It had been a quick raid on the Prosperitan base, but a fruitful one. They had managed to acquire some useful and valuable things, some of which they were running low on.
Azzogh was in the corridor of the ship, when Zorgo, still kitted out in his armoured clothing, tapped him on the shoulder.
'What's up?', Azzogh asked, slightly startled by the masked figure in front of him. Zorgo was an imposing figure even without a mask.
'Something weird in one of the cargo holds, I think.' said Zorgo. His voice was distorted through the armoured mask. 'I'm sure I heard movement!'
'What the fuck? How can that be? We took extra care to make sure nothing uninvited got on board. You sure you're not just imagining things? I mean, it happens to all of us. Nerves and all, especially after a risky venture,' Azzogh said, still unsure if he was hearing correctly.
'I don't know, but it's making me uncomfortable, and I don't like being uncomfortable!'
'I know, mate. Neither do I. We'd better have a look.'
'I'll get you a mask in case you need it', offered Zorgo. Azzogh shook his head.
'Fuck it. I'll be fine,' he said. Even though he couldn't see Zorgo's face properly under that mask, he could almost see the scowl Zorgo did whenever he didn't agree with something Azzogh did recklessly, which was often. He walked ahead of Zorgo, dressed in his usual tattered trousers and equally tattered sleeveless jacket. The cybernetic augmentation attached to the left side of his head would give sufficient warning, of any problem and he was a master at dodging out of the way of sudden dangers.
They arrived in the doorway of the cargo hold. The noise was coming from one of the smaller rooms. They both stood there for a moment. Azzogh turned off the main light so they were stood in the doorway with the red glow of the second light. Azzogh decided to activate the dart launcher built into his left hand, just in case this stowaway turned out to be something unpleasant like a Prosperitan spy or a tracking device which was probing their ship...
The sound was weird but oddly familiar. Like one of the animals on his homeworld. But how the hell could one get on here? Zorgo was close behind him, still covered from head to toe in armoured battle gear and his movement sensers increasingly picking up on the whimpering sounds in the far corner of the room. Azzogh was cautious, despite his appearance to the contrary, but somehow, he felt that this was not a hostile visitor. He edged forward with Zorgo following him closely behind, looking in different directions in case of any other unknown or unwanted passengers. No unusual sounds came from anywhere else.
Azzogh approached the sound with his cybernetic sensers and weapons primed, but he couldn't help thinking this sound was just too familiar and not scary or unnerving. Suddenly, he stopped. There was the thing right in front of him. He recognised it instantly, but couldn't believe that one could be out here! There, right before his very eyes, was a worg. One of those four-legged, vaguely wild beasts, sometimes used as a work animal in some cases, a household pet. It was a young one, barely more than a mere cub, in fact. Azzogh and Zorgo hadn't seen one of these for quite some time, and both men were astonished. Zorgo, slowly removed his helmet, and the look of amazement in his eyes became apparent as he did so. This animal had somehow managed to get past their scanners, encased in a crate of padded clothing. He (they had already established that the creaure was male by the copper coloured crest on his back, which only males had) must have fallen asleep in there, with all that soft padding and warmth, and woken up just before Zorgo had heard him whimpering. They werent't sure what to do but neither of them, with all their histories of fighting and killing, could kill the poor beast. It just wasn't right!
'What do we do with this little fucker?' Azzogh said.
'Well... he looks like he might need feeding for a start.' replied Zorgo, dryly.
'You know what I mean! I can't just kill the poor little bastard! He's helpless'
'Well, we could do with a worg for sniffing out things that even droids have trouble sensing' said Zorgo with a smile.
'Good point. I'll get him some food and get Vandioch and Djex to help train him. they both love cuddly animals, anyway! Better double check with the sensers and computers to make sure he's what he seems to be, though! Just in case.'
'Of course! I feel that he's fine. but best be on the safe side, eh?' said Zorgo with a wry smile.
Both of them laughed partly with amusement but largely with relief! The last thing they'd wanted was some unpleasant surprise! Especially after the recent bouts of bad luck and nasty losses at the hands of Prosperity's finest butchers! No... a pleasant surprise was a much needed change in these dark times.
Over the next few months, this worg, barely more than a cub, proved himself to be a welcome addition to the increasingly notorious ship, known as the 'Star Bastard' and its equally notorious crew who had wreaked havoc to Prosperitan government forces and their suppliers. The crew called this new member 'Scratcher' due to the noises he'd been making when he was found and the noises he continued to make when agitated or excited. His worth was proved more than once in finding food on raids which had escaped the crew's attention and for making their spare time more enjoyable. As they say, small pleasures make life so much more bearable... even when you're wanted and hunted down across the endless vacuum of space!
To add a comment to the blog, you have to first join the site or login as a user
Hehe, you're welcome, my friend. I hadn't even noticed the user name 'geyagirl'. I feel such an idiot! Hahaha :D
Please to meet you :)
Niall (My real name)
Sorry, I'm confusing sometimes :)
Look at the first comment on this story, it is from the user geyagirl :)
And now I know what that means, I was wondering :) Thank you, Pend :D
I'm not familiar with geyagirl, I don't think. Who is she?
I'm not really British, by the way. I'm Irish ;)
Bedlam actually means chaos or upheaval or unruliness. I think the word has been used in subcultural slang to mean something is good :)
I meant geyagirl, she always says bedlam and I have came to the conclusion that it is a good thing. I have no idea what that means to British people....