Chapter 14

Cpt. Deganhardt /// Last stop infarmary

Pain flooded through Pyotrs system, his eyes fluttered open as he stared at the white lit tile above him. His head was swimming as he pulled himself up looking over himself for the second time today. His cybernetic arm was missing, probably removed due to damage. His chest had a reinforced case around it to stop him from overworking it. Everything else just hurt, but it wasnt missing at least. Sighing in relief he slid back down to a resting position. He checked the clock next to him, looks like he had only been out for an hour or so.

He rolls over and stares at something that looks like a cross between a ball of yarn and a sea slug. It takes him a few moments as his brain catches up with his instincts.

“OH FUCK.” Pyotor rallies, launching himself from the bed towards the unarmed Djikition.

He didn't make it far as his cracked ribs flare in response to the sudden stress, and he collapsed to the ground.

“For fucks sake, i just patched you up you asshole.” the doctor chided rushing over too the downed captain.

“What the fuck doc you put me next to a squid!” Pyotor retorted.

“Hes more fucked up then you and i had no where to put him in all that fucking armor. So yea Pyotr hippocratic oath and all that.”

“That shit died with earth”

“You and i both know earth ain’t dead… least not full dead, means the oath is still good”

Pyotor just stayed silent, he tended to forget despite it all, that Earth was still alive, just mutated and broken… like him.

Fuck what was with this melancholy bullshit, starting to become a real fucking drag. Instead of focusing on that he returned his focus back to the doctor

“Hey you gonna get me a new arm?”

“Soon as insurance comes through, I know you like to customize it, you got the specs?”

Pyotr shot a tight beam over to the doc who took it out and checked the schematics before nodding. “It'll take a few hours but the nanites will be done about the time I finish the arm.”

“Alright, and seriously don't skimp on the arm, i need it up to spec, ill even cover the cost if you need me too.”

“Noted, anyways now i gotta wake up tall, slimy, and filled with holes over there. Are you gonna behave or should i just sedate you and save myself the trouble?”

“Fuck off… fine ill be chill” Pyotr said in his weak attempt to rebel.

The doc walked over and stuck a needle into the squids fleshy middle. With a start the thing flailed around for a moment before calming. The Doc pulled up a box like translator and held it up to his mouth as he spoke.

“Your safe, in our medical care, can you hear me?”

The ingrown hair meatball nodded. Fucking disgusting.

“Alright, you have nanites flowing through your body, they'll patch you up, but between that, and the bloodloss you've already suffered and the missing limbs it'll be slow going for a bit, so try to rest.”

“Pyotr, dont you dare start any shit, you both are my patients you understand.” a single flash of murderous intent crossed the doctor's face.

“I got ya doc, i got ya, but if he starts anything i can fuck him up right?”

“For fucks sake… yes i guess so if he finds your existence that revolting fine go ahead.” the doctor said, exasperated.

“Alright ill be gone for a few hours, if you need anything please press this button here.” the doc said to the squid pointing to the nurse button on the bed.

As the doctor walked out Pyotors worse instincts took over and he just couldn't stop himself. He turned his head towards the squid, “so rough day?”

The squid replied in its phlemy dialect which his T translated for him to put up on the screen.

“Heretical filth talking to me now, what else can this day bring?”

Huh thats a new one, T how would i say, got a funny way of asking for help.

“Pyotr, seriously dont.”

“T… how would i say it?”

T went quite after that probably annoyed at how much of an asshoel he was being, he couldnt blame her. A moment later the phonetic pronunciations appeared in his mind and he smiled. T however reached out through her link and said, “Pyotr don't, there's no way this ends well.”

Ignoring her warning Pyotor with as much bile as he could muster turned and asked the squid in its own tongue.

The response wasn’t immediate but Pyotors hair stood on end, he knew what that freaky psychic superpowers feel like so he knew he had gotten to the squid, but surprisingly there was no response. The electricity hung in the air for a moment before slowly sputtering out, in truth Pyotr was impressed, a squid with restraint never seen that before.

A series of strained constricted words that were quickly translated in Pyotrs mind

“If we had known your entire species wanted us dead, I think we wouldn't have come in the first place.”

Pyotr reached back to T, and got a translation before responding “oh im sorry, should i be bowing and scrapping to you walking sea herpes.

Another gurgel “you shouldn't speak this way too your betters.”

“Fuck my betters, everytime someone uses that phrase all their really sayin is how little they actually are.”

“Oh what a pathetic little worm you are, if not for my ladies honor i would gladly scatter you across the walls.

“Says the guy i put in the hospital with one hit”

“Wasn't your attack that put me here….”

“Uh huh whatever you say shitbird”

Another hum of electricity coursed through the air, but just like before it faded away.

“So why did you sucker punch me?”

“To protect my lady”

“Ok, not really informative there sport, how about why you thought your lady was in danger? It was a business meeting. I know that shits like a warzone on its own but damn that feels extreme.”

“You don't know?”

“No i dont know what i dont know, fucking hell and here i thought yall were smart.”

“You shouldnt be able to exist.”

“Wow fuck you.”

The lights flash briefly as the electricity coursed through the room again.

“Not like that, i mean, your Djikit, it rejects everything it consumes everything like a walking hungering void.”

“So let me get this straight, you sucker punched me cause you thought i was a goth?”

“A what? no … I moved to defend my lady from an obvious threat.”

“Still not seeing how 1+1=2 in this case”

“That kind of presence, its not possible, or at least we thought it wasn't, the ecclesiarchy has even declared those that suggest something like you can exist as blasphemers and heretics. So when we encounter something so utterly toxic to all life, of course we view it as a threat.”

“Well shit now you're calling me toxic too, really winning the popularity contest then.”

The conversation puttered out after that, and Pyotr had closed his eyes resting while the nanites did their work. He started to think about his life, he hated quiet moments like this especially since he had cancer. He couldnt help but think about little bird, or his wife, or his sons fuck he missed them. His reflection was interrupted as the knight turned and asked a pointed question

“Let me ask you, since it seems we have little choice but to be here together, were you about to attack my lady. Or was it as your fixer said and you came to offer assistance”

“Look if you assholes had a job i was gonna take it, still working under the assumption you would hire me, right up until you fucking sucker punched me like a bitch”

The squid went silent at that seeming to be lost in his own thoughts.

Pyotr didn't like the silence but it didn't last long as the squid gurgled up once more.

“What is wrong with you, its like you hate everything.” its question almost an accusation

“I do” Pyotr replied

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“Is that even possible”

“Sure it is, hell it can even be fun sometimes” Pyotr said smiling and turning to his roommate.

Another drawn out pause.

Pyotr could feel this things curiosity, thats twice its risen to ask something despite Pyotrs obvious trolling. Chuckling internally Pyotr decides to see where this will go.

“Why does that bother you, is it so surprising with how you squids treat everyone that maybe just maybe there would be species that hate you.” Pyotr fired off across the bough

“Yes, hatred like yours is a void consuming everything it touches and causing imminent decay. And besides, we have never done anything more than necessary.” replied the knight unsure of Pyortrs sudden response

“Really? That WMD on earth would disagree. You had to know doing that shit is fucked up. Took you for a real soldier not a toy spouting dogma.” taunted Pyotr

“I AM a real soldier, unlike you. As for the descension bombs, is it not a soldiers duty to use everything at their disposal for victory?” swift reply

“Hahaha, you dont believe that and you know it, if you did your minister wouldnt be crying like a fucking newborn, and you wouldnt have sucker punched me.”

“I didn't “sucker punch you” whatever that is” scoffed the knight irritated at the uncommon word

“Sucker punch is when you hit someone not looking for a fight just cause you can.” corrected Pyotr the energy rising higher still.

“Thats not what happened, you were a threat, and i resolved to eliminate threats.”

“Oh you mean when you used a fucking psionic jet pack to slam me into a wall when i thought we were gonna all be civil, yea real honorable by the way.”

Another current streamed out of the squid this one was more intense then previously

“I HAVE HONOR, IT WAS THE HONORABLE MOVE.” his voice echoed off of every corner in the room.

“Only if your delusional, on my home what you did would be considered a war crime”

The current was humming now, Pyotr was ecstatic, he had this idiots achilles heal and he wasn't gonna let go

“Seriously under a banner of peace swinging like that is the move of cowards and assassins.” Pyotr continued.

The lights flickered

“YOU KNOW NOTHING” he was basically bleeding that fucking psionic power now

“Oh don't i, killed plenty of you in the war, stacked the bodies high, then i flew combat marked every kill, and you know what they all had in common? Hmm? They all tried fighting with honor. Thats why you don't have honor isn't it your a survivor, and you know how useless it really is.” Pyotr cut deep with that one as a physical response could be seen the squid flinching under every word.

The silence was painting a better picture than he could ever describe as Pyotr was struggling to keep himself contained. A little bit more and he would have an excuse to put this sack of puss in the ground permanently. Yet the Squid didn't flinch, didn't unleash the crazy jedi shit Pyotr had seen him do, instead again the current dissuades.

“You were in the war? You fought for your home?”

The captain was taken aback by this. He had been working for every asshole with a problem it felt like and they all were self righteous twats, but this fucking cripple was composing himself like a damn saint. Thinking he might be able to get back another way

“Yea i was in the war, and no i didn't fight for my home. It was taken from me, burned down around me. Yea thats what i think of when i think of Squid Honor”

“Was it in a military instillation?”

“Fuck no, quiet little neighborhood middle of nowhere. Assholes just reigned shit thinking we would break.”

Silence again, fuck he might actually have a heart

“For what its worth, im sorry.”

Holy fuck he does have a heart

“Dont be, id kill every last one of you pulsing nutsacks, and have a raging hardon the entire fucking time. You hate us, i hate you, shits mutual like fucking Syphillis”

Another brief pause but the floodgates were open now.

“Why would you do work for things you hate?” the squid questioned

“Cause you fat fucks have money and i need it. Shits not that complicated” Pyotr said dismissively

“That feels like a betrayal of yourself though” pointed out the squid

“Course it fuckin is, but i dont give a shit about honor, or betrayal, all i need is another day” Pyotr said becoming irritated

“So how would any of your clients trust you?” the squid said unrelenting

Pyotr had to stop with that one, he wasn't sure if he could piss him off again, he was asking real question shit he was actually considering Pyotr as more than a stain on the wall.

“Truth is they can't, because I don't care about them, and what i do care about doesn't matter to them. So they aren't trusting me and i'm not trusting them. We're working in a system built to make a trade service for cash. If you cant trust the service then trust that i want something more than to just fuck you over, and the only way to get that is to maintain my contract.” Pyotr didnt like referring to himself in terms akin to a whore but he knew deep down he was one anyways, he just didnt fuck for his dinner.

Pyotr hated this, he had this dude eating out of his hand only a few minutes ago, now he was getting psychoanalyzed by a fucking slice of kalamari.

“That sounds dubious at best and more like a lie, and thats being generous.” the knight said taking a shot

“fine, you want to know why my clients can trust me i mean really trust me… cause i dont care about anyone anymore. i got no reason to like anyone else more than you, so if your paying me and ive already said im gonna do something, then all you gotta trust is it was a fair deal, cause i dont believe any of you self righteous fucking walking brine chunks are worth any more than any of the other douchecannoes out there.” Pyotr shouted back

“That sounds almost magnanimous when you put it that way.” mused the squid

“Course it does im gods gift to the entire fucking universe, so why wouldnt it be magnanimous.” Pyotr responded

“Fucking heretic” the squid muttered under his breath

“Warcriminal cunt” Pyotr returned almost on instinct.before the absurdity of the last few sentences were processed inside of his head.

Then Pyotr started to chuckle, and he heard what could only be described as the sound a choking turtle makes underwater could be heard from the squid.

“Was that a laugh? Holy fuck its like a methadone unicorn” Pyotr said in amazment

“Apologies, your psyche has…. A force to it. I didn't even realize I was doing it.” the squid seemed legitimately repentant

“That happen often? You copying the folks around you? Shit seems annoying.” asked Pyotr

“Not normally no, but between blood loss, and the drugs they have me on, seems my defenses have slipped a bit.” the primus said with a shrug

“Better be careful then, you might enjoy being human.” Pyotr said the same smile returning to his face under his mandables.

“But not like you.” the primus asked

“No, definitely not like me.” Pyotr as much as he hated to admit was starting to like this asshole, he gave as good as he got.

A moment of silence later “So what now?” asked goldy locks

“Bed rest and distractions till the little nanobots running through us finish the job.” Pyotr said reminiscing of his many times here before

“Distractions?” asked the knight

“Yea like games or a video of some kind”

“Like what a child would play?”

“Not exactly could play cards always keep a deck on me.”

“What's cards?”

Dollar signs suddenly flashed before pyotrs eyes “well well, a real deal newbie to the world of gambling huh, alright lets play a human favorite called Texas Hold’em”

15 min later

Welp Pyotrs not sure what limits that freaky psion bullshit has but he's pretty sure it's not helping goldy locks here with his card game. 14 hands 13 losses, doesn’t help Pyotrs cheating but come on all's fair in war after all. They had been going back and forth and talked about fighting, war, death, killing, and most importantly bitching about the assholes they deal with. Good fucking pastime pyotr thought. Returning back to his hand as the final card came down once Pyotr saw it he smiled 14 losses now goldy locks he thought. The knight seemed at an utter loss at this point as he started dealing the 15th hand.

“So let me ask you goldy locks, why is the princess even here, she has like literal fucking armies at her command right?”

The calm relaxed nature of the room iced over in an instant “why are you asking?” came the response

“Cause seems like a lot of bullshit for someone to go through just to give up at the end.”

“You think shes giving up?”

“Sure as shit giving off that vibe. doesn't help that i scared yall so bad you shit yourself and fainted.” the primus seemed to deflate slightly at that revelation.

“Again what you are isn't natural, so of course we'd be cautious…as for your first question, the job we came to you with requires an outsider. The princess isn't crowned yet, and trust is a commodity she has very little of.”

“Well this abomination would happily take you and her for all your worth, if it makes any difference.”

He stopped on the river, and his head-tentacle turned and looked at Pyotr.

“You mean that, you would still take the job?”

“I mean i'm gonna charge you wayyyyy more than i should but yea.” pointing to the deck “you gonna flip that?”

“Fold… if thats the case, i think i can convince her.”

Pyotr was taken aback again by this strange specimen. “Why would you do that? Aint like ive given you a shitload of reasons to want me?”

“Because i'm bound by honor, she's bound by politics, but you, your only bound by your word so if your willing to give it, that's more than enough reason for me to try.”

Pyotr shakes his head as he puts the cards back on the deck thinking. Taking stock of how hard he should push this whole arrangement. Maybe it was the cancer, maybe it was the fact he talked about the war, who knows but Pyotr felt regretful. Thinking of standing before his mum and dad as they judged his life as he lived it, no thats a non starter, theyd fucking disown him in a heartbeat. Maybe it was time to do something for the rest. Looking at humanity now, he could do something to change it, and yea it might just be a desperate attempt to make amends for the mountain of sins he recognized, but still what he said next surprised even him.

“Fine but I got three terms non negotiable. 1) payment, we can negotiate cash during the actual contract, but i need food and precious minerals, corundum, titanium, cobalt, tungsten, and Uranium… about 60-100 tonnes per month delivered to someplace of my choosing 2) she has to establish official diplomatic ties with the alliance no more of this “savages” bullshit 3) and this is the big one full immunity whatever i do to get the job done i do and i dont get fucked by you guys later cause of it” Pyotr said

Thats alot..

If you dont like it your free to fuck off back to wherever the fuck you want.

Let me see what i can do

With that goldy locks turned and floated out of the room.

It felt like an eternity had passed since his card buddy left, and Pyotrs mind had returned back to his life and those around him. He sighed and reach out to T

“T… what do you think i should do?” Pyotr asked mentally

“Call HIM” responded his passenger

“Like thats gonna go well, what am i gonna say hey its been a while i know you haven't forgiven me but i got cancer and am gonna die, oh by the way i also have a huge career move for ya. Like what the fuck T”

“You asked for my advice, I gave it, also maybe just maybe you deserve him shouting at you after your last stunt.”

“Maybe”

“Also its not like youve been trying to connect with him, hes gonna have A LOT to say Pyotr no matter what. But hes still your family, and now especially now, maybe its the time to start working on that part of your life hmm?” T continued

Pyotr knew she was right, it was just hard. He knew it wasnt gonna go well, but maybe pull a page out of the Sheikhs book and choose somewhere with something important. At Least he knows he won't get shot.

“Mmm… can you text him, tell him i'm gonna be at the stone tonight and i was wondering if he wants to join me when i bring flowers.” Pyotr said

“Ill do that, and Pyotr, your doing the right thing.” T said

“Well see” Pyotr said aloud to no one in particular.

At that moment the door opened and the princes floated inside followed closely by Goldy locks.

“My primus informs me, that by his assessment, you are in fact a potential agent.”

Pyotr looke confused before nodding.

“As your fixxer informed me, we need to trust each other for this to work, and the captain has to agree to work with us as much as we agree to work with you.” she said

Damn Sheikh laying it on thick huh

“So before you agree and before i agree to your terms, let me tell you what the real situation is… about 6 rotations ago a scribe named Riiji…..”

As she continued her story all Pyotr could really focus on was the meeting at the stone later.