Despite the combat happening elsewhere
on the ship, Toll and Rusty were attempting to get comfortable in
their quarters. Rusty was immersed in a computer terminal sifting
through any areas he could access for relevant information. Toll was
laid out on a couch and flipping through different entertainment
channels on a larger wall screen. None of this was drowning out the
dull thuds of weapons fire on the floor above or below; even when the
room was filed with a soft two toned electronic beep for a quick
second. Toll and Rusty looked at each other.
“What did you do?” Toll asked.
Rusty shrugged his shoulders.
“Nothing, I swear!” He replied. The
Tones rang out again. Then there were two dull thumps on their door.
Toll looked at Rusty and nodded his head toward the door. Rusty shook
his head quickly.
“I'm not opening the door, you open
the door.” He said. The door opened on its own and Carter entered
the room. The door closed behind him.
“Come on guys, do you really think a
Corporate boarding party would ring the door bell?” He asked
tossing Toll a pistol. Toll caught it and set it on the couch.
“What's going on out there?” He
asked.
“About thirty seconds after I left
the bridge a Guild Hall, er, that's a really, really huge spaceship,
warped into the area.” Carter tossed a second pistol to Rusty. “The
Corporate Asset got permission to attempt a hostile takeover of the
Destiny. There are about two hundred Corporate soldiers onboard right
now.” Rusty held the pistol as if it were a newly dirtied diaper.
“Pretty standard stuff really, it just takes a really long time to
sort everything out, even longer now that the Guild is here. Time I
don't have.” He opened the door long enough to check both
directions down the hallway. When he pulled his head back in Toll was
picking his pistol back up.
“So why are you here?” He asked.
“The Decency is going to resist this
takeover attempt, but we're not going to be here to see it happen. I
have to get to Earth and make sure that a year and a half of work
hasn't already been ruined by mother nature. To put it simply, I need
a pilot.” Rusty was shocked.
“You want Toll and I to come with you
and attempt to fly a shuttle through a space battle, just so you can
get to Earth faster?” He freaked. Carter nodded.
“yes, no, yes. In that order.”
Carter stated matter of factly. Then he softened and explained.
“Look, I want you to come with me, there is no space battle, the
Guild didn't approve ship to ship combat, boarding soldiers only, and
for like the fifth time it is of dire importance that I get to Earth
post haste. Now come on let's go.” he opened the door again checked
the hall, and exited the room. Rusty looked to Toll for the decision.
Toll shrugged his shoulders and followed Carter out into the hall.
Rusty ran after them.
“You two are going to get me killed!”
He grumbled.
The trio made their way, with guns
drawn, down to the elevator at the end of the hallway. Carter pressed
the down button and they waited with increasing nervousness.
“What happens if the elevator is full
of boarding soldiers?” Rusty asked. The door opened and revealed
five corporate boarding soldiers inside. Carter's face was deadpan.
“I'm sure there's very little chance
of that happening.” he said raising his hands in the air as five
weapons were aimed at them.
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