The Captain pulled a face as her eyes swept across the dull scenery of the building. Even in the pitch darkness of night, it was easily seen as if it was day time and the captain didn't feel thrilled with their new location. She had…expected something a little more but… she could reason this was better than a cave or open fields they had used on the other planet.
Scents around here weren't that old but stale. The smell of burned metal and oil also lingered and the exterior of it looked a little run down. From the outside, it was clearly human-made. Although there was lots of carved stone that gave a whole…rustic feeling to the whole area. Nothing that looked…out of place but nothing she could see was…exciting.
"This is it?" Gant questioned as he too looked quite sceptical at the building.
Ophelia said nothing but clipped her fingers and pointed towards it. Within a moment, they entered to see it was just as run down as it was on the outside.
"A factory?"
"No, warehouse. I bought it cheap since it's otherwise useless." Ophelia answered. "Its ground is soft and pliable, a recent water leak's forced the warehouse down as it'd made it unsafe to use."
"Look, a replicator!" With an edge of excitement, Weeton darted over to large, industrial-sized replicator that looked to be run down and damaged. Parts were missing and some were cracked. "I can try and get it working again. Get some furniture, clothes… hell even stuff to patch this place up!"
Ophelia rolled her eyes, almost as if it were obvious. "You all know what'll happen if you expose yourselves here. I don't have time for that… and I'd get really pissed off." Her tone was light but the threat hung in the air nonetheless.
Gant flickered away, exploring the building as did the others though the captain lingered, her arms coming to fold across her chest.
"While you keep a low profile, get the others to dig a large hole in the centre; you can't afford to leave bodies around the place now. This building is laced with an alloy that'll prevent any trackers being led back here. If you're lucky, you could get a Gorn to feast on, one could…easily feed two of you if you share"
"I've….heard about Gorn but, I thought there was…a human colony, not a Gorn colony?" Captain asked, glossing over the jibe of sharing; that was not likely. She recalled with ease though what their sire had said before their move. "Has there…actually been some sort of official first contact?"
"No, but I've been about. Gorn believe this is part of their territory but they've been a little preoccupied to notice—"
Thump.
Both of their heads turned to see Gant covered in sand, with a very large piece of rock by his feet. Sandstone, with a light creamy hue and looked like it had been sculpted and worn over. He felt their gazes and turned. Ruby eyes flickering to them both before he walked out without a word.
The captain opted not to question her second and turned back to her sire.
"What else?"
Ophelia pursed her lips though examined the replicator with a lot more interest and intensity. "If that replicator works, then we can get more advanced in our plans. I can't see the working power cell for it but I know someone to help get the parts of it. Best not to steal so soon..." Nodding to the door, they were too fresh in the area for that. "I want you keep up with the training."
Sensing another question would trigger her Sire to get aggressive, Captain nodded. "I'll see to it."
"Good."
Ophelia was pleased, to say that her small clan had done what she expected to. She was unfamiliar with some of the replicator technology but…she felt like she could trust them now with technology. With a replicator; why not a computer next?
Georgiou was incredibly loyal. One she hadn't quite expected when first faced with the new-born vampire but she could feel those bonds in her mind had grown now. Well-crafted and…strong. It would be hard to dissuade her from her goal.
The other's followed their old captain, and the captain followed her. It was no mistake that they had bonded to their captain as default in her absence but she hadn't felt…compliant to fulfil her role as sire to all of them when Georgiou filled that role perfectly. That didn't make her any more in charge, but they all knew that. She had been in all their heads to ensure that.
Now her clan were mature enough for this, despite the risks and lose canons that a few of them were; it was time. This spot was a good area, near an outpost on the colony where there was plenty of people coming and going for mundane things. Enough that there was a crime that should cover their needs. There was going to be a population boom within the next few weeks if she had picked up the correct chatter and expansion of the colony to account for that growth.
Ophelia watched as the group worked, three of them working on digging up a sizeable hole; one that Narwani had planned out in a sort of underground tunnel system to ensure that there was optimal disposal. Georgiou was sorting the replicator with Weeton and Gant. Orderly working to take it apart, organising on what had to be replaced, what could work and what they could repair.
Ophelia airily took note.
Though…she needed more to work with than herself. The clan would become her network. Keeping track of Discovery was getting hard, especially with its…jumping technology. She had to trust that Gant's plan to get Detmer worked. She needed that full set and Detmer… That human's mind would be filled with so much treasurable information. The same ship as Michael; she'd know the ins and outs; the captain and crew…how her dear Childe had faired away from her...what she could take from her...
A treat she was waiting for… and she was longing for it like a newborn on their first hunt.
But she could wait. She had waited this long, so why not a few more months?
"Hey!"
A low snarl answered back before Nambue was tacked by a mud-cladded Januzzi. The former doctor though easily twirled his weight and threw off the other vampire, and rolled into a crouch baring sharpened fangs with another snarl.
Georgiou though broke this dispute easily with a hiss. Getting the two back to work with begrudging expressions thrown at each other.
Ophelia smirked. Georgiou would do well as a sire herself… an offer not…false of course, but she remained uncertain if Detmer was the right human for that vampire. Turning someone would be a treat for Georgiou. Her own first childe would be her favourite vampire. Unlike herself, she could not care for Michael Burnham as she did with Georgiou. She'd cut any and all of them loose if she had to but Georgiou was still her favourite. Obedient, submissive yet had a strong personality for her role. She had proven herself worthy of the opportunity of having her own Childe…
Ophelia moved, jumping off her little perch on the ceiling railing and landed on the balls of her feet quietly, taking in more of the disassembled replicator though gestured for Weeton to talk her through it; she might as well get more familiar with this centuries' technology.
"Do ya not know how much this is gonna cost, Phee?" The guff, Scottish voice spoke, tossing back the bent silver canister into the pile as if it was trash. "Don't get me wrong, doing business with ya is good but… this stuff is not cheap. Industrial replicators are…a wee bigger than ya standard replicators."
"You're a resourceful human, Trig, but I need these parts. Unless…you have an actual replicator I can take off your hands?" She knew he did from her ship but she knew he valued that as it was his only food source on this damn station. Another select reason of compliance from him.
"This model is outdated, most of the schematics ta even replicate the parts are gone," Trig answered, his hand coming to scratch over his stubble. "I don't have enough power ta replicate ores like this and the mechanics is complicated. I know you're a little outdated with this technology so…"
Ophelia glowered, pursing her lips. "Remind me again why I saved you from that Orion pirate ship thirty years ago, Trig."
Trig gave her a look back, unafraid of her as he picked up another piece. "Because I was seven and good with a screwdriver, Phee. Ho's tha' Klingon ship I fixed up for ya?"
"You've made your point." She tittered.
Trig exhaled heavily, though got back to examining the load nonetheless, clearly sensing her impatient with him "I don't see why ya don't have your new friends here. This place is big enough for ya all."
"Six new vampires; they're loose cannons and the ability to bust this little tin-can if they bang against a bulkhead?"
"You make 'em sound like hungry, horny-teenagers"
Ophelia flicked him in the ear, with some affection for an old friend, knowing full well the bruise would last as a reminder for his cheek. Trig began to separate the pile into two, adjusting his thick glasses and pulling out a second-hand scanner to run more in-depth scans.
"Ya know industrial replicators are more for ship-sized-parts than shopping."
"I know."
"This could work with fewer parts if ya condense it into a smaller replicator."
"Then get me printed schematics. Need I remind you, I'm not savvy with this tech given my age, Trig"
That perked him up a little. "Ah yeah, how old are ya now? Did I miss your birthday or something'?" He didn't look up from his scanners as he spoke, though curiosity laced within his voice.
Ophelia chose not to remark on that. Trig had been curious about her age since they met. She had not spilt to him then and she wouldn't now.
Trig fell quiet again before he dropped a piece down and picked up a new one. "Estimation is…half of this I can get now, but the rest… I get a few of them off the black market by a mate of mine in that sector, but…it'll still cost. I'm not exactly made of money, Phee." He announced, "Stealing these pieces are gonna make you more enemies and restrict any assess to future materials." He added as an afterthought.
"I can get the currency if you name it." Stealing again would be more fun but… he was right; she needed good access to the market for her needs. Trig had a good amount of contacts for that…. another reason not to kill him.
Trig nodded, dropping off the scanner and began to pile the broken parts into a scrap box then began scrawling out a list on a paper PADD.
"So, am I gonna get a chance ta meet your home-made friends, Phee?"
"Probably not."
"Gonna kill em?"
"Why do you care?" She questioned back, the number of questions from everyone was again, bothering her. Trig had better things to do
"Since ya lost your hubby you've been in a constant bad mood and—"
Immediately, Ophelia's calm mood suddenly plummeted into a fit of cool anger. His words touching on the sharp reminder she had locked away. Within a second, she shoved the ragged human up against the rustic the bulkhead, fangs extended full though she watched as the second caught up, blue eyes widening and skin paling with ebbs of fear washing through his scent though he swallowed thickly; calming though the air changed enough; he knew he was treading thin ice now.
"Don't. Go. There." Three simple words but enough to send a shiver down his back. "You are replaceable, Trigger."
"Dually noted."
Dropping him down, Ophelia fluttered away, allowing the human to compose himself.
"Where's the next Orion slave trade taking place?" Her tone returning to normal as if she hadn't just threatened him but she didn't care. Results were necessary. She needed more people to feed to her pets before the colony noticed a dip in population. She had run the calculations on her trip to this run-down junk-pile of a station, but that was only for a few months; as long as they needed before they could move on again with their new newborn.
"Verex III."
Ophelia nodded. Good. Plenty of food and money right there. She just needed her go-between and a few captured people. A few Klingons would work well; they went for higher prices than humans…
"I'll be back within the next two weeks with anything you need. Bye, Trig."
"…bye, Phee."
Gant watched the Captain as she sat on a high perch. Though she seemed…somewhat lost in thought, there was no fooling him to think she wasn't already aware of his stare, nor where everyone was. There wasn't a lot though that drove her to think so deeply, or distance herself from their clan so… he knew it was most likely something to do with their Sire and their little trip away.
He couldn't deny his interest to know what their little talk had been about that day but…he knew better than to eavesdrop. But that didn't mean he couldn't convince the captain to talk.
He dug into the soft stone as he clambered the wall, not needing any hooks to help him when his fingers were stronger than the wall's surface, within a few moments, he reached the top railing and casually walked down the thin bar until he was a few feet away from Captain and crouched, maintaining a steady balance.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
"What do you want?" Captain asked, her tone quite dry which gave him the impression he was already interrupting her. Gant, though, didn't care too much. If she didn't want him there; she'd be more…direct.
"What are you thinking about? You're not usually this quiet or secluded."
Captain didn't look at him, though her gaze turned down to the scene below of Weeton and Nambue working on remodelling scrap metal to thin sheets and using them as paper. Januzzi and Narwani were otherwise in the shadowy corner 'occupied'.
"Quite the view." He remarked, "Januzzi's shiny ass is quite obvious from this angle."
The captain's lips curled up a fraction, breaking her demeanour enough that the tense atmosphere dissipated to something more relaxed.
"Have you ever wanted to turn someone yourself?" Captain questioned.
Gant's eyes turned from Januzzi's ass to the captain, surprised at such a question. "I've never given it much thought." No, when he was faced with a human, it was food. Any thoughts of sparing them after the bite was gone the moment their blood entered his mouth before the frenzy kicked in.
"Now seems like a good time."
The vampire eyed her for a moment longer though turned his gaze back from her to his knees. In all honesty, he didn't see the appeal. Perhaps he was too young to think like that but to have someone dependant on him was not his idea of fun. He already had to deal with Nambue and Januzzi with their squabbles…
"No. I don't have the patients for my own Childe when I have to deal with Shiny-ass down there and the Doc." By the metal sheets, Nambue looked up at them with a raised eyebrow, questioning them silently before Weeton nudged him back to their project.
Captain hummed, considering his answer. "I suppose you don't think past the bite."
"Thirst takes over." Simple. Nature. There was the thrill of it though. Primal. "Thinking about making a friend, Captain?"
Captain gave no indication of an answer though instead hopped up to her feet and stood to face him. He too rose though he held her gaze, watching the calculating look in her ruby gaze before her hand rose. He eyed her wearily but…allowed her touch to his cheek. Unlike their sire; he felt no desire to pull away; nothing intrusive though he wasn't sure what she was doing aside from physical contact.
"I don't know why; if it's because I've been a vampire longer than you or…if it because I'm female, that I want to," Captain spoke, looking at him carefully. Her hand moved, fingers dropping to his collar, washing over the circular bite barks she had left there the day before; her own scent still lingering there.
"I cannot speak for everyone else, Captain. Just because I do not want to turn, that doesn't mean the others do not. We're not able to think about stopping when we feed."
The captain's hand dropped, considering his words. "You should try." There was almost the sound of a challenge in her tone, for a second, a flicker of a smile crossed face before it was gone, and the captain walked down the beam before backflipping off; landing onto her feet before she darted away from the complex.
Gant fought the urge to follow.
"My ass is not that shiny," Januzzi complained from the corner, Narwani giggling though she kept her legs around his waist, trying to draw his attention back.
"I thought you were otherwise occupied, get back to it," Gant remarked back, earning an annoyed growl but Narwani was quick to nip him in the jaw; turning his focus back to their fun.
"I want to turn someone," Nambue shrugged, "but… like you said I've not got the ability to drawback. It'll be nice, though, when the day comes. I could…pick a human and turn them and—"
"You sound like you're calling them pets when you phrase it like that." Weeton pointed out, an edge of disapproval in his tone, "We all were human once, now look at us."
"This is why no one likes you." Nambue remarked, "You and your moral implications. They don't apply to us anymore. Not to mention, they all go out the window when we're being fed. Now, shut up about those hypocritical little ideas of yours or you'll never get a girl on your dick. I know you've been eyeing up the only two females here but you're the last person they'll consider between their legs if you spurt that nonsense out your mouth."
Gant snorted quietly, watching as the two began to bicker until it turned into a scuffle that Nambue won by tearing off Weeton's arm and tossed it into the pit; turning the atmosphere back into the familiar shambles of their clan's dynamics.
