A long belated THANK YOU to everyone who has reviewed and encouraged me to keep this going. The first round of sparky's are on me, k?
And I've changed my name, if u haven't already noticed- was formerly shutmeoff06.
i know this story needs some work, i have the plot in my head, but could use some help executing it, so, if anyone would be willing to beta or whatever for me please email me.
I Know You
Chapter 6
Damien, Beka, and Seamus stood in the cockpit of the Eureka Maru. No words passed between any of them as Damien stepped forward and pressed a button which shot a pod out of the Maru and into the infinite darkness and emptiness of open space.
After standing there for what seemed like a century, Beka felt a small hand slip into hers. She looked down and saw Seamus who could not tear his eyes away from the small pod which held his mother as it grew smaller and smaller in the distance. She squeezed his hand tightly and he leaned heavily against her side in return.
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A year later...
Beka was awoken by the body stirring slightly next to her. It was Seamus. he had taken to slipping into her room at night and climbing into her bunk with her. he clung to her nearly 24/7 these days, afraid that whatever force took his mother from him would take her from him too. And leave him at the mercy of his father.
Beka heard Damien in the bunkroom down the hallway cough loudly and turn over in his sleep. Her chest tightened.
Wracked with grief over his wife's death, Damien had turned to booze to ease the pain. If he had been a questionable father before he began drinking, if he had sometimes lost his temper or patience when sober, it was nothing compared to his behavior now.
He was taken to frequently and mercilessly berating his 6 yr. old son and striking him without cause or warning. Beka didn't know why Damien would only target the boy and not her. A large part of her wished he would target her and leave Seamus alone. But he never did. She tried to keep the boy out of his father's sight, but if he wasn't in his immediate vicinity when Damien felt the urge to lash out at something, he would go looking for him and there was always hell to pay when he found him. which he always did.
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Beka, now 19, was on her way back to the Maru in the late evening. They were docked at some drift in the andromeda system. she had spent an inordinate amount of time flirting with a cute vendor and was arriving back far later than she knew she ought to. She hadn't intended to leave Seamus alone so long. .She fervently hoped Damien would be passed out by now. he usually was.
as she approached the Maru her hopes dissipated. Even from a distance she could hear Damien raging inside. She hesitated to enter, but knew that there was only one person who he could be raging at.
she raced in to find Damien screaming obscenities and meaningless accusations at the terrified boy curled up in the corner where he had obviously been thrown. he looked badly beaten, the whole side of his face was bruised, his lip cut and his shirt torn.
'oh, it's you,' Damien said dismissively when she entered.
'what are you doing, Damien?' Beka tried to keep her voice calm, unaccusing.
He chuckled drunkenly and almost fell over as he did. Then he spat out, 'teaching this rodent a lesson.' And, shoving his finger in Seamus' face, 'you don't EVER touch my things!'
'I didn't, papa, I swear I didn't. I didn't go near them, i...' his voice was small and desperate. He was choking on his tears.
'don't LIE to me!!'
Seamus let out a sob which was met with a kick.
'Damien...please' she pleaded quietly.
'shut up Beka, mind your own business' he slurred at her then reached down and, grabbing his son roughly by the arm (at which Seamus let out a whimper of pain), pulled him to his feet.
'Damien, stop!'
Seamus still in his iron grip, the child's eyes squeezed shut with pain and terror, Damien whirled around and struck Beka. She let out a cry of surprise and fell.
Damien ignored her and turned his attentions back to Seamus.
Shakily, she got to her feet. Her mind raced. She knew she couldn't take Damien on alone, she was no match for him. suddenly, an idea came to her. without thinking, she raced to her own room. She frantically dug through drawers and boxes, tossing things out everywhere in her desperation to find what she was looking for. Finally, she had it in her hands. Just then, there was a loud crash in the other room.
Beka raced back to find Damien shouting over Seamus' now unconscious form. she fumbled with the item in her hands, but when she pressed a button, it whirred loud enough for the drunken man to notice. He turned toward her, his expression at first shocked, then sickeningly bemused.
He sneered, 'what do u think you're playing at, little girl?'
'leave him alone.' She ordered.
'leave who alone?' he toyed.
'you know' the shaking in her voice unnerved her.
'do i?'
he had inched toward her enough now that she had to take a step back. But it was too late, quick as a serpent, he lunged at her, trying to grab the item in her hands. She held on though, and they struggled.
Then, suddenly, there was a flash of light, an breathless gasp, and a body hitting the Maru's metal deck heavily.TBC
