Your Story in that Stars

Ch. 11

"How much longer?"
"Two hours."
I groaned and sat back in my chair, bringing my knee up next to my shoulder and wrapping my arm around my leg. I lazily swiped past a page, reloaded another and clicked through different street cams.
"You're still doing this?" Kyro asked.
"I'm just sweeping, I'm making sure he doesn't leave. Just trying to keep an eye on him"
"He's not going anywhere in two hours without a ride."
"What make you think he won't hitch a ride with someone else?"
"Because he's a wanted criminal, his face and information in plastered everywhere. No one is going to involve themselves with him."
I squinted my tired and dry eyes at him as I stopped flipping screens, he pulled my key card off from the scanner and the virtual screen filtered out to nothing. He handed it to me, I tucked it into my waist pocket, Kyro looked at me with a lingering smile.
"What?"
He shook his head and pushed out of the navigation bay. I stood up from the chair and followed him back to the dining area, past our rooms along the back of the vessel. I sat on a barstool and payed my head on the bar counters. Kyro came back with two shots and a plate of Oreos.
"Alcohol? On mission?" I questioned picking up a cookie.
"No milk." He shrugged.
We didn't keep real food on our vessel, we kept snacks, food drinks that generally don't expire. If we were facing a longer mission we would stock the small kitchen cupboards, we'd get food while refueling or toll checking sometimes.
I looked at the clear liquid in the glass trying to narrow down what it was without smelling it. I couldn't figure it out. Kyro wasn't waiting for me to figure it out, he picked up his shot glass, clinked mine and tossed the liquid back without a flinch or a shiver.
I picked up my glass, getting tapped it against the table and threw it back. This was a big mistake. The heavy medicine tasting slick alcohol burned against the back of my throat, setting my esophagus on a blazing fire as it rolled like acid into my stomach. I started coughing immediately and reached behind the counter for a canned soda.
"You don't take Gin shots. What is wrong with you?" I slurred between coughs. "It's supposed to be mixed!"
"That's not the point. Look how you're raging, you're in the correct mood for this mission."
Kyro spoke with a calm ease, sipping on a cola afterwards.
"I don't think that's-"
"This-" he waved his finger in a large circle, "is against protocol, all of it. The lack of the heads up, spilling to waver hone else before we had a hint, pressuring the mechanics for the vessel so we could be sent on the drops of a dime. There was no mention of this in the report this morning, just to be there. And THEN we get sent to go get this scummy low life fuck. we-YOU- have to deal with this on the fly with no warnings or care for your being. I have to SIT through this, I have to go get that fuck and they then expect us to sit with him for hours on the ride back. Are you Fucking kidding ME? You're NOT upset?! Not a little?"
He was right, the whole thing was a set up, it was very obvious and Kyro was livid. This wasn't fair, this wasn't even close to protocol.
"So we're drinking?"
"We have a little under two hours to burn it off. It was just one shot, don't loose you shit, eat some Oreos."
I took an Oreo and ate in between sips of soda, my throats screamed at me every time I swallowed.
Once we were thirty minutes out Kyro went to change first, then me. Our uniforms were supposed to be worn at any time, but to blend in on a hunt we'd need to dress like everyone else on the planet.
I stepped into thick fabric joggers with space and movability, singed tight down the calves. I pulled on my heavy strappy boots, buckled my belt with my weapons tight around my waist. A flush black turtle neck, clicked in place my padded vest with pockets, finally pulling over an extra large windbreaker jacket. Again my outfit was ridiculous was an abundance of pocket and baggy.
A speaker at the corner of the room  suggested buckling for landing. I sighed and left my room, walking calmly through the vessel to get the navigation. I swung and buckled in my seat as Kyro broke through the planets barrier.
We again parked outside city barriers, there was something safe about leaving your vessel out of the way from grubby fingers. Kyro was dressed similarly to me, but this was close to how he dressed anyway. Once everything was stopped and powered off I printed a small picture of the criminal, I collected it in the hall next to the door. I miced up with my ear piece, Kyro stood beside me doing the same.
"Hey."
I looked at him.
"After this, after getting home, let's get Chinese."
"Oh god I'd love Chinese, yes." I smiled.
He grinned and placed one of his heavy hands on my hip, he pulled into a tight rushed kiss.
"I'll behind you. Let's go get this guy." He soothed.
-
It was dark on the grid like streets, not due to lack of street light or due to lack of sunlight. But it was the energy, the weight on your chest as you walked farther into the dense fog layering on the ground. It was the people slugging back and forth with frowns, it was the loath-the hate- that made this place so dark and so heavy to bear. It was represented in the way the buildings seemed to sag with lack of upkeep, the sidewalks cracked and crumbled. The roads were near empty of exquisite and pricey vehicles, instead barring motors barely running and rusted bits.
Orvil walked twenty feet in front of me, the hem on his leather jacket was broken and flaking, especially where the jacket cracked due to age and wear. His shoes had more holes than fabric, where it stretch and was stitched back long ago. Orvil has seen wear and tear, he has seen the worst, maybe he would accept arrest. Or maybe I was being too hopeful in my hurry to return home.
Orvil turned down a side road in a residential area, I hung back by nearly a block as to be unheard. He stood outside a large and empty lawn, almost debating if he goes in or not. The house he debated entering wasn't much, it was a surprise it was still standing. The walls were deteriorated and cracked all to hell and back, the weeds and vines crawled up and inside the house, the roof tiles shifted in place and hanging on until the next storm. There was no way anyone was allowed to live in that house, not under safe codes.
I got a bad feeling, something in my gut told me to run or told me I had to go to the bathroom, I couldn't tell.
"He's going in." I hushed to Kyro over the mic and tough every bad feeling twisting a knife deep inside me, " So am I, watch me."
"Always."
I took in a big breath and stepped forward, away from the corner I stood in and closer to the house. Each step towards the sad grey house was filled with equal parts regret and disgust. As I approached the house the terrible smell punched me, my eyes began watering but I refused to flinch away. Rotten eggs, piss, chemicals, a faint smell of something skunky. My nose scrunched, I wanted to turn away as I approached the slightly ajar door.
I pounded harshly on the door framers I yelled, "IGSS, come out with your hands raised!"
"I've got an eye on that backyard." Kyro said after.
"Copy."
No one answered my call in the house.
"IGSS, put your hands up."
I called out a second time as I kicked the door open farther, my fingers lingered on the latch containing my knife. To the right of the in-opening door was a large living room; a metal crate in the corner covered in fecal matter, no lights in sight though that didn't matter thanks to the technology built into my helmet cause I could see clearly in any condition. The house was so quiet you'd hear a lot of in dropping, but I couldn't hear any signs of life.
I cautiously moved through the living room, the kitchen and a sad dining room with a chipped and old floor table in the center of the floor. The washroom, accompanied by the oldest washer and dryer units I've ever seen, lead to the back door.
"Headed upstairs."
"Copy." Kyro answered.
Walking on unfamiliar steps lead to creaks and groans despite how carefully I stepped, I counted 14 steps till I reached the second story. All the door upstairs where closed, it was very creepy with all the light out. I banged on the wall next to the first closed door.
"IGSS! Orvil I know you're here, this doesn't have to be a fight!"
I got no sign of a reaction so I swallowed my unease and mustered my strength. I busted the closet door open, it hit against the wall with a bang. The window to the backyard was open all the way, the screen was missing probably long ago. The sliding mirror closet door was closed, the mirror broken with pieces scattered on the ground.
"Orvil?! I will protect myself, this is your final chance to go peacefully!"
I swung the mirror door back and saw nothing, only black, but faintly I heard a soft creaking noise. So I crept inside more, looking behind each edge of the doors. Nothing. I backed out and took hold of my knife, raising it protectively against my chest as I neared leaving the room. At the end of the hall on front of an open door stood Orvil with his massive body mass. I felt overtaken at once.
"Are you going to come peacefully?" I asked firmly.
"I'm going to win."
I dug my foot back into the ground, "You can't win against someone who has nothing to lose. Bring it."
"Don't kill him." Kyro said in ear.
"I like feisty small ones, hasn't anyone told you little one?"
I made a disgusted sounded and white knuckled gripped my k-bar. He was faster in closing the distance, trying to sweep me back off my feet. I ducked under his arm and pushed away from the wall next to me. Once I regained my balanced I realized my reaction time was slow, I was taken off my center of gravity again as Orvil blow landed on the bridge of my nose. I felt a pop then felt the warm running liquid; my head snapped back and my body tumbled after. My eyes watered as I maintained eye contact, Orvil was stalking closer clearly not done. His eyes where wide with hunger, with rage and power.
"I'm scared.."
it couldn't be above a whisper as I realized for myself what the sick twisted feeling was as I knelt on the ground with a knife in my hand next to my knees.
Orvil was only a step or two away, he began to fold over as his attempt to pick me up but I hand other plans. My head screamed in my eye sockets, my face was slick and messy, my eyes wouldn't stop watering and dripping down my stained cheeks. I clenched the fist on my free hand and looked towards my target, I aimed for the space above his stomach and threw up with my whole bodies strength, I was aiming for his diaphragm. This is worse than a hit to the stomach, his diaphragm with contract and his lungs will spasm for air, he would be grounded momentarily. Orvil was larger than me, he would easily overpower me, but my move worked as I intended it to. Orvil bent over in half as he wheezed for breathe, dry gasping like a fish out of water.
I took advantage of the situation to grab a pressure point on his wrist and yank his arm back, I held my knife blade down against the skin in the back of his neck.
"Don't move. Kyro."
"On route."
I heard the back door slam behind him.
"Tighter." Orvil teased, words slick like a snake in oil.
"I suggest keeping your mouth shut if you know what's best for you."
"How would you-" he coughed harshly.
"Get his cuffed for transport." Kyro said coming up behind me.
"Yes sir."