York POV

I watched the lights flicker on and the ship's main functions start to come back online. I let out a sigh of relief and broke out into a run as soon as the doors started to open again. She did it. Of course she could, but nothing happened to her before she could.

''York, I'm getting reports that Dr. Holtz has abandoned Chi in the vents and left the generator room,'' Delta told me and I swore.

''Can you find some way to track her?'' I asked and ran faster. Damn it, M, what the hell are you doing?

''According to Chi she's still wearing her proximity sensor which is connected to the ship's schematics. He should be able to get a lock on her and send that data to us,'' Delta replied and I sighed. Thank god. ''But the downside is there's no way to monitor her vital signs or know if she's alive.''

''You're a real beacon of hope, Dee,'' I said sarcastically. ''Guys, she's left the generator room and hidden Chi in the vents somewhere. Still waiting on details on her location.''

''What? Why?'' Wash yelled back, sounding distressed. ''Did she start taking drugs and I didn't notice?''

''She probably couldn't risk staying in the same place without getting found, genius,'' South explained.

''But why abandon her AI?'' Wash replied.

''The Director made it pretty clear that this AI unit was invaluable, probably didn't want to risk getting found with it,'' Carolina said. ''But that sacrifice does mean not only will it be harder to find her, it'll also be harder for her to stay alive.''

''You guys are really making me feel better about this whole thing, thanks,'' I said and sighed, trying to push myself faster through the miles of ship between me and her.

''Any time buddy,'' South chuckled.

''Who's closest?'' Wash asked.

''At the moment, either me or South, I've got bogies on my motion trackers I'm going to have to get to, South, what about you?'' North replied.

''I'm not getting close for a while, as soon as her section opened up a whole strike team spilled out, I can handle it, but I need some time,'' South replied and I felt my heart leap up into my throat. Marisa must be so scared right now and I needed to get to her at all costs. She told me even during drills she didn't like to be out in the conflict, which only made it more confusing why she'd left the Vault in the first place.

''I'm on my way, York, don't you worry,'' Carolina said and I breathed again a sigh of relief. This tension was not good for me. Normally the high stakes of something wouldn't bother me, I was so laid back but with Marisa on the line everything was different. I don't know if I'd feel the same if I knew she could handle it, but she was blind! And unarmed!

''I've got a few more clicks before I'm any use,'' I said.

''Shit, more of them. Were they all just hanging out around the generator?'' Carolina radioed.

''Makes sense actually,'' North said.

''Oh yeah, trap everyone in separate sections, kill them off,'' Wash said.

''And then when life support dwindled and the engineers finally made it to the generators the doors would open and the rest could be killed off easily,'' North continued.

''Plus, maybe they thought they could get someone from down there to open up the Vault for them,'' South added.

''That's a sinister thought,'' I said. ''Glad Marisa threw a wrench in the works then.''

Marisa POV

I let out a sob as I was pinned to the floor with my broken arm pulled hard behind my back. I'd already thrown up and I think Lieutenant Smith was pushing my face into the chunks. I couldn't really give the vomit my full attention though, I was too busy trying to keep it together enough to keep my mouth shut. I'm not sure what they were trying to get me to tell them, I really didn't know much about this ship. I fixed the generator barely with the help of Chi, I couldn't do anything else for them. I could probably turn it off again for them if they asked, but they'd yet to do so.

''Last chance you little fucking midget,'' the other guy growled in my ear.

''Stop,'' I cried out. ''I really don't know anything, I'm just here to fix my vision.''

''And you got lost on your way back to your room and ended up decks below the living quarters,'' Smith said. ''And you definitely did not break your arm repairing the generator on the other side of the hall.''

''No,'' I cried out.

''No what? No you didn't get lost? You gonna tell me the truth now?'' the other guy yelled.

''I am telling you the truth!'' I screamed. More pressure was added to my arm and I started retching again, choking on my sobs and already digested food chunks. I spat out the acidic feeling remaining in my mouth and tried to wiggle free of his grip.

''Forget it, Harris, she's not going to give it up,'' Smith said. ''Not this way at least..''

''What?'' I asked. What the hell were they going to do to me now? I wiggled harder, only hurting myself against their hold. Apparently I was going to die on this hill. ''Stop, I told you everything!''

''And yet, I just don't believe you,'' Lieutenant Smith chuckled and I felt hands going to my waist. I started kicking out behind me, trying to get him in the groin or someplace vital. I could feel the sting of the vomit as I unintentionally ground my face into it and I heard a groan. I hit something. ''Stop struggling!''

''Let me go!'' I yelled. I wished Chi was here. I knew it was better he wasn't, why would someone with my story just be given something so valuable and rare? And also if they'd found me with him there was nothing stopping them from taking him. Still, I found myself seeking the comfort of my trusty companion.

''Harris, hold her down,'' Smith ordered and I felt new arms take over holding my torso and arms down while someone's knees pinned my thighs to the ground.

''You're going to regret this,'' I warned.

''Are you threatening us?'' Harris asked.

''I'm promising you,'' I squeaked, sounding as non threatening as what was probably physically possible.

''Sure kid,'' Smith chuckled.

I felt hands on the button to my cargo pants and the fly get ripped down. Fingers hooked into the waistband of my panties and trousers and the two were unceremoniously ripped down. I felt the handle of what must be a combat knife brush against my good arm. I knew what I had to do.

''What the fuck are you two doing?'' I heard the third soldier say, Moore, I assumed.

''We found this woman, Captain,'' the second guy said.

''I can see that, Harris,'' he replied. ''I asked, what you were doing.''

''We're trying to find out what she's doing down here, Sir, but she don't wanna talk,'' Lieutenant Smith explained, gripping me by the hips harder.

''I told you!'' I screamed out. ''I just got lost!''

''Smith, move aside,'' Moore ordered and I heard the shuffling for footsteps as Harris kept me pinned to the cold, vomit covered floor. With my good hand I could still feel the handle of a combat knife. Moore stopped behind me and I heard the unzipping of a fly. I let out silent, jerking sobs. I just had to wait for the right moment.

''You gentlemen remember the hierarchy, don't you?''

York POV

''God it stinks in here,'' I heard Wash say on my approach to the workshop supply room.

I rounded the corner and walked through the automatic door which was permanently open. I stood just over the threshold as I took in the scene. Blood was puddled on the floor, one soldier had collapsed on their back with their hands clutching at their abdomen while the other two lay in a pile deeper into the room. There was also a strong scent of vomit permeating through my helmet's air filters.

''I thought Chi said she was in here,'' South said and I looked over at Carolina who was no doubt responsible for the dead bodies.

''According to her wrist sensor, she still is,'' Carolina shrugged. ''She either took it off, or she's hidden somewhere in here.''

''Marisa, baby, are you in here?'' I asked, looking around. There were no obvious places she could be hidden. There was nothing around to hide in or behind. I squatted by the vent shaft as Wash wandered around idly.

''I uh, checked already,'' he said, standing behind me.

''Well then where the fuck is she?'' I snapped and he shrank back.

''Easy buddy,'' North said, patting me on the shoulder. ''Wash and I are going to sweep the rooms back until we meet up with South and you and Carolina are going to go the other direction. We'll find her.''

''If there's anything left to find,'' I sighed. I wasn't optimistic. I couldn't think of a reason she'd willingly take off her sensor. But where was she, if not here? Dead, I had to assume. One of these soldiers probably took her.

''I don't think she's dead,'' Carolina told me. ''She's not much of a fighter, but she's not dumb. She got the generators online, she probably found a place to hide. She's probably near here and the sensor just led us to the wrong room.''

''You don't really believe that, do you?'' I demanded and she sighed.

I stood up and walked back to the doorway, looking back one last time, ready to join the others in the corridor. Carolina had left shortly after Wash and North but something felt off. I scanned everything, for a toe or a piece of hair sticking out from somewhere, something, anything.

''York, you coming?!'' Carolina called.

''Hang on!'' I yelled back. I stepped back into the room. I could have sworn the pile of bodies was shaking slightly. It was such a slight movement I didn't notice anything the first time I'd looked. There was also one too many legs visible for two bodies.

''Marisa?'' I asked, realising. ''M, are you there? It's okay, you're safe!'' I rushed forward and threw myself down into a pile of blood and vomit, kneeling by the bodies. I could hear whimpering. Pushing one of the bodies off to the side I heard a shriek of pain.

''Marisa!'' I yelled and lifted off the second body. There was a splattering noise as more blood spit out over her and the floor. ''You were under there the whole time? Didn't you hear me?''

''They pinned me,'' she said into the floor. I reached for her shoulder, knowing one of her arms was broken. She flinched when I touched her. ''I..I thought it might just have been wishful thinking…''

''Baby, I'm here,'' I told her. She started shaking more and letting out loud sobs. I wanted to hold her, but I was cautious, she'd flinched when I first touched her.

''York,'' I heard Carolina say and I looked back at her. She nodded towards Marisa, gesturing for me to look. I trained my eyes on my girlfriend. I was shocked, certainly at how badly broken her arm was, but it was something else Carolina was bringing to my attention. I brought my gaze further down, her cargo pants…

''Marisa I'm so sorry,'' I said when I connected the dots.

Slowly, gently I trailed my fingers down till I reached the waistband of her pants and underwear, yanking them back up her body to cover her. I turned her slightly to fasten them closed for her when I noticed the bloody knife in her hand. She was covered in it, along with vomit. The puke I knew was to do with the pain from her broken arm, shock, and maybe fear. The blood and the bodies I'd just assumed Carolina was responsible for, she was the first person here. But if Marisa had been hiding under the bodies, they were here before Carolina had gotten here.

''I had to..'' she said. ''I.. I killed them.''

''I know,'' I told her. ''It's okay, it's not your fault. You did what you had to.''

''We need to get her some medical attention,'' Carolina interrupted. I nodded, and then looked back to Marisa, how was I gonna get her out of here.

''I got their names,'' Marisa whispered.

''I'm going to need to carry you, can I pick you up?'' I asked gently. She nodded, fresh tears rolling down her cheeks. I fixed my assault rifle to my back and slid my arms behind her back and under her legs.

''I want to get out of here,'' she said and I rose to my feet, holding her close as I took her away from this nightmare scene.

''I know,'' I soothed. ''I know, I'm going to take you away. It's all over now.''

''Chi has plans,'' she told me. I was confused, plans for what?

''Huh?'' I asked, carrying her as gently as I could to the medbay while Carolina scouted ahead, checking everywhere for soldiers we might have missed. North and Wash were helping South make sure the remaining areas were cleared before the emergency techs were brought in to properly repair the generators.

''My arm,'' she explained. ''It's likely too badly damaged to really fix, I designed something to replace a bone or two without having to amputate the whole arm, eliminating the need for a prosthetic or robotic limb. I guess I'll be the guinea pig for that too.''

Marisa POV

I felt warm and weightless as I lay back in my usual room in the medbay. I could hear York sitting in the seat beside me, worriedly chewing on his fingernails. He'd been made to go change out of his unsanitary armour but came back as quickly as he could. This gave medical staff the opportunity to ask me the more delicate questions they didn't want to say in front of him. I'd been sedated after that and put under a general anesthetic while Chi directed them exactly how to make, install and close up on my ulna and radius replacement surgery. Since then I'd been heavily medicated and pretty much useless for anything other than just laying here.

''Thank you,'' I said.

''For what?'' York asked. ''You did everything on your own, I just showed up at the end.''

''You found me,'' I told him.

''I will always find you,'' he said matter of factly. ''I promised.''

''Is it too soon to tell you I love you?'' I asked.

''No,'' he told me and then I heard the sound of shifting. I felt significant weight pressing down on the mattress beside me and then fingertips trailing up my good arm. A lock of hair was dragged across my cheek as he tucked it behind my ear and cupped my jaw.

''I love you too,'' he said and I closed the gap between us, connecting our lips to kiss him. Despite having been shaken before, I never didn't feel safe around York. I'd need to talk to him about what happened eventually, but him kissing me right now? That was a good sign.

''Hey,'' I heard someone clear their throat. Wash, it sounded like. York and I pulled apart but he stayed perched on the bed beside me.

''Hey,'' I replied softly.

''Director wants those names, if you have them,'' he told me and slowly walked further into the room. Heavy footsteps indicating he was armoured.

''Captain Moore, Lieutenant Smith and some guy called Harris,'' I told him. The room was silent for a few moments, I'm assuming something I couldn't see was going on. I heard Wash's footsteps head back towards the door.

''Take care Marisa,'' he said before leaving the room again. I chewed my lip for a moment, wondering if I dare ask what that was about.

''Can I ask?'' York said eventually, voice cracking. He sounded like he was moments away from tears.

''Ask what?'' I said, turning towards the sound of his voice.

''How bad?'' he asked. ''What did they do to you, baby? Can I ask you to please tell me?''

I blinked, moving my head down and away from the sound of York's voice. I couldn't see anything but it was as if facing his direction was akin to making eye contact and that was something I couldn't handle right now.

''They didn't all get..'' I started. How could I explain what had happened? ''I had to choose my moment right or they would have killed me. I-I… Lieutenant Smith, Harris, they never got to..but I couldn't stop Captain Moore from.. he.. well he made a comment about hierarchy. First Harris was just holding me down while Smith was interrogating me, but he didn't believe me and so, I don't know if it was his idea, or he was just trying to scare me. Doesn't matter. Moore came in then and wanted his turn first.''

''And did he get what he wanted?'' York asked softly. I sucked my bottom lip under my teeth. He didn't not but he didn't.

''I had to wait for the right moment, there was three of them, I broke my arm…'' I tried to explain.

''Hey, M, it's alright, you did nothing wrong,'' York soothed. He reached up to brush some of my dirty hair behind my ear. He leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead.

''He got in but after a few thrusts I used that as a distraction, it was my moment to get him. I needed to use the element of surprise,'' I said. ''They were so shocked when he suddenly pulled out and stumbled away, Harris let his grip on my arm loosen and then that gave me an opening to stab Smith. I had to kick and fight against Harris a little more, I lost my shock bonus by then,'' I explained. ''They were just so much bigger than me.''

''Are you going to be okay?'' York asked, rubbing soft circles on my back as he held me to his chest. I shook my head against him and he leaned down to rest his chin on my crown.

''I hope so,'' I answered eventually. ''I hope so.''

I let out some silent cries I didn't realise I was holding in and shook against him. Tears streamed down my cheeks and soaked through his shirt. He continued to hold me snuggly against his hard chest, stroking my back and pressing soft kisses to my head. My ribs ached with the sobs but I couldn't make them stop.

''You're okay, you're safe, it's over,'' York repeated over and over like a mantra.