The S.S Delinquent

Chapter 15 & 16

Chapter Fifteen

   The Landing Docks were far bigger than Tatts could have ever possibly imagined, it was like the size of a small city planet all by itself. It was a constant hive of activity with workers running around refueling, unloading their traded items and repairing space ships.

   It totally blew her mind and made her realize how small the Orphanage really was. You could have fit her former living space in here thousands of times over and it made her feel a little agoraphobic. She had never seen so many people in her life (that was including all the people from the Medical Bay)

   The lower levels of the S.S Europe was entirely dedicated to holding all of the different space ships. The largest were obviously the Alliance War Ships which were heavily decorated with massive symbols of the Fleet, they were covered in massive guns and shielding devices for battles.

   The next biggest were the Cargo Ships that went off all around the galaxy to trade items with other planets. Some specialized in collecting fresh drinking water from ice planets, others in edible goods from the agricultural worlds. A few ships were like flying market stalls that sold everything and anything else you could possibly require.

   The smallest ships were the personal ships which obviously belonged to the more richer members of the United Space State Alliance, these were mainly for pleasure purposes for a cruise around the stars whenever they fancied.

   There were also hundreds of small single seater Fighter Ships which were armed with smaller guns. These were for the cadets from the Academy to train on until they graduated on to the much bigger and more well armed versions.

   Tatts wondered which ship would be hers to co-captain, as they walked past row upon row of state of the art space ships. She was highly relieved that she would not be the one to have to be the pilot, as she wouldn't have a clue where to evens start.

   "Ah.... the sweet smell of engine fuel" Chunk declared, taking a big lungful then coughing his guts up.

"Careful you don't go getting high, we've got to reverse out of this place yet" Squid Boy warned playfully.

"Don't go telling that to Snot" Rat Features joked.

   "Hey! I'm not a junkie" Snot complained offended, trying to whack him on the arm.

"Anymore...." Rat Features corrected, dodging a slimy punch.

"He prefers plant based drugs" Knuckles corrected with an evil smirk.

"Shut up!" Snot yelled in a high pitched, stressy voice.

   He did not want it publicly known that he liked to partake in a little mind altering substances occasionally, although everyone already knew that was what he had been locked up for. Snot especially did not want to end up being thrown back in the Orphanage again after having this small taste of freedom because of it.

   "You are no longer in the Orphanage, stop acting like you are!" Cadet Lockhart scolded, as the other cadets looked on irritated by their childish bickering.

"Sorry, Cadet Douchebag" Knuckles apologized under his breath, making Rat Features snort with amusement.

"Yeah, act your ages for once!" Snot told them off, squelching off in a huff. It was hard to take him seriously when he made farty sounds as he walked.

   Thankfully, Cadet Lockhart did not hear their immature remarks so they did not get punished for it. He walked off from the other cadets to go and stand beside a awe struck Tatts, it seemed he was determined not to let Matchsticks be alone with her for a second.