Chapter 14

Derk's POV

I split off from the others and towards the Starport, which was a big building that was shaped like a triangle. It had a circular plate that moved up and down on the top. It had three legs that came out from underneath it that held the building up. Great I cannot believe Rod misplaced that charge. Now we all have to pay for it.

"Hey Derk where do you think you're going?" Leary asked.

"What does it matter to you?" I replied angrily. Why does that jerk have to worry about everyone but himself?

"Because I want to make sure that you—"

"Of course I'm still going to be on guard duty! How the heck do you think I could get out of it?!" I yelled back annoyed.

"Alright fine," Leary replied. "Don't get your pants in a knot."

But I was too far to care what he said. I stopped outside the entrance to the Starport. I never usually go in here. This may be awkward, but I want to see Jenny. I took another step forward and went inside.

There were several Viking pilots leaning against the wall talking. Weird to say but I had always admired them. They had a huge amount of skill being able to master the air and the ground; and when they transform to a plane from the ground mech unit it is pretty impressive. The twisting metal could crush an inexperienced pilot. And of course they are very trustworthy and dedicated.

They would go into the hardest missions, even when death was inevitable. They gained respect from everybody. Unlike hellions, who were disliked because of their eager to kill everything. Which were different from the Vikings who went into battle for their fellow comrades. They had something to fight for.

I nodded towards them and got a wave back. I headed past the raven pilots, who just scared me. Ravens were slower planes that shot hunter seeker missiles. The seeker missiles were round. They followed their target until in a range where they could immediately fly into them at mass amounts of speed. Causing an explosion that would eradicate everything around it.

Ravens could also drop auto turrets. Point defense drones were the third thing the ravens deployed. It was a defensive structure that would float in the air and shoot a laser at any missiles or enemy firing that could be happening.

Even though the ravens had their uses, I still did not like their pilots much most of which were cyborgs, or had some piece of wiring coming out of their heads. They talked in mechanical voices and didn't make sense have the time. You could be a raven pilot if you wanted, but most don't like hanging around them.

I continued on until I reached the place I wanted to be. And also the place I was kind of afraid to be, the banshee's. I walked up to a small group of them three or four. Some turned and smiled at me. Others rolled their eyes and stepped away.

"Hello, have any of you seen Jenny?" I asked awkwardly. A couple giggled.

"Yes, but she isn't here right now." The first one said.

"Where is she?" I asked very bluntly. They were obviously enjoying themselves.

"I don't know. Why do you care?" The second one asked, smiling. She looked me up and down.

"I want to talk with her." I said, folding my arms.

"Why would a big muscular stud like yourself want with a pretty young pilot?"

"You guys are being absolutely ridicules," I said face palming. The girls laughed.

"Okay, okay she went for a ride, that's all. She will be back in about ten minutes." A black haired girl said. "If you ask her nicely she might take you on a ride."

The girl winked at me. I rolled my eyes, and headed back to the supply depots. At the last second I heard them say something like "Aw he so cute, Jenny's lucky." I couldn't help but smile. Of course I didn't want to be considered cute, more like dangerous, strong, stealthy… but it was a compliment nonetheless, I walked outside noticing Jenny making her way toward the Starport.

"Hey, Jenny" I called to her. She turned and smiled at me.

"Hey Derk." She said. "What's up? I see your back, do you need something?"

"Well if you put it that way, I have guard duty tonight as punishment for not bringing any biomass back, so I guess I was just looking for some company before I have to go."

"Aw, well then." Jenny replied. "Let's go for a ride."

My mouth dropped and my heart stopped.

"Y-y-you want t-to, go no a ride with me?" I asked stupidly. Well that quick. Why do I act like this around her? Was all my training for nothing?

"Yeah?" She said raising an eyebrow. "Why not, were friends?"

"Oh, yeah of course! I just thought you were busy." I said rubbing the back of my head, in embarrassment.

"Huh, yeah right. Busy here? I get so bored I want to go pick a fight the Zerg." Jenny laughed, turning and heading to her parked banshee. "Alright, let's go then."

"O-okay," I said, hurrying after her. She opened the hatch and we both got in. She sat in the pilot seat and I took a seat next to her. She put on her headset and smiled at me. She turned away and started up the motor. She looked back and then I noticed I had been staring at her.

"Are you going to sit there and stare at me or are you going to put your headset on?" I quickly looked away and put it on.

"Heh, sorry," I said as she laughed and lifted up the banshee. "So when do I get to drive."

"Pff," she huffed. "When you go get training and become a banshee pilot."

"Aw come on now, it can't be that difficult." I replied.

"No it isn't, but I don't want to get sacked by Plank."

"Oh, please, as long as you're not shooting your own men, Plank doesn't care what we do in our free time."

"Mr. Plank trusts us, and we cannot keep that trust if we are doing what we know we shouldn't be." She said flying up and over the houses.

"Okay, okay. Only because you we have a goodie goodie over here." I said, chuckling.

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" Jenny asked glaring at me.

"Heh, I'm just kidding ya," I said, nudging her arm. She flew up and over a church steeple, then descended lower to the ground. She continued to hover above the houses and would occasionally turn around. After sitting down in an awkward silence I finally spoke up.

"So is this as fast as the thing can go?" I asked

"Huh, you serious?" She huffed, pushing a lever forward. The aircraft suddenly flung ahead. I was thrown into the back of my seat. Jenny laughed, swerving to the side, sending my head into the wall. I began to laugh hysterically, until she lifted up on another handle thrusting the ship vertically in the air. I let out a quick gasp.

"Gaah! Heh I think I get the memo," I laughed nervously.

"What? Too much for you?" Jenny said, obviously amused.

"Nah, heh. I just think we can, you know… slow down a bit." I said.

"Slow down? Oh heck we aren't anywhere near top speed." She snickered. Jenny unexpectedly swerved the Banshee straight down.

"Oh flip," I said putting my hand on my forehead. Jenny laughed shoving the lever forward. Every nerve in my body was immediately thrown to the back of my head. The ground began to draw closer and closer, as we dropped. I turned to see Jenny smirking at me. It was hard to keep the sudden fear off my face. I looked back to see our base become bigger and bigger, until finally at the last second she drew back on a pedal and lifted the Banshee away from the surface. I sighed in relief.

"Ha, wasn't that fun?" Jenny said. I let out a long and heavy breath. Jenny turned back to me. "Oh come on now, you go driving in those Hellions which are loads faster than this thing. Sometimes I think you guys are going to get yourselves killed."

"Flying and driving are two different things," I said, slowly relaxing my shoulders as she came to a landing.

I took another deep breath and stepped out of the Banshee. My head was thumping and as I was taking another step I tripped on my own feet. Regaining my balance I swung my hands out franticly until coming into contact with something solid. I grabbed this thing to keep me from falling over. I turned my head and saw Jenny holding her arm out, which I was grasping very tightly to. She looked back at me with a smirk on her face.

"Wow Derk, you're romantic," She said sarcastically. I quickly let go and blushed deeply under my mask. I smiled and walked off awkwardly.

"Hey," Jenny called. I turned around quickly. "I had fun."

"Yeah, thanks," I replied. I watched her stride off toward the Starport where some Vikings greeted her. I felt a quick jolt of jealousy, but then I realized that I had just spent a good amount of time with her. So I shrugged it off and strolled off towards the ghost academy.

"Hey Derk!" a voice called. Ugh, can I please just get ten minutes to rest! I turned toward the person yelling my name "What!"

"I wanted to find out how your little date went," Ben replied, putting his arm around me. "I only wish you good fortune."

Ben squeezed me into his side with his muscular arm.

"You know I'm sure that Jenny is real fond of you. I've come to realize that. And I want you to know that I have given up." Ben said, letting go of me and raising his arms in the air.

"Bull crap," I said then stalked off in a different direction.

"Hmph, well then," Ben huffed. "Rest well cup cake."

I stopped walking. Anger started to boil inside me. I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists. How dare he?! I began to turn, but stopped once again. I relaxed and continued to the academy. I was going to get a good night's sleep even if Ben would continue to harass me.

"Don't forget, you have guard duty!" Ben yelled behind me. I almost lost it. Gaah! Seriously! I could hear Ben and his cronies laughing at me. I continued to march off towards the Academy.

After grabbing a couple things out of my momentary room, I walked passed Tenny, and the others. They appeared to be deciding where each one would be posted. They turned to me and invited me over. I continued to stroll away, ignoring them. What was the point of having so many guards? It was very unlikely for the Zerg to attack anytime soon. And it doesn't take a whole army to alert the camp. Especially when the whole army are the ones guarding it!

I approached the south end of our base, where the two bunkers sat. I could hear voices from inside the bunkers laughing. As I sat down on a large boulder I heard several dirty jokes take place. Huh, typical marines. Why should I expect any less?

I ignored them and looked out into the dark street. While I sat, I noticed lights from inside houses start to turn off. I began to relax. If I am going to sit here all night and do nothing might as well make the most of it. Suddenly my psionic senses perked up. Someone was approaching, from behind.

I sat still expecting Leary to march up and attempt to scold me for ignoring them earlier.

"Hey, what's up man," I heard Tenny say.

"Eh," I muttered. I wasn't in the mood to talk to him right now. His positive attitude was contagious.

"So… What do you think will happen tomorrow?" He asked. I paused for a moment, pondering on what a stupid conversation opener that was.

"Eh," I responded.

"Well, okay," Tenny replied, sitting next to me. "You know if we ask real nice, we might be able to get us transferred to Nartes."
I rolled my head in his direction, and was about to respond with a sarcastic response when Tenny interrupted me.

"Now wait and think for a minute," Tenny began. "Hear me out. We have a good argument. Seriously look at our situation. No sign of Zerg activity appears to be happening, and we have over four ghosts here. That's absolutely unnecessary; we can explain this to him and ask for a transfer."

"Yeah, and you know what he'll do?" I asked rudely, angered by his stupidity. "He's going to rub his chin, agree with us, and transfer all of the ghosts except us. Ben is the last person to let us off easy."

"Well, I'm not too sure, Ben likes Jenny doesn't he?" Tenny questioned. Hope began to rise in my chest. "So why won't he want to get rid of you?"

"Hmm that makes sense," I reassured myself. But to no avail, my heart sank. "Yeah, but—"

"Oh, come on Derk, you'll see your girlfriend again."

"Yeah, maybe. If Ben doesn't—"

"Oh, please, you really think Jenny has any sort of interest in him?" Tenny asked. I fell silent, deciding between what was more important to me. "And plus Derk… well I don't know how to put this kindly, but it's not easy to bring up a relationship and be a ghost at the same time. In fact it's almost impossible."

"Hmmph," I huffed, why did Tenny always have to be right. We sat in silence for a while. My thoughts began to wonder. Why do I have these feelings for her? I am a ghost; I am not supposed to feel these emotions. It goes against everything I have been taught in the Academy. Ugh! This is what happens when you take breaks from combat. You get soft… I have to get back on the front lines. My emotions have to be hardened. I have to become a real ghost again. Even if it means seeing friends die. Even if it means… forgetting about Jenny.

"Okay, fine," I said, breaking the silence. "Tomorrow… we go back to Nartes."