Running Red

[Keller]

This was pleasant in at least some fashion, having been put through his paces and forced to fight for his life was by no means without physical taxation and Keller was incurring quite a bit of it. Everything hurt but mostly his head. He'd have likely suffered a fatal injury without his helmet. Catching a glimpse of his reflection as the ship towing him dragged on into the nebula, he couldn't help but reflect on the look in his eyes, grim focus behind a woefully cracked visor.

He couldn't help but pass out again once the combat adrenaline had worn off and the pain truly set in without hindrance. And only the sudden jolt of being slung into place on a vacant landing pad as the tow came to a halt woke him. It almost felt like he'd die and had woken up in an alternate life. But that was likely too philosophical of an outlook for a recent concussion victim. He was honestly expecting to get wrenched out of his seat and beaten by his former wingmen, but there was an absence of the typical curses and audible aggression. In fact there was no noise at all, things were suspiciously quiet and almost ceremonious. A slim silhouette, likely warped from the ill fashioned protective glass on the left side of his cockpit attempted to open the canopy but to no avail. It was jammed shut and necessitated the combined effort of two additional, and quite burly, male figures in flight suits. But once the broken metal screamed open, Keller flinched as a hand rapidly shot in his direction, before taking note of the fact that he was being offered help to get up while all the safety harnesses were being undone. When he proved shaky on his feet he was promptly given support, but he was still a little too afraid to say anything. "She wants to see him. I'll take him there, but I'm doubtful he's feeling lucid right now." It sounded like a woman making that comment. "I can still sh-shoot straight." Judging by the accompanying laugh, his response had amused them. But at the very least he'd proved two basic things, he wasn't mentally damaged from potential head injury and he could even stand unsupported, though walking could only be achieved with a noticeable limp.

He didn't need to be instructed to follow, he understood that he needed to and likely had no choice in the matter. He'd come this far, killed three people to date. There was no going back now.