{"id":585,"date":"2016-02-24T15:47:21","date_gmt":"2016-02-24T20:47:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/?page_id=585"},"modified":"2016-02-24T15:47:21","modified_gmt":"2016-02-24T20:47:21","slug":"pirates-luck-chapter-one-the-enemy-rule","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/?page_id=585","title":{"rendered":"Pirate’s Luck: Chapter One ~ The Enemy Rule"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Pirate's<\/a> He sat in a corner table in the filthy, and loud spaceport bar. Just nineteen, he was too young to be here with a beer at hand and expected to be turned out any second. But he waited for someone, and he had to make this meeting. Because of his last encounter with them, he was on the run from the Imperial Guard. Staying here at N\u2019sen, the crossroads of three nations, the League, Kyn and Oshija, was no longer an option. To get clear, he had to find a ship fast to take him on as crew.<\/p>\n

The light over his head lit his rust-colored beer highlighting the bubbles that rose to the surface. He had spent his last coin to purchase the beer and wasn\u2019t drinking any of it. He thought it would make him look like he was grown up and belonged in this rough company. Truth was, he hated the taste of beer. And he didn\u2019t in the least bit feel like an adult. That was his father\u2019s role, and now he was gone.<\/p>\n

\u201cThad, Thad Grane.\u201d Arekan almost didn\u2019t hear his alias in the din of the conversations that consumed the bar. He looked up and caught the eye of the man he came to meet. He was big, wide, and didn\u2019t know the meaning of personal hygiene. The man moved to his table and sat without invitation.<\/p>\n

\u201cEtharin, master of the Rogan.\u201d He studied Arekan\u2019s face. \u201cYou don\u2019t look like no swordsman,\u201d the man opined. \u201cNor no spacer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan sized him up and concluded that this man wouldn\u2019t listen to denials.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuit yourself, \u201c said Arekan as he rose.<\/p>\n

The man\u2019s hand snaked to grab his arm. Arekan, sucking back a rush of fear, gave him a cold look.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, I heard tell of that fight over at Talman\u2019s Pub. They still talk about how you sliced up Kelman. Aye, that\u2019s a tale I\u2019d hear again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kelman was a loudmouth Oshijan who thought he knew a weak fighter when he saw one. He was wrong.<\/p>\n

\u201cI ain\u2019t no storyteller,\u201d said Arekan. \u201cAnd if my resume isn\u2019t impressive enough for you, I\u2019ll be on my way. There\u2019s some ship that will take me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHells, aren\u2019t you a twitchy one?\u201d said the man. \u201cKelman ain\u2019t been bested in a barroom brawl ever, Thad. Or whatever your real name is. You\u2019ve had military training for sure, though you be too young for it. What army did you train for? What got you kicked out?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s on a need to know basis. And you don\u2019t need to know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTell me,\u201d persisted the captain. \u201cAnd I\u2019ll think hard about taking ye on for crew.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan couldn\u2019t possibly tell him who he was, or how or why he got the training he did. If word of that got out, he\u2019d wouldn\u2019t just be arrested. Imperial Troops would execute him without trial. Instead, with his free hand, and his heart thumping, he drew his sword. He whipped it to the man\u2019s neck.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven if you did hire me, who I am is none of your business. You hire my blade to help protect your ship, or you don\u2019t hire me at all. Now let go of my arm, or I\u2019ll slice off your hand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Etharin released Arekan\u2019s arm and laughed. \u201cYou got the right attitude, that\u2019s for sure. Sure sounds like you got my first rule of business down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what rule is that?\u201d said Arekan.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s called The Enemy Rule. In this business, everyone is an enemy unless proved otherwise. I have no use for enemies, so either I befriend them or kill them. Which one would you be?\u201d<\/p>\n

The man\u2019s eyes glittered with a predatory gleam. The young man wondered how many of this captain\u2019s crew waited outside of the bar to administer their master\u2019s judgment of Arekan.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if I\u2019m a friend, am I crew?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAye, boy. In your case, one in the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, then, I\u2019m a friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man guffawed. It was a sharp and cruel noise, and Arekan knew no good things come with a man with a laugh like that. \u201cGood choice, Thad. Now, let\u2019s run along. We\u2019ve got a ship to get out of port.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan doubted going with this man was a good choice. But was the only one he had.<\/p>\n

#<\/p>\n

The first thing that hit Arekan was the stench. When he followed Etharin up the gangplank of a small cargo hauler, he was unprepared for the stench of sweat, greasy food and other scents of human existence. The ship on which he was raised was kept fastidiously clean. Any ship his father and he were on in the past two years was nearly the same. <\/p>\n

He glanced around the cavernous space which easily took half of the ship\u2019s bulk. The hold was dark, so he could not make out the ceiling. But from what he could see of the bulkhead it was triple lined. This he knew from his lessons on his home ship about ship\u2019s operations. The outer hull provided the first line of defense against the deadly elements of space. The middle hull was the secondary defense. The inner hull was structural being the first hull in construction. The beams crisscrossed in hex design and plating fixed to the inside of the hexes. Hand holds stuck out from the plating every three feet on all walls and all directions but the deck in case the artificial gravity failed. <\/p>\n

Crates were stacked throughout and strapped into the deck with thick bands that clicked into the decking which were peppered with holes to take the hooks at the end of the bands. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the cargo hold, boy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan didn\u2019t say anything. Etharin spun around and clocked him in the jaw. Arekan staggered back a couple of paces surprised a man of his size could move so quickly. His eyes burned with anger as he raised his hand to his jaw.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I speak to you, you will reply, \u2018yes, sir.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir.\u201d <\/p>\n

Etharin walked over to a massive set man securing a stack of crates. While not as portly as the ship\u2019s captain, Grokin had girth on him that matched his overly broad shoulders. His head was shaved, and both ears sported multiple small hoops in his ears. Black tattoos filled his upper shoulders and his arms. <\/p>\n

\u201cGrokin, this is Thad Grane. Thad, this is the first mate. Gettin\u2019 an order from him as the same as getting it from me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir,\u201d said Arekan. <\/p>\n

Grokin looked Arekan up and down, with his eyes settling on Arekan\u2019s sword.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s our new blade?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou questioning me, Grokin?\u201d snarled Etharin. His voice was low and filled with warning.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, sir,\u201d said the first mate in a raspy voice. <\/p>\n

\u201cShow him around. The ship is going to launch in twenty.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir.\u201d <\/p>\n

Etharin moved his hulking bulk out of the cargo hold, and the hatch shut with a clang behind him. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou any good with that thing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou want to find out?\u201d Arekan said with as much menace as he could muster. <\/p>\n

Grokin grunted. \u201cDo you know anything besides how to handle a blade?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can speak two other languages\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean anything of use,\u201d said Grokin nastily.<\/p>\n

\u201cApparently not,\u201d snapped back Arekan.<\/p>\n

Grokin chuckled. \u201cEver worked a ship before?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI lived shipboard all my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

If Arekan thought Grokin couldn\u2019t be more disagreeable, he was wrong. The first mate rushed at Arekan and slammed him into the bulkhead next to the maw of the open cargo bay door. All air left Arekan\u2019s lungs, and fire shot up his spine. Grokin pressed his meaty arm against his windpipe. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not what I asked, wog.\u201d <\/p>\n

Arekan had enough. This moke manhandling him worked his last nerve. To get some leverage he grabbed a handhold on either side and jerked both his knees up and into Grokin\u2019s sensitive man parts. At least he hoped that Grokin had man parts. The past year with his father was very instructive in learning the different things humans did to themselves and each other. The first time he met a eunuch shocked the hells out of him. <\/p>\n

Grokin howled and fell off Arekan clutching himself. He stood staring at Arekan full of piss and fire as if was debating whether to kill him now or later. <\/p>\n

\u201cGrokin!\u201d snapped the voice of the captain in the hold. \u201cWhat the hell\u2019s is going on? Why isn\u2019t that hatch secure! We\u2019ve got lift-off clearance, and I want to get off this damned rock before the impies figure out they\u2019d like to keep us here longer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight, captain,\u201d groaned Grokin. \u201cYou, wog,\u201d he said glaring at Arekan. \u201cMake yourself useful. Secure that hatch.\u201d<\/p>\n

At this moment Arekan\u2019s instinct was to grab his duffle and hop of this hell of a ship. But the whine of lift-off sent a high keening sound through the ship. A forward motion caught Arekan and Grokin off guard, and they swayed to keep their balance. Arekan hurried to the control panels of the hatch as the ship lurched forward and punched one of the two buttons, hoping he\u2019d picked the right one.<\/p>\n

He did not. <\/p>\n

Grokin swore behind him, and Arekan hurriedly punched the second one. The hatch began its descent. Arekan clutched a handhold on the bulkhead to steady himself, while Grokin wrapped his hand around one of the straps securing cargo. Arekan watched the hatch ground achingly slow to the hatch seal. He swallowed hard as the ship gathered speed and he wondered if it would close before disaster hit. Arekan easily imagined the two of them sucked out of the ship as they climbed the atmosphere. However, most likely they\u2019d pass out before they did.<\/p>\n

Arekan did not relish the thought of being unconscious on this ship.<\/p>\n

The vessel rattled hard now down the runway and then lifted throwing Arekan hard against the bulkhead. He felt lightheaded, and he realized the oxygen in the cargo hold rushed out to the moon\u2019s atmosphere. <\/p>\n

Ahead of him Grokin, clutching the strap with both hands mouthed soundless curses. But the hatch finally met the seals with a loud hiss. The ship pitched steeply pressing Arekan painfully into the bulkhead. His heart pounded, and his blood roared in his ears as the walls of the vessel clutched him in a death grip. Breathing became a study in pain. He couldn\u2019t move a single muscle during this hell ride, and that terrified him. <\/p>\n

\u201cHang on, hang on,\u201d he chanted to himself. He needed to be conscious when the ship leveled out. Arekan had no idea what insane thing Grokin would do to him next. He concentrated on keeping his breathing slow, deep and even as the G forces held him in its coffin\u2019s grasp. <\/p>\n

Grokin was now collapsed on the deck sliding toward Arekan faring no better than him. He was nearly touching Arekan\u2019s legs now, and his face turned up to him in a look with so much hate that Arekan would have shivered if he could. <\/p>\n

With a lurch, the ship leveled, and Arekan fell across the prone body of the enraged first mate.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet off me, wog,\u201d growled Grokin, pushing at Arekan with his hands to move Arekan.<\/p>\n

\u201cGive me a freakin\u2019 minute,\u201d spit Arekan. He rolled gracelessly off Grokin and sprang to his feet ready to counter whatever abuse the large man had to offer.<\/p>\n

Grokin rose to his feet, glaring at Arekan. Their eyes were locked in hard stares, and Arekan did not know what the man was going to do.<\/p>\n

The voice of the captain over the intercom broke the scene.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what you mokes get for screwing around at liftoff. When I say twenty, I mean twenty. Next time tend to business, not playtime. You got that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir,\u201d gritted Grokin.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir,\u201d said Arekan.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow get to work!\u201d<\/p>\n

Grokin shook his head and cursed under his breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cEtharin did that on purpose?\u201d Arekan could not believe it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s \u201ccaptain\u201d to you, wog. And yeah. Though he could have done worse.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWorse?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, one time he had us throw a moke out clutching only a line while during lift-off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy would he do that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSame reason as he does everything\u2014to prove his point.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWhich would be?\u201d<\/p>\n

The intercom broke in again with the clearly annoyed voice of the captain.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo get your ass in gear! Now move it!\u201d<\/p>\n

Click Here for Chapter Two~Snakes On A Spaceship<\/a><\/p>\n

Art by Starry Night Graphix<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

He sat in a corner table in the filthy, and loud spaceport bar. Just nineteen, he was too young to be here with a beer at hand and expected to be turned out any second. But he waited for someone, and he had to make this meeting. Because of his last encounter with them, he […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":413,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-585","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/585","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=585"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/585\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/413"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=585"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}