Chapter 04

"Mistress." Ophelia's image appeared inside of the chamber, looking at her. "If you would like...I can allow you to see what is happening...so you don't have to sit in here and wonder. My system is quite capable of allowing you to view it remotely...or would you prefer not to watch?"

Brynn stared at Ophelia, not sure if she wanted to know what was going on, but she finally nodded to her, whispering, even if it wasn't necessary. "Yes, show me."

***

Idris moved to the landing ramp, waiting at the top as the ramp touched down. He slowly held up his hands in surrender and waited. He saw the entourage of people, their deep purple and black uniforms distinguishing their affiliations clearly.

The woman at the head of the group wore a skin tight uniform that covered her from boot to neck. Her face was pale, almost colorless, but somehow her complexion was still beautiful, in its own way. The skin of her arms and face had dark, purplish lines that seemed blended in with the pale skin, almost like she been injured, perhaps even at the brink of death. Her eyes were vibrant and full of life. Her dark hair flowed elegantly down to her shoulder blades. She was almost taller than Idris. When she reached him, she reached out with her right hand, very slowly, and touched his face, her fingers gently resting on his cheek. She had long nails, and several rings. Then that same, lilting voice escaped her lips as she spoke, her words coming slow and hushed. If it was possible, the voice felt even more threatening in person. "Captain Chariton. It's been so long since I was able to see you last. I'm just delighted that we get to see each other in person. How unfortunate it had to be under these circumstances, what with the issues you seem to be having with your ship. Antispace travel can be ever so tricky, can't it?"

When he didn't answer her immediately, her happy expression was quickly replaced with rage. Her right arm came back with lightning speed and she backhanded him across the face so hard that it split his cheek open and knocked him off his feet.

He grunted and moved to stand again, but two men rushed up from behind him and clamped their hands above his elbows and held him knowing on the deck.

She leaned down so her mouth was closer to his face, her voice soft again. "What are you carrying aboard this ship, Captain? I sense that you are not alone."

He shook his head. "No, no, I promise you, it's only me, and...my cargo, of course."

Her eyes looked up and away from him, glancing up the ramp. She turned around and snapped her fingers. Two more men, these now a head taller than Idris. "Hadir. Thelo. Check the ship and find whatever it is Captain Chariton is hiding from us."

The men nodded at her. Their rifles were slung around to their back as they hurried up the ramp and into the ship. She looked back down at him, smiling again. "I'm curious if you've managed to put it together yet. You've had so long to think about it, but I wonder. Tell me: did your contacts ever manage to confirm my identity?"

He shook his head. "Ulratia, I doubt, has had the pleasure of dealing with you personally. I remain confident that someday they'll find you. I await the day with excitement." He scowled at her then, which only seemed to trigger her rage once more.

She struck him across the face with the back of her hand with enough force to break his lower lip against his teeth. Idris spat blood on the ground and looked back up at her defiantly.

She smiled at him now, grinning, teeth bared as she reverted back to that slow, hushed voice.

"I am Moranna. I am the Delethirian Empire. I am the embodiment of all its power and glory."

Suddenly, his defiance was replaced with shock and disbelief. His jaw bobbed as he fumbled to find his words. "You. That's...that's why...that's why SI is pursuing you...and why they refuse to identify you."

Her head rocked back in full-throated laughter. "Ah, there, you see. Now you have it all figured out, don't you, Captain." She leaned down, her fingers returning to his face, smearing the blood on his skin. She snatched his chin and jerked his head to the side. Her lips moved to his ear. "I hope you live long enough to tell your friend about this..."

Idris shut his eyes and shivered. He tried to wince away from her face, but then she stood straight again and the men on either side pulled him to his feet.

The two men, Hadir and Thelo, returned from inside the ship. They both bowed deeply to her. "Mistress, we have completed our search and found no one else onboard."

She turned to Idris and scowled. Her eyes filled with rage again. She grabbed him by the throat and lifted him from the deck, pinning him to the bulkhead. "You think me a fool, Captain?"

Idris flailed against her grip, choking, his hands desperately trying to free him of her grip.

"I know you are hiding someone. But is it an innocent traveler or just another operative?"

She smashed him onto the deck and held him down, the guards now just standing back.

He tried to shake his head. "You may possess the power to kill me, Mistress, but my death will not change the fact that there is no one else on this ship."

She scowled and released him, standing straight again. He gasped and coughed, desperately filling his lungs with air.

"It may very well come to that, Captain, if you do not acquiesce. Perhaps you'd like a front row viewing as my ship blasts your vessel into oblivion."

Idris looked at the floor and shook his head. He felt himself sinking into despair. What good would his death now be if it simply followed Atalanta, and Ophelia, into oblivion. He shook his head again.

"Very well..." She turned to one of her servants. "Bring him to my bridge, then jettison this heap and obliterate it."

He looked up, fear in his eyes. "No! Wait..."

***

Brynn was now sitting on the floor, her eyes still glued to the image Ophelia's systems were providing. She realized that if she stayed there, hidden, she might die anyway.

"Ophelia, I can't stay here. What's the point of hiding if they're just going to blow away the ship with me still on it. I'll just climb up and... and try to reason with them. I mean, they probably don't have any issues with me, they just want him, right?"

She smiled uneasily, completely unconvinced by her own words, but not knowing what else to do.

***

"Wait..." He was pleading with her, hands together in front of him as if in prayer. "Who is it that you are searching for? I promise, I no longer work for SI. I'm just a merchant now. Just...please, let me go. Allow me to take Atalanta, and Ophelia, and leave. You've nothing to gain from killing me or destroying my ship."

She spun on him and knocked him to the deck once more. "You are more than mistaken if you believe you are in a position to negotiate with me, Captain. Look around you: you're as good as dead, or worse, if I see fit."

He shut his eyes again. He nodded at the floor, his voice almost silent. "Very well..."

She stared at him, waiting, her scowl consuming her face.

He pointed without looking up from the floor. "She's in the maintenance shaft, under the floor panel."

She lashed out at him again, kicking his face and then stepping on his throat. "You lied to me, Captain."

Idris was sprawled on the floor, but didn't try to free himself, gasping between words. "What...was I supposed...to do? Give...her up...freely...and let you...kill her?" He rasped, feeling himself starting to brown out.

"Kill her?" She smiled, shaking her head.

Just then, Hadir and Thelo appeared with Brynn held suspended in their grip. Idris hadn't even heard them leave. He tried to spare a glance at her, but he was too light headed.

Moranna's foot left his neck and he found himself gasping again. She leaned her face down near his and then glanced over at Brynn, momentarily looking away from Idris. She frowned. "She is a pretty little thing, isn't she, Captain? And to think you almost killed her. Such a bad habit you have of murdering your companions. What a pity it would have been for her blood to be spilled so pointlessly."

Then she stood, walking over to Brynn. She stared into her eyes for a long moment, looking her over, and then her eyes went wide with surprise. "Oh my..." Her face suddenly filled with excitement, an expression that horrified Idris as he moved to sit and watch from the floor.

He swallowed, hoping. "I-I know...she's...lovely, isn't she?"

Moranna's face swung around back to him and she laughed with that same, chin up, head back laugh she'd had before. She smiled at Idris, before her lips moved to Brynn's ear, whispering to her. "Mmm...you haven't told him, have you, Little Girl. Mmmmm...but I can feel it. The power inside you resonates against me like...like the warmth of a new sun. I can see why you wouldn't want to trust him." Brynn felt the tip of her tongue flick against her earlobe and she flinched away. "I don't think he realized what a prize you are, but we both know better... Don't. We?" Then her face swung towards the guards. "Bind her. She'll come aboard Astaria with us."

Idris leapt to his feet, screaming in shock and fear. "No! Please! Wait! Mistress..."

She turned on him, watching with pleasure as he humiliated himself before her. "Oh my, Captain. Developed a little soft spot for your prize, have you? Mmm...it's so dangerous...for them. They don't seem to have very good luck with you around, do they?"

He shook his head. "Please... What purpose would she serve you? What use would you even have for her?!"

She glanced at him, and then looked to Brynn. She grinned at her. "I'll free you then, Precious. But first..."

Suddenly, Brynn felt her head locked in the grip of two hands, the guards releasing her arms, her feet still off the ground. Brynn felt her body being consumed with the most blinding pain. She screamed. She then her body radiated with heat, until flames spread over her body. She'd never been the source of so much heat, her power never having manifested this way.

Idris sprang to his feet. "NO! PLEASE! STOP! MISTRESS!"

A guard knocked him back to the ground, wrapping his arm around his throat and holding his face so he was forced to watch. Idris reached towards her, but there was nothing he could do. He felt tears stinging his face as he was forced to watch, forced to witness another death.

And then, Brynn's body fell to the floor. He felt the guard release him. The flames had disappeared and Brynn's body was completely unharmed. Moranna, however, was bent over with her hands on her knees, panting. She was obviously winded.

Idris frantically looked from Brynn's lifeless form to a seemingly spent Moranna. His face was filled with shock, but before he could make sense of it, Moranna seemed to recover. Slowly, she stood up straight, sighing, and then turned to look at him. He felt himself recoil from her as she smiled at him. She held out her hand, palm up, and suddenly a little flame manifested in her hand. She looked at it and then looked back at him.

"I've seen my share of Gifteds in my day, Captain, but never one like this." Her hand closed into a fist, extinguishing the flame. "And to think: you never even suspected." She smiled again and then looked down at Brynn's body. Her expression conveyed her apathy over Brynn's death, but then Brynn sucked in a gasp of air, her eyes still closed.

Idris nearly screamed. He felt himself jump away from her body, the body he'd been sure had been drained of any life. This only made Moranna laugh again.

"Captain. I'm disappointed. I thought you knew me better than that. Did you really think after all that, after everything I just went through, that I'd elect to extinguish her life like that?" She seemed very impressed with herself and her choice of words. Then she shook her head. "Death is a very fitting end for some, but not for all. Think of how she'll thank you," she looked down at the body again, grimacing, and then looked back at him. "When she wakes up, that is. Oh, the fun you'll have with her. She can't hurt you now, of course. I've seen to that. Perhaps you should be thanking me."

Idris glanced from Brynn, still lying on the floor, unconscious but somehow still breathing, and then looked back at Moranna. "She...she's a Gifted?"

He saw Moranna's chest jerk with silent laughter. "Well, she was. But now you've helped free her of that, haven't you?"

He felt the color drain out of his face as he looked back at Brynn again, and then looked back at Moranna. "You..." He shook his head, still not understanding.

Moranna rolled her eyes and shook her head in disappointment. "Honestly, Captain, sometimes I think it's a miracle you can latch your own boots without help." She rolled her eyes again and sighed, once again shaking her head with disappointment. She moved closer to him, and he steeled himself out of reflex. "You see, after you got away, after they took me, eventually I was able to free myself of their hold. After I escaped the suppression tank, I discovered something. And now, I'm filled with a new, divine purpose: find them and consume them."

He recoiled in horror, his face consumed with disbelief. He shook his head. "No. There's no way. That's... Not possible."

"Oh, but it is, Captain. The proof stands before you. And soon, very soon, I will become the most powerful Gifted your little universe had ever witnessed." Her smile nearly touched her ears.

He took another step back, struggling to wrap his head around it, to accept it. "But... why... Why tell me? I'm... I'm no one."

She frowned at him again. "Yes, but just think of how that will change once they find out that you broke her. Once she realizes what you've done, eventually everyone will know. A secret, such as this, cannot stay hidden for long. Or stay silent. And in the meantime, just imagine how you'll be able to pass the time knowing that it was your fault, all over again, and how another life has been ruined by your ineptitude and reckless incompetence."

He felt like she'd punched him again, but he clenched his fists and forced himself to remain composed. "They'll... they'll find you... They captured you once, certainly they can do it again."

She seemed to cross the space that was between them in a single step. Her face was instantly millimeters from his. "Oh, I'm counting on it, Captain. Let them come. By then... I'll be more than ready." She grinned wickedly at him again and then her head suddenly smashed into his face so hard that his body dropped to the floor, limp and unconscious.