“So why did you think that showing them footage of humans doing what humans do will change anything.”
“Our leaders control everything. And I don’t just mean the rules, I mean down to where you get to live and what you get to know. My parents are an engineer and a healer. They came from a lower class of Foremid, but they had a master son, which then elevated them to master class. Sure they were still on the lower end but once they moved up they started to see all the differences. They raised me to know those differences. I didn’t want to believe them, I wanted to believe that masters were superior, the slaves were just tools, and knowledge was dangerous to those of lesser stature.”
“I don’t really mean to repeat this, but maybe I don’t get it. What’s the footage for.”
“To show them all. If I take it back to my home worlds, and load it into the mass information feed everyone will see it. They will see that humans aren’t the Foremid killing machines they want us to believe. They aren’t even aware of us much less care about us. I can show them the whole system there is wrong.”
“So you’re going to film us?”
“A little, but you won’t even know I’m doing it. I want to mostly get things when we head off to space ports. So a bunch of humans just doing human things.”
Kat runs her fingers through her hair from her forehead to the back of her head a few times. Mark was talking about revolution, which could mean the Foremid never come after humans, or they get on an even more united front. Her head was pounding, but she was hoping it was just from everything that happened and not Mark’s conversation.
She says, “You did give me your coin. I know you won’t do anything harmful to anyone on the ship, so have at it.”
Marks eyes brighten slightly, “You mean it. You don’t mind?”
“I’m guessing you’re wanting to travel with us, and this coin means you’re going to stick to me like glue.”
Marks eyes dart around a bit, “That is not incorrect.”
“Then your hired. You can help with the engines and any of the mechanical work. You might get into trouble with us. We aren’t the most law abiding group.”
“I gathered as much, and I accept your offer. I can also work where ever you need me.”
Kat smiles. Mark smiles back, standing up a little straighter as he walks out. Kat lays in the silence trying to clear her mind of what all has happened, and what is going to happen next. There are so many unknowns, it makes the pounding in her head worse. She tells herself to focus on one thing at a time right now. Getting to Illusion for repairs in first on that list.
It takes them another full week to get back to Illusion. There were other places they might have been able to stop and get supplies or get repairs, but it wasn’t worth the risk. A lot of their travel was near Guild space, and there was a ton more patrols than normal.
Food started to get rationed near the end of the trip. Her and Graven had only bought enough for two humans to last almost two months on. They now had six, if you counted Mark as human. Gale was still masterful with what was there. It felt like there wasn’t even any rationing going on.
Kat noticed Graven was distant. She couldn’t really get around much, but when everyone was together, he seemed like he wasn’t even there. She tried to understand, his mind did just get fused in some unknown way with an ancient alien’s. That didn’t give him the right to mope around and not talk to anyone about it, especially her.
The day they reached Illusion was the first day that Kat was able to get around the ship by herself again. It felt good for her to get around, and it was even better to see all of those gaudy advertisements plastered across that hunk of space rock. Now all that mattered was that Gizmo was free to work on their ship. Which she wasn’t.
They docked in general parking near Gizmo’s and went in to get provisions. Kat was able to get Gizmo on the line, finding out that she’s free the next day to start working on Felicity. The next day went just as planned. Gizmo’s dock opened up letting out the other ship, and they pulled in. She said that it would take a couple of hours to assess the needs of the ship, and then she would have her come out and go over the cost.
Gizmo called Kat to come into her office, which was new. She had never been in there before on any of the other repairs she’s got done. Gizmo is sitting down in a high backed chair behind a desk with a display glass in her hands. She waves Kat to sit down on the other side.
Gizmo starts the conversation, “So. You already know what I’m going to say right?”
Kat tilts her head slightly to the right, “No not really.”
Mo sighs, pressing her palm into her forehead. “Your ship is what an insurance company would considered totaled. Almost everything is fried, and it might be cost you less to just get a new ship. I can’t believe you did that to this beautiful ship.”
“Look Mo, I’m not getting a new ship. You have to fix this one.”
“I know that,” She spat back, “But what the hell happened to you and this ship.”
Kat spends the next few minutes going through the short version of the last couple of weeks.
Gizmo sits back in her chair. “Wow. So thats why the Guild has been in force recently.”
“So how much.”
“More than you have, trust me. I know what your account looked like the last tim you went through here. But, I like you. So I’m going to work out a deal with you.”
“Alright, what’s that?”
“I want you to work for me for a little while. To pay off your debt. You keep half of the pay per job and I get the other half. The work around here is pilling up. Smugglers are having a hell of a time getting anything through these new guild blockades, and that’s becoming bad for business. It might take you a year or so to get me paid back though.”
“The Felicity is now my home Gizmo. If you take a chance on me, I’m all in.”
<<<<>>>>
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Starship Magic 3: Abducted Page 14
