Making of a Man: Chapter 3

[Jahar Mohade]

“Mercury Super Freighter, you are cleared to depart, thank you for your business and much profit to you.” The docking master said as he released the clamps holding the ship in place. As in any other docking system, once the clamps are replaced, high pressure air jets out to push the ship away so not to damage the station.

The Teladi captain all giddy due to making a deal of his life as well as being his very first deal; 40 credits per ton when he knows he can sell his entire ship load for five times the amount and make much profit. All happy like with his luck he didn’t pay much attention to the little ship flying up the docking lane under his ship. Then again the ship was five times smaller than his is hard enough while paying attention but nearly impossible when jumping for joy. Nudging the throttle the Mercury slowly gains speed as the thrusters but instead of arching the ship over back into the departure lane he flies straight out into open space.

Jack’s eyes focus on where the docking clamps are and the closure rate and angle, never saw the huge hull of the freighter cross the plane in front and over of the small craft’s path.

The collision even in space was loud. Metal buckled under the weight and thrust of one another. Cockpit glass smashing instantaneous; cabin gases escaping into the vacuum of space taking along with it Zaquri and the happy young Teladi captain as though they were just mere dolls, killing both in a matter of seconds.

Luckily for Jack he was strapped into his seat so he didn’t get sucked into space, but the indifference in pressure caused his ear drums to burst; skin and blood to freeze almost instantly. Ischaemia setting in, his body convulses which moves the control stick which in turn twists the ship around the hull of the Vulture and into the docking clamps further crushing its hull, as well as ripping in half.

The sudden impact and violent collision rips the clamps and docking arm away from the pivot point. All of this metal in turn flies in the same way it was pushed, directly into the bay itself. The three pieces of ship and docking slam into the side of the mine one after the other. Cockpit of the ship hits first ripping through the metal as though it were a mere sheet of paper instead of half a foot of steel.

John, Marcis and few dozen dock workers feel a large shutter in the station throwing most of them to the floor. John pushes himself up as he turns his head towards the bay where the noise and vibration came from. In that instant the side of the mine rips open and he sees the crushed cockpit of a ship inside his mine. In the very same second his and Jack’s almost dead eyes meet and quick sense of recognition passes through John’s mind.

Sparks from the collision along with the onslaught of air escaping into the depths of space causes the final blow to the life of the min and everyone on it. Millions of metric tons of air, flammable materials and fuel explode in a gigantic fire ball. The concussion and flames rip apart the sides of the bay and progresses through the rest of the station compartment after compartment.

Men working in the other compartments hearing the sound and a faint flicker of the flames turn to see the doors, walls, machinery flying towards them, as the explosion spreads consuming all that its in its way.

Each bulkhead gives way under the extreme pressures and stresses from the explosion causing a stage like destruction that only gets bigger and bigger as it travels deeper into the heart of the station. Then the cave portion on the mine itself where all of the fuel, ore, and air tanks are stored combine in a huge destructive final burst. This final stage being the largest latterly blows half of the asteroid away while sending the other half creaming towards the planet below.

A man walking into the class room interrupting the teacher. He leans forward speaking softly into her ear. With a gasp the teacher’s mouth drops as he raises her hand to cover it. Tears slowly roll down her cheeks as the man continues to inform her of the tragedy.

Once the man is finished, the teacher swallows hard while making every attempt calm herself. In a crackling voice she announces, “Matt, Bryan will you two please go with this gentlemen.”

Both boys stand up and with a quick glance towards each other before walking out the door with the guy. Bryan closed the door behind him looking at the man square in the eyes not really knowing what to expect. The gentlemen calmly and without any emotion explains the story of what happened earlier at mine never once did his voice crack nor emotion spill into his words.

After he was done, Bryan closed his eyes, clenched his hands into tight fists allowing what was said to sink deep down, but did nothing else. Matt on the other just lost one parent and now the other lost it. He turned around facing a locker then just slammed his fist as hard as he could into the metal before his knees went limp and the rest of this body crumbled to the floor. The realization that he is now completely alone in this universe hit him square between the eyes, and at the moment he had no clue how to deal with it.

For the next few weeks Matt did nothing, he sat in his room and vegetated there. He didn’t eat, drink, watch the vid link and rarely slept during that time. He was in effect comatose.

During that time, Matt missed the news cast that covered how over 30 million people died when the asteroid crashed into the planet after being pushed out of it orbit due to some large explosion. But none of that mattered to him. Matt was tied out in his own battle to get a grip on what has happened and what to do next in his life. Still he is at an impasse.

A knock on the door breaks the monotony. Matt opens the door and it’s the same guy that told him about his father. “Mr. Decker, I’m from Dag’n Industries, I am here to finalize your father’s account” the man says calmly.
“Sure, come in” Matt answers as he moves out of the way allowing the man to enter the apartment.

The man takes a few steps in, but doesn’t sit instead he turns around as he pulls something from his pocket. “Your father had nearly a Jazura of vacation time on the books, including his last pay. The board of directors of Dag’n Industries would like to double that. This means I have for you a sum of five hundred thousand credits. Also your father had an old Mercury TL and Discover M5. Both of these crafts are located in Herron Nebula which is two sectors north of here. The company will hold them there for one Wozura after that time we will be forced to auction them off. I apologize.” Still the man’s voice stayed in a matter of fact type tone.

“Now for the bad news, this apartment also belongs to the company. They have instructed me to tell you that you have three Tazura’s to vacate it before it is renovated.” This statement clearly didn’t hold well with the man.

Matt’s face shows a somewhat dumbfounded surprised look. “Three whole Tazura?”
“Yes, again I apologize for the short amount of time.”
“Okay, I’ll be out in two”
“Very well, sir”
“Oh, do you have any sort of documentation on the credit and property that you spoke about?”
“Yes, right here.” The man hands Matt a few papers and a receipt of the transfer of funds to his account.
Matt takes it and quickly scans over the wording to make sure everything that was said was in there. He may be young, but his father taught him well. Satisfied with everything he looks back up to the man standing before him. “Thank you for everything I appreciate it.”
“Do you have any idea on what you are going to do now?”
Shaking his head light as Matt thinks for a second, “Not a clue.”
“Well, I knew your father. By the looks of it, you’re just like him. I’m sure you will make the right decision.” With that he pats Matt on the shoulder before heading out the door.

The rest of the day went bye quietly as Matt went through his things, deciding on what to keep and what to leave behind. He closed the apartment door with only a small pack flung over his shoulders…



Any feed back is greately appreciated.

[SOTS]

Another great chapter!

Excellently written, just a shame about the events

I'm not sure vacuum exposure happens quite like that, however. But it was very close! That still sounds like I'm bitching lol...

[Jahar Mohade]

Bitch bitch bitch.. Sound like my wife! LOL