Raptor One – Chapter 54
.
.
.
After that battle to clean the patter cell i returned to being a bartender, Jason gave me twenty five thousand credits after the battle was over, that's half of the payment, this allowed me to purchase a pair of Solar Sails, this piece of equipment is automatic, as long as the ship is in open space, be it under a planet gravity or not, it’ll work, but in case of combat or asteroid field it’ll retract into it’s armored placement.
This purchase also pushed me back to penniless, that’s why I'm back as a bartender, i also forgot to separate five thousand credits for the armor plates, so i got the engine, i got the sail, but i did not have the plating for the ship.
“Hey, White, shoot up a beat for us! And another bucket of soft beer!” one of the human female ask me.
“Rodzher.” i say before starting a beat, ‘U got that’ was it name in old terra.
As i let the beat resound i prepare the bucket of soft beer as i watch the girls dance to the beat, as I'm preparing the bucket i hear the door open and see my pack coming inside, they stop in place and give a salute in sync before sitting on the bar stool.
Because I'm singing i can’t talk, and Sigma is up on my bedroom with my Avali Power Armor, so i can only give a nod before jumping over the the bar counter and place the bucket of soft beer on the girls table and retrieving the old one after cleaning their table.
My pack decide that staying silent is not what they want, so they join in on the beat, the beat becoming a very good remix as we let the beat loose.
We sing until we can’t anymore, so we start to talk.
“How are you guys going.” i start the talk
“Tired from the work.” Su’ra say and Su’zu nod before giving his words. “I remember your training before all this mess started, I'm done with it.” Su’zu words place a smile on my mouth, but Zu’rahir got a little dejected. “I know what i did was wrong, and now i know how much i was missing out.” Zu words resound in a low tone, her dejection visible. “We can’t apply what happened on her alone.” i say looking at the rest, and they low their heads. “Sorry, I'm wrong at bringing this up.” Su’zu say.
The atmosphere feel awkward, but it soon dissipates as Li’luk starts talking. “Oh, right, i also finished my part of the training, I'm now counted as a soldier!” Li’luk say with her optimist and happy tone. “I’m also finished.” Su’ra join in. “Me too.” Zu’rahir also join. “I’m also done.” Li’lak also say. Su’zu don’t say anything because he already said it before, but he also nods.
“Good, that means we are good to go when the ship is off the ground.” i say and nod. “And the chances of it going on fire is also reduced by a lot.” i say with a lazy tone while shrugging, the pack look at each other before busting out in laugh.
“Ok.” i say and slap the counter. “More talk after buying something to drink.” i finish after the pack wake up from flinching, they nod and ask for my special brew on the mini keg, of which i comply.
After getting the pack their drinks say. “So, we are on red again, but the ship is almost done, i just had the problem of forgetting to separate the credits for the plating, so we are beached for at least another week before we get that five thousand credits so i can finish the plating and start things simple, like cargo runs.”
“With the size of our ship we can get a good amount of cargo in between stations.” Zu say with a smile as i see her low her head a little, her perfectionism coming into job mode again.
“We also got a lot better at repair and maintenance.” Li’luk say nodding, Li’lak also nod.
“But we did not get the experience we wanted while doing our job with the Adeptus.” Li’lak complement her sister words.
“So you two got your body and mind up to date, but the skill did not follow.” i ask the Li sisters and they nod.
“Me and Su over here also got up to date but not our skills, shooting and CQC is a pain for us.” Su’ra say.
“We did master the skills you showed us, but with no input from you to follow, our training stagnated.” Su’zu say after his brother.
I nod “True, guard life ins't easy, and the same can be said for maintenance mechanics, too much work for too little gain, if at all in skill.” i say and nod. “At least it have good a payment.” i finish.
“Talking about payment, we have our day’s worth right here.” Zu say and send me her daily credit.
I take the Smartpad, or as they call it, Personal tricorder, this one is synched with Sigma, and as soon as my hand is holding it it lights up, showing it’s row of tabs, most of it being blueprints i and Sigma made, others being research materials such as chemistry and farming, etc.
Clicking on my status page it shows my last known condition along with my balance, i had zero credits after getting the Solar sails, but now i have two thousand, i look back at Zu.
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
“Where is this all from?” i ask Zu.
“Work, i managed to get my hands on the patter cell documents and helped with it, that’s the payment, and it was only the documentation and organization.” Zu reply with a smile.
I nod and smile back relieved, i condemn all acts of piracy and backstabbing.
“Me, me!” Li’luk say and pass her day’s worth. “Me and Lak helped rebuild the underworld, we also got some good money.” Li’luk say to me, her wide smile shining into my face.
I can’t help and laugh as Lak nod along and pass her credits too.
I smile back at the girls in thanks and look at my Tricorder, four thousand.
““Sir!”” Both Su’ra and Su’zu say with a salute, while being seated of course.
I shake my head at this, but my smile can’t be hidden from the pack, i know these guys like i live their lives afterall.
“We where still too green to join the tactical squad that helped you secure both the power armor and modular mech, but we helped a lot with turkey shooting.” Su’ra say in his always serious tone before giving his share.
“Pirates, with so many ways to live a good life they choose the worst one, no mercy.” Su’zu say with his cold tone as he give his brother words some details before sharing his credits.
I nod at the Su brothers and look at my tricorder, eight thousand, i look up and nod before talking.
“Well be out of the ground in three days at most, I'll place the request for ship plating to the adeptus... Done.”
My pack lift their cups and cheer before gulping their drink and getting a refill, i laugh a little as they start some small banter, i look at the girls on the table and see they are somewhat wasted but still talking and laughing with each other.
As another day ended i find myself on my bed alone, my instincts crying again at me for being alone, the feeling of loss getting stronger than ever, it’s almost maddening...
Waking up i find myself looking at the wooden roof of my bedroom as i let my mind relax a little, i can still feel the pressure of being alone.
I sigh and get up, still feeling the numbness, but i power through it and head downstairs while doing some research on my personal tricorder.
After getting downstairs i give a cursory look at the bar, all clean, so i just need to get some food done and open the bar.
Getting some food together was easy, even more so because i researched the topic and it’s recipes.
While i was finishing the food on the electric oven i hear Crazy going down the stair, i just continue cooking.
My mind refocus fast at the smell of food getting overcooked, so i move fast and finish the food before getting it on the plate.
“You okay there? That’s the first time i see your eyes lose focus.” Crazy sound very serious this time.
“Da, I'm good.” i reply as i sit and start eating along with Crazy.
“I don’t think so, your mood keeps getting worse, and now you are starting to space out while awake, that’s a big red alarm.” Crazy reply to my curt reply.
I just sigh “Da, that’s true, I'm at stage three pack loss, started yesterday before i slept.” i confess.
“That’s bad right? Normal Avali just plain go crazy at this level, why say it only now? I know Jason would let you have your pack members here with you, heck, he’d be glad.” Crazy say with a worried face.
“I’m fine, the ship platting should be out today, so i can go back to sleep with my pack in two days at best.” i say and give a weak smile to Crazy.
“Nope, i just contacted your pack, they are coming right now.” Crazy say with a grin.
“You son of a, chert, da, okay, you win, goddamn it.” i start grumbling with a smile as i finish my food.
“Gonna open the bar, see you later.” i say and head out of the kitchen.
With the bar open i start working, i give my tricorder balance a look, five thousand, i nod and resume my research as i wait for clients to arrive.
As i wait Crazy exit the kitchen.
“Hey, what is that that you are researching so much?” crazy ask me
“First, you said that two times, second, I'm looking at Avali research about pack loss and it’s side effects.” i reply back.
Crazy nod. “I see, good luck, i did my share about this research one time too, did not like what i found, and i think you wont too, good luck.” he say before returning to his lab.
“Ey!” i yell him out.
“WHAT!” Crazy yell back
“Did you get that lab toxin proof?” i ask back
“Yes i did! Why!? missing the security too??” Crazy yell back.
“NIET!” i yell back and laugh.
Can't say I'm not crazy like Crazy, i do have some loose nuggets in my feather brain.
After all this crazy talk later I'm out of the wait as some clients get inside, i lift my head from my tricorder and see that it’s my pack? Did Crazy really call the pack?
“Privet.” I say and nod at my pack, it’s just after the space equivalent of the morning right now.
They rush inside and stop in front of me.
“What was that about pack loss!?” Zu ask me in a very worried tone.
I look at the others and they too look at me with worried eyes.
“Well, cat’s out of the bag it seen...” i say and sigh.
“Leader, it’s not time for jokes.” Su’ra say, his brother nods beside him.
“This is a normal development, I'm getting some money up for us like you guys, just that i don’t get to see... Or interact with you guys that often, if at all, especially with you Zu.” i say and give a sad sigh.
Zu eyes go wide and she can’t help but hug me, her head rubbing the fluff of my chest as i put my tricordeer on the bar counter and hug her back.
“Dummy, why did you not say it...” Zu say in a small voice, torn between angry and worried.
I just give a weak smile. “Because i know you won’t be at your peak performance if your head are at my side.”
Zu look at my weak smile and tear up. “Idiot.” is all she say as she hug me with her head on my chest.
I look at the Li’luk and she starts talking. “It’s good you’re ok, that’s what matter.” Li’luk say with a happy smile and Li’lak nod along with her sister, her shy yet curious personality showing more.
“Leader, this can be easily solved, why did you decide to bulldoze through it like this?” Su’zu ask me
“Because it won’t cost more than it already is costing, and Jason don’t like crowded areas, that means he like his place empty unless at work, so i did not raise the situation to him.” i reply to Su’zu.
“Is that so brat?” Jason voice comes from the door.
I look at him. “Privet tovarishch, you are here very early today.” i say and nod at Jason, Zu, the brave don’t mind the semi public display of affection and keep her hug on me.
Jason nod. “I got a call from Crazy, to put it in blunt words your living conditions aren’t ideal right now, so i have to address this error. Give me the details.”
I nod. “Simple summary, big room, considered luxurious, but I'm alone there for a prolonged amount of time, pack don’t show up that often, this aggravates the symptoms.” i say to Jason.
“Understood, i should have placed this into mind, Avali who aren’t pack broken can’t live like you are right now. Sorry, i dealt only with pack broken before so this detail was missed.” Jason say and bow his head.
“Niet, i should have said it on the first time, not your error.” i shake my head.
After that we got our thoughts back together and continued our day, my pack will stay with me on my room from now onwards when we stay at Jason’s bar.