Chapter 2 Eva
The crowds were just beginning to form as Eva and her father arrived outside the launch pad. This was going to be the first trader in couple months. Sure, the colony was self-sufficient but there are many parts and luxuries that you can't make at home. Everything from computer chips and medicine to clothing and exotic foods was on the manifest. That was sure to stir up some excitement in the colony.
The roar of the thrusters was the first thing they heard, moments before the ship came into view. It certainly was an ugly thing. It looked like a pod with wings, it was edgy and had a boxy form. It was the color of dirt and it screeched as it hovered over the launch pad. As it slowly began its descent, Eva and her father pushed through to the front. Her father was in charge of security after all, and they had to have the first look at the goods, to check for anything dangerous of course. At least, that was her father's purpose here.
The craft touched down and immediately grew timid, as Eva and her father made their way to cargo doors. Hiss of air preceded the opening of the doors to reveal both cargo and crew standing just inside.
"Welcome," her father said, "I am head of security. I will be doing a brief scan before you unload." The man in the middle waved him in as her father began a search of the hold. The crew were all human, dressed in the tan leathery overalls, black work boots, and a dark brown undershirt except for the middle man. He dressed in black trousers and a black heavy jacket while sporting a white shirt. He was a taller man with brown hair and rough features. His presence dominated the area, much more so than his crew.
"You're clear." Said her father from just behind the crew. "I will hold off the colonist until you are ready. We haven't had visitors in sometime."
"All the better for us." Said the man in black. "Men, unload and set up the goods." In an instance, the scene was chaotic. The crew got right to work unloading. Some carried boxes by hands, while the others used lifts from the ship for the heavier cargo bins. The captain walked off toward the front of the ship and began reading over a datapad. Her father left the ship and tended to the crowd leaving Eva alone by the ship. This was the time to talk if any.
Eva walked over to the captain. "Sir?" She said out of courtesy not to startle the captain. He turned toward her with a raised eyebrow.
"May I help you?" said the captain.
"Do you offer transit?" asked Eva with restraint in voice. She was bit nervous. She has always been shy with strangers, but there was more to it. She was asking to leave her parents.
"Depends on where you want to go?" he said half asking. "I am always looking to make an extra buck, but I am not going out of my way."
"I want to go to the Citadel." He starred at her after her statement. It made her uncomfortable, like he was burning a hole in her head. She adverted her eyes and had an increasing desire to squirm from discomfort before he answered.
"Well, you are in luck. We are headed there next, but it's going to cost you." She breathed a sigh of relief, she only hoped that what she had was going to cover.
"I can pay 750 credits." He starred at her again. She wondered if he was thinking and, if that was the case, she'd bet he has scared away a number of customers. She didn't have that option. It was him or wait for the next trader, however long that took. Still, she hated that blank stare.
"1500," he said. Taken back, Eva was shocked and then angry. She was being hustled.
"What?! You are trying to scam me!" she said a bit heated.
"Well I can't just let you get on for scraps." He said in an unapologeticly, "I will go down to 1000 credits, if you don't like it, get out here." That was almost all she had. She would have scraps left over. Was it worth it? She wouldn't make much more between now and the next trader, and her new life was right here in front of her.
"I can do it." She said reluctantly. His stare didn't relent but he did smile bringing her some ease. He didn't have time to respond before a loud crack followed by deafening thunder resonated behind them, followed by desperate cries for help. A robotic lift was coughing up smoking and sparking just behind the ship. A man from the crew laid pinned down beneath it. His agonizing stare pierced Eva's soul.
It took only a moments breathe and the lift was surrounded by the other crewmen, and Eva found herself trying to lift the broken sled. It was unbearably heavy getting hotter by the second as the smoking engine developed into flames. Another crack from the engine and more flames emerged emitting an overwhelming heat wave. The crew all took a step back, but Eva stood steadfast. She was standing just above the crying man, something inside her wouldn't let her retreat. Fueled by the need to set this man free, Eva pulled. The heat stabbed at her skin relentlessly. She felt her arms would pop from the force she exerted, but the man's cries pushed her on.
Eva let lose a desperate cry and then, the lift flipped up into the air sliding across the pad and into the far wall. She could barely stand as she was consumed by nausia. The world tilted and twisted before her vision faded to white, and with a thud, she felt the world drift away.
It was the aroma that woke her up, or rather the uneasy absence of smell. Bright lights and white walls were all that she could make out of her blurry vision. Her hearing returned, though she wished it hadn't, confirmed by the rhythmic, high pitched ping to her right. Her remaining sense returned one by one. She felt clean and the rough linen that draped over her legs scratched her as she begin test her movement. The room became to come into focus. She was in the infirmary, lying in bed.
"It's good you are finally awake. How are you feeling?" A sweet voice said coming from her right. Eva, startled by the women, shakily responded.
"What happened?" Each word came out painfully and required significant effort to keep coherent.
"You have major burns on your hands, and minor burns throughout your body. Those will heal within the night, but your hands will take time." said the women. Eva recognized her. She was the newest colonist, but a rather poor title since she has been here for five years. No family. She came on a whim and has been running the infirmary ever since, for how kind she was, she didn't answer though, not in the way she wanted.
"But what happened? She remembers and explosion at the pad, but after that it's blurry. The women left without a word. Left alone with her thoughts and the outrageous beeping. While annoying as it may be, it wasn't hard for Eva to relax. Sleep would take her easily without warning.
A gentle touch woke her up this time. She was still lying in that room. Sitting next to her was her father with his hand overlapping hers. How happy she was to see him. He was wearing his security uniform, she only wondered if it was the same one or if she has been out longer than she expected.
"How long have I been out?" She felt much better than before. She felt rejuvenated and the discomfort had faded. Her hands felt clammy and cramped, but she remember what the doctor told her. She had been badly burned.
"The accident was two days ago and it's almost 8:00 p.m." He said. "Joy told me you woke up once before, but you have been out ever since." She has been out for more than two days. She was shocked to say the least. Exempting her hands, she felt as if she woken up from a pleasant midday nap.
"What happened?" Her father looked nervous, looking around the room, before turning back to Eva.
"You used your biotics, and not just a slight slip, you flipped a lift eight people couldn't lift like it was a soccer ball." Despite the astonishment of her achievement, her father quivered. He was pale and black bags hung under his eyes. "Everyone saw you flip it. I told the doctor to keep it under wraps, but the captain has been asking a lot of questions."
"I am so sorry, father." She said. She knew how they felt about her using her powers, but the secret was out now.
"It's alright. It can't be helped now," he said quite forlorn, "Your mother and I are just happy you are alright." He looked hurt. Despite his words, he didn't look as though he has passed the issue.
"Why does it matter if a few spacers know?" She understood their protective nature, but her parents were going too far. Her father look like a wreck.
"It's not just them. It's everyone. Bad things happen to biotics. They will come and take you away."
"You say that, but what if I want them to come? What if I want the Alliance to come take me away?" Tears began to blur her vision. She had wanted this but it wasn't going as she planned. She was sad not determined, and her father was not angry, his bleak face didn't change.
"It wouldn't be the Alliance that found you first." He said. With that note. The door slide open. The captain stood in the agape doorway. "The nurse notified me that you were awake." He said walking over to her bedside. He looked directly into her eyes. "Thank you. You saved a member of my crew's life. I am in your debt." He spoke in an even tone. It was hard to detect any measure of gratitude in his tone.
"I don't even know what happened." She lied, for her father's sake, but it was hard to lie under the microscope of this man's eyes.
"You have exquisite eyes. Purple is not a common color among humans. Common in the Asari, but not humans." She wanted to squirm her way away from this man, but she wouldn't have too.
"If you don't mind sir, I would like you to leave," interjected her father, "My daughter needs rest."
"I am sure she does." Said the man, as he looked away from Eva and onto her father. As he walked out of the room without fuss, he left with one last remark. "I will take you to the Citadel whenever you are fit, and you keep your credits. Consider it my thanks."
The door slid shut again, and they were alone. "What was that?" Her father looked at her accusingly.
"I bought a ride off planet. I was going to tell you that night, but..."
"You are leaving tomorrow." Eva's mouth fell to the floor. She couldn't believe her father. This man was creepy and suspicious. Not to mention all the times he has said she must remain hidden, quiet and within the safety of this colony. "It's the only option for you now. Staying here has become dangerous." She was still frozen from shock by her father's intentions.
"What will happen if I stay?" She asked, but if she was honest with herself. She didn't want to know the answer.
"There is a chance you can make it to the Alliance safely, if you leave. A chance you won't get if you stay. People will come. Sooner or later. Slavers, scientist, aliens, whoever, because now you are worth a lot to many people" Tears streamed down her face, and her breath became short. She should be happy. She is leaving, if only it was on her terms. She didn't want to be forced away from her father. That hurts both of them far more than her leaving willingly. "Tomorrow. Be ready. I will go negotiate safe travel with that captain. A promise is better kept with credits behind it." He got up from his chair by her side. Tears streamed down his face. He turned for the door, before she cried out.
"Dad. I love you." She could hardly get the words out between her cries. She felt much worse than before. She felt beaten and broken again. The wind was taken out of her and there was nothing she could do. She was helpless.
"I love you too."