L'appel du Vide

Chapter 2

"So, tell me again how you ended up in Federation airspace in a foreign craft, Miss?"

Evelyn ignored him, continuing to shovel the food before her into her face. It had been a solid fifty hours or more since she'd eaten, and she wasn't going to stop just because some asshole captain wanted to ask her questions. Rapidly disappearing was the smorgasbord of food she'd requested from the officers of the USS Discovery. Even if they were assholes, she had to admit they were feeding her well.

"I didn't tell you in the first place," she said around a mouth full of chewed-up food.

The man nodded before sliding into the seat across from her. They were in a meeting room of some sort, which suited her just fine. At least it wasn't a cell, yet. He pressed his arms onto the table in front of him, folding his hands over one another.

"Will you at least tell me your name? I'm Christopher, Christopher Pike," he said a few seconds later.

She just kept chewing. Maybe if she ignored him long enough, he would disappear. Then she could pilfer some fuel cells and get back to the pod. By the size of this ship, though, she might have trouble finding her way around. It wasn't as large as the Eclector, but it was far larger than the M-Class ship she had claimed as her own. Thinking of her ship heaved a sigh from her chest. She would probably never see it again. Glancing at him and his unwavering stare, Evelyn rolled her eyes. She might as well get it over with. If she didn't, they would run her DNA or retinal scan, and she would pop up as a missing Earth citizen. That was drama she didn't need.

"Evie Obfonteri," she finally said, again around a mouth full of food. Ravagers didn't need table manners. "Can I shower soon?"

Christopher pursed his lips together, obviously trying to figure her out. "Once you're finished eating, I can arrange that – as long as you answer my questions, of course."

Evelyn shrugged. "It'll be your problem soon. I don't have to smell myself."

"How old are you?" he asked. His head was still shaking as if he didn't believe she was really talking back to a Starfleet Captain.

"Old enough," she snapped.

"I'm not so sure about that, Miss Obfonteri. If you're done, let's get you a shower."

Evelyn snatched up a piece of Mapa Bread and her mug of coffee to follow Christopher closely through the hallways of the ship. She was comforted by the fact that he didn't have her in chains yet but the security detail that followed them a few feet behind indicated that chains were not out of the question. The meeting room was on the same deck as the quarters he led her into. Her eyes caught on the few sparse personal effects of the room, concluding that this was the Captain's Quarters by the picture of him with a set of parents on the desk near her.

"Help yourself to the washroom, and the replicator can produce you clothing. Don't try anything foolish, please, Miss Obfonteri," Christopher said. He waited for her to nod her acceptance before striding out the door.

Before it could slide closed behind him, Evelyn caught sight of the security officers standing on either side of the doors. Once alone, the walls seemed to close in on her ever so slightly. There was no way to get herself out of this one, it seemed. Instead of dwelling on her own issues, she stuffed the last of her bread into her mouth and asked the computer for a set of new clothes. Tiny beams of light turned into a pair of black pants and a long-sleeve t-shirt, with underwear neatly folded on top. This was one thing she could absolutely appreciate about Starfleet. Humans really knew how to make something from nothing, and soft human clothes would be much more comfortable than her Starforce uniform.