| Viewing Single Post From: Archeological Contracts (Open) | |
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| ~The Boss~ | Jun 27 2009, 09:15 PM |
Everbody funny... now you funny too.
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"Whoa there, bring her down easy!" Nick Scanlan said over the pilot's shoulder as the dropship was rocked by turbulence. "Remember, this is a Pelican, not Ronnie's bigass gunship. You ain't gotta force it." The pilot was Nick's sixteen year old daughter Casey, a high-spirited kid with blue dyed hair and a nose ring. She also a feel for the cockpit, and Nick had started teaching her to fly when she was thirteen. Now she flew for her dad and Jimmy when they were out working. One time, she got to fly Henry from New York up to Mars, and it was like she'd gotten to fly the Pope. "There's a good spot," Nick said, pointing out the windshield. "Right there in that ravine. Set her down there." Casey nodded, and guided the dropship down to the surface. When they said this planet was a dustbowl, they definitely weren't kidding. Nick had seen worse though. Hell, he thought, you didn't even have to leave to leave Earth to find landscapes more desolate than this. Nick walked into the rear of the ship, where the other passenger was seated with her rifle on her lap. "You gonna behave yourself?" he asked. Grace gave him an annoyed look, then smirked and flipped him the bird. Just the kind of answer he'd expected from her. He'd known Grace since she was a kid, not much older than Casey was now. She was smart-assed little punk then, and she was a smart-assed little punk now. "I'll take that as a 'no.'" "I ain't gonna go all crazy or nothin', if that's what you mean," Grace said. "This is your job, you asked me to help, so that's what I'm gonna do. I'm coloring inside the lines on this one." They felt the ship touch down, and gathered up the gear. Nick had his shotgun, Grace had her .30-06 sniper rifle, plus sidearms for both of them. There was the ammo; explosive rounds and shells for the rifle and shotgun respectively, armor-piercing rounds for the pistols. Nick also grabbed a big duffel bag that was full of all sorts of homemade explosives Grace had cooked up in her kitchen. "Remember," Nick said to Casey as they were about to leave, "anything happens, what do you do?" "Take off and jump away, no matter what," Casey said, rolling her eyes. "I got it, Dad, I got it." "Well I gotta tell ya." She kissed him goodbye, and he and Grace headed down the ramp. ........................ "So why the hell are we raiding a dig site?" Grace asked. She and Nick had been hiking through the barren hills for over an hour now, on their way to the spot where he'd said this place was. Grace hadn't said anything, but she was beginning to suspect they were lost. "Old stuff is worth money," Nick replied. "Old Marine buddy of mine lives out here, says the local bandits snatch what they can and sell it in the settlements. He says they're even bringing back Chozo artifacts, so you know there's gonna be some amazing shit there." "What the hell's a Chozo?" "Ancient race. Big bird people. Really advanced." Nick set the duffel bag down for a minute to stop and rest, both of them getting their canteens out. He was a big strong guy, but lugging that heavy bag around for so long was bound to wear anyone out. "I hear they've been hiring bounty hunters to look after the place. Supposed to be some heavy hitters." "Like who?" "I dunno. Heavy hitters." "You think we can do that? Take on a bunch of bounty hunters, just the two of us?" Nick picked up the back and they headed off again. "Ain't that the kind of thing you do all the time?" "Well yeah, but I ain't usually got your ass slowing me down." "Who says I'll slow you down? You forget kid, I was a Marine. A Helljumper, the best of the best of the goddamn best." "And that was how many years ago? You're pushing forty, you only eat red meat and fried food, and you only drink booze and black coffee." "Yeah, but I'm still one mighty fine specimen of man." Nick flashed a big grin and sidled up closer to Grace. "I keep tryin' to demonstrate to ya." "Ew." Grace shook him off, rolling her eyes at his boorishness. Which was lovable in the right context, but usually just repulsed her. "Don't you go acting all prudish on me," Nick grumbled. "You been bangin' Jimbo for years, and I know you jumped into bed with Murphy. You ain't got nothin' left for me?" "Jimmy and Murphy don't have back hair." "Just gives ya somethin' to hang onto," Nick said winking. "Oh my god... and you wonder why Casey can't talk to you about sex." Grace trudged on across the ridge, letting that sink in. "Hey, hold on there a minute," Nick said when it finally did sink in. "You mean to tell me she talks to you about sex?" "Well, yeah. Who else is she gonna talk to?" She turned and pressed on. "Hey, hey you can't just say somethin' like that and just walk away!" Nick said. "What'd she tell you? Who's been messin' 'round with my little girl? I want names!" Grace only grinned and shook her head. |
 If Mama Cass had just given that ham sandwich to Karen Carpenter, they'd both still be alive today. | |
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| Archeological Contracts (Open) · Sci-Fi Role Plays | |
10:24 AM Nov 30
