Life of a Miner – Chapter 09 – Demetria

Chapter 9 – Demetria

“He took ’em,” Merley said as they approached the asteroid. The supplies they’d left near the forward airlock were no longer visible.

“At least that means he’s still alive.” Ulran breathed a sigh of relief.

“I think we should try to make contact,” Priloe said.

“How?” Merley asked.

“Knock?” Priloe answered.

The Licht twins exchanged a glance, shrugged and answered in unison. “Why not?”

The boys exited the Licht’s smaller ore-sled and were careful to secure it before making their way to the airlock.

“Give me one minute,” Priloe said as he jetted aft, toward the rent in the ruined spacecraft where he’d previously entered. It was a tight fit as he wriggled through the mass of cables and flexible piping. ”

Movement from above caught his eye as he was just about to break free into the engine compartment. His finely tuned survival instincts caused him to roll into the blow just before it landed. Pain shot through his neck as he drove forward into the small, open space with his arc-jet boots. While he wasn’t much of a fighter, years of being the smallest on the streets of Nannandry had taught him much about close quarters combat.

“What’s going on, Priloe?” Ulran’s urgent voice came over his comm.

All he was able to manage was an “ungh” as he accepted a second blow from the pipe wielding assailant on his back. The second strike was easily absorbed by the vac-suit’s fabric and the effect of the swing in nonexistent gravity caused his opponent to fly back against the heavily damaged bulkhead.

Priloe seized his advantage and rushed the small figure. As they grappled, Priloe realized he had physical superiority, a position he rarely found himself in. He struggled with the figure, finally subduing him in a bear hug.

“Stop,” Priloe said over the public comm channel. “We’re not here to hurt you.”

“Ooh-kay-deet.” The figure spoke in a language Priloe didn’t recognize and tried to shrug free of Priloe’s hold.

On his HUD, the AI translated the request – ‘Get Away’.

“Priloe, talk to us!” Merley requested excitedly. “We’re coming to you; we’re inside the ship.”

Priloe ignored his friends. For the moment, his focus needed to remain where it was. “Are you going to try to hurt me again?”

“Nyet.”

Priloe didn’t need the translation. He’d had enough experience with the Russians who comprised Oberrhein to recognize the negative affirmation. Releasing slowly, he allowed the figure to push away. Once free, however, he scrabbled toward the opening in the ship’s side.

“Stop,” Priloe demanded, cutting off the exit.

“We’re coming through,” Ulran warned.

“Can you understand me?” Priloe asked.

“Dah,” the figure replied, darting looks between Priloe and the hatch leading back into the ship. The manual wheel was slowly rotating.

“We’re not going to hurt you. You’re in trouble, let us help,” Priloe answered. “Can you speak common?”

“You are with Loose Nuts and will make me a slave,” the girl replied in the common language of most of humanity.

“Who says?” Ulran asked, as he and his brother poured through the door. The girl moved defensively away as they did.

Priloe held his hands out to slow the approach of the Licht twins.

“It is well known that Liam Hoffen hunts the remnants of Oberrhein,” she answered defiantly.

“Will you talk with us?” Priloe asked. “If you ask it of us, we will leave after we’ve talked.”

“How do I know you aren’t trying to trick me?”

“Look around,” Merley answered. “You’re trapped. If we wanted to force you to do something, we could.”

She leaned forward, still keeping Priloe between her and the Lichts. “And, you would be bloodied for your attempt.”

“Nobody’s forcing anyone to do anything,” Ulran said. “My brother just gets excited. What’s your name? I’m Ulran. The dumb one next to me is Merley and that’s Priloe.”

“Demetria,” she replied. “Demetria Borisova.”

“Let’s go up to the bridge where we can talk,” Merley said. “And, I’m not the dumb one.”

“Do you promise to leave me alone?”

“If that’s what you want,” Merley replied and turned to head back into the ship.

“You first,” Priloe said, gesturing to the open door after Ulran crossed through.

“Pridurok,” Demetria muttered but moved through all the same.

“You know my AI translates, right?” Priloe asked as he closed the manual airlock behind them.

“I was counting on that,” she replied.

“What happens when you run out of O2 and water?” Merley asked, settling into a tattered pilot’s chair. “I checked your systems, you maybe have a month left if you’re careful.”

“And, that’s with what we brought over,” Ulran added.

“My mother will come back for me,” Demetria responded.

“Was she part of Kiirilov’s crew?” Merley asked.

“Kiirilov is a pig,” Demetria said. “He left me here and took my mother with him.”

“Kiirilov is in jail,” Merley replied. “And, if your mom was with him, she is too. It was big news on Nuage not so long ago.”

“She’s coming back,” Demetria demanded, tears running down her face.

“You really need to come with us,” Priloe said. “You can’t keep living like this. You’ll die.”

“No one cares,” Demetria replied. “Only my mother cared for me.”

“It’s all tragedy for you Russians, isn’t it?” Merley said.

“Do not speak of things you know nothing of,” Demetria spat. “We are strong.”

“We gotta get going,” Ulran said. “Mom’s going to wonder where we are.”

“We can’t leave Demetria by herself,” Priloe said.

“I’m not going with you. I will not be sold to the slave market,” Demetria whined. “I would rather die out here.”

“We’ll bring her food and atmo,” Ulran said. “Maybe her mother is actually coming back. We can’t tell Dad and we certainly can’t take her with us. He’ll punish us for months.”

Priloe nodded his head. There would definitely be trouble over this.