life's blood

[warpfairy]

They're not near Cardassian Union space.

But then, they're not near Federation space either. This ship has as much right to be in this system as they do.

It makes Isabella nervous, anyway, and she's just about to suggest leaving and coming back another time, when the Prometheus is hailed.

They're armed. She can't warp inside a solar system.

She answers the hail.

"Hello, Federation vessel," says one of the three visible Cardassians in bad but intelligible English. "What're you doing out here alone?"

Isabella swallows. "This is the deep space survey vessel Prometheus," she begins.

The computer lets her know that they're charging weapons.

"We have no hostile intention," she says.

Comments

[warpfairy]

"Yes."

[dream_me_up]

It's not the kind of thing where gentleness helps. But he can be quick, and he can be efficient. She doesn't have to hurt any more than absolutely necessary.

By the time he moves away, some of her bruises have already vanished. The burn in his side is long gone, without even leaving a scar.

[warpfairy]

Isabella is cooperative and quiet and still.

[dream_me_up]

Now all they have to do is wait.

[warpfairy]

Isabella looks like she could wait forever, unmoving, unfeeling.

[dream_me_up]

"Do you want me to bring you some water?"

[warpfairy]

"Yes."

[dream_me_up]

He goes and fetches some water.

[warpfairy]

Isabella drinks it, sip by careful sip.

[dream_me_up]

Lalita watches.

[warpfairy]

Eventually she is done.

[dream_me_up]

"Do you need anything else?"

[warpfairy]

"Rest, merely."

[dream_me_up]

"All right."

[warpfairy]

[dream_me_up]

"I'm going to go take care of a few things," he says. "I'll be back soon."

[warpfairy]

"Very well."

[dream_me_up]

He leaves.

It takes some calculation, but he gets the bodies of the two dead Cardassians disposed of, on a trajectory that will drop them into a gravity well instead of leaving them as space debris eternally circling the nearest planet. Then he finds his clothes and puts them on.

Then he goes to check on Kelvok.

He doesn't bring a weapon; he doesn't need one.

[alicornucopia]

Kelvok is tied up in spare electrical cables right where Lalita left him and looks very unhappy.

[dream_me_up]

"Not as much fun when you're the prisoner, is it?" says Lalita.

[alicornucopia]

Kelvok does not make eye contact, or respond to this question except to grind his teeth.

[dream_me_up]

"You know, if it was just me, I might've let you keep me for a while," he says conversationally. "But your friend just had to fuck up my friend, so here we are. Too bad, I guess."

Presuming no response from Kelvok, he goes back to Isabella.

[warpfairy]

Isabella is right where he left her, observing the ceiling.

[dream_me_up]

"I killed two of them and took the third one prisoner," he says. "The one who liked me. He's tied up in the cargo bay. I don't think he likes me anymore."

[warpfairy]

"Ah."