Blood and Mercy

[Zeltak]

~ Three Months later ~

Rays of sunlight blinded my eyes and warmed up my body. I slowly began to wake up from yesterday’s labour. The scent of nature, the suns presence, the very serenity which surrounded me... "Yes" I thought for myself. It was exactly this I wanted in life.

I moved myself to the kitchen, took a glass and filled it with the icy, clean water. The refreshing taste never failed to astonish me, how the Zoners managed to produce such delicacy was beyond my comprehension.

A Zoners life feels great, peaceful and yet interesting. I learn something new every day here, there are so many different kinds of people that stop by in Freeport-6: Criminals, Merchants, House military, Freelancers, you name it.

[font=Book Antiqua][color=#FFFFFF]~ Present time ~

Satoya: [color=#FF6600]This is Zoner Satoya Kikushi, asking for permission to launch, over.
Station controller: Roger that Zoner, you are clear for launch, good luck out there.
Satoya: Thank you.


***


Computer: [font=System]Incoming message... Accept - Deny
Satoya: Accept.
Computer: Showing message on screen;

Good livings Mr. Kikushi. Just sending a reminder about our meeting today at Freeport-10. Be there in time.

// Mr. Wilkins


Satoya: Computer, show the fastest route to Tau-37.
Computer: Calculating distance... complete. Waypoints shown in navigational map.
Satoya: [color=#FF6600] Computer, show all waypoints.
Computer:
[font=System]Waypoint 1: Tau-29 to Tau-23 Jumphole.
Waypoint 2: Tau-23 to Tau-37 Jumphole.
Waypoint 3: Tau-37 Jumphole to Freeport-10 station.

Satoya: [color=#FF6600]Computer, set course to Tau-23 Jumphole. Automatic cruise.
Computer: [font=System]Automatic cruise to Tau-23 Jumphole initated.


[color=#000000]***


As Satoya approached the Tau-23 Jumphole covered by the glacier-looking Oxygen Asteroid Field, he discovered something very odd...

Satoya:

What the... is that a Royal Liner burning? At least the parts left of it. I must fly inside the wreck and investigate further.

It seems this vessel had taken a heavy beating, these holes must have been made from Supernovas. Several major electrical wires were cut to pieces and some hanged from the ceiling sparking, which shorted the lights, they flickered for a few seconds until darkness lay upon the rooms once more. Furniture’s were shredded to pieces and shuffled around from the collision. I could see four bodies, three were lying on the ground and the last one had been pressed between a desk and a chair. Their faces revealed Bretonian descent, unfortunately none of them showed any signs of life...

I continued searching and went deeper into its core sections. From a large distance I saw something strange lying on the floor, it was very dark so my visibility was limited, but it had a human figure. Slowly I thrusted closer and closer to it but suddenly I couldn’t proceed any further. I had foolishly forgotten to turn on my ships lights and now I saw what was blockading me, a narrow hallway. Though now I could also see that it was actually a woman surrounded by a protective fabric. I took notice of her breathing and knew she was still alive.

*Crumbling noises* What the hell is going on? Oh damn, the roof is about to collapse! I got to get out of here but first, I must rescue that woman. Ok, so if I can’t reach her from the inside I must open a path from the outside.

Remembering the path out, I quickly thrusted myself to the exit, dodging the obstacles on the way. I swerved hard to the left and from there circled around the vessel until I found the spot where the woman was located. I shot three times at the fragile hull panels which blasted an opening big enough for my ship to enter. Once inside, I quickly tractored in the suit which carried the woman and set course to Freeport-6.

That ship is going to fall apart any second!