Fractured House; Remastered. Book 1; Chapter 4; The Captain in the Ketch
[i]Warning: Unidentified Craft detected.
Warning: Unidentified craft preparing energy weapon.
Alert: Unidentified craft has fired.
Alert: Main thruster damaged
Alert: Core meltdown imminent
Engaging locks.
Have a nice death.[/i]
-Pasiks-7, Pilot Servitor.
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We set out immediately. Even for the huge craft it was, it was still torn to shreds and a few miles away. The trip wouldn't exactly be quick.
I let Shaski lead the way. She'd be the first one to get shot at if anybody was out here, and if she tried anything, I could just shoot her in the back. Win-win.
Leading or following, our pace wasn't very quick. The Ketch remained motionless in the distance, a very stark reminder that this craft was miles off. We'd be walking most of the day.
So we walked. Discussion among foes isn't encouraged, even during truces. I kept my mouth shut and marched. At some point she picked up a spear, using it as a walking staff.
But the walk was boring, so might as well talk.
"So Shaski, uh, what did you do? As a Vandal, I mean. Everyone has some sort of role."
She looked back at me quizzically.
"I was a sniper. Used a wire rifle, shot stuff." She said questioningly. "Why is that important?"
"It's uh.... not? I was just curious." I meekly replied.
She scoffed at me and kept walking. Something clicked in her though, and before long she started talking.
"Ezkor, why did you Devils mobilize so many troops?"
"To secure the bunker and fight off you Kings?"
"But how did you know there would be so many Kings?"
I just shrugged. I was a Dreg, I didn't know the whys of the war. I just fought in it.
She shook her head and quieted down. The rest of the way was walked in almost silence.
———————————————————
We arrived at the Ketch near sundown. The chunks of the craft cast long shadows across the ground, black pylons on the fiery orange ground.
We crossed through the wreckage, wary of things that might be lurking in the shadows. Small fires still burned, but all was quiet.
Shaski came up to the main body that had broken off. It was slightly tipped on it's side, the nearest door a good hundred feet off the ground, and the craft was buried a decent amount. We'd be on the upper levels.
Wasn't an issue. We climbed up, plentiful handholds in the shredded structure of the Ketch letting us ascend with ease.
Shaski forced open the door, prying it open with the spear she'd picked up, the door groaning as it opened.
We stopped in on the slanted floor, carefully traversing down, towards the Engine room.
It was slow walking, Shaski and I had to carefully choose our steps. Several times we slipped, having to grab each other and the wall to stop our fall.
As we traversed, Shaski stopped me, motioning to be quiet. She grabbed me and threw me against the wall, then herself, in the corner between the wall and a door, motioning again to stay quiet.
A few moments passed. Then I heard something. Clattering. Scuttling and footsteps, coming towards us. Quickly. A light shone through the door, into the hallway, but not on us.
It came through. A Captain wearing Kings colors, a light strapped to his head.
I moved my foot, and he turned to look at us. The light on his head blinded me, forcing me to cover my eyes.
"A Vandal? What are you doing here?! I thought everyone died! Oh this is wonderful! You can help me get out of here! Come with m-"
He spotted me.
"Devil!" He yelled, lunging at us. Shaski lunged back, the two meeting in the air, Shaski wrapping around him as they started to tumble down the slope.
"Shaski!" I yelled, jumping over the side of the door. I was not letting my way out of here die.
I slid on the floor after them, gaining speed. They were a ball of arms and legs, the Captain clawing for a handhold, Shaski slapping at his arms and keeping them sliding. The walls whipped past, doors forced open.
The Captain found a handhold, jerking to a stop, straining to hold on as he battered Shaski, trying to get her off.
I slammed into them, knocking the two of them back into a slide. I could see the end of the Hall now. A drop off to a curved wall. We were falling towards the main control.
I grabbed at the floor, feet grinding against the textured metal, trying to slow myself down. Shaski did similarly, slowing down enough to grab me. We held on as the Captain desperately tried to get a handhold, frantically grabbing at the air.
We entered the Main Control, a large room shaped like an egg. Shaski grabbed a passing bar, forcing me and her to a sudden stop.
The Captain hit the ledge and fell.
A whoosh of air, streaks of light, his hands appeared on the edge, hauling himself up, grabbing the nearest railings. He stared up at us.
"Why do you protect the Devil, Vandal! He is our enemy! He must die!"
"That Devil is the one with the gun smart guy! You wanna get shot today?!"
I aimed the Shrapnel Launcher at him, although it was a bit difficult with one arm.
"What she said."
This made him consider for a moment. Perhaps he didn't want to get shot.
"Alright. I won't try to kill him. Now why are you on this Ketch? I checked, nobody else survived in this ship."
"We're looking for parts. We've got a mostly intact Skiff, we need to fix the engine. We came here for parts. Can you help us."
He considered for a moment.
"Yes. I'm an engineer. I can get you in the air, as long as your Devil friend doesn't shoot me. Deal?"
"Deal. I'm Shaski, this is Ezkor. What's your name?"
"Skoei. So, what kind of parts do you need?"
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