MSS Lyssandra, followed by SS Growler, jumped out of the wormhole directly into Veluthian orbit, and as soon as everyone looked out the window, they heard Lyssa reporting:

«Sending message Zero-Zero-One to all Veluthian spaceships and all available open media channels on the planet.»

Serena swallowed a lump in her throat, realising that she was entering a very dangerous game. Hunter frowned and looked at her:

«What message?»

«Would you like me to show them message Zero-Zero-One, Captain?» Lyssa asked.

«Go ahead.» Serena waved it off, feeling her body becoming ice cold.

The men turned to the screen that lit up and saw Serena.

«My fellow Veluthians. My name is Serena Dal Thara-Lyss, and I have been wronged by people in power of authority in our empire. I have been charged with false accusations, but I do not intend to let this go unnoticed. I am invoking my right to surrender freely and wilfully to a person of high status and whose life I have saved a number of years ago. I invoke my right to yield to Empress Alathea Dal Keelan-Dir of the Laithorian Empire»

«What?!» Hunter exhaled, surprised to hear these words.

«Who do you think gifted this ship to Serena?» Wolfin sighed, finally understanding what Serena was doing. «Not every Veluthian has a planet destroyer type of ship that has a medical pod with an option to extract memories. This ship is one of the few issued by the Empress.»

«Message Zero-Zero-Two is sent directly to Empress Alathea and the High Imperial Council.» Lyssa reported. «Encrypted files, containing all the memories and gathered proof have been attached to the message.»

Serena closed her eyes, trying her best not to let her hands tremble.

Lindon stood silent, not knowing what to say to the plan Serena had set in motion without even telling them.

«Now… we wait.» Serena said, her voice audibly shaking.

Wolfin stepped to the woman and laid his palm on her shoulder:

«Why didn’t you tell us?»

«Because if I would have… I wouldn’t have the courage left to go through with it.» she replied, feeling a shiver running down her spine. «You should know… Never once have I surrendered.»

She felt his palm squeezing her shoulder.

«IMSS Thailoran is approaching us, Captain. Captain of the Imperial Guard Dillian Dorn Merr-Philas is hailing.» Lyssa reported.

Serena straightened in her seat, and Wolfin stepped back, allowing her to take the call.

The screen lit up, showing a stern looking man with dark hair that had a streak of white running on his left temple. He carried himself proudly and his green eyes looked at Serena with calm respect.

«Greetings, Lady Serena.» he said.

«Greetings to you, Captain Dillian.» the woman replied, answering his short nod with the same courtesy.

«I was sent here to escort you down to Laithora for acceptance of your surrender. You shall respect the Veluthian code of honour and will not engage in any sort of resistance. If you honour this, you and your crew will be safe and treated fairly.»

«I honour the code, Captain. That’s why I’m here.»

«Once we land, you and your crew will remain on your ships until further notice, understood?»

«Understood.»

«Your compliance is greatly appreciated, Lady Thara-Lyss.»

Serena nodded, and the screen turned black once again. Lyssa took control of the ship, following IMSS Thailoran, and leaving the captain slowly sliding down her seat and closing her eyes with her palm.

«Captain Cipher has been notified on the agreed upon conditions of our landing.» Lyssa reported and went silent.

«So… what, exactly, are we supposed to do, Serena?» Hunter stepped to the woman, pained to see her so distressed.

«You… nothing.» the woman replied. «It’s all up to me, the Empress and the Council members now… As per usual protocol, it can take up to several days of waiting until we get any response from the Empress. So as soon as we land, we wait. I suppose, they will summon me first… to accept or deny me the right I have invoked.»

«Can they really deny you?» Lindon looked at Serena and almost lost his voice, seeing her being pale.

«They can. I’m hoping they won’t.»

«Do you have any failsafe?» Wolfin exhaled, trying his best not to question her resolve.

«If I am denied, shot, or my surrender accepted by someone other than Empress Alathea, Lyssa will send out all the files into the mainframe, allowing everyone access to the files I have collected. Every Veluthian will know what happened.» Serena gritted her teeth. «Other than that, I thought of only one viable option if my surrender goes haywire. But that would make me the villain in the eyes of all Laithorians for centuries to come. So I had to drop that idea. Plus… I didn’t want you to suffer the same fate as I would have.»

Lindon tightened his fists, realising what went through her mind when she was planning all of this.

They felt Lyssa softly landing on a broad square, and several ships, aimed at them, landed around, spitting out several regiments of Imperial Guards, which surrounded the ships in a circle, so that none of the civilians enter the location, where MSS Lyssandra was held.

Serena sighed heavily and stood. Hunter wanted to approach her, but she shook her head, gesturing him to stay on the bridge.

«Please… I need to be alone for a bit.» the woman said, slowly making her way out and heading towards her quarters.

The following day they spent in a very quiet and tense waiting.

Chapter 2. Right

The stillness was maddening. And the fact that they had to wait for the Empress or her employs to answer her call was even more nerve-wracking. Serena couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, couldn’t even numb herself with alcohol – all she could think about was that she put all her faith in the Empress and if her Imperial Highness will not even see her messages, it would mean that everything was for nothing.

The woman tried hard to keep herself calm, though the heavy thoughts haunted her for hours on end, not giving her even a single minute of respite. She knew very well that Hunter and her crew were worried sick for her, but couldn’t get herself to face them in these dire circumstances.

She started doubting if she would even have enough strength to answer to whatever authority comes to get her.

«Captain, you are being hailed by Captain Dillian.» Lyssa reported suddenly.

Serena got up from her bed – she spent most of the time just lying there, thinking about her decisions and what repercussions they might have on her crew. Combing down her hair, she sat behind her working screens.

«Put it through.» she said.

The screen came to life, showing the very same man Serena saw when she sent out her first message to Velutha.

«I am ordered to have you exit MSS Lyssandra.» Captain Dillian said.

«Is my request being accepted?» Serena felt her heart dropping.

«Of that I am unaware. But I am asked to have you exit your ship. Will you comply?»

«Five minutes? I have to calm my men before leaving.»

«Five minutes.» Dillian nodded.

The screen went black and Serena walked out of her captain’s quarters:

«Lyssa, is everyone sleeping?»

«No. They’re in the dining area.» the AI replied.

«Thank you.»

The woman walked to the dining area and saw her men sitting behind the table, grasping at their heads in heavy thought.

«It’s time.» She said and they looked at her. «Don’t do anything, alright? Be civil.»

Without a single another word she headed towards the cargo bay. Hearing her men silently following her made her feel her resolve dissolving, but she pushed any weakness down and kept her back straight, showing the proud military posture she was taught to keep in any circumstances from early childhood.

The cargo bay opened without any order from Serena, and the woman saw the sun-lit plaza beyond, where they landed at. It was filled with Imperial Guards and civilians that mingled some ways away, interested in the sudden entertainment of a high-end person being possibly arrested.

Serena looked back at her men and slowly nodded, then turned towards the guards and Captain Dillian, approaching with a regiment of the Imperial Guards behind him, all armoured and armed at the ready. The woman walked out into the sun, stepping calm and slow.

«I invoke my right to surrender to a person of high status, whose life I have saved a number of years ago.» she said, repeating her previous statement. «I invoke my right to yield to Empress Alathea Dal Keelan-Dir of the Laithorian Empire.»

She unclasped her belt and let it fall to the ground, showing everyone around that she wasn’t going to use her weapons or resist in any way.

Captain Dillian nodded, seeing this, and watched her make another few steps towards him and his men. When she stopped, watching Dillian closely, the man looked to the side, hearing a drone descending from the skies. The small, spherical device flew to the centre of the plaza and hovered in between Dillian and Serena.

A holographic representation of the Empress appeared, being translated through the drone, and everyone around instinctually straightened, silently greeting the image, though the Empress was looking straight at Serena.

«Welcome, Serena Dal Thara-Lyss, saviour of my life. I hear you are here to surrender to me.» the Empress said, her voice calm and soft.

«I am, Empress. I am being charged with false accusations and I want a fair royal trial.» Serena replied.

«And a fair trial you shall have! I am accepting your surrender and placing you under arrest. You shall have a Royal trial on your case, Serena. Guards, take her into custody and treat her as a royal prisoner.»

«I also want to plead for my friends…» Serena almost lost her voice, but quickly corrected herself. «My crew and my friends to be free until my own trial ends. They will not leave, they will not cause any trouble. I give you my word.»

«I was informed two of your… friends are also under investigation?»

«They were also falsely accused. But I assure you, if you hear me out and see what I have seen, you will know that there is foul play in these accusations. Neither Wolfin, nor Lindon will cause anyone any harm. I am sure of it. They will wait for your judgement on my case. And if your judgement will be against me… then they will face their accusations wilfully and accept whatever judgement you will place upon them.»

The Empress took a few moments to consider Serena’s words, then nodded gracefully:

«Very well, Serena Dal Thara-Lyss.»

Serena nodded to the Empress, slowly falling to her knees. She then raised her hands and clasped them at the back of her head.

Captain Dillian and two Imperial Guards approached her. The man looked into her eyes with the same respect, and nodded to her. His men respectfully and calmly cuffed her hands behind her back and helping her up, and they all headed to the military craft that was supposed to take her to jail to await trial by the Empress herself.

Wolfin grasped Hunters wrist when he wanted to follow:

«Now… we wait.» the Veluthian said, feeling his heart aching for his named daughter. «And trust her in her reasoning and judgement.»

«But…» Hunter met his gaze.

«Trust in your Captain, Hunter. And in the woman you love.»

Chapter 3. Prisoner

Serena walked against her will, stepping with two guards on each side. She couldn’t force herself to look up, feeling the hollow, lifeless sensation in her body, as if it was already not her own.

Her weapons were taken from the plaza, and her armour pin was removed, leaving her absolutely helpless against her captors. Serena hoped the Empress will keep her word – because if she doesn’t, there’s nothing left for Serena to believe in. Her whole military career was revolving around the Empress being just, fair and intelligent. If the Empress was as corrupt as Saalar Dorn Kalun, then the whole honour code of Laithorians meant nothing.

The woman was taken to the largest jail there ever was on Velutha – the jail where most people with authority spent their days awaiting judgement, or serving their time after having their cases heard. Serena hoped that her case will be in trial sooner than later, but it all depended on the Empress and her availability, her access to all the possible proof of the accusations that were brought upon Serena. All those false accusations can be easily disproven in the royal trial – the Empress can enforce a memory extraction to see if the accused was ever really engaged in any of the things they are being accused of.

Serena knew she had nothing to hide. She knew that her memories will show the Empress her innocence. But what the Empress would do was beyond her.

She hoped that the Empress remembered how Serena saved her life a long time ago, when they both were engaged on the battlefield somewhere in the neighbouring system. Serena remembered that she didn’t even know who she saved that day – not until a very pompous man came to get her and took her to the Empress, where Serena was issued a ship as a gift and praise for her courage and selflessness.

The woman also remembered how little her father thought of this, brushing it off:

«You weren’t fast enough. If you were any better, you’d never have allowed her to be wounded!»

It was true – Serena wasn’t there in time to save the Empress before she fell to an injury, though, not a life-threatening one.

Now… everything that happened that distant day meant so little, if the Empress wouldn’t even hear her case.

The military guards took her through all the bureaucracy every high-end person on Velutha went through after their arrest. The last on the list was implanting the inhibitor that minimised all the regeneration process in the prisoner’s body.

Finally, she was escorted to the prison cell – a small confinement with just a simple cot and a toilet corner. Not a window, not a whiff of fresh air – only the grey, lifeless walls of a prison cell that she was supposed to stay in until her case will be seen.

The complete silence she found herself in was supposed to unnerve anyone, who was thrown into this confinement. But to Serena it was quite usual to hear only her thoughts, her breath and the beating of her heart.

At first she was trying to count the time that was passing by, but without anything to help her with that, she stopped and just fell into a very still and quiet meditation, awaiting anything that would make her understand if she made the right call.

She wasn’t able to say how much time passed, when the door slid open and a guard stepped in, looking at her heavily.

«You’re being transferred, prisoner. Stand and turn around.» the man said.

Serena complied, wilfully allowing the guard to shackle her wrists behind her back once again. He took her through the numerous corridors and a couple of elevators that took them deeper down, until they ended up in what seemed like an old part of the prison. The woman couldn’t help but frown, seeing that the corridor they were walking through was unkempt and the cameras that were supposed to monitor everything were either broken or dismantled.

Even stranger was the complete silence around – there seemed to be not a single soul in the numerous cells they were passing.

Serena felt her thoughts start racing.

Was the Empress going to meet her privately deep in the bowels of this dungeon? Or were Salaar’s men trying to get rid of her so sloppily?

The man dragged her further in, until they reached an open cell and he pushed her in so hard that she almost fell to the floor.

As she straightened, she suddenly saw the face of a man she never wanted to see in person.

«Welcome, little dove.» a creepy smile appeared on the face of the one Serena recognised to be none other than Salaar Dorn Kalun.

The woman saw three other men in the cell and felt herself cornered.

«My son here had so much to tell me about you…» Salaar chuckled, seeing her eyes dart from side to side.

Serena saw one of the men grinning and recognised him as well – a very long time ago she defeated him in a duel. After that his career took a turn for the worse. Lazarus Dorn Kalun, Salaar’s only son.

«You can’t do this.» Serena hissed. «I am a royal prisoner awaiting trial!»

«Oh, little dove… you are no one. Nobody will hear you case, trust me on that. The Empress has so much more important things to attend to.» Salaar smirked. «I will make sure she will forget all about you.»

Two guards that stood there grabbed her, immobilising, while Lazarus and Salaar watched her twitch and fail to free herself as she was pushed down onto the floor.

«Lazarus has so much to say to you, my dear. I do hope there’s going to be something left of you after he’s done with you.» Salaar leaned in, grinning at the way one of the guards held her in a choking grasp, tightening his arms. «But I am interested how long you’ll last. As I do understand you’re quite the… survivor.»

«Asshole!» Serena hissed, baring her teeth.

«Such a pity to have your genetics go to waste…» Salaar shook his head and headed out. «Have fun.»

Lazarus chuckled, sitting on top of the woman and unsheathing his blade, his eyes flashing with madness.

«I always wanted to wipe that smug smile off your face, bitch.» he said. «Long hair! Pfft! A symbol of your victories… Let’s see how it holds against my blade.»

The man grabbed her hair and sliced with his blade, cutting off a few thick locks with a cackle. Serena could only growl, as he began rudely cutting her hair and throwing it aside, enjoying humiliating the warrior woman who defeated him once long ago.

«You will never see a trial!» Lazarus grinned, pushing her face into the hard floor. «My father will make sure of that!»

Serena did not take her eyes off the man, growling from the pain and humiliation.

He looked at the body that was before him and cackled:

«You and your entitled attitude made my career drop. And I’m going to make you pay for it!» he glanced at the guard behind her and nodded.

Serena felt the guard tightening his grip on her neck, almost suffocating her. If the second guard wouldn’t have been holding her legs, she would start kicking in an attempt to free herself.

«I’m going to make you scream, Serena. And I’m going to make you beg.» Lazarus began rudely cutting off her clothes, leaving cuts on her skin.

She didn’t make a sound, baring her teeth in anger.

When he took her for the first time, she gritted her teeth, but remained silent, which made Lazarus furious. By the time he was done with her, he waved to the guard and allowed him to do as he pleased.

Serena still kept her mouth shut, though the guard was just as fierce as Lazarus.

This was only the beginning.

Lazarus enjoyed tormenting her. Day after day he came to her – first, with two guards, then with another two men.

They were all too eager to have her again and again, tearing into her body with a relentless, sadistic urge to destroy what was left of her. She never gave them the joy of hearing her screams or cries. She tried her best to be silent. Just like with John Summers, she simply allowed her mind to go blank and all she did was just look at them and growl. She had to look. It was the only form of proof she could offer – if only the Empress would really go through with her word on having the royal trial.

The inhibitor made her body frail and incapable of regenerating, but she could withstand the pain. She had to. Otherwise there really was nothing else left of her.

In the short silent moments, when her rapists left her for the time being, she would allow herself to drift into sleep on the cold stone floor, her arms shackled behind her back. But every time she would be woken to another one of them taking her once more, bringing more pain and humiliation to what they’ve already caused.

She didn’t want to think that Lazarus was right. She couldn’t make herself believe that the Empress would not see her case at all. However powerful Salaar Dorn Kalun was, the Empress had all the right and power to bring the man down.

But as the days went by, Serena slowly began falling into a desperate stupor, realising that, perhaps, the Empress was not as just as she thought.