Unlucky

Unlucky
16 February 2019
Sydney, Australia
Pietr wakes up when the guy beside him shifts. Everyone's looking up; some worried faces, tense muscles.
-What's happening?- says the note he hands to his neighbor.
"Didn't you hear the announcement?"
Pietr shakes his head and points to his ear. -Deaf-
"Uh. Oh. There's another Kaiju. Attacking Manila. Horizon Brave is there. Said they'd update us."
-Tell me?-
"Yeah, sure. No problem."
Pietr fails to read, loses his place.
Tries a crossword puzzle. It blurs.
Settles for drumming his fingers on the seat's arm.
Falls asleep.
Feels a tug on his sleeve.
"They're sending in backup from Sydney."
-Which Jaeger?-
"Lucky Seven." His companion finally marks his dog tags. "You work for 'em. The Corps."
Pietr nods.
"Tech?"
-Pilot trainee-
"/You?"
-I hit hard- He shrugs.
"Wow." Hears something, glances away for a second. "Uh. Right. You know those guys?"
-Good friends-
"They're tough. They'll be fine."
Pietr crosses his fingers and nods.
Stares out the window.
Drums his fingers.
Falls asleep.
A hesitant tap on the arm.
"The Kaiju's dead, but Horizon Brave got damaged and ... and Lucky Seven stopped fighting and took a real beating."
Pietr pales.
"They don-don't know about the pilots yet ... it lo-looks real bad." He places a hand on Pietr's forearm. "Sorry."
-Thanks-
"Yeah. Okay. Sorry 'bout your friends."
Pietr shakes his head.
Closes his eyes.
Drops his forehead against the window.
Falls asleep.
Another tug.
"They're alright. They've got 'em at the base hospital, but they'll be alright."
Pietr lets out a deep breath. -Thanks again-
"Yea. And we're about twenty minutes out from Sydney. You're almost home."
Pietr bobs his head, offers a crooked smile.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Pages in need of tags
Category:Skeleton Key
Category:Unlucky Seven arc
Category:Pietr
Category:Pietr (ficlet)
Category:Air travel
Category:Pietr's out cold in moving vehicles
Category:Team Lucky Seven (mention)