Blood And Profit: Chapter 12

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.

Blood And Profit: Chapter 11

Toll, Rusty and their two guards were left standing awkwardly on the bridge. The captain didn't miss a beat.


“ Gentlemen, I welcome you aboard the Decency, but if you'll kindly get off my bridge, your escorts will take you to civilian quarters.” As she finished, another bridge officer spoke up.


“Captain, Corporate Asset 3157 is requesting to speak with you.” The captain spun to face the viewer which was showing a huge ship along side them.


“Open the channel.” She said as the guards escorted Toll and Rusty off the bridge.


Toll noticed immediately that, unlike their previous escorts, these soldiers did not have their weapons at the ready. The first soldier stopped at the first available wall interface and used it to bring up a green line of light on the wall and a green line of light on the floor.


“If we get separated.” The soldier started, “The green line will lead you to the civilian quarters.”


“why would we get separated?” Rusty asked. The soldier shrugged.


“Just a precaution.” he offered. The group followed the line through the ship. At the end of a long hallway they got onto an elevator and went down. Way, way down.


“How big is the Decency?” Toll asked. The second soldier offered a description.


“The Decency is a third generation Conglomerate class destroyer.” He recited from memory. “It has twenty six decks, three of which are geared for non-military personnel.” The elevator door opened and they followed the green line out of the elevator. The ship rocked violently. “Looks like the Cog wants to do a little more than talk.” The ship rocked again.


“They're firing on us?” Rusty asked looking worried.


“It happens when we liberate a member of the PFZ that they “accidentally” detain without notice.” the first soldier commented.


“What does PFZ mean anyway?” Toll asked.


“Pacific Free Zone.” The first soldier explained. “We're an autonomous organization not controlled by The Corporation.” The ship rocked again as the second soldier opened a door. “These will be your quarters until we arrive on Earth or the Asset shoots us out of the sky.” Rusty glared at him.


“Bit depressing of an outlook don't you think?” He asked.


“Each of us has the outlook we can afford.” The soldier shrugged. The ship rocked again, and the ship wide communication system beeped on.


“All boarding personnel report to your battle stations. All boarding personnel report to your battle stations.” The speaker clicked off. The soldiers looked at each other and split off in separate directions.


“What should we do?” Rusty asked.


“Stay out of the way.” Toll said as he pressed the button to close the door.