The Birth of The Unity (sequel to Chronicle of Nautilus)

Chapter 9: The Uncertainty of The Distant Future

"Give me a lift, will ya?" said the pharmacist and pointed to a finger at the top shelve.

The little woman and the giant stood in a two-meter wide corridor stretching for tens of meters. On each side of the corridor mounted on the walls were three-storied storage shelves. Far, by the entrance a dusty magnetic fly pad rammed a wall. Too lazy to charge the thing every day, Nikki rather would climb the shelves like an angry monkey cursing the difficult life she had to endure. Today she was glad there was someone to help her but it did not show up on her frowned face.

Jason lifted her up by the waist and held high. "To the left," murmured the woman and he walked with her to the direction until she said, "That's it. You can let me down now."

Upon landing, she pointed her finger at a glass jar in her hand. A printed paper label was glued to its side.

Nikki said, "See? It's all empty now. The bastard took it all." Her tone was filled with anger.

Jason replied, "What and whom are you talking about?"

"The box was full of pills and now it's empty. He made me give them to him. He makes me give him all the crap he wants. That shit he asks for is dangerous, not meant to be used by anyone." Nikki's eyes closed, legs bent and she succumbed to the ground.

Weakness showed up on her face. She turned pale. Sitting on her knees, all upset she mumbled, her words incoherent, with long pauses,"I can't talk or think about him because this happens. He infected my head with smoke. I am missing memories, can't remember his face. It is as if I only saw him as a walking shadow.

"I use a strong hallucinogen to counter the effects he put on me. Those are quite fun pills, throws you into some serious dream world." She wet her sour lips with a tongue. "I am already addicted to it, but my memories are returning slowly. Soon I will be able to identify the bastard and point him to the captain. He will pay for everything he did to me." Her face was wet from perspiration. She got up, pushed the drugs on the first shelve to the sides and sat down on it.

"The stuff he took, scopolamine is a nasty thing. It is used to control people, makes them forget things. Hell, I bet he even gave it to me.

"I know what you see looking at me now. But you should know I am quite tough, my mind is strong. Even though he gave me that drug, it would not explain how I can't remember even a glimpse of his face or features. It's as if he had put a spell on me."

His brows knit, hands crossed, Jason listened attentively. He disliked the woman from the first time he put his eyes on her today. But was she a terrible person or was it the drugs and the mystery person who made her like this? He tried to imagine her unharmed, being kind and having a soft voice. The picture did not materialize in his thoughts.

The small woman turned her head to the side, pointed eyes to the ground and went on, "Even if I destroy myself with the counter pills I will see though the shadows and identify him. Nothing messes with Nikki and gets away unpunished, no one. Glad you came to me mountain man. Can't see that on my face, but I am glad."

Jason replied, "Why didn't you tell me or Adam about it earlier?"

"Are you joking? Why would I risk it without having any solid information? If he saw me wandering around the ship, visiting strange places I am not meant to, do you think he would not put an end to my miserable life?

"Everything I told you is confidential. Don't speak to anyone but captain about this. I don't know what the right course of action for me was when I got into this mess and I don't know now.

She put her head into her palms and said, "Shit. Shouldn't have spoken about him so much. It hurts. Argh!" She fell to the side and continued, her speech interrupted by moans, "It's as... if he can feel... that I am thinking about him... I need to stop. Go away." She waved her hand. "Come to me another day. I need to rest. I will just lay down here." She lay down and closed her eyes. "And have a nap. Everything should be fine once I get up. Now leave!" She waved her hand. "Go away."