A Tale Retold, RED MIST

Her Royal Guest

      "What the fuck.." 6 looked through the window at the dormitories. It was blocked by a giant structure. "Am I still dreaming..?"

...

   "Ship successfully docked." The automated voice commenced.
   The airlock opened, merging the giant ship with the station.
   0 and 7 was waiting on the outside of the airlock. Several moments later, a group of people entered the station, wearing a different tone of uniform, dark blue compared to the BVA grey. One of them was a woman, she wore a high novelty officer attire, red cape covering only left shoulder.
   "Welcome to the Black Vulture station." 7 said while bowing.
   "Ah.. the memories.. It's been long since I've been here." She said. On her belt was an idcard, with her picture and her name, read 'Dame. Luna Archambeau', force general of Galactic Swan Force. "I forgot how cramped this station is." She mocked.
   "It's a pleasure having the GS force into our station." 0 said.
   "Yeah sure.." Luna replied while rolling her eyes. "Anyway, the UHMF forced me to stay in here for several months, quite a pity." She sighed. "A shame, both for you and me. I hope the food here is suitable for my fancy appetite."
   "You know the condition here." 0 said. "Ever since the UHMF stopped funding us, we relied on food rations from habitable hubs."
   "You gotta be kidding me, right?" Luna made a disgusted face. "Ugh whatever, as long as the food is fresh. But I won't take any of that military ration. That thing disgust me."
   7 looked at 0 with uncomfortable face.
   "Now where is my room?" Luna asked.
   "7, would you be kind to show Miss Luna the dormitories?"
   "Dormitories!?" Luna shouted. "You don't have any personal rooms? What are you? Living in a wartime situation?"
   "Actually.. yes. Yes we are." 0 replied. "Although if you want a personal room, there is a choice. The infirmary."
   "Is there nothing better than that? I'll be staying for several months you know.. don't you be embarrassed? Treating your guest like this."
   "Well as you said, Miss Luna, we're in wartime, all the time. We treat everyone equal here.” 0 said.
   "What..?" Luna was holding her anger. "You know what.. whatever! But I want the bunk bed to be all mine! Bottom one for me and the top for my stuff!"
   "Alright, set. 7, please show her the way." 0 smirked.
   "On it, sir." 7 replied.

   On the way to the dorm, Luna was very talkative..
   "What's your name again?" She asked.
   "Seven." 7 said.
   "No, I mean.. your real name, duh.."
   "Yeah.. seven." She repeated.
   "Are you dumb? Just tell me your name. We're not used to numbers. Name please!" Luna pursued.
   "I'm not comfortable of saying my name to a stranger."
   "Stranger!? Who do you think I am? I'm not a stranger!" Luna replied. "I am a knight! The force general!"
   "Yes, I'm aware of that." 7 rolled her eyes. All this time she only talked to her through intercom, she never expected the person to be this annoying.
   "I'm hungry." Luna said. "Can we go to the dining hall first?"
   "No. We'll put your stuff at the dorm first." 7 refused.
   Luna sighed. "Fine.."

...

   "Man, this shit covered the scenery." 6 complained.
   They were at the observatory. The GSF ship was still docking, it was twice the size of the station, so it blocked the observatory window completely.
   "Who's coming anyway?" A man asked. Patch read 25.
   "Pretty sure it's the Galactic Swan. But I never expected them to come this fast. What an engineering, isn't it?" He glanced at 25. "Being able to travel several light years in such short amount of time."
   "Galactic Swan.." 25 nodded slowly in awe.
   "A royal military force. It was once a stand alone kingdom, but then it merged with the federation, turning into a military branch." 6 explained.
   "So this ship is once a kingdom..?" 25 asked.
   "No.." 6 chuckled. "This is merely one of their fleet. Their smallest unit. A ship that they referred as the mini shuttle."

...

   "7!" 943 came to her as 7 entered the dorm.
   "Hmm? What is it?" she asked.
   "491 just got out from the infirmary." She said.
   "Oh.. that's glad to hear." 7 replied.
   "Yep! Maybe you want to meet him?" She offered.
   "I'm.. a bit busy right now.." Her eyes pointed to Luna, who slowly approached them.
   "So? Where's my bed?" Luna asked.
   Her glamorous attire surprised 943.
   "Woah.." She was fascinated by it.
   "What?" Luna looked at 943. "943.." She read the patch. "Juniors.."
   "Uh.. excuse her.." 7 said. "She's the force general of the Galactic Swan Force."
   "Oh.. oh!" 943 immediately bowed down. "I'm sorry ma'am for the interruption."
   "Are you people like this all the time?" Luna asked.
   "I mean.. you're the highest rank in this whole station, aside from that old man." 7 said.
   "Heh.." Luna chuckled. "Old man.." Luna then patted 943's shoulder as she walked past her. "Straighten up girl, I don't like such treatment." She then glanced at 7. "So, where is it again?"

   After putting all her stuff and getting used to all the neighbours, 7 took Luna to the bathroom, where she put on the BVA uniform, as her initial attire was quite uncomfortable. Then they went to the dining hall, as per Luna request..

...

   Dining Hall,
   BVA Space Station..

   "Yeah, you can leave now." Luna was talking to her crew. "Nope, I'll be safe in here. Just tell Her Majesty about it. You know.. Edward can handle my work."
   They bowed down to her and bid their farewell. Luna then came back to the table where 7 was.

  "Well.. as per my knowledge.." Luna sat down beside 7. "There shouldn't be any Admiral on this force, right?"
   "Yeah.. we kinda don't need it. I handle all the admiral's work." 7 said.
   "Lucky you. From now on, I will be the acting admiral of the ship. As per direct protocol from UHMF." Luna smirked while staring at 7.
   7 sighed. "Will you do the work?"
   Luna laughed. "Absolutely not."
   "Yeah.. thought so." 7 rolled her eyes.
   7's eyes then caught a glimpse of 491. They were staring at each other. 491 noticed it and gave a warm smile and a little nod. 7 immediately blushed and looked at other direction.
   Luna was staring at 7 all this time. She was inspecting how 7 immediately turned red after seeing a man. So Luna whispered to her.
   "You like that man?" She said.
   "Stop it. Don't say it out loud." 7 pulled her head away from Luna.
   "I'm whispering though.." Luna said quietly.
   7 stared at Luna, with face that spoke to stop teasing her. Luna understood the assignment and turned her focus back on her fruit snack.
   "You know.." Luna talked while munching on food. "If you really like someone, you should talk to them. Don't waste any chance."
   "I'm too embarrassed to do that you know.." 7 replied.
   "Don't be." She put down her fork. "How old are you?"
   "I'll be 23 this year." 7 said.
   "Yeah.. one thing I learnt.. is that never waste any chance in your youth days. I'll be 26 this years, you may say I'm still in my youth era, but trust me when I say I'm tired as shit. So enjoy it as you can." Luna replied.
   "Ah.." 7 looked at the table. "Never knew I'll get an advice from a prick like you."
   “I’m not that bad of a person.” Luna then budged 7 with her elbow. "Come on, make your move."
   7 looked at Luna, whom gave her a smile. After some thought and several deep breaths, 7 stood up and made her way to 491.

   491's friends were hinting at him that 7 was coming closer to him. And as he turned around, 7 was already so close to him.
   "Hello.." 7 said shyly, her eyes looked at elsewhere, glancing at him several times.
   "Hi.." 491 replied.
   "Uh.. you know.." 7 was stuttering. She couldn't think straight. Her head was full of butterflies.
   His friend then whispered something to him.
   "Why don't you sit here?" 491 moved to the side, giving room to 7.
   "Eh..? You sure..?" 7 was utterly nervous.
   "Yeah.." 491 tried to hold his laugh as he could literally saw 7’s deep red blush.
   Knowing that 7 will hesitate, 491 grabbed her hand and pulled her closer, making her unable to refuse. She then sat down beside him. His friends whispered to one another then left the table, leaving both of them alone.
   "So what do you want to say?" 491 asked.
   7 couldn't say it. Her hands were shaking. She was fidgeting her fingers.

   Over at another table, 943 and 823 were watching them.
   "Come on, say it!" 943 said quietly.
   "You can do it, 7!" 823 added. "We believe in you!"

   "Hey there, beautiful." A group of men surrounded Luna. "Why don't you play with us for a moment?"
   "Hm?" Luna calmly ate her snack.
   Some of them sat across her, some stood so close beside.
   "We'll give you pleasure.. come on.." They said.
   "How about.. no?" Luna said.
   A click then heard, revealing a pocket knife. They hid it just right that only Luna could see it.

   "You see!" 7 finally had the courage to say it. "What I want to say is—"

   A loud noise then heard. Someone was came crashing into a table. 7 was shocked, she didn't get to finish her words. As she saw it, a man fell unconscious because he has hit the table, and the trajectory, it came from..

   "Don't touch me, you weaklings." Luna said as she stood at the table. Hands both at the pockets. "You don't know who you're messing with."
   "Luna!" 7 ran to her. "What are you doing!?"
   "These assholes tried to mess with me." She then looked around, seeing that everyone stared at her.
   A table slam then heard from across the room.
   "Whoever that is.. come to this table. Now!" It was 2's voice.
   6 and his squad then immediately moved and captured the group. But 21 stayed on his table, watching all of the ruckus. He fixed his eyes to 7.
   "You okay?" 7 helped Luna get down.
   "I'm fine. Just.. you know.. never been in such situation before.." Luna replied.
   Soon after, sounds of people getting punch were heard.
   "Don't look back." Luna said to 7.
   Just as she said that, a food tray flew by, followed by another punch noises.
   "That man.. never change, isn't he?" Luna commented.
   "Yeah.. he is always that harsh.." 7 replied. Then she realised. "Wait.. never?"

...

   Dame. Luna Archambeau, force general of the army of the Galactic Swan Force. She is known as the "Sarcastic Actress from the Theatre". Short tempered and often showed a bossy attitude, she was feared by those around her. She often ignored orders and advises and gone with her own ways. But if she deemed that a person is trustworthy, she will listens to them.
   Behind her fancy lifestyle, laid a harsh background, to how she became one of the most feared soldier in the whole federation.
   Dame. Luna Archambeau, born at habitable hub 24, in the Sun's solar system. She was 17 years old when she joined the BVA. Started at code BV875, she worked her way up the hard way, by going from expedition to expedition, until finally she hit a dead end of rank BV4. She couldn't rank up further as 1, 2, and 3 outmatched her by lot. Elisa at that moment, were still in BV562, as she joined the BVA 2 years after Luna joined. So Elisa never really knew Luna's existence in BVA. All Elisa knew that BV4 was a woman.
   Knowing that she couldn't progress further, she kindly requested to quit. To which 0 declined. But after months of negotiation and the intervenes from UHMF, Luna was moved into GSF. Her identity was recovered, but was never announced in her habitable hub. Soon she became one of the fleet generals in GSF, and not long after, was knighted by the queen, gaining the title Dame. After a long hard work, she gained the whole force in her hands.
   By her hardwork for gaining all of that, she was deemed by the federation that her behaviour is understandable and she could do anything she wants, and no one dared to question her.

…

   A large potrait of Dame. Luna could be seen hanging at one of the walls at the man’s living room. He stared at it while sitting on the couch, waiting for someone to come. Finally, after minutes, maybe even hours, a doorbell came ringing.
   The man stood up and went to the door. He immediately opened it. A woman stood before him. On her chest was a nametag read, “Dr. Vanessa”.