S2, 21 Delivery Boy (LB) (January 14, 2016)

Corresponding text underneath each picture.

**25th October 2095: Present Day**

I could hear my comlink beeping from the other room and started muttering to myself as I finished drying my hands off on the kitchen towel.

I jogged through to the living room and scooped the device up from where it sat on the arm of the sofa, then flopped down onto the white leather as I activated it.

Tank: “Good morning.” I greeted in an even tone as Mr. Grey appeared from the device.

Mr. Grey: “Good morning, Chain. I trust you are well?”

Tank: “I’m fine thank you.” I responded, keeping it pleasant but knowing that it was all a front.

Mr. Grey: “I’m pleased to hear it. How are you finding your new accommodation? Have you settled in now?”

Mr. Grey had contacted me once since I had saved Governor Boan and that had been later on that same day. Since then I’d heard nothing from him, which offered me an unusual time of relaxation, meaning that I was free to move in to the brand new apartment which the Governor had very kindly given to me.

Tank: “It’s fine thank you.” I replied, this time, unable to contain a smile. It was more than fine. It was amazing!

Everything gleamed in the sunlight that shone through the massive windows and it was all so modern. Top of the range everything, from the TV to the oven to the wardrobe! It was all brand new and I still couldn’t believe it was mine! And I didn’t have to pay a single coin for it!

Tank: “A part of me still thinks that there is some sort of catch to this.” I admitted. “That any minute now the Governor will call up and change his mind.”

Mr. Grey: “Well, let’s hope that that is not the case.” Grey smiled slightly. “After all, you should be used to living in luxury.”

It was true, I had spent my first ten years living in a luxury apartment, but I’d also spent the ten years since then living first in a tiny cell, then in a cave in the desert under the never-ending sun and then wherever I could find, often in The Viper’s cockpit. So no, I wasn’t actually all that used to it. However, I held my tongue and waited for the messenger to continue.

Mr. Grey: “Now, as I imagine you’ve guessed, this isn’t in fact a social call. The Brain has a job for you.”

Tank: “Of course he does.”

Mr. Grey: “Don’t worry.” He assured. “It’s nothing too heavy. Just a simple fetch and carry errand.”

Tank: “So once again, I’m the delivery boy.”

Mr. Grey: “Would you rather he send you to kill another politician?” he retorted and I quieted the answer that I was about to bite out.

Mr. Grey: “As I’m sure you’re aware, with the Imperial and Aurellian truce still in place, for now, sights are being turned to re-building and to aiding the survivors of the war. With The Collective blockade out of the way, ships are finally able to bring in supplies of food and medicine, however, they need all the help they can get. I just need you to go, collect a shipment, and deliver it to the docking bay I send through to your datapad. Feel free to fuel up once you get there. They will know which tab to put the bill on.”

Tank: “This all seems very humanitarian. Not normally The Brain’s style.” I commented.

Mr. Grey: “He’s not a monster, Chain. He’s a good man. He just wants what is best for this galaxy and its people. That includes helping them when they are need, and now is one such time. So, are you up to it? Or shall I tell my master that you’ve disappointed him again?”

Tank: “Don’t worry. I’ll do it.”

Mr. Grey: “Excellent. I’m sure it won’t take a man of your calibre too long.”

Grey ended the call and the hologram fizzled away. I shook my head and sighed. Always the errand boy. Task after task and for what? Promises. That’s all. Promises of information. Does The Brain really know anything he claimed to? And if he does, is he ever going to tell me?

My thoughts were interrupted by Tracks who entered the room, ducking through the doorway.

He whirred questioningly.

Tank: “Grey.” I replied as I stood up. “Come on buddy. We’ve got work to do.”

**A Little Later…**

The building my apartment was located in had its own rooftop landing pad, meaning that, conveniently, I had somewhere to keep *The Viper*.
It didn’t take us long to get ready and then Tracks and I were blasting our way away from the city and out towards space.

As we flew, I noticed that there was a significant amount more space traffic than there normally was. Ships coming and going, entering and exiting the atmosphere in every direction. It seemed that with the war over and a temporary era of peace upon us, everybody had decided to come out of hiding and do something.

We left the atmosphere and out here in the darkness, I could see that where The Collective blockade had been not too long ago, now were hundreds of supply cruisers.

All shapes and sizes but all bringing aid of some description to the war-torn planet below. Each of the massive ships had a steady stream of traffic, smaller frigates and freighters, entering and leaving their docking bays and so, after finding the ship we were meant to be visiting, I piloted The Viper towards it and joined the queue of others waiting for pick up deliveries.

As we waited in line, I couldn’t help but notice that all of the other ships around us seemed much bigger and appeared to be commercial.

Tank: “Looks like we’re the only good Samaritans up here after all.” I commented aloud as we both looked out the cockpit at the much bigger ships all around us.

We waited in line for around an hour and then, finally, it was our turn. I brought us in to land in the hanger bay we’d been guided towards and once inside, the runway lights indicated where I should put down. No sooner had the landing feet touched the deck, loading crew were rushing towards us.

Tank: “Wow, speedy operation.” I joked as I released the canopy and climbed out.

One of the crew members guided a small crane-lifter-thing over and carefully, an oblong crate was lowered into The Viper through the open cockpit. Once it was in, Tracks helped move it into position in the back of the ship and strap it safely in.

Tank: “Okay, anything else?” I asked a crew member stood nearby who seemed to be coordinating things using a datapad.

Crew: “Nope. That’s all we have marked down for you. Thanks.” And with that he walked away and headed towards another ship that had just touched down.

Tank: “Oh… okay then?” One crate didn’t seem like much. But, oh well, it meant I could get home faster.

I leapt back into the pilot’s seat, closed the canopy and in under a minute we were away again.

Tank: “And all before dinner.” I joked as we flew.

That’s when the first blast hit us.

*The Viper* shook violently and I cursed.

Tank: “What the hell was that?” Tracks ground out an angry reply and in the rear-view mirror I saw them. Three fighters. Small, probably one manned. All three were different makes and were covered in customised markings.

Tank: “Pirates.” I concluded as a second laser struck us. I bounced up and down in my seat as the ship shook. “Hang on, going evasive.” I told Tracks and pushed the ship to full throttle, blaring for the planet below.

I managed to dodge another couple of lasers from our followers and then we were in the atmosphere.

We hurtled through the cloud cover and burst out the other side. I had sort of hoped that the clouds would have thrown the pirates off, but it wasn’t to be and they stayed hot on my heels as I continued down towards the city.

Tank: “Damnit!” I shouted as another laser came too close for comfort.

I twisted the control lever and sent *The Viper* into a tight downward spiral. The pirates followed and once I’d gotten to building-height I pulled up and flew over the rooftops. I glanced behind in time to see two of the pirate ships made the correction, but the third just clipped the roof. It was only a little but enough and it sent it flipping tail over front and down out of sight. I just hoped it didn’t hurt any civilians.

The other two let rip with their guns again and the rear of *The Viper* took several shots before I shoved us into a half-barrel roll, making us dive to our left, further down between the buildings.

Here the skyscrapers towered over us and flying between them was like flying through a canyon.

However, I knew I had to shake off the pirates and so I continued on, weaving between the enormous towers of metal and glass.

Lasers flew past the canopy, narrowly missing us, and I racked my brains trying to think of a way of outsmarting the pirates, but no matter how I concentrated, nothing would come to me!

But, thankfully, Tracks suddenly whirred urgently and pointed at something ahead.

Tank: “Whoa! No way! We’d never fit!” I replied, realising that Tracks was suggesting I fly through a tiny gap in one of the buildings.

It was a decorative feature, part of the architecture, but I highly doubted The Viper would fit.

Tracks whirred again, insistent and I grimaced as yet another flurry of lasers flew by.

Tank: “Oh, to hell, Tracks.” I conceded and angled us towards it. Hopefully, the pirates wouldn’t be stupid enough to try and follow and we could lose them. Or better yet, they *would* try to follow but not make it.

That was, of course, if we did actually fit.

Tank: “Come on baby…” I muttered, placing a hand on the control panel in front of me as we got closer and closer to the hole. “You can do it.”

Tank: “Here we gooo..!”
<p
Tracks and I both screamed as the gap grew larger before us, opening like a great mouth waiting to swallow us up. A last few lasers flew by, striking the side of the building but then we were through.

*The Viper* vibrated like mad as the outdraft of air echoed around the tight hole, but seconds later, we had shot out the other side.

I whooped with joy and Tracks made his equivalent of laughter. I heard a faint *BOOM* and looked behind us and thanked God when I saw both pirate ships going up in fiery balls of flames, having not made the tight gap.

Laughing with joy, I shook my head.
Tank: “Come on, buddy. Let’s drop this off and then get back home.”
Tracks grunted in agreement and, now safe again, we headed in the direction of the space port Mr. Grey had instructed we deliver the cargo to.

**BONUS PICTURES**

The whole set for the hanger bay.

The set for the building that they fly through.

As my series is going to be jumping around though time, I will include a date on each episode and add it to the timeline at the end of each episode so that you can follow it.

TIMELINE