The Start Of Something Great

Unexpected Friends and Enemies

Kai's POV: Jan. 13 0812
Daturn, Saso City

Raptor, Dev, Lux, and I were heading to this BBQ place Raptor recommended. Apparently, he'd eaten there before, and said the food was top-notch. Dev had suggested we hit up a bar a few blocks away after eating. As we cruised through the city, I couldn't help but get lost in the views. Skyscrapers towered above, each representing a different business, while the streets were lined with a variety of restaurants, each offering food from different cultures. I'd never seen this kind of diversity before. On my home planet, we mainly stuck to British traditions, so seeing so many different foods and cultures come together was pretty incredible. It made me think about why I fought against the IMC. For the people on this planet, it looked like they had the freedom to live the lives they wanted, a stark contrast to what the IMC had taken from us.

The Samson slowed as we pulled up to a BBQ joint with a big neon sign that read "Meat And Great." "Here we are," Raptor called from the front seat.

We all climbed out and headed toward the door, Dev and Raptor already waiting by the entrance. Lux took my hand, smiling as we walked toward them. Dev held the door open as we all entered, each of us offering a quick "thank you" as we stepped inside. The smell hit us instantly—smoked ribs, mashed potatoes with gravy, and pulled pork. It was enough to make my stomach growl.

The hostess, a short blonde woman, greeted Raptor. "Are you dining in?"

"Yes, table for four, please," Raptor replied.

She grabbed four menus and led us to a booth by the window. "My name is May, and I'll be your waitress today." She gestured for us to sit, and we did so happily. Dev and Raptor sat together, while Lux and I sat on the opposite side.

May handed us the menus and started to walk away, but just as she did, there was a loud crash from a few tables over. A guy had lost his grip on his beer, and it dropped, shattering on the floor.

"I told you five to be careful, or I'd have to kick you out again!" May called out. The group at the table looked at her apologetically, and the oldest of them spoke up. "Sorry, May. It won't happen again." The guy who had fallen slowly stood up and sat back down.

Dev and Raptor couldn't help but laugh, while Lux just shook her head, focusing on her menu. I chuckled and flipped through mine. They had a variety of steaks, but the T-Bone caught my eye.

Five minutes later, May returned to take our orders. Dev and Raptor went for a rack of BBQ ribs to share, Lux ordered a London Broil, and I went for the T-Bone steak with a side of mac and cheese. The group of five who had caused the commotion paid and left, and about thirty minutes later, May came back with our food.

My steak was perfect—juicy, well-seasoned, and cooked just right. The mac and cheese was loaded with bacon and extra cheese, making it the best I'd ever had. Before I knew it, my plate was empty.

"Wow, that was the best damn steak I've ever had," I said, leaning back in satisfaction. Dev and Raptor smiled, while Lux rested her head on my shoulder.

Dev looked like he was eyeing Raptor's leftover ribs, but before he could try and take them, May came over with the bill. "Here's the check," she said, handing it to Dev.

"Thanks," he muttered, but before he could pay, I snatched it from his hands.

"Let me pay this time, Dev," I said, sticking my credit chit in the billfold and handing it to May. She smiled at me and took it from my hand.

Turning to Dev, I gave him a devilish grin. "Can't let you be the gentleman all the time, can I?"

Dev just shook his head, knowing I was referring to the time he'd paid for a five-hundred-credit order when we were on Harmony.

May returned with my credit chit and thanked us. We all got up and headed for the door.

As we walked to the bar, I couldn't help but admire the city. The neon signs illuminated the streets, and I kept pointing out shops that caught my attention, much to Lux's amusement.

We reached "Jackson's Bar and Hotel," and a bald black man behind the counter greeted us with a smile. "Hello, welcome to Jackson's. My name's Charon. Will you be getting a room or are you here for the bar?"

"We're here for the bar," Dev replied.

Charon pointed to the left. "The bar is right through there."

We followed his directions and entered the bar, where patrons were drinking, laughing, and generally enjoying themselves. We sat at a table, and Dev asked someone to serve us for the next few hours.

When the waiter arrived, he introduced himself as Midas. "Welcome to Jackson's Bar. I'll be your server tonight. Ready to order?"

We all ordered beers, and while we were waiting, a group of three walked in and immediately started staring at Lux and me holding hands. I ignored them and tuned back into Dev's story.

"So, when I found Raptor in the wreckage of a dropship, I pulled him out and called in a med evac. Since then, we've been saving each other. Neither one of us has been able to pay the other back."

Lux, not missing a beat, interrupted. "Or maybe you two are gay for each other," she said matter-of-factly.

That made me spit out my beer, and I started laughing. "We're good friends, but not that close," Raptor said, rolling his eyes.

Dev smirked. "Not that close? So you're saying I still have a chance?"

Raptor immediately swatted him on the arm. "Not a chance in the universe."

Lux and I both burst into laughter, but the moment was interrupted by a loud "Ahem" from our right.

One of the three from earlier stood up and pointed at us. "You need to leave," he demanded.

I raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"We don't accept your kind around here," he sneered.

"My kind?" I asked, confused.

"Yeah. We don't accept gays," he said, getting more irate.

Lux finally spoke up. "How about you fuck off and mind your own business?"

That only seemed to fuel his anger, and he pulled a P2011 on us. "What did you just say to me?"

He aimed the pistol at us, and we both raised our hands in surrender. None of us had our sidearms, since we didn't think we'd need them.

Before he could make a move, though, a woman from across the room intervened. She stabbed the man in the arm, making him drop the gun and yell in pain.

"Get the fuck out of my bar," she said coldly, while another woman, dressed in a tuxedo, grabbed the P2011 and escorted the man and his friends out.

The woman who had intervened turned back to us. "Sorry you had to deal with that," she said, sitting down at our table. "I'm Ellie, and I run this bar now. Jackson was my brother, and he ran it before he passed."

I must have looked confused, because she added, "Don't worry, I get the look all the time."

Another woman, Lexi, approached Ellie with the gun in hand. "They won't be allowed back in, ma'am," she said.

"Good work, Lexi," Ellie replied.

Turning to us, she smiled. "Please, enjoy your night. If you need anything, just ask Charon."

With that, she left, Lexi following her.

Dev, still sober since he was driving, didn't order another drink, but Raptor, Lux, and I each grabbed another beer before heading back to our apartments.

As we walked back, I couldn't help but admire the neon lights of the city as they lit up the night. When we got to my and Lux's apartment, we didn't even bother changing out of our clothes—just hopped straight into bed.

Lux fell asleep on my chest almost immediately, and the sound of her breathing put me at ease. Slowly, I closed my eyes, and the world faded to black.