Shutting down the mining for meetings was always never an easy thing to do. Especially when it was in full swing. But emergencies tended to crop up at times, and it was unavoidable. A few hours later, after recalling the crew and pods back on board, they all sat around the mess hall as he explained the details of the new assigned prospect the company issued. This was where many meetings generally occurred; with such a large group, the regular meeting room next to the bridge wasn’t capable of housing so many in it. The mess hall was spacious enough (and closer to grab coffee and snacks) to ensure all could be seated comfortably for it.
Some were displeased about the sudden change, others were exuberant about the possibility of a large payout, but all agreed the three month paid vacay was definitely worth the fuss. There was at least twenty in the room, the ship could carry thirty if need be, but Albedo liked his workers to be in smaller numbers. Less crew meant more profit for him and those chosen to be on board. Even the two older janitors showed up to the meeting, Bill and Ned, he’d almost forgotten about them. They stood at the back with engineers, and the other two loading operators, Annie and Dave.
They filled up the available spaces by either squatting on the floor or propping themselves up against on the back wall. Occasionally, someone would inevitably manage to ruin the moment with a concern that would bring everyone down.
“How safe is this little extra activity they’re making us go on, huh, Captain?”
Albedo figured it would be Milo to be the first to ask, even though he looked like some tough macho guy, he was the most skittish man he’d ever recruited. You’d think a big Indigenous man like that wouldn’t be scared of anything, but he never liked stepping to much into the unknown. Albedo could never understand why he decided to join this venture if that was the case.
“Jeez, Milo...” Mike moaned at him.
“I like to know, okay? Better to be safe...”
“Safe?” He replied mockingly. “We’re out on the edge of our system, mining asteroids and planetoids––hell, one bad jump or rock hurling out of no where and you’re dead anyway. Which by the way, you could have done to me by launching one over like that, but, whatever… right?” Milo waved him off and shook his head. Mike felt the need to add one more jab in. “So stop being such a pussy, about it, then. Why don’t you go wave a tomahawk or do a rain dance, and do what you need to make yourself feel better.”
“Zip it, cunt!” Milo stood up and bought his fist close to his face. “If any one deserves to die, it’s you, ya racist redneck!”
Albedo had enough of this kind of talk. He screamed louder than they did and smacked the mess hall table as hard as he could. The group quieted their laughs after Milo and Mike tried to reach one another for a smackdown.
“I said that’s enough! Look at all of you, what the fuck? I’m not playing around here guys. The big wigs are waiting for us to do a job, a job I might add that will be very good for all of you. Take a good look at those contracts you signed, I mean… take a very, very good look.” He paced around the room and pointed at each crew member watching him. “If you can’t work as a team, you’re off my ship. And, I don’t mean returning to Earth and dropping you off. Naw man, I mean out a fucking airlock and in to goddamn space!”
Mike and Milo glanced at each other briefly. Ramirez motioned his finger, directly pointing towards them as he continued to speak.
“So, do us all a favour, cut out the bullshit and stop behaving like asshole teenagers! Or I might just enact that loop hole of a clause… and eject you here and now!”
Mike offered a hand of friendship to Milo (with some hesitation), Milo just looked at it, and then saw the captain eyeballing him. He gave a long surrendering sigh, and passively shook it. Greg broke the silence by chuckling at the absurdity of it. But Albedo was in no mood.
“Bring it…” He furiously shifted his angered eyes at him. “Test me one more god damn time, motherfucker…”
The entire room fell silent. After a few seconds, Albedo returned to his spot and relaxed his posture. Now that all the cussing and talkback was over, he could continue his final words in peace.
“I want this ship ready to head out in two hours.” Some minor grumbles and groans spilled out of the group. Albedo shrugged at their lack of happiness. “The sooner we get it done, the sooner we’ll all be home with three months vacation and extra moola in our pockets. I for one, would like that option best, yes? So… let’s go ya Space Rockers! Vamos amigos!”
Everyone left the room in a quiet shuffle, with disappointment in their eyes. Yes, they were excited at the chance for such well deserved extras, but they pretty much knew if it was a bust… they’d get zip all. The uncertainty is what made them so quiet. But a contract is a contract. They signed their lives away to this corporation, and int doing so, they were pretty much at the mercy of their own choosing.
This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.
Albedo sat down at the now vacant table, and collapsed in a tired heap upon it. His sister slapped his back as she left him to unwind from the tension he unleashed, and giggled at his misfortune.
“Great motivational speech big brother, I was in tears…”
“Shut up, Anna…” He groaned without looking up.
* * *
Milo started to follow Mike as he casually walked back to his quarters. The sizeable indigenous man ploughed through the others blocking his way, and pushed Milo’s head with force to get his attention.
“What the fuck, dude?” Mike peered back as he recovered from it.
“I’m tired of your antics, you lil’ shit!” Milo scowled at him. “Stop being such a racist lil’ asshole, and act like a fucking upstanding human being for once.”
“I am…” He snarked back. “I’m a human being that was just being honest. And as I seem to recall, we shook on letting it go, remember? Or maybe you prefer smoking on the peace-pipe instead, huh?”
“Don’t you even try my patience, boy!”
“Who you calling boy, boy?”
The two stood toe to toe with each other. They arched the chests and brought up their fists. The other crew members watched in excitement, thinking there was going to be a full on brawl, and riled it up by chanting, “Fight-fight-fight!”
Gloria rushed down the way and stood in-between the two men.
“Will you two please give your egos a fucking rest!” She pushed them away from each other and pointed a finger in anger. “You think he’s kidding about that spacing? Huh? Do you? Well, he’s not! This company has a strict regulation, not to mention the ECU. If you two dicks can’t stop duelling, then I will consider it my absolute pleasure in chucking you out, personally!”
The crew slowly disbanded as she eyed them all. Albedo could be heard coming out the room, shouting, “What’s going on here!”
Milo backed away and instantly put his hands up. Mike did the same and the two walked away in opposite directions. The minute Mike rounded the corner, he heard Albedo show his name. The man froze in his spot, and the captain came up behind him and grabbed the young man by the scruff of the neck. He launched him into another room, a secondary conference room that was never really used other than some storage, and slapped the control to shut the dual sliding doors.
“What is your problem?” The captain shouted in his face. “Did you not understand?”
“I didn’t start that!”
“But you keep contributing to the problem. Every time I turn around, or give instructions, you guys are at each other. I’m sick of it! Your father might have dropped you here as my problem, but I’m not willing to keep you here much longer if you can’t stop the bullshit!”
Mike looked genuinely hurt as Albedo dropped that bomb. The young man backed from him and plunked himself down onto the only chair not occupied with boxes. He lowered his head and let out a drawn out sigh. Albedo changed his demeanour and leaned against the wall looking at him. They remained silent for a few moments, something that was a rarity with Mike, and cooled their tempers before speaking again.
“I’m… I’m sorry…” Mike muttered.
“Mike, come on, this has got to stop.” Albedo said. “Why do you need to push everyone away? Do you not like working with us? What’s the problem, man?”
“I don’t know?” He shrugged back. “I guess, maybe… I’ve never really had a family…” Albedo glared at him questioningly. Mike shrugged again. “You know what I mean. My family never really got along. We just stir shit up with each other, never really hung out, it was all just… you know… didn’t care for one another.”
“Well, here we do, okay?” Albedo stated. He crouched down and patted the somber man on the leg. “Mike, I look after you, all of you guys. We’re a family, not just my own working on here, but the rest of the crew. We’ve got to stick out for each other, man. This is deep space. Death can come at any given moment. The only thing that can keep us alive is each other, love and all that bullshit, you get what I’m saying, dude?”
“Yeah-yeah…” Mike nodded with a smirk.
“You and Milo?” Albedo continued on. “You’re family to each other as well. Maybe not loving family members…” That got a chuckle from Mike. Albedo grinned. “But what family doesn’t have disagreements. So long as you get it to your thick heads that we need to be tight with one another. Cause man… life… it can change in an instant. Don’t bring the hate all the time. Let it go, just let it go…”
“You stole that from a movie didn’t you?” Mike eyed him.
“What? Me?” Albedo stood up and shrugged. “No way, that’s all one hundred percent Ramirez…”
“Great speech boss… you should have just worked for a greeting vid company.”
“Where do you think I got half of that bull-ca-ca, man?”
The two laughed, Albedo patted Mike on the shoulder and gripped it hard.
“Listen to me. I’m not messing around anymore, like Gloria told you. If you cause me any more problems, Milo included, I will throw you right on out of this ship. You get me?”
Mike snickered at first but stopped as the smile on Albedo’s face faded. Now there was just a hard stare and a scowl that only someone that’s had enough would give. Mike quickly nodded back. He felt the strong grip on his shoulder get even tighter.
“Get your priorities straight.” Albedo glared.
“Yes… um, sir…” Mike answered back.
Albedo let go of him and smiled again. He held his hands up and laughed.
“See, that’s all I needed to hear. Now, you and Milo are going to be up for the exploration team. I want you guys ready to suit up the minute we get there. Oh, and Petey,” He motioned a finger in mid-thought. “He need some time in the Pod, so, you’ll loan him yours.”
“Aye-aye, cap…” Mike begrudgingly conceded.
“Fantastic!” The man grinned again. “Ah! It’s good to be the captain, yah?” He opened the door and thumbed for Mike to leave. “And don’t forget to tell Milo the plan for me. Tell him, this is from the captain. If he has a problem with it… well… “
He mimicked pushing them in the airlock, made a whooshing noise, and mockingly gripped his throat while gagging. Mike nodded in understanding. He stood up, saluted the captain, and shuffled down the corridor in a state of bewilderment. Albedo gave a pleased sigh, and whistled a happy tune as he left as well.