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WWCJCD
Oct 21, 2009 18:05:55 GMT -5
Post by faultylogic on Oct 21, 2009 18:05:55 GMT -5
Jack felt uneasy entering the ship. There was barely anyone on board but he could feel thousand of eyes, all focused on him. He shuddered a bit and try to force the feeling of dread away from himself. He instead try to focus on the beautiful lady in front of him. Of course, there wasn't much to look at since he could only see her back for the time being, but even then, it was a sight to behold. Tall, maybe around 6 feet, long blond hair tied up into a knot, dressed up in some sort of dress uniform, skirt not too high nor too low, and the sound of *click*, *click*, *click*, echoing the empty hallway, providing solid evidence that she is wearing some sort of heels. The ear-piece of her eyeglasses peeking out from her ears only completes the set of a fantasy every pubescent boy had but never admits to having. So lost in his daydream that he almost bumped into her when she suddenly stopped.
She turned to look at him, revealing a pair of clear blue eyes. He pulled back a bit and the rest of her face was revealed. It was exactly the same way he remember just a few moments ago, when he was asking about a position opened on the ship and even now, he was still enthralled.
He cleared his throat and try to apologize for almost bumping into her, before she cut in before he could say a word, "The captain is just pass this door, Mr. Jameson. You may enter when you're ready."
Jack silently cursed himself for having such a lackluster name. He cleared his throat again and was about to reach his hand forward to grab the female officer's hand and kiss it before he realize she had placed her hands behind her back. He quickly recovered and moved his hands to the front of his clothes in an attempt to straighten it. "Er.., um.., thank you. I think I'm ready to see him now." He managed to stammer out before the sheer amount of blood rushing to his head made him a bit dizzy. He took a deep breath and took a step toward the door, which opened up just for him.
He had high expectations when he walked into the bridge, only to find it to be rather... underwhelming. It was your standard freighter bridge. Cramp, noisy, full of blinking lights and dirty. Well, there was one thing that caught his eye. A rather large and elaborate chair sitting in the middle of the room, it's back facing toward Jack, hiding the sight of the man sitting in it from his eyes. It seemed rather out of place for a ship like this, and no doubt, this is the captain's chair. There was only a few other people in the room, they all looked worn and their clothes didn't fair that much better. They gave Jack a quick look before turning their attention back to their... work? He saw something else that caught his eye and before he could stop himself, he blurted out, "Is that a plunger sticking out of that man's pocket?" When he realize what he just said, he faced the chair and started apologizing and bowing, in an attempt to not anger the ship's captain. He was so focused on apologizing, he almost didn't hear the person behind him.
"Yep, that does look like a plunger sticking out of his pocket."
Jack leaped forward in surprise and managed to stop himself from falling on his face by grabbing the giant chair. He turned around, back pushed against the chair and looked at his would be ambusher. The first thing that caught his eye was the white hair. He expected an old man, only to be further surprise by the rather young face. Then he saw the mantle... A deep blue mantle was resting on this man's shoulder, completely clashing with the normal looking civilian clothes. The only thought crossing his mind at this moment was 'Who the hell wears a mantle in this time and age?'
The feeling of dread was creeping back again and Jack quickly regain his composure. He took a wild, but educated guess. "Jack Cassidy?"
"Captain Jack Cassidy." He stated with such conviction that Jack almost kneel and asked for forgiveness. He ran his fingers through his hair before placing his hands on his hips, facing Jack with half his face showing...
'Dear god, is he..., is he posing?' Jack was dumbfounded. "Er.., um..., I think I might have entered the wrong roo..."
Before he could finish, the man in the blue mantle placed one hand up, signaling him to stop speaking, while the other hand went to flick a strand of hair in front of his own face. He looked at Jack with a semi-serious face before responding, "No, no, you're obviously in the right room since you must be here to see moi, the magnificent captain of this ship. And since you're here, what kind of magnificent captain would I be if I didn't indulge your desire and tell you all about myself."
If there a word to describe the feeling that's worse the utter despair, Jack probably discovered ten such words at this moment and before he could move, the 'captain' reached forward, turn the chair around and pushed Jack onto it. Jack tried to get up, but to be stopped by a wrangling finger from the 'captain'.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. I'm sorry, but no autographs until I'm done with my story."
Jack decided then and there, to not to make any sudden movements and do the equivalent of playing dead until the man finish speaking and leaves.
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WWCJCD
Oct 21, 2009 19:35:43 GMT -5
Post by faultylogic on Oct 21, 2009 19:35:43 GMT -5
"The man in the blue mantle looked up at the poorly lit ceiling, placing one finger on his chin, with a look of ponder."
'Oh god, now he's narrating to himself...' Jack thinks to himself in shock.
"He gathers all his memories, water swells in his eyes as he remembers his days of past tragedies, of triumphs and of the unknown future." He sighs, and is now staring directly at Jack. "He finally decides there is so much to say about himself and decides that no detail is small enough to not tell to his admirer."
'ADMIRER? OH GOD, I"M GOING TO GET RA...'
The 'captain' continues his story, "No one knows for sure where and when he was born, but people suspects he came from a colony in Side 1. He was an infant when they found him aboard a freighter..."
'Now he's referring to himself in third person...' Jack wanted to pinch himself to see if he is stuck in some horrible nightmare, but he was too scared to move.
Then suddenly, the captain stops talking momentarily to wipe away a non-existent tear, "He was to be placed in an orphanage..." He suddenly looks up at the ceiling again, his face suddenly filled with admiration, his hands clutching tightly around the clothes at chest level, "But the freighter captain was a responsible man and felt it was his duty..."
'Wait, this sounds really familiar...'
"...gave each of them some credits and told them whomever earned the most will be his successor..."
'Wait, wait, wait, I know I read this somewhere before, where did I...'
"...avoid making any business transactions with him..."
'Ah, now I remember where I read this before...'
"Whether it's for good or for ill, John Cassidy is now a owner of a freighter and he fully intends to use it," concludes the man, his arms wide apart like some messianic figure. This would've been impressive if this was all made up on the spot, except...
"I know, I know, you are speechless at my improvisation skill. To condense my life story into a few paragraphs at a moment's notice..., I know, you are shocked, no, in awed at my ability..."
"Except you didn't..."
The man in the blue mantle stops and blinks at Jack. "Con permiso?"
"Great, now he's speaking in Span...." Jack only realize he had said the last line and this out loud. He decided he had enough. "Yeah, you heard me. I said 'except you didn't'" The man reeled back in horror. "You didn't make that up on the spot, you just read, word for word, what was written in the captain's character profile." The man didn't respond and Jack took this opportunity to hold up the data slate he had been holding the whole time. The lady outside had given it to him to review before getting on board. To familiarize with the captain and crew apparently. "See, here, word for word." He brought up the bio on the captain. "You talentless hack."
The captain's face suddenly turn solemn, "I... I see..., is that how it is..."
Jack was sure this man is an impostor, no captain can be that egotistic. This has to be some sort of test. Before he could marvel at his own intelligence, the man suddenly smiled, "You're not just an admirer, you're also a stalker." Now it was Jack's turn to take a step back. "Of course, why else would anyone look so hard for information about me. Then again, who wouldn't be interested in the history of the magnificent captain John Cassidy. And now, here you are, face to face with the man you so admire and quite possibly love. You must feel like the luckiest man in the world, don't you?"
Jack's eye started twitching. "Alright, that's it. I had enough." He pushed the 'captain' out of the way and tried to leave the room, only to see the beautiful lady from before standing by the door. A frown is on her face.
She spoke with an annoyed tone, "I think you had enough fun for today, John. If you insist on being this way, then we may never get a pilot for this ship." The man in the blue mantle looked shock and dejected.
"Alright, if you say so, Roslyn."
'Roslyn..., so her name is Roslyn...' Jack suddenly had another brilliant thought. "Ah ha, I knew it. You must be the captain and he's just some flunky you order around to test my patience or something." He looked at her with renewed admiration.
She turned to look at Jack with a confused look, "What do you mean?"
"I mean, you're in charge of him, right?"
She replied, "Yes, I guess..."
"Then you're the captain, right?"
"No, not really."
"Then who's the captain?"
She points to the man in the blue mantle. "That would be him, Captain John Cassidy."
"But you just said you're in charge!"
"No, I never said that."
"When I ask if you're in charge, you said 'yes'."
"No, you asked if I was in charge of him."
Jack's other eye started twitching. "Gah! Are you, or are you not the captain?"
"No. I'm the vice-captain."
"But you're in charge of him?"
"That's correct."
"And he's the captain?"
"Yes."
"How can you be in charge of the captain and not be in charge?!" Jack yells out.
"Because I'm not."
Jack lets out a blood curling scream before yelling out, "God, you're all crazy, you all belong in the nut-house. You! Are! All! CRAZY!" He sidesteps Roslyn and runs out the door, right into someone. They impacted and Jack ends up on the floor. He looks up and sees a man in a security uniform, with one hand behind his back and the other against the wall to prevent himself from falling. "Finally, someone in charge!" Jack hastily lifts himself up and grabs the man in the security uniform by the shoulder hard. "Arrest these people, they're all insane I tell you. INSANE!"
The man stares at Jack, then at the people inside the bridge, then at Jack again. Then with a nervous half-hearted smile, he lifts the hand behind his back to reveal a shiny gold watch. "You want Romex? I sell you cheap."
Jack's eyes roll back and he collapse onto the floor. Last thing he heard is a man shouting out, "Damnit Santiago, I told you not to sell your fake stuff here anymore."
Slipping in and out of consciousness, he felt Roslyn come over and take his pulse. "Seems like he's fainted."
"He out? Well good then. Bag him, tag him and let's get the hell out of here."
"Bag him and tag him? He's not an animal."
"Are you sure? Between that scream before and the foam coming out of his mouth, I can't tell the difference anymore."
"Foaming at the mouth, what are you talking ab... Oh hell. I need the medical staff to the bridge now!"
And the rest is silence...
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WWCJCD
Oct 21, 2009 22:01:08 GMT -5
Post by faultylogic on Oct 21, 2009 22:01:08 GMT -5
"...ke up Jack. It's time to wake up now."
Jack grabbed his blanket and threw it over his head. He just had the most horrible dream and he didn't feel he was in the right mood to wake up and face the world. He mumbles out, "Just a few more minutes mom."
"Mom? Hey Roslyn, do I look like a mom to you?"
Jack's eyes shot right open as he pulled the blanket off his head. He sat right up and stared right into the face of some dirty looking old man. He started screaming only to be greeted with a sharp slap from his right. It took a moment for him to realize that Roslyn was standing next to the old man and was the one to slap him
"Get a hold of yourself already!"
Jack's mouth was wide open but no sound came out of it. He stayed like that for a few minutes before closing it. Roslyn motioned to the old man to leave the room and in a few seconds, they were alone.
"Seemed like we got off on the wrong foot there, Jack." Jack flinched when he heard his name but otherwise remained calm. "Look, I know what you saw back there might seem a little strange, but I promise you, it's completely normal."
Jack sputters out, "Normal? How is that normal? That man is ins..." He stopped when he saw the look on Roslyn's face.
She relaxed and lets out a deep sigh. "Guess I have a lot of explaining to do. Well, first things first." She offers her hand to Jack. "My name is Roslyn O'Hara. I'm the vice-captain of this ship." Jack hesitantly shook her hand. "And that man you saw before is indeed captain John Cassidy." Before he could say another word, she held up her hand to stop him. "Let me finish before you say another word. It'll be easier for both of us." Jack nodded silently.
"I can tell you now, other than his time he spent aboard the freighter with his adopted father, everything he said about his life is true. So no need to question me about it. I didn't meet John until the time he had apparently left the freighter and ended up at the space colony I was working on."
"So, you were a vice-captain of a ship on that space colony?"
She broke out into a soft laughter. "Oh no, nothing like that. I can't even consider myself to be vice-captain even now. You see, I was a waitress on that colony. Or rather, an actress working as a waitress until my big break." She tugged at blouse of her uniform. "This is just one of the many costumes I had while I was acting back then. Of course, ironic to say, this is more than a costume to me now."
"So you have no formal military training?"
"Well, you can't say that. I did go to school and all, I just dropped out before my graduation so I can pursue my dream of being an actress. Just can't believe I had to drag out my dusty old textbooks for this." She smiles as she recalls her memories. "But I digress, like I was saying, I had met John when he came into my bar and drank himself into a drunken stupor. He ended the night by slamming the mug of his alcohol down, raised his fist angrily at the ceiling and yelling something about if life isn't fair, then he won't be either. And then he passed out and I threw his drunken ass out." She laughs before continuing, "Things happened and he had made some business deal, coming by the bar with apparently prospective business partners, talking about business and getting drunk. Then..., that happened."
"What?"
"I'm sure you've heard about it. The big metal scandal at Medusa Industries."
"Can't say I have."
"Well, it was big news on our colony at least. They had secretly replaced high quality metal with some cheaper and inferior metal. When that news broke out, anything that was built with metal from that company were thrown out and there was a shortage of metal. Obviously, John's business ventures were tied to metal industry and he lost everything. He stopped by the bar, looking all beat up and worn out. He was downing one mug after another and I was genuinely worried for him. I went over and stopped him for drinking anymore and told him to stop. He decided to stand up and yell at me for also trying to tell him what to do. The next thing I know, he was talking to himself something about 'if everything I do and say is wrong, then..., whatever something someone else do and say must be correct.' Before I knew it, he grabs me by the shoulder and was asking me what he should do."
"Then..., then what happened?"
"Well, what else can I do, I thought he was hitting on me, so I told him to take his lousy credit and take it where the sun don't shine. Somehow, he thought I wanted him to get a ship and go to the dark side of the moon or something. He then asked me to be his vice-captain but I decided to humor him at the time since he was quite drunk and he did lose everything. So I told him if he can get a ship within a week, then I'll agree. He somehow scrounge up a few credits from his pockets and asked me the best way to use the remainder of his money. Being somewhat annoyed, I told him to go use it to do something for the refugees stranded on the colony and then he had the strangest look in his eye."
"Strange?"
"Yes, strange, now that I think about it, you had that look just before you entered the bridge. A mixture of excitement and wonder, as if a whole new world was about to open up for you. That type of strange look. He then called me a genius and how he was an idiot for never considering that possibility and ran off."
"Then what happened?"
She waved her arm around the room and replied, "This happened. I don't know how he did it, but a week later, he showed up completely worn out, and held in his hand, an official document from the ship registry that he was the owner of a freighter. I made a promise and I kept it. I quit my waitress job, scrounged up my old books and found this little uniform in my wardrobe. Of course, I was worried about finding a crew and was discussing it with him, when a bunch of refugees showed up asking if they could work for John and that wages are negotiable."
"Oh, so that's why they looked so out of place."
"Yes, they were all refugees before they join and also why this ship needs you."
Jack looks surprise. "Me?"
"Yes, you. As you can imagine, we need a pilot, as well as several other key positions. The crew is absolutely loyal to the captain, but what good is loyalty when it can't operate a ship. They're willing to learn but unless someone with actual experience joins us, they're wasting their potential. No one here other than the captain is qualified to pilot a ship and we can't have the captain do that himself."
"Yes, about that. Why is the captain so..."
Roslyn looks away sheepishly. "That's kinda my fault. He had asked me what a captain should be and in a panic, I told him what my old teacher had told me. 'A captain must be better than everyone else, since naturally, he is the captain. People are expected to look up to him, to be inspired by him. A captain can never make a mistake and know that everything he says is for the best. He must act as if he's better than most, because he has to be. He can never falter, never look back, for if he does, then he can never make the decisions that only captains can.'"
"Basically, WWJD, but replace Jesus with John. That actually explains alot."
They waited in silence for a few minutes before Roslyn finally asks, "So, will you do it? Will you become a pilot for our ship?"
They waited in silence for a few more minutes before Jack finally spoke, "I'll agree, but if and only if I get to interview any other new potential crew members. God help me if that man makes another person go through what I went through."
Without another word, she hugged Jack, saying "Thank you" over and over again. The only thing Jack was thinking was, 'So worth it...'
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