The soldier released Marcin and headed for the cockpit, so did the other soldier that had Kolvin.
For a moment, he wondered if this was legit.
Were they really going home?Or some fancy way to kill them all?
He glanced around at the seating--the long benches--that lined the wall.Small, and likely uncomfortable, but nothing compared to what Marcin had experienced thus far.
"Rhimodians, sit," the female said, her voice authoritative.
Marcin blinked, seeing the bruising on her face.Immediately, his primal side began to surface, and he wanted to go back onto that prison ship--
Solkan grumbled before turning toward the air lock again.Marcin started to follow him.
"Solkan, sit!"the woman snapped."I am not putting up with your shit today, cyborg."
Solkan opened his mouth.
"Stop."
Marcin blinked, surprised that Solkan did stop.Very few could control him with a word.What made her so special to him?He did not obey anyone, or at least, had not since they were in the prison.
She must know him; she knew his name.
She did seem familiar to him, but he was not certain how.
He did not meet many Terrans when they were in the prison ship.Mostly just the guards.If she had been a scientist, he may have never spoken to her, but she could have seen and operated on them.
Some of the scientists never came near them unless they were restrained or unconscious.Perhaps she was familiar with all their files.
She crossed her arms and glared at all three of them."By Terran command, you are being returned to your people."
"Why?"Kolvin asked.
"Peace has been reached between the Terran Empire and the Rhimodians of Sol.Part of that peace is that you be returned to your people."
"All of us?"Solkan asked.
Maybe it was possible that this was real.That they were going home.
A lightness seemed to lift Marcin's demeanor.Hesitant to bask in it yet, but he carried hope that they could go back to the Rhimodians and reconnect with Master System again.
To be a part of the whole again.
It brought a joy to him he had not felt in a very long time.
"All the captured prisoners of war that the Terran Empire held are being returned to their people."She rubbed her neck and tugged at the collar around her uniform.
She looked exhausted, her voice had shifted, and he recognized the sound of fatigue in her tone.The protective stance she'd had before seemed to deflate as she remained with them.
Why did she feel so comfortable talking with them?
"When did peace happen?"Kolvin asked.
Leave it to him to get down to the details.
"How long since the treaty was signed?"
"Recently.The initial announcement came a few days ago.The top tiered thing on the list was to return you to your people."
