Silence
Anonymous Me
Despite Illya's irritation and his gestures for Thomas to leave the man seemed to insist on coming in the room anyway. Groaning a little Illya did his best to help himself get on the bed and it was only because Thomas made the back and leg hurt so much more. All the jerking and the pulling was nearly enough to make it feel like the man was making an attempt at tearing him limb from limb. When he finally reached the bed Illya started to lurch again and he held as long as possible until he had the bucket. What was left of the vomit drizzled out of his mouth as he leaned over the bucket. With a few last coughs Illya did his best to clear his mouth of the taste. It was too bad he lost dinner since it was perfectly good food.
Growling a little he moved when Thomas pushed in to look at the puke. Why the man would do that seemed odd. No matter who it was puke stank and Illya didn't really want Thomas to be pushing in and checking it out. Thankfully the man was out of the way soon enough and then he was instantly trying to get more pills down his throat. Illya gave him a skeptical look. This was ridiculous. Giving a man another pill after the ones he took just made him sick.
Since Thomas likely knew more about his medicine Illya decided to wait till he was gone and then he would try the black pills. As soon as Thomas left he sat up in the bed and coughed a little more. Grabbing the bottle Illya sniffed the bottle and wrinkled his nose. It didn't even smell like medicine. With a sigh he poured 2 pills into his hand and then he chucked them into his mouth and swallowed. A few minutes later he quit heaving and he fell asleep. When Illya woke up he found the giant bucket of puke had got dumped across the bottom of the bed and it was dripping onto the floor. "Damn it." As tempting as it was to kick the bucket off the end of the bed out of irritation he knew that it would only make a larger mess. Sitting up in the bed Illya grabbed the bucket and he set it on the floor. Rolling out of the bed he stripped the sheets and took them to the shower to rinse them out before washing them. Since no one was wandering around the area he stripped his clothes off to. They smelled nasty and they could use a washing as well.
Once he had the clothes started in the wash Illya got the bucket and washed it out with soap and returned with to the room to get disposable towels to wipe up the chunks and then he could sanitize the rest of the room. The medical bay was nice and clean in a matter of minutes. Next he decided to clean himself up and then he could worry about putting fresh sheets on the bed and putting the others away and getting dressed again.
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Illya had barely stepped out of the shower connected to the medical bay when he heard someone come limping down the hall. Reaching for the towel he barely got it wrapped around his waist when Thomas poked his head around the corner. "Yah know those pills helped. Feeling much bettah." Illya rubbed one hand through his wet hair and wandered over to the medical bay bed to strip it. "Why meh face all over the news?"
Thomas raised a brow at the man. He'd been looking so miserable awhile ago and now he almost seemed put to right. He straightened his knee absently and as he nodded. "Well, apparently you were recognized from getting caught up in the rally. They had pictures up of you from that and they had a researcher do a little digging. They found some old photos from your war days and claimed that you killed prisoners with no quarter, labeling you as a war criminal and your people as violent by nature." His tone was even as he looked to the man, waiting to hear some sort of explanation if he had one.
The Chip had been busy shoving pills back into the cupboard and cleaning the room up. He still had to wait for the clothes to be dried in the machine before he could get dressed. Looking up at Thomas he gave a sharp look. "Dey always say Chippeqouti are violent. Federation hire us to guard mines when they first build them. All dose brave explorers were cowards. We agree for price to guard dem and workers. Federation decide when time comes to pay it was too much and so instead dey hire armies and inflame workers against us. Chippeqouti don't kill unless there is need. We keep dem in our homes as prisoners. Dey work to help with chores soldiers are not home to do. I have prisoners too and den some of dem start to kill children and dose at home wit poison candies. Cannot release dem and cannot keep dem so I order dem all killed. Meh daughter also die because of poison candy and I tink meh Isla made weak wit their poison because she die very young from bone rot."
He listened and picked at his goatee which had become scraggly, as the man explained. He killed to protect his own, his family, which he couldn't be faulted for in times of war. The man's enemy had taken a daughter and a wife. That in and of itself was hard to even think about. He had been under the impression the Federation was a government though. The way Illya talked it made his enemy sound like some thing different and he was wanted by them with Calysta stuck between. Tugging on his beard some, he finally spoke. " I can't speak to what you are or are not. Does Calysta know about this? The federation sounds more like a business than a government."
As soon as he finished Illya lowered his gaze and continued to pick up the room. Pulling the drawer underneath the bed open he pulled fresh sheets out and threw them on top the bed. Illya glanced at her father again. "Aye, yah a rare Terran. Might still tink meh a monster, but yah keep it to yahself. Federation is a group of companies and dey grow. All companies want protection and dey grow in number and strength as more join to help pay for the mercenaries. Dey hire more workers lately? If Federation hire more workers dey looking ta go to war. Not long till dey find Nuen and meh people and yah government can't stop dem." After a moment Illya blinked and then blurted as more of an after thought. "Kalizda knows, but I don't want Kika knowing."
Thomas bristled at the Terran comment, but the insult passed as he learned more about the Federation. His stomach slowly turned to lead as he learned what they were. The rally and what he had seen on the screen came to his mind. "That would have been helpful information earlier. My daughter may know about your past, you're dragging her into a war and her people along with it. The Kaereleans dont know about this Federation and are going to be blind sided trying to protect the people on Nuen when they have fought so hard to keep the peace. They do that because the last war took down 4 continents. Oblierated them and all the people on them. People like me and Calysta. This fight wont be just about the Chippeqouti anymore. Your enemy is every where and I have a feeling they wont be using hired soldiers. Think about that rally. That was William Yarbrough on the screen, a steel mine owner and rich beyond belief. He could easily be working for your federation. Why would they hire workers if they could just find willing soldiers with a government on their side and a worthy cause? Nothing sells steel better than war."
The Chip shrugged. "Why we live alone. Chippeqouti and Ehuai together are very good at fighting. Now yah know and yah know why we agree to help protect yah government. I can do meh part and Federation trying to kill CHippeqouti before we move here. War would come anyway. Onleh now yah have Chippeqouti to help and we warn yah soon. I have information and meh picture on quadrant news will signal time for Edgar to speak."
He leaned against the counter top listening to the ringing in his ears. The man spoke so causally about war it was irritating and when Henaiah found out about this she was going to flay him. Another shock ran through him. He hadnt even thought about what running around with Kiya was going to look like. "Oh hell," he grumbled. At moment passed and he sighed, mostly too control his tempe about the entire situation. "You talk about war easily and you're probably right in saying that war was coming anyways, but keep in mind not everyone is indestructible as you. When your folks talk to the Kaereleans they will be shocked, but they will stand by their word. Even if it kills them."
Thomas seemed to take the Chippeqouti with very little grace. It was irritating to Illya to find that the other man didn't even think his people had some decency. "We keep quiet for long as possible to let it pass. We already began equipping yah ships in government with better parts. Chippeqouti already began providing yah government with what they need for coming war. Meh people know our new allies are weak." The man stared at Thomas for a long time. "We offer 50 men and I will lead dem. I will kill as many Federation as it takes to keep yah people safe and mine."
"Don't mistake physical differences for weakness," Thomas said without a second thought, "The Kaereleans are anything but that, if anything Calysta proves that. Have you told her about that job? To go back into war leading these men?" His highest concern was his daughter, but so was his home. He didn't want either of them seen as weak because they were not at all. They were simply not Chippeqouti. Though he had to hand it to them of they've been sneaking parts on the ships to keep their past buried deep as possible.
Shrugging he started to unfold the sheets and remake the bed. "I don't remember if I tell her. No choice since I am general and I think it should be easy to guess that a general must fight when war comes."
These people had such poor communication skills. No wonder they hopped from war to war. Straightening his knee, he gave the man a firm look. "Aye well maybe you two should have a little talk about it at some point. Its courtesy. Some thing she will expect to know for sure. As for what happened today with the pills and what I know, its not my place to say anything. To Calysta and especially not Kiya."
"I ask Kalizda to show meh what pills to use. Thought they like herbs and yah mix some till yah find the right mix. Long as yah put them in right place in body." Pointing to his mouth the Chip shrugged. "They all for mouth. Very bad medicine." Shaking his head a little he smirked. "Don't worry I tell Kalizda meh job when it is time."
"Aye...right as you're at the door with a duffle..." Thomas mumbled to himself. Shaking his head, he pulled out 2 bottles from the cabinet. "Not bad medicine and the same principle as your herbs. You just cant combine them with so much at one time. Here." He pulled out a bottle of ibprophen and set it on the counter. He was going to teach the man a few things because there may come a day when Calysta couldn't be healed up with his little herb gardens. "Take three of this for muscle pain." Then he pulled put another bottle and held it up. "Only one of these. It's a potent painkiller and too much makes you sick."
Turning around Illya almost lost his towel and he re-tightened it. Standing near the counter he examined the pills and bottles carefully. "I learn now. Won't mistake dese again." Illya stared her father in the eyes. "Kalizda has much trouble, but I tell her before we land. Before we agree she has time to ask meh anything and if she is not pleased with answer she can say no. I remind her she can ask."
"Good. And yes, she does have much trouble, but I think that would be a good idea once she's feeling a little better," Thomas agreed, "I havent been particularly favorable to you, but even I know she'll want to know. " There was always a chance she would say no, but he doubted that would happen. She taken too deeply with him. Lifting off the counter, he hobbled toward the door, looking back at the Chip for just a minute. "Try to be kind to Kiya. I don't think she did this but I don't want Calysta thinking I don't believe her either."
The fact that Thomas kept bringing up Tika. "She's a prisoner and I treat her as such till Kalizda says otherwise. I already give her high price to pay off for her price. She thinks she is very important so I give her very important price." Chuckling a little Illya noticed her father's face and he shook his head. "There needs to be some fun in meh work. Eh?"
He had little room to argue considering he was navigation and hadn't been the one asked to watch. Of course, Kiya had always been slightly self important anyways. Something he was glad Calysta never picked up on. Raising a brow, he glanced at the Chip. "Aye, I suppose you do. She's more of a handful than Calysta though, so on that I wish you luck."
"Long as she has energy she works." Chuckling a little the Chip started to wander toward the laundry room in his towel. "She will eat good food like all of us and she will sleep as much as she need. More energy to make trouble means less sleep. Don't worry, I take care of her Chippeqouti way."
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After Thomas left the Chip pulled his half damp clothes out of the dryer. Slipping into the clothing he started back for the room. It was time to get the woman working and he needed to get some food made for Kalizda. "Aye ets time for da training to begin." As much as he liked to joke about this sort of thing Illya hated having to work with uncooperative prisoners. Since she was Terran it made the effort especially annoying and he didn't want to know what it would be like. Chances were she would be just as bad as Ayrn had been to work with.
Wandering into the room he nodded to Ayrn that had mostly dozed off. "Yah free to go now. I get her working." Unlocking the woman's ankle from the bedpost he simply moved the chain to be on her other ankle. It would inhibit any immediate or fast paced movement. "I cook for Kalizda and crew, yah scrub floors." Marching with the woman into the kitchen he sent her to stand on the far end that was nothing but the table and benches bolted to the floor. After he had the bucket filled Illya set it down next to her. "Work." He wasn't one to make small chat and he hoped she wasn't. For the most part he liked to work in silence. So far it seemed they were capable of carrying on a silent work environment though he noticed she was giving him wicked looks over her shoulder whenever he would glance her way. "Look at yah work. When I find missing spots I give yah another bucket and yah mop the floor again." She might have thought that he would get tired of watching her, but he didn't mind so long as he could see her breaking. There was a lot of spirit in this woman and he doubted that it would be an easy task. Ayrn was easy to break, but he was a miserable lout when it came to most things and he was perpetually lazy if he was allowed.
Getting the food fixed was faster than her moping the floor. Illya hated the fact that it was all rations on board the ship. He didn't have much fresh food to cook with, but the rations were surprisingly quite nice. It was almost as good as something home cooked. Whoever they stole this ship from had a nice array of food and they must have paid top dollar for the rations.
Illya walked up behind the woman and he tapped the bottom of her foot with his. "I fasten yah to table." She couldn't go anywhere since the table was bolted to the ground and it was a good place for her while he delivered food to her dad wherever he was and then to Ayrn and finally Kalizda. Mostly he didn't want anyone in contact with the prisoner at this point and he did want to keep her freshly moped floor clean for the day. He always hated it when someone would come in and destroy his floors when he was cleaning.
The first tray Illya took to the navigation room and he slid it in front of Thomas. "Rations all we have." He almost bemoaned the fact in front of the man. "I would have made some soft snake in dumpling bread. Find some Terran recipes for pork and I think instead of pig snake would be better." For a moment he could have sworn the man looked like he was about puke. "Sorry the ration is all the better we have. I get something fresh at next market."
There was no great surprise to find Ayrn was sitting in the room though Illya spied little chunks of food had fallen from above onto his bed. "Ayrn!" Growling loudly he looked up at the man with his cheeks stuffed. "I brought yah food and this is the only time I serve yah in da room. No more eating and tomorrow yah clean all da bunk room for eating in here. I sleep on chip crumbs all night because of yah." Gritty little chunks of chip digging into his skin and scraping his legs all night long was not an ideal way to sleep. Besides he hated the smell of chips.
Finally Illya took the last tray to Kalizda's room. Gently knocking on the door he stepped inside and then set the tray on the night stand next to her bed. "Meh little bird I bring yah offerings. We only have rations so I bring yah the best one.' A smirk came to his face. 'Most of dem are the same, so tomorrow I bring yah another best meal eh?" Leaning close to Kalizda he almost kissed her and then stopped himself. "Yah know that with us so close to agreeing yah have right to ask meh anything and I will answer. Kalizda I don't want yah to think yah agree with a stranger. If yah feel that way it would be meh failure." After a moment he sat down next to her on the bed. "Chippeqouti man shows his love in many ways. I show yah meh love by learning yah customs, by working for yah, doing whatever job yah need done on ship, I choose to accept all yah problems and mine as they come. Kalizda do yah understand yah have all of meh there is to have? It is how Chippeqouti live and agree together." Swallowing hard he met her gaze. "This is love to meh and yah have what I can give, but if yah need more ask meh." In a way he had broken the rules, but he needed her to know that he was trying to remove some boundaries.
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When Illya returned to the kitchen he undid the woman's one leg from the table and then placed the shackle over her other leg again. "Yah finish and den we eat together." He didn't like eating with prisoners, but it was the best way to make sure she would have the strength to work as long as he was awake. Last thing Illya wanted was for the woman to be feeling like she had enough energy to make trouble at night. "We have 10 more hours of work." Noticing the look on her face he shrugged. "Yah keep meh hours till yah too tired and then I find out what hours are good for yah."
Growling a little he moved when Thomas pushed in to look at the puke. Why the man would do that seemed odd. No matter who it was puke stank and Illya didn't really want Thomas to be pushing in and checking it out. Thankfully the man was out of the way soon enough and then he was instantly trying to get more pills down his throat. Illya gave him a skeptical look. This was ridiculous. Giving a man another pill after the ones he took just made him sick.
Since Thomas likely knew more about his medicine Illya decided to wait till he was gone and then he would try the black pills. As soon as Thomas left he sat up in the bed and coughed a little more. Grabbing the bottle Illya sniffed the bottle and wrinkled his nose. It didn't even smell like medicine. With a sigh he poured 2 pills into his hand and then he chucked them into his mouth and swallowed. A few minutes later he quit heaving and he fell asleep. When Illya woke up he found the giant bucket of puke had got dumped across the bottom of the bed and it was dripping onto the floor. "Damn it." As tempting as it was to kick the bucket off the end of the bed out of irritation he knew that it would only make a larger mess. Sitting up in the bed Illya grabbed the bucket and he set it on the floor. Rolling out of the bed he stripped the sheets and took them to the shower to rinse them out before washing them. Since no one was wandering around the area he stripped his clothes off to. They smelled nasty and they could use a washing as well.
Once he had the clothes started in the wash Illya got the bucket and washed it out with soap and returned with to the room to get disposable towels to wipe up the chunks and then he could sanitize the rest of the room. The medical bay was nice and clean in a matter of minutes. Next he decided to clean himself up and then he could worry about putting fresh sheets on the bed and putting the others away and getting dressed again.
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Illya had barely stepped out of the shower connected to the medical bay when he heard someone come limping down the hall. Reaching for the towel he barely got it wrapped around his waist when Thomas poked his head around the corner. "Yah know those pills helped. Feeling much bettah." Illya rubbed one hand through his wet hair and wandered over to the medical bay bed to strip it. "Why meh face all over the news?"
Thomas raised a brow at the man. He'd been looking so miserable awhile ago and now he almost seemed put to right. He straightened his knee absently and as he nodded. "Well, apparently you were recognized from getting caught up in the rally. They had pictures up of you from that and they had a researcher do a little digging. They found some old photos from your war days and claimed that you killed prisoners with no quarter, labeling you as a war criminal and your people as violent by nature." His tone was even as he looked to the man, waiting to hear some sort of explanation if he had one.
The Chip had been busy shoving pills back into the cupboard and cleaning the room up. He still had to wait for the clothes to be dried in the machine before he could get dressed. Looking up at Thomas he gave a sharp look. "Dey always say Chippeqouti are violent. Federation hire us to guard mines when they first build them. All dose brave explorers were cowards. We agree for price to guard dem and workers. Federation decide when time comes to pay it was too much and so instead dey hire armies and inflame workers against us. Chippeqouti don't kill unless there is need. We keep dem in our homes as prisoners. Dey work to help with chores soldiers are not home to do. I have prisoners too and den some of dem start to kill children and dose at home wit poison candies. Cannot release dem and cannot keep dem so I order dem all killed. Meh daughter also die because of poison candy and I tink meh Isla made weak wit their poison because she die very young from bone rot."
He listened and picked at his goatee which had become scraggly, as the man explained. He killed to protect his own, his family, which he couldn't be faulted for in times of war. The man's enemy had taken a daughter and a wife. That in and of itself was hard to even think about. He had been under the impression the Federation was a government though. The way Illya talked it made his enemy sound like some thing different and he was wanted by them with Calysta stuck between. Tugging on his beard some, he finally spoke. " I can't speak to what you are or are not. Does Calysta know about this? The federation sounds more like a business than a government."
As soon as he finished Illya lowered his gaze and continued to pick up the room. Pulling the drawer underneath the bed open he pulled fresh sheets out and threw them on top the bed. Illya glanced at her father again. "Aye, yah a rare Terran. Might still tink meh a monster, but yah keep it to yahself. Federation is a group of companies and dey grow. All companies want protection and dey grow in number and strength as more join to help pay for the mercenaries. Dey hire more workers lately? If Federation hire more workers dey looking ta go to war. Not long till dey find Nuen and meh people and yah government can't stop dem." After a moment Illya blinked and then blurted as more of an after thought. "Kalizda knows, but I don't want Kika knowing."
Thomas bristled at the Terran comment, but the insult passed as he learned more about the Federation. His stomach slowly turned to lead as he learned what they were. The rally and what he had seen on the screen came to his mind. "That would have been helpful information earlier. My daughter may know about your past, you're dragging her into a war and her people along with it. The Kaereleans dont know about this Federation and are going to be blind sided trying to protect the people on Nuen when they have fought so hard to keep the peace. They do that because the last war took down 4 continents. Oblierated them and all the people on them. People like me and Calysta. This fight wont be just about the Chippeqouti anymore. Your enemy is every where and I have a feeling they wont be using hired soldiers. Think about that rally. That was William Yarbrough on the screen, a steel mine owner and rich beyond belief. He could easily be working for your federation. Why would they hire workers if they could just find willing soldiers with a government on their side and a worthy cause? Nothing sells steel better than war."
The Chip shrugged. "Why we live alone. Chippeqouti and Ehuai together are very good at fighting. Now yah know and yah know why we agree to help protect yah government. I can do meh part and Federation trying to kill CHippeqouti before we move here. War would come anyway. Onleh now yah have Chippeqouti to help and we warn yah soon. I have information and meh picture on quadrant news will signal time for Edgar to speak."
He leaned against the counter top listening to the ringing in his ears. The man spoke so causally about war it was irritating and when Henaiah found out about this she was going to flay him. Another shock ran through him. He hadnt even thought about what running around with Kiya was going to look like. "Oh hell," he grumbled. At moment passed and he sighed, mostly too control his tempe about the entire situation. "You talk about war easily and you're probably right in saying that war was coming anyways, but keep in mind not everyone is indestructible as you. When your folks talk to the Kaereleans they will be shocked, but they will stand by their word. Even if it kills them."
Thomas seemed to take the Chippeqouti with very little grace. It was irritating to Illya to find that the other man didn't even think his people had some decency. "We keep quiet for long as possible to let it pass. We already began equipping yah ships in government with better parts. Chippeqouti already began providing yah government with what they need for coming war. Meh people know our new allies are weak." The man stared at Thomas for a long time. "We offer 50 men and I will lead dem. I will kill as many Federation as it takes to keep yah people safe and mine."
"Don't mistake physical differences for weakness," Thomas said without a second thought, "The Kaereleans are anything but that, if anything Calysta proves that. Have you told her about that job? To go back into war leading these men?" His highest concern was his daughter, but so was his home. He didn't want either of them seen as weak because they were not at all. They were simply not Chippeqouti. Though he had to hand it to them of they've been sneaking parts on the ships to keep their past buried deep as possible.
Shrugging he started to unfold the sheets and remake the bed. "I don't remember if I tell her. No choice since I am general and I think it should be easy to guess that a general must fight when war comes."
These people had such poor communication skills. No wonder they hopped from war to war. Straightening his knee, he gave the man a firm look. "Aye well maybe you two should have a little talk about it at some point. Its courtesy. Some thing she will expect to know for sure. As for what happened today with the pills and what I know, its not my place to say anything. To Calysta and especially not Kiya."
"I ask Kalizda to show meh what pills to use. Thought they like herbs and yah mix some till yah find the right mix. Long as yah put them in right place in body." Pointing to his mouth the Chip shrugged. "They all for mouth. Very bad medicine." Shaking his head a little he smirked. "Don't worry I tell Kalizda meh job when it is time."
"Aye...right as you're at the door with a duffle..." Thomas mumbled to himself. Shaking his head, he pulled out 2 bottles from the cabinet. "Not bad medicine and the same principle as your herbs. You just cant combine them with so much at one time. Here." He pulled out a bottle of ibprophen and set it on the counter. He was going to teach the man a few things because there may come a day when Calysta couldn't be healed up with his little herb gardens. "Take three of this for muscle pain." Then he pulled put another bottle and held it up. "Only one of these. It's a potent painkiller and too much makes you sick."
Turning around Illya almost lost his towel and he re-tightened it. Standing near the counter he examined the pills and bottles carefully. "I learn now. Won't mistake dese again." Illya stared her father in the eyes. "Kalizda has much trouble, but I tell her before we land. Before we agree she has time to ask meh anything and if she is not pleased with answer she can say no. I remind her she can ask."
"Good. And yes, she does have much trouble, but I think that would be a good idea once she's feeling a little better," Thomas agreed, "I havent been particularly favorable to you, but even I know she'll want to know. " There was always a chance she would say no, but he doubted that would happen. She taken too deeply with him. Lifting off the counter, he hobbled toward the door, looking back at the Chip for just a minute. "Try to be kind to Kiya. I don't think she did this but I don't want Calysta thinking I don't believe her either."
The fact that Thomas kept bringing up Tika. "She's a prisoner and I treat her as such till Kalizda says otherwise. I already give her high price to pay off for her price. She thinks she is very important so I give her very important price." Chuckling a little Illya noticed her father's face and he shook his head. "There needs to be some fun in meh work. Eh?"
He had little room to argue considering he was navigation and hadn't been the one asked to watch. Of course, Kiya had always been slightly self important anyways. Something he was glad Calysta never picked up on. Raising a brow, he glanced at the Chip. "Aye, I suppose you do. She's more of a handful than Calysta though, so on that I wish you luck."
"Long as she has energy she works." Chuckling a little the Chip started to wander toward the laundry room in his towel. "She will eat good food like all of us and she will sleep as much as she need. More energy to make trouble means less sleep. Don't worry, I take care of her Chippeqouti way."
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After Thomas left the Chip pulled his half damp clothes out of the dryer. Slipping into the clothing he started back for the room. It was time to get the woman working and he needed to get some food made for Kalizda. "Aye ets time for da training to begin." As much as he liked to joke about this sort of thing Illya hated having to work with uncooperative prisoners. Since she was Terran it made the effort especially annoying and he didn't want to know what it would be like. Chances were she would be just as bad as Ayrn had been to work with.
Wandering into the room he nodded to Ayrn that had mostly dozed off. "Yah free to go now. I get her working." Unlocking the woman's ankle from the bedpost he simply moved the chain to be on her other ankle. It would inhibit any immediate or fast paced movement. "I cook for Kalizda and crew, yah scrub floors." Marching with the woman into the kitchen he sent her to stand on the far end that was nothing but the table and benches bolted to the floor. After he had the bucket filled Illya set it down next to her. "Work." He wasn't one to make small chat and he hoped she wasn't. For the most part he liked to work in silence. So far it seemed they were capable of carrying on a silent work environment though he noticed she was giving him wicked looks over her shoulder whenever he would glance her way. "Look at yah work. When I find missing spots I give yah another bucket and yah mop the floor again." She might have thought that he would get tired of watching her, but he didn't mind so long as he could see her breaking. There was a lot of spirit in this woman and he doubted that it would be an easy task. Ayrn was easy to break, but he was a miserable lout when it came to most things and he was perpetually lazy if he was allowed.
Getting the food fixed was faster than her moping the floor. Illya hated the fact that it was all rations on board the ship. He didn't have much fresh food to cook with, but the rations were surprisingly quite nice. It was almost as good as something home cooked. Whoever they stole this ship from had a nice array of food and they must have paid top dollar for the rations.
Illya walked up behind the woman and he tapped the bottom of her foot with his. "I fasten yah to table." She couldn't go anywhere since the table was bolted to the ground and it was a good place for her while he delivered food to her dad wherever he was and then to Ayrn and finally Kalizda. Mostly he didn't want anyone in contact with the prisoner at this point and he did want to keep her freshly moped floor clean for the day. He always hated it when someone would come in and destroy his floors when he was cleaning.
The first tray Illya took to the navigation room and he slid it in front of Thomas. "Rations all we have." He almost bemoaned the fact in front of the man. "I would have made some soft snake in dumpling bread. Find some Terran recipes for pork and I think instead of pig snake would be better." For a moment he could have sworn the man looked like he was about puke. "Sorry the ration is all the better we have. I get something fresh at next market."
There was no great surprise to find Ayrn was sitting in the room though Illya spied little chunks of food had fallen from above onto his bed. "Ayrn!" Growling loudly he looked up at the man with his cheeks stuffed. "I brought yah food and this is the only time I serve yah in da room. No more eating and tomorrow yah clean all da bunk room for eating in here. I sleep on chip crumbs all night because of yah." Gritty little chunks of chip digging into his skin and scraping his legs all night long was not an ideal way to sleep. Besides he hated the smell of chips.
Finally Illya took the last tray to Kalizda's room. Gently knocking on the door he stepped inside and then set the tray on the night stand next to her bed. "Meh little bird I bring yah offerings. We only have rations so I bring yah the best one.' A smirk came to his face. 'Most of dem are the same, so tomorrow I bring yah another best meal eh?" Leaning close to Kalizda he almost kissed her and then stopped himself. "Yah know that with us so close to agreeing yah have right to ask meh anything and I will answer. Kalizda I don't want yah to think yah agree with a stranger. If yah feel that way it would be meh failure." After a moment he sat down next to her on the bed. "Chippeqouti man shows his love in many ways. I show yah meh love by learning yah customs, by working for yah, doing whatever job yah need done on ship, I choose to accept all yah problems and mine as they come. Kalizda do yah understand yah have all of meh there is to have? It is how Chippeqouti live and agree together." Swallowing hard he met her gaze. "This is love to meh and yah have what I can give, but if yah need more ask meh." In a way he had broken the rules, but he needed her to know that he was trying to remove some boundaries.
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When Illya returned to the kitchen he undid the woman's one leg from the table and then placed the shackle over her other leg again. "Yah finish and den we eat together." He didn't like eating with prisoners, but it was the best way to make sure she would have the strength to work as long as he was awake. Last thing Illya wanted was for the woman to be feeling like she had enough energy to make trouble at night. "We have 10 more hours of work." Noticing the look on her face he shrugged. "Yah keep meh hours till yah too tired and then I find out what hours are good for yah."