Deepest Reaches III

Sutio crouched over Troki, clutching his hand and pulling him to his feet. The boarding area was littered with bodies. Sutio could not believe they survived, but Troki knew his way around technology, hacking weapons and systems to help aid them in the onslaught. Explosions, shrapnel and enough closes shaves for two life-times made Sutio admire what Troki goes through in his life. Space is definitely the place for a pirate like him.

The two collected a weapon each and made their way further into the ship. Sutio made sure Troki led the way, keeping his sense more than alert around the murderous pirate. If there was an opening in the man’s defenses Sutio would take it, he had to try. In his realization of what Troki was Sutio came to terms with the fact that his savior belonged in an energy cell on a far-off planet.
The two watched the corners and openings and soon the halls echoed with the sound of a voice that Sutio found all too familiar.
“Sutio?” Elara asked over the ships inter-com system. “You made a mistake serving with those traders, but an even bigger one boarding this ship. I advise you leave with your friend.”
“You’re a pirate, Elara, it’s time you faced trial,” Sutio called, but regretted it instantly. Sutio could tell from the look on Troki’s face that responding to Elara only let her remaining crew-mate know where the two were.
The sound of distant footsteps caught their attention in time for them to take cover.
“Since when are you the force for good, Sutio?” Elara asked as another battle began. Troki was a marvelous tactician, so once more he took advantage of the ships systems with his various small devices. “You were the one who posed stealing the weapons yourself.”
Troki looked at Sutio and he shook his head in reply.
“It was joke,” Sutio explained, pressing his body around the corner a little more as beams of light buzzed past him,
Troki shrugged and continued calmly as the projectiles flew past him. Eventually there was a clatter of metal as the walls around the enemy pirates burst and electricity of such intense heat sparked out, lashing like burning whips. The pirates yelled in pain and fear as their bodies were cut and scorched by the rogue energy.
Troki needed only this distraction to turn the corner, lifting his two guns and firing them off in quick succession. His shots were wild and not properly aimed, however, his precision was unquestionable and in seconds the pirates were on the ground as still as rocks. Sutio watched fearfully, unable to raise his weapon. He only saw such vicious gunplay from Elara when she was aboard his ship. Space-pirates like these two were definitely skilled, but Sutio could see why Troki was more wanted than Elara.
Deactivating the panels that aided Troki, he continued his walk past the crisp corpses to the next section of the ship. As he walked he continued tapping away at small, primitive devices that bleeped with each and every tap. Soon Troki had created a full 3D map of the ship from the data he received. Placing the gadget on his belt and pressing a button an array of holograms opened up around him, revealing the opening s in the ship; it showed the structure, the turns and more importantly, red images showing exactly where the other pirates were.
From the hologram Sutio could tell that it was perfect timing. A pirate was just about to jump him and backpedaled out of the swipe. The pirate held a dagger in one hand, which would have separated Sutio’s head if he didn’t step out the way in time. Before the pirate could raise his gun Sutio had already fired, catching the pirate square in the chest. Once the dead pirate had fallen out of Sutio’s way he could see Troki watching closely. He gave Sutio the thumbs up.
To Sutio, this was the perfect time to strike. With Troki dead or incapacitated he could use the small device on the pirate’s belt to take down Elara as well. Sutio raised his rifle faster than Troki could raise his, but Troki didn’t even attempt it. With a slight tap on one of his devices the gun buzzed and felt silent, disabled and more useful as a bat than a gun now.
Sutio felt intense fear in that moment as he stood defenseless caught red-handed in his act of betrayal. Troki did not seem to react negatively, but he shook his head. Sutio counted his sins as Troki raised the pistol and closed his eyes when he heard it fire. There was a sickening thump as the pirate behind Sutio fell to the ground. When Sutio opened his eyes in surprise Troki was already turning the corner, no doubt making his way to Elara.
The young trader followed as close as he dared, wondering why Troki didn’t put an end to him right then and there. It wasn’t until Sutio turned the corner did he see a cloaked Elara morph into existence from thin air behind Troki; clearly protecting herself from the small devices sights, but not Sutio’s eyes.
“Behind you!” Sutio called just in time for Troki to catch a glance of Elara out of the corner of his eye. She had raised another cruel knife, but Troki countered against the strike.
Elara swiped here and there, Troki dodging carefully, but she was smaller and faster than him. Eventually the edge of the blade found skin and deep cuts appeared on Troki with splashes of blood on the floor. Any attempt to draw his pistol would have been a fatal move. Troki felt death closing in and decided to act wildly. If he could not use his guns, he would use what he did have.
Each strike from his fists was immediately followed with a kick. Elara was clearly the superior in close-combat and these untrained attacked only created more openings for her. Eventually, Troki create a fatal opening that Elara would have struck upon if Sutio didn’t strike her with useless rifle. It didn’t kill her, but it gave even the flailing Troki a sure opening for a heavy punch that knocked her unconscious.
Troki and Sutio stared at her for a brief moment and then turned to each other. Sutio was unsure of what was about to happen next, but was pleasantly surprised when Troki held his hand out, saying thanks. Hesitantly, he shook the space-pirates hand.
Troki helped Sutio bind and imprison her on one of her smaller ships. Sutio as took take her back to civilization while Troki took what he pleased off the ship. There were weapons on board that he wouldn’t mind taking a look at and Sutio could not argue. Glad to leave with his life, Sutio watched as the massive pirate ship faded away as his ship flew towards the nearest Nexus. Troki had every opportunity and reason to kill them both and be done with it, but Sutio was glad that he didn’t, despite his betrayal. He wouldn’t mention the co-ordinates of the ship to the law until a day later, ample time for Troki to take what he wanted and leave. That wouldn’t be the last time Troki would see Sutio, but it would certainly be the friendliest.