Love, Against All Odds

I Alpha - Chapter 1

A/N: I'm back everyone! I hope you guys didn't forget about this story ~

Kal sighed after rereading the first half of Commander Gaveston's message on the tablet about affairs in the other capital, Barrik. She rubbed her chin while reading his disconcerting news of the rebellious faction, Alpha Prime, which was attempting to penetrate the city and corrupt the people's minds. So far Gaveston was using an iron fist against the few rebels, seizing them late in the night under sleeping ears.

From her first day as Kal, Alpha Prime was a festering sore and earned much of Kal's attention because they fought to upend Kander. They had once preached that Earthlings were a disease on the planet and should be burned to ashes, eradicating their existence. But Alpha Prime had faded away after the civil war ended; at least Kal had thought so until news of their survival caught her ear.

So far, Alpha Prime's renewed movements had been minor and quiet, seeming to only recruit more members rather than actually fight back. During the civil war, they had been a volatile group, but now they were smarter and made it difficult to pinpoint their game plan. Kal was certain they still wished to wipe Earthlings off Kander, but she had no idea at what cost or how far they were willing to go.

Their leader, the High Alpha, was a mockery of the High Commander's role. His face and name remained a mystery, but Kal was determined to fish him out, somehow. So far her and Dorlon's attempts to bring him forward had failed, and she was tiring of the game. She just needed a good opening to encourage him to come out of the shadows.

Standing from the desk, Kal walked over to the fireplace and loaded more wood into it from the pile. She stood in front of the warmth for a moment, watching the reborn flames consume the fresh fuel. Reaching into her jacket's inner breast pocket, she retrieved the item that Becca had asked her to care for. She turned the metal item in her hands and studied it. Several times, she traced her thumb over its face and felt the faint crack in the glass. Did Becca ever use it? Or was it just hidden away so that Becca could forget about her time on Earth?

A firm knock at the sealed doors disrupted her thoughts. She called for the person to enter while she tucked the item back into her jacket.

Dorlon shut the door and hesitated, sniffing the air. 'You're troubled.'

Kal remained by the fireplace and allowed her commander to join her. She folded her arms and grumbled after Dorlon took her side. 'Gaveston reported that he captured a few members of Alpha Prime in Barrik.'

Dorlon nodded but remained silent, seeming to process the news.

'I may have to go to Barrik soon.'

'Gaveston can handle it,' Dorlon argued, looking up at her ruler. 'You're needed here, to keep the bastards out of this city. If they taint Tarrak, then Kalatas help us all.'

Kal frowned, which deepened the more she thought about the rebel faction. They were a slippery organization that preyed on anger and fear to bolster their cause.

'Your influence here is what keeps Alpha Prime from trying to come anywhere near.' Dorlon touched Kal's arm and whispered, 'I think they're targeting Barrik just to bait you so that you will leave Tarrak. Why else would they travel from Kardos to Drakko?'