Cyros was a beautiful white marble in the black void of space.
Swirls of cerulean blue mixed as stripes and splotches. The atmosphere wasn't breathable. But that wouldn't be a problem.
Once they entered the planets sky the ship was buffeted by strong icy winds. According to Dr. Bryant this weather was typical for Cyros and a blizzard here was apocalyptical compared to ones on more temperate planets with seasons like Earth.
The colony was surrounded by sharp mountains of white. With dark blue ice semi-clear like glass in place of rock or soil.
Fortunately the colony on Cyros had a robust system of hangars so they didn't need to brave the environment in order to reach it. Parking garages for ships of all kinds, essentially. Once they landed they headed out into the colony proper.
They were met with a surprising amount of people. An incredibly diverse people at that. Wearing all manors of clothing from so many different styles and cultures. From oriental, to tribal, just about every style imaginable.
It was a culture-shock to Selene who'd been confined to a boring farming colony. They didn't get many visitors on Endelon. But visitation was the point of this colony.
The concrete streets were lined with vendors and stalls. Storefronts and apartment buildings. All stacked vertically to the gigantic glass dome above with wires and monitors strung between them.
Some kind of squirrel like creature was running along them.
Selene smelled some barbeque at one of the stalls and salivated.
"Want." she said going over to the stall. A small rotund man who reminded her of a hamster given human form was cooking different meats of alien mammals. He had a handlebar mustache and massively receding hairline. He exuded a joyful aura.
"Hello there!" he said in a folksy accent. "Care to try our Jagra steaks? Tastes just like pork but better! Only 500 credits!"
"Yes." she said without hesitation. She produced her tablet. Dr. Bryant pulled her aside.
"Ms. Carrington, you do realize you can't spend any of your funds, don't you? You may as well announce to the Protectorate that you've survived and gone AWOL."
Selene's heart sank. That was a lot of money that just went up in smoke. Dr. Bryant smiled at her pouty expression.
"Don't worry. I have pre-emptively reallocated some funds to a anonymous account that should suffice until we secure other financial means."
He approached the rotund man. "I assume these are the serving sizes here? We'll take three, and do you have any beverages?"
"Serving size? For you three maybe. And beverages aren't my thing, but I recommend Linh over there-" he pointed to a tall slender woman with frizzy black hair that poofed out wildly to all sides and Asian features with dark skin.
"Sells coffee, soft drinks, alcohol, just about anything drinkable. Good prices too—like mine. We have a business relationship. Been working on the other kind of relationship but she's playing coy. The vixen."
Dr. Bryant went to speak with the drinks vendor and Selene waited there.
The rotund man harrumphed and spoke to her; "I'm Giuseppe by the way. My folks came all the way here from Earth if you'd believe it. I know—Earths' about as core world as core worlds can get. They were on a trip around the system when they got stranded here when the ship that was ferrying them ran afoul. Been in the meats game ever since. Family business. Nice place if you don't mind the cold. Always see someone or something new. What brings you?"
"Galactic conquest." she answered.
"Ha! Well if you ever need cooked meats for your 'conquest' I'm your guy. 'Bianchi's meat' is the best meat in this side of the outer rim! Just look at our reviews! Nothing but 5 stars!" he waved a pair of tongs at her.
"Very impressive."
Dr. Bryant approached her and Raymond with an arm full of thermos's and handed one to each of them.
"Here's your order." Giuseppe handed them three styrofoam containers with steaks inside glazed with barbeque sauce. "Just warning you now—once you finish with those you'll want at least one more so you might as well buy 'em now and save the trip! In fact, this one time-"
Dr. Bryant waved a hand. "I'm afraid we're on a schedule. But I assure you if your business is good we will return. Thank you."
He turned to leave.
"Alrighty then! And remember to leave a positive review! If you don't I'll find you and break your thumbs! Justkiddingofcourse." he mumbled the last part. "Hey you! Best meat in the outer rim! I got this Dimovian bacon that is worth selling your mother-in-law for!"
"Where are we going to buy a ship?" Raymond asked Dr. Bryant as they walked away.
Dr. Bryant looked at him as if he asked a stupid question.
"Buy? Do you have any idea how much the ship we need costs Private?"
"It's Raymond. And what, do you—" he looked around them as he leaned in and whispered; "Do you plan on stealing it?"
"Yes. What's the point of having a near-immortal demigod like Ms. Carrington around if we don't intend to deploy her."
Selene preened at the compliment. She hadn't really considered or tested her abilities as they were now. Was she really near-immortal?
"Wow— I don't know about demigod, maybe a queen... Wait. You want ME to steal us a ship? Am I supposed to threaten some ship trader with my weird hand-hooks?"
It was her turn for Dr. Bryant to look at her as if she was stupid.
"...No. We'll wait until a ship with the specs we desire to dock and then you'll use your persuasive telepathic abilities to order any whom remain aboard to vacate while we absconder with their vessel."
This man was an evil genius. It was so simple. So devious. Then again she did something similar on the station before this all started.
"Won't they chase after us? A fancy ship like that probably has trackers and stuff." Raymond said.
"Not the kind we're looking for. We're looking for a mercenary vessel, or perhaps someone with ties to rebel organizations. Their ships are intentionally difficult to trace. Equipped with all kinds of shielding against many kinds of detection."
Selene thought about it. It should be easy enough to do. Her powers did feel stronger than before. And since her conversation with the encephalon her symptoms like headaches or nosebleeds haven't shown up either.
"When do we do it?" she asked.
"We shouldn't waste any time. Eat quickly. We should go immediately and browse the hangars. Once we find a qualifying vessel, we'll make our move."
"You mean my move." Selene corrected him.
They were back in the hangars again. So soon. It was colder here as the hangar doors opened and closed frequently, letting the warm, breathable air out.
It was wide open bet heavily obscured by stacks of fuel and cargo containers. Thick hoses were attached to many ships and little vehicles were dragging carts of supplies to and from the colony.
It wasn't before long that they found what they were looking for.
It was nothing special at first glance, but Dr. Bryant said that was intentional.
But beneath the ugly brown and grey metal was a beast. It was bulky and oddly shaped. Twice as tall as it was wide at about twenty meters in height and fifty meters in length.
There were two boosters that hung off the back edges and the front tapered off into a clunky, rigid conical shape. With a forest green windows here and there. Steam emitted from numerous places as it seemed to of landed recently and was currently cooling off.
"How do you know?" Raymond asked Dr. Bryant. They were standing a distance aways watching it now. Partly obscured by a row of laz-gas fuel canisters.
"I have my ways. For example observe the ships current occupiers. The only ones who guard their ships like that besides the Protectorate are mercenaries, smugglers or rebels."
It was true. There were 3 or 4 guards patrolling it. Dressed in rustic clothing. Long trench coats, leather jackets, khaki pants.
They also were well-equipped.
Bandoliers with numerous shells tucked in. Ammo containers on their sides. Holstered weapons.
"Are you ready Ms. Carrington?" Bryant asked her.
She looked to them with confused before she remembered.
"Oh. Yeah. So I guess I'll just order each of them to line up outside the ship? Are you sure I'm capable of that?"
"We really need to find a way to properly test your abilities so that you're more confident in them. But unfortunately we're on a tight schedule. Short answer: yes. Just do as you did in the research department yesterday."
Selene took a deep breath. And went over.
The first guard nearest the ships drop-down ramp was sitting on a crate fidgeting with some serrated hunting knife. Occasionally flipping it in his hand. A bald samoan man about six foot four and well muscled. He wore a white tank top and suspender pants. But suspender straps were hanging loosely at his side.
Selene felt the essence of her telepathic abilities. The swirling typhoon around her minds eye. It was like guiding water by running your hand through a stream.
"Hey." she said.
He looked up at her and raised an eyebrow. "Hey?"
"Could you go over there?" she said, sending the intent of her command into his psionic signature.
"Sure? I guess?" he said slightly amused. He went over to the edge of the fuel hose she pointed to and stood. He crossed his arms as it to say; 'well?'.
"Just stay there." she said again. Unsure if her abilities were working.
She went to the next guard who was patrolling alongside the ship. A medium sized white man with blonde hair and blue eyes. He wore a black leather vest and a short sleeved white shirt with black shorts. A bandolier of shotgun shells was strapped around his chest and he had a sawn-off shotgun holstered at his hip.
"Hey."
He stopped and looked her up and down.
"Not interested. Take your 'services' elsewhere." he kept patrolling by her.
Selene's breath hitched. That bastard. What did she look like? She was wearing a hoodie for crying out loud! What about her outfit said 'prostitute'?
"HEY." she said again.
He stopped. And turned to her with an annoyed look.
"Go over there." she said, pointing to the samoan man currently crossing his arms by the fuel hose about twenty yards away.
He shrugged when they looked towards him. The blonde man chuckled as he put a hand on the grip of his firearm; "Aha.. I think I know what's going on here."
He waved over the samoan man who then began walking over.
Selene's heart started to beat a bit quicker then. Her power wasn't working. At all.
"Uhm... I think there's been a misunderstanding. I'll just head out. Sorry." she went to walk away but the blonde man stopped her.
"Whoa, slow down there. Hey boulder!" he said to the samoan man who walked over to them. "Guess what? Telepath." he said pointing a thumb at her.
"No shit? Thought she was hitting on me."
"You think everyone is hitting on you." the blonde man scoffed.
Boulder gave a confused look for a second.
"..Cause they are? You know—friends are supposed to build each other up but lately all you do is try to take me down a notch. What's up with that man? We cool?"
Selene looked between them awkwardly.
"I'm not a telepath. I was just trying to compare who had the more shady look. Blondie wins. Okay? Okay." she went to walk away again but this time Boulder blocked her with his wall-like body.
"Hey, hey now. Relax. Don't worry. We're not going to hurt you, we just want to ask you a few questions. Come on, let's talk inside."
He moved to put an arm around her shoulder but she ducked under it. Then tripped over a fuel hose.
"Shit!" she said as she fell to her back. She rubbed the back of her head; "Why the hell are there so many of these fuck'n things!"
"Alright, come on." Boulder lifted her up. "let's go."
He guided her towards the ships on-ramp with a hand on her arm. Blondie walked behind them.
"Please let me go..." Selene pleaded.
"Nope. Not happening."
The on-ramp led to a cargo space with many sections of canvas straps that crisscrossed each other forming a net between stacks moss-green crates.
A woman was in there with ebony skin and artificially dyed iris's and hair. Both white. She had a dread pony tail while the rest was buzz shaved. And she wore similar suspenders to Boulder but one of the straps was pulled over her shoulder. A similar white tank top but converted into a crop-top. She also wore a tool belt with a pistol strapped over her toned stomach.
"Who dis?" she asked.
"Telepath." Blondie answered.
"No shit. How?"
"I'm not a telepath." Selene said.
They ignored her.
"She walked up to us and tried to use her non-kinetic powers to steal our ship. Could you imagine? You must be powerful as shit if you think you could pull that off." Blondie said, seemingly impressed.
"Telepaths? Guys, that's a puck conspiracy! Come on!" Selene pleaded.
"First time a telepath actually walked up to us. First time for everything I guess. Alright, let's get her processed." the black woman nodded towards deeper into the ship. There were two doors at the back of the cargo-hold.
They led her through the left, which led down a long hallway. With a ladder half way through that led upwards to a porthole.
Past that, they entered a narrow door that led to a featureless room with a bucket in the corner.
"Wait here." Boulder said and left her.
"No, wait! You can't do this!"
"Sorry, not sorry. Shouldn't of fucked around and you wouldn't of found out." Boulder said and shut the door. It was kind of the thin flimsy pressure doors that shut almost instantly.
Shit! Were they telepath hunters or something? What were the odds!? What were they going to do to her?
She kicked the bucket and it bounced against the wall and began rolling around the small room.
"Okay focus Selene!" she told herself in the thirdperson.
Bryant and Raymond likely saw them take her. They must be doing something. But what? What could they do? Why didn't her abilities work on these guys?
Psionic shielding? But they didn't wear helmets or anything, and besides she thought that took thick plating!
—But truthfully she didn't know much about how that kind of thing worked. Her luck sucked. Really sucked.
The door opened again. With an old woman standing in the entrance. With Boulder, Blondie and the black woman standing behind her. She was so old she was crouched over and used a walking stick. Draped over with a quilt. Glossy eyes.
"..Yep." she said. Then slowly walked away.
Boulder and the black woman gave her a sympathetic look. But blondie seemed pleased with himself.
"Hopefully we'll fetch a high price on you..." he said. "Tell us what your abilities are and we'll feed you on the way to market." he smirked.
"Am I being human trafficked?" she asked somewhat worriedly.
"Afraid so." the black woman said. "But who knows, maybe the buyer will use you to brainwash people or something. Though most of you just go to those black market research freaks who think telepath brains are special. Man, good find Boulder!" she swatted him on the stomach.
He gave her an offended look.
"Why do that? 'Cause I'm big and strong you think I can take it? What if I hit you like that huh?"
"I was just kidding, don't take it so personally jeez. It's not like I hit you that hard."
"See—see that's what I'm talking about. You all think I'm some big lug you can just treat like trash. My therapist told me-"
"Oh goooood." both of his accomplices said at the same time. Blondie close the door.
Selene slumped down against the wall. This was it. She was going to be dissected on the black market. Or sold as a sex slave for some pervert. Or forced to do weird things with her powers of suggestion. It was over.
'Oh wait.' she thought. She could transform. She could... But that would mean killing everyone on the ship. None of them could survive to tell anyone. But who would believe them? 'A bug woman tore us all to shreds.'?
No one. But, then they would go outside and get authorities.
In any case... She'd still have to actually do it. And she didn't know how she felt about that. These were people. With hopes and dreams. Personalities and relationships. Shitty personalities and relationships. But still.
She sighed.
Then her body began to make crinkling sounds as it changed. She grew a few inches taller.
They shouldn't of fucked around if they didn't want to find out.