Laapis
The way things are now aren‘t in the slightest how she has imagined them. If everything had gone her way, she would be back on the Leviathan by now and writing a report on the whole debacle. But instead she sits with a bunch of misfits in a transporter piloted by an alien with questionable motives and origins. And on top of it, this creature has most likely caused Laapis to have to take responsibility for the deaths of the Executioners. Well, it could be worse, she thinks and sighs. I could be dead. Oh, but who am I kidding? I’m closer to an unpleasant death then I ever was.
Frowning and letting out sigh, she looks around. First her gaze falls on Maurus, whose expression shows relief, although they are far from being in safety. They aren’t crossed from the Empress’ killing list — yet. As things are now we most likely stay on this damnable list for a very long time if we even can get off it at all within our significantly lowered lifetime.
Second, Laapis looks at the overly cheerful Topasa. From the way she speaks since they have left the cells, she seems to have been the leader of their group up to this point. While she is far smaller than the majority of most female Menkar — Terrestrials included — she makes up for it with her spirit. Never before has Laapis seen such a cheerful personality. It almost disgusts her.
Next in line is Nethra. She seems just as fed up as Laapis herself. Despite herself, she comes to feel some sort of connection to this foul-mouthed Menkar, despite Nethra not carrying much about anything but herself. At least I can respect her.
The last person of true interest to her is Serfin. Judging from the conversation he and Topasa had earlier, he seems to have suffered from a mental breakdown. Not entirely sure if he is now truly beyond this breakdown, Laapis has made it one of her many tasks to keep an eye out on him. If something goes wrong, he will be the first to crack again. He might even turn hostile. Maybe I can use this to my advantage.
A few moments later, Laapis thoughts turn to the alien flying them to their unknown destination. She would love to know where they are heading to, but the alien didn‘t convey anything beyond that their destination will be the right one. Whatever that means…
„I don't trust this creature,“ Laapis says aloud once everyone has fallen silent.
„Who?“, asks Topasa, but then she realises what she has meant. „Oh! You mean Umbra, right?“
„Who else could I mean?“, she retorts with a hiss.
„Sorry! Didn’t mean to insult you,“ she replies wit a smile, but it doesn‘t last for long. „But that reminds me… Has someone seen Toddy?”
„Who is Toddy?” Maurus asks confused.
„An alien helping us,” she answers. „Could it be that those Executioners have killed him while they captured us?”
„Maybe,” Serfin says with fallen ears. „A real shame, that is.”
„Anyhow…“, Laapis continues, since she doesn’t care about any aliens „Why does this masked alien creature help us? And where the hell does it take us?“
„Good questions,“ says Nethra and leans back on her chair with her arms crossed. „But I don’t have any answers to it. Maybe Umbra just fucks with us and waits for an opening to kill us, like the guy on the Starblazer and the Executioners.“
„Maybe we’ve a common enemy?“, Topasa suggests.
„Like whom?“, Laapis asks sceptical.
„The Empress?“, throws Serfin in, sprawling with his arms on the table.
„Maybe she’s your enemy, but I don’t see why I should be involved in this shit.“
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„The Empress has thrown us out, remember?“ Maurus tells her with enough pity in his voice to make her feel sick. „We’re now on her killing list as traitors. So, I am convinced that we aren’t considered allies anymore.“
„Why would you be marked as traitors?“, Topasa asks innocently.
Not being in the mood for any explanations, Laapis scowls at her and turns away. She doesn’t want herself and Maurus to get more involved than they already are. Damn this alien and its sick and twisted mind!, she thinks and fights the urge to hiss. How was it even able to know all our names? This is insane!
„We should tell them, Shark,“ Maurus whispers into Laapis’ ear while the rest remains silent.
„What good would it be?“, she asks him and bares her teeth. „And what have I told you about calling me Shark?”
„We’re in the same boat, Laapis,“ he insists with a gentle smile. „We should let them know, since it is something that concerns them as much as us.“
„Since when are you so thoughtful and open-hearted?“, she asks him spiteful.
„Since our situation got sour,“ he replies calm, while placing his hand on hers, but she moves it away. „We have no other options left than to stay with them and help them to our best abilities. So, we should be honest and tell them what we know. Maybe they can make sense of it and help us to wash our names clean.“
„You make me all curious,“ says Topasa and leans interested forward. „What happened? Will you tell me, pretty please?“
„Since you mentioned the soldier the alien has killed…,“ Laapis says reluctant. „Our names have appeared along yours on the wall. While we tried to keep it a secret and started to investigate the whole debacle, the Empress seems to have found out about us.”
„I remember,” chimes Topasa in and clears her throat. “Laapis Azura. That's your name, right?”
„Yes. You actually remember this shit?”
„I’ve a photographic memory, which is my primary psychic ability,“ she admits. „I remember the whole crime scene as well as what was written and where it was written.“
„Do you have any idea why our names were there, as well as yours and those other ones? Do you even know to whom they belong?“
„We don't know 'em either,“ Serfin says, still sprawling on the table.
„How about we ask Umbra?“, Nethra sneers. „She’s after all the one who had painted us this picture, if I remember correctly. She should know the meaning behind it, if there is a meaning at all. On that note, I would also like if we could leave her somewhere where she won’t kill us. Perhaps dead in the desert.“
„You’re too kind,“ comes an indistinguishable voice out of the communication device on the table. „But I’m too important for your survival, making killing me a very, very awful idea.“
„Why don’t you come over here, take the mask off and speak normally with us?“, Laapis asks her, unimpressed.
„Now isn’t the right time for it,“ she replies through the communication device. „But I will soon enough, don’t you worry.“
„Where are you taking us then?“, she insists. „Can you tell us?“
„To the Cult of the Pale God,“ she replies chipper. „There we’ll find the others.“
„Those belonging to your artwork on board the Starblazer?“, Maurus asks with a smug undertone.
„It seems I’ve got myself a smart team,“ she says, sounding gleeful.
„Since when are we a team?“, Nethra asks before Laapis could voice her protests. „I haven’t asked for this!“
„No one can fight fate, especially if it’s so very important for the universe,“ Umbra answers with a slight sound of distaste in her voice.
„Can you actually just spit out what you want?“, Nethra growls, banging her fist on the table.
„Indeed, I could do that,“ Umbra replies smug. „But I don’t feel like it at the moment.“
„Why, you little SHIT!?“
„Because I can,“ she laughs. „And I only talk to you, to let you know about where we’re heading to.“
„She can’t be for real!“, Nethra says as soon as the communication device has switched itself off.
„I’m afraid she is,“ Laapis replies exhausted and sighs.
„We shouldn’t anger her,“ Topasa insists thoughtful. „She’s the one helping us to get somewhere safe.“
„Safe?“, Laapis replies with a huff. „Safe is anywhere but wherever we go. The Empire has a lot of eyes on the Cult.“
„I remember that some sort of screening was due,“ Maurus chimes in, frowning.
„Then we should let these Cultists know,“ Serfin adds worried. „We can’t let them walk into their death.“
For a moment, all Laapis wants is to tell Serfin that he and his friends should worry more about themselves than others. How can they be so dense? But she decides against it. If she wants to survive this ordeal she needs allies and allies aren‘t gained by antagonising, criticising or calling them idiots. No matter if she wants it or not, she has to play along for as long as it is necessary to get out of this mess.
„We’ll tell them once we’ve arrived,“ Maurus says, a bit too enthusiastic for Laapis’ taste.
Slightly annoyed, she looks at Maurus, who grins at her in return. I hope for your sake that you don't plan to fraternise with these misfits, she thinks tensely. As the thought settles, she frowns. What exactly do I want to get back to? To my office, where only towers of paperwork are waiting for me? No, perhaps I should aim a little higher. First Steward of the Leviathan would be a nice title to have…