Life Sucks- Get Used To It...
There are things people should know about any pilot, or at least if they're going to have a conversation with one. Without any prior knowledge of what they do, and why, it is seemingly foolish to speak to any aviator on said topic...
Correct? So why do people ask about it? Who the hell do they think they are?
"I'm sure it's really neat up there, huh?"
No. His uncle had finally gotten a chance to give their hero a pat on the back and a drink of 'the life.' It had only been a few weeks since he'd been given an order to take military leave, but coming "home" made the difference in time between the planet Gesemi and
this place feel like years.
"Yes, actually- the skies are beautiful on most planets."
Considering that you get to see them only momentarily, sure, but so was that fighter before it exploded... Or imploded...
"Would you like another drink, Rowr?" Sydney held the glass in his hand, thinking it was getting to be a little empty, but then though-
How did he get a hold of my callsign? Is there no secrecy anymore? Sydney Syfe then remembered the inscription below his left breast pocket, callsign and all.
Damn.
"Sure, why not?" Sydney Syfe, callsign Rawr, had been an enlisted pilot for a little over a half year, and was somehow still alive. Like anyone, joining the Imperial Navy meant flying incredible ships of innumerable origins, causing mayhem, and, just possibly, having one of various sexual fantasies played out. Who knew he'd be getting fired at?
The pilot stared after his uncle as he pushed through the crowded living area of his parent's new home. Cool, convex walls illuminated with lamps that they couldn't have afforded when he was going to school, surrounded him as he tried to pick up on his next attacker.
It does smell nice in here though... How do they get that smell? Just the right tinge of new transparisteel and...
"It's so good to see you, Sydney!" The pilot turned to get a good look at his ex-ex-ex-girlfriend, something he had considered to be a bad decision when he left. Sydney made a mental note to check out who'd actually been invited and who ended up signing the guest book.
Rowr gave her the once over though and almost sighed. She looked better than ever, or at least better than he remembered. Perhaps that was what spending a half-year on board ships and dumps they called 'military instillations,' did to a man. Either way, tail had been scarce and the women in the Navy, though some were very decent, had been somehow tainted; some men joked about it, but Rowr believed they
were different. These were the pure folk he'd been missing out on- dutiful, misinformed and unaware. And it's not like he could actually remember having too many women that liked him in general, so he just smiled.
"Wow! How long has it been?"
Since last year. roughly three days, six hours and twelve minutes before I signed up for the Navy. Found out the hard way that you preferred local guard over drifting young men like myself... Those punks don't even leave planet... Figured I'd have to. Perhaps the appeal of someone that gave her more than the occasional nod had gotten her involved with the dupe in the first place... He wasn't actually all that upset with her decision, nor did he blame her, but... He sized her up again-
maybe I should have stayed home.
"Look at you! How do you feel?"
Like hell, but for you... His mother had talked him into wearing his Naval Uniform, and like any female at the party, this one had to toy with the decorations, though they were laughable in the eyes of some pilots. Even as he cringed at the feeling of her finger tips on his medals, it did feel good to be home and maybe under different circumstances, he'd have appreciated someone praising him. Amongst people that were seemingly oblivious to the battle in the rest of the galaxy?
He remembered thinking that people only worry about what's bad when it begins to affect them- stating the obvious, but he was good at making it sound novel. On the few occasions he'd had to see ground duty, men and women of the local airbases were filled with people out of work and needing something to latch on to. These were the men and women who'd had their homes, spouse or children taken away by conflict...
He was okay with this concept though; why reveal things to people that will only haunt them... If he'd been asked three years ago to consider the Navy with the knowledge he had accumulated thus far... He thought for a moment...
Obviously... He'd have turned them down, flat out, one-hundred percent, no questions asked! Life wasn't too hard or anything, it was just ridiculous! How could he be expected to know everything going on around him? To "know one's surroundings" is to freeze every moment, frame by frame, and then assess every detail because, undoubtedly, it will affect you.
"Yea, sorry about the detonating aircraft to my right, or that metal bulkhead, traveling at over a thousand feet per second... You're right- could single-handedly have destroyed me and this sad excuse for a fighter. Good thing there was a strong gust of wind heading from the south..." Of course- I should have known everything about that- "be right on top of that next time..." Before he'd left his squadron's home base, the commander had given him a pleasant goodbye despite some events that had transpired and, usually, would have been frowned upon... But he just waved and said- "Be back soon.." Sydney has nodded in return and thought-
Not if I can help it... "Happy trails..." the pilot replied and was gone.
He re-calibrated his thoughts, looking for the response with the greatest underlying meaning until settling on - "It's good to be home..." She nodded agreement and ran her hand from the medals on his left breast to his shoulder where another badge glowed proudly. Making way down his arm, giving a quick squeeze over his biceps, she queried-
"Gained some muscle have we? Been workin out?" She giggled like these jokes were acceptable amongst the alternative conversations he'd have broached in a less civilized arena. Sydney smirked at the question that he, again, thought to be utterly fruitless. Why ask? He replied-
"Just enough to keep the same amount of muscle I've always had- I may have gained a little here and there, but many of the environments I work in require me to exercise..." He paused and waited for it to gain some additional effect. "A lot of times, the exercise is done in such a way that promotes muscle growth that most people don't even know exist..."
The academy would have been proud of that answer... She could look it up if she was really curious or just ask questions, but she didn't press the topic. Instead, she wrapped her arm in his and began to lead him toward the balcony, through the crowds of friends, relatives and people wanting free food.
"That sounds pretty impressive, but you know things have changed here as well..." For the moment he decided to ignore the fact they were moving- he would consider her statement. She said it as if the thought hadn't occurred to him, of course, but he'd seen it the second he'd walked out of the local airbase- how could things change so much in a period of six months? The same buildings were there, and even the same people, but everything was different... Sheltered? Some would have reflected on the events that had changed other people, but Rawr would assess how he much he had
evolved- he had been around the universe in some of the most extreme situations, or as far as he knew to be 'extreme'... And these folks were worried about local celebrations- a vastly "under-appreciated," as his father had deemed, pilot coming home. He almost laughed at the sudden insight, but decided this would only prod a question and answer session with this woman he had no business being with in the first place, especially considering how her unctuous behavior made him feel, that is to say, queasy... Too friendly is just not friendly at all, past experiences devoid...
His parents seemed relieved of course, and his father sensed a change of some sort in his son, but they weren't going to dwell on it. He'd be gone too long and would be again all to soon.
"How do you mean?" He asked it because he didn't want her to get off a round on him before he could scrutinize her and the situation. She rubbed up a little closer to him as they reached the glass, her hand subtly hitting the access so that they could be alone in the late afternoon glow. Sydney cocked an eyebrow, glancing back at his welcoming party once more before the hiss of open air pulled them outdoors, a sudden urge telling him to stop being led and pause.
"We're not in school for one- you're a big shot pilot, I'm about ready to get married to a local marine, maybe settle down and have some kids- spend my life as a member of a legitimate organization..." Rawr added another fact to the book-
you stop thinking about the future when you know that impending death is the only thing you have to look forward to. Sure, you have flashes of your life and the things that could have been, but mostly it's a dull acceptance, taking pleasure in short and few successes that don't even make a dent in the galactic scope: the real joys of life. He chuckled slightly at the thought and answered-
"You're right about that, but I'm not sure I'll be having to worry about this place much longer." She left his side and strolled over to the barrier, placing herself against the rail, a high enough rail to keep her from flying over the edge and to her death, at least. Safely curled around the deck's guard, she gave him a look of genuine curiosity- he'd obviously wanted to tell her of getting away, but he wasn't sure why. Regardless, his baiting had been to some avail...
"What do you mean? How long will you be around?" Sydney didn't really think about it, replying in small talk-
"About a week and a half; I've actually been home for about two, but I've been spending all my time at the base. I'm on leave right now..." She was some sight alright, but Rawr felt his eyes drift toward the incredible view from his parent's new apartment. If he didn't know any better, he'd thought he wasn't afraid of heights, but the absolute depth beyond his was remarkable- he could see the entirety of his planet's fifth largest city from one point. He could do that from the sky any day, but being on ground and so close to the edge? His parents had really done something for themselves. Light red played across the planet's horizon as a single sun dropped into its resting position for the night, another of the two moons already appearing to the east in a pallor of violet. "After that it's off to the Navy, looking for a new job... I think I'll find something that doesn't move around so much..." They let the last remark linger, each of them careful as to how to approach the next part of the conversation.
"A week and a half? That's it?"
Good. She knows her boundaries. "But you've been fighting a long time I suppose- a little rest is necessary..." He withheld the snort- she made him out to sound like a hero, and he knew she wanted to make him comfortable with the idea. He wouldn't let that fly though- he'd known too many better men and women, people he actually respected: not just because of their abilities, but because of their guts- they did things that most would consider to be suicidal, but they did it without flinching, not a single thread of psychopath driving their disturbing actions.
"I'll probably spend some time on base, but yea, I should be pretty far away, doing something other than flying, in the coming months."
They probably wanted me out anyways... The way his mind re-played the statement began to encode a new meaning, that he somehow figured to be a negative reflection of his own performance in the last six months. His other senses kicked in though-
And why do I have to achieve some level of excellence in order to die? Boredom? At one time he might have answered with an arrogant- "You bet!"
"That's really too bad..." She was wearing semi-casual clothing that looked formal inside but sensual in the afternoon gust. The blouse fluttered slightly while the dress's brim hung suspiciously high over one knee, the hint of her under-garments and form becoming more decipherable as she turned at a sharper angle to him, drawing him in with her eyes. She had beautiful blond hair, what appeared to be a terrific body and what could, if he wasn't mistaken, be a sign for some serious physical attention...
In one surprising instant, Rowr realized he'd been separated from the party-goers inside, made alone, un-shielded, disarmed! He had unknowingly crossed a boundary and broken one of his own rules- he was on a secluded patio, thousands of feet above anyone capable of making a difference and...
Is she coming on to me? No! Impossible... She dropped her chin a little so that she could glance upward in a more desirable fashion, a straight glance down her white blouse an easy target, making her appear more sumptuous than ever while her near completely unsheathed leg peaked up a little more.
Maybe not... The blond hair dangled across her forehead for a moment, revitalizing the life of her beauty. Or was she ugly? He couldn't decide.
For a moment he stood stunned- things had changed indeed. "We're not worried about assignments or class rank anymore... You know..." He nodded as she held her stare, gave way to a smile and dropped herself back onto solid ground, the effect never losing any power in the transition; and then she waved him over to the right hand side of the porch, out of the way of the viewport. He couldn't stop his feet from moving for some reason, not caring what the people inside might see. She was against the railing again, seeming to pull Sydney toward her, closer still... And then, when he was looming over her, his hands on either side of the wall guard around her, she whispered to him... "We'll be throwing a party for my..." she paused-"there's going to be a party in two days: he's getting a big promotion..."
That bastard at the reserve? He doesn't even deserve to be in your presence! "I'd love it if you would come..." Then she leaned close, putting her hands around him and brought him down to her level, meeting his lips with an intensity he'd nearly forgotten about. For a moment he gave completely in, melting in her grasp and sinking lower into her control. Catching himself, he began to kiss back, putting his hand through her blond hair that just couldn't be left alone... And then, all at once- it was over. She leaned back, giving him one more glance of sensual innocence before edging around him and clicking the access on the glass door, leaving the balcony. Sydney rubbed his face slowly, blinking in amazement. He didn't bother to look after her, just taking sips from the glass he'd been holding for the last ten minutes to keep the memory fresh.
What just happened?
As if on cue, his uncle clicked the access on the other side of the clear entrance/exit and came out with refreshments.
Where had he been?.
"Sorry it took so long, son- your father didn't higher a very decent barkeep- 'fraid he wasn't able to mix a simple drink without lookin in his manual..." His uncle was a little more laid back than his father and didn't seem to have an overly serious bone in his body, like everything could transition in an instant to a joke he'd once knew. And where had she gone? For a moment, he a drew a blank on what her name even was...
Courtney? No... Nadra! Nadra C! Caeto was it? Yes, that was right...
Sydney sat down his old drink and took up the new one his uncle appeared proud to give him. "Hey- I was wondering if you wanted to make some extra money on the side." His uncle began, breaking his train of thought as he handed him the refreshment. "I know you're well taken care of, but you never know- maybe you could take one of those fine young ladies at your party in there out to fine meal..." His uncle hinted at a smile and slugged him playfully in the shoulder. Sydney smiled approvingly but took a sip from his drink instead of answering. "I'm just playin with ya, son- but honestly, come on down to the shop- me and Arim could use some extra help."
How many people were inside? Many people had come to see him tonight, and yet he was speaking with a select few...
"You wouldn't have to pay me, Uncle..." He began but the other man cut him off-
"Please- call me Gurri; you're a man after all..." Rawr again nodded his approval and continued-
"Well..." he added in," Gurri- I'd be glad to see how the old shop is doing again- haven't really been in there since I was a little kid."
"All the better reason to get acquainted with your roots before you go runnin off to beat down the bad guys, right?" Sydney didn't think he would tell his folks about his decision for a while, but perhaps 'Gurri' would find out sooner. He thought about it for a moment, then grinned and took his Uncle's hand, shaking it vigorously. His uncle added- "Welcome back, by the way..." Then winked and went back in to the party.
***
The next day passed at varying rates- the morning was incredibly slow, even for Sydney's taste. Used to waking up at the sound of anything that was remotely close to an alarm, he woke up on numerous occasions throughout the night and found it impossible to sleep, even hours before twilight. Instead, he found some light clothing and exited the brand new apartment, an investment his father had made and had actually gone well. Only three years ago they'd been living near main street in a mediocre house with mediocre neighbors and mediocre lives- now they lived
the life..? Of course, he'd found it ironic that he'd be returning home to a new home, but never the less- a lot of his old hangouts remained, as did his friends and the activities they would enthrall themselves with at the local media center. Massive arcades with simulated battle, shops for equipment and starship parts- not much in the way of fighter parts of course...
The town didn't seem that large from ground level, but it was metropolitan according to population, the majority living in smaller housing units, a sort of homely hut that provided all of the needs for survival, but not much more. They were usually limited to about four rooms, sometimes less, or sometimes just one- either way, they weren't anything like the apartments up town. Down here people lived on the edge of their seats, waiting for something, anything to pull them up. It wasn't that they lived so miserably, Sydney would probably settle for one of the homes himself, but that they needed a goal, and if they couldn't have that- they needed something to do.
So groups of young men and women, whatever species, alien or human, would build swift bikes for races, engage in high stakes sabacc matches that usually left them creditless while some snob collected all the cash, or even worse- unsanctioned blood matches. These hadn't actually been recent developments though. Sydney had been more than aware of them when he'd been attending school at the local academy, his parents barely able to afford the schooling at the time, but it didn't mean that it was prevalent. These days, all one had to do was ask around and it was very likely they'd find themselves in the middle of the madness, no secrecy necessary. The local police force was overwhelmed as it was with high profile cases and they didn't need to be busting locals for suspicious acts they couldn't be sure would lead to anything worthwhile- there just wasn't time...
Downtown remained decent though, the main shops built into large, steel structures, several stacked on top of one another, lifts bringing one to where they needed to be, or speeders could get the job done. While he'd spent most of him time in the arcades, Sydney wondered if it would have been wiser to have been acquainted with his uncle's shop, after all- he repaired ships. Then again, he hadn't joined the Navy to fly or build ships- like the locals, he'd needed to rise up somewhere... A sour taste grabbed his attention and he decided to switch his mode of reminiscence... He'd wanted something... Entertaining.
It was funny though, because despite his uncle's close proximity, he'd seen him only about once every month or two. Still enough to be an adult figure and import in terms of opinions- but not an ideal model.
Sydney watched the city grow as he ascended in the lift, his uncle's shop just above a local arms dealer and a bakery- an interesting combination for interesting times: how quaint. The doors shook a little before parting and suddenly flying into their hidden compartments; perhaps things were in disrepair... The pilot found himself immediately in the vicinity of heavy machinery, more lifts, aircraft and what could be an office; immersed in the rich smell of engine oil, smoke and other potent chemicals, he couldn't help but feel like he'd never left the base. Of course, he couldn't see most of those things, but he knew they were there.
Outside the lift was a single office, probably his uncle's, with a transparisteel covering. Something he didn't think would be necessary in a place like
this. Inside, logs and other journals lay about the place while an open cabinet of data cards and pads stacked on one another created an interesting backdrop of disorder. The hall was enclosed, containing only the office to his left and an opening at the end of the hallway separated by a single beam, producing two corridors he would assume led in different directions... It really had been forever since he'd been there- at least eighteen standard years. His uncle saved him the trouble of investigating the place though, coming through the gap on the left and grinning at the sight of his nephew.
"Sydney- good to see ya! Was hopin it wouldn't be another customer; we're pretty booked as it is..." Sydney couldn't believe the shop would be that busy, especially considering the other businesses that fulfilled the same task and probably belonged to a higher class...
Albeit. "Come on back! Hope you're ready to work!"
The older man led him along the left side of the column until they'd managed to enter what looked to be a massive repair shed, and one hell of a hanger. Directly in front of him was an AC-50 light transport, fairly clean but leaking fluids while another man tried to stop the leak and capture the fluid at the same time in small cubes. Just beyond that was a fairly large yacht, it's entire mid section unsheathed and a wall of wires springing out like a manic haircut gone painfully ary. "You just go right in..." He indicated toward the man with white cubes, bleeding coolant fluids and fuser liquids, then shouted several times before the man heard- "Arim!"
The man stopped what he was doing, finally content that the important leaks had been sealed while the cubes collected whatever he'd missed and turned to see Sydney. "Ya?" He peeled off a single head phone that attached to his ear and extended half-way around his head, a red R-2 astromech unit scurrying past to accompany what appeared to be a welding droid on a piece of sheet metal.
"Say hello, to your new assistant!" Arim gave Gurri a lifted eyebrow before cocking a side-ways smile that even made Sydney grin like an idiot. The man began to come forward, arm extended to say something when the shrill cry of their droid efforts went to work, melting sheet metal and parts together and then reforming them; Arim had to shout.
"Welcome to the junkyard!" He slapped his greasy palm into Sydney's and shook it like a hot piece of iron. He gave a cry of cheer while Gurri denounced the accusation with a shake of his head, his short beard jiggling slightly with the old muscles of his face as he waved the man off. "Suppose I'll be your captain for today- mind helpin me out with this old girl?" He indicated the AC-50 and its leaking hatches with a grin of enthusiasm that simply could not be turned down.
"Sure!"
Well- no, but yea! For a moment he wondered what he'd be doing if he were on base or in the middle of a combat zone- perhaps this was better... Fraternizing with locals hadn't been the plan, but if that's what it came to so that he could go to that party tomorrow night and get out... He might just put up with it.
"Do me a favor and make sure that air lock is actually air-locked, I'd rather not have more of this crap on me than I have to..." Arim indicated the hatch to his right while the mechanic held up two other hatches that looked ready to break open. Sydney found the hatch and pulled hard, feeling the suction from within give a satisfying tug back-
"Looks good to me!" He shouted over the whining mechanics to the far left; the two droids were making a mess with the left over metal while Gurri saw to some business in his office, a rodian appearing after a moment to start up a conversation. Sydney glanced back at Arim to get a better look; an old, well-stained flight suit, dark black hair that reminded him of patriotism and one of those sly grins that you only have if you've got it made. Was he a rich man working in the gutter for fun? Sydney somehow doubted it, but he couldn't shake the familiarity- he'd met this man at some point; perhaps he'd liked him.
"Here gos..." The man pulled down suddenly on both latches stepping back as he did so to avoid any falling debris or loose engines. When nothing came he lowered his hands from above his head and gave a sheepish grin, poking his head past one of the open doors and then retrieving it quickly as if something could fall at any moment. After getting up the energy to look again, Arim sat, staring up for a good minute before saying- "how lucky you feelin, fly?"
Did he just call me fly? Perhaps he meant no harm. He seemed to catch it and looked up to confirm- "You boys, fly, correct?" Sydney nodded, suddenly understanding, and said-
"Luck is a question of taking an opportunity..." Arim looked ready to learn, so he added- "I'm a pretty advantageous person... What've you got?" He slid under the bulk-head to peer into a small engine compartment...
***
Three hours later they'd gutted the engine compartment fully, disassembling what remained of the burned out fuse panel and then put it back together with a new one before calling it time for a break. Gurri had gone off to work on the yacht, a shield over his face as he looked for breaks in wire current of the mid-section, it was like trying to weed through a chain of thousands of lights to see which one had gone out, making all the others die. Sydney wondered why they hadn't put the astromech to work and said to Arim across the bench-
"Why's Gurri doing all the work? Isn't that why you have droids?" Arim chuckled, taking a bite from his fruit before answering.
"Your uncle refuses to buy anything that works properly- that's why we're currently in possession of an astromech droid that doesn't know a damned thing about ships..." He took another bite from the fruit and chewed it modestly-" The little thing nearly took an entire ship apart before we found out that we'd been sold a scrapper." He shrugged his shoulders and added, pointing to the other, larger droid in the corner-" which works out just fine, because now we don't have to worry about taking things apart and bringing them to our welder- we get to focus on the things computers were meant to fix!" He raised his fist triumphantly before finishing off the fruit. Sydney looked at the meager meal he'd managed to produce by traveling to different levels in the building, a mixture between vending machines on the arms dealer's floor and the bakery, a cup of 'Chaima' at his side.
"So how long you been working with my uncle?" Sydney hated to make small talk, but he was actually curious- the last few hours had been good between them. "I mean- you can't be much older than me- a few years, tops?"
Arim shook his head and smiled- "No, I've only been working here for about half a year- your uncle had hired other men before hand, but..." He stopped suddenly.
Sydney prodded- "What?"
Arim glanced at Gurri's figure, a monument atop the yacht as he searched through wires for his key. "I suppose you'd find out eventually- he had to get rid of all of them after he found out that they were involved in a local syndicate- trading spice, illegal arms, ships, money laundering... The whole sabacc deck..." Sydney remained motionless, waiting for more information. "Apparently they came back that night, broke in and messed the place up- lookin for a cash drawer or something I'm sure. Either way, I was looking for a steadier job and he needed some company..." He exchanged smiles with Sydney before adding- "That's why he got the transparisteel for his office; 'fraid to be caught in a bad situation is all. Sometimes he shuts the hanger doors too- I think he's starting to loosen up, though..." Arim took a sip from his flask.
"Wow..." Sydney nodded as if this clarified the situation- his uncle had attracted some trouble, even above the riff-raff.
Arim nodded as well, brushing his hand through his hair and adding a- "Yea." Deciding to switch the topic, he said- "How long you sticking around, fly?" Sydney flittered through his memory, recalling that he should really be off for about a week or so, but...
"Maybe three days- tops." Arim nodded casually and then, as if struck by something said-
"You should come to my party- I'm having it tomorrow night; my girlfriend's throwing it for me, but it should be some fun. I think it was supposed to be a surprise..." But Sydney was already doing something... He began to shake his head...
Arim wouldn't take no for an answer though, saying quickly while still chomping on his food- "Consider it your party as much as mine- I'm getting a promotion and you're going away to fight bad guys!" And then he knew he had to take a step back...
What did you say? Sydney's mind traveled at the speed of light, retracing the conversation and reviewing facts...
It couldn't be...
"Sounds interesting- who's your girlfriend?" This would clarify it... Not trying to sound too suspicious, he added quickly- "I might know her from school." Arim gave a proud eyebrow arch and stood momentarilly to pull out a small holo, flipping it on to reveal Nadra Caeto at her best. Sydney stammered for a moment. "She's beautiful..." Was all he could muster...
"That she is..." He sat back down and began to finish his fruit, saying again- "How bout it?"
This was the guy! Dammit... He'd been working himself up so much to tear down that stupid guardsmen if he ever saw him again and... While Sydney had been flying into nothing less than suicide, this fool had bee doing community service and... Workin with his Uncle?
How bout it!
He didn't know what to say...
NO! So he said- "Why not?"
***
He didn't sleep any better than he had the night before- his parents had asked how his day was of course, if he was glad that he'd gotten down to the shop or not. None of that mattered right now- too much to work with yet. So he lay floating on an incredible machine his parents were now able to afford where you could actually sleep on air, something he had yet to get used to and was probably a good reason why he couldn't sleep; he lay awake and thought.
How's this going to work? "See ya in a bit, Arim, I'm going to go give your fiance' something she'll never forget... And get then get the hell out of here?" Certainly not, but he could imagine himself piloting into a situation that could very well lead to some fancy maneuvering, high stakes coaxing and the need to be alone with Nadra C. The entire rest of the day he tried to hate Arim, hoping that it would somehow relieve him of any guilt, especially if he decided to go through with it... And then there was Arim- he just couldn't get over him. He hadn't asked any further, but he was looking for a steadier job so he moved up to his uncle's shop? It made sense and he believed it just fine- it was the idea that he was more than extra help that threw him...
None of this mattered- he'd be gone in a few days, back to fighting pirates, rebel scum and other imperials.
Some life...
***
"No! Quick! Pull down the elevator before it breaks the primary!" Sydney pulled on the large flap as it rose, hoping that his mistake wouldn't cost them any extra time or money. Putting all of his weight on the elevator, he momentarily held it before he felt its continued rise, the tip of an important wing formation sat, waiting for it's opportunity to be crushed. "Shit! Where's that damned..." He thought he heard an 'AH HA' and was relieved to see the flap stop it's upward climb. There was only the sound of scrap metal being melded in the distance and Gurri's office door before Arim came back into view, a sigh of relief running throughout Sydney.
"Sorry 'bout that!" Sydney yelled it loud enough but he hoped it didn't sound like he was trying to get away from being an idiot. Arim just nodded and smiled-
"All's well- mind if we take a break though? I'm about ready to torch this thing and leave it at that..." Sydney shrugged and found himself sliding down the wing body to the hanger floor, still happy that he hadn't caused any real damage. Gurri was walking toward them, staring down at his data pad when he looked up to see them.
"Takin a break?" He smiled; he'd loved having his nephew around for the last few days. Sydney wouldn't doubt that an offer for a full time job was coming his way, but he had yet to even tell him about his intentions for the Navy... The party and that was all that had really concerned him throughout the last few days- not a future in repair. For a moment he thought about what it would be like to come back if these folks found out what he had done- or if they didn't! He wasn't sure he would be able to face Arim afterword... Even if he didn't know.
"Alright- sounds good... Make sure you guys get to work on those converter's before you try to fix that wing manifold- the transistor's are making it act in reverse..." He just kept on walking while Arim and Sydney exchanged incredulous looks- the two said "okay" but meant
oh. As they neared the bench the shrill cry from the droids' work began once again, filling the mass hanger from pole to pole. Arim went to a cooling compartment while Sydney started off toward the lift.... Then he noticed something- it was far away, but it was higher pitched, faster, and a whole lot more powerful than a welding droid.
How? Sydney was stopped in his tracks when Arim turned to look at him, lunch in hand, and said-
"What's up?" He was looking around to, apparently picking up now on the sound he'd heard a while ago. They were in the main hallway now, still listening when the sound became too obvious to ignore.
"I'd know that sound anywhere..." He exchanged looks with Arim just as the battles began flashing through his head. Suddenly they were both heading down the white hallway, a few of the lights blinking on and off as the building shook. As they ran down the corridor, the welding droid had stopped entirely and now there was only the whine of nearby engines, weapon manifolds clicking into position and... Sydney suddenly stooped as they exited the main hallway to the left, entering into the repair shed. Falling to the floor and taking cover behind the shop's latest grocery delivery, Sydney vaguely recalling that Gurri had promised them a wider selection of food, he and Arim waited and crouched by the large metal crate. The sound of engines was far louder than the droids had been; multiple engines. Sydney peeked over the unit as did Arim and said- "Fighters..." Before them, rumbling and touching down with all the intensity they could muster, were two X-wings and a TIE Bomber. The bomber's launcher was hollowed out to create a passenger side that sometimes housed units to be loaded on to enemy ships during battle- he'd seen it once but wouldn't forget any ship that he'd seen with his experience in the Navy. "What is this?" The ships came to a halt and their engines quieted slightly, the afternoon create a silhouette behind them as it began to dwindle; they'd taken a late lunch.
Arim stood in shock as well, but was quickly recovering, starting to speak quickly- "It's those damned dealers he'd fired a while back- Gurri's been in trouble with them ever since he started working for the other side- one of their rivals apparently..." The engine's were still loud enough that Arim had to yell directly into his ear in order to hear anything;
still no sight of Gurri... His mind ran over the facts while he absorbed what he could from Arim; these people somehow smuggled in rebel craft
and grabbed an Imperial bomber from underneath this metropolitan government's nose? They were good... Then again- there was a black market on every planet...
Two men exited the TIE Bomber from it's bomb hatch while the pilots of the two X-wings settled down and jumped out as well, blasters in hand and surging toward Gurri's office. Sydney grabbed at his waist and hit a brick wall- he was unarmed! How did this happen? Impossible! But Arim was no longer by his side- he'd disappeared! Sydney searched in the immediate surrounding area and found that he'd actually been crawling for the last ten seconds into a room he'd never explored off to his right-
what is he doing? Tryin to get killed? Arim raised himself slightly to hit the access, then dived into the room, appearing with two blaster pistols and a shotgun a moment later-
You'rer kidding! Arim nodded and threw a heavy blaster pistol, similar to the Naval DL-44, into Sydney's open hand, giving signs that any one could understand.
Close up? Arim crawled back out of of the room, Blaster dug into the back of his pants, Shotgun raised to shoulder level as he closed distance with the other side of the pillar...
"What is this?" The engine's had cut out just in time and no doubt they'd heard Sydney this time- there was a clatter of feet and a shout from Gurri before two blaster's and a second shotgun were heard in the distance.
"Get your hand's off me you..."
Gurri! Sydney's hand tightened on the blaster as boots found their way down the hall. Sydney wasn't too good with a blaster, but he'd used one enough times to...
"Back out!" The boot's had stopped- was he talking to them? Arim and he were nearly exposed, a quick step around the corner and they'd be in plain site, easily plastered to the wall. Arim didn't even hesitate, throwing himself past the passage and into the open corridor, shotgun leveled and firing. The door to the office had been open so his little mid-air maneuver landed him some cover before the other man started shooting a blaster of his own into the side panel. Sydney acted instinctively, pushing up from the only sheen ground in the entire place, throwing himself into the hallway to let off three quick burst into the chest of a pallid man, no older than he or Arim. The blaster looked ready to acquire a new target, but the man was out, falling back and crumbling to the ground. Sydney breathed hard for a moment, Arim recovering his position in the room adjacent, giving what looked to be a thumbs up. Sydney stared at the body, then at his blaster-
you can never get away... Three blasters ignited against the hallway, forcing Sydney to cover again, the entire passage turning ivory under the red precipitation. Sydney put his blaster around the corner and let off a few rounds, acting as a distraction while Arim suddenly burst out the office door, shotgun in hand and blasting whatever he could as he moved forward. The fire in Sydney's direction quieted for a moment, so he worked up his bravery and went flying out of the hallway to hide behind yet another canister.
"I said I don't owe you anything!" Gurri could be seen near the TIE Bomber- where were they taking him? The astromech droid hurried into hiding near one of the X-wings and Sydney couldn't help but think that they didn't have much time. Sydney was about to throw a few blasts their direction to draw attention on himself so that Arim could take a few good shots of his own, he was obviously the better gunman in this situation, but then he realized what he was standing behind...
Shit... Then they'd spotted him, a few bolts tracing their way around the steel canister; Sydney needed to move, and fast. Then he noticed that the cart had, in fact, been placed on a cart just earlier today because it was getting in the way of their progress on the Yacht;
I'll pick up the tab later... Sydney dropped onto his back and positioned his legs, kicking out as hard as he knew possible, letting his only cover disappear into the fire storm. A few bolts skimmed the surface before he found cover, just in time to see Arim take a hit to the chest and falling backward: dead. He'd seen it only a couple of times, but he knew the sight. Then he remembered the fuel canister...
Sydney turned back around the corner, a new heat rising to the surface and took aim on the sitting fuel tank only fifteen or twenty feet off. He couldn't see Gurri anymore, so he had to be inside the bomber by now; the two men that had first exited still fired on him while one of the pilots began to take off. Then, knowing his blaster wasn't doing the job, he lurched toward Arim's body, observing the surprised look on his face only momentarily; he took the shotgun like a promise. Getting back behind his corner, he directed the gun toward the fuel tank, hoping his cover would be enough, and pulled the trigger...
For a moment he thought he hadn't fired... Then...
He lost his hearing first, then there was the immense heat as the flame nearly engulfed him and everything in the Hanger- he hadn't thought about the other ships... But there they were, multiple explosions now, this time dislodging he and his cover, throwing he and it across the room and into the open corridor, nearly colliding with the stubborn transparisteel Gurri had installed for just such an occasion. Sydney continued to roll, his cover had impacted the office after all, and another explosion that he couldn't hear but instead felt, seemed to be ripping the universe in half. Sydney couldn't move yet, still in shock of a new pain, not from his shoulder or arm which he must have landed on, but losing someone, a man he knew had been his friend, a man he would have betrayed...
Sorry, Arim... The shotgun had flung into the corridor along with him- like a promise. Finding the strength to move, Sydney crawled toward the weapon, aware now that he was bleeding from his side, a nasty piece of debris having either gone through him or remained inside- perhaps his leg was injured as well.
A buzz emanated throughout; he couldn't hear, but imagined the sound of his hand gripping the weapon, clanking as it escaped the ground, he rising to continue into the hanger...
What has happened? he imagined someone saying, perhaps his mother or father as he burst through the opening, nearly collapsing at the epicenter, a gargantuan hole sitting in the center of a blackened room, fires and smog pouring out of the building from the hanger entrance. The ground had actually blown downward and upward, ripping holes in the ceiling and ground, probably killing everyone on both floors... Sydney understood everything and nothing at the same time, bursting onto the scene as if he was the only professional but wasn't supposed to be there... He searched his mind for a goal- Arim was dead, his uncle's shop destroyed... His Uncle! Gurri! Sydney searched the carnage for any sign of the ship his uncle had been in- the ball cockpit was still there, a blackened, rolling ball of flame as it dipped into the ground funnel and fell to the next floor. Then he spotted the other half, pushed back into a corner next to the hanger entrance, on its side and black, but...
There's hope... Someone at the academy had taught him that...
His hearing was beginning to return suddenly and he was faintly aware of that sound again...
Not now! He turned toward the open hanger bay, barely able to see anything through the smog, but the faint outline of a single X-wing could be seen, screeching into a break turn so that it continue watching... Something came over him and he abandoned his search for his Uncle- hope was still alive, but he wouldn't be able to do anything if he was alive, he'd only be waiting for the meds to show up while the only living person who lost nothing out of all of this escaped... He cocked his head through the smoke, coughing suddenly, but catching site of the left behind X-wing, still clinging to life in their hanger. Noting the fact that the lower s-foil on the right side was pretty messed up and he couldn't be sure the engines were still operational, he coughed again. And then he felt some form of relief overtake him- the viewport of the damaged X-wing was still intact...
He hobbled on with his bad leg, reaching the fighter and thinking quite suddenly that he might just die right then and there- the piece of debris hadn't left an exit wound: it was still inside. Every move he made was like tearing off a limb, excruciating pain feeling its way to the furthest points of his body...
Then I'll do this... Hitting the access in the smoke was something of a challenge but the rising canopy told him that he'd done something right; and there was no ladder... Still, beyond the point of pain, thinking that perhaps this movement had deadened his nerves to a numbness, he jumped to the side of the fighter, pulling himself up, realizing that his right arm had been badly battered. It took a moment to get a good grip, but he fell inward, quickly taking this success and turning it into a triumph as he righted himself and closed the canopy, some smoke converting the clean viewport into nothing less than opaque. As he began to consider his next move the pain that had been waiting to catch on from his ascension into the fighter took over...
"AHH!" he groaned as words failed him, an incredible pain rising from his leg into his chest... And then it began to subside, his vision clearing...
He'd only flown this particular ship in simulators, but he remembered the sequences, feeding the engines and igniting them before worrying about peripheral systems, s-foils or repulsors... The lights hazed in front of him; he couldn't see anything beyond the viewport, but he continued to try, blacking out twice in the course of his take-off sequence. He pulled the constraints haphazardly about him so that they would keep him in place alright, but leave room for his damaged side.
Sydney still couldn't see anything, relying totally on his memory to guide him forward and out of the hanger bay, only the faintest light coming in from outside, single beams illuminating the wreckage from within as the X-wing took haste. Rotating slightly, Sydney smiled at what he'd done and kicked the throttle forward like he always did.
Big mistake! Pain made him go blind for a moment as the sudden rush died down, the force that had earlier planted him into the back of his seat becoming adjusted and the smoke and smog disappearing, broiling behind him growing funnels as he escaped into open air. Realizing he couldn't be more than a couple hundred feet above the ground, he pulled up, taking the pain with a new courage, and swinging around to get a good look at the building he'd worked in for the last two days- it was destroyed. The windows one every floor were shattered while a gaping hole existed between an easy three floors- the building would probably collapse before too long- he wondered if anyone would come for his uncle, perhaps it had been a mistake to...
The radar picked up a single target- an X-wing Class fighter, heading toward the southern pole immediately to his right... He made a break turn, gasping and biting down hard to fight the pain as he pulled up to enter a chase position. Shoving the throttle all the way forward now, he pulled up higher, moving quickly, out of the immediate cloud of smoke and beyond other buildings, towers, his parents apartment complex... Soon he was out of the city and thought he could hear some com chatter. He thought of something suddenly, saying to no one in particular...
"Clear up that chatter and work our jammers..." An affirmative bleeped from behind him and, though it pained him, he couldn't help but smile- the astromech droid had loaded itself into the back-half of the X-wing; there hadn't been a droid earlier- this was most certainly the scrapper.
And I thought you were an idiot... The radar came alive, not only taking a long distance lock on his target but identifying three other hostiles in the area- local air force.
"You got me a lock?" He chuckled, then regretted it as his side threatened to explode. Glancing down as his leg and side he could see clearly that the blood running down the interior was his own and that he wouldn't be concious much longer. He decided then and there not to think anymore, instead switching his missiles, thinking how they automatically armed themselves and pulled back on the trigger- like a promise...
The two proton torpedo's streaked out ahead of him, but he could barely watch anymore- he passed out just in time to see his torpedo blast engulf the x-wing on radar.
***
Never had he been so surprised to be alive. The first three times he awoke he'd been funny off of the drugs the MD droid had been giving him for the last week. In the Navy, if you got shot, you were dead, pretty plain and simple- getting injured on the ground and trying to fly afterward was something else altogether. Here, in this white room, free of smoke or debris, he felt comfortable, but not happy. For hours he would sit and determine that everything had been real- nothing had been imagined: he'd been in a firefight that in no way whatsoever had anything to do with the war- he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He'd missed Arim's party...
His parents came and visited now; they'd been with him the first three days and nights without ever taking leave; he'd underestimated their support. He was most relieved to here that Gurri had only been shot in the back during the scuffle. Afterword, he was carried aboard the TIE Bomber only to be tossed into a corner by the blast that managed to kill his captors and their pilot; he'd survived though, retrieved by local authorities before the building could collapse. But, oh, did it fall- the disfigured building craned to one side and then releasing with all the power it possessed, its full weight and strength into a nearby building. Those in the direct vicinity had all been evacuated, but the damage was catastrophic, taking down one more building and making two others simply inhabitable.
As for Sydney, after he'd collapsed inside the cabin of the X-wing, the so called 'scrapper' droid updated the local air forces on what was happening and piloted the X-wing to a nearby med center- this center. He'd been critical for almost a full day before they thought it safe to leave him on machines- he would make full recovery with little side effects, except some trouble in his joints on especially cold days. That had been a good thing to know, but he was far more satisfied that his torpedoes had ripped that bastard to pieces- he couldn't have seen the missiles coming, and since the protons were far more powerful than the concussions... He had no where to go.
Nadra C. had visited him once- five days after the accident and with a look of both guilt and sorrow for he and Arim. Sydney wouldn't have it though- he wasn't going to be the one to relieve her guilty conscious, she'd just have to deal with that on her own. As would he... On the seventh day his base commander visited him, a look of pride evident on his face, as if he had single-handedly taken Corsuscant.
He spoke about how the local authorities had been slow in thier response, not taking it upon themselves to deal with the arial threat until the explosion had gone off from within the building itself. Only then did they catch up to the two fighters, nearly killing Sydney instead of the incensed syndicate member. Sydney's final blow had done the job though- annihilating the fighter and a well known killer. The authorities were offering him a medal instead of receiving a lawsuit... The Navy was simply offering time off and a position change as his injuries or wants warranted. The effect that this had on the public was tremendous- never had they seen Imperial action put on such a podium. Sydney's "personal sacrifice" was supposedly the direct result of a sudden surge for Imperialism, not to mention a growth in pilot enlistment. All within about a week...
"So where would you like to spend your time off?" He said it like transporting was even an option yet, but he knew that, in time, he could be on a beach somewhere, far from the Navy, this planet, or any hostile activity for that matter, with a beautiful woman, three times more so than Nadra, draped around him... Then he thought for a moment... He thought about what little he had to look forward to; he'd screwed up with Caeto, never had a real relationship with his family and his uncle would be out of commission for months, possibly years... He thought of Arim.
"I've never been a man willing to do more work than he has too..." The commander seemed to agree, as if recalling on past experience." Besides... Anything has got to be easier than civilian life..." The man opposite him eyed Sydney curiously, half-expecting him to name the nearest resort. "I'll take the next ship back to Abrae, Vectra System."
The home of the Imperial Pilot... "If you'll have me..."
And I'll despise every step of it until I'm dead.
And then he closed his eyes and slept.
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*Flash Was Here...*
SC/CMD Shazam/Nazgul 1-1/Phoenix Wing/mSSD Atrus/1VENF/VEN (=A=) (=*SA*=) (=*MA*=) (=*FOCE*=) [LoM] [LSM] [VC:S] [DSM]
NazgulSquadron
Commander of Nazgul Squadron, Phoenix Wing and Training
-----------------------
*Flash Was Here...*
SC/CMD Shazam/Nazgul 1-1/Phoenix Wing/mSSD Atrus/1VENF/VEN (=A=) (=*SA*=) (=*MA*=) (=*FOCE*=) [LoM] [LSM] [VC:S] [DSM]
NazgulSquadron
Commander of Nazgul Squadron, Phoenix Wing and Training
