Puppet Master
01 Jul 2023Silvia Sharpe
Victory Class Carrier: Queen Anne's RevengeThe sound of a heart rate monitor's rhythmic beep can be heard as A man wearing a brown leather bomber jacket, with a large stitched gash on the ribs, enters the room. The surgeon turns around with a fearful look in his eyes when he sees the terrifying presence of the man. A second large man is seen standing to the right just behind the first man.
'Grenshaw, take the surgeon and get him taken care of. Make sure you pay him handsomely for his help.'
'Yes boss. Come on doc let's get you paid.'
The man in the leather jacket smiles and turns to face the second man. A devilish tone can be heard as he speaks.
'Oh and Grenshaw try not to kill this one. I like his work.'
Grenshaw smiles and proceeds out of the room with the doctor. Diaz turns back to the table where Jules is laid. Fresh cybernetics have replaced her hand, neck, and upper chest. Diaz walks over to the operating table and places a hand on Jules arm. He shakes her firmly in an attempt to wake her up. Jules stirs awake. She blinks wildly and begins to thrash around striking Diaz square in the chest with a metallic clang. She forces herself upright and looks around the room panic filling her as she begins to recognize the ship she is in. Turning to look at the person she hit the feeling of dread deepens as she recognizes who it is.
'No. That's not possible. It's absolutely not possible. I killed you I ensured there was nothing left of your brain. Wait! I shouldn't even be alive. Silvia shot me I remember the feeling of life slipping away as I lay there bleeding out......'
Jules becomes more confused and fearful, as the reality of her being back on the Queen Anne's Revenge, sinks in. She turns back to Diaz who is now smiling in a mischievous manor.
'What the fuck have you done? You couldn't let me die? I was worthless to you. You treated me like a dog and expected me to accept it. I'd rather be dead than work for you.'
She looks around the room for anything she can use as a weapon. The only items she sees are passed Diaz and there is no way in hell she was going to shove passed him. He was augmented with cybernetics throughout his entire body. In fact she was certain the only part of Diaz that was human was his head. Seeing she was trapped the hopeless feeling inside her grew evermore present. Realizing she had no option but to accept her fate she dips her head in submission and relaxes her body. Jules sits staring at her new cybernetic hand and in a submissive and hollow voice speaks to Diaz.
'What is it you want from me?'
Diaz sat there and watched as Jules finally began accepting her fate. A devious grin formed on his face as her desperation for freedom grew exponentially. When she finally stopped talking he spoke up, his tone less than welcoming.
'Did you really think I'd let you meet me in person? Without resistance? What you shot and killed was a very expensive clone. That requires repayment by way of servitude. You are alive because I pulled in some favors from your most recent employer. They are less than thrilled with your performance.'
Diaz pauses to wait for Jules response. The look on her face tells him that she knows exactly what he means. Jules reaches up to her neck and the nerve emulators react accordingly. The feeling is foreign, and familiar.
"More robot than human at this stage" Jules thinks to herself as she attempts to comprehend her current situation.
'How do you know about Azimuth? That message was private.'
'Who do you think recommended you to them? Though I cant say I am too impressed with your failure either. You let me down Jules.'
Jules thinks, her feeling of hopelessness filling her even more. Diaz had control over every aspect of her life even if it felt like she was free. He was in the background pulling strings and directing her how he saw fit. What else had he planned? Was her asset acquisition failure due to Diaz? Did he know Silvia was going to respond that quickly? Was this all just an elaborate ruse to get her back to his possession? She furrows her brow and for the first time looks Diaz in the eyes fear and acceptance in her gaze. Diaz smiles and pats Jules on the shoulder. He turns to leave the room and speaks. His tone unusually welcoming.
'Come Cavanaugh. We have much to prepare.'
Jules doesn't even look where she is going as her and Diaz walk down the corridor. The soft clank of their mag boots striking the the floor. She watches her feet and inspects her hand all while thinking that she is doomed.
"Nothing I do is my own will. I think I've escaped and he shows right back up. I nearly die and he is right there. I score I massive job and come to find out he orchestrated the whole thing. I am just a puppet in his game. The more broken I become the more control he has over me."
A tear forms in Jules eye as the look of defeat grows inside of her. They reach the crew lounge where a group of Diaz's slavers are talking about their latest score of refugees turned illegal slaves. They stop talking as soon as they see Jules cowering behind Diaz. In fact everyone in the lounge seems to stop what they are doing to look at Jules. Diaz looks over his shoulder and speaks to Jules in an authoritative tone.
'Go find a seat. You try anything stupid and I'll shut you down.'
He flashes a small device that Jules recognizes as a remote shut down controller for advanced cybernetics. She goes rigid at the thought of being shut down at a moments notice. Jules was powerless to resist anymore. Even if she was able to land a full force blow on Diaz all he would need to do is press that button and she would be at his mercy.
'Not like I have a fucking choice.'
'Watch your tongue whore! Remember who is in control here. You are nothing without me!'
'I'm fucking going dick hea...….'
Jules drops to the floor as Diaz loses his temper and deactivates all of her cybernetics. Jules lays on the floor eyes wide open fully conscious and completely unable to move. Even the human parts of her are paralyzed. Diaz laughs menacingly as he approaches Jules.
'You will listen to me! You will respect me! You will not speak unless told you can! I control every aspect of your life you worthless wench! This happens again and I will make it much worse! Now go find a fucking seat and keep your mouth shut!'
He says in absolutely terrifyingly hair raising tone as presses the button again reactivating Jules' cybernetics. She struggles to her feet staggering as the effects of paralysis wear off. Jules dips her head in defeat and shame and walks slowly over to a table in the back corner while Diaz heads back to the bar to grab a glass of whiskey and a warm glass of tap water for Jules.