Tea and whatever the opposite of sympathy is

Posted on Fri Mar 28th, 2025 @ 12:21pm by Ramielos Volsunga & Commander Alex Flynn

814 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: The Serpent's Tooth [3]
Location: Volsunga's Cell & Observation Room
Timeline: Morning - MD06

Alex had smoked an entire cigarette without saying anything or opening a channel to Volsunga. She had watched him deep in thought. There was something so ridiculous about his proportions, like something that had stepped off the holodeck. Still, he was fascinating to behold. She couldn’t help but wonder if his pleasing aesthetics weren’t just another way to make him even more deadly.

Finally, she activated the link to his spinning-top shaped cell, suspended by tractor beams in the lower dock.

“Volsunga, this is Commander Flynn. I’d like to talk to you about what happened yesterday, with Lieutenant Kakistos.” Alex said.

Volsunga opened his eyes, and stood up from his kneeling position. “Is that the psyker who tried to intrude upon my mind?”

“He is. We take responsibility for it, but his actions were not condoned by any of his superiors. We have very specific laws surrounding the treatment of prisoners, particularly telepathic interrogation. On behalf of the Captain, I hope you will accept my apology.” Alex said.

Volsunga looked confused. “Your man is dead, and you’re apologising to me?”

“What he did was wrong. Did you kill him on purpose?” Alex asked. She maintained the sort of tone she would have with a junior officer.

“He attempted to enter the fortress of my mind. All Astartes have our minds inlaid with psychic defences as part of our training. I may have helped him to reach them quicker, but once he was there, they were automatic in dispatching him.” Volsunga explained.

“I take it you don’t feel any remorse.” Alex observed.

“Should I?" Volsunga asked. "Was he a good man? A loss to your fleet?”

“To answer your questions backwards, no, no, and that’s up to you.” Alex told him.

“I do not.” Volsunga concluded.

Alex shrugged. “I’m not here to tell you how to feel. But I want you to know that this situation notwithstanding, if you hurt any more of our people on purpose, you’ll find us a lot less hospitable. Now you’ve been a model inmate since we got you this set-up. We’re not holding this against you, but I want to make sure our position is clear.”

“As long as they stay out of my head, they face no threat from me.” Volsunga said.

“Really, even though they’re xenos? I thought you were excited to kill everyone.” Alex said, maintaining her professional tone.

“I accept that this is not my galaxy. The Emperor has never cast judgement I am aware of on those that are beyond its barriers. All Xenos there are his enemy. But here, there is no war declared between us. Humanity is somehow here. To kill you and destroy your station would not serve the Imperium.” He did not say it, but the thought rattled through his mind like a bucket banging against the walls as it fell down a bottomless well.

He is not here.

“Is there anything we can get you to improve your comfort?” Alex asked.

“You were the one that fired the shot at my rifle that detonated the ammunition, yes?” Volsunga asked.

“I am.” Alex admitted.

“You are a talented gunner. But my weapon is damaged, I must attend to it. I request tools.” Volsunga asked earnestly.

Alex was slightly taken aback by the directness of it. “We can’t really give you tools. We definitely can’t give you a weapon.”

“The weapon is useless without it’s ammunition. And I have already discovered the structural vulnerabilities inherent to this cell. I do not intend to attempt escape. But if I did, I would not need tools. The Machine Spirit in the weapon will be angered by neglect. I must soothe it with maintenance.” Volsunga said. His tone was less forceful, more diplomatic.

“I’ll discuss it with the Captain. If it is permitted, it’ll be under supervision, and at the first sign of trouble it’ll be back to you using your imagination to keep yourself occupied until we find a way to get you home. Understand?”

“I do. You… have my, uh - thanks, Commander.” Volsunga said, seeming to stumble and hesitate as he attempted the courtesy.

“You’re welcome.” Alex said reflexively. “In the meanwhile, I’m going to give you civilian-level access to our library computers. If you want to know anything about our galaxy, just say ‘computer’ and ask it any questions you might have.”

Volsunga nodded, and resumed his kneeling position, closing his eyes.

Is he learning, or just fucking with me? Alex asked herself. Either way, she was glad it would be Rovak’s final decision. It was just as likely this was a ploy to effect further escape. As the Nausicans would say, he had gramba. She closed the channel, and left the observation room.

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