For Goodness Sake: Whys and wherefors
06 Dec 2024Vodan
Continued from The Docks RPMaul Montresor Third, I leanred that Pilfer's real name is Peter. And here I thought I knew the guy. smh[/color]"
Hugh shoved past the porters pushing rocket loaders from the magazine to the loading bay. Wusel was standing on top of his Vulture checking the reload was done right.
"Waz" called Hugh doing his best to yell above the din "Waz, we need to talk. Get ya ass down here"
Looking around till he found the cocksucker that was thinking a chat was more important than making sure he didn't get a rocket jam or breach explosion, Wusel lined up a few choice insults to go along with No, that was already on its way out his mouth.
Pilots aboard the Ophois made the lion's share of the carriers weekly profits, so the aces didn't have to take shit from anyone but the officers, and Hugh wasn't an officer. He wasn't an officer, but Hugh was one of the quartermaster's guys, and no one with any sense wanted to get on the wrong side of the quartermaster.
"No, not right now. I'm out in less than thirty. It can wait till I get back" answered Wusel trying not to offend the guy.
"It can, but you could be missing out on a million just for searching your memory. I mean I can ask the dock crew if you're too busy" said Hugh turning his back on the Vulture, walking off towards the pilot's lounge.
Hugh was settling into a booth at the far edge of the lounge shooing away one of the slave girls when Wusel spotted him. The captain of the Ophois was efficient and fastidious, and he expected the same from his crew, so the girl got busy with clearing up after the pilots as Hugh had no use for her.
"Alright" announced Wusel sitting down opposite Hugh. He ordered a soft drink when another girl came to see if she could be of service, before continuing "What is it I know that's worth a million?"
Hugh watched the girl walk out of earshot before he said anything. "Ok, do you remember that early Armada summit we were called to a while back? The one where Captain Vodan was taken off the shit-list and got his command back?"
"Eh, yeah. We were out in some nebular to theee" prolonged Wusel trying to remember some possibly expensive details. "West, I think. We spent some time working the Colonia bubble for a few months after, right?"
"That's right. Before that, you were told to maroon some guy. A big Imp. Blond, good-looking type with vacant eyes. Remember?" asked Hugh.
Puffing his cheeks and looking out the window at the ships leaving for the trade lanes, Wusel waited for the girl to put his drink down then motioned for her to leave.
"I think so. Don't do many marooning, so I kind of remember that. What about it?"
"Right right. Do you remember where you left him?"
"No. Sandy, maybe. But how many sandy planets have we visited since then?"
"Fuck sake Wuz, think. Its worth credits"
He did remember quite a bit about that day, now he was focused on the memory. Vengerfield had said the Imp was free to go, but for waising years of the master's time chasing the Imperial, he was free to go if anyone rescued him from the first uncharted earth-like planet the Ophois came across.
The Ophois captain had given Wusel the job to find a planet and drop the guy off. The Ophois pilots had heard tell of the imperial being some kind of fist fighting badass, so some of the guys had challenged him to a fight in exchange for more supplies for his marooning. After putting down four of the toughest guys the Ophois had to offer, the captain put an end to it, sending Wusel out to get on with the job.
"I dropped him off with extra water and a load of his fuckin, perfume, and soap shit, I think"
More images of that day were coming back and Wusel remembered dragging the imperial down the ramp, and going back for the extra water and bottles of bathroom shit.
"Yeah, sandy. Like white sand, and I saw a lake not that far away from where I landed"
"Oh, great. Was there a nice star set, and packs of majestic beasts roaming the grassland? I don't give a fuck about the scenery Waz. What planet, and where did you leave him. Thats where the credits are. Get it together"
"Shit I don't know. I don't even rem.. Oh wait" Wusel was about to say I can't even remember what ship I was flying, but he did.
He wasn't about to let Hugh know that, because maybe Hugh would find the ship and download the flight log for himself, cutting Wusel out of the million altogehter.
"Look Hugh, I gotta get the flight checks done. I'll see what I can do when I get back. See you here an hour after I land, right?"