Author's Note:
I have most of this written but wanted to see if anyone liked it before I finished it. So please let me know what you think.Disclaimer:
I do no own the characters seen in the movies only the ones that you don't recognize.I've always loved space and the mysteries behind it. I've always wanted to explore its depths to find the answers to all its secrets. Now, now I wonder what the hell was I thinking? Space to me now is cold, dead, out to get you. I look at it as if it holds the keys to my escape but won't give them up. So what now? Hmmmmm……let me explain.
The planet I use to live on was one of beauty. Sure it had its parts where you didn't want to venture in after dark but that comes with everything. Whenever things got bad at home I could always escape to the place where I felt most alive and stay there until I felt like there was no stopping me. I went there a lot usually just to think and be my own person. But then there were other times where the only place I could go to escape was my mind.
There are still times when my mind wanders back to that planet, where I grew up. I was so naïve, so young, so unready for what was about to come. And I didn't even know it. Didn't know that my childhood, my adolescence was almost up.I was 17 when they came, them being rogue warriors looking to upset the universe. So they started with our planet and with it came a whole bunch of wars, that will never end. They started at one end and worked their way through. They went through homes taking what they wanted, destroying whatever crossed their path. They got to our home about two weeks after they landed my parents being the snobs they were thought that they didn't exist. That they wouldn't set foot upon our house if it was true. I wish that was the case. It was about 4 in the morning when they came. I was up stairs sleeping when I woke to the sounds of screaming, the smashing of windows, the voices of monsters. My creeping down the stairs did nothing to distract them from the two huddle people in front of them.
"Give me one reason why we should spare you?" The biggest man out of the five mumbled. I heard my mother's weeping felt her sorrow but couldn't move.
"My daughter, you can have her. Leave us be!" He yelled and my stomach fell. I never felt such betrayal, such anger. I felt the vibrations on the stairs but I still couldn't move, couldn't even scream when they grabbed me dragging me down."Ahh quite a beauty you got here. What do ya think boys?" He laughed holding me up."She'll do." The huge one said. I shook with fear at their words, didn't know what else to do."No! Let her go she's done nothing!" My mother's screams filled my ears and brought me back to the matter at hand."Shhh…" My father whispered to her, "We can have more, when the times right." That was the first time I felt hatred it ran like fire through my veins."Take her back to the ship for some fun. We'll finish up here." The gruff one said as I was carried over one of the monsters shoulders into the darkness which engulfed us. I never flinched when I heard the gunshots or when I felt the lick of the flames at my back. I glanced back just once to see the house burning falling apart but I looked at it as my future. It wasn't going to be as bright as the house I slowly lost sight of.
My eyes have never seen so many ships, there must have been thousands lined up side by side all massive in size. I was carried into one of them and shoved in a room with nothing but a bed to keep me company. The coldness of the room chilled me to the bone and made me shiver even harder if that was possible. I sank to the floor in tears hoping that what ever came through the door would kill me before the 'boys' came home. Something came through the door alright except it came complete with a syringe and ties. That's when I started to struggle when it all finally sunk it. But it was to late, the needle sank below my skin before I could utter a single word.
I'm not really sure how long I was there, maybe a year or two until they finally got tired of me. They dumped me off on a planet called Tuensen where I was found by another. My mind and body were still intact from all the abuse. I was usually beat a lot for not doing what they asked and was only touched by the leader but their were exceptions.. It could have been worse but yet I will always carry the memories of my time there.
I didn't know what to do. I had no credits, no food, only the clothes on my back and no clue where I was except the damn planets name. It felt wrong to be walking around, I was so use to being chained and drugged that I forgot how good it felt just to walk. Then I started running damn did it hurt but I kept going until I dropped to my knees out of breath. I noticed lights, looked to be a city not so far away so I got up and started towards it hoping that maybe this time I might have a chance.
It took about two hours to reach the bustling city. People were everywhere, buildings lined the streets inviting you to come inside. I walked the streets waiting for the right person to come by so I could start my hunt. I never had to pit pocket but I learned quick, I had no other choice. So I waited until I found my victim. I picked right up on the way he walked, it set him apart from all the others. His head was held high as if the people around him weren't good enough to be there. I made my move and slammed right into him, finding his wallet right on the inside of his suit.
"Sorry." I muttered hiding the wallet in the back of my pants.
"Watch it next time." He huffed walking off but I caught his next line."They'll let anyone walk the streets today, even the lowlifes what a world." He mumbled.'Well this lowlife has your wallet and life savings bastard.' I thought with an eerie smile.The wind picked up and I walked away with a new vengeance.
The first thing I went for was a place to sleep not caring where but I thought why not go for luxury? So I found a ritzy hotel and got a room for a couple days. I didn't miss the shock on the guys face when I handed him the credit chip.
"I've been shopping so much lately I can't quite remember how much I have left." I gave him a smile leaning over the counter a little bit.
"There's about 200, 000 left on this account but there are three more under this card with about 100,000 in each."
The room was very nice. It looked like a small apartment, with everything you could possibly need. Before enjoying anything I got to work moving the accounts. The computer was voice activated which made it a lot easier for me. I loaded the credit chip into the side and told it to move accounts. It took a little longer than I would of liked but the damn accounts didn't even have passwords. So the computer took the money and asked where I wanted it. I put the money all in one account and I could access it anywhere. It loaded the information all back on to the new credit chip and it was ready to go. Couldn't of been easier.
That was the beginning of my new freedom. Although I wasn't quite sure of how to be on my own, never done it before. I was making it up as I went along. What else could I do? The dark still got to me. I had to have a light on or I would go insane thinking that something was lurking in the shadows waiting to snatch me up. I was always kept in the dark when I was on the ship with 'them.' I was left with fear, and insecurity which kept me company all night.
I was on my own for another two years before my life took another sharp turn. Eventually I got an apartment right outside of the city with only the basics. Trying my hardest not to touch the money I found a job in a seedy bar dead in the middle of the city. Wasn't the best job but at least it was one. Of course I could only get the night shift and with it came the assholes. I was only 21, well that was my guess, but felt way ahead of my years. I've impressed myself that I've survived as long as I have.
Dealing with the guys who thought they could have me also was a learning experience. I started working out and making sure I was in my top physical condition so when the time came I could protect myself. It was in such a situation where I met him.
It was late or early, depends on how you look at it, and I was closing up. I heard the door open but never looked up thinking it was the owner just checking up. Instead I was faced with three drunks with a hard on. I tired to play it off.
"We're closed boys see the sign?" I told them continuing to wipe down the counter.
"We saw the sign. But we want to have a little fun." The closest one said to me, the others laughed starting towards me. 'Time to go, move your ass!' my mind screamed as I ran for the back door. I knew I couldn't handle all of 'em but I reached for my knife anyway. I got outside and stood my ground waiting for them. I was taken many times but not anymore. They barely made it out the door before shots rang out. My heart was going a mile a minute, shock was the only work that came to mind. Footsteps interrupted my thoughts as I looked to my left preparing to defend myself."Whoa! Easy there I'm not going to hurt you." The stranger told me walking towards me with his hands in the air. I didn't put my knife away, nor did I take my eyes off him.
"What's a pretty little thing doing out here at 5 in the morning?" He was about two foot away from me, made me uneasy."Working." was all I gave him and he came even closer."Where do you live? I'll take you home." I backed away from him looking for my exits, only saw one and he was standing dead in front of it."It's okay, I know my way home.""Names Nathan Peterson." He was standing right up against the point of the knife. Guy just didn't quit. He took it and I let him, I watched as he ran his finger over the blade before handing it back to me."Sharp, way it should be." He smiled then turned around walking away. There was something about the guy that I wanted to know more about."Laura!" I yelled out to his retreating form, "Name's Laura." I paused and he stopped never turning around, "Thanks Nathan." I whispered and I swore I heard him laugh. Every night since then he came into to the shitty bar on the corner to have a drink. He'd sit right at the bar just watching me. Telling me he was in the neighborhood and he needed a drink. Said that every time he came in. I was starting to like it. Hard to explain but I felt special that he wanted to get to know me instead of just throwing me up against a wall and screwing me.It took months before I let him walk me home, still not totally trusting him. That took a lot longer. But eventually I liked having him around and missed him when he wasn't. Sometimes, he would be gone for weeks doing something off planet although he never told me what. When he did come back he was wound up like he was reaching the height of his natural high. Never once did he touch me when I didn't ask him to yet that took even longer.
I had just turned 22 when I finally found out what took up a lot of Nathan's time. I was a little surprised at first and a little pissed that he waited so long to tell me. He was a bounty hunter, going after the easy money by going after the universe's scum, capturing them, then simply turning them in for a bug hunk of credits. Not a bad deal, but it wasn't that easy. Never is. He was making another run but this time deep space and he wasn't sure when he was going to be back so he asked me to join him. Said he'd take me on, give me a cut, teach me the trade. I had nothing better going on so why not? I thought this time was different. I was going to become a Merc but why didn't it feel right?