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Everyone’s cots sat in the main living space of the ship, with all of them so close they could hear each other snore, and could hear Curly cry out in pain when the medicine wore off. Tonight was another night where Swansea was watching over the others, axe by his side just in case. Force of habit. He could remember watching over his kids when there was a hurricane coming, and his family huddled in the basement on air mattresses. His daughters would tell stories under the blanket, giggling away as if Swansea and their mother couldn’t hear it.
But now, there wasn’t any giggling. His wife wasn’t beside him with a warm and steadying presence. He just had Jimmy’s snores and Daisuke’s muttering. Anya had left a while ago, saying she had to use the bathroom. Swansea knew firsthand how long women would take in the bathroom, but it had been nearly an hour.
‘I’ll just go check,’ he told himself. ‘Make sure the foam didn’t go off, and she’s trapped somewhere’. He quietly stood, grabbed the axe to free her just in case, and walked out of the living area. His inebriation had faded in the night, his mind a bit clearer. Which may be how he was so keen to hear her crying.
He followed the muffled sound of cries to the cockpit, the doors shuffling open. He heard the sound of cries being stifled quiet, shaky uneven gasps following. He spoke up, “Anya, it’s late. What’s the matter?”
He heard a relieved gasp as she whispered, “It’s just you, Swansea… I thought…” she sniffled, standing up from her huddled hiding space under the control board.
The words made him frown as he asked, “What’s all this for, Anya? Was the bathroom really that bad?” It was the sort of light joke that would have used to make her laugh and throw a joke back at him.
But now, she just sniffled and shook her head. She’d been like this for a few months. Since before the crash. She was quiet and meek, like a deer ready to bolt.
Swansea sat down in one of the chairs, setting his axe down, and told her, “Take a seat, Anya. You need to take a breather.”
She did as he instructed, looking just as closed off as she has been. Swansea asked her, “Why are you crying, kid? And don’t lie. Or say it’s nothing.”
“But what if it is nothing?”
“Anya, I’ve got two daughters your age and a wife. I like to think I know that something like this isn’t because of nothing.”
Anya crossed her arms over herself and said, “I just… I don’t like how close my cot is to Jimmy.”
Swansea raised an eyebrow. Yes, Jimmy snored, and was an ass in general, but he didn’t see Anya’s point. Regardless, he relented, “We can move you. I know you like that screen projection. How about you sleep near that?”
“… That does sound better,” Anya told him, wiping away her tears. She was still clearly upset.
Swansea nodded and said, “Why don’t you like being near Jim?”
The question was clearly too far as it set off Anya’s tears again, which she quickly turned away to wipe and told him “No particular reason.”
Swansea sighed. He dragged a hand down his face and told her, “Look, kid, I don’t like Jim very much myself, if you’re worried about upsetting me by being mean or something. Just tell me, whatever it is.”
Anya mumbled something, quiet and inaudible, as her shoulders started to shake.
“Huh?” Swansea leaned forward and said, “Speak up Anya, I’m going deaf over here.”
“Jimmy assaulted me.”
The words made Swanseas heart drop. He wanted to believe maybe Jimmy just hit her, beat her up a bit. But they would have seen that. And besides, he wouldn’t put it past Jimmy to have done such a horrible deed.
Swansea firmly asked, “He did what exactly to you?”
Anya started crying as she stammered out, “He would-would come to my room… a-and he’d… I told him no, every time. Every time! He would put his hand over my mouth, tell me to be quiet… it hurt, every time… and he never used protection… and now… and now…”
“No…” Swansea felt his stomach twist at her words. The usual dislike he held for Jimmy grew and grew to a full hatred at her words. And she wasn’t lying. He knew she wasn’t. She’d been slowly breaking over the past months, with none the wiser except for her abuser.
Anya barely held herself together as she pleaded, “Please, don’t tell him I told you. Please?”
Swansea nodded and said, “It’s a secret, Anya. I won’t tell if you don’t want me to, and that… that monster isn’t getting anything more from me than just my hatred. Nothing more, nothing less.” He wanted to reach out and give her a hug. The fatherly part of him, buried down deep, urged him to care for her, and show her it would be okay. He asked her, “Do you need anything, Anya?”
She shook her head and said, “I’m doomed anyway, Swansea. If the baby Jimmy put in me doesn’t kill me, and I actually carry them to term, I know he’ll take care of me or them himself. He tried to crash this ship to get rid of the evidence!”
She was getting hysterical, rightfully so, but Swansea knew she wasn’t helping anyone. He rose out of his seat and pulled her carefully into a hug, rubbing her back as he said, “Calm down, Anya. You’re panicking. You need to take a deep breath, and calm down.”
She froze up before melting into his hold, letting out all her tears. Swansea was a rock for Daisuke, and now he was hoping he could be hers, even for a moment. It took a few minutes for her to fully calm down. And even then, there was still some tears on her face.
He stood up and told her, “Anya, something I want you to know is the Utility room isn’t fully foamed.”
She looked at him confused. After their initial inspection, he had told the group the Utility room, with all the cryostasis pods was filled with foam. He had lied, knowing Jimmy would demand to have the only still-functioning pod for himself.
Swansea continued, “There is one cryopod still up and running, and I wanted to keep it for either Daisuke or you. You two are the youngest, the woman and child of the ship. I hope to get the other three up and running soon, if the foam and the crash haven’t ruined the wiring.”
Anya nodded slowly, as if processing the opportunity this provided. She asked with the beginnings of a familiar smile, “We have a real chance of surviving this mess? Really?”
“Well, I’m not sure about if the other three. But, I’m sure two people could fit in the one pod if need be.” Swansea have her an equally satisfied smile. Both didn’t seem to notice the figure in the door way, the doors having opening slowly for once
“No. I understand completely,” Anya told her, knowing this was still big news. “If that’s how it has to be-“
Stood in the doorway, Jimmy cleared his throat, his eyes narrowed on the two of them.
“Hm? Oh, it’s you,” Swansea sneered at the sat of that scumbag. He could see Anya’s expression change to one of veiled fear under her frown.
With a faked edge of concern, Anya asked, “Jimmy, not able to sleep either?”
Jimmy seemed unfazed and asked the two, “It’s night time, why are you talking this late?” He then noticed Anya’s tear tracks on her face and asked, “Anya, are you crying?”
“No, don’t worry. I’m okay,” Anya piped up quick and dismissively.
Before either Anya or Swansea could add on, Jimmy coldly told Anya, “We all need to keep it together.”
Swansea’s anger boiled at Jimmy’s cruel words. He could all but torture this woman, then get upset at the mere thought of her crying, after all he’s done to her. In retaliation, he bitterly responded, “Oh, I’m keepin’ it together. Don’t you worry Captain.” He added a pointed sneer on the last word, reminding Jimmy he saw him as anything but.
Jimmy ignored Swansea to tell Anya, “He’s making noise again. Did you give him his meds before, Anya?”
“Ah, no, Must’ve slipped my mind,” Anya said, clearly shaken from her breakdown and worried for Curly. She started, “I’m sorry, I’ll-“
Jimmy cut her off, plainly, “I’ll do it.”
“No really, I’m perfectly okay.” It was clear she wanted to do this to prove to both Jimmy and herself she could do her job (As if keeping Curly alive this long wasn’t proof enough).
“I said I’ll do it,” Jimmy firmly told her, leaving no room for argument. Despite his sharp words, he was in no rush.
Anya muttered, mostly to herself and Swansea, “I wonder if they’ve even noticed we’re missing back at headquarters. It’d take a rescue ship so long to get here.”
Jimmy butted in, “Might be another freighter they could divert to try and find us. It’s not… inconceivable.”
Swansea muttered to himself “Unlike something else…” he received a look of warning from Anya, clearly urging him to shut up.
Anya tried to cover it up by saying, “I suppose you’re right, Jimmy.”
Jimmy turned his attention to Swansea, and gestured to the axe. “You getting a lot of use out of that right now?”
“Force of habit,” Swansea told him, not entirely a lie. He’d grown use to keeping it by his side. “Don’t overthink it.”
Without further argument, Jimmy left to go take care of Curly. Once he was out and the cockpit doors shut, Anya let out a strangled sounding sniffle. Swansea patted her shoulder and said, “C’mon, kid. You need some sleep. Let’s go move your cot under the moon tonight.”
Anya stood with Swansea and they slowly walked through the halls. While walking, she asked, “Could you… move your cot next to mine? I just don’t want to be far away from everyone. Just incase he sneaks over to me.”
Swansea’s heart broke as he told her, “Of course kid.”
They got back and quietly moved their cots to the lower couch area, right below the screen. Swansea gave Anya an extra pillow and blanket form the couch, telling her to settle in for the night. He was relieved when she seemed to doze off within the hour, only staying fully awake until Jimmy returned to his own cot from giving Curly his painkillers.
For a moment, Swansea felt he should stop drinking away his problems with the mouthwash. Just like all those years ago, he had people he had to stay sober for. If he did it years ago for his kids and wife, he could do it now for his kids on the ship. But then he thought of Jimmy. He flew much lower under Jimmy’s radar as a drunk and stony man. He also could stray from the utility room. He had to guard it. Had to protect the remaining cryopod, the future it held for Anya and Daisuke.
As he looked to Anya, he sighed. Whatever he’d do, he’d protect his kids. All four of them. Two on earth, two on the Tulpar.