Serfin

Serfin opens his eyes.

Just another ceiling.

Grey and smooth. The monotony only broken by a small ventilation-shaft just a very young Morphling could fit through. Why do I even care?, he asks himself and closes his eyes again.

He remains completely still until his back hurts from laying too long on a bare-bones mattress. Listless he turns on his side and starres at the wall just mere inches from his face. It has a few scratches but beyond that, there is nothing to distinguish it further from the ceiling.

After a short while — for Serfin it might very well have been several months — someone knocks against the door of his cell. Unmoving, he just waits for whatever was coming for him. As nothing happens he turns on his other side, now facing the opposite wall with the door on the right side.

The cell is rather small with most of the space taken up by the mattress and a completely normal and very clean toilet. The ceiling is barely high enough for Serfin to be able to stand, but why should he even get up?

Is this it?, asks a voice in the back of his head.

It bothers him for some time now. Enough time to learn to ignore it.

Respin wouldn’t want you to be like this.

Respin. He also didn’t want to die either. Just why was he so adamant about saving this weapon? The weapon Serfin hasn‘t been able to keep safe.

Do you really want to blame yourself for this?

Serfin bares his teeth and turns back to face again the wall right next to him.

What about the others? What about Topasa? Nethra? Or even Toddy?

Their faces appear in his mind and with them appears also Respin. He has wanted them to be safe. He has sacrificed himself for their safety. Serfin owes Respin so much and to save those he has given his life to save is all Serfin could do for his Bondmate. But to what end? They’re traitors now. What good would it bring to keep fighting, when all they can do is die in the end?

Another memory surfaces in Serfin’s head. Immediately he knows what it is about and when it happened. Again he sees Respin standing before him. Back then he was almost old enough to not be considered a morphling anymore. Yet, he had looked so young and innocent even with a cast hand and the sad smile on his face. They had been talking about Amaris to keep her memory alive.

Res will also remain alive, if you let him into your heart.

Upon this thought Serfin feels something changing inside him. But whatever it is, it stops the moment he hears voices outside his cell. Tensing up, he turns his ears towards the door and keeps otherwise completely still.

„…thought that those Drones would make a fuss,“ says someone with a slight lisp.

„Don’t forget that not all of them are arrogant little shits,“ replies a much deeper more saturated voice. „Also don’t forget one of them is female. Those are cold and merciless. I’ve to admit that I’m impressed about her calm anger. I never felt contempt of such a clear cut before.“

„But I bet this contempt of hers and her status won’t do her any good once she must face the Interviewer and the Inquisition,“ remarks the first with a hateful laugh. „I’ve also heard the rumor that the Cetusian Steward wants to attend the court session of her as well.“

„I wouldn’t call this a rumor, Ringer. Since the female was one of the real higher ups he wants to have his fun with her and I can’t see why he shouldn’t.“

„On the other hand we have those other mudswimmers. They can be happy that their killing oder’s been suspended until they get to the Inquisition. Or maybe they should rather curse this luck, don’t you think?“

„Absolutely.“

„But I wonder why they’ve suspended the killing order. Aren’t they still deserters? Also, as far as I know, the oder had been suspended by the female Drone in our care. Shouldn’t this decision get voided?“

„I guess that since she’s become top priority they simply have forgotten.“

„Then why don’t we kill them now and say they tried something stupid?“

„Because the higher ups would notice, so I doubt that Scargrin would let us.“

„Damn this asshole. No sense of humour. If it wasn’t for his scars he wouldn’t even smile when he does his job.“

„Don’t speak about him like that or someone might tell him, making you next on his list.“

„Fucking shit! Calm down, man!“

„I’m calm.“

„You aren’t. The calmer your voice gets, the angrier you are.“

„Whatever… Let’s control the cells and see if some of those mudswimmers have woken up. I hope you haven’t turned their higher brain-functions into mush.“

„Not everyone can be a simple-minded as you, right?“

„Shut up or I’ll make you! And now go! Open this damn cell door!“

The moment the look of the cell door hisses open, Serfin has already reassumed the position he has woken up in and closed his eyes. Blinding light shines through the door, which itself is actually a security measure that is meant to blind the inhabitants of such cells. But since he has closed his eyes it doesn’t work. Yet calling this an advantage is just a euphemism.

Due to the air shifting and the slight rustle of clothes, Serfin knows that one of the two Menkar crouches next to him. He pinches him and pokes him with his very sharp pinky-claw. Mustering all self-control he has, Serfin manages to avoid flinching.

After a few moments the Menkar changes his plan and places two of his fingers against Serfin’s neck, feeling for his pulse, while holding his other hand in front of Serfin’s mouth and nose.

„When will we arrive at the third ship?“, asks the lisping one right next to Serfin.

„In about half an hour,“ answers the Menkar with the deep voice by the door. „Still enough time to check the rest and interrogate them with Flextruth. She can’t wait to get her hands on them.“

„Then she most likely has to take her time with Azura and Serdan,“ the other replies and moves away. „That one’s still out cold.“

A moment later the door gets closed and locked again. The sound of sharp claws scratching over the metal ground soon grows distant before it vanishes completely.

„Two more…“ Serfin whispers with a crocked smile and slams his hand against his mouth. Not so loud… But two more life-ships! Respin… He must be on one of them. He has to be.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

With newfound energy Serfin sits up and takes a closer look around, but there is nothing he could use to level the door open. He pats his uniform but finds nothing off use. Damnit. Took away my hyperspace-bracelets…

Looking up, his gaze is drawn again to the air vent. Perhaps he can pull the grit down and use it but for what? To pick his teeth? The small metal grit isn‘t big enough to do anything with.

Serfin hisses and bares his teeth at the grit. A moment later he slumps against the wall and closes his eyes. But even after some minutes of concentrated thinking he doesn‘t come up with any feasible plan.

„Dam-nit!“, he curses through clenched teeth and hits the mattress with his fist.

That very moment something thin and black drops right onto his head and falls on the mattress to his left. While he rubs the top of his head, he picks it up.

It is something he would never have expected to drop on him through the grit of an air-vent. It’s one of the communication devices Topasa has lent him.

Anonymus ?? has opened conversation "Jailbreak"

agogCollector AC has joined Conversation "Jailbreak"

AC: Who are you?

??: I will tell once everyone has a toy.

tirelessToiler TT has joined Conversation "Jailbreak"

TT: What is this supposed to mean?

AC: Who are you?

TT: Are you the one behind this madness?

AC: Hell no. I’m stuck in a tiny funny smelling cell. And I’m way too big to fit through the air-vent, through which I’ve got my communication device back. I guess you got one that way too?

TT: Indeed, I have. Directly after I was locked into a cell once this damn Interviewer was done trying to get me to admit things I have not done.

AC: holly shit

caligousTyranny CT has joined Conversation "Jailbreak"

CT: Topasa? Do you know who the fuck is helping us? Seriously! Also, who come up with this chat-name? This is beyond ridiculous.

CT:: Also, once this stupid communicator got drooped down on me, I was about to scream. Those stupid Executioners had just left a few seconds earlier!

AC: A very close call I would say. And no, I don’t know who our benefactor is

??: AC hide the Device. Someone is heading to your Cell. Play Unconscious.

AC: Okay

TT: You and AC are acquainted?

CT: More or less — who are you?

TT: I am — was the Second Steward of the Leviathan. Thanks to some complications I got arrested for treason. Damn it.

TT: Do I guess right that you are the remaining survivors of the Starblazer?

CT: I guess lying makes no sense now. Yes, we are, but we haven’t betrayed the Empress — we pretty much saved her royal ass from Slicer — he tried to use this weapon to obliterate the planet and kill the Empress.

TT: I suspected something like this. Do you have any evidence?

CT: Every piece of evidence got blown up as far as I know

captivatingContour CC has joined Conversation "Jailbreak"

CC: By the Void, Laapis, please tell me you’re still in one piece!

TT: I am. Thanks. I also told you plenty of times I dislike it when you worry about me. I can handle everything on my own.

CC: Sorry.

CC: Have you found new friends ;)

CT: I don’t consider people I’ve never seen before as friends

TT: I think very much the same way. Just ignore him.

AC: I’m back!

??: I’ve dropped the last one. We shall get started in a few moments.

cheerfulAgitator CA has joined Conversation "Jailbreak"

??: It appears that we are complete now.

CA: I’ve some great news! Respin’s still alive!

CT: You sure you haven’t hallucinated something?

AC: I think what Nethra means is how you’ve come to this conclusion?

CA: The Executioners have spoken about two other life-ships. They have landed close to our own ship.

TT: Since there is no surveillance material, no one knows who survived. At least I do not know anything about it and I have — had access to all information of the database. Even to the classified reports.

CA: Are you with the Fleet?

CC: We were part of the Fleet, but we got recently fired.

??: That’s unfortunate to hear, but we have currently more important Things to do than ponder about who has and who hasn’t made it from this fucking Cruiser or who got kicked out.

TT: And you would be?

??: You know already. I’m the one out to save your asses. So, either everyone plays along or no one gets out. Clear?

AC: Who are you? Do you have a name? It’s kind of weird to call you Anonymous or Questionsmarks.

??: That’s reasonable.

Anonymous ?? has left the conversation "Jailbreak"

lingeringShadow LS has joined the conversation "Jailbreak"

LS: Happy now? Besides… All of you just call me Umbra.

CC: Wait… aren’t you to one who warned us from the Executioners?

LS: No shit. Who else could I be?

LS: I want to get all of you out of death row. Since I’m currently the only one able to move freely, I’ll take care of the Executioners and the strange Interviewer. Afterwards I’ll let you out of your Cells, so we can go together to a certain Place I have in Mind.

AC: This sounds as if it could work.

CT: And what if the Executioners get you? You sound too confident for your own sake — Almost like this hornless freak.

LS: They won’t.

TT: There are at least five of them and one of them can lock your muscles into place. Besides, I have never seen anyone take on that many and walking away alive.

LS: Doesn’t bother me.

LS: No one can kill something, that’s invisible.

CA: Why helping us?

CT: I don’t think this matters right now

AC: Serfin has a point. Why do you help us? What do you gain from it?

LS: I’ve my reasons.

LS: Once everything plays out how I want to, I’ll tell you why. But for now, you’ve to stick with it or do you want to get killed so badly?

TT: I dislike this, but we have no other options.

CC: I second that.

CT: I just want to get out of here and then as far away as possible from this mess and the Empire.

AC: I have to admit that I don’t have an alternative

TT: Just do not try anything stupid. You might regret it.

LS: Deeps on your Definition of Stupid.

LS: I’m out now, and I advise you all to hide those Communicators. They’ll be useful in the Future.

lingeringShadow LS has closed conversation "Jailbreak" --