The Crimson Captain

Chapter 3: The Bar

The old bar had a pungent aroma of cheap whiskey and dirty leather that wafted around the tables and bars. The floors were sticky in spots and the wood creaked every time a drunkard wobbled over them. The alcohol was at least cheap, but that isn't why most come to a place like this, certainly not him.

"Can I get you another shot, Rogers?" says a smiling barmaid, quite an attractive one at that.

He leans forward in his chair and reaches for her arm, "Come away with me, Pam. You deserve better than this place."

She pulls her arm away slowly. "You know I don't date outlaws, Mr. Rogers."

"That hurts Pam, I'm just an honest, hardworking and misunderstood man", he says with a smirk.

She fills up his glass and starts to walk away. "You should tell that to the Bounty Hunters next time they start shooting at you again, Mr. Rogers."

He smiles and knocks back the drink, "One day, Pam, I'm going to have you and the whole Galaxy both in my hands."

Pam pops up from behind the bar and gives a mocking laugh. "You let me know when you own the Galaxy and I'll come running."

A file slams down on the bar and knocks over an empty glass next time him. "Leave that poor damn girl alone, Rogers. No one deserves the torture that is your loathsome voice" says a tall, slender man with dark hair.

Rogers face turns sour. "Now you listen here, Will, I will shoot you right the mouth. I've been waiting for your lazy ass in this bar for 45 minutes. You better have me something worth while or I may forget that I shouldn't shoot people."

Will picks up the empty glass and orders a drink. "If you took care of your pistol, I might be scared. I'm more worried that it will backfire and shoot you in your own mouth. Though, I guess that would make for an improvement."

Rogers starts reaching for his holster and unhooks the safety strap.

Will slowly lifts his hands up in peaceful gesture. "Alright, calm down and check the file. You really need to get a sense of humor, Rogers."

"I'll get a sense of humor when you learn to shut your damn mouth. What did you bring me this time?" Rogers snarls.

While Rogers opens the document, the barmaid pours Will his drink. "Thanks, sweetheart."

Rogers hand twitches slowly near the gun holster when he hears Will's comment.

"...It's a simple smuggling job, I doubt you can frack this one up." Will sighs.

Rogers clenches the folder in his hands. "The last time you said that, a bounty hunter shot my ship to shit and I barely made it out alive. Poor Johnny still has nightmares."

"Look, you knew the risks that come with a kidnapping job. I had you two other, perfectly safe jobs, and you chose to go with that one," he protests. "and I'm pretty sure you don't care about Johnny anyway...."

"Whatever." he burps. "If I come back with one scratch on me from this job, you will have more holes in you than you can fracking count."

Will shakes his head in disbelief. "Considering that I am the only one that will deal with you on this entire planet, I doubt that. Now, do you want the job or not?"

Rogers skims over the file and knocks back Will's drink. "Is this a simple Pickup and Delivery?"

"Kind of. You will need to go through two checkpoints, though." he says, avoiding eye contact.

Rogers clenches his teeth. "You know, I don't actually want to shoot you. I'm trying to maintain my new record, I haven't shot anyone in 3 days, but you aren't making this easy."

"I know it's not ideal, but there is a strict time frame for this job, It either gets done within the next 15 hours, or it's no deal." Will explains. "The only way to pull that off is through the checkpoints. Any detours will see you far past the allotted time, and us without a payday."

Rogers motions for another drink. "Look. I can squeeze through maybe one of the lower checkpoints. But even I can't pull off two. This is going to Tera, right? I can't get shit passed that jump gate, even if my jammers weren't out of date by about seven years."

Will stands up and straightens his jacket. "I've already installed brand new jamming devices on your ship 20 minutes ago. They will be coming out of your payment upon delivery, of course. You shouldn't have any issues with the checkpoints now."

Rogers slams his fist on the table. "Who said you could touch my damn ship, you fracking weasel!?"

Will places a few credits on the table and starts to walk away.

"Hey! I didn't say I would take the damn job! How much does this shit even pay?"

"Back of the file!" Will shouts as he walks out the door.

Rogers turns to the last page, "Hmm...."

After a few minutes of studying the file, Rogers pays his tab and asks Pam to come with him once more. She gives her usual answer, they both smile, and he walks out of the bar. Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a communications device. It was an older model communication wrist watch that they stopped making about 15 years ago. They don't pick up frequencies too well in big cities, but you can still carry out a clear enough conversation with one; best of all, the government doesn't bother to listen in on their specific frequency any more.

He clicks the button on the side and holds it down. "You there Johnny?"

After a few moments of static, a voice breaks through. "What's up, Cap?"

"Get the ship out of dock. Prepare it for take off and have it ready to travel to Tera."

"We got a job?" he asks.

"I don't know if you're gonna like it anymore than I am, but it's got one hell of a payout."

"I'll go get the ship ready. Will Miss Pam be joining us this time?" A faint giggle leaks out at the end; one that he will surely regret very soon.

"You shut the fracking hell up and start that goddamn ship, Johnny!"

"Yes sir!" he winces.