Drom 5: Relationships
#5 of Drom
Drom 5: Relationships.
Milo had spent the last 15 minutes in silent contemplation intently observing the chess board in front of him. He analyzed every rook, pawn, knight and bishop. He was sure he had her this time. He glanced up at Kali. Cradling her head at the end of her graceful neck in one hoof, she looked almost bored. As soon as she noticed him looking at her the look of boredom vanished as she smiled at him.
"Take you time Milo, please." She said, soft and polite as always.
It had been about a week since Milo had awoken on the ship. He continued to build muscle mass at the gym Adelaide had set up on one of the lower levels. It was clear that Adelaide considered this ship her unassailable base of operations and had done everything in her power to equip it with everything imaginable. There was even a shooting range in one of the gigantic cargo rooms, if a space so large it had it's own horizon could still be still be called a room. Milo was constantly surprised at the sheer size of the space ship. In fact, the ship was so large it had its own teleportation system to move between sections. Kali had told him that even after ten years on the ship she had yet to see half of it.
Milo had rapidly grown to like Kali. It was hard not to. She was kind to a fault, a pleasure to be around. Not to mention the fact she had saved his life. She never brought it up, but Milo had seen the Laboratory where he had spent the last six months of his life. A mountain of complex looking equipment with arcane dials and incomprehensible readouts had kept him alive as she 'worked'. Milo still shivered slightly at the thought. It didn't help that were no beds in the laboratory, just an operating table and what looked like many giant freezers. Milo didn't have the stomach to open one and look inside. And he definitely did not have the stomach to look under the cloth over a vat that Kali had informed him still held the head of the body he now occupied. 'Great!' Adelaide had said 'We've even got a spare!' Milo didn't know what to make of what was under that cloth, the only thing he was sure of was that he never wanted to see it himself.
One of the first things Milo discovered after he was able to wonder the ship was that, despite being on a futuristic space ship, there was not a whole lot to do. Kali spent most of her time in one of the Medical Labs conducting research. She seemed driven to use the advanced equipment on the ship, quite possibly the most advanced in the galaxy, to produce the miraculous effects of medical science. Adelaide had a bit more varied schedule focused on martial aspects. She spent her time in the armoury, the shooting range, the gym, or apparently randomly checking on Milo. Milo knew Adelaide didn't trust him, but it be fair, it seemed Adelaide didn't trust anyone.
Adelaide remained unreadable and decidedly neutral. Ever since Kali had told him of Adelaide's 'condition' he had been watching her closely. It was possible that the extra attention was making him notice and over analyzed her ever tiny move, but he found her almost unnerving to be around. She often moved with what could only be described as a blunted ferocity, as if she dared the very laws of physics to defy her. Or the way she seemed to bounce suddenly from cracking jokes to threatening to dump him out an airlock with utter conviction, all in the same breath. She had propositioned him for sex twice more, yet she never left him alone with Kali for long, and was always armed. She would always respond to greetings and farewells with the exact same forced cheerfulness, no matter the nature of the conversation, as if it was some kind of trained reply. Adelaide was simply ... unnerving.
"Knight to E6." He said finally. The white small figure shifted on the board, following his verbal command.
Without so much as a blink, Kali imminently responded. "Pawn to C3." Almost as the words left her muzzle thick angry red letters blinked into existence above the board. 'Unavoidable checkmate in 5 moves. Black wins.'
"What? How? Play!" Milo growled at the board. The pieces shifted around, running through every possible outcome of the next five moves. Each and every time, the white king was mated, winning black the game. Milo's ears slowly lowered as each piece darted across the board, his defeat becoming increasingly apparent. He gazed down at his small battered white army with resignation.
Kali chuckled softy. "Sorry Milo, do you want to play again?"
Milo shook his head with a grimace. "No, there are only so many beatings I can take in a row."
"OK then. I think I'll go back to the laboratory. There are some samples I want to keep an eye on."
Milo internally winched. Being around Kali had a calming affect on his nerves. Somehow, the gnawing claws of his addiction calmed to a dull ache when he was around the Alpaca. Maybe it was the way she looked him, how when their eyes met he saw no malice, no animosity, no mistrust, only concern for his well being. Or maybe he was just experiencing the natural affinity a patient feels for their healer. Either way, the shaking, sweating and fidgeting that were normally his constant companions disappeared when he was around her. Milo suddenly realized that Kali was waiting for him to acknowledge her statement. Somehow, he knew 'please don't go' was inappropriate. He settled for something less needy. "Again? Weren't you just down there a few hours ago?"
"I know I spend a lot of time in the laboratory, but I think I'm close to developing a way to bulk grow certain antibiotics with primitive equipment. If I perfect it, I could prevent hundreds of low technology worlds from relying on the Commonwealth for medical supplies."
Kali only seemed to have one evil bone in her entire body. A unrepentant, complete and vivid hate for the Commonwealth. Or so Milo assumed, as she refused to even discuss it, and Milo did not want to press the matter as it seems to bring her so much discomfort. Kali spent the vast majority of her time in one of the advanced medical laboratories on the ship, working to undermine the Commonwealth. Yet even in this she displayed a stunning altruism, creating chemicals and medications that would allow worlds to flourish without cow-towing to the only other producers in the galaxy that had the capability to create such advanced substances. A status-quo the Commonwealth brutally maintained.
"But I agree, it doesn't need my immediate attention." Kali continued. Milo managed to hold back a sigh of relief.
"If you two are done, I want to talk to Milo." Said Adelaide from behind Milo.
Adelaide was sitting at a low table, busy stripping and cleaning a pistol. The dissembled firearm created a small field of bewildering oddly shaped bits of plastic and chunks of metal on the cloth in front of Adelaide.
Milo sat opposite the ewe as a disinterested Kali looked on. "What's up?"
"When you first awakened, I hired some two bit private investigator to dig up as much information on you as they could. I just finished reading the report."
"Is that so?" Replied Milo in a deadpan tone. He was unsurprised. When it came to killing people, Adelaide tended to be detail orientated, so it was no surprise that she had put extra effort into determining if Milo was a threat to her or not. She didn't even meet his eyes as she recited the report, instead concentrating on meticulously cleaning each and every piece of the weapon in front of her.
"Miloken, Male, 198cm tall, aged 79 years old."
Adelaide paused and looked up at Milo. "Thought you were older."
Milo shrugged. "Nope. Still enjoying the prime of my youth." A sly grin appeared on Milo's muzzle. "So if anyone is in the market for a boy toy ..." he winked at Kali. She laughed "Neither Adelaide or myself are over 150, so I don't think we get 'boy toys' yet."
"Right. Just fuck buddies. Not that there is a whole lot of that going on at the moment." Chimed in Adelaide.
"Yeah, anyway, you were saying?" said Milo with a dismissive shrug, knowing that an uncomfortable silence would not deter Adelaide.
Adelaide went back to cleaning her weapon as she continued "Homeworld Carda. Formally of the clan Kaa."
"Formally?" asked Kali. Milo clenched his jaw, he knew what was coming even before Adelaide explained:
"Clan Kaa no longer exists. In accordance with the laws and customs of Carda, they were dissolved into the material holdings of clan Hinderson. Every former Kaa is now a indentured servant of clan Hinderson until the communal family debt is paid in full and they can be reinstated as a full clan. Something I've been lead to believe has never actually happened in all of Carda's modern history as both the sum owed and the amount the indentured servants are paid is controlled by the owning clan. So for all intents and purposes, Milo and his whole family are slaves."
"I'm sorry Milo, no one deserves to be enslaved." Said Kali with a sad shake of her head.
"It's not really slavery. Besides, everyone knows it only happens to reckless and thoughtless families who deserve ..." Milo trailed off. "Well, that's what I use to think. Funny how a new perspective can hit you like a freight train sometimes. You must think I'm monstrous for ever holding such an opinion Kali." Milo looked away, diverting his gaze from Kali's.
He felt her hoof on his shoulder again. "Actions are monstrous Milo, never people."
Milo smiled up at her. "Thanks Kali. You have a talent for saying the right thing, you know that?"
Kali returned his smile. "Not every physician has a terrible bed side manner Milo."
"As long as it is bedside, I don't mind what kind of manner it is." Said Milo, his smile slipping into a grin.
"Milo, mind on the job Milo." said Kali with a giggle. Her hoof lingered on his should for a moment longer.
"Interesting." said Adelaide from the other side of the short table.
"What's interesting?" asked Milo.
"That's the first time you have looked and acted like the Milo I meet back on Drom. Does this mean your feeling comfortable finality? Ready to start telling the truth?"
"Truth?" Milo keep his voice neutral. Was the house of card about to come tumbling down? 'House? More like two cards and a bit of peanut butter.' Milo readied himself for another interrogation.
"At first I was certain you were hiding something, Milo. I never got around to looting your armour, but from what I saw it was worth well over the 10,000 CCU number you told me you were getting paid for your little jaunt on Drom. But it was never your armour, was it? You were never going to be paid, it was a dictate from your new master to get the case. You just gave me the 10,000 number because you figured I'd turn you in if I knew the truth. And you were right, too."
Adelaide paused, trying to get a reaction from Milo, but he was careful to remain expressionless. Was Adelaide really going to turn him in? Bounties were small but captured slaves suffered a fate worst then death. Or, to put it legally, 'recovered merchandise that wilfully broke clause six of their binding contract'. It was an effective, if brutal way to ensure indentured servants behaved. It almost always resulted in sale of the 'defective goods'. No one, not even the back braking labour market would buy slaves with a known escapist branding. That left only research test subjects or spare parts. After all, uncooperative slaves were useless but bodies, bodies were valuable.
Turn him in? No, not after six months. "But you're not going to. What do you want?" He said slowly.
Adelaide sat back with a faint smile. "You sometimes surprise me with sudden bursts of insight Milo. The way I see it, you have nowhere to go, no one to return to, and no one who will come looking for you, as your master by now must think you long gone."
Milo's gaze dropped as he slowly exhaled. Everything she said was true. He once more felt just how alone he was in the universe. His hopelessness must have been evident on his face, as he suddenly felt a small hoof softy grip his shoulder.
"You have us Milo." Kali said softly, looking down at him with her large, caring eyes.
"Thanks, Kali." he said, meeting her gaze and patting the hoof on his shoulder. He forced himself to smile up at her. And to think he only met her seven days ago.
"If Care bare hour is over I'd like to continue." Interrupted Adelaide. "I like to work alone. It eliminates variables. But I've turned down more assignments that I care to recall because I don't have a second. And even I will admit it's always better to have someone to watch your back. This is a unique opportunity for me, as you have no strings and I already know you can handle yourself in a fire fight. Well, in theory."
Milo bristled slightly. "In theory? I got the jump on you, remember?"
"Right" she returned in a deadpan tone. As always, Milo had no idea if she was dismissing or agreeing with his statement. He hated it when she did that. "You were awarded two military accolades and a medal for bravery. That's all just text on the the screen to me. What I care about is competence, here and now." Adelaide pushed the cloth holding the dissembled weapon in front of Milo then sat back and regarded him coolly.
"Go on. It's the standard sidearm for military personal on Carda, so you should be more then familiar with it."
Milo looked down at the mess of complex bits in front of him. He got the feeling that is would be just one of many evaluations to come. Still, he could see Adelaide's point - with so many disparate militaries and armed forces across the galaxy, all of which had differing levels of technology, it was impossible to gather much knowledge from the fact that he had served in one.
"I through you said you knew I could handle myself." he said.
"Maybe. Maybe not. Action speak louder then words. Go no." Adelaide nodded at the cloth.
Milo looked down at the dissembled pistol in front of him. He didn't like proving himself to Adelaide, but he was currently the only free member of the Kaa Clan. If he failed, then there would be no one left to being them all back from the brink. Dancing to Adelaide's tune was a petty and small concession when compared to a chance to right the many wrongs of the past.
He slowly started to reassemble the pistol. It was indeed a model he was familiar with, the standard sidearm he had often worn at his hip during his years in the Carda pacification forces. He put the pieces back together like a giant jigsaw puzzle he had completed many, many times over before. It reminded him of a simpler time, a time before his current troubles. It was almost enjoyable, this small, simple act. He knew what to do, what piece to start with, what piece to end with.
Soon the field of black objects was reassembled into a lethal firearm. Milo slide the top of the pistol back and released it, hearing a solid thunk as the mechanism cycled. He placed it back on the table and picked up the magazine holding it's deadly cargo.
Milo paused for a moment as he weighted the ammo in his paw, a look of mild confusion on his muzzle.
"Something the matter?" asked Adelaide.
Milo examined the magazine. He flicked the first round out of the open top. The rest of the bullets were forced upward with a soft click, replacing the one he had just removed. He removed the next, then the next, flicking out the bullets from the magazine, one after another. After the forth bullet fell to the cloth he put the magazine down.
"Only the first was a real bullet. The rest are harmless blank rounds. I knew it felt wrong."
"I'm impressed Milo. I don't think I could have told that just from the weight. This might work out better then I thought it would."
Milo sat back and tried to fight back a self assured grin. He was enjoying the hard won praise of Adelaide. There was no need to informer her that his place in the supply corps gave him plenty of experience with ammunition, just not a whole lot to shoot it at. That excitement came in his later years in the CPF.
"Assuming, of course, that you don't crawl into a ball and have a cry mid fire fight."
Milo grimaced. "What happened in the galley was a one off, It won't happen again Adelaide."
"You better hope so, because I will just leave you. Understand?"
Milo meet her cold gaze, holding it for a moment before nodding once.
"So here it is Milo, the ultimatum. You say yes and we go forward. You say no and I escort you to the teleport pad and we never meet again. Understand?"
"What? Adelaide! Is it really necessary to ..." Kali began.
Milo interrupted her. "Thanks for the concern Kali, but I want to hear this." Milo sat back. He knew this was coming. It was only a matter of time until Adelaide decided if she wanted him on the ship or not, but he never through she was going to offer him work. In fact, it seemed almost out of character for the ewe. "Not just going to just toss me out an airlock if I say no?" he said. He had a strong feeling that Adelaide did not tolerate people she no longer had a use for.
"You have to enter into this willingly. If you feel you have no choice, then I can never trust you." She returned. It was true of course, and Adelaide seemed like the type that was almost expecting a knife in the back at all times, and thus was the least likely to ever get one.
"I think I understand. I'm guessing there are a lot of conditions." Milo was almost surprised to find he was seriously contemplating the offer, even without knowing the details. He had to admit he liked living on the ship, even if it was with a psychotic ewe he knew he could never trust. Additionally, after six months he had no idea where the rest of his family was or what condition they were in, so with no wealth to his name and nowhere to go, it wasn't really much of a choice at all.
That and Kali was on the ship. He was unsurprised that this thought had as much weight as the rest of his reasoning.
In fact, the only thing missing was a ready supply of Keen. If he had some, he was certain his troubles would heal with time, and then he could wean himself off the substance. After all, no one knew about the rabbit but himself, and if he could manger to keep his body under control no one would ever find out. It was simple, in theory.
"Conditions? In a way. First, you work for me, we are not partners, no 50/50. You will get 25% and I still own whatever equipment I choose to give you. Second, my word is law. No matter what arse end of the galaxy we find ourselves on, I say you do. Third, I owe you nothing. That business on Drom? You get over it and don't be a whiny bitch about it."
Milo didn't like the terms, but it was frankly better then nothing. No reason to let her know that though. "And what do I get out of this?"
"You are not a slave. I am not your master. On mission, I'm in charge. Off mission, I don't care what you do. You will live here or elsewhere, I don't care. Kali will patch you up if you get hurt. Make some cash, disappear, I don't care."
"I'm sensing a theme here."
"I need a competent wingman, not an apprentice or someone I need to babysit. If at any time I feel you are not pulling your weight, I will leave you on whatever world we happen to be on at the time. So are you in or not?"
Milo waited a moment. He let the silence stretch out as he examined the ewe closely. The corporate culture and society of Carda had many harsh drawbacks, but it also gave all it's inhabitants a knack for bargaining.
"On a few of my own conditions." Milo said. As he knew she would, Adelaide scoffed.
"You're not really in a position to ..."
"Remember Adelaide you want something from me not the other way around. I'm liking the offer so far, but I need something else, something to tip the balance. I want two things: One, when the time comes, I want your help on my own, personal mission."
Adelaide frowned, she was clearly unhappy with the prospect.
"And that would be?"
Milo paused, gathering his strength for a moment. He spat out his next words like the vile things they were: "Help me kill Thomas Hinderson."
There was a pause as Adelaide considered the proposal. "Who is this Thomas Hinderson? The man who brought your old clan?"
"The 'man' responsible for my whole clan's demise. And many other crimes. This is non-negotiable. Other you help me to do this or I walk. He will die, with or without your help."
"One year."
Milo blinked, taken aback by Adelaide's swift and unexpected answer "What?"
"In one year I will help you kill this man. By that time you will other have come to your senses, got over it, or have been killed. I'll say right now I don't think your little vendetta is ever going to play out. But if this is what you're hell bent on, I agree."
Milo had been forced to wait 6 months, what was 12 more? He knew Thomas would be a difficult person to attack, and Adelaide experience would be invaluable.
"I don't like it, but I can wait. One year. One year until ... " Milo trailed off, letting the words hang in the air.
"Vengeance?" Finished Adelaide.
"Peace." corrected Milo.
"Bullshit. The only people who get peace form killing are the ones who shoot themselves."
Milo shook his head. "You don't understand. I don't think you ever will." With what Kali had said before about Adelaide's sensitivity, Milo thought Adelaide would take offence or at least bristle at his insinuation. Instead she merely smirked. "What's condition number two?"
Milo suddenly noticed the space Kali had occupied beside him was empty. Glancing around, he just caught her steel blue grey back as she left the room. He had gotten so distracted by his thoughts of dealing with Thomas that he hadn't noticed her leaving.
"Number two?" Milo sighed. He would have to explain to Kali later that he was not a vengeful, hateful person normally, but this just had to be done. He was sure she would understand. "You show me what's in the god damn case that ruined my life."
Adelaide paused in through for a moment, before a far too knowing grin slowly spread across her muzzle. "I agree. After a few missions, naturally. I don't want you to kiss and run."
Milo didn't know what game Adelaide was playing with him, but he had gotten what he wanted. "We have an agreement then." He said, standing. He extended one paw towards the ewe. "Hopefully this time it won't end with you slicing my throat."
"I don't believe that will be necessary this time. After all, we have a relationship now." She clasped his paw with her smaller hoof, sealing the deal.
Milo approached the small laboratory Kali was working in. He now wore some heavy boots, lose pants, a tight fitting white tee shirt and a black vest. Adelaide had dug up some amenities for him after they had reached their accord yesterday, as his place on the ship was now more permanent. He had spent the rest of the day putting rounds down range or pumping iron and running around the track under Adelaide's watchful eye. She seemed satisfied, but not impressed with his performance. Frankly, considering the condition he was in merely a week ago he was amazed he could run at all. In a few hours he was teleporting out with Adelaide for their first 'mission' together. Adelaide said it was nothing more then a fact finding job involving a little chat with some friendly locals on some undeveloped agriculture world he had never heard of, so he was not expecting trouble.
He had not seen Kali since she had abruptly left during Milo's and Adelaide's conversation yesterday. He knew Kali was avoiding him, so he wanted to see her at least once before he and Adelaide left. Reaching the doors of the laboratory Milo glanced through the large, thick display window besides the door. He saw Kali surrounded by data pads, hunched over a microscope. He stopped and admired her for a moment. She had a homely beauty about her that he found alluring. While Adelaide's face was almost completely symmetrical, and few would call her anything but aesthetic, Kali had many small flaws that didn't seem to detract from her beauty. One nostril was arched slightly higher then the other and a haphazard arrangement of short thick white hair seemed to leap from the tip of her muzzle. But her eyes more then made up for any minor grievances with her appearance. The large, soft orbs were a dark chocolate brown, framed by thick luscious eye lashes. He could almost lose himself in those wells of kindness and understanding. It was starting to become a fantasy of his to look deep into Kali's eyes, becoming lost in their depths as she returned his gaze ...
Milo shook himself. Unless he wanted to add 'Milo the pervert' to his long list of flaws he better stop staring at Kali and actually go talk to her. He chuckled at himself. He hadn't had a school boy crush of this magnitude for some time. He hit the button on the door panel, forcing the thick containment door to slide open.
Kali looked up as he entered. Instead of the warm greeting and soft smile he had grown so use to, she meet him with a neutral gaze. Maybe this was going to be harder then he thought.
"Milo." She said, without getting up.
"I'm leaving with Adelaide in a few hours. I just wanted to say good bye." He stood next to her, looking over the six or seven data pads scattered around the laboratory bench in front of her. "You look busy." He said.
"Always." She said with a weak smile. "Listen, about yesterday ..... "
Milo interrupted her. "I want you to know I don't normally do things like what you saw yesterday. Nothing has changed Kali."
Kali shook her head. "Everything had changed Milo. Every time I look at you I see the man who wants to murder another man, an unrepentant killer." Kali refused to look at him. "I just ... I can't have a relationship with someone like that."
'A relationship? Milo thought, his heart skipping a beat and he stood a little taller.
"I can't be friends with someone who thinks like that Milo. Unless .... "
'Friends? Just friends? Gah, I'm getting ahead of myself.'
"Unless what Kali? Whatever it is we can work on it."
For the first time Kali large soft brown eyes meet Milo's. "Does this Thomas person have to die? Be killed by you?"
Milo dropped his gaze, a grim frown weighing down his muzzle as he heard the vile Lynx's name.
"Yes Kali, he does. But you have to understand, he is a repulsive, terrible creature. I'm not doing this lightly. I through about it, and I keep coming to the exact same conclusion. The galaxy would be a vastly better place without him, and if I'm the only person who can see that, then I'm the only person who can end him."
"Killing never solves anything Milo." Kali said with her soft voice, and yet there was a hardness, a finality to her statement that was not lost on Milo. "No one deserves to die, every monster can repent."
"Some crimes cannot be reversed, or compensated for, Kali. Thomas has done things ... things you cannot imagine. He .... forces people to do terrible things. Inflicts suffering you can't know."
"Do not assume I know nothing of suffering, Milo." She said dryly. "What will killing him accomplish? Will it free your family? Bring you some measurer of comfort? Will it even satisfy a primitive urge for vengeance?"
Milo remained silent, slowing shaking his head. She was refusing to understand.
"Well will it, Milo?" Kali pressed. "You know as well as I do that it will not. So why do it? Why perpetrate this cycle of killing and death?" Kali stood and lightly placed her hooves on Milo's forearms, locking his gaze with her own. "Please, Milo, for you and for me, release yourself from this hatred. There is always a better way."
Milo shook his head slowly. "I can't Kali." he said softly. "I just ... can't. Thomas deserves to die. I won't lie, revenge was my first impulse but now it's just a satisfying by product. He must die because of what he did and what he could do if he is not stopped. What he did to me and my family he will do again, and again until someone ends his evil. Some animals are simply too vile and dangerous to be allowed to continue living. Besides, I need ... to repent for something. Something he forced me to do."
'Forced me to be. To become.' Milo added to himself silently.
Kali released Milo and once more sat down, her voice regaining its hard edge. "You make such statements but is that what this is really about Milo? How do you know that you're not just rationalizing this after you've decided? Can't you see that your vendetta won't solve anything? That it will only bring more pain and suffering? No Milo, you have to choose. Choose between hate and love. Life and death. I will not, I can not become involved with a killer."
Milo bared his teeth and gave a weak growl. "How can you spit such sermons at me Kali? You help Adelaide. Every single day. What do you think she does? Ask people nicely to die on their own?"
Kali emitted a sad sigh as she released Milo and returned to her seat, shaking her head.
"That's different, Milo. I will never stand idle as someone suffers in a way I can alleviate, not even Adelaide. I help her, but I never assist her in what she does. And you know as well as I do that she doesn't have friends, just acquaintances."
"She kills people Kali, and the only reason she can keep on doing that is because of you." Milo thrust an accusing digit at Kali's chest. "How can you feed me some bullshit about love and hate and then turn around and put Adelaide back on her hind hooves again and again? How is that any different?"
"Do not call my integrity into question Milo! It's a world apart! What Adelaide does she does for money, for work, for other people! You want to kill out of revenge! That makes every difference in the world!" Kali said raising her voice. Some small part of Milo, so deep within himself that it was not effected by his current emotional state found the sight of Kali's features contorted in anger deeply offensive. For the first time Milo saw anger on Kali's face, and he could not help but think that it did not belong there.
Milo felt his own anger stir, his voice matching Kali's "So if money is involved murder is OK? What kind of fucked up logic is that? I want to remove evil from this galaxy and you get mad at me? I don't even need your consent. You might refuse to see why I must do this, but it's going to happen. My family deserve nothing less!" Milo turned and stormed from the room as Kali shook her head in disagreement.
"Love or hate Milo, that's a true dichotomy. You have to pick a side. Killing Thomas won't end your pain and will cause more damage to you then you can possibly imagine!" She pleaded after him.
Milo stopped at the door. "You've been on this ship too long Kali, shut away from the galaxy. Some things have to be done, some unpleasant things. You can't hind from them. I wont hide from them." He left before he could hear a response.
Kali watched the door slide closed behind Milo. "Besides, do you really want the same relationship with me that I have with Adelaide?" She mattered sadly.
Milo's fist slammed into the punching bag, sending a wave of shock up his arm. He ignored the pain as his other balled fist impacted the other side of the bag. Over and over he pounded his anger into the unfeeling foam. It jerked and shook under his onslaught.
It was all so stupid anyway. Why did he care what Kali thought? He knew what had to be done, and nothing would change that. He wanted Kali to understand, but she was just so unwilling. She lived in hypocrisy while people like him made the hard decisions. Thomas wouldn't hesitate to kill Kali, yet she would defend that monster? The monster that had so wronged the people closest to Milo. He assaulted the punching bag with renewed energy. Maybe the old stereotype was true, and non-canines just didn't understand what real loyalty was.
Each strike shot a flash of pain into up his arms. Pain was good. It overpowered and replaced, ever so briefly, the cravings that had increased ten fold since his last meeting with Kali. His Keen addiction was stronger then ever now, constantly invading his mind. It was all he could think about, all he could focus on. Everything seemed to remind him of the sweet green liquid and its liberating effects ...
"MILO!" He almost leapt out of own skin as someone screamed his name behind him. He span around to find Adelaide staring at him expectedly, no more then two paces away from him.
"Hi Milo!" she said joyfully with a forced smile before her muzzle suddenly returned to a neutral expression. Those two second forced smiles were always unnerving for some reason.
"I hope you intend to clean that up." She said, nodding at the bag. Her voice once more delivered with her normal cold and forceful inflection.
"What?" Milo said in confusion. He looked at the punching bag, shocked to find splatters of red at its midsection, right where his blows had landed. He looked down and saw the fur on the backs of his paws mattered with blood, the tips of his knuckles red and slick. He hadn't even noticed the damage he was doing to himself.
"Why the hell are you not using gloves Milo? What's wrong with you?" Said Adelaide with a incredulous look.
"It's just .... I was distracted. Don't worry about it." Said Milo as he rubbed at his bleeding knuckles.
"Distracted? By what? Is this going to effect the mission Milo?"
"No. It won't. It's just ..." Milo sighed. "Did you know Kali doesn't think much about killing people? Even the ones who most deserve it?" Milo snorted and rolled his eyes. "Of cause you know that. What am I saying."
"Yes, I know that. It has come up once or twice before. She says 'don't' I say 'fuck off'. End of discussion. Why do you care? She would be terrible at it even if she wanted to help."
"I want her to understand why I need to do this. I just don't see why she has such a problem with it."
Adelaide rolled her eyes. "Milo, If you want to wake up in the morning look across the sheets and see two uncomplicated adoring eyes looking back at you get a fucking monkey. If you want a person to do that you're just going to be disappointed."
"You think so, do you?"
"I know so Milo. Unlike you, my mind doesn't get clouded or manipulated by the verbal allogrooming that conspecifics lather themselves in every time they meet. I know this because I see it in every single person I interact with. Everyone is motivated only by selfish gains. They give to charities so they can feel good. They say 'I love you' only so it will be said back to them. People make noises about being selfless only so others can see how 'selfless' they are."
Milo blinked in confusion. "What the hell are you talking about? Maybe you are like that Adelaide, but I'm not."
"Bullshit Milo. Why do you want Kali to understand? So YOU can feel accepted, so YOU feel appreciated, so YOU can get a rut out of her. The sooner you just admit it the easier it will be to just let it all go and get on with life."
"NO! I .. it's not like that at all ...."
"And guess what Milo? As soon as you admit that you are only in it for yourself, it all becomes so much easier to get what you want. I don't understand why you can't see this, but I gave up trying to work out why everyone is so wilfully clueless a long time ago. Do you want to know why you care so much about Kali? Because she is the only person within reach who will smile at you and call you special. Why does she give you a pat on the head and sweet talk you? Because you're the only person here who will return her affection. That's why, no other reason. I have a question for you Milo. If there was another person here, some other big strutting male with an alpha attitude, would you be doing what's best for Kali or competing with the other male for her attentions. What if there was another female? Would you pick one and give her all your attention or would you examine, judge, weigh and evaluate which one you could more easily bend over? Don't bother answering, you'll just lie to yourself anyway."
"Is there a point to this little rant?" Said Milo, suddenly feeling tired. "besides, you left yourself out of your little hallucination there."
"Rant? I'm a god damn oracle Milo!" Adelaide gave a small laugh, somehow managing a harsh sneering sound. "Listen up and you might learn something." She pointed at herself. "Only person with sight in a universe of blind people."
The scary thing was she probably truly believed that thought Milo.
"And I left myself out because I'm not involved. Kali has already told you about me, hasn't she? I don't smile at all the right times, I don't say thank you with the right inflection, I don't return all those nice little feelings that you subconsciously expect to be sent back your way. Fuck knows I use to try, I even cut up my own face to better play the social game."
Suddenly, Adelaide's too perfect face made a whole lot more sense. It was perfectly symmetrical, utterly without flaw or blemish. Far from being irresistible, after initial examination it just looked artificial. Milo felt the first seed of doubt take root in his mind. What if she was right? What if the only reason he was lusting after Kali was because she was the only woman within reach that wasn't off putting, like Adelaide was? Milo rejected the through outright. He would think up a logical reason to do so later.
"Whatever Adelaide. I don't want or need to understand you in order to work with you." Milo said dismissively.
Adelaide nodded with another sneering laugh. "Good! Already you're learning. I'll enlighten you yet!" An electronic beep sounded from Adelaide's watch. She glanced at it. "Playtime's over Milo. Suit up, we 'port out in 15."
Without waiting for acknowledgement Adelaide turned and left Milo. He shook his head and sighed. He hoped Adelaide's bleak view on life was not contagious. And to think, this morning, he actually thought he may have ended up having 'Good bye and good luck' sex today.
The teleportation dais for the ship was housed in a bare metallic room. The walls were thick and armour plated, its only access a wide mechanical door. Into this bleak and secure fortress Adelaide and Milo returned. The space and anything it contained above the teleporter was instantaneously exchanged with a similar pad an unimaginable distance away.
Milo appeared at full sprint, his momentum throwing him off the pad and towards a immovable metal plated wall. He desperately attempted to reduce his speed but was unable to prevent impacting the wall with a loud and painful thud that echoed around the empty room. The force of the sudden deceleration bounced him off the wall, the wind knocked out of him. He fell to his knees, using the wall to support himself as he recovered, sucking in great gulps of air as his burning muscles demanded oxygen.
An agitated Adelaide stepped off the dais, breathing heavily. "Milo .... what the fuck?!" She almost bleated at him as she leant on the wall beside the dais, recovering from her own sprint. "Don't you think a mob of armed yokels is something I want to know about BEFORE they beat down the door? What part of 'watch the road' didn't you understand?!" Adelaide's eyes seemed to assault Milo with their penetrating gaze, her perfect muzzle wrinkled in anger.
Between breaths Milo managed to reply "I'm ... not the one ... who shot him!"
"You forced my hoof you dumb fuck!" The bleat like prolonged vowels and deepened tone would almost be comical if not for the spittle flying from the enraged Adelaide's maw.
"What?" Milo could only look up at her in confusion was he slowly regained his breath.
"Brraaug!" Adelaide screeched in frustration. "I was meant to determine if he was selling certain information, and if he was eliminate him! But before I could do that his bodyguard showed up. I knew that little prick was just buying time. You better hope he was guilty or you just cost us 50,000 CCU. I doubt the contract will pay out if the information leak keeps happening and we just shot a loyal employee!"
Milo could only groan in acknowledgement as he stood and placed his back to the wall, waiting for his body to stop aching. Adelaide marched over to him and seized the front of his vest. She pulled him away from the wall, the angry ewe forcing the taller Milo to look her in the eye.
"Why the hell didn't you tell me that an armed mob was approaching?" she growled at him through clenched jaw.
"I ... I'm sorry. I was ...." Milo managed.
"I know, I know. You were 'distracted'." Adelaide pushed him back into the wall with an angry exhalation. "Well you better get un-'distracted' and fucking soon Milo! I will NOT have a repeat of what just happened! Go give Kali a hard fuck or get over her, or get her to give you some pills or whatever, just fix-the-problem. I shouldn't even have to tell you this, but 'distracted' means one of us end up dead. I'm sick of giving you chances Milo. If this happens again don't bother sprinting for the 'port pad, because I'll be gone before you get there." Adelaide stormed over to the door. She assaulted the keypad hard enough that Milo heard her hooves slamming into the pad with harsh sharp clicks. She ducked under the slowly rising door before it had even reached shoulder hight.
Milo groaned in frustration as he slid down the wall into a sitting position. "FUCK!" he screamed into two sweat dampened paws.
Adelaide was right to blame him. All he had to do was watch the damn road for potential threats as Adelaide talked to their contact no more then a door away. But after ten minutes his paws started to tremble. He had started to sweat and could not longer concentrate. All he could think about was Keen. That harsh kiss as the needle tore his skin, the cold string that lanced up his arm as he felt the liquid enter his blood stream. The feeling of complete liberation as it took hold ...
And as he pined longingly after the drug he didn't even notice the approaching mob until they were almost on top of him. It was entirely his fault that they had to flee as bullets whizzed by overhead. If only he had some of the drug this never would have happened. Once stated, his need for the drug would disappear, at least for a while and he could do his fucking job. Now more then ever it was apparent that it was a priority that he get some keen, if only so he could function normally!
The sound of the heavy door starting to close pulled Milo from his thoughts. He had no idea what the combination to open the door was, so he rolled to his feet and ducked under the slowly closing barrier.
Milo collapsed onto his bed. He still had no idea how to get some Keen. Maybe the morning would be more bountiful with ideas then the evening. He was tired and so welcomed the sweet embrace of slumber. He soon felt it's feathery touch enveloping his mind. The last few nights were consumed with his urges for Keen, but the events of today had taken enough out of him that for once he was going to have a relatively easy passage into sleep. As thinking became blissfully and increasingly impossible he felt his mind wonder aimlessly. Soon the image of Kali rose in his minds eye. Her soft wool and large, warm eyes covered and consumed him. She murmured softly and contently as he held her lovingly in his arms. His paws moved over her body, leaving deep farrows in her fleece as he explored her, touching her as only a lover could. She leaned into him and their muzzles locked in a long and slow embrace, his paws holding and caressing her light body, sheathed as it was in a layer of thick protective wool. A protective layer she allowed him to part, to uncover, to violate so her true self would be revealed to him. She instinctively rose her small tail, giving rise to a needy and distinct scent. Milo felt his growing passion infect Kali. She murred lustfully as he began kneading her flesh and drawing her into him as the tip of his muzzle caressed her soft neck, showering her with the affection her body deserved. He felt her respond to his touch in kind as their combined passion continued to build, escalating further and further....
Milo slipped into unconscious, giving his fantasies a potency known only to dreamers.