Chapter Twenty
At around the same time, little Peter came into the infirmary with his little bag of snacks, and toys, with Fang and Smelly Meg under his arms to see the little girl, who was awake and curled up in a foetal position, feeling warm for the first time in her life. Just trying to make sense of everything when from her perspective, a little boy appeared in view with a big smile on his face.
For her, she rarely saw anyone happy, the only children were the ones who were about to be killed, and the old master's servants just taunted her. Then she remembered that the Master had been arrested, and was wondering who her new master would be. And then began to wonder if this little boy was her new Master!
"Hi I'm Peter, I brought you some food, and do you want to play a game". The little boy said, as he scrambled onto the bed and began to pull the wrapped food from the little bag.
She sat up because it did look good and she was hungry and tried to take in this little boy, who called himself "Peter".
In the end, she just sat there, listening whilst she and Peter ate. She learned his parents were Ravagers and he was going to be one eventually and he lived in a ship called the Elector. Whilst the food was all eaten, leaving only crumbs on the bed.
In the meantime, Peter had introduced her to Fang and Smelly Meg and passed the stuffed toy over to her, and she gripped it tightly. Peter had been told she had a bad time and would be getting better. So, he just talked and it made her feel comfortable.
They began to play the game Stakar had brought Peter. It was a simple game of matching colours, but she was older and better at it than Peter, as a small ghost of a smile drifted over her lips. Since she has never had good food like this or played games and maybe her new Master would be nice, she thought.
As this was going on, two men were watching through a window, unseen by anyone in the room, and Actveia just placed a hand on the glass and shook his head.
"You can't ask me of this Iztel, you're insane I'm just a cook for god's sake, how the hell can I do this?"
"Because you'll be the best person for the job because you're not a Ravager, you can keep it all at a distance, and it would only be for a few months. That girl needs someone looking after her, on the Star Hawk, you're clearly the best person.
I don't know what's going on with my Captain, but you know what happened, and what could happen to her. On the Elector, she's a target, but here, with you, she'll be safe".
Actveia tried to take in Iztel's suggestion, and it sounded ludicrous "How can I take care of her, I can barely take care of myself, she's been through hell"
"And you can help her with that, she knows how to cook, and she can read, not much, and also write, it looks like she's left-handed, which is rare. She's a smart young thing who's the only available witness to what happened, all she needs right now is love and support".
"And what the hell does that mean?", since Actveia was totally out of his depth, even though Iztel was adamant that he would be the one to take care of her, and the older Ravager explained.
"Statement will have to be taken, and a councillor will be contacting you, once we explain everything. Good people, she'll have support from all sides, you just need to keep her safe".
"I can barely keep myself safe Iztel, I'm a Ravager cook, must be anyone more experienced than me".
"No one we can trust, and out of everyone on this ship, we trust you, that means something".
In all his life, reassuring words were something Actveia had forgotten and he cleared his throat and tried to find his words whilst Iztel explained further.
"Look you're different from everyone else, even you know that, do you have a family?"
Actveia's eyes lingered on Iztel for a moment before he looked away and said in a small voice. "I haven't thought of them in years, and you're the second person who's asked me that question in the last few days…yes, I do.
I left, no I ran away when I was a teenager and haven't been back since, they were good people, too good, Darbian. I never fit in, been thinking of it too, maybe I should".
Actveia swallowed hard and turned back to Iztel, "It's just for a few months, right, just needing to hear someone say "No more than that". Before he slowly nodded.
"So, then my daddies took me to the Zoo, it was fantastic, and I saw a smelly Meg's tummy, and got lots of nice things". Peter was telling the little girl, whose own childhood had been abuse and depravity.
"It was only a few weeks ago, but feels like years, but that's because we've not been home". He added, and they both turned as Iztel and Actveia came into the room and Peter brightened up.
"We've been playing my new game; she plays it better than me". Peter informed the grownups as Iztel got closer to him
"That's ok, you'll be better at it later". Iztel said to the boy, whilst Peter turned to the little girl, who was about to push the toys back to Peter, but he shook his head.
"No, you can keep it, and Smelly Meg too, I've got lots of toys, and you need toys". Peter added thoughtfully, and the little girl looked surprised but gripped the stuffed toy closer since this was her first ever toy of any kind. She was overwhelmed that of this considerate treatment but managed to mouth a "thank you" to the little boy, who had given her so much.
"Come on Peter, let's go back to your dads", Iztel said, whilst Peter slid from the bed, and gripped Iztel's hand closely, but gave the girl a little wave as Actveia slid into the empty seat.
"Hi, I'm Actveia, I'm the cook on this ship, I know what happened to you, but you're going to have to stay here for a while. What happened to you, well you're going to have to talk to a lot of people about it to make sure the bad guys stay jailed forever".
The little Xandarian girl looked away, since she had been through a hell of a lot in a small amount of time, and manage to find a whisper.
"I have to stay here forever?" to which Actveia replied in her small voice "No just for a few months, then a good family will be found for you, a real good one and a nice home when you can be safe, but right now the safest place is here, and they are nice here.
We are Ravagers, well I'm a cook, not a Ravager, but here you will be safe, but if it's ok, I'd like to look after you. I have a spare room not much, just a bed, but we can make it all nice for you, or move you to another deck if that's what you want".
The fact she had just from higher up's who were criminals, to be saved by people to were also criminals, she didn't know how to respond, but Actveia persisted.
"We're going to get you educated, and a good education, and if you like, you can also help me, too. You won't be a Ravager, just be with me, at least for a while, not forever".
"And then I get a family?" which deep down was all this child who had been sold really wanted, and Actveia nodded, "I'll make sure you get a good one, and a nice house too".
To this, the little girl just nodded, since she felt conflicted about anything but the thought of a bed and safety meant more to her than anything and he found herself nodding. "Ok", it was more than a whisper, but loaded and meant the word to her, as Actveia asked her something important. "You don't have a name, do you?". to which she replied "Master called me "It"".
To his credit, Actveia shuddered. "Well, you won't be called that, not here, so you need a name, can you think of one"
Freedom and a name were too overwhelming and she shook her head, as an idea came to Actveia.
"Well, what about Vexran? It was my mother's name, it means sunlight in ancient Xandarian, for a while until you can think of one you like". Actveia suggested, as the little girl, tried it out,
"Vexran, Vexran, I like it", She whispered since she had gone for nothing, to having toys, a home and a name.
"That's settled, ok why don't you get some more rest, and later, we'll move you into your new home and work out that education pack and the people you will have to speak to," Actveia told the girl, who settled down, and feeling, safe and content and with a new name, drifted to sleep, and Actveia just stayed with her for a little longer.
Actveia had no idea what was going to happen next but felt a wave of protection for that child, one he had never felt before. He wanted to cuddle her and reassure her, but he knew that building her broken trust would take time. In the meantime, Actveia wondered what colour her hair was, since she was almost bald which was typical of slaves, and so pale due to a lifetime devoid of sunlight.
A little while later with Vexran fast asleep and hugging Smelly Meg close to her Actveia, left the infirmary and was crossing the deck, when he almost bumped into his Captain and First Mate. Both wore a look on their faces which were not impressed.
"This is insanity, she's a traumatised child, you can't expect us to look after her", to which Yondu replied coldly "It's for a few months until she can give evidence, and that's it, and besides you won't be".
"No that will be my job" Actveia stated, "I'll make sure. She's protected, all you have to do is keep her safe and that's it, we've already had one child on this ship, and we can take care of her until someone better comes along".
Yondu didn't miss the paternal tone which had crept into Actveia's voice and kept that to himself, as he turned to the Cook, "Then it's settled and this Lady overseeing this will want a word with you. And remember she's a Lady, not someone you buy time with on Cortexia, so treat her as one. Mind your manners and all that shit".
Informed Kraglin, realising it was his cue to say something since now it was getting out of his hands
"Fine, and the education pack, for Vexran, that's the name she chose to use until she can think of a better one", he informed them "I'll need that too".
With this settled, and everyone getting more to a sense of normalcy, for their line of work, that was until Actveia, slid into the seat, and accessed the view screen, with everyone including Yondu, Kraglin, the Ogord's and for good measure Iztel off the camera.
This was adding pressure for Actveia since he was going to speak to a Lady about Vexran's wellbeing. When to his surprise a familiar face appeared in view, and both their mouths dropped in unison.
To be continued