Maniacs The Krittika Conflict - By Nick S. Thomas Page 0,27
girl more times than I can remember, but he’s making solid progress. Tell you what, it’s just as well we have him. I’ve known a lot of engineers, and not many could handle what he can.”
“Yeah, well the Boss always knew who was right to hire and who wasn’t.”
“About that…”
He popped open his beer and took a sip, leaving Mason hanging.
“Well, for God’s sake speak up.”
He gestured subtlety towards Hella, still sitting under the small half shelter atop the ship.
“Seems a few days ago we had a veteran crew of solid old timers. Now we got two young girls, neither of which will be honest about who the hell they are.”
“Well, we all have elements of our past we’d rather not share.”
“Maybe…”
“Maybe? Hell you’re not even cleared to fly anymore. We break the law every time we fly with you at the con. We all expect to be given a little leeway while we continue to be there for each other.”
“And I appreciate that, I really do. The Boss gave me more chances than I ever deserved, but let’s not forget why he did. I’m one of the best goddamn pilots you’ll ever meet. What have these girls got, beyond a bad attitude and a bundle of secrets?”
“Name one among us who is perfect? That one more than handled herself in that bar. She’s got a confidence and resolve like few others. And Erin, she can shoot as good as the best of us.”
“You mean you?”
“Yeah, Liu can shoot the same, but never tell him that. Super cop’s ego is big enough already.”
Mitchell couldn’t help but laugh.
“So, yeah, we’ve got the youngest crew this ship has known since she was fresh off the line, what of it? We expected people to give us the same opportunities when we were that age.”
“Don’t know about you, but I earned mine. Best pilot of the academy.”
“Yeah, you were till you fucked it up, and then what? Boss gave you a chance when nobody else would.”
“He needed a pilot, and I was there.”
“No, I never told you this, but that day we met, he’d already interviewed three other pilots who wanted the job. You just never knew because you were too late to see them.”
“Come on…”
“I shit you not. They were good pilots, all of them. But sometimes you just get a feeling about someone, that they are just…right.”
“And this Erin girl? She’s gone from a hostage we weren’t paid to rescue, to hitching a ride, to carrying a gun.”
“We all start somewhere.”
Mitchell knocked back his drink because he knew he wasn’t going to get anywhere with his current line of questioning. The rest of the day seemed to fly by as they relaxed in the sun, and the time finally came to discuss business. Mason already knew that most there would agree to what he wanted, especially with the sort of money involved, but Liu was the wildcard.
I’m still not sure what to think, but I’m sure willing to give it a chance, unlike Liu.
The crew assembled at the table in the cargo bay. A few extra lights they had gathered from town aided the emergency lighting in letting them see what they needed to. Even Hella had joined them while they waited for Mitchell to bring them the information. They all sat silently for fifteen minutes until he finally appeared.
“They sent everything over?” asked Mason.
“Sure did, Boss…I mean, Captain.”
Hella picked up on his mistake and could see the others saw the discomfort it brought him.
“Not earned the title of Boss yet?” she asked him.
“Nothing to earn. The Boss will always be the Boss. I’m Captain of this ship.”
“So drab and boring. We’ll have to think of a better title for you,” she joked.
Felix sat down at the table, feeling rather uncomfortable that he had been the cause of the ruckus.
“All right, so here is everything they sent,” he stated, placing a display pad in the middle of the table. He hit a button on it, and within a second, a projection lifted half a metre from the table.
“The town of Melni…”
“That the same town we’ve been dealing in?”
“Yes, Captain, I never thought to ask either. Just seemed another faceless place we were passing through.”
“And now it has a name, it has an attachment,” added Liu.
“All right, calm it down,” stated Mason. “We have a possible job. We’ll weigh up the facts like we always have done. Then we’ll make a decision as a crew. Let’s do this like we do it. There