Your Story in that Stars

Ch. 01

I woke up slowly, my silver hair tossed a mess in my eyes, my cheek was hot where it rested on Kyros navy blue pillowcase. I was laying on my side facing the bathroom door, kyros arm wrapped strong around my waist above the covers. With gentle fingers I held his arm up as I slid out of my spot, silently falling to the floor as I rolled.
I padded to my room across the apartment, leaving the door open as I walked in rubbing the back of my head. I picked up my phone from where it rested plugged in next to my computers, reading through the texted schedule and looking for any other messages from the mechanics. Kyro and I had to report at 6pm, my watch told me right now it was 8:48am. It was too early to be awake but once I was up I wasn't going back to sleep.
I shimmied into pants, shoving my phone and wallet into my pockets. I pulled over a large sheer hoodie, tugging on a matching beanie and tucking my hair back into the fabric. I toed into blue sneakers and left the apartment, making sure to lock the door behind me as I left.
The walk to the drive in coffee stand wasn't long, maybe a block or two, I could see it from where I stood on the sidewalk. The fog still lingered this late in the morning, laying in small bursts over the land but not quite touching it, just sorta hovering. The air wasn't cold, it was actually warmer than most mornings, this one being around 70 degrees. There were a few people walking the streets, but no one addressed me as my earbuds were visible and I made it clear I wasn't socializing.
The inside of the small coffee joint was warm and comforting. I took my earbuds out as I approached the counter, but I didn't mind waiting for my favorite barista to open up. She turned to me with a rushed sigh and a happy grin.
"Neeve! It's been a while!"
"Sorry Trace."
"No I get it, big busy life. What'll it be today?"
"20 oz iced Americano, 20 oz white chocolate mocha with two extra shots-"
"So five total?"
"Yeah. And- how many scones do you have left?"
She bent behind the counter to count, popping back a moment later just as bright.
"We've got 10 left."
"I'll take six of them."
"Fantastic. Is that gonna be it?"
I nodded and paid the $35 she asked for. Trace wasn't her real name, but she didn't feel like giving it to me, so I called her Trace and took what I was given. She was almost as tall as me, long brown hair and slanted brown eyes. She placed my cups in a cup holder, placing my three bags of scones in between the cups.
"I got a phone."
"No shit."
"I'll tell you about it, what's your number?"
She shrugged her phone out of her back pocket, then replicated the same transfer touch thing Kyro showed me. The space for her name was blank so I filled it in.
"I'll see later!" She waved as I exited.
I paused outside the door to put my earbuds in again, my mocha was hot where it pressed against the drink carrier in my hand, on the other side was kyros freezing drink.
I worked hard to focus on not tripping on the sidewalks, working my way past others on their way to their plans. Entering the code to get into my gated complex was hard though, I balanced the drink carrier on my knee as I typed in the four digit code given to me years ago, it was like memorizing your locker combination during training years.
I always thought the halls to inside apartments felt too quiet, often reminded me of old hotels. I found the hallways even more so like a hotels due to the rolled out and often changed carpets.
I fumbled with the keys in my pocket, managing to get the door unlocked by my fingertips, I slipped inside and kicked the door closed behind me, it slammed behind me which I felt bad for, but Kyro should get up anyway before all the ice melts in his drink. I set the things out across the living room floor, except for the scones. I left them bagged and on the couch.
I went to my room, toed out of my shoes and slugged out of my hoodie. Kyro was still in bed, but sprawled out across the bed. I silently cursed myself for having to wake him up with every step I took to get across the room. It's not like he woke up swinging and pushing; but he went from dead asleep to awake in a rushed straight.
I held my breathe for nothing, I knew what to do and how he would react. With a gentle hand, just barely touching, I grazed his shoulder. I pressed gently, calling his name. When that didn't work I tried running my hand down his back, still nothing. With grace I started to play with his hair and call his name , getting a little louder each time. He suddenly jolted up, using an arm to push up from the bed a time.
"Hey, I got food." I spoke softly.
"What time is it?"
I look at my new watch, "9:34, we've got to report by six, but I thought you'd want to eat."
Kyro groaned and scrubbed a hand over his face and into his hair, I pulled my hand back and turned to leave the room.
I sat on the couch, pulling in of the bags of raspberry scones into my lap. Kyro emerged with messy hair that looked like it doubled in size, wearing the same black low cut loose shirt and swishy pants. He took my beanie off and ran a hand through my hair as he thanked me.
He sat in the ground, double fisting scones and his coffee and he devoured the food. I always thought his hunger was a fascinating thing, he ate a lot compared to me. He ate lots of protein, carbs and veggies; but he would also obliterate two large pizzas himself if given the chance.
-
After breakfast we took turns showering, Kyro decided he wanted to hit the gym so we left around 3pm in tee shirts and shorts. Kyro used his keycard to get us past the gates and into the parking lot, but he wanted to be sure my new clearance worked and made me scan us into the gyms locker room. I waited, holding my breath, just a moment after the key scan turned green and let us through the door. We didn't need to change, but we stored our uniforms and towels in the lockers.
This gym was much larger than the one I used to use, it was at least four times the size in space and equipment. There was regular gym equipment for muscle building and cardio; there was also a ringed mat next to a wall of mock weapons. The curling were raised for rock climbing, ropes, and poles.
Kyro knew immediately where to go, he had a routine. He'd do light stretching then move on to weighed sit ups, pulls up, leg and waist isolation. He's cool down on the treadmill, run through legs presses and weighted squats. Among other things I neither knew the words for or cared for. I had less of a routine, I worked on whatever I felt like my body needed working on. But before I had the chance to run off to the treadmills someone held tight and pulled on my arm.
"Neeve!" The voice was squeaky, high pitched.
I faced the voice, a face of confusing immediately melting into surprise. Standing besides me and holding onto my arm was my old training buddy, he'd spot me whenever our schedules lined up. Until he ranked up and got assigned.
"Lex!"
"How are you?"
I looked across the room at Kyro, he was busy already plugged into his headphones. I turned back to my old friend with a smile.
"I'm great."
"I heard some shit was going down." He whispered.
"Yeah something like that." I shrugged, I didn't want to think about it anymore.
Lex was somehow shorter than me, but unlike me he valued actually working out, not like you'd ever be able to tell. I didn't care for muscle, it never felt right to me, but keep myself it and fast was more important. Anyway, Lex could throw me across the gym even if he didn't look like it. His short red hair was kept cut high and tight, a classic haircut but an easy one to work with. He had a soft face, hard hazel eyes and a couple visible tattoos on his arms and legs. His voice didn't match his appearance, but it matched his optimistic personally.
"What's going on? No ones given us updates."
"What did you hear in the first place?"
I made way to the treadmills, Lex followed along side me.
"Not a lot. We all were informed of a special case taking priority, we're told it was an internal investigation. That wasn't enough to piece it together, until they asked to interview me because I'm your friend. That's when it clicked, but no matter how much I asked they wouldn't given me anything. I don't know a single thing except that whatever is going on involves you."
I turned my machine to a pace where I had to pay attention to my jogging, this gave me time to think as I spoke.
"Yeah, sorry you got dragged into it. I just got into some trouble, they talked to me for two days."
"You don't sound like the type to cause trouble."
My file was public knowledge, but I never specifically told Lex about my history nor did I know if he hadn't already taken the liberty to search me.
"It's a long story."
"Tell me when you get back."
"Get back?"
"They haven't told you yet?"
"I don't know what you're referencing, we got informed to report today..?"
"Oh. Well you didn't hear this from me of course," he continued nonchalantly, " but you two have been paired for one of the biggest missions from this crap hole. Their shipping you out tonight, y'all are going for some big shot criminal. Intel says this guys been on the radar for some pretty fucked up shit for a while. "
"Where'd you hear that?" I questioned his credibility.
"The halls, late mast night I think, or the day before, I'm not sure anymore. Too much happens around here."
"They're giving me a case I've had no research with?"
He shrugged.
I hopped off the treadmill, when my feet hit the ground I felt like I was still running. I turned off the machine off, thanking Lex and promising my contact, he watched me go. Kyro was on the other side of the gym, but he say my quick stride and was ready with his music paused when I reached him.
"Did you hear about tonight- our mission I mean."
"Well you might want to. Put that down."
He dropped the ten pound ball in his hands and followed me, snaking past others admits their workouts as we crossed the gym. Lex slowed his treadmill but kept walking at our approach. Lex told Kyro what he told me, Kyro was better at pressing people for more in person than I was and I was counting on that. Luckily for me, he did what I was expecting and grilled Lex. Lex, unbothered as he kept walking, answered to the best of his ability; he wasn't able to give us much more except the name of the agent who suggested us for the mission.
Kyro decided that gym was over, the workout was no longer important, instead he favored finding the case and the missions files. I followed him into the locker, showering quickly in a separate stall, scrubbing my skin dry, and slipping underwear on quickly.
It was hard to put on the skin tight suit when you were still partially damp but I managed by sitting on the bench and tugging inch by inch. Kyro next to me shook his hair like a dog, water splattering across my back. I arched in surprise and groaned.
"Not helping!"
"Relax. I can hear your teeth gritting."
I scoffed and shoved my arms through the sleeves, pulling each side over my shoulders. Then I zipped from back to neck, reaching into my duffel bag I pulled out and strapped on my padding. At the bottom of the duffle was a case, enclosed were my weapons and straps. I tucked my knife on, strapping the holster for my gun and double checking the safety before sliding it into place.
I grabbed my helmet and set it on the bench, repacked my bag with the empty case and gym clothes. I shoved it back into the locker and tucked the key into my waist pocket with my apartment keys.
Kyro stood next to me checking the safety on his shotgun and and slipped it into the case across his back, his collapsible metal spear rod thing hooked over his belt. He ran his hands threw his hair, pushing it back as he applied a thick headband, his wide hair poked out the sides where it fell. He checked his watch, so I felt inclined to check mine as well, the time was 4:04pm.
"For the sake of time I want you to go get Killdozer, take him to launch bay and wait there. I'm just going to get the mission files and statements, I'm gonna drop them to the ship so don't space out. I'll meet you there when I get done."
Without another word he tossed me the car keys, picked up his helmet, and strode out of the room looking ten feet tall with rage. I counted to ten, and left for the parking lot. The car was where Kyro parked it on the side of the building, I stopped with my hand on the drivers side handle.
Under normal circumstances I wouldn't be allowed to drive this car, this was kyro's he's had it for almost as many years as been with the IGSS, he had it long before me. And it was well taken care of. It's black matte paint made raindrops ripple off the end, each curve and cut made the edge of the car stand out. Inside was leather and five seats. It was a beautiful car, and I'd never say in this seat before. That's not say I haven't driven before, I fly starcraft for a job, driving was the first thing I was taught.
I pulled the door open and swung myself into the seat, I had to scoot it up a little but not by much. The key in the ignition started the quiet pur, almost a hum until acceleration, and the radio cut on loudly. I left it out and rolls the windows down as I set my helmet in the passenger seat.
I drove the small distance to the shop- a lodge for craft really- and triple checked that the car was in fact locked, and was in fact where Kyro would want it parked- on the side of the building and the farthest back spot.
Maneuvering the vessel- affectionately named Killdozer- into the bays lobby was the easy part. Nearly having to miss scraping the walls of the launch bay while you turn into your spot is entirely another much harder thing. It was nothing at all like backing a car up, on part due to the fact that you can't back up in craft. Once I was in my spot I turned off the engines and locked the wheels, the time was 4:38pm.
I let the generator in the vessel run so I would still be able to read whatever files we have on this criminal. The port for incoming and outgoing files was lit up in a box next to the vessels doors, I was sitting still in my seat in the navigation windowed room, but a small ping would sound at the arrival to alert me regardless of where I was.
From where I sat, staring out the large windows, I could see the sunset. The sunset was a nightmare of a thing on planet Gliese; terrible solid red filled the sky and shaded the building in similar lights. The sunrise was much more appealing; the warm mornings accented with pink and orange ripples through the sky, sometimes soft yellows on clearer days. Much like the desert, once the sky had fully darkened, the temperature would slowly start dwindling down.
Not many lived here-specifically in the industrial outskirts of the city; those who did had a reason to be on this planet, you either worked here or lived alongside someone who did. That's not to say there isn't population, if you drive over and hour out you'll reach the city's hub, the life of the party, the tourist traps. It was full of shopping plazas and lights, whatever your choice of action is as a human. But I never felt comfortable in the city center, something always felt fake.
Ping
I unbuckled and found it ridiculous how long I sat there not moving and buckled in, I turned right at the edge of navigation. A hall to my left led to the med bay as I strode forward. I reached the pale blue flashing box and took a file from the top most divider. There was a pale yellow sticky note with kyros runaway hand writing: trigger warning : sensitive content.
I took the folder into the navigation bay and settled back in my seat. I scanned the sticker across the bottom of the folder into my computer, after a few seconds of loading the files contents blew up on screens in front of me.
His name was Orvil Rorysol, age 52, with a large scar across his left cheek, height and weight unknown. His living whereabouts were unknown, he had no immediate children or family, no outsource of income-he didn't work a job with payroll.
I flipped through the given photos of the criminal, in all the photos he was wearing the same thing. All things considered it was a fairly normal outfit: a red shirt, dark wash jeans, crappy old boots with holes, and a black hair where his dirty hair looked out at the ends. In some photos he was caught wearing a black mask, they seem sewn with ugly yellow threads. His eyelids seemed to droop but his eyes themselves were so wound tight with animosity.
I made a motion to bring the case file back up when metal clanging against metal made me jump, the vessels doors slammed closed. I was about to go investigate the action, a second later Kyro strode in trailing dark enters in with him. He sat in his chair and logged in with his key card.
"Time." He ordered.
"5:19" I responded.
"Have you read through the files?"
"Not fully."
"Do that. That sooner we Fucking leave the better."
His fingertips smashed the buttons the pressed, his brows furrowed, the corners of his mouth knotted in anger. He was grumbling low to himself but I couldn't make out what it was, so I turned my attention back to the screen stacked copies of the files.
Orvil had been caught numerous times previously by police but they were petty crimes. Only recently IGSS were tipped about digging farther, they did and with the tips that's were called in they were able to really uncover Orvil's occupation and where his income was from. He was a big part of behind the scenes drug dealing and child trafficking, he was caught numerous times and even confessed to someone going undercover on the planet Mireta nearly a month ago.
I pushed through my gut reaction to throw up and instead requested access to Mireta's camera systems. It was granted at 5:38, by 5:45 I had the most recent coordinates from where I caught a glimpse, a sliver, in the corner of the man I was looking for.
Kyro pulled out of bay, lining up with the track and waiting for the signal. The tower waved him through despite the early pull out. I double checked I was buckled before Kyro brought the vessel up the speed for lift. Once we were through the space borders surrounding the planet I sat a little straighter, I said good bye to the two suns as we moved farther and faster into the same looking blackness.
"What's the verdict? Capture or eliminate?" I asked.
"Capture; they want this guy to spill, like pulling the right thread in a complicated knot." He sneered. "Prepare for jump."
He entered his code and hit the button without another word, I didn't push.