Letter 01a, 21 Sept 2522
Text of a letter from Marina Kseniya Sebastien to Christian Edge.
Christian Edge, RC
Lucifer’s Landing, Angel
Kalidasa (Xuan Wu) system
Monday, 21 Sep 2522
Christian,
Some weeks ago, I sent a letter to Lem and told him to let you read it. I couldn’t tell him everything, obviously, but there are some things I think you should know now that I have more to tell.
1) Nika’s eyes. They were transplants and the operation went beautifully. There’s just one problem with them—they were transplants from a woman who had exchanged them for new ones because she’s a con artist, and apparently a notorious one judging by the caliber of the bounty hunters looking for her. After the procedure she got clean away. You can bet there are warrants outstanding on her and Nika’s going to ping the scanners as a criminal. So far, it hasn’t happened, but so far, we haven’t been in the Core long enough to get scanned. I don’t know if she’s told you about this facet of her operation and recovery, but in case she hasn’t, now you know.
And yes, I know I probably should NOT have mentioned it and I’ve probably crossed several lines doing it, but since it’s a potential operational hazard, I felt you should know. If you get a wave from us asking for bail money, you’ll know why.
2) I don’t know if Nika’s told you and I was intentionally vague in my letter to Lem, but we’ve exposed Ah Toy’s nasty secret and the authorities on Beaumonde have taken her for justice. What sort of justice, I don’t know. I hope it is what she deserves. You know I can be quite bloodthirsty when it comes to crimes like hers. Cooler heads may prevail, however, and she might get off with a life in prison without parole instead of the firing squad. Personally, I think even execution is too good for her. But that’s me.
3) I couldn’t tell Lem everything about Kiera, but you probably already know this from the others—in a fit of pique she sold us out to Potemkin. Indirectly so, since Byshek didn’t tell her exactly what Potemkin’s grudge against us was when she agreed to it. In her defense, she thought she was only punking us instead of handing us over to die and to her credit, she risked her life to save us when she found out. As much as it pained me to lose the Gift and for everything that happened to us as a result, I knew I couldn’t lose Kiera over this, too. She made a mistake. She paid for it. She came back to atone. I couldn’t let that go unacknowledged and I couldn’t let her go it alone. I forgave her, Christian. For everything. The months immediately afterward were somewhat awkward between me and the rest of the crew because of it. They felt—and not without reason—that I’ve taken sides, that I’d chosen her over them. They aren’t entirely wrong. Of all the people on our boat, it’s bitterly ironic that the most bloodthirsty of us would forgive her first and forgive her so completely. But I had to give her the second chance she paid so dearly for. My conscience demanded nothing less. Things are pretty much back to an even keel but for a while there I was sweating it. It’s come out well, though. Kiera’s one of us now and I don’t think anyone really doubts it.
Well, except maybe Arden.
4) Arden, like Nika, is not going to look like you remember him the next time we meet. Unlike Nika, it’s not his eyes, it’s his face. Ah Toy was responsible for him losing it. Mind, one of her minions actually did the deed—with acid, no less—but I hold Ah Toy ultimately responsible, since the woman had tortured her minion and broken her sanity to the point that spraying Arden with acid seemed an acceptable response. Seriously, the minion’s state was … Words fail, Christian. It was terrible. We saved the others like her and the rest of the sex slaves and they are now in proper hands getting the care they need.
Kiera moved heaven and earth to save Arden. She managed, but not without some cost. He looks different now. Arden’s still handsome, because Kiera’s the best damn plastic surgeon in the Verse and she won’t accept anything but the most beautiful possible outcome, but he looks different. There are still some small issues with rehab, but he’s healing. Physically, at any rate. I’m not sure how he is emotionally. He and I aren’t really close, even after 4 years of flying together, and he’s not really the emotionally sharing type. I’m really not sure how to respond. Growing up with four brothers who hated showing weakness isn’t doing me any favors here and this is one of the times I deeply wish you were here.
Even so, he and Nika have something in common now and I hope they are finding ways to share it. For sure, their frame of reference is different from ours by necessity and I hope it’s something that can help them both come back from what they’ve gone through. No one should have to go through this alone. Arden is alive and with us and still able to do what he does best and given how much he’s had to recover, that’s saying something. There is another benefit, one I’m not sure we’ve entirely mapped out: he no longer looks like Swordsman. I don’t know how Arden feels about it, if anything, but … I guess we’ll see if we ever cross paths with the man again.
5) Joshua. Yes. I hadn’t forgotten to mention him. I am not sure how to put it so I’ll just say it.
We’re getting married.
The date isn’t set. We haven’t the rings. I have the dress, though. I suppose my subconscious knew what was coming better than I did. You’ll like it. It’s red.
He’s a good man, Christian. You’ve met him and I hope you’ve seen what I see in him. And when we meet again, I hope you can put it into words for me, because God as my witness, I know I can’t. I only know what I feel and it’s telling me to make my life with him. Yes, me. With him. Falling in love and getting married like a normal person. And before you say it, no, I haven’t forgotten our talk on the porch. Which makes this all kinds of awkward. Even so, this is one of those times when I could really use your advice—even if it’s only to rebuke me with that look of yours.
You know the one I mean, don’t deny it. Yes, see? That one.
Joshua and I haven’t made much in the way of plans but it’s already decided. We want you and Lem to be at our wedding. Everything else is up in the air, thanks to our lives as cargo haulers, but when we have more of the details, I will let you know what they are.
And that’s pretty much it, really. When we’re next in Kalidasa, I will send you a wave. Take care of yourself, love, and give Lem an extra hug from me. And would it kill you to send me a picture of you sometime? I know Kiera’s dying of curiosity as to what you look like. For sure she’s heard enough about you and it’s time she got to put a face to your name—which I assure you is spoken with the utter reverence and awe that you deserve for putting up with us.
With affection,
Rina
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