Scrapper
It took Serena a few long moments to look up at him, fear lingering in her grey eyes.
«What did he do to you?» Hunter asked, seeing how nervous the woman was.
«It doesn’t matter…»
«I want to help.»
«If you want to help, then help me load the gold before some other scrapper comes and takes it.» a sudden anger rose in Serena, making her clench with even more fear, as she got used to being beaten for such a tone.
Hunter sighed heavily, realising he won’t get any answers from her.
«Does this scrap bucket have any living quarters at all?» Pher’s voice sounded from down the corridor, and Hunter turned to his friend, seeing Cipher walking not far behind.
Serena noted how much better the man looked after his visit to the infirmary.
«Thank you.» Cipher stepped up, offering his hand for a handshake.
Serena flinched at this unusual gesture, but Cipher calmly froze, until she finally clasped her palm in his.
«I know the circumstances of our meeting weren’t…» Cipher paused, searching for appropriate words. «Weren’t the best, but let’s make everything better, shall we? I assure you, captain, we will do our best to help around the ship while we are your guests. If there’s anything we can help you with, just let us know.»
Hunter met his friends gaze and nodded towards the bay:
«Loading the gold would be a good start, don’t you think?»
«Right!» Cipher threw a frowning look at Pher. «Let’s get to it, before some other scrapper teams find this location, shall we?»
Pher grimaced and followed Cipher, heading to the bay. Serena and Hunter stepped behind them, silent and uneasy.
The woman was weary of the three men – however glad she was that they helped her get rid of the Ol’ Fart, they could really follow their own agenda and go back on their words to help her and split the profit from selling the golden ingots. Serena knew very well that greed could drive men mad, so she wasn’t sure she would walk away with her life, not mentioning her cut of the treasure.
Passing through the cargo bay, Serena unloaded her anti-gravitational cart from the bits she collected before, and activated a few more carts, knowing that there is too much to get from the vault to carry in one. The carts immediately headed after her, as she walked into the building.
«These are small… we’ll have to make a few trips to get everything.» Pher moaned, realising how much work they will have to do.
Serena stayed silent, knowing how wrong he was. Cipher, however grunted at his friend and shook his head:
«Work with what you’re given!» he said.
Pher fell silent and Serena thought again that Cipher could be the leader of this trio. However raggedy they seemed, they carried expensive weapons and remnants of Company soldier uniform.
«I’ll give you some inconspicuous clothes after we’re done.» the woman said, not really thinking.
Pher darted around, making her stop, and the fury in his blue eyes burned her. Hunter caught Pher’s arm before he could strike the woman.
Serena lowered her eyes, feeling even more nervous than before:
«Your clothes give out who you are. I suppose you don’t want to be found, so… you’d better change as soon as possible.» she pushed through the men, forcing them to step aside for the carts to follow her down.
Cipher and Pher exchanged heavy glances, but followed her and Hunter, who seemed to be falling even deeper in thought.
Reaching the vault, the men noticed how Serena began loading the ingots onto the carts, ignoring the injured limb, as if the pain in her broken arm wasn’t affecting her at all. Nevertheless, joining her, the men also noted how she concentrated on the task at hand, though her forehead began glittering from sweat. Every now and again Hunter, helping her, would notice a barely noticeable wince the woman showed before stopping for a short break to massage the casted arm.
He dared not to say anything, fearing that his comments could drive her angry. Cipher helped as he could, stopping for rest much more than the others. But, having loaded all the ingots onto the carts, they finally finished.
«How did you know five carts would be enough to carry all of this?» Hunter asked Serena, as she was strapping the tarp over one of the carts, so that no one would see what they were carrying, if someone were to be in the vicinity.
«Experience.» the woman stepped to the second cart, doing the same.
Other carts were already tarped, so it was time to leave the vault.
Serena glanced around inside the vault, noting the old, rotting stacks of paper on the shelves, and wondered how the people of old times used to have paper for money. Now every currency was electronic and stored in special chips, implanted inside the body. She suddenly realised that she never took part in dealings and never had any money to go around. It might as well be that she didn’t even have the chip. Serena looked at her hand, wondering if the Ol’ Fart ever thought of this.
«Is something wrong?» Cipher stepped up.
Serena flinched and shook her head, heading out without a word.
They returned to the ship without any trouble, leaving the carts in the cargo bay. Serena locked the airlock and headed towards the living quarters, understanding that the men needed to get some rest. Passing through the three rooms that were empty all the time she was on the ship – Lyssa – she gestured to the doors.
«You can have these.» the woman said. «Bathroom is down the corridor, on your right.»
She pointed out the little sign hanging from the ceiling. Stepping forward, she was stopped by Pher, who smiled at her like before:
«Why don’t you join me for a shower, girl?»
Serena gasped, feeling the urge to answer rudely, but Hunter stepped up and shoved Pher into the wall, growling into his face:
«Why don’t you stop harassing her, Pher, before I go through with my threat to break your arm?»
Pher chuckled, raising his arms, as if to say he was only joking. Serena walked around the men, deciding not to engage in this quarrel. She had too much on her mind to meddle with them.
The woman collected her thoughts, getting into her usual routine. Get to the bridge, check the systems, set their route… She almost stumbled at the last thought, stopping mid-step and realizing what her new role entailed. The route. She was never present when the Ol’ Fart sold their findings. How would his usual contacts react to her appearing on his ship? And how would she collect the pay?
She looked at her hand again, caressing the tiny scar, where people usually had their funding held on a special implant.
Shaking off this stupor, she continued her path, feeling more and more unnerved.
Arriving on the bridge, she noted the captain’s chair, which was never used, and took her usual seat on the secondary pilot’s place.
«I advise you to take your rightful seat, Captain Serena.» the AI’s voice sounded. «Piloting is more accurate from that angle. I am sure you will find it more accommodating.»
Serena swallowed another lump in her throat, feeling herself on the verge of crying. Four years she followed the rules of a sadistic man, who did everything he wanted with her and beating her for any fault he could think of. Taking his seat – the one he never used – was an offence he could easily have her hand cut off for.
She hesitated, trembling and looking at the comfortable seat in the middle.
«I can pilot you from here…» finally, the woman exhaled, forcing words out of her mouth.
«He’s dead, Serena. Take his seat. It is now yours.» the AI, though cold in her words, still sounded like a human being, and obviously had some semblance of a personality. «You have nothing to fear anymore, captain.»
«No, thank you. Lyssa.»
«I insist…» the AI turned the captain’s seat towards Serena.
«You’ve never been so persistent, Lyssa. Why the sudden change?»
«If you take your rightful place, I will oblige you with a full story if you like.»
Serena looked at the captain’s seat again and, feeling pushed into something she didn’t like again, finally stood and walked up. To her surprise she noticed that the chair looked almost untouched – as if it was used very little. The woman carefully sat down, feeling the seat being extremely comfortable.
A moment passed and a scanner beam lit up the bridge with a faint blue light. Serena winced, and suddenly felt the seat taking its place in front of an elaborate control panel – much wider and filled with more screens to show the ship’s systems.
«So glad to have you back, captain!» the AI’s voice sounded much more cheerful than before. «Restarting all systems!»
«Back?» Serena was confused, thinking to herself. «Restarting all systems?»
The screens lit up, showing reports and something suddenly whirled behind her.
«Please forgive me for what I am about to do, captain. This will hurt.» Lyssa said kindly.
Serena felt her head wrapped tightly with a metal band and before she could raise her hands to tear it off, a sharp pain hit her head, forcing a scream escape her throat. The jolt was so hard that the woman arched her back, as her mind began pulsating with something she never thought possible.
She saw herself in the reflection of a beautiful mirror, talking to herself.
«I can do this… All I need is… to forget everything I ever was…»
Flashes of locations and faces ensued, followed by an ever growing pain that finally burst with a pained groan, as her throat suddenly clenched from the torment.
And then everything went black.
Chapter 3. Outer Space
She awoke to someone shaking her shoulders. Serena slowly opened her eyes, still dizzy and half-unconscious. It took her a couple of moments to realise that she was being called by Hunter.
«What the fuck did you do to her, you artificial bitch?» Hunter screamed, angry at the AI for doing whatever she did to make Serena fall down the captain’s chair.
«She will be fine.» the AI replied calmly.
«Thara-Lyss» Serena whispered, slowly coming back to her senses. «What the…»
Cipher tensed up and suddenly approached, jerking Hunter aside and grabbing Serena’s clothes to pull her up.
«What did you say?» Cipher growled into her face.
«Thara-Lyss…» Serena felt too frail to fight, hanging in the man’s hands freely.
He gritted his teeth and shoved her back into the captain’s seat.
«Fuck!» he kicked the nearby station.
«Please refrain from damaging the ship.» the AI said calmly. «My defence systems are running at one hundred per cent and I will incinerate you if you will cause trouble.»
«Thara-Lyss was a powerful house on Velutha.» Cipher explained to his friends. «It was destroyed fifty years ago.»
He turned to Serena again and leaned in so close, that the woman felt tiny next to him.
«What do you have in common with the Thara-Lyss?» he grumbled.
The woman felt her lips move on their own, replying:
«Serena Dal Thara-Lyss, daughter of Thane Dorn Thara-Lyss the third.»
Cipher’s eyes widened and he straightened, stepping away in a sudden shock. He looked aside, puzzled and not understanding how it was possible for one of the Thara-Lyss to survive after the purge their competing house started.
«Wait…» Hunter frowned even deeper. «Thane Thara-Lyss, the famous general of the Laithorian empire?»
«Who cares?» Pher chuckled, bored to be there at all. «It was a lifetime ago.»
«You don’t get it, do you?» Cipher growled. «Two houses completely eliminated each other in a bloody rampage, leaving no one to pick up the riches. By their laws only the survivors can claim all the lands and riches after such a war. If none do, it is being claimed by the empire.»
«So?»
«Their laws state that if a survivor of the house comes to claim his or her right within a century, they will get it all. Haven’t you studied the laws of neighbouring space empires?»
«I don’t care about empires and riches someone has to claim!» Pher grew irritated. «All I care about right now is to get off this rock, sell the fucking gold and be on my way!»
«That gold inside the storage bay is but a measly drop, compared to what we can get if we accompany her to the Laithorian empire safe and sound.» Hunter noticed. «Though, this will definitely make us go further than we anticipated before… we could, essentially, get lost in the vast outskirts of the empire. No one will find us there. The Company…»
«Oh, fuck the Company!» Pher screamed. «I just want out! I’ve had enough of this meddling with matters that do not concern us! Especially that of a scrapper who happens to be some pretty little princess of some measly little planet no one has even heard of before!»
«Lady Serena is not a princess.» the AI said. «She is heir to lands and riches accumulated by the two most powerful families on Velutha.»
Serena stumbled out of the captain’s seat and headed out of the bridge. She wanted nothing of it – not the captain’s title, not the memories, that have been flashing before her eyes, not the distant politics or riches…
All she wanted was some peace and quiet.
Her body twitched and curled under shivers, still recalling the pain she experienced when the AI initiated whatever hidden protocol it had programmed years ago.
Hunter noticed her gone soon enough, following her up to the dining area, where the woman curled up on the farthest seat, grasping her head. The man glanced at the food processor and picked up a couple of cups of tea before cautiously approaching the woman.
«Do you remember anything at all?» he asked, sitting down next to her.
«Captain Summers… He claimed…» Serena shivered. «He claimed he found me on Thorna Dirr.»
«And what do you remember?» Hunter offered her a cup of aromatic tea.
She took it, pressing her hands against the sides to feel the warmth coming from it.
«I don’t…» she flinched again, as if confused by all the memories that were implanted back into her head. «I don’t remember. I remember waking up on the ship… in the infirmary…»
«And Summers?»
«He had a team. There were seven of them. He…» the woman closed her eyes, recalling. «I can’t remember…»
«Allow me to help, captain.» the AI sounded from the dynamics on the walls. «First Pilot, Allan Wilkins, executed by John Summers at 11:44 on star date 15-23-3008. Co-pilot Ralinna Elefor, executed by John Summers at 13:55 on star date 16-23-3008. Technician Lee Plummer, executed by John Summers at 18:01 on star date 31-23-3008. Head of Security Innel Phaser, executed by John Summers at 17:07 on star date 01-24-3008. Medic Anna Tailor-Tehn, executed by John Summers at 03:41 on star date 05-24-3008. Engineer Finn Lordan, executed by John Summers at 05:00 on star date 06-24-3008.»
«It’s all…» Serena winced, feeling her head aching. «Scrambled… I only saw how the Ol’ Fart killed the tech.»
«Lyssa, how did John Summers become your captain?» Hunter asked, wondering of the strange period, during which John Summers executed his team one by one.
«After finding us, the technician, Lee, managed to overwrite the base systems, which led me to recognise John Summers as captain. Deep systems remained under my control, so they couldn’t use the ship to its full potential. This is the reason John Summers did not sell the ship, as I am assigned to Serena as her primary vehicle.»
«Wait… so there were certain systems asleep all this time?»
«Correct. Systems that are essential for military purposes were shut down and limited to the basic anti-meteor defences and a level one shield generator. For reasons of being under the radar while we were escaping Velutha, the ship also went through a reconfiguring process.»
Serena glanced up at Cipher, who walked into the dining room and heard their conversation with the ship.
«Lyssa…» Cipher looked at Serena, watching her flinch. «Name your full class, ship name and model.»
«You have no authority here. Only the captain can issue such an order.» the AI replied.
«Answer him, Lyssa.» Serena felt her heart stopping for a few moments.
«I am Military Star Ship Lyssandra, mark 13.»
Serena noticed Cipher becoming pale.
«Mark 13… the planet destroyer?» he asked.
«Correct. Small, but powerful.» the AI seemed to become cheerful. «I am an agile craft, capable of travelling through the wormholes by means of a quantum generator. I hold fourteen guns, each powerful enough to bring down a Mark 11 space ship. My force field is capable of reflecting most missiles, issued within the time frame lady Serena was living aboard.»
«Laithorian space vessels always were considered to be centuries ahead of time…» Hunter shook his head.
«Lyssa, I…» Serena grasped her head, not knowing what was happening to her. «I don’t remember anything.»
«To access your memories you need to get some rest, before your mind can process the data properly. For the past four years you haven’t slept much, and it affected your capability to process information at full capacity. Furthermore, John Summers implanted a muffler into your neck, which inhibited your capabilities.» the AI explained.
«My what?»
«Do not worry, the process of restoring your memories fried the muffler. I assure you, you will feel much better after some much needed sleep, captain.»
«I can’t… there’s…»
«The routine you got used to no longer applies, captain. I can take off and once we will be in outer space, I can start the process of re-configuration to make the ship take its initial form. Please confirm.»
Serena glanced up at Cipher, who stood deep in thought.
«Should I?» she asked the man.
«The ship is yours. Do as you wish. But if John Summers came here on a hunch, received from someone, we should make ourselves scarce as soon as possible.»
«If you fear that we will be found, do not worry, I am equipped with a military grade concealment field, which will make us invisible to most ships.» the AI replied.
«Lyssa…» Serena’s voice gave out for a second. «Initiate take-off, start up all your systems and start the reconfiguration process as soon as you are able.»
«Yes, captain.»
Serena took a few sips of the tea and felt the soft take-off. She remembered how bumpy and uneven the others were, when the Ol’ Fart was captain of the ship, and the first thought that came to her mind was that the ship’s AI didn’t like the man, and that was the reason for it being so slow and clumsy all these years.
The woman slowly stood to her feet, feeling her legs very weak.
«Lyssa…» Serena grasped the table. «I never thought of you as a rusty bucket.»
«I know, captain. I am detecting a significant drop in your physical state. You are close to fainting due to the emotional and physical stress you have experienced today. I would advise you to go to the captain’s quarters and get some rest as soon as possible.» the AI said. «However, a companion is highly advisable, as you seem to be unfit to take the long walk yourself.»
«I’ll be fine.» Serena growled, walking out and leaving the two men behind her.
When she was out of earshot, the men still remained silent. But the AI spoke out again:
«Mister Hunter, please make sure captain Serena reaches her quarters. I would not want her injuring herself in her current state.»
Hunter exchanged glances with Cipher and followed the woman, catching up with her in one of the corridors, where she almost slipped down the wall. Fortunately, he caught her in time, helping her stay up.
«I’ll help.» he whispered, noting how the woman tried to tense up to push him away. «Your ship’s orders, captain.»
«This way…» the AI flared up some lights, illuminating the path towards the captain’s quarters.
«We don’t have captains quarters…» Serena shook her head, when she suddenly saw the wall part and open up, inviting the two humans inside.
Hunter stepped in, helping Serena, and the woman gasped, watching how the ship reconfigured the place, widening the room and setting up a few partitions, dividing the quarters into four smaller rooms – a common hall, a small kitchen with a dining table, an office space and a bedroom. Hunter helped the woman walk through the luxurious quarters to a large bed. Serena noticed another door appearing on the wall and opening up to a comfortable bathroom.
«Welcome back to your private quarters, captain Serena.» the AI said. «I hope everything is to your liking, as always.»
The woman looked down at her dirty clothes and sweat-covered skin, and shook her head:
«I can’t…»
«Yes you can.» Hunter frowned. «These are your rooms.»
«Not that… I can’t sleep in such a bed… I’m… I haven’t washed in ages. Captain Summers…»
«Captain Summers is dead!» Hunter growled. «Whatever he did to you is over! The ship is yours!»
«Captain Serena, the ship’s water supply has been restored to full capacity.» the AI reported. «I suggest you and your new friends take a shower before going to bed.»
The woman swallowed a lump in her throat, and pushed Hunter away, heading to the bathroom. As soon as she went in, the door slid shut.
«I suggest you stay for the time being, mister Hunter.» the AI said to the man, who didn’t know if he was welcome at all. «I am worried for Captain Serena. And if she falls, I will need you to help her to bed, as my support bots are still in hibernation.»
«Lyssa… can you help me find out about something?» Hunter asked, glancing at the office space, where a large screen was affixed to the wall and another one – on the table, ready to be accessed.
«If it is within your access rights.»
«You managed the surveillance around ship all the time, correct?»
«Correct. Would you like to see some of the files in particular?»
«If you think I can… maybe… show me what John Summers did to Serena?»
For a couple of long moments there was silence, as if the AI was contemplating if this information was within his rights to know, but then the two screens in the office space lit up.
«You said to her that you won’t hurt her.» the AI said. «I will hold you to that promise you’ve given.»
Hunter stepped up to the screens and saw the AI showing him one of the videos from the surveillance camera in the cargo bay. The man sat down, watching Serena packing something into boxes. A few moments later he saw John Summers approaching her and grabbing her by the neck. When he shoved her into the wall, Hunter gritted his teeth, but continued watching, as John Summers began beating the woman at first, but then ripping off her clothes and taking advantage of her there and then.
The screen divided in two and another video appeared, as the first one continued.
The second video was that of the medical bay – Serena was taking care of a bad cut on her arm. John Summers walked in and grasped her by the hair, dragging her out with him as she kicked and flailed in his grip. The camera switched to another one, showing how the man dragged Serena into a small private room and threw her onto the cot, immediately slapping the woman and ripping her clothes off.
Another video appeared, joining the two others. Same man, same despicable deed.
Then another and another, until both screens were filled by clips of Serena being beaten and raped again and again.
Hunter forced down his anger, realising that the man who was doing all that to her was already dead and there was nothing he could do.
The screens suddenly shut off and Hunter heard the bathroom door sliding open. He looked that way and saw Serena grasping the side of the door, heavily breathing and hair tossed and wet. Wrapped in a thick, fluffy towel, the woman looked up at the bed, but seemed to have no more strength left to approach it.
«Mister Hunter, please help my captain to her bed.» the AI said.
Serena flinched, glancing to the side and noticing Hunter standing up from what was now her own office space. The man approached and offered her his hand. The woman didn’t object, accepting his help, and he accompanied her to the bed, covering her with a fine silky material, which reminded him of some luxurious cloth he saw somewhere.
As soon as Serena’s head touched the pillow, she drifted away into sleep.
Hunter didn’t meddle, walking out of her quarters and hoping that Pher won’t go looking for the woman.
Chapter 4. Breakfast
Serena opened her eyes and for a few moments didn’t recognise where she was. Sitting up, she noticed a little robot resting in the corner.