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Chapter One
A small black ship escorted by many other ships buzzing around it like flies around garbage floated through the endless blackness of space. The Ship was an old bashed up Star Cruiser that had been sent out of control during a wild firefight with some of the rebel Raptorin Battle Cruisers. The small fly like ships were of an unknown race to the three lone survivors of the ship. They watched in unspeakable horror as the ships came crashing at the Cruiser, hitting it, and going into the ship then fly away. The three inside had no ideal what was going on.
"Sir what do you think those, pests are doing?" a man with gray hair down to his knees that looked like it had not been combed for years. He had on a grey shirt with the sleeves ripped of, and small rips in the main part of the shirt. He had on what used to be pants, but now they were just shorts with a jagged ridge line on the bottom. He had parts of his sleeve wrapped around his arm. The sleeve had dried blood from a small cut on his arm.
"I'm at a complete lack of knowledge at what they are doing." The other younger looking man said. He had brown hair that was sticking up in every which way. He had not so rugged looking clothes. He had a small bandage across his forehead, were he had smashed it up against one of the bulkheads when the ship had lost control.
"Sir, from what I observe. It looks like every time they hit the ship, part of it ends up missing. They may just be scavengers." the small woman that was leaning up against the bulkhead said. She had long blonde hair. Her pant legs were torn by her feet. She had to bright red shoes on, and a small bandage around both of her hands. She had to use crouches since she had broken her left leg in the battle.
"Looks like your right, Meg." The younger looking man said.
"Thanks a lot, McClaine." Meg said. "I always try to be helpful."
"Let's see if we can make contact with them." McClain ordered. "To the bridge on the double."
Meg grabbed her crutches, and chased after the two men as fast as she could. After a while she started to fall way behind. She suddenly heard a loud thud against the wall beside her. Then another thud. It got louder, and louder. Then she saw the wall come in just a little. She came to a intersection, and screamed. "Hey, guys. There's something wrong back here."
McClaine heard the shout and ran back towards her. He finally reached her. He saw the bulkhead slam into the bulkhead on the other side. Meg was just a few centimeters behind the bulkhead. Then it came in again. "Oh, my holy cow. The bulkheads breathing!" McClaine shouted.
Meg reached the point were McClaine had stopped to stare. The bulkhead had now feel into rhythm, and it really did look like it was breathing. McClaine grabbed Meg, and lifted her up. He started to run with Meg in his arms. Faster and Faster McClaine ran. He didn't care about breathing. He didn't care about the terrible pain in his side. He didn't care about his muscles screaming to set Meg down, and leave her there to die. All McClaine cared about at that moment was to get Meg and himself to safety. No matter how far he had to run. He started to speed up.
McClaine started to scream out in pain as the sour spot in his side turned from just hurting to if he didn't stop right then and there he would be in pain for hours. McClaine didn't care about that spot in his side. He knew pretty soon that spot would be on both sides. He screamed mostly from the fact that his arms felt like rubber. His arms were shacking like a person who has to get shocked to be brought back to life.
McClaine kept a steady pace for a while. He knew if he didn't look back over his shoulder he wouldn't know how close the wall was to him. Plus he wouldn't slow down because of it. McClaine knew if he just slowed down for one second he could become pan cakes on one of the bulkheads. McClaine had cleared everything out of his head. He only paid attention to getting one foot in front of the other in a very rapid pace: left, right, left, right, left, right, left. "Don't stop. I can do this." McClaine thought to himself.
Suddenly McClaine was pushed a little to the left. "GREAT!" he shouted. The breathing bulkhead had finally caught up with him. He looked ahead to find a place Meg and himself would be safe. He saw a small opening in the ceiling. "I can throw Meg in there, and a least she would be safe. He came closer, and closer. He threw Meg into the small hole.
Meg's feet hung down while she desperately tried to wiggle herself into the hole. As McClaine flew past he shoved her dangling feet up into the hole. Her feet missed the breathing bulkhead by mear millimeters.
McClaine kept running, now that he had less weight on his arms he just might be able to get into one of those holes. He looked over his shoulder. He was smashed up against the wall by the very edge of the breathing bulkhead. It started at him again. he twirled away from it, and into safety. McClaine fell to the floor in relief, but he got right back up. "Got to find Meg." He said to himself. He slowly walked back the way he had come, with his hands on the back of his head. After a minute or two he came to the hole he had pushed Meg up into. "Anyone there?" McClaine asked.
"Yeah, so help me out of here." Meg ordered.
"I hope the old guy is okay." McClaine said with concern in his voice. Meg's crouches were handed down to him. Then Meg swung her legs down, and McClaine helped her down.
"Yeah I hope he's okay to." Meg said.
"He's not as athletic so he wouldn't be able to do something like that. I'm surprised I could." McClaine said jokingly.
"Yeah you're right. I'm surprised we're still alive. I wonder how you managed to carry me, and my crouches, run, and be really concerned about that so called breathing bulkhead at the same time." Meg said.
"I hope they find us so we can tell them about this one." McClaine said as he started to help Meg walk down the corridor.
After a while they reached a small room with space suites in it. "Hey we better put these on in case those bulkheads crash in on us, and we're sucked out in a space vacuum."
"Great idea." Meg said then started to slipped on the small black body case with jet pack equipped. Then she slipped on the gloves and the boots. Then she placed the round gold fish shaped helmet. Now you couldn't tell she had been on this ship for five years
"I hope your not one of those people who get sick out there in space." McClaine stated.
"Don't worry." Meg answered. They started to walk down the long narrow corridor. McClaine was helping Meg stay up on her feet. They kept walking not knowing were to go since they were totally lost. They came to an intersection in the corridors. That was when McClaine heard the loud exploding sound, and felt the slight tug on his back. "What was that?" Meg asked confused.
"I'm not sure." McClaine said. The slight tug was now a unbearable force. McClaine clung to the bulkhead with Meg wrapped in one arm. Suddenly his feet were swept out from under him. "Great!" McClaine shouted with the slightest hint of defeat in his voice. Meg was still wrapped in his arms. The zero gravity was keeping her up.
Since there was no gravity McClaine just had to have a slight grip on her. McClaine's arms were starting to fell like rubber from holding on to the bulkhead with the tremendous pull on his feet. "Be ready to fly." McClaine ordered. He let go of the bulkhead. He lost hold of Meg. She went flying ahead of him. McClaine straitened up so he would fly up towards her. He slowly started to catch up to her. He knew if he didn't catch her before they entered space she would be lost. He got closer and closer, "Come on!" he shouted. Closer and closer. He reached out to grab her, and he only caught the air her feet was occupying just seconds before. He tried again with no luck.
He could see the opening in the ship which they were heading straight for. The hole come closer and closer. He sailed right next to her. "Grab my hand!" McClaine shouted.
Meg reached out for McClaine's hand. He grabbed for it. He came close, but he smashed into the outside of the large hole in the ship. "AHHHHH!" Meg shouted. She was sucked into space with barely any hope of being saved.
"Meg!" McClaine shouted. Then broke into tears. "I'll save you." He shouted as he activated his jet pack.
McClaine charged after the floating figure in space. McClaine activated his speaker. "Meg do you hear me!" McClaine shouted into the speaker.
"I read ya' how do I start this jet pack?" Meg asked. She started to drift farther and farther away from the ship.
"Hit the red button on the front of the suite." McClaine answered. He shot up towards Meg. Her jet pack suddenly came to life, and sent her hurling forward. McClaine chased after her. Suddenly he heard a soft muffled voice in the speaker. "Get de' intruders."
"McClaine what the heck was that?" Meg asked scared. She struggled to twirl the jet pack around to face McClaine. Suddenly a ship whizzed past McClaine. "McClaine are they attacking us."
"Looks like it. We need to get back to the ship." McClaine ordered. He flew up to Meg, grabbed her, and twirled them around. They shot back towards the ship with incredible speed. "HERE WE COME!" McClaine shouted to no one in particular. The Scavenger ships were right behind them. Chasing them. For parts. To build a ship.
McClaine and Meg continued towards the ship. With both of the jet packs pushing them McClaine had one heck of a time gettin' control of them, and keeping' them on a straight course. They were getting closer and closer. "Let's go come on come on." McClaine said trying to get the jet packs to go faster. Closer and closer.
"I'm givin' it all she's got capin' and she can't take much more." Meg said. They were going faster and faster. Closer and closer. The Scavengers were getting farther behind them. Suddenly they were inside there own ship. Into safety, or so they thought. One of the Scavenger ships followed them into there ship. "Yippee-Kay-Aye! This is gonna be good!" Meg shouted excited.
They speed down the small corridor. They suddenly came to a corner McClaine shoved the jet backs into a curve. Sending them twirling around. McClaine smashed into the bulkhead. The Scavenger ship came around the corner. Headed straight toward the spot on the bulkhead were McClaine and Meg were. McClaine hit the gas on the jet pack. His feet were smashed up against the bulkhead by the Scavenger's ship. "AHHHHHHHHH!" McClaine shouted out in pain as his feet were turned into pancakes against the bulkhead. "I'll never use those again!" he shouted. Then smashed on the gas.
He flew down the long corridor headed for the spacedock were all the starships were parked. He made his way down the long curving corridor. Not hitting the bulkhead again. He stirred the jet pack with ease learning from his mistake. He flew down the corridor with confidence. He never looked over his shoulder to see who close the Scavenger was. That was the first thing they had taught him in Applying school for Star Search.
After a long time of making sharp corners, and doing twirls and spins. They reached the docking bay. McClaine switched Meg's jet pack off, and threw her towards one of the ships. "Get in!" McClaine shouted.
Meg landed on the top of the triangular ship. She slipped off to one side. Meg grabbed onto the edge of the ship with one hand, and pushed the button to open the button to open the cockpit with the other. She fell down into the cockpit, and closed it back up.
McClaine was flying around the docking bay with the Scavenger on his tail. He flew around ships, headed toward walls and turned at the last second. The Scavenger still followed him with no hint of stopping. Meg charged the weopens on the ship. "Hey, McClaine, get into cover." Meg ordered as she slipped the aiming mechanism over her eyes.
"Meg are you crazy?" McClaine asked, "You could blow us all into space."
"Just do it." Meg ordered in a stern voice. She was following the ship with the guns waiting for McClaine to get his butt into c save space.
McClaine finally gave up, and switched his jet pack off. He landed face first on the ground rolling a couple of feet. The ship whizzed past over his head. He got up. McClaine made a crazy dash for the nearest door. The Scavenger's ship was now turned around. The ship came towards him. Closer and closer. "here goes nothing!" McClaine shouted. He dove to the small space between the ship and the floor. He rolled then got up on his feet, and ran again.
He ran and ran not looking over his shoulder. "Dive McClaine!" Meg ordered him. McClaine dove and rolled. The ship whizzed over his head. Sending his hair forward for a second.
"I hate my job!" McClaine shouted. He started to run again. he was almost to the door when the Scavenger ship smashed into his back. McClaine went flying toward the closed door. "Stupit!" McClaine shouted.
McClaine smashed into the door with a loud thunk. He fell to the ground. "McClaine are you okay?" Meg asked. McClaine shook his head yes then reached to open the door. It swung open McClaine pulled himself in. The Scavenger ship flying towards him. He was almost in. The Ship was getting closer and closer. McClaine pulled his feet in then slammed the door shut. The Scavenger ship smashed into the. Pushing the door in. McClaine ran to the back of the room, and balled up. He heard a loud explosion then the door came flying in towards him. He laid down on the floor. The door smashed into the bulkhead. McClaine rolled out of the way as the door came down unto the floor were he had been just seconds before.
"WHAT ARE YOU TRIN' TO DO KILL ME!" McClaine shouted as he walked threw the smoke, rubble, and burring pieces of the Scavenger ship.
"Well at least now we can see in here. It's not so dark." Meg said trying to get McClaine to laugh.
"Let's go. They'll probably destroy the ship before we have time to get out." McClaine said then climbed into one of the triangular ships. He lifted off. Into the swarm of Scavenger ships. Ready to get revenge for the destruction of the Scavenger they had just killed.
William (Will) Wong stared unknowingly out of his window. His right arm flinched every couple of minutes. He still couldn't get over his best friend and former agent's sudden death two days ago.
Andy stood in the middle of a long road in an old western style town. He was after a drug and gun smuggler, with some illegal gambling thrown in on the side.
He stood there waiting for either his death to one of the best gun fighters in the west. Or Will hoped a victory over the man with the scared face.
Suddenly another man stepped out onto the street, " I was 91fraid ya wouldn't show up." The other man shouted.
"No I was sure you wouldn't show, cowboy." Andy angrily shouted back.
Will ran over to Andy and started to talk just a little scared that Andy might lose, "Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Trust me, man. I ain't gonna dye. Got it covered. So don't worry, cowboy. Got a shoot-out to attend." Andy answered very convincingly, then started to walk toward the other man.
" Ya Know the rules ten paces turn, draw, shoot. You lose you dye." The other man said.
They stood back to back then started to walk away and count, " 18528538548558568578588598510."
They both whipped around, and pulled out there guns. But Andy dove for the protection of two barrels. Two men jumped out of the saloon each holding out dated rifles. Each of them shot two bullets at the barrels that Andy was behind.
Andy crawled out from behind the barrel just before the bullets ripped through the wood of the barrels. Will started for his gun, but was smacked on the head. He whipped around and saw a slim, tall. Bold man wearing a torn up Lions shirt and blue jeans.
Will took a punch to the stomach. Then was smashed on the head by his two large hands. Will fell two the ground. Then crawled between the man's legs. Will punched the back of his knees. The man fell down to his knees.
Will grabbed his arms and yanked them back. When his head touched the ground. Will kneed the back of his head. Then Will smashed his head into the other mans head. The man went limb. Will got up to see how Andy was doing.
The two men with the out dated rifles were lying in the middle of the road. Andy was in the saloon having a fist fight with the man with the scared face.
Andy dunked as scared face tried to take a power shot. Andy grabbed his arm as it flew over his head. Andy twirled the arm around and flipped scare face over his back. Scare Face grabbed Andy's foot and yanked it. Andy smashed unto the ground.
" Just a minute ,Andy, I'll save you!" Will yelled.
"You can't save him he's doomed, and so is this whole town ,punk." Scare Face yelled back, then he pulled out a bunndle of explosives. "These are in every building on this street. The whole town will blow to bits in about two and a half minutes. Bye, bye, cowboy. HA,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,."
"Will get out of here!" Andy shouted as he tackled Scare Face.
Will started to run out of the town when he had a idea. He looked under the side walk he saw a row of explosives. " Can't get all of those." He said to himself. He got up and started to run out of the town. He heard an explosion then jumped. He was pushed forward. He twirled in the air and landed with a thud.
He stood up and looked at the rubble. He hoped to see Andy get up and wave to him. He never got the chance.
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