Purple light pulsed through the innards of the ship, power fading away slowly. Deep inside his prison, a troll hung suspended in the circuitry of the controls. His breaths were shallow, his own life flickering with the fluctuations of power. He had been through this many times before, and yet he still had hope that he could die this time. Maybe the Condesce wouldn't make it back in time to save him. Maybe he would burn out before anyone knew. Maybe... maybe he would get some mercy from someone, anyone.
"Psi?"
The troll barely moved as his eyes strained to open, looking for who spoke. It had sounded so much like-
"Psi, what happened to you?"
No, no, it wasn't his voice. He'd been dead for sweeps now. It couldn't be him.
There was the slightest of touches on the troll's face and he fought to look up. Surely it couldn't be...
His sight was foggy and his thoughts murky, but there was no mistaking the red and grey cloak. He struggled to say something, anything. A strangled cry came out, but nothing more. "Sign-" He choked and coughed hard. How long had it been since he'd last used his voice?
"No, no. Don't speak. It's okay."
The Ψionic tried to reach out, forgetting the wires that bound him. He couldn't even move enough to disturb the controls.
The voice came nearer, that same slight touch brushing against his cheek. "It's okay. I'm here now. Everything will be okay."
The troll struggled as the voice slowly faded. He felt new strength and forced his eyes open, looking right into the face of-
the very Empress who held him captive.
"I won't let you die on me now, Helmsman. We still have most of the universe left to oppress."
Her laughter echoed through the ship, mingling with her slave's screams of sorrow and loss.