Adventures of Kyle & Mad

Adventures of Kyle & Mad

Chapter 10: Collision Course

The Hawk of the Galaxy flew through the vastness of space again, but the ship was still clearly limping. Mad had taken the helm as Kyle and Den quietly sat on their seats.

“There’s really no telling how many people Lineet has turned away or potentially even killed because of his state” Den finally said. “I know. But it would’ve been too dangerous to try to convince him that we really were real.” Mad replied as he punched in some new coordinates on the navigational computer. “So, are we going to inform the authorities of his location?” Den asked. “I believe that he would even consider members of his own race as hallucinations.” Kyle replied.

“We’ll honor his request, and never mention this system to anyone” Kyle concluded. Mad and Den nodded quietly. “And besides, I think that he living alone in that world makes him feel a lot better while dreaming of a potential escape, than when actually experiencing one” Kyle continued. “Let’s just hope he survives with all those demons inside his head” Mad said as The Hawk of The Galaxy entered hyperspace, and simultaneously left Lineet’s home system behind.

Demole Station

The surreal lifestyle of Demole Station continued in its’ entirety. Ships were coming and going, money and services changed hands. Fights and assassinations took place.

A small fighter approached the station at full speed. This fighter caught the attention of anyone passing by it, or seeing it at all. The fighter was a Gigerdian military fighter, which surely wasn’t on sale anywhere in the markets. The fighter’s other T-shaped wing had been replaced with a mean- looking rotating gun, and some minor adjustments had been made on the hull of the vessel as well. The fighter was clearly of an older model, yet with all of the modifications; it could easily match the newer designs as well.

The fighter quietly flew closer to the station, and then landed on one of the little hangars designated for visitors. The hangar had a few people inside, but as they saw something this rare land on the deck, they instantly walked closer to inspect it. From inside the vessel emerged a tall Gigerdian; he was wearing a strangely colored body armor, which had two ammunition bandoleers strapped over it. He was clearly carrying other weapons as well, but they were concealed inside his jacket. What made the Gigerdian even stranger looking, were his physical features; the other side of his face had been replaced with a metallic mask of some sort, and in place of his left eye now stood a red sensor of some sort. Finally a bandanna had been draped over his third eye on his forehead. Clearly this Bandanna was meant to also conceal a wound of some sort; perhaps his third eye had been removed due to an accident of some sort.

The quiet Gigerdian walked away from the hangar, and after descending some staircases, he found himself on a wide street inside the bowels of the station. On the other end of the street lay a large billboard, this had all sorts of notes of interests hanging on it. A person wearing yellow and blue striped body armor was placing several advertisements of some kind on the billboard. The Gigerdian walked closer while a large amount of people had also gathered to see what were these advertisements all about. Yet, as the Gigerdian reached the billboard, he saw that the advertisements weren’t really advertisements at all – rather they were wanted-posters. He read them:

WANTED:

A pair of black-haired, medium-built Gigerdians traveling in a freighter carrying the name “Hawk of the Galaxy”. As far as we can tell, they were both male.

The amount of 250,000 universal credits will be paid for anyone apprehending them dead or alive. If they are apprehended intact and brought to the clan(s) alive, the clan(s) promise(s) a free coupon at the Vemrer beauty parlor for the individual.

Another 250,000 will be paid for the apprehension of the human named Den Kylek possibly traveling with them. He is wanted dead, and if the body has been mauled to an unrecognizable state, then the clan is pleased to offer the individual a free meal at an establishment of his choice on Demole Station in addition.

Happy Hunting!

Signed,

The leader of the Yellow-Blue Clan
The leader of the Red-Purple Clan
The owner of the establishment “Drunk Comet”
Demole Station Traffic Authority

Obviously many of the people that had gathered to look at the poster were just about ready to start hunting these individuals. Some of them were converging quietly about the quite handsome bounty. The Gigerdian kept on looking at the poster as the crowd dispersed.

On one of the corners opposite the billboard, a pair of Bacterians dressed in civilian attire observed the happenings. These two had noticed the Gigerdian looking at the poster. One of the Bacterians pulled out a small subspace communicator from his pocket, and spoke to it softly: “Command, do you acknowledge?”

“Yes, this is the Bukhara responding. How is your search proceeding?” a metallic voice asked. “I believe that we are very close on finding these Gigerdians. Inform Fleet Lord Bacillus, that we are going follow a member of their own race, who might lead us to their whereabouts” the Bacterian spoke quietly to the communicator. “Plan confirmed. The Fleet Lord will be happy to hear of this” the same metallic voice responded. The Bacterian shut the communicator. “Follow that Gigerdian, and find a way to attach this transmitter to his ship” the Bacterian instructed the other one, who quietly nodded, and left the scene.

The Gigerdian that had been looking at the poster also left the billboard, and headed back to the hangar.

Chapter 11: Loose Ends

Kyle Gigerdi’s log

Stardate 4163.4

“We’ve been traveling the Beta Quadrant Free Zone for two weeks now. After our unfortunate crash at that unknown world, we spent a week on a space yard getting the ship repaired and modified with additional shields and weaponry. We also bought some supplies. After that, we finally scored our first big cargo hauling gig, and managed to pay off our ship’s upkeep for the space yard.

I thought I knew space. I thought I had seen everything, but coming to the No Man’s Land certainly opened my eyes again. I find this place as alien as it is hostile. The only rules that exist here are the rules you make for yourself.”

Kyle ended his log with the touch of a button on the entertainment console located in the small crew compartment of their ship, the Hawk of the Galaxy. Den sat at the small couch near Kyle, and looked at a newspaper of some sort. “You know, there’s a bunch of cargo-hauling jobs available in the Hogland system” Den stated. “Where’s Hogland?” Kyle asked quietly. “It’s one of those rim systems, which nobody wants to go to. Apparently this job would include the delivering of manure to some outpost” Den replied. “Fortunately, we don’t have facilities to transport anything like that” Kyle said with a relieved tone of voice. “True, we’d need to find higher paying jobs anyway” Den agreed.

Den and Kyle arose from their positions and proceeded to walk back to the bridge. Mad was there studying the navigational computer’s stellar maps. “So, how’s the helm?” Den asked as Mad read the maps. “I’ve been looking at the stellar maps. There’s a bunch of systems that are rumoured to be rich in several minerals” he explained. “Quite possibly we could travel to these systems, and ask the mining establishments there if they’d need any minerals transported from one place to another” he continued. “Yeah, asking them straight on might actually bring us a job. Good thinking.” Den replied. “Alright, we’d better set course for the Jovo system, then” Mad said to himself as he changed seats to the helm. “Jovo has a large mineral ore refinery. I’d think we’ll find a job from there” Den stated as the ship changed course in hyperspace.

Meanwhile in the Hicatorio system...

“Yes, a freighter like that came by here a few weeks ago” a mechanic at the hangar said to the tall GigerdЭian. He had landed to the fuel depot located in the asteroid field there. The Hawk of the Galaxy had visited the establishment a few weeks ago.

“According to the records inside that refueling robot, the ship in question was refueled and that operation cost 20 universal credits” the mechanic explained further. “I think that they didn’t tell any of us where they were going” he continued. The Gigerdian nodded.

“If they’re looking for work in the cargo hauling business, then you’d be likely to find them looking for it in the neighboring systems. Luckily there are only a few places here that offer such jobs” the mechanic said. The Gigerdian extended his hand to reveal a small sum of universal credits. He gave the shiny coins to the mechanic, who also bowed in respect. The Gigerdian left the refueling depot as quickly as he had arrived. What the Gigerdian failed to observe, however, was a shuttle lurking outside the depot. As the Gigerdian fighter flew out of the hangar, the shuttle quietly turned on its’ lights and engines, and proceeded to tail the Gigerdian craft.

Hyperspace near the Jovo system

“The Jovo system is very close to Marauder territory” Den said to Kyle and Mad on the bridge of the ship. “You’ve mentioned them before” Mad replied. “Yes, who are they?” Kyle asked.

“I’ve had a few run-ins with them in the past. Basically they’re a bunch of technocrats interested of salvaging ships. They’re pretty well armed and organized, and their way of doing things resemble the ways of an organized society in this place” Den explained. “They’ve been known to shoot trespassers” he added. “So, what are the chances of us running into them?” Mad asked in return. “They pretty much keep to themselves in the few systems that they occupy. I wouldn’t worry about them” Den said.

The Hawk of the Galaxy dived out of hyperspace, and entered the Jovo system. The system itself had many inhabitable worlds, but still the main use for the system was plainly to serve as a staging area for mineral transports. The corporations transporting ores and minerals to the other quadrants also had many recruiters situated at the mineral outpost of Jovo. The outpost itself was like a large beehive with dozens of hangars and docking ports meant for transports bringing in and transporting out various valuables. The Hawk of the Galaxy quietly moved closer to it.

The Jovo System

Near Mineral Station

“Looks like we’re finally getting somewhere” Kyle said to Den and Mad. The ship quietly advanced ever closer to the station located on the horizon. “Welcome to Mineral Station, please state your business?” a stern voice requested from the ship’s speakers. “Mineral Station, we’re requesting permission to land. We’re in search for a cargo haul” Mad replied. “Copy that, hangar five is ready for guests” the same voice replied.

Just as the ship was about to slow down near the station, something unexpected happened: a small fighter pulled out of hyperspace in front of the small freighter. The stunt that the fighter had pulled indeed was quite spectacular, but what amazed the crew of the Hawk of the Galaxy the most, was the ship’s age. “Wow, did someone just do the time warp again?” Kyle said with an amazed look on his face as the fighter appeared on the view screen. “I remember those things. We used to have them at the academy” Mad said with a smirk. “Look, the other wing on that thing has been replaced with mean-looking cannon” Kyle added. “Something’s not right here” Den said quietly.

The heavily modified Gigerdian fighter ignited its’ engines, and flew to block the way for the Hawk of the Galaxy. “Hey, there’s a line here, you know?” Den shouted into the speaker. The mysterious Gigerdian fighter stood in front of the ship quietly. It was obvious that the pilot was simply observing the freighter, and ignored them for a reason.

“This is purple seven reporting”, a sudden and metallic voice replied from the fighter. Kyle looked at the vessel with a horrified gaze.

Chapter 12: Unwelcome Meeting

“This is purple seven reporting” the strange voice from the fighter repeated calmly. Kyle looked at the view screen with a terrified look. “How can you be still alive?” he asked.

“So, you know each other?” Den asked with a confused tone. “Mikel Gigerdi” Kyle said to himself. “I can’t believe this to be true” Kyle repeated several times. “He’s supposed to be dead” he added finally.

“Oh, but I am alive, but no thanks to you” the voice from the fighter replied. “I had almost forgotten you, but seems to me like the gods of luck have favored me today by dropping you right in my lap” it continued. “We didn’t know that you survived! We thought you had been burned to a crisp after that ship exploded” Kyle replied frustratingly. “I am amazed that you didn’t send anyone to check that floating wreckage after the ship blew up on me” the voice continued. “What is this guy on about?” Den asked. The image of the Gigerdian fighter pilot quickly came into one of the consoles. The vision before the three clearly upset them.

“Let me tell you, that you three are quite popular targets among the various figures of the underworld these days. They’ve put quite a handsome bounty on your heads at Dremole Station.” the Gigerdian explained. “So, you’ve come to collect then, huh?” Den said mockingly. The Gigerdian smiled: “for your sakes, I haven’t”.

“So, what do you want?” Mad asked. “Yeah, and who is this man?” Den asked Kyle in return. “He used to be a fellow crewmember during the final months of the H’vos War. I was just a kid back then.” Kyle replied.

“Yes, but he took command of the ship after an attack had killed the superior officers. Then he sent me along with a wing of fighters to check out another vessel which had been with us, but the communications on the ship had been knocked out” the voice replied. “Yes, Mikel Gigerdi was his name” Kyle replied. “As me and my wing approached the ship, it suddenly exploded due to a reactor malfunction due to extensive damage there” the Gigerdian pilot continued. “The resulting explosion was so huge, that it wiped out most of my wingmen, and damaged my fighter badly” he added.

“We thought he was dead. Nothing could’ve survived that explosion” Kyle said to Mad and Den. “Looks like you’re wrong there. My fighter did take damage, and I was badly injured. But luckily I was picked up a few days later by a group of refugees fleeing the war” he said grudgingly. “I was badly injured, and I understood that an organization with such fellow Gigerdians serving under it as you wasn’t exactly my place anymore.”

“I went with them, and ended up here. I thought that serving as a mercenary would make ends meet. I never thought that I would’ve seen you here, but then again I remember you babbling on about going system-hopping over and over again back in those days” the Gigerdian pilot said. “I’m sorry for leaving you there” Kyle replied finally. “I can still remember lying in the cockpit half-conscious, and hearing cheers and cries of joy from the helmet intercom as the battle had been won” the pilot replied. “The last sight I remember was the glow of the engines from our ship, and how it just suddenly disappeared, leaving me behind” he said quietly.

As suddenly as the surreal reunion had started, it also came to an end; a group of four Bacterian cruisers pulled out of some sort of faster than light travel in front of the station. “Holy crap, it’s those Bacterians again” Den shouted wildly. The four Bacterian cruisers moved into an attack formation, and then fired a pair of torpedoes in the general direction of the two ships near the station. Both of the ships made evasive maneuvers.

“Freighter Hawk of the Galaxy, halt your engines and prepare to be boarded. You’re coming with us, dead or alive” a Bacterian voice ordered the vessel. “Any plans on getting out of here?” Den asked hesitantly as the massive Bacterian vessels moved ever closer. “Looks like our little reunion will have to wait” Mikel Gigerdi commented. “How’d they find us?” Kyle wondered out loud. “I don’t know, but we’re getting the hell out here” Den replied and took the helm. “Wait! We won’t be leaving Mikel Gigerdi behind” Kyle shouted. “For your information, my green friend, those Bacterians are two inches away from getting us, and your friend’s feelings shouldn’t be the thing to worry about now anyway” Den snapped. The ship turned around and armed weapons. “Man the weapons console!” Den instructed the two Gigerdians.

The Bacterian cruisers suddenly opened fire, but this time the deadly volleys of beams and torpedoes were aimed at the Mineral Station on the background. Unfortunately the combined firepower of four cruisers was enough to destroy the installation, and thus it exploded in a few moments in a spectacular fireball, taking all of the ships docked on it with it. The crew of the Hawk of the Galaxy was horrified, but Mikel had apparently seen this method of combat before. “Damn, looks like we’ve been double-crossed: those Bacterians want no witnesses, and I have a feeling that I’m going to be next one to be disposed of. I’m going down fighting.” he shouted to the speaker aboard his cockpit. He furiously turned his fighter to face the Bacterian cruisers, and armed his weapons. He then proceeded to open fire on the cruisers while advancing towards them. “If you know what’s good for you, you’d better follow my example!” he shouted to Kyle and Mad.

A furious, but ultimately short battle ensued between the lone fighter and the Bacterian cruisers which had now launched their fighters. Mikel’s fighter quickly escaped a pair of beams fired from a nearby Bacterian fighter, but the bigger cruisers were constantly nearing the smaller vessel. The rotating Gatling cannon on Mikel’s fighter fired furiously towards the Bacterian fighters which constantly swarmed ever closer. The Hawk of the Galaxy also returned fire, and managed to destroy a pair of Bacterian fighters with the expert gunnery of Kyle and Mad. The Bacterian fighters formed into a large beehive-like formation, and then swallowed Mikel’s fighter. A small explosion was seen at the center of the formation, but that was all.

“This is purple seven, I’m signing off” a scrambled message was heard from the communications console on Kyle and Mad’s ship. Both of them looked down despite what their relations had been towards this cynical mercenary a while ago. The Bacterian cruisers suddenly stopped their pursuit, and the large cloud of Bacterian fighters divided into smaller group of ships that immediately returned back to the bigger ships. It became apparent that the Bacterian vessels were now leaving, despite the fact that Kyle, Den and Mad were just beginning to get themselves ready. “Hey, where are you going?” Kyle shouted furiously as he pressed the triggers on the weapons console, unleashing bright red beams from one of the incinerator beam turrets located on the ship’s front. “Looks like they’re leaving!” Den reported quickly from the bridge of the vessel. “They had us! Where the hell are they going?” Mad jumped up from the second weapons console, and jogged closer to Den.

Out of nowhere a large shadow came on top of their ship. It was an immense shadow, which only meant that a considerably big capital ship was now hovering over them. “Oh hell, I should’ve guessed!” Den yelled in frustration. “It’s the Marauders! They left us here for them!” he added.

A large capital ship had appeared from faster than light travel, and was now on top of the small freighter. “This is the Warsteiner. Attention, destroyers of Mineral Station! Lower your shields and prepare to be boarded! You are under arrest!” a loud voice proclaimed from the ship’s speakers. “If you fire at us, we will have no other choice but to destroy you! No cheap tricks from your part!” the voice continued. “Let’s just do what they tell us” Kyle said to Den and Mad. They both nodded. “That Bacterian commander was pretty smart. She left us here just in time to pull out herself, and framed us for the destruction of that station” Mad stated. “I’m sure these people are willing to listen to reason!” Kyle replied. “Oh, I wouldn’t count on it, friend” Den replied. A large ruckus was heard from outside the ship’s hull as a bulky docking clamp took a hold of the small freighter, and then gently pulled it inside the large capital ship. After a few moments, the ship was placed on a solid surface of some sort. The crew of the ship assumed that it was a hangar deck.

“Come out with your hands in the air!” a loud voice demanded from the outside. “Don’t make us come over there, and pull you criminals out!” the voice continued. Den, Mad and Kyle quickly ran to the ship’s upper hatch, and opened it. They climbed out of the vessel, and they were met with extremely bright lights. Mad and Kyle attempted to shade their eyes from the brightness.

“Get on the floor, face down!” the loud and demanding voice continued again.