Scrapper. Book 2. Book 2

The woman sighed heavily and shook her head:

«That… you did. Under control of some bitch called Falana.»

Hunter shook his head:

«It doesn’t matter, Laneth. I was the one, who made those blows…»

«It matters. Because it wasn’t of free will.» Laneth walked over to her working desk and opened a drawer.

She ruffled through it until she found a bottle of alcohol she usually used for work, as she drank very rarely and usually with company. Approaching the man again, she offered him the bottle. Hunter didn’t take it straight away, looking at this gesture with a very sad expression on his face. But when he did, Laneth moved a box closer and sat on the opposite side of him, looking at his new body.

«I’m not even sure if I should be drinking…» Hunter shook his head.

«Why not? You’re suffering. Do you think Serena and others aren’t drinking right now?» Laneth shrugged.

The man sighed and took a big sip of the strong alcohol he was offered.

«I don’t know what to do… I don’t think they will ever forgive me for what I did.» he said, grasping his head again. «How can they?»

«Well…» Laneth took the bottle from him and took a sip. «Here’s what I propose you do… You can stay here in the workshop as long as you need. I don’t mind. Maybe I’ll even get some inspiration from your new… uh… spare parts?»

Hunter couldn’t help to smirk at this remark:

«Spare parts… right.»

The woman gave him the bottle again, tilting her head:

«Plus… I’m sure they’ll come around. Just… don’t push your company onto them, alright?»

«Why would I? After all I’ve done I’d rather not show myself at all.» the man took another big sip. «I wouldn’t be surprised if they ditch me somewhere.»

«Nah, don’t say that! They won’t ditch you! I mean, not after what happened to you! Serena…» Laneth suddenly fell silent, realising Hunter didn’t know or remember her being so inconsolable that she ran off from the ship.

Hunter saw her falling into thought and tensed up:

«She what?»

«We all thought you were dead… She was… inconsolable and cried for three weeks straight.» Laneth shook her head. «But then she just disappeared, when we made a pit stop on one of the trading stations. She ran off.»

«Ran off?»

«I guess, she didn’t want to be on a ship, where everything reminded her of you. She went to Daruta. She fought in the fighting clubs they have in one of the cities. I had Lyssa gather me all her fights that were recorded. Serena was trying to forget… or cope… I don’t know.» Laneth shrugged, pressing her lips together. «That was until she encountered you in the cage.»

Hunter felt his mind being stirred up and a faint memory of Serena’s bloodied face rose up from somewhere deep within.

«I can show you that fight… it was… you were… brutal.» Laneth took a deep breath and looked into his eyes. «I wouldn’t recommend you seeing it. But if you want to, I can show you what you did then.»

The man took his time – and a couple of swigs from the alcohol bottle – before answering:

«Show me.»

«All right… but don’t say I didn’t warn you.» Laneth stood and walked over to the big screen she usually used to work on her designs and schematics.

It took her a couple of moments to put on a video of the fight. Hunter watched the beginning sitting, but when he saw Serena hesitating, he stood up and approached the screen, noticing his face in the video being emotionless and still, as if there was nothing left of him in there.

When he saw how hard he punched Serena and knocked her down, he couldn’t help but squeeze his fists, crushing the bottle. Laneth flinched, but didn’t move away. She waited until the fight was over and someone dragged Serena away, before changing the image to an x-ray of Serena’s torso, showing multiple ribs broken and one of the lungs torn and filled with blood.

«This is what you caused then.» Laneth said, then retrieved another medical image taken from the last encounter Serena had with him. «And this is what you caused her the last time you tried to kill her before we got that chip out of you…»

Hunter saw a full-body image that showed a cracked jaw, broken ribs, a broken leg, and a stab wound next to the heart. He fell to his knees, feeling weak and helpless.

«Makes sense…» he pushed out of himself, crying. «They hate me for… makes sense.»

Laneth sighed once more and shook her head:

«I warned you.»

Laneth heard hurried steps and suddenly Kayla, who was napping in the far corner of the workshop, jumped to Hunter, hitting him with a metal rod she found somewhere. The clank of metal against metal reverberated through the air, as Laneth tried catching the girl before she made another hit.

«You big bully!» Kayla cried out, her eyes bursting with tears.

She hit the man on his shoulder again and lowered her weapon, dropping it to the floor.

«I’m…» Hunter didn’t even want to look at the girl, feeling even worse than before.

«How could you?» Kayla slapped Laneth’s hands away and ran off, leaving the mechanical bay.

Laneth sighed heavily, realising how much Hunter would need to fix.

Chapter 10. Team

Lindon saw Cipher appearing on the screen and noticed how tense and collected the man was.

«We found traces of Falana. I’ve sent you the updates.» Cipher got to business straight away.

The Veluthian opened the files he received and frowned, seeing information appearing.

«Meet us there.» Lindon said a moment later. «We’ll reconvene and try to track down the bitch together.»

A heavy silence hung between them for a couple of long moments.

«How are they?» Cipher asked.

Lindon gritted his teeth, raising his eyes from the screen. He really didn’t know how to explain everything that’s been happening on MSS Lyssandra ever since they brought Hunter back on board.

«Serena’s…» the Veluthian shook his head. «She’s trying.»

«And Hunter?»

Lindon grimaced:

«I’m not very keen to keep him on my ship. Even more having him walking around freely. No matter how much Laneth keeps saying his control chip was deactivated and extracted, I can’t… Every time I look at him I remember how he tried to kill Serena.»

«You do understand that he was doing that not of his free will, right?» Cipher asked, tilting his head.

«You didn’t see him try and kill her, Cipher! You didn’t see, so you have no idea!» Lindon growled. «I can’t trust him. Serena doesn’t trust him…»

«We can take him on board, if you’re…»

«Serena won’t allow it!» Lindon took a deep breath. «Even after all that he’s done to her, she won’t allow it.»

«Then offer her what little trust in her reasoning you still have.» Cipher proposed. «She needs support, not criticism.»

Lindon looked away, realising how right Cipher was in that regard.

«Remember that we’re a team, Lindon.» SS Growler’s Captain said. «We are all in this together. A true team works out whatever they face… together.»

Lindon couldn’t help it and grimaced again:

«Yeah, right.»

Cipher sighed:

«See you there. And keep your head clear.»

Lindon switched the communication line off, deciding not to reply. He knew very well that Cipher and Pher were happy to know they got Hunter back. But the two Terrans had no idea the severity of the state he was in.

And as for the Veluthian… he couldn’t make himself trust Hunter at all.

It helped that the cyborg stayed in the mechanical bay most of the time and left only when others were somewhere. Keeping an eye on the man, Lindon knew that he ate only at night, when everyone else was sleeping. The rest of the time he kept alone or with Laneth.

Lindon asked the woman about what they did in the mechanical bay, and Laneth answered truthfully that he barely spoke and sometimes helped her lift heavy metal plates or keep them in place when she was welding or working on something. Other than that, the cyborg tried his best not to engage with anyone.

The Veluthian took a deep breath before inputting the course.

Even though his mind kept returning to Serena, who seemed to have decided that all she needed was rest and training, Lindon knew that he would need to speak with her concerning the new information Cipher found in his investigation.

«Lindon…» Wolfin’s voice sounded in the earpiece.

«What is it?» the Veluthian looked up from the screens.

«Take a break. You hadn’t eaten today.»

Lindon felt something in the tone of voice he was hearing:

«Serena’s out?»

«Yes.»

«I’ll be right there. Thank you. I have good news, so I am hoping this will help.»

Wolfin didn’t reply.

Ever since Serena let Hunter out, her past mentor tried his best to keep an eye on her, always letting Lindon know whenever the woman went to grab something to eat – at least, she wasn’t starving herself anymore. They both shared these meals with her, even though she wasn’t really talkative and kept mostly to herself.

Lindon hoped his news would allow him to see at least the faintest spark in her back.

Walking into the dining area, he got himself a meal and sat down behind the same table where Serena and Wolfin were sitting. The men exchanged glances and Lindon saw that Serena was deep in her thoughts, playing around with a piece of food.

«How are you feeling today?» Lindon asked the woman, noting her knuckles scabbed.

He knew she was most probably beating something again for hours on end.

«Same.» the woman replied, her face flinching in a grimace, but only for a split second.

«Serena…» the man wished she would look up at him, but she continued looking at her plate. «I have some news. Cipher and his team found traces of Falana’s crew.»

Wolfin and Lindon noticed how the woman tensed up and slowly raised her eyes.

«Where?» she breathed out, gritting her teeth.

The Veluthians saw a glimpse of her old self – holding back the sudden rage, but eager to face her enemy. This warmed their hearts a little.

«Kanartha. I’ve already set course.» Lindon replied.

He saw her looking to the side, and noted the angry expression on her face.

«Good.» she said.

The man reached out, covering her palm with his, and felt her fingers trembling.

«We’ll get her. I promise you.» he said.

The woman glanced at his hand, but didn’t pull away. For a couple of moments Lindon thought she was considering if she should, but then he felt her catching his fingers and squeezing them slightly.

«Thank you.» Serena whispered.

This short contact made Lindon understand that she was slowly recovering from the heavy depressive state she was in ever since Hunter was returned to MSS Lyssandra. It warmed his heart to know this, but he also thought if his news could have made her unreasonable in terms of the encounter they were about to have if Falana and her crew really were where Cipher found they were heading.

«Will you have the time to look through what Cipher sent us?» Lindon cautiously asked her.

Serena took a few moments before nodding:

«Sure.» she replied, looking like she was deep in thought. «When we get there, Hunter will come with us.»

«No!» Lindon gritted his teeth. «I’m not going to trust him doing anything…»

He froze, when Serena slammed her fist against the table, leaving a small dent.

«Non-negotiable, Lindon.» the Captain said with an angry frown. «I need to see if he’ll go back to her. I need to know if he’s to be even remotely trusted. If he returns to her…»

She swallowed hard, falling silent.

«I’ll keep an eye on him, Captain.» Wolfin squeezed Lindon’s shoulder.

«I need to know my team is…» Serena’s voice gave out and she pressed her lips together for a moment. «…a team.»

She stood up, leaving the table and her unfinished meal.

«Serena…» Lindon wanted to reach out to her again, but she shook her head.

«Finish your meal. Meet me on the bridge.» the woman said. «In the meantime, I’ll see if we can make a wormhole jump to get there quicker.»

She left them, and the Veluthian men exchanged glances. Wolfin sighed, feeling a strange mix of worry and distrust.

Chapter 11. Kanartha

Serena glanced at the planet, feeling a strange pull towards the colony located on its surface. This colony – small and relatively unknown, was once a stop in the travels she took.

When she was a scrapper.

The woman thought that she still was, in a way, the very same scrapper. Only now – instead of gathering scraps of precious metals and everything worth selling – she collected scraps of her life. Bits and pieces of her memories, the shattered shards of her soul, broken heart…

Serena sighed, closing her face with her palm.

«Are you alright?» she heard Lindon asking.

«I’m fine.» she replied, feeling the urge to bark at him, but not finding the strength to do so. «Just a little tired.»

Lindon walked up to her and kneeled, touching her palm that lay on the armrest. The woman lowered her other hand and met his worried gaze.

«You remember that you don’t have to hide anything from me? From any of us?» he asked her.

She leaned in with a heavy sigh and reached out to him, wrapping her palm around the back of his head and connecting their foreheads:

«I do, Lindon. Stop thinking about what’s happening to me. I’m just tired.» she said. «But thank you for your concern.»

The man felt her letting go and leaning back again. This short gesture made him feel warmth in his heart, but he could feel that she did this just to calm his nerves.

«Why don’t you go get a short nap then?» Lindon caressed her hair, seeing the same pained expression in her eyes suddenly. «While we’ll be waiting for Cipher?»

She took a moment to think, then hesitantly nodded, getting up:

«Take over then. I’ll be at my quarters. Report when Growler will be here and…» she glanced out to the colony. «See if you can find Falana’s vessel.»

Lindon pat her shoulder, accepting her orders. When the woman left, he stood there for a bit, lost in his thoughts, before he turned and saw Wolfin watching him with a very sad look in his eyes:

«Did you notice?»

Lindon sighed, nodding:

«She’s hiding something.» he said.

«Maybe she’s just afraid to share it?» Wolfin shrugged. «She has been through a lot…»

«What do you propose we do? Leave her on board when the time comes?»

«No. I don’t think that’s an option.» Serena’s mentor shook his head. «But I would propose you would go to her, when Cipher gets here. See if you can offer her… a conversation, a… hug? I don’t know. Whatever will make her feel at least a little better.»

«I don’t think she’s open for that kind of contact just yet, Wolfin.»

«Yeah, right.» Wolfin grunted. «And what happened just now was what? A punch to your face? Stop lying to yourself, Lindon. She’s reaching out. Make the step towards her. She definitely needs some sort of support. Don’t make the same mistake we made when Kayla asked us all to let our Captain be. The girl sees how Serena needs some semblance of human contact. And she does! Otherwise she wouldn’t have done what she just did.»

«I think you’re mistaken…» Lindon sighed. «She did that for my sake, not her own.»

Wolfin walked up and met his gaze with a twitched brow:

«And if she would still be wrapped in her own torment, would she do that? Even to help you calm your nerves? Did she do that when we mourned for Hunter? Did she?»

Lindon stayed silent, realising that Wolfin was right.

«Exactly!» Wolfin slapped the man on his shoulder. «So when Cipher comes – you’ll go to Serena and do whatever is necessary to show her that she doesn’t need to distance herself just because she fears to share something with us. I don’t want her running off again. And neither do you, I’m sure!»

«You’re right.» Lindon sighed again, stepping to his place. «I don’t want her running off again to seek solace and… whatever she was looking for then.»

Wolfin pat his shoulder once again and then stepped away to sit behind another control panel.

The next two hours they were floating in orbit and trying to find if Falana’s ship was anywhere near. Lindon was grateful for Serena taking precautions to reconfigure Lyssandra before they took the jump, which made their ship looking inconspicuous for the humans living on the colony.

When SS Growler appeared, Lindon left Wolfin on the bridge and hurried to Serena’s quarters to tell her that they were almost ready to descend.

As the door opened, he saw Serena with her hair ruffled, and a strange expression on her face. He couldn’t help himself taking a step forward to touch her face:

«Have you slept at all?»

«Maybe an hour…» Serena sighed and suddenly took a step closer and embraced the man, hiding her face on his chest.

Lindon was surprized, but wrapped his arms around her, feeling her muscles relaxing a bit.

«Are you okay?» he asked.

«I’m sorry…» Serena whispered and the man felt himself tensing up.

«What are you apologizing for?»

«I’m doing it again…» Serena leaned back a bit, but didn’t seem to have the strength to look up at him. «I’m sorry for… being distant. I shouldn’t be. Not with you. Not with… any of you. I know I’m just…»

«Hey!» Lindon cupped her cheek and raised her face to look into her eyes. «It’s fine. I understand. We all do. We’re just worried that you’re not telling us something that’s going on with you. We’re afraid, Serena. I’m afraid you’re going to run off again. I don’t want that.»

«I ran, because I felt I was of no use on board the ship.» the woman shook her head. «What good would I have done? I’d be a liability.»

«Never.» the man took a deep breath. «You are our Captain, Serena. Even if you aren’t fit enough to lead us, you have us to help you lead our crew to our aim.»

Serena lowered her gaze and suddenly pressed herself to him again:

«Thank you, Lindon. For everything that you’re doing.»

He caressed her hair:

«I’m happy to be there for you. I told you more than enough times that I will gladly help you any way I can. At any moment. For whatever reason…»

«Yet you disapprove me releasing Hunter…»

Lindon gritted his teeth:

«He tried to kill you, Serena. Twice.»

«Please, don’t.» the woman shook her head.

«I’ll tolerate him if you want it, Serena. But I don’t have to approve him being free… or coming with us.» Lindon leaned back and grasped her shoulders. «I will support you in every decision. But know one thing… if he raises his hand to strike you again, he will lose his limbs.»

Serena took a deep breath and didn’t answer, realising that whatever she could say – he won’t go back on his promise. For a few moments she looked into his eyes, seeing him ready to kill the man they just got back. And though she understood his mistrust towards Hunter – she too felt it. She wished things would be easier.

«You came to see me…» Serena said, trying to get her thoughts together. «Because Cipher is here?»

Lindon nodded:

«I wanted to tell you they’ve arrived, yes. But I also wanted to make sure you’re alright.»

«I’m not.» Serena shook her head, admitting how badly she really felt. «But I won’t stay behind. I need to get that bitch… she’s caused enough pain.»

Lindon cupped her cheek and gently caressed her face:

«And we will help you, Serena. Just don’t shut us out. I’m begging you…»

«You shouldn’t say things like that, Lindon. Veluthians never beg.»

«I don’t care what other Veluthians do or say. I am… begging you. Don’t shut us out. Please.»

Serena embraced him again, feeling grateful for him being there for her when she wasn’t really open to talk with anyone at all.

«I’m ready to kneel before you… just to know you won’t disappear again.» Lindon whispered.

The woman stayed silent, feeling him press her to his chest closer.

Chapter 12. Steps

Serena glanced at Hunter who stood in the far corner of the cargo bay, with Wolfin telling the cyborg something. Hunter stood tense, his head hung and his eyes fixated to the floor.

The woman felt nervous having him there, and the thought of him being brought with them made her shiver.

«Are you sure?» Lindon touched her shoulder.

Serena flinched, looked at him and took a moment to reply:

«I’m not even sure if I should go at all…»

«I’ll be by your side, don’t worry.» he squeezed her shoulder gently, offering a bit of comfort for the woman.

She didn’t reply, still thinking if it was a good idea for her to be going out – and with Hunter being there at all. She glanced at the cyborg, feeling the ice-cold fingers of terror crawling into her heart again.

Looking away, she headed out.

Their plan was simple – follow Falana to find her new hideout and see what other things she was up to lately. They knew that she hired men for protection, but Serena couldn’t shake off the feeling that there was something else happening – as if Falana was planning on facing her in the near future and that’s why she now had more manpower to do so.

Perhaps, each of their encounters left Falana feeling threatened by the sole heir of Thara-Lyss family.

Serena fell into thought, realizing that if she wanted to – Falana would have challenged her to a duel. But why she hadn’t done that yet was not clear. Maybe it was because Falana feared her. Or, maybe, she thought she could get rid of Serena by other means.

Whatever the case, this manhunt was becoming something other than just search for justice.

At least, for Serena it was now something more.

She wanted to have her revenge against the woman who essentially destroyed the person Serena loved. For the way it made her feel Serena wanted to have her payback. And she wasn’t sure if anyone will be able to stop her.

Walking through the streets of Kanartha Serena felt paranoid, seeing in every person, who gazed her way someone who was working for Falana. It was hard for her to push down this unreasonable suspicion, and if it wasn’t for her men walking beside her, she would have darted off to grab the first person that threw a gaze her way – just to question about Falana and where the woman might be.

«Relax, Scorpi.» Wolfin said quietly. «We’re supposed to be inconspicuous.»

If it weren’t for their earpieces, she would have never had heard him.

«Fuck off, Woofy.» Serena growled under her breath. «Angry people have a right to be walking around.»

She felt Lindon catching her wrist to calm her down, but jerked it out of his grasp.

«You too, Lindon. Fuck off.» she hissed at the Veluthian.

The two men exchanged glances, and Lindon saw Wolfin gritting his teeth. It was obvious that Serena wasn’t at her best at the moment, which could make their job harder.

Stepping on the hard asphalt, Serena watched her surroundings like a hawk, concentrated to find one single face in the crowd of people – locals and visitors – that were going about their day. Suddenly she noticed a flicker of golden blond hair and stopped her eyes, focusing on the person. She saw a woman purchasing something, surrounded by five men.

Serena suddenly saw the woman turning and the sight of her face made the Veluthian grit her teeth immediately.

She was looking at her most hated target.

Falana.

Serena forgot all about caution, jolting forward and pushing aside her men.

«Shit!» Cipher cursed, darting after her.

Hunter rushed past, being much faster than Terrans or even Lindon, who jumped to catch the woman as soon as she ran off.

Serena wasn’t thinking at all – not about safety or their plan. She saw Falana and felt her heart filling with the same rage she felt when destroying the planet where Hunter was lost to her in the maw of a chimera created by the Veluthian criminal.

Running at her fastest, Serena bared her teeth, knowing that if she ever gets her hands on Falana – the woman will be torn to shreds before anyone would be able to get her away from her.

Someone jumped to catch Serena and she slammed into the man, tumbling with him on the hard ground. She landed a single hit to his throat and jumped up to her feet, ready to continue her pursuit. In that moment a shot sounded and Serena suddenly saw Hunter jumping towards her. Her rage immediately dissipated, and she froze in a jolt of terror and panic. The cyborg suddenly embraced her and a couple of bullets hit his metal back, not leaving a single dent.