A metal arm extended from the ceiling; Destiny sat still as stone to watch a mirror as a needle punctured the middle of her bruise. The swollen purple splotch began shrinking immediately, so fast she could see the color fade in the mirror across from the cushioned platform on which she sat.

This was the first time she had seen microscopic enhancement robotic healing at work and was amazed at the speed with which her bruise disappeared. The spot didn’t even feel tender anymore.

Her smart phone rested in the pocket of her pink flannel shirt. The interfacing laptop she had used to reprogram Horace was on the table where she was sitting. There was a crack in the side of the screen. Once the needle withdrew from her forehead, she took a sip of her coffee while eyeing Fade coldly.

“I didn’t hit you,” he said, “It was one of the Lieutenant’s men. He didn’t know who you were, or what you were up to.”

“A convenient excuse.”

“Wait a second. Did it ever cross your mind that you were hacking a vessel you boarded illegally? That makes you a threat! You’re damn lucky to be alive right now.”

“I didn’t think I’d get caught until I was ready,” Destiny pouted. Her lips pursed.

Fade slammed the back of his head against a stainless-steel medicine cabinet. Just then, the infirmary hatch slid open and Karen walked through.

“Are you planning to pamper this spy all day!?” Karen asked with her hands on her hips.

“I’m not a spy,” Destiny slammed down her coffee mug and spilled some on the table, “I’m from Farmutsville, on Hakkut. I don’t have any ties to the enemy.”

“How adorable. A provincial girl. I can tell where you’re from, that sickly pale skin of yours is a dead giveaway. A little advice, get some sun.”

“I’m not that pale...”

“I was hoping we could do a live interview from the bridge. The other soldiers won’t wake up, so you’ll have to do. Why don’t you quit fooling around here and come with me?”

Fade just leaned back into the medicine cabinet, “What do you think this is, twenty-four-hour access? You go through Horace. Otherwise, stay in your damned room!”

“Aww, I wanted to skip the middle man. All you have to do is follow my lead,” Karen said, as she wrapped her arm around his flirtatiously, “Give me some recount of past combat experiences. People love to hear soldier tales. It’s very entertaining, at least to those who watch the news.”

“I’m not really sure,” Fade tried to pull away.

Karen bit the inside of her lip, and pushed herself in close enough that Fade could feel her chest against his right shoulder.

“What’s she doing here?” Destiny groaned while looking into her coffee, “You have a girlfriend I don’t know about?”

“She’s just a reporter.”

Fade daydreamed about lining them up and slapping them both across the forehead with one swing.

“None of your business what I am,” Karen snapped.

There was awkward silence for a moment that was far too long, then Karen giggled quietly, “Wait a second,” she broke from Fade to examine Destiny’s features closely, “If you’re not a spy, how did you hack this cruiser’s computer?”

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“I’ve studied computers since I was a little girl.”

“What school?”

“I taught myself at home,” Destiny answered, reddening, “and a few correspondence courses helped a little.”

“You better get your systems checked,” Karen turned to Fade, “She’s obviously a provincial of no education, the prototypical baby machine. I’m sure she learned everything she knows off the back of a cereal box.”

Destiny jumped from her platform and would’ve slapped Karen hard enough to give her a bloodied nose if Fade hadn’t caught her hand. Karen veered backwards, pulled a hanky from her pocket, and wiped her face as she backed to the exit.

“I’ll be waiting for that interview darling,” she laughed before disappearing.

“I don’t know what came over me,” Destiny said, “What did she mean by darling?”

“Nothing. She’s just- I don’t know. She’s not right. It’s just a way of getting what she wants. But we needed the money, so that’s that.”

“Money? So, what is she doing here?”

“Let’s rephrase that question,” Fade sighed, taking back control of the conversation, “What are you doing here?”

“I’m the newest member of the crew. You can even check the registry if you want.”

“Don’t get cute with me. You’re my prisoner now, and your false registration will be deleted. Maybe you’ve forgotten what Imperial law allows concerning enemy spies?”

“You wouldn’t!” she smirked.

“And how would you know that?”

“I’ve known you since I was fourteen. Plus, you’ve been visiting my dad’s bar for five years.”

“That means nothing. You think you know me just because I visit your Dad’s damn bar? You’re a bit naïve, just maybe? Or maybe you think I’m naïve.”

“I’m not a spy! How can you even think that? I only wanted to join your crew, but it wasn’t as if I could sign up for tryouts. I had to improvise.”

“Not with my property! Not with my computer! Not with my Ship!” Fade hollered, and then forced himself into calm, “You don’t belong here. I’ll assign you a cell in the brig until I can return you to Hakkut. Sorry for the rough treatment, but I can’t afford to waste time with petty games. You’ll be safe.”

“So you’ll tolerate that harpy but I’m too much! You can’t put me in a cell,” Destiny said, taken aback, “Horace would never allow it, right Horace?”

“I would not allow that, as you’re my registered owner. I commend you, Miss Payson. It’s a joy to have someone besides myself who’s not below the standard human intellect. you are truly the inspiration, I dare say the queen of this vessel.”

“Let me guess, you programmed him to be cute too! Horace, am I still the captain?”

“Only at Miss Payson’s discretion.”

“Don’t worry about it. I quit, you two can get through the battle on your own. I wouldn’t back out, either, then you’ll have the Imperial fleet after you as well.”

“You can’t do that!” Destiny yelled, “I don’t know how to fly a battle cruiser!”

“Captain Defacto,” Horace squeaked, “Please don’t do that. I’m terminating Miss Payson’s access to the system immediately and restoring your registration of ownership over the network.”

“You can’t do that!” Destiny yelled again, “I reprogrammed you,”

“Horace is a one of a kind design. He can’t be reprogrammed that easily, unless he fakes it for his own reasons. Horace, register her as a prisoner, low level threat. She’s not to have any access to your systems. I hate to see our relationship get off to such a-”

“Please sir, let her stay as a member of the crew. She reprogrammed my software to maximum efficiency. I’ve determined that her presence alone raises our chance of survival by ten percent.”

“You’ve swayed Horace,” Fade raised his eyebrows, “The fact that he even let you tamper with his core software means you have the talent in spades and gained his trust. If I make you part of the crew, how do I know you won’t try to pull something again?”

“I promise not to. The Payson’s are always good on their word.”

“You’ll start at the rank of technical sergeant. This is a mercenary vessel, so I reserve the right to change your rank. You work this mission for provisions, if you chose to continue I’ll pay you a small stipend from any bounty we receive. I also want you to teach me networking and programming skills on request. Do we have a deal?”

“We have a deal.”

They sealed it with an imperial handshake, with each gripping the other just above the wrist.

“Welcome to the Imminent Destruction. Don’t think this is going to go easy. Horace will direct you to the locker room. You’re to change into a uniform and report to the combat simulator for training.”

“Training?”

“Just do it!” Fade snapped, “You think you just walk on board a battle cruiser and know everything there is?”

“Yes, captain,” she saluted before Horace directed her down the hall.