slowly, Rogan nodded softly and sighed drinking more of her coffee and starring at herself in then coffee’s reflection.

          “So are you going to look for the murderer?” Thitaya asked suddenly, Rogan looked up slowly and stared at her for a moment then she spoke slowly.

          “I don’t have a choice… I cannot let my father die this way without trying to find out who kill him… I want to get revenge … Thitaya…”

          “I know you better than that Rogan-““But this is different!” Rogan interrupted suddenly.

          “Look I know you’re angered but you can’t let this get so close to you… you don’t have the time to now… Rogan… you are to be the next Admiral of operations …” Thitaya said slowly.

          “But I have no right to take that position… I’m only 25, Thitaya” Rogan said softly.

          “But your Venus’s only hope! Rogan you can’t try now … Venus will fall without a leader.” Thitaya argued.

          “Then let them fall!” Rogan cried out lowering her head down; Thitaya could hear her soft whimpers.

 

          Hours later Thitaya sighed staring out the window at the large city below, she saw the nasty old cold face of hers again, she shook it out of her mind. She went with finding out… I’m not sure how this will go with the planet… Thitaya said in her mind, she heard footsteps approach her from behind, she glanced over her shoulder and saw another one of her friends, Virgil Miguelen was his name, an early friend from her days in the apace academy years and years ago. Thitaya was happy and a bit sad at the same time, then she turned out to her friend.

          “Virgil?” Thitaya said acknowledging his presence. “Hey Thitaya…” Virgil responded lowly. “So… how is Rogan?” he continued.

          “She’s pretty hard on herself… I don’t blame the girl…” Thitaya answered with a crude sigh.

          “Where is she now?” Virgil asked blinking “She’s gone off to investigate the murder… she should be in the Admiral’s office” Thitaya explained slowly.

          “Shouldn’t you be with her Thitaya?” Virgil said quirking an eyebrow.

          “I have other things to attend to…” Thitaya answered back sighing again and turning back to face out the window.

          “Thitaya… she’s your best friend…” Virgil added suddenly. “She’ll be alright…” Thitaya grunted.

          “Your hopeless sometimes… you know that?” Virgil commented turning off and walking back down the hall. Thitaya sighed and turned around to watch him leave. Maybe he’s right…Thitaya pushed away from the window and headed into down after Virgil.