Bend Around the Wind by Scyllaya

Chapter 8: The Pirates of the Cassiopeia

Chapter Eight

The Pirates of the Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia Galaxy

Shedir System

Open Space

They stayed in their hiding place for a long time. Long after the ship's engines roared to life and they took off from that wretched planet. He would be lying if he said he didn't give a sigh of relief once they were on their way. Stark was sitting right beside him, their shoulders touching, since there was not much place behind the crates, the human's attention waning, but he was still alert. Loki did not know yet whether he would need him in the disposal of the ship's crew, but it was better to have him ready. He wanted to wait until they were far enough before making his move, but he had no idea how fast the ship was. He would have to guess.

'How long are we gonna stay here?' Stark asked very quietly.

'Eager?'

'Thirsty.'

'Soon. We should be far enough in a little time.'

'How's this gonna go then?'

'We move quietly, search through the ship and kill them, preferably one by one.'

'Kill them,' Stark repeated slowly and something in his tone made Loki look at him.

'Yes, kill them. What did you think we were going to do?'

'I don't know,' Star shook his head. 'But I don't like this.'

Loki resisted the urge to scoff. He was expecting this sort of sentimentality. This made all those noble "heroes" so infuriatingly annoying. That they let their personal emotions and irrelevant moral codes prevent them from doing what was needed to be done. They refused to make the necessary sacrifices for the greater cause, but always threw themselves into the arms of Death. Brave valiant champions, but as soon as a greater sacrifice was needed they backed down, hiding behind shields made of false ideas and rules. Fools, all of them.

'I care not, whether you like it or not, Stark,' Loki said in a quiet but firm tone. 'We need this ship, so we will take it.'

'Maybe we could take it without-'

'Without what? You did not seem to mind to kill before.'

'That was different! They held us captive, they fucking tortured us, but the crew on this ship had nothing to do with that. They are not involved, they're innocent.'

'Innocent? How would you know that? Maybe they're all smugglers, or thieves and murderers, who butcher and rape across the galaxy.'

'Or maybe they're not.'

'You really think that innocents would use that aerodrome we just came from, that innocents would bargain and trade with those filthy beasts that inhabit that planet? Would they be welcomed in the docks of a planet in such a shady part of the universe, if they would be so very harmless? Are you that naïve? Or are you trying to play hero again?'

Stark stared at him with fierce angry eyes.

'Look at it this way, Stark,' Loki continued. 'If we leave them alive they will take us back or they alert The Other and his men.'

'Maybe they won't. Maybe they would help.'

'Are you really willing to take that risk?' he asked. 'Risk going back there, into that filthy hole and the hands of The Other? Think. What would happen if you are taken back? How long would it take them to completely break you, to strip away your sanity along with your skin? They will not let you die, you know that, oh no, not until you told them all your secrets, sold out your planet, your race, your friends. They would keep you alive for years if they have to. And in the end you would even forget who you are. You'd be nothing but a broken puppet in their hands, trembling at their feet while your world burns. Think about it, Stark.'