Chapter Text
Autumn, 2189 - Aboard the Anguis, In Restricted Airspace above Terra 2
“Miss Silva.” The Council leader addressed her with a cold, but polite, nod. Ava couldn’t help but shiver. His voice echoed in the ornate hall, despite the massive crowd. Ava’s indiscretion had been quite the scandal - yet no one besides the Council dared to speak.
“Yes?” Ava finally found her voice as she looked up at the Council members. There were seven of them, one man representing each of the Council’s colonies amongst the cosmos.
“Do you know why you’re here?” He asked, though Ava couldn’t help but wonder if the question was rhetorical. Was he trying to make a fool of her? Ava’s face had been on the cover of every Council-affiliated newspaper for the last three weeks. She’d signed countless papers and spent that time in prison. It must be rhetorical, then, surely. “Miss Silva? Would you care to grace the Council with an answer?”
“Oh.” Ava hated how nervous she sounded. “Sorry. Yes. I know why I’m here.”
“Good.” He folded his hands across the metal table that lined the front of the room. It was inlaid with rare materials and produced an odd blue glow. Idly, Ava couldn’t help but gaze at it. Truely, the table was lovely, but it’d probably cost more than a year’s pay for her. The decadence made her angry.
“You’ve been accused of multiple affronts to the Council’s authority, across several settlements on Terra 2. In addition…” He shuffled through his papers, but Ava knew this was just for show. “Undermining local government ordinances and misappropriation of resources.”
“That’s correct.” Ava tried to sound professional, but her voice shook. She felt so alone, standing up in front of the Council. They were, without exaggeration, the most powerful people in the universe. Though it wouldn’t have changed that dynamic, Ava wished Beatrice was by her side.
“So you don’t deny your crimes?” A different councilman chimed in. He seemed equally as snake-like as the rest of them and dressed with unsurprising opulence.
“No.” Ava hung her head.
“Really?” A third man chimed in, seemingly curious. He was older than the others, but no less out of touch with the struggles of the average citizens of the Council’s vast empire.
“Really.” Ava forced herself to meet his gaze. “I know you have the evidence, or power, to convict me regardless of what I say. I did everything I’ve been accused of.” The crowd gasped at this admission and the energy in the room changed drastically. In the back row, wearing a hood to keep her anonymity, Beatrice hid a smile. Ava’s stubborn righteousness was nothing short of endearing.
“Well…” The Council leader shuffled his papers once more and Ava resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “This certainly saves the Council significant deliberation time in regards to your case.”
“Always here to help.” Ava muttered, before she could stop herself. Once again, there was a murmur through the crowd.
“Very well.” The older councilman spoke. He didn’t seem amused. “Your punishment is as follows. You are hereby discharged from the Council Armed Services, effective immediately.” Ava didn’t flinch at this, it was as predictable a punishment as anything. But there was more. “You are banned from entering any and all Council-affiliated ships and you must forfeit your transport and firearm licences.”
“What?” Ava couldn’t help but object. This was unheard of, even for crimes worse than hers.
“I’m not finished.” He added with a grumpy glare. “You will be escorted from the Anguis directly following this proceeding. An escort team will take you down to the settlement in Fallbrook.
“What about my things? Will I at least be permitted to empty my cabin?” Ava knew her shred of decorum was fading fast. It wasn’t even her things she cared about, but she needed to say goodbye to Beatrice.
“Your belongings will be sent down in four to six weeks.” He assured her with a somewhat creepy smile. “Any other questions?”
“No.” Ava set her jaw and hardened her face. She’d shown enough weakness for one day.
“Very well.” The guards stepped forward to re-handcuff Ava. She didn’t fight nor protest, despite her temptation to do so. While they walked her out, she scanned the crowd for Beatrice’s face. Ava didn’t see her.
-----
Two weeks prior, Council Prison aboard the Anguis
Ava sat in her cell. She didn’t feel remorse for what she’d done. Even after a week of questioning, Ava didn’t feel guilty. It was obvious that the Council had more than enough evidence to convict her. But when they were convinced that someone was an enemy, there was nary a chance of compassion. Given this, it had taken a week before Beatrice could get clearance to come visit Ava.
“Hey.” One of the burly guards rapped at her cell door. Ava looked up at him, consciously keeping her expression blank. “You have a visitor.”
“Is that allowed now?” Ava couldn’t keep the snark from her voice.
“Watch the attitude.” He snapped as he unlocked the door. With rough movements, he fastened a high tech pair of handcuffs to Ava’s already raw wrists before leading her down the hall.
In the nearly empty visitor’s room, Ava froze as she saw the woman she’d spent many hours thinking about. “Beatrice.”
“Ava.” Beatrice stood to greet her, but the guard cautioned against it.
“No touching.” He growled, before retreating halfway across the room. With a sigh, they sat down across from one another.
“I didn’t think you’d come.” Ava admitted once they were somewhat alone.
“Of course I would!” Beatrice could barely believe Ava’s words. “You must have really made the Council angry, though. It took me a week and an insane amount of paperwork to be allowed in.”
“It seems I’ve made quite the enemy.” Ava noted with surprising indifference.
“So it seems.” Beatrice leaned forward. “Please, tell me what you’ve done. The newspapers are vague and I’m not sure they can be trusted.”
“No.”
“Why?” Beatrice was taken aback at Ava’s refusal.
“You know how the Council operates, Beatrice.” Ava’s tone was steely, but Beatrice’s heart pounded when Ava said her name. “If they think, even for a second, that you were involved in this, you’ll be irrevocably implicated.”
“So what?”
“ So what?!” Ava echoed, poorly masking her frustration. “You’re one of the most promising young spacers and you want to... What? Throw that away? I couldn’t forgive myself for that.”
“I don’t care about that.” Beatrice was nothing if not adamant. “The Ava I know wouldn’t commit heinous crimes. So I’m curious, understandably, as to why you are here.”
“Maybe you don’t know the real Ava.” Even as she spoke, Ava knew it sounded hollow. In truth, she’d only been friends with Beatrice for a few months, but Beatrice already knew her better than anyone.
“Ava.” Beatrice desperately wanted to reach across the table and take one of Ava’s hands in her own. “Please. My parents have powerful positions on the board. I could help you.”
“No.” Ava hung her head and sighed heavily, before looking up and meeting Beatrice’s gaze. “I couldn’t ask you to do that.” Beatrice had never gone into details, but Ava knew her relationship with her parents was contentious at best.
“You’re really not going to tell me then?” Beatrice had tears in her eyes. It was then that Ava almost cracked.
“I’m sorry.” Ava’s heart ached. “I’ve already thrown away my own life. I can’t take yours too. I’d never forgive myself.”
“Is that even your decision to make?” Beatrice questioned. “You’re my best friend.” She was dangerously close to admitting her less platonic feelings, but now was far from the right time.
“Please.” Ava begged. “You’re brilliant, talented, and you have a good heart. Stay the course. You have the power to change this broken world we live in.”
“But -”
“But you won’t if you throw away your career for a nobody like me.” Ava interrupted fiercely. “Please, Beatrice. Walk away now while you still have the chance.”
“Fine.” Beatrice rose. Even in her anger it pained her to do so. “But I think you’re making a mistake.”
“I know.”
Without another word exchanged between them, Beatrice left the room. Ava didn’t blame her and wasn’t angry. At least, she wasn’t angry with Beatrice. She was plenty upset with herself. As the guard took her back to her cell, Ava couldn’t help but replay the conversation in her mind a dozen times over, then a hundred more that night. It would be the last conversation she and Beatrice would have for two years.
-----
Later that Day, Anguis Docking Bay, Aboard CAS Vessel T1
“Camila? Are you in here?” Beatrice called into the ship’s small workshop. Their last mission had left the vessel with significant damage.
“Yes, down here.” Camila replied from behind the tool bench. She was sitting cross legged in front of a complicated schematic and working with a few small components. Her hands were coated in engine grease. “Did you go see Ava?” She looked up from her work with a hopeful spark in her eyes.
“Yes…”
“Why do I feel like you have bad news?”
“Because I do.” Beatrice’s shoulders shook slightly. “She wouldn’t tell me what she did.”
“Oh.” Camila stood up and hugged Beatrice tightly.
“She’ll probably lose her position.”
“I know.” Camila agreed solemnly. She liked Ava too, but couldn’t comprehend the reality. Ava was a good person, it was hard for Camila to imagine her in prison. And for what?
“Her trial is in two weeks.”
“I know.” Camila repeated, unsure of what else to say.
“What can we do?” Beatrice pulled away from Camila and hastily wiped her eyes.
“I’m sure if there’s anything we can do, Bea…” Camila was nothing if not sympathetic. Not only to Ava’s plight, but Beatrice’s. She wasn’t blind to the mutual attraction between them, even if they were both too naïve to realise it. “You know how the Council is… Ava’s been enemy number one… Well, she’s been on the front page every day since she was arrested.”
“That’s almost exactly what she said.” Beatrice muttered.
“And she’s right.” Camila hated the harshity of the situation, but she wasn’t wrong. “I could ask around, though. And you could as well. At the very least, we’d know what happened.”
“I guess…” Beatrice was far from satisfied. “I better go, then. I have a few calls to make.”
“Alright…” Camila was hesitant to let Beatrice leave in this state, but she had too much work to do. Tenderly, she hugged Beatrice once more. “I’m here for you, whatever you need, okay?”
“Thank you, Camila.” Beatrice replied politely, if not slightly cold, before retreating her cabin aboard the ship.
Beatrice had been intending to go to her room, at least. Instead, she found herself outside of Ava’s. It was down the hall, closer to the nuclear power center of the ship. Fondly, Beatrice smiled as she remembered Ava joking about how she was going to mutate and grow an extra arm from being so close to the radiation. At the time, Beatrice didn’t know she was joking, and spent twenty minutes explaining how the fuel source was both safe and shielded.
The smile fell from her face as Beatrice slid open the door. Ava’s room was exactly as it always was. Her bunk was unmade and her desk was messy. Slowly, Beatrice crossed the cramped room and sat down on the bed. It was only a moment before she laid down. The sheets and pillows smelt of Ava - and as odd as it may be, the familiarity made Beatrice cry.
A few minutes passed, where the only motion in the room were the tears down Beatrice’s face. Eventually, she rose, and took a seat at Ava’s desk. The terminal was locked and Beatrice didn’t know the password. Of course, Camila could likely hack into it… But it seemed like too great an invasion of privacy. Besides, Ava disliked using the terminal and it likely wouldn’t contain any useful information.
Underneath a laser pistol, Beatrice found Ava’s journal, which was open to a specific entry. This was strange, since Ava had written several pages since then, some of which she’d even shown to Beatrice. A quick glance at the date told her that the entry in question was from a few months ago, the day after a frustrating mission that they’d been on together. It was from a time before they were friends, and instead just acquaintances on the same crew. With a sigh, Beatrice pulled the journal closer to herself and began to read. She felt guilty for this, honestly, but if it contained even the tiniest clue to Ava’s crimes, then Beatrice knew she couldn’t help herself.
May 27th, 2189
Yesterday was my first mission with this new crew I’m on. Everyone is really nice, but I still feel a bit like I don’t belong here. They’re all so experienced and I’m just… Not. Camila, for instance, is an absolute gem. She can take anything apart and put it together in half the time, with twice the efficiency. But she’s also a competent fighter and great with a gun. There’s also Beatrice, who’s a downright fantastic fighter. I’m pretty sure she’s a genius, too. And just… Pretty…
At that, Beatrice had to look away for a moment. She was blushing despite her solitude. Part of her couldn’t help but wonder if Ava had just been being complimentary, or if there was more than just friendship on her mind. Frustratedly, she shook her head. There were more important issues to focus on right now. After a few deep breaths, Beatrice continued reading.
Anyway, that’s about where the good news ends. I’ve never been to one of the outer settlements before. I knew they were struggling but… Well, it’s bad. Everyone there was sick and malnourished looking - it was beyond heartbreaking. There’s plague there, too. But apparently, the Council had been ignoring any pleas for help. While they sit in their decked out and completely ridiculous offices, no less. Sickening.
Beatrice noticed that the ink was periodically damp and damaged, as though Ava had been crying when she wrote this. With a sinking feeling, Beatrice realised this was exactly the case. Her face fell even further as she read the last paragraph of Ava’s entry.
My captain says we’re not allowed to help local civilians in any way. I think that’s bullshit. Beyond bullshit, if we’re being honest. In my bag, I had four ration packs, even though it was a short mission. I gave them all away, plus asked Camila if I could have two of hers. Told her I ‘lost’ mine. She didn’t seem to question it. Maybe she’s realised I’m an idiot? Anyway, not important. I can skip a day’s worth of eating, but I can’t say the same of some of the people in Crater’s Edge. There has to be something I can do to help them.
-----
That evening, Council Prison aboard the Anguis
“Miss Silva.” One of the Council members all but appeared in front of Ava’s cell.
“Yes.” Ava didn’t even look at him, but kept her gaze firmly fixed to the floor. She was already in prison, what was the worst he could do, really?
“I’m here to make a deal with you.” He announced, as if she should be grateful.
“Is that so?” Ava stayed completely cool, even as he entered the cell and whisked the guard away. She could easily kill him now that they were alone, but that wouldn’t help anyone.
“I’ll be honest, I thought you’d be more excited. This isn’t an opportunity afforded to just anyone.”
“You thought wrong.” Ava still hadn’t looked at him.
“Do you want to at least hear what I have to say?” He asked. The fake kindness in the councilman’s voice was sickening.
“Sure. Why not?”
“We have agreed that, should you be willing to public renounce your actions and swear fealty to the Council, that you’d be granted a pardon.”
“Why, the fuck, would I do that?” Ava stood, suddenly, closing the distance between her and the opulently dressed man. Yet, despite her occupation and training, he hardly seemed intimidated.
“I’m sure you’re aware that your potential sentence will be quite harsh.” He straightened the collar on his purple robes. “I’ve been told you’re a promising young cadet. I’d hate to see you throw away such a career. Plus, I feel compelled to remind you that your situation can still get significantly worse.”
“I’ve made my choices.” Ava sat back down. She felt numb. “I’m prepared to live with the consequences.”
“So be it.”
He left without another word. Only once Ava was sure that she was alone, did tears begin to fall to the floor. It brought her little peace. Of course, had Ava known what was in store for her, she might not have dismissed the deal quite as quickly.