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
