This ongoing sci-fi series will contain non-consensual elements.
Roki
"How are the repairs coming, Roki?" Berta asked.
I was on a trolley underneath one of the power regulators. I pulled myself out and saw my captain looking down at me.
"Nearly there," I said as I wiped the sweat from my brow.
We had taken heavy damage during an attack and had landed on a planet to conduct repairs. As I was part of the engineering department I was kept busy. We had been here for a month now.
The planet had no name but some of our crew were referring to it as Desolation. It was a fitting name as there was nothing of note here. Just barren rock and flat horizons. It had a breathable atmosphere though which made things more bearable.
Berta told me to keep her informed and left me to my work.
As I continued I thought about the events leading up to our stranding.
A woman called Sakura had come aboard as our new second officer. She'd had ulterior motives though. Emrah had told me she suspected Sakura of being up to something. We worked together to try and uncover her plot, but in the end, we failed. She kidnapped Emrah and crippled our ship. After that ships began hunting us. We spent weeks avoiding them until they cornered us and we had to fight our way out. The Siren's kiss had sustained heavy damage and had to land here to repair.
I missed Emrah greatly and hoped she was alive out there somewhere. Others in the crew assured me she would be fine. "She's a survivor." Berta had told me.
That was true, but with no way to even look for her, I couldn't help but imagine the worst.
************
Desolation was a hot and arid planet. There was not a drop of water on the entire surface. Some of the crew had constructed a makeshift camp next to the ship. Without power inside it was more preferable than living on the ship.
I didn't mind the heat, but some were struggling.
As I descended the ramp to get some rest in my tent I saw Martina approaching me. She was wearing a small pair of shorts and a sports bra. I had never really liked her. There was a butch quality to her that did nothing for me. She was very aggressive too and kind of scared me a little. When I first joined the ship she had made a clumsy pass at me. Thankfully she had not tried again.
"Roki," she said with a smile. "How's the ship coming on?"
I shrugged and told her we might have power within the week.
"Want one?" she asked as she pulled a cigar from her pocket.
"I don't smoke," I said. It always surprised me that someone who was always working out would also smoke too.
"How about a drink instead? I have a bottle in my tent."
I laughed and told her that I had to get some rest.
"I've got a bed too," she said as she lit her cigar.
"Why don't you go find a rock to beat up," I said and left her to her thoughts.
*************
I was sharing my tent with a girl called Ava. She was one of our newest recruits. She had been born on Ferrin and the heat didn't seem to be affecting her at all.
I told her about my encounter with Martina.
"Yeah, she tried it on with me the other day. I think she's just bored with nothing to do."
Martina was our weaponsmith and often led any assaults we had to do. Here she was at a loose end.
"She did say she had a bottle of booze though."
This made Ava's eyes light up and she complained that it had been too long since she'd had a proper drink.
"Berta wants to keep us sober and alert."
We chatted for a bit and then she asked me if I was missing Emrah.
"I just hope she is safe."
***********
I was woken by Ava shaking my shoulder. It was still dark outside.
"It's not morning is it?"
She shook her head. "We should steal that bottle from Martina."
I was still groggy and told her to go back to sleep.
She was persistent and shook me again.
"Come on Roki, it's not fair she gets some and we don't."
I sat up and rubbed my eyes.
"The last time you got drunk you ended up in the brig."
"We don't have to drink it all, come on."
It would be nice to pull one over on Maritna.
"Okay, then," I said. "You gotta stay here. If Berta catches us she'll put you in the brig again."
***********
It was dark and the camp was quiet. The only illumination came from one of the moons and some temporary lights that had been constructed.
As I snaked through the tents I heard some soft moans coming from one. I stopped and listened for a second. I didn't know who they were but they sounded like they were having fun.
The last person I had slept with was Sakura. I wished it had been Emrah. It had been so long since I had even kissed her.
I found Martina's tent, it was with the rest of the officers. It was a little bigger than mine and would only have Martina inside.
Unlike our quarters on the ship, these tents didn't have locks.
I slipped inside easily and silently. I was crouched and I waited until my eyes adjusted. The tent smelled of stale cigar smoke and sweat.
Martian was fast asleep on her cot. She was naked and lying on her back. As I approached her I couldn't help but stare at her body. She had a deep and I could see every definition of her muscles. There was a peaceful look on her face and I felt a little guilty at looking at her like this. I was intruding on her afterall.
As I looked at her I wondered what it would be like to kiss her. It was just an idle thought, but one that made my heart race a little. I knew she desired me, but I had never shared those feelings. Seeing her like this, vulnerable and peaceful stoked something in me. I knew once she woke her peacefulness would turn to lust. I'd heard once from another girl that she was a very aggressive lover. My eyes couldn't help but move to her sex. She had a small tuft of hair above her labia.
I shook my head snapping me out of the thought. I was here for alcohol. I squatted and looked under her bed. There it was lying on a mound of clothes. I inched forward and grabbed hold of it. As the liquid inside swished Martina stirred.
I held my breath as she rolled over. Her back was facing me now and I could see clearly that she had once been flogged.
I wasn't going to push my luck any further and crept out of the tent.
**********
Ava was full of smiles when I returned. As she promised we didn't drink it all. By morning there was half of it left and we both had sore heads.
I went to work inside the Siren's Kiss while Ava went to her job. She was part of the team that was welding the damaged hull.
It was tedious work. I had to replace burnt-out wiring that had overloaded during the attack. As there was no internal power I had to use a head torch. At least it was cool on the ship.
I'd been in here an hour when I heard footsteps approaching. It was Martina and she didn't look happy.
"Did you lose that fight with the rock?"
She didn't smile or laugh.
"You took my wine didn't you?"
I shook my head and told her I didn't know what she was talking about.
"I only told you about it, no one else could have taken it."
"I hate to say it," I said. "You are in a camp full of pirates. Hardly the most honest bunch."
She laughed now but in a condescending way.
"You're a little rat, Roki."
"Fuck you," I said under my breath.
"I'm still your superior," she said, as her anger began to rise. Then she threatened to go to Berta.
"Oh right really, you're gonna bother the Captain cos you lost a bottle of wine? What do you even do on this ship Martina?"
"I look after the internal security of the ship and that includes catching little thieves."
I stood up now and wasn't going to take any more of her nonsense.
"Security," I yelled. "Since I've been here, I've been attacked by a hostage, and Emrah got kidnapped by a mad woman. What's Berta even paying you for?"
The frustration was building in her eyes and it looked like she wanted to hit me. Thankfully she didn't and told me to return the bottle tonight or she'd come and fetch it herself.
She then stormed off leaving me to my work. Being on this planet had really frayed everyone's nerves.
*************
I told Ava what had happened when I returned to the tent.
"That's not good Roki. Maybe we can fill it up with coolant to make it look full again."
I shook my head and told her that would probably kill her.
"So what are you gonna do?"
"Me?" I asked. "It was your idea."
"I know but I've been in the brig once. You will have to sort it."
I liked Ava but she had really dropped me in it. I wondered what Emrah would do in this situation. Then I realised that Emrah wouldn't have stolen it in the first place.
"Why don't you sneak back into her tent tonight and return it?"
"Yeah," I said, sarcastically. "I don't think she's going to be sleeping tonight. Probably laying there now grinding her teeth."
Ava laughed. I had to laugh too, It was a silly thing to be getting so worked up over. With the ship practically dead that's all we could do these days. There had been a massive fight the other day between three girls over a missing pair of panties.
"Best just to fess up," I said.
"Yeah or just say you found it on the ground."
"That's a better idea," I said and picked up the wine.
*************
The sun was dipping on the horizon as I made my way back to Martina's tent.
I did feel a bit bad about having a go at her like I did. No one blamed her for what Sakura did.
She was sitting on her cot sharpening a knife when I entered through the flap.
"Bit of a cliche don't you think," I said gesturing to the knife.
She cocked her head to the side and asked what I wanted.
"I found this," I said and held up the bottle.
"I'm sure you did," she said quietly.
"Listen about earlier I'm sorry for calling you a bitch."
She sighed and told me that I didn't call her that name.
"Well, whatever I said, sorry."
"Thanks," she said and told me to bring it over.
When I handed it to her she asked if some spilled out on the way here.
"Must have," I said with a smile.
She uncorked it with her teeth and took a large swig.
"It hasn't been watered down," I said under my breath.
She laughed and handed it to me.
"You might as well help me finish it."
I was glad to have sorted it out and took a drink.
"So what's the knife for, it's not for a rat is it?"
She chuckled. "No Roki, not for a rat."
"What then?"
