S2, 01 Spare Parts (FB) (May 19, 2015)

Corresponding text underneath each picture.

**26th February 2094**

It was dark.

Which was saying something, considering we were on the hot side of Iapra, which never faced away from the sun. But tonight, for it was about 2 o’clock in the morning, there was a thick layer of cloud above us which made it relatively dark for a change.

It also aided the four of us who were currently pressed up against the cliff face, next to the back entrance into the GI base not too far from our own hideout. Yesterday afternoon, Jarred had roped me into helping him and a couple of his criminal buddies out. One of them had discovered the back door to the base and had planned a raiding expedition.

So now here we were, about to break in.

Jarred: “Okay Tank, you’re up.”

I crept along the wall to where the unguarded door was set into the rock face. Kneeling down, I pulled out my screwdriver and prised open the control panel. The other three kept lookout while I worked, but it didn’t take long until the door *swooshed* open.

The others darted inside and I brought up the rear, the door closing behind us.

We were in a poorly-lit corridor, which suggested to me that it wasn’t often used. We already knew that this was a pretty small base, however, we also knew that it was indeed still functional.

Garh’tik: “Here’s the plan.” He croaked in his alien voice. “Split up, grab what you can and then meet back outside.”

The other two nodded.

Tank: “What…?” I asked, confused. “Is that it? That’s the plan?” Surely he was joking! We’d broken into an Imperial base and his plan was to grab some stuff and run away!

Garh’tik: “You got a better one, kid?” he growled threateningly.

I didn’t reply.

Jarred: “Come on, pal, you’re with me.” He put his hand on my shoulder and I glared at him through the visor of his helmet.

We all set off up the corridor, knives in hands and then when we reached the first junction, a cross-roads, Garh’tik turned left and the other alien, whom I didn’t even know the name of, turned right. Jarred and I headed straight on.

We moved cautiously, prepared for guards to find us at any moment, but so far, we remained undiscovered.

Tank: “Any ideas what we’re looking for?” I whispered as we stopped just before a corner. Jarred peered around it to check it was clear and then motioned me to follow.

Jarred: “Anything worth stealing.” He replied as we turned into a better-lit corridor. “Anything that could we worth something.”

Just a few seconds later, we came to a door that had a sign on it, reading “Supply Cupboard.”

Jarred: “Here.”

He tried the handle and it was unlocked. He cautiously entered, but the light was turned out and there was nobody inside.

The room was small but had several rows of metal shelves, stacked with supplies of various kinds. Food, energy packs and the like. No weapons or ammo though, presumably those were kept elsewhere. Probably in the armoury.

Jarred: “Grab what you can carry.” He told me and we both set about picking up stock.

I filled my belt pouches until they were full and then I turned to start on another shelf.

However, at that moment, the door re-opened and a lone soldier entered. It took a moment for him to realise what he was seeing though and we both stood there, momentarily frozen, just staring at each other, not knowing what to do. I had my knife in my hand, but I didn’t expect it would be enough. I kind of wished I had a gun, but A, none of us had a gun and B, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to use it even if I did have one.

Soldier: “Hey! You can’t be in he…” He began, but suddenly dropped to the ground as a knife embedded itself in his chest. I turned and saw Jarred storming towards me.

Jarred: “What the hell’s the matter with you?!” he demanded, retrieving his knife from the soldier’s chest.

Tank: “I’m… sorry…. I di…”

Jarred: “He could have killed you!”

Tank: “I know… I just, froze.”

Jarred: “Yeah? Well don’t! Otherwise next time, you could end up getting us both killed!”

I muttered an apology but Jarred had already left the room. I followed him and we continued into the maze of corridors.

However, we hadn’t gotten far when suddenly a claxon started sounding.

Jarred: “Well, they’ve either found that body or they’ve discovered one of the others.”

Tank: “Should we go back?”

Jarred thought for a moment.

Jarred: “No, if it was the body they found, then there will be lots of them back that way. We’ll have to go around. Come on.”

We moved on, but just a few seconds later we heard running footsteps.

Jarred: “Not good.” He muttered and going across the end of our corridor, along an adjoining one, ran the guy I didn’t know the name of, closely followed by several soldiers.

We carried on to the junction that we’d just seen them at, glanced to the left to see if we could still see them at all, we couldn’t, and prepared to move on.

Soldier: “Hey you! Freeze!” A voice came from behind us, back the way we’d come.

Jarred reacted fast and shoved me as hard as he could to the right and we pelted it in opposite directions up the corridor.

I was scared but I kept on running, there was nothing else I could do. I couldn’t hear footsteps behind me, so presumably the soldier who’d found us had gone after Jarred. All I was looking for now was the way out.

However, not far up the corridor, I spotted soldiers up ahead. They were facing the other way and hadn’t seen me yet, but I knew if they turned around now, I was done for. I quickly looked around and found a door with a sign reading “Storage.”

I opened the door and dived inside. Like the store room, the light was off so I was fairly sure I was alone. I decided to leave it off as well, just in case the light shone under the door and alerted anybody outside that I was in here.

I looked around and decided that while I was here, I may as well pick up some more stuff. There seemed to be a lot of junk and broken stuff just laying around. This appeared to be the ‘dumping room’ of the base.

I had a quiet rummage and quickly found some odds and ends that I knew would still work. Maybe not on their own but as part of something else. I squeezed them into my pouches and kept on looking.

There were signs hanging up around the room that supposedly designated the different areas out such as “Tools” and “Maintenance”. But there was one in particular that caught my eye…

“Robotics.”

I made my way over and started looking through the piles of broken mechanical parts. I moved a conveyer arm and nearly jumped out of my skin when I found a disabled cleaning droid underneath, staring up at me. Once I’d recovered, I muttered some curses and kicked it for good measure.  It’s hip plate fell off and suddenly an idea struck me….

.

.

.

Jarred: “What the hell’s that?” he shouted as we ran as fast as we could away from the base.

It was about ten minutes later and I had managed to sneak back through the base and made it out the way we had gone in. When I got out, nobody else was there, but just a minute later, Garh’tik arrived, closely followed by Jarred. I had asked where the other guy was but was told to shut up and get running.

So I did.

Tank: “Just some spare parts.” I answered Jarred and I saw him shake his helmet.

Tank: “Trust me! They’re worth something.” I added, knowing he would be worrying about the money they’d bring.

What I didn’t tell him though was that I had a very different plan for them…

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