Thanks for the reviews I'm just having a bit of fun with this one
Harper flipped the ship on its side as a piece of debris nearly decapitated the Maru.
Agio, in hot pursuit, copied his move. "What the hell was that?" Agio's image reappeared on the communications screen. "You're done for now boy! That hunk of junk you're flying is coming apart at the seams!"
"Hey!" Harper retorted angrily. "That wasn't the Maru! I noticed some debris before but I thought we were clear of it."
"If this is sometime of trick, Kludge…"
"Hey Agio, if you aren't up for it I'll just take my winnings and go…"
"Don't make me laugh! I could out fly you in my sleep!"
"Ah, shut up will ya! You're distracting me and I'm busy kicking your butt."
Just as soon as Harper flipped the Comms off again he noticed another twenty pieces of space junk headed directly for him. He cranked the pilot's yokes violently and avoided some of the crap; only half of it still managed to bounce off the hull. A loud scraping noise filled the ship as a particularly big piece dragged itself lengthwise down the ship.
"Crap, Crap, Crap; Beka's going to kill me!"
Harper twisted the ship continuously, avoiding debris and cutting off the pompous over grown Nietzschean every time he tried to pass him.
Again, another large piece was heading for him; this time it was aiming directly for the Eureka Maru's Command Deck. "Oh, Boy!" Harper pulled the ship in to a sharp dive. He spared a quick glance up as the giant chunk of metal squeaked by. That looked like a slipstream core. Then another thought occurred to him but it was just a second to late, as about a dozen ships came in to view. That stupid Nietzchean had just raced him in to a battlefield. Even worse some sort of Sabra territorial dispute!
Harper pulled the Maru up sharply in a vain attempt to turn around and run before he was noticed. The only luck he was going to have today was bad luck though. A loud voice blared through the Maru's speakers.
"Attention Drago ships! Power down immediately and you will not be terminated."
Harper flipped on the view screen and waved his arms frantically. "No, No, No I'm not with him! I'm just a worthless Kludge, minding my own business. You don't want me!"
"Power down now, Slave!
Crap, this day just was just not going well. "Okay, relax, everyone just stay calm. Zen… You Niets ever study Zen? I'm just reaching for the off switch…" Harper sidled slowly towards the weapons controls. "I just need to flip this one switch and…YOU CAN KISS MY ASS!"
Harper opened fire. He new the forward weapons weren't working right. And he didn't have a death wish by firing on a full squadron of Sabra fighters. Harper relied on the one thing he knew he was good at, engineering. He knew since the Delron Bolts were malfunctioning earlier they would stick and smoke. It was the perfect cover for him to get away. He leapt for the pilot's seat and spun the Maru in a tight circle. The smoke screen worked like a charm, for a few seconds. But that dumb idiot Agio was blocking his exit. The control's slipped from his hands as the Maru bucked in complaint from the sudden spin.
Agio's ship proved to be the one piece of space junk he was unable to avoid as the Maru seem to jump forward of its own accord.
"Gah!" He screamed just as everything went black.
Cold. The first thing he became aware of was cold. Did cold mean he wasn't dead? He blinked his eyes open hesitatingly. He was on his back gazing up at the amazing star field above his head. Wait a minute something wasn't right. He was in the Maru. Crap! Oh No Beka really was going to kill him this time. He looked up at the stars up through a giant hole in the Maru's hull. I'm going to need more parts.
He must have crashed. But how the hell did he end up on a planet? Slowly he got to his feet. The back of his head thumped in time to his heart beat and his right knee twinged sharply and threatened to give out. Great just what I needed. He complained bitterly to himself about the injuries. In reality he was damn lucky it wasn't worse. He half hopped, half walked to the air lock avoiding the damaged connectors that sparked around him. As he surveyed the damage to the outside of the Maru the sun began to set, casting strange shadows through the nearby trees.
Harper let out a low whistle as what must have happened became slowly evident. When the Maru crashed in to Agio's hunk of junk, by sheer force the two ships became fused. Agio still tried to make a run for it no doubt, but the extra weight would have really thrown off his navigation controls. Agio had crash-landed them both on some planet. Harper ran a hand over his face in attempt to clear his mind and assess what he needed to do.
Agio seemed to be nowhere around. But that didn't surprise Harper much. He had probably taken off the first chance he got. He would need to find a hiding spot himself, for tonight at least. No doubt the Sabra would be looking for them and the Maru, combined as it was with Agio's ship, stuck out like a landing beacon. Besides, he had to find parts for repairs anyways. Maybe there was a Neit free village somewhere near by? There was no way he was going to let Beka know he destroyed her Baby without at least trying to fix it first.
So his only real choice was to find a place to sleep other than the Maru tonight. In the morning he would have to scout out if the Sabra had followed them, then find parts.
Harper glanced around slowly. They seemed to have crashed in to some sort of small clearing. He would have to hide somewhere in the bush for the night. Not too close, as he would be easy to find. Not too far as he could easily get lost.
Sure, he grew up on a planet; sure he had great survival skills. IN THE GHETTO! Magog were in the woods. You didn't go in to the woods! Ever! People who went in the trees didn't come back! He rubbed his hands briskly up and down his bare arms in an attempt to ward off a sudden chill. Staring in to the darkening trees and the growing shadows he was reminded of a song that Brendan used to tease him with when they were kids. And now he couldn't shake the song from brain.
If you go down in the woods today,
You're sure of a big surprise.
If you go down in the woods today,
You'd better go in disguise.
For every kid that ever there was
Will be gathered there for certain because
Today's the day the Magog have their picnic.
Every Magog who's been hungry
Is sure of a treat today.
There's lots of marvelous things to eat
And wonderful games to play.
Beneath the trees where nobody sees
They'll hide and seek as long as they please
'Cause that's the way the Magog have their picnic.
If you go down in the woods today,
You'd better not go alone.
It's lovely down in the woods today,
But safer to stay at home.
For every Kid that ever there was
Will be gathered there for certain because
Today's the day the Magog have their picnic.
Picnic time for Magog...
The little Magog are having a lovely time today.
Watch them, or you will be caught unawares,
And see them picnic on their holiday.
See them happily grunt about.
They love to play and shout.
They never have any care.
At six o'clock your Mummies and Daddies
Will be at home to cry,
because, today's the day the Magog have their picnic.
Harper took a deep breath as he stepped forward. Old dry leaves crunched like shattered bones beneath his feet. It had been a long day and apparently it was going to be an even longer night.
TBC