(Callie)
The training for the day ended, and being restless amidst unwilling allies, Callie inspected her new ship. She skulked about the ship, getting the layout of her new vessel and mostly going unseen. She was moving about, verifying all the recent information provided by her friendliest crew mate.
When they first met, Lenny provided her many small tidbits of information. She used the downtime when the pirates were exhausted and asleep to verify the information for herself. After all, verification was the only form of trust that could be accepted in these circumstances.
Callie, having hacked into the ship's main subsidiary systems, snuck into Shimmers' room while she slept. The pirate, overconfident in the ship's security, was in a deep sleep. Callie shook her head in bemusement. How could a long time pirate be this naïve? To someone with the right skills, or the proper tech, anyone could simply pass the stone age biometric locks.
This was why she was always on guard, even while she slept. Callie dug through Shimmers' things, not taking but merely looking. With each drawer, everything was returned to where it was supposed to be.
She found Shimmers computer, and with a grin, she inserted her comm into a port. An energy virus, altered from its original design by her, took mere seconds to break the computer's firewall. She downloaded all of its stored data and removed any evidence of her presence.
She was hoping Captain Shimmer had data on the big players of the pirate world. Callie was making plans, and she wouldn't tolerate a big shot pirate ruining them. She needed to gain fame and avoid her new crew being crushed by a superior pirate ship. She pondered her options as she shut Shimmers' front door behind her softly.
Callie went over the data retrieved from Shimmers computer for a couple of hours, noting some things of interest. Shimmer was actually quite organized and had files on two of the three top pirate crews that operated in their region of space. She bit her lip, a thoughtful look crossing her usually unreadable face.
It was clear to Callie that Shimmer was planning on climbing the ranks. She smiled. She knew Shimmer was ambitious, but she didn't realize how ambitious. What stood out was the fact that the files were set up as a presentation. She had a hunch about that and changed her route, deciding to have a chat with Lenny.
She needed more information on the predators of the pirate world, and Lenny seemed like her best bet to get that info. With almost no effort, she bypassed the neural link lock on his door and enter like she owned the place.
His caution was for naught, as Callie was trained in bypassing these locks. The lock was far more advanced than Shimmers, but that didn't matter to her.
She entered his room, noting the cool air washing over her. His room smelled strongly of an animal musk tinged with a sweet perfume. Lenny didn't even move at her presence, reminding her that many people, alien and human alike, lacked her caution. Callie sighed, she was constantly reminded that these pirates, and even the others like Dustin, or Taniya, did not share her brutal upbringing.
Still, that would not save Lenny if one of the crew broke into his room to put a knife into his heart. Lenny was startled as she jostled him awake with a boot. He blinked sleepily up at her, his bright yellow eyes widening. Lenny lept to all fours, growling softly."How did you get in here?" Lenny asked, his tail swishing in annoyance.
"The door obviously, I am too large to fit through the air ducts."Callie said dryly, glancing at a fist sized vent in question.
Lenny scowled, rolling his yellow eyes. "I know you came in through the door! How did you get past my Nural lock?" Lenny asked with a huff..
She shrugged. "Would you believe me if I told you the door was unlocked?" Callie asked with a raised eyebrow. Lenny scoffed, but he took in deep breaths, re-sheathing his claws. His bedding was torn from the frantic scramble to his feet, and he glanced down grimacing.
"If you are looking for a vent to go through, I can show you to the airlock? You might be able to find one on the outside of the ship." Lenny said, sourly yawning, looking like he just wanted to get back to sleep.
"Someone is a little grumpy."Callie said, a smile tugging at her lips. "Lets see how angry you are when you are woken in the middle of the night!" Lenny said with a yawn. Callie gave the foxlike alien a curious glance and almost laughed at the unruly brown fur puffing out on one side of his head..
"Do you comb your fur? And how is your fur so glossy?" Callie asked, amused. "Whats wrong with that? Is it a crime to care about personal hygiene?" Lenny asked, with a grumpy glare in her direction.
"I thought I smelled raspberry earlier. Is that a female perfume?" Callie asked, grinning. Lenny's lips turned up, and he smiled sheepishly. He was unused to this side of his new commander, but he rather liked it over her ruthless side.
"So what can I help you with commander Ark-an."Lenny asked, stretching languidly as he yawned again. Callie strode about his sparsely furnished room, eyeing Lenny's possessions curiously. She picked up a wall hanging depicting an expansive field of tall green grass, noting the rolling hills in the distance.
"Can you tell me about the three big shot pirate captains in this quadrant?" Callie asked, returning the wall hanging. Lenny let out a sigh of relief as she returned the tapestry to its spot.
"The three big pirate lords, as they call themselves, are hard to separate in terms of overall power. Hendrik, arguably the weakest of the three, is a human, and works in the trafficking department."Lenny said, a look of disgust crossing his foxlike face.
"He is a slave trafficker?" Callie asked calmly, not showing her revulsion. "Yes, and worse, his major clients are the Parasites.... They pay exorbitant rates for top quality hosts."Lenny said with obvious disgust in his voice. Callie shudder as she heard that.
Almost no one worked with those disgusting bugs. After all, the parasites needed to inhabit bodies to get around. Usually the parasites were far too lazy to travel into the galaxy and find a host, so they would try temping people to come to them with gifts of wealth or status. Or in this case, they would go through the black market and get unwilling hosts.
Hendrik sounded like a bad guy, but he was a pirate, and if he didn't do trafficking, someone else would. She would need to curtail some of his business practices, but Callie might benefit from his network of spies and kidnappers.
Maybe she could use the kidnappers for something useful, like stealing goods and information instead of sentient beings? "Who is next?" Callie asked, running a callused hand across the wall plating.
"Well, there is Yergan. They are a Gwark, and are known for their ruthless business practices. Yergan mainly resorts to extortion, blackmail and bribes to avoid trouble from authorities. Honestly, they are the most influential of the three as far as connections and wealth. If we can join their faction, it would be preferable to the other two. Yergan is ruthless, but they are known to offer substantial benefits to their members."Lenny said, his tail swishing in uncertainty.
"And what about the last of the three?" Callie asked, scooping up a small comm from the top of a low cabinet.
That would be the captain of the battle cruiser Tilanus. Rumors are sparse, but many speculate the captain of Tilanus is a parasite. Either that or the captain of the battle cruiser has changed in bloody mutiny almost five times over the last four years."Lenny said helpfully.
Callie raised an eyebrow at that. "Soo, one of the creepy little parasites actually left their home planet? I'm surprised one of those lazy bugs is actually doing something?" Callie asked. Lenny laughed at that. "It's actually quite common for ambitious little parasites to become pirates in their search for a suitable host. Sure they are lazy, but the cost of a willing host on their home planets is far too expensive for your average parasite.."Lenny said with a shudder.
Callie nodded. "It is what I would do if I were a parasite. It would be far easier to work with pirates than finding a willing host."Callie said. Lenny nodded at her assessment, but his ears flatten as he remembered just how ruthless his commander really was.
"Are you planning on joining one of their factions?" Lenny asked cautiously. "Don't worry about that for now. Once we capture supplies from our raid, I may reveal some of my plans to both you and Shimmer."Callie said, truthfully.
Lenny sighed, but didn't argue. He yawned and stretched, laying back down on his bed. He looked too tired to give a damn right then. "If that's all, can you let me get back to sleep?" Lenny asked sleepily.
She left her the young Tallax, her mind a whirl as she contemplated their conversation. From the gathered intel, Callie was forming a viable plan. Once they reached the shipyard with their new haul, she would secure the loyalties of the other pirate captains through whatever means necessary.
She would need to change some of their business practices to less distasteful things, but that shouldn't be too hard. Well, she may need to use forceful methods, but that shouldn't be too bad.
She wasn't planning on going into a fight with the number one pirate lord right away, as she wanted to confront Yergan, the Gwark pirate lord first. Callie needed the pirate's contacts and his wealth to fund her future escapades. If she used the right tactics, she was confident about her success in taking him over.
She wandered the halls of the ship, peeking into compartments that were usually off limits for most of the crew. Callie used the exploration to relieve some of her pent up frustration, and to ease some of her concerns. Her procrastinating ended as she finished. She sighed, trying to shake her foul mood.
Honestly, she needed to find something else to focus on besides her past failures. Besides, she still had a patient that she needed to check in on.
She checked on her patient with the head wound, sneaking into her room and turning on the light. Her patient, named Lana, woke as Callie unwrapped her bandages to change them. The woman looked concerned, but clearly already knew who Callie was. Just because Callie was the feared commander Ark-an didn't mean Lana wasn't angry about being injured.
All the while Lana stare up at her in silence glaring, her bright green eyes filled with an angry flame.
The intensity of that glare made Callie's heart skip a beat, as that glare was not of a defeated woman. The woman's eyes flicker, as she was clearly calculating her options. She was a pirate, a survivor, and any survivor looked for ways to gain advantage, even in defeat. "Sorry about cutting your hair. I needed to stitch your wound and it couldn't be avoided." Callie said, cutting the silence.
"What do you want? What do you have to gain from helping me?" Lana croaked, the cut hair merely another log on the burning flame of her anger. Callie gave her a bottle of water, and the woman coughed as she wetted her dry throat. Callie smiled down at the woman, knowing it was not a comforting smile, given the circumstances.
"Make no mistake Lana. You are a member of my crew now, and I look after my personnel."Callie said, giving Lana another warm smile. She knew these pirates were selfish people. They would expect someone like her to have ulterior motives with everything she did.
Lana leaned back into her pillow, her auburn hair falling in a mess of curls around the white bandages. Lana gave Callie an assessing gaze. At first Lana looked angry, but then her attitude suddenly changed. The anger and fear were still there, but that was masked by a thirst for power.
Callie watched closely, noting the change in attitude.
Lana, having decided on what to do, smiled, her body language changing from hostile to seductive. Lana's bright green eyes traced up and down Callie's frame appreciatively. Her eyes linger on Callie's pistol, and even the tooled leather of her knife belt, but they mostly roved over her body.
It was a gaze that contained some interest. By now, Callie was learning when someone was admiring her body and when they were looking for weapons. In this case, Lana was admiring Callie's cut physique. She didn't have the puffy muscles of a bodybuilder but the lythe dense muscles of a predator.
Callie's eyes traced the woman's slender neck, down to her exposed collarbone. Lana noted her gaze and blushed, shifting to expose some bare, soft skin. Lana smiled back, revealing dimpled cheeks and a bright set of pearly white teeth.
With her head wrapped, Lana looked like she was in a sorry state. Despite that, she was still beautiful, with her long auburn hair and soft green eyes. Lana bobbed her eyebrows at Callie suggestively.
Callie rolled her eyes, trying not to get frustrated. Lana's flirting was clearly an attempt to gain favour.
"So, how many of the crew are still alive?" Lana asked.
"There are fifteen, including Shimmer and Lenny. I killed the others."Callie reply unapologetically.
Lana furrowed her brows, looking worried. "Wait, why didn't you kill the captain of the ship? Is that smart to keep the Captain alive?" Lana asked.
"Actually, I do not intend to take over the mundane operations of the ship. I am merely the owner of this ship, and will direct the Grack arka pirates. In the future, I may expand and acquire more ships under my command."Callie said, deciding she could reveal this much.
Lana grinned at that. By now her anger looked to be replaced by a burning ambition. Her smile was infectious, reminding Callie of Taniya when her friend was excited. The only thing ruining the look was that look of ambition. "What are you, some sort of big shot pirate in the Galaxy?" Lana asked, her eyes meeting Callies, interest, and was that desire filling them?
"No, I am not a pirate at all. But I assure you, I have killed far more than your so-called pirate lords."Callie said calmly. Lana swallowed, but quickly smiled to hide her brief display of fear. Even with Callie's proclamation, the woman wasn't deterred.
Lana reached up, running a finger along Callie's forearm, smiling sweetly. The gesture made her tense, but she didn't pull away as she continued redressing Lana's head wound.
Callie wasn't certain, but she could swear the pirate was leaning forwards on purpose to allow her blankets to reveal the top quarter of her breasts. Callie bit her lip, looking back up into the woman's bright green eyes..
Lana was cute, bordering on beautiful, but that didn't mean she wanted to have sex with someone who had every reason to hate her. She sighed internally. Besides, she would be way too worried about being stabbed in the back to enjoy the intimate experience.
It would be great to have someone to help relieve her pent up frustration, but she destroyed her chances of that when she betrayed Dustin. And until she found someone who she could trust, sex was off the table.
Lana pulled her hand away, noting a look of anger in Callie's eyes. There was a look of icy death that filled Callie's bright hazel eyes, making the pirate fear for her life. Callie sighed, pulling back to give the weary pirate some space.
Callie had a long list of regrets, but she chose her path, and now she had to live with the outcome. Like the dubious honour of being the commander of a crew of filthy pirates. Now she lost all of her friends, Warren, Dustin, Taniya, and Peyton. Well, Warren and Peyton weren't necessarily lost. They just couldn't help her right now.
Speaking of which, she needed to contact Nakita and see if the Slax arms dealer could supply her some items for the ship. Also, she needed to make sure Warren was alive and well. He better be, or Nakita was going to earn Callie's wrath. Callie sighed, silently looking into Lana's deep green eyes.
Her roiling emotions must have flickered across her face, as Lana was no longer looking in a seductive mood. The woman looked to be terrified of Callie in that moment.
Lana had every right to be terrified. Callie was an assassin that was an enemy of the Zrixian empire. Worse, she was on the shit list of the empire's spy master Veronica.
Pushing her frustration aside, Callie focused on her patient. She twisted Lana's bandage into a knot, securing the fresh bandage tightly. Lana flinched away, still weary.
"And what if I decide to leave the crew?" Lana asked, swallowing hard, finally cutting through the awkward silence. Callie shrugged. "Then you are no longer my problem."Callie said, calmly.
Lana let out a soft breath, her soft green eyes glimmering as she sunk into thought. "And if I stay aboard as a pirate, what will you have me do, commander?" Lana asked, her gaze sharp.
"You will join my training program. Then you will work with the crew to help further my goals."Callie said. "Will you teach me how to use that magic?" Lana asked, some of her former ambition resurfacing. Callie smiled. This was the reason she was keeping such a close eye on Lana. The woman was not only beautiful, she also had some potential with the art.
In their first encounter, Lana tried to attack Callie with the art. It was uncontrolled raw energy, with no structure or finesse.
"Have you received instruction before?" Callie asked. Lana snorted softly. " Do you think someone who became a pirate had the lagnars to pay the outrageous costs needed to learn the art?" Lana asked dryly.
Callie cracked a smile and picked up her medical bag. "I suppose you are right. Most people don't have the funds to learn the art."Callie replied.
"So, will you teach me?" Lana asked, meeting Callie's eyes with a fierceness that Callie found interesting.
"Of course. But I expect you to work hard. This is an opportunity for you to hone your skills."Callie said.
Lana grinned, sitting up in her excitement. "When can we start?" Lana asked excitedly, wincing as she sat up. In her excitement, Lana forgot that she was naked underneath the blankets. Callie's heart thudded in her chest and she flushed, but she couldn't help admiring the soft curve of Lana's breasts.
Lana quickly covered herself with her blankets, her cheeks flushing a bright red. Some of Lana's previous coketish behaviour returned, and she bit her lip, looking Callie in the eyes. Callie raised a callused palm, dampening the woman's enthusiasm, and ignoring her flirting."You will get a solid ten hours of sleep, then you will report to the training bay tomorrow morning at seven sharp."Callie order. Lana looked like she wanted to argue, but the older woman kept her mouth shut for now.
After all, there was plenty of time to test the limits with their new commander later. If she played her cards right, maybe she could weasel her way in and gain the commander's favour?...
In the next two days, the pirates learned that their first day was a simple introduction. Over that time, Callie rotated in Ned and Purdin, giving them the chance to learn at least the basics. The biggest upside for Callie was the fact that the pirates were too exhausted every day to plot revenge.
She made sure of it, pushing them all until they collapsed each day. By the third morning, she waited patiently, watching the clock on the wall of the training hall in silence. The pirates were all arrayed in front of her, looking miserable.
Even some of the injured, like Lana, Jasmine, and Dusal, were here. Their wounds were not fully healed, but they were well enough to shoot a rifle..
The timer counted down to zero, and she smiled. Next to her, Lenny shifted, drawing more of her attention. She was training the young Tallax in a more managerial role than the others. Even so, she wasn't allowing Lenny any favouritism. In fact, she worked him harder than the others. Lenny was her new intelligence officer, and was quickly growing into the job.
"How did you know the training course was still workable?" Lenny asked softly.
"Your crew is a bunch of filthy pirates. I figured the only place you would all avoid like the Dead worlds was the training bay."Callie said softly.
Lenny snorted and grinned, exposing his long needle-like teeth. His tail swished in amazement, making Callie's silky black hair flutter around her. Standing this close, she could smell his strawberry conditioner. She could even see the glossy sheen in his light brown fur.
Every single member, Shimmer included, arrived, with five minutes remaining until the deadline. She supposed the first day's training left a powerful impression on all of them.
Callie, knowing it put them on edge, smiled. The pirates blanched at her friendly expression, knowing something terrible was about to happen.
"I need three volunteers. Today, I have an opportunity for you."Callie said, smiling sweetly.