Sable's Experiences

[Toaster]

July 21, 827 A.S.

The ship shuddered as the bright, blue tunnel of hyperluminal travel receded around it, spitting it out into a dark, starless system. Olivia stared out into space, giving her eyes a moment to adjust to the sudden lack of near-blinding light.

Kepler.

Less a system and more a perpetual storm in the middle of deep space, it harbored little in terms of civilization. Amidst the everlasting dark matter clouds, in the junction between trade lanes, lay Ames Research Station, a Zoner freeport and safe haven for anyone traveling through the sector. Almost anyone.

Olivia checked her instruments for any contacts in the vicinity of the jump gate. Nothing showed up, traffic was quiet. Satisfied that she wouldn't have to deal with any pirates or - worse yet - Xenos, she locked onto the nearby trade lane and engaged the autopilot. Taking a deep breath, she relaxed, leaning back into her pilot's seat, and closed her eyes.




Images of the hospital flashed into her mind. The busy hallways, the scurrying doctors and nurses, the sound of medical devices whirring and beeping, the smell of disinfectant. The door to a room sliding open. The bright daylight flooding in through the window. The silver-haired woman lying in bed, covered by white sheets.

It had been the first time they met in person. The first time they could see and speak with each other face to face, instead of over ship-to-ship communications, with hundreds of meters of empty space between them. It was... strange. Awkward, at first, but also wonderful. Seeing Isla's face in the flesh instead of on a screen and hearing her voice so clearly instead of over the radio had been almost magical. But witnessing her in her frightened, damaged state had also broken Olivia's heart. Memories of her brother had haunted her throughout the visit, reminding her of what could have happened had things turned out just a little worse. Reminding her that she would need to be at her friend's side at all times if she wanted to protect her, keep her from getting hurt worse.

But she couldn't. Isla was not her brother. They weren't attached at the hips, like Olivia and Robert had been. They were two independent adults, working separate jobs. Olivia could never keep an eye on the young woman forever. Instead, she had to learn to trust her - to let her fend for herself when necessary and to believe in her ability to do so.

Olivia wrapped her arms around herself, as she recalled the warm embrace they had shared on the hospital bed. A feeling she hadn't allowed herself to experience in many years. If possible, she would have stayed in that room forever, holding Isla tightly to her body. But it seemed life had other, far less pleasant plans for her. Plans that would take her far away from her friend, to a system she had never been to, under instructions from a man she despised. Olivia sighed, opening her eyes.




The ship lurched forward as it entered the trade lane, almost instantly being accelerated to the superluminal speeds required to cross the system at a reasonable pace. A glance at her nav computer revealed that the trip to Ames would only take a few minutes. Olivia decided to use that time wisely, unbuckled herself from her flight seat, and crawled through the hatch at the back of the cockpit into the cargo-bay-turned-living-quarters. On top of the small bunk she had installed along one side of the compartment lay what resembled a large toolbox. Beside it rested a compact rifle, scope, battery pack, and magazine separately arrayed next to it. Carefully, she placed each part into the box, making sure to cover each with a piece of cloth and laying actual tools on top, as to hide the weapon components from at least a rudimentary inspection.

Satisfied with her toolbox, Olivia stepped over to a small metal desk she had mounted to the opposite wall and opened its top drawer. From within she removed her trusty combat knife and a large, slug-throwing sidearm, placing both in their respective thigh holsters.

The ship started decelerating as it approached the end of the trade lane. Olivia crawled back into the cockpit and slipped into the seat. The Sutinga rumbled as it exited the lane, automatically reengaging its engines. Before her floated the Zoner station, illuminated only by collision lights and the glow of engines as a few ships drifted by. Olivia paged the station's tower and requested permission to dock, which was promptly granted.

---

Olivia Sable