Editing Devil His Due
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'''Kuiper II class, ''Summer’s Gift'' '''<br> | '''Kuiper II class, ''Summer’s Gift'' '''<br> | ||
'''Bivouac, Miranda'''<br> | '''Bivouac, Miranda'''<br> | ||
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'''01:47 hrs, local time'''<br> | '''01:47 hrs, local time'''<br> | ||
<br><br> | <br><br> | ||
| − | The repairs continued and the long list of things left undone dogged my waking hours. I worked like a demon to get through it, despite the heat onboard and off; despite the lack of fabrication tools, now slowly acquired and installed in the aft lounge. Despite the need to baby my arm and the rest of the crew keeping me honest about it. In the week immediately after landing on Miranda I cheated on Arden’s orders whenever I could get away with it, first with the shuttle repairs and later with the | + | The repairs continued and the long list of things left undone dogged my waking hours. I worked like a demon to get through it, despite the heat onboard and off; despite the lack of fabrication tools, now slowly acquired and installed in the aft lounge. Despite the need to baby my arm and the rest of the crew keeping me honest about it. In the week immediately after landing on Miranda I cheated on Arden’s orders whenever I could get away with it, first with the shuttle repairs and later with the Gift. We were now five weeks back from Pala and the healing cut still bothered me, and the combination of the heat aboard the ship and the steady ache from the injury conspired to keep me awake long after I’d retired for the night.<br> |
An hour’s vain tossing to get comfortable saw me without a wink of sleep or a scrap of patience left, and I rose from my bunk exhausted and irritable. My shoulder protested. I ignored it. I was hot and sore, and remembered the water we had in the galley fridge.<br> | An hour’s vain tossing to get comfortable saw me without a wink of sleep or a scrap of patience left, and I rose from my bunk exhausted and irritable. My shoulder protested. I ignored it. I was hot and sore, and remembered the water we had in the galley fridge.<br> | ||
''One bottle'', I thought. ''Just one and maybe an aspirin and I’ll check over that refit in the engine room.''<br> | ''One bottle'', I thought. ''Just one and maybe an aspirin and I’ll check over that refit in the engine room.''<br> | ||
I stood in nothing but the barest minimum for modesty: jog bra and exercise shorts. It was too hot to don a robe or even a shirt. ''Hell with it. If the cameras catch me, then they catch me. Maybe it’ll kill the series and we can finally kick Jake’s cameras off our boat. For that, I’d happily go naked.''<br> | I stood in nothing but the barest minimum for modesty: jog bra and exercise shorts. It was too hot to don a robe or even a shirt. ''Hell with it. If the cameras catch me, then they catch me. Maybe it’ll kill the series and we can finally kick Jake’s cameras off our boat. For that, I’d happily go naked.''<br> | ||
The corridor was dark and empty when I quit my quarters, the emergency lighting dim and red. It was enough to see my way to the galley, little though I needed it. Of late I’d walked the length and breadth of this ship half conscious from overwork and could find my way around it blindfolded. The water was where I’d expected it and the cold bottle felt sinfully good against my forehead. I closed the fridge and leaned against the counter, warming that bottle as I moved it to my neck.<br> | The corridor was dark and empty when I quit my quarters, the emergency lighting dim and red. It was enough to see my way to the galley, little though I needed it. Of late I’d walked the length and breadth of this ship half conscious from overwork and could find my way around it blindfolded. The water was where I’d expected it and the cold bottle felt sinfully good against my forehead. I closed the fridge and leaned against the counter, warming that bottle as I moved it to my neck.<br> | ||
| − | | + | So damned hot aboard... I unscrewed the cap and took a long pull, relished the path the water made down my gullet, chilling my insides. I’d make my way aft in a minute, as soon as the water did its job. If I worked a couple hours more, I might be exhausted enough to sleep despite the heat. One or two items on that list put to bed and then I’d turn in.<br> |
I padded silently back to my quarters. After a month of constant repairs and round-the-clock shift changes, we’d learned to sleep through any incidental noise made in passing. As Nika once remarked: ''busting our tails to get the ship fixed, making sure we’ve got enough food stores for both on the ground and shipboard when we manage to get her up and running, and taking turns watching the comatose patient so Arden can sleep too....'' That had become our routine and I made my way as quietly as possible. ''Gonna need my heavy kit. Been seeing a lot of use with that one lately.'' I knelt before the bunk drawer where I’d taken to stashing my tools and started packing my bag, moving slowly to avoid waking the others.<br> | I padded silently back to my quarters. After a month of constant repairs and round-the-clock shift changes, we’d learned to sleep through any incidental noise made in passing. As Nika once remarked: ''busting our tails to get the ship fixed, making sure we’ve got enough food stores for both on the ground and shipboard when we manage to get her up and running, and taking turns watching the comatose patient so Arden can sleep too....'' That had become our routine and I made my way as quietly as possible. ''Gonna need my heavy kit. Been seeing a lot of use with that one lately.'' I knelt before the bunk drawer where I’d taken to stashing my tools and started packing my bag, moving slowly to avoid waking the others.<br> | ||
“Rina, don’t make me hit you over the head with something,” Nika grumbled from my door.<br> | “Rina, don’t make me hit you over the head with something,” Nika grumbled from my door.<br> | ||
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“Christ, Nika, I’m sorry,” I said, meaning it. “I’ll just be a minute and then I’ll get to the engine room. I’ll shut the door and you won’t hear a thing.”<br> | “Christ, Nika, I’m sorry,” I said, meaning it. “I’ll just be a minute and then I’ll get to the engine room. I’ll shut the door and you won’t hear a thing.”<br> | ||
I quickly zipped up my bag and rising from the deck I slung the strap without thinking around my neck. It hit my collarbone and the pain nearly made me crumble. I disguised it, making a show of adjusting the strap and slipped past Nika. The sooner I got to the engine room away from prying eyes, the better.<br> | I quickly zipped up my bag and rising from the deck I slung the strap without thinking around my neck. It hit my collarbone and the pain nearly made me crumble. I disguised it, making a show of adjusting the strap and slipped past Nika. The sooner I got to the engine room away from prying eyes, the better.<br> | ||
| − | “What is it?” Nika shot a hand across the door and blocked my path, her blue eyes narrowing. Even mostly asleep, those eyes of hers missed nothing. “You winced. Is your arm still giving you trouble? And ''' ''this | + | “What is it?” Nika shot a hand across the door and blocked my path, her blue eyes narrowing. Even mostly asleep, those eyes of hers missed nothing. “You winced. Is your arm still giving you trouble? And ''' ''this'' '' is not resting.” She pointed at my bag. “Arden said if you don’t quit pushing it, you’re going to do permanent damage, Rina. Is that what you want? Cuz then you could be stuck with no freakin’ fingers to tinker with.” <br> |
“Arden worries too much,” I shot back, hot and sore and none too careful with my tone. “Can’t sleep. Too hot. Might as well be useful. Go back to bed. Everything’s fine.”<br> | “Arden worries too much,” I shot back, hot and sore and none too careful with my tone. “Can’t sleep. Too hot. Might as well be useful. Go back to bed. Everything’s fine.”<br> | ||
I ducked her arm and strode aft.<br> | I ducked her arm and strode aft.<br> | ||
It was warm on the ship, a consequence of keeping the power low to preserve it, and most of us chose the cooler environs of the hospital when we slept. Even so, there were occasions when sleeping aboard was unavoidable based on duties upon our waking. Mine had me aboard pretty constantly, thus my current difficulties. My tools bounced on my hip as I went and I slapped a hand on the bag to still their clanking. The last thing I wanted was a dressing down from the others who might be present. Hearing it from Nika was bad enough. I keyed the lock sequence on the engine room door and shoved it open when it clicked.<br> | It was warm on the ship, a consequence of keeping the power low to preserve it, and most of us chose the cooler environs of the hospital when we slept. Even so, there were occasions when sleeping aboard was unavoidable based on duties upon our waking. Mine had me aboard pretty constantly, thus my current difficulties. My tools bounced on my hip as I went and I slapped a hand on the bag to still their clanking. The last thing I wanted was a dressing down from the others who might be present. Hearing it from Nika was bad enough. I keyed the lock sequence on the engine room door and shoved it open when it clicked.<br> | ||
''Get some work in my hands and I’ll be fine. Morning’ll be here before I know it. I’ll take another cold shower then.''<br> | ''Get some work in my hands and I’ll be fine. Morning’ll be here before I know it. I’ll take another cold shower then.''<br> | ||
| − | Nika didn’t follow me inside, which suited me fine. I heard her move | + | Nika didn’t follow me inside, which suited me fine. I heard her move aft and put her out of mind. I closed the door and got to work.<br><br> |
“Stubborn bitch…” I heard Nika grouse a moment later. “Use this. If your temp’s normal, I’ll leave you alone. If it’s not, you’re outta here.”<br> | “Stubborn bitch…” I heard Nika grouse a moment later. “Use this. If your temp’s normal, I’ll leave you alone. If it’s not, you’re outta here.”<br> | ||
| − | I hadn’t heard the door open and Nika’s unexpected arrival made me jump, and I lost the wires I’d fished from the snake’s nest overhead. I slammed my hands against the console undercarriage and swore, and pulled myself to my feet. | + | I hadn’t heard the door open and Nika’s unexpected arrival made me jump, and I lost the wires I’d fished from the snake’s nest overhead. I slammed my hands against the console undercarriage and swore, and pulled myself to my feet. I saw what she held, a thermometer, and I let her have it.<br> |
| − | “You can shove it up my frikkin’ ass! ''Go away, I’m busy.''” | + | “You can shove it up my frikkin’ ass! ''Go away, I’m busy.''” |
“Don’t. Tempt. Me.” Her voice ground out in the heated air between us. “You have two seconds, and then I’ll just get Arden in here to eyeball your stubborn ass.” She held the thermometer out, pursed her lips and gave me the look.<br> | “Don’t. Tempt. Me.” Her voice ground out in the heated air between us. “You have two seconds, and then I’ll just get Arden in here to eyeball your stubborn ass.” She held the thermometer out, pursed her lips and gave me the look.<br> | ||
I knew that look. I hated that look. <br> | I knew that look. I hated that look. <br> | ||
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I couldn’t move. God help me I couldn’t move. Fire bathed me head to toe. Barbed wire dug through my skull, winding tighter and tighter, shredding my brain until it leaked from my ears, poured from my mouth, choking me. Molten metal had replaced my bones, searing me from the inside out. My collarbone was the worst, melting down through my throat and chest, cutting off my air, slicing me in two. <br> | I couldn’t move. God help me I couldn’t move. Fire bathed me head to toe. Barbed wire dug through my skull, winding tighter and tighter, shredding my brain until it leaked from my ears, poured from my mouth, choking me. Molten metal had replaced my bones, searing me from the inside out. My collarbone was the worst, melting down through my throat and chest, cutting off my air, slicing me in two. <br> | ||
| − | Incredibly I could still see, albeit hazily, and Arden stood over me with his scalpel. Light gleamed on the blade as it descended and I tried to dodge the killing stroke I knew was coming. Hands held me down, red-hot branding irons impaling me to the table, and I screamed, I gibbered, I sobbed for mercy, for deliverance … for oblivion.<br> | + | Incredibly I could still see, albeit hazily, and Arden stood over me with his scalpel. Light gleamed bright on the blade as it descended toward my neck and I tried to dodge the killing stroke I knew was coming. Hands held me down, red-hot branding irons impaling me to the table, and I screamed, I gibbered, I sobbed for mercy, for deliverance … for oblivion.<br> |
The scalpel found my flesh and I got what I begged for.<br><br> | The scalpel found my flesh and I got what I begged for.<br><br> | ||
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| − | + | '''Go to'''[[Devil His Due, Part 2|''' ''Devil His Due, Part 2'' ''']] | |
| − | + | <br> | |
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'''Go to''' [[Marina Kseniya Sebastien | '''Rina's Crew Page''']] <br> | '''Go to''' [[Marina Kseniya Sebastien | '''Rina's Crew Page''']] <br> | ||
| − | '''Go to [[EPISODES]]''' or '''[[ | + | '''Go to [[EPISODES]]''' or '''[[Mutineers Timeline, Season One| TIMELINE]], Season One''' |
