Chapter 32

“Hyperdrive systems are functioning normally. The power core is stable, all levels are green. We’re safely away from Veldhern,” Inari stated.

“Green all across the board?” Priya asked from the co-pilot’s chair.

“That’s affirm,” Inari smiled as she stood and stretched.

“So, movie time?” Priya asked cutely.

“Sure! But I need to head down to the hold and double check the medical equipment we purchased. I want to be sure that we got what we paid for,” Inari told her girlfriend.

“Really babe? You’d think with what we paid, they wouldn’t chintz us with what we got,” Priya replied while rolling her eyes.

“You know me, hon. I always like to be thorough,” the Iranian woman told her.

“Well, if you’re going down there, I’m coming to help with it. Never hurts to have a second set of eyes, now does it?” the East Indian woman asked her lover.

“No, it does not,” Inari agreed. The two of them left the cockpit and boarded the elevator for the bottom level. They stepped out a few seconds later and made their way to where the purchased equipment had been loaded and stored.

“So, I remember you telling me about hanging around Prodosia once. You also mentioned a few friends there, but you rarely ever talk about it,” Priya stated.

“For good reason. It’s ... painful to talk about and while I was there, I did things ... things I’m not proud of,” Inari responded.

“Well, why don’t you talk about them with me? I mean, we are together now, right?” Priya inquired, making sure where she stood in their relationship.

“Yeah. I suppose I should tell you about it then. It’s one of the few parts about my life you don’t know about yet,” Inari grimaced.

“Take your time, love. I know that revisiting old memories can be harsh,” Priya soothed as they found the equipment they were looking for.

“Thanks, babe. You know about the bullshit that Briggs pulled and how I got discharged, right?” Inari questioned.

“Yeah. I was halfway into my second tour. Still had two-and-a-half years to go before it was over,” Priya remembered.

“When I got discharged, I really couldn’t find work anywhere in the Federation. Believe me, I tried. But after the whole debacle with Owen and Ashaki ... my name was pretty much mud. So, I left Federation space and went looking for work elsewhere. I fell in with this mercy group, who were looking to hire on pilots to make supply drops to those in need,” Inari started.

“Prodosia was your stop?” Priya inquired.

“It was one of many. This mercy mission was all about helping the disenfranchised citizens left behind in the Abandoned Frontier,” Inari explained.

Priya’s eyes widened, and a smile bloomed on her face. The Abandoned Frontier was a sector of space that was littered with Gaia class planets, which were largely ignored. That was because when it was first discovered by the Human Federation, it was a literal gold mine of colony planets. Since the Federation were the first ones there, they had first pick over which planets to colonize.

They weren’t greedy and were willing to share with those who wished for worlds the Federation hadn’t selected. Most groups who wanted a piece were eventually granted one, but not everyone thought it was fair. The Human Confederacy felt it had been gypped and cheated out of worlds that should have been theirs. Initially, nothing happened right out of the gate, but only because the Confeds were biding their time.

When they had built and marshaled a substantial battle fleet, they moved out, invading every world they could reach. The initial shock of their attack caught everyone by surprise, but it wouldn’t last long. Not even a few weeks in, the Federation, along with every major government and empire in the galaxy, assembled to take back what was theirs. The only problem was that the Confeds had enough time to dig in, which resulted in a long and brutal war just to root them out.

After a long and bloody campaign, the Confederation had finally been defeated and sent packing, but the damage was already done. Because of the constant fighting and bombardments, many of the worlds had been left as utter ruins. Many of them were shells of what they had been before, with hundreds of thousands of dead in the conflict, most of them civilians.

Though the various worlds had been saved, the cost was a high one and many of the original colonists that survived, refused to be ruled again. Though each government tried to re-establish control, the locals weren’t having it anymore. It took each group maybe six months to realize that these people couldn’t be ruled. Not long after coming to this conclusion, many of them just abandoned the worlds, leaving the people on them to fend for themselves.

Since then, the Abandoned Frontier has been a haven for the dregs of society; smugglers, mercenaries, pirates, terrorists and all manner of people who don’t want to be found. Though various patrols from the Federation and the UCW meandered on through from time to time, the planets didn’t acknowledge them. The fleets and patrols were permitted to pass, provided they left each world alone, as each one had become its own independent fiefdom.

“So ... you were a mercy runner ... to the Abandoned Frontier?” Priya repeated incredulously.

“I was, and it was good work. The kind of work that I knew I could do well and that I could handle,” Inari replied.

“I’m just ... if we didn’t have cameras and such around right now...” Priya suggested sultrily.

“Keep your panties on babe. For now, at least,” Inari giggled.

“You’re no fun! But seriously hon, Prodosia? That’s one of the rougher planets in the Abandoned Frontier,” Priya yipped.

“And the one that was most in need of aid and supplies. Given that I nearly snapped Briggs in half over what he tried to pull, I was and am more than capable of handling myself in rough places. Besides, the people there were desperate and needed help. I was one of the few who was willing to risk going in to bring them what they needed,” Inari stated.

“Like what?”

“Food, potable water, medicine and so on. As bad you may think Prodosia is, it’s far worse than what the vids make it seem to be,” Inari told her lover.

“How much worse?” Priya inquired.

“Think after the Dark War, when we were nearly wiped out,” Inari stated.

“Yikes! It’s that bad down there?” Priya exclaimed.

“Yup. There are also times where it can get worse. Gangs and other wannabes rove around the planet surface, always looking for a quick score. They often rob what small groups that decide to band together for protection. Some can defend themselves, while others can’t. That was where I came in,” Inari smiled, remembering her early days as a mercy runner.

“With so many disenfranchised people there, it was common sense that many of them would band together to stay safe. The first few runs were rough for me, as I had more than one idiot try to steal my ship. After the first few were left as smoldering corpses, people got the idea that I was there to help, not to be taken advantage of. A few runs later, I got used to the place and people started welcoming me with open arms.”

“It took the better part of a year, but eventually, enough groups came together to form a settlement that was large enough to defend itself. The people there were mostly those who I had brought supplies to, at some point or other. They were all supremely grateful and often helped me ensure that everything was safe when I touched down with more supplies. It wasn’t long until I ... attracted the attention of various locals,” Inari sighed.

“Oh? Who?” Priya asked, intrigued.

“Her name was Dr. Zuzanna Walczak. She was a former military doctor that was left behind by the Confeds after the war. The conflict there had disillusioned her to the Confederation’s bright and shiny persona they portrayed to its citizens. Not even halfway into the conflict, she deserted, wanting no part in the war that they had started,” Inari told her lover.

“At first, many of the locals didn’t trust her, but the fact that she was a doctor who was willing to help gave her some leeway. The young lady was watched constantly, but after saving the lives of several children who had been shot, she had won them over. It wasn’t long before she would win everyone over, even me,” Inari smiled in remembrance.

“You two got involved, didn’t you?” Priya queried with a knowing smile.

“We did, but not after a long time of us getting to know each other,” Inari replied.

“How long before you agreed to go out on a date with her?” Priya questioned, feeling the slight sting of jealousy.

“Six months.”

“That long?? We barely were a crew for a month before you plastered my ass the wall and took me like there would be no tomorrow!” Priya giggled.

“I was fresh off what happened between me and Briggs. My trust in other people hadn’t been fully restored yet,” Inari reminded her.

“Aw fuck! I’m sorry babe!” Priya apologized.

“It’s all right. Zuzanna and I were ... awkward, at first. Her being a former Confed and me, an ace Federation pilot fallen from grace, there was some ... tension,” Inari supplied.

“Hmm! I’ll bet! Being a former Confed, I’m surprised she didn’t try to shoot you!” Priya snickered.

“She almost did! It wasn’t until she learned who I was that she began to trust me a little. It wasn’t until after I told her what nearly happened with Briggs, that we started becoming friends. Like I said, it was a while before our friendship ... bloomed,” Inari stated, feeling a bit mortified talking about a past relationship with her girlfriend.

“How was it? Between you two?” Priya asked, curious about the relationship.

“Umm ... uh...” Inari stuttered.

“Sweetie, it’s OK. I’m a big girl, I can take whatever it is you say about whoever was in your past,” Priya told her.

“Are you sure? Because...” Inari started before Priya cut her off.

“They were your past. But we ... us ... we are the future,” Priya stated confidently.

“OK. Zuzanna ... she saved me. I was on the path to becoming a totally cold and cast-iron bitch. The bullshit I went through to wind up there nearly broke me. Zuzanna was the one who brought me back to life, made me feel like I could love again,” Inari confessed.

“She was the one who kept you from ending it?” Priya questioned, remembering how Inari had told her once that she nearly took her own life.

“Yeah. Found me outside the settlement they had built, a pistol in my hand, with one round in the chamber. She talked me down, got me to give up the gun,” Inari told her lover.

“Sounds like I owe Zuzanna a thank you! She kept you from doing something colossally stupid,” Priya groused.

“We all reach our breaking point love. I’m just happy that I was pulled back from mine,” Inari agreed.

“As am I!”

“A few months after that, is when we got close. With me showing up on Prodosia on the regular, it wasn’t long until we were a couple. Things were good for a while, really good. It almost felt like I could have a life again, but fate, as it turns out, often has different plans,” Inari huffed.

“What happened?” Priya asked.

“Pirates. Some up and coming gang, with some weird sounding name. I hardly remember it, except for their insignia; a black skull with blood pouring out of it,” Inari recalled.

“Sounds familiar, but I don’t know why,” Priya replied, resolving to look into it later.

“Anyway, the bastards came to Prodosia, thinking it would be an easy target to hit and subjugate. Because of the world being the war-torn mess it was, many such groups assumed that. What they didn’t realize was how well armed the populace was, so the pirates were in for a rude awakening when they started throwing their weight around,” Inari grinned.

“The locals weren’t having any of their bullshit I assume?” Priya smirked.

“Nope. Several of the bastards were gunned down when they started thinking they could take whatever they wanted. The rest of them tried fighting back, but since everyone in the settlement was armed, it was a one sided massacre. Caught a good deal of them in a crossfire. They never stood a chance,” Inari laughed.

“Unfortunately, a couple of the fuckers got away and warned their leaders, telling them what happened. It was after the retaliation that followed where shit started getting ugly,” Inari remembered.

“How bad did it get?”

“Bad enough to where I had to get up in my cargo vessel to bait the bastards into getting close enough. Shot a few of them down before they retreated. We eventually got to the point where we were capable of defending ourselves from their attacks. Called in a few favors and got my hands on some heavy lasturrets. Once they were in place over at the settlement, no way were those bastards going to come at us!”

“Heavy lasturrets? The ones with the ship grade plating to protect the gunners?” Priya gawped.

“Yup. Once we had those set up, even with their ships, there was no way to break our defensive line. With me also running interference whenever they did attack, it was more like target practice for everyone there,” Inari chuckled.

“Couldn’t they have done orbital bombardment?” Priya asked.

“They could have, if they had the funds to purchase such ordinance. Thanks to our efforts on putting them on their heels, most of their funding dried up. Besides, many of the bastards didn’t feel like throwing in with a lost cause,” the Iranian woman stated.

“So what happened? How did things go sour?” Priya wondered.

“I don’t know how or why, but somehow, they found out what our defenses were and knew exactly where to hit us. With the power cut, we had to rely on ground based tactics and teamwork. We pulled through, but not without some losses. Some of which, were kids,” Inari said sadly.

“Once we had expelled the last of the pirates, we pulled things together and got everything back online. It was then that people started thinking there was a traitor in our ranks. That someone had sold us out, for their own personal gain. We eventually found the evidence that pointed to this theory, but we all wondered who it could be. It wasn’t long afterwards, that someone else found a pile of evidence, that pointed to me,” Inari huffed.

“Wait, you sold them out??” Priya peeped, surprised that her girlfriend would do something like that.

“It wasn’t me. Someone had planted evidence to make it look like it was me. The only problem was, that on a world as backward and feral as Prodosia, there was no police force. No detectives, no CSI’s, just a Sherriff, who is often chosen by the people to look after them. I had proof that it wasn’t me, but the evidence that it wasn’t me was circumstantial at best,” Inari grumbled.

“So, everyone believed that it was you who sold them out? Even though you were the one who helped built the settlement up from nothing?” Priya scoffed.

“They even had video evidence of me, meeting with the leader of the pirates and accepting money from them. I don’t know how or who did this, but it was obvious that they wanted me to take the fall. I was almost executed on the spot, but Zuzanna intervened,” she went on.

“Another reason to want to thank that woman!” Priya smiled.

“Because of everything that I had done, Zuzanna stated that I should be given the chance to prove that it wasn’t me. The pirates were beaten and running, down to maybe a dozen men, and two ships. If we hit them right out of the gate, while they were still licking their wounds, they’d be gone and cease to be a problem anymore. Grudgingly, everyone agreed to allow me this one chance to save my life.”

“No plan was formed, mainly because one wasn’t really needed. It was an open secret as to where the bastards had holed up, an abandoned Federation military base. So, we just grabbed our guns, mounted up and headed straight for them. Zuzanna’s suggestion was right on the money, as the pirate group was weakened far more than we had thought.”

“Our opening salvo destroyed one of their ships and cut down eight of them, leaving only the leader and his two lieutenants. They had some fight left in them, but it took us all of five minutes to shut them down. When it was only the leader left, he was on his knees, begging for his life, like the coward he was. I wanted to question him, to find out who it was that sold out the settlement, but I never got that chance,” Inari groused.

“Why is that?” Priya wondered, confused.

“Because the fucker was gunned down as I had him at gunpoint, ready to talk. The only problem was, there were so many shots made at him, I had no way to know who the traitor could be,” the woman growled.

“Maybe it could have been more than one?” Priya questioned.

“I believe that was the case, but I didn’t get much chance to think on it. Once the pirate leader was dead, their weapons turned on me. Even Sherriff Madsen, who was a good friend, had his sidearm trained on me. Given how much I’d done to help bring the settlement to a semblance of prosperity and that I gunned down the last of the pirate fucks without mercy, they allowed me to keep my life.”

“Though my life was my own again, I would not be permitted to come back to Prodosia. I had ‘done enough damage’ they said, so me leaving and not coming back was a fair judgement in their eyes,” Inari stated.

“Wait, they exiled you? Just like that?” her lover asked, indignant that her once friends could be so cruel.

“Yup. I went back to see Zuzanna, to see if she could talk some sense into the community leaders. But when I got to the home we had shared, I found her waiting there, stone faced and with everything I owned, packed and ready to go. I tried reasoning with her, but she said that everything was too much. Though she wanted to believe me, she couldn’t, not with everyone believing what they had found. It was clear to me that she believed it too.”

“I was ... heartbroken at this, wondering why someone was trying to ruin me, even after everything I had suffered. With a heavy heart, I took my things and got ready to leave. While the settlement tried to claim the pirates’ ship, I took it from them, stating it was my pay, for doing so much for everyone there. Though reluctant, they all agreed to let me take the ship. It was an old Pioneer class vessel, designed to map the stars and find new hyperspace lanes,” Inari told her lover with a knowing smile.

“It wasn’t ... was it...” Priya stuttered, often wondering how Inari had come by the ship in the first place.

“Yup. It was the Darkstrider, but it wasn’t called the Darkstrider at the time. It was once known as the Bloodthirster. Once I had loaded my things on it, along with whatever else the rest of the settlement hadn’t claimed, I left Prodosia and never looked back,” Inari finished.

“Then you ran into me?” Priya asked, figuring that was right after they had met.

“You were still on your tour at the time. Contacted the mercy group and told them I was done and how left the ship on Prodosia for them to pick up. They tried getting me to stay, but I needed to leave and get as far away from the Abandoned Frontier as I possibly could.”

“I went and had the name of the ship changed out, along with getting my license to be a merchant. Made some adjustments and changes to the old girl, before setting out in the galaxy. It was maybe a few months of flying and trading when I got your call, wanting to see me. The rest of the story, you know very well,” Inari said to her.

“You know, your reluctance to get into a serious relationship, even after I gave you every signal and go ahead, it makes sense now. With the level of shit that you went through, just to get here? I’m surprised you haven’t fallen apart, babe!” Priya told her girlfriend soothingly.

“Some days, it felt like a real chore to just breathe!” Inari admitted, laughing, but crying into Priya at the same time while hugging her close.

“I know, love. I know. I just wanted to thank you,” Priya stated.

“For what?”

“For taking this risk to go back to Prodosia. I know it’s painful for you to go back, but that you’re doing it, to help out our little family? Badass,” Priya replied as she snuggled into her friend.

“Thank you!” Inari meeped as she held Priya close, wanting to stay in that moment.

“When you were gone, did you ever figure out who it was that betrayed you and the settlement?” Priya asked.

“No. I did what digging that I could and whoever it was, they covered their tracks well. I did have a few ideas on who it could be though,” Inari growled in remembrance.

“Well, at least now, if you want to look into it, you can find out who it was,” Priya suggested.

“What makes you think that we’d find anything on the person who did this? It’s been years and I’m pretty damned sure that whoever did it, has erased everything,” Inari stated.

“But today, you have the one thing that you didn’t back then,” Priya smirked.

“That being?”

“You didn’t have us. You didn’t have this amazing ship or the resources and capability to do a proper investigation of your own,” Priya told her.

“You know ... you’re right! I do have more to work with now! Maybe, if we can find at least a copy of the original holovid, we can prove that it’s a fake!” Inari piped up, her mind churning with ideas and possibility.

“Think we’ll need to go and have a word with Taal’ani then!” Priya grinned as she threaded her arm in her lover’s and led the way to the elevator.

Korsa spun as she delivered a hard roundhouse kick to Aesha, trying to flatten the Artucian woman. Aesha saw it coming and ducked as she kicked out with her own leg, trying to sweep Korsa to her ass. Noting the counter, Korsa hopped backwards, halting the kick midway and backing up from her sparring partner.

Smiling at the maneuver, Korsa stepped forward and brough all four of her arms into play, taking an offensive stance. Aesha scrambled to her feet and danced back, stepping into a defensive posture as Korsa attacked again. Whirling as she had been trained to, the Artucian woman glided right by the big woman, effectively sidestepping the attack.

Had Aesha tried that move outside of a sparring match, any Khontaran with the same level of training would have flattened her. Korsa let it slide though, as she was trying to train this woman, not humiliate her. It had been a very productive match so far, as Aesha’s speed and form had improved drastically. It was a wonder that Aesha was still alive with all she had endured.

Korsa was beginning to tire a bit and sighed as she made to put an end to the match. She spun on around, pirouetting like a ballerina, while swinging her arms to smash into Aesha. She barely saw it coming and got out of the way for three of Korsa’s arms to just miss hitting her. The fourth, however, smacked right into her jaw and Aesha went sprawling.

Hitting the mat with a thud and a grunt, Aesha tried to scurry out of Korsa’s reach. A quick roll, accompanied by thudding fists hitting right next to her head, signaled the match’s end. She smacked the mats in frustration, thinking she had finally gotten a handle on that move, to dodge out of the way. Sighing in defeat, she rolled over and sat up, looking up at her teacher.

“Another victory to you, Uucshi,” Aesha replied with a slight bitterness to her tone.

“You did well this match. Since being healed, I have taken note of this and you are improving. But remember what I taught you, about learning to become a master in anything,” Korsa gently chastised.

“In order to achieve mastery in anything, we must commit ourselves to a long, slow journey. Overnight success is impossible, as we are mortals, not gods,” Aesha replied.

“Good. You are retaining what is being taught to you and it is showing. You are still making mistakes, but not fatal ones. You will get there, just keep training,” Korsa told her student. “That is all for today. My hands are weapons...”

“Yet I do not oppress.”

“My strength is vast...” Korsa continued.

“Yet I do not dominate,” Aesha replied.

“My knowledge is great...”

“Yet I do not manipulate.”

“Honor yourself and honor those around you, for honor is life,” both women finished, reciting the creed of Kha’varen.

“I’ve taken notice that you’ve been pushing yourself a little hard lately,” Korsa mentioned as she grabbed a bottle cooled water nearby.

“How do you mean ... Uucshi?” Aesha queried.

“Our session is over Aesha. You can call me Korsa now,” the Khontaran woman smirked. “I’ve been noticing you sneaking out of your quarters at nights, coming down here to practice.”

“Weren’t you the one to say that learning this way of fighting requires absolute discipline? That I should focus on putting my entire being behind perfecting myself?” Aesha rebutted, wondering where Korsa was going with this.

“I did say that, but you shouldn’t do it at the expense of your body. Though you are healed, like all sentient beings, you need sleep,” Korsa told her student gently.

“I can sleep when I’m dead,” Aesha grinned, thinking the quip quite clever.

“Then you’ll be visiting your ancestors and the mother goddess much sooner than you think. If you’re too tired to fight or to form a proper defense against an enemy, you will die. A tired warrior is a dead one and to me, you look like you’ve been burning the candle at both ends,” Korsa stated, putting her foot down on the matter.

“What do you suggest then, Korsa?” Aesha asked, seeing the wisdom of her teacher’s words.

“Take a few days to get some proper rest. Get yourself some real sleep and I’m not talking like seven to eight hours. I’m talking at least ten hours of sleep a day, over the course of the next few days. I still expect you to show up for our sparring sessions but take some time and enjoy life. Life isn’t worth living, if you can’t live it up now and then,” Korsa stated.

“All right. Thank you, I’ll do that” Aesha replied, relenting on her stance on the matter.

“Good girl. Go get yourself a shower before you get some rest. It will help you sleep better,” Korsa told her.

“What are you going to do?” Aesha remarked.

“Well, I already got my cardio in for the day. Going to hit the gym and do some weightlifting,” Korsa stated.

“All right. Like you just told me, don’t push yourself too hard,” Aesha smirked as she got going.

“Get on out of here before I have to kick your ass,” Korsa mock threatened.

Aesha laughed at that, but moved her ass, in case Korsa did that, anyway. Shaking her head and giggling to herself, she moved along to the weight room. It was a self-contained area, large enough for the entire crew to work out in there, but only just. Feeling all nice and loose from her sparring session, Korsa headed in and was surprised to find Alex in there.

“Alex! What are you doing here?” Korsa wondered, pleased that he was there, regardless.

“Well, it is chest day for me, so I thought I might as well get some weight time in. Had the same idea yourself?” Alex questioned as he stretched his muscles.

“Yeah! It’s chest day for me too! Where’s your spotter, though?” the Khontaran woman wondered.

“That’s why I had these guys installed, in case I couldn’t find a partner if I needed one,” the big man stated, jerking his thumb at the pair of assistant drones that hovered nearby.

“Well, since I’m here, I don’t think you’ll need those,” Korsa told him.

“I agree,” Alex nodded, before waving his hand, dismissing the drones. “You all stretched up then?”

“Still loose and limber from my sparring match with Aesha, so yeah. Let me know when you’re ready and we can get started,” Korsa told him.

After a few more minutes of stretching, they started with the bench press, Alex going first. He set the weight to a little over two hundred pounds before he started going. It was a slight strain for him, but he managed the weight well enough. The one thing that caught his attention, though, was Korsa sitting on his pelvis.

“Um ... Korsa ... what are you doing?” Alex questioned as his cock started to harden.

“Just providing you with a little ... motivation. Also, it helps you build and maintain those muscles in your chest a lot faster,” she teased, wiggling her ass on his groin.

“They did ... prove that to be a thing ... before I left Earth,” Alex agreed as he finished his set. “You just going to sit there, on my dick, while I’m laying down here?”

“Yup! Keep you ... motivated to show off a little,” Korsa giggled.

Alex wasn’t going to complain at this point, not when a gorgeous Khontaran woman like Korsa was sitting on him. Thinking there was no way around it, Alex lay back and gripped the bar again, getting ready to hammer it through. He lifted it and pushed hard, slamming through his set like it was nothing, before setting the bar to rest again. He took a beat for thirty seconds before he went and did it again, making Korsa coo in appreciation.

“Now that’s how my man is supposed to hit those weights!” Korsa smirked as she stood up, letting Alex off the bench.

“Mmm! Been keeping tabs on how I workout, have you?” Alex jibed.