Haven 1: Ascend

by Sandra R Neeley

  “Go on,” Zha Quin’s mother said.

  “Chairman Malm, while good intentioned,” Xallen started, though Zha Quin snarled ferociously at this point, causing Xallen to have to raise his voice to be heard, “will not possibly be able to make any headway, considering the animosity between our Commander and himself. We, therefore, respectfully request Ambassador Bartholomew to attend their needs.”

  “Done,” the Sovereigna stated. Then she turned eyes toward the Consortium end of the holovid, “This is our compromise, send Ambassador Bartholomew, or stand down and send no one.”

  The holovid went black, having been disconnected by her personally, most likely. When she decided to get involved with something, it was because she was tired of the bullshit surrounding it, and as she took no shit herself, from anyone, she usually made short work of cutting through all the red tape to end once and for all whatever the issue was.

  Zha Quin spent a short while following the vidcom meeting in conference with his own advisors, trying to work out a plan for the Ambassador’s arrival. That plan included keeping him away from Vivi. No one would be given access to her unless Zha Quin himself approved it. Or, Vivi did, and that was highly unlikely since he had no plans to advise her that anyone was on the ship that may possibly want to speak with her. She’d been through enough. She didn’t need any stress of any type. Until he could personally assure her of her safety, she’d not be exposed to anyone or anything she may interpret as a threat. Which reminded him again, “Computer, have you activated translators on my residence deck?”

  “Yes, Commander. We have. However, we are experiencing a delay in identifying the exact language spoken by Vivian Ehlealah. Earth has many,” the computer responded, following Vivian’s instructions exactly.

  Zha Quin was somewhat relieved, “Do not stop until communication is possible.”

  “Yes, Commander.”

  Zha Quin rested his head on one of his hands, pinching the bridge of his nose with the fingers of his other hand.

  “Sire?” Ba Re’s voice called quietly from the doorway of the conference room.

  Zha Quin opened his eyes and turned toward his friend’s voice, “Yes?” he asked. His exhaustion clear.

  “If I may have a moment. We’ve uncovered some video from the brothel ship we feel you need to see. We downloaded their database before we destroyed their ship, in hopes that we could determine if they were working alone, or in conjunction with any others.”

  “Can you not see to it, Ba Re’? We are almost done here. I trust your assessment,” Zha Quin said.

  Ba Re’ shook his head, “No. Unfortunately, I cannot. We’ve found something we did not expect. You need to see it for yourself.”

  Xallen said, “Sire, go. We are for the most part finished here. I completely understand your point of view and will finish up in your stead.”

  “Thank you, Xallen,” Zha Quin said, as he rose from the table to follow Ba Re’ where he’d disappeared through the door.

  They walked in silence to the communications offices. When they approached the door and it slid open to grant them entry, Ba Re’ turned and faced Zha Quin, his friend, rather than Zha Quin his Sire, “I am so sorry, Zha Quin. If I could spare you this pain, I would. But you have to know, you need to know so that you can better understand your female’s actions. These vids were apparently recorded in the training room we found her in.”

  Zha Quin’s lips pressed tightly together. He breathed deep. “How bad is it?”

  “It’s the greatest atrocity I’ve ever seen.”

  Zha Quin said nothing. He stood, gathering his strength, breathing deeply.

  Ba Re’ said, “Your Ehlealah has impressed each of us. The fact that she still stands strong, she still holds on to sanity, is mind boggling. She is strong, proud. The gods have truly smiled upon you. Your soul could not have found a better home.”

  Zha Quin nodded, “Thank you, my friend.”

  “We are all in awe of her strength, her grace. There is not one of us who would not rise to battle in her defense.”

  Zha Quin nodded again.

  Ba Re’ turned and entered the room at his back. Zha Quin followed and immediately noticed that the Communications Master was not in attendance.

  “Where is the Venasian?” he asked as he took the seat offered him by one of Ba Re’s engineers.

  “He couldn’t take it. Soon after we found the vid, he became extremely agitated and tried to erase the recording. When we stopped him, he kept shouting that there was no need to memorialize her humiliation. He is right, but you need to make that decision, not us,” one of the remaining communications officers explained.

  “Where is he now?” Zha Quin asked.

  “We sent him to his quarters to calm.”

  Zha Quin’s heart was pounding, he really didn’t want to see this. But if Vivi had endured it, the least he could do was watch it, so that he could know exactly what she needed from him in order to heal. He watched for some minutes before saying, “Stop!”

  The communications officer to his left reached out and pressed a button, stopping the movement on the recording, freezing Vivi’s face in an agonized scream as two males held her down while another raped her, while holding her own chain across her throat. “Who has seen this?” he asked hoarsely.

  “Just the three of us. We sent the Venasian to his quarters before it got this far,” Ba Re’ answered. Then he said, “Do you want us to stop the recording? Have you seen enough?”

  Zha Quin shook his head, “No. But, while it runs, I want you to run face recognition on every single second of vid recorded here. Identify as many as you can. If there are any unable to be unidentified, I want their faces isolated and as clear as possible. I will watch all my Ehlealah endured, and when I’m done, this vid will be locked away from all eyes. Saved only for evidence should we ever need it. Make sure that it is not on the mainframe servers. I do not want anyone stumbling across it accidentally.”

  “Done,” Ba Re’ commented.

  Zha Quin turned back to the monitor with Vivi’s anguished face frozen on it, “Start it again. Be sure to pay close attention, we will have many males to hunt.”

  “Yes, Sire!” all three males answered with conviction. They watched as the males took turns, each beating her as she fought, laughing when she fought even harder.

  “They will not die quickly,” Zha Quin rasped out.

  “No, they will not,” Ba Re’ agreed.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  Hours later an exhausted and emotionally drained Zha Quin returned to his quarters to find Vivian asleep on the bedroom floor of his sleeping chamber. She’d taken covers from the bed and wrapped herself in them before settling into the corner and falling asleep. His heart hurt. His eyes were sore and swollen with unshed tears at witnessing all she’d endured. He felt raw. He stood across the room, watching her sleep. She should be asleep in the bed, not on the cold, hard floor. He walked over to her, but just before he reached her, her head popped up and she glanced sleepily around the room. The lights were still on. He’d not thought to tell the computer from the bridge to reduce them and begin a sleep mode whenever she lay down to sleep, and since they didn’t know her language yet, she couldn’t do it herself. Until they identified her language, she wouldn’t be able to do so on her own. Her eyes settled on him, standing a few feet before her. She pushed herself up and looked around, as though unsure of where she was. “Vivi,” he said softly. Vivian seemed to remember where she was and relaxed a little. Then he realized why she was on the floor. She wanted to feel the vibration, feel and hear the sounds of anyone approaching her while she slept.

  He tried to reach for her, to lift her and place her in bed, but she squealed and squirmed away from him. Quin held his hands up, “Okay, okay, I won’t touch you. Please sleep in the bed. I am here, I will protect you,” he said. Immediately following his snarls, she heard a translation in English of exactly what he’d said to her. It was followed by what sounded like Italian and
then French. She smiled to herself, the computer was still following her instructions. It was providing her with several translations as though one had not been decided upon. She pretended that she didn’t know what Quin said. He pursed his lips, clearly aggravated that she still couldn't understand him. He crossed the room, tossed his cloak onto the back of a chair and kicked his boots off. He started to strip down for bed, but saw her eyes grow large and her body tense. He thought better of it and lay on the bed still fully clothed. He pushed over to the far side of the bed and turned to his side, facing her. He patted the empty side of the bed and said, “Vivi, you sleep here, this is your place. I will not touch you. I promise.”

  Again, she heard translations in several Earth languages in addition to English, but she gave no indication that she understood. Instead she made herself as comfortable as she could on her pallet again. Tucked her head into her covers to escape the bright lights and closed her eyes. She heard Quin snarl again, then, she heard the translation as he ordered a sleep mode from the computer. The lights dimmed, and the air coming through the vents became cooler. Quin rose from the bed, took the last quilt from the foot of it and laid it very, very carefully across her. She didn’t move. He stood there for a moment longer before returning to the bed and lying down. Soon soft snores were coming from him. He’d decided that maybe if she thought him asleep, he’d not be a threat, and she’d allow herself to rest. He was right. She listened to his snores for some time before finally succumbing to sleep herself. Quin watched her sleeping in the corner until he was assured she was sound asleep. He very softly approached her, barefoot so there’d be no vibration, gently lifted her into his arms, blankets and all, and returned to his bed. He placed her on her side of the bed and curled up next to her, falling asleep within minutes of getting her settled beside him.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  Vivian slowly became aware that she was again resting on a very comfortable, very warm bed. She peeked over her shoulder and when she found no one there, took her time stretching and allowing her eyes to take in all of the bedroom as she slowly woke. She knew she’d fallen asleep on the floor, intentionally, so she’d be able to feel the vibrations of anyone approaching her while she slept. It was a trick she’d learned while in captivity — rest, but stay alert so that the vibrations would alert her to anyone approaching — so she’d not be caught unaware. But now she was in Quin’s bed. He must have very carefully approached her while she slept and put her in his bed. But he’d been true to his word — he’d not touched her otherwise. Obviously, she’d have to be more alert around him if he was able to approach her while she slept and not wake her at all. Or not, she thought, he didn’t hurt me.

  With that confusing thought bouncing around in her head, she climbed out of bed, went to the bathroom — proud of herself for having mastered the toilet ladle as she called it — and went to the kitchen in search of food. She went to the place on the counter the refrigerator rose from and tapped on it. Nothing. She leaned over and peered under the cabinet top, nothing. “Damn,” she muttered. She examined the counter top, trying to find an edge to pry at with her fingertips, but there wasn’t one. “Damn, stupid refrigerator! Give me my macaroni and cheese!” she shouted, pounding on the counter top.

  Her outburst was immediately met by a feminine voice, “Vivian Ehlealah, may I be of service?”

  She’d forgotten about the ship’s computer, “Yes! I want my food out of the refrigerator! How do I get the thing to open?”

  “Just a moment, please.”

  Vivian continued pounding and slapping the top of the counter top while she waited for the computer to answer her again.

  Finally, she heard, “A refrigerator is a cold storage unit for food.”

  “I know that,” Vivian retorted. “Can you open this one?”

  “Yes, Vivian Ehlealah, I can,” the computer answered as the small refrigerator rose soundlessly from the counter top.

  “Yes!” Vivian whispered a hushed celebration as she fist pumped the air and reached for her bowl of cold macaroni and cheese.

  “I can request hot, fresh food be delivered for you,” the computer advised.

  Vivian placed a bite in her mouth and considered while she chewed. Hot, fresh macaroni and cheese would be really good. She looked at the bowl in her hand and remembered Quin taking a bite of it before handing her own serving to her. She shook her head, then realized the computer couldn’t see her, “No. I can’t eat it if Quin hasn’t tried it first,” she admitted to the computer. As she said the words aloud, she realized she had developed a certain amount of trust in the male. Her eyebrows wrinkled as she considered this new information.

  “Where is Quin?” she asked the computer.

  “I am searching our records for a Quin, and have found none.”

  Vivian sighed, she had to remember to be literal when speaking with the computer, or to teach it to be more conversational. “Your Commander, what is his name?”

  “Our Commander is Zha Quin Tha Tel Mo’ Kok.”

  “Well, I call him Quin. So when I say Quin, you will know that I mean the Commander. Okay?” she asked, hoping this computer was like artificial intelligence she’d seen in movies back home.

  Immediately the computer answered her, “Yes, Vivian Ehlealah.”

  “And, you don’t have to wait until I ask a question to talk. You can, you know, suggest things if you want. Unless I ask you not to. Do you understand?”

  “I understand,” the computer answered.

  Having eaten her fill of the leftover macaroni and cheese, Vivian decided that she wanted to go see the place she was currently living. “Am I allowed to leave these rooms?” she asked the computer.

  “Yes, Vivian Ehlealah. You have no limitations at all.”

  “Can you get me back here if I get lost?” she asked.

  “I can. Your personal guard can as well,” the computer answered.

  “I’m afraid of them,” she said aloud. Then more a mumble to herself, “Maybe I’ll just stay here.”

  “Who do you fear, Vivian Ehlealah?” the computer inquired.

  “The males outside. Are you sure I can trust them? Or are they to keep me inside this apartment?”

  The computer didn’t answer right away, so she assumed it was researching the word, ‘apartment’. Moments later she heard, “They are to escort you safely to any place you wish to go. They will defend you against any and all. They will return you here should you wish it. They will respond to your commands.”

  “Okay. I’ll trust you.” Vivian went to Quin’s room and rooted around through his clothing until she found a pair of what looked like exercise pants and another shirt. She changed her shirt, then pulled on the pants, which were, of course, far too long for her. She rolled the waist as many times as she could and then did the same to the pant legs at the ankles. Then pulled on a fresh pair of socks — the metal floors were cold as hell on her feet. When she pulled on her socks, the scar around her ankle caught her attention. She ran her fingers over it, remembering that Quin had broken her chain, freeing her. And then he’d brought her here, healed her and asked for nothing in return. Yet, her mind whispered. She wasn’t sure where she stood with him, with anyone. All she knew was that he’d been the only one to be kind to her. Well, she also knew what the computer told her. And that was all she had to go on.

  It was better than nothing, and it was so much better than the way her previous captors treated her. Which reminded her, according to the computer, she was not a captive. It was time to explore. She took a deep emerald-green sash out the storage unit she’d found the socks in and wrapped it several times around her waist, tying it like a belt. Then Vivian gripped her dagger and walked through the apartment to the front door.

  Chapter 12

  The front door opened when she approached. She stepped through the door and into the corridor, brandishing her dagger in front of her, holding her chin high. One single male stepped out of the shadows a few feet down from the door she
stood in front of. He was large, but not quite as large as Quin. His skin was more of a deep, burnt-orange color with mottled white in the pigment. He bowed to her. She didn’t know how to respond, but this was according to the computer, her guard, so she bowed back. He showed her his teeth, so she figured that was his smile. He stood, his arms behind his back, waiting for her command. She nodded at him one single time before turning away from him, heading to her right and walking away from him quickly while asking quietly, “Where is the Command Deck?”

  “Continue on the path you are taking. Then take the next lift, three levels up exit and continue to your left.”

  Vivian stopped walking, “Wonderful, I’m going the other way then.” She turned around and startled. A little surprised to find four more males had fallen into step behind the orange one. She faced them all, not sure how to get them to move aside and let her pass. Finally, she settled for the obvious. She pointed her dagger at half of them and motioned them aside with it. When they obeyed and moved aside, she did the same with the others, motioning them to the other side of the corridor. When the center of the corridor was cleared, she started cautiously back the way she’d come, intent on avoiding the Command Deck as much as she could. She wanted time to explore on her own. As she moved past the large, variously-colored males, they all watched silently. As soon as she’d moved beyond where they stood, they allowed her only a few feet of space, then again fell into step behind her. She glanced over her shoulder and without breaking her stride pointed her dagger over her shoulder at them. The first one, the orange one, seemed to understand and slowed his steps a bit causing the rest to do the same, but they didn’t stop following her. He just gave her a little more lead. Vivian nodded her head and turned her back to him and his friends. How the hell am I going to lose them? she wondered. She continued on her way until she came across a lift to her right. She stopped walking, wondering if they’d let her get on it alone. She sure as hell didn’t want to be on a lift with five large aliens.