Thread: Countless Stars, Unending Possibilities (The_Gladiator & darkangel76)

One life sign, female height 5 feet weight Rafaels words broke off as Jace smacked him in the back of the head. I got it you idiot. Would you look up and around for a second? I could have told you all of that without the damned computer. Raff looked up and laughed a little and gave a sheepish smile. I guess maybe youre rightthis time This time? Im always right you dolt. Riiiiiiiiiight. Raff made sure to draw out the single word, This is coming from the guy who didnt know the Governors name. Yeah I did its Hamlet or something like that. Its Halmir you uneducated plebe dont you read a goddamned news report every once in a while? Something tells me the answer is no. here he made a jerking motion with his right hand, Too busy for trivial things like the news. Oh, thats right Jace snorted, Im the one who spends all his time greasing the meat stick.At least I dont do it in the ships com center listening to my wife scream for me. At least I have the decency to take my porn into my cabin. Raff actually had the decency to blush at that, I wouldnt if youd play fewer card games, and actually bought more equipment for the ship Back to the nagging again are we? Jace quipped to Raffs rather defensive comment. Raff only responded with his customary one fingered salute. By this point they had drawn closer to the young woman who proceeded to announce herself. Quenton, quenton why does that name sound familiar? It would if you watched a news program. The Quenton family is high ranking illuminati officials from Helios. I could have guessed where they were from, did you forget the ship was called the Helios Pride, Jace muttered under his breath. Do you want to learn something or not? Raff groused. It might look to the observer that Jace, the captain was stupid, having answers like that fed to him by his second in command. However, Jace feigned ignorance most of the time, and the times it was not feigned, he just did not give a damn. Half the time he feigned ignorance just to piss Raff off and watch him get on his all-knowing high horse. Jace shot his smart mouthed first mate one last glare as he approached the young noblewoman. Good, here he paused to look up at the sky, Afternoon Lady Quenton. My name is Captain Jason Benson of the freighter Ladywind, and this is my first Mate. Here he paused to wave at Raff, Rafael Talise. Of House Talise of Here Jace cut Raff off with a sharp gesture. No need to bore the young woman with your pedigree, its not as good as hers anyway. He could have kicked his first mate. Was Raff going to go all mucky-muck on him, just because he was married to a senator on Thalassa, didnt mean he should tell this woman all about his lifes history. They didnt know who this woman was well ok they knew who she was but they didnt know what she was about, where her loyalties layalright they could probably guess that too. Turning his attention back to Laela Jace spoke, No, we were not sent by anyone, we intercepted your distress signal and came to help. For a price. God dammit Raff shut the fuck up. Cant I have one conversation without you throwing in your two cents? After spewing those words at his best friend Jace turned back to the noblewoman, I apologize.we dont get out much so our manners arent what one such as you probably expects. Here he bowed awkwardly. This was a gesture that almost looked comical coming from the rugged spacer before her, wearing warn black pants, boots and leather vest over a shirt that had probably started its life as white, but now had been worn so much it resembled more of a dirty gray. He was however clean shaven, and clean. Raff was also dressed mostly in black, however his shirt was a pale blue, and a color that matched the watery color of his eyes. The shape of Raffs eyes, and the way the clear inner eyelid kept flicking down over his eyes in nervousness, it was obvious that Raff was one of the genetically altered human settlers of Thalassa, the water world. Those eyelids were meant to protect the eye so the Thalassans could see under water. It was rumored that they also had gills that they could use if necessary. However if Raff Had Gills, they were by no means apparent. This meant other than his eyes and the more graceful fluid way he moved, he almost looked normal. His long hair was green, however. Before Jace could say anything else to Laela both his and Raffs com units squawked with an incoming transmission. The captain yanked his off his belt and flipped it open with a flick of his wrist and barked This is Benson, go. Yo, captain asshole we got incoming. Jace glared at his Com and then glared at his first mate, as he listened to his AIs robotic voice coming from the hand unit. What are you looking at me for I didnt teach it to talk like that. Jace muttered something unintelligible and then spoke louder to the Com, Roger that Tin Canand its Captain Asshole Sir to you, you smart mouthed bucket of bolts. Jace flipped shut the communicator and looked back to Laela. Sorry to be rude darling, but you can stay here and blow up with your ship. Which doesnt sound fun chimed in Raff. Or you can run away and probably get picked up by Ironhands pirate gang, where you are likely to get raped, tortured and god knows what else. Not my idea of a fun day either. Again, commentary by Raff. Or, you can come with us and get the hell out of here. Jace continued as if Raff had not spoken. Id advise you to take option 3. Jace finished as he turned back towards his ship. He could see the exhaust trails of at least two ships coming down in the distance. Raff had his own com out by this point his voice filling the crisp cold air. CC you got ID on those ships yet? Jace nodded at the sensible question by his first mate as the Thalassan addressed the Ladywinds AI by as close as the thing came to having a name. There was a burst of static before the mechanical voice of CC came back over the line, Corsair class fighters. Jace could feel his blood run cold. Ironhand wasnt fucking around, why did he want this ship that badly, what or flicking his gaze at Laela that was that important to warrant this? And one IIAF troop lander as well. Great, just great, thought Jace. He knew that lander wouldnt have IIAF soldiers, not that those would be good news at this point either, but would disgorge hardened pirate thugs out for blood for their destroyed light cruiser. You heard him. Jace barked, Shits about to get deep around here and I for one dont plan to stick around and savor the smell, and with that rather smelly Metaphor Jace began to start back towards the Ladywind at a rapid pace, Raff falling in beside him. Jace caught Laelas upper arm as he passed her, almost yanking her along. Cmon, we aint got all day, the spacer almost growled the intensity of his brief gaze showing her that this was no joke.