One in Twelve Thousandth Percent

Chapter 29:

As soon as we get onto the floor, I get this feeling. I look over and notice that Misaki feels it too. We round a corner to find a bunch of armed guards. As soon as they spot us, they draw their weapons. "Yeah, I had a feeling this was gonna happen." I put my hands up. They cuff me and escort us both to the conference room.

Upon entering, Meira shoots up out of her chair. "Wait, I thought she was going to get a chance to prove she's not the space pirate. You're just arresting her on the spot?" Scarlett stares at me. "Yes, I said that. However, the space pirate is extremely dangerous and I don't want to take that chance. So until her innocence is proven, she is to remain in confinement on board the station."

Meira sighs. "Sorry, Kay. But with the recent attacks on space stations, the remaining ones have tightened their security." I roll my eyes as they start to pull me out of the room. "Yeah, I had a feeling that's what this was about." Misaki turns to follow. "Um, Miss Flint, I would recommend against that unless you want to end up sitting besides her." Scarlett stands up. Misaki turns around, fists balled up. She makes eye contact with Meira, who slowly shakes her head no. "Alright, fine. But I get to go and visit regularly until she's released."

Scarlett frowns. "I'm afraid that's not–" She's interrupted by her table and several chairs floating in the air, encased in a blue glow. Her LARGE conference table that seats 20 people. Two other guards point their weapons at Misaki who turns to see me rounding a corner down the hall. Meira holds her arms out. "Misaki, calm down. We don't want any altercations. Please put the table and chairs down. Please don't rage. Just breathe. Think of what this could do to Kay." Misaki takes a breath and puts everything back in its place, then turns and walks off the other way towards the lift.

In the confinement room, the two guards take me to a side room, uncuff me, then stand and stare at me. The first one in front of me and the second behind me blocking the door, weapon drawn. "Okay, you need to change into this outfit. It's standard for all prisoners. We need to make sure that you aren't hiding any other weapons or anything." The first one tosses an orange jumper on the floor in front of me.

I just stare at him. He holds his hands out as if to say "get to it". I stare at him. "You're serious?" He nods. "Can't have prisoners hiding things so we have to watch and make sure." "Ugh. Fine. But just a fair warning, if you even try to touch me, I'll consider that a threat and you'll go down in self-defense." The first nods. "Fair enough. But just a fair warning, if you try anything funny, he'll shoot you." I roll my eyes. Sigh. "Fair."

I take off my boots and socks. Then my capris next. Thankfully the dress comes down just enough. I don't need that today on top of this. I grab the jumper and pull it up my legs. "Hey, ya know. You're kinda cute. How are you a space pirate? You don't look old enough for that." I glare daggers at him. "Now you're asking the questions? Gee, funny justice system you have here."

When I have my lower half covered, I change my top. I can see them staring at me. Ugh, I hope I was never like that. I finish folding my clothes and set them and my boots on top of a shelf. I turn and face them, doing a little spin to say "see, I did it." The second points his weapon at me again. "That too." "Huh?" "The metal glove." I look down at my arm. "You're kidding. That's not a glove, it's my arm. It's a prosthetic. I lost my arm during a mission on Alpha Centauri." I gesture to the left hand as I remove the glove. "This one is a glove. This one is not."

The first shakes his head. "Nope, it's gotta go too. It can be considered a weapon." I stare at him for several seconds. He nods again, urging me to continue. Shit. Oh, shit. This is gonna hurt. I reach up and grasp the locking nut. I close my eyes and take several deep breaths then give it a quarter turn, holding it in place. I hear and feel the click as it unlocks. I take a couple more breaths. "Hurry it up, will ya? Get the gloves off." The first one starts walking towards me. "This one's not a glove, dipshit. I told you it's my aAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" The first guard came over and pulled my arm out, unclasping it from the nerve sockets. I fall to the floor instantly and cry.