Rookie

Kaori activated her battlesuit for the first time, taking in a big, calming breath. The electroactive polymers, carbon-fiber plates and nanotechnology that formed the mechatronic system designed to enhance and protect her body, boasting her strength and endurance, wrapped her willowy frame, making her look tougher and meaner.

The helmet closed on her head, mind-controlled through a microchip implanted at the base of her skull. The whole battlesuit vanished inside a flat backpack – the battlesuit unit – when not needed, and it had stayed in her locker until now.

Following her teammates moves, she grabbed her shotgun and put it on stun, since they weren't supposed to kill anyone. But they needed to be ready to control the expected crowds of fans that had flocked to the Mega Arena for that special occasion.

The station had not only the biggest arena of the galaxy for all kinds of shows – music, theater, 3D movies – but also a big mall and restaurants and hotels for whoever came from far away to see a concert or other live performance. It had low-gravity stages with no live audience and normal stages for big productions with a whole town built around them, including a precinct of the Galaxy Police.

Security was enforced by the Galaxy Police, since the Mega Arena was an interplanetary space station. And they had requested more men for crowd control, hence a star-cruiser and three mini-cruisers were now docked in the station's spaceport. The crews were housed in a condo block behind the precinct and the ships' captains had deferred command to the precinct captain.

Kaori had been on the station for two days, preparing for the big event, and she had managed to see some of it. The streets were straight and wide, unlike the maze of alleys of her native Xi-kong. Even the smells were different – actually, almost absent, sucked out by vents. No real plants or flowers lined the tidy streets, and the whole town under its fake sky felt very aseptic. But she'd have to get used to that, to spending the rest of her life in non-natural environments.

The current show was a big success. It was a musical, written by Rashaun Khanna with songs by Jay-lee Nikolia, starring Kay-low Meraini, Astrid N'ardi, Selinda Angelle and Zafar Nagarkar in a production by Kiran Hatcherd and Ker-ris Shermac, directed by former Imperial prince Kol-ian Vaurabi.

Lots of big names and lots of people curious to see a former king of music perform with the descendant of the last Sire Emperor. Both Zafar Nagarkar, formerly known as Zaphadin, and Kay-low Meraini, also known as Stardust Kay-low, hadn't performed live in ten years after accidents at their last galactic tour.

It was a big production with dozens of dancers and singers and actors playing smaller parts, and the tickets were quite pricey, but the shows had been always sold out. Kaori couldn't afford to see any of it live, but she had watched a recording and had been impressed by the costumes and stage props and light effects as much as the story itself.

So far the production had gone smoothly, but the rabid fans of the two singers added up with the ones of movie star Astrid N'ardi and sometimes things had gotten a little rough. Kaori wasn't surprised that both Zaphadin and Stardust Kay-low had stopped doing live shows. No wonder the Mega Arena precinct had called for backup.

Barely out of the Galaxy Police Academy, after a few months with a Field Training Officer, she'd volunteered to join the crew of a GP mini-cruiser to get off the orbital station that held the central command of the Galaxy Police.

The first time she had worn the black uniform and showed up at Command Central she had felt like a fish out of water. She was petite and from a patriarchal planet where women were considered close to nothing, and she feared the rest of the galaxy would treat her like her home world.

Then her Field Training Officer showed up, and it was a woman, Cyrstal Jackstadt – a sergeant who had worked in the field of galactic law enforcement for fifteen years – who told her about equality and same duties and rights and all that stuff, which had relieved her of some anxiety.

Kaori had found the perfect teacher. She had gained confidence, and she had the physical fitness standards. She even had some extra points because her twin brother, Akio, had secretly taught her some self-defense moves.

Then she had joined the crew of the Cosmic Scout that had been sent to the Mega Arena – the space station almost as big as a planet that orbited in the solar system of former Imperial planet Marc'harid – for an event that promised to be very successful, but also a nightmare for security forces.

At twenty-two, she was the youngest crew member onboard the Cosmic Scout, but everybody seemed to be happy to have her in the team. Instead of just one FTO she now had a dozen, including the sister of her first trainer, engineer Veronica Jackstadt. She had gray eyes, a tall build and close-cropped wavy brown-black hair, so she didn't look like her elder sister, but they had the exact same voice. Thus sometimes when Veronica spoke, if she wasn't looking, Kaori thought she was back at Command Central.

The crew of the Cosmic Scout had been briefed upon arrival about the situation. The main performers slept on the nearby planet, Marc'harid, and flew in and out every day, which meant a double shift in the station spaceport when they arrived or they left. There was always a little crowd of screaming fans waiting for them, hoping to get a glimpse or an autograph.

The musical had a limited time showing, since all the actors, singers and dancers wanted to go back to their lives after a one-year-run. And it would soon be over – the last performance was expected to be more crowded than ever and the GP was ready for extra security measures.

Upon arrival, after the compulsory rest, Kaori had volunteered for a shift with the drunk wagon patrols, the busiest unit on the precinct, since people who came to the Mega Arena liked to get drunk in public. She hoped that round had given her some experience in searching people, handcuffing them and taking them to the jail.

Hopefully she wouldn't have to arrest anyone today. It was time for the cast and crew to come in from the nearby planet and as usual there were dozens of fans waiting. Actually more, according to an officer working at the Mega Arena all year. Kaori joined her colleagues in cordoning the area so the most famous faces could go by unmolested.

She stood as far as she could from her assault team leader who dwarfed her and everybody else. Tommie Thaman was a S.E.T.H. – Super-Enhanced Trans-Humanoid – who didn't need a battlesuit. His body was a killing machine in itself, and he didn't even need a gun. He had set his killer artificial hands to stun as much as they had, but Kaori could tell she wasn't the only one impressed by his looks and his height.

The crew of the Cosmic Scout was used to him, but there weren't many enhanced officers in the Galaxy Police yet, so Officer Thaman was really an exception. Kaori was glad she had the opportunity to work with him, although he could probably do things none of the others could. He looked even less human than them, although the battlesuits made them look like cyborgs or robots.

There came the Haiduc, a private cruise ship that could hold a family or two. First came out the main performers, and the fans started screaming and waving their hands wildly to catch their attention.

Kaori just watched as Kay-low, holding Jay-lee's hand, Zaphadin and Astrid rushed through the landing area and hid in the waiting flying limo with Selinda and Rashaun. The fans pressed on her back as the director and producers followed the performers into the limo.

Officer Thaman closed the bulletproof limo door behind them, and it took off towards the stage, followed by the little crowd.

"Let's get to the venue!" Captains screamed orders and each team climbed on a GP van that took them to the venue faster than the screaming fans. The flying limo had deposited its occupants in the backstage that had no outside doors.

The Galaxy Police spread along the stage and around the entrances where people already lined up with their tickets, ready to take their seats. Kaori's team, headed by Officer Thaman, was displayed in front of the stage that was as tall as the S.E.T.H. officer.

Kaori stood stiffly, with her shotgun on her shoulder, staring straight ahead as if she was in a military review. She felt sloppy and uneasy and even a little scared by the crowd that was slowly filling the seats.

"Hey, let's imagine these people are here to see us!" Neomi joked next to her, elbowing her. Neomi Racine was twenty-five and seemed to genuinely like Kaori. It hadn't been long since she was a rookie herself, so she probably could relate. She had fair skin and brown eyes and she hated dudes/damsels in distress as much as Okan Suko liked them, which meant they often bickered about "helpless assholes" – like she called them – or "helpless victims" – like he said.

Kaori's lips trembled into a smile and she tried to relax. She dared to glimpse at her other neighbor, Okan Suko, and he smiled and winked at her. He had attractive features and pasty skin. His favorite sin was vanity, since he made sure he always looked perfect even after action. He liked tortured pasts like his and expensive but unnecessary things.

She exhaled, trying to relax. Team work. Her team would cover her and she would cover them.

"It's a piece of cake, Kaori," Okan whispered, leaning towards her. "Don't worry, we're fine."

Crowd control scared her more than she wanted to admit. She knew that the officers at the entrance had metal detectors and sniffer dogs to prevent weapons and drugs being brought into the venue but the sheer number of people...

And this was a large, public gathering like she'd never seen before. Suddenly it seemed there weren't enough black uniforms to prevent the outbreak of crowd crushes or fights involving drunk and disorderly people. Keeping the crowd comfortable and relaxed was also essential, but Kaori started to see the audience as dangerously excited.

"Have you done this before?" she dared to ask.

"No, but we have battlesuits," Neomi shrugged. "We won't get hurt."

"Relax, Kaori," Okan said. "We don't get called often for crowd control, but we can handle it!"

A fence between the front seats and the stage had left them a narrow corridor to stand on. Kaori checked again that her gun was on stun just before the lights went down.

Showtime. Kaori gritted her teeth and straightened her back. She was ready.

***

Things deteriorated during curtain calls. Kaori had lost count of how many times the cast had returned to the stage already. And there wasn't a live orchestra, or the final bow would have been even more crowded that it already was.

Kaori was certain they were breaking a galactic record with the number of final bows when she noticed the audience pushing against the frontline fences. Crowd crushes could cause many hundreds of fatalities and even though there were three hospital-starships ready to land on the Mega Arena, it still felt like a daunting task.

When the fence of the front seats broke for the pressure of bodies against it, Kaori panicked. The people falling towards her made her react as if she were under attack. She took her shotgun and fired.

"What are you doing?" Okan screamed in her comm.

Horrified, Kaori dropped her gun as bodies crashed on her and pinned her to the stage.

"Crowd crushing, bring in low-G," Officer Thaman transmitted.

Kaori held her breath as the artificial gravity of the venue was lowered, taking off the weight of bodies that slightly rose above ground. Even the cast floated all over the stage. Kaori grabbed the stage to keep her position, but her heart threatened to explode.

"Take cast backstage." Again Officer Thaman.

The battlesuits had jets, therefore they could move even in low-gravity, unlike the helpless audience and performers. Kaori activated hers and followed Neomi and Okan on the stage.

Still panicking, she put her arm around Astrid N'ardi's waist and pulled her towards the backstage, where she deposited her in normal G with a huff. She had trouble breathing, panic was choking her.

Someone touched her face, sending soothing waves into her brain. You're fine. Just breathe deeply, you're doing just fine.

I shot the audience! She wanted to scream, but her voice didn't come out. The hand covered her vision and she closed her eyes tight, trying to regain control.

Your gun was on stun. They will recover. Calm down, it's fine.

Kaori inhaled deeply and finally managed to regain control of her emotions. She wasn't sure it was all her, probably whoever had talked into her head had helped.

Rookie mistake. Won't happen again. She opened and closed her hands as someone patted her shoulder.

"Kaori?" Neomi's worried voice shook her. "It's not over yet, get moving!"

Kaori snapped her eyes open. She caught a glimpse of green eyes and dazzling smile, and then she rushed back to the stage.

Half of the police force was trying to push the audience towards the exits instead of to the front. The rest, including Kaori and her teammates, quickly took the cast off the stage. As soon as the venue was less crammed, gravity was slowly brought back to normal, allowing everybody to walk away without being hurt.

A few people stayed on the ground, either stunned or too hurt to walk, but soon the paramedics surrounded them and took care of them.

Kaori switched off her jets with a huff, grabbed her shotgun and rushed to the GP van with the others. They needed to go back to the spaceport and see the main cast safely away from the Mega Arena.

The flying limo deposited its passengers at the spaceport where already a crowd had gathered. Obviously some had left before the last curtain call so they could be there waiting for their idols. Kaori was glad her helmet filtered some of the screaming or she'd be deaf by now.

Astrid N'ardi stopped to thank her, white teeth gleaming on her bronze skin and blue eyes full of gratitude. The others also stopped to thank the officers who had taken them safely away from the stage and Kaori felt proud of her job, her minor mistake almost forgotten.

And then Ker-ris Shermac's green eyes stopped on her. She recognized them from the blur of the action and knew immediately it was him who had helped her regain control after her lapse. His smile confirmed her feeling, even though this time he didn't speak inside her head.

"You are Kaori Ikagoru, aren't you?" he asked.

The head of the House of Shermac was sixty-three but still one of the most handsome men of the galaxy. Kaori had never been so close to him and she couldn't help but gape. She remembered to close her mouth, gulped and nodded.

"Thank you for... what you did," she whispered, not sure of what he had actually done.

He waved it off. He had obviously something else on his mind. "My son married Mayumi Ikagoru, are you by any chance related?"

Puzzled, Kaori frowned in concentration. She wasn't sure. She didn't know of any Xi-kongian woman marrying a Sire.

"Why should they tell her anything?" Kol-ian Vaurabi chided his lover. "She's a girl, and from Xi-kong."

Five years younger, dark haired and as tall as Ker-ris, Kaori saw a lot of him in his son, Kay-low Meraini. Both were linked to gorgeous men and they were even physically alike. Kaori remembered when Stardust Kay-low had blond hair, but it was gone since.

Ker-ris rolled his eyes. "You're right, amatan." He turned back to her. "Can you tell me who your parents are, Kaori? We've seen the file on the Ikagoru twins at the School for Gifted Children of Xi-kong..."

Twins? Kaori frowned. Her father sometimes mentioned having had twin siblings – it obviously ran in their family. But she had never met any twin relatives, although her father seemed grateful she and Akio were "normal", whatever that meant.

Nobody had ever mentioned a school for gifted children either.

"There is no such school," she protested.

"She doesn't have any special power," Kol-ian smiled. "Unlike the twins. Akira and Mayumi were indeed gifted."

"Akira is dead," Ker-ris said. "Mayumi is on Marc'harid. So you're Kazuo's daughter."

"How do you know?" she protested.

"I'm Sire," he replied gently. "Your mind is like an open book to me. Know that your father's sister is alive and you have two cousins on the Sire planet, although they're younger than you."

"I do?"

"Yes, Iso-bel Aya is fifteen, Dan-ylo Akira is twelve. When you get some time off, you could come over and meet them."

"Oh." Kaori was too stunned to comment.

"Great job," Kol-ian told her. "Thank you for keeping us safe."

Both men turned to leave. Kaori watched them move in sync as they caught up with the rest of the cast and went into the Haiduc.

Officer Thaman told them to go and rest. They'd go back to the Cosmic Scout the next morning. Still lost in thoughts, Kaori deactivated the battlesuit. She dropped the shotgun and went for a meal with her teammates at the precinct canteen.

She told them about the meeting and Camila Kingston scoffed. A blonde from Wega, she was really tough in Kaori's eyes. She had an interesting tattoo and long dark red hair. She was charismatic and very wise. She liked members of the same sex and total innocence.

Kaori had noticed that Camila would do anything to advance her career, and hoped she'd never end up under her ruthless command. Although she was a woman and she could tell Camila liked her both for her looks and for her innocence.

"Those darn Sire telepaths..." Camila commented. "I'm glad they don't control the galaxy anymore. Can you imagine living with someone who knows your every single thought?"

Kaori didn't comment on that. When there was still a Sire governor on Xi-kong, things weren't that bad, apparently. She'd been born ten years after the death of the last emperor, so she had only hearsay to rely on.

But after the Sire control was gone, the mob bosses had taken the reins of government and imposed their misogynistic rules to the whole planet, and she knew everything about those. As a girl, she hadn't been allowed to know much. Luckily her better half was male, and Akio had always done his best to pass on to her whatever was taught to him.

He had been allowed to go to school. He had been trained at the local martial arts school. He could go out with his friends and visit places while she was stuck at home with her mother and sisters.

Akio had given her a vision of the Star Nations that had made her long for freedom. Hence at the end of secondary school, he had cut her long hair and told her to embark on a tour of the Star Nations in his place. The only catch was she couldn't come back, or she'd be punished and locked up, probably forcibly married to some enforcer of their boss.

Thus Kaori had run away with her brother's ID and found refuge in the Galaxy Police Academy. She'd had to work much harder at first, since she lacked some basics, but she'd soon become one of the best students of her course. Still, it was almost a miracle that she'd made it into the Galaxy Police!

"And is it possible that my father's sister married a Sire?" Kaori asked. Maybe the unknown Aunt Mayumi had managed to get away, much like she had done. Apparently she too had a twin, and maybe he had covered her escape, like Akio had done with her.

"Why not?" Neomi shrugged.

"It's not really the wedding of the century, but I believe the marriage of Shan-leo Shermac didn't go unnoticed," Okan added. "And now that you make me think about it, yes, his wife is from Xi-kong and has your family name."

"You probably need to catch up on gossip," Stephen said. "I hear girls are quite sheltered on Xi-kong."

Stephen Gaetani was twenty-nine and always smiling. He had open features, wavy black hair and a short, lean build. His favorite sin was lust and he talked openly about sex – which sometimes shocked Kaori. Another good Field Training Officer who didn't mind Kaori's sometimes dumb questions that made Camila Kingston smirk. And he was a good friend of Okan, who was also from Xi-kong, hence he probably saw her as Okan's younger sister.

Kaori nodded, determined. After the meal, she retired to the condo to study. Her apartment was barely a room with a bed and an attached bathroom, but it was enough for her current needs. She opened her laptop and time flew while she updated herself on galactic news.

A yawn interrupted her research. She showered and prepared for bed, sitting on her mattress and checking what time it was on Xi-kong. Drat, too late to call. She should have done it immediately. She sighed. Never mind. She'd talk to her twin tomorrow before breakfast.

Akio was still on the home planet. Nobody had actually bothered to come looking for the fugitive girl with no particular gifts. Their father's anger hadn't lasted and Akio still worked at the factory owned by the Horio Family, four years after her escape.

She lay down to sleep and switched off the light. So much to learn, so little time! Sleep won her almost immediately.

***

"I've heard how you guys helped with the final show at the Mega Arena!" Akio's smile seemed to shine even on video. "I'm very proud of you, sister!"

"Wait, you mean I was on the news?" Kaori frowned, braiding her long black hair for the day as she stared at her brother's face on the laptop screen.

"Yep, I got a glimpse of you in your battlesuit, taking that actress off the stage!" Akio chuckled. "I think even our father recognized you, but he didn't say anything."

"Which reminds me why I called," she said. "Did he tell you about twin siblings? A school for gifted children? Or Aunt Mayumi who married a Sire?"

Akio stared at her. "You heard about that?"

She rolled her eyes. "I have now," she snapped. "Because Ker-ris Shermac mentioned it to me after the show! So, is it true?"

"Yes." Akio nodded, thoughtful. "We were about five when the news of Shan-leo Shermac's wedding made the rounds. We couldn't care less, of course, but Father kept an image of that day. So one day, after you were gone, I asked him about the picture and he told me about the twins who had vanished in that secret school-lab along with his cousin Yoshio."

Kaori sighed. "So what did you do?" she asked. "Did you try to contact our cousins on Marc'harid or not?"

"Oh. I didn't really think about that. You think we should?"

"I don't know, I'm about to leave on the Cosmic Scout, so I doubt I'll be able to meet them anytime soon, but maybe you can?"

Akio's smile returned. "I'll do that, sister!" he promised. "You stay safe on that mini-cruiser. I'm very proud of you." He winked. "We all are."

"Including Father?" she asked with a shaky voice.

"Especially Father," he answered. "Although he'd never admit it, so don't ever mention it to him. He boasts you're dead, but I know he's secretly happy you made it off Xi-kong and are carving yourself a career in the Galaxy Police."

"How do you know, are you a telepath?" she asked.

He laughed. "No, but he keeps hinting I should get my ass out of here and maybe join the Galaxy Police... where do you think he got the idea? Of course he knows where you are, dear!"

"Then why don't you join me?" she said. "What a team we could be!"

"I have my reasons to stay here," he answered. "Now go report to your captain, I wouldn't want that S.E.T.H. sergeant to punish you!"

She giggled. "Officer Thaman won't punish me. He's not as mean as what he looks! Love you, Akio..."

She signed off and quickly finished packing. She was late for breakfast, but luckily she didn't eat much first thing in the morning, so she was done quicker than anybody else.

The crew went back to the Cosmic Scout where Captain Natalya Ocano congratulated them for their work at the Mega Arena – and didn't mention anything about Kaori stunning the crowd, although her large bronze eyes lingered longer on Kaori's face.

She had long straight medium brown hair and a stocky build. Kaori knew the captain was aware of her mistake, and she was happy nobody dwelt on it. She promised herself she'd keep calm next time.

Then the captain briefed them on their next mission. They were going to escort a hospital starship to New S.E.T.H. World. The spacecraft carried tetraplegic Humanoids who had decided to upload their minds and either remain in the virtual reality of the meganet or download it in new and fully functioning artificial bodies – much like Tommie Thaman had done after a near-death accident on the job, which had turned him into the first GP S.E.T.H. officer.

"Nobody will attack a hospital starship, hopefully, but the Star Nations still want us to keep an eye on them. I believe the fact that we have the only S.E.T.H. officer onboard helped. Tommie can have his body checked upon arrival."

"I'll need to replace a couple of things," Tommie Thaman said with a nod. "It's starting to wear off and I'm sure there are upgrades available that weren't ready three years ago."

Kaori stared awed at the S.E.T.H. who had slightly reduced his height inside the mini-cruiser but was still the tallest man onboard. Parts of his human body were still visible, especially the face, but most of it was just machinery that made him even more powerful than a normal Humanoid with a battlesuit.

He was more than a cyborg, he was the next step of humanity – sort of. He was a war machine and supposedly the Star Nations were at peace. But then, sometimes security or control were necessary and words were not enough, so a tough trans-human soldier was the only way.

Kaori settled back into the routine of ship shifts. The crew had become her new family. First mate Damien Hyland had short straight medium brown hair, very attractive features, narrow light brown eyes and dark skin. He was a little grumpy whenever he had to act as captain, as if he didn't like the responsibility of command.

Navigators were Hank Vangelos, who had attractive features and loudly disliked the adoration of the masses, gratuitous violence, and foolish bravery, and Victorina Dowe, compact build and golden-brown skin who disliked the 'bad boy/girl' look, stoicism, and flattery.

Comm officers were Gaston Zahra, who had almost black eyes and sounded annoyed by strict codes of honor, elaborate schemes, and creepy crawly things. He was brave and very reliable, though. He loved any sort of aristocracy, the status quo, and excessive alcohol. And then there was Phoebe Scofield, wavy strawberry blond hair and large blue-green eyes. She was fast and very friendly.

Lenard Rocheford was in charge of the infirmary. He had bronzed skin and short gray hair. He seemed worried by the thought that tetraplegics could upload their minds and become normal again. But at the same time he looked hopeful that it could be the cure for Locked-in Syndrome patients.

Kaori had learned his daughter had LIS and if the experiment on tetraplegics worked, he'd take Mayme to New S.E.T.H. World for the mind upload as soon as their mission ended. Kaori wondered what it could be like to be aware but unable to move or communicate verbally due to complete paralysis of nearly all voluntary muscles in the body except for the eyes.

"It's very all very tricky," Lenard told her as they ate together in the starship common room on the way to the rendezvous with the hospital starship. "I've seen cyborg suits for disabled people, but this is different. Are they going to fix the real problem or make it worse?"

"You don't trust technology, doctor?" she asked, surprised. Hospitals could remotely check the health of patients. The technology inside the bodies could talk to the outside world – talking to other apps on the meganet and fixing problems when they arose.

"What if the device that processes information takes control of the body it's supposed to keep healthy? What if implants grow a personality or stop working? New technologies break down, have unexpected consequences, and sometimes simply don't work as we expect them to." Lenard snorted, frustrated. "We might be used to cyborgs, but I don't know where this is going. Who does the upgrade of an old gadget?"

"Um... whoever made it in the first place?" Kaori said, unsure.

"And who made it? Who own the patent genetic breeds or implants?"

"The lab that built them?"

"Kaori, just imagine a gadget – mechanical or electronic – is implanted in your body..."

"I have the battlesuit microchip, doctor."

"Right, well, how do you make sure it's not bugged? How do you know if the code works? Who do you complain to if it breaks or stops functioning? What if the implant is hacked? Who is liable for your gadget?"

"Er... the Galaxy Police?"

"In your case, yes. But put yourself in somebody else's shoes. I heard Sylvanians were tied to their home-planet as soon as they had one tiny implant. The Galaxy Police owns Tommie's body, so to speak. Is that fair? Who will own those people's artificial bodies?"

"Maybe you can buy a body for your daughter?" she suggested.

He scoffed. "I'll never be able to afford it, honey. Just pray your body is never disabled, or whoever gives you a second chance will own you for life!"

Kaori touched the microchip, uneasy.

"That's easily taken out," he said with a shrug. "It's more important implants that become another kind of prison, in my opinion." He sighed. "Anyway, we'll see what happens on S.E.T.H. World... it's a scientific interplanetary station, not a greedy corporation, so they might do things right."

The Fast Observer was a spacecraft three times bigger than the Cosmic Scout. Its sensors were slightly above average, and the crew of forty-five had been integrated with medical personnel to take care of the patients. Luckily both cargo and passenger space were good and equipped properly for the trip.

The big starship had gathered people from all the Humanoid hospitals of the Star Nations. After a first batch of paraplegics who had received new, mechanical legs, it was the turn of tetraplegics, who needed much more than just legs.

Gaston and Phoebe had to work hard to keep in touch, because the ship had very low-quality communication equipment. Kaori  spent most of her time on the deck, trying to learn new skills from the navigators and the comm officers.

She was present when the captain of the Fast Observer requested men to arrest someone. Captain Ocano sent Officer Thaman, as usual, and Kaori volunteered to go with him. She didn't wear the battlesuit unit, but did grab her gun before rushing to the teleport room.

The captain of the bigger starship was also a woman. She has dark skin, straight brown hair and narrow light blue eyes. She nodded at the two cops and said, "Ty Butremovic. He attacked our passengers with a knife."

A knife? Kaori couldn't believe her ears as she quickly checked her tablet. Ty Butremovic, twenty-six, from Serenaide, boarded with the medical personnel. Why did he turn against his patients?

"Where?" Officer Thaman was laconic as usual. Sometimes Kaori wondered if he'd been like that before the accident that had turned him into a trans-human.

The captain pointed at a section of the bigger starship. Kaori ran as fast as she could to keep up with the S.E.T.H. officer. The starship had no security, hence the intervention of the Galaxy Police. The crew was petrified at the sight of the killing spree, and Kaori understood why soon enough.

They found the trail of blood first. The victims sometimes moaned, sometimes were still. Kaori gagged at the smell, but managed not to throw up and to keep control. She had never seen so many bloodied people in her life, not even when a gang war had hit close to her home on Xi-kong.

The killer was in one of the patients' rooms – the fourth of the ten-people dormitories of the starship. Both Kaori and Officer Thaman rushed to stop him as he stabbed an old woman who was screaming helplessly.

The man fought them and Kaori hissed in pain as the blade of the knife cut her arm, but Officer Thaman's superior strength quickly got the best of the attacker. Kaori pressed her hand on the cut as Officer Thaman handcuffed him without even looking at him.

Kaori took a good look at Butremovic. He had long brown-black hair, a short, stocky build and a shifty expression. He glared at them, but mostly at Officer Thaman, who dragged him back to the main deck without gentleness.

Nurses and doctors were already taking care of the victims and soon a couple of them came to report on the killing spree. The ship carried one hundred and fifty patients between nineteen and seventy-five years old. About forty were over sixty.

"At least nineteen dead and twenty-six injured," the captain announced flatly. "Nine women and ten men from eighteen to seventy years old unable to defend themselves. And even the wounded were all equally helpless."

"I did it because it's better that disabled people disappear," Butremovic said through clenched teeth. "You want to give them new bodies, but they're better off dead!"

"Shut up!" Officer Thaman slapped him so hard he almost threw the young man to the ground. "We'll keep him restrained," he added, turning to the captain. "We'll make sure to dump him on the first GP star-cruiser that comes in the quadrant."

The mini-cruisers didn't really have much jail space, but there was a small cell in case the crew arrested someone. Officer Thaman locked up Butremovic under Lenard Rocheford eyes.

Then the doctor grabbed Kaori's good arm and dragged her to the infirmary to tend her flesh wound.

"I'm fine, doctor," she said with a shaky voice.

"That son of a bitch," he muttered. Butremovic had repeated his opinion on disabled people quite loudly as they locked him up. "Sometimes I think Mayme would be better off dead too. But she's my daughter, how can I kill her?"

"Maybe you should go on the Fast Observer and give a hand with the wounded," Kaori suggested as he finished to bandage her cut.

"Nah. They're a hospital ship, they're fully equipped..."

"It would keep your mind busy, doctor."

He stared at her and slowly smiled.

"You're right, Kaori. You're very smart. You'll go a long way in the GP, I'm sure."

She smiled back and watched him go to the teleport room. She better go back to the deck and see if there was anything else to do. She was still too upset to try to get some sleep.

No real action, but the thought of those people killed on their way to be restored to normality... Kaori sighed. At least she hadn't panicked. She kept learning new skills to become a multi-tasking crew member. Her team bonded a little more with every mission.

It was really a big bad galaxy out there. But she'd do her best to keep everybody safe.

***

After the journey to New S.E.T.H. World, the Cosmic Scout went back towards the Humanoid planets and was enrolled in a big police action on Xi-kong. Before the actual operation took place, Captain Natalya Ocano called Kaori and Okan Suko in her cabin.

"I know you're sworn to the Galaxy Police, but since you're both originally from Xi-kong, I want to let you know more details about the next mission," she said. "This intensive investigation on the Xi-kongian mob has been going on for a full year and we're finally ready to nail most of the bosses for various felonies, including drug trafficking and murder."

"How come the Galaxy Police is investigating on a single planet?" Okan Suko asked.

"Because the mob families are expanding their reach beyond Xi-kong and now have ties to the galactic underworld. Xi-kong seems to have become a second Friport, and we can't allow a planet full of civilians to become a nest of criminals."

"But someone will step in to fill the shoes of the big shots behind bars. The black and gray markets will keep functioning."

"We are aware of that. Okan, the largest crime group on Xi-kong has split into two main factions, which might lead to a gang war that may easily go beyond the planet's surface, especially now that the Gaians gangsters of the continent called Asia have joined the local families."

"I think I saw the first Gaian gangsters on Xi-kong a few years ago," Kaori said shyly. "Some of them came from the Yakuza that had gone underground on their planet, others from the Triads, that seemingly followed the same fate, so when they heard there was a Humanoid planet with people that looked like them, they easily immigrated on Xi-kong, bringing their own rules to the game."

"Gangsters are gangsters everywhere," the captain snapped. "And we will take care of them. The planet should have a democracy ruling them, not a bunch of gangsters who do what they please."

"We totally agree with that," Okan said. "I know there are movements against the mobsters lately, inspired by the Gaian anti-Yakuza movements, so it might be the right time to intervene and bring back some law and order on Xi-kong. Since the Imperial Governor left, it's gotten worse and worse."

"Exactly." Captain Ogano nodded. "Are you ready to help your planet recover its independence?"

"My family works in a factory run by the mob, but is not really tied to the families," Kaori said. "I mean, if the factory goes under the government instead of the Horio Family it doesn't change anything for us."

"I guess it's the best thing for everyone. The mob controlling who gets what job isn't the best thing in the universe. I'm glad we'll be back to a normal form of government," Okan added.

"Good. Then suit up and be ready to join the assault team on this raid."

Both Kaori and Okan saluted and went to grab their battlesuit unit.

The Cosmic Scout joined a small fleet of star-cruisers and mini-cruisers of the Galaxy Police headed for Xi-kong. The formations meant the bigger ships, with three hundred crew members, where usually sided by two mini-cruisers each for additional support, since the smaller ships were easier to maneuver.

The star-cruiser landed near the designated town or mansion or place where a mob boss lived and the mini-cruisers stayed in the air to make sure nobody escaped. The assault teams in the mini-cruisers were ready to jump or be teleported wherever needed, in case the star-cruiser's crew wasn't enough.

"They definitely want to put everybody behind bars," Okan muttered, staring at the back of Officer Thaman artificial body now fully operational and even more deadly than before after the stop on New S.E.T.H. World.

Kaori thought it was high time. Xi-kong had no real right to sit at the High Council of the Star Nations until it was ruled by a group of gangsters. She didn't want it to end like Duumme, the misogynistic planet that had been declassified almost thirty years earlier as a "civilized world" and then had been depopulated since its inhabitants wouldn't abide by the rules. Xi-kong was very close to becoming a pain in the Star Nations' metaphorical ass and could easily end up like Duumme.

She looked forward to seeing a new Xi-kong, where maybe women wouldn't be so mistreated. She also hoped to be welcomed back on her home-planet – if not as a savior, at least as a family member. She looked forward to hugging Akio and maybe seeing her father again after four years.

"Attempted escape," Phoebe Scofield warned through the comm.

Officer Thaman signaled the assault team to follow him. Kaori activated the battlesuit and held her shotgun tighter as she went to the Cosmic Scout's door and prepared to jump. The jets of the battlesuit would help with a smooth landing, possibly on the people who were trying to escape.

The gangsters had taken a flying car, but the heavy frame of Officer Thaman trashed them to the ground. Furious, the runaway mobsters jumped out of the destroyed machine with guns blazing, but the battlesuits held and shielded the assault team from the bullets.

Kaori recognized the most wanted man his goons were trying to protect and rushed his way. The man was bigger than her and he scowled at the sight of her, but she was enhanced by the bodysuit. She tried to stun him but her gun was jammed, so she threw it away and kept running towards him.

He smirked and pulled out a small gun, but by then she gracefully jumped and landed feet first on his chest, making him fall on his back with a groan. She swiftly turned him around with a martial art move that Akio had taught her and that caught him by surprise.

"Where did you learn that?" he demanded as she handcuffed him.

"My brother taught it to me," she answered, still panting from the brief run and action. "Horio School."

He cursed her but by then he was restrained. She pulled him back to his feet and pushed him towards the star-cruiser, where she gave him to the bigger ship security to be locked up.

"Well done, Kaori!" Neomi patted her shoulder as they headed back for the Cosmic Scout that had landed in the meadows behind the boss's mansion. "I'm impressed by your martial arts skills. I didn't know women were allowed into the local schools."

"They're not," she replied with a smile. "My brother taught me."

"Your brother must love you very much to risk his life to pass on the school's secrets to a girl," Okan commented, amused.

"He's my twin," she said.

"Ah! Well, in that case... Hope we get to meet him while we're here..."

Kaori wasn't so sure it was a good idea anymore. What if her father forced her to leave the Galaxy Police? Could he? Or would her new family on the mini-cruiser protect her?

Captain Ocano looked satisfied when they went back onboard. She commended Kaori for her catch and asked if she and Okan wanted to visit their families before the mini-cruiser took off again. The whole crew had a couple of days of rest on Xi-kong and Kaori decided it was time to go home.

She left her uniform and the battlesuit unit in her locker and wore civilian clothes again. The Cosmic Scout was parked at the main spaceport in the outskirts of the planet's capital, so she took the local fast train to her hometown with only a small back that contained a change of clothes. She had told Okan where she lived, in case they didn't allow her to leave, but hoped nothing would go wrong.

At the station, she noticed the small town looked very festive, but there were no festivals during that time of the year. They seemed to be celebrating the new freedom, with upcoming voting for a new mayor that wouldn't be chosen by the mob. The sky was gray with clouds but everybody was smiling.

The air was cool and the breeze brought smells of flowers to her nostrils. It felt good to breathe a planet's air again. During the action her battlesuit helmet had filtered it

She took an automated cab to her father's house. It wasn't a working day, so everybody would be at home to relax. Tomorrow they'd go back to the factory to do their boring job that paid the bills, but today they were free to celebrate the end of another working week – and a major victory over the Horio Family who had "owned" the town so far.

The streets had no sidewalks but walls enclosing the low houses. There weren't many skyscrapers on Xi-kong except at the capital or in towns where there were interstellar spaceports with high towers and antennae to compete with. Her hometown was mostly of low houses, except the government buildings that had two floors and less sliding roofs.

The automated cab left her in front of the gate. She entered in the courtyard and stopped to look at the house. Its bilateral symmetry of stone and wood with tiled roofs had a shrine at it center, while on the two sides were the bedrooms of the elders. The two wings of the building were for the junior members of the family and the living room, dining room and the kitchen.

The U-shaped building enclosed a small courtyard with a miniature garden. The tiled roofs had broad eaves and the sliding doors of wood and plaster were currently closed on the south side since the sun didn't seem to want to come out.

The smell of wood and damp earth and blossoming flowers was stronger in the enclosure of the stone walls.

Kaori took in a deep breath and headed for the front door. She left her shoes in the cupboard beside it and knocked on the door. Akio opened the sliding door and brightened at the sight of her.

"Kaori! I was hoping you'd show up! You were in that GP operation that swiped away the dons, weren't you?"

"Yes." She smiled. "I helped capture Okishi Boss, thanks to the moves you taught me."

He chuckled and hugged her, leading her through the house to the living room where their father sat with a cup of tea and a stern face.

"Father." She knelt in front of him and touched the floor with her forehead. "I have come to take your blessing for my career in the Galaxy Police."

"Mm, yes, I've heard of your feats," he said sternly. "Are you here with the force who are helping with cleaning this planet?"

"Yes, Father. I'm on the Cosmic Scout with Captain Ocano. I've been meaning to ask you, do you have a sister who moved to Marc'harid and married a Sire?"

Her father's lips twitched into a smile, but he kept the stern face.

"Yes, Mayumi married Shan-leo Shermac. My cousin Yoshio also found refuge on Marc'harid. But they were specially gifted Xi-kongians."

"So I've heard." She said. "I'm only human, but with what Akio taught me against all laws, I can make you proud too. I'm a Galaxy Police officer and even though I'm still a rookie, soon I'll be a full-fledged officer."

"Are those battlesuits really protecting you?" Her father frowned, but Akio – who had knelt next to her – chuckled.

"Father, they shot her and you see she's fine! We saw her on the meganet and in the news..."

"Yes, the battlesuits provide protection," Kaori added. "And even though they've been disabled in the past by unscrupulous criminals, it won't happen again. I'll be fine, Father."

"Then you have my blessing. Make the Ikagoru name great for something else than marrying a mighty Sire."

"I will, Father," she promised with a grin.

He hesitated, then took both twins in a bear hug. It was quick and manly, then he pushed them away and resumed his stern expression.

"Go now. You have work to do to keep this galaxy safe."

"We're leaving tomorrow," she answered. "I can catch the morning train back to the capital. Unless you already have enough of me..."

"No, no, I look forward to falling asleep talking to you!" Akio said. "Come, let's warn the kitchen there's one more person for dinner..."

Kaori was glad to be home. But she also looked forward to going back to her new family on the Cosmic Scout and become a true paladin of justice with the Galaxy Police. At least she knew now that she'd be welcome any time she came back to Xi-kong.

I must ask Akio if he went to Marc'harid to meet our cousins...

Although her twin seemed more taken by the thought of the wonderful girl he had met and not too keen to listen to her. He wanted her to meet the awesome girl who had stolen his heart and was the reason for his staying on Xi-kong.

Kaori smiled. Her twin was obviously in love and he'd respect his wife. As for her, she hadn't met anyone yet, but she was certain eventually someone at the GP would touch her heart. She hoped it wouldn't be a criminal, like the Mercenary who had seduced another Xi-kongian officer, Yuki Zihan, some thirty years earlier, but a wonderful detective who could team up with her.

Her career was just starting and she had her father's blessing. Everything would be all right in the big bad galaxy out there.