I haven't got an ending to I am the Kracken yet, but it's been forever since I posted, so here's something I'm working on for my dear friend Tracey.
It was dark on the ship. Jason was grateful that all the main lighting systems weren't automated, because that would draw attention, but he had expected some kind of dim power-saver mode. This ship wasn't like the expensive cruisers he'd managed to sneak onto in the past, and the silent darkness was beginning to make him second-guess his decision. The ship seemed dead, and dead ships weren't so easy to take on little unscheduled trips. He fumbled his way to the main control room, relieved to find a maintenance hatch in the roof was open and letting in light from the docking area. He ran his hands over switches, trying to get the ship to wake up. His mind drifted to the reason for his urgent need of a vehicle – he'd taken a sketchy courier job for some sketchier people, and when the job went south, he found himself owing more than he could pay to some powerful guys. He had to get off-world. There was nowhere on Earth he could hide, so borrowing this run-down old cargo ship seemed like the best option.
"You can't steal this ship, you know."
"What!" Jason jumped as a female voice broke the eerie silence. He spun to look, but he could only see her outline in the darkness of the corridor. "I wasn't... This isn't..."
"I know what you were doing. I was alerted as soon as an intruder stepped foot on my ship."
"No security, my ass," Jason muttered under his breath, making a mental note to knock some sense into Cove, his contact at the docks. The lights flickered to life and he gave a sly grin. Walking towards him was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She wore a simple black silk evening dress which flowed down the curves her body right to the floor and had on a necklace and earrings that sparkled so much they must have been expensive. She'd clearly been out at a party and was called back to her ship by whatever passed for an alarm system on old rust-bucket.
He relaxed and gave her his charming rogue smile. "Why wouldn't I be able to steal it, pretty lady?
The woman glared, burning with an anger that seemed to shimmer outward in powerful waves. "Because it doesn't run unless I want it to," she growled.
Jason felt the uncontrollable urge to run, but his back was against the control console. He eyed the door behind the woman in panic, wondering if he could dart past her to escape.
She must have seen his terror, because her face softened and she completely changed her tone. "Come here." She beckoned him forward and took a seat on a nearby chair.
Jason found himself drawn towards her, and when he was directly before the dark beauty, her pleading brown eyes met his.
"Why are you trying to steal a spaceship anyway? It's not something you'd be able to keep."
"I need to get off this rock," he told her, feeling uneasy about her sudden mood changes.
"Where did you want to go?" She touched his hand lightly and he stared down at the place her delicate fingers met his skin.
"Anywhere ..." he breathed. "... Everywhere."
"Why not just get a seat on a passenger liner?"
Jason slid out of reach of her entrancing touch and gave her a pointed look. "Would I be stealing if I could afford a ticket out of here?"
"If you're willing to steal, why not just steal enough to buy a ticket? It would doubtless cause you less trouble."
"I … didn't think this all through. I just need to get away."
"Fine then." The woman returned to her feet, her voice suddenly businesslike. "What are you willing to do to get a place on this ship?"
"You want to take me with you?"
"I always need extra crew." There was an unreadable look in the woman's eyes, but Jason didn't much care about her intentions. The most beautiful woman he'd ever met had made an offer and his mind was already made up.
There was a knock on the door and Jason threw aside his blanket and jumped to his feet. From the moment he awoke, he had no trouble remembering why he found himself sleeping on a cold metal floor in a storage room, and had been lying waiting for this knock for about an hour.
"I'm decent!"
The truth was, he'd slept in his clothes. Tracey had warned him the night before that she didn't want to see him in any state of undress when she came to collect him in the morning, and he didn't want to chance her throwing him out before they had a chance to get going. The lock clicked and the door sprung open. Jason could only stare at the dark-haired goddess who stood there, giving him a warm smile as a morning greeting. He didn't think anyone had ever been so happy after spending the night in what was basically a cell. The woman managed to have a glamourous authority about her, even wearing a simple skirt and baggy shirt. He didn't know how she managed to look as amazing in it as she had the night before in the evening gown. He couldn't bring himself to make any movement without her permission.
When she saw Jason wasn't going to return her smile, Tracey rolled her eyes and turned her back on him. "Come on, I'll introduce you to the crew before we set off this morning." She took a step, then paused, looking over her shoulder. "And bring your bag, they'll show you to your actual room."
Jason threw his backpack over his shoulder and the blanket over the top and trailed out of the door behind his new captain. He removed his gaze from her back long enough to watch the walls he passed. While from the outside, the ship had looked beaten down, the inside was well kept. Steel walls shone so bright he could almost catch his reflection in them, and every few steps its smooth surface was punctuated by a brilliant piece of art. His excitement grew when he thought about how he was going to visit the alien landscapes he saw depicted, to be amongst the foreign cultures who created the sculptures that leant their colour to an otherwise bland hallway. It was more than he had ever dreamed he would do with his life. This ship, the Mishka, may as well have been a luxury liner, because the adventure and escape it promised was going to change his life.
Tracey paused in an open archway and glanced back to him, the look in her eyes slightly wary. She turned back to the doorway and made her announcement.
"Gentlemen, meet our new crew member, Jason."
Tracey moved further into the room and out of Jason's way. As he stepped inside the clean metal kitchen, he realised he'd been expecting something specific from Tracey's crew, because the men who leered up at him were nothing like he had imagined them to be. He had to wonder why such a stunning woman would surround herself with such people.
There was a large, burly man whose face was contorted in a permanent scowl from the scar running down the length of his face from a sewn-up eye socket to his jaw. He only lifted his head to give Jason a glance before waving his hand and returning to his bowl of cereal.
"So what'd he do?" asked a short, bearded man who was leaning on the doorframe at the other side of the room.
Tracey laughed. A light, airy sound that made Jason want to make her laugh more. "He was more brazen than any of you. He tried to steal my ship."
The fourth member of their crew, a tall guy with rippling muscles and a heavy forehead that pushed a pair of incredibly bushy eyebrows into his eyes, paused with his spoon halfway to his mouth. The short guy in the doorway was laughing.
"Brazen indeed," the muscle-bound guy's deep voice boomed with a sort of admiration before his utensil resumed its trajectory to his mouth.
"Why did I have to have done something?" Jason folded his arms across his chest, self conscious about looking like the criminal type.
The short guy gave another laugh. "You think you're a special guy, to be asked to join this crew after you're caught doing something nasty? We're all here for that reason." He gave a smirk. "This aint the good ship of saintly souls."
"What did you do then?" Jason turned to Tracey.
Tracey just gave a secretive smile and turned, her skirt swishing through the air. She left the room without answering his question.
"That, my friend," rumbled the muscled man, patting the seat beside him. "Is the saintly-est woman you'll ever meet. Rehabilitating criminals is what she does. She's never done the crimes herself."
"Technically, I didn't either." Jason said as he took the seat offered.
The short guy laughed more as he took the space across from Jason. "You may not have been able to do that one, kid. But if you're here, you've 'techinically' done your own fair share of naughty deeds."
Jason's face flushed and he filled his bowl with soup. "So, what do we do on this ship?" he asked casually.
"Oh, you know. Packing and loading. We do a lot of private transport. Hope you're up for it." The muscle man put a large hand around Jason's tiny bicep. "Though you may be able to help out more than mighty mouse."
"Hey," the small guy said dangerously, getting slowly to his feet. "What did I say about using that nickname?"
"That you'd renounce your newfound good ways and stick him with a knife in his sleep," the one-eyed man waved a piece of toast. "Now both of you shut up. How's this one supposed to turn over a new leaf with you two acting like common thugs? Lady Tracey certainly wouldn't be happy with your behaviour."
Both men simultaneously grunted agreement then mumbled apologies. Jason was stunned. He was sure that was about to turn into a fight, but they seemed placated by the very mention of Tracey's name.
It was dark on the ship. Jason was grateful that all the main lighting systems weren't automated, because that would draw attention, but he had expected some kind of dim power-saver mode. This ship wasn't like the expensive cruisers he'd managed to sneak onto in the past, and the silent darkness was beginning to make him second-guess his decision. The ship seemed dead, and dead ships weren't so easy to take on little unscheduled trips. He fumbled his way to the main control room, relieved to find a maintenance hatch in the roof was open and letting in light from the docking area. He ran his hands over switches, trying to get the ship to wake up. His mind drifted to the reason for his urgent need of a vehicle – he'd taken a sketchy courier job for some sketchier people, and when the job went south, he found himself owing more than he could pay to some powerful guys. He had to get off-world. There was nowhere on Earth he could hide, so borrowing this run-down old cargo ship seemed like the best option.
"You can't steal this ship, you know."
"What!" Jason jumped as a female voice broke the eerie silence. He spun to look, but he could only see her outline in the darkness of the corridor. "I wasn't... This isn't..."
"I know what you were doing. I was alerted as soon as an intruder stepped foot on my ship."
"No security, my ass," Jason muttered under his breath, making a mental note to knock some sense into Cove, his contact at the docks. The lights flickered to life and he gave a sly grin. Walking towards him was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She wore a simple black silk evening dress which flowed down the curves her body right to the floor and had on a necklace and earrings that sparkled so much they must have been expensive. She'd clearly been out at a party and was called back to her ship by whatever passed for an alarm system on old rust-bucket.
He relaxed and gave her his charming rogue smile. "Why wouldn't I be able to steal it, pretty lady?
The woman glared, burning with an anger that seemed to shimmer outward in powerful waves. "Because it doesn't run unless I want it to," she growled.
Jason felt the uncontrollable urge to run, but his back was against the control console. He eyed the door behind the woman in panic, wondering if he could dart past her to escape.
She must have seen his terror, because her face softened and she completely changed her tone. "Come here." She beckoned him forward and took a seat on a nearby chair.
Jason found himself drawn towards her, and when he was directly before the dark beauty, her pleading brown eyes met his.
"Why are you trying to steal a spaceship anyway? It's not something you'd be able to keep."
"I need to get off this rock," he told her, feeling uneasy about her sudden mood changes.
"Where did you want to go?" She touched his hand lightly and he stared down at the place her delicate fingers met his skin.
"Anywhere ..." he breathed. "... Everywhere."
"Why not just get a seat on a passenger liner?"
Jason slid out of reach of her entrancing touch and gave her a pointed look. "Would I be stealing if I could afford a ticket out of here?"
"If you're willing to steal, why not just steal enough to buy a ticket? It would doubtless cause you less trouble."
"I … didn't think this all through. I just need to get away."
"Fine then." The woman returned to her feet, her voice suddenly businesslike. "What are you willing to do to get a place on this ship?"
"You want to take me with you?"
"I always need extra crew." There was an unreadable look in the woman's eyes, but Jason didn't much care about her intentions. The most beautiful woman he'd ever met had made an offer and his mind was already made up.
There was a knock on the door and Jason threw aside his blanket and jumped to his feet. From the moment he awoke, he had no trouble remembering why he found himself sleeping on a cold metal floor in a storage room, and had been lying waiting for this knock for about an hour.
"I'm decent!"
The truth was, he'd slept in his clothes. Tracey had warned him the night before that she didn't want to see him in any state of undress when she came to collect him in the morning, and he didn't want to chance her throwing him out before they had a chance to get going. The lock clicked and the door sprung open. Jason could only stare at the dark-haired goddess who stood there, giving him a warm smile as a morning greeting. He didn't think anyone had ever been so happy after spending the night in what was basically a cell. The woman managed to have a glamourous authority about her, even wearing a simple skirt and baggy shirt. He didn't know how she managed to look as amazing in it as she had the night before in the evening gown. He couldn't bring himself to make any movement without her permission.
When she saw Jason wasn't going to return her smile, Tracey rolled her eyes and turned her back on him. "Come on, I'll introduce you to the crew before we set off this morning." She took a step, then paused, looking over her shoulder. "And bring your bag, they'll show you to your actual room."
Jason threw his backpack over his shoulder and the blanket over the top and trailed out of the door behind his new captain. He removed his gaze from her back long enough to watch the walls he passed. While from the outside, the ship had looked beaten down, the inside was well kept. Steel walls shone so bright he could almost catch his reflection in them, and every few steps its smooth surface was punctuated by a brilliant piece of art. His excitement grew when he thought about how he was going to visit the alien landscapes he saw depicted, to be amongst the foreign cultures who created the sculptures that leant their colour to an otherwise bland hallway. It was more than he had ever dreamed he would do with his life. This ship, the Mishka, may as well have been a luxury liner, because the adventure and escape it promised was going to change his life.
Tracey paused in an open archway and glanced back to him, the look in her eyes slightly wary. She turned back to the doorway and made her announcement.
"Gentlemen, meet our new crew member, Jason."
Tracey moved further into the room and out of Jason's way. As he stepped inside the clean metal kitchen, he realised he'd been expecting something specific from Tracey's crew, because the men who leered up at him were nothing like he had imagined them to be. He had to wonder why such a stunning woman would surround herself with such people.
There was a large, burly man whose face was contorted in a permanent scowl from the scar running down the length of his face from a sewn-up eye socket to his jaw. He only lifted his head to give Jason a glance before waving his hand and returning to his bowl of cereal.
"So what'd he do?" asked a short, bearded man who was leaning on the doorframe at the other side of the room.
Tracey laughed. A light, airy sound that made Jason want to make her laugh more. "He was more brazen than any of you. He tried to steal my ship."
The fourth member of their crew, a tall guy with rippling muscles and a heavy forehead that pushed a pair of incredibly bushy eyebrows into his eyes, paused with his spoon halfway to his mouth. The short guy in the doorway was laughing.
"Brazen indeed," the muscle-bound guy's deep voice boomed with a sort of admiration before his utensil resumed its trajectory to his mouth.
"Why did I have to have done something?" Jason folded his arms across his chest, self conscious about looking like the criminal type.
The short guy gave another laugh. "You think you're a special guy, to be asked to join this crew after you're caught doing something nasty? We're all here for that reason." He gave a smirk. "This aint the good ship of saintly souls."
"What did you do then?" Jason turned to Tracey.
Tracey just gave a secretive smile and turned, her skirt swishing through the air. She left the room without answering his question.
"That, my friend," rumbled the muscled man, patting the seat beside him. "Is the saintly-est woman you'll ever meet. Rehabilitating criminals is what she does. She's never done the crimes herself."
"Technically, I didn't either." Jason said as he took the seat offered.
The short guy laughed more as he took the space across from Jason. "You may not have been able to do that one, kid. But if you're here, you've 'techinically' done your own fair share of naughty deeds."
Jason's face flushed and he filled his bowl with soup. "So, what do we do on this ship?" he asked casually.
"Oh, you know. Packing and loading. We do a lot of private transport. Hope you're up for it." The muscle man put a large hand around Jason's tiny bicep. "Though you may be able to help out more than mighty mouse."
"Hey," the small guy said dangerously, getting slowly to his feet. "What did I say about using that nickname?"
"That you'd renounce your newfound good ways and stick him with a knife in his sleep," the one-eyed man waved a piece of toast. "Now both of you shut up. How's this one supposed to turn over a new leaf with you two acting like common thugs? Lady Tracey certainly wouldn't be happy with your behaviour."
Both men simultaneously grunted agreement then mumbled apologies. Jason was stunned. He was sure that was about to turn into a fight, but they seemed placated by the very mention of Tracey's name.
