(Til Death Do Us Part) 5: Decision
01 Feb 2023Silvia Sharpe
There comes a point in all of our lives where we come to a crossroads. We must make a choice between doing what we believe is right and doing something that goes against our beliefs. Sometimes its for the best and sometimes it's for the worst. Venus sat having to make that very choice. This choice would ultimately set into motion a chain of events that she wouldnt be able to stop.While Ava is fast asleep Venus makes a call to Diaz. She hopes to try and alter his conditions for Silvia's release. Venus knows Ava will try and stop her so she had to ensure there was no option for that to happen. The screen of the console in front of her is emitting a bright blue glow while she waits for Diaz to answer. The screen flashes and Diaz can be seen standing in Silvia's room. Silvia is tucked into the corner and Diaz is breathing heavy. Silvia has blood all over her face. She is not wearing much for clothing, bruises and red marks can be seen all over her body. In an angered tone Venus shouts out.
'Diaz! Leave her alone! I wish to discuss the conditions for Silvia's release.'
Diaz turns his head towards the console a mischievous grin on his face. He had been waiting for Venus to respond to him. Diaz was counting on Venus' desperation to force her hand.
'Oh? Have you finally agreed to my conditions or will I have to cut off your wifes hands?'
A devilish grin forming on Diaz's face as he thinks about maiming Silvia. Venus snarls at the comment before responding assertively.
'Meet me in neutral territory. Duamta 1 I'll have my beacon on so you can find me. We will meet 3 hours from now. Come alone. I'll discuss it with you there.'
With a small chuckle Diaz agrees to the location. Venus shuts off the console and makes her way to the Med Bay. She grabs a vial of liquid anesthetic and a needle then makes her way to Ava's quarters. Venus overrides the door mechanism and slowly opens it ensuring to stay as quiet as possible. She sneaks over to Ava's bed and pauses. She fills the syringe with a less than lethal dose of the sedative and carefully injects the solution into Ava's bloodstream. Venus backs away tears starting to fall down her cheeks and dropping the syringe. Ava having been stirred awake by the pinching sensation sees Venus drop the syringe. She attempts to chase after Venus before succumbing to the sedative and collapsing on the floor of her quarters. Venus makes her way to the bridge of Genesis and plots a course back to Cemiess, knowing that Ava was going to be unconscious for several hours based on the dosage she had injected her with.
Upon arrival Venus writes a note on Ava's main console and leaves for the docks. The message reads: "Ava I am sorry. I know you would have tried to stop me." Venus makes her way to the shipyard manager and retrieves "Ripjaw" from storage and departs the station. She plots a course for Duamta to meet up with Diaz. Venus activates her signal beacon upon arrival and waits for Diaz. An hour later Diaz's ship drops out of Supercruise and Venus walks out of her ship to meet with the man face to face. She watches as Diaz exits his ship and much to Venus' surprise he was actually alone.
'I said to come alone. I didn't think you would actually follow through with that.'
'What would you like to discuss Duval?'
'I want to give you an opportunity to end this dispute once and for all. I want to try and change the conditions for Silvias release. I'll give you my ship I'll even give you the credits you lost when your slaves were taken from you. If you do not agree to this you will die here...' Venus slowly reaches behind her back to grab her pistol.
Diaz watches as Venus reaches behind her back. He reaches down to the pistol on his hip and replies.
'You see that doesn't satisfy my needs. If you kill me Grenshaw will take your wife and disappear into the black. My original terms have now tripled. Get me my slaves or you will never see your wife again.'
Diaz firmly grips his pistol waiting for Venus to draw her pistol. Venus pulls her pistol from its holster and fires a single round at Diaz from her hip, just barely missing her target. Diaz draws and fires back catching Venus in the leg, her suits shield absorbing the full impact. She takes off running as Diaz fires his entire magazine striking her several more times. Venus tucks her self around a corner waiting for Diaz to run up the boarding ramp, instead she hears Diaz's ship taking off. She runs out firing at Diaz's ship as he boosts away from the meeting site. Diaz disappears into the void as Venus sits on the boarding ramp knowing she missed her opportunity to get Silvia back by looking at Diaz's flight log. She begins to struggle with her thoughts a disturbing darkness welling up inside. Venus checks herself over to ensure she wasn't bleeding before heading back into the ship. She takes off from the planetary surface and proceeds to a Thargoid invaded system.
"Incoming Message"
Verity interrupts the silence as Venus is making her way to an evacuation zone. Venus looks up at the message and sees that it is from Ava. She ignores the message and continues on her way thinking about Silvia sitting in a cell being beaten over and over again because Venus refused to follow through with the demands. The darkness in the back of her mind begins making its way to her main thoughts.
"Incoming Message"
Venus again looks up to see a message from Ava and ignores it once again. She begins thinking about the next time Diaz messages her seeing Silvia's hand missing. Venus authorizes the boarding of 124 evacuees from the station. Her desperation grows and the darkness takes hold of her actions.
"Incoming Message"
'Verity block all incoming messages from Ava Marston.'
"Yes Commander"
Venus lifts off from the landing pad and makes a decision that would change the lives of everyone onboard. She was acting on auto pilot. The words that came out of her mouth made her sick to her stomach, but she couldn't stop them.
'Verity send a message to Marcus Diaz.'
"Certainly Commander. Please record message."
'Diaz I have 124 passengers onboard my ship. Give me the location and I will deliver them. Once I have delivered them you will release Silvia to me immediately.'