RIPE & DRAGGERS

CHAPTER 4

Just as he expected, Rodrick's ship was a piece of junk.

This explains his desperate attempt to steal the outpost station, and by the look on this clunking contraption; Rodrick is one unlucky pirate.

This sad excuse of a star-ship is older than him by two decades.

But you have to admire Rodrick's resilience and talent to survive, given the fact that he's under-equipped. He must be one hell of a galaxy tracker and a wicked fighter.

Or, he's connected.

He docked and boarded as instructed by the ship's master and he's a bit surprised as the interior looks much better than the trashy-look outside. Rodrick is a master of disguise he thought.

This ship could easily pull as a scrap hauler. With its rusty exterior, no one would bother to give a second look. This monster could pass through Runkan backdoor security, 9 out of 10.

Clever.

When the entrance of the isolation hatch opened, it was her again that met him. The silent and calculating type. Looking at him in full scrutiny again. But amazingly it was not awkward for him but delightful.

"What was your name again?" he said cheerfully with his quaint smile.

"I didn't tell you." she said plainly before signaling him to follow her as she walked to a corridor.

By now he felt the whole ship jumping to sonic-boom. She's in a hurry indeed.

Just as the corridors are of impressive engineering, the bridge itself is superb technology almost identical to Runkan.

He cannot help himself to browse at the marvel of it's design. It is both rugged and exquisite.

When the two of them reached the center of the bridge, a short man by his 50's stood and turned to face them.

His grimace is smart and penetrating. This may largely be due to his smart-looking gray hair, dark eyes and brown skin that you rarely see in deep space travels.

The silent woman that ushered him here walked directly to him. "Kuya Rod...." she said as she bowed down before him, taking his right hand, and gently tapping the back of his hand to her forehead... "He's the one looking for Gener." she said pointing to the Runkan.

"Kaawaan ka..." he said solemnly to her.

And when she stood straight and backed away from him, it all extravagantly became clear for Bob.

This explains the pale green marking on her face, the seemingly advanced Runkan technology, and the kissing of the hand of the elder.

These people are pure Earth-bred.

The last remaining inhabitants of his ancient origin planet. A planet he has never seen nor will he ever in his life, possibly.

This explains why he cannot sense the Agimat-blood when he first saw her. Because these 'E-breds' are pure old-humans.

And by the way this smart-looking man stands, he may be the one they call Rodrick 'the whispering pirate'.

This is truly quite an encounter he told himself.

As he examined them further, his very guess is that their blood-trace may be no other than, but his own.

"I see that you like our ship....kaibigan...." the pirate said, and a few moments of silence came as they waited for his answer. "Opo..kuya.." he replied in perfect accent.