As the Federation frigate undocked and left the station, Andrew contacted Nairin.
-Have the shields ready and be prepared to activate the weapons systems at any moment.
-I'm already on it, I also armed the drone fighters just in case.
The girl answered, pleasantly surprising him.
-Good thinking.
He praised her initiative.
-Monitor them closely until they leave the system and send three teams of maintenance and ship repair droids to the frigate they left us, make sure they go through every nook and canny on this ship.
Even if there is only one bolt missing or there is something extra inside, I want to know about it.
-The droids are on their way.
-Thank you, that's all for now.
-What are you looking for?
Terelen asked, surprised at the commands his human friend issued.
-I don't know, but there is something off about this whole thing.
Andrew shook his head.
-How is it off?
The elf asked, starting to get nervous.
-I don't know yet, but something tells me that I won't like it when I find out.
Andrew even wondered if he was just getting paranoid, but he learned long ago to not ignore his intuition.
-You might want to dock your ship to one of the other modules for now.
He finally said after a moment of thought.
-Alright, I think that it's nothing, but like you always say, better safe than sorry.
The elf said and left to move his ship next to his sister's vessel docked at docking module 3, which was the furthest from this one.
In the meantime, Andrew went back to the command center and contacted Lanarine on the way to ask about Runir and Tarina.
-They are both still shocked and devastated about the whole exile thing.
Lan said when he asked about the two of them.
-I think it would be a good idea for you to talk with them about their situation.
She added.
Andrew thought about it for a moment before deciding.
-Alright, I'm on my way.
A few minutes later he entered Runir's module.
The two girls were clothed again, but their expressions showed that they didn't care about anything anymore.
It was like they had given up on life and simply waited for all of it to end soon.
He knew this feeling very well from his own experience, he also knew that if he left them alone, they would most likely end themselves as that was what he wanted to do every time he was in such a state.
-Chips 02 and 03 increase control to level 4.
He ordered immediately after standing in front of the two girls.
-You are forbidden from taking your own lives or killing each other.
He said right after that.
At this moment, both girls started to shed tears.
-Why…
Why won't you let us end our misery?
Tarina asked, doing her best to not stop the sobbing that was almost choking her.
-We are exiles from now on, we can never go home, we can never see our families again, and we can't even go back to school anymore.
We have lost everything, so why won't you let us end ourselves?
Runir shouted at him, not caring if he was offended or if he would punish her for it.
-Please, let us end it or just kill us.
Don't force us to live with the shame of being an exile.
Tarina pleaded while sobbing.
Andrew heard their pleas and his heart ached for the two girls in front of him.
-So you want to use the coward's way out?
He finally spoke.
-You think that killing yourselves will change anything?
He asked.
-Answer me.
The human demanded when neither of them said anything.
-Yes, It will erase the shame we brought on our families and ourselves.
Runir finally answered after another moment of silence.
-You're wrong, it won't erase anything other than your lives.
The only other thing it will do is to prove that they were right about throwing you away like trash.
Andrew said after hearing her words.
-We are worse than trash, don't you understand?
Being an exile is the same as not existing at all.
Tarina shouted, desperate to convince him to let them die.
However, she never expected what happened next.
SLAP, SLAP.
Both girls fell to the floor after being slapped by him.
-Andrew, what…
Lan's question was stopped midsentence by his raised hand.
-Wake the hell up, both of you.
Or do you want me to slap you a few more times to bring you back to your senses?
The human asked angrily.
-You are not trash, you are not worthless, your only fault is losing to me and that's not something worth throwing your lives away for.
Neither of you has brought any shame upon anyone, much less yourselves so there is nothing to erase by committing suicide.
Both of them were staring at him wide-eyed, they never expected him to get so angry about this.
-Then what are we supposed to do now?
Tarina asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
-Live and prove to everyone that you are not some trash to be tossed away.
Make them regret ever discarding you.
Andrew answered.
-It won't be easy nor will it be anytime soon, but I believe that both of you have what it takes to make the federation beg on its knees for you to come back and then make them wallow in despair when they realize that they have nothing to offer you anymore.
However, this is the result you will only see if you are still alive and willing to work hard to achieve it.
He took out his pistol and placed it on the floor, right next to the two of them.
-Chips 02 and 03, decrease control level to 1, I also take back the last order.
He said, surprising them all.
-What happens next entirely depends on you.
If you want to live and prove the federation wrong, you know where to find me.
If you want to end your lives, be my guest.
He said pointing at the gun.
-Let's go, Lan.
Andrew said, turning to the exit.
-But…
-No buts, let's go.
He interrupted her and left, followed by the fuming Dranixian.
-What are you trying to do?
Lan asked furiously as soon as they were far enough so that nobody could hear them.
-I'm trying to save these two.
Andrew answered.
-How is giving them a loaded weapon going to save them?
-It's not, I gave them a way out, not an easy one but a way out non the less, the rest depends on them.
If they want to end them selves, there is really nothing I can do about it other than making them into a mindless dolls, which is no different from killing them.
However if they want to try and become something more than they ever thought was possible, I will help them as much as possible, but like I said, it's not my choice to make.
-Then why did you slap them and gave this speech?
Lanarine insisted, wanting to understand this whole mess.
Her question made him finally stop and turn to her.
-Because I saw something in them, something I swore I would never ignore if I ever saw it again.
-What did you see?
Lanarine asked, not understanding his meaning.
-I saw myself in these two right now.
Andrew said, shocking the alien woman.
Looking into his eyes at this moment she saw unimaginable pain and rage.
Seeing Tarina and Runir in such a state brought back the memories of the darkest time in his life.
-Were you…?
The geologist asked quietly but she could not finish the sentence.
-Yes, I was suicidal once, I just wanted everything to be over and I thought that I have lost everything.
Andrew confessed.
-If it was not for Alex who slapped some sense into me and shown me that there was still a lot that I could live for, I would most likely be dead right now.
He said, knowing what she meant.
-Right now, I'm trying to do the same for these two and I hope that they will come around.
Andrew added after a moment of silence.
-Then why didn't you just tell them all of that, why the whole show and slapping?
Lan asked, finally starting to understand his motives.
-What happened to them today, gave them a shock and sent them on the path to suicide.
The best way to turn them around, was to shock them again, and give them a reason to live, even if this reason is revenge.
In time they might find other reasons to live like I have.
Andrew explained and started walking in the direction of the command center again.