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How could he possibly?
36. ....is still a Rose
Hortan opened his eyes and saw Azumi standing in front of him, a pair of black tears on her cheeks and a very serious expression on her face.
"Hrm, ehm Hi Ms Azumi."
He smiled, but stopped as she kept her serious looks.
"Hort, you have got to stop coming to Sedina with all those presents."
"But why can’t I do that? I mean you are always so nice to me."
"They put you and me in danger. And you have to remember, I am a pirate and you are a pacifistic miner, hardly a perfect match."
"I see you as a beautiful flower Ms, not a a pirate."
Azumi laughed, that was not what she had expected.
"Right. I have been called a lot of things, but never a flower before."
Hortan blushed and looked down for some seconds before looking up and replying.
"Well my mum always said that a rose by any other name is still a rose."
Azumi stopped smiling and lifted one hand to push the strand of hair that was falling down over Hortan's forehead out of the way.
"Yeah, I guess. But this rose has thorns Hortan. Many thorns, and she lives in a place that is very deadly. So please stay away?"
He could see that she meant it for his protection as well as protection for herself and her mates.
"Guess so Ms Azumi. I better get on home. They must be looking for me by now."
Swag man stood and intercepted Hortan.
"I'll walk you, I have something I wanna discuss with you anyway."
Hortan wasn't entirely happy with that, but the pirate wouldn't let go of his sleeve. He steered him along towards the launch bay, without giving Hortan a chance to say good bye. Probably the best anyway.
###
NP sent the siphoned data to Miexon and Surbius. He had done his job and could once more go back to sifting the information streams of the nets. He leant back in his reclining chair and turned the brainplant to active. The information started flowing immediately with some interesting trends especially regarding the revival of the terrorist organisation SYN. He did not choose where the data took him, but somehow, subconsciously he was watching for what would happen when the Senator crashed and burned. He smiled, victory even old tastes sweet. He received a message. Opening it he smiled even more. This felt even better than victory.
###
Waldoze was shouting in rage.
"What the hell do you mean she sues me for half my belongings? How can she do that? I mean we only dated for three weeks and we were never ever married or anything? And dare I say it, she left me! She isn't getting a single credit from me, that is dead certain."
The lawyer from the well known lawyers firm "Lector, Lecter and Shard" who had brought Waldoze the subpoena didn't flinch at all. As a matter of fact he studied Waldoze like a butcher would a piece of meat.
"She is entirely in her right as the papers you have just thrown so inefficiently to the floor would attest to. The law is very specific on this matter. Under the sub-charter 4, amendment 16-3d in the Valent civil code of law, a period of co-habitation for more than a week when it concerns a man and a woman, is either to be considered a lawful domestic partnership with all the normal rights of marriage or relationship between prostitute and pimp. In the latter case you will then admit to being a criminal with up to three years prison sentence and revocation of UIT citizenship."
"Ha, I am not a citizen of Valent, I am UIT through and through. So nyah!"
Waldoze pushed the two middle fingers extended towards the lawyer in a rather impolite gesture.
"We are quite aware of that Mr. Waldoze. However if you would care to read the relevant amendment through, you will see that if one part of the relationship is a Valent citizen, it pertains to both on the following jurisdictions: Valent, Axia and, need I say it? TPG. I'll see you in court Mr. Waldoze. Oh, and feel free to call our firm for a free offer on a defence."
The lawyer handed the stunned Waldoze his card, turned and walked away.
Waldoze slowly closed the door and stood for a minute before noting the guffawing from the sofa. John Eldritch was lying on his side laughing so hard that he had to hold his stomach and bend over.
"Knock it off man, this is serious."
That just made John laugh harder and louder, and after a little while Waldoze started laughing too.
"Guess I am fucked, eh hehe? Guess I'll better check with Gramps."
36. ....is still a Rose
Hortan opened his eyes and saw Azumi standing in front of him, a pair of black tears on her cheeks and a very serious expression on her face.
"Hrm, ehm Hi Ms Azumi."
He smiled, but stopped as she kept her serious looks.
"Hort, you have got to stop coming to Sedina with all those presents."
"But why can’t I do that? I mean you are always so nice to me."
"They put you and me in danger. And you have to remember, I am a pirate and you are a pacifistic miner, hardly a perfect match."
"I see you as a beautiful flower Ms, not a a pirate."
Azumi laughed, that was not what she had expected.
"Right. I have been called a lot of things, but never a flower before."
Hortan blushed and looked down for some seconds before looking up and replying.
"Well my mum always said that a rose by any other name is still a rose."
Azumi stopped smiling and lifted one hand to push the strand of hair that was falling down over Hortan's forehead out of the way.
"Yeah, I guess. But this rose has thorns Hortan. Many thorns, and she lives in a place that is very deadly. So please stay away?"
He could see that she meant it for his protection as well as protection for herself and her mates.
"Guess so Ms Azumi. I better get on home. They must be looking for me by now."
Swag man stood and intercepted Hortan.
"I'll walk you, I have something I wanna discuss with you anyway."
Hortan wasn't entirely happy with that, but the pirate wouldn't let go of his sleeve. He steered him along towards the launch bay, without giving Hortan a chance to say good bye. Probably the best anyway.
###
NP sent the siphoned data to Miexon and Surbius. He had done his job and could once more go back to sifting the information streams of the nets. He leant back in his reclining chair and turned the brainplant to active. The information started flowing immediately with some interesting trends especially regarding the revival of the terrorist organisation SYN. He did not choose where the data took him, but somehow, subconsciously he was watching for what would happen when the Senator crashed and burned. He smiled, victory even old tastes sweet. He received a message. Opening it he smiled even more. This felt even better than victory.
###
Waldoze was shouting in rage.
"What the hell do you mean she sues me for half my belongings? How can she do that? I mean we only dated for three weeks and we were never ever married or anything? And dare I say it, she left me! She isn't getting a single credit from me, that is dead certain."
The lawyer from the well known lawyers firm "Lector, Lecter and Shard" who had brought Waldoze the subpoena didn't flinch at all. As a matter of fact he studied Waldoze like a butcher would a piece of meat.
"She is entirely in her right as the papers you have just thrown so inefficiently to the floor would attest to. The law is very specific on this matter. Under the sub-charter 4, amendment 16-3d in the Valent civil code of law, a period of co-habitation for more than a week when it concerns a man and a woman, is either to be considered a lawful domestic partnership with all the normal rights of marriage or relationship between prostitute and pimp. In the latter case you will then admit to being a criminal with up to three years prison sentence and revocation of UIT citizenship."
"Ha, I am not a citizen of Valent, I am UIT through and through. So nyah!"
Waldoze pushed the two middle fingers extended towards the lawyer in a rather impolite gesture.
"We are quite aware of that Mr. Waldoze. However if you would care to read the relevant amendment through, you will see that if one part of the relationship is a Valent citizen, it pertains to both on the following jurisdictions: Valent, Axia and, need I say it? TPG. I'll see you in court Mr. Waldoze. Oh, and feel free to call our firm for a free offer on a defence."
The lawyer handed the stunned Waldoze his card, turned and walked away.
Waldoze slowly closed the door and stood for a minute before noting the guffawing from the sofa. John Eldritch was lying on his side laughing so hard that he had to hold his stomach and bend over.
"Knock it off man, this is serious."
That just made John laugh harder and louder, and after a little while Waldoze started laughing too.
"Guess I am fucked, eh hehe? Guess I'll better check with Gramps."
37. A note from our sponsors
Hortan docked the battered Atlas he had purchased in Latos. The CLM markings had been painted over with some yellow spray paint, but the crew had still been wary about whoever jumped out. When the young man exited they sighed a breath of relief. He walked down to Moda's shop; he needed to tell him that the EAPRS had malfunctioned. The doors with the skunk in black and white were slightly ajar and fast paced music with lots of distortion, drums and a female vocalist who growled her way through the tune, poured out of the room like an intoxicating and welcoming balm for the ears. Okay, it was bloody loud speed metal, and Hortan liked it lots. Inside Moda was standing in front of a full size mirror playing air guitar and shaking his head up and down in tune with the drums. Hortan grinned and started nodding his own head in tune with the music until it stopped. Moda turned and grinned in response.
"Good ole Arch Enemy. Can't beat em. How did you like your new mod?"
"I am not sure if I have tried it. But I came to tell you that the EAPRS failed on me."
Moda had walked over to get a set of Dark Ladies and turned with one in each hand. He handed one to Hortan and sat in a chair motioning Hortan to do the same.
"Don't tell me you needed it."
"Well, I did. Ran into some of the KAOS dudes in Sedina and one of them blew my Ole Sloth Moth XXIV to high hell. I am now officially flying number XXV. But as I said, the EAPRS failed."
"Nope, it didn't. It was taken out prior to launch."
Moda drank deep of the bottle while Hortan looked to the floor and then up at Moda confused.
"But the EAPRS button was showing a clear green."
"Well, it was used for something else. Listen mate, you remember we talked about reworking your zero-g still?"
Hortan nodded and sipped from the bottle.
"Well, Zath and I succeeded, and decided to mount it on your ship. Unfortunately the inter-engine zero-G still went where the EAPRS was located, and so we had to remove it. I wrote you a note explaining all this, didn't you read it?"
Hortan blushed; well he had seen it but disregarded it in his hurry to launch. He shook his head.
"No, I didn't. Inexcusable I know."
"Pah, don't hate yourself, plenty of others to do that. We needed to test it and figured that you always go mining in Helios under guard, so you didn't need the EAPRS. Never mind, the still starts working when you turn the engines on and drips around three litres per hour. Naturally it is only a demonstration model, the real one will make ten times as much. And you can have an EAPRS as well since it will be integrated in the engines."
Hortan nodded slowly.
"Well, I probably won't need the EAPRS anyway. That was my last time to Sedina for a long long time."
Moda sensed the sadness in his voice, but felt that it wasn't the right time or place to fret him for it. They drank in silence until they were finished.
"Well Hort, make sure you tell me how it runs, okay? And I'll keep you informed when we have the full still online with the EAPRS. You take care now buddy."
Hortan nodded and left, leaving the door ajar once more letting the dark heavy music be a warning that Moda was working inside.
###
The holo screen was full with a picture of the rotating image outside Dau Senate, with a newsman in front of the picture about as natural looking as a thousand pound turd on a dinner table. His perfect face, teeth and skin colour was enhanced by the latest in fashion clothes from Verasi and his voice was modulated to give the viewer the impression that this was a trustworthy person. Naturally it didn't work on some people, like Surbius for instance. Still he watched for this special occasion.
"You are watching Daily Senate News on Channel five with Dork Rufus. Today's headlines are:
Senator Remor pleas not guilty to charges of embezzlement and corruption.
The continuing attacks of SYN and CLM inside UIT space forces merchants to invent new tactics.
And finally, this year's Ms Dau has been found."
"The UIT Senate was earlier today contacted by the UIT internal tax department with a request to cancel the inherent immunity of Senator Remor, and after showing the evidence were granted permission to prosecute a case of embezzlement of funds set aside for refugees, and corruption. Rumours have it that the Senator was involved in worse crimes. Senator Remor has as of three hours ago and immediately after loosing his immunity, resigned his position as UIT Senator and left for Odia where he has been offered a high position in Corvus. He continues to claim that he was innocent and that he was framed, but refuses to release video from the security cameras inside of his apartment or any other evidence that supports his claim. If found guilty, the Senator faces up to 40 years of prison and exile after the sentence is served."
"The attacks from the pirate guild CLM and the terrorists from SYN has scared so many traders that many traders now choose not to fly alone. A trader we spoke to earlier today say that the only way to get valuable cargo across UIT space is to travel in large convoys with all the extra costs this entails. The Vipers have proven to be too few to contain the pirates and terrorists in grey space. This reporter wonders when UIT is going to deal with this menace once and for all."
"And on a more cheerful note, Ms Dau was crowned today in Dau Senate. But first, a note from our sponsors."
A group of indecently clad young women and men on a beach were having fun with a case of Nyrius Dew placed in the middle of them.
Surbius switched the holo off. He had seen what he wanted. The other charges that would be brought against the Senator were enough to put him behind bars forever, but the chances of getting him convicted were not big. And TGFT along with PA would have to give up some of their agent's covers. Not worth it really. The case that the UIT tax department was running was however a dead given. The amounts he had swindled over the years were tremendous and he had even kept a log on his system of every transaction. Which was what NP had supplied him and the tax department with. Vengeance is a dish best served cold.
Hortan docked the battered Atlas he had purchased in Latos. The CLM markings had been painted over with some yellow spray paint, but the crew had still been wary about whoever jumped out. When the young man exited they sighed a breath of relief. He walked down to Moda's shop; he needed to tell him that the EAPRS had malfunctioned. The doors with the skunk in black and white were slightly ajar and fast paced music with lots of distortion, drums and a female vocalist who growled her way through the tune, poured out of the room like an intoxicating and welcoming balm for the ears. Okay, it was bloody loud speed metal, and Hortan liked it lots. Inside Moda was standing in front of a full size mirror playing air guitar and shaking his head up and down in tune with the drums. Hortan grinned and started nodding his own head in tune with the music until it stopped. Moda turned and grinned in response.
"Good ole Arch Enemy. Can't beat em. How did you like your new mod?"
"I am not sure if I have tried it. But I came to tell you that the EAPRS failed on me."
Moda had walked over to get a set of Dark Ladies and turned with one in each hand. He handed one to Hortan and sat in a chair motioning Hortan to do the same.
"Don't tell me you needed it."
"Well, I did. Ran into some of the KAOS dudes in Sedina and one of them blew my Ole Sloth Moth XXIV to high hell. I am now officially flying number XXV. But as I said, the EAPRS failed."
"Nope, it didn't. It was taken out prior to launch."
Moda drank deep of the bottle while Hortan looked to the floor and then up at Moda confused.
"But the EAPRS button was showing a clear green."
"Well, it was used for something else. Listen mate, you remember we talked about reworking your zero-g still?"
Hortan nodded and sipped from the bottle.
"Well, Zath and I succeeded, and decided to mount it on your ship. Unfortunately the inter-engine zero-G still went where the EAPRS was located, and so we had to remove it. I wrote you a note explaining all this, didn't you read it?"
Hortan blushed; well he had seen it but disregarded it in his hurry to launch. He shook his head.
"No, I didn't. Inexcusable I know."
"Pah, don't hate yourself, plenty of others to do that. We needed to test it and figured that you always go mining in Helios under guard, so you didn't need the EAPRS. Never mind, the still starts working when you turn the engines on and drips around three litres per hour. Naturally it is only a demonstration model, the real one will make ten times as much. And you can have an EAPRS as well since it will be integrated in the engines."
Hortan nodded slowly.
"Well, I probably won't need the EAPRS anyway. That was my last time to Sedina for a long long time."
Moda sensed the sadness in his voice, but felt that it wasn't the right time or place to fret him for it. They drank in silence until they were finished.
"Well Hort, make sure you tell me how it runs, okay? And I'll keep you informed when we have the full still online with the EAPRS. You take care now buddy."
Hortan nodded and left, leaving the door ajar once more letting the dark heavy music be a warning that Moda was working inside.
###
The holo screen was full with a picture of the rotating image outside Dau Senate, with a newsman in front of the picture about as natural looking as a thousand pound turd on a dinner table. His perfect face, teeth and skin colour was enhanced by the latest in fashion clothes from Verasi and his voice was modulated to give the viewer the impression that this was a trustworthy person. Naturally it didn't work on some people, like Surbius for instance. Still he watched for this special occasion.
"You are watching Daily Senate News on Channel five with Dork Rufus. Today's headlines are:
Senator Remor pleas not guilty to charges of embezzlement and corruption.
The continuing attacks of SYN and CLM inside UIT space forces merchants to invent new tactics.
And finally, this year's Ms Dau has been found."
"The UIT Senate was earlier today contacted by the UIT internal tax department with a request to cancel the inherent immunity of Senator Remor, and after showing the evidence were granted permission to prosecute a case of embezzlement of funds set aside for refugees, and corruption. Rumours have it that the Senator was involved in worse crimes. Senator Remor has as of three hours ago and immediately after loosing his immunity, resigned his position as UIT Senator and left for Odia where he has been offered a high position in Corvus. He continues to claim that he was innocent and that he was framed, but refuses to release video from the security cameras inside of his apartment or any other evidence that supports his claim. If found guilty, the Senator faces up to 40 years of prison and exile after the sentence is served."
"The attacks from the pirate guild CLM and the terrorists from SYN has scared so many traders that many traders now choose not to fly alone. A trader we spoke to earlier today say that the only way to get valuable cargo across UIT space is to travel in large convoys with all the extra costs this entails. The Vipers have proven to be too few to contain the pirates and terrorists in grey space. This reporter wonders when UIT is going to deal with this menace once and for all."
"And on a more cheerful note, Ms Dau was crowned today in Dau Senate. But first, a note from our sponsors."
A group of indecently clad young women and men on a beach were having fun with a case of Nyrius Dew placed in the middle of them.
Surbius switched the holo off. He had seen what he wanted. The other charges that would be brought against the Senator were enough to put him behind bars forever, but the chances of getting him convicted were not big. And TGFT along with PA would have to give up some of their agent's covers. Not worth it really. The case that the UIT tax department was running was however a dead given. The amounts he had swindled over the years were tremendous and he had even kept a log on his system of every transaction. Which was what NP had supplied him and the tax department with. Vengeance is a dish best served cold.
38. Almost there
Gavan turned the holo off. Served him right the bastard. They had finally been forced to arrest one of their own in the cesspit of corruption called UIT Senate, and Gavan had a particular disliking for that Senator in particular. He was going to investigate further into the rumours surrounding the further accusations. Maybe yoda could find out, he always knew stuff like this.
###
Chi had dressed in her lose fitting training clothes, ready for combat training. When she had called John, he seemed as eager as her to practice and he had been able to find time later the same day. She arrived early, but he was already there punishing the combat dummy with savage kicks and punches. He had stripped to just a pair of loose fitting combat fatigues with the sweat running in small droplets down his chest. She stayed silent and observed his style. This was different, this was not Krav Maga or at least not Krav Maga as she had been taught. He landed a series of fast punches on the dummy, dodged the ineffective counter punches and kicked high towards the dummy's head, impacting with his heel on the dummy's jaw with bone shattering force before mock withdrawing and instead of moving away sidekicked into the chest of the dummy, kicking it metres away from him. Chi knew that the dummy bot weighed in at around 300 kilo's, so this was no mean feat. He stayed his ground, once more getting his hands up and ready, one leg slight in front of the other. The bot regained its balance and once more moved forward, the pegs that made it for arms whirling menacingly. John took a half step back before pushing the leg forward again impacting on the front armour of the bot with a crack that was loud enough to make Chi flinch. It also broke the bot's carapace.
"Save some for me."
He whirled towards Chi and smiled when he saw who had interrupted him. He relaxed slightly enabling the robot to flail him across the back several times. He started defending himself from the multitude of hits.
"Stoi"
The bot stopped and withdrew to be recharged and repaired. He turned again towards Chi a grin on his face.
"Dammit Chi, you make me loose my focus."
"So much the better for me when we train."
She dropped her bag and took the sweatshirt off.
"That was something else you practised there. Very impressive John."
"It is an old form of combat, called Savate. Very savage, very efficient. Especially when you use it together with Krav Maga. Been a while Chi."
"Yeah, I missed doing this."
She swiped outwards at his leg while moving forward and elbowing his chest. If he had stayed that is. John rotated sideways opposite her leg thrust and while hooking her balance leg he pushed her hard making her fall to the ground. His knee landed next to her neck and he looked down at her.
"Points, me."
They got up and faced each other again. He feinted an attack with his left arm, and when she locked it in defence he dropped himself and her on the floor, letting her take the impact on her back. Her breath was violently forced out of her as John landed heavily on her. He turned his head and grinned wildly.
"Points, me."
Once more they got up and faced each other. Chi waited for his next move, and when he tried for a strike against her neck she moved in under his arms, left elbow first. She impacted on his sternum, forcing him to withdraw. She swiped her arm out to move his right arm away and attempted to land her other elbow on his face when she felt a terrible blow to her left ankle that swiped her leg away and dumped her unceremoniously on the floor, a heel impacting next to her head.
"Points, me."
She looked up at John, the massive grin was equally at home on his face as it would be on the Chestershire Cat of Alice in Wonderland. She got up and readied herself once more. He was better than she had ever seen, clearly his mastery of martial arts was leaps and bounds above what she had seen before.
"John, have you been playing with me all this time?"
He displayed mock horror on his face and took his hands up as if surrendering.
"I wouldn't ever Chi. Everybody knows I only play for keeps."
The grin returned and he was once more ready for her attacks, his eyes searching for and getting the full attention of her gaze.
She grinned inside but kept her outward appearance calm and neutral. She would get him even if it took all day and night.
###
The unmarked Behemoth flew through Helios space with about as much grace as a hippopotamus with a rocket strapped to its back. The owner of this particular ship was used to much smaller crafts, but he was here on a mission. After a couple of minutes the vast emptiness of space was pierced by the inevitable pre-warp tachyons that showed a ship was underway. Swag man felt the usual adrenaline rise in him, normally this meant a target to hunt and kill. In this case though, he was awaiting this particular ship. A bright yellow moth with twin High Density mining beams and the lettering Ole Slot Moth XXV down its side in metre high red letters. The painting of a beautiful woman underneath the cockpit was not what Swag man had expected, but he knew he wanted one too.
"I am ready to receive the cargo."
"Roger that Swag man. It is ready and protected. 30 crates of Helio Mists, 60 of Lady Serco Dark Ale and 30 of Sol II genuine pork rinds."
The yellow behemoth ejected the crates on three pallets.
"I have them. Thanks for getting it."
"Hey, no problem. I am always one to help a party get underways. Oh, and one of the Helio Mists crates contains a single bottle of genuine Tequila."
Swag man smiled, that would get Lebermac on his toes if nothing else could. He scooped the goods up and started boosting for Latos and home. He didn't really know why yoda wanted to throw a party, but expected it to something with having Mystic back and stuff. Who was he to question that anyway, any excuse to party was in his eyes a good one.
"Hey by the way Hort, where did you get the painting?"
"Vardonx made the first one, but this particular lady is painted by Jasmine Atamoss from PA."
"Ok, thanks."
PA was KOS, but maybe he could get Azumi to set up an arrangement or something. Maybe even model for it.... maybe both of them..... Swag man suddenly felt that the temperature of the moth had notched up significantly.
Gavan turned the holo off. Served him right the bastard. They had finally been forced to arrest one of their own in the cesspit of corruption called UIT Senate, and Gavan had a particular disliking for that Senator in particular. He was going to investigate further into the rumours surrounding the further accusations. Maybe yoda could find out, he always knew stuff like this.
###
Chi had dressed in her lose fitting training clothes, ready for combat training. When she had called John, he seemed as eager as her to practice and he had been able to find time later the same day. She arrived early, but he was already there punishing the combat dummy with savage kicks and punches. He had stripped to just a pair of loose fitting combat fatigues with the sweat running in small droplets down his chest. She stayed silent and observed his style. This was different, this was not Krav Maga or at least not Krav Maga as she had been taught. He landed a series of fast punches on the dummy, dodged the ineffective counter punches and kicked high towards the dummy's head, impacting with his heel on the dummy's jaw with bone shattering force before mock withdrawing and instead of moving away sidekicked into the chest of the dummy, kicking it metres away from him. Chi knew that the dummy bot weighed in at around 300 kilo's, so this was no mean feat. He stayed his ground, once more getting his hands up and ready, one leg slight in front of the other. The bot regained its balance and once more moved forward, the pegs that made it for arms whirling menacingly. John took a half step back before pushing the leg forward again impacting on the front armour of the bot with a crack that was loud enough to make Chi flinch. It also broke the bot's carapace.
"Save some for me."
He whirled towards Chi and smiled when he saw who had interrupted him. He relaxed slightly enabling the robot to flail him across the back several times. He started defending himself from the multitude of hits.
"Stoi"
The bot stopped and withdrew to be recharged and repaired. He turned again towards Chi a grin on his face.
"Dammit Chi, you make me loose my focus."
"So much the better for me when we train."
She dropped her bag and took the sweatshirt off.
"That was something else you practised there. Very impressive John."
"It is an old form of combat, called Savate. Very savage, very efficient. Especially when you use it together with Krav Maga. Been a while Chi."
"Yeah, I missed doing this."
She swiped outwards at his leg while moving forward and elbowing his chest. If he had stayed that is. John rotated sideways opposite her leg thrust and while hooking her balance leg he pushed her hard making her fall to the ground. His knee landed next to her neck and he looked down at her.
"Points, me."
They got up and faced each other again. He feinted an attack with his left arm, and when she locked it in defence he dropped himself and her on the floor, letting her take the impact on her back. Her breath was violently forced out of her as John landed heavily on her. He turned his head and grinned wildly.
"Points, me."
Once more they got up and faced each other. Chi waited for his next move, and when he tried for a strike against her neck she moved in under his arms, left elbow first. She impacted on his sternum, forcing him to withdraw. She swiped her arm out to move his right arm away and attempted to land her other elbow on his face when she felt a terrible blow to her left ankle that swiped her leg away and dumped her unceremoniously on the floor, a heel impacting next to her head.
"Points, me."
She looked up at John, the massive grin was equally at home on his face as it would be on the Chestershire Cat of Alice in Wonderland. She got up and readied herself once more. He was better than she had ever seen, clearly his mastery of martial arts was leaps and bounds above what she had seen before.
"John, have you been playing with me all this time?"
He displayed mock horror on his face and took his hands up as if surrendering.
"I wouldn't ever Chi. Everybody knows I only play for keeps."
The grin returned and he was once more ready for her attacks, his eyes searching for and getting the full attention of her gaze.
She grinned inside but kept her outward appearance calm and neutral. She would get him even if it took all day and night.
###
The unmarked Behemoth flew through Helios space with about as much grace as a hippopotamus with a rocket strapped to its back. The owner of this particular ship was used to much smaller crafts, but he was here on a mission. After a couple of minutes the vast emptiness of space was pierced by the inevitable pre-warp tachyons that showed a ship was underway. Swag man felt the usual adrenaline rise in him, normally this meant a target to hunt and kill. In this case though, he was awaiting this particular ship. A bright yellow moth with twin High Density mining beams and the lettering Ole Slot Moth XXV down its side in metre high red letters. The painting of a beautiful woman underneath the cockpit was not what Swag man had expected, but he knew he wanted one too.
"I am ready to receive the cargo."
"Roger that Swag man. It is ready and protected. 30 crates of Helio Mists, 60 of Lady Serco Dark Ale and 30 of Sol II genuine pork rinds."
The yellow behemoth ejected the crates on three pallets.
"I have them. Thanks for getting it."
"Hey, no problem. I am always one to help a party get underways. Oh, and one of the Helio Mists crates contains a single bottle of genuine Tequila."
Swag man smiled, that would get Lebermac on his toes if nothing else could. He scooped the goods up and started boosting for Latos and home. He didn't really know why yoda wanted to throw a party, but expected it to something with having Mystic back and stuff. Who was he to question that anyway, any excuse to party was in his eyes a good one.
"Hey by the way Hort, where did you get the painting?"
"Vardonx made the first one, but this particular lady is painted by Jasmine Atamoss from PA."
"Ok, thanks."
PA was KOS, but maybe he could get Azumi to set up an arrangement or something. Maybe even model for it.... maybe both of them..... Swag man suddenly felt that the temperature of the moth had notched up significantly.
39. Loose ends
"I am telling you Ecka, we trawled the area immediately after we became aware of the explosions in Sedina B-8. Unless CLM took his pod away, there were no sign of Ahriman anywhere. And I seriously doubt that CLM has any more love for him than we do after all from what we can gather he tried to abduct one of their members."
"Tis nae good enough Surb, an ye kenn it. Ah need mare proof or Ah'll keep em o tae list a terrorists."
"Well, we did find a lot of pieces of flesh roughly corresponding to a single person. But something is wrong with the DNA. It is too short somehow, too clean."
"Ah kennt it. He is still alive ah tell ya."
"Yes sir. At least we haven't heard anything from KAOS since they got hammered. I guess CLM is good for something?"
"Aye. Och, is operation FNG ready?"
Surbius cringed, he hated the name of the operation but Waldoze and John Eldritch had planned it and as such they had chosen the name. At least Surbius was certain that the mission would be a raving success; it was right up their alley.
"Yes Sir, it is ready. We only need to brief pilot Hortan and get a go from Buzz. Fluffy and Vardonx have called in ready."
"A go frae Buzz?"
"Yes Sir, something..... spectacular I am sure."
Ecka chuckled, somehow he knew that whatever John and Waldoze had planned would be devious. That merited a helping of Phylactis Delicht.
###
"Hey Hort, wait up."
Hortan turned and waited for Waldoze to catch up to him. He had just landed from the delivery to Swag Man and he really couldn't remember if it was illegal to ship to members of CLM. His face and chest started to redden and he looked into the deck.
"What's up buddy, you look all sick. Are you okay? I really need to talk serious business with you mate."
Waldoze stopped in front of him and twirled the propeller.
"Dozer, It was only drinks and food. And it was for a party and I thought that it would be within guild limits."
Hortan was on the brink of tears now. Waldoze grabbed his chin in one of his massive paws and turned the young man's face upwards.
"Hey buddy, what the hell are you talking about? I need you to do the guild a favour."
"Ehm, ok Dozer, anything as long as it doesn't involve weapons."
"That's better. Now, what did you do?"
"I sold Helio Mists, Dark Ladies and pork rinds to the pirates."
"Ha, good on you. With any luck they'll get so drunk they won't fly for days. Except for Leebs who apparently only flies when madly drunk. Listen, I need you to get a hold on Plissken and present him to the initiation ceremony tomorrow."
"What ceremony, I didn't get a ceremony Dozer?"
Waldoze looked to the skies for help and was struck by the muses of inspiration.
"Well that was because you started that little war of yours instead. So we figured that we'd just accept you as is. You are the only one not initiated, so maybe we'll throw you in the pit as well."
Hortan chuckled nervously at that.
"Sure, I'll bring him. What clothes should we wear?"
"Uniform, and bring a spare one lad."
Waldoze winked and moved down to the common area again.
###
The party at CLM to celebrate that Mystic was back and recovering was almost ready. Swag Man had taken care of the drinks and food. Well, even though pork rinds couldn't be counted as food it did fit so very nicely with the Dark Ladies. Yoda made a mental note to find out how he had stolen all that but that would wait. There was only one more thing to do before the party could commence, and for that he needed a couple of pirates. Pirates with knowledge of Itani space and especially the research station at Jallik. He could take Azumi for the local knowledge and Look for muscle. He opened a channel to the combat patrol that was flying in Latos H-2
"Azumi, come in and pack for ground operations. Find Look and meet me in the launch bay in 30 minutes."
"Yes Sensei. Covert or overt insertion?"
"Covert Az, so bring your finest."
He could almost see the broad smile on the pretty face of the young woman.
"Will do Sensei. Out."
###
The TPG SWAT team opened the door warily, with the two front men pointing their 3mm gauss rifles so as to cover the entire room. A whirring of fans was the only sounds inside. As the front me moved in they scanned the room with mini thermal scanners. Over in one corner was a temperature difference and the two team members went over to investigate. A single person was lying in a cradle covered in his own filth; he had obviously been there for a while. The impressive computer array behind the man was showing flashes of something dark and foreboding on all the monitors. The system was turned off but the man stayed unconscious, a permanent fixed silent scream of horror on his face. The documents that were found in the room suggested three things. That the guild had been under contract by Senator Remos at least two times, that at least one assassination in Itani space had been carried out by one of the KAOS members, and that the guild KAOS had effectively ceased to exist with the death of its leader,
"I am telling you Ecka, we trawled the area immediately after we became aware of the explosions in Sedina B-8. Unless CLM took his pod away, there were no sign of Ahriman anywhere. And I seriously doubt that CLM has any more love for him than we do after all from what we can gather he tried to abduct one of their members."
"Tis nae good enough Surb, an ye kenn it. Ah need mare proof or Ah'll keep em o tae list a terrorists."
"Well, we did find a lot of pieces of flesh roughly corresponding to a single person. But something is wrong with the DNA. It is too short somehow, too clean."
"Ah kennt it. He is still alive ah tell ya."
"Yes sir. At least we haven't heard anything from KAOS since they got hammered. I guess CLM is good for something?"
"Aye. Och, is operation FNG ready?"
Surbius cringed, he hated the name of the operation but Waldoze and John Eldritch had planned it and as such they had chosen the name. At least Surbius was certain that the mission would be a raving success; it was right up their alley.
"Yes Sir, it is ready. We only need to brief pilot Hortan and get a go from Buzz. Fluffy and Vardonx have called in ready."
"A go frae Buzz?"
"Yes Sir, something..... spectacular I am sure."
Ecka chuckled, somehow he knew that whatever John and Waldoze had planned would be devious. That merited a helping of Phylactis Delicht.
###
"Hey Hort, wait up."
Hortan turned and waited for Waldoze to catch up to him. He had just landed from the delivery to Swag Man and he really couldn't remember if it was illegal to ship to members of CLM. His face and chest started to redden and he looked into the deck.
"What's up buddy, you look all sick. Are you okay? I really need to talk serious business with you mate."
Waldoze stopped in front of him and twirled the propeller.
"Dozer, It was only drinks and food. And it was for a party and I thought that it would be within guild limits."
Hortan was on the brink of tears now. Waldoze grabbed his chin in one of his massive paws and turned the young man's face upwards.
"Hey buddy, what the hell are you talking about? I need you to do the guild a favour."
"Ehm, ok Dozer, anything as long as it doesn't involve weapons."
"That's better. Now, what did you do?"
"I sold Helio Mists, Dark Ladies and pork rinds to the pirates."
"Ha, good on you. With any luck they'll get so drunk they won't fly for days. Except for Leebs who apparently only flies when madly drunk. Listen, I need you to get a hold on Plissken and present him to the initiation ceremony tomorrow."
"What ceremony, I didn't get a ceremony Dozer?"
Waldoze looked to the skies for help and was struck by the muses of inspiration.
"Well that was because you started that little war of yours instead. So we figured that we'd just accept you as is. You are the only one not initiated, so maybe we'll throw you in the pit as well."
Hortan chuckled nervously at that.
"Sure, I'll bring him. What clothes should we wear?"
"Uniform, and bring a spare one lad."
Waldoze winked and moved down to the common area again.
###
The party at CLM to celebrate that Mystic was back and recovering was almost ready. Swag Man had taken care of the drinks and food. Well, even though pork rinds couldn't be counted as food it did fit so very nicely with the Dark Ladies. Yoda made a mental note to find out how he had stolen all that but that would wait. There was only one more thing to do before the party could commence, and for that he needed a couple of pirates. Pirates with knowledge of Itani space and especially the research station at Jallik. He could take Azumi for the local knowledge and Look for muscle. He opened a channel to the combat patrol that was flying in Latos H-2
"Azumi, come in and pack for ground operations. Find Look and meet me in the launch bay in 30 minutes."
"Yes Sensei. Covert or overt insertion?"
"Covert Az, so bring your finest."
He could almost see the broad smile on the pretty face of the young woman.
"Will do Sensei. Out."
###
The TPG SWAT team opened the door warily, with the two front men pointing their 3mm gauss rifles so as to cover the entire room. A whirring of fans was the only sounds inside. As the front me moved in they scanned the room with mini thermal scanners. Over in one corner was a temperature difference and the two team members went over to investigate. A single person was lying in a cradle covered in his own filth; he had obviously been there for a while. The impressive computer array behind the man was showing flashes of something dark and foreboding on all the monitors. The system was turned off but the man stayed unconscious, a permanent fixed silent scream of horror on his face. The documents that were found in the room suggested three things. That the guild had been under contract by Senator Remos at least two times, that at least one assassination in Itani space had been carried out by one of the KAOS members, and that the guild KAOS had effectively ceased to exist with the death of its leader,
40. Miracle Outpost
Jallik Watch was anchored in the asteroid field of Jallik, the roids containing the most common of ores like carbonic, ferric and a smattering of Ishik. This was not why the station was placed here. And especially not why the station was a large research station either. The reason for the station was an anomaly some 5600 metres away, the wormhole that lead to Edras.
Jallik Watch was the primary research station for jump technology and regeneration. All ships that passed through the wormhole had their engine's performance logged and so unwittingly supplied an enormous amount of research data. As soon as a new UIT technology was put into the UIT ships, the Itani ship researchers were aware of it.
The reason for regeneration came from what lay on the other side of the wormhole, the lawless systems of grey. Not quite as active as the fighting area in Deneb, the area still saw its share of molested pilots. The medical teams in Jallik Watch had saved most of these, some of whom were not really alive when they arrived to Jallik Watch, The station was also called Miracle Outpost by the Itani pilots.
Azumi was flying her warthog Mk II at a reasonable speed towards the docking bay that is about 190 m/s. She docked and opened the gull wing cockpit that was standard on the ships of that type and jumped out. A super massive black hole tearing through the station at a snails pace could not have done a better job of diverting the attention from the entire work crew. Her pleated tartan skirt that was cut just above her knees was accentuated by the white shirt that was tied below her bosom and only buttoned with one pearl. Around her neck was a black metal lace neckband with a single large red jewel, the colour of her lipstick. The raven black hair was set in a set of buns, one on each side of her head. In her left hand she had a pair of red pumps and in her right she had a lollipop that she promptly put in her mouth. She looked innocently around and started to put one shoe on her bare foot, bending over with her side to the dockhands. Some of them followed her down with their bodies and heads as if they would be able to see better from there and moved up again when she had put her pumps on. She looked over at the dockhands, grabbed her lollipop and popped it out of her mouth.
"Can any of you gentlemen please guide me to the place where one signs up for the test pilot watchamacallit majiggy?"
The dockhands tripped over each other to be the one that escorted her to the test pilot department, and in less than a minute the dock was clear. The cargo doors of the warthog opened and yoda stepped out closely followed by Look... No hands. Yoda turned and grabbed an active cryocontainer that would hold about three litres. They moved into the station via the empty corridor.
###
Hortan was looking forward to the initiation into TGFT. He wondered what the initiation would consist of, maybe all the members wore a secret tattoo or something. He hoped not, he didn't like pain at all. He took his pills as the psychiatrist had prescribed and walked out to look for Plissken. Something led him to the launch bay. It was busy as always; Vardonx with a breathing aid was focused on painting a voluptuous woman in a bathing costume riding a sunflare rocket under the canopy of Fluffy's moth XC, Moda and Zathras were working on John Eldritch's hovercraft with John looking moderately bored, a white drink in his hand. And over in the old bays where the new pilots were placed were Urim and Plissken, both working on painting their Revenants. Hortan walked over and observed them for a bit before calling on Plissken. Hortan saw that his name tag still read Prissken and that his pants were still way too short and very very tight. Hortan grimaced at a particular bad memory he had back when he had been the new member.
"Hi Pilot Hortan, I am just painting my ship in the TGFT approved green as per regulation 212-b3."
Hortan winced, he had never gotten around to do that. He liked his bright neon yellow ships too much. He noted the new propeller on Plissken's cap. It read FNG in black upon yellow letters.
"Who gave you the new propeller?"
"Waldoze did Pilot Hortan. Why, is something wrong?"
Hortan almost blurted out that it had to be because of the initiation, but managed not to spill the secret.
"Nah, if Dozer gave it to you it is okay. So, tomorrow I need you to join me for a proper initiation to TGFT. It will be on the late shift at three strokes. You will need an extra uniform. We shall meet in the communal area and I shall guide you from there."
"I will be ready pilot Hortan. I look forward to become a full TGFT member."
Hortan clapped the young man on the back, shucks he was uptight. He reminded him of something, but Hortan couldn't quite put his finger on it. No matter, he walked over to his own Ole Sloth Moth XXV and admired the painting of The Huntress below the cockpit. Jasmine had outdone herself on this one, and that is to say a lot. He stroked his ship along the ungainly flanks, letting his fingers trace the half metre letters that extended towards the engines. Most would call the moth butt ugly, but to Hortan almost nothing was prettier. He clapped the ship as a farewell salute and walked out of the bay towards Soggy's, time for breakfast.
###
Buzz had the best joke ever. And this time it would not involve breast enlargements, although when he thought of it now it was kinda funny. He had found this latest prop in an add on the BioCom webspace and just knew that he had to try it. And even if it involved nanites, they guaranteed that the anti-nanites would get rid of them very easily. They even sent the anti-nanites in the same box as the growth ones. He swallowed the nanites. He skimmed the instructions and nodded. Now he just needed to digest the half-kilo of chalk that followed. He eyed the large beers that he had bought; he hoped it would be enough. He tossed the instructions into the box again, he could always read how to get rid of them when he arrived at that point.
###
Gramps cursed and looked at Waldoze.
"Tell me again why the hell I should become involved in your personal life Waldoze?"
He somehow managed to make Waldoze sound like Wall Doo's, incidentally making Dozer's eye twitch.
"Because I was framed Gramps, and you are the closest thing we have to a legal genius. Besides, with operation FNG coming up I don't have time for it. You hardly ever do anything, which is understandable with your age and all, so I thought I could give you something to do. I am in a way helping you."
Gramps tossed the rag he had been using to polish his ancient hand cannon over into the bin, put the five large calibre bullets that it could hold into the magazine and placed the cannon in his hip holster.
"You don't have time. You are helping me. Those remarks alone should probably cost you half your shit as it is."
Waldoze flinched, maybe he had trampled on Gramps feelings. And here he had tried to be so diplomatic as he could, to make the old timer feel needed and stuff.
"I'll look into it, because if I say no you'll just run to Ecka and cry and then he'll ask me. And I won't refuse him. But it is going to cost you."
"Sure thing Gramps, just send me a bill, okay?"
Gramps shook his head as Waldoze ran out of the repair shop. And then he smiled. Well, if nothing else, it would be interesting to go up against one of the best lawyer firms in known space. Beat the hell out of making Soduku while mining.
Jallik Watch was anchored in the asteroid field of Jallik, the roids containing the most common of ores like carbonic, ferric and a smattering of Ishik. This was not why the station was placed here. And especially not why the station was a large research station either. The reason for the station was an anomaly some 5600 metres away, the wormhole that lead to Edras.
Jallik Watch was the primary research station for jump technology and regeneration. All ships that passed through the wormhole had their engine's performance logged and so unwittingly supplied an enormous amount of research data. As soon as a new UIT technology was put into the UIT ships, the Itani ship researchers were aware of it.
The reason for regeneration came from what lay on the other side of the wormhole, the lawless systems of grey. Not quite as active as the fighting area in Deneb, the area still saw its share of molested pilots. The medical teams in Jallik Watch had saved most of these, some of whom were not really alive when they arrived to Jallik Watch, The station was also called Miracle Outpost by the Itani pilots.
Azumi was flying her warthog Mk II at a reasonable speed towards the docking bay that is about 190 m/s. She docked and opened the gull wing cockpit that was standard on the ships of that type and jumped out. A super massive black hole tearing through the station at a snails pace could not have done a better job of diverting the attention from the entire work crew. Her pleated tartan skirt that was cut just above her knees was accentuated by the white shirt that was tied below her bosom and only buttoned with one pearl. Around her neck was a black metal lace neckband with a single large red jewel, the colour of her lipstick. The raven black hair was set in a set of buns, one on each side of her head. In her left hand she had a pair of red pumps and in her right she had a lollipop that she promptly put in her mouth. She looked innocently around and started to put one shoe on her bare foot, bending over with her side to the dockhands. Some of them followed her down with their bodies and heads as if they would be able to see better from there and moved up again when she had put her pumps on. She looked over at the dockhands, grabbed her lollipop and popped it out of her mouth.
"Can any of you gentlemen please guide me to the place where one signs up for the test pilot watchamacallit majiggy?"
The dockhands tripped over each other to be the one that escorted her to the test pilot department, and in less than a minute the dock was clear. The cargo doors of the warthog opened and yoda stepped out closely followed by Look... No hands. Yoda turned and grabbed an active cryocontainer that would hold about three litres. They moved into the station via the empty corridor.
###
Hortan was looking forward to the initiation into TGFT. He wondered what the initiation would consist of, maybe all the members wore a secret tattoo or something. He hoped not, he didn't like pain at all. He took his pills as the psychiatrist had prescribed and walked out to look for Plissken. Something led him to the launch bay. It was busy as always; Vardonx with a breathing aid was focused on painting a voluptuous woman in a bathing costume riding a sunflare rocket under the canopy of Fluffy's moth XC, Moda and Zathras were working on John Eldritch's hovercraft with John looking moderately bored, a white drink in his hand. And over in the old bays where the new pilots were placed were Urim and Plissken, both working on painting their Revenants. Hortan walked over and observed them for a bit before calling on Plissken. Hortan saw that his name tag still read Prissken and that his pants were still way too short and very very tight. Hortan grimaced at a particular bad memory he had back when he had been the new member.
"Hi Pilot Hortan, I am just painting my ship in the TGFT approved green as per regulation 212-b3."
Hortan winced, he had never gotten around to do that. He liked his bright neon yellow ships too much. He noted the new propeller on Plissken's cap. It read FNG in black upon yellow letters.
"Who gave you the new propeller?"
"Waldoze did Pilot Hortan. Why, is something wrong?"
Hortan almost blurted out that it had to be because of the initiation, but managed not to spill the secret.
"Nah, if Dozer gave it to you it is okay. So, tomorrow I need you to join me for a proper initiation to TGFT. It will be on the late shift at three strokes. You will need an extra uniform. We shall meet in the communal area and I shall guide you from there."
"I will be ready pilot Hortan. I look forward to become a full TGFT member."
Hortan clapped the young man on the back, shucks he was uptight. He reminded him of something, but Hortan couldn't quite put his finger on it. No matter, he walked over to his own Ole Sloth Moth XXV and admired the painting of The Huntress below the cockpit. Jasmine had outdone herself on this one, and that is to say a lot. He stroked his ship along the ungainly flanks, letting his fingers trace the half metre letters that extended towards the engines. Most would call the moth butt ugly, but to Hortan almost nothing was prettier. He clapped the ship as a farewell salute and walked out of the bay towards Soggy's, time for breakfast.
###
Buzz had the best joke ever. And this time it would not involve breast enlargements, although when he thought of it now it was kinda funny. He had found this latest prop in an add on the BioCom webspace and just knew that he had to try it. And even if it involved nanites, they guaranteed that the anti-nanites would get rid of them very easily. They even sent the anti-nanites in the same box as the growth ones. He swallowed the nanites. He skimmed the instructions and nodded. Now he just needed to digest the half-kilo of chalk that followed. He eyed the large beers that he had bought; he hoped it would be enough. He tossed the instructions into the box again, he could always read how to get rid of them when he arrived at that point.
###
Gramps cursed and looked at Waldoze.
"Tell me again why the hell I should become involved in your personal life Waldoze?"
He somehow managed to make Waldoze sound like Wall Doo's, incidentally making Dozer's eye twitch.
"Because I was framed Gramps, and you are the closest thing we have to a legal genius. Besides, with operation FNG coming up I don't have time for it. You hardly ever do anything, which is understandable with your age and all, so I thought I could give you something to do. I am in a way helping you."
Gramps tossed the rag he had been using to polish his ancient hand cannon over into the bin, put the five large calibre bullets that it could hold into the magazine and placed the cannon in his hip holster.
"You don't have time. You are helping me. Those remarks alone should probably cost you half your shit as it is."
Waldoze flinched, maybe he had trampled on Gramps feelings. And here he had tried to be so diplomatic as he could, to make the old timer feel needed and stuff.
"I'll look into it, because if I say no you'll just run to Ecka and cry and then he'll ask me. And I won't refuse him. But it is going to cost you."
"Sure thing Gramps, just send me a bill, okay?"
Gramps shook his head as Waldoze ran out of the repair shop. And then he smiled. Well, if nothing else, it would be interesting to go up against one of the best lawyer firms in known space. Beat the hell out of making Soduku while mining.
41. A helping hand if you please?
The surgeon had worked for six hours on the young Itani fighter pilot that had been almost killed by the explosion that destroyed his ship just outside the main roid field of Jallik.
The small mining vessel had been no match for the Orne type Hive Guardians that assaulted him from all sides, and eventually one of the heavy gauss shots hit the cockpit. Now, if it had been a human pilot that had attacked him, he would have stopped and allowed the pod to jump clear to the nearest station. The Hive Guardians had no such qualms and kept on following and shooting at the pod until they hit it and made it tumble uncontrollably. At that point a collector bot flew in close and started to disassemble the pod with heavy duty laser cutting equipment. The laser cut straight through the pilot at the shoulder and neatly removed his left side all the way down to the groin. The pilot passed out and would have died if by some quirk his jump module hadn't activated and send his smashed pod to Miracle Outpost. It looked like they were going to save him and be able to restore him to health but it had been a near miss.
The surgeon put the controls to the autobot down and removed his osmotic mask.
"Right, that is it people. Good work all around. Let's wrap it up and call it a day."
A clapping sounded behind the crew and the surgeon. They turned and saw the small green man holding a cryocanister and the tall person beside him with mechanical arms cradling a shotgun.
"Bravo, I am relieved to see that your skills are not only bragging among the Itani."
"What, who are you? You are not allowed in here."
The surgeon started to move towards the emergency alarm but was stopped by something that was thrown at him.
"Doesn't matter who we are. I am here with a proposition for you. And you would do well to accept."
The surgeon looked down at the cred stick that had dropped to the floor and up at yoda.
"You can't buy our services. We are free Itani citizens."
"Well, I'm gonna do it anyway. I have the remains of one of my buddies inside this here container, and he needs a new body bad. And you are going to fix it."
The surgeon was intrigued enough to walk over and get the cryocontainer. He scanned the ID and checked his computer system. He turned to yoda.
"No way. This is one of the most notorious pirates that ever betrayed Itan. I am not going to do it, no matter what."
"Well, I guess we'll start slaughtering your staff then. Let's take the pretty young nurse over there first. Look, if you please?"
Look... No hands turned his shotgun towards the paralysed blonde nurse that merely looked at the surgeon in panic, her arms folded across her chest.
"All right all right damn you. But for that we need a new clone body, and we can't make that in less than two weeks."
"Bullshit. Nice try doc, but I am in the possession of secret documents that state that a new experimental technique has been developed, by yourself, to make the clone bodies in less than an hour. Otherwise we can take one of the nurses, I am sure Retractile would love to have a woman's body."
The surgeon, seeing that he had been defeated on all areas, conceded and started working on the remains of Retractile. At least he would be learning something new today that he might be able to use on loyal Itani pilots. Meanwhile, unseen by the surgeon yoda allowed a smirk to cross his face, these weak civilians were almost too easy to work on.
###
The Serco trader regretted swinging through Latos B-6 s soon as he saw the hail from the attacking pilot.
"You die now scum"
He tried to boost his behemoth to the maximum speed possible but it was all in vain. The pirate ship fired a flare at the cargo vessel that impacted directly on the SSCU transmitter and followed with several shots from the mega positron blaster that was slung under the pursuit ship like a poorly designed add-on. The cargo vessel was torn apart wherever the positrons hit the ship, ending with the main power coupler. The whole incident had taken less than thirty seconds, and within the next minute the debris would have left no trace at all except a radio signal moving at the speed of light outwards from the last known position of the ship. In five days it would have reached the station at Epsilon Hold, crackled and distorted by the ion storms that were frequent around the roid fields.
"Any ship, this is SCS Juno's Flower location Latos B-6 wormhole sector. Am under attack from KAOS pilot William Cutting. Sending pods towards wormhole for orbit. May Lady Serco have mercy on us."
The surgeon had worked for six hours on the young Itani fighter pilot that had been almost killed by the explosion that destroyed his ship just outside the main roid field of Jallik.
The small mining vessel had been no match for the Orne type Hive Guardians that assaulted him from all sides, and eventually one of the heavy gauss shots hit the cockpit. Now, if it had been a human pilot that had attacked him, he would have stopped and allowed the pod to jump clear to the nearest station. The Hive Guardians had no such qualms and kept on following and shooting at the pod until they hit it and made it tumble uncontrollably. At that point a collector bot flew in close and started to disassemble the pod with heavy duty laser cutting equipment. The laser cut straight through the pilot at the shoulder and neatly removed his left side all the way down to the groin. The pilot passed out and would have died if by some quirk his jump module hadn't activated and send his smashed pod to Miracle Outpost. It looked like they were going to save him and be able to restore him to health but it had been a near miss.
The surgeon put the controls to the autobot down and removed his osmotic mask.
"Right, that is it people. Good work all around. Let's wrap it up and call it a day."
A clapping sounded behind the crew and the surgeon. They turned and saw the small green man holding a cryocanister and the tall person beside him with mechanical arms cradling a shotgun.
"Bravo, I am relieved to see that your skills are not only bragging among the Itani."
"What, who are you? You are not allowed in here."
The surgeon started to move towards the emergency alarm but was stopped by something that was thrown at him.
"Doesn't matter who we are. I am here with a proposition for you. And you would do well to accept."
The surgeon looked down at the cred stick that had dropped to the floor and up at yoda.
"You can't buy our services. We are free Itani citizens."
"Well, I'm gonna do it anyway. I have the remains of one of my buddies inside this here container, and he needs a new body bad. And you are going to fix it."
The surgeon was intrigued enough to walk over and get the cryocontainer. He scanned the ID and checked his computer system. He turned to yoda.
"No way. This is one of the most notorious pirates that ever betrayed Itan. I am not going to do it, no matter what."
"Well, I guess we'll start slaughtering your staff then. Let's take the pretty young nurse over there first. Look, if you please?"
Look... No hands turned his shotgun towards the paralysed blonde nurse that merely looked at the surgeon in panic, her arms folded across her chest.
"All right all right damn you. But for that we need a new clone body, and we can't make that in less than two weeks."
"Bullshit. Nice try doc, but I am in the possession of secret documents that state that a new experimental technique has been developed, by yourself, to make the clone bodies in less than an hour. Otherwise we can take one of the nurses, I am sure Retractile would love to have a woman's body."
The surgeon, seeing that he had been defeated on all areas, conceded and started working on the remains of Retractile. At least he would be learning something new today that he might be able to use on loyal Itani pilots. Meanwhile, unseen by the surgeon yoda allowed a smirk to cross his face, these weak civilians were almost too easy to work on.
###
The Serco trader regretted swinging through Latos B-6 s soon as he saw the hail from the attacking pilot.
"You die now scum"
He tried to boost his behemoth to the maximum speed possible but it was all in vain. The pirate ship fired a flare at the cargo vessel that impacted directly on the SSCU transmitter and followed with several shots from the mega positron blaster that was slung under the pursuit ship like a poorly designed add-on. The cargo vessel was torn apart wherever the positrons hit the ship, ending with the main power coupler. The whole incident had taken less than thirty seconds, and within the next minute the debris would have left no trace at all except a radio signal moving at the speed of light outwards from the last known position of the ship. In five days it would have reached the station at Epsilon Hold, crackled and distorted by the ion storms that were frequent around the roid fields.
"Any ship, this is SCS Juno's Flower location Latos B-6 wormhole sector. Am under attack from KAOS pilot William Cutting. Sending pods towards wormhole for orbit. May Lady Serco have mercy on us."
42. The Itani Test Pilot programme
The bright neon pink Valkyrie Vengeance twisted and boosted upwards at full power with the bottom thrusters, aligning the pursuing Warthog neatly at the best targeting distance for the three Mk. III neutron guns. Pressing the fire button momentarily resulted in a triple stitching pattern on the warthog that immediately tried to dodge sideways to avoid the lethal barrage. The Valkyrie pilot turned the flight assist computer off and twisted the ship slightly neatly tracking the by now doomed Warthog. Another triplet of neutron beams finished the job and the warthog exploded in a larger than normal fireball betraying the flares that the pilot had never had a chance to fire. The Valkyrie pilot re-engaged flight assist and turned to the last ships, both Vulture Mk. IV's. The vultures tried to out-turn the heavier ship, but once more the flight assist toggle was tapped and the crossfire hammered across empty space. The Valkyrie pilot twisted the ship slightly and engaged the rear bottom thruster making the ship go ass over head and pointing the triplet of guns towards the lesser armoured belly of one Vulture. A stream on nothingness only marked by where the neutrons interfered with the leftover debris from the Warthog producing green lights of hard radiation, tore through the Vulture smashing the internal framing and disintegrating the small fighter. The Valkyrie pilot touched the turbo button for a half second, enough to dodge out of the deadly hail of neutrons that would have smashed armour and scratched the paint. The Valkyrie pilot again pushed the flight assist switch and turned the heavy fighter around to face the last foe. A series of quick random dodges to the sides made sure that the Valkyrie wasn't hit, and a stream of green streaks tore space apart all around the Vulture, eventually hitting and destroying it.
The technician that was watching the pilot destroy the last test fighters noted something on his board and flicked a switch.
"Excellent work Ms. Fluffy, truly excellent. Now you only need to dock the fighter to graduate for the Itani test pilot programme."
"In a docking bay?"
The technician chuckled, damn this pretty young thing was thick headed.
"Yeah, in the docking bay."
Azumi thundered inbound for the docking bay and hammered the Valkyrie through the cradle and buried it a full metre under the deck armour plates before the ship exploded violently.
"Oops, I never have been god at parking Mister."
The technician facepalmed and looked down at Azumi who was strapped in the remote piloting unit.
"I cannot graduate you if you cannot dock Ms. Fluffy. You'll have to do the whole thing over again."
Azumi smiled, this was the best way ever to pass time.
###
Clean steel walls and white lights dominated the department that Retractile woke up to. One second he had been tearing through dime sized pieces of fragments each of them going at a good velocity screaming YEAH at the top of his lungs, the next the only thing heard was the slow wheezing of a breathing apparatus. And an odd clicking noise, like metal sliding against metal in first a smooth and then a violent motion. He tried to turn his head to the sound but couldn't move. Something was holding his head steady. He looked up at the chrome finish of the lamps overhead instead and saw Look open and close his shotgun, apparently bored to death. He tried to smile, to speak but again couldn't. Something was close to his right ear and he could feel air moving on his cheek. He tried real hard to listen and by focusing on that and nothing else, he could actually make out words. Yoda!
"..if you can hear me but it is good to have you back buddy. Just relax, the good doc over here tells me that your new body needs to make all the nerve connections to your senses before they start working. He could only bond your eyes so I know you can see."
A green face appeared before Retractile's eyes and he went all roundeyed from surprise.
"Ah, you can see. Good. Just lean back and relax buddy, we'll have you up and chasing traders in no time."
Retractile focused everything he could muster into a single word that was only spoken with his throat.
"Azumi"
"She is safe and sound thanks to you buddy. Mater of fact she'll be driving the bus home. You close them eyes and get some sleep yarr?"
Retractile closed his eyes and did what he was ordered. Yoda turned to the surgeon.
"For what it is worth, I thank you."
He pointed at the cred stick that was still on the floor.
"And if I were you, I would use the money that is on that one. You can always buy something nice to your staff or your wife. Or donate it away for all I care. But now I am afraid we are going to have to leave you. Later doc."
Yoda winked at the surgeon as he pushed the anti-grav sled with Retractile on top down towards the launch bay. Look got up almost as an afterthought, grabbed a two litre bottle of pure ethanol that the nurses had used for cleaning and moved after yoda.
###
Hortan used at least half an hour to ensure that the uniform was completely up to specifications, that the cap was correctly placed and the boots were regulation shiny. He didn't need to fix any of the things, he was always this tidy but he used a lot of time to make sure. When he had finished he took the extra uniform from the rack and slung it as casually as he could, which is not very much, over his shoulder and started moving towards the communal area where Plissken was supposed to wait for him. He was a bit early and so was Plissken. And Urim. And PickAxePete. Hortan grinned at their collective awkwardness and decided to break the ice. After all, he was a full member in good standing. He took his hip flask out and took a long drink from it before passing it to PickAxePete. Pete looked at the flask and then took a long drink as well before handing it on to Urim.
"That is some good shit you have there Pilot. Whisky?"
"Helio Mists, the very best. So, are you all ready?"
The trio nodded but stayed silent. Hortan felt he should say something but nothing came up. They pushed the bottle around until it was empty and then stood and looked in four different directions. The silence stretched into infinity, almost as embarrassing as holding the opening speech at the Nobel Prize awards only wearing a pink tutu. Fortunately Vardonx arrived to break the ice. He nodded to Hortan and turned to Pete. His voice was still raw and rasping after the damages wrought by the high pressure device KAOS had used.
"So Pete, ready mate?"
"Sure is Pilot."
Vardonx grinned fiercely at Pete who grinned back. He then turned to Hortan.
"And what is that I smell, mists? You better have some for my damaged throat Hort."
Hortan found his other hipflask and opened it so Vardonx could smell the whisky. He took a long swallow and one more.
"Better get some good use of this medicine before Fluffy comes along and wants some for his wounds. Oh hi Fluffster."
Fluffy was walking up behind Vardonx, his left buttock a mess of bandages and tape making it necessary to use the cane that ensured that he moved with a shuflle click sound. His uniform consisted of a pair of very loose shorts, an armless shirt and flip-flops. A very bad looking corn-yellow wig adorned his long narrow head.
"Well, now Vardonx has amused himself with my butt, perhaps we can get going?"
The group snickered and moved slowly towards the TGFT-only bar, Fluffy setting the tempo.
The bright neon pink Valkyrie Vengeance twisted and boosted upwards at full power with the bottom thrusters, aligning the pursuing Warthog neatly at the best targeting distance for the three Mk. III neutron guns. Pressing the fire button momentarily resulted in a triple stitching pattern on the warthog that immediately tried to dodge sideways to avoid the lethal barrage. The Valkyrie pilot turned the flight assist computer off and twisted the ship slightly neatly tracking the by now doomed Warthog. Another triplet of neutron beams finished the job and the warthog exploded in a larger than normal fireball betraying the flares that the pilot had never had a chance to fire. The Valkyrie pilot re-engaged flight assist and turned to the last ships, both Vulture Mk. IV's. The vultures tried to out-turn the heavier ship, but once more the flight assist toggle was tapped and the crossfire hammered across empty space. The Valkyrie pilot twisted the ship slightly and engaged the rear bottom thruster making the ship go ass over head and pointing the triplet of guns towards the lesser armoured belly of one Vulture. A stream on nothingness only marked by where the neutrons interfered with the leftover debris from the Warthog producing green lights of hard radiation, tore through the Vulture smashing the internal framing and disintegrating the small fighter. The Valkyrie pilot touched the turbo button for a half second, enough to dodge out of the deadly hail of neutrons that would have smashed armour and scratched the paint. The Valkyrie pilot again pushed the flight assist switch and turned the heavy fighter around to face the last foe. A series of quick random dodges to the sides made sure that the Valkyrie wasn't hit, and a stream of green streaks tore space apart all around the Vulture, eventually hitting and destroying it.
The technician that was watching the pilot destroy the last test fighters noted something on his board and flicked a switch.
"Excellent work Ms. Fluffy, truly excellent. Now you only need to dock the fighter to graduate for the Itani test pilot programme."
"In a docking bay?"
The technician chuckled, damn this pretty young thing was thick headed.
"Yeah, in the docking bay."
Azumi thundered inbound for the docking bay and hammered the Valkyrie through the cradle and buried it a full metre under the deck armour plates before the ship exploded violently.
"Oops, I never have been god at parking Mister."
The technician facepalmed and looked down at Azumi who was strapped in the remote piloting unit.
"I cannot graduate you if you cannot dock Ms. Fluffy. You'll have to do the whole thing over again."
Azumi smiled, this was the best way ever to pass time.
###
Clean steel walls and white lights dominated the department that Retractile woke up to. One second he had been tearing through dime sized pieces of fragments each of them going at a good velocity screaming YEAH at the top of his lungs, the next the only thing heard was the slow wheezing of a breathing apparatus. And an odd clicking noise, like metal sliding against metal in first a smooth and then a violent motion. He tried to turn his head to the sound but couldn't move. Something was holding his head steady. He looked up at the chrome finish of the lamps overhead instead and saw Look open and close his shotgun, apparently bored to death. He tried to smile, to speak but again couldn't. Something was close to his right ear and he could feel air moving on his cheek. He tried real hard to listen and by focusing on that and nothing else, he could actually make out words. Yoda!
"..if you can hear me but it is good to have you back buddy. Just relax, the good doc over here tells me that your new body needs to make all the nerve connections to your senses before they start working. He could only bond your eyes so I know you can see."
A green face appeared before Retractile's eyes and he went all roundeyed from surprise.
"Ah, you can see. Good. Just lean back and relax buddy, we'll have you up and chasing traders in no time."
Retractile focused everything he could muster into a single word that was only spoken with his throat.
"Azumi"
"She is safe and sound thanks to you buddy. Mater of fact she'll be driving the bus home. You close them eyes and get some sleep yarr?"
Retractile closed his eyes and did what he was ordered. Yoda turned to the surgeon.
"For what it is worth, I thank you."
He pointed at the cred stick that was still on the floor.
"And if I were you, I would use the money that is on that one. You can always buy something nice to your staff or your wife. Or donate it away for all I care. But now I am afraid we are going to have to leave you. Later doc."
Yoda winked at the surgeon as he pushed the anti-grav sled with Retractile on top down towards the launch bay. Look got up almost as an afterthought, grabbed a two litre bottle of pure ethanol that the nurses had used for cleaning and moved after yoda.
###
Hortan used at least half an hour to ensure that the uniform was completely up to specifications, that the cap was correctly placed and the boots were regulation shiny. He didn't need to fix any of the things, he was always this tidy but he used a lot of time to make sure. When he had finished he took the extra uniform from the rack and slung it as casually as he could, which is not very much, over his shoulder and started moving towards the communal area where Plissken was supposed to wait for him. He was a bit early and so was Plissken. And Urim. And PickAxePete. Hortan grinned at their collective awkwardness and decided to break the ice. After all, he was a full member in good standing. He took his hip flask out and took a long drink from it before passing it to PickAxePete. Pete looked at the flask and then took a long drink as well before handing it on to Urim.
"That is some good shit you have there Pilot. Whisky?"
"Helio Mists, the very best. So, are you all ready?"
The trio nodded but stayed silent. Hortan felt he should say something but nothing came up. They pushed the bottle around until it was empty and then stood and looked in four different directions. The silence stretched into infinity, almost as embarrassing as holding the opening speech at the Nobel Prize awards only wearing a pink tutu. Fortunately Vardonx arrived to break the ice. He nodded to Hortan and turned to Pete. His voice was still raw and rasping after the damages wrought by the high pressure device KAOS had used.
"So Pete, ready mate?"
"Sure is Pilot."
Vardonx grinned fiercely at Pete who grinned back. He then turned to Hortan.
"And what is that I smell, mists? You better have some for my damaged throat Hort."
Hortan found his other hipflask and opened it so Vardonx could smell the whisky. He took a long swallow and one more.
"Better get some good use of this medicine before Fluffy comes along and wants some for his wounds. Oh hi Fluffster."
Fluffy was walking up behind Vardonx, his left buttock a mess of bandages and tape making it necessary to use the cane that ensured that he moved with a shuflle click sound. His uniform consisted of a pair of very loose shorts, an armless shirt and flip-flops. A very bad looking corn-yellow wig adorned his long narrow head.
"Well, now Vardonx has amused himself with my butt, perhaps we can get going?"
The group snickered and moved slowly towards the TGFT-only bar, Fluffy setting the tempo.
Getting better and better, I might just explode from anxiety! GAAAAAAH!!
43. KOS.
The neon pink Valkyrie dispatched the last Vulture in a violent display of skill and turned towards the station. The overdrive on the engine was engaged and the seven tonne fighter tore towards the station at 225 m/s.
"Ms. Fluffy, now would be a good time to maybe not boost as much."
Azumi grinned, this was the fun part. She had trashed four docking bays so far and the technician had almost dumped her but the big round eyes and innocent smile won him over for another round each time. Men are such suckers she thought as she made an internal wager to see how many centimetres of deck armour she could drive the Valkyrie through this time. She was now at 200 metres from the station and closing fast, the technician wincing at the oncoming trashing of yet another docking bay when the alarm in her watch buzzed twice. Time for movement. She waited until 50 metres from the station, turned the booster off along with the flight assist, flipped the craft over and re-engaged the booster. The ship barely made a sound as it landed in the cradle, the timing perfect. Azumi looked up at the technician who was standing with his mouth open in awe.
"I like boosting."
He slowly closed his mouth and looked through his forms for the admission to the test pilot programme. When he looked up she was halfway out of the door, the lollipop once more secure behind red lips.
"Oh, ehm Ms Fluffy, I need your signature and bioscan here for graduating."
"Nah, I don't think Ms Fluffy wants that hun. Besides, I already passed once. Thanks for letting me pass time."
His jaw once more tried to find some peace on his chest and he stood with open mouth while Azumi skipped out of the training facility.
She was halfway to the launch bay when the alarm sounded. Cursing she started running instead of skipping and activated her internal radio.
"Sensei, I am moving to the bay as we speak."
"Good Azumi. Slight problem, the guards have launched so it will be a hot exit. They know we have Retractile."
Azumi smiled, at least they had what they came for.
"No problem Sensei, the Rent-a-Cop isn't born yet that I cannot outrun in a Warthog II."
"I know Azumi, but I am not sure if Retractile can take the violent turns and thrusts. I need you to make a diversion."
Azumi stopped dead in her tracks. A diversion, but that would undoubtedly destroy her high standing with the Itani people. She almost hit herself, she would be doing it for Retractile after all he gave his life for her. She started running again towards the launch bay.
"I am on it Sensei, in two minutes."
She found one of the Valkyrie X-1's she had purchased when she graduated from the Itani test pilot programme under her own name, checked the weapons load-out and smiled. Triple positrons, she loved herself sometimes! She launched and scanned space; sure enough a whole SF was outside of the station waiting for Retractile and yoda. Further out was an Itani trade convoy moving at a sedate pace towards the jump point. She cursed at what she was about to do and boosted towards the traders. She intercepted them easily and started flaying the rearmost behemoth with positron death. The retaliation was swift, he SF was dispatched towards her and the turrets on the behemoths started criss-crossing space around her ship with plasma streaks. Choosing not to boom the moth, she switched target and started tearing armour off the next ship. The SF arrived and she turned to kill the bots that always accompanied the human pilots. Three shots and they were debris. She moved further away from the station and called yoda.
"SF is occupied. You are clear to the wormhole."
"Roger Azumi. Thanks, I know how much your standing in Itani space meant to you."
Not replying, she instead boosted just a tad slower than the SF, promising them to catch her but making sure it would never happen. When the Warthog cleared the wormhole, she stopped playing and boosted for it as well. A last message from the station popped into her screen as she jumped out.
"Azumi, your pilot's license in Itani space has been revoked. You are no longer allowed to transit Itani space nor dock at Itani stations."
She looked down at her faction standing, the arbitrary diplomatic system that allowed the different nations and factions to decide if they liked a person or not and winced. Itani -898, hated. She wished her mother would never find out.
###
The TGFT bar looked deserted, no lights or music came from within. A dark piece of cloth was placed in front of the door, and the insides of the bar was a gloomy velvet draped display of soft shapes and deep secrets. Large black candlesticks flickered in the corners with white markings on the floor; some kind of five pointed star. A low chant emanated from the back of the room and as the initiates entered they could see that a group of at least twenty persons were standing in the back all covered by black robes with hoods over their faces. A large chair was in the middle of the five pointed star, a piece of black cloth covering what was underneath. A single person was standing in front of the star waiting for the initiates, his robes red with intricate patterns in white along its hem. In his hands he held a large leather-backed book with brass bindings. A voice came from within the covered features of the man in front.
"So, you wish to be initiated into TGFT and learn the secrets that make us succeed where others fail? Have you the courage, Have you the will? Are you willing to make the sacrifice?"
With that he moved aside and two of the persons from the choir walked over to just outside the five pointed star and grabbed each side of the cloth covering the throne.
The neon pink Valkyrie dispatched the last Vulture in a violent display of skill and turned towards the station. The overdrive on the engine was engaged and the seven tonne fighter tore towards the station at 225 m/s.
"Ms. Fluffy, now would be a good time to maybe not boost as much."
Azumi grinned, this was the fun part. She had trashed four docking bays so far and the technician had almost dumped her but the big round eyes and innocent smile won him over for another round each time. Men are such suckers she thought as she made an internal wager to see how many centimetres of deck armour she could drive the Valkyrie through this time. She was now at 200 metres from the station and closing fast, the technician wincing at the oncoming trashing of yet another docking bay when the alarm in her watch buzzed twice. Time for movement. She waited until 50 metres from the station, turned the booster off along with the flight assist, flipped the craft over and re-engaged the booster. The ship barely made a sound as it landed in the cradle, the timing perfect. Azumi looked up at the technician who was standing with his mouth open in awe.
"I like boosting."
He slowly closed his mouth and looked through his forms for the admission to the test pilot programme. When he looked up she was halfway out of the door, the lollipop once more secure behind red lips.
"Oh, ehm Ms Fluffy, I need your signature and bioscan here for graduating."
"Nah, I don't think Ms Fluffy wants that hun. Besides, I already passed once. Thanks for letting me pass time."
His jaw once more tried to find some peace on his chest and he stood with open mouth while Azumi skipped out of the training facility.
She was halfway to the launch bay when the alarm sounded. Cursing she started running instead of skipping and activated her internal radio.
"Sensei, I am moving to the bay as we speak."
"Good Azumi. Slight problem, the guards have launched so it will be a hot exit. They know we have Retractile."
Azumi smiled, at least they had what they came for.
"No problem Sensei, the Rent-a-Cop isn't born yet that I cannot outrun in a Warthog II."
"I know Azumi, but I am not sure if Retractile can take the violent turns and thrusts. I need you to make a diversion."
Azumi stopped dead in her tracks. A diversion, but that would undoubtedly destroy her high standing with the Itani people. She almost hit herself, she would be doing it for Retractile after all he gave his life for her. She started running again towards the launch bay.
"I am on it Sensei, in two minutes."
She found one of the Valkyrie X-1's she had purchased when she graduated from the Itani test pilot programme under her own name, checked the weapons load-out and smiled. Triple positrons, she loved herself sometimes! She launched and scanned space; sure enough a whole SF was outside of the station waiting for Retractile and yoda. Further out was an Itani trade convoy moving at a sedate pace towards the jump point. She cursed at what she was about to do and boosted towards the traders. She intercepted them easily and started flaying the rearmost behemoth with positron death. The retaliation was swift, he SF was dispatched towards her and the turrets on the behemoths started criss-crossing space around her ship with plasma streaks. Choosing not to boom the moth, she switched target and started tearing armour off the next ship. The SF arrived and she turned to kill the bots that always accompanied the human pilots. Three shots and they were debris. She moved further away from the station and called yoda.
"SF is occupied. You are clear to the wormhole."
"Roger Azumi. Thanks, I know how much your standing in Itani space meant to you."
Not replying, she instead boosted just a tad slower than the SF, promising them to catch her but making sure it would never happen. When the Warthog cleared the wormhole, she stopped playing and boosted for it as well. A last message from the station popped into her screen as she jumped out.
"Azumi, your pilot's license in Itani space has been revoked. You are no longer allowed to transit Itani space nor dock at Itani stations."
She looked down at her faction standing, the arbitrary diplomatic system that allowed the different nations and factions to decide if they liked a person or not and winced. Itani -898, hated. She wished her mother would never find out.
###
The TGFT bar looked deserted, no lights or music came from within. A dark piece of cloth was placed in front of the door, and the insides of the bar was a gloomy velvet draped display of soft shapes and deep secrets. Large black candlesticks flickered in the corners with white markings on the floor; some kind of five pointed star. A low chant emanated from the back of the room and as the initiates entered they could see that a group of at least twenty persons were standing in the back all covered by black robes with hoods over their faces. A large chair was in the middle of the five pointed star, a piece of black cloth covering what was underneath. A single person was standing in front of the star waiting for the initiates, his robes red with intricate patterns in white along its hem. In his hands he held a large leather-backed book with brass bindings. A voice came from within the covered features of the man in front.
"So, you wish to be initiated into TGFT and learn the secrets that make us succeed where others fail? Have you the courage, Have you the will? Are you willing to make the sacrifice?"
With that he moved aside and two of the persons from the choir walked over to just outside the five pointed star and grabbed each side of the cloth covering the throne.
Aw poor Azumi. Ret better take her out for ice cream for a week.
hee hee, I bet he'll take her to boom some traders or more KAOS.
I think the only possible way Ret can repay her is through the ineffable eloquence of poetry....
where is that facepalm when you need it....:)
44. Initiation
The two persons removed the veil that covered the chair within the five-starred figure on the ground. Sitting on what could best be described as a throne was a person that was resting his head on his right hand's knuckles that in turn rested on his leg. He looked like....... nothing the initiates had ever seen. The person looked up when the veil was removed, looked at the initiates and stood to his full height of more than two metres. The height in itself was impressive but that was not what was so different. Rather it was the goat’s legs that the person stood upon that really did the trick. The initiates were pushed forward towards the star and could now see the horns that protruded clearly from his forehead and the long fangs that stuck out of his mouth. The rest of the face was covered in curly hairs, as was most of his body.
Hortan turned to run away, but Fluffy was there behind him smiling his widest grin.
"Easy buddy, nothing bad will happen."
Hortan looked towards Plissken who was staring blindly at the apparition before them.
The man in front of the star opened the large book and looked into it.
"Bring the first initiate forward."
The dark voice almost growled the words out, and Vardonx moved over with PickAxePete to stand before the star.
"State name of the initiate and reveal secret name of the champion"
"I am Malphas and I sponsor PickAxePete."
The person in front of the star removed his hood and revealed John Eldritch, but bald and with tattoo's covering most of his face.
"I am Belial. Bring forth your gift and proceed."
Vardonx found a small bottle and placed it in front of John. He then grabbed Pete under one arm and pushed him into the five-pointed star. Pete kneeled and the large person inside the circle bent low over him while the chant from the choir got higher. Suddenly there was a thump like a body hitting the deck plates immediately followed by some shuffling of feet. The person as well as everyone else looked up and saw Hortan lying on the floor, fainted, and the back of Plissken as he ran out of the bar in complete panic. Urim was standing next to Fluffy, an immense grin on his face.
"Heavy shit man, TGFT are vampire devil worshippers. That explains so much."
The show stopped and the acolytes that had been chanting revealed themselves as members of TGFT and two from PA. Tohasandra was the first to kneel beside Hortan, slowly saying his name while stroking him across the cheek. John took the latex hood off and looked concerned down at the unconscious Hortan and then up at the TGFT members that had crowded in.
"Stand back damn it, give him some space."
Hortan slowly woke up under the healing hands of Chi, opened his eyes and saw his usual saviour.
"Ms Chi."
He smiled and looked behind her directly at the horned and fanged beast behind. He promptly fainted again. John looked at where Hortan's gaze had rested before he went under again.
"Buzz, go have a drink in the bar will ya?"
Buzz nodded, took the fake fur off his cheeks and got some help from Neagoth getting off the stilts. Together they walked over to the bar where Ecka and Waldoze were sitting already. Buzz had to get a drink with a straw since the fangs precluded him from closing his mouth.
Hortan woke up again, this time without devils around. He looked around thoroughly confused and got up with John's help.
"Are you okay buddy?"
"I feel a bit dizzy, not sure I remembered to eat my pills."
John looked at Chi who nodded in the direction of Hortan's room. He nodded back and grabbed Hortan under his right arm.
"Come on, let's get you back to your room for some rest."
Hortan nodded and staggered along helped by John and Chi.
Urim was still standing in the middle of the room, the same insane grin on his face.
"Hey man, I am so ready Belial dude. Hail and shit."
Fluffy shook his head and led the initiate over to the bar where the real initiation was to take place, namely a drinking binge of enormous proportions.
###
Azumi thundered the X-1 towards CLM HQ at maximum speed, hardly braking before impacting on the docking cradle. She jumped out and ran for the control room, not even bothering to take the sweaty flight suit off. Sharingan and Lebermac were on duty, well in reality only Sharingan were active. Lebermac were desperately trying to calm his unnatural need for real Tequila by flooding his neural receptors with the cheap substitute Teh Killah that had the same ingredient list as military grade engine coolant. And to be fair, it looked like he had succeeded; the snoring was loudly drowning everything out.
"Shar, we need some help. Look and yoda are inbound with my Warthog and they have Retractile on a stretcher. I am not sure if he needs medical attention but we need to make sure."
Sharingan nodded, paged Wittman and Mystic and got up to leave with Azumi. The four of them met in the docking area as the Warthog was merely 300 metres away.
"Good to see you are decently dressed Azumi."
Azumi looked at Mystic and then down at herself. She was just about to tell her what she was wearing underneath when she thought better off it. She merely smiled at Mystic instead.
The Warthog docked and dropped the cargo bay. After a short delay yoda came out pushing the anti-grav stretcher. The waiting CLM members rushed over to greet Retractile and help him to the medical centre. The person on the stretcher was covered by a sheet that Mystic removed. Underneath was Look... No hands.
"Yeah, Look passed out roughly halfway here. Killed a two-litre bottle of pure ethanol by himself too. Retract is inside in good health. But you may want to walk him out."
The group went inside to greet Retractile and help him out, but it turned out not to be necessary. The hour it had taken to move to Latos from Jallik had been enough to steady him on his feet and he could stagger to his room by his own power. Cheating Death didn't seem to have significant side effects.
The two persons removed the veil that covered the chair within the five-starred figure on the ground. Sitting on what could best be described as a throne was a person that was resting his head on his right hand's knuckles that in turn rested on his leg. He looked like....... nothing the initiates had ever seen. The person looked up when the veil was removed, looked at the initiates and stood to his full height of more than two metres. The height in itself was impressive but that was not what was so different. Rather it was the goat’s legs that the person stood upon that really did the trick. The initiates were pushed forward towards the star and could now see the horns that protruded clearly from his forehead and the long fangs that stuck out of his mouth. The rest of the face was covered in curly hairs, as was most of his body.
Hortan turned to run away, but Fluffy was there behind him smiling his widest grin.
"Easy buddy, nothing bad will happen."
Hortan looked towards Plissken who was staring blindly at the apparition before them.
The man in front of the star opened the large book and looked into it.
"Bring the first initiate forward."
The dark voice almost growled the words out, and Vardonx moved over with PickAxePete to stand before the star.
"State name of the initiate and reveal secret name of the champion"
"I am Malphas and I sponsor PickAxePete."
The person in front of the star removed his hood and revealed John Eldritch, but bald and with tattoo's covering most of his face.
"I am Belial. Bring forth your gift and proceed."
Vardonx found a small bottle and placed it in front of John. He then grabbed Pete under one arm and pushed him into the five-pointed star. Pete kneeled and the large person inside the circle bent low over him while the chant from the choir got higher. Suddenly there was a thump like a body hitting the deck plates immediately followed by some shuffling of feet. The person as well as everyone else looked up and saw Hortan lying on the floor, fainted, and the back of Plissken as he ran out of the bar in complete panic. Urim was standing next to Fluffy, an immense grin on his face.
"Heavy shit man, TGFT are vampire devil worshippers. That explains so much."
The show stopped and the acolytes that had been chanting revealed themselves as members of TGFT and two from PA. Tohasandra was the first to kneel beside Hortan, slowly saying his name while stroking him across the cheek. John took the latex hood off and looked concerned down at the unconscious Hortan and then up at the TGFT members that had crowded in.
"Stand back damn it, give him some space."
Hortan slowly woke up under the healing hands of Chi, opened his eyes and saw his usual saviour.
"Ms Chi."
He smiled and looked behind her directly at the horned and fanged beast behind. He promptly fainted again. John looked at where Hortan's gaze had rested before he went under again.
"Buzz, go have a drink in the bar will ya?"
Buzz nodded, took the fake fur off his cheeks and got some help from Neagoth getting off the stilts. Together they walked over to the bar where Ecka and Waldoze were sitting already. Buzz had to get a drink with a straw since the fangs precluded him from closing his mouth.
Hortan woke up again, this time without devils around. He looked around thoroughly confused and got up with John's help.
"Are you okay buddy?"
"I feel a bit dizzy, not sure I remembered to eat my pills."
John looked at Chi who nodded in the direction of Hortan's room. He nodded back and grabbed Hortan under his right arm.
"Come on, let's get you back to your room for some rest."
Hortan nodded and staggered along helped by John and Chi.
Urim was still standing in the middle of the room, the same insane grin on his face.
"Hey man, I am so ready Belial dude. Hail and shit."
Fluffy shook his head and led the initiate over to the bar where the real initiation was to take place, namely a drinking binge of enormous proportions.
###
Azumi thundered the X-1 towards CLM HQ at maximum speed, hardly braking before impacting on the docking cradle. She jumped out and ran for the control room, not even bothering to take the sweaty flight suit off. Sharingan and Lebermac were on duty, well in reality only Sharingan were active. Lebermac were desperately trying to calm his unnatural need for real Tequila by flooding his neural receptors with the cheap substitute Teh Killah that had the same ingredient list as military grade engine coolant. And to be fair, it looked like he had succeeded; the snoring was loudly drowning everything out.
"Shar, we need some help. Look and yoda are inbound with my Warthog and they have Retractile on a stretcher. I am not sure if he needs medical attention but we need to make sure."
Sharingan nodded, paged Wittman and Mystic and got up to leave with Azumi. The four of them met in the docking area as the Warthog was merely 300 metres away.
"Good to see you are decently dressed Azumi."
Azumi looked at Mystic and then down at herself. She was just about to tell her what she was wearing underneath when she thought better off it. She merely smiled at Mystic instead.
The Warthog docked and dropped the cargo bay. After a short delay yoda came out pushing the anti-grav stretcher. The waiting CLM members rushed over to greet Retractile and help him to the medical centre. The person on the stretcher was covered by a sheet that Mystic removed. Underneath was Look... No hands.
"Yeah, Look passed out roughly halfway here. Killed a two-litre bottle of pure ethanol by himself too. Retract is inside in good health. But you may want to walk him out."
The group went inside to greet Retractile and help him out, but it turned out not to be necessary. The hour it had taken to move to Latos from Jallik had been enough to steady him on his feet and he could stagger to his room by his own power. Cheating Death didn't seem to have significant side effects.
Where are ya hort?
on vacation dang nag it! I have spoiled you:)
45. That could have gone better.
The mood in the bar was pretty low, with Hortan almost carried to his room and Plissken roaming somewhere in the station panicked. Surbius walked into the bar and directly over to Waldoze who was brooding on his chair.
"Care to explain Waldoze?"
"Huh? Explain what? I mean, who had imagined that Hort would drop like that and that Plissken would bolt like rabbit?"
"I can deduce that the party didn't quite go as planned. But that is not why I am here. I think the code word is Melody?"
Waldoze emptied his drink and got another one before answering.
"Yeah, well, what can I say? I was framed, ripped, cheated. I have asked Gramps for help."
"I know, and that is why I am here. You have been subjected to a very vicious scam and you aren't the first. Seems that the company Lector, Lecter and Shard has been making a lot of these cases against rich UIT traders, and these have more often than not been ripped off for half their assets."
"Fuck me! So Melody was just in it for the money?"
"No, well I don't know. As far as we can see she was approached after the break-up by LL&S who convinced her that she was to gain millions of credits for nothing. And at the same time get back at you."
Waldoze's head reddened considerably. As a matter of fact he became about as red in his face as Hortan usually did but Waldoze was red in the face with rage.
"Just tell me where I have to go and get them Surb."
"You don't get it do you Waldoze? They have all rights on their side. You screwed up, you are going to pay to these shady characters unless we can find some legal mumbo jumbo that can save you. As I see it the only chance you have is if Gramps stumble over a mistake they have made."
Surbius nodded to Ecka and walked out again. Waldoze looked angrily into his drink. All this and just because he wanted to cheer up a pair of mates. And he had even liked the girl. He sighed deep and emptied his new drink making a face as the fiery liquid tormented his innards. Not even the drink was good tonight. Buzz leaned close to Waldoze almost hitting him with the horns.
"Couldn't help hearing what ole Surbie had to say. There is another way mate. And you know what I am talking about."
Buzz waggled his eyebrows up and down, making him look absolutely stupid because the horns moved with the brow in a circular pattern.
"If this is another of your harebrained schemes I don't want any part of it Buzz. You usually end up with messing things up even worse than they are in the first place."
"Thank you for the vote of confidence Dozer but I really have the golden idea this time. And the only ones hurt are the lying thieving bastards from LL&S."
Waldoze nodded to the barkeep for more drinks and when they arrived pushed one to Buzz.
"Go on, I am listening."
###
The dead Connie was as god a place as any to meet when you wanted to avoid attention. Not many knew of its location deep in Latos space and it was only due to random chance that Red Tide had found it. He had been pursuing an Ineubis courier vessel to find an opportune time to snatch its valuable cargo and sell the highly valuable drug prototype to the opposing faction when he encountered an Ion Storm that covered much of Latos. Deciding that now would be as good a time as ever, he attacked the courier and just as he killed the ship he was beset upon by several Orne guardian bots. He twisted his ship the best he had learned and managed to kill them all getting some damage to his own jump engine in return. He scooped up the data pad the courier ship had been freighting and started boosting for the storm exit. When he arrived at the exit he found out that the damage he had taken would preclude him from jumping out of the storm, the higher energies inside the storm was enough to dampen what little power he could focus into the jump engine. Resigning himself to hours of endless boredom as he would have to wait for the storm to pass, he started making a three dimensional spiral search pattern outwards. After three days of intense boredom with the highlight of he day consisting of eating the synthetic glue that the Warthog dispensed from the life support kit, his radar bleeped. A large contact, the drifting Connie. The entire drive section had been ripped off and the ship was left for dead with no power or air. Red held on to the Connie and within a day the storm had dissipated allowing him to make an emergency jump to a station, taking the location with him. The members of KAOS had since used a lot of time reinstalling air and power and used the hulk as a secret deep space hide-out.
Ahriman moved his EC-107 slowly to his docking ring and mated the ships. Wearing his usual flowing robes he walked purposefully into the Connie and headed straight for the briefing room in the old weapons section to port. As he entered the room a low mumbling stopped as full attention was focused on him. He turned his front to the members of KAOS and started speaking in that peculiar fashion like if his mouth and throat were not used to forming words.
"Rumours of my death have been vastly overstated. Little do they know, we are Legion."
45. That could have gone better.
The mood in the bar was pretty low, with Hortan almost carried to his room and Plissken roaming somewhere in the station panicked. Surbius walked into the bar and directly over to Waldoze who was brooding on his chair.
"Care to explain Waldoze?"
"Huh? Explain what? I mean, who had imagined that Hort would drop like that and that Plissken would bolt like rabbit?"
"I can deduce that the party didn't quite go as planned. But that is not why I am here. I think the code word is Melody?"
Waldoze emptied his drink and got another one before answering.
"Yeah, well, what can I say? I was framed, ripped, cheated. I have asked Gramps for help."
"I know, and that is why I am here. You have been subjected to a very vicious scam and you aren't the first. Seems that the company Lector, Lecter and Shard has been making a lot of these cases against rich UIT traders, and these have more often than not been ripped off for half their assets."
"Fuck me! So Melody was just in it for the money?"
"No, well I don't know. As far as we can see she was approached after the break-up by LL&S who convinced her that she was to gain millions of credits for nothing. And at the same time get back at you."
Waldoze's head reddened considerably. As a matter of fact he became about as red in his face as Hortan usually did but Waldoze was red in the face with rage.
"Just tell me where I have to go and get them Surb."
"You don't get it do you Waldoze? They have all rights on their side. You screwed up, you are going to pay to these shady characters unless we can find some legal mumbo jumbo that can save you. As I see it the only chance you have is if Gramps stumble over a mistake they have made."
Surbius nodded to Ecka and walked out again. Waldoze looked angrily into his drink. All this and just because he wanted to cheer up a pair of mates. And he had even liked the girl. He sighed deep and emptied his new drink making a face as the fiery liquid tormented his innards. Not even the drink was good tonight. Buzz leaned close to Waldoze almost hitting him with the horns.
"Couldn't help hearing what ole Surbie had to say. There is another way mate. And you know what I am talking about."
Buzz waggled his eyebrows up and down, making him look absolutely stupid because the horns moved with the brow in a circular pattern.
"If this is another of your harebrained schemes I don't want any part of it Buzz. You usually end up with messing things up even worse than they are in the first place."
"Thank you for the vote of confidence Dozer but I really have the golden idea this time. And the only ones hurt are the lying thieving bastards from LL&S."
Waldoze nodded to the barkeep for more drinks and when they arrived pushed one to Buzz.
"Go on, I am listening."
###
The dead Connie was as god a place as any to meet when you wanted to avoid attention. Not many knew of its location deep in Latos space and it was only due to random chance that Red Tide had found it. He had been pursuing an Ineubis courier vessel to find an opportune time to snatch its valuable cargo and sell the highly valuable drug prototype to the opposing faction when he encountered an Ion Storm that covered much of Latos. Deciding that now would be as good a time as ever, he attacked the courier and just as he killed the ship he was beset upon by several Orne guardian bots. He twisted his ship the best he had learned and managed to kill them all getting some damage to his own jump engine in return. He scooped up the data pad the courier ship had been freighting and started boosting for the storm exit. When he arrived at the exit he found out that the damage he had taken would preclude him from jumping out of the storm, the higher energies inside the storm was enough to dampen what little power he could focus into the jump engine. Resigning himself to hours of endless boredom as he would have to wait for the storm to pass, he started making a three dimensional spiral search pattern outwards. After three days of intense boredom with the highlight of he day consisting of eating the synthetic glue that the Warthog dispensed from the life support kit, his radar bleeped. A large contact, the drifting Connie. The entire drive section had been ripped off and the ship was left for dead with no power or air. Red held on to the Connie and within a day the storm had dissipated allowing him to make an emergency jump to a station, taking the location with him. The members of KAOS had since used a lot of time reinstalling air and power and used the hulk as a secret deep space hide-out.
Ahriman moved his EC-107 slowly to his docking ring and mated the ships. Wearing his usual flowing robes he walked purposefully into the Connie and headed straight for the briefing room in the old weapons section to port. As he entered the room a low mumbling stopped as full attention was focused on him. He turned his front to the members of KAOS and started speaking in that peculiar fashion like if his mouth and throat were not used to forming words.
"Rumours of my death have been vastly overstated. Little do they know, we are Legion."
"My name is Legion, for we are many"
?
[edit] Mark 5:9 - And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many." Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.
A man possessed with 2000 demons that Jesus encountered. The man lived in a tomb and was chained there because no one could control him. The man begged Jesus not to torment him, but rather release them in to a herd of swine, which He did and then they ran in to the sea and drowned.
aaaaanyway i was just curious if that was where you got your reference for what ahriman said.
?
[edit] Mark 5:9 - And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many." Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.
A man possessed with 2000 demons that Jesus encountered. The man lived in a tomb and was chained there because no one could control him. The man begged Jesus not to torment him, but rather release them in to a herd of swine, which He did and then they ran in to the sea and drowned.
aaaaanyway i was just curious if that was where you got your reference for what ahriman said.
haha, nah. I got it from a cheezy horrorflick. But I can see Ahriman become an army of pigs^^
I think it is a reference to demons or something, but I am not sure. Anyway, Ahriman will clear it up for us eventually I reckon!
I think it is a reference to demons or something, but I am not sure. Anyway, Ahriman will clear it up for us eventually I reckon!
46. Post Initiation
John and Chi almost carried Hortan back to his room. He was so confused that he kept turning the wrong way and would have crashed alone somewhere in an unmarked corridor if they had not guided him. Once inside the room they couldn't help smile at the surreal display of John Eldritch figures or the extensive series of trashy John Eldritch novels, most of them rather used. John helped Hortan to bed and tucked the blanket up under his chin. He then walked over to the door and waited while Chi sat down on the bed and handed Hortan his pills.
"You have to go see the doctor tomorrow, you hear?"
Hortan took the pills and swallowed with the glass of water Chi had put on the night table.
"Yes Ms Chi."
"And you better close your eyes now and sleep tight. It has been a long day for you and I bet it will be a long day tomorrow."
Hortan smiled at Chi and closed his eyes. She moved the errant lock of hair from his forehead back to where it belonged and got up to join John at the door. They walked outside and closed it.
"So, I am not much for partying after this. What do you say we grab a cup of Sedina Chocolate instead?"
Chi smiled at the suggestion; it was a bit unlike John not to go back to a party but she knew exactly how he felt. She grinned mischievously at him.
"Only if we can have pancakes with that."
"Devious, sneaky, cunning even. I like it, Soggy's it is then."
###
The party in the TGFT bar had certainly picked up after most had chipped in with suggestions to alter the almost bulletproof plan that Buzz had explained to Waldoze. As a matter of fact most had not been as drunk for at least two weeks. They had even embarrassed and hazed the new guys properly, well only PickAxePete and Urim, who by the way still was convinced that TGFT was a secret devil-worshipper coven; they had been unable to locate the whereabouts of recruit Plissken. Fluffy showed Pete a set of very shapely large breasts and Pete who was by then slightly inebriated stated loudly:
"By Jove that is a perfect pair. Fluffy, make the introductions, that is my bride to be!"
Fluffy snickered and showed him the rest of the picture including Buzz's hung-over face.
"Sure, Pete this is Buzz, Buzz this is Pete. Hey, can I be the best man?"
Everybody laughed and drank some more. For some reason Urim was giggling in the corner for himself.
"What're you up to mate? What's so funny?"
Vardonx had found a chair near Urim.
"I know what FNG stands for. Man you guys are so evil."
Vardonx took his beer up to his lips.
"Oh yeah, well enlighten us then Oh oracle."
"Follow No Gods man, right on."
Vardonx almost spat all his beer out, but managed to keep a straight face.
"Really. Well, you should have it tattooed then. Look at Dozer, Fluffy and Buzz. They all had BAMF tattooed on their shoulders along with their favourite trading ship."
"BAMF What does that say?"
"Bad Ass Mutha Fuckers."
"Right on, okay I'll do it. Give me ten."
And he was off in such a hurry that he missed Vardonx loose his beer in laughter this time as he turned and tried sobbing with laughter to explain to the others what Urim was about to do. It took more that an hour and by that time the party had forgotten why he had been missing. They remembered as soon as he proudly scrolled his jacket up and displayed the letters FNG tattooed onto his shoulder with a Revenant in silhouette behind it. Everybody cracked in laughter that just grew when Urim's expression went from victorious pride to deep confusion.
"What, did he spell it wrong? Lemme see, no it says FNG as you said. Follow No Gods right?"
He grinned a smile that was suppose to rally his confidence but it didn't happen, Instead Waldoze walked over and grabbed him around the shoulder.
"Son, there comes a time in life where you must face up to the fact that what you just did will not only haunt you for the rest of your life, but will also ensure that you will have a running tab at the bar. The haunting is so so, I mean most of us enrols it in our flashy persona, but the tab is going to hurt forever because of the sheer amount that the members of TGFT consumes. You my young, so very very gullible young friend has just made such an error. FNG does not mean Follow No God; it stands for Fucking New Guy. You may begin your tab now son, I'll take a triple Helio Mists straight as a shot."
John and Chi almost carried Hortan back to his room. He was so confused that he kept turning the wrong way and would have crashed alone somewhere in an unmarked corridor if they had not guided him. Once inside the room they couldn't help smile at the surreal display of John Eldritch figures or the extensive series of trashy John Eldritch novels, most of them rather used. John helped Hortan to bed and tucked the blanket up under his chin. He then walked over to the door and waited while Chi sat down on the bed and handed Hortan his pills.
"You have to go see the doctor tomorrow, you hear?"
Hortan took the pills and swallowed with the glass of water Chi had put on the night table.
"Yes Ms Chi."
"And you better close your eyes now and sleep tight. It has been a long day for you and I bet it will be a long day tomorrow."
Hortan smiled at Chi and closed his eyes. She moved the errant lock of hair from his forehead back to where it belonged and got up to join John at the door. They walked outside and closed it.
"So, I am not much for partying after this. What do you say we grab a cup of Sedina Chocolate instead?"
Chi smiled at the suggestion; it was a bit unlike John not to go back to a party but she knew exactly how he felt. She grinned mischievously at him.
"Only if we can have pancakes with that."
"Devious, sneaky, cunning even. I like it, Soggy's it is then."
###
The party in the TGFT bar had certainly picked up after most had chipped in with suggestions to alter the almost bulletproof plan that Buzz had explained to Waldoze. As a matter of fact most had not been as drunk for at least two weeks. They had even embarrassed and hazed the new guys properly, well only PickAxePete and Urim, who by the way still was convinced that TGFT was a secret devil-worshipper coven; they had been unable to locate the whereabouts of recruit Plissken. Fluffy showed Pete a set of very shapely large breasts and Pete who was by then slightly inebriated stated loudly:
"By Jove that is a perfect pair. Fluffy, make the introductions, that is my bride to be!"
Fluffy snickered and showed him the rest of the picture including Buzz's hung-over face.
"Sure, Pete this is Buzz, Buzz this is Pete. Hey, can I be the best man?"
Everybody laughed and drank some more. For some reason Urim was giggling in the corner for himself.
"What're you up to mate? What's so funny?"
Vardonx had found a chair near Urim.
"I know what FNG stands for. Man you guys are so evil."
Vardonx took his beer up to his lips.
"Oh yeah, well enlighten us then Oh oracle."
"Follow No Gods man, right on."
Vardonx almost spat all his beer out, but managed to keep a straight face.
"Really. Well, you should have it tattooed then. Look at Dozer, Fluffy and Buzz. They all had BAMF tattooed on their shoulders along with their favourite trading ship."
"BAMF What does that say?"
"Bad Ass Mutha Fuckers."
"Right on, okay I'll do it. Give me ten."
And he was off in such a hurry that he missed Vardonx loose his beer in laughter this time as he turned and tried sobbing with laughter to explain to the others what Urim was about to do. It took more that an hour and by that time the party had forgotten why he had been missing. They remembered as soon as he proudly scrolled his jacket up and displayed the letters FNG tattooed onto his shoulder with a Revenant in silhouette behind it. Everybody cracked in laughter that just grew when Urim's expression went from victorious pride to deep confusion.
"What, did he spell it wrong? Lemme see, no it says FNG as you said. Follow No Gods right?"
He grinned a smile that was suppose to rally his confidence but it didn't happen, Instead Waldoze walked over and grabbed him around the shoulder.
"Son, there comes a time in life where you must face up to the fact that what you just did will not only haunt you for the rest of your life, but will also ensure that you will have a running tab at the bar. The haunting is so so, I mean most of us enrols it in our flashy persona, but the tab is going to hurt forever because of the sheer amount that the members of TGFT consumes. You my young, so very very gullible young friend has just made such an error. FNG does not mean Follow No God; it stands for Fucking New Guy. You may begin your tab now son, I'll take a triple Helio Mists straight as a shot."
lol, I feel bad for Urim.
P.S. If you can fit me in somewhere, please do (Captain Sraer)
P.S. If you can fit me in somewhere, please do (Captain Sraer)