Special Pickup - Chapter 4: Field of Sighs
05 Jun 2016LordPsymon
Previous chapterSpecial Pickup - Chapter 4: Field of Sighs
---Arungu - Asteroid Cluster---
Rattlesnake was attached to the dark side of a large asteroid, while several others tumbled in the distance. I had powered down everything apart from life support. I stepped into the pilot’s cabin to find Fiona curled up in the spare bunk in a fetal position. I extended a hand to comfort her, but she shrank away from my touch. I pulled my hand away, embarrassed.
“Sorry… I didn’t mean to…”
She looked up at me, her eyes tired and uncomfortable. She swallowed and hesitated before answering.
“It’s- it’s okay. I just have a lot to think about. It’s been a hell of a two years for me.”
I stood up and nodded, heading toward the cockpit.
Just think about how you were when you got out. Didn’t trust anyone. Always watching your back. Sleeping with one eye open… If you even slept.
“Well, if you need anything at all, I’ll be in the cockpit.”
Her voice was barely a whisper. “Thanks.”
I decided to go through the black box data I had copied from the derelict Tiberius. The disk contained audio recordings, comms logs, as well as the last manifest and flight plans.
This whole job just took a seriously messed up turn.
<Ship audio logs - Tiberius>
Caius: “Ah! Viceroy Fink. What can a humble businessman do to assist?”
Fink: “It isn’t Viceroy any longer. That scoundrel Patreus sold me out, discarded me like a worthless pawn to appease the Inquisition!”
Caius: “Well, that’s a shame isn’t it? We had such a lucrative understanding between us. I take it you’ll be in need of some credits?
Fink: “No, I seek refuge, from the damn Chapterhouse!”
Caius: “Well, that is quite a predicament to be in isn’t it? Hiding from her majesty’s Inquisition. And what might you have on offer to make it worth my while?”
Fink: “I was able to bring with me quite an asset. I believe you will find her to your liking.”
>>> Fast forward
Fink: “Preflight checks?! I hired you to fly, not to create unnecessary delays!”
Pilot: “We’ll be up in space in no time. Sorry, pal. Pilot's Fed 101: be sure of what you're flying. She's pretty, but pretty ain't always space worthy.”
Fink: “I have a schedule to keep! I was Viceroy of this damn planet, and might I remind you who’s paying your contract?! I could easily cut your pay in half for your attitude alone!”
Pilot: “You could do that, but then you’ll have to find someone else to fly the ship for you. She’s a big girl with a fat ass, and she don’t like being rushed. Now why don’t you take your over priced robes and go make yourself comfortable.”
>>> Fast Forward
Pilot: “You see that redhead that Fink’s got on his leash?”
Copilot: “Nah, I was too busy lookin’ at her ass.”
Pilot: “I hear ya. Fine ass on that one. I do wish Fink would share her around.”
Copilot: “Tell me about it. I’d give half of what I’m making for this run to have a night on her romp.”
Pilot: “Yeah but these rich assholes ain’t the type to share, are they? What will you do after we’re done here?”
Copilot: “Me? I dunno yet, but whatever it is, I’ll be doin’ it in style.”
Pilot: “I’ll be sinkin’ a few creds into a high-class dock knocker once we touch down, that’s for sure.”
Copilot: “Amen to that.”
// Playback paused
I paused the playback as I heard Fiona entering the cockpit. She approached and sat slowly down on the copilot’s chair.
“Hey, I was just… going through some of the audio logs from the Tiberius.”
“I could hear.”
“You certainly hung around with some… charming people,” I remarked.
She shuddered, “Ick, all of Fink’s employees were disgusting pigs like that. You could swear they’d never seen a woman before in their lives.”
I smirked, “they probably haven’t in a long time.”
Fiona laughed lightly. She turned toward me.
“So… Simon. What’d you mean by ‘again’ back there?”
I raised an eyebrow at her. “What do you mean?”
“Back there, when we had jumped away from those people… You said ‘I don’t want to be sold into slavery again…’”.
I felt my chest tense up. Many thoughts raced through my head as to what to tell her. I was reluctant. I barely even told my own family what happened. I took a deep breath and slowly released the air from my lungs.
Might as well tell her… It’s only fair, since you already know a bit of her history.
“You alright?”
I took a breath and sat back on the pilot’s seat, watching the rocks tumble slowly in the distance.
“Yeah… It’s just…”
“You were once a slave too, huh?”
I looked at her. “Yeah. Three years of it.”
“I’m… I’m sorry. Now I feel bad for what I said about the fat paycheck.”
“It’s fine. I totally understand where you came from. Just… I never really talk about it. Those thugs who attacked us… Reck. They’re the same people that captured me several years ago… I was on a transport to Nortes to celebrate my graduation.” I paused for a bit. “Then we were attacked. They shot up the engines, boarded the ship and mowed down anyone that didn’t cooperate.” I looked down at my feet, a tear started rolling down my eye. I swallowed and tried to retain my composure. “I watched my best friend get gunned down right in front of me.”
We sat in silence for a short while. Mixed feelings were rushing through me. Part of me felt good to talk about my past, but bringing it up again haunted me with the memory of James… of Luke… Both killed so needlessly. I told her more about what I experienced in Eravate, how they had me do delivery runs in the little Sidewinder, placing bets on whether or not I’d return alive. I told her about Luke, and how he came to end his own life.
Fiona leaned in a little. “So, how did you get out in the end?”
I smiled a weak smile. “This ship here. Rattlesnake. I hijacked her from the hangar and high-tailed it outta there. The name comes from all the rattling noises she made as I got out, and we both can guess where Snake comes from. They chased me down and shot her up real bad but she held together.”
“That’s a bit of a crazy move, stealing a ship like that.”
I looked back down at my feet and sighed. “Yeah well… By that point, I had nothing to lose. I didn’t care if I died trying to escape.” There was another silence, but it did not feel awkward.
“What about you? How’d you end up with Fink?”
Fiona turned to look out of the canopy window. There was a brief silence before she answered. “I had to take care of my mum. I had been at university for almost eight years studying sector law… Then mum fell very ill. I was so close to graduating, but she needed me.”
“That’s… very honourable of you.”
“Yeah, but my family has never been very well off, and you know how expensive university can be. My debt was horrendous, so I went to a magistrate to negotiate terms of voluntary servitude for two years so I didn’t have to pay off a debt for 20.” She paused again. “At least… it was meant to only be two years. But once my contract was up, Fink refused to let me go. He was a disgusting man. Imperial Slavery is supposed to be a safety net, but he treated me like any old slave.”
I looked back toward Fiona. “What about your mum? Did she ever recover?”
“Yeah she did. But I never got to see her or hear from her while under Fink’s employ. He made sure I was as cut off as I could be.”
“Yeah, well he’s sucking vacuum now.”
Fiona smiled. “He sure is.”
Incoming jump signatures detected.
“Shit.”
I darted my head toward the scanners. Our pursuers had jumped into the area. They started running search patterns around the cluster of asteroids. I powered down all lights in the ship, and turned off the HUD and sensors, making it pitch black inside the cockpit.
Voices came out of the comms. The group of ships were chattering away on a local channel.
“Alright, I know he dropped out in this cluster of rocks. Keep your eyes open.”
“Boss, there’s nothing but rocks on the scanners.”
“Well then use your fucking eyes! Get out there, find that Cobra before I put you on the market!”
“Yes, Reck. We’ll find him. He can’t have gone far.”
A few minutes passed.
“Hey Boss! I think I am picking up something near this big rock!”
A Viper flew slowly close by and the cockpit lit up a dim blue from the glow of its engine. Its speed dropped and it turned around to face us. The ship seemed to hold in place for a few minutes as I tried my hardest not to move.
Fiona whispered quietly. “Do you think he sees us?”
“I sure as shit hope not.”
Another minute passed.
“False alarm, there ain’t nothin’ here. I’ll take a peek around the other rocks.”
Fiona and I collectively let off a huge sigh of relief as the viper sped off toward the rocks in the distance.
“Nothing out here either, Boss.”
Half an hour passed, then the ships disappeared in blue flashes. I sunk back into my seat in disbelief.
“Well crazy as it was, your plan worked.” Fiona said.
“Yep… I’m as surprised as anyone. Now, we just need to find somewhere to resupply and repair, then I’ll take you home.”
“No… I can’t go home yet…” she protested. “Fink never signed off my contract, and until he does, I’m still technically a slave.”
My expression turned from relief into confusion. “But… Fink’s dead. Doesn’t that mean you’re off the hook?”
“Unfortunately it’s not that simple. We need to see a magistrate and plead my case for freedom. Besides… What do you think Caius would do to you if you returned empty handed?”
I paused, thinking about what she said. “Shit… You’re right. I didn’t even think about that. So, what do we do?”
Fiona returned a cheeky smile. “I might have a few tricks up my sleeve. I studied law, remember? Besides, we should have evidence in this black box, plus your contract to pick me up. That should be enough to secure my freedom and maybe even have Caius arrested.”
I looked at her with a skeptical look. “But… Imperial servitude isn’t illegal around these parts.”
She smiled again. “No, but not releasing a slave at the end of their term is very illegal, as is conspiring to purchase one.”
I stared out the window for a moment, pondering what Fiona just said. She was right, and god damn was she smart.
“Alright, law girl. Here’s what I am thinking. We have ourselves a coffee, then we find somewhere close by that has an Imperial Magistrate, dock, get ourselves some proper food, get you some new clothes…”
“New clothes eh?” Fiona interrupted.
“Well… Yeah, I mean… Do you want to visit the Magistrate in that?”
Fiona gave me a playfully offended look. “Don’t I look nice already?”
I staggered. “Well… You… You look lovely… Just... I thought you might want something fresh… You know.”
Fiona poked my shoulder playfully. “I’m just playing, Mr. That idea sounds lovely. I’ve never liked the clothes Fink provided me. Now… Coffee?”
I smiled. “Yeah. I like the sound of that.”
Fiona left the copilot’s seat and headed toward the living area of the ship, then turned back toward me.
“Thanks for getting me out of there.” She smiled and headed away.
I sat back for a little bit and sighed once again. A feeling of warmth engulfed me, something I hadn’t felt in a very long time…
God damn it...