No, this is not the sequel to "A Pirate's Heart". And I am sorry. I got a scathing review for that and it made my muse go and hide for many months. I then took up just playing video games and reading.
And then I pulled out the Mass Effect trilogy.
And muse came out of hiding, waving flags and blowing horns. And one phrase went through my head, "Swan Queen in space."
So, here it is. A story my muse has been beating into me for the past month and a half. It came from Mass Effect but is not a crossover. As much as I would love Fem Shepard and Liara to meet Emma and Regina, it just wouldn't work. Some things may be similar but that is mainly because my knowledge of space is from Star Wars and Mass Effect. Sorry. Haha
A huge thanks to Laura, as always, who is the best beta ever!
I don't own OUAT. Done.
"Emma, you have a new message at your private terminal."
The blonde nodded and made her way to the small computer stationed beside the large map of the known galaxy. She quickly opened this unread message and blinked at its content.
Captain Swan,
I have a proposition for you that I think you may be interested in. If you would please meet with me at the Citadel in my office, I will go over the details.
Thank you.
Senator Henry Mills
"Ruby," Emma muttered to her second in command. "Is this for real?"
The brunette looked over at her commander with raised eyebrows. "The message? It came from Senator Mills, if that's what you're asking." She looked over her captain's shoulder and read the message for herself. "Wow. A senator wants to meet with you? That's big."
Emma stared at her friend in shock. "I'm a bounty hunter, Ruby. What I do is barely legal. What we all do is barely legal. What does he want with me?"
"Maybe he wants you to find someone."
"The Defense Force and military are at his disposal for that. Why me?"
Ruby shrugged and made her way back to her computer, continuing her research on their latest captured bounty. "Only one way to find out."
Emma sighed and activated the intercom to the bridge. "David, set a course for the Citadel. I've got a meeting to get to."
"Sure thing, Ems!" David's voice came through the intercom.
With a swift, sharp turn The Legende set it's course toward one of the busiest docks in the galaxy and the center of the alliance between humans and all other life forms.
And as her starship made it's way there, Emma Swan, famed bounty hunter from Earth chewed her bottom lip. What the hell could an Earth Senator want with her?
"Why the look of worry, Swan?"
Emma glanced up at one of her crew members, a draygon with a sassy attitude. Her head resembled that of a dragon of legend to humans but she was bipedal and had a female form.
"Mal," Emma sighed. "I just received a cryptic message from Senator Mills."
"The human senator? What did he want?"
Emma shrugged and ran a hand through her loose blonde hair. "No idea. I haven't been connected with The Fleet for almost three years now. Only low-lifes and other bounty hunters contact me. I haven't gotten a message from someone like a senator since I was a captain on The Atlas."
"And then you got blown up."
Emma glared at Mal. "Details that don't need to be discussed right now."
Mal smirked and shrugged. "Just thought I'd point it out."
"And it is a fact that I am very much aware of."
Mal chuckled and started off toward the shuttle bay. "Don't worry, Swan. I'm sure it's nothing of importance. Senator Mills is known as a very easy-going and kind man. It can't be anything too big."
Nothing too big. Emma thought. My ass.
She and her second in command, Ruby, who just happened to be a member of the shape-shifting race of Lupus Populus, were walking toward the part of the Citadel that housed the human embassies. Ruby and others of her kind had the ability to change into a wolf-like shape at will, helping them greatly in wars, protection, and speed.
She also just happened to be Emma's best friend and first alien she had ever met. She looked very human in her bipedal state but for her eyes, which were an unnatural yellow that seemed to glow in the dark.
The Citadel was full of many different races and species. Emma was also in awe at the amount of cultures that converged on that one space station. But on this visit, she had something else on her mind.
She was nervous. Jittery. Jumpy.
And it showed.
"Calm down, Em," Ruby said with a grin, hooking her arm through her captain's. "It can't be anything big."
"That's what Mal said."
"Then I agree with her for once. And that is a major accomplishment. You know draygons and we don't really get along."
"Draygons and anybody don't really get along," Emma muttered.
Ruby snorted in amusement right before they reached a door with a nameplate with Senator Mills' name on it.
"Ready?" Ruby asked with a glance at the Emma.
"No," Emma whispered before raising her hand and knocking.
A gentle male voice answered the knock with a "Come in". Emma glanced at Ruby, who raised her eyebrows and motioned for Emma to open the door.
Taking a fortifying breath, Emma did just that.
The office was nice and modestly decorated. A giant, classic map of Earth covered one wall while a new map of the galaxy covered the opposite wall. A bookcase, filled to the brim was on the wall next to the door and right across from them was a large desk, occupied by an older man with a balding head.
"Senator Mills," Emma started as she and Ruby entered the room, the lupus closing the door behind them.
The man quickly stood up and stepped around the desk, walking toward them with a smile on his face. "Emma Swan," he said, his voice gentle and sincere. "I am so glad you agreed to meet with me." He offered his hand to the bounty hunter, who took it without hesitation. Handshakes were decidedly human and something that Emma greatly respected.
He did the same with Ruby, who did slightly hesitate before taking his hand in her strong grip. She was less used to the human practice but recognized it for what it was.
The senator motioned for them to take a seat in the chairs in front of his desk. He then moved his desk chair around to sit closer to them. A move that put him on the same level with the two strangers. And a move that made Emma respect the senator even more.
"Can I offer either of you something to drink?" He asked.
Ruby shook her head while Emma help up a hand. "If you don't mind, Senator, I am very anxious to hear about the purpose of this meeting."
Senator Mills gave a light chuckle and shook his head. "I apologize," he started. "I'm sure my cryptic note made this sound very odd and off putting." He settled in his chair, his face becoming serious. "I contacted you, Captain Swan, for a reason. My family is in serious danger."
Emma glanced at Ruby and then back to the senator. "I'm sorry to hear that, Senator Mills, but I'm not quite sure what that has to do with me."
"You are known throughout the galaxy as the best bounty hunter money has to buy. You have found criminals wanted from Earth and from the furthest reaches of the Andromeda Galaxy. You have made a name for yourself since you left Earth's Fleet three years ago."
Emma stiffened at the mention of Earth's equivalent of a space navy but relaxed as the senator continued.
"You are known as ruthless and cunning, getting the job down with flying colors, no matter what."
"Very true," Emma stated. "But I'm not going to be getting any medals from the Senate anytime soon."
Senator Mills chuckled and shook his head. "Agreed. You aren't the favorite of everyone in a political seat. But I have been keeping an eye on your work," he said as he reached behind him to his desk and grabbed a folder. "And I am in desperate need of you and your crew's help."
"Is someone missing?" Ruby asked.
The senator shook his head. "I have been receiving threatening letters from someone concerning my daughter."
"Your daughter?" Emma asked as he handed her a piece of paper. She raised her eyebrows at the archaic way of sending messages but glanced over the letter anyway.
It was the usual "We are going to take her and kill her" type of message but seemed to have a personal edge to it, hinting at small details that seemed only someone close to his daughter would know.
"She's about your age, Captain," the senator continued, handing Ruby another letter. "And the apple of my eye. She hasn't had an easy life, believe it or not. She was exposed to a large amount of cobalt thorium at a very young age."
Emma's eyes widened and she almost dropped the letter. "And she survived?"
Senator Mills gave a solemn nod. "But not without side effects. She began to develop special abilities, not unlike those of humans and other races who have the chip."
The bounty hunter took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She was one of those humans with the chip. A special implant that gave her special elemental abilities. It had been surgically placed in her brain at a very young age without her consent. And had been a burden to her ever since.
"After she developed those powers, her mother took a sudden interest in her."
"Sudden?" Ruby pointed out.
He nodded and closed his eyes. "My ex-wife was a horrible mother, abusive, manipulative, cruel, and very driven. She never paid much attention to Regina until my daughter was exposed to the element when she was five. Suddenly, Cora couldn't get enough of my daughter."
The senator accepted the letters back from the two women. "Until I put a stop to it when Regina was ten. It had gone too far. She had my daughter training day and night with little to no rest and barely time for meals. My daughter was dying right before my eyes. So, I packed up and left, taking Regina with me and demanding a divorce. It was granted and I thought all was well."
"Until…?" Emma prompted.
"Cora, my ex-wife, sent these letters, Captain Swan. She means to steal Regina from me and turn her into a killing machine."
The two women just stared at the senator in disbelief.
He gave a sardonic chuckle and stood up. "It seems crazy, I know," he said as he made his way to the large picture window behind his desk. He studied the busy scene in front of him in silence for a couple of moments, watching the straight lines of zipping crafts and blinking lights that made up the night-life of the Citadel. He finally turned around and sighed.
"Cora is ambitious," he stated. "And scary. She once referred to our daughter as a thing, something to be molded into something that could help enslave the universe."
"Good God!" Emma exclaimed. "How powerful is your daughter?"
"Very," he answered grimly. "I have yet to find someone as powerful as she."
"So," Ruby stated. "Where does that bring us? How are we supposed to help?"
Senator Mills pulled a data pad from one of his desk drawers and handed it over to Emma. "I have family on Lisha IV, in the T'Vini system. They are a group of powerful warriors, very loyal and loving. I need you to take Regina there and keep her safe from her mother until you arrive."
"Wait," Emma said as she stood up. "You want us to babysit your daughter and hold her hand while we take her across the galaxy to your family?"
"That's the gist of it," he answered. "I will, of course, pay you handsomely. Half now and the rest once it is done."
He quickly wrote a number on a notepad, handing it over to Emma. Her eyes almost fell out of their sockets. She silently handed it to Ruby, whose expression matched her captain's.
"That is the first half amount."
The proverbial pin could've have fallen and the noise would have echoed around the room.
"I love my daughter very much, Captain. She is all I have left in this universe. I need her safe while I have the authorities seek out Cora."
"How does she feel about this?" Emma asked.
"She is very much against this idea."
The new and female voice came from behind them at the office door. The two bounty hunters twisted around to see a brunette woman standing there, her slacks and jacket combo very Earth-like in it's cut but also flattering and professional.
"In fact, she has argued relentlessly with her father about this horrible idea."
"Ladies," the senator said with a smile. "This is my daughter, Regina Mills."
Regina glanced at the two women, sniffed and walked over to her father, kissing him on the cheek. "How are you feeling?" she asked softly, her hard brown eyes softening.
The older man smiled and patted her shoulder. They were close to the same height but the way Regina carried herself made her seem taller. "I am fine, my dear."
"No headaches?"
He shook his head. "And your meeting?"
"Over," Regina sighed. "Just in time for me to come back here to tell these two that their services are not needed."
"Regina, please," the senator begged. "Please do this for me. I need you safe."
"I can take care of myself."
"Then that should make our job a walk in the park," Emma stated with a smirk.
Regina sent a hard glare at the captain before turning back to her father. "Daddy, I don't need an escort. I can just take Mulan and we will be fine."
"Mulan will be going with you, to be sure. But you know your mother, dearest. She will stop at nothing to get you. And I will not have you in her clutches."
Father and daughter stared into each other's eyes for a few seconds before Regina sighed. "Fine," she said. "I'll go. But you have to promise to take care of yourself!"
The senator nodded and hugged his daughter before turning back to the two other women. "Will you help me, Captain Swan?"
Emma looked over at her second in command, who gave a very small nod, before holding out her hand to the senator, who grasped hers in a strong handshake. "You have a deal, Senator Mills. We will get your daughter where she needs to go. There are a few stops we will need to make on the way but she will get to Lisha IV safe and sound."
To be continued….
Please let me know what you think. I'd like to continue this if people will read it!
