A Challenge
09 Oct 2017Chikn0fD000M
I walked out of the medbay nursing only a dislocated shoulder and some bumps and bruises. Hawk, one of our younger pilots came rushing up to me"Oh my God CHIKKEN"
it was my new pet name, alot of people tended to mispronounce my surname as 'hen' so.. it stuck. I've heard much worse, and it's grown on me. Orion Polaris, known as Hawk, wrapped an arm around my shoulders, oblivious of my recently set dislocated shoulder.
"Ow! Dammit Hawk that hurt." I snapped. Hawk took his arm from over my shoulders and held his hands up in surrender. "Sorry sorry... Are you ok?"
I rubbed my shoulder scowling slightly "I was.. I think you might have popped it out of socket again" I said painfully as I rubbed my shoulder tentatively.
Hawk looked suddenly -genuinely- horrified and shuffled hurriedly back to the medbay while apologizing."Oh shit Chikken, here let me get-"
"Hawk"
"Hang on I'll be right-"
"HAWK" I snapped and he stopped. "I'm okay, it's just really sore right now" I explained patiently, sort of.
He looked relieved "Oh, jeez I thought you were serious."
I sighed and smiled. Hawk could go from zero to... ALOT faster than a ship could go into FSD. But his honest effort and youthful exhuberance was endearing, at least to me. He was a good guy, he walked with me and we made our way back to the lounge.
"I heard you almost got killed in a one on one. But it looks like you got out alright, get your bounty?"
"Yeah, almost lost my ship though. It was a hellova rush. But no.. I didn't get it."
"Had to run?"
"Yeah..."
We continued to walk and talk about what happened and how I nearly lost my ship. His expression pinched slightly as he looked down the hall and he looked at me
"Well. keep me updated on things, I'll see you around."
"Alright, take care."
It didn't take long to see what made Hawk want to leave, as a group passed I noticed Emile Barron, our own pirate. I'm not sure how he came to be a part of DRInc, but none-the-less he was here and he at least wasn't a problem. I glanced at him as I walked by, dressed in red and black, he felt like trouble, which made it hard not to keep an eye on him when he was around. If he noticed he ignored it. His shining metallic arm made a sharp contract to his dark skin. Most people craved the normalcy of their lost limbs and opted for an artificial skin covering so as not to stand out, but not Emile. He was proud enough of it to leave it as is, but without feeling the need to show it off at every opportunity. I nodded out of respect as I passed by, he raised his eyes but didn't return the gesture.
"You're being stupid..." he remarked as I passed.
"Excuse me?" I stopped in mid stride and turned to face him.
not skipping a beat he straightened up and looked me in the eyes.
"You, are being stupid. You almost got yourself killed against what? One ship?"
"One ELITE ship" I said, not that it made it any easier for me to swallow.
"I'll give you some credit, you climbed up the ranks faster then I thought you would, but if you don't get your head out of your ass and smarten up and Learn-Your-Ship you're gonna be nothing more than another hide we've got to save, and shrapnel we have to avoid." he paused to let it sink in, and I began to angrily retort
"I've been working my ass off to get this-"
"You're a liability!" he shouted, thrusting a finger toward my face. The sudden metallic flash caused me to jump back reflexively. This seemed to please him, which only angered me more.
"Who do you think you are talking to me like this?!"
He sneered "What are you going to do, tell you're buddy Commander Sterling on me?"
I felt heat rise in my face.
"What makes you think I have to use him to get anywhere?! I'll PROVE to you I can do this, I'm no slouch. I have NO intention of being a burden. I just need time." my words trailed away, he and I both knew time probably wasn't something we had alot of. He stared at me with a harsh unreadable expression before speaking.
"No, you know what, you're coming with me."
"What??"
He seized my forearm with his robotic one and stared me down. "Once your ship is fixed, I'm taking your ass out into a space and we're gonna have a fight. You're either gonna figure this shit out or I'm gonna blow your ship."
my jaw dropped "Are you going to pay for it?"
"Hell no!" he scoffed, releasing his grip.
"And what happens when my money runs out?"
He smirked, "I guess you'd better learn fast." he turned and started to walk away
I crossed my arms over my chest "And why exactly should I agree to this?"
"Because unlike the other pirates and alien scum, I'll SAVE your ass"