The Warrior

Issue 1- The Captain (Part 1)

"You ready to make some money?"

--Maldwyn Budd

Budd exhales in relief as the warm water runs downs across his face and body.

  He brings both hands to his face and gently rubs, his stubble rough upon the palms of his hands.

  He sucks in a fresh breath of air and takes a step back so his face is out of the stream and the water collides with his well-toned chest.

  His eyes lock upon the shower-head, the water that shoots forth from it.

  The cold metal that delivers something so warm and refreshing.

  He was certain there were some men who would find poetry in it, he wouldn't strain himself searching for it. For him it would just be another thought from a well-earned shower.

  He feels the warmth of the water begin to drop and pushes the button before him so that the stream of water comes to a stop.

  He shakes his head vigorously then turns and pushes open the glass door of the shower and steps out onto a warm metal floor.

  His hand grabs the towel from the nearby rack and he dabs himself with it.

  He turns to the full body mirror to his right and his brown eyes examine his form.

  Budd was a Caucasian man, his dark-brown hair currently plastered to his head. Wrinkles across his face and a deep scar that came down across his left brow and just missed his eye.

  Some days he isn't sure he recognizes the man in the mirror that stares back at him, he wishes today was one of them. He wishes he actually was someone else for the day.

  Someone without his memories.

  He rubs at his eyes and turns back around to an open locker that contains his clothes.

  "Are we finally done wasting the water?" inquires a feminine voice from a speaker.

  "I'm done," he replies and pulls a pair of black briefs from the locker. "Not like we can't get more."

  "No, there's very much the possibility we can't get more," replied the voice. "We have still received no word on when clearance will be granted. We could very well be stuck in orbit another week."

  "Great," he grumbles and his gaze jumps to a small window that looks out into the darkness of space dotted by tiny stars.

The Warrior,

Currently Running Quiet in Orbit Above Nimbus 2, Zultan System, Drew Territory

  The metal door slides open with a loud whir as he pulls on a pair of dark blue pants, his eyes turn towards the doorway and the green-skinned, long dark-haired Skrull woman dressed in a bright red form-fitting suit that stands within the frame.

  "Not quite decent in here Lin," he says as he gives a small gesture towards the fact he is still pulling his pants up.

  "I've seen it all before Captain," she replies as her eyes take a moment to wander his body. Down the valley between his pecs and across his toned stomach, until they finally reach his hips just as he pulls his pants up high enough to hide anything lower.

  He nods in affirmation as he buttons them closed, then grabs a belt from a shelf and uses it to keep his pants in place.

  "We should talk," she tells him as she steps around him and pulls a grey shirt from the locker. "About today."