Chpt. 12) Extraction

After an hour of hyperspace jumping and numb pain from my microsurgery, we finally arrived at the Reaver. The massive ship filled the main viewport, and for once, I decided to stop and admire it from the outside as I circled the ship for my passenger’s pleasure. The massive ship had a pyramid-like nose with four massive ship crusher main cannons on its front, and along the top and bottom of the ship were sixty anti-air turrets with thirty on each side. Along the sides of the ship were dozens of viewports and two hundred more broadside cannons, one hundred on each side in five rows of twenty, in between which were four docking bays on each side on the bottom two floors of the ship. On the back of the ship were five massive engines that were completely dormant. The bridge of the ship sat near the middle and looked hardly noticeable.

After a pass around the ship, Adjani gasped, “Holy stinkin’ super crap. Dat’s yuhr ship!?”

I chuckled as I brought my ship in for a landing, “It’s our ship if all goes well. There are a few things we need to take care of, but once they’re done, It’ll be ready to take on armies.”

“Me god, what do yuh need me for if yuh got that?!”

“It’s a hammer. A hammer that has federation markings all over it. If I want the Federation to think the aliens are attacking, then I need an alien ship. If I want to have aliens think the Federation is attacking, I need a Federation ship.”

“Yeah, me question still stands. Why do yuh need me if yuh have dat massive ship!”

As the ship landed, I answered, “When you have a hammer to piss people off, you use a scalpel to eliminate the people keeping things calm.” I then stood and walked to the back of the ship with the assistance of my leg brace. Everyone got up, and I opened the ship’s doors as I said, “Come on, everybody, I’ll introduce you to everyone.” Oni rolled her eyes as she lazily stood, “Then we’ll try and empty the ship’s liquor bar.” Oni suddenly became the first out of the ship. I chuckled as I hobbled out of the ship and toward the nearest comm terminal. Pressing the button to speak over the entire ship, I announced, “We’re back! Where is everybody?”

I didn’t wait long before Sparky spoke over the comms, “Jin and I are in the med bay, second floor.”

“Great, where’s the fabricators that you borrowed?”

“Engineering bay, third floor.”

“Right, the engineering bay on the third floor first, then the med bay on the second. Let’s go,” I said as I led my merry band of misfits to the elevator. I leaned over to press the button for the third floor, which was only two floors up, and Dr.Whisper slapped my hand away and pressed it for me.

I looked at her curiously, and she turned away, “I couldn’t trust that you’d press all the buttons.” As the elevator doors closed, we ascended quickly. I then led the way through the halls to the engineering bay and found the fabricators Sparky borrowed.

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“Adjani, the bone fragments, please,” I said as I held out my left hand for the fragments and used my right to open up a printing program for the bones. He quickly handed me the bone fragments and shivered in relief as he got rid of them. I opened up a hatch on the side of the fabricator and tossed the fragments in, dusting my hands as though I had just done a long, hard day’s work. I then waved Dr.Whisper over and pointed to the screen on the machine, “Once we remove the bones from my broken leg, toss them into that hatch and press start. After an hour, it will toss out the new bones for me.”

“Okay, got it,” Dr.Whisper said, sounding almost resigned.

I smiled and slapped her shoulder playfully, “Once we’re done with my leg, I’ll tell you what I did to you. For now, cheer up and relax.” I said and began hobbling off to the elevator. Everyone quickly followed after me, and we soon arrived on the second-floor med bay where the vats of whatever were complete, with Jin working on the main tank and Sparky working on some sort of table. “Hello, everyone!” I announced as we entered the med bay.

Jin stopped what he was doing and turned, “Ah, welcome back! I trust your mission was a success?” he asked, looking at our new companions.

“Yep,” I confirmed, then turned to introduce everyone, “This is Adjani. He usually buys your poisoned bullets from you, if I’m not mistaken. Adjani, this is Jin, the best poisoner in the galaxy.”

The two men shook hands, “Ah, so you’re the man that orders fifty caliber armor-piercing bullets. Those are very difficult to make,” Jin said with a polite smile.

“Yes, I am dat man. Yuhr work is exceptional. Dat poison took out an entire tank, battalion.”

“And this,” I said, moving on, “is Oni, an Omnipitant Nano Infiltrator, currently on the run from the Federation and a hell of a fighter. Oni, Jin here is an expert cocktail mixer.”

The two shook hands, “What’s the strongest drink you can make?” Oni asked.

“I call it ‘Hells Sunrise,’ it has a little bit of everything in there, topped with a cherry, orange slice, and lemon slice. You’ll be on your ass in one sip.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” Oni said as she let go of Jin’s hand.

“And this is Dr.Whisper,” I finally introduced the Doctor and Jin stopped for a moment as he took her in.

“Umm,” Jin said and seemed to hesitate for an awkward moment, “Well, it’s a pleasure to see you again, Dr.Whisper. I see you got some work done. I, umm, I remember you being taller and, umm, how should I put this, wider.”

Dr.Whisper rolled her eyes, “I’m Dr.Elaina Whisper, Dr.Ellie Whisper’s daughter. My dad’s been missing for a couple of years.”

“OH!” Jin exclaimed, “You’re his daughter! Oh, I should have known! You look way more like your mother than your father, thank the gods. I do apologize for the mix-up. Your father spoke very highly of you and sorry for your loss. If you’re here, that means he’s probably dead. I do hope you can forgive me for the mix-up.”

Dr.Whisper chuckled cutely, “You are forgiven. And quite frankly, I don’t know what I’m doing here other than being forced.” She said as she shot me a glare.

I raised my hands in surrender and said, “Okay, okay. By the way, that’s Sparky over there.”

Everyone looked, and Sparky sighed, “My name is Alexandra, and I care for none of you.”

“Wait, isn’t she de one who killed Zander?” Adjani asked, reaching for his gun.

I stepped in front of him, “Yes, and she’s under my protection. Hurt her, and I’ll kill you.”

Adjani froze and looked between Sparky and I, “Fine, but I’ll have words with her.”

Nodding, I turned to Jin, “Jin, I need some strong anesthesia. Dr.Whisper, let’s get the surgery underway. Adjani, Oni, the liquor bar is near the front of the ship in the mess hall.”

Jin nodded, “I have just the thing.”

“Where can I wash up?” Dr.Whisper asked, pulling off her doctor’s coat. Adjani and Oni said nothing as they left immediately to go for the liquor. I sighed in satisfaction as I hobbled over to the nearest bed and laid down, listening to Jin and Dr.Whisper discuss the surgery.

***