Orion Company
By Mr. J.
CHAPTER XVI: Endgame
Caitlin looks on as Nikki and Captain Lee rock back and forth, mumbling quietly to themselves. Their hands tremble erratically. She gazes into their bloodshot eyes. They fail to look up as they rock back and forth.
“What are we going to do?” Caitlin paces in the VIP suite. “It’d take days with a deprogrammer to get them to open up. We don’t even have that much time.”
“They’re not invalids,” Vanessa is more optimistic. “you saw how the captain looked at me in the holding room. There has to be some way to jog both their memories. A smell perhaps, or a sound...”
Caitlin glances at the clock on the wall.
“What’s the CSF’s ETA?”
“They didn’t say,” Vanessa shakes her head. “it could be days, minutes...”
She spies a pair of guards on the monitors overhead. They appear anxious as they wait patiently outside. They shove their hands into their pockets like nervous teenagers on a date. If she didn’t know better, their boyish charm would be sweet. Sexy, even.
“Caitlin, there’s a couple of guards here to see you.”
“Buzz them in.”
The doors slide open as the two men stride inside, looking fit for battle in their uniforms. Despite their imposing appearance, they come off as mild-mannered—sheepish, even. They stare awkwardly for several minutes, as though waiting for permission to speak.
Caitlin’s eyes them dreamily as she looks them over.
“Ma’am?”
“You must be the gentlemen we asked for earlier...” Caitlin looks them over. “make yourselves comfortable.”
The guards help themselves to glasses of bird’s blood. They watch as Caitlin saunters towards the complimentary champagne. Her gracefulness as she glides across the floor is a far contrast from the crude images in their heads. Even as the oogle, a tinge of guilt flares inside them—as though they are transgressing against the gods.
Caitlin gestures for them to sit down. They exchange nervous looks as they plop in their seats.
“What’s the matter?”
The guards glance nervously at Nikki and Caitlin.
“I wish we’d known there would be more guests...” The taller of the two speaks up.
“Nevermind them...” Caitlin responds coldly.
“Alright. It’s just that we’re not used to undressing in front of so many people.”
The men strip down to their boxers. Warm light illuminates their bare chests. Judging by their physiques, they’re athletic, but far from the cheesecake stereotype associated with men of their profession. Caitlin saddles up to the taller one, running her hands through the hairs of his chest.
“Let’s get down to business,” She smiles. “Vanessa, why don’t you take the other one. I have a feeling this is going to be a long night.”
Vanessa shakes her head.
“I’m good.”
“Suit yourself then.”
She stands aside as Caitlin takes them to bed. She looks on in disgust as Caitlin straddles the taller gentleman. They waste no time as Caitlin rides him, panting as she goes up down, up down. The emotionless expression on her face belies the intimacy of their encounter. There is no joy or love in her eyes—only a girlish glee.
Caitlin finally rolls over and begins her session with the next one. A flicker of recognition appears in his eyes. Caitlin freezes. It can’t be...
“What are you staring at me for? I don’t got all day.”
“It’s nothing...” She waves a dismissive hand.
She pushes the thought away as she grinds against him. Yet even as they make love, the thought nags at her. She has to admit, there is something familiar about his face. She just can’t place it.
The thought returns as the session comes to a close. Caitlin climbs into her nightgown, feeling dumb for even entertaining the thought. But she can’t quite push it away.
“You look familiar,” The Vang glances at her. “do I know you?”
“No,” She shakes her head. “you must have me confused with somebody else.”
But he doesn’t. Caitlin racks her brain. The face she recognizes, but that voice...she saw it from somewhere...
She glances at Vanessa.
“Are you sure you don’t want to join in? You don’t know what you’re missing.”
Vanessa nods.
As the Vang prepare to leave the boyish one turns around.
“I know you!” He glances at Caitlin. “Aren’t you’re the girl from the Orion? The one who helped lead us to the crew?”
“What is he talking about?” Vanessa glances anxiously at Caitlin.
“Nothing.” Caitlin edges toward the nightstand. “He’s just about to leave...”
The room is suddenly plunged into darkness. The whoosh of a laser pistol reverberates in the suite as Vanessa stands idly by. Her heart races.
Phosphorescent light bathes the suite as the emergency lights flicker on. Vanessa looks on in horror at the Vang guards slumped on the floor. Caitlin stares at them stoically as she grips the gun in her hand.
“What the hell?”
“I’m sorry Vanessa.” Caitlin levels the gun at her colleague. “May Jove have mercy on us all...”
Vanessa lunges towards her. They struggle for several minutes as Vanessa reaches for the gun. The grappling lasts only a few seconds. There’s a loud crash, and then silence. Caitlin clutches her stomach as she moans.
A pair of voices bring Vanessa back to reality. To her utter astonishment, Nikki and Captain Lee are standing upright, looking dazed—but otherwise okay.
“Vanessa?” Captain Lee groans. “What are you doing here? Where’s Anna? Caitlin?”
“Long story. We have to get out of here. We don’t have much time.”
###
Anna and Dana groan as the linger on the mat. Bruises dot their naked bodies as they writhe. Muscles and tendons ache. Whatever took place here definitely left a mark on them.
“I feel like I’ve got the worst hangover in the world...” Dana clasps her forehead.
“Me too...” Anna yawns. “Must’ve been one hell of a fight...”
“We must’ve given them a hell of a show,” Dana looks around. “where are those goons anyway?”
As their eyes come into focus, they glance at the empty cube before them. Klaxons illuminate the darkness as they gather their bearings. A sinking feeling settles in their stomach as they glance at each other. They didn’t do what they think they did, did they?
“What the?” Dana rolls over. “Did we—?”
“I think we did.” Anna glances at the goo on her legs and arms.
The sisters shudder in unison.
“It appears to be some sort of holographic projection room.” Anna surveys the room. “The arena didn’t exist at all...”
“You got that right.” Dana examines herself. “I don’t even want to know what we were up to.”
The sisters exchange nervous looks as their suits reconstitute themselves. The red and black bodysuits hug their bodies. They have to admit, it’s more than a little flattering.
“Awesome!” Anna exclaims. “I always wanted to be a superhero.”
“Don’t get your hopes up,” Dana ears perk up. “sounds like we have company.”
Screams echo off the walls as they dust themselves off. Judging by the commotion, whatever’s going on outside is deadly serious. Dana leads the way as the sisters walk slowly towards the exits. She cracks the door slightly, offering a glimpse at one of the most vicious space battles in the history of the Confederacy.
“Looks like some sort of rescue operation,” She darts her eyes. “Both sides are going at it kind of fierce. Bodies are piled up everywhere.”
“We got to get out of here!”
“I think I know a way,” Dana sucks in her stomach. “Follow me.”
Anna trails closely behind as Dana snakes through a nearby corridor. Pink and blue lights illuminate the ship as CSF marines and Vang guards go at it. The sisters struggle to remain calm as they inch their way through. A simple run-in with Vang troops or a friendly fire by CSF would mean their deaths. The sisters tread lightly.
Lights flicker ominously as they round the nearest corner. A pair of guards man a post up ahead, clutching their laser rifles nervously. Eagle eyes scan the horizon every few seconds. The sisters press themselves against the wall, praying they won’t be spotted. They breathe a sigh of relief when they realize they’re in the clear.
They resume their escape as the chaos unfolds around them. Dana seems confident as she leads the way through dimly lit chambers and hidden passages that Anna doesn’t recognize. Anna can only imagine what Dana used them for in her previous incarnation.
The commotion of combat is a distant memory as they emerge into the light.
“Looks like the CSF hasn’t made it this far,” Dana gives the all clear. “The emergency pods should be up somewhere around here.”
The relief is short lived as a yell pierces the calm. The honeyed voice is strangely familiar. Anna’s ears perk up.
“Anna?” The voice calls out. “Anna, where are you?”
“Vanessa?” Anna startles. “What in Hades are you doing here?”
“Looking for you.”
After much frantic searching, they finally bump into each other. Anna and Vanessa embrace each other warmly as the rest of the team looks on. Judging by the excited expressions on their faces, it’s a long time coming.
“I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time.” Anna whispers into Vanessa’s ears.
“Me too.”
“Excuse me,” Dana butts in. “Who are these people?”
“Dana,” Anna makes the introductions. “This is my friend Vanessa and the Orion team. Everyone, meet Dana. She’s my sister.”
“So this is the one you’ve been telling us about?” Captain Lee puts her hands on her hips.
The meeting is short-lived as a blast rocks the ship.
“We don’t have much time,” Anna glances upwards. “Dana, do you mind leading the way?”
The team follows her lead as the walls echo with the shrieks of the dying—and soon to be dead. Palms glisten and foreheads sweat. The air is thick with the smell of perspiration. Footsteps reverberate behind them.
Anna spies several pairs of feet as she looks over her shoulder. Dim lights illuminate the CSF troop’s dark green uniforms. The prospect of being mistaken for retreating Vang is terrifying—or worse, being caught in a firefight. She urges Dana to pick up the pace.
The team suddenly stops as Dana spies the teleportation dock. Empty desks stare back at her as she glances at the empty chairs and papers strewn recklessly on the floor. The room appears to have been abandoned hastily. Dana shivers.
“What in Hades are you doing?” Her sister hisses.
Dana brushes her off as she strides towards the controls. She stares at the dials for several seconds.
“This isn’t a leisure tour!” Anna yells. “We have to get out of here.”
“One of the rebellion’s first operations was to sabotage this room so no one else could be captured. My task was to sneak in, install a virus on the mainframe, and get out before I was spotted. I convinced my captors I was sick and was evacuated to the infirmary. I escaped at the first opportunity and made it here. I almost went through with it...but I chickened out at the last minute. They tortured me for three days straight.”
“We can talk about this later...” Anna grabs her sister’s hand.
Dana swats it away.
“What are your coordinates?” She glances at her sister.
“I beg your pardon?”
“The coordinates of your ship. What are they?”
Anna hesitates to tell. But her sister’s menacing stare—and approaching footsteps of Vang troops—are all the motivation she needs. As if from memory, Dana readjusts the dials as her sister blurts the numbers out.
“There,” Dana sighs. “You should be able to get back home. I’ll be stay behind in case any guards should come through.”
“You can’t leave us!” Her sister grabs her. “After all we’ve been through!!”
“This isn’t up for discussion,” Dana’s voice grows steely. “Now go.”
One by one the women step onto the platform. Dana barely looks up as they vanish into nothingness. She shields her eyes as the blinding white light fills the room. A lump fills her throat as she gazes at her sister for what may be the last time. A tear streaks across her face as a shimmering light envelops her sister. Suddenly alone and with the clamor of combat echoing around her, she hovers at the controls as she comes to grips with the reality that it may be the last thing she’ll ever see.
Seconds later the women of the Orion reappear on the ship, disoriented but very much alive.
“Home sweet home,” Nikki stares at the comm. “never thought I’d want to see this jalopy again.”
“Doesn’t look like much has changed,” Captain Lee examines the captain’s chair. “Whoever took care of this place did a pretty good job of it.”
Vanessa blushes.
“It was my idea,” She confesses. “I wanted to preserve it in case you all came back.”
A sudden stirring pricks up their ears. The hair on their backs stand on end. To a woman they all reach for their laser pistols. The uneasy quiet is eerily familiar.
“Anna, Nikki, you search the quarters. I’ll check the storage deck...”
“What about me?” Vanessa asks.
“Stay here,” Captain Lee commands. “If something happens to us...”
“I got it.” Vanessa nods.
The room to room search takes over an hour as the girls look in storage closets and under beds, leaving no stone unturned as they strip every mattress, crate, and nook in sight. The lack of persons or persons lurking behind showers or bins is no balm to any of them. Their stomachs tighten. There is definitely a stowaway on board...and it probably isn’t friendly.
A piercing scream sends them running back to the comm. Vanessa trembles as a wounded Caitlin grasps her, pistol firmly in hand. Her deathly pale skin glistens with sweat, yet there is no mistaking the evil in her eyes.
“One move and she dies...” She points the weapon at Vanessa’s skull.
“Let’s not be rash,” Captain Lee lays down her weapon. “We can talk about this like responsible adults.”
“The time for diplomacy is over!” Caitlin protests. “I came to finish what I started.”
Her grip tightens. A wave of pain washes over her as she grimaces. She grits her teeth, clenching her stomach momentarily before straightening her back and resuming her militant posture once more.
“Caitlin, you’re hurt,” The captain pleads. “Why don’t you let me look at it...”
“Don’t go playing your silly mind tricks on me!”
“I can see the blood on your hands, Caitlin. It’s serious. Do you want to die?”
“A small price to pay...” She aims the gun squarely at the captain. “A small price to pay...”
Sensing an opening Vanessa flees. The ensuing melee lasts only seconds. Caitlin gasps for air as she lies on the ground, the fluid in her lungs building up to a crescendo. With all her remaining strength, she reaches for her pistol.
The captain kicks it away.
A loud boom rocks the ship moments later. The light from the Vang ship’s explosion blinds the crew as they watch in awe. Anna’s slinks back toward her room. Vanessa runs after her.
“Leave her be...” The captain protests.
“Is it her sister?”
The captain nods.
White light fills the room as the shimmering form of a young female appears in the cabin. Anna spins around, running towards it at breakneck speed. Her face glows with excitement as she watches it materialize.
Bruised and battered, Dana looks the worse for wear. Her bodysuit is torn in places and her face is scratched, but otherwise she is ok. Anna runs toward her, arms wide open.
“Sister, how did you...?”
“Long story,” They embrace. “Who is this?”
Anna glances at Caitlin’s corpse.
“It doesn’t matter. Did the captives get out in time?”
“I tweaked the device so they’d all get send to a CSF processing center far away from the quadrant. They’re shaken and it’ll likely take years for them to recover if at all, but at least the Vang won’t be bothering them anytime soon.”
While Caitlin’s body is sent unceremoniously hurtling through the stars, Dana cleans up. With her sister’s assistance she rearranges Caitlin’s old quarters, claiming the traitor’s mattress as her own. Glancing into the stars, she takes stock of her new role as the latest stowaway on board the Orion.
“My room’s over there if you need me,” Anna points. “Are you ok?” I can turn the nightlight on if you want
“Never thought I’d see the day we’d be together again,” She confesses to Anna. “If only Mom and Dad were still around to see this...”
“I’m just happy to have you back, Sis.”
“I’m not a burden am I? I can always join the CSF. Jove knows my experiences and expertise are invaluable...”
“We could always use an extra pair of hands around here...” Anna walks toward the door. “Goodnight, Dana.”
“Anna...”
“What is it, Sis?”
“You know I love you, right?”
Anna smiles.
“I love you too, Dana. Now get some sleep.”