Strange Days Pt. III

 “All the best stories are but one story in reality – the story of escape.” – A. C. Benson.

Thanagherion slotted the fake id chip into the implant port on her back, the one that allowed her to scrub her current identity and assume whatever was on the chip. She closed her eyes for a second and reviewed the information. She was quite sure the net was tightening and she needed to get out of that station without raising suspicions.

With her new identity she bought herself a Rifter class frigate. It was fast and hardy enough to make a retreat, if she wasn’t identified. If she was, nothing could really stop the sort of firepower the Imperial Navy would bring to bear. And the Imperial Navy would be hunting her after killing at least one of their subjects.

She knelt by the girl again and got the sweaty blonde bangs away from her eyes.

‘Listen honey, I can get you out of here, but I need you to stay calm a bit longer, ok?’

The girl nodded and wiped her tears away, slowly getting up, but never completely leaving her defensive posture.

‘Ok, so this is how it is going to happen: This implant will wipe whatever identity you have now and set you up with a new one. I don’t think you have a backup of your original one, so know that once this is done, whoever you are will be no more, it will be gone, most likely forever.’

The girl looked defiantly in Thanagherion’s eyes and snatched the chip from her hand and slotted it in with no hesitation, a hint of a defiant smile blossoming on her lips.

‘What’s your name, honey?’

It took her but a few seconds to answer that, but Than could see her trying to come up with something new - ‘From now on? Moira…’

‘Ok, so… Moira… take this neocom. There’s a map there that will guide you through the ducts right to a ship. You’ll have clearance. Get on the passenger seats and lock the door!’

‘What about you?’

‘You run and don’t care about me… I’ll be there. Now go! Take the pistol, just in case… and give it to me when you get on the ship and say “green was always your color” to which I’ll reply “a pity I’ll need to change the grips”: it will be our password, ok? If that doesn’t happen just run and try to find yourself another way out. Sorry… this is all I can do. Now you have to do your part for your freedom’

Moira… That was her new name. She didn’t know where it had come from. It was just on the tip of her tongue. She also didn’t know why she should trust this stranger who, a few hours ago, was just going to help her master keep her in bondage. Maybe she didn’t, maybe this was just another test and her master would be waiting for her and would beat her senseless again, but she would take whatever chance she could get to be free, to get away.

After Thanagherion watched her slipping away into the ducts, she proceeded to rig the door with the explosive. This vanishing act would have to be timed perfectly… just a capsuleer dying while rigging a booby trap. Everything so damaged no one would go to the trouble of looking for a slave girl. The trick was clone jumping at just the right time, without her neocom. Rigging the dead man’s switch was the surest way to do it… still, it wasn’t fool proof.

She sighed and contemplated how strange was for her to leave it all to fate.

A few days later…

‘You’re free now.’ Thanagherion said, walking down the promenade on the Gallentean Station. ‘I’ll make sure that identity has no flaws and you are good to go, but… You know, you’ll need a job now… I could use an assistant. The pay isn’t bad as long as you can live with my quirks, so if you are up for it I can use someone who’s determined… and knows the weight of power.’

‘Thank you’ Moira replied shyly.

‘Is that a yes?’

Moira just smiled and walked with a light step, contemplating her new future.