This ongoing sci-fi series will contain non-consensual elements.
***
"The Captain wants you looking presentable." One of the guards said. I was still in my cell, and he handed me a handful of brass buttons, with a needle and thread.
He licked his lips at me, as I took them. As he walked away, he blew a kiss at Talia in the next cell. She was holding onto her knees in the corner, trying to look small.
I didn't know if he was one of the men who I had serviced the night before. It wasn't something I wanted to think about. As long as my crew were safe, I said to myself, over and over again.
The engines were still humming loudly. Not like the Calypso at all. This thing wasn't built with any care. Even these cells looked cobbled together.
It had probably been a merchant vessel that had been captured.
Talia, Dex and myself were in single cell. Presumably because we were officers. The rest of the crew were further down the corridor all in one big cell.
I had informed them that the UEN had negotiated for our release. It raised our spirits somewhat.
Fixing my uniform wasn't something I'd done for a long time, but I managed to re-attach the buttons. I fingered the collar around my neck wondering if there was a way to get it off safely. It was heavy and was starting to rub against my skin.
"I wouldn't mess with it too much." Dex suggested. He was on the other side of me.
"I tried last night, and it gave me a bad shock." He continued.
I nodded.
None of my crew asked me what had happened with Killian. I was grateful for that. It wasn't something I was going to talk about either, not until after we were safe.
Quietly, I asked Dex if Talia was okay. He told me a few of the guards had been hassling her, but nothing too serious. It seemed they wouldn't directly disobey Killian's orders.
He passed me a length of cord he had pulled from his uniform.
"For your hair." He said.
"Thank you." I said softly, and tied it up into a rough ponytail. Dex was a good man. The engineering officers tended to keep themselves to themselves, but from brief encounters with him, I knew he was a man deserving of respect.
I moved closer to Talia's cell. "Everything will be okay." I said, as cheerfully as possible.
She gave me a halfhearted smile. The way she cowered troubled me. After this was all over it was going to take a long time for her to recover.
"Was it our fault?" She whispered.
"No, not at all." I said, quickly.
I thought back, to how we had been in bed together when the ship was attacked. If she hadn't been there, maybe she wouldn't have made it out. In someways, she had been very lucky.
I whispered for her to come closer, and she shuffled over to me. I hugged her though the bars. Her arms wrapped tightly around me. There were smudges of oil and dirt on her face. Still, though, she looked very beautiful to me.
It was obvious she had been crying, but in my arms, she seemed a more content. Without anyone watching, I gave her a little kiss. This made her smile a bit more, and I reaffirmed my belief that everything was going to be okay.
We sat against the wall next to each other, holding hands through the bars. It didn't bother me if Dex saw. If I could, I'd have held his hand too.
**********
Hours passed in silence.
The guard from before, came back. He was shorter than the rest, and had a big red beard. His outfit was just as dirty and patchwork as the rest of the pirates.
"The Captain want's you on the bridge." He grunted.
He cuffed my hands in front of me. They must trust me a bit more, I thought. I took a look at Talia before I was led out. She tried to smile the best she could.
"Do you remember me?" He asked, as he escorted me through the ship.
I shook my head. Everything had been a haze.
The whole ship was a maze, there was no clear indications of where we were going. The corridors were dark and damp. Some of the room we passed were full of junk, while some empty and abandoned.
"I bet you would remember my cock." He said, and ran his hand over my ass.
Instinctively, I pulled away.
"Don't be shy." He said, and took a firm grip of my arm. With my hands bound, I was helpless. If he wanted to he could have taken me into one of the quiet room and had his idea of fun with me.
"If it was me in charge, I'd have used all your holes." He snickered. I was thankful he was sticking to his orders.
We reached the bridge before he could continue his disgusting thoughts.
Killian was sat in his command chair. There were more people on the bridge now. A few glanced my way, but they seemed to be getting on with their work.
"Bring her." Killian barked.
The bearded guard dragged me over to the chair.
"Take care of the rest." He ordered, and the guard left.
I looked at him, wondering what he meant.
"Don't worry. It will be over soon."
He went on to explain that the rest of my crew were going to be put on a smaller ship ready for the drop off.
"This ship will stay here and monitor from a distance."
I nodded. I didn't want to say much. I'm sure he had done this many times before.
He smiled at me, and patted his knee. I took a chance and shook my head.
His hand hovered near the device on his belt, but he just snorted, and said I could do as I please. I was thankful.
"Sit on the floor if you get tired." He said, idly.
The viewing screen displayed an empty portion of space. I had no idea what system we were in. Probably not in UEN space anymore.
After a while Killian pointed at one of the smaller viewing screens. It was my crew being loaded into a transport.
I looked around wondering if the guard was here to take me with them.
"You're not going with them yet." Killian said, reading my thoughts.
"But.." I started.
He laughed. "Don't worry. I'm keeping the officers for now. As insurance. When they pay, you go too."
I hoped this had been explained to Dex and Talia.
"How can I trust you?" I asked.
"You can't, but if this works out I might come across UEN people again. I want them to know they can trust me."
He made a good point, he could carve out a nice little business for himself. This is what the UEN feared the most. Kidnapping crew might start to become more common place.
On the main screen the ship carrying my crew appeared. It had another with it, acting as an escort. They hit their engines and disappeared from view.
"We wait now." He said.
Again, I stayed silent, and just nodded.
"You must be tried." Killian said.
I didn't reply, but he was right. None of us had been able to get any sleep in those cold cells.
"Come." He said, and put his arm around my waist gently.
I wanted to pull away, but my legs were aching. The thought of taking some weight off them was too tempting.
He sat me on his knee. Just perching, not close to him, and facing the screen. It still felt humiliating, like I was a child.
There were no jeers or laughter from his crew this time.
He ran his hand up and down my back, over my tunic. It was more like a caress than anything else. I was too tired to complain.
"You're going to tell them I treated you well, aren't you?" He asked.
