I meant to do one or two of these a week but I just kind of forgot. Anyway, I do like the general idea of this story, (I’ve considered redoing it) but I’m surprised how much my writing abilities have improved since I first did this one. I’ve never had much confidence but at least I don’t use … all the time anymore. (Also very common in Fallen Angel which I’ve also been revising.)

Episode Six: Captured

“First officer’s log: the crew seems to have accepted their situation rather well. I like most of them. Rubicent’s been more in a haze then anything, and Xavier has managed to stay out of my way. I’ve decided not to kill him. I especially like Julie. She’s the science officer, but is very shy. I did notice that she becomes passionate when it comes to science. Clair not too bad though she’s a little opinionated, but is very talkative. She also seems to like me.”

“Ana and Kat have gotten along well. For Rubicent’s sister, she’s not too bad. She’s definitely a lot more open then him. She doesn’t judge people right away. I’m not sure about the male portion of the crew. Vicks and Wedge both seem a little off around me. As for Biggs, he is most definitely interested in my technology, but he still hasn’t forgotten the incident where Rena flung him.”

“As for Sophie, she’s been annoying her father just by being one of my officers. I put her in charge of communications. As for Rena, she’s been laying around her quarters. She has barely left. I guess I can understand her. She’s felt a loss by having to leave her people.”

Jamie sighed as she ended the long. She was still amused at Rubicent’s behavior. He was acting so immature. But then, Jamie figured he was always immature. She figured she’d ask Sophie later.

“Senor staff report to the bridge.” Rubicent’s voice said over the comm.

“I guess that’s me.” Jamie headed out, and as she entered the lift, the ship shook. “What has he gotten himself into?” The lift suddenly stopped, and the lights went out. “This can’t be good.”

---

“Why are you shooting at us?”

“Still no response,” Sophie said. They were hit again, and the main lights shut off, leaving the dim, blue glow of the emergency lights.

“Report!”

“Ship communications, main power, and external sensors are offline.” Wedge reported.

“Get to work on it! We need to be able to talk to each other! Huh?” Rubicent turned around as he heard a slight humming noise. He turned, and saw a group of people appear. He pulled his weapon, along with the rest of the bridge crew.

“I don’t think so.” The obvious leader said. The group, which consisted of five of this particular race, was armed to the teeth.

“Drop it.” Rubicent ordered his crew.

“Yes. Restore lights!” The normal lighting came on, allowing the group to see their enemies.

Rubicent silently examined the group. The leader had dark, purple hair. He had fierce, pink eyes. It was a normally a passive color, but on him it was actually threatening. The rest of the group had similar features, but all of them were tall. Their hair colors ranged from blue, to pink, and even green.

“So, can I help you?”

“You will give us Rena. She will then be executed.”

“We don’t hand over anyone to be shot.”

“She won’t be shot, she’ll be beheaded. Don’t get any ideas!” Vicks had grabbed a weapon, but the leader had noticed it. His eyes glowed, and Vicks was thrown back.

“Your people better not try anything. We’re taking this ship with us.”

“Could at least have your name?”

“Yes. Drogen. Nice to meet you, captain. Now get into that room.”

---

“I hate this.” Jamie was slowly climbing towards the bridge.

“Jamie.”

“Cassandra?”

“Yes, I am no longer in control.”

“What? How?”

“The attackers have disabled most of the systems, including life support. Everyone has been moved to the mess hall, sick bay, cargo bay, and the conference room.”

“I thought the air was a little thin.”

“You needn’t worry, anyway.”

“True, but if it becomes a vacuum, I won’t be able to talk.”

“I can establish a psychic uplink.”

“That would bother me even more. Did you get a scan at our enemies?”

“Yes, they are the same species as Rena.”

“I see. Where is she?”

“In her quarters; She’s managed to keep life support there.”

“Good, I’ll go there first.”

---

“So people, what are our options?” Rubicent asked. Most of his command staff was there. Jamie, Kat, and Ana were missing.

“They’ve cut life support to most of the ship, and put everyone into large rooms. They can’t escape into vacuums.” Biggs said.

“How did they get onboard?”

“It’s very interesting. It’s the same principle as the device Jamie gave us. It can convert matter to energy, and then back again! It can also send this energy over mass distances. It also,” Julie kept going.

“Okay, so it’s a transporter.”

“Basically.”

“What about Cassandra? What happened to the cocky computer?”

“Well, there is some good news. I believe she may have lost control of the ship, so Jamie can no longer hold us prisoner.” Vicks reported.

“So assuming we can get out of this, we can capture Jamie.”

“There’s really nothing else we can do but wait.” Clair said. “They can move anywhere on the ship. Unless we can get a hold of some environmental suits, we’re stuck.”

Xavier silently got up, and went over to the wall. He pulled out a hidden panel. “In case of emergencies.” He stated simply. He pulled out an environmental suit, fit to his size.

“Good work. Not let’s see how we can get you out of here.”

---

“I can’t believe this.” Rena paced back and forth in her quarters. She had managed to mask her life signs. Part of her schooling was defenses against attackers so she had learned many tricks. Despite the bratty exterior, she considered herself to be smart.

“Ugh!” She sat down. She knew they’d find her eventually. That’s when she heard the pounding on the door. It opened. The ship had come equipped with force fields that would help keep people from walking into a vacuum, but matter could still leave the vacuum.

“Whew. Nice to get back into the air.”

“Jamie!” Rena rushed over and hugged her, lifting her slightly off the ground.

“Ugh.”

“Huh?” She realized what she was doing. It was the first time she was happy to see her. She set her down.

“I’m surprised.”

“So, what are we going to do?” Rena asked acting like nothing was out of the ordinary.

“How long can you hold your breath?”

“Only about ten minutes; speaking of which, how did you get here?”

“I don’t require oxygen.”

“What? No sleep, you don’t have to breath? What are you?”

“Good question. Wait, I have an idea.” She went over to the wall, and starting feeling around. “Ha!” She shouted. She pulled off a hidden panel.

“What is it?”

“Watch.” She reached into a compartment, and pulled out a suit. They were big, white, bulky things that had magnetic boots and a see-through face plant. “It’s a little big, even for you, but it’ll do.” She tossed it to Rena. She frowned at Jamie as she slipped into he suit.

“The only problem well be communication.” She made a few motions, indicating she’d go first. Jamie stepped out of the room, and looked around. No one was around. She waved towards Rena, and headed out.

---

“Help! She’s been injured!” Rubicent said. “I think she’s sick!” Rubicent was leaning on an incapacitated Clair.

“Oh.” She moaned.

“Tone it down, “He whispered.

“Right, Oh!” She acted as though she passed out. The guards rushed in. Their armor was black, with faceplates that could only be seen though from the inside.

“We’ve got to help her!” Rubicent said. “We have to get her to sickbay!”

“How do we…” Xavier moved so fast that the two guards had no chance and were quickly incapacitated.

“Ha. Good thing about new galaxies, is no one knows all the old tricks. Go, Xavier, and see if you can regain control. I don’t know what happened to Jamie or Rena, but try to help them if you can. Just because I hate her, doesn’t mean I want her dead.”

“Aye.” He said simply. He walked out onto the bridge.

“Good luck.” He said under his breath.

---

“This way.” Jamie’s voice was lost to the vacuum as she motioned. She had been leading her to engineering. That’s when trouble started. Jamie pushed Rena into an empty room, and closed the door. One of Drogen’s men had shot at them, and was advancing. He stopped for a minute as he saw Jamie. He wasn’t expecting a person without a suit on and fired again.

Great. She thought to herself as she charged at him. She had the advantage of speed, and knocked him over. After knocking him out, another body came charging at her. She automatically flipped him. She looked down. “Xavier!” She mouthed, since she couldn’t talk. The attackers had managed to suck the rest of the air out of the corridors. He silently stared up at his attacker.

“Come here.” She motioned, leading him into the room with Rena.

“Can you read lips?” Jamie motioned.

“…” She said something, but Jamie couldn’t understand.

“The stupid translators.” She forgot that most of the people she met spoke different languages. The translators usually cleared it up, but she couldn’t read lips in another language.

“How about you?” She motioned to Xavier. He nodded. Jamie told him to translate for Rena, since both of them could communicate through the suits.

“We have to take engineering.” Xavier said.

“I agree.”

“The target is Rena.”

“I know, she told me.”

“Stop talking like I’m not here!” Rena whined.

“Let’s go. Rena, follow behind us.” They made the rest of the way to engineering without trouble and headed into the room. They were immediately greeted by weapon fire.

“Die!” Xavier shouted as he started shooting at them. He managed to pick off three of stealthily moved around behind one of the targets. She simply knocked him in the head. Luckily, life support was still on in engineering.

“We’ve actually taken most of their forces.” Jamie was working on a nearby consul. “The only ones left are now on the bridge. So, now we have to get shields up, and then shove them off our ship.” Jamie stated as her hand flew furiously over the consul. “I’ve restored life support, and put force fields around the bridge.” Jamie said a short while later.

“But?” Xavier asked.

“They managed to grab Rubicent. The rest of the crew is protected.”

“Damn.” Xavier yelled. “Let’s go.”

“Rena, stay here.”

“Oh no; I bet Drogen’s the one holding your captain. I need to discuss a few things with him.”

“Is he the one who?”

“Yes.” They made their way to the bridge.

“Hold it!” He had a phaser rifle held against the captain’s head. “Now, I want you to get me off this ship!” He shoved Rubicent over to the group, after making them toss their weapons to them. He kept his gun trained on Rubicent.

“Rena. I see you’re finally here. You could have just let us transport you off, but you had to be difficult.”

“Let them go. You won’t get away.”

“We’ll see. I’ll be going now. I have back-up plans.” He fired his rifle.

“No!” Jamie quickly pushed Rubicent out of the way, and took a shot in the shoulders. They both collapsed.

“Hmm, I don’t like you, girl. You’re on my list.” He pushed a button, and disappeared into a shower of sparkling energy. Jamie could hear his laughter as he disappeared.

“Ow.” Jamie said simply.

“You... saved me?” He picked her up, and took her to sickbay.

“Jamie!” Kat said, worried. She rushed over to her.

“Don’t worry it’s just a flesh wound.” Rubicent set her on a bench. She laid back.

“Let me be the judge of that.” Ana started looking over her. “You’re lucky. A little more to the right, and it would have hit your heart.”

“Yeah, I’m going to take a nap now.” She passed out.

“What happened?” Kat asked.

“Well,” Rubicent told them the story. From their view, they had just been trapped in sickbay. Drogen’s men hadn’t even bothered them.

“She saved my life.”

---

Jamie yawned, and stretched. She sat up on the medical bench. “What are you doing?” Ana rushed over.

“I’m fine. I can go now.”

“I don’t think so. You need rest. You still have a slight injury.”

“Ha, I doubt it. Scan me.”

“Fine, if it will keep you here.” She took a medical scanner, and scanned Jamie. “What the devil?”

“See?” Jamie got up, and started walking away.

“Hey, how did you heal so fast?”

“If I knew, I’d tell you.” She headed towards the door, when Xavier walked in. She made a very loud hissing sound at him, and he was so surprised he took a step back. This bothered him, since almost nothing bothered him.

“You’re need in the conference room.” He said, and started walking. Jamie sighed, and followed. She walked into the conference room, and sat at an empty chair.

“Well, let’s get started. Katrina?”

“Kat, please. Any way, I’d like to stay here.” Jamie was just staring at the table.

“Yes, well, Sophie will have to remain onboard. Since Ana has complimented your work, you can stay. As for Rena, she’ll stay where she is. We need help for this sector while we make repairs.”

“And what about Cassandra?” Jamie asked. Her eyes seemed to shimmer a little as she asked about her.

“We have connected her to an isolated computer console. She can still interact with us she just can’t control the ship anymore.”

“I see.” She stared at her feet. “And me?”

Rubicent sighed. “I’m not letting you be my first officer, that’s for sure.” He sighed again. “I’ve decided to let you stay onboard, of course, since I have no real choice. I’ll let you have free run of the ship, except for restricted areas. I’ll have Cassandra put in your quarters. That is, until we get back to Earth.”

“I see.” She looked at her feet.

“You should be glad I’m not throwing you in the brig!”

“Yeah.”

“Alright people, dismissed. Oh, try and improve ships security. I want full sensor logs of those transporters. We have to make sure they don’t get through that easily.” The group left, and Rubicent headed over to the view port. He realized that Jamie hadn’t moved.

Rubicent sighed for ump-tenth time, and stood behind her. He put a hand on her shoulder. She looked up, her eyes narrowed with suspicion.

“Look. I’d like to thank you.” She got up and left. Rubicent just watched her leave. He turned back to the void of space.