Spoilers? Plenty of spoilers.
Now, with that said ...
Be warned. This story will contain a fair bit of graphical violence and subjects that to some may be unpleasant to read. Viewers discretion is advised.
EDIT: Since the forum is acting a bit screwy and won't let me post any updates in this thread I guess I have to break the news here; The Dragon's Heart was obliterated during an assassination mission, by what appears to be a Hammerhead fired at point blank range. One moment I was coming through the gate and the next ... *beeeee-kaboom!* I'll post the remaining chapters when, or if, the forum will let me update this thread again, but I'm afraid it's over. Too bad, cause I was really starting to like Kayla and her crew.
I might revisit this ... uhm ... in lack of a better word, "version" of the X-universe some day, as there are still lots of stories to be told, but for now I really need something fresh and new. I'll still keep writing, though, so you won't get rid of me that easily
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1 - The ghost, the kid and the pirate.
My name is Kayla, and people call me the woman who never cry. They took my tongue, but my voice will be heard nontheless. When I am ready, they will hear me roar!
*
"I'm gonna get ya, Kayla. Just you wait!"
"No, Kriss. No!" I squealed like a little animal as Kriss Jerigan, the kid next door, gained on me. He grabbed my waist, and we both tumbled to the ground.
"Kriss …" I gasped. "Stop … tickling … me."
"Only if you surrender." I looked at him. He started tickling me again.
"Stop … Okey, okey! I … surrender." He stopped, got off my stomach and helped me up.
"Do you, Kayla Lehane, surr …"
"Hey, Jerigan! Quit playin' with the ghost and come join us on the football field instead!" Toki Salek, the resident jock and jackass, interrupted us and reminded me of the curse that haunted me every day of my life; My looks. You see, my parents were "ringers", born and raised on Ringo Moon. It was a chilling world, shrouded in enternal twilight, and its inhabitants were known for their pale skin and chalk white hair color, often earning them the nickname "ghosts".
"Screw you, Salek!" Kriss yelled back. Then he turned to me. "Don't worry 'bout them," he said, and grabbed my shoulder. I smiled at him, and sent a thought to the stars for giving me such a great friend. We were kind of an odd couple, really. Kriss was your typical rich man's kid, who's parents were loaded to the gills, but he had this crazy idea that he wanted to prove that he was worth something on his own. That's sort of how we became friends, as he, in his own words, 'wanted to go out and find someone who could see him instead of his father's bank account.' So one day he just stood there, with his hands in his pockets and that skewed smile of his, and wanted to be my friend.
I was seven and a half jazura, or a little over ten Terran years, at that time, and all I had ever known was scornful remarks and being called a "frakkin' ghost" all the time. I wish I could say that was the best day of my life, but I didn't trust him. Still, he worked tirelessly to prove that he was worthy of my trust, and when I look back now I think we were both outcasts seeking a kindred spirit. Me for how I looked and him because he was the 'rich kid'. Now six years had passed, and we'd become closer than I ever imagined possible. Me. A 'frakkin' ghost'. And him.
I took his hand and looked him in the eye. Those warm, nut-brown eyes that always seemed to smile at me. He smiled at me. Looked into my own pale gray eyes. For a moment we just stood there and looked into each others eyes. Into each others very soul. He … No …
"I know," I said quietly. "Conquer the world, right?" It was sort of a running gag, that with his father's money and my wits we would conquer the world some day.
Yeah, right.
*
"Kriss Jerigan?" I turned toward the voice. A wiry man with short, straw colored hair approached us, and he immediately made my skin crawl. He looked … evil. The two men walking two steps behind him didn't do anything to correct that impression.
"Kriss," I whispered. "I don't like this guy."
"Me neither," he whispered back. "Who's asking?" he said to the man.
"Your father sent us. He wanted to see you. You can take the girl with you if you want to."
Now I knew something was wrong. Kriss' father, Bret, would have called or sent his assistant, Jo, to get us if he wanted to see Kriss. He never, ever trusted anyone else to do it, and since Jo was a petite brunette and not some goon …
"So, where's Jo today?" Kriss asked.
"She called in sick," the man said without missing a beat.
"Funny, cause I spoke to her just a quarter of a stazura ago and she looked just fine."
"I don't think you understand." He reached into his pocked and pulled out a small pistol. "You're coming with us."
We both froze for a moment. My mouth suddenly felt as dry as a Paranid desert and my heart started pounding so hard in my chest I was sure Kriss could feel it. I swallowed and closed my eyes, trying to keep my knees from buckling. I could feel my breath as it sped up and became faster and shallower, and my stomach threatened to turn itself inside out at any moment.
"Get them," he barked to the two men behind him. "And keep them quiet."
"The girl too?" one of them asked.
"Yeah. She looks good. She might please him, at least for a while. Besides, ghosts are rare. She might get us a pretty penny in the pit if he doesn't want her."
"Can we have some fun with her?" one of them said as he grabbed my arm with one hand and put the other over my mouth. Something in the tone of his voice made me shiver.
"Not until the boss have had a look at her," the leader said. Then he fished a communicator out of his pocket and activated it. "Five to go," he said. "Get us out of here."
A shimmering, blue glow danced before my eyes, and the next thing I knew I was in some kind of small room. A transporter? I didn't get much time to think about it, because the man holding me dragged me off to a corner and tied me up. Then the whole room started vibrating, and a muffled roar arose from one side. We were on a ship?
"No," I whispered to myself. "No, no, no. This can't be happening!" I started gasping for air, and my throat felt like it had tightened to the size of a straw, threatening to choke me. It felt like I couldn't breathe, sweat was running down my spine like a river and the room started spinning. I felt like my body was trying to turn itself inside out, and I gagged, but nothing came up.
After a while the dry heaves stopped, but I still felt sick. I tried to relax as best I could, but neither body nor mind would cooperate. My stomach felt like I was on the verge of throwing up again, my heart still pounded like a jackhammer and my singlet felt like I had been standing in the rain. My eyes filled with tears, and I cried.
"Easy. They won't hurt us … yet." A quiet voice cut through the darkness.
"K-Kriss? W-wha … Wh … Why …" I stuttered.
"Pirates," he said. "Or maybe Yaki, I don't know." His voice was calm, but he was just as afraid as I was. I could feel it. "They probably took us to blackmail my father. He's one of the hundred richest men in the Argon Federation, so it would make sense."
"B-but … wh … I don't understand …" My brain struggled to process the information it was given. We were being … kidnapped?
"They'll probably take us to their base and then contact my father. After that … I don't know." His voice was filled with this unspeakable sadness, and it just made me cry even more.
In the end I just leaned my head against his shoulder, with the occasional sob making its way up through my throat. It felt like my body wilted, and all my strength disappeared. I started shivering, although the room wasn't cold. My mind was everywhere and nowhere at the same time, and I couldn't focus on a single thought.
Then I heard capacitors whine, before a sudden jolt made the ship shake and I knew we had made a jump. But to where? I sighed and started crying again.
After a while it felt like the ship was slowing down, and then we heard the hollow thud as docking clamps latched on to the hull. The two goons came in and dragged us to their feet, then they blindfolded us and pushed us out of the ship. I could barely move and my feet wouldn't carry me, so I got dragged along to whatever destination we were heading for. I heard sounds, but they were distant and muffled. My body felt numb, and it was like I was floating in mid air.
After being dragged for Gunne knew how long we finally stopped. I vaguely registered a hatch opening and someone pushed me forward, resulting in that I tripped over the doorstep and fell flat on my face. With my hands tied behind my back I couldn't break the fall, and I felt a sharp sting in my ribs as I hit the floor. I coughed and gasped for air as my 'warden' muttered "get up" and pulled me to my feet. Then he yanked the blindfold off and pushed me forward. My legs buckled and I fell to my knees.
"Well, well, well … What do we have here." It took a moment for my eyes to adjust, and the image of a tall, muscular man with tattoos covering most of his upper body drifted into focus.
"We got the boy, boss. And a little extra bonus, if you want her." the leader of the trio said.
"Trying to kiss ass again, Poler?" The tall one raised his eyebrows. He spoke slow and softly, and his voice dripped with … I don't know, joy. Like a lazy, content cat who knew he was the boss and that everyone around him would obey his slightest whim. It gave me the creeps, and I felt my throat tighten up again, like I was trying to breathe through a hole no bigger than a pinhead. In the corner of my eye I saw the man he had called Poler throw his hands up in front of him. He opened his mouth to say something, but the boss raised a finger and stopped him.
"Remember, Poler," he purred, "I really hate liars …"
"Y-yes, boss," Poler stuttered. "I-i thought you might l-like her. Girls like her are r-rare, and if nothing else y-you will get a good price for her at the s-slave pit."
"Good boy. They are indeed rare, and this one is exceptionally beautiful too. And young as well." He looked at me. I swallowed and stared at the floor while my mind latched on to one thing; 'slave pit'.
"Look at me, child," he said, oh so softly. My muscles refused to obey, and I kept staring at the floor. My breathing sped up. Short, rasping gasps of air. I heard the sound of chains moving as he rose to his full height and walked towards me. Slowly. His metal-laced boots hit the floor. Clang! One step at the time. Clang! Closer and closer. Clang! He crouched down, put his finger under my chin and lifted my head. At this point I was hyperventilating, my body wouldn't stop shaking and tears covered my cheeks. He grabbed my chin and turned my head, first to the left and then to the right.
"Hm …" I felt like a piece of meat or a new spaceship he considered to buy. "You can't be more than twelve jazura at the most. How old are you?" I didn't answer. I couldn't. "Remember," he whispered in my ear, "I own your ass now and I can either make your life very miserable or very comfortable. Now, answer me, child." I looked at him through the tears and swallowed.
"E-e-eleven jazura a-a-and s-six m-m-m-mazura." I stuttered.
"Now, now. That's no way to address your owner. Try again." He smiled. Coldly.
"E-e-eleven j-jazura a-and s-s-six m-m-mazura, s-s-sir."
"Good girl." He let me go and got back up, then he walked over to Kriss.
"I see you even managed to get the right one this time. Nicely done, Poler."
"Thanks, boss," Poler said meekly.
"So," he said to Kriss, "how much do you think you're worth to your dear ol' Pa!?" He almost spat the word out. Kriss just stared at him for a moment.
"Enough for him to hunt you to the end of the universe if you hurt me," he said. The big man rubbed his chin.
"True," he said. "But how about your little friend over there?" It took a few seconds before I understood that he was referring to me. I looked up just in time to see Kriss turn pale, then the big man flicked his finger at me and the next thing I knew something hit me in the face. Hard.
The muscles in my neck were stretched to their very limit, and I felt something break in my face. It's funny how aware you get in moments like these. Time seemed to almost stop, and I felt my body being bent backwards and hit the floor. I felt the bone splinters in my face grind against each other, I felt the pain spread out through my entire head like fire and I felt my own heartbeat in my cheek. I felt the taste of my own blood in my mouth, and I felt something warm and sticky run down my cheek. The world spun like a merry-go-round, and I had to blink a few times to get my eyes to focus.
I barely had time to get my wits together before I got a boot in my stomach. It drove the air out of my lungs and made me double over, coughing, gagging and cursing.
"Motherfrakkin' …" The next kick hit me in the kidneys, and the pain was so intense I nearly blacked out. I rolled over and ended up as a whimpering heap at the bossman's feet, still trying to catch my breath and keep myself conscious.
"Bastards …" I heard Kriss mutter. "You motherfrakkin' BASTARDS!"
"Easy, kid." Big boss gave me a boot in the ribs, and I groaned. "Blowing your fuses isn't going to help either of you." Then he seemed to lose interest and turned toward me instead. "Put the kid in the brig and let him cool his heels for a while." He waved at his goons. "But leave the girl, I want to have a … word with her." Even in my state I picked up the emphasis he put on 'word', and it made me cringe.
"A shame to waste such a pretty face," he said as the goons left. Then he grabbed me by my singlet and dragged me to my feet. "A shame indeed …" He mumbled while he ran his fingertips over my swollen cheek. It made me wince and I pulled away.
"Now, now. I'm not going to hurt you." He grabbed my hair with the free hand and ran his fingers over my lips. "Much." He looked me in the eye while he licked the blood off his fingers. I gagged and was on the verge of throwing up in his face. I wanted out, but I knew I couldn't break his grip. I felt empty inside. All that was left was this feeling of loneliness and pure, utter despair. Like a bottomless pit that swallowed everything and left me in a black, empty void.
I looked at him with my good eye. Tears were running down my cheeks again.
"P-please," I sniffled. "L-let me go …"
"Hm … Maybe I will, but not today. You're leverage for our friend in the brig. Besides, you're so …" He inhaled sharply through his teeth. "… beautiful." He pulled me in close enough for me to feel his breath on my cheek.
"Beauty, little one …" He ran his fingertips down my throat, over my breasts and down my stomach … Way down. "Beauty is a thing I appreciate very much." His hand slipped between my legs.
"No …" I whispered, but to no avail. I closed my eyes and bit my lip to stifle my sobs, waiting for the inevitable.
"But then again, purity is also appreciated." He removed his hand and let me go. I dropped to my knees and let go of the breath I suddenly noticed I had been holding.
"Bastard …" I whispered under my breath.
"Mmm … Be careful. I don't appreciate purity that much." He sat down in his chair again. "Poler!" he roared. "Get your ass inn here!" The thin man came rushing through the door.
"Yes, boss?"
"Throw her in the brig with the kid. We'll let ol' pa worry for a while before we contact him."
"Will do, boss."
Then he grabbed me by the neck and dragged me away.
