if she would be able to find any solace even if they track down Falana. She was obviously of no help – her mind turning blank every time she tried to even see what updates her crew has come up with. And she definitely couldn’t trust herself if they encounter Falana. Serena could equally fall prey to rage or freeze, remembering the smirk on the woman’s face when Hunter died in the chimera’s maw.
By the time morning came she already made up her mind. She had to do something. But she wasn’t sure if she will be able to. Serena walked up to the window, seeing her ship approaching the station. The space station was vast – much bigger than most – capable of holding a few hundreds of ships from all over. It had twenty levels, each separated by gravitational engines that allowed the people inside to walk and operate without having to bother about the zero gravity of space.
One of the most promising traits this station had was the number of people to get lost among, and the variety of paths Serena could take. She would definitely have options.
The woman looked aside to the small backpack of things she gathered up, and took a moment to think if what she was about to do was the right thing. It took her the whole of last night to think over, and she already activated the short protocol she wrote for Lyssa to follow after she would go, but something still scratched at the back of her mind.
Finally, the ship docked and Serena thought that she wasn’t even useful on board anymore. She needed time to grieve and a little solitude to get her head back together. But she wouldn’t be able to find it on Lyssa – that she knew for sure.
Activating her armour, she picked up the backpack and clasped it to the plates, uniting the systems. Before she left her quarters, she switched on her cloaking device, slipping away unnoticed.
The bustling station had so many traders and people that it was easy to get lost in the crowd and deactivate her invisibility and armour safely. Not wasting any time, Serena found a ship heading out and bought herself a ticket among other passengers seeking passage elsewhere.
Within an hour she was off the station.
The tiny cabin provided in this ship was shared with five other passengers – three women, a man and a child. None of them really engaged in conversations, knowing very well that sometimes it is best to keep silent and not ask many questions from strangers.
However, children are always curious, and so was the little boy that watched the strange white-haired woman for a bit before approaching her cot and smiling to her when she looked up.
The boy was barely thirteen old, and had a ruffled mane of dirty blond hair that fell to his eyes.
«Hi! I’m Norren.» he said. «What’s your name?»
«I have no name.» the woman replied, her face as cold and expression-less as it was back on her ship for the past days.
«So… what do people call you when you cross paths?»
Serena took a moment to think and exhaled:
«Ghost.»
«Cool!» his eyes flared up with excitement. «Such a cool name!»
«Norren, honey, don’t bother the passengers!» one of the women pleaded.
Serena glanced at her and shook her head, trying hard to remain calm and collected. To her the boy was a distraction from the heavy thoughts that filled her head as soon as she sat down.
«What do you do for a living, Ghost?» the boy sat down next to her.
«I’m… a fighter.» Serena sighed. «I fight for money.»
«Funny… I always thought fighters have lots of tattoos…» Norren glanced at her arms.
«I still hadn’t decided what tattoos I want, so… maybe I’ll get them when I get to my destination.»
«How many fights have you had?»
«One on one? A lot.»
«And how many did you win?»
Serena looked at the child and wondered if her reply sounded like a lie:
«All of them.»
«No way!»
«Aw, come on!» the man chuckled. «There’s no way you won every single fight!»
«I’m strong.» Serena forced a smirk to her face. «And fast.»
The man cackled and sat at the tiny table they had in the corner, offering her his hand.
«How about we arm wrestle? I’m a strong man, so don’t think I’ll be easy to defeat.» he said.
«Papa’s the best in arm wrestling where we come from!» Norren said proudly.
Serena got up and walked over, sitting down on the opposite of the man, clasping her hand with his palm.
«Ready?» the man asked her.
Serena nodded and felt him immediately pushing. But to her it was barely worth effort to tense up. A moment passed, then two, and the man’s bravado faded, his face turning surprised. He tensed up, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, but still couldn’t budge her arm from upward position.
The woman tilted her head:
«You are strong. But not as strong as I am.» effortlessly she moved her arm and forced his down.
«Holy shit! What did they feed you when you were little, Ghost?» the man looked at her shocked when she freed his palm.
Serena decided not to answer.
Chapter 2. Shock
«Serena!» Lindon pounded on the door, growing angry at the woman for being locked up for so long. «Damn it, open the door! It’s been five days!»
The door silently slid open to his surprise and Lindon glanced in, noting how dark it was inside.
«Serena?» he called out.
Silence seemed so heavy and so still that he walked in, searching for any sign of the woman.
However, her bed was empty and the bathroom stood open, with Serena nowhere in sight.
«Lyssa, where is she?» Lindon barked.
«Serena Dal Thara-Lyss is not on board, Active Captain Lindon.» the AI replied.
A wave of shock came over the Veluthian and he darted away.
«Everyone to the bridge, NOW!» Lindon ordered through his earpiece.
«What the hell, Lindon?» Wolfin’s voice returned in irritation.
«Don’t ask, just come to the bridge now!»
Running into the bridge, Lindon jumped onto one of the seats, immediately opening the ships logs to see when Serena left to find out if they would be able to find her.
«Explain yourself!»
