War Prize

Chapter Two: KATIRINA

        I had only been to the command deck a few times during the decade that I have lived aboard the ship. Nothing had changed over the course of time between each visit. To describe it simply it is a vast metal room filled with nothing but the essential supplies. There was a large screen mounted against the farthest wall projecting images of the space out side in order to evade crashing into any space rock that might damage the ship. Directly below the screen sit the pilot, navigator, and translator. They do as their title suggest, switching with their partner whose title are the same every twelve hours.

        Behind them sits the commanders chair up on its pedestal. The chair is only used by my master. Furnished with the finest leathers and plush cushions it is truly beautiful. But like all beautiful things, it can become tarnished by those who control it.

        At that particular moment my master was siting on the edge of his seat bouncing his leg nervously. The action took me by surprised. My master has always had himself flung across the leather seat as if he were a king whenever I visited . I had never before seen him in such a tense state, he seemed almost nervous. I didn't have a chance to scan the rest of the room as my master looked up from his gaze at the floor. His beady blue eyes snapped up at the sound of the door opening completely, landing on me. I noticed the look of relief flash across his face before I lowered my eyes to the floor.

        "Thank you, Thistle. Please join the others." I listened to my masters slow speech directed to the girl who had released me from my isolation. My ears twitched aching to hear the other voices in the room that spoke at too low of an octave for me to translate to sensible words. "Katrina... Come!" he said in the same slow voice. I was far more curious than before when the words didn't come out as sharp as usual. 

        I walked over slowly, as if I were approaching a predator. His hand was being held out for me. When I came close I could see the stains on his fingers. His bones were bent and crocked, for years of cracking his knuckles. His fingertips were stubbed and pealing, from him biting his fingernails. I hate his hands, more than I hate his feet or his face in general. They were a cruel set of hands, that always have cruel intentions. With a twisted stomach and a heavy heart I lifted a hand of my own, placing it in his.  His grubby hands clamped down around mine and jerked me to him. I stood sideways in between his parted knees. One of his hands still gripped mine while the other rested lightly on my hip to keep me in place.

        "Do not move unless I say otherwise." My masters voice growled low in my ear. His grip on my hand tightened ever so slightly in warning. I gave a small nod, my voice having fled with my courage. The silence in the room was thick and obvious. My master cleared his throat, "Gentleman. Might I ask once more why you board my ship with such hostile actions?" 

        The silenced that followed was even quieter than before, now pregnant with the underlining question on everyone's minds... Why did you attack this ship?  I shall admit even I was curious as to the reasons. 

        I glanced at the men from beneath my eyelashes. They stood in a spread out huddle, I could see a comfortable trust that connected each of the men together as if by invisible strings. They each wore dark combat clothing, patched with an unfamiliar symbol that was displaced proudly over each of their hearts. My eyes studied each man analyzing their body structures, and weaponry. Most held laser pistols, some held plasma guns. The most interesting was the lone man who carried only twin bladed strapped to his back. My lips twitched finding his choice odd compared to his companions. 

        I lowered my eyes once more to study the ground. The master gripped my hand tightly reprimanding me for my wandering eyes. He cleared his throat again. "DO. YOU. REQUIRE. A. TRANSLATOR?" He asked slowly as if he was speaking to a four year old.

         "No thank you. We speak the same dialect as you. " One man said briskly. I could feel the tension causing the air to buzz slightly. My masters anger was beyond boiling. 

    "Then when I ask a question I require an answer immediately following." He snapped. Continuing to mutter loud enough for all to hear him utter, "Verdammt Barbaren."  His slurred native tongue caused me to flinch. I didn't understand fully what he had said but I could tell by his tone that it was a foul insult towards the men. 

           I could feel the tension in the room grow. A different tension filled the air causing the hairs on the back of your neck to stand up. Someone had entered the chamber unnoticed. I could feel their eyes directed at the master, who now sat stiff in his seat.

            "I suggest you watch that courageous tongue of yours." A dark husky voice growled from the entrance door. I could hear the metal of the door slowly slide back into place behind the new comer. "Some might be tempted to cut it out for such an insult."     

            My master ever so slightly pulled me closer to himself. "Who are you to question a captain of a vessel such as this." 

        A dark chuckle echoed through the command deck. It was a dangerous sort of chuckle that caused shivers to run up my spine. I turned my head slightly to get a glance at the newcomer. He was dressed in the same clothing as the others, with both a pistol and a sword as his weaponry. He looked tall even from a distance. With an elegant grace to his lean body structure. His facial features coincided with his body type. A firm chiseled jaw with a light dusting of a beard. A slightly crocked but relatively straight nose. His cheek bones gave his face the dimensional angles to make it beautiful. His eyes... His eyes were unknown, shadowed in darkness. Only showing a slight shine in their inky depths. 

        I dropped my gaze again not wishing to be caught starring by such eyes as his. I listened to his light footsteps as he moved farther into the room, stopping feet from myself and the master. "MY sincere apologizes. I had mistaken you for a shameless pig..." I could hear the disgust in the strangers voice, it was laced with a deadly anger. "I do not believe we have been acquainted formally. I am James Solon the Third. You may call me Prince Solon." The stranger all but growled at my master. 

        "Your Majesty my deepest apologize. I had no idea you were in this sector of the Calian unit." I could feel my masters nervousness as he clutched me tightly. 

        Another chuckle echoed from the prince. "That may be true." The prince said slowly. "Because I do not hold proof as to otherwise you shall live.But.." He paused slightly.  My master was shacking slightly. "Everything shall now enter my custody.... Even that petite little girl you are clutching to you so tightly." My eyes widened slightly. Me. This mysterious prince was referring to me. I glanced at my master to judge his reaction. His beady eyes were narrowed slightly as he stared down at the prince.

             I knew that look. It was the look he wears when I use my abilities. When I kill for him.