Recap
In the last installment Cutter, Kart and Hackett made it to their destination. Scoosha. After their meet up with some local gangs to make the delivery, it turned violent as The Warband decided they weren't paying the agreed price.
After a slight altercation took place, the three got back in their Transporter and flew back to their ship.
Notification List
If you would like to be added to a list of people to tag with each part of these stories that are released let me know and I can add you. The idea came from @thinkrdotexe Who asked me to tag him in the next part when he came across this story. He also asked if I would like to he tagged in his stories so I don't miss any parts.
He is currently writing a choose your own adventure story which we the readers get to make choices on, great idea, well written and it is in it's early days. Only 3 parts out currently and well worth checking out!
Here's a link to part 1 if you haven't read it -
@killerwot/risk-factor-part-1
"That could have gone bad." Hackett said halfway through their flight. It was the first thing that anyone had said since boarding the transporter.
"We were lucky those Red Ruk men got involved." Kart said in a gruff voice, coughing to clear his throat afterwards. "Cutter. You didn't even take your pistol out of its holster." He went on to say.
Cutter had wondered when one of them would bring it up. "I didn't have time to react, it happened so fast." Cutter said. Trailing off near the end. "Hackett told us to be on guard." Kart replied.
Looking over to Hackett after Kart finished talking, Cutter saw him take a deep breath. "Kart. Leave him off this time. He's still learning." "Be hard to learn if he's dead. Did you see how fast they dropped Cutter? That's how fast it can happen. One second, then you're on the ground." Kart continued on.
"Okay Kart. That's enough." Hackett said. Cutter could hear Kart lean back heavily in his seat. The squeeze of the leather was enough for Cutter to know that he still had plenty to say on the subject. "I'll be more careful in future." Cutter added. Feeling it was the best thing he could say.
They were back at the ship soon after and docking inside the main bay. Leaving the Transporter Cutter saw that the bay was mostly empty. Everyone must already be out enjoying themselves. "Alright. Come on Cutter I better get you a drink. You coming, Hackett?" Kart asked. "I'll catch up with you two soon. Just going to do a few bits."
"You know. I don't really feel like drinking. I was thinking I might head back to my room and just get some sleep." Cutter said. To which, the others gave him a glare. "I don't think so. You're coming out with me and that's the end of it. Plenty of time to sleep later." Kart said while walking to stand beside Cutter. Throwing an arm over his shoulder as he finished.
"First round is on me. If you're lucky, the second round will be too." Kart started to walk while he spoke. Cutter didn't have much of a chance to stop his own legs from moving with him. The two of them were well on their way out of the storage bay without Cutter even noticing how far they had walked. "Okay, Kart. I'll come out." "Like you had any choice. Trying to run off to bed on your birthday, I've never heard the like of it. Haven't I taught you better?"
Kart got the first drink, the second, third and even the fourth. It was around that time that Cutter lost track, he started to think that Kart may have been trying to kill him for his slow reaction time. The bar was full, there was music playing through the alcove which lead into an even larger section of the bar. But, the section they were in was quiet, apart from people talking. The sun peaked in through the window, must have been late afternoon. It was high noon when Cutter and Kart had left the ship.
It was around this time that Kart made it back to his place beside Cutter at the bar. Slapping his back as he did, which nearly knocked the wind out of him. "You're holding my pace," Kart said through slightly slurred speech. "I can still drink you under the table." He then gestured to the barman, who was a Zun-Tentis male, who Cutter assumed must of been late middle-aged. He had slightly grey skin with green fleshy sacks throughout, that kind of looked like leather. "What's your strongest drink?" Kart roared. The barman gave a worried expression as he shook his head lightly. "A Rotchi Blaster. But, they're not for humans." "I'll take two." The barman stepped closer. "Did you not hear me? They are too strong for humans." "I heard you. Didn't you hear me? I said we'll take two."
He walked away and Cutter felt relieved. "I don't know if I could have handled it anyway Kart. We should slow down a bit, I think." He heard two bangs in sync as the barman had come back placing two glasses down with one hand while holding a bottle in the other. Kart started smiling while he vigorously rubbed his hands together. Oh no. Cutter thought.
He popped the bottle and started pouring out a gloopy looking liquid which was brown with blue sparkles throughout. "Hope you two know what you're doing." "Don't you worry about us." The smell hit Cutter as his glass now full was slid in front of him.
Kart had his in hand, swirling it to savour the smell, then he presented it to Cutter, inviting him to clink it. Cutter then nervously picked it up and clinked Karts glass. "Happy birthday kid!"
With that, they drank. The liquid was so gloopy it was as if he wasn't able to swallow it. It felt more like it had a life of its own and slowly crawled down Cutter's throat. It didn't seem to have a taste unless burning and stinging were tastes. Cutter placed the glass back down on the table and looked at Kart who started to laugh.
Cutter was on the dance floor. Trying to dance to the music. He looked at people who either looked past him or cheered with excitement when they saw him. Strangers all.
He was then outside the bar. At least he thought it was the bar. He was looking up at the night's sky and taking in a deep breath. "Here Cutter smoke this." It was a Beskin, whose thick black fur covered his whole body. "Do I know you?" Cutter asked happily. "We've been talking for ages Cutter. You crazy?" The Beskin replied. Cutter took a well designed but odd-looking pipe off him and started to inhale. "Humans love this stuff." The Beskin said while laughing.
Cutter was inside once more with Kart. "When we found you. You were only this big." Kart measured the air with his hands. "I hated the thought of taking you with us. No place for a kid I said." Kart stood up as he finished talking and walked away.
He found himself once more outside. Who was I looking for? He wondered to himself. Then he was back inside talking with a Trisken. "You know you're a parasite right? Humanity. You came from Confederation space only about 300 years ago and you now inhabit every known planet in the galaxy. What would you call it then?" He said. "Don't freak me out with this kind of talk." Cutter replied while walking away. "I'm not against humans, it's your government that caused all the trouble." The Trisken said loudly. But, Cutter could only just about make out the words.
Back with Kart once more. "Okay Kart. I think it's starting to wear off." "What's wearing off? Who's Kart?" Cutter looked to the person beside him, a Trisken. "Not you again." Cutter said. "What? Who are you? I don't know you, human." Cutter staggered away. "Better watch yourself." He could hear the words echo through his mind. When will this stop? He wondered to himself.
He had no idea how long he had been out, but, he knew it must have been a while. Every time he looked around at the people in the bar they all seemed to be different. Recognising no one. Cutter let out a sigh of relief now, feeling as though it had worn off. "Cutter! Cutter?" He could hear the familiar gruff voice of Kart. Looking around he saw him, stumbling and staggering his way through the main room of the bar. "Yeah Kart. I'm here. What's wrong?" Cutter asked him. Kart started to shake his head quickly and hugged Cutter. "Deceiver. Liar." "What?" Cutter heard his own voice slurring once more. "This. Whatever it is. I'm sorry Cutter. It lies and deceives. You think it's over and then you're back into it." Kart said frantically. It was almost like he was about to cry. Cutter thought to himself that this is the most emotional he had ever seen Kart.
"Yeah. I'm a Star Jumper." Cutter said confidently. She's beautiful he thought. Long dark red hair, must be dyed. Her blue eyes lit up as Cutter finished. "A Star Jumper?" He nodded to her question. "We earned plenty of FSTs when we made our drop off here. How lucky am I? It's my birthday. Just in time to reach Scoosha." "That is lucky. Hey, how about you come back to my house? This place is pretty dead." Cutter nodded once more as she finished. Yeah, that sounds good. He thought. Talking? He thought he was talking. He couldn't be sure. The two of them started to walk out. She helped him with each step as he made his way to the front door. I love Scoosha. Cutter thought to himself.
Cutter was then staring down the barrel of a gun pointed at his face. He was in the centre of a room surrounded by people, the one holding the gun wasn't his concern though. Instead he looked around at the girl he'd come with.
Each of the people in the dark and dingy room, were wearing rags, bar the woman who brought him here. She was perfect. "You're a Star Jumper then? Good work Sentera." The man holding the gun said. He assumed he was their leader. Cutter glanced at him while he spoke, but then looked back at her, she gave him a worried look, with a face that shouted I'm sorry. "Empty your pockets!" The man shouted, but Cutter still had his hands raised.
There was a large bang at the door, which made some of the people in the room jump. Then another even louder one. The third bang was heavy enough for the door to swing open. "Cutter! You in here?" "Yeah. Is that you Kart?" He asked in a panic.
With that Kart charged into the room with a blaster in hand, and he started to fire wildly. To which some of the men started shooting back. Cutter took the opportunity to unholster his own pistol and started firing wildly too. He wasn't sure if he had hit anyone or not. But, he was looking at the main man who had been doing the talking. Cutter tried his hardest to shoot him, but, he missed every shot. With that, the man turned to Cutter and fired.
All Cutter could smell was burning flesh, but he didn't feel any pain as he dropped to the ground.