It only took about thirty or so minutes to go from the rustle and bustle of
Sentinel III to the silent void of space. I preferred the dotted darkness
over noisy people any day.
Melfina's tube shrank back into the floor and a moment later a fully clothed Mel came back out. "Since the coordinates are set I am free to move about the ship."
Wow, she answered a question that I didn't even care about. I asked her how long it would take to get there. She said at least four hours. I sighed, four hours?! I was going to go insane. This was the only part I hated about flying through space. The time it took to get from one place to another.
Well, there was only one thing for me to do and that was to go take a nap. Jess thought I was crazy, saying how we've been up for only an hour and now I want to take a nap. Well, it's better then just sitting here.
I went off to my room and fell on the bed, looking up at the ceiling. Gillium's soda can body was hanging on a rail like some kind of decoration.
"Would you like me to inform you upon our arrival?" It's voice said through the little robot.
"No, it's ok. I'll probably be up by then anyways."
"Ok, just checking."
The tiny robot propelled itself along the rail and out of my room. Finally, I was alone.... Still looking up at the ceiling, I wondered what exactly I was going to do when I got to this station. The money and weapons never left my mind but would Jess and Mel be able to protect themselves in some run-down place like Mezadye? They were going to drag me around with them, I could already see that coming....But maybe that was a good thing. Yeah, it was! They were looking for this kid, which in turn means they're looking for this Trak guy. If I followed them I would be lead right to all the things I wanted!! Yes!!!!
Now, what about this kid? What am I going to do about him? Jess is going to get suspicious if my feelings for finding this punk suddenly vanished. Oh, I know! I could tell everyone to split up so we can find him quicker! Then I can go off and find everything I want!
Ok, I have all the weapons and money with me. Now what? How about find Jess and Mel and tell them that I just saw the brat killed. Na, that wont work. She'll just get over emotional or something. But she's not going to leave without him....Grr, I really see no point in Jess saving him. We bring him back safe and sound then they' go off and kidnap him again, we'd make no difference. Not only that but now they would hate us for helping this family. This really sucked, we were in over our heads.
Sure I've been against the odds before but I had good help, people I could rely on. I barely knew Jess and I could already tell Melfina was not a fighter. If I did but heads with these guys, I'd be by myself. Maybe if this was some movie or TV show, I could stand a chance....But this was real life, they could take as much pain as I could. One bullet ends anybody's life, mine included.
I would just have to play it by ear, then. What ever happens, happens. My reinsurance didn't do any reinsuring, I was still as nervous as ever. I shook my head. What was I thinking? If I planned to change this whole galaxy then I was going to have to fight the odds every second, even by myself if need be.
My plan was set, I was going to go in there and grab everything I needed. Jess obviously would find the kid, making us their new enemies. I take my newly obtained weapons to blow that whole friggen station sky high. It worked out perfectly....On paper anyways. The real thing would be much, MUCH harder.
A ding came from the speaker in my room followed by Jess's voice. "Strife, you still awake?"
"Yeah why?"
"We're almost there."
My eyebrows shot up "Are you serious? I've only been in my room for like....Ten minutes!"
"Uh, no you haven't you've been in there for about three hours. We thought you fell asleep so we didn't bother you. Hurry up and get to the bridge."
No way, I thought. Three hours? It didn't seem like it at all. Time flies as you're thinking about the biggest potential fight your like, I guess.
I got up to the bridge and sat in the pilot's seat. Melfina was back in her tube, telling me to look at the front screen.
I looked out the window and saw our destination. Mezadye. It was just floating there, just as plain as can be. As I stared on I thought we were in the wrong place. That seemed too peaceful a place to be a fighting- ravaged space station.
It was it though, a screen popped up in front of the window showing a man's face. "You guys coming in here?"
I was confused by his question. "What do you mean?"
"Mezadye! Are you coming into Mezadye?"
God, this was the welcome party for people coming into Mezadye? I sighed, at least it started feeling more like the kind of station it's rep made it out to be. Whether that's a good thing was to be decided.
"Uh, yeah. We're coming in."
"Kay, hang on a sec."
A large gate opened under the station, this must've been the bay for holding ships. Mel brought the ship trough the gate, arms came from the walls and gripped onto the hull. For a second I thought we were being attacked but it was just to hold us in place as we connected to the dock.
"Well, operation 'find little Timmy' in progress." I said as we exited the Outlaw Star.
The whole place was degusting. Nothing was clean, it was either rusted or bent or covered in some kind of garbage. A large man in overalls came over to me. "You want us to fix 'er up?"
"No, no. That's fine. Just leave "'er" alone. We're not staying long."
He sighed. "No one ever does..." After said, he walked off.
I shook my head and turned to Jess. She was too busy talking to Mel to care about me. They were figuring out how to track down this kid. Soon, their discussion was over and Jess told me the plan.
"Strife, you're going to go out somewhere and make a big ruckus. After awhile people are going to come and take you to the main base. As this is happening We'll be following you. After you're in you look for Tim while we wait for you."
Oh no, no, no. This was not going to happen. Was she insane?! "What?! Hell no! First off, they're not going to 'take me away' They're going to SHOOT me!! Did you ever think of that? These people would rather pack me full of lead then take me in! But let's say by some GREAT miracle, they don't kill me and bring me to the base. How am I going to find this kid? If I try to make any chance to run away, They'll kill me! Notice how everything reverts back to death? Not only that but you two aren't even going to DO anything! Just wait for me to get out! No, Jess this isn't going to happen."
She scowled at me. "Then how do you propose we find these people?"
"Ask around! It's not like their base is hidden!"
"But what if they get suspicious! They might call these 'Crimson shadows' and hunt us down. Hell, they may even think we're looking for Tim and kill him early!"
"Jess, you're not good at thinking up plans, are you?"
She paused for a moment. A LONG moment. "Not really, usually Gene and my dad think of something. But hey, mine was good!"
"No, it wasn't.....It's what I would call.....VERY BAD!"
"Ok then, what's YOUR plan?!"
"To get as much info on these guys as possible. The only way to get that is by asking around. So I'm going to go around, find hang outs, and ask as many people what these Crimson Shadows are all about. I also fit into the crowds, I'll look less suspicious. If you guys want, you can stay with the Outlaw Star and get some info with Gillium. As for me, I'm out of here."
Jess tried to stop me but I ignored her. She was not good at these kinds of things. Might as well leave it to myself. Man, my plan was falling apart already.
The town was just was bad as the bay. The buildings were trashed, sidewalks and roads broken with jagged pieces sticking up here and there. Even the people were messed up, wearing ragged clothes, with dirtied faces. Maybe if I was softer, I would have cared about all the people around me. How bad their lives must be. But to be honest, I didn't care. I've seen this thing too many times, and every time it was all the same. Broken people with dead- end lives. Nothing would change this so why care? After awhile I saw the irony in my beliefs. I wanted to change the galaxy but I didn't give a damn about the people in it. I wasn't going to make any difference if I kept contradicting myself.
I passed a building which seemed to be bursting with people. It had to be a bar, from the music to the sounds inside I could just tell this place served alcohol. Maybe the man being thrown out the window next to me was also another hint.
I walked in and looked around. People were singing, dancing, yelling, and fighting. My guess was right. I walked up to the counter and sat on a crooked seat. The bartender came up to me. "What'll ya have?"
"Anything hard."
Before I could blink twice, he slapped a thick glass down in front of me. I took a swig and practically coughed up a lung. I felt like I just swallowed liquid fire! My throat was burning beyond description. The bartender laughed. "Good stuff, huh?"
I opened my mouth to talk, but nothing came out. I only shook my head for an emphasized 'yes.' Hey, it was the truth. Anything that hurt that bad HAD to be good.
"Ha, ha! Now that's a boy. Drink up, it's good for the soul."
After clearing my throat a couple hundred times, I responded. "Good for the soul, maybe...The body may have to disagree."
"Heh, the body won't give a damn as you're passed out on the ground."
"Touché.."
"Touch what now?"
I laughed. "Nothing, forget it....Hey, would you happen to know were the Crimson Shadows are?"
The man was almost appalled by my question. "Why do you care?"
"Ha, I don't. I'm just asking so I can stay as faaar away as possible."
"You not just pullin my leg, son?"
"Listen, I'm crazy not stupid. I was just curious....God if you don't care then don't tell me."
He paused for a second then gave me the info I needed. "They're on the south end of the station. You can't miss the place. It's the only building people are running away from, and if need be, just follow the screaming."
Man, didn't this place sound like a wonderland. I just couldn't wait to go there.... "Oh man, don't you guys try to stop them or something?"
"Stop them? Son, they control this whole friggen place. There's nothing we can do. Nothing can help us, so we just try and go on with our horrid lives."
"That's pitiful. You just lie down and get stepped on? Don't you want to be free from this crap? To live without fear? No, you obvious don't if you can't fight for yourselves. Waiting for someone to come and rescue you is just a wasted fairy tale."
I got up and left the bar. I meant every word I said to him, you have to be able to fight for yourself. It's just basic human nature. You can't hope for others to back you up....I stopped in my tracks. What was I saying? I relied on people my whole life....But, I still thought fending for yourself was the only way to live. Why was I so hypocritical? If I expected people to act by themselves, I should do no less. This wasn't right, I'm not leader material. I say one thing but do another. I have to change my thought...I HAVE to! I need one thing to reach for, one goal, one object to keep my mind right. 'saving the galaxy' isn't enough. That sounded like some mission objective, just another detached assignment. This had to be personal to me, I had to believe what I was fighting for....Maybe I should stop thinking to myself so much at random moments.
I walked south, far south. I was walking for what seemed hours. Hell, maybe it was hours. But I finally got there, this big building with no windows in it at all. It was also the only thing it this whole place that wasn't broken. Every square inch of this tower was perfectly aligned with itself. Nothing was out of place.
As I drew closer, a man in some kind of black and red uniform came up to me. "What business do you have here???"
"Who me? Why do you care?"
"You're in the Crimson Shadow's territory! The penalty without permission is death!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa.So you're going to shoot me?"
"Absolutely!" He took a rifle from his arm and pointed it towards me.
Too bad for him he had to get the thing off his shoulder to aim it at me right. Quick Silver was out in a second flat, two bullets flying before he even saw the weapon. I holstered my weapon and 'borrowed' his rifle along with an extra magazine.
I had to move quickly, guards were pouring out of the door to see what the shooting was about....And that dead body was helping me out any.
I turned the corner of the building. I heard one guard yell that Sam was dead. Now they were on the look out for an armed intruder and to use any and all excessive force. Just great, now what was I going to do? I snuck around the back of the building. There were other compounds behind it, this building wasn't the only part of the base. Maybe it's main part but not the only...
I continued to sneak around until I reached a smaller building labeled 'Research and Design.' I peered through a window, I saw nothing much darkness. There was one light way in the back but it didn't shine on anything specific.
I started to wonder why the sirens weren't going off, I just killed a guard, shouldn't they be more alert?
HOLY CRAP! What was that!? I turned around to see where the voice came from.
I shook my head. The voice wasn't coming from around me, it was coming from WITHIN me. It was from inside my mind. But how, that's not possible?
"Where are you?!" I yelled, not knowing if it would even help.
This was so whacked....How do I even speak with my mind?
What? How did he know my name?
You Bastard! How did he know? This was so confusing. I didn't want to find Tim in the first place! Crap, Jess is in trouble!! If you hurt them I swear...
No! Stay away from Jess and Mel!
What? Bec?
That was my last thought. A hard object made some serious contact with the back of my skull. I was out quicker then a candle in the ocean.
-----------*-----------------------*-------------------*--------------*----- -------------*----------
Author's note: This was really not one of my better chapters. I was just all over the place with this one. But I just had writer's block so this is the best I could think of. It's not serious writer's block though, I just couldn't think of a good way for Strife to get captured. I really wish there was more I could do to this but to be honest....I'm thinking things up for this story AS I each chapter. For instance, I have no FRIGGEN idea how Jess and Mel are going to survive, I don't know if they're going to find Tim or anything like that. I just think of it when I get to that specific part....
Ok, not a lot to say this time, I'm really out of it....Enjoy the chapter if you can.
"Good reading equals good times." I'm out.
Melfina's tube shrank back into the floor and a moment later a fully clothed Mel came back out. "Since the coordinates are set I am free to move about the ship."
Wow, she answered a question that I didn't even care about. I asked her how long it would take to get there. She said at least four hours. I sighed, four hours?! I was going to go insane. This was the only part I hated about flying through space. The time it took to get from one place to another.
Well, there was only one thing for me to do and that was to go take a nap. Jess thought I was crazy, saying how we've been up for only an hour and now I want to take a nap. Well, it's better then just sitting here.
I went off to my room and fell on the bed, looking up at the ceiling. Gillium's soda can body was hanging on a rail like some kind of decoration.
"Would you like me to inform you upon our arrival?" It's voice said through the little robot.
"No, it's ok. I'll probably be up by then anyways."
"Ok, just checking."
The tiny robot propelled itself along the rail and out of my room. Finally, I was alone.... Still looking up at the ceiling, I wondered what exactly I was going to do when I got to this station. The money and weapons never left my mind but would Jess and Mel be able to protect themselves in some run-down place like Mezadye? They were going to drag me around with them, I could already see that coming....But maybe that was a good thing. Yeah, it was! They were looking for this kid, which in turn means they're looking for this Trak guy. If I followed them I would be lead right to all the things I wanted!! Yes!!!!
Now, what about this kid? What am I going to do about him? Jess is going to get suspicious if my feelings for finding this punk suddenly vanished. Oh, I know! I could tell everyone to split up so we can find him quicker! Then I can go off and find everything I want!
Ok, I have all the weapons and money with me. Now what? How about find Jess and Mel and tell them that I just saw the brat killed. Na, that wont work. She'll just get over emotional or something. But she's not going to leave without him....Grr, I really see no point in Jess saving him. We bring him back safe and sound then they' go off and kidnap him again, we'd make no difference. Not only that but now they would hate us for helping this family. This really sucked, we were in over our heads.
Sure I've been against the odds before but I had good help, people I could rely on. I barely knew Jess and I could already tell Melfina was not a fighter. If I did but heads with these guys, I'd be by myself. Maybe if this was some movie or TV show, I could stand a chance....But this was real life, they could take as much pain as I could. One bullet ends anybody's life, mine included.
I would just have to play it by ear, then. What ever happens, happens. My reinsurance didn't do any reinsuring, I was still as nervous as ever. I shook my head. What was I thinking? If I planned to change this whole galaxy then I was going to have to fight the odds every second, even by myself if need be.
My plan was set, I was going to go in there and grab everything I needed. Jess obviously would find the kid, making us their new enemies. I take my newly obtained weapons to blow that whole friggen station sky high. It worked out perfectly....On paper anyways. The real thing would be much, MUCH harder.
A ding came from the speaker in my room followed by Jess's voice. "Strife, you still awake?"
"Yeah why?"
"We're almost there."
My eyebrows shot up "Are you serious? I've only been in my room for like....Ten minutes!"
"Uh, no you haven't you've been in there for about three hours. We thought you fell asleep so we didn't bother you. Hurry up and get to the bridge."
No way, I thought. Three hours? It didn't seem like it at all. Time flies as you're thinking about the biggest potential fight your like, I guess.
I got up to the bridge and sat in the pilot's seat. Melfina was back in her tube, telling me to look at the front screen.
I looked out the window and saw our destination. Mezadye. It was just floating there, just as plain as can be. As I stared on I thought we were in the wrong place. That seemed too peaceful a place to be a fighting- ravaged space station.
It was it though, a screen popped up in front of the window showing a man's face. "You guys coming in here?"
I was confused by his question. "What do you mean?"
"Mezadye! Are you coming into Mezadye?"
God, this was the welcome party for people coming into Mezadye? I sighed, at least it started feeling more like the kind of station it's rep made it out to be. Whether that's a good thing was to be decided.
"Uh, yeah. We're coming in."
"Kay, hang on a sec."
A large gate opened under the station, this must've been the bay for holding ships. Mel brought the ship trough the gate, arms came from the walls and gripped onto the hull. For a second I thought we were being attacked but it was just to hold us in place as we connected to the dock.
"Well, operation 'find little Timmy' in progress." I said as we exited the Outlaw Star.
The whole place was degusting. Nothing was clean, it was either rusted or bent or covered in some kind of garbage. A large man in overalls came over to me. "You want us to fix 'er up?"
"No, no. That's fine. Just leave "'er" alone. We're not staying long."
He sighed. "No one ever does..." After said, he walked off.
I shook my head and turned to Jess. She was too busy talking to Mel to care about me. They were figuring out how to track down this kid. Soon, their discussion was over and Jess told me the plan.
"Strife, you're going to go out somewhere and make a big ruckus. After awhile people are going to come and take you to the main base. As this is happening We'll be following you. After you're in you look for Tim while we wait for you."
Oh no, no, no. This was not going to happen. Was she insane?! "What?! Hell no! First off, they're not going to 'take me away' They're going to SHOOT me!! Did you ever think of that? These people would rather pack me full of lead then take me in! But let's say by some GREAT miracle, they don't kill me and bring me to the base. How am I going to find this kid? If I try to make any chance to run away, They'll kill me! Notice how everything reverts back to death? Not only that but you two aren't even going to DO anything! Just wait for me to get out! No, Jess this isn't going to happen."
She scowled at me. "Then how do you propose we find these people?"
"Ask around! It's not like their base is hidden!"
"But what if they get suspicious! They might call these 'Crimson shadows' and hunt us down. Hell, they may even think we're looking for Tim and kill him early!"
"Jess, you're not good at thinking up plans, are you?"
She paused for a moment. A LONG moment. "Not really, usually Gene and my dad think of something. But hey, mine was good!"
"No, it wasn't.....It's what I would call.....VERY BAD!"
"Ok then, what's YOUR plan?!"
"To get as much info on these guys as possible. The only way to get that is by asking around. So I'm going to go around, find hang outs, and ask as many people what these Crimson Shadows are all about. I also fit into the crowds, I'll look less suspicious. If you guys want, you can stay with the Outlaw Star and get some info with Gillium. As for me, I'm out of here."
Jess tried to stop me but I ignored her. She was not good at these kinds of things. Might as well leave it to myself. Man, my plan was falling apart already.
The town was just was bad as the bay. The buildings were trashed, sidewalks and roads broken with jagged pieces sticking up here and there. Even the people were messed up, wearing ragged clothes, with dirtied faces. Maybe if I was softer, I would have cared about all the people around me. How bad their lives must be. But to be honest, I didn't care. I've seen this thing too many times, and every time it was all the same. Broken people with dead- end lives. Nothing would change this so why care? After awhile I saw the irony in my beliefs. I wanted to change the galaxy but I didn't give a damn about the people in it. I wasn't going to make any difference if I kept contradicting myself.
I passed a building which seemed to be bursting with people. It had to be a bar, from the music to the sounds inside I could just tell this place served alcohol. Maybe the man being thrown out the window next to me was also another hint.
I walked in and looked around. People were singing, dancing, yelling, and fighting. My guess was right. I walked up to the counter and sat on a crooked seat. The bartender came up to me. "What'll ya have?"
"Anything hard."
Before I could blink twice, he slapped a thick glass down in front of me. I took a swig and practically coughed up a lung. I felt like I just swallowed liquid fire! My throat was burning beyond description. The bartender laughed. "Good stuff, huh?"
I opened my mouth to talk, but nothing came out. I only shook my head for an emphasized 'yes.' Hey, it was the truth. Anything that hurt that bad HAD to be good.
"Ha, ha! Now that's a boy. Drink up, it's good for the soul."
After clearing my throat a couple hundred times, I responded. "Good for the soul, maybe...The body may have to disagree."
"Heh, the body won't give a damn as you're passed out on the ground."
"Touché.."
"Touch what now?"
I laughed. "Nothing, forget it....Hey, would you happen to know were the Crimson Shadows are?"
The man was almost appalled by my question. "Why do you care?"
"Ha, I don't. I'm just asking so I can stay as faaar away as possible."
"You not just pullin my leg, son?"
"Listen, I'm crazy not stupid. I was just curious....God if you don't care then don't tell me."
He paused for a second then gave me the info I needed. "They're on the south end of the station. You can't miss the place. It's the only building people are running away from, and if need be, just follow the screaming."
Man, didn't this place sound like a wonderland. I just couldn't wait to go there.... "Oh man, don't you guys try to stop them or something?"
"Stop them? Son, they control this whole friggen place. There's nothing we can do. Nothing can help us, so we just try and go on with our horrid lives."
"That's pitiful. You just lie down and get stepped on? Don't you want to be free from this crap? To live without fear? No, you obvious don't if you can't fight for yourselves. Waiting for someone to come and rescue you is just a wasted fairy tale."
I got up and left the bar. I meant every word I said to him, you have to be able to fight for yourself. It's just basic human nature. You can't hope for others to back you up....I stopped in my tracks. What was I saying? I relied on people my whole life....But, I still thought fending for yourself was the only way to live. Why was I so hypocritical? If I expected people to act by themselves, I should do no less. This wasn't right, I'm not leader material. I say one thing but do another. I have to change my thought...I HAVE to! I need one thing to reach for, one goal, one object to keep my mind right. 'saving the galaxy' isn't enough. That sounded like some mission objective, just another detached assignment. This had to be personal to me, I had to believe what I was fighting for....Maybe I should stop thinking to myself so much at random moments.
I walked south, far south. I was walking for what seemed hours. Hell, maybe it was hours. But I finally got there, this big building with no windows in it at all. It was also the only thing it this whole place that wasn't broken. Every square inch of this tower was perfectly aligned with itself. Nothing was out of place.
As I drew closer, a man in some kind of black and red uniform came up to me. "What business do you have here???"
"Who me? Why do you care?"
"You're in the Crimson Shadow's territory! The penalty without permission is death!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa.So you're going to shoot me?"
"Absolutely!" He took a rifle from his arm and pointed it towards me.
Too bad for him he had to get the thing off his shoulder to aim it at me right. Quick Silver was out in a second flat, two bullets flying before he even saw the weapon. I holstered my weapon and 'borrowed' his rifle along with an extra magazine.
I had to move quickly, guards were pouring out of the door to see what the shooting was about....And that dead body was helping me out any.
I turned the corner of the building. I heard one guard yell that Sam was dead. Now they were on the look out for an armed intruder and to use any and all excessive force. Just great, now what was I going to do? I snuck around the back of the building. There were other compounds behind it, this building wasn't the only part of the base. Maybe it's main part but not the only...
I continued to sneak around until I reached a smaller building labeled 'Research and Design.' I peered through a window, I saw nothing much darkness. There was one light way in the back but it didn't shine on anything specific.
I started to wonder why the sirens weren't going off, I just killed a guard, shouldn't they be more alert?
HOLY CRAP! What was that!? I turned around to see where the voice came from.
I shook my head. The voice wasn't coming from around me, it was coming from WITHIN me. It was from inside my mind. But how, that's not possible?
"Where are you?!" I yelled, not knowing if it would even help.
This was so whacked....How do I even speak with my mind?
What? How did he know my name?
You Bastard! How did he know? This was so confusing. I didn't want to find Tim in the first place! Crap, Jess is in trouble!! If you hurt them I swear...
No! Stay away from Jess and Mel!
What? Bec?
That was my last thought. A hard object made some serious contact with the back of my skull. I was out quicker then a candle in the ocean.
-----------*-----------------------*-------------------*--------------*----- -------------*----------
Author's note: This was really not one of my better chapters. I was just all over the place with this one. But I just had writer's block so this is the best I could think of. It's not serious writer's block though, I just couldn't think of a good way for Strife to get captured. I really wish there was more I could do to this but to be honest....I'm thinking things up for this story AS I each chapter. For instance, I have no FRIGGEN idea how Jess and Mel are going to survive, I don't know if they're going to find Tim or anything like that. I just think of it when I get to that specific part....
Ok, not a lot to say this time, I'm really out of it....Enjoy the chapter if you can.
"Good reading equals good times." I'm out.