She Cannae Take no more Captn'
08 Jul 2020Kris Ghoststar
The cockpit was filled with acrid smoke, making it difficult to see out. Alarms rang out and red lights flashed, COVAS couldn't decide what was more damaged, the frame shift or the hull.She eased the throttle back gently and guided the Sabre onto the deck.
As soon as the landing pad restraints engaged, she cycled the airlocks open to vent some of the smoke, leaving it a moment before removing her helmet. Relays had blown and panels hung down from the ceiling. Thrusters, powerplant and reactor had all taken hits on her run from the bounty hunters. They had struck even before she had cleared the surface. She managed to get the drive charging and jumped out of the system, but not before they had inflicted some serious damage.
The ship retracted into the hanger as she powered down all the systems and unbuckled herself from the chair. A quick scan of the systems told her all she needed to know. With a deep sigh she knew the Sabre wasn't going anywhere soon.
She downloaded the data to the client and waited for payment to clear as she unzipped her flight suit and pulled a baggy shirt and pants from the locker under the bunk in the crew cabin.
Checking her mail, payment had cleared and the credits were in her account. The fines and repairs would wipe out most of the profit. She needed a drink.
Kris knew Robert Dock well and headed for her favourite haunt, She knew the people there, which always helped and made it priority to always call in whenever she was in this sector.
The man behind the bar was tall and thin, a sign of living in lower gravity all his life, gave her a wide smile when she entered, "Welcome back, Kris. You not made your fortune yet?" He was already reaching for the single malt as she slid onto the barstool.
"Hey Paulie, Know any good mechanics?"
He raised his eyebrows in a questioning look. "Thing not work out so well?"
She shook her head. "Not really, The Sabre is pretty trashed. She is going to need a full rebuild."
He leaned on the bar and motioned her closer in a conspiratorial manner. "I've heard about a woman who can work wonders, But she doesn't work for just anyone and She ain't cheap either." He pulled a slip of paper from behind the bar and scribbled some coordinates down.
She stuffed the paper into her jacket pocket. "Thanks, You are the best." She leaned forward and planted a quick kiss on his cheek.
He straightened up and gruffly rubbed his chin. "Aw girlie, If I were 30 years younger..."
She flashed him a lopsided smile. "Now I just need to find a safe job to make the creds."
Paulie gestured with a nod to a corner booth, "That guy is looking for a pilot, but it's a long run."
Her shoulders dropped and the smile slipped into a grimace. "Sightseers are the worst jobs."
Paulie raised a hand to forestall the rant. "Enough to buy a new ship any incentive?"
Kris glanced over her shoulder again. "What did you say his name was again?"
