The Graveyard Shift or how I ended up rocketing through space alone

[Jagged]

June 1, 2006


I have been keeping this journal for myself since the start of my current situation. Some six months ago I was happy living in a small Pennsylvania town with my girlfriend, friends, my truck and a all around good life. Had an easy job working the night shift at the local library for the town. Part security guard part handyman I worked all night had breakfast went home got some rest went to college and did all again. My weekends were fill with parties and friends. Didn't know how good I had it until what happen next.


One Thursday night I was going about my business working on the third floor bathroom listening to my I-pod. Typical night nothing to write home about until the whole building from the basement up was jerked into space. Yes pulled into space with a sphere forming around it with its own atmosphere. The Old 1908 library seems like more of a space ship now. Its own propulsion units mounted on the outside of the building are powered by some system in the basement. The outside of the building has building has a ton of "cameras." That is what I call them anyway. They seem to be collecting data and sending it back through a series of satellites which is also deploys. This information pops up on the screens on the third floor computers. Problem is it is all in some alien language.

Well I am getting ahead of myself. Shortly after being "beamed up" some aliens contacted me....well that sounds better then saying they appeared on the main screen. Looked kind of human but with a black visor across their eyes not the women though, but they have piercing black eyes. All have pale white skin. Anyway they told me that then needed more living space and after the last war they fought they had a shortage of recruits. I think the situation is worse then they let on, but they said they were forced to impress foreigners to fill their ranks of their exploration fleet. So with no apology and a pathetic explanation they sent me on my way.

We set sail in early January well there were three other ships piloted by humans. I say piloted but we really don't do much. The coarse is plotted in the controls only allow for the most basic manuvers before returning to the apointed route. I am the only one left with two ships being destroyed in an asteroid field. The other was attacked by a hostile alien race also damaging my craft as well. The ships have a defense system with two batteries of rockets and a lazer cannon I fire with a joy stick and tracking screen. Seems more like a video game then anything else. Hearing the other guy sream over the communication unit though made it clear it was anything but a game.

That was a few months back though and I could only speak to those people. There was no way to dock the ships and meet. Two women and another guy so there wouldn't have been any problems and we all seemed to get along just fine. Now I am alone on a mission that those who sent me on thought my best quality is that I am expendable. This results in things being pretty lonely.

I have tried to busy myself with all kinds of projects and I am still amazed at the ship some days. Like the locker room in the rear of the first floor. Toliets and showers work great better then they ever did and without a sewer. The break room has an endless full fridge of food and the vending machines are the same way. Hit the button 100 times in a row you will get the candy bar you wanted. More then one day I have done that to just pass the time. I also look for fun projects like using the dirt and bins and other things in the storage unit to start growing plants. They are just starting to grow and I have nice garden going the front lobby. I workout by running up and down the stairs and found some old weights and a jump rope. They sit in the break room now since I only need one table. The TV works though I don't get any signal except streaming data from the computers. That has left me with going through the librarie's video tape collection. Good thing there are plenty to watch. Been watching alot of the history documenties and Cheers lately. Seems like there is a lot of stuff in the old store room and of coarse all the books on two levels. I have built a bed on the second level in a room with large windows. Some mornings the view is impressive.

I am not completely alone though I lack human compansionship. There are the Bots . Small hovering robots that look like little steam trains with arms which hold tools. They beep and squeak and zoom around. They take voice orders pretty well but don't reply so there isn't anything that would pass for a conversation. On the basement level there is machine which produces spare parts and the bots. Right now there are some twelve bots maintaining the ship. I have been giving them all names even painted them on their recharge untis. Names like "Nitro," "Twister," and "Screwdriver." But this can keep you busy for only so long. Thing is you don't think about sex and all the other wonderful things you have with a woman until you don't have one. It is even worse when there is no chance. Sure you might go without sex for a long time, but it is totally different when you can't get any. To many unanswered questions like how long will I be out here alone? When will this mission end?

Log complete.



OOC:

So are there any ladies out there who wish to join me in an exotic space adventure. Another human? an Alien princess? a robot? an AI wishing to become more...? I am a Doctor Who fan but always thought romance was neglected. I like space adventures a good story...and sex is part of it. I don't like writing porn. So two strangers getting to know each other and then becoming intimate...and what happens next. Does this new lady know more about the ship? perhaps strange worlds are out there to explore. So post here or pm me...love to chat and develop a fun story.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

PM sent for your consideration.

DM

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Prologue:

It had taken months, months of scanning through databases.
During that time the abductions had continued with careful precision.

Those who would not be missed were only useful as porns; a defensive body and easily expendable.
But it was those with the intelligence to forward “the cause” who were usually too high profile on earth to risk abduction.
The Galactic Wars had cost their race dearly. They did not need the interference of a lesser race to complicate matters.

That was why they could not believe their luck when they found HER.

For weeks their observations centred on just that one subject.
The appearance match was beyond their expectations.
Cosmetic differences could be perfected, but what was key was the bone structure upon which the layers of identity could be built.

The brain scan indicated enough academic potential to make her an adept pupil.
Physical stats together with her youth guaranteed that the physical demands of her role would be well within her capabilities, once she had passed through training…
Unlike the others both her physical and mental assets were to prove an essential and unique resource.

And so it was that one evening that Helen Blake’s life ended.

Memories of what had been her reality were simply deleted, reduced to a file she could no longer access.
They simply reprogrammed her, supplying her with knowledge, training her physical skills, giving her everything necessary for the role she was to play, everything that is apart from that which could ultimately save her life…

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Hedrah

Hedrah fought for control as the tiny craft careered to the left and then finally righted itself.
It was only a matter of time, she had known before the tiny fighter literally fell apart.
It had seemed impossible that she had escaped the volley of enemy fire that had followed that desperate attempt to flee The Base where either death or a fate far worse was all she had to look forward to.

She gave an exclamation as the body of the ship shook then started desperately calling up screens reading what she’d feared in the luminous stats that scrolled rapidly.
Falling stability … pressure rising … defense shields were literally falling away …
Surely she had … less than ten minutes …

The pod … the escape pod was her only hope … yet surely a quick death were preferable to falling through space … to ending up in enemy hands or to end one’s life in timeless nothingness.
She owed it to her people to go on … and yet … she owed it to them not to put herself into the hands of enemy powers …

The bleep of the sensors added to the urgency of her whirling thoughts.
Looking down she stared freezing in disbelief. Before them a ship had come into view.

”Damn … “

No scanning powers … no way of knowing the size or the origin of the crew that manned that craft.

There was no time to lose. A choice had to be made.
Flicking switches Hedrah knew that her best chance of survival lay with the craft that now seemed to hover before her.

The pod was prepared, but she would not rely on those hidden defences that would take seconds to activate.
Deftly she tucked the compact weapon into her belt.
So subtle was it that she hoped it would go unobserved if her hosts proved friendly …

She barely got to the pod when the pressure finally climaxed sending a spray of debris outwards in a fiery display.
The force of the explosion threw Hedrah into the side of the pod, leaving her somewhat dazed and disorientated as the machine righted itself and then continued on its set course towards the alien ship.

Inside, Hedrah managed to strap herself in and closed her eyes as he head span.
She was exhausted.
The days since her capture had seemed endless …
Images of the War Lord, the threats, the torture ran through her mind as she lay dizzily …
But she had escaped … she was still alive …
But for how long … ?
If the crew of the ships proved hostile Hedrah doubted she was in any condition to be able to defend herself …

Hedrah

 

[Jagged]

Background Data:

Collin Logan who received his nickname "Doc" from friends on the local fire department. Often during the day when most on the Emts were working out of town Collin was the first and only to respond. Because of this he ended up with 2 Cpr saves and 3 babies delivered. Still though he made it to his night job all the time. His girlfriend Jennifer waitressed at the Pick Axe bar and grill...a sweet girl with fire red hair and loved to cuddle. She joined her boyfriend at college though unlike him had picked a major which was nursing. She still does not know what happen to her boyfriend....or the library for that matter.



Another day onboard the 1908.... which Collin had been calling his ship as of late. It had started like any other day on board the ship. He woke up at 1100 in the morning to the sounds of the Bots working in the hallway. The Bots Wrencher and Sawyer were installing back up power lines and still didn't grasp the concept waking the human was enough of a reason to reschedule. Collin got up from bed and pulled up the blinds that blocked his view out the large windows. Flashes of lights appeared in the distance was it a natural occurance or was it man made? This area he was exploring was by no means empty and the death of another member of his squardon had testified to that fact.

Out of curiousity Collin walked over in his sweat pants and blue high school tee and sat down at the desk which had one of the many monitors that displayed what was on the main viewer. The thing had a mouse like tool so you could scroll around, but what all the readings were and of coarse the language were still a mystery. What he could tell was something had recently happen not to far away. Symbols that he knew were ships or damaged or disabled ones blinked on and off on long range scan. That wasn't much help most of the time though. Interferance seemed to make it difficult to pick up anything until you could probably see it visially. Pity he didn't know more about this equipment. What he did know was there was an object heading towards his ship. The scans said it was some kind of a ship not a rocket or anything. If it was the weapons would activate and the shields would be raised. No this was something different and it had a life form? An alien perhaps? Whatever it was it was on board a small ship to small for long range travel. It was on a intercept coarse.

With plenty of time before the small ship was in range of the ship's close range scanners Collin headed down the steps to the locker room. He stripped down naked and threw the clothes in the hamper he made. Washing them wasn't really necessary, but it gave him something else to do with his time. Not that he liked dirty clothes, but like so many other things on the ship that replaced themselves the lockers were no different. Since he was the only one really using the lockers when he was back on earth he had three filled with clothes, sports stuff, towels, and even a hunting rifle and ammo. Even empty wood boxes in the store room replaced themselves. So boxes became everything from planters to storage bins for clothes to becoming material for a coffee table. So it was possible to have new wood and a new set of clothes every day even if it was the same. He had made stockpiles of clothes, tools, food, and weapons all around the ship incase this wonderful replacement technology ever failed. Now though he would just enjoy a hot shower.

From the shower Collin glanced over at the lockers wondering what he would put on today to deal with whatever was on the ship. Probably work boots, jeans, and black t-shirt like most days. He would take a handgun and a rifle though. The Aliens hadn't left him with much of their technoloy like space suits, ray guns, or mini scanners. They really didn't care how prepared he was for what he might face. Sure the technology was impressive but he knew so little about how it all worked he thought as he glanced over at the lockers again as he dried off. One locker he had opened but had no use for the contents. It had belong to one of the assistant librarians. Shelly who was 23 was a pretty girl and if she wasn't married he would have done more then just flirt with her when he saw he in the morning. In her locker was a few changes of clothes both business and casusal and underwear and makeup. Having no companion and no wish to crossdress it all remained in place. After drying off her dressed and armed himself. He would be ready for whatever came out of the pod.

About an hour later Collin was using the small tractor beam device to pull the pod into the spherical atmosphere of the 1908. The beam wasn't powerful enough to pull a big ship, but it could move smaller objects around the area of the ship. He figured it was to move cargo from ship to ship and things like that. He had used to move debris closer a few times, but this was the first time he was bring something into the ship. He beam was mounted on top of the 1908 and he was able to move it down to the loading dock entrance. Soon he brought it inside the building proper and headed downstairs caughtiously.

With two pistols tucked in his waist band he entered the workshop area with two store rooms on either side. There the silver colored pod sat showing some signs of damage. The Bot named Charger was hovering above the coffin like pod and was attempting to unlock it using one of its mechanical arms. After a series of beeps the pod opened with a hiss and the lid raised quickly.

Collin moved around by Charger looked as the pod opened with a hand on his .45 ready to put a bullet in the alien before it jumped out at him or a tenticle or whatever tried to grab him. What he saw though was a little surprising. Sure his alien masters looked some what like humans, but this was a beautiful woman. A long blond mane, lite skin even with freckles, and a tribal looking uniform that reminded him of something a Celtic female would wear. He took his hand off is weapon and reached out and caresses her face then took a pulse. She had warm skin and her pulse was regular. She was alive but unconscious. Well this company was unexpected so what to do with her now? He hoped she wasn't hostile. Hell she could be an enemy of the empire he was forced to serve, but he didn't know that at. She had to be happy to be saved at least.

This whole thing was fantastic so why not a fantastic or at the least fantasy solution? May he was letting all the time alone get the better of him, but just the same he would give it a try.

"Well princess or who ever you are this is how we wake up girls on my planet."

With that Collin leaned into the pod and planted a soft long wet kiss on her lips. After after a few wonderful seconds of savioring he pulled back and opened his eyes and looked to see if her eyes opened after the princess waking kiss was administered.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Somehow, instinctively Hedrah sensed her environment had changed.
Perhaps it was the change in atmosphere as the pressure was released and the pod opened, perhaps it was an awareness that she was no longer alone. Still lost in the mists of her own unconsciousness, she was unaware of the gentle trail of the hand stroking her face, the only non-hostile contact she had experienced within her memory had she but known it. Neither did she hear the words that heralded the kiss that was pressed to her lips. It was that that seemed to reach out to her and stir a memory somewhere causing her to open her eyes and blink in confusion.

The glare of the lights made her wince.
The contrast to the dimness of the pod was the first challenge.
Finally focusing she found herself staring into the eyes of … of a young man?
A young man who seemed uncomfortably … close.
Surely he had … had she imagined … ?
Already the sensation, the shadow of memory was fading.
Instead she turned to what she was programmed to do, to analyse and to assess the potential danger of her “host”:
He was humanoid in appearance like her, she noted, but from what race and more importantly what allegiance she could not tell.
Instinctively her hand moved downwards to her waistband reaching for the tiny hidden weapon, yet as she had not yet released herself from the safety straps the attempt to ready herself for defence was futile.
She stilled again her eyes locked with his expecting retribution, counter-attack and yet he had not taken her movement as a hostile act and was she realised assisting her instead in releasing the straps that restricted her.
The gesture drew a reluctant glimmer of hope. He could still be arranging for her to be taken away, he could be saving her for a continuance of the interrogation and torture she had previously undergone and yet somehow his manner did not seem to suggest so.

Struggling to sit upright, she accepted his hand to enable her to do so, the simple gesture of aid, the human contact puzzling her.
Finding the blood rushing to her head somewhat as she sat up in the now battered contraption that had saved her life, she desperately tried to focus aware for the first time of the dull ache in her head. Tentatively she lifted a hand lifting and winced as she felt the slight bump doubtless from the knock she had sustained when the pod had first closed and jettisoned.
Belatedly she realised that he was speaking to her, seeming to show concern … ?

Surely she could not be so fortunate?
After those many weeks of imprisonment, after all she had gone through?
This had to be a trap ....
Warily she raised her head then to look around the bay in which she found herself.
It was sparse, functional but almost derelict and gave no clue as to the identity of her new companion, yet above all she discovered is appeareed unmanned.
True, there were two doors through which a whole army might be hidden away, yet whether friend or foe she had not been immediately surrounded.

Rapidly she assessed her situation.
Perhaps this man had no idea who she was. It would be best to clarify his race and allegience before sharing her own though judging from events so far, this man she concluded was either no threat to her and her people or a foolish enemy who lacked strategy or had yet to identify her.

For the first time a tentative smile lit her features.
Whichever proved to be true, she knew she had made the right decision.
She was certainly better off now than she had been in the exploding Fightercraft!

 

[Jagged]

Meeting a Princess?

Collin didn't know what to make of this. This being a beautiful woman in a floating pod. Kissing her seemed a bit out of line but she was awake now so as far as he was concern it worked point for him. She could be an alien and like him not able to understand his language. Well getting out of the empty bay area would have to be a start. So with that he slowly undid the straps that held her in the pod thing.


He offered her a hand out of the pod as he said, "come on you must be tired of being stuck in that thing. You hungry? Don't suppose you understand me do you? I can't read half the stuff on this ship...I call it the 1908. Doesn't mean much to you I am sure, but this wasn't a ship when I started and well frankly I was drafted into the his operation. You understanding any of this?"

He looked in her eyes and she nodded and replied, "Ah yes are there any more ships in the area? What is your name and what fleet are you serving with at this time?"

"Okay you can talk and in English good good...I mean I haven't had anyone to talk with in like forever. I don't know what fleet I am will not like I had a choice, but what I can tell you is that the tracker thing I have on the bridge told me where you were and nothing else was around. Well actually small stuff like debris was there a battle?"


Realizing he was crowding his new guest Collin moved back and pulled up a chair and turned it around and sat down on it. She was an alien possibly. Okay but what else. She was in a battle whether she wanted to or not. Spending a lot of time reading the science and science fiction section at the library Collin had an idea.

"This, this thing is a pod? an escape pod you were on a larger ship?" Collin asked trying to piece things together.

"Yes you are correct that is an escape pod," she said as she stepped down and walked around the pod and found a chair crossing her legs and looking back at Collin.

"Since you told me your name and didn't make any hostile moves towards me I will tell you mine. I am Hedrah and you crew this ship alone?"

He would be tipping his hand but Collin told the truth. Lying and saying there was a crew full of people on the other side of those doors could easily be found out if she ran over and slammed them open.

"Yeah just me except for these guys," he said to her as he pointed to Charger who was hovering about and scanning the pipes above.

"They are the worker bees around here. They seem to understand me but can't respond. They maintain the place pretty well."

Collin thought about it and figured why not he couldn't be worse of then he was now. Sure he was safe but completely directionless this was no way to live. So he layed it all out for her at least from when the aliens recruited him and how he was assigned to explore these reaches of space. He finished and walked to the door and opened it leading to the hall and the lobby beyond it.

"Come on with me and I will get you some food. You like to eat I am sure...then you can tell me about yourself."

Once up in the breakroom Collin setup his ususal meal for lunch. The fridge regenerated food daily but some days he felt like having the same meal twice so he brought up some coolers and filled them with ice. Stockpiling food like tv dinners that would last forever seemed like a good idea also. Hedrah was beautiful he thought as he watched her enter and sit down at the one remaining table. The breakroom had its kitchen area and couches along with tables. He had flipped several tables on their sides and put them against the wall with the extra chairs and setup is weights. The tv area now had four tvs making a square all tied together showing the same picture. The couches each had a cooler as a table with a lamb and was filled with beer and sodas. A Pennsylvania flag and American flag from storage hung from the ceiling. A typical guy setup he thought.


What his guest was thinking was comepletely unknown to him he thought as he setup his favorite meal. It didn't take long to get two hot plates of roast beef, mashed potatos, greens which rolls and salad were on the table. Going on the safe side Collin place gave her a bottle of water and cautiously handed her the silverware. He didn't think she would make a move on him but well he had no idea who he really was dealing with.....

He moved to the other side of the table and sat down and lifted his fork, "so care to chat with me a bit. I have a million questions and if I am not mistaken you do too. All I know about you is I found you drifting in space and your beautiful. That is only a start though."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Hedrah's story ...

"come on you must be tired of being stuck in that thing. You hungry? Don't suppose you understand me do you? I can't read half the stuff on this ship...I call it the 1908. Doesn't mean much to you I am sure, but this wasn't a ship when I started and well frankly I was drafted into the his operation. You understanding any of this?"

Hedrah listened to the flood of words. They were confused, but displayed that he was no accomplished commander and did not even seem to fully understand the ship she assumed he commanded. Rather than give information away, she nodded telling him she understood then proceeded to question him.

" … are there any more ships in the area? What is your name and what fleet are you serving with at this time?"

She smiled at his equally exhuberant response. He had been alone it seemed … was alone … she could hardly believe her luck!

"… what I can tell you is that the tracker thing I have on the bridge told me where you were and nothing else was around. Well actually small stuff like debris was there a battle?"

Again Hedrah gave no information and let him continue to question, his ignorance evident in the things he asked her.

"This, this thing is a pod? an escape pod you were on a larger ship?”

She met his eyes as he paused, obviously waiting for answers finally. Hedrah spoke deliberately:

"Yes you are correct that is an escape pod,"

As she moved around she could scanned for signs of other life forms and found none. There was something … disarming about this young man, her host which reassured her enough to disclose her name.

"I am Hedrah and you crew this ship alone?"[/I]

It wasn’t that she didn’t believe him, it was simply … unheard of …

"Yeah just me except for these guys,"

Hedrah lowered her eyes to take in the worker-droids.

"They are the worker bees around here. They seem to understand me but can't respond. They maintain the place pretty well."

Again Hedrah stored that information and accepted his invitation to accompany him to eat considering what she would tell him of herself if that was necessary …

Silently Hedrah followed her host accepting the meal and sitting opposite him as invited watching carefully as he raised the implements to eat, noting and mimicking as she had been taught to do when meeting an alien species.

"so care to chat with me a bit. I have a million questions and if I am not mistaken you do too.”

Hedrah took some of the food, finding it surprisingly … appetizing … and listened to him continue.

”All I know about you is I found you drifting in space and you’re beautiful. That is only a start though."

Averting her eyes as he complimented her, Hedrah ate silently aware of his intent gaze. She felt his impatience, his curiosity and considered her response before speaking.

”As you have guessed …. There was a battle, there have been many battles, over many years.”

She told him quietly.

”My people … have been under threat … a great enemy covets our planet and our very existence… “

She halted, realising she was in fact telling him the truth, an edited version, but not the fabrication she had intended.

”Their plan was … to terminate the blood line. Without royal succession, our race becomes extinct.”

She sipped at the water, considering whether to tell him more.

”I … was captured … “

She shuddered,

” …. Enslaved … “

Her eyes dropped to clasp the cup around her fingers.

” … humiliation did not break me … and so … “

Emotion, long suppressed welled to the surface taking Hedrah by surprise. This was not as she was raised. It was not her way. Her race were strong, detached, warriors … and the torture she had received was minor compared to most …

” … my people finally helped me escape … but my ship was attacked.
I tried to get as far away as possible, but I sustained so much damage that my ship became … unviable … the escape pod was my last chance … “

She completed subdued as she realised anew just how lucky she had been.

 

[Jagged]

It wasn't hard for Collin to tell that she was not being completely honest with him he thought as he sat across from Hedrah eating his roast beef. She had been through some trauma that was for sure but who she was wasn't completely clear. It wasn't much of a jump to think she was some kind of princess or relation to the royal family. Judging by the Aliens that took him though the situation could easily been the repressed peasants revolting against warlords. Was she any different? Well she didn't try to attack me and take the ship. She needn't pretend she didn't know his language. She could just be plotting and planning but he had not control over the ship and she was stuck regardless of whether he was alive or not. So he decided he would trust her to a point. Share but always watch her closely. The weapons were all secure or in his hands. The ship couldn't change coarse to his knowledge and if she did try to change things well that was a chance to learn what to do with the controls. So he nodded and looked back over at her...

"Eat all you want we have plenty and some other choices to eat as well. The food supply like a lot of things seems to regenerate. You know anything about that techonology? Things replace themselves. All kinds of things like food?" He looked at her again and gestured to the plates.

"And other stuff like parts, tooks, ammunition, and computers. We don't have anything like this back home. The ship always has stuff going on with it and the robots are always finding something to repair, upgrade, or replace. It is like a never ending supply and I can't figure out how things work."

After finishing his food Collin looked back across at his guest and wondered. Trust was the only open for right now only it was limited. He would get to know her all about her over time.

"I would like a few answers here or I can't trust you Herbah. I take it you want to earn my trust so tell me what you know. So ever heard of a ship like this? I mean a man and building grabbed off a world? The Empire is short of people? You all have a lot of wars out here don't you? Not like the royals have to do the fight though do they?"

The last statement was to get alittle bit of a reaction out of her see where her feelings where when it came to things. Maybe a little truth would slip out.

"Okay here is the deal. I will trust you some you tell me some. I will be on the bridge it is on the third floor of this ship. On the first floor there is a locker room with showers, soap, shampoo and towels. Also there are a few lockers. I have three filled with my clothes which seem to be replacing themselves as I have told you earlier. Since I trust you I won't worry about the fact that one has weapons in it...but a four a few empty lockers apart from mine is one that belongs to a coworker named Shelly. She is or was whatever about your size. You clean up chance if you want and meet me up top. Come armed or try to mess about else where all deals are off. You come up bring two sodas and we can figure this out together partner. Okay?

Before she could answer he got up walked to the fridge and took out a milkyway from the freezer another thing he did to customize this replace world and walked out into the hally. Passing a few robots working on some new access panels he headed up the front steps and went up to the bridge. Before he stat down he concealed his pistol in his waist band and made sure he could pull it from a sitting position. Okay he was good. He nexted placed the shotgun on the counter just within reach. That would be the distraction. She would think that would be the weapon he went for not guessing the one he would whip out and hit her with....

He decided to settle down and listened to a country music CD that was in the player with his feet up on the counter glancing at the clock. He hoped he wouldn't need his little plan. She could tell him a lot and was a very pretty lady. There was a lot he wanted to learn about and she was the first real company he had in a long time.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

She made an effort to eat, after all nourishment was essential and would help her function. She listened as her companion continued to question, his focus on the replicating orbs, the worker-droids, features he amusingly called technology, yet to Hedrah her surroundings were lamentably primitive.

"I would like a few answers here or I can't trust you Herbah. I take it you want to earn my trust so tell me what you know.”

Her mouth twitched, but she bit back the amusement regarding him instead with cool eyes.

” … So ever heard of a ship like this? I mean a man and building grabbed off a world?”

Her eyes narrowed. So … he had been captured as a “drone”, an alien fighter, simply dropped into position with no choice but to fight whatever enemy he faced? She reassessed him … unskilled … unaware … the level of threat was becoming less by the minute.

”The Empire is short of people? You all have a lot of wars out here don't you? Not like the royals have to do the fight though do they?"

Humiliation, torture had not loosened her tongue, but that remark nearly provoked her to comment. She opened her mouth to respond that he had NO idea what he was dealing with or WHO! That he could not begin to imagine just how desperate an enemy was to capture the Elite, the royals as he called them of their opposition, nor what they would subject them to should they ever have that opportunity.

But it was he himself that saved her from disclosing more than she intended. Loneliness had obviously made him talkative and instead of allowing her time to respond he continued on.

"Okay here is the deal. I will trust you some you tell me some. I will be on the bridge it is on the third floor of this ship. On the first floor there is a locker room with showers, soap, shampoo and towels. Also there are a few lockers. I have three filled with my clothes which seem to be replacing themselves as I have told you earlier. Since I trust you I won't worry about the fact that one has weapons in it...but a four a few empty lockers apart from mine is one that belongs to a coworker named Shelly. She is or was whatever about your size. You clean up chance if you want and meet me up top. Come armed or try to mess about else where all deals are off. You come up bring two sodas and we can figure this out together partner. Okay?

It was fortunate he again did not give her time to respond. As he walked away Hedrah actually laughed!

He spoke about trust, as if it were a luxury either could afford. He issued idle threats when he did not even understand the most basic processes of this ship.
And above all, he expected HER to wait on him, to bring him some form of refreshment!
She shook her head amused rather than insulted.
His ignorance was reassuring and would prove an interesting diversion for the duration of her enforced stay.

With a disparaging glance at the replicators, Hedrah stood and made her way through the ship. Examining panels as she went, she was reassured that defence systems, though elementary were in full working order. Bending down she halted one of the strangely decorated worker-droids and flipped back a panel, keying in the binary code that displayed the basic layout of the ship. That knowledge stored, she let the machine go on its way and headed for the block that best matched her companion’s description of the “locker room”.
Realising that she was more relaxed than she had been for an age, Hedrah peeled off her clothes and opened one of the empty replicating cabinets and put her uniform inside. The tiny weapon she hid in the gap just beyond the cleansing booth. Naked, she approached, eyeing the head and again keying in a master access code that she knew would activate all such units of this specification. After the briefest hesitation, she opted for the primitive water option and moved to stand beneath the cleansing hub giving a sigh as the water cascaded down her body. The heated caress of the water made her tip her head back and close her eyes in relaxation. In her world this indulgence would be a waste of time, yet time it seemed she had plenty of at present! Opening her eyes she glanced round and though unfamiliar with the procedure, she instinctively reached out for soap, shampoo and indulged in a leisurely sanitsation ritual.

Her hair was still damp as she made her way up to the “top” of the ship. She had forgone the towel choosing instead to allow the water to evaporate naturally as she wandered around the block examining the contents of the replicating compartments and finally taking out a pristine uniform, one of many replicas that were ready for her use. The tiny weapon secluded once more she entered and looked around the room taking in the sight of him as he awaited her. The weapon on the counter was primitive. True it could cause harm, but its speed and efficacy must be eons away from that of her own “solaris”.

Silently she crossed the room and sat opposite him, her eyes meeting his as he met her gaze.

Finally she spoke.

”You offer a deal … but what exactly is it that YOU are offering .. ?”

She allowed a derisory smile.

”All I see here is a man trapped on a ship about which he has no control and about which he has no understanding.”

She watched him carefully. Perhaps he was no fool. She could not risk provoking hostility between them.

”True … you did gather the pod and bring me to safety … “

Her features relaxed as she leaned forward and added enquiringly.

”But to my mind … that makes it stalemate … ?”

She left that remark with him curious to see what he would make of her comments.