Legal Disclaimer: I own my stuff, but not the original source material. That belongs to whoever. Also, the opinions and interpretations I use here may not reflect the same in said whoever that owns the source material. Look, I'm just a poor college librarian. Suing me isn't going to get you anything but tears.
Warning: This work may be offensive to some readers. There's also a space battle with referenced slavery. Feel free to back out if need be.
Author's Note: This space AU could not decide which space-centric fandom it wanted to vibe with. So if you think I'm referencing a 'verse, just know that no power in the 'verse can stop you.
Submitting Info:
Stacked with: Ministry (Winter Year 1); RAVEN (2023); MC4A (Winter Year 5)
Individual Challenges: Old Shoes (Y); Bucket Listing (Y); In a Flash; Green Ribbon; Two Cakes (Y); Eating Cake (Y); Smooth; Can of Spite; Finders; Red Bull; Red Wave; Infinite Cakes; Lovebirds; Criminal MC; Criminal MC; Rian-Russo Inversion; Rian-Russo Inversion; Ethnic & Present; The 3rd Rule; Ship Sails; Hold the Mayo; Morlock Era
Ministry Challenges: FSF [Day 07] (Alice/Andromeda)
RAVEN Challenges: Settings [125](Space); Items [41](Dragon Tears); Colors [151](Violet)
Other Challenges: Zee Monthly [Day 08](Betray)
Other MC4A Challenges: Ship (n/a)[List (Prompt)]; Chim [Rick]("Louder than Words" – Tick, Tick, Boom; Life/Death; Race Bend);Fire [x3](Secrets); Garden [Trellis (Space); Mixed Bag Quartet (Space); Eat Your Heart (At First Sight)]; Harvest [A&B (Nodding); AUs (Far Future); Relationships (Lovers); Settings (Space); Tropes (Trapped Together)]; TWT (NB Alice Longbottom; Far Future)[Task#2 (Medicine)]; Hang [Phrase 3] (n/a); Soup [P](Purple); Swap [Counters (Bag of Dragon Tears)]
Representation(s): NB & Jewish Alice Longbottom/Andromeda Black; Far Future in Space AU
Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenges: Sweetest Burn; Second Verse (Ladylike; Not a Lamp; Persistence Still; Found Family; Nontraditional; Middle Name; Spinning Plates; Unwanted Advice; Car in a Tutu; Clio's Conclusion; For the Vine); Chorus (Wabi Sabi; Tomorrow's Shade; A Long Dog; Larger than Life; Unicorn; In the Trench; Surprise!; Infinity; Call Me Dantes; Getting On; Hot Stuff)
Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenges: SS (Schooner; Sanctuary); RoIL (Workstation; Satisfaction); FIN (Ensanguine; Radiance); AD (Assumption); War (Sanctuary; Ennui; Obstruction); TY (Kulonbozo; Ntaiv); Share (Ameliorate; Nepenthe; Augur); DP (Keen; Terse; Yearn)
Word Count: 695 words
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Freedom
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Andromeda and Alice soared through the star-filled void in a ship they had stolen from an abandoned junk yard on a world that had barely been terraformed. Both had taken to a life of thievery and daring adventure, determined to make their mark in the universe as they escaped the confines of so-called civilized society that would as soon as help someone one as betray them. They had found something like a calling in targeting those who sold others like chattel.
The cruiser they were now flying towards was the latest target they had set their sights on. Its cargo holds were sure to contain a hefty bounty, as well as any slaves held within. They had heard rumors of the ruthless captain aboard the vessel, but they were also aware of the riches he was said to possess. It was a risk they were willing to take.
The two women glided the craft ever closer to the hulking structure, which dwarfed theirs in size. As they drew nearer, Andromeda and Alice began to feel the thrill of the chase, the hair on their skin raising with anticipation.
Suddenly, a blast of light erupted from the cruiser, followed by an ominous shudder from their beloved ship.
"Shields up!" Andromeda commanded at the top of her voice just a split second before the ship lurched violently to the side. It sent the little figurines that Alice kept on the top edge of the control panel to the deck flooring. The silk bag of dragon tears in various shades of purple sounded like water splashing in a garden fountain as it scattered its bounty. Alice's favorite violet ball rolled towards the door of the bridge.
"They've got their tractor locked onto us!" Alice yelled back, xyr sienna hands dancing over xyr section of control panel as xe fought to maneuver them away from the barrage of fire.
With the deftness that made xem one of the best pilots to sail the Black, Alice spun the ship around, dodging and weaving between the explosions. Sparks flew around them and the air filled with the smell of burning metal.
Andromeda and Alice exchanged a knowing look. They had no choice but to take the cruiser head on, full speed ahead. Andromeda gave a single regal nod of acknowledgement and permission.
"Brace yourselves," Andromeda shouted, her voice barely audible over the rumble of engines pushed to their limit and the groans of metal as the ship threatened to fall apart around them. The women clenched their teeth, prepared for what was to come. With one last burst of speed, they charged the cruiser at full force, sending the enemy guns into a frenzy.
Just as they were about to ram into the hull, a wave of energy surged from the ship and surrounded them, lifting them off their feet and suspending them in mid-air. Just as suddenly, they dropped unceremoniously to the unforgiving surface of a transporter platform. The fading hum of it signaled that it was powering down.
On the vid screen behind them, they watched as their small ship exploded into many pieces between the tractor beam and cannon fire. It hadn't been much, but it had been their home. Andromeda and Alice were stunned into silence. They barely noted as someone approached them with a vaxxer. Numbed with the shock of surviving the destruction of their home, they barely felt the sting of the injection.
As their minds cleared, they realized that they were surrounded by a different group than they might have expected. They were most likely not on the slave cruiser or at least not in any section that a freeperson might be, as the room around them was not the same level of shiny tech as it. Not to mention that the people around them looked like they had just been in vicious fight. To a one, they all had something either singed or bloodied.
"Well, do you want to help us finish taking the ship or what?" one of the rebels said, extending his hand in friendship. The two lovers exchanged looks again before accepting the alliance and continuing the fight for freedom.