VFF The Book Continues Part 6
POSTED BY: Colt99
UPDATED: Friday, June 3, 2016 04:01
VIEWED: 92656
PAGE 13 of 15
Rune watched the conversation between the doc and the gamer with a certain amount of fascination.
He wished he could be a fly on the wall, especially since he saw the Gamer get extremely pale extremely fast.
Plus she kept looking over at him. What was her problem?
The Gamer's body language was obvious. Or nearly so. He had two options of what was going on.
So he'd go find out. Plus it would let him talk to the cute doc. And maybe he could sort out where he'd seen her from.
He set a intercept course for the doc and tapped her on the shoulder as she got close.
"Is the Gamer OK?" he asked. "She didn't look too good there the end of your conversation."
He looked at Oram.
"I hope it isn't some kinda complication, is it?" he continued to question. He smiled at her. "I have a soft spot for moms and their babies."
He shrugged a bit.
"But if it isn't, there is only one thing left," he stated. "She don't like me very much."
He looked Oram straight in the eye.
"So Oram... I gotta ask, why would she have a problem with me when we haven't actually been introduced proper like?"
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Oram considered her next move on the subject of their new passenger. She glanced in his direction to find him gone. Wondering where the hell he’d gotten to, she then felt a tap on her right shoulder.
Rune was lucky she didn’t have her gun on her hip, or a bullet hole to where his chest was would have been bleeding onto Colts lovely floor. He was watching her intensely and it made her uncomfortable, especially as she knew few men who’d looked at her before and it never ended well for either.
“What?” she not at all that warmly.
“Is the Gamer OK?” he asked, glancing to where Abbey had stood. “She didn't look too good there at the end of your conversation.”
“She’s fine. Getting over a flu.” She answered shortly.
“I hope it isn't some kinda complication, is it?” he continued to question. He smiled at her. “I have a soft spot for mums and their babies.”
“No, it’s a flu,” Oram didn’t like the fact that he was asking questions about Abbey, especially with her pregnancy. “There’s nothing wrong with her and you shouldn’t concern yourself with her or with the baby. I’m here for that. Got that?”
Ruse shrugged, probably tyring to find something else to ask to make her slip a few secrets. Yeah, and hell would freeze over.
“But if it isn't that, there’s only one thing left,” he stated. “She don't like me very much.”
Oram, for once, remained tight lipped.
“So Oram... I gotta ask, why would she have a problem with me when we haven't actually been introduced proper like?”
Raising an eyebrow, it was her turn to shrug, more so because she was growing uncomfortable with him. “Abbey don’t much like people she don’t know or work for or who aren’t family.” Oram rubbed the small of her back, which was beginning to ache a little. “You’re neither to any of us, so don’t expect a warm reception with us.”
Something flickered across his face and handsome features, and for a moment, Oram thought she was gonna have to deal with a violent end to the conversation… she’d taken on Mobbex once but she’d mainly caught him off-guard and she didn’t think she could take Rune on in a fight and win.
Then he settled himself, gave a dismissive ‘whatever’ and continued to watch her.
“Yeah, whatever,” Oram said softly and without a word or glance backwards (she had to suppress herself a shudder) walked to the infirmary where a pack of painkillers, twelve year old whiskey, and hopefully sleep, awaited her.
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Twister lay back on the bunk and stretched. He rolled his shoulders then sat up and looked at his watch. “It’s time” he said. He moved to the door and tried the handle, locked. He knelt and pulled a pick set he had taped to the small of his back. He released the lock in under a minute. Quietly open the door he stole a quick glance into the hallway. The merc he had help in the gunfight had his back to the door at the end of the hall. Past him he saw the gun hand talking to what he assumed was the medic. He slipped quickly across the hall into another dorm room. He searched the room. It looked like it belonged to a female from the attire in the wardrobe. No weapons. He glanced back into the hall. Guard duty was not this group’s strong point. He ducked down the hall towards the last dorm, and climbed the access ladder to the reactor. He disabled the sensor that would notify the bridge that the hatch was open and climbed up. He shut the hatch, he sensed someone behind him. He stepped backwards toward his assailant, closing the distance. He spun and caught Colt in his peripheral.
Colt was cussing in his mind. He had planned on smacking Twister with the rifle butt, but the man had closed to fast on him, now the end of the weapon he needed was pointing the wrong way. Colt shot his elbow out, both hands firmly grasping the rifle. His elbow caught Twister’s cheek, but he paid the price as Twister delivered a blow to his gut. He pulled the rifle back dropping the butt stock down and sweeping it across, blocking Twisters follow up.
Both men grappled for control of the firearm.
“You’re slowing down Colt” Twister popped off, as he brought a knee up. Colt twisted taking the shot to his thigh.
“Never had to be that fast to take you” Colt remarked as he stomped down on the bridge on Twisters foot.
“May be true, but you weren’t shot then.” Twister jabbed two fingers into the center of the bandage on Colt’s shoulder and twisted. Colt screamed as pain shot through his shoulder, he fell to one knee. Twister stepped back and kicked Colt in the chest.
Colt fell back on the deck. He looked up and tried to focus. Twister was standing over him rifle in hand. Colt blinked twice while his mind tried to process what he was seeing. Above Twister hanging from the ceiling was Brit. She was holding a large can of beans.
Twister never saw it coming. Brit swung the can of beans against his head. He fell to the deck unconscious.
Colt watched as she gracefully dropped to the deck beside him. “He’s going to be problematic” She said helping Colt up.
“Yeah he always is” Colt’s shoulder was bleeding again. “I’ve about given up how you know these things, but thanks.”
Brit smiled and produced a length of rope from behind her back and went to work binding Twister.
“Any idea what he was after?” Colt asked.
Brit shrugged her shoulders “He’s hard to read, like you.” She pulled Twister up and leaned him against the bulkhead. “He was coming to you. Coming for you?” She shrugged again.
Twister began to stir “Gorramit Colt” Brit retrieved the can of beans and stood ready. “Easy girl I wasn’t out to harm no one”
“Blood squirting from my shoulder tells me different” Colt said.
“Just a little tussle…got carried away.” Twister shifted against the bulkhead “Just coming to remind you we’re on the clock.”
“By slipping about the ship out of site?”
“Thought I’d get the lay of the things, easier to do undetected.” Twister replied seemingly genuine.
“Not possible” Brit interrupted brandishing her can of beans.
“Oh I like this girl.” Twister grinned “Look no more sneaking around. I got just as big a stake in this job as yo…”
Colt cut him off jamming his forearm into Twister’s throat “You have no idea what I have at stake. You bring this mess down on me and mine and expect things to be like the old days?” He drew his pistol and leveled it at Twisters head. “We had a deal. You went your way I went mine.”
“Drreeel” slipped from Twisters mouth. Colt eased the pressure on his throat. Twister coughed and spat on
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abbey was pacing just inside her shuttle, berating herself for not having the courage to tell Colt the truth.
She was brought out of her thoughts when she heard Colt scream out in pain. She bolted outside, moving towards the sound.
Her hand flew to her mouth as she saw him and Twister duking it out. She was going to try to help, not that she could do much, but was happy to see Brit step in. She relaxed a little, her hand lowering to her side.
Quote:
“Look no more sneaking around. I got just as big a stake in this job as yo…”
abbey set her jaw as Twister decided to mitigate his role in the upcoming caper, but was startled again at the fierceness that Colt displayed in return. He was violent. And passionate. What he said to Twister, he meant.
Quote:
“You have no idea what I have at stake. You bring this mess down on me and mine and expect things to be like the old days?”
Then she listened to their conversation regarding their past together. Obviously, Colt still had some secrets, but she wasn't going to press him.
Then the gun came out and Colt pointed it straight at Twister's head.
Quote:
“We had a deal. You went your way I went mine.”
Whatever happened was significant. She listened further.
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“Deal? You kicked me out. We had a good thing going. You, Me, Sky, those Balder brothers. We could have robbed every patron from Persephone to Arial.”
Robbing? abbey wondered.
Quote:
“You were careless and stupid. You would have gotten us all killed. You still may”
But then he cut Twister free and their conversation got more civil.
Quote:
“I don’t expect you to understand Colt. I drug this to your doorstep, truth enough, and I don’t know all that’s at stake for you, but you don’t know what’s at stake for me either. So let’s just do the rutting job.”
They went down the stairs together, the anger in the air palpable. At the bottom, they spoke again, but she couldn't hear what they said. Then they parted. Twister was heading back towards the dorms and Colt was going to the infirmary.
abbey looked at Colt more intently. Her attention had been drawn to what they were saying, but that was over. She noticed how there was a pretty good sized blood stain on his shoulder. He had re-injured himself in the fray.
She started down the stairs quickly. She was worried. Colt was always downplaying his injuries, so the fact he was voluntarily heading to the infirmary meant one thing. He was hurt. She went to nearly the door before she saw Rune sitting in there with Oram.
She stopped dead and thought a moment. Rune worked at a slave auction. He probably knew all the players. What if he did suddenly realize that he had seen her before? Her eyes went from Colt to Oram to Rune.
Then she realized. Colt would protect Oram. Oram would send Mobbex to her if Colt needed her.
She didn't want to be seen. She didn't want Rune to think too much on her identity. After all, she had a child to think about now.
So slowly... very slowly... she began to retreat before she was very nearly running for her shuttle.
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Colt entered the infirmary to see Oram with a hand full of pills and uncorked bottle. “Best hold off on that. Can’t have my doc pass out before the work is done.”
Oram was startled and quickly put the hand of pills behind her back. Her eyes dropped to the bottle in her hand and she tucked that one behind her too. “I just needed to take the edge off”
“More like the week off, you go taking all of that at once.” Colt remarked.
The stern looked on his face reminded Oram of her school days and one of her many trips to the principal’s office. Then she saw the blood. “Goram Captain, what happened?”
“Lost my balance and fell.” Colt said removing his shirt and sitting on the exam table. He took the bottle from Oram and took a long pull. The liquor burned his throat but the warmth that spread over him as he drank made up for it. Guess we both need to take the edge off he thought. He offered the bottle back to the Doc.
“I’ll wait till I patch you back up” She said, still somewhat miffed that he had walked in and caught her.
“I saw your stitch work last time” Colt said nodding his head towards his bleeding shoulder “Might help you make em straight this time.”
He handed her the bottle and she took a swig. She looked at the wound. Clearly he had not ripped from a fall. She could see pieces of the thread in the wound, something had punctured his shoulder.
Colt didn’t want to go into the apparent substance abuse issue with Oram. He didn’t want to deal with Twister, he didn’t want to tell Spots when they might resume the hunt for his sister, he didn’t want to listen to Mobbex go on about how much the job was going to pay. All he wanted to do was hold Abbey close and pretend she had never taken that game with Niska. But that’s not an option he almost said out loud. Time to be Captainy. “There something bothering you?”
Oram looked up. Had Colt seen her uneasiness with Rune? “No, what makes you think that.”
“We’ve addressed this drinking yourself blind thing.” Colt said matter of factly. “Your face down in your bunk when I need you, and what good are you?”
“Not face down now” Oram replied pulling the stitch firmly just to watch Colt flinch.
“Yeah, but if I was bleeding a half hour from now?” Colt watched as she dabbed the blood with a gauze pad. “Something’s under your skin. You don’t want me poking around, fine, but whatever you’re trying to forget, in that bottle or those pills, still going to be there when you come to.”
Oram wondered if it was this obvious to everyone. She thought she had done a fair job of hiding her emotions about the past she had lost. Rune had upset her, made her slip maybe, or maybe she just wasn’t as good as Abbey when it came to such things. Colt was genuinely concerned. She was a little taken back by it. Abbey had been her confidant since they fell in together. Now Colt offering her the same shoulder if she wanted. She thought about telling him about Rune, hell about everything. Put it all on the table and see if she would still be welcome on the ship after, but she didn’t. “All patched up just let me get a bandage”
Colt examined the stitches “Nope still crooked” He had given her a chance. She hadn’t taken it. He pulled on his shirt and stood. Oram came back and taped the gauze over the wound. The weight of being Captain was wearing on him hard. As she turned to step away he grabbed her arm. “Tonight you pop as many of those things as you can and still live. You finish that bottle, sleep as late as you want tomorrow. Then I want you to lock the meds in the cabinet and give me the key and deliver every bit of that rot gut you have stored around my ship to Abbey. Tell her to lock it up tight. Next thirty days your either sober or your off my boat”
He turned and walked out the door. 
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She was feisty. He liked feisty.
He watched Oram retreat into the infirmary. He wanted to follow her right away, but a woman like that would come out swinging if she felt too pushed.
He liked that too.
He smiled and edged closer, but was interrupted by the fight that broke out above. It was the Captain and Twister. Even injured, the Captain was a fighter. He was holding his own against Twister. Just when he thought things were going south, a girl appeared from above and twacked Twister in the head with something. Was that a can of beans?
Odd girl. She was freakishly strong and stealthy.
Interesting, he thought. There is more than meets the eye with this crew.
He saw abbey watching from above with an ultra concerned look on her face. She obviously loved Colt, but it looked like she was denying that fact. Weird since she was having his baby. There had to be some kind of lovin' going on at some point. He wondered if they even told each other they loved one another yet. He turned when Mobbex spoke to him.
Quote:
Mobbex said:
“How did he?”
Rune shrugged and kept watching. The fight broke up soon enough and they descended the stairs. At the end of the stairs, Colt said something to Twister and stalked into the infirmary. He saw the blood on the Captain's shirt. He had reinjured himself.
Twister came towards them.
Quote:
Twister said:
“You boys must feel all kinds of stupid bout now huh?”
"Cap'n didn't put me in charge," Rune answered smiling.
Mobbex smirked at him in irritation.
"Well, he's obviously been just about everywhere on the ship. No need for me to sit here doin' nothin'," he said as he gathered up his stuff. "I got guns to clean and some shuteye to get."
He left and Rune was distracted again. He saw that abbey noticed Colt's injury too. She came rushing down the stairs, but when she nearly got to the infirmary, she froze. He followed her gaze into the infirmary. He was looking at what she might have, but suddenly got that someone is looking at me feeling. He glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw abbey staring at him with a terrifying look. Then she bolted.
What's with that? he wondered.
He inched closer to the infirmary.
Quote:
Colt said:
“Tonight you pop as many of those things as you can and still live. You finish that bottle, sleep as late as you want tomorrow. Then I want you to lock the meds in the cabinet and give me the key and deliver every bit of that rot gut you have stored around my ship to Abbey. Tell her to lock it up tight. Next thirty days your either sober or your off my boat”
Huh... He never would have pegged Doc for a drunken druggie, but he saw what she was trying to hide. He slipped inside after the Captain had left.
"Havin' a little problem?" he asked. "I kicked drops myself about eight years ago. If'n you need to talk, I'm your guy. I understand."
He paused for a moment.
"Do you? You know... Want to talk about anything?"
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As Colt walked out of the infirmary, Oram withheld the urge to throw said JD bottle in the direction of his stupid captain head.
He was one to talk. He and Abbey rutting all over the place like a pair of rabbits. Turning away from the door and quelling the rage and tear, and also the thought of what a shit-hole her existence had become, Oram just breathed, put the bottle back in its cupboard and instead pulled out some medical equipment. She drew up a few CCs of painkiller and slipped it into her thigh. She wasn’t interested in talking to Rune, or discussing their pasts. She just wanted sleep and her body to stop aching.
If Colt wanted her off the booze, he'd have to deal with the consequence.
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Colt went to the bridge to find out when they would arrive on Shinon. He hoped Abbey would still be willing to help with the landing. Shinon airspace was closely controlled and if you didn't have legitimate business you would be turned away.
They hadn't spoken since he had told her about Shadow. Would she stay?
He kicked himself for being so hard on Oram. If Abbey didn't have enough reason to leave, him threatening the Doc would give her more cause.
Not that the Doc didn't need help, but who was he to force people to face their demons.
He walked on the bridge. "Wash give me an update"
Wash checked out the screens in front of her and rechecked the fuel readings. "Just gonna make on fuel. We should be there day after tomorrow."
"Good enough" Colt replied dropping into the left seat. "Why don't you go give Spot's a hand stripping out any ID on that hover and get some rest. I'll take first watch."
"I could use a change of scenery" Wash said flipping the control switch. "Seems like I haven't left this chair in months"
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Twister was left alone in the bay. He really wanted his weapons back. Being without them left him feeling naked. He had seen the gamer start towards Colt when he was heading to the medic, but she had reconsidered and headed towards a shuttle. He headed up the stairs. When he reached the shuttle door he knocked. There was no answer. He knocked again.
Abbey heard the knock at the door. Colt? Was the first thought that leapt to mind. She started towards the door but froze. He rarely knocked before they started their relationship, why would he knock now? Rune? Her heart raced. Had he recognized her? She grabbed her pistol and pulled on a jacket tucking the snub nosed revolver into the pocket. She reached the door just as a second knock sounded. She opened the door and saw Twister standing at the entrance. “What do you want?” escaped her mouth. Rune would have been better than this, she thought to herself.
“Sorry?” Twister said.
Abbey tried to find her composure “I’m not sure you should be here.”
“And why is that?” Twister said stepping into her shuttle. He looked around at the lavish décor. “Nice place. Glad to see Colt is living well.”
“Colt…the Captain does not stay here” Abbey said.
“Oh?” Twister said surprised. “I just assumed” His eyes dropped to her stomach, but not before they lingered at her breasts. “Guess Colt hasn’t changed that much after all”
“What does that mean?” Abbey asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
A smile crossed his face when she inquired. He quickly erased it and continued. “Let me guess, you two have been seeing each other for a while. You’re clearly smitten with him, so much so that you’re having a child with the man, but there something missing.”
Abbey tried to assert herself. “I think you should leave, and don’t take that as you have an option.” She pulled the revolver from her jacket.
“Lady, I saw you were armed when I walked in.” Twister said calmly “You may want to hear me out. I’m probably the person that knows Colt. The real Colt.”
Abbey interrupted “Colt told me about Shadow”
“Heh” Twister laughed “Shadow? Colt hadn’t done what he did he would be just as dead as that planet, me along with him. He saved his crew same thing Niska’s banking on. No I’m not talking about Shadow. I’m talking about love.”
Abbey stiffened, the gun in her hand felt heavy. A soft “Go on” escaped her lips.
“Let me guess, Colt never told you them words” Twister turned and scanned the room for weapons. He saw a long gun mounted near the shuttles exit door, too big. He spotted the grip of a pistol concealed under a portable roulette table.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I know how Colt feels about me.” Abbey was perturb, but continued. “Neither of us has expressed it in words”
Twister raised an eyebrow “Beautiful woman like yourself, I’d bet you’ve had scores of men spouting their love for you after the first date. You don’t find it strange that Colt hasn’t, especially with a baby on the way?” Twister moved to the table and sat down.
“Again this doesn’t concern you. I want you to leave” Abbey said firmly.
“Right” Twister said raising both hands. “You don’t want to know why Colt can’t tell you how he feels that fine” He dropped his hands to chairs arms and pushed himself out of the chair, quickly using his body to shield his left arm, he snatched the pistol from its holder and slid the weapon behind his back.
“Why?” Abbey said.
“The man’s jinxed.” Twister said with a sly smile, but real sadness in his eyes. “Long as I’ve known him, I’ve heard him tell two women he loved them. Both died within a week of him telling them.”
“That’s ridiculous” Abbey said, as the same sadness found a place inside her.
“Maybe” Twister said walking to the door. “Don’t change the fact that those girls are dead. I for one hope he never tells you. Be a shame to lose someone as pretty as you.” Twister gave her a nod and walked out.
As Twister made his way down the stairs and towards his bunk he pulled the pistol out and checked the magazine, fully loaded
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abbey just stood there near the doorway, frozen as she thought about Twister's words.
Were they a lie? Were they the truth?
It was true that neither of them had told each other those dangerous but small three words.
Perhaps she should say it first? But then again... she knew how that happened the last time.
This time, there were hormones involved. It was like the baby wanted to know how Dad felt about Mom.
Her feet traveled quickly to Colt's bunk. She was about to knock when she saw him on the bridge.
She thought about whether or not this was a good thing to address right now.
Quietly, she walked up behind him as he sat in the pilot's seat and hesitantly placed her hand on his shoulder.
He startled, jumped up and truned towards her drawing a fist back.
"COLT!" she screamed, putting her hands up in front of her in a defensive position.
He dropped his stance right away and his expression softened.
"abbey!" he exclaimed softly. "You shouldn't sneak up on a man in thought like that."
She stepped backwards.
"Maybe I should leave," she whispered. "Maybe this was a bad idea."
She turned to leave but he reached out a grabbed her arm very gently.
"No... I'm really sorry... I'm just a little on edge."
"About what you told me about Shadow?" abbey asked. He stood still for a moment then nodded.
"Do you want to leave now?" he asked. "I won't stop you if you do. I know you think I'm a monster."
"No!" she reassured. "Way I see it, you didn't really have a choice. It's not like you personally gave the order to scorch that planet."
She stepped closer to him, her hand resting on his chest.
"I just have to ask you a question though," she started. "I am pretty sure I know the answer, but I want to hear you say it."
She looked into his eyes.
"How do you feel about me?" she asked. "Neither one of us have talked about it, but with the baby on the way..."
She paused for just a second.
"If you feel strongly about me, you can say it. I'm not going anywhere," she told him. "No matter what happened in your past with previous women."
She searched his face looking for some kind of reaction. She took his hand and laid it on her stomach. The baby kicked just at that moment like it was in on the plan.
"Feel that?" she asked as Colt's gaze fell to where the baby kicked him. "That's our baby. That's a bond that will never be broken.
"Those two women that you loved? The ones that died? Things happen in the 'verse and it doesn't have to mean anything. They just are. You're not jinxed. No matter what Twister says-"
Colt's eyes snapped up to meet hers, a definite anger shone in them.
"Twister? You've been talking to Twister?"
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