Crime & Punishment

The heroic space captain Scooter McNaly stepped from his capsule. He stood before the Cliffs of the Silent Winds, his shaggy dust brown hair waving in the wind. As he made is way across the desert floor, he noticed a faint whistle, unusual since in this one place the wind made no sound. As he scanned the horizon he found the dust cloud that signified he wasn't alone. He immediately ran for the cover of the caves, not knowing if those approaching were friendly or not. As he crouched behind a rock, he noticed something unusual, the whistling had stopped. Captain McNaly peeked from behind the stone cover, only to see a band of what seemed to be slavers carting a young woman. They had stopped, becoming noticably cautious when they saw his capsule before the cliffs. This was just supposed to be a vacation of sorts, a return trip to the place he'd come to so often in his younger years. A place to think, on his life. Instead he had stumbled upon another adventure.

As he crouched silently, he realized there was only 3 of them, and they seemed to have some sort of melee weapon, a crude club or mace. From this distance he knew he'd only have a chance of hitting them with his pistol, and if he got any closer if might go badly. Throwing caution to the wind, Scooter seized his opportunity as all three had their backs turned examining his capsule. He sprang from his hiding place with such speed the girl didn't see him until he was almost too her, and the slavers knew nothing until they heard the sound of his plasma pistol as one of them dropped, then another. The third had just enough time to hit the ground and scramble behind their transport. At this, Captain McNaly took cover behind the wagon that contained the slave. Hoping the slaver still had only that club, he thought he could flank him, make this quick. Just as he turned to peer around the trailer, the club lashed out, knocking the pistol from his hand. In instant reaction, Scooter lashed out and caught the end of the club. It's weilder was incredibly strong, but Scooter's years at space at left him a massive man, muscles rippling from all the cargo he'd lifted, skin bronzed from the vairous planets he'd visited.

He found overpowering the slaver nearly impossible, until the opportunity appeared and Captain McNaly was able to bring his knee up into the slavers gut, knocking the wind from his chest. It caused his grip to falter, and Scooter wretched the club away from. At this, one final graceful swing of the club, Captain McNaly brought it down upon the skull of the slaver, dropping him to the ground instantly. After retrieving his pistol and slipping it back into his holster, he approached the cage.
"are you alright?" he asked the girl
"yes, just a bit shaken, they only just kidnapped me from town a few days ago. i think they were taking me somewhere."
"whats your name?" he asked as he fired a shot, the lock fell quietly to the ground.
"Rangi, Rangi Taverly" she told him, as she stepped down from the wagon, adjust the belt around her waist.
"which way have you come from?" Captain asked her
"we came from arithus, do you know it?' she asked him
" I do, we can take the slavers speeder and return you safely to your home."

As the two climbed into the speeder, Captain McNaly was overcome with this immense feelining of uneasiness. As he placed his had on the starter pad, he knew before he even attempted it, it wouldnt work. He had be set up, this was all a trap. He tu;ned just in time to see Rangi pull a pistol from under her tunic, and aim it swiftly right between his bright blue eyes. At this signal, uniformed men swarmed from the caves in the cliffs. Some ran straight for Captain McNaly, other headed toward his capsule and the bodies of the slavers. "But how?" he thought "the only person that knew id be here was zavier, he wouldnt do this to me, not now, not after all we'd been through"

As Captain McNalys head cleared, he reviewed his sitution. Armed gaurds approaching, a gun at his head, he saw no way out. Then he noticed something, the way her hand shook. That faint pause in her expression. He knew he couldnt wait a second, so he moved more quickly then he'd ever moved before. In one swift motion he'd slid the gun from her hand, wrapped his arm around her waste, and put the gun to her back. He'd already leapt from the transport with her by the time the guard had arrived. He backed toward his capsule, "the first person to touch the trigger, she dies and i wont be the only one going with her.' The guards seemed to fear him, for some reason unknown, and he used that to his advantage. He made his way slowly to his capsule. The closer he got, the thinner the throng of guards became, until atlast he felf cold metal at his back. He used his elbow to engage the hatch and backed inside slowly, his hostage still following him

As soon as the door closed, Captain McNaly stowed the pistol saftely and took his seat. "sit down here, strap in, and down say a word." He sat down himself, a determined look set into his face, determination for survival. for life. Rangi had no clue what she was doing. she knew she'd abandoned her country men, people who trusted her to pull this off. She had no idea what had happened back there, only that she couldnt send this man to his death, she had to help him, even if it mean she would go down with him. Something about him, they way he'd selflessly charged in, to save someone he didnt know. The way she'd not once felt in danger as he drug her across to his capsule. She knew this couldnt be the man she'd been told about. She knew she had almost condemned an innocent man. She had to prove they had the wrong man, but how?

As the capsule entered the docking port of Captain McNaly's ship, Scooter didn't feel the need to use fear to subdue Rangi, it was as if he knew she wanted to help him, knew she saw something in him others didnt. He couldnt be sure yet, he chalked it up to wishful thinking as he docked the capsule and opened the airlock. "Sit tight while I head in a safe direction, I'll be back, we've got a few things to discuss." At this he left her in the capsule, sealed in by the airlock to prevent her from doing anything that might make him regret bringing her with him.. Reaching the bridge, Captain McNaly took his seat and quickly plotted a course for Phradar, specifically the planet Knosh. Here he thought he might find some answers, if this girl proved to not be helpful. After ensuring they were safely on their way and not being followed, Scooter made his way back to the capsule. He found her asleep on the capsules bunk, her the outline of her body under the blankets drew his attention, though only for a second. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder, waking her.
"what just happened down there?' he asked her in all seriousness, but with a nocticable lack of anger.
"i was only told so much, i was paid to be the bait. before i was living on the streets of Arithus. All i know is i was hired by the Loscott company to help capture you. they told me you'd done terrible things. and you needed to pay"
" is that everything?" he asked her, growing curious as to why anyone would want to catch him, he couldnt think of any debt he'd left unpaid or boss he'd left on bad terms with.
"there's one more thing....this Loscott company, i think they're mercenaries, they were hired by someone." she told him, almost suprised by the look of understanding in his eyes.
"i know what happened, as much as it pains me to admit it" he knew, deep down, that he'd been betrayed. his friend, life-long and steadfast, had betrayed him. It must've been Zavier, he was the only one that knew i was going to The Cliffs. He'd known that since Ailura had died 4 years ago, Zavier had never felt the same about him, always blamed him in a way, as if he could've saved her. Her own choices were what got her killed.
"an old friend never forgave me a mistake of the past" he told Rangi, and she could see the hurt in his eyes. the feel of betrayal.

At that, Captain McNaly returned to the bridge, he made a slight course correction. He was going to Ortega, somehow he knew thats where he'd find Zavier. After the final corrections had been made, he showed Rangi to the crew quarters, and made his way to the captains quarters. He drifted off to sleep with only one thought on his mind. He'd been betrayed, and that had be to dealt with. A friend that would betray him, became his enemy. Captain Scooter McNaly saw that his enemies werent around long enough do anything about it.

He woke to the ship orbiting Ortega, its green surface spread below them. Making his way to the bridge, he found Rangi already there, gazing over the planet. "its incredible, this is the first time ive ever left my planet." she seemed giddy, Scooter was saddened at the news he had for her. "this company you worked for...they dont like loose ends. you're going to need to get as far from them as you can." he told her.
"i know. I've already considered it. Id like to fly with you, help you on your adventures. This ship seems rather empty." she looked at him with all the seriousness in the world.
"you think you've got what it takes?" he smirked. " you want to fly with me, you've got to earn your place."
"how?" she asked him.
"help me on my latest mission. revenge."

Cool comment Bro.

You wreak of originality.

Speaking of WoW, it looks like you used to play quite a bit yourself. Lvl 85 Deaf Night or somethinganother.

Wall o' text, Du.
Reformat with more whitespace, so our eyes don't bleed.

Carry on!

I like it but I think it should be in General Discussion.