Light and Haze, 4: Wake-up Call
18 Sep 2021Meowers
So, uhh... Hello? Yeah, it's me. Well, finally got to recording this thing again. Got a message from the maintenance crew... They said, like, now it's just a matter of few hours to remove all diagnostics machinery and other stuff, put the lids back on, refuel... Yeah... Just, yeah, finally. I'm... Starting to hate this place. You know... Usually I'm okay both with flying and sitting home... Ummm... A place where I keep my stuff. And arrange in the way I like. So... Ah, okay, I'll tell you. Let's be open. I was sitting in that hole all these days, hoping Jacqueline will return. Helplessly waiting. Dammit. Dammit how do I hate it! Had to do better, so much better... Shit! I had to find a way to calm her down that day, I... Aaarghh, crap, I hate it... Why do I even started that goddamn shootout? Shit... It was possible to keep it quiet! Possible! It's the best damn way if you're rescuing someone, not just willing to tear the whole place down! Where was my goddamn mind in that moment? Ugh... Crap, why am I so dumb sometimes!?..
Argh. Stop it. Breathe...
...Ahh...ff...So I was sitting here for... How long? Two days, errrm, or something... Let me look..yeah. Two and a half. Lost the track of a damn time, you know. It happens. Was stuffing myself with junk food and energy drinks like I had a spare stomach in the freezer. Eww, yuck... Now my throat feels covered in acid like I was eating Thargoid poop, I swear I'll throw up after walking to the docks... Ugh... Have to make some tea at least, before leaving... But, yeah, the last two days. Had to distract myself from... The bad stuff happening..in my head. Playing these dumb multiplayer games on the terminal I had here. It goes better than just watching shows as I need to concentrate on them, doing something, thinking about the process, trying to win, not..about that crap that... So, uh, yeah, slept a little, and then returned... Hah, sorry losers, they'll never have even a bit of those reflexes. Of a combat pilot, soaked with energy drinks and having a laser focus on what's on that screen. Turned out a dozen of local folks wanted to date me, two more dozens wanted to kill me in various ways... And one especially young and explosive fellow told about some weird activities he wanted to perform with my mother. Ah, what a funny little guy... Said him that she's in her 60s, so he's very brave to speak that out loud in public.
And, ummm... What was I talking about? Ah, the maintenance is about to end. Yeah... Still some time left, so I'll better start becoming a human being again. At least looking like one... Not something in between fantasy tales battle monster and a perverted basement dweller, lost for the society... So, the shower. Wait. No, I'll better drop myself in a tub...
Aw, that's really, really awesome... Never thought that..I wanted that so much...oh. Just to lie down here... Thinking of nothing... And that water... It's enveloping... So..relaxing... Warm... Awww.........
........
...What... Damn that beep, what's... Who the f... Ah, it's the intercom... Hmph. These energy drinks are starting to wear off, and I'm, like, super slow. Crap crap crap, have to answer it now...
Yeah, that was the maintenance station manager. Works are done. Ship is ready for a takeoff. Ah, damn... How long I've been in that tub? Ah..praise the temperature control, catching a cold isn't in my plans for now... So, talking about temperatures... They said it's all okay, but some unusual readings from internal temperature sensors... Meh. Forgot to tell them that I modified the air heater. Making its nominal output higher in all areas, yup, hate sitting in cold places... I'll look anyway, glad that everything else is like new. So..I have to go. At last. Now I'm leaving this weird place for good. Yeah... Normally I like these little pauses in random places, but... Not now, waiting for her, waiting for the ship, waiting for...Ugh. I've got to go now.
...Road to the maintenance hangar took like, damn, ages. But completely worth it. Ah, there she is, surrounded by floodlights, shining, as fresh as new and ready to pierce the void, take me to the brightest stars. Having seen this streamlined shape once, you'll never ever mistake it for something else. The flagship of Zorgon Peterson's lineup, the Fer-de-Lance. And this one is mine, Marshmallow. Equipped and engineered to the top possible level. My pride, my trusted friend, made of steel. Where do we go today?..
Boarding ramp was lowered and I finally entered the ship, with a travel bag in hand and a rifle on my back, thinking about any possible directions to fly to.
Going through airlock and entering the main corridor, I noticed three men standing near the closed cockpit door. And then that metal clanking of magboots, stepping on the boarding ramp behind me.
Damn, what now?..