Rebirth
10 May 2023Soulmanager
[Logbook Entry] ... 0001 [Starship] ... Euphoria (T8F-B3W)
[System] ... Huangais
[Date] ... 3309-05-09
[Time] ... 13:35:47
[Logged Message]
I'm done with this.
I'm done with the bad paying jobs, done with the same bars and the same stories about the same guys in them.
It works as long as it works, as long as you're not chasing the wrong guy, carrying the wrong cargo, messing with the wrong people ... it's just a matter of time.
My time is up. No longer interested in wriggling myself out of the ever-recurring mess.
It was this one job. It could have been any job. For some bad boys, cross another bad boy out of the logs. Nothing special. Only this time it went wrong.
The order sounded easy. An unknown guy, harmless weirdo who messed with the wrong clan. Nothing to indicate problems. The fish was too small for the Concordia, so I took the Neurobasher.
Two jumps, go in, quick scan to avoid scrapping the wrong ship and before he knew it it would have been done.
Everything as always. Only this time there was no harmless guy.
Two jumps, went in ... I didn't even had time to deploy my hardpoints ... Bam! The first shots hit us without warning, fire from four directions, I can hear by the crackling and whistling of the shields that someone has pulled out the really big gun. The missile defense works, two explosions in a short distance throw the Neurobasher off track.
Liz wants to jump into the fighter, take at least one ship off me, and give me a chance. Before she can unbuckle her seat belt, something hits us with incredible force. The ship is thrown sideways, and I hear the hull's metal squeaking and creaking.
8 missiles on the radar, only two defense turrets ... "Salute from the Duke, you bum!" ... I activate the pods ...
---
Four weeks later, a soul seller collects our escape pods. Liz was lucky, only a few scratches and a few of her lovely curls were singed.
The scar will remind me every day how quickly it can be over.
4 months. Four months ago I was just one of those countless guys who hang out in the space station bars, always looking for a good job. I have no idea what I am now. There's only one thing I'm sure of - I'm done with it.
---
A guy I met 6 days ago in Frey at a bar in Garratt Station retired and sold me his carrier. The Euphoria - a wonderful ship.
It took 3 days to load our stuff into the carrier, 2 to get enough tritium for a trip to the ends of the galaxy and another day to hire a crew.
The Euphoria is ready. She wants out of here. And my battered soul will willingly follow her.
Liz made a quick decision, covered her tracks and chosen the adorable name Parker Ayala.
It took me longer ...
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