VFF The Book Continues Part 6
POSTED BY: Colt99
UPDATED: Friday, June 3, 2016 04:01
VIEWED: 92656
PAGE 10 of 15
“Five thousand credits. Might as well be a million” Colt muttered to himself. If Spots were back and the Book was patched up Colt would have locked down her shuttle and gotten as far away from here as possible.
Abbey came up behind him.
Quote:
"I have to take this game, Colt," she tried to explain. "I don't have any other choice! He knows that I rent a shuttle from you. He lost a lot of money to me last time. He said if I didn't take the game, that he could only assume that I was cheating. And he doesn't like cheaters. Could you imagine if he decided to come after me too?"
She could have slapped herself as soon as the word 'too' slipped from her mouth. Hopefully she could cover by making him madder.
"So, no matter what, you cannot come," she said insistently. "Not unless you have the buy in and I know you don't, so just drop it! I can take care of myself."
“You are treading on dangerous ground Abbey” Colt said coldly.
She wondered if he was talking about Niska or himself now. He was clearly angry. “Colt…” Before she could say another word, he cut her off.
“You said your piece.” Colt said and continued down the catwalk.
As Colt entered the cargo hold Mobbex was driving up the ramp in with the weirdest looking vehicle Colt had seen. It was small with a dome shaped roof. The seat in the rear had been flipped around so anyone riding; there would be facing backwards. This modification allowed for a very small storage bed to be added to the rear. The dome shape continued down the hood and huge round headlights gave the whole thing a very bug like appearance. Colt approached the rolling eyesore as Mobbex was prying himself from behind the wheel.
“What ya think?” Mobbex said proudly.
Colt kicked one of the tires and anticipated it popping. “You gave the last of our money for this?”
“Well it wasn’t like you gave me much to work with” Mobbex said perturbed. “But you ain’t seen the best part” Mobbex went to the other side of the bug and motioned for Colt to follow.
Colt circled the other side of the vehicle and saw an additional storage deck fastened like a sidecar. The deck had bins in front and a timber rail around the top to keep in cargo. Unfortunately, this addition meant everyone had to board from the other side of the vehicle.
Mobbex beamed “They threw that in for nothing, on account of my intimidating nature.”
Colt went to the drivers side and wedged hinself behind the wheel "Give me the keys"
Mobbex leaned in the window, grinning and dangling the keys “Want to take her for a test drive huh?”
"Something like that” Colt winced trying to get comfortable “When Spots gets back tell him to get those repairs done.”
Who on this rock would have five thousand credits Colt wondered as he headed off into the night.
LATER
Wade Accord woke up tied to the copilot seat of his own ship. He turned to see Colt flipping various toggles prepping the ship for flight.
“Sky didn’t mention you were a hijacker when she told me to hire you” He said, straining against his bonds.
“Doubt that’s the only thing she forgot to mention” Colt replied as he tossed a large sack on money onto the console in front of him.
“So you’re robbing me as well” Wade said angrily
Colt moved beside him and flips the docking release switches over his head. “Actually…no, this is a loan. One I wasn’t all together sure you would be willing to give so, I didn’t ask.” Colt smiled easily and continued to prep the ship. “As to the hijacking, I’m just hitching a ride. I need to get to the Skyplex and I was certain you would be in a hurry to get off world yourself after that incident in the bar.”
“You’re a dead man” Wade said.
“Maybe haps, but I’m hoping not. You heard of Niska?” he didn’t wait for a response. “That’s who I’m going to meet. I’m hoping that some of this cash will buy me some bygones, but if I miss my mark, he’s going to be first in line to see me dead.” Colt paused and thought of Abbey “Well maybe second”
Wade sank back into his chair “Sounding more li
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As soon as she heard Colt leave the ship, she readied the shuttle and took off for Niska's skyplex. With no other shuttle available, he'd be hard pressed to follow her. He'd never get the buy in, but he would still follow because of nobility's sake.
She arrived and once docked went about getting dressed for the game. She put on a short black skirt, with a fitted white button up shirt with sheer sleeves. She wore her hair down long and her make up was expertly applied (with some major cover-up to conceal the bruise Grayson gave her). Last was the pair of 3 inch heels that went on her feet.
She thought about dressing more sensibly, but it Niska wanted to do anything, even having a pair of sweats and sneakers on wouldn't help her. Might as well go out looking stunning.
abbey looked into the mirror and ran her hand over her belly.
"Well this won't fit much longer," she mused to herself. She smiled, gathered up her suitcase and left the shuttle, only to come face to face with the waiting Niska. She was surprised and a little scared at that fact, but kept it hidden. "Good Evening Mr. Niska."
"Surprised that I wait for you outside your door, yes?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Does it make you nervous?"
Yes, abbey wanted to say, but she managed to say something else.
"Of course not, why would I? I think it was very gentlemanly," she lied. She tilted her head slightly to indicate one of his henchmen standing behind him. "Could I borrow on of your employees to pull my case? I'd like to go to the gaming area as soon as possible. I have set up to do.'
Niska nodded at one of his guards and the man quickly came and took abbey's case off her load. As Niska lead her away from the shuttle, he spoke.
"I heard of your situation. You are pregnant, yes?"
abbey felt her stomach lurch into her throat.
"Y-yes..." she stammered. How did he know?
Niska merely smiled and led her further into the skyplex. He got her to the room where she set up and some time later her players started to show up. Her heart pounded as each arrived and they sat down. The first was Li Chang, a well known slaver in the Georgia System. The second was Tony Siringo who incidentally owned the facility that the Book's crew just trashed. abbey was glad that she had been wearing a wig when they had been there. He didn't seem to take any notice of her. The third was of course Niska and the last person through the door was of all people, Grayson. She didn't show any outward emotion, but she was still seething at the man. Was he the one who told Niska about the baby?
They were about to get started when one of Niska's men came up behind them and whispered into his ear.
"Interesting... I'll be right there," Niska said back to him. He got up and addressed abbey. "I apologize... I have to take a wave. We may have another player."
With that he left, leaving abbey in a room of slavers and a disgruntled law enforcement officer.
Juh jen sh guh kwai luh duh jean jan*, abbey thought to herself.
* This is a happy development (sarcastic)
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Quote:
"Does the word 'Spots' mean anything to you?"
Spots: Yes its my name.... well thank you for the info and good luck with what ever you doing. (Turns to leave)
Rune: HEY! Im coming with you... thats part of the deal with Roy.
Spots: {Roy always playing the angles}Ok well have to see what the Captain says, But let me tell you this... your employer will not be pleased and its hard road to make him forget.
Rune:Im ready. (following Spots as he walks)
Spots: (turning to face Rune) You damned well better be.
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Sorry about the extra post it was giving me a error
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When asked about the word "Spots" that he had 'heard' when the girl walked by, he was surprised and creeped out to find out that Spots was the man's name.
He'd been wanting to get out of his current line of work. Being a guard for the slave market was a decent enough job, but it didn't pay well. He had thought about buying a slave himself one day for personal pleasure, but it would take a while to save up for one that was pretty. He had barely saved anything so far.
Too bad he couldn't find another way to make some fast cash. Maybe this ship Spots talked about could be a way. You never know.
"The girl... I could have sworn she said the word Spots as she passed by, but it was weird because her mouth never moved," he told Spots. He shrugged. "Must be imagining things... even if it's a big ole coincidence."
He grabbed his duffle bag that sat near the door.
Quote:
Originally posted by Spots74:
Spots: (turning to face Rune) You damned well better be.
"Wouldn't have brought my worldly belongings with me if I wasn't," he said as he slung his duffle over his shoulder. "Soooo... take me to your leader. This captain of yours. What's his name?"
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“Captain Colt…are you avake Captain Colt?” A thick accented voice asked.
Colt stiffened in the chair he was bound to. The hood over his head made it impossible to see who was speaking but he didn’t need to see him. He knew it was Niska. He had barely touched down on the Skyplex before Niska’s men had grabbed him.
Niska removed the hood. Colt squinted as his eyes adjusted to the light. Niska grabbed him under the chin and leaned in close. He turned his head side to side then stepped back and backhanded the thug standing closest to him. “I told you he was not to be harmed yet”
The thug rubbed his cheek “He was like that when we took him Mr. Niska. No one hit him”
“Ahh” Niska said leaning back into Colt. “You have had a busy day yes?”
‘I’m sorry still a little distracted by the “Yet” part of your last sentence. Thought we parlayed an agreement?” Colt resisted the urge to head butt the evil bastard. “Last time you had me under your knife you cut me loose on your own accord.”
“Yes..and I was handsomely rewarded for my kindness.” Niska turned and moved to the doorway “But your benefactor not so eager to come to your rescue now.” Niska let the threat hang in the air. “You brought the money you took, yes?”
“Minus my stake in the game” Colt nodded towards a bag sitting on the floor.
The chastised thug opened the bag for Niska’s inspection. The old man looked at the contents “This is not enough” reaching in the bag he pulled out two large stacks. “Now you loan money from Niska. I learned much about you after out last visit. You also have reputation, yes? Very protective of your crew. Willing to make hard choices where other men might hesitate, to protect them.” The old man move back to Colt and set the money in his lap. “Soon you will do job for Niska. If you refuse, you not be able to protect them anymore. Release him”
Colt rubbed his wrists where the cuff’s had bit into him. “Let’s play”
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abbey was already nervous being in a room with Niska, Siringo, the other slaver and Grayson, but she had no idea how much more uncomfortable things were about to get.
Niska came back from his "wave" and indeed brought another player. She was livid, annoyed, terrified and a bunch of other emotions all at once.
It was Colt. And he had that smirky look on his face. Like he was proud of the fact he was probably gonna end up dead because of this game.
All sort of swear words came to mind, but none seemed strong enough.
As people started to take their seats, abbey walked over to him, putting on a fake show of introducing herself to him.
"Hello, Captain. Welcome to the game," she said loud enough for everyone to hear. Then in a hushed tone she leaned a little closer. "Why are you rutting here? Are you stupid? Where'd you get the coin for the buy in?"
Then she spoke again loudly.
"When you are ready, you may choose a seat," followed with another hushed speech to him. "Not only do I have Niska, some slaver, Siringo and Grayson to worry about, now I have to worry about you? Niska and Grayson would have way too much fun making sure you became dead and Siringo? You know the guy we just practically destroyed his home and killed half his staff? Oh... This is gonna go so well."
Back to the public speech...
"I am making final preparations for the beginning of the game. It will just be a moment," she said before delivering the last little bit to him. Something he needed to know. "Oh, and Niska knows about the baby."
She gave him a hard, dirty look, turned and went to her station to finish up final tasks.
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