Firefly

Chater 25

It is now 3 years later

Everyone, which included nine of the Androids, was all lined up and the Gateway room was filled with everything that was going.

Everyone, save the kids and all of the Androids had seen where they were going to be living now. They had personally checked in on the contractor throughout the construction. It was too late to change anything even after the contractor had started.

He had purchased or preordered a lot of stuff so even the interior finishes were essentially made in concrete and couldn't be changed. All the adults were learning just how really big each home was going to be.

The contractor hadn't installed the security system. He in fact was done, gone, and had been paid his finally payment. The Androids had arrived, wired it all up, and driven each of the poles deep into the ground.

The Gateway opened up onto the courtyard of Rick and Kate's home and everyone picked up something and started walking.

Rick and Kate had all the clothes for both boys while Frankie and Liz had Rick and Kate's clothes. Behind them were all the Androids who were moving mostly food amongst other items.

Caleb easily followed Rick to his new room while Joseph followed his mother, albeit a little more slowly, to his room.

This trip was strictly a quick drop off and go back trip. The only exception was the Androids who put all the food away and went back.

Once everyone was back the Gateway was moved to Frankie and Liz's new home. Liz and Frankie picked up all the clothes for Kateryn and Rebecca to their rooms while Rick and Kate took Frankie and Liz's clothes.

Kateryn followed her dad while Rebecca followed her mother to her room. While the Androids took all the food and other things and put it all away.

Then everyone was back in the Gateway room and everyone got in their goodbyes for now.

One Android was working the controls and moved it to Rick and Kate's home.

Rick reminded everyone what was happening on their first day. "We unpack and bring our food for tonight out to the dining area on the island on our first night."

"We'll be there," Frankie confirmed.

Rick picked up Joseph and walked through. "Let's go, little man. You'll see Kateryn tonight." Kate took Caleb's hand and walked through followed by Liara who was going to be staying with them this first year.

The view was changed to Frankie and Liz's home and Frankie picked up Rebecca and walked through. "Caleb lives right on the other side. We're having dinner with them tonight." Liz took hold of Kateryn's hand and walked her through. Nassana was right behind her since she was going to be staying with them this first year.

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Each child got to see his new finished room as his or her parents put away clothes. Then the kids were put to bed to take a much needed nap and the parents went to their room to put their clothes away. After that the parents went through their new home so they could get used to it.

Unbeknownst to the other they each ended up in the main courtyard in the very center.

"Can you believe it?" Rick asked Kate and put an arm around her.

Kate leaned into him willingly. "Never. I was a slave. Now I'm not. I'm married to the man I love with two beautiful boys and a big house. It's a dream that I fear I'm going to wake up from."

"Never going to happen. Wonder where Liara is?" Rick asked. "I know she knows which room is hers."

"Right here, Commander. I picked up one of the pads and checked the security room. We are clear for now. Likely the 3 years of construction scared most if not all of them away. We should remain that way for a while," Liara informed them.

"Not sorry you came?" Kate needed to make sure.

"No, the others suggested that I and Nassana go first. We have been looking forward to it. The others will check in every month over the years. No matter who is here," Liara replied.

"It's hot out so I'm going inside. The boys A/C is on. I'm going to the library to find something to read while the boys sleep." Kate left both of them.

"Are we ready?" Rick asked Liara.

"The Gateway should be open just inside the Security room." Liara walked next to him until they reached the room and walked though back into the Gateway room. Only Rick stopped just inside the room while Liara ran for the Medical Bay.

Rick waited patiently but that was a lie since he was anything but patient. He had a really big surprise and Liara had agreed to this. All they needed was to make sure they were as alone as they were ever going to be.

Liara eventually strode back into the room with two items, one in each hand. "Ready?" Rick queried and watched her hold up each item.

"Scan and open the Gateway. We will go through if everything is correct," Liara asked of who was manning the Gateway.

Rick and Liara watched and waited a moment. "Just them and the owner," Rick stated and Liara nodded. "I'll take them, you knock out the owner." Together they rushed through the Gateway and Rick headed for these two while Liara hurried over to the owner and injected him with a strong sedative which knocked him out instantly.

Rick saw fear but they didn't move. "Don't be afraid. My name is Rick. We've come to take you away from here. I want to take you to Kate."

"Katie? My Katie?" Johanna questioned in a quavering voice since she and her husband were certain they'd never see her again.

"Yes, please. You two need to come with me before someone shows up." Rick wasn't going to force them even if he kind of wanted to just to get them moving. The longer they stayed here the more dangerous it might get.

"We can't," Jim stated and saw Rick's mouth drop open.

"We're slaves." Johanna raised her hands to show her tattoos.

"Not if you come with me. Kate is no longer a slave and we can do the same for you. We have more than enough room for both of you. Please, we can do this," Rick pleaded with both of them.

Liara spoke up for the first time. "He speaks the truth. I removed her slavery tattoos. I can do the same for both of you."

"Please, we need to get out of here," Rick tried again. The second he saw movement he grabbed both of them and pulled then around them to start pushing.

The second they were through the Gateway the view ended. Jim and Johanna were now standing there in total shock and looking around.

"We stick with the plan. We just bring them back to remove their tattoos," Rick said. Liara nodded then stepped up to Jim and ran her device over him from head to toe.

"The male is clean of tracking devices," Liara said and moved over to Johanna to do the same. Johanna simply stood there and watched what she did. "The female is also clean of tracking devices," Liara stated and nodded her head.

Instantly the Gateway opened with a view of Kate sitting in the library reading from a pad after downloading something to read.

"Jim! It's Katie." Johanna could see her. She looked great and was even smiling as she looked at something in her hands while she sat in a chair.

"Can we see her?" Johanna pleaded.

"You're going to live with us. Come with me." Rick walked through.

Rick tried to get her attention. "Kate, love?"

"Hi, babe. What's up?" Then she saw the Gateway view behind him and what she saw there had her in a state of total shock. She couldn't move or speak. Her hands couldn't keep hold of her pad so it fell to her lap, hit her leg, and ended up on the floor.

Her eyes huge, Kate watched as both of them walked slowly toward her into the room.

Kate was still sitting. "…Mom, Dad?" She was sure she was never going to see either of them again.

"We finally found them." Rick helped her to stand.

Rick stood back and watched as all three of them were doing their best to hug the other and started crying.

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"How?" Kate had felt them, been kissed, and had hugged each of them just to make sure they were real.

"This man suddenly just showed up and said he could take us to you," Johanna explained while still holding onto her daughter. "We still don't know how we got here."

"Babe?" Kate looked to find him and saw him and Liara standing next to each other.

"We found them just before the big move," Rick said.

What Kate wanted to do was kiss him forever for what he'd done. Instead she went over and hugged her parents. Right up until she saw something far too familiar. Kate grabbed Johanna's hand and held it up so she could see it clearly.

"We were forced to sell ourselves," Johanna said sadly. They'd sold their only daughter and it had been for nothing. They had trapped themselves into slavery.

Kate felt Jim grab one of her hands and held it up so all of them could see. "I'm not a slave any more," Kate told them. "Liara?" She'd seen her a moment ago and knew she was staying with them for a year.

"We will need to wait a month for the Gateway to open and take them to medical. They are clear of any detection devices," Liara said.

"Are you tagged?" Rick asked them both.

"Yes." Jim lowered his head. "Our owner will be able to find us and take us away." Jim was sure this was just a happy moment that wasn't going to last.

"He has to find you first." They weren't anywhere near where they used to be. Then Rick slumped. "We didn't even think to stop long enough for clothes." Rick let his head fall to his chest. He'd been so focused on finding and getting them that he didn't think.

"We'll think of something." Kate smiled and hugged her parents some more.

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Jim and Johanna found themselves in an amazingly beautiful house as they were both escorted to a room they were told was theirs. "There's a sitting room across the bridge that's yours. You've seen the living room with a fireplace that's also yours. Your room here has a bed, closet, furniture, and your own bathroom," Rick pointed.

"Maybe some simple sweats that will be too big for now. Kate knows where the laundry room's located. We haven't actually used it yet. I'm going to go check on the boys. …I really am glad that we could find you." Rick retreated to give Kate some alone time with her parents.

"Boys?" Johanna questioned after Rick was gone.

That had Kate smiling wide. "Rick is my husband and we have two boys. Caleb is almost five while Joseph is about 2 and a half. They're both taking a nap at the moment." Kate beamed; her life had turned around a lot since she had been sold.

"Rick actually found me, picked me up off the floor, and took me with him. My owner hadn't tagged me so he had no way of getting me back. Rick tagged me until he found someone who could remove my tattoos. I fell in love with him and he asked me to marry him. We've been married for over 5 years, I think."

"Married." Johanna covered her mouth with both hands and laughed and cried at the same time. She just couldn't keep up with what was happening.

"We're having a big welcome to our new home dinner with Frankie and Liz and their daughters tonight. I'm going to go find what Rick had found for you to wear. Just drop your clothes outside of the door to the living room. There should be hot water and everything you will need in the bathroom." Kate couldn't stop herself from hugging each of them before leaving them.

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"Are you as lost as I am?" Jim questioned his wife.

"Even more so, I think. I still have no idea just where we are or even how we got here. After all this time I was sure we were never going to see her again. Then selling our only daughter gained us virtually nothing. She should be furious with us and yet she isn't. Does that about sum it up?" Johanna asked her husband.

Jim rubbed the tattoo on one of his hands. "Pretty much. You want the shower first?" Jim was willing to risk her using up all the hot water.

Johanna nodded. "Maybe it'll help me feel clean after all this."

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Kate found clothes outside the door. She dropped her sweats and picked up their clothes. She knocked on the door then retreated to the laundry room that was on this level, just on the opposite side of the building. Closer to the boys' room, actually.

The boys were just going to have to use the bunk beds now. They'd planned on giving bedroom number 4 to Liara. Now she was going to get bedroom number 2 since it was in the corner and they had needed the wall space without windows for the bunk beds.

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Jim and Johanna were clean, wearing clean clothes, and were following Rick, Kate, and their two boys that they had just previously met out the French doors in a large dining room outside.

They were dead last as they had to slow way down to see the great room that had 30 foot ceilings, then into the kitchen that had not one but two islands.

Once outside they saw a lot of sand and while the sun was down, it was still hot out. In fact most of the rooms in the house were rather warm.

There was a patio that led to a bridge across a body of water to an island that had this large pergola on one end.

Once they got there they were introduced to Frankie, Liz, Kateryn, and Rebecca.

"Your parents?" Liz was about as surprised as Kate had been and hugged both of them.

"This has you written all over it," Frankie whispered to Rick as they both watched Jim and Johanna getting the once over from the girls, deciding if they liked them or not.

"Actually it was Nassana here that found them. They're both slaves," Rick told him in case he hadn't spotted their tattoos on the back of their hands.

"Nice work, Nassana!" Frankie congratulated her for her hard work. "Can you remove their tattoos like you did for Kate?" Frankie inquired.

"Liara is very talented and she has experience removing Kate's. She should manage, once the Gateway is open again in a month," Nassana said.

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Jim and Johanna were eating what had been cooked on the outdoor cooking area for them and everyone else. They watched Kate cut up what she needed to for Joseph to make it easier on him.

"We heard the outer planets had gained independence from the Alliance. We had high hopes that our owner would free us but we both knew it was too late. Our tattoos were never going to come off," Jim said as they all ate.

"It took a year of talking during a cease fire. However, the Alliance tried something and it cost them. They sent a small fleet of 19 ships to Regina to try and change how things were going to go. They thought that if they blockaded the planet it would give them leverage. Instead of having just three core planets having one third of the planet in the dark they gained a fourth and lost their last Crete class. They were warned that if they didn't back off and talk they would have a fifth and no spaceports on any of their planets," Liz said.

The Alliance had made a mistake. They'd sent too many ships which weakened their core planets. That allowed Frankie to jump in and shoot holes in their last Crete class ship and take a few more with it when it exploded. That had helped clear the way to destroy their space ports.

"Their core planets aren't going to be the same for a few decades if not longer." Liz was happy that it had finally all worked out.

"To Victory!" Frankie raised his glass and got Rick, Liz, and even the kids to raise their glass. The kids might not understand but their parents were happy.

"You're not raising your glass, Katie?" Johanna asked her even if Jim and Johanna didn't raise theirs. Mostly because they didn't understand.

"Too many people died to get it." Kate was still upset about that.

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Supposedly everyone was in their room after dinner and putting clean boys in their new beds in their new room.

Kate stepped out of the bathroom naked and saw her husband naked and sitting on the bed. "I suppose you want to tie me to the bed again," Rick questioned her.

"Not tonight." Kate walked up to him and felt his arms go around her while she pressed his head to her chest. "I love you so very much. Thank you for finding my parents." Kate kissed his head.

"Liara can remove their tattoos," Rick told her.

"I know. Now we just need to find your mother." What they didn't have was enough bedrooms but they would think of something.

Rick let go of her. Kate pulled his head away from her chest. "What?"

"I did find her," Rick said though his voice was filled with sadness.

"That's great! …Isn't it?" Kate searched his face.

"You remember those three planets that the Alliance killed when they fought back for what we were doing to them? They killed everyone." Rick couldn't look up at her. It still hurt too much.

"Oh, no! Babe, please say she wasn't." He had to tell her that she wasn't on one of those planets.

"I found evidence that she and the group she was with had gone there. They never left. We stand no chance of ever finding her body, but she was there. The Alliance killed her. Liz destroyed the cafeteria that day. Had I known at the time I would have helped her. We might never have been able to use that room again."

"OH DEAR GOD!" Kate pulled his head back into her chest and felt like her recently soaring heart had just been crushed. She had wanted them to make love to each other tonight in their brand new bed.

Now she was making love to him with his dead mother hanging over both of them. "I'm so sorry, babe. So very sorry." Her parents were alive and here with them yet his mother was dead. It so wasn't fair.

She still hated all the killing. She just hated more that his mother was one of them.

"We can celebrate her life tomorrow. Tell the boys all about the grandmother they're never going to meet. She's a part of our family, too," Kate said.

Now she understood why Rick had been moping around. She just couldn't get him to talk about why.

"I really was lucky that day I found you lying on the floor crying. You saved my life." He would be long since dead without her.

"You saved my life. Gave me back my life." She was the one that was saved that day. Her owner would have eventually killed her if not for Rick.

"We could ask Liara to untie my tubes again." Kate smiled since she had an idea if things worked out.

"We're going to need a bigger house," Rick said and smiled at her.

"I want a girl this time. We can name her after your mother. Give her life, her life, all over again." Kate felt him free his head from her chest and look up at her.

"Martha?" Rick wasn't so sure about this idea.

"Little Martha Rodgers. It's perfect." Kate loved the idea. One way or another she was going to be a part of this family. They would find the room somehow.

Rick knew he would cry and cry for a long time once it finally hit him that his mother was gone.