The Platform
Hearing the telltale warning alert blare over the distorted tannoy system sent an instant, collective shiver up the spines of team Beta Two. A quick glance at each other, with weighted recognition in their eyes. It was time to assemble, not in a galactic smidge, not after reenergizing another pod, but right now.
The tannoy system continued to flood the now silent platform with its cyclical drone. The end of each sequence causing a shrill noise to fill the stifled atmosphere. The system, of which was still yet to be fixed from the last time a fight broke loose on the flight deck, echoed the reminder of that occasion.
A rowdy bunch of Saiyans had returned - from what was supposed to be a perilous purge that was rumoured to thin the numbers of the savages - despite their significant injuries, they had decided to settle their differences shortly after arrival on the platform. The system was far from the only casualty that day.
The siren called to lower members of the Planet Trade Organisation that an arrival was imminent and that they would be required to be postured and readily attentive, for fear of Zarbon returning without an adequate greeting.
It only happened once. Never to be repeated. As the long-dried blood of their teammate on the deck, marked the positioning of the receiving crew. A grim reminder of how dispensable their lives were.
The first in position, Edam, as always. A tall, slender and unnaturally fast being capable of lightning reactions, with an equally quick wit.
"First again", announced the orange tinted man, with a self satisfied smirk plastered across his bobbled face.
The collective groans of the approaching teammates, almost in unison, echoed across the platform as if the first time they heard that from him was still one too many.
The medical officer, Taleggio, made his way over to his position with his pre-assembled kit awkwardly slumped over one shoulder of his broad frame, stifling a yawn on the way.
Today was already a shit show.
The previous arrival had pierced the landing pad with its broken hull, there was debris everywhere. Scraps of metallic materials littered the platform, along with an oozing foam like substance from the ruptured pad. Everyone knew not to make contact with it, so three of the team skulked off to don their protective suits to deal with the creeping substance.
Taleggio stood trying to analyse what potential injuries the pod inhabitant might have based on what was left of the outer shell, and then how he could safely transport them to the regeneration tank suite. He was promptly knocked backwards by the strong smell emanating from the impact site. Chemicals and blood, a common mix in this place but when it's that potent, it's never a good sign. He unfurled his arms and turned to bellow behind him, "for fuck sakes, will you lot get a move on", with a more forceful and urgent tone than he had intended.
For the briefest of moments, Edam stopped and glared at him, he was doing his job, deftly collecting wreckage and sorting it into the disposal chutes. Clearing the way, he was satisfied with his work and being shouted at by someone who wasn't his superior always irked him.
"When can we assume that you'll do something of use today?" he digged in response as he darted behind Taleggio, on his way to dispose of the armful of debris. He was only met with a low growl in response.
Simultaneously, bumbling back out onto the platform were the twins, Gorgon and Zola, wearing their ill-fitting protective suits, markedly because the head portion did not cater for their bicornuate shaped heads, nor did the arms for their bulging muscles.
Frankly, if it wasn't for their almost limitless strength, they probably would have been slaughtered by the upper echelons years ago. Although, it was far more likely that the identical buffoons would have accidentally killed themselves first in some feat of stupidity.
Feta trailed behind them, with a distant glaze in his eyes. He hadn't been the same since the untimely death of their teammate Ricotta. She was his technological companion and they often shared quips and ideas for advancement. Between the way things had been going and his slow growing infatuation, he'd hoped that she felt the same. Especially since there weren't many of their race left and those that did survive the onslaught of the Frieza Force long ago, had been enslaved as technicians for their exemplary engineering capabilities. In fact, a large amount of their culture's technology and practices had been assimilated, in the biggest advancement since the procurement of the Tuffle technology from the Saiyans. Trudging toward the rest of the team, his eyes glanced over the smears on the deck, secretly hoping that the foam-like substance would edge far enough to finally rid them of the visual cues of that memory.
As Feta rejoined them, the twins were already wading through to pull the pad material taut, whilst he picked up his tools and started to get to work with sealing the tear. Edam was zooming around diligently, placing absorption packs on the periphery of the oozing mess.
They all recoiled at the shout.
"Ah this piece of shit!" Feta cursed as he threw the tool, sending it clattering to the ground some distance away. "How are we supposed to do our jobs with this trash?"
"Be my guest, you're more than welcome to take it up with Lord Frieza", quipped Edam whilst exchanging absorption packs.
The suggestion was met with a resounding "...nope".
After a short while, Gorgon was able to grab ahold of the broken edge of the spacecraft and lift it above and over himself with one hand. With open arms, Zola was ready to receive the damaged vehicle and knowing that he was only a half turn away from where Taleggio was waiting, he only needed to take one more step. A step that did not connect with the platform as Zola stumbled over some debris that had been camouflaged by the seeping foam from the landing pad. Whilst his brother tried to correct his movements, this led to Gorgon making a mistimed pass of the pod causing it to drop aimlessly towards the floor. With a metallic thud, denting the platform and filling the air with the noxious substance, it splattering mostly towards the management console and up the walls. They all stood aghast, no one knew what to say, they daren't laugh but looking at each other that feeling was soon becoming overwhelming as it welled up inside them. However, that emotion was short lived when Edam pointed out that the pod had started to roll of its own accord, increasingly so towards the platform's edge.
Feta trampled and then lunged straight across the landing mat, creating a barrier with his body. He took the impact stoically, knowing that allowing the pod to fall would cause far more pain in punishment than this broken craft ever could. Having blocked its path, Zola tried once again to move the pod over to the now dissipated safe area.
"Be careful this time", Edam remarked snidely.
This was swiftly parried by Feta in an unusually loud voice "YOU HAD ONE JOB!".
Shocked at the outburst, Edam could only slow swallow in response.
Ignoring the bickering, it was time to get to work, thought Taleggio, whilst stretching his muscles out. He was anticipating the hot challenge and the thrill of wielding the power to bring the almost dead back to life.
Finally peering into the wreckage of the pod, there was a collective gasp.
The passenger didn't even have the decency to be alive so they could shout at him.
"...and you didn't think to check for life signs on your scouters?" the duty supervisor barked, the elderly canine's features were scrunched up in confusion.
"Well, we didn't actually have ours on because of the protective suits", Feta gestured to himself and the twins, who were now nodding emphatically.
"I don't wear one because I break them with my speed", chimed Edam, pride consuming his face.
The supervisor casually glanced over him, thinking that there were much faster beings that used scouters. However, he seemed to conclude that this particular one, especially being on a Beta team, was just a runt and not worth the more advanced technology.
Casting his eyes the other direction, "So that leaves you Taleggio, you are the health officer, aren't you?"
His question met with a grunt.
"And you know what a corpse is?"
"Of course I know what a fucking corpse is!" He retorted, instantly regretting it. That one was going to get him punished right now, not just later.
Before he could draw a breath, a crack echoed. No one dared to look, as seeing it once was enough to make you feel its sting. The supervisor's ki whip retracted back up into his arm and speaking with a harsh tone to his elderly voice, "boy, you've had far too many of these to not know the consequences of your smart mouth".
The abrupt movement had knocked him over and back several paces. Taleggio continued to stare at the floor he was now facing, breathlessly holding his right side at the site of his new injury, his left hand slightly covering the floor markers created by their long expired teammate. He knew death was the only way out of this service and that would come sooner, rather than later, especially in his position. But he couldn't help wanting to choose how. Choice, a freedom he had never been granted.
The others were practically cowering, careful to avert their gaze.
"Your measly existence has one purpose, to do your jobs", with a sharp intake of breath, "Get the rest of this mess cleared up and input your reports", the supervisor ordered as he approached the exit to the corridor. Without turning he muttered just loud enough for them to hear, "before a team member is culled...again".
They knew they were going to get beaten again later too by whatever soldiers were on base, with their injuries practically paraded and even more so if they entered the canteen, but none of them had enough rations to avoid it. With no other choice, humiliation it was.
A sigh of despair escaped his body, wondering what was in store, clutching his side as his mind cast over today's events.
The dullness started to fade away, as the cyclical drone came back into focus. Taleggio pushed himself to stand up straight with a sharp intake of breath. He looked around at his teammates, all with the same knowing look in their eyes.
They all readied themselves, although they feared for their lives daily and lived at the mercy of so many others, this team had started to nurture a competitive streak.