Chapter Text
Aphidea was a lesser known planet. Smaller, no significant exports, but covered in lush forests and plains that stretched the entire planet. No big cities really existed, so the ground was dotted with communities and towns that operated more or less on their own, interacting with one another every so often for trade and festivals. Homes lined the trees and brush, or popped from the ground if the Aphidean was so inclined. Velo had lived in a smaller home in the brush with her father, just outside of her community. It was simple, with more room devoted to the mechanic’s shop her father ran. It was a quiet life - and she had no complaints. Velo had been shy since she hatched, quick to hide behind her father’s legs or a hatch-mate. Or, at least she had before her adolescent molt had revealed little green pigment in her carapace, with the majority remaining the pale colors of youth, with white hair and red eyes. Hatch-mates pulled away from her, mostly by their parents, or they turned cruel at the stark difference. Looks from adults turned to pity or something akin to disdain, and she would press closer to her father.
Echo tried, he really did. But staying isolated from town, just to protect her from the ostracizing glances and words…it was a kind thought, but overprotective. She was all he had, truly, and nothing could stop him from protecting her.
“I’ll keep you safe,” he promised. “From all of those who can’t see how special you are.”
For years it was just them. Velo grew, running in the fields around her house, or learning everything she could from her father, arms deep in engines or fine-tuning the smallest piece of delicate machinery. Echo was proud of her - despite everything, she had stayed sweet and kind, and learned so fast. It was everything they wanted, everything they needed. But good things fade so fast. Echo couldn’t have known how ill he was, only ever chalking it up to age and old wounds.
It was a rare day that Velo accompanied her father to town, still staying close and trying so hard to ignore the stares. She was helping return a machine, and then pick up things from the market. It would be short and sweet, so easy. Echo had left her to return the machine - an automated slicer for the baker, who had been more than kind to Velo in the past. The older woman had no children or grandchildren close by, and Velo had always been a polite thing.
“I cannot believe you’re a young lady now,” the baker had said, watching Velo put the slicer back in place. “Just yesterday you were a little grub. Ah, years go by fast…how old are you now, dear?”
“Sixteen, ma’am - almost anyway,” Velo replied softly. “There! It shouldn’t jam anymore.”
“Ah, perfect! My hands aren’t what they used to be, this will make it much easier for me to slice loaves,” the baker said. “Here are your pixels, and a little treat.”
She pressed the little bag of pixels into Velo’s palm, alongside a small sweetroll, dusted with sugar. Velo smiled. “Thank you very much, ma’am.”
Before the baker could reply, there was a shout outside, followed by a cry for a doctor. They rushed to the door to see a small crowd clustered around a prone figure on the ground. Velo peered through the gaps, and saw a familiar pair of brown hide gloves. The money and roll fell from her hands, and she was running out the door, pushing through the people. She didn’t realize she was shouting, but those around her had never heard her that loud before.
Her father laid prone on the ground, eyes half shut. Velo collapsed, dragging herself to his side. “No- no papa wake up-!””
She shook him, trying to will him awake. “No, no, no! Papa don’t- don’t leave me! Someone- please! Get help, please!”
Velo rubbed at her eyes, begging, pleading to anyone or anything that would listen between sobs to bring him back. But her father laid still, and remained still, despite her pleading. Someone in the crowd helped her up, still sobbing into her hands and begging for her father as he was carried away. “Come on, Velo. I’ll…I’ll help you home.”
She didn’t know who helped her, nor whoever else came to her home to pay respects, to the funeral. She felt dull, like leaves at the end of fall and just as fragile. The shop was silent and still, and Velo couldn’t bring herself to enter it. She couldn’t trust her hands to work. To her it was miracle enough that she could leave her bed in the morning, even if it was only to go through the motions of a day. The house was quiet, and no longer felt like home.
It was one of those fake little days there was a knock. Velo wanted so badly to ignore it, or at least open it a crack and ask them to come later. But a look through the peephole showed the community leader, Vlix. He stood, waiting, and Velo had no choice but to open the door.
“Miss Velo,” he said gently, removing his hat. “May I enter?”
“Y-yes, sir,” Velo replied, opening the door wide enough for him to enter. Vlix looked around the house, the simple furniture and few photos along the walls. Velo felt exposed. “Can I- can I help you? If it’s a repair, I- there’s a backlog…”
“No, I have nothing in need of repair, Miss Velo,” Vlix said. He stood taller than her and her father had been. “Please, sit. I have something to discuss with you.”
Cautiously, Velo returned to her seat, a knot forming in her stomach. What in the world would he, of all people, have to discuss with her? He cleared his throat.
“I am sure you are aware of our town’s...troubles after the flood last year,” he began. She nodded. It was a miracle most of the town didn’t get swept away, especially those not in the trees. Her and her father had spent the aftermath fixing anything that could be salvaged. “In repairing everything, we have accrued debts. Homes, towns, the fields, the roads. We borrowed from a powerful man, and the debt must be paid back.
“But we haven’t had time,” he continued. Vlix picked up a photo from the mantel - a happier memory of her last birthday, just her and her father. “To get the funds.”
Velo nodded slowly. “I’m…sorry?”
“Nothing you could have done, child,” he replied. “But recently, we have spoken to him, and he altered the agreement. He asked for something rare, something that can only be found on our planet, in return. Apparently he has quite a collection.”
“That’s good,” Velo said. “But…why are you telling me this? I don’t think I can make anything he would deem rare.”
“You do not have to. Miss Velo, you are aware of how rare you are, correct?” Vlix asked. The knot in her stomach turned into a snarl. “Not many Aphideans retain these colors.”
He gestured to her pale skin and hair, and red eyes. Velo gulped down bile. “You’re….you’re suggesting-”
“I am.”
“I don’t- my father- his shop-,” Velo barely managed to say. She lowered her head, antenna flat against her head. She felt the tears press hot to her eyes. “How could I…”
“We are truly sorry for your loss, and to ask this of you. But this will help us repay our debt,” Vlix replied. Velo couldn’t tell if his voice was remorseful or worried. “Your rarity makes you special. There would be no bad memories there. I will make sure the house and shop are maintained in your absence.”
Velo stared at her hands. He knelt in front of her, taking them. “Please, Miss Velo. There’s no other way we can pay this. Lord Lucan is a man of honor - he won’t harm you, I assure you. It will be a clean slate. Won’t that be good? No more ghosting in your home.”
She didn’t realize she was even nodding her head. It would be…
Vlix’s words of thanks went over her head, muffled. She could hear the words, the gratitude, the when they would bring her to him, the order to pack. Velo nodded. There wasn’t much to pack that she could take with her, apparently she would be provided clothing there, just a few things for travel and whatever small things she wanted. It all fit in a small pack - a photo, some extra clothes, her tool kit, and a few pieces of jewelry that had been her mother’s. After the packing was just the waiting, still numb. Still quiet. Going through the motions. \
Vlix and a few others arrived later that week - guards, a pilot, a few other officials who told her the same thanks. Velo did not know what to say, only feeling the familiar urge to hide from the small crowd, but at the first feeble step back, Vlix was quick to rest a hand on her shoulder and nudge her out the door of her house.
“You’re doing a great service, Miss Velo,” he said. “Remember that.”
Velo only nodded, and allowed them to lead her to the ship, parked just nearby her house. Any other time she would have marveled at it, asked about the specs, but the words felt like ash. The bay door opened with a hiss, and the pilot entered, guards close behind with Velo.
“Wait, before you go,” an official said, stopping her. She placed a wide brimmed hat over her head, and lowered a long net of lace from it, covering her from head to waist. “A little bit of ceremony never hurt. Take care, dear.”
She rushed back down the gangplank, rejoining the ranks as she watched the plank recede and the door close. Velo watched as the last views of her planet slipped away, the roar of the engines cutting off any sound of wind brushing leaves and grass as the shift lifted off, and then away into the atmosphere and onward. The guards still stood close, too close, as though she were going to run.
Whatever fog had plagued her lifted then.
‘Oh Trinity,’ she thought. ‘I’m trapped. What have I done…’
The first time they stopped, she bolted. Velo had no chance to even leap away before they grabbed her, almost like they expected it. The netting - the bug net - acted against her, giving them a handhold against her escape. The set of cuffs they had, heavy and metal, were waiting. She realized with a jolt that they expected her to try and escape, and had the means to keep her in place until she was sold - that’s what it was. They were selling her. Velo felt…angry. Betrayed. But mostly so, so scared. The guards didn’t sense her fear, or if they did they didn’t care. At least they left her alone, but there was little in the way of kindness or sympathy. Velo felt invisible.
But maybe…she could make invisible work if she was quick the next time they stopped. A moved stand was hardly noticed, especially when it had that stupid hat on it, and just so happened to be in the spot she barely had moved from. If they didn’t notice that she slipped away, well, all the better.
Velo had never left Aphidea before, and the space station was bigger than she imagined it could be, with just as many milling about. She crept along the walls, holding her bag in a way to hide the cuffs from view as she put distance between her and the ship. Doing something for the good of a community that would use her was no longer a noble thing. All she could think of was running, getting far from them and the rough hands that would drag her back. Eventually she found a large bay, filled with crates in writing she didn’t recognize in her rush. Velo slipped behind a stack, pressed against the wall, and scooted into the shadows. All she had to do was wait and sneak onto another ship. The cold bite of the metal on her hands and feet was grounding at least, but the fear kept her more than alert, and the wait was torturous. And then there was the click of metal footsteps, heavy, coming in her direction, and Velo didn’t have enough time to run.
-
Beebs looked at the substantial cargo in front of their ship. “And this is everything?”
“Yessir! An entire 400-piece orchestra set, ready to go,” the merchant replied. Beebs lowly whistled. He had seen the order, spoke to the client himself, but seeing everything in one place, all carefully boxed. “I just need some signatures please.”
“How the hell are we gonna fit all this in…” Shrike murmured, glancing over the boxes.
“I think I can make it work,” Beebs replied. “Before we sign, I’m gonna make sure everything is here, okay?”
“Sounds good amigo,” Shrike nodded before turning to the merchant. “You got a forklift or anything? It’s gonna take forever to load this. Also, do you uh, have any guitar strings?”
Beebs pretended he didn’t hear the last part, rolling his eyes with a grin. At least he was right about the forklift - it was a lot. But at least it was all accounted for, for the most part. He made his way to the last row, checking to make sure it matched the list. He heard a small sound, a little gasp it seemed and a clink of metal between the boxes and wall. Beebs adjusted his headphones, but he heard it again - few clinks and the rustle of fabric. A stowaway already? Trinity, what happened to people just asking for a lift-
He looked into the gap between the timpanis and wall, and found…a bug. No, an Aphidean, if he recalled. She stared up at him, eyes wide and scared in a way that shouldn’t be possible on something so young. She began shuffling away from him, terrified, and that’s when he noticed the cuffs and chains on her wrists, and he immediately knew something was horribly wrong.
“Please don’t let them find me,” was a quiet plea he barely heard.
Before he could respond there were shouts from the main thoroughfare, and she let out a strangled noise somewhere between alarm and a sob as she pressed as far back as she could, curling up into herself. “THIS WAY! CHECK OVER THERE!”
“Stay here,” he ordered. “Don’t move.”
Beebs quickly moved a crate over the opening and quickly made his way back to Shrike and the merchant. Shrike was already on guard, hand twitching towards his crystal. The merchant looked worried, glancing over his stock nervously. Four Aphidean guardsmen approached, weaponless but loud.
“You! Have you seen a young Aphidean here?” one of them barked at them.
“No - what?” Shrike replied. “Since when do Aphideans come all the way out here?”
“That’s none of your concern,” the guard replied. “You two, search the crates.”
“Hold on! You will not touch these! These are instruments for the Solnar Orchestra!” the merchant responded, standing in front of them. “I won’t have you ruffians damaging them!”
“Stand aside,” another ordered. Beebs stood above all four, staring down.
“I believe he said not to,” he said. “And last I checked, you don’t have authority to look anywhere.”
“He’s right,” Shrike added, twirling the very obvious LAW issued gun around his hand. “I don’t think Aphidea has any power here, especially since you guys never joined LAW, eh? I don’t see a warrant, insectos, especially when it messes with my business.”
“Fine!” one of them huffed. “Can we at least look around?”
“Only if you don’t open ANY of these crates, got it? We ain’t losing pixels over you,” Shrike rolled his eyes. “Trinity…”
The four fanned out. Beebs looked over at Shrike. “Why did you agree to that?”
“Because I’m the one with a gun,” Shrike shrugged. “If they decide to be stupid that’s on them.”
The merchant fidgeted. “Oh, what if they damage something!”
“Don’t worry, they won’t,” Beebs replied. “Come on, Shrike. You said they could look, now we're going to make sure they don't mess around.”
“Should have just dealt with the headache and told them to leave,” Shrike mumbled, tapping the muzzle against his thigh. “A couple loud pendejos…”
The four guards were at least not opening crates, but were peering around them as best they could. Beebs circled around them, moving to where the girl was hiding. At least it was the end of the cargo. He blocked the remaining opening, shielding her and the empty space from sight.
“You guys done? We have a schedule,” Shrike asked. “Whoever you're looking for isn't here, so it's not our problem.”
The guards looked at each other. The one from before sighed, angrily. “Fine. Men, let's go. She's not here.”
They stormed past, exiting into the main hub and going to the next sections. Beebs sighed in relief and stepped away from the opening, nudging the crate out of the way. “Hey, you can come out now.”
The aphidean stood, cautiously creeping from the darkness. “Are they really gone?”
Beebs nodded. “They're gone.”
There was a wash of relief over her face.
“Hey, Beebs, you good? The merchant needs those- Qué??” Shrike stopped dead in his approach, seeing the Aphidean girl, who let out a squeak of alarm and hid behind Beebs.
“It's okay, he's a friend,” Beebs said over his shoulder. She peered out from behind, and Shrike could see what Beebs had: a frightened girl with her hands chained together. Beebs could see a flash of something in his face, but it was gone just as fast.
Shrike put the gun away, holding up his empty hands. “All good, senorita. You're the one those guys are looking for, right?”
She nodded. “Please don’t let them take me. I don't have pixels but I have jewelry! I can pay, just don't let them-”
“We aren't narcs, kid,” Shrike replied.
“Where are you headed?” Beebs asked.
“I don't know…far from them? I've never left home before, but I can't go back-,” her voice cracked at the end. Beebs knew that feeling all too well. He gestured with his head towards the open door of the Bucket.
“Get in, take the elevator to the bridge and stay put for a bit. We'll get you off the station and go from there,” he said, ignoring Shrike's sputter of ‘what?’. The girl looked hopefully, relieved, and quickly made her way there, a green and white blink against the silver and red of the ship before disappearing.
“What are you doing?! We can't take a stowaway!” Shrike hissed. “We have enough eyes on us as is since- you know!”
“And whose fault is that?” Beebs asked. It was a low blow, and he knew it was the second it came out.
“I-...,” Shrike trailed off at that. “....I'll go sign the papers. See if we can get a forklift or something.”
“Shrike, I-” he started, watching him walk back to the merchant. After everything…they'd argued about it, nearly killed each other over it when the anger and hurt was fresh. But they'd talked about it too, spoken at length, and Shrike had even apologized. Yes, there were eyes on them, but it was only…People with more eyes everywhere in the universe than they could think about, between Tezzoree and Dolion. That and the few who had heard they survived a mini-cataclysm. It definitely helped more than any advertisement.
Beebs couldn't lie and say things didn't still sting. He cared for Shrike so much, but…
He sighed and hefted the first crate onto his shoulder, starting a steady rhythm of crates entering the ship and ratcheted in place, in time to his footsteps. Shrike did manage a forklift, driving it up with a grin as though nothing had happened.
“Hey, did I tell you I'm fork-lift certified?”
“Since when?”
“....Don't worry about it.”
“Shrike-”
Well, it did make the rest of the crates go faster, and soon the cargo hold was filled to capacity.
“That's everything!” Beebs called out to the merchant. “Thank you for your business.”
“Thank you boys! Safe travels!” The merchant replied, stepping back from the gangplank as it rose. The two rode up to the bridge, and prepared for take off. The girl wasn't there.
“Hey, where's the kid?” Shrike asked before calling out. “Kid, we're taking off. Better buckle up.”
Beebs knew she couldn’t have left, but she did seem scared. “She's probably hiding.”
“....yeah, I would be too,” Shrike started the Bucket for take-off. “...She's rare.”
“Rare? What does that mean?” Beebs asked, he flipped a few switches on his control panel, and the engines roared. The Bucket taxied out of the hangar, and soon took off, breaking out of the artificial atmosphere and into space. The gravity left like a switch, hair and tentacles free-floating. Beebs watched as Shrike plugged in the coordinates. “Shrike-”
The door to the rest of the ship opened, and the Aphidean floated, looking around, almost lost.
“Hey, there you are. We were wondering where you went,” Beebs said.
“I…I was hiding,” she murmured. “I was scared.”
She grabbed the wall, avoiding anything that could be pressed and lowered herself to the floor, slowly walking on air until she got to the front. The cuffs at least added some weight for her. The window of the Bucket showed the wide expanse of space flying by them, and she watched the stars and planets go by.
“Never been in a ship like this, huh?” Shrike asked. She shook her head.
“Only to help with repairs…,” was the soft response. “...How far are we from Aphidea?”
“50 AU, give or take,” Beebs asked. The girl crumpled at that, sinking her head into both sets of hands.
“Woah- jeez,” Shrike flinched. “Easy, it's not that far! And it's not going anywhere.”
“I never should have agreed. I never should have left,” was choked out between pale hands. Shrike looked at Beebs and then over to the Aphidean. A crying passenger was far from new, but usually it was over something simple, or at least something they knew about. “I can't go back- or Trinity they'll find me-”
Beebs floated over. “If you go back, would you be in danger?”
The girl looked up at him, and nodded, biting in her lower lip. He looked over a Shrike before turning back to her. “Okay then. Why don't we worry about these cuffs for now? Look heavy on someone so small.”
“They are…kind of hurts,” she replied. “I can move my hands enough to use my own tools.”
“I should have something to pick them up or at least break them,” Beebs said, extending his artificial hand and running through the holos.
“Hold on,” Shrike interrupted, floating over. He reached into his crystal and pulled out what appeared to be a key. “Master key, LAW standard issue for all cuff types.”
He took one set of cuffs and unlocked them, then the other, and they floated ungracefully away. The exposed parts of her wrists were red and somewhat raw, and she hissed as she rubbed them.
“Couldn't have even bothered to make sure they had the right cuff size,” Shrike muttered, slipping the key back into his crystal. “What's your name?”
“What?” She seemed surprised he asked.
“I can't keep calling you kid,” he replied.
“...Velo. My name is Velo,” she said.
“Good to meet you. I'm Beebs, and he's Shrike. Welcome to the TCF Bucket,” Beebs said.
There was a little smile on her face. “Thank you, sirs.”
“Don’t worry ‘bout it,” Shrike replied, grabbing the cuffs from the air and putting them into his crystal. “But seriously what was all that about?”
“Shrike, give her time,” Beebs said. Shrike stared at him.
“Amigo, we need an idea about what’s going on - no offense, Velo, but the picture getting painted here isn’t pretty,” he replied. “Trust me, we’re the last people to judge.”
Velo looked at her hands. “My…home town has a debt to someone named Lord Lucan. He wanted something rare from our planet if they couldn’t- couldn’t pay. My coloring isn’t typical for an Aphidean: it’s rare.”
Shrike’s comment from earlier made sense.
“They were giving you to him as repayment,” Beebs stated. She nodded, staring down at her wrists, the painful red marks finally starting to calm. “Where are your parents? They wouldn’t have-”
“They wouldn’t have…my father just died a few weeks ago,” Velo replied. “Vlix - the community leader - asked me not too long after. I didn’t really- I was so…I tried escaping before but…”
She couldn’t finish any of it.
“You were brave. You got out,” Shrike said. “Low move on the Vlix guy’s part.”
“No kidding,” Beebs added. “Manipulating a kid to save his skin.”
“Oh,” she said. “I didn’t think of it that way.”
“How did you then?”
“That I was being sold.”
“It’s what it was,” Shrike wanted to say. He didn’t.
“Well, you’re in the best safe spot a person can be in for now,” he said instead. Velo nodded at that.
“Thank you,” she replied. Beebs offered a hand to help guide her through the lack of gravity.
“Come on,” he said gently. “We have a long flight ahead. Shrike, is that one storage room still clean since Lar was here?”
“Should be - I haven't gone in,” Shrike replied. “Hammock should still be up too.”
“It's not much, but you look like you could use some sleep,” Beebs turned back to Velo.
“I haven't really gotten much sleep since I left Aphidea,” she replied. Beebs nodded in understanding. He ran on fumes for weeks after leaving home, not that the circumstances were much better.
The old storage room was small and pretty bare bones, much like the rest of the ship, but it was clean and had one small port window and the hammock.
“Like I said, not much but it will do for now,” Beebs said, gesturing inside for her.
“Thank you, sir,” Velo looked up with another small smile. He returned it.
“Nah, just call me Beebs,” he replied, patting her shoulder. “We'll be on the bridge if you need anything.”
He watched her secure her bag and settle before the door automatically closed before returning to Shrike. His feet were up on the dash again, but at least he could see autopilot was engaged.
“So, fork-lift certified and you have a master key?” Beebs joked. “Will wonders ever cease?”
“Ha ha,” Shrike tossed his head back and forth in over-exaggeration. “I can drive anything, and the key is one of the few things worth keeping.”
Beebs laughed and sat back in his seat, sending a quick message to the client with an update. He heard Shrike move, stepping once to propel towards his panel. He looked up when he came to a stop.
“She can't stay here for long, Beebs,” he said. “It’s not exactly safe normally.”
“I know. But right now, she's on her own,” Beebs replied. “Besides, I don't feel right leaving a kid alone to figure things out…I think we both know how that feels.”
“...Yeah, I know…,” Shrike admitted after a moment.
“How did you know she was rare?” Beebs asked. Shrike made a noise between annoyance and noncommittal ‘I don't want to answer that,’ but he knew he owed Beebs more than that.
“You know I don't like talking about LAW stuff,” he replied. “Just - things are a bit skeevy on the edges. People are creeps and…maybe there were a few stings I helped with where a majority of the people being helped were rare, sabes? Different colorations, wing patterns and stuff. Collector items.”
Slave trading had been banned for centuries, Beebs knew that much, but it didn’t stop it. But collectors? Terran items or ancient artifacts sure, he'd seen plenty, not people.
“So this…Lord Lucan guy is a collector you think?” He asked. Shrike shrugged.
“Better just be,” he replied. “She's a kid! Pequeña. Y linda.”
“Pe-ken-ya and linda?”
“Pequeña, si. Little and cute.”
“Ah.”
Beebs looked up at the stars passing by.
“Should we reach out to LAW when we get to Solnar?” He asked.
“Not much they can do. Aphidea is outside of LAW, and who knows where this Lord Lucan guy is,” Shrike replied. “They'd use it as an excuse to go after another planet to join, and who knows what would happen to Velo. She's not an endling.”
He touched the metal implants at his throat. “She doesn't seem the type to join any part of it.”
“Yeah…besides, the less we talk to LAW the better, right?” Beebs asked. Shrike huffed a laugh. “Listen, what I said earlier-”
“Don't worry about it,” came too quickly from his friend. “Let's just get to Solnar and we can figure out something for the bug, h'okay?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Beebs nodded. Shrike lingered for a moment before reaching into his crystal.
“Here, I noticed you were running low,” Shrike said, and handed him a set of six new guitar strings. “Should be the good ones too.”
Beebs smiled, taking them. “Thanks, Shrike. I appreciate it.”
“No worries, amigo. Besides, when's the next time we'll get to a music store or something,” Shrike shrugged before pushing off from the control panel towards his own.
A few rooms over, an Aphidean stared out the window to space, and slowly, fitfully, fell asleep.