@whknott
Vart Dadher took his helmet off for the first time in decades. Free of the shielding, he can see all the horrors he's committed reflected on his eyes. The reality altering drugs the suit feeds him help him ignore everything but the mission he must complete. But now, alone and with his mind clear as it hasn't been in what seems forever, he can feel the pain, the sorrow. The shame. Everything. But, most of all, he is aware of the imperative need to go to the barber… #WritingPrompt
@whknott
He was a redneck space trucker, but that was just a cover. he was one of the most infamous criminals in the sector, a Terran toad trafficking, pokeweed smuggling, Aldebaran vodka running rogue known throughout the sector by the name Harley Hogg. Larceny, robbery, confidence scams were bread and butter to him. He'd likely never done a good thing in his entire life. None of that bothered the king (his cabinet was full of such men) but he was somewhat disturbed by the fact that he found Hogg's portrait in the queen’s Red Cypher Box, along with her business and financial records, and that it was scented.
Brother Frogus sorted the ancient library crystals. For no particular reason, one attracted his attention and he put it into the visualizer. A haunted face appeared.
Don't be like me. I was once a writer, a poet, and artist. I posted my works to the Omni-net for all to read, hear, and see. I pursued beauty and had many followers. Many contributed praise and gifts that allowed me to live. Then the Omni-lords accused me of deviance and took my works for themselves. And thus, I die.
Gaemalin gazed at himself in the mirror. He did not recognize the face that looked back at him. The years of intergalactic piracy had stolen his youthful vigor, had made him hard and cold. I decided then and there that that would end today. He would steal away while the crew slept and night shift busied themselves with necessary tasks of running the ship.
Shortly after the midwatch bell chimed, he grabbed the meager bag he had packed and headed for the shuttlepods bay. He knew the bay would be unmanned at this time with no scheduled raids. He rigged the hull energy locks to disengage just long enough for the vacuum to eject the pod nearest the doors. He got into the pod and sealed the door. The locks disengaged and the pod was ejected into space, then the locks reset.
He drifted for countless minutes, hoping the lock action had not alerted the bridge crew. After about an hour he felt safe enough to energize the pod, and headed off to begin his new life.
~fin
Add comment