Trigger warning
Violence, Bone breaking, Guns, Space.
"Rip drive powered down and stable Captain."
My eyes flicker open the lights above my pod blinding me for a moment, I blink the spots out of my eyes, grabbing the sides of the pod as I pull myself up and out, in my mind I pull my consciousness forwards to the front and centre.
"Please state your name and age to prove your brain has not been liquefied." The on-board ai Janus says in its vaguely feminine voice.
"Sky, 23. how far are we from the drop off point?" I say as I pull on my flight suit and dry off my hair.
"Glad to see your brain still functions Captain. We are approximately 3 astronomical units from the drop off point." it says as I walk out into the cockpit and stare out into the openness before me.
Many people have told me how they find space to look and feel empty.
I never felt that way everything is out there. How can it be empty?.
I lock eyes on the gas giant Arexia with its huge rings.
Not only is it a sight to behold, but the rings are full of rare metals and minerals.
I sit in my seat powering up the control deck. "Janus run diagnostic."
"Yes, captain all systems functioning." Janus says.
I pull out my locket and flick it open, a picture of my parents with my boyfriend smile up at me.
one last job and we'll be free I think closing the locket shoving it back inside my shirt.
I kick the ship into gear accelerating towards the outer rings of Arexia.
The ship shakes and shudders as it picks up speed.
"Well that's just great." I mutter glancing at the side monitor, the starboard engine's internal temperature is higher than normal but it's stable for now at least.
"Captain we have a fast moving object incoming." Janus blares in alarm.
The radio crackles "Hey, hey look what we got here a little delivery ship all by itself."
Fuck Fuck Fuck! Of course, today of all days. Pirates. My mind races what can I do. Give them the cargo? No I can't, I'll never get out if I do that. I'll be running cargo forever.
"Janus open the starboard engines covering." I watch as its temperature plummets.
I grimace grabbing the intercom "catch me if you can fuckers."
I set both engines to full throttle and slam the side thrusters into high gear as I speed towards the asteroid belt.
High pitched laughter comes from the radio.
"Come back here you little shit you can't escape."
I activate the debris shield just in time as I feel the ship shake as I enter the belt and start hitting the dust and small rocks.
"Captain their weapons are heated up and ready to fire." Janus warns.
I tank the thrust and fire the tow line into a large asteroid and slingshot around it as a super heated metal pole flies past shattering a smaller asteroid.
The ship gets flung back towards the pirate ship. "Tow line compromised Captain."
I glance at the side monitor the port engine is holding! The starboard engine is overheating internally and freezing externally, not good for its integrity.
doesn't matter I think gritting my teeth.
Slamming the thrust back up regaining control, as I go sailing past the other ship I thrust down slamming the starboard engine into the weapon they fired a few seconds ago the whole ship groans in protest as it grinds and rips against theirs.
The radio squeaks "You bastard that was my favourite gun."
"Captain the starboard engine is critically damaged I advise against using it any further." Janus reports.
I grab the intercom.
"How about we leave this little dance here friends." I say hopefully.
The voice of the pirate captain spills forth "No can do, friendo your boss's paid me the big bucks for something to happen to the cargo you've got."
My mouth tastes like dust. of course they wouldn't let me go so easy.
"Okay don't hurt me I'm powering down come get your prize." I grind out.
"Oh I like this one, knows when she's beat she does." the radio crows.
"Captain this is against przzzzt." Janus's voice fizzles out as the ship goes dark.
As the pirate ship pulls up to the airlock I pull my knife from my boot, hugging the left wall.
The airlock hiss's as it pressurises, I hear a voice in the airlock.
"Remember not to harm her the big man wants her in good shape she's the best pilot he's got."
Another voice grumbles. "Yeh yeh, I know let's do this already."
The airlock slides open and two men step on to my ship.
The first one steps past and begins to turn to me.
I slam my foot into his knee, he screams "Ahhhh." as his leg gives out with a sickening crunch.
The other one starts raising his gun and shouts "HEY STOP GET ON T."
I slap the barrel of the gun away as it goes off "BLAM" I slam my knife to the hilt into his neck.
I stumble back, my hands shaking.
His hot blood staining my right hand, the whiff of iron making my nose curl.
Stomach churning I kick the other guys gun away.
"Woah. Wait a minute lady we can work this out." He says pushing himself away from me.
I kneel down "You're the man from the radio." I ask.
He nods. "Yeh that's me, it was just business we can work this out."
"Why did he send you after me?." I ask
"Because you're going to finish your contract and he'll lose his best pilot." he gasps out.
"We had a contract. I complete 100 jobs without failure and me and my family get to go to the new colonies." I grind out.
"Look lady it was just a job I'll leave, you can finish your drop off just let me go." he pleads.
I pick up his gun "sorry I can't risk you fucking this up for me."
"Wait no ple." "BANG".
The gun clangs on the floor as I drop it.
My ears are ringing and my hands tremble as I shove the body's into the airlock.
I shut the airlock and power the ship back up.
As the lights flicker back on I slump to one knee feeling faint.
My abdomen is on fire and I'm clutching it. Whendid I start doing that I wonder.
I pull away my hand as blood splashes onto the floor from the hole in my gut.
"Shit." I groan.
"Captain you're losing blood, I'll remind you that dying on the job constitutes failure." Janus warns.
"Thanks for the heads up." I snip.
I force myself to stand.
Grabbing a spare shirt I tie it tight around my stomach.
I struggle into the cockpit and collapse into my chair.
Forcing myself to focus I power up the functioning engine and push off from the pirate ship.
Flicking a few switches I purge the airlock, the body's and guns go flying out into the cold void.
"Let's finish this." I say gritting my teeth.
I reorient the ship then jet towards the drop point.
Arexia ring mining base alpha 3 I made it, just. I grin.
I dock the ship, setting up the delivery chute.
I press a few buttons and done.
That was anticlimactic. I think wincing.
"Janus report my one hundredth job complete." I say smiling.
An announcement sounds through the ship.
"Congratulations. Sky you have completed the job requirement for the life up program. tickets to the new worlds will be sent to you and your designated family members."
I burst into tears. Finally they can be safe and happy.
I wipe my eyes and straighten up gasping in pain.
I undock the ship and turn it towards home.
Clutching my side I start the journey back.
Hopefully I'll make it.