To a brighter future?

[Wolfs Ghost]

Goodman Ranch, Planet Cambridge, Cambridge System

"You know it's bad when you find out that someone isn't who they say they are, and then make the mistake of sleeping with them, actually expecting more from the relationship, but getting blown off completely. Even if you're there trying to help. Thankfully two people can play the lying game, and I feel I won't be seeing the last of Nancy "Sangria" Sweetwater. The question is, do I look the other way like I've done in the past with so many women and betray my country? Or do I stand and fight? Time will tell...

On the other hand, it's good to see that Kiriko Hidamari has been learning English, and has even improved over the years since when I first met her. I'd hate to admit it, but the lass is like a younger sister to me. Anyways, I need to make sure no one finds this log, and... uh... see about getting my wrists fixed." -- Ship Log 040, Austin Goodman

Austin sighed lightly, slowly unwrapping the bandage that was neatly applied around his right wrist, taking note of the blood that had started showing through even more than when it was first bandaged, not exactly a good sign as far as he was concerned. He grit his teeth as he started pulling hair that was mixed with dried blood, looking at his wrist as it was caked.

All he knew was that his doctor wasn't going to be pleased to see him, and was most likely going to ask what exactly happened. Which, the only thing left to do was apply a fresh pair of bandages so his doctor doesn't ask how long it's been since he's gotten medical treatment and that task was going to be a pain for him. But he accepted it with open arms.

Making his way from the couch into the nearby kitchen, Austin slowly pulled open the drawer, looking for the roll of gauze he had lying around, the last roll was probably in his ship. The one parked outside of his house as he glared at it from the kitchen window. "To far away... need to find something here... come on think." He said aloud, as if speaking to someone even though no one was actually around.

"So, Mister Goodman, first off long time no see, secondly, how did this happen? You didn't get into a fight with Corsairs again did you?" He said, outloud wandering around his house as if trying to figure out the right story he wanted to say to the doctor once he got there.

"Well, you see Carla, I was on a top secret mission to acquire intelligence on classified sources, and... I was almost captured. My own handcuffs were used against me, but thankfully I managed to put the fact that I was powerless in the back of my mind and actually remembered that Bretonian handcuffs have a weak spot near the center, and if you pulled hard enough... pop." Of course, the story he was telling himself wasn't exactly a complete lie. These marks were from handcuffs digging into his skin, and he was almost powerless in the situation he woke up from. He felt it was necessary to... exclude certain information that happened.

Finally, after ten minutes of searching and trying not to tear his house apart, he found what he was looking for, the roll of gauze. Without wasting much time, he peeled off the remaining strap of old bandages, tossing it to the side and started to slowly wrap his left wrist, using his chin to hold the gauze in place before taping it down. The exact same thing followed as he started on his right. It took him a couple of minutes to complete the entire ordeal, leaving just enough time to hunt down his spare PDA, and typing in the number that the Reaver had given him into a local database, finding nothing short but an invalid number. He shouldn't have memorized the number. "Figures." Scrolling to another number on his contacts, and entering it. Only to get an answering machine a few seconds later.

"This is Doctor Carla Wellings, if you are receiving this message, I'm either working, or at home resting from a long day of work. Please leave a message, thank you."

A beep rang in his ear, just as he finished yawning.

"Doctor Wellings, this is Austin Goodman, uh I figured you missed me so I'd like to make an appointment as soon as possible... have some sliced up wrists that I'd like you to work on, and no... it wasn't attempted suicide, so don't call back asking that. Alright, cheerio."

Now, it was just a waiting game, as he had one more thing to do, and that was to make a report on secured comms to the Armed Forces, Police Authority and the Intelligence Service. He called into question his own motives as he approached the small communication center he had set up a long time ago.

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