“It’s enough,” he told her moving forward, his men with him. Marlea stayed with him. “You should stay here,” he told he looking over his shoulder at her.
Marlea blinked back her annoyance. “Why?”
“We do not know what we will find.” He told her simply.
Marlea put her hand out as if to push him to one side. He didn’t budge so she went around him. “If you think there’s something in there, my ship, my responsibility.”
His men were going down on all fours, she only had to bend in half to make it to the other side. No lights met them. That was wrong….. Lights automatically came on in every part of the ship once the sensors detected human life. Activating her torch light on her data pad, she mumbled and shook her head. Would nothing go right on this damn ship!.... “Bloody lights. Computer give me lights in this storage hold.”
“Affirmative.”
The lights slowly came up. Holy shit. It was full of large long crates. None of them on the manifest. What the hell was going on….. “Computer, why are the lights not automatically activated?”
“This section was designated as ‘no power’.”
Marlea frowned. All sections had some power. Was that why the door wasn’t working properly?.....
“Computer explain the ‘no power’ order.”
“Where a compromise is likely or infiltration, all ships systems are regraded at risk and powered off.”
WTF!.... She’d never heard of this. What compromise or infiltration? The Captain never mentioned a risk on board!.... She turned to Cage who was standing now with her. She waved at the room. “I don’t understand this. It’s all wrong. The Captain never mentioned a possible risk or threat onboard and that is protocol. I’m head of security and I have to know and none of this is listed. This space should be empty.”
He said nothing just looked at his men. She followed his line of vision. The first of them were scanning the crates. Marlea got a bad feeling. More Cyborgs joined them from under the doorway and were now using release clamps to open the tops, then using their own light sources to look inside them.
Movement in one corner drew her attention. Two Cyborgs were leaning over a box doing something. There was an unearthly scream as a hand lifted up followed by a body. Marlea screamed and stepped back right into Cage, who’s arm came around her and held her fast. The face of the ……. Person…. Turned towards her. Half his face was burnt away, gone. Marlea tried not to throw up.
Its unearthly voice reached her. “I will not harm you female.”
“I understand completely,” Cage told her holding her close, no emotion in his voice at all. It was cold and distant. Deadly. “These are our brothers.”
Marlea felt like she’d been hit with a 4 x 2. What the hell had the company been doing?........
She swallowed wiping the sweat that was beading on her brow. She felt sick but her work ethic kicked in. “Computer, restore services to this section immediately. Full power up and ships medics to me. Emergency medical drill in operation.”
“Affirmative.” She was relieved when the emergency alarm sounded with directions to ships staff.
At least that was still working….. Lights came up on full power and the room came fully into view. Jesus…. She looked up at Cage. The burnt person was still sitting up but not looking at her now. “Will he be ok?”
“He relived the moment he was shut down. Depending on the damage, we can fix most things now.”
She looked at the boxes piled high. “You don’t think……”
“I do.” Cage cut in. “They went to a lot of trouble to hide this.” She could barely look at him. Her medical team came rushing in, several of his Cyborgs had got the doors open. Turning to them she told her medical to help where they could. “We’ll be taking then back to our ship.” He told her. “We’ll need the use of the med beds as soon as possible to fix those less damaged.” She wasn’t about to argue. What the hell could she say? Sorry about kidnapping and crating your people? Shit…. She was sure she was in shock. Her body started to shake. Cage wrapped her in both his arms holding her close once more. Then he gave her a reality check. “This was not your fault. They won’t be happy when they find out about this.”
Marlea held back the pained laugh that inappropriately crawled up her throat. “They can go to hell,” she whispered.
“That, won’t be a problem.”
391. That was how many were in the crates. 391 Cyborgs switched off. Like data pads. Many of which were damaged. An entire troop less those they’d lost in battles.
They’d found their leader. He’d made himself known the minute he was awake. He was carrying some damage but made his report to Cage anyway, like it was nothing. It wasn’t easy to listen to. They been fighting long after the Cyborgs should have been set free. Moved from place to place to keep the piece or wage war for whoever purchased them.
They’d been dispatched after last mission that had gone wrong on bad intel and crated. The news that the Cyborg Empire was established, and that they were free came as a surprise. They had no knowledge of it. Cage called for a new upload of information for the Cyborg to make a choice. He then gave him a data pad to access that information to see for himself. Marlea didn’t think that could have been easy for anyone to see. To know that you had been used and held prisoner for decades after you should have been set free. Taking orders, taking lives that you shouldn’t have had to.
But he took it all in his stride. “We lived to be free,” he told them simply. As other’s of his team joined him he shared the information. It was a little unnerving. They took the new download without question, showing very little emotion.
Cage escorted her out of the cargo sections and back into the access corridor. “Will they be ok? That was a lot to take on board.”
“Their emotions are turned off. Their pain receptors too just as mine are. It will take time, like it did for all of us.”
She couldn’t get her head around someone being ‘switched off and crated’ like they didn’t exist. “Your emotions are turned off?” He gave that signature slow nod. “Were you crated?” she asked tentatively. It seemed so cruel to even ask.
He shook his head. “No I and my men had a different kind of cage.”
Marlea gasped. “You were all in cages?”
“For a very long time,” he told her honestly.
“That’s barbaric.” She looked at him shocked. “Is that why you took your name?”
“It is. A reminder that we are all caged by something and nothing will ever cage me like that again.”
“Has that worked for you?” She didn’t understand why he would say that he was caged by something. He was free to walk around, do as he pleased, he ran his own ship.
“Until you.” He told her to her surprise and walked back into the cargo hold.
***
Marlea walked away in a daze. What did you say to that?.... She needed an update on repairs and headed towards her teams. “Computer repair status?”
“Unable to comply.”
Marlea started jogging. That wasn’t good. “Why the hell not!” she called out.
“Unable to comply.” Bloodyhell….
She connected manually to the Bridge over her ear piece. Cage hadn’t told her they were having more problems. The Bridge connection opened. She didn’t wait to find out who answered. “Verify status of the virus. Ships systems are unable to comply on reporting repair status.”
“Acting Captain, this is Bane. We are working on it not failing essential systems. It is re-routing around us and causing other problems. We have eliminated 82% of the problem. The other 18 is a little trickier. It has a survival mode.”
Marlea turned the corner and took the lift. It was a risk but shit, she needed to get there. “What’s a survival mode?”
“It pulls from any other systems it has access to to survive and complete it’s objective.”
“Cut its access.” She called out automatically.
“Indeed t
hat is what we are trying to do. But shutting down the system comes with its own concerns.” She felt like screaming ‘try harder’ but if the Cyborgs couldn’t deal with it, no one else could. Marlea slammed her hand on the lift panel. “Are you alright Action Captain?”
She’d forgot he was still there. “I’m pissed but fine. Keep me updated.”
“Affirmative.” The line closed.
The lift doors opened, and she jogged down towards her people. Too much was going wrong. Their luck wasn’t going to hold. Reaching her teams, they gave her an update. Only seeing Egar working was a reminder of how long she’d been down in the Cargo hold with Cage. Calling him to one side she updated him. His shock was genuine, but he was less surprised than her.
“You don’t seem that surprised” she whispered.
He shook his head slightly looking around. “They made way too much money on what was supposed to be in those cargos.”
Marlea’s eyes widened. “You think they’ve been doing this awhile?”
He nodded sadly. “Maybe not the same cargo but under the counter stuff for sure.”
“I’m done.” She told him. “They’ll be held accountable for this one.”
He nodded passing her the data pad. “We’re nearly finished here.”
She looked over the data. He’d kept a clear record every item repaired checked off. They were still chasing and repairing some fibre, but it had been bi-passed and systems were running. It wasn’t pretty but it worked. “Good job.” The lights flickered. They both looked up. “Problems with the virus they dumped on us. Its still causing problems.”
“Any unexpected visitors yet?”
Marlea shook her head. “No. But the sooner we’re gone….”
“Yeah got it.” He told her looking around.
“Right once the last bit is completed I want people on every deck going room by room scanning for faults and wiring functionality. Any suspected nodes replaced, and any faulty breakers switched out. I’m going to the office. I’ve to update the XO.”
Egar gave a contemplative nod rubbing his hand over his chin. “He’s going to blow.”
“Then he shouldn’t have been dirty.” She slapped the data pad to his chest and walked to what was now her office as Action Captain once more. It was time she started acted like the Captain. One pissed off Captain. She didn’t think this was going to go down well either, but she’d be damned if she wasn’t going to confront him.
***
The female was upset. He couldn’t do anything about that. His systems told him he wasn’t happy about that. He didn’t want to see her unhappy. He’d told her it wasn’t her fault, but humans acted in ways that were not logical. The data they’d accessed on the ship confirmed she had nothing to do with this and her story of not knowing about it was clearly genuine. Her body language didn’t lie or the scent in the air.
His report to the Admiral had been received as expected. He was named Rage for a reason. They’d lodged an immediate complaint against the trading company in the Intragalactic Courts of Justice. Seeking records and seizure of all assets. Criminal charges pending. The company was done. How they took that, wasn’t their concern. The Empire would honour all employment and take the ships in compensation. They couldn’t argue with the law and would have known the risks they were taking in trading in Cyborgs and weapons. Some people were going to prison for a very long time. Shareholders would be protected, unless they were directly involved.
And more of the Empire fleet were coming. The Admiral had given his orders. Their brothers were to be returned to the Empire as soon as possible.
Cage knew there was only so much they could do for them on his ship and many, needed more than they could do. It was that simple. Anger registered on his senses. For those that were damaged beyond what they could do, they were left shut off. They had a better chance of revival and survival, if they were placed in Mac’s hands to start with.
Cage made his way to the infirmary on his ship. Others were already making use of the med beds now configured thanks to Mac for Cyborgs as well as humans. After the last human that needed them had finished, they’d been bought back aboard his ship. These Cyborgs had never seen a med bed in action. They’d come along way after they’d been sold out to the highest bidder. And only the genius of Mac had made them available to Cyborgs. Up to that point, it was humans only.
There was no doubt that Cyborgs had been lucky with the mates of their brothers. Engineers, doctors, traders, scientists, researchers, soldiers, hackers, Intragalactic Pretoriate & Justice and investigators to name but a few. Other’s had been just as worthy, shop keepers, families, old and young. Everyone had a role to play in the empire.
Another Captain would fit in very nicely….. If she chose him.
***
“Are you completely mad?” he shouted at her across the vid screen. Her XO didn’t look so good. “I explicitly told you to keep them away from the cargo,” he hissed. Marlea thought he didn’t look so calm now, his hair was out of place and his composure had lost that self-assured element. He was scrambling. “I’m sending a ship to take over. Clearly you are unfit for the job!” Marlea smirked. His fury heightened. Guess he hadn’t expected that. “What the fuck do you think is so funny? You’re done in this business. Fired!” He exploded.
She kept her face neutral. She needed information on that ship. If they came, they’d try to bury the evidence. She gave a nod. “When should I expect them?”
He sneered. “4 Days.” The screen cut out.
Well that had gone about as well as she’d expected….. “Computer connect me to Commander Cage.”
“Affirmative.”
Marlea looked around the office. It was nice knowing you……
The vid screen lit up. Cage stood front and centre. “Everything ok female?”
She gave him a shrug. “About as expected. I’m fired and he’s sending a ship, maybe two to take over. I’d make a guess that he’d hoping to hide what’s gone on here.”
“That would be impossible we have the data and my brothers.”
Marlea laughed. “I know but he didn’t give me time to tell him that.”
“So they wont be expecting us to still be here?”
She shook her head. “Nope.”
The female was intelligent and unexpected. Cage was thinking tactics. His logic supplied a number of different options they all played out across his optic. “I need to speak with the Captain.” He told her.
Marlea checked. “He’s awake. Don’t know how long for so you’d best record the interview as soon as possible.”
He liked the female’s logic, she understood what he needed. “I will meet you there.” The screen closed down.
She’d guessed that he would want to get the Captains statement on record before it was too late. With that, they’d be no wiggle room for the company. If it held the information he expected it would, it would place responsibility where it belonged. Squarely on the XO’s shoulders.
Marlea informed medical that she needed to see the Captain and was on her way. The nurse on duty told her he was in agreement. She made her way down to the medical suite not expecting too much, only surprised to see him through the window propped up and being helped to sip water. His colour wasn’t good, the report stated he wasn’t making any progress, that it was only a matter of time but right that moment, it was hard to tell. Marlea knocked and went in giving a nod to the nurse. “How you doing Cap?” she asked pulling a chair over to sit by him.
“Better everyday,” he told her, but his eyes didn’t believe it. She let it go and gave him a smile.
The nurse put down the water when he told her enough and made her way out. Marlea waited for her to leave before talking.
She took a minute to broach the subject. She didn’t want to upset him or make it worse, but it had to be done. In the end, he gave her the opportunity she was looking for. “Spit it out Marlea, you never did do well trying to do anything else.”
She laughed
a little and nodded. “True.” She looked him square in the eyes. “We found the cargo in the reserve hold. I need to formally interview you.”
Strangely he didn’t look surprised. “Ever since they came on board, I’d been expecting it. How bad is it?”
“Bad. I need to record the interview.” He nodded. Cage stepped into the room slowly. “Do you have any objection if Commander Cage hears it too. He represents the Empire.”
Cap gave a resigned sigh. “No. Go ahead son and come in.”
She saw Cage move but not heard him. It was strange yet comforting in the way he moved. Silent, supporting. She swallowed needing to get it over with. “Computer record interview.”
“Affirmative. Recording.”
“This is Acting Captain Marlea Pearman, Security First Officer. Interviewing Captain Earrisson this date and time stamp. Present is Commander Cage of the Cyborg Empire and myself. The Cap was injured in the raid by pirates and is in medical. His condition is critical, but it is recognised and recorded that he is lucid and aware. During routine inspections of cargo hold 3 following the raid, we found a number of malfunctions. Scanning the cargo led to several irregularities on the documentation manifest that do not match what is in the crates, this in turn, led us to the reserve hold that was shut down and powered off behind it, known as cargo hold 4. The inspection of that hold found it to be carrying undocumented and illegal cargo that was signed on by the Captain himself. Captain please explain how this cargo was placed on board and why?”
“You’ve…. been very thorough.” He told her then coughing. Marlea got up and gave him some more water hating to put him through it. He pushed it away. “I was told to expect both cargos and instructions on how to deal with them. No scans were made at dockside and none were supposed to happen on ship. Once loaded, I was told to close and power off the rear cargo hold. Then the other boxes and crates came in to fill up the main cargo hold. I was given their destination personally. It was kept off books. We were to deliver, take payment and leave.” He looked out of breath and uncomfortable.
Cage Page 8
