“Why, hello there, sweet thing. What’s your name,” he said. His voice was charming, I wasn’t going to lie. His brown eyes were warm and inviting. Though, with promises of the apetite hidden behind them. The vibe coming off of him had the feeling of touching Lorville. Anywhere. Just pick a spot. It would be about as disgusting.
I rolled my eyes, inwardly. Outwardly, I smiled. In my head, I wanted to vomit. Great, just what I needed. A ‘knight in shining armor’, coming to save the damned day. “Alex, what’sh your’s,” I slurred out. Normally, I’d have been cold. However, it would have been a dead giveaway that I was sober. I always flirt when drunk.
I hate it, however. It was as though alcohol just lowered my shields. I’m in a good mood when I’m drunk. One of the few times I am. Otherwise, I am usually not. Ask Rhys. He’ll tell you. He prefers me drunk to sober. Me, being sober? It is not a fun experience. I’m usually sober when I fly. I tend to be all business, with a slight touch of salty snark. It’s my mother’s influence. She consists of all snark.
As far as I know, she’s still ordering around young men and throwing her credits around. She ran a boarding school for troubled young men on Terra. I haven’t spoken to her since before I was discharged. She and I weren’t exactly on good terms. The old bat could kiss my ass. I had my life, she had hers, never the two shall meet. Mainly because I think they’d have to pry her throat from my hands. She was so far up the ass of the UEE Political tree that she might as well be one herself. She’d encouraged them to up my bounty. Then again, she hates Dad, too. So I can’t feel too special.
I was pulled from my memories by the man introducing himself, “I’m Jenz! Jenz Hoffman. Good to meet you, gorgeous! Hales! Why didn’t you ever mention your friend?” I was wrong, white knight he was not! He smelled like cheap cologne and bad financial decisions. Only reason I could tell, was that when I looked down and away, he got close enough for me to catch his scent. He was wearing a cheap business suit with an even cheaper tie. Was that a clip-on? He looked over at Haley, and then at the other woman that was at the table. She also rolled her eyes, but the hurt in them was obvious to even me, and I was pretending to be drunk.
Okay, this charade was getting old now, however I’d need to string it along for a bit longer. I didn’t have the information I’d needed, yet. Getting access to the hangar system was going to be problematic. I’d need tools for that. Haley’s station access key card could give me those tools. However, I was going to have to go through Jenz to do it. I was willing to bet, that Haley knew about this man’s proclivities. She seemed protective of me with him even standing there. I was betting this wasn’t her friend. I’d bet anything it was the other person at the table’s friend.
I knew a lot of things just by paying attention. However, I also knew where Haley kept a good majority of her tools. Though, her Pyro Multi-Tool would do just about everything I’d need to worry about, “Good mus– mush.. music,” I blurted out. Adding extra effect by licking my lips, as though they were dry, I turned toward the dance floor. I made sure to move unsteadily, as though I’d already had too much to drink. Haley went to follow me, however, Jenz beat her to it.
I could just buy a Multi-tool. I suppose that was true. Then I wouldn’t have to deal with this tool. However, it would help point evidence toward me of what I was about to do. If I don’t even have one on my person, then evidence would likely be even less against me. Though, Station Security wasn’t stupid. I’d just been lucky that I hadn’t been caught yet. I’d been keeping an eye on them, and I’m pretty sure they’d had their eye on me. Though, after my drinking, they didn’t really seem to bother me as much. I did occasionally catch one hanging out just outside the bar, though. Tonight didn’t seem to be one of those nights.
This, Jenz, guy was a sleazebag. He wasn’t, however, quite an asshole. Not just yet. He hadn’t done anything too stupid. Just a little forward. I was dancing to the beat of the music. It was some heavy stuff! Great beat, excellent soundbits, amazing drops! I did have to admit that I was getting into it. Even though Jenz was dancing badly, about a foot and a half away. He was even trying to yell questions at me over the music, “Your hair looks really cool! I like it! Where’d you get it done? Very aggressive! Purple spikes! You seem nice though!”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, again, and instead just danced. I acted as though I went to respond, and then forgot what I was doing. That was when Haley finally found her way over to us through the group of gyrating people. “Jenz. Jaila is heading to the room. She wanted me to let you know. Said she doesn’t feel well, and reminds you that your 300i is ready in Hangar 3. You said you have work tomorrow.” I looked over toward Haley and made sure a “drunken” smile creeped across my face as I listened in. She looked over at me, “We should probably get you to your room or your ship, eh?”
Jenz nodded and then looked at me with a smirk. I knew that smirk. He was about to suggest something I wasn’t likely to enjoy. “I can make sure she gets there! Brax would at least want that, no sense in leaving a pretty lady unescorted,” that was a name I didn’t know. Though, I had to assume that Haley knew who this human pile of sweat and debt was. This meant she likely knew to whom he referred as well.
She rolled her eyes and sighed, “He’d tell you to call him Colonel. He did get that promotion over at station security.” She looked over toward me, a blush creeping across her face at the mention of ‘Colonel Brax’, and then back at Jenz. Now was my chance. I danced a little bit more loosely. I moved closer, and closer, until I was finally close enough for my plan. Finally, something went like it was supposed to tonight. I bumped into Haley, during the impact, my hand slid into her jacket. Quickly, I dipped two fingers into the inner right pocket on her jacket, and then out again before she ever noticed. Clutched between them? Two cards of some sort. I wasn’t even sure. I’d have to check later. I pocketed them quickly. “Whoa!! I think it’s time we get you to your ship, Captain,” she laughed in response. None the wiser to what I’d just done. Jenz had his eyes too firmly glued to my ass to see what I’d done.
“Shurry, I.. gotattl. Got a lil care. Carried Away,” I stammered out. It had definitely looked like I’d had enough. Even I would’ve cut me off at this point. Jenz reached out to stabilize us both. He didn’t put his hands anywhere I wouldn’t have asked for. However, his touch felt almost as vile as his cologne smelled. Haley seemed almost as uncomfortable. The smile she gave was an unsure one to say the least.
She smiled, “No problem, Captain. No hard feelings. Jenz is gonna get you to your ship, okay? I’ve gotta go meet my boyfriend.” With that she glanced at her mobiGlas, made an excited face, and off she ran. So much for girl code. I thought a little less of Haley at that moment. Or, perhaps she just didn’t think that badly of this man? She sure didn’t seem to act like it.
I smiled at Jenz, nervously. That part was at least genuine. I was nervous. He leaned in, without consent, and lifted me into his arms. I gave out a small yelp, and then wrapped my arms around his neck. My backpack was heavy, I was afraid he would drop me. Normally I would’ve fought, but, I was pretending to be passed out level drunk. So I settled into his arms, letting him carry me down to the elevators, “Which hangar is yours, sweetheart?”
I just groaned and barely stirred. I was pretending to be drunk, after all. At this point, I was just hoping he would put me down and walk away. Sadly, my intuition turned out to be right. I cracked open an eye, peering through the small opening of the crack in my eyelid. He was standing at the entrance to the elevator holding me. His head was darting left and right, as though he was afraid of getting caught. I closed my eyes loosely, once more.
It was, technically, the middle of the night shift. Most people with families, responsibilities, and bills were asleep this time of the cycle. I heard the elevator doors open, the feeling of movement made me close my grip around him, instinctually. I groaned and shifted in his arms a bit to cover the movement. He stumbled and shifted under my weight. Good to know, he wasn’t that strong. Then again, my backpack was secured very well, and was extremely heavy.
We reached his hangar without incident. I opened my eye that small crack, one more time. I caught sight of an ostentatiously sky blue 300i. That color was an absolute affront to the eyes. I was one hundred percent sure this color couldn’t be found in nature. I might have vomited something this color, if I ate more fruits. I closed my eye again, internally cursing the man for his choice in paints.
He shouldered me, with a fair bit of struggle, and then pressed the release for the hatch access to his ship. I was really hoping he wasn’t the type of man I thought he was. I heard the release hiss open. The wafting smell of his ship’s interior hit me like a M50 at full speed. It was worse than his own scent by leaps and bounds. It reeked of his cologne, lonely nights alone with a sock, and shattered dreams. I would’ve almost preferred Lorville.
It was bitingly cold as well. Don’t get me wrong. I make my home on microTech when I’m in Stanton, usually. Though I’ve stayed all over, I have a permanent hab at New Babbage. It’s cold, snowy and I often cannot see the stars. I grew up in Nyx, on a modified Hull E. It had been turned into a home. Ship carcasses, lashed and welded to the cargo blades, made up most of the Hab units. I’d been used to men like this a long time ago. As long as he didn’t touch me, and just let me ‘sleep it off’, we’d be fine.
He set me down on the bed inside his ship. It was unmade, and reeked of uncleaned sheets. I could tell it was unmade. The blankets were a rolled lump under my back. While he was turned around, I shifted. I groaned to cover the movement. However, my hand was undoing the strap on my backpack. I hit the release for the strap as I completed rolling over.
He stiffened as I rolled over. His head darting around. He had laid me down facing the interior. I had moved toward the wall, curling into a ball. He went back to arranging items near his counter.
I hoped I wouldn’t need my gun. I hoped he would go about his business. I stiffened as he moved, I should have thrown a fit in the hallway. This was about to get dangerous. The sound of him moving around was terrifying. My heart was racing, and not from the tiny sip of whiskey I took.
I heard the ship start up. He was about to kidnap me! I did remember that he had work in the morning. That I had overheard Haley say. This was going to be a problem. My plans did not include leaving the station. I didn’t dare move just yet. The ship wasn’t in motion. I’d have to wait.
I was only gonna have one chance at this. If I made too much noise, he’d hear me. Once the engines fired up, that was my chance. I made my move. I unslung my pack. I reached in, my hand finding something roughly the right shape, and pulling it out. It wasn’t my gun. However, it was almost as good. A Drema Injector. We used it for sedation during manual emergency surgical procedures in the field. I hoped I wouldn’t need it. I hoped against all hope that he wouldn’t be the type of man who would do this. There had to be some other explanation. I wasn’t willing to bet my life on that, however. The Drema Injector was my insurance. I heard him request clearance to depart. This was it. The ship left the hangar, I felt it move. Now wasn’t the time to stand up. I’d just end up on the floor. I really didn’t want to deal with station security either. Not if they were friends with him.
I made no other moves. What was I afraid of? Some heap big pirate I was. We were in Quantum moments later. I felt the shift as the ship dropped into the Quantum Bubble. It’s the only way I’d known. Fuck. Where was he taking me? I didn’t have long to wonder. He dropped out of Quantum after barely more than a few minutes. We couldn’t have been that far. The ship began to slow, my weight shifting toward the bow was my hint. Well, now we find out what his intentions were.
I heard the pilot seat move, the gears in its base spinning it around. He moved toward me, his shadow loomed on the wall from the dim hab light. He was so close I could feel the heat coming from his body. His hand touched my ass and began trailing down my thigh. That’s when he cupped me. There. Yeah, you get it.
I was done by this point. In a split second movement, I primed the Drema Injector and spun around. I made sure to tense my thighs to lock his hand right where it was. The injection found its intended target, as the tiny needle was buried into the meat of his neck. It released with a hiss and a click. Much like my Roxaphen pens.
He stammered first, “Wait! You bitch! Ow… whoooa… I don’t feel so,” then he collapsed backward. He had been almost completely unclothed. I was right to lash out. He was about to find out that he’d kidnapped the wrong bitch. He was crawling on the floor, but couldn’t quite get to a standing position.
I looked down at him, and then around his ship. Well, time to make use of my surroundings. I could’ve gotten my gun, but this would be much more poignant. I rifled through his ship, one storage locker at a time. There was bound to be something interesting to drive my point home with, “You know, asshole, I was just hoping you’d ask Haley where my quarters were. I was hoping you’d just leave me. You’re a fucking idiot, Jenz. Just cause I’m a stranger around these parts, doesn’t mean you get to treat me how you’d like.”
I rifled through the storage locker on the bed, closest to the wall. Jenz was on the floor giggling while talking, “You’re… not drunk…” His eyes rolled back and he tried to move again, it didn’t take long for him to give up trying to move around. His body would have likely felt heavier than a SCU of lead. His head lifted every now and again, tracking my movements. I had hit him with enough of the injector to knock out three full grown Kopion. This guy had to be an addict.
That’s when I came across it. A Pyro Multi-Tool, with a sky blue paint on it. Oh, it matched the ship. Cute. How fitting. Attached to the Multi-Tool, was a Tru-Hold Tractor Beam attachment. This would work quite well.
I picked it up, and powered it on by flipping its handle into the working position. It powered on with a whine. That caught his attention, “Oh! Look what I found! I think I’ll keep this.” I walked over to my backpack and reached inside. I was beginning to pull out my gear and lay it out on his bed. I laid the Multi-Tool next to my backpack and kept unpacking with both hands.
When I was finished, I put everything on. The dark armor contrasted against the bright white interior of his ship. Minus the stains of questionable origin. I wasn’t asking where they were from, and he wasn’t going to be telling anyone things that were intelligible. At least not to anyone who was going to care. I reached into my pocket as I was putting the legplates of my armor on. What I pulled out made me chuckle. “Oh, Haley… that was a stupid move,” I whispered as I looked at what was in my hand.
Two security key cards. One was blue, the other was red. The blue one was even labeled! Hangar Access 01. The red one had Brax written on it in pink nail polish. It was a Security Office access badge. I’d seen the Security folks using them. This would get me into the security office. I devised a plan. I looked over to Jenz as I spoke, “They’ll never believe you, ya know. You don’t even know my full name. Here’s the thing, fuckboy. I’m gonna make sure you never do this to anyone again.”
I donned my helmet while smirking at his face. He was awake, though not really alert. He couldn’t move, or speak. Though the Drema Injector would wear off in another few minutes. He likely had enough of a tolerance for that. Rifling through his belongings had taken a moment. I re-equipped my backpack onto the back slot of the armor. I then donned my revolver. His eyes widened for a moment as I removed it, “Oh, don’t worry, Jennzy,” I trilled in a sing-song voice, “You won’t be getting this. You’re not good enough for a round. Those cost credits.”
He was starting to come around by the time I finished equipping the rest of my armor. His muscles weren’t quite working yet, though his mouth definitely was, “You bitch! What did you inject me with?! Fuck! This stuff is… weird.” He waved his hand in front of his eyes and blinked rather firmly.
He was moving far too much for my liking. I had equipped his Pyro Multi-Tool on one of the three leg slots I had. Opposite to my revolver, matter of fact. I pulled the Pyro Multi-Tool out and activated it again, pointing it at him. I pulled the trigger.
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