William
Through the door ran a shortly large man. He was missing most of his hair, and sweating and breathing heavily.
“I’m sorry,” he kept muttering through deep breaths. “Captain Erland Gerhard Carson Monroe,” the captain said, standing up as straight as he could, his big belly falling forward. “It’s an honour,” he said and reached his arm out which Alyn clasp at the man’s wrist.
“You two know each other?” Will asked.
“No lad,” the captain said turning to look at him. “My clan has served clan Stout for hundreds of years, and not many haven’t heard tale of the hero of..”
“My nephew Alex,” Alyn said, cutting the captain off, using the fake name. “We are looking for passage to Coldfell, or a port we can find passage to Coldfell.”
The captain turned his attention back to Alyn. “Of course,” he said nodding. “Passage you have, Herald, without question. Coldfell isn’t on our normal route, but it would be but a short detour, and many of the lads have family on it.”
“Thank you,” Alyn said. “We can’t much in the way of payment but our own two hands,’ Alyn replied and raised his empty hands. “You get us to a safe port in Furse Space, and I can assure you, that you will be justly compensated.”
“Of course, of course,” the Captain said nodding his head. “Welcome onboard the Express Windbreaker. She isn’t much, but she is a sturdy ship. She will get you where you need to go.”
The captain waved his arm toward the door he had come through, and then turned as Alyn walked pass, stepping in step with him, and Will followed behind.
“A stop at your medical bay would be much appreciated,” Alyn said as they walked.
“Of course,” the captain said again. “This way. You too look as though you have been to hell and back. I mean clothes look clean, but the rest of you..” He said, trailing off.
Will followed as they walked down the corridor, to and entered a lift. Will listened as the captain tried to make small talk which Alyn responded to with kind but short vague answers.
The lift stopped and they walked out the door as it slide open. They continued down another long corridor. This one filled with boxes of supplies stacked throughout. They made their way by others who Will took as members of the crew.
Before long they reach a large door, which led them into some sort of medical wing. Inside a Bot walked up to them, and asked them to step to the side to be scanned. Alyn motioned to Will, and watched the beams hit his body before disappearing.
“Remove your shirt,” the Bot commanded, and Will took his overcoat off, followed by vest and top. The Bot grabbed onto the patch that Alyn had placed on the open gunshot wound. It pulled back, and Will winched in pain as it pulled on the skin until it finally came free,
Will looked to where he was shot. The blood was dry, but the open hole seemed raw and pink.
“Healing patch was doing it’s job,” the Bot replied before bringing his finger to the wound. Will watched as the finger spun into a hundred different pieces, before some sort of beam shot out to the wounded flesh.
“Please don’t move,” the Bot commanded as Will felt what seemed like his skin burn. The Bot’s finger changed again, and Will could see the sharp point. Will looked away as he felt the needle rip into his flesh again and again.
He wasn’t sure when he closed his eyes, but opened them when he felt the suction of the Healing Patch on the back of his shoulder being pulled. He looked to the wound in the front, and saw the once open hole closed. The skin pulled tight and sunken.
The Bot continued to check him over, patching small cuts and wounds throughout his body and head. It informed him he had a concussion and before injecting him several times.
The Bot finished up, and then told Will to dress. He put his clothes back on. The Bot handed him a small tube of cream. “Put this on the infected areas three times a day. Will help with the healing, and pain. ”
“Thanks,” Will said, and grabbed the tube from it. He wondered if the Bot was self aware.
“Come on,” Alyn said, and Will looked to him standing with the Captain. He pulled his own coat back on as a Bot walked away from him.
Will quickly pulled his clothes back on, and then back his way to Alyn who stood with the captain near the door.
“We could use some food, more importantly, some rest,” Alyn finished telling the captain as Will reached them.
“Of course,” Captain Monroe responded. “This way, he said and led them out of the medical bay. “We can hit the mess hall, or I could have food brought to your quarter,” he said as they walked down more corridors to another lift.
“No disrespect captain, but if you don’t mind, quarters sound nice. It has been a tiring night,” Alyn told him.
“Of course,” The captain responded. “No disrespect. I’ve no doubt of the horrors you two have witnessed. This way, come, now, follow me,” he said, and picked up his step.
The captain led them through several twisted corridors, telling them what they had heard of the current events, but it was vague, and no one had any clear answers. Lord Karth had launched several strike teams to regain areas of Karthmere, and the captain informed them that the capital city had been secured.
Before long the captain stopped by a door, and opened it with a quick tap on his fingers. “Here,” he said finally. “It’s not much, but it’s private,” he told them. I’ll have one of the crew bring you some rest. We have been waiting for clearance to depart for hours, but I’ll inform you when we get it.”
Alyn nodded, before he extended his arm and shook the Captains once again. “Thank you captain. We are in your debt.”
“No no,” the captain chuckled, but seemed nervous. “Rest, I’ll leave you now,” he said, and turned back down the corridor.
Will followed Alyn through the to the small quarters. A tight walkway was all that separated the bunks and the small table and chairs against the other wall.
Will looked around the room as the door slide shut behind him. There was hardly enough room for Alyn and him to pass by one another. Alyn made his way too the end where two small lockers stood against the wall behind the last chair. The room didn’t hold much else, not even a cup to drink out of. Will looked back as Alyn who had pulled his large coat off, and placed it in the opened locker.
Will followed suit, and pulled his off before walking down next to Alyn, to open the other locker. For the second time he undressed since boarding the Express Windbreaker. The newly acquired gear felt good come off. He couldn’t have been wearing it for more then a few hours, and it wasn’t uncomfortable, but his body seemed to have breathed a sigh of releif as if a thousand pounds were lifted off him. He knew he must have been tired, but he didn’t want to sleep.
The vest was the first thing which came off. He struggled to pull his arms free of the sleeves which protected them. He hung it in the locker, surprised with the ease that it flexed to fit. He had to pull the holster off his right leg before he could remove the lightly armoured pants. He place the pistol in the top along with his fake Wallet.
Down to his under clothes, Will turned, and noticed that Alyn had taken a seat. The lord bearded man sat with his eyes clothes, hunched over. He still wore his gear, pistol still in the holster.
“What now?” Will asked.
Alyn looked at him, his grey eyes even now still made him uneasy. “Get some rest.”
“No,” Will said shaking his head, but sat next to Alyn on the small lower bunk. “I can’t, I need to know what we do next.”
“What we do next is rest. What we need is rest. You need to think with a clear mind. We will have the next three months to talk about what’s next,” Alyn told him.
“Three months?” Will asked, and let a yawn let out.
“There or about,” the bearded giant said. “Depends on the jumps. Besides, the amount of drugs they pumped into you, well they should be kicking in soon.”
“What?” Will asked, his head starting swim.
“Doc’s orders. Your body needs to rest. Don’t worry, you wont dream, I promise.” Alyn told him.
“Okay,” Will said through a yawn.
He lay his body back, and felt the cabin wall.
“Not there,” Alyn said to him.
Will looked at Alyn who remained in his statue like pose. He let out a sign before pulling himself out of the bunk. His balance was trying to get wobbly. It felt like the floor was made of water. He blinked a few times, but it did little to help. He finally managed to pull himself up to the top bunk before falling in. It was larger then he thought, and far more comfortable then he would have imagine. As his head hit the pillow, the darkness slowly over came him.
