SHADOWS OF THE PAST

Tereine had Milo mop the hallways in the morning. Part of him expected her to ask about his sudden departure from dinner, but all she only brought up the prospect of being a model for Krol's card collection. She talked really fast, wondering if she should have looked for new outfits in Coalwatch, or if she should do some trimming before the shoot.

(You know, she's pretty cute when she's excited. At least she's not asking about why I left.)

As they mopped the hall, Lucianna emerged from her room, stretching and yawning. Her eyes settled on Milo, and she smiled at him. His face flushed, and a low-grade nausea simmered in his gut.

"Morning~ Tereine already ordering you around?"

"Milo is wonderful help. Aye, the best I've had in a while!"

Lucianna chuckled, leaning forward, pressed her breasts together. His eyes flicked to her chest for a split second, and he tore them away, focusing on the spot he'd been mopping for the past five minutes.

"I saw that~"

"Huh? What? Saw what?"

"It's okay if you want a peak~"

She grabbed her breasts and kneaded them together like two perfectly round dough balls. Eyes half-hooded, she bit her bottom lip as she stared longingly at Milo.

Tereine tapped her on the head with the handle of her mop.

"Enough flirting. Milo's busy. Besides, you have a date with Rivra in the gym."

Lucianna groaned, straightening up and throwing her arms behind her back.

"Yeah, but I don't wanna. I'd rather spend the day with Milo. Y'know, sucking face and other naughty stuff."

A chill ran up his spine. In any other circumstance, Milo would be raring to take Lucianna up on an offer like that. But after the door to her room had gotten stuck, and he'd seen that private video of hers…

("Someday you'll find someone, and you'll want to suck their face.")

(Father wasn't just a crewmember…he loved Lucianna's older sister.)

His grip tightened around the mop handle, his knuckles turning white.

(I wanted answers, but now I can't look Lucianna in the face. Shit…)

"What's this~? He's so red!"

"Stop being a bother, Captain!"

Lucianna turned on her heal and headed for the gym.

"Well, fine, then. But after breakfast, Milo…you're all mine~"

She blew him a kiss and disappeared down the hall. He released the pent up breath and gasped. Little fireflies swam in his vision as he pressed a hand to his eyes.

"Oi, you all right? If the Captain's bothering you, you just tell her."

"No, it's not that."

(I can't just tell Tereine what I've seen. It won't make much sense to her.)

She wrung out her mop into a bucket.

"Well, whatever it is, you shouldn't keep it in. There's only so many of us on this ship, and we're in awfully close quarters. Aye, if you have beef with someone, it's best to hash it out peacefully before it turns into something everyone regrets."

She patted him on the back.

"Until then, this hallway ain't going to mop itself! Let's get at her!"

He watched as she mopped, whistling a bright tune. His shoulders relaxed, and he rejoined her in mopping.

***

Rivra pushed Milo even harder than she had the day before, forcing him to increase all his weights. She denied him a reprieve even when his limbs shook and sweat soaked his forehead and chest. She herself had worked up a modest sweat, but only after working out with Lucianna beforehand. Compared to Rivra, Milo possessed the strength of an infant.

"Keep going! Until your legs give out!"

She kept her hands just under Milo's barbell as he squatted, his lower back and quadriceps numb with burning agony. Every time he hit the valley of his squat, he thought there was no way he could push himself back up. Whether it was Rivra's tough-love encouragement helped him or the images of Des's face burned in his brain, he somehow eked out rep after rep.

By the time they finished, Milo lay on the ground, panting to cool the furnace his body had become. Rivra kneeled next to him, handing him a bottle of water. He gulped it down, licking his sticky lips with a gasp. Never had he tasted such clean water.

"Are you okay? That was a pretty tough workout."

"I'll be fine. I have to get stronger."

She nodded. "I'm glad you understand, but don't hurt yourself. Let me know if you need help."

He looked up into her broad face. Despite the sharp, strong features of a warrior, there seemed to be a motherly quality as well. She definitely had the tough love part of being a mother down, at least. Though when she had washed his back the previous day…

"Well, we're done training. Shall we shower?"

"A-are you going to wash my back again?"

"I had planned on it. Unless you didn't want me to?"

He still felt a little weird about the idea, but her hand massaging his back had felt pretty good, and he couldn't remember the last time someone had pampered him like that. He smiled.

"No, I'm fine with it. I just didn't know if that was a onetime deal or not."

She giggled, scooping him up in her hands.

"I…enjoy looking after others. And I do owe you now. After I nearly killed you, and you saved my brother from dying."

"Hey, don't worry about it! I really like Krol. And…I mean, it wasn't totally your fault that you tried to eat me."

She hoisted him into the air, cradling him against her chest as they headed toward the shower room.

"You're quick to forgive. Be careful who you grant forgiveness."

"Gee, you sound just like Faith now."

"Sorry. We're constantly lecturing the Captain. But it's always in one ear out the other with her."

"Oh really? Could it…have something to do with Salopheia?"

Rivra froze for but a moment, taking a deep breath, before finishing their trek to the shower room. She retrieved the stool from the corner and set Milo on it again. They stripped, and the shower filled with steam as the faucets let loose.

"I promised answers. So, ask away."

"What happened? I've only heard bits and pieces, but what happened when my father…betrayed everyone?"

Rivra worked the soap into a lather and massaged the suds into Milo's shoulders and back. He moaned a bit as she worked, and she giggled.

"So cute."

"H-hey!"

She bowed her head as she continued to massage and wash Milo's back.

"It started when Waylon and one of our former crewmates disappeared. He said they were going to explore a planet for an herb or something. Eventually, Waylon returned, but without the other crewmate. From there, he took my gems, then Lucianna's. Then Faith's."

Milo's brow furrowed.

"Faith…had a gem? Wait…did…all of you have gems?"

She shook her head. "Only four of us. Lucianna, Chana, Faith, and me. Between the four of us, we had seven gems. As far as I know, there are eight known gems of power in the universe."

"So what Faith said was right…the gems always find powerful people. And they always gather."

"Yes, well, none of us were really concerned about it. All we cared about was adventuring. Cruising the universe in search of meaning. Sometimes we'd help people less fortunate than us. More often than not, we'd end up in skirmishes with the Federation, those power-hungry dogs."

"Okay, but Father took all your gems? And what? Disappeared?"

"Yup. That's about the size of it. Ever since then, we've been trying to hunt him down. I may still be strong, but without my eyes…We're all much more vulnerable than before."

"Which is why you're training me and Lucianna. At least we won't be so defenseless then."

"Well, yes. But you should also be stronger in your own right. I swear…" And she pinched the fat at the Milo's hips. "If you were a Scrapster man, most women would shun you."

He yelped and slapped at her hands.

"H-hey! I'll have you know, I had a lot of girlfriends on Earth!"

Rivra smirked. "Is that so? And how do you feel knowing you'll probably never see them again?"

"Ah. I mean. Um…no hard feelings?"

"Honestly, you're so odd." She formed her hands into a cup, allowing water to pool in her hands so she could dump it down his back. "Losing someone you love is painful. It eats at you, and if you do nothing to stop it, you lose yourself to the grief." Her lips tugged down. "I feared the Captain was heading down that path. But you've reinvigorated her."

"I, uh, don't know what to say."

"Take it as a thank you."

"Okay…but what about you? In this entire conversation…you haven't mentioned Salopheia yet."

"Ha. Such an astute listener."

She lowered herself to the lower and sat in a lotus position. Steam and mist rolled off her bare shoulders as water ran in rivers down her chest and stomach.

"Salopheia was Lucianna's older sister. But, in reality, she was everyone's older sister. She treated us all like family. Took care of us. Doted on us. Each time someone new joined the crew, they were like you. Uncertain if they'll fit in or not. But Salopheia…she made sure they felt at home. Listened to their concerns." She exhaled through her nose. "And she was the only one besides Waylon who could wrangle in the Captain's chaotic behavior."

"Wow. She sounds pretty amazing. No wonder Father loved her."

Her brow furrowed. "How do you know about their relationship?"

"Oh. Uh. Lucianna said something."

She grunted, shifting her legs. "Well…when Salopheia died, everything changed. Lucianna took over as captain, and Waylon…well, you already know what happened."

She wrapped her hands around Milo's shoulders, holding him as gently as a newborn kitten.

"The void Salopheia left…I don't think it will ever be filled. And of course, with Waylon's betrayal…do you understand why things happened the way they did?"

"Yeah. It makes sense why Lucianna would punch me. Still hurt though."

Rivra chuckled. "Worse than my punch?"

"Oh, no. If you'd hit me cleanly, I would've been a paste."

"Well, I'm glad you're able to see the humor in things. Salopheia was always like that as well. Bringing out the light from the darkness."

She gave his shoulders a squeeze.

"Anyway, that's all. I hope that was satisfactory."

"Thank you." He laid a hand on one of her hands. "I appreciate it."

They finished the rest of their shower in silence.

***

As he exited the gym, Milo ran face-first into a pair of soft breasts. Lucianna moaned as she wrapped her robotic arms around him. Milo's thighs and groin jolted awake.

"Did you two shower together? Why wasn't I invited?!"

Rivra sighed. "Because you wouldn't shower, you'd molest poor Milo."

Milo mumbled something into the bountiful chest of the Captain. She nuzzled her chin into the top of his head, forcing his face deeper into her cleavage, an overwhelming perfume of apple pie making his head spin.

"That's not true! I would've made sure he was clean from head. To. Toe!"

Rivra tilted an ear toward Milo and chuckled. "Well, judging by his heartbeat, you might get that opportunity."

She released him from the clutches of her chest, his eyes rolling around in his head.

"Oh, was that too much for you, Milo?"

He opened his mouth to say something, but his gut clenched, and he slapped a hand over his mouth instead, choking back the acid bubbling at the back of his throat.

"Huh. Seems like you almost made him throw up."

"What?! You're lying! Right, Milo?"

(Why do I feel so sick right now? A beautiful girl is all over me…)

(But isn't that how they all start?)

He gulped and smiled weakly at Lucianna. "I'm just hungry!"

"That makes no sense. Don't tell me…my body repulses you?"

"No! Absolutely not! I'm just…"

He remembered the time Iris has thrown herself all over him. Pecking his cheeks, leaving bright pink lipsticks stains on his neck and collar. They hadn't kissed on the lips or anything, but Iris, along with so many before her, had promised him unwavering love. If only he obeyed their every whim.

Lucianna tilted her head, a stray lock of hair cutting her face in half.

"Darling? You look…angry."

"I'm fine. Sorry, I just…"

Rivra patted Milo's head. "He's just made he couldn't do fifty reps on push-ups today. I can tell."

Lucianna squinted her eyes, her lips puckered. "What? That's so stupid. If you keep working him like that…"

She squeezed the slight rolls at Milo's hips, lovingly massaging them. Another electric jolt burst in his thighs, the airs on his neck standing on end.

"You'll take away all this lovely cushion!"

"It's not healthy. He needs to slim down."

"But he's so cute!"

"D-don't I get a say in this?"

They both shouted at him, "Absolutely not!"

He pushed Lucianna's hands away and stepped back from her.

"A-anyway. Let's go to breakfast. I'm hungry."

He ran ahead of them, Milo and Rivra calling after him. Rounding the corner, he stopped in the hallway to catch his breath. He pinched the bridge of his nose.

(All those women…remind me of Des, in a way.)

Her fangs spun around in his mind, her tongue wriggling like a snake. The putrid decay of her breath punched the back of his throat. Her claw lowered itself closer and closer to his groin and thighs.

The click of Lucianna's heels drew closer, and Milo caught his breath. Sweat beaded on his brow as he pushed himself from the wall and continued toward the dining hall.

(I…I can completely understand why they all don't trust me. To be violated like that, by someone you care for…)

He remembered Iris and her actual boyfriend sneaking into his apartment, thinking he had died in the fire at work.

He stopped in the middle of the hallway.

"Milo?"

Lucianna and Rivra slowly approached him, as if he might strike them at any moment.

He turned and faced Lucianna.

"I'll make up for it," he said. "I'll become so strong that you won't ever have to worry about me. And every wrong Waylon caused…I can't do anything about your sister…but I promise to do right by everyone on this ship!"

Lucianna blinked. Twice she blinked. A small smile crept onto her face.

"It's okay, Milo. I believe in you. But…you're not alone." She took his hands in hers. "We're in this together. You're my right hand. And I'm your pirate queen. Whatever happened before…let's start fresh."

Rivra cocked a brow. "That's…oddly mature for you, Captain."

"I'm tired of living in the past's shadow. We have to move forward. For all of our sakes. We'll continue to train. And then nothing will stop us!"

"Did I hear something about training?"

Krol padded down the hallway, Tereine at his side. A new black apron hung from his waist, a welcome gift from Faith. He stroked his beard, which had fluffed up from being washed and conditioned.

"Yes," Rivra said. "These two are training to refine that fusion ability you saw."

"Ah, I see. Well, might I make a suggestion? Nothing against you, Rivra, but I think these two could use the help of a master."

Rivra planted a hand on her hip. "Do you mean…?"

He nodded. "We should head to the Temple of Agony!"