Cage

by Jessie Rose Case

  His levels told him he was worried. Worried for the female. He held back from contacting her over a data pad powered by his ship. One of his men would have to pass her one of his. She would be annoyed he’d taken control of the situation again. Why had he done that?..... Logic didn’t give him any answers. But his data did. It was likely he feared for her safety. Did he?...... more emotion bleeding through. He had acted impulsively again. Something Cyborgs did not do. They weighed up all information and made informed decisions. But that hadn’t happened here. He’d been rash. His heightened emotions throwing him off. His need to protect the female had been strong. Too strong. It was becoming a problem affecting his decision making. He didn’t need the reminder. He was on dangerous ground with the female. His need of her was electric and in equal measure, he kept angering her. Why?.....

  ***

  Marlea walked the ship. Reassuring her crew. The vid clock kept ticking down. Every minute passed with no alert was a relief. She couldn’t sit there and look at that damn clock any longer and needed to do something. She walked. Talked to her people at their standby points. Reassured herself that medical was ready for what might come. Engineering was manned and ready. Her people fully armed with no problems. Carrying her own weapons openly she talked with everyone she came across. She hoped it helped. This wasn’t their doing. She knew some would have reservations going against the company. But they all knew the company was ruthless.

  She came out of the refectory having grabbed a sandwich. Other’s had had the same idea and they’d chatted a bit. Small talk, some anxiety. What you’d expect when waiting on the unknown.

  She glanced at the vid screen 3 hours 37 minutes and counting. She’d be a wreak before this was over….

  ***

  He felt the ping on his neuro net and opened the connection. Incoming. Long range sensors detected three signatures coming this way. Identical tag to the company ship.

  Cut all engines. How long to interception?

  Current speed 3 hours 11 minutes

  Three ships. More than Marlea had thought they were worth. They were serious about wiping out any evidence. He’s logic told him if they were same configuration as Marlea’s, 3 would be a challenge.

  Make us dead in space. Make them think we are as affected as their craft.

  Affirmative.

  He didn’t need to tell them to keep scanning. It was far from over.

  ***

  Bane came looking for her, he found her talking to Egar, handing her a data pad he told her Cage had to speak with her.

  Marlea opened the data pad and waited for Cage to come up on the screen. How bad was it?... she wondered.

  Cage’s face appeared. “Marlea we have three contacts three hours out. They’re your companies.”

  They’d sent 3 ships?.... Damn they were serious about shutting everyone up…… She glanced at Egar. He was surprised. She looked back at Cage. “They are not going to like that you are still here. I never told them that.”

  “I’ve shut all systems down except our scanning ability and communications. We’ll look as dead as you are. Until they start a fight.”

  Marlea knew Cyborgs were good but three ships?...... “Can you take three ships?” she asked worriedly.

  “We… will take the three ships if we have too. The Empire is on its way. The minute they drop out of folding space we’ll have them.”

  She nodded, yeah but when would that be….. Then Cage glazed over for a moment and looked over her head, she turned, and Bane was glazed over too. This couldn’t be good…. She looked back the screen. Cage’s eyes cleared. “What?” she asked anxiously. His stare penetrated through to her. He was worried too.

  “Three more ships on long range scanners. Different direction and signatures. Similar to our pirates.” Fuck that was six ships. They couldn’t handle six ships!..... He knew their limitations. They didn’t have the hardware to take on six ships. “They won’t know who is who. We can use that to our advantage,” he told her. “Make them think we are part of the other.”

  Marlea could see that. She nodded and swallowed. “How long?” surprised at the strength of her voice.

  “About the same time.”

  “We’ll be ready.” She told him. The data pad when blank. She handed it back to Bane and looked up at him. They were all so damn tall. “I’m going to need that reboot as soon as possible, engines and weapons hot.”

  He gave her a slow nod. “You’ll have it.”

  Time evaporated. She spent those three hours informing her people of what was coming. It hadn’t felt good at all. Finally, with nothing more she could do, Egar joined her on the Bridge waiting for whatever would be. They had a plan. If the reboot didn’t work and they’d not been boarded, deck by deck they would evac to Cage’s ship and stand or run depending on where they were at. If they’d been boarded then the fight would be hand to hand and everyone would move back to the loading dock to get everyone off. She really hoped it didn’t come to that. She didn’t want to lose anyone else.

  Suddenly the vid screen came alive. The Cyborgs had patched into their ship so she could see what was going on. Long range scanners brought the ships up for her to see. Still over an hour to go until the reboot. Cages voice could be heard over their communications. “The company ships are sending out an automated message asking for you to step down and prepare to be boarded.”

  Marlea was so stressed she laughed. “Not fucking happening,” she called out.

  His system registered pride in the stance Marlea was taking. She wasn’t giving up without a fight. They waited for them to get nearer. Another blip showed on the vid screen. Coming in from the east. He relayed the information as before. “Three more ships incoming with no ID the pirate signature. They are also sending out a message. ‘You are ours’.”

  Marlea had an idea. “Have they seen each other?”

  Cage shook his head. “It is unlikely they do not have the technology we do.”

  “Good. Can you send the message from the companies ships to the pirates and visa versa?”

  “You want to make them think they are fighting each other?”

  Marlea grinned. “Yeah, is it possible?”

  Cage glazed over, then his eyes cleared. “We will see.”

  They watched as both sets of ships continued towards them. Marlea held her breath waiting to see if it would work or not. There was no way they could take on six ships. Then the company’s ships moved and changed trajectory. The pirates followed suit. They were now on a collision course. Marlea couldn’t stop the grin that ran across her face. Her sense of relief almost bowled her over, but it was tinged with the guilt of putting others in harm’s way.

  “Do not feel guilty.” Cages voice came over the vid screen. She could see him so he could see her. “They would have carried out their orders to kill you all and have stripped that ship of any incriminating evidence, my brothers would have been lost to us.”

  Marlea frowned. She knew that but it didn’t make it any easier. “There will be humans on the companies ships taking orders, not knowing the full story. They are innocent.”

  “No they are not. If they take lives, there is no innocence. We will find out soon enough when we engage what is left. Reboot in 1 hour 4 minutes.”

  Damn it. Still an hour to go!.... It played out like an old movie across the vid screen on the Bridge. The moment the battle started they had a front row seat. It looked fairly even. Three ships on three ships. The pirates not as organised but more reckless. The company ships organised and more precise in their attack. Marlea was routing for her own people but knew if they won, she was still in trouble.

  So engrossed in the battle it came as a surprise to finally hear the words, “Reboot in 3,2,1.” Marlea pulled her eyes away from the vid screen and watched the computer screen loading all the ships systems. As each one locked in she looked to Bane. He gave her a nod. Ok good so far….

  “I need ship wide communications.” His eyes glazed over then cleared and
gave her a nod. “This is the Acting Captain,” it was being echoed via Cages ship. She ignored it and carried on. “We are rebooting the system now. Once everything is reloaded and checked there will be a complete shut down once more as we reconfigure the systems. That is the point where we will know if this risk was worth it. Assuming all systems come back online. Given a green light we will do running checks to make sure the virus is clear. Then each department will be told to fire everything up. If we are dead in the water, I will inform you to take action.” She gave Bane a nod and the communications closed down.

  She turned back to the battle. The pirates were using the same tactics they’d used on hers. Each side getting good hits. Debris was littered around all the crafts. Fire’s raged. Laser guns fired.

  From her view point Marlea thought the pirates were winning. Cold seeped into her. She gripped the console and turned to Bane. “Are the pirates willing?” He gave her a nod. Shit… An array of small craft left two of the pirate ships and headed in their direction. Boarding parties. Looked like they’d made a decision to take them all on thinking they were dead. She looked back at Bane. “How long to completion.”

  “22 universal minutes.” Marlea looked at the screen. Fuck…. They’d be here before that.

  She looked at Cage on screen and gave him a smile whispering the words ‘thank you’. He didn’t look happy. She nodded. “Fire it up Cyborg, games up.” She didn’t need to tell him how long it would be before she found out if the ship had life or not. He’d already know via Bane.

  He pointed at her across the vid screen. “You stay alive female.”

  Marlea smiled once more. “I intend to.”

  He looked from her to Bane and the other Cyborgs on her Bridge. “Bane.”

  “We will protect her with our lives.”

  Cage looked sharply away. She couldn’t see what he was looking at. Off-worlders left his ship and put up a perimeter around both their ships. Minutes ticked away, the ships getting nearer. The battle with her company ships still raged on in the distance. Everywhere she looked there was a battle going on. People fighting for survival. How the hell had it come to this?.......

  “Incoming,” roared Cage over the vid link.

  Her ship went black. Shit… The reboot.

  She looked over at Bane highlighted by the computer screen in front of him. The curser glowing green. It was now or never. She watched the curser flashing, waiting. Then it held green.

  “Systems reboot complete. Activating all systems.” The computer called out over the address system. Joyous cries sounded over the Bridge.

  The weight off her shoulders was immense. Cage….. he was on his own with no support. Marlea’s chest constricted. She needed to be with him. Support him. Sweat broke out as she anxiously waited for the all clear. It was taking too long. “Bane!”

  She looked at him going over the systems a line of code at a time. Then he ran a few tests. She wasn’t sure what he was looking for but hoped to the gods he didn’t find it. They needed it to be working and now.

  He looked over and gave her a nod. Thank god!....

  “Get me firing options on those ships. Ship wide communications.”

  She’d never been so glad to hear the word, ‘affirmative’ in her life.

  “This is the Acting Captain. The ship is clear of the virus. All systems are a go. Bring engines online and firing options are being relayed. We are under attack people the Cyborgs ship is covering us. Battle stations. End message.”

  The Bridge vid screen came back up. This was hers not relayed from Cage’s ships. She could see he was trying to protect them but leaving gaps in his own defences. “Cage pull your people back. We are fully working and armed.” His off-worlders moved. “Navigation bring us in a firing line with the Cyborg ship. Defences target those ships.” It wasn’t difficult to see they were looking for holes to get through. Her ship was hit. “Ship wide communications.”

  “Affirmative.”

  “Fire at will! End communication.”

  “Keep it together people, we’ve got this,” she cried out across the Bridge.

  From the corner of her eye she saw Cage get hit. Her heart pounded and she stopped breathing. His eyes came to hers. He gave her a nod. She blew out the breath she was holding. He was ok but taking more hits that her. Then she saw the main battle break up on the vid screen. All three pirate ships turning, coming towards them. Damn it…. She hoped some of her people had survived that attack.

  The reality of if they could move, they weren’t that damaged hit her. She glanced over at Cage once more. Her fear for him hit her as she saw the same in his eyes for her. His focus was split between her and the battle. The reality was she couldn’t help him. Not from here. Her ship had barely survived one ship attack, standing and fighting wasn’t an option. It hadn’t worked before, it wouldn’t work now. “You need to recall your men and leave. Now.” She told him. Several of her people turned to look at her. They knew they had no chance without the Cyborgs. “Back to work. Find me solutions to this.”

  His ship rocked. “I’m not leaving female.”

  She turned her attention back to him. “Stop thinking like a human. Yes you are. We might be able to take them, but you have your cargo to think of. Logic Cyborg. Its too high a risk.”

  He slammed his hand down on the console. “I am not leaving you.”

  “Then I am. We are dead weight in this battle and splitting your attention. If we’re lucky they will follow us and you can regroup when the Empire arrives.” She heard his roar of NO as she called out to Band. “I’m ordering you and your men off my ship effective immediately. You have five minutes to exit. I thank you for what you’ve done.”

  Cage stood so fast on the screen his seat fell back as he kicked it away. “You do not leave her Cyborg I have your word. Do not break it.”

  Another hit caused him to lose balance.

  “Get to your ship,” she told Bane again. “Navigation, we’re getting out of here. Plot me a course to the nearest haven.”

  “NO,” Cage roared again. “Do not leave me.”

  She looked at him sadly while she spoke to Bane. “Bane you need to leave, or you’ll be stuck here.” Cages eyes flashed to Bane and back again.

  “Female do not do this.” Cage sounded distraught. It pulled at every heart sting she had. But it was the right move. She knew it and so did he.

  “No choice.” She told him firmly. “Without us to protect you can fight them off. Navigation. Mark present position and those of the company’s ships. Engines full power when I ask for it and kick it.”

  She knew he would let them all be killed rather than leave her. It was an act of love. One she wouldn’t allow. “Last change Cyborg.” She told Bane.

  “I’m staying.”

  Cage was raging in the background as hit after hit attacked his ship, she was pulling his attention from the battle and he was leaving himself open, for her. That wasn’t good. His ship rocked again.

  She called to him. “Cage.” He focused on her. Love you, she mouthed. “Navigation, punch it.”

  Cages roar ended as the ship slipped into hyper drive and was gone.

  ***

  She’d told him she loved him and left him. He’d seen it with his own eyes. Heard her words and still, he couldn’t believe it. Turning to the battle now staring at the three new ships bearing down on him, he shut down any emotion he had. He had to stop them following her and then, he had to find her. That meant removing the threat and killing every fucking thing out there.

  ***

  “Navigation. Were we followed?”

  “Negative.”

  “Drop us out of hyper space.”

  “We haven’t reached our destination.”

  “I know.” The ship dropped into normal space. “Plot a course back to those company ships. I want to be in front of them and behind the pirates when we arrive.”

  “We’re going back?” someone asked.

  Marlea looked at all her pe
ople. “Yes, that’s right we’re going back. We don’t leave our friends behind. I never intended to cut and run but it had to look good. There was no telling who was listening. Now get me the co-ordinates and get us back. Weapons hot, I want all guns firing the moment we drop into normal space. We’ll have a nice surprise for them.”

  She looked over at Bane. He was smiling. She flicked her hand at him. “Get me what I need to kick some pirate ass.”

  ***

  He was taking hits left right and centre. His logic told him the female was right. Her presence, her ship, had compromised his ability to fight. He was comforted by the knowledge that Bane was with her. Again illogical, but it was there in his data stream he couldn’t deny it. Cold hard reality came crashing in the minute she left him. He’d spent decades learning to fight to survive. Now he used it to bring them down. “Pulse cannons online. Fire at will.” They fought viciously waiting on the new threat to arrive. They’d had it on long distance scanners but not seen it yet.

  Incoming, his security officer called out over his neuro net.

  I know that. Cage gritted his teeth.

  No, new incoming. Behind the pirate ships.