This ongoing sci-fi series will contain non-consensual elements.
Beeping from the flight computer woke me. My entire body was stiff, and everything ached. With a lot of relief I was greeted with the sight of Alpha Giraad from the cockpit. The glowing dome on the surface filled me with hope, and I set the auto pilot into landing mode. The shuttle would have to pass through a giant air-lock, so we had a few minutes to get ready.
I found Willow sitting on the bed. She looked pensive, and I could see her eyes were red from more crying. I tried to cheer her up, but it would be a while before she could feel those emotions. As we landed I told her about being freed from Orton, and shared my feelings of loss and abandonment at the time. I told her that they would pass.
Alpha Giraad was a planetoid in a system that didn't allow slaves. It wasn't a ethical decision, but one made out of economics. If they allowed slaves to work there, there would be no jobs for other people. I had come to discover that while slavery was common in the free systems it wasn't practiced everywhere. It tended to be the more wealthy planets that kept that tradition alive. The place we were landing was a domed settlement called Lode One. It was an industrial city with factories that produced star ship parts for export. The smog from the fabricator factories collected at the top of the dome, and gave the artificial atmosphere a strange eerie glow.
Just because our destination didn't allow slavery didn't mean it was safe, and I explained that she needed to be careful, as there could be bounty hunters, so it was best to keep quiet about her previous life. That particular piece of information did nothing to settle her, but I comforted her with the fact that her bounty wouldn't be great. Privately I knew that the husband that brought her in for the mind wipe, would probably be glad that she was now gone, taking the secrets of his infidelity with her. I told her about Hella too. The clinic she ran was for visiting traders, but she also provided a free service for some of the less fortunate residents of this planetoid. She had been a friend of Delphine and had helped me realise that I had a mind wipe all those months ago.
I took out two of Hogarth's lab coats, and told her to put one on. The high collars would hide the fact that we were slaves. I asked her if she could help me push the trolley with Hogarth inside.
As we disembarked, I was approached by a dock officer. There was nothing to panic about, but there was the issue of the dock fees. I had no credits on me, so all I could do was to say I would pay as soon as possible.
"You get a month, then your ship is repossessed," he said. It seemed like a fair deal.
We made our way to Hella's medical center. It wasn't far from the docks, and was surrounded by other business's that took advantage of passing trade ships. She greeted us at the door, and when she recognised me she gave me a big hug. Her kindly demeanor was much appreciated after my experience on the collector station.
I explained everything. The breeder farm, Delphine and Juno's death. Then went on to tell her about the sleeping man in the box, and the data stick I found. When I had been here before It had been Hella who informed me that my missing memories could be restored if I could find my original mind scans. The data stick hopefully contained that information.
She was stunned by it all, and said it was a lot to take in. The news of Delphine had shaken her, but there would be time for grieving later.
"The galaxy needed more like her," she said, mournfully. After a few more kind words, we got to the matter at hand. She took us into a private lab, and we began unloading Hogarth. He was still out, and we decided to deal with him at a later time. In the meantime we secured him to one of the spare medical beds.
Our collars were next and with some equipment she owned they came off easily. It was a job she had done for Delphine many times.
I showed her the data stick I had found. She plugged it into a computer, and looked at the files.
"There are hundreds of mind scans on here. Not all of them have names, but I can see yours."
It was a dreadful thought to imagine just how many people Hogarth had done this to.
"What are the chances I could get my old memories back?" I asked, nervously.
Hella smiled, and told me that in time I would know. It wasn't a procedure that she had much experience with, but she was confident enough to go through with it. She wanted to let me rest before we started, but I wanted it over with as soon as possible. I was done waiting.
There were plenty of things to do first. We helped her set up the lab for the procedure.
Willow wished me luck and gave me a smile before leaving.
As I climbed on the bed, I didn't feel joy or happiness, instead it was fear and nervousness. If it worked, who would be the one to wake up. All I had known was my life as Cara. Who was this Emrah woman, I was going to find out one way or another. Affinity for weapons and hand to hand combat was one thing, but was I ready for my old memories?
Hella placed a cowl over my scalp and began attaching wires to it. Once she was finished she asked me to count back from ten. With a lump in my throat I did as she asked.
"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three..."
* * * * *
For a brief second I didn't know where I was, but then I saw the Admiral Skye approaching me. He was wearing his ceremonial uniform just as I was. He shook my hand, and asked me if I was looking forward to my first command. I admitted that I had some nerves but was looking forward to the experience. It was the middle of the day and the sun shone brightly through the martian atmosphere. Behind me was my new crew, and in front was our new ship.
"I'm sure you will have fun breaking her in, Captain," the admiral said. He had been my commanding officer many years ago, and during my time on his ship, I had suspected he'd kept a hidden camera in my room. Having to deal with men like that was the price for advancement in the UEN, I thought sadly.
The Calypso was a frigate, and to my eyes she was beautiful. She was brand new, and was looking in pristine condition. I couldn't wait to take her out for her shakedown mission. After that we would be patrolling the border of UEN space.
I didn't choose my officers, but there were some good experienced officers mixed in with the greener ones. A few stuck out to me, one was a very fine engineer named Dex, and one of the junior officers also stuck in my thoughts. Her name was Talia, while her record was less than exemplary, she had a good attitude and bubbly nature. The admiral had recommended her himself, and with a pang of jealously I wondered if she had slept with him to gain the position. It wasn't uncommon for female officers to use their sex to gain advancement, I certainly had quite a few offers in my career, even from him.
There was a band that was playing some stirring pieces, and once they had finished, it was my time to address the crew. I stepped onto the podium, and cleared my throat. Before I could speak though, someone called something out. It was the engineer Dex.
"Cara," he shouted. For a second I wondered who he was calling to, but he was staring directly at me. I shielded my eyes from the sun to get a better look at him, but the glare didn't go, and I felt my head swirling and the light taking over my mind.
* * * * *
I awoke suddenly with a strange woman looking down at me. A sudden rush of panic washed over me, and I tried to get up. She gently stopped me, telling me to calm myself. There were wires trailing from my head, and I felt sick. She held me, as I vomited onto the floor. The room spun and I felt a crushing pain in my head.
