Pitch Black

[valen]

Michael was running down the stairs, occasionally looking back to see if someone followed him, no one was there, neither the Navy fire teams, nor the one person he wouldn't mind seeing, his Angel. His mind was being ripped apart as he was denied the reason to see if this was a dream, or just harsh reality.
Is it possible, he wondered himself in his mind and his heart, as he jumped of the stairs and continued to run through the corridor. It cannot be, the world deprived him of his love, taking her away from him in the past, she cannot be alive, she cannot even still care for him. Suddenly he stopped in his tracks, wondering where he is, his mind was playing with him. Michael then noticed the butterfly knife in his bleeding hand, and he stared at the knife for a while, not being able to move, or not wanting to move.
Yes, it was all true, she was here, she kissed him, Michael remembered, now clearly seeing what happened, and hearing the Navy fire teams behind him even more clearly. He snapped from the dreaming state, and slowly quickened his pace, not being able to run right away, as his body was wounded, every muscles suffered from the battle with Decker. They were gaining on him, only one or two soldiers from what he could tell by the noise they were making. Shots, curses, yelling, screaming could be heard behind him, the Navy fire team encountered some of Decker's thugs, losing one, killing three. Michael didn't stop, his life depended on it, he ran as quickly as his feet could carry him. Michael knew where he needed to go, but will he manage to get there, before they catch him, is a thought that crawled into his mind from the deepest shadows of it. Suddenly, a voice was heard.

"You there citizen! Stop!" - The fire team behind Michael shouted at him, ordering him to stop. Michael did not turn around, he didn't want to show his face to the Navy officer, as the security cameras on Freeport 4 surely identified him as the killer in the men's room, "Put your hands behind your head and slowly turn around!" - Again the officer shouted as he was approaching Michael. Only one of them, Michael assumed by the sound of his footsteps. He rose his hands in the air, slowly adjusting the butterfly knife in his hand, to gain a reflection on it, on what was happening behind him.

As the knife reflected the officer in the back, Michael knew he had the advantage of surprise as the officer will not expect an attack on him. But Michael questioned his logic, perhaps the officer doesn't even know about Michael killing the man on Freeport 4. There is a low possibility that the officer knows that, and Michael knew that, raising his hands behind his head. But, suspicion rose in his mind as the officer approached him. If the catch him, he will never be able to see his Angel again, nor Caroline, nor his armor that was slowly slipping from his thought. All that is good in his life will be lost, and the thought of that was unbearable to Michael.

"I am sorry Angel." - Michael said in a silent voice as he lowered his arms down, and bowed his head. With a quick crouch turn he threw the butterfly knife straight into the Navy officers neck, cutting his arteries and dropping him onto the floor. The officer fell, dropping his gun next to him, and putting his hands on the cut, but no use, as blood sprayed like a fountain, and he bleed to death in the time it took Michael to pick up the knife and reach for his gun. Again Michael was on the move, he studied the Liner's schematics before he infiltrated it, and Landing Pad 1 was awaiting him. He knew the thugs probably landed in that hangar, as it is the biggest one.

Michael was approaching Hangar 1 in a hurry, limping all the way, leaving a bloody trail behind him. He knew a battle will surely be awaiting him in the Hangar, as it is certainly still occupied by Decker's thugs. He stopped near the entrance to catch his breath, and trying to listen through the blast door, in hope he will hear some noise inside. Nothing, no gunshots, no screams, nothing, pure silence.
Michael prepared himself, moving his hair away from his face, to clear his view, although blood fouled it. The butterfly knife in one hand, his blade in the other, as he punched the console with his foot to open the doors. The image there would surprise even the most optimistic of people. Nothing, no thugs, no Navy fire teams, no boarding parties, nothing, silence, and 2 old ships stinking the place up. The Pirate Transport, most likely Decker's flagship, and one Barghest, Michael's getaway vessel.
Michael blocked the blast doors to the hangar by blowing up the locking console, nothing will get in or out now, unless carrying ten pounds of explosives. The Barghest awaited him, as a foul beast of steel, the dragon that will take him to safety, and into a new beginning.

"Time to leave this forsaken place." - Michael said as he was climbing the landing platform leading to the Barghest, when it suddenly hit him, "Michael you stupid ****! LiCad!!!" - He forgot about the power crystals for his armor. But luck served him well lately, as Decker's Transport was in the same Hangar. Michael jumped from the Barghest's landing platform to the Transport's, nearly falling down into his death. Greed, hunger and lust for power got the best of him and nearly cost him his life.
He approached the Transport's doors, and they were locked with a code. And just as it seemed that his luck abandoned him, he felt the gun he took from the Navy soldier rubbing his back, "Thank you Navy Man." - Michael said as he drew the gun and shoot the coded lock, but the door wouldn't open, "Oh for ****'s sake!" - Michael yelled in anger and fear as he knew any minute someone could come bashing through the door. So he thrust his blade in the middle of the door, pulling with all his power, somehow managing to open the broken down door.
He entered the Transport, lurking around in it, trying to find the place where he would hide something of that value. Finally he found a chest in the Captain's quarters, and within the chest, a small bag made out of the finest material, possibly even Corsair Cotton. Bingo, he found what he was looking for. Enough LiCad to power the armor for at least 1 000 hours.

Quickly did Michael exit the Transport, jumping onto the Barghest landing platform, being more careful this time and measured his jump. No coded doors on the Barghest, and luck served Michael yet again, as he had no strength to force open yet another blast door. The Landing Bay doors opened as Michael powered up the engines, and opened the door from inside the ship. Space awaited him. Darkness is always out there, waiting for him. But Michael had another purpose in life, despite his wish to share his everlasting pain with others, a light was to be searched, the light that will always shine in Michael's heart, and never will he stop searching for it. He took the route through the Jump Hole to Magellan, and found himself on Freeport 4 and onboard his ship in a short time. The armor was already being powered up, as Michael undocked from the station, in search for his Angel.

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