Deep Six Chapter 2

[Ed Man]

The Vault
Chapter 2 Deep Six

Gabe sweep back till the Disco was just out of firing range to try and get the Pirate to empty his weapons power. The Disco made a wide sweep in front of the Pirate just stating out of range not trying to evade the fire. Gabe could fill the shots hitting the ship but their effect wasn’t doing any damage to the ship and shields only dropped to 95% and the Pirate had used all his power.
Gabe fired a wasp and turned to fire on the Pirate ship. The Pirate ship turned to recharge as the weapons fire dropped his shields below 60% he turned to fire on the wasp before it hit. The Pirate fired away at the wasp dropping his power back down to zero. The wasp exploded as the last shots hit their mark.
Gabe was safely on the Pirates tail now and his shields were below 40% and dropping at a steady rate.

The Pirate opened his com. “I’ll trade you some valuable information if you let me just fly away!”
Gabe stopped firing for a minute trying to think as the computer stated. “Your Harriers shields just dropped below 25%.” Gabe opened fire on the Pirate ship in front of him and received quick response of verbal abuse from the Pirate as his shields dropped on down to 10%. The Discos weapons power was gone now as he waited for them to charge enough for another shot sticking on the tail of the Pirate. Gabe fired a round dropping the Harriers shields down to 6%. The wait was on again as the Pirate tried to get away.
Gabe fired another round dropping the Harriers shields down to 2%. The Pirate was screaming things at Gabe he had never heard before. Gabe fired another round ripping into the hull of the Harrier and this time the Pirate started pleading for Gabe to stop.
The shields were gone and the hull was at 82% when Gabe fired another round. The Pirate screamed as he ejected from the smoking Harrier.
Gabe switched to the last Pirate ship and fired a wasp missile at it. “Computer have the Harrier make a dive and fire a wasp at the Pirate ship.”
The Pirate ship broke off to deal with the missiles while the Harrier turned to return fire with round after round of direct hits dropping the shields down on the last Pirate ship while it fired on the missiles.

The Pirate ship hit one of the missiles while the other hit dropping its shield dangerously low. The Harrier fired another round dropping the shields below zero then fired a wasp at the damaged Pirate ship.
Gabe watched as the Pirate ejected just as the missile hit swallow him up in a ball of fire and fragments of the exploding ship. Gabe watched the HUD for a spacesuit as the blast area settled but none showed up.

Gabe rushed back to the hatch leading to the cargo hole where Pop was in the passenger section.
The computer replied. “Access denied unknown toxin in the compartment.”
Gabe pulled out his scanner it was Pop he had been poisoned while he was on the Harrier and the ships new sensors had sealed off the compartment to protect the pilot. Gabe looked the toxin up on the on his new PDA, it was a air delivered toxin. Gabe put his helmet on and sealed his suit. He knew if he vacuumed the ship the toxin would die in the cold vacuum of space. Gabe snatched up a extra air container for a suit. “Computer over ride safety and open the hatch.”
Gabe put Pops helmet on and sealed him up. “Computer vacuum the air out of the ship.”
Gabe opened the valve allowing the ship to eject the air. Gabe could hear the ships air hissing out into space until nothing. Gabe connected the air container to Pops suit and flushed the suit over and over with fresh air until scans showed the suits air was safe. Gabe closed the valve and had the computer to fill the ship back up with air. He scanned the ships compartments and they were clean. He pulled his and Pops helmet off and got a shot out of the medical cabinet for toxins and injected it into Pops arm.
Pops vital signs were dangerously low as Gabe scanned the shot reaction. “Pop don’t die on me you’re all I got left!” Gabe held Pops hand as he laid their while the ship raced to the Trading Station. The computer ejected all the air from the Harrier and had it following the Disco. A medical team was waiting on Gabe to land and was ready to treat Pop as soon as they landed.

The ship docked and a team came onboard in suits and transported Pop into a special contained bed.
They scanned Gabe and the ship for any sign of the toxin and after several sweeps the all clear was given.
Then Gabe was taken to a office where he was hounded for hours about what had happened and why over and over till a Argon Lawyer stepped in. “I think that’s enough where all through here. Do you know where the Pirate and derelict ship are?”
“Yes Sir.” Gabe replied. The Lawyer smiled. “Your Grandfather is in isolation and will be fine but you need to take me to the ship so you can claim it and pick up the Pirate you left out there and bring them both back here. The Teladi Security need to inspect the logs of the ships and interrogate the Pirate. You can use your ship it only has a little damage. I’ll ride along with you and a Teladi Security Officer will have to come with us to watch and secure the Pirate.”
Gabe didn’t like anything about the whole deal he was attacked and they were treating him like a criminal.
Gabe was stressed, nervous and worn out as he set the ship to full speed and went to the galley and got a power drink and snack out and set down. The Lawyer asked Gabe about Snake and Pilot of the Falcon they had found on the station in a room so high on space weed he was out cold and the ship they were looking for. Gabe pulled up the contract and logs and showed it to the Lawyer.

The Lawyer explained that Snake had been sent a message about what had happened and the condition of his ships and pilot they had in a holding cell after they had to remove him from the room he was in when the rent had run out. After a quick look at the contract the Lawyer explained. “The Falcon pilot had been sent two messages from your ship requesting help and didn’t respond and that put Snake and his company responsible for any damages after the fact.”
Gabe looked at the Lawyer. “And what does that mean?”
“Snake owes you big time for all the damages and trouble your Grandfather is going through that’s what it means Gabriel.”
The Pirate was floating adrift in space with his little blinking light flashing. His arms were waiving up and down when he seen the ship coming to get him. He was thinking this was his lucky day to have been found out so far until the guard informed him he was under arrest.
Gabe gave the Pirate something to drink after the guard finished securing him. The man had been adrift for over 10 hours and was ready to make a deal on anything he could to help his case.

Gabe pulled on over to the ship and scanned it the ship was in bad shape with most of it’s systems gone including life support and shields.
Gabe did a spacewalk and claimed the Pirate Harrier then got back into the Disco. The return trip to the station would take a while for the Harrier so it was ordered to go to the Trading Station and after the course was confirmed and checked Gabe set the Disco to full speed back to the Trading Station. They has been away for hours and Gabe wanted to see his Grandfather before he passed out form lack of sleep and stress.
Gabe made it into the room they had put his Grandfather in after he was stabilized and the Toxins had been neutralized. Now it was a waiting game to see how he was when he woke up. Gabe laid back in the chair and closed his eyes just to rest them a second and went out like a light.

Gabe woke up hearing his Grandfather talking to someone. A large smile was on Gabe’s face when he seen Pop setting up in bed talking to the Lawyer. Pop thanked the Lawyer as he left the room them Pop looked at Gabe and smiled. “You saved my life Gabe! The doctors said if you hadn’t flushed the toxins out of my suit and gave me that shot I’d be dead right now.”
Gabe got up and gave Pop a hug. “Pop are you all right?”
Pop looked at Gabe. “I’m just glade to be alive Gabe I thought I was done for when I went out. I have a little nerve damage and I’m a little wobbly but I’ll survive. I talked to Snake on the phone when he got here he hired a security team to find out what happened. They discovered that his rival on the Equipment Dock had sabotaged his ships sensors and killed his pilot by butting the toxin in the air supply. One of his workers was connected to the Pirates and they had supplied him with the toxin. In exchange the Pirates were suppose to get the Harrier.”
Pop was starting to shake from setting up to long so Gabe helped him laid back down. “I’ll be fine Gabe I just need to lay back and rest. Everything is all in a uproar at the Equipment Dock one of their Reps came to see me. She promised to make everything right and pay a healthy bonus for all our troubles.
The Teladi responsible and his worker are gone along with everything they could fit into their ships they left in. Snake is getting to set up business on the Dock and is being rewarded for his help and paid back for losses along with the family of the dead pilot is getting paid off. The Teladi Company want to keep this quite and are willing to pay us off to keep it that way before it hurts business. They’ll spin this out later to make themselves look good when they’re ready so it’s not going to be a cover up. Gabe they gave me a new maxed out Vulture Super Freighter and a new model M5 called a Kestrel plus one hundred thousand credits.”
Gabe looked at Pop and asked. “Pop tell me how bad are you the Teladi are not giving you all that just because you’re a little shaky what’s wrong with you?”
“Gabe it messed my motor skills up a little. I’ll never be a good fighter pilot again or as quick or strong as I was. My heart and internal organs are fine the toxin would have got to them if you hadn’t did what you did. I’ll have to get some rehabilitation so a Nurse will be staying on the freighter for six months with me to make sure I get it. Gabe take the Kestrel it’s your’s. I want you to go back home and get Simon and Cherrit they’re back home from the Argon Navy and they’re family.”

Gabe rolled his eyes. “Pop are you sure?”
“Yes I’m sure Gabe they’re not the same little brats that use to pick on you because you were smaller and younger than them. They’re grown men just out of the Argon Navy and they’re family. They’ll come I all ready sent a message and I’m waiting on their reply. Look Gabe we need people we can trust and I trust them two. If they can’t you’ll have to try and find us a couple of crewmen which way would you rather have it?”
Gabe looked at Pop. “They may be a pain but you’re right I’d rather have them onboard than strangers.”

Pop smiled at Gabe saying. “Go check out our new ships and contact Snake and give him his Harrier and get paid for the job. And try and sell the Pirate ship you captured I don’t want to fix it or keep it’s trouble. Gabe it’s yours you capped it but I want you to get rid of it and put the credits in your account. I really just want to get home now more than ever. Gabe we’re lucky to be alive if I had it to do over we would have stayed home.”

Gabe felt bad about pushing Pop into taking the long trip just because he wanted to take it. They had made a lot on the trip but at what cost Pop was about killed and would never be the same again.
Pop was right it’s better to make a little than to take a chance with your life just for a bigger payoff. Gabe had killed a man in battle and he wasn’t proud of it. It made him fill sick just thanking about it. The thought of going home was filling better every time he thought about it but Gabe knew he would never be the same innocent young man that left the Argon Sectors with fame and fortune on his mind. He had killed a man and their was no turning back from that. Someone shouted from a bar and it took Gabe back for a second to the screams of the Pirate as his ship exploded. Gabe stopped for a minute to calm down he told himself he had a job to do and now wasn’t the time to find a dark corner to hide in or see a psychologist he could do that when they got home. He keep telling himself he had to kill or be killed and it was self defense but it didn’t make it any easer. Gabe knew the right thing had been done he just never thought that killing a bad man would upset him so much.

When they were kids he played with his cousins and they all wanted to be the Pilot that killed the bad guys and now that he was the Pilot that killed the bad guy he wasn’t proud of it.
Gabe made it to the docks and sent a message to Snake to contact him so he could sing over his ship to him.
Gabe asked the receptionist where their ships were and a Security Officer came out and updated his ID card.
The Teladi had increased his status with them and paid him a bounty on the Pirates he killed and captured.
The Officer gave Gabe a Teladi gesture meant to show appreciation for a good job or deed and told him where the ships were. The Disco and Kestrel were setting beside each other. Gabe was walking around the new ship when Snake walked up saying. “It’s a nice-looking ship and it’s fast plus it has a rear turret.”

Snake could tell Gabe was under a lot of stress when he turned around and just went right to the point. “Pop wants to sell the Pirate ship and get the Harrier signed over to you so we can get paid and get back home.”
Snake could tell by the distance look in Gabe’s eyes this was the first time he had killed in combat.
“I have a bonus for you and Pop for the job and return of my ship. The sorry Teladi Pilot in the Falcon has been fired. I have a place on the Equipment Dock now because of you two and I am in your debt anything you want is yours at cost for two years. I’ll start by upgrading your ship with all the upgrades I have for free as a bonus. I’ll buy the ship from you we can talk about the price. I checked on the Disco it has already been repaired and ready to go. Let me give you a tour of your new ships then we’ll take care of business.”

Snake took Gabe through both ship showing him all the extras and differences from a Argon ship. The ships had the best the Teladi had to offer onboard plus jump drives and after Snake put his upgrades in they would be loaded and ready to go.
Gabe was surprised at the ships and how lavish they were the Teladi had went all out with the upgrades and extras. The Teladi are not known for their generosity but their greed so Gabe asked Snake to explain.
Snake said that to give the best was a gesture used by the Teladi leaders to show their appreciation and it is considered a honor to get a gift.
Gabe found out from Snake that a Teladi Ambassador had came to their room while he was asleep and Pop had thanked the Teladi for the kind gift when the ships were delivered while Snake waited and watched outside in the hall. Then they went to the Equipment Dock where the media was waiting to film the Ambassador giving Snake his reward.

Gabe turned over the Harrier and Pirate ship over to Snake and transferred the credits into their accounts and told Pop what was going on then headed back to Pops room. While Snake waited on a team of his workers to show up and install the upgrades on the new ships and fly the two ships back to the Equipment Dock.
Gabe watched a nurse work with Pop as he moved around all rubbery like trying to control his movements.
Gabe stopped filling bad about what had happen to him as he watched Pop. Pop was a little older but his good condition and appearance keep away the trouble makers and now he was having a hard time standing up. Gabe smiled at pop as he stood up saying he was wanting something to drink just to get out of the room to keep Pop from seeing how upset he was. Pop needed him now and it was Gabe’s turn to be strong. Pop held it together and took Gabe when his parents died and things seamed like they were at their worst. Gabe remember seeing Pop slip of to his room by himself when he thought Gabe was asleep and set down on his bed and cried.
The Aid came out and told Gabe Pop was in his room and wanted to see him. Gabe walked into the room. “Gabe come and give me a hug before you think your to old to hug your old Pop.”
Gabe hugged Pop and with tears in his eyes saying. “Pop I’m sorry for talking you into coming out here! We should have stayed at home where we were safe.”
Pop looked Gabe in the eyes. “Look Gabe this wasn’t your fault. I take my life in my hands every time I get in a ship and so do you that just the way it is but you know that. What else is bothering you I know there’s more I can see it in your face?”
Gabe looked up like he was about to die and choked the words out. “I killed a man Pop.”
“I’m sorry Gabe I know its overwhelming the guilt and doubt about everything but it will get better. I remember the first time I had to kill a man I thought I was going to die two days later my flight team run into a bunch of Pirates attacking a freighter and in the heat of battle I pulled back and it about caused my wingman and myself to get killed. My wing man under stood and felt the same way but the Pirate didn’t care he just wanted to kill us all. Remember that Gabe you care but they just want to kill you and move on to their next victim. Good men have to stand up and stop bad people or we all loose. Gabe you may have to kill again to defend yourself or someone else. Gabe there’s no shame in dying while your defending yourself or loved ones but it is a shame to just give up. It’s a hard thing to kill a man Gabe and it’s not fair I know but I need to know and you need to make your mind up to stay alive even if you have to kill to do it. Can you give me your word that you’ll give your enemy a chance to surrender and kill if you have to. That’s was our code of battle do you swear to live by this code Gabe?”

Gabe held his head up. “I give you my word Pop.” Gabe feld a little better after he talked to Pop he had felt guilty for talking Pop into taking the long run in the first place and just knowing that Pop didn’t blame him made him fill a little better.

Gabe decided to go do a few runs in the flight simulator before taking off in the Kestrel. A few hours later Pop called him. “Gabe I just got a message from Simon and Cherrit. Simon will be waiting on you to pick him up in Light of Heart at the Equipment Dock where he works he said he was ready to quit and move on and has already told his boss about leaving. We’ll have to wait on Cherrit he signed a contract to fly escort on a long haul, he’ll be back in Argon Prime in two weeks when he’s finished he contact us then. So I need you to go get Simon and pick up a pair of worker drones from the Argon Equipment Dock where he works. Tell Simon to get the security upgrade models if he can.
And Gabe be careful just but some energy cells and use the jump drive and stay out of trouble.”

[collins50]

Good one Ed, will they cross paths with Josh?

[freddiel]

Just read both chapters.

Good work Ed, looking forward to the next chapters. Thanks

Freddiel