Dead Men Have No Legacies: Stories of a Seasoned Bounty Hunter

Chapter 37

It took us an hour to dig a grave big enough for the Narravokian to fit in, and I quickly covered the body by pushing the gray dirt back over it.

When my work was done, I rose to my feet and limped over to my ship.

"Let me help you," Alannah offered while looping my arm around her neck.

"I can walk just fine," I assured her. I tried to step away from her, but In that moment, my right leg gave out on me.

"Uh huh, sure you can," she continued, helping me to my feet, "You helped me when I fell, so it's only fair that I do the same for you."

Damn...I hate when you have a point...

Alannah sat me down on a crate when we had entered the Ravager's cargo hold, and she ran off to fetch a med pack. A few moments later, she returned and worked on removing the armor that protected my right leg. After that, she rolled up the pant leg and got to work patching the wound.

"Why do you do this to yourself?" Alannah murmured, not removing her gaze from the bullet wound in my leg.

I hung my head back and sighed. "I wish I had an answer for you, Ali. I...guess I'm just used to the pain. Every time I get shot–every time I get hurt, it barely even fazes me. If anything, I welcome the pain."

"Why?"

"It's better than nothing."

After that, Alannah fell silent. She finished working on my wound, put my armor back on, and helped me stand up.

She offered me a weak smile, but I could tell she was distraught. The tear streaking down her left cheek told me as much. "Let's go see what that shiv has on it..."

I wrapped my arms around her and held the gunsmith close. "I'm sorry, Ali. I know relying on pain is not healthy, but it's all I've had to keep me going. I promise I'll try to kick that habit, but for now, please bear with me."

Alannah removed my helmet and caressed my face. "I sure hope you'll kick that habit. You have people who care about you, Cylus. I...Honestly don't know what I would do with myself if I lost you..."

I took her hand in mine and kissed it. "I'm going nowhere, mijn sintel."

In response, Alannah wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me.

"Good." she breathed.

We walked into the cockpit a few moments later. When I had settled into my seat, I played the message Gavin had left me.

"Is...Is this thing working? Yes? Yes, good." He cleared his throat. "Third stop down memory lane. Feel warm and fuzzy yet? Ah, I miss the little sparring matches we used to have. Anyway, it's time I see you again, my friend. Come to Pyrrhici. I'll see you there, partner." 

And with that, the message cut off.

"Prick," Alannah hissed, "Only I get to call you partner."

"A-hem." Boreas chimed in as I powered the Ravager up. However, we both ignored him for the time being.

Alannah rolled her eyes before she spoke. "What are the odds of us walking into a trap?"

"Oh, they're very high." I responded, steering my ship away from the depressing city below us. "Humor me real quick: Where's Pyrrhici again?"

Alannah frowned. "Um...I think that's in another system altogether. If my memory is correct, I believe Pyrrhici is in the Darkaskh system."

I entered the name into my navigation computer and allowed auto pilot to take over when it successfully found Pyrrhici.