“It is not natural to be separate or above those you serve, our father forgot this when he created you. For you to fight for humanity, you must still be human for your deeds not to lose their meaning to arrogant warmongering.” Chapter 1 / Part 2
“Where are we going mylord?” Jenna asked in her thick, low gothic accent.
“Topside,” the Apothecary said matter of factly. “Your wellbeing is vital to our revival. You bare the future and as such I must insure your health so I am taking you to the Apothecarium.”
Jenna didn't know what an “Apothecarium” was but something about his statement gnawed at her. Thinking it best to not question him at this time she instead simply followed behind her armored master while marveling at the clean gleaming lines of this section of the ship.
“Is everything this nice up here?” Jenna asked.
“No,” He replied. “Most of “refuge” is still as torn apart as your home sections I suspect. But now that we are free of “the eye” the Regent has seen it best to direct our skills to rebuilding. I have been overseeing the refurbishment of this section for those who have faithfully served the lance.”
It took a minute before the full meaning of Almos’s statement sunk in. Once it had a look of joy came across Jenna’s face. All she had ever known was the decayed and cramped quarters of the lance clans and the thought of living in such splendor was beyond any of her most wildest dreams.
“Jenna, if I may pry,” Almos continued changing the subject. “What were you doing so far from your home? I chose these decks because they, though close to the guns, were breached and left to the void till recent. Only the sullied and exiled live so close to the outer hull and I can see you are neither so it leaves me to wonder why you would venture so far from your home.”
“It’s personal,” She replied trying to be a vague as possible. “One who wronged me lives among the sullied and I had hoped to disguise myself and confront him.”
“And your reason for entering into an area clearly marked off limits?” Almos continued.
“The pleasure gangs,” she said. “The provisioners send them into the lesser areas to collect pit fighters and joy girls for their clients. I had the misfortune to run into one.”
Jenna didn’t know where this line of questioning was going but hoped it would end soon as the unpleasant thoughts of her recent past, and unhealed wounds were still raw. Thankfully Almos seemed satisfied by her responses and asked no more. Instead the two remained silent for the final few minutes of walking till they arrived at the entrance to a travel tube.
Jenna’s was surprised to see the hatch closed. In the rest of undership, all of the tube doors were broke open in some fashion or another to allow free access. Wanting to help she stepped forward intent to show her resourcefulness when a voice from above her said “Please step away, lift coming.”
Jenna hopped back in surprise and look around for the source of the voice. As the message repeated itself two more times, she found it was coming from a small box at the top of the hatch. Confused she looked to Almos for clarity and saw the amusement of his face.
“Patience Jenna, things are different here.” he told her as they waited.
Soon sounds of rushing air and moving metal began to emanate from behind the hatch slowly rising to a crescendo before suddenly ceasing. Once the noise died, Jenna could hear a single voice of a man singing somberly. Seconds later the hatch rolled away of its’ own accord revealing the tunnel interior Jenna had been expecting had been replaced with a cylindrical room filled with seats.
Almos motioned for her to enter and once they were both inside the Apothecary looked at the only other occupant of the small room who sat in front of a set of controls. He was an older man with grayed skin and breaded black wires emanating from the back of his shaved scalp which were attached to a dull metal box mounted to his upper back. Seeming to take little notice of his two new passengers he continued to sing his praises to the Emperor while they climbed aboard.
“The main Apothecarium choiremen, no stops.” Almos said before turning his attention back to Jenna.
The Choiremen paused his singing for a moment as if thinking before he responded, “Astarte override confirmed, Apothecarium, no stops.”
With his orders the driver began a new hymn while working the controls and seconds later the hatch to the hall they had come from closed. Jenna felt the whole room begin to move and unused to such things she sat down quickly upon the nearest seat gripping the armrests tightly as a wave of anxiety washed over her. As the minutes passed and the feeling of acceleration and deceleration did little to ease her nerves, but the reassuringly calm demeanor of her new lord was comforting enough for her to began to relax. As she did a thought that was cooking in the back of her mind finally came to the forefront and needing explanation.
“My lord what did you mean by I “bare the future” ?” she asked.
“I speak of your unborn.” He replied.
The words seemed to echo in her mind. She has been so consumed with her new surroundings that she had assumed his comment must have been in some reference to her clan and had completely misunderstood this vital remark until now. Thoughts of her mother speaking of child sickness came to the surface as the realization of her new situation left her in a state of numbing confusion. At only fifteen cycles she was young but knew she was well within the birthing age and a new type of fear grew within her replacing the now missed emotional void.
“Do you know who the father is?” Apothecary Almos asked kneeling down to be closer to eye level with Jenna.
“I think it is a man from da provisioners named Antonio.” Jenna said as tears fueled by the waves of despair and dread that rose within her fell from her cheeks.
“We was in love, or at least I thought.” Jenna began. “My parents said I was too young for courtin, but I let him convince me to sneak off to some place anyway, you know and be intimate and all …But that’s when he found us.”
“He?” Almos asked.
“Some worthless trash who have forsaken the oath of the crew.” She said. “A thug with cold lifeless eyes and a touch dat made my skin crawl. He said he takes what he wants, and on that night it was ...”
Rage flared within Almos as in the acquard silence that followed volumes were said between the two. A face that was once joyous was now red with tears and the raw emotion Jenna now felt sparked something Apothecary Almos he thought lost as an Astarte with centuries of service to “the Emperor”. He saw the pain in Jenna but knew he had no way to cure it. Without knowing why the impulse of this battle hardened instrument of “the Emperor's” wrath was to open his arms wide and as he did Jenna fell forward into his broad chest hugging it with all her might.
“He overpowered us then bound Antonio before..,” Jenna paused to collect herself then continued. “He made Antonio watch the whole time….”
Jenna stopped again not wanted to completely lose it in front of Almos and needed no further explanation he gave her the silence she needed.
“When he was done he just left,” she said. “I thought Antonio was so strong you know? A man of means who could…. but he just sat their once I freed him, curled up like a rat in lamp light, scared to move...”
“He couldn’t even look at me after that. Jenna continued. “I was the one who had been violated but all that wretch could talk about was the shame he had to bare as we went home. It was almost worse than da attack, the gall of that prick...
A burst cold of rage had filled her voice. Almos was glad she was displaying such strength in her sharing. As she continued to weep Almos felt a change within himself as well. Emotions left to wither began to bloom as kindness flowed from his heart that for so long had only known hate and regret.
“I had a swear, swear not to tell anyone of the attack before he took me back… Then he left. Refused to answer any of my voxs. Can you believe that? He said he would make right, but instead da bastard just, left me...”
Jenna fell silent after that, lost in the emotion of it all. As the two continued on no more words were needed as they glided through the transport tube sweetly serenaded by the choirmen who guided them. Almos gently, held the young Jenna as he stroked the back of her head with the pointer and middle fingers of his right hand. Each sharing in the passion while lost in the moment as only two human hearts can.
