Бесплатный фрагмент - Scrapper

Part I. Scrapper

Chapter 1. Scrapper

Another day, another job.

Everything was as usual — they landed in one of the abandoned sectors, searching for anything of worth that they could sell. Though this was just like any other day they’ve been working, the young woman was happy that they weren’t stuck in some ancient refinery, lost in the terrible maze of its corridors like it was a week ago.

This time it was a small settlement, marked on the map with an asterisk — her captain, the Ol’ Fart, as she called him, said he was hinted of something of significant value. He wouldn’t tell her what it was, but Serena knew that if he gave an order — she’d better follow through, or he could punish her greatly.

She walked through the old, dilapidated building, hearing her captain scrambling somewhere near, and hoped that she could get at least some rest from his obnoxious company.

Stepping into one of the big halls she scanned the floor, where lots of scrap lay haphazardly. None of this was of any value, as most of it was just some broken toys and pieces of statuettes. The tiny old batteries could be refined, of course, but to make it up for the time she would have to find at least three boxes filled with them, so searching through the toys was a complete waste of her time.

Serena stepped further in, searching with her eyes for anything that she could take into the anti-gravitational cart that was slowly following her. A few rolls of copper wires and a small silver plate was lying inside — a bitter find, but it was something at least.

That was the life of a scrapper — to search out through the abandoned and destroyed locations and bring back anything the Company would buy. Copper, Nickel, Gold and Silver were the best of finds. Gold and a rare find of Platinum would feed them for weeks. But the copper wires and little things like that silver plate would just lengthen their hungry existence a little bit.

The woman thought that if she were to have one of those handheld scanners, her work would be so much easier. But those things cost a hefty penny, and she was in no position to ask her captain to allow her such a device.

Serena decided to glance into a smaller room, and stepped inside it, leaving the cart outside the door.

Immediately a gun aimed at her face and she froze, looking at a tall, dirty man with a very boyish face and oily blond hair. A short beard covered his chin and he smiled to her — a fair, charming smile that made him look like one of those man-models for some ad campaign. Only he was dirtier and obviously not as law-abiding.

«Keep looking, I’m going back to the ship for a break!» Serena heard her captain scream from the room next door.

She looked at the gun, aimed at her, then into the blue eyes of the man, who was holding it. She knew she had to reply, otherwise her captain would come searching for her and everything could turn very ugly — the Ol’ Fart was extremely hot-tempered and hated when someone wasn’t obeying his commands.

«Answer me, bitch!» the captain barked.

«Sorry!» Serena watched the eyes of her captor squint with a dark promise. «Yeah, go ahead, I’m on it!»

«You’d better find something worth our time here!»

«Yes, boss!» Serena swallowed a sudden lump in her throat.

She wouldn’t be able to say who she feared more — the armed man in front of her or the captain, who made her life miserable.

The stranger gripped his gun tighter, listening to the captain’s steps disappearing far away. When everything fell silent, the man smiled a bit wider and leaned in.

«How many of you are there?» he asked with a low, rumbling voice that made her shiver.

«Two of us.» Serena breathed out, feeling the gun press against her neck, as the man forced her to step aside and back to the wall.

As she leaned over the cold, hard wall, the man snickered and stepped closer, his hand pressing against Serena’s breast. He grinned, grasping tighter, and licked his lips.

«You’re a fine find, girl…» he said.

Suddenly a shadow moved behind the man and he was jerked back. Serena saw another man — also tall, muscular and dark-haired, standing there and growling into the blond man’s face.

«What the fuck do you think you’re doing?» the newcomer hissed.

Serena glanced at their clothes and suddenly realised that she had already encountered those before. The greyish blue of the overalls and the markings, where there used to be sign patches on the shoulders.

The woman realised what she walked into and started thinking if she should reach for her ear-piece and contact the captain to let him know that she stumbled upon deserters of the Company. But the men turned their eyes to her again.

The gun of the blond guy pressed into her chest.

«You will help us, unless you want me to pull the trigger.» the man said with a smile.

Serena lowered her gaze at the heavy gun and pondered on the thought. She grasped the barrel and raised it to her chin, clasping her eyes with the man. She wasn’t taunting him. She was welcoming him to do so.

Serena noticed the second man frown in surprise, then jerk her captor aside again, stepping up. The woman didn’t even flinch when he grabbed her clothes, pulling her up to him. He looked suspicious only for a few seconds, before he lowered his eyes to her neck.

She knew what he noticed. The collar she was hiding under a bandana.

The man slowly released her and raised her bandana, looking at the electric collar she was wearing, then his demeanour relaxed and he met her gaze once again.

«How long?» he asked.

«Four years.» Serena didn’t have the will to lie.

«How?»

Serena looked away. This question was so much harder to answer. Everyone always assumed that any collar-wearing human was enslaved for their wrongdoings. But her story was different. She was found half-dead on one of the planets where the scrappers came. And the Ol’ Fart clasped the collar onto her while she was recovering.

«Answer him.» the blond man pressed his gun to her ribs.

«I was found half-dead on one of the scrapyards.» Serena breathed out. «When I woke up in the infirmary, the collar was already on my neck.»

«You were found with it?» the dark-haired man asked.

Serena shook her head:

«No. Captain put it on, while I was unconscious. It made his tech revolt, but…»

The woman stopped, remembering how the Captain blew his team-mates brains out. It was the first thing she learned — never to disobey the short-tempered Captain.

«I have to find something… otherwise he will get mad.» Serena pleaded, looking into the blue eyes of the dark-haired man.

«Don’t think about your pitiful scrap.» the blond man spit on the floor. «We have more important business you have to help us with.»

«I can’t.» Serena shook her head. «The Captain won’t…»

The gun barrel rose to her face, making her fall silent.

The dark-haired man thought for a moment, then slowly forced the gun down, making the blond man grunt with disapproval.

«Let’s start again, shall we?» the dark haired man pressed his palm on his chest. «My name is Hunter, this is Pher…»

Serena heard someone scrambling nearby and looked that way, finding a dark-skinned, long-haired man leaning over the wall and pressing a palm to his side. He looked obviously wounded and barely strong enough to walk, but he still carried the heavy gun, ready to engage in a gunfight.

«And that is Cipher.» Hunter showed at his wounded comrade. «We need a way out of this place. And you have a ship.»

«It’s not my ship. It obeys the Captain. The only way it will obey me, is if this collar is off my neck and the captain is dead.» Serena shook her head.

She glanced at the blood, trickling down Cipher’s side, and slowly opened her belt bag. The man, called Pher tensed up, but when Serena took out a pack of first-aid wound patch, he grabbed it out of her hand and headed to his friend, leaving Hunter and Serena alone.

Hunter met Serena’s gaze again and sighed:

«Look, all we need is a way off this planet. The sooner, the better.» he flicked her collar. «You need this off. We can help each other, so how about we make a deal?»

«I told you, the only way the ship will obey my commands is if the captain is dead. And that is a hard feat to do.» Serena shook her head once more.

«How so?»

«He installed a special protocol. The ship has cameras inside and outside. So if he is murdered there — I am stuck. The ship will shut down, sending a signal of a murder that occurred. If he’s killed anywhere else, his personal implant will send a signal back to the ship with the recording of how he was killed. The only way to kill him is by accident and not involving me.» Serena looked away, realising she had spent more than enough time thinking about all this.

Hunter chewed his lower lip in thought, then glanced at his friends.

«Alright… so… what if he breaks his neck falling off a staircase?» he asked.

«That would be a plausible way to make his system make me the captain in charge.» Serena swallowed a lump. «But…»

She didn’t finish her sentence, as her earpiece shot an electric charge into her ear, making her twitch from pain.

«Report!» the captain’s voice sounded in a bark, obviously drunken from whatever moonshine he already drank on the ship.

Serena clasped her palm on Hunter’s mouth, in an unconscious way stopping him from making a sound.

«I haven’t found anything yet, captain.» the woman said, wincing from the pain that he delivered when switching her earpiece remotely.

He loved tormenting her, and this faulty radio was one of those ways.

«We won’t leave, until we find what we came for!» the captain growled. «Keep searching!»

«It would be easier if I knew what exactly you’re looking for.» Serena felt sweat beads forming on her forehead.

She wasn’t supposed to talk to him this way — he could punish her for such attitude. She heard the Ol’ Fart sigh in irritation and grumble:

«I got a hint there’s some precious metals here. Look for anything worth our time, and stop asking questions!»

«All I found so far is a bit of copper wiring and a silver plate. Any details you can spare?»

«Gold, you dim witted whore! I’m looking for gold!»

«Gold?» Serena met Hunter’s gaze and noticed him frown. «Got it.»

«Report when you find anything!» the captain signed off.

Serena felt the pain subsiding, as the earpiece shut down again. She felt her fingers starting to tremble, when she realised she prevented Hunter from speaking all this time, and slowly lowered her hand, understanding that this could mean the man becoming angry at her.

But, on the contrary, he seemed calm and unaffected by her gesture.

«He’s searching for gold?» he asked quietly.

Serena nodded, nervous that she was surrounded by three armed men, but it was not as strong of a fear for her safety and life, than the fact that her captain was drunk, irritable and agitated, searching for something that could as well be elsewhere.

Hunter stepped closer, making the woman press against the wall even harder.

«And how would he know there’s gold here?» his voice grew lower, sounding like a growl.

«He said, he got a hint. I would assume it was from one of his informants.» Serena felt Hunter’s breath on her neck.

The man stepped back, falling into thought. He looked at his friends — the wounded one looking a bit better, being patched up by the first aid pack Serena gave them.

«Stay here.» the man growled and walked up to his friends.

Serena looked at her hands, realising they trembled even harder. She knew that if she were to help these deserters, she would need to calm down, before returning to the ship. The Captain was dangerous when he was drunk, and if he was searching for something as valuable as gold, he would be furious if he will notice her nervousness.

She took a few moments to breathe in and out, calming her nerves, but felt that any outcome, really, would be not in her favour. The three men could shoot her and that was probably the easiest way to go. What the captain could do was something else entirely.

The woman heard steps approaching, and looked up just as Pher pressed her to the wall again, his palm grasping her ass in an obvious sign of his lustful thoughts towards her.

«You’ll help us, girl. And I’ll reward you with the best few nights of your life, pretty thing.» Pher grumbled into her ear.

Serena dared not to move or push him away, too familiar to such advances and knowing what could happen if she were to fight it. She felt his hand caressing her body and closed her eyes, forcing down any remnants of dignity she had left.

It was too long since she could allow herself to object to something like this.

She felt Pher rubbing his body against hers, but a second later he was jerked back and Serena heard him crashing onto the floor. She opened her eyes, seeing broad shoulders in front of her — Hunter closed her with his body from his friend.

«Touch her again, Pher, and I will break your arm!» Hunter growled.

«For fuck’s sake!» Pher’s voice sounded irritated and coarse. «I was only having a bit of fun!»

«Stop it, both of you!» the third man finally spoke up, his voice deep, but pained. «She’s our ticket out of here, not your entertainment, Pher!»

Mumbling and cursing, the blond man got up, stepping away. Serena thought if the wounded man was their high in command or not — he definitely looked the part. But, then again, so did Hunter.

«Are you okay?» Hunter turned to Serena, and she noticed his soft, comforting gaze.

«I’m fine!» she slapped his hand away in a sudden irritation to his concern. «Nothing I’m not used to.»

The woman noticed a deep frown on Hunter’s face. But before he could say anything else, the wounded man — Cipher — stumbled up.

«So…» he said, leaning with his arm on the wall to keep himself up. «Your captain is looking for gold?»

Serena nodded:

«At least, that’s what he said.»

«Let’s take a short walk, shall we?» Cipher gestured to the dark arch of a doorway at the end of the room.

Serena dared not to object, heading that way and feeling the men following her behind. She stepped through the arch, seeing the staircase, leading down — deeper into the building. Stepping down the steps, she was thinking if she would be of any help to these men and if it will guarantee her safety after.

The stairs took them to a small corridor, which was dim and slippery from all the stagnant water that accumulated there over the years. Serena walked on, stepping cautiously and noting the slippery green algae, which grew all over.

The corridor led them to a single room with a heavy door, which was slightly ajar. Serena stopped in front of it, wondering if she would be strong enough to swing it open.

Hunter stepped up and grabbed the door, his muscles bulging under his clothes. The woman swallowed hard, realising how strong he was and that he was definitely one of the soldiers the Company had. All three men were quite muscular, but not all Company soldiers were so — only those, who went on constant missions to capture, hunt down or retrieve people who ran from the Company.

As the door screeched quietly, Serena gasped, seeing the two stacks of golden bricks.

Her mind started calculating the potential profit they could get from selling such a find. With this they could easily replace their old ship and purchase all the needed devices to become a higher level scrapper crew.

She snapped herself out of shock, realising that even if she were to report this to the Captain — he would do nothing to help her, forcing her to load all this all on her own. And, after they deliver this to one of the sales representatives, she would get nothing from all this treasure.

«You said, he was looking for gold.» Cipher said. «Here it is.»

Hunter walked inside the vault and picked up one of the gold ingots, carrying it back to Serena.

«Lure your captain here. Show him this ingot.» Hunter said, meeting her suspicious gaze. «We’ll have a trap on the staircase, making him trip and fall to his death.»

«You’ll trust me with an ingot?» Serena asked, feeling her fingers trembling again.

The man nodded, handing her the golden ingot.

«Go. We’ll be waiting.» Cipher added.

Serena took a very careful step back, watching how the men would react at her leaving, but they didn’t even flinch. Slowly, she turned and walked off, wondering if their plan would even work. She ascended the steps and walked through the building to the exit, glancing at the ship the captain called «the Rust Bucket». Pressing the ingot to her chest, Serena walked up to her captain sitting on a foldable chair with a large bottle of moonshine in his hand.

«Find anything, you worthless whore?» the captain spit to the floor.

Serena offered him the ingot. The man’s eyes widened, then he squinted and rose, watching her attentively with a deep frown. She waited for him to say something, but he struck her, throwing down the ships ramp into a pile of garbage.

«Take me there, bitch.» he walked off, watching her struggle to get back up to her feet.

The woman headed back in, feeling her jaw aching and a thin line of blood running down on one side of her mouth. A minor injury — the Ol’ Fart could do so much worse.

Reaching the stairs, she continued her way, not even thinking if the three men were fast enough to set up the trap. Barely half-way down the staircase the captain grunted, throwing the empty bottle at her and making her trip and tumble down the stairs. She came to a stop at the bottom, baring her teeth, but not allowing herself to make a sound, feeling the intense pain the bottle caused, hitting her at the back of the head, and the fall, after which her arm burst in so much pain that it was obvious she had broken the bone.

«You whore!» the captain hissed from the top.

Serena tried her best to crawl aside — further from the man, who looked like he was about to run down and beat her to death. But the captain took a step, tripped, and tumbled down the stairs, each hit accompanied with cracks and grunts, until he slammed into the wall and remained still. The woman looked at him, cradling her broken arm, and realised that he wasn’t breathing.

Chapter 2. Captain

«I have recorded an accidental death of Captain John Summers.» the ships AI said as soon as Serena stepped into the ship. «As per protocol One Three One Five Seven D, you are now promoted to acting captain. Welcome aboard, Captain Serena.»

The young woman froze mid-step, a realisation crashing upon her. She was free from the Ol’ Fart. She was now rid of her torment as his toy that he could torture and use as he pleased. Her collar clicked and fell to the floor, clanking against the metal.

Serena felt her body trembling and suddenly growing cold.

«What are your orders, Captain?» the AI asked.

Captain… she really was the captain of this old scrapper ship. Could she really escape her pitiful life of a slave, caught somewhere long ago? Or will she need to return the ship and find her living elsewhere?

«I am detecting three human signatures approaching, captain.» the AI’s voice made Serena snap out of her shocked state.

The woman turned and saw the three men approaching. Swallowing a lump, formed in her throat, Serena spoke out:

«Lyssa, record that I have found three men that crash landed in the vicinity not long ago. No distress signal has been sent due to their communication systems failing. We’ll take them aboard and help them to whatever destination they need.»

«Noted, captain.» AI replied. «What about the cargo? Captain Summers input a find I am not detecting in the carts.»

«I’ll get the cargo a bit later. One of the men is injured and in need of medical attention.»

«Infirmary is switched on and ready to receive the patient, captain. Should I send a gurney?»

«No need…» Cipher grunted, helped up into the ship by his friend Pher.

«Please follow the blue lights to the infirmary. Welcome aboard.» the AI lit up the lights on the floor, showing the men the way.

Hunter approached Serena, carrying Captain Summer’s body on his shoulder.

«Where should I put him?» he asked.

Serena gestured to a couple of boxes standing in the corner of the bay and felt her mind wandering away again, too deep in all the things that happened.

«Captain?» AI asked.

«What is it?» Serena still felt shaken and barely understood what being captain entailed for her.

«I am detecting a fracture in your right arm. I highly advise you to visit the infirmary as well.»

Serena watched Hunter lay down the dead body and stayed silent. When the man straightened up and turned to look at her again, she noticed his soft gaze.

«She’s right.» Hunter said, nodding towards where Pher and Cipher went. «You should at least get it scanned and have some painkillers administered.»

Serena looked down at the arm she was cradling, and realised she would still have to load up all the gold ingots the men showed her. Gritting her teeth, she headed to the infirmary — without a cast she won’t be able to get any work done.

Hunter followed her silently, allowing her to process the changes that happened in her life during, essentially, only a few hours. He walked behind, watching her closely, and noting how she kept herself clenched up, as if still afraid of something.

When they walked into the infirmary, she glanced at Cipher, being treated on the table, and said nothing, stepping to a second station, which fired up, immediately scanning her body.

«Severe malnutrition detected. Please hold.» the system sounded.

Serena knew what usually came after — a short wait and an advice to eat healthy. However, this time was different. The medicine replicator buzzed and opened the latch, giving her a small bottle of pills.

«Please take one dose before proceeding.» the computer said.

Serena took the pill bottle and felt her fingers trembling again. The Captain was always stingy. But was he also that unfair when it came to her health?

She took the pill, almost spilling the rest to the floor.

«Ulna fractured, please place your injured arm into the medical station.» the computer buzzed.

Serena placed her injured arm into the automated medical station again, and felt a syringe administering some painkillers before the computer began placing a cast on her. Hunter watched this with a very strange look on his face.

When she was done, she looked at the hard cast on her arm, but silently headed back to the bay to get some anti-gravitational carts and get the gold ingots. Hunter caught up with her, leaving his friends in the infirmary.

«Where are you going?» he asked, puzzled to the determined, and yet confused look on Serena’s face.

«I need to load the gold. If you want out of here, the gold should be sold, otherwise the ship won’t have enough fuel to fly further than the Scarapace system. I’m assuming you need the credits to go wherever it is you are heading.»

«Shouldn’t you rest? We can help you tomorrow.»

«I can’t rest. I still have to check the engines, get Summers into storage, figure out the…»

«Whoah!» Hunter jumped in front of her, stopping. «Take it easy! You just got your arm broken and you’re in no condition to load anything!»

«I’m used to it.» the cold tone Serene said this with made Hunter step back, shocked to see such indifference.

«What do you mean you’re used to it?» Hunter frowned.

Serena gritted her teeth and pushed through, ignoring his question and not wishing to continue this conversation. The man caught up with her again, catching her arm, and pulled her to the wall, not letting her go anywhere.

The woman curled up, too fearful of receiving a punch, but Hunter froze still, looking at this beautiful mistreated woman, who only knew pain and torment all through the four years she spent with her Captain.

«Don’t…» Hunter saw the woman flinch. «Don’t be afraid of me. I won’t hurt you, I promise.»

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.

«Hi, Charlie!» the woman smiled and suddenly froze.

Charlie? Why did she call the bot Charlie?

The little robot switched on and its screen exhibited two cartoonish eyes that looked very cute, as if the robot was happy to be there. Serena stood from the bed and stepped up to the bot, remembering the little cleaner she had and called Charlie a long time ago. Kneeling down, the woman touched the round edges of the robot.

«Did you miss me?» she smiled.

The robot squeaked, as if replying in a cheerful manner.

Serena knew that the robots really didn’t experience any emotions, but were programmed to simulate them — it was made so to keep humans company during long and lonely space travels. Her Charlie was more than just a little cleaner — he was one of the multiple robots that could turn into defence drones if necessary.

The woman stood up, wondering how she knew all that. She stepped into the bathroom and noticed her clothes gone.

«Good morning, captain!» Lyssa’s voice sounded. «Your old clothes have been incinerated. Your wardrobe is now accessible. Would you like me to choose your outfit for the day, or would you like to do that yourself?»

«Can I wash up first?» Serena walked up to the sink and froze in shock, noticing the change.

She was looking at herself, but it was no longer the pale, dirty woman with dark circles under her eyes. This time she saw the soft skin and beautiful face that wasn’t hidden under dirt. Though, her hair was definitely in desperate need of a hairbrush.

As if on cue to that thought, the side wall opened up, offering Serena a plethora of things needed to make herself look presentable. Tooth brushes, creams, hair brushes and a multitude of clippers, scissors and even scalpels adorned this compartment.

Serena picked up the hairbrush and spent some time brushing her silvery hair that no longer seemed brown because of all the dirt and oil she was subjected to so long. In a strange state she made a high ponytail and braided her hair in a neat braid, clasping a metal bead on the end. After taking care of her hair she brushed her teeth and tidied up her fingers, getting rid of all the broken nails and imperfections that she had before.

She felt so much better, that she didn’t care if she was dreaming.

As she exited the bathroom, she noticed her little bot Charlie chirping next to an open wardrobe, where a number of different clothes hung, ready to be taken out.

«Thank you, Charlie.» Serena smiled to the bot, and the little helper swirled around and returned to his corner.

As she approached, she glanced at the clothes she barely remembered.

The official black outfit — trousers and jacket, both adorned with tiny little speckles of crystals that originated from a distant star.

A luxurious crimson dress, fit to be worn at high-end events.

A number of plainer trousers, shirts and jackets, ranging in colour from pale green to pitch black…

Was she always so stylish?

Serena took the plain black trousers and jacket, accompanying them with a dark purple blouse.

«A fine choice, captain!» Lyssa said in a cheerful manner. «Will you prefer your usual boots with that?»

Another compartment in the wardrobe slid out, showing a whole row filled with different style of shoes. Serena grabbed the heavy duty military boots, deciding that those were more comfortable.

A few minutes later the woman stepped out of the captain’s quarters and froze, seeing the ship fully transformed. The corridor was no longer claustrophobic and dimly lit — now it was wide enough for four people to pass each other without a problem and the lighting was bright and welcoming.

Even though her mind hadn’t yet recovered fully, this felt more like home.

Serena headed down the corridor, noticing the changes in the ship’s interior. Everything became more spacious, well-lit and less uncomfortable. And there were little robots hovering around, tidying up and carrying resources from storage to the necessary systems.

One of the robots slid in front of her and ascended, opening a compartment and offering her a belt with a holster. When Serena picked the belt up, she saw a gun and a blade lying beneath. She looked at the belt and realized it was her own military belt, given to her by her father after her first battle.

She failed to remember where and when the battle took place.

Serena put the belt on, then grabbed her weapons and thanked the robot, before continuing her way to get some food. As she walked into the dining area, she noticed the three men eating lunch and glancing up at her. Hunter and Cipher looked surprised to see the woman looking so clean and beautiful all of a sudden. Pher, however, cackled and leaned back on his chair:

«Now that is a fine woman, and not a girl! Where have you been hiding all this time?»

Serena stayed silent, stepping up to the food processor, and noticed the screen light up, before a portion of food appeared on the tray. The woman took her food and felt confused to see a lavish meal, compiled of steamed vegetables, grilled steak and a cup of something resembling red wine.

«Lyssa…» Serena didn’t know what to ask the AI.

«I took the liberty of adjusting your diet to compensate for the severe malnutrition you have been experiencing. Bon appetite, captain.» the AI replied.

Serena frowned in confusion, but decided not to argue, though it has been too long since she experienced a meal so hardy. She sat down at the far table near the illuminator, which showed the stars outside, and began slowly eating, deep in her thoughts.

It didn’t take too long before Pher jumped from his seat and approached her, plopping down on the seat next to the woman and leaning in.

«I say, you clean up good.» he said with a charming smile. «You’re even prettier without all the grime that hid this face of yours.»

He touched her cheek, making her jump up and gaze at him angrily. The man stood, still smiling.

«Come on… I’m only trying to be your friend.» he said.

«Leave me alone.» Serena growled, feeling an unusual rage surfacing through the scared girl that she was for the four years that passed.

«I’m sure we can figure this out, eh?» Pher shrugged, his hands open wide in a welcoming gesture.

Serena thought how full of himself he was to act so nonchalant and arrogant. She unsheathed her blade and watched his eyes look down, and then up at her face again. His demeanour changed slightly — more collected, tense and ready, though the boyish smile never left his lips.

«Never unsheathe your weapon, unless you are going to use it.» he said calmly, his voice growing lower and exhibiting a warning within the tone.

Serena raised her blade, suddenly lowering her stance and tilted her head a bit, as if welcoming him to attack.

«Pher, stand down!» Hunter’s voice reverberated through the dining area.

«No, let him do whatever he pleases.» Serena smirked, feeling unusually calm and determined.

Something inside of her stirred the memories of her body being capable of things she thought impossible for four long years. She felt the urge to fight, shed blood and punish the arrogant bastard in front of her.

She noticed in the corner of her eye that Cipher stopped Hunter from interfering and understood that the man wanted to see what she was able to do in such a situation.

Pher, on the contrary, cackled and stepped up, leaning into the blade as close as he could.

«Go on!» he smirked. «Kill me if you can.»

He froze for a couple of moments, but Serena waited for him to make the first move. Somehow she knew his bluff and wanted to make him pay for this rude distraction from her meal.

As the man flinched to grab her blade, she shifted in a blink of an eye, suddenly hitting him in the stomach and throwing him back. He straightened, wincing from pain, and frowned, understanding that the girl he saw the day before was nothing compared to the woman in front of him now.

He approached again — this time careful and attentive, watching her body for any signs she would attack him first. But she was standing frozen, as if being in a fight was something she was used to.

«You know nothing of the Laithorian empire, do you?» Cipher leaned back in his seat, enjoying the sudden entertainment.

«What’s there to know?» Pher cackled again, making a sudden advance, but receiving a kick to his side in return that forced him to the floor.

«The Laithorians value their military discipline. They live for war. Each child is raised preparing for the battles ahead.» Serena suddenly answered, giving Pher enough time to get up again. «We train since childhood. That’s why the Laithorians are best in military missions. We are paid to battle, conquer and fight. Our families make money by engaging the wars and battles of others. And my family was the most prominent.»

Pher jumped into attack once again, but now he seemed more eager to kick and hit, though each of his advances was met with a carefully placed block or evasion. For a couple of minutes the pair fought relentlessly, exchanging blows, but not stepping away. Cipher noticed how Hunter tensed up, not understanding how Serena was able to move so fast, though just yesterday she was as weak as a pup, barely able to keep herself on her feet.

«I advise you to finish this show, captain.» Lyssa’s voice sounded. «As your body had not yet fully recovered.»

«Shut up, Lyssa!» a sudden rage took over Serena, and the woman pushed through the rising aching in her muscles, forcing Pher to retreat again and again, until he jumped back and hit the wall.

Growling and attacking, Serena offered him no respite, aiming at his body again and again, barely missing her hits, as the man too was an experienced fighter in hand-to-hand combat. In a short moment of her distraction by a sharp pain in her broken arm, he managed to unarm her, throwing her blade aside, but that was all he could do, as the woman jumped to him, slamming her forehead into his face.

A pained scream flew out from his mouth, but before he could slide down the wall, Serena hissed and grabbed his clothes, throwing him aside.

Hunter jolted up, noticing the woman swaying from this. But Pher remained on the floor, groaning and bloodied from the short, but intense scuffle he had with the captain of the ship.

Serena walked over and picked up her blade, watching Pher closely, then sheathed her weapon and returned to her meal, feeling her hands trembling from adrenaline.

Though breathing heavily, she didn’t take her eyes off Pher, who lay on the floor, barely moving and groaning from pain. Serena tried grasping the glass with her drink, but almost dropped it, when her trembling fingers slid on the surface.

She took her time, slowing down her breathing and calming herself, before she understood that she was no longer hungry. Enraged at this, she threw her tray off the table and stormed out of the dining area, leaving the three men.

Chapter 5. Memories

Hunter took his time finding Serena. When he approached her, she was sitting in the captain’s seat on the bridge and watching the stars outside — silent and distant.

«Can I join you?» Hunter asked, feeling conflicted if he should even be there or not.

«You’re free to roam the ship, Hunter. Whether you want my company or not is entirely up to you.» Serena replied, sounding different than on the day before.

She felt more confident, more collected, stronger and… more lost than when he met her. The man sat down on the first pilot’s seat and took a few moments to gather his thoughts, deciding on what to talk about with the woman, who went through so much and he knew nothing about.

«I’m sorry.» Hunter finally said, turning to look at Serena.

He noticed her frown and meet his gaze.

«What are you sorry for?» she asked, her tone indifferent, but hiding a hint of aching somewhere deep inside.

«I should have stopped him. Pher is an asshole.»

Serena smirked, and Hunter noted how her eyes softened.

«Don’t be sorry for someone else’s stupidity. I saw Cipher stopping you. He did the right thing.» the woman answered. «If you’d interfere, you could have been caught in the moment and punched as well.»

«Can I ask… how is it that yesterday you were so frail, and today…»

«Muscle memory.» Serena chuckled. «Though, I must admit, I am in no condition to fight a Laithorian right now. I’m a disgrace to my family name.»

«Captain, I still hadn’t received any orders concerning our route.» Lyssa’s voice sounded. «Since Mister Hunter is here, perhaps, it would be best to decide on our destination?»

«Stop calling him mister Hunter, Lyssa.» Serena slid down in her seat, relaxing. «He’s just Hunter.»

«Noted, Captain.»

Serena closed her eyes for a few moments and seemed to drift asleep, before stirring up and collecting herself again, remembering that she wasn’t alone.

«So… Hunter. Where are we heading?» the woman asked.

Hunter looked away, unable to withstand the cold gaze of her steel grey eyes.

«Honestly, I have no idea.» he replied a couple of moments later. «Do you remember where you were going? Before you lost your… memories?»

Serena felt her teeth gritting against her will. She didn’t remember everything yet — just bits and pieces, scattered in time from her childhood to what seemed to be closer to the time she ended up in space, lost somewhere near Thorna Dirr.

«No.» she replied, sounding very quiet. «I don’t.»

«No specific destination was input at that time, Captain.» Lyssa said, helping her captain. «We were jumping from one planet to another, trying to lose any pursuers. I was saving your life.»

Hunter glanced at Serena and saw her frowning, as if remembering something. The woman leaned forward and clasped her fingers, her teeth gritting from the heavy thoughts. For a split second the man noticed her eyes dart from one side to another, as if she saw something troubling.

«What is it?» he forced his question out.

«I was…» Serena flinched, then winced and grasped her head. «I was… injured.»

She fell silent and Hunter gave her some time to continue, but she stayed silent.

«Lyssa?» Hunter asked the AI.

«Lady Serena was heavily injured and staying in a revival pod in my medical bay for most of the trip, Hunter.» the AI replied calmly.

«Injured…» Serena gritted her teeth again, then put her hands down and looked at them, as if something was terribly wrong. «I was…»

She fell silent again, and Hunter saw her face becoming white.

«I was dying.» the woman finally exhaled.