Fight against Death Chapter One

I awoke to my alarm clock. It was playing one of my favorite songs by System of a Down. “The kombucha mushroom people, sitting around all day who can believe you? Who can believe you? Let your mother pray,” I started to sing, when someone tapped on my cockpit. I yawned and opened the cockpit. I poke my head out and looked around. “Whatever you want, come back in a day.” I shouted.1

“Is this the way you greet everyone?” said a voice I knew.2

“No, I normally have my .308 bolt action.” I snap back.3

“You still have that old piece of shit? You need to upgrade big time! You can get a new Pulse Blaster 2250 for 90 Credits. 50 Credits on the black market.”4

I climbed out of the Deadman and looked around. “Show yourself James. I don’t play games.” Out of the shadows stepped out of the darkness. “You no good son of a bitch.” 5

“What are you going to do about it fairy boy?” he snapped back.6

“Fairy boy? That’s a new one, you credit store hooker.”7

“You punk ass queer, you know you could never handle me. Hell you couldn’t even afford me.”8

“I wouldn’t even touch you with a ten foot pole.”9

“You always sucked with insults.” James laughed. I went around to the other side of the Deadman and started to unbolt the primary gun. “Is that what I think it is?” James steps closer, and studied it. “A first class, advance gunner style, EMP cannon. Where did you get this baby?”10

“Oh I have my ways.”11

“I get it, a gift from daddy. You are still just a wee little military brat. Your daddy is the on-“ I turned around and punched him before he could say another word.12

“My father outranks you. Show some damn respect.” I stepped on his chest and applied pressure.13

“Aright, alright, you win.” I let him up and go back to removing the gun. “So how much are you selling this gun for? I’ll give you 925 Credits for it.” I ignored his offer as I picked up the gun and tossed it over my shoulder. “No dice? How about 1,000 Credits?” I entered the code into the keypad to the storage bay. “Come on, I’ll give you 1,500 Credits and my 12-core engine. Please I am begging you.” I set the gun in a case, and activated the defense system. The storage bay closed and sealed itself shut. “Oh come on, I’ll give you 3,000 Credits and the 12-core for it.” I walked up front and started to unbolt the secondary gun.14

“Hey numb nuts, I am selling this one.” I yelled. He comes running up and looks at it.15

“A military class magma cannon, what do you want for it?” he asked trying to sound uninterested.16

“This isn’t a normal magma cannon, I want 8 CPCs and 500 credits.” He bursts out laughing. I get the gun down and tossed it over my shoulder.17

“You’re kidding, you always had a sense of humor.” He followed me away from the ship.18

“I am giving you a deal with this,” I set it up on a testing stand, and aimed it at an old WW3 tank, and fired it. The tank and everything for 30 miles behind it instantly turned to ash.19

The only thing he could say was “That’s not standard MI issued magma cannon.” I turned around and look at him.20

“I want 8 CPC’s and 2,000 Credits for it.” I said without changing expression,21

“What happened to the 500?”22

“Price goes up every 30 seconds.”23

“How about 1,500?”24

“2,500”25

“1,750”26

“3,000 you better take it or the price goes up to 30,000”27

“You son of a bitch.3, 000 and 8 CPCs it is.”28

“Good, that will be 3,500 because of the test shot.”29

“Damn, you are worse then the old US government. They got what they deserved.” He pays up the 3,500 and mumbles something about being ripped off.30

“I will be excepting the 8 Central Power Cores by tonight at 20.00 sharp,” I dug into my pockets and takes out a set of keycards. “If you are late, I am going to take your ship for a joy ride.”31

“I hate you.” James turns around and walks away. Now it is time to get some information. I walked off the base and headed over to my old hang out place. I turn the corner and saw the Tom get thrown out of a bar. I walk up to him help him up.32

“Kicked out of another bar?” I asked.33

“Ya, no Credits, no drinks.” He answered.34

“I’ll buy ya a drink, bud, I just got a big pay.”35

“Those are the best words I ever heard all night.” He followed me for several blocks and into a dark ally, and shoved him up against the wall.36

“What the hell did I tell you about staying out of trouble?” I hissed.37

“Rose is that you?” Tom asked.38

“Its Black rose now. Now you have information, I have 500 Credits with your name in it. Now tell me what you know about the person that dropped the magma bomb.”39

“Hey man, I did some digging, and found out that ICC had people joining, and leaving all the time. Most people that dropped the magma bomb were apart of the military. They would join ICC for a few hundred thousands, then return after the bomb was dropped. No one ever thought of them. They were hired for one job only. These same people have high ranks in the military. That’s all I know.” Tom was my go to guy. If you wanted to know who sneezed in your bowl of soup, he knew. He was a weird one, but he was damn good at his job. I paid him his 500, and left. It was now time to check out the ship repair shop. I needed some supplies. Like a new everything, The Deadman was outdated by most people’s standards. But don’t judge the book by the cover. It had so many illegal and legal upgrades.40

---41

I walked back to my ship at 20.05. I see 8 CPCs sitting with a note. I pick up the note and put it in my pocket. I will read it later. I put the EMP back on, and climbed into Deadman with the 8 CPCs. I installed them leaving the old ones next to James ship. I started it up and sat back and popped in the Heavy Metal CD and turned it up. ‘Thank you dad, you always got the best stuff, they may be over a few centuries old, but they are still classics.’ I dimmed the lights in the cockpit and turned on the autopilot. I don’t plan on doing anything but relax the whole way there.42

Admin Log: entry 1855: I ran into my old buddy James, he was always a few ranks under my dad. I sold my magma cannon at a loss. But I needed the money. I will have to call the police force on Lofn. The magma gun has a class D-12 upgrade. Requires the rank of Lieutenant Colonel or higher. That should make him think twice before trying to rip me off. I also have to look into the military. High-ranking officers. That’s dangerous. I wish my dad was still alive, he would help big time. I still have a huge idea about a military cover up. But no one can dig up anything on anyone. It sucks. Tom was his normal helpless self. If someone ever reads this, I will be doomed. My title as the Heartless Admin would never stand anymore. –End Log-43