“Where’s the staff?” Teena asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Were you sent by Pilo? Is this how they finish it? They kill me for my silence?” The look she gave him was both threatening and pleading.
“I’m not with Pilo. I mean, everyone is with Pilo, but I’m not an employee. I manage the power stations in this sector. I had a proposal for your new boss.”
“My new boss?”
“You don’t know.”
“The last thing I remember was my trial, the judgement.”
Jadis brought up her profile again. There was nothing about a trial, only a yellow star next to her name, a warning to anyone that would try to employ her that she was not trusted by Pilo. This made sense now. He looked over other employee profiles in the database, realizing quickly that nearly every one of them had the same yellow mark. Some were even red. Red could not be good.
“You have implants.” Teena placed the last water packet to the side, clutching his coat closer. “Checking my file? What do you want?”
Jadis sighed, clearing his interface again. “I didn’t want it to go this way. I thought you’d be more up to date.”
“What-do-you-want?” Her narrowed eyes and hard tone imparted to him that no matter what he said, this was not going to be an easy conversation.
“Well. I want to buy this station.”
Teena’s were wide and she barked an incredulous laugh. “Are you insane? Seriously, are you insane? How would I have that kind of authority?”
“You will have. I can pay you nicely for the favor. You just have to convince her—”
“How did you even get here? How did you even get access to my pod? This is highly inappropriate.”
And there it was. Jadis let out a slow breath. “I can see that it’ll be difficult to convince you. Perhaps if I gave you a few days to recover—”
Thick goblets of water choked from her throat. Soon she was emptying what was left of the water onto the deck. Seeing her sway, Jadis held her shoulders as she dry heaved, and eventually lost consciousness. He considered running then. He could place her back in the stasis pod and quietly tiptoe away all the way back to his power station. He’d have hell to pay in about a decade when the station came fully online, but it would be a peaceful ten years where only the guilt would tug at him.
Still. He looked down at the limp form in his arms and the wet globules of water that pooled near their feet. Still, he had been abandoned once and the people that raised him did not abandon him when they could have easily, despite his issues. With a sigh, Jadis carried her to his ship. He pulled one of his shirts, which was large on her smaller form and placed her in his bed. Her flesh was on fire by now. He managed to get her to take an anti-inflammatory from the medkit, then sat in the chair near her bedside.
Teena’s sleep was fitful, but hardly conscious. She tossed and turned. At some point she sat straight up letting out another of those painful screams. “Andy. I’m sorry,” she whispered finally. The violence of her slumber ended there. Soft, peace-laden breaths came and went. Jadis grabbed the blanket she’d pushed to the edge of the bed and pulled it over her. His hand brushed her forehead. He was relieved she felt a normal temperature again. If she had died, he couldn’t imagine the type of repercussions that lay down that path.
When she awoke, Jadis had water ready and more of the hydration gels. This time he’d thickened the water to help her keep it down.
“Tastes horrible,” Teena grunted hoarsely.
“Yes. Well. I don’t really cook meals here,” Jadis said.
“How long was I under?” Teena asked.
“Two hundred years.”
New tears, conscious tears, streamed down her cheeks. “You bastard.”
“Ok. I didn’t put you in that box.” Jadis lifted is arms in surrender.
“You should’ve let me die!” Teena cried out.
Though he was surprised by her words, after watching her fitful sleep, Jadis wasn’t too surprised by her response. “I’m sorry. As soon as you’re well, I’ll leave.”
“Where is this place?” she clutched the blankets close to her body.
“You’re on my ship. I didn’t know where else to take you.”
“So, you kidnapped me?” Her eyes widened.
“No. I let you sleep in my bed.” Jadis hated the way it sounded the moment it left his lips.
Despite the look of utter horror on her face, Teena snorted a laugh. “You think that if I told the feds what you did that it would be you doing me a favor?”
“I can be quite convincing. Plus, it’s the truth. You can leave now, if you want.”
“I want clothes. And I want access to a console.” Teena demanded.
“Console on the bridge, through that door. Clothes. I’ll have to see if there’s anything in inventory on the station,” Jadis said.
They stared at one another for a moment.
“Well?” Teena raised a brow.
“Well?” Jadis asked, suddenly confused.
“Well, go get me clothes. I’ll look at the console once you’re gone.”
“So, you’re considering my deal?” He smiled.
“It will have to be fair. I don’t take advantage of my clients,” Teena said.
“Don’t I seem like a fair sort?” He made a pretend-hurt face.
Teena wet dry lips and Jadis wondered if she was getting the wrong idea. “Maybe. Go get the clothes now.”
Jadis rocked himself to his feet and made his way to the station. He had only taken a few steps onto the docks titanium floor before he was surrounded by men with black eyes and flickering blue skull caps.
“Figures,” he said softly, raising his hands above his head.
The brig was actually comfortable and the bed was a welcome sight. Instead of pacing or worrying what his fate might be, Jadis slept until he was awoken by a hand on his shoulder.
Teena Maverick, now dressed in a purple and grey uniform, stood over him. Her hair was combed and pulled back into a tight ponytail.
“Jadis Ter,” she said. “I’ve decided not to press charges, but you are not welcome on this station. I’ve gotten up to speed and my… new boss… is not the type to sell.”
“You’re certain. You haven’t even heard my offer.” Jadis rubbed his dry eyes.
“It isn’t necessary. I have seen her lists,” Teena said.
“What lists?” Jadis tried to squeeze the meaning out of her words.
“Do you know how long a stasis pod will last?”
“Three hundred years, at a stretch,” Jadis guessed.
“The new ones, maybe. The old ones are programmed to shut off at around two hundred years.”
“But.” He stared at her uncertainly. “Why save you? For your loyalty. Is that why she pulled all those miscreants out of stasis? So they would owe her?”
Teena was frowning now. “I will not know her motives until we meet. Either way—”
“Either way, you feel like you owe her something. Come on, Teena. She’s from Pilo. She’s got a fed background. This feels like a setup. I’m offering you freedom and marks. She’s got nothing for you but more servitude and more Pilo. You deserve better.” He couldn’t tell if his speech was convincing her, but she was listening. Maybe she needed a push. “And what about Andy?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Get off my station!”
Too far then. Jadis inclined his head and, under a light federal escort, he was walked quickly off Betta’s Station.
Chapter Five
Arrival
The first image she saw was blurred. She had to blink a few times before she could make out the raised holographic bars that separated her body’s readouts. Another roll of her eyes and she felt an increase in adrenaline before her lids snapped open. The top to the shell holding her slid aside.