TIME:
5 MINUTES LATER
LOCATION:
ASTRO DAWN
I stare at the pest sitting across from me, who is currently squirming like a worm. I wasn't even affecting her with my fear 'aura', I had my eva suit on and I even handed her a mask. Despite this I could practically feel the anxiety radiating off of her like she was a star of the stuff. I slowly exhale, causing her to flinch. Believe me, I like humans knowing their place, but this one was just impossible to work with.
"I take it you want to know why I drained the blood from the people on that ship?" She nods though a moment later stops like she thought I would kill her for daring to answer my question.
"Well, it's difficult to get blood out here, I can sell it to the military for a little extra. They apparently store reserves for the sake of a future war. I will just need to prove I took it from some poor pirate instead of some poor beggar." I spoke like this was common knowledge, but obviously not a thing I said was true. Blood was easy to get out here just not in the quantities I required to live.
She nodded again and shrank the next instant fearing my reaction. I sighed truthfully I wasn't sure why she was this way there should be no reason for this.
"Listen, it's difficult to have a conversation when you don't talk. Just go get some sleep, I'll have the lights guide you to an empty quarters. I plan to start our return to Amber station in 8 hours, so I will wake you up when we arrive."
She nods slowly, getting up in a cautious manner occasionally freezing as if I would suddenly change my mind. I just ignored her display, preferring to look at my tablet as I reluctantly notified Mathew of the ship I had crippled. Six hours later just as I started to eat my breakfast nutrient bar I received a response.
Mathew: Okay where is the ship located, I'll send out the system fleet to haul it back. Did you manage to take anyone alive? If not we will need something to ID them with, there should be a chip somewhere in their body just extract that; we will handle the disposal.
Lilith: I'll have my ship guide yours, I'm still attached to it. To answer your last question, no I will get their IDs and dispose of them myself to save your subordinates some time.
"MARA we have a bit of a problem."
"Yes I know I am already working on it, just give me... 15 minutes and it will be cleaned. How do you wish to dispose of them?" Mother replied in her usual unenthused voice but this time it felt more real.
"What is the standard for humans nowadays? I don't think I need to say the bodies can't remain whole and be able to undergo an autopsy."
"Then cremation will be the optimal solution. Should I start sending our location to Amber station?"
I pause for a moment then remember humans lack the Tachyonograph. I nod my head slowly and get up to start the process of hauling the bodies into an incinerator. Then sigh as I remember I also have to grab IDs.
'Today is going to be really gruesome isn't it... eh not any skin off my back.'
TIME:
13 HOURS LATER
LOCATION:
AMBER STATION
ASTRO DAWN
I start rapping my hands against the bedroom door our important guest has secluded herself into. Though no matter what I do I get no answer.
I eventually lose my patience and through gritted teeth decide to just do the simple thing. "Mom, is she asleep or just scared shitless?!"
"It seems guest Liza is indeed still sleeping. She has only managed to fall into a deep sleep 3 hours ago and before then was waking up with night terrors. I recommend giving her time to rest Lily." Mother advised.
"Just open the door. I can't afford her ruining my schedule. I would like to be over and done with Mathew's visit."
The door slid open silently and I stepped into the room with a frown. Her bedsheets were all over the place, it was obvious she was tossing and turning a lot. I walked up beside her and right before I grabbed her shoulder to wake her up I got a glance at her neck.
'Wait wasn't the reason I saved her to make her into a thrall?'
I slowly bent down as her face started to twitch and scrunch. It seemed she was having another nightmare. I opened my jaws and controlling myself I resisted the urge to sink my fangs straight into her carotid artery; instead guiding it to a smaller less important vein.
With a tenderness undeserving of humans I sank my fangs just barely into her neck. I felt this pressure in my tooth that I never really felt before when I was engrossed in drinking the blood of my prey. I felt an urge to squeeze a muscle I never knew existed and followed it, a moment later the muscle started to ache and I stopped.
Slowly backing away from her I stared at the two faint red marks on her neck. With a small droplet of her blood leaking out. I brushed it off with my finger before deciding to take a taste.
The moment I tasted the blood I moaned. It was amazing, it tasted like heaven and sent a thrill down my spine. It tasted like the most incredible drug felt. I let out another moan as it left and jolted as I saw her start to shake. I quickly rushed out of the room, the door closing behind me as silently as it opened.
I took a few deep breaths to calm my racing heart from the bliss I just felt. "Mother, do you think I was successful in enthralling her? Also how much blood could I safely take from her and how often!?"
"Allow your parallel consciousness to decide that it knows you best. A human of this era can have about 500ml of blood extracted safely once every 60 Therian days. Why did her blood taste good?"
I sighed remembering the feeling of just a drop of it, "It tasted better than good what is the human saying, it tasted like sin? Regardless, Mother I want you to find out the reason for why her blood tastes so different from other humans. You're allowed to test her in any way that won't affect her permanently!"
I shivered one last time before receiving an alert on my tablet. I frowned but since I was in a good mood decided to go along with it. After all I did say Mathew could tour my vessel, even if it wasn't the wisest decision on my part to agree. I sent a message telling him I am free for a few hours before I will take a new request, and to try to be here as quickly as possible.
A few minutes later while I was pacing in the hallway trying to calm down I got a response. I sent my agreement silently thankful that he wasn't going to immediately start heading here. Now what to do for the next two hours.
TIME:
2 HOURS LATER
"Welcome aboard the Astro Dawn Mathew. What do you wish to see first?" I ask while putting on a show of being in a good mood, which wasn't all that hard.
"I only really want to meet this AI; do you know where we could discuss things comfortably?"
I nod, the fool thinks I'm lying, it's not that hard to tell. "Okay then I'll take you to the shared living area. It should be easier to talk with her there."
I hear someone scoff behind me. I look back and see a slightly tall muscular man. While he wasn't as well built as the bodybuilder/salesman at Titanio Protections, he still looked like he could put up a fight to an average human. I merely grit my teeth and let Mara calm my emotions. If I couldn't hurt him I would just be as passive aggressive as I could with him.
We walked through the labyrinthine hallways in blessed silence before someone decided to ruin it.
"Miss Runethari, I heard this is a Class V void ship. How did you come to own it? Should I be worried about a previous owner coming to take it back?"
A new voice I have yet to hear suddenly starts to question me. I look back to see Mathew's guard staring me directly into my eyes with a look I could say was halfway between accusatory and genuine interest.
I return to looking forwards and take a moment to contemplate my response. During that time I hear Mathew whisper complaints to his guard who seems to be named Garrett.
Finally I respond, "You have nothing to worry about in that regard, this ship is mine completely nobody else can say they have a claim on it. And if someone does then I will hope you dissuade them of any foolish actions."
I let my voice carry the smile that spread across my face with it. With that we soon climbed the stairs to the floor that has the living area. A handful of minutes later we were all sitting on couches surrounding the holo table.
"So may we meet this "AI" you claim to work with," Garrett speaks with a slightly passive aggressive tone.
I know that AI are unheard of in this era but could he stand to be a little nicer? It wasn't like I was lying if I was then I wouldn't have even let them board the vessel.
"MARA can you please show yourself on the holo table?"
"Yes Captain Runethari."
In a moment the room dimmed noticeably and the form of my mother showed up standing on the table. I look around to see everyone frozen in place with stunned looks plastered on their faces.
I wait patiently for a few seconds as they all return to focus before speaking, "Is it really that hard to believe? Feel free to ask a question if you still doubt me."
Mathew clears his throat and I look up in appreciation at mother's ethereal form as she turns her head towards Mathew.
"Um MARA, if I may ask, why did you decide to work so closely with Miss Runethari?"
Mom pauses for a second, her mask shifting to a thoughtful expression. Soon though she answers with a rather brief reply.
"She is the only one I view as worthy enough to call my master."
The butler that accompanied Mathew speaks up next though this time with less awkwardness than his master. He proceeds to ask many questions which I suspect are related to precursors and their society. He finally stops asking inane things and looks off in a contemplative air around him.
Everyone asks questions over 30 minutes some of which Mother won't answer, but that doesn't seem to upset them at all. Just as they are standing up to leave Mathew suddenly asks an unexpected question.
"Um Miss Runethari if I may ask who is that girl?"
I turn around to see the thing he is pointing at just becoming aware of a new presence. There standing frozen mid step with a nutrient bar in her hands was Liza I let out a suppressed groan as I felt the situation grow more complicated.
"Her name is Liza and I found her aboard the Ignoble Swift. The crew of that vessel seemed to have taken her captive under the assumption she was someone important. She isn't very talkative so I don't know what to do with her, I'm currently planning to take her as an assistant since I lack a human one at this moment."
Liza suddenly returns to this world after realizing we're all looking at her. Soon with her head down she starts to approach the living area.
I look to see Garrett giving me another one of his looks while Mathew and his butler seem to glance at each other. I get a feeling they don't believe my story so I decide to take a gamble.
"If you don't believe me feel free to ask her yourself or look through the Ignoble Swift's security recordings of the days before the boarding action. If she doesn't wish to go with me then so be it."
"We will do as you say. If Miss Liza is fine with it we would like to take her into custody and see what she knows." Garrett immediately takes the opportunity and goes along with my offer.
"Then she can go with you; I plan to ask her if she wishes to join me in about a week when I plan to leave this system for Orenthia."
I see Mathew slowly nod and soon I am guiding my silent guests to the exit. Hopefully Liza will be enthralled by the end of next week that will make this all the more easy. I would hate to have to track her down later just to get another taste...