Chapter 2 #2
"And," Sara sighed as she glanced at the tense set of Cat's shoulders. "If he refuses to shut up soon, you have permission to knock him out in whatever way is easiest. None of us will get any sleep tonight if he doesn't cease."
"Got it. Maybe some food and water will shut him up." Hunter chuckled, the only one who didn't appear to be going nuts with their guest’s constant antics.
"Be sure to bring some armed men with you.
Remember to slide the food into his cell by using a small section in the force field.
Don't let the whole thing down. I've seen enough Vrak'rir to know they aren't easy to take down if they are let out." Sara didn’t need an enraged Vrak’rir running rampant in her ship.
"You betcha." Hunter said before signing off.
“Let's hope he likes the food." Berg shook his head with a small amused laugh.
Sara chuckled. "You think he could get any more annoying?"
Berg swiveled in his chair and folded his arms as he leaned back in his chair. "I hope not or I'll be joining Cat in shooting him."
"I might join you as well." Sara admitted as the Vrak’rir's voice carried through the cold metal of the ship. It was the same reason why they kept relationships off the ship. Otherwise, everyone on board would know what was going on behind those closed doors.
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The next morning, Sara couldn't help her smile when she walked onto the bridge. Berg had stuffed something into his ears. She squinted, looked like strips of cloth. The Vrak’rir had given them a brief reprieve last night. She assumed because he’d fallen asleep.
Cat turned, eyes blazing as though she might snap at any moment. "Sara, please.” She growled. “You have to do something about that Vrak’rir. I was joking before but now I'm pretty sure I'm going to kill this man if he doesn't shut up."
Sara heaved a long sigh through her nose. “I’ll handle it.”
Doug glanced up from where he sat at his station. "Want me to go with you?"
"Nah.” Sara replied with a shake of her head. “I'll talk with him. Maybe I can get him to agree to be quiet for some time."
"Good luck." Cat mumbled not sounding very optimistic.
Sara turned and stepped back into the lift.
The doors hissed closed in front of her face.
Time to get to work and see if she couldn't negotiate with the Vrak’rir.
Just a moment of peace for her and her crew.
Last night had been pleasant, but once he’d woken this morning, he’d gone right back to his hollering and banging.
The lift seemed to take forever as she listened to the banging. She'd be surprised if the cell wasn't covered in blood with him hammering on the metal walls all day long.
When the lift doors opened, she stepped out and stopped at a comm station, activating it. "Hey, Hunter."
"Captain?"
"I'm going into the brig to speak with our guest. But in case diplomacy doesn't work be ready to inject something... anything into his cell to shut him up."
"Already have something prepared." Hunter assured her.
"Good. I'll keep you informed on how it goes." Sara finished walking down the corridor and walked up to the brig doors. They slid open smoothly and the thumping on the metal walls ceased. At least she now had his attention.
Striding in purposefully with her shoulders back, Sara positioned herself in front of the only occupied cell. "Hello."
Damn. The Vrak’rir was even taller than she'd remembered. Standing, the blue alien brute with his swirling black tattoos and his immense muscles stood at least a foot and a half taller than herself. His very presence radiated intimidation.
Silently, his black eyes scanned over her. His gaze unreadable but dangerous.
"Not much of a talker?" Sara cocked her head to the side as she examined the male before her.
His upper lip pulled back from his teeth as he snarled at her.
"That all you got?" Sara lifted an eyebrow.
"Wait until I get out." He growled at her, his voice low, steady, and threatening. "I'll rip your intestines out through your mouth."
Sara raised her eyebrows, unimpressed. "Impressive image. Too bad it will never happen."
"Believe what you will,” the Vrakrir spat at her. “But I’ll have you bleeding and begging for mercy in a matter of time.”
"Violence doesn't scare me." The tremor of fear that pulsed through her said she was a liar though.
"No?" The Vrak’rir questioned as he prowled closer to the edge of the cell. He stopped right before the force field.
Despite the invisible force field between them, she felt the small hairs on her neck rise. Sara resisted the urge to step back. Unless activated, the force field looked invisible. Her heart sped up in her chest as she leaned her head back to keep him in sight.
"You've been causing quite the racket." Sara kept her arms relaxed by her sides. There'd be no folding her arms. No defensive postures in front of this brute. "I'm here to politely ask you to shut up."
A smirk lifted one corner of his mouth as he raised a fist and pounded on the metal wall, the sound echoing in her ears like a drumbeat.
When he kept it up, Sara glared at him with narrowed eyes. "If you don't cease, I'll allow my ship's doctor to flood your cell with sleeping gas. And I’d bet you wouldn’t enjoy that."
A growl ripped through the air, and she felt her heart rate spike drastically. Fuck. She managed to keep a hold on her composure. The Vrak'rir may scare her, but she wasn’t about to let him see it.
"Put me to sleep female and I'll rip your head from your shoulders when I escape." He threatened.
Sara believed him. "Good thing you won't be getting out any time soon." She remarked. "Maybe you should try being nice. I am the one who gave the okay to bring you on board. Saved your life." With that, she spun on a heel and left him to bellow in rage behind her.
With her hands trembling, Sara headed directly for her quarters.
Thankfully, she didn't run into any of her crew.
She feared her voice would betray how rattled she felt.
Maybe she should have listened to her gut when they arrived at the debris field.
She couldn't shake the feeling she’d accepted the blue devil on board her ship.
Once inside the safety of her cabin, Sara shrugged off her uniform and stepped into her sonic shower.
With the push of a button a blue light enveloped her.
Closing her eyes, she tried to relax and let the tension wash off of her.
Hands still shaking, she ran them over her skin and hair.
Try as she might she couldn't fight the memories anymore.
"Please, Rob." Sara whispered as she held up her hands. "I'm sorry."
"You think that's enough?" Rob raged in front of her, spittle dotting the corners of his mouth. "I hate your pathetic excuses. You're good for nothing, you know that Sara?"
Sara could smell the alcohol on his breath. It seemed to permeate the air around him as if the smell leaked from his pores.
"Rob, please."
"Stupid fucking woman." Rob lunged, his hands wrapping around her neck.
A tear streaked down Sara's face, and she wiped at it with the back of a hand.
Rob couldn't touch her anymore. Well, she assumed he'd never find her, but he was still out there. Lurking. Floating around. She doubted he’d forgotten about her.
She'd changed her appearance and escaped her ex-boyfriend's clutches when he’d finally been put in jail.
Sadly, no one had discovered the brutality he dished out to her.
No, instead, he'd been imprisoned after a bar fight.
She'd packed up her stuff and left as soon as she’d been notified.
Sucking in a breath, Sara refused to think about it. Rob wouldn't find her, and she wouldn't let this damn Vrak’rir scare her. No. She was done with men walking over her. She was a captain now... sure it was a rusty metal heap, but it was hers, and she'd earned it.
The Vrak’rir was like her ex. He used his power to scare and intimidate just like her ex. If she could survive one, she could survive the other. She refused to allow any one that kind of power over her again.
At least, she didn't hear the Vrak’rir pounding on the walls or hollering up a storm in the brig. Time for her to go and get some rest.