Space Ranger

Dumb and dumber

Dakotaz was talking to Hafu about nothing in particular when a private call came in. He answered it but it disconnected.

"That was weird," Hafu said. He nodded in response. He had no idea who would've called him,

"Yeah. Wonder who that was," he stated. Hafu shrugged when his tablet started to blare with an alarm sound. He opened it and cords popped up. "It's a distress signal. It's one of Sugar Pine 7s dropships," he said quickly. Hafu peered over his shoulder

"You and Koji go," she said. Dakotaz shook his head.

"No. Sugar Pine is very closed off. They know me. They won't be happy if Koji comes," he explained. Hafu glanced at him and nodded.

"Go then. Bring them back here so Janet can check whoever it is over," she ordered. Dakotaz nodded and grabbed a dropship. He plugged in the cords and took off.

He was anxious because of the distress signal. He arrived at the cords and saw a single dropship floating in space. It unnerved him. He dropped his wizard's hat onto the floor and pulled on his own helmet.

He clipped and tethered himself to his dropship. He opened the door and managed to get inside of Steve's. Dakotaz kept his helmet on and walked forward, remaining attached to his ship. He saw a figure in green slumped to the floor.

He ran over and saw it was his old friend. He looked around and realized that Steve didn't have a helmet on. Actually, his helmet was a few feet away. Dakotaz grabbed it and put it onto Steve the best he could.

He struggled to get the tall man to the door and finally got back to his dropship. He pulled both their helmets off and checked Steve's pulse. It was there. He was alive. Dakotaz started the trip back to the Skeld.

"Steve, you dumbass. What are you doing?" He asked and rested Steve's head in his lap. Dakotaz absently ran his fingers through his friend's hair. Steve was breathing and actually just looked like he was asleep.

Dakotaz tried to shake his friend awake only to realize it was something more serious. He started to panic internally. He made a call to Janet.

"Janet, I'm on my way back with Steven Suptic, leader of Sugar Pine 7. Something is keeping him asleep," the purple man explained.

"Sounds like a sleeping gas or serum. Ma and Kimi will prepare the medbay," Janet said and disconnected, every moment he spent on the ship, the more worried for Steve he felt.

He stared down at his sleeping friend and couldn't help the smile on his face. He had been invited to Hafus' crew before Steve could ask him. So he had turned down Steve. And right now it seemed like a good thing

"Please be ok," he mumbled and felt his ship dock. Janet and Kimi rushed over with a stretcher and Dakotaz helped them get Steve on. He followed to the medbay where he was stopped outside.

Koji, Hafu, and Cop walked over and his leader placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Dakotaz?" She asked him. He turned to face them and finally pulled off his helmet.

"That's Steven Suptic. He leads SP7. If he's without his team, then something else is wrong,"

"What do you think it is?" Cop asked. He looked over and shrugged. Koji spoke.

"I'll get in contact with them. So they can come get-" he started to say. Dakotaz had a bad gut feeling and he shook his head

"No. Wait for him to wake up. We should hear what happened,"

"He's right. If he was running from them..." Hafu said and trailed off. The purple man shifted his weight and Hafu looked at him worried. "Go get some rest and shower. I'll let you know when he wakes up," she said. Dakotaz didn't look convinced but went anyway,

"I'll get in contact with Toast at least. He should know what's happening," Koji said, Hafu nodded to him and the man walked away. Cop glanced at Hafu before turning to go do his tasks.

Janet and Kimi had Steve on a saline drip. They gave him an antidote to the sleeping gas and now it was a waiting game. It scared them, the fear in Dakotaz's eyes.

"I always forget he knows Sugar Pine 7," Janet said and glanced down at Steve, but referred to Dakotaz.

"Yeah, what was he running from anyway? And why sleeping gas? Why not mustard gas?" Kimi asked. Janet swallowed and glanced over to her, worry on her face

"I have a feeling they didn't want him dead just yet," she responded. A soft groan came from the unconscious man and his eyes slowly fluttered open.

He saw the two girls and tensed before jumping into action. He pulled the saline drip from his hand and grabbed Kimi. He pinned her up against the wall and placed a knife to her throat. Janet froze

"Hey, Steven, we aren't gonna hurt you," Janet said softly. Steve didn't move and Kimi didn't fight. One move and all hell would break loose. Janets comm went off.

"Dakotaz is waiting for Steven to wake up. Tell him when he's awake," Hafus voice came through. Janet knew what to do.

"Steven, Dakotaz is outside, waiting for you to wake up. Put Kimi down and I'll tell him to come in," Janet said. Steve slowly released Kimi but kept the knife out. Janet reached for her com, all without looking away. "Come on in Dakotaz," she said. Steve remained tense until Dakotaz walked in.

In seconds Steve and Dakotaz were hugging.

"I hope you know you have a lot of explaining to do," he said. Steve only smiled a little back.

"I know. Thanks for saving me DK," Steve said softly. Neither man pulled away from the other, as if afraid they would disappear

"Well, you are a dumbass so..." he muttered. Steve shot him a fake glare as they slowly pulled apart

"Fair," Steve said with a shrug. He started to explain what happened