Trampship Wars 2

by L. D. Roberts

  Kay looked at Mark. “Why do you need to check out a weapon tomorrow?” L et ting go of M ark s arm she immediately dropped her hands down and started patting the thigh pockets of Marks uniform. Getting more desperate by the second. She started opening up the pockets sticking her hand into them coming up empty but for the normal tools and junk most crewmen people carried. With tears starting to stream down her face. “You killed Perry with a weapon. Where is it. How are you supposed to protect yourself without a weapon? They will kill you. Mark you have to get a weapon now.” She reached over to the nearest table and took the steak knife out to the hand of the man using it to cut his steak. Grabbing Mark’s hand she stuffed its hilt onto his palm and closed his fingers over it. “The blade is too short Mark. You have to get a decent weapon now.”

  “Aa Can it wait until after dinner?”

  “No! She said through clenched teeth as she squeezed Mark’s arm desperately looking around the Mess deck. “Please Mark. Every time father got mad at someone they always wound up dead. Even when the rest of the ship thought they were only missing as it now turns out. Remember , you just told me about the bodies in the tanks . You have to get a weapon now. And your parents. That ass hole will take or even kill them just to get to you.”

  Mark looked at his mother grimacing. “Well mom, I think they sent my torch back to my cabin. How bout I go down there and get it and meet you all back in Tramp town. Order me number 6. I will only be a minute. Mark started to leave but Kay would not let go of him.

  “I am coming with you.” Taking a few steps she suddenly let go and grabbed another steak knife from a person’s tray at another table and ran back and held it out to gave it to Mark’s father. “Th is at will keep you safe until we get back with some ordinance.”

  Mark’s father’s eyes grew big as he stared at the hilt of the steak knife and then at Kay. His mouth dropping open in shock not knowing what to make of the whole thing.

  Mark’s mother jabbed her husband and as he took the knife she stepped up to Kay giving her a hug. “We will be just fine darling. Thank you for the knife. You go with Mark and we will be waiting for you two. Mark knows the place.” When Mark just starred at his mother she continued. “You remember our long talks about victims Mark. Of all the damage and fear it can cause and grabbing the nearest lifeboat in the storm. You go and get whatever she needs to feel safe and comfortable but just remember she is very fragile emotionally right know so no,,, aaa. No playing around. It could be devastating for her.”

  “Yes ma, weapon and right back” Mark took a couple of steps as Kay joined him again as she looked over her shoulder at Mark’s parents. Suddenly Kay jerked to a stop letting go of Mark she ran back to the table she had gotten the first steak knife from and grabbed another as the people watched her wide eyed, taking it to Mark’s mother putting it in her hand and closing her fingers around it then patting her hand. “There. You are safe even if it is a bit short. Between the two of you it should be enough. We will hurry back.”

  Finally happy, she started back past the table toward Mark. One of the guys at the table she had stolen the two knives from held up a knife from his friend sitting on the other side of him, hilt first. “You may as well as take this one so you will have one to. I have to go back and get more anyway.” The man smiled up at Kay chuckling while he looked at her.

  Kay stopped, looking at the guy baffled for a few seconds. Then snarled at him. “NO!” running the last few feet to Mark she hid behind Mark and peeked out around him at the guy. “No.” She spit.

  “Ok, Aaa. Kay , the guy was just trying to be nice instead of mad, which many people would have been since you had already stolen two other knives from his table.”

  “No. I don’t want him thinking I owe him and trying to rape me. Besides with one knife they can share and still eat.” Watching the man and his two buddies shaking their heads smiling as they tried to figure out the crazy lady . Kay , she decided that they were not going to be a threat and turned away pulling Mark along toward the hull elevators. Steeling a knife off an empty tray from a gal that was headed toward the scullery and hiding it in her purse, making Mark smile and shake his own head.

  Chapter 7: Feel-good deadly weapons

  ------------------- 84

  It did not take long for them to reach Mark’s cabin and find the 6 inch long torch sitting on his desk. Kay watched Mark take it, check the charge on it and slide it into his thigh pocket where it slid down to the bottom out of easy reach . The same place it had been when he needed it to help Jolleen earlier in the day. Frowning a seconds Mark turned to Kay. “There, you happy know? I have a weapon.”

  “Yes much.” And threw her arms around him and kissed him on the lips. Then as her hug lengthened, she started kissing his neck rubbing his back. Mark stiffened for a second as her kisses worked their way across his cheek to his lips again.

  Mark raised his hands doing his best to resist temptation and gently pushed her away. “Listen, we have to get back. My parents are waiting for us. Besides we just met and while my aaa ex-girlfriend may hate me now, a lot of her things are still here and I really still kind of love her. And well? I am starving.” Mark fibbed as he took the torch out of his pocket for something to keep his hands busy from wondering across Kay’s beautiful body and not protection .

  “That is all right love. You don’t have to. I will cut her heart out for hurting you and make you forget her.” She laid a big lip lock on him.

  A knock came at the cabin door. Turning in relief Mark opened the hatch.

  “I would like my daughter’s things if you don’t mind Commander.” Dian’s father with two Patrolmen stood outside the cabin. Looking down at the torch in Mark’s hand he stepped back next to the Ships Patrolmen.

  Mark was never so glad to see anyone in his life. Stepping through the door. “Yes I suppose you do.” Mark said with a smile as he pocketed the torch . “Go right in and we will leave you to packing up her things.” Squeezing past him Mark stopped and gave him a quick hug as the man froze still looking at him with hate as Mark stepped back. “I am so sorry for getting Dian hurt and almost killed. I keep kicking myself for being such a fool and going to orbit in the first place. I know you can’t forgive me and that is Ok.” Mark took a couple steps down the passageway as Kay came out of the cabin.

  Dian’s father looked at her and turned to Mark. “I see it did not take you long to replace my daughter but did you have to take up with a Greedly.” Getting a disgusted look on his face. “But then that just confirms my first opinion of you being a lowlife. Thank Godstar she finally came to her senses.”

  “Mark saved my life. How dare you insult him..” Kay started to reach into her purse.

  Mark quickly stepped up putting his hand on the purse before she could draw the little steak knife out as he dragged her away. Mark was hurt by Dian’s father’s words but reminded himself that he had tried to get him fired from the engine room and after all, Mark had almost got his daughter killed. So he shouldn’t be surprised. Shaking his head. “Just be careful of what you take. Steeling from a ship’s officers is more than just a felony and some of what is in there is classified , worth a hell of a lot of credits and is not replaceable.” Turning , Mark started to walk off and stopped. “Just how the hell did you manage to show up now” I haven’t been around here for a while now.”

  “A friend of mine called when you left the Mess deck and said you were headed for your cabin. She didn’t say anything about Greedly’s daughter being with you. ” The man sneered at Mark with a lop sided smile. “H er father He is more likely to slit your throat when he takes his daughters things back when you are done with her. Or are you now part of his Clan?”

  “Watch your mouth Counselor before I cut your tongue out. Neither Mark nor I want anything to do with my murdering scumbag father. He killed my mother and…. And..” She reached around and into his pocket tried to grab the torch. “I will teach you to even think that…”

  Mark looking on in
shock as she pulled the torch out of his pocket hand . Grabbing at it, he jerked it out of her hand as she pulled the trigger creating a momentary bright sun only inches from the muzzle of the torch pointed at the overhead. “Godstar woman!” Mark exclaimed as he started dragging her down the passageway holding the torch out to keep her from grabbing it. “What is your problem?” You don’t take a weapon out just because some asshole insults you.”

  “Why not? My father does it all the time. What else do you do to keep someone from telling lies about you again ? As well to prove to all that they are lies. ? ” Thinking for a second she whispered. “But then sometimes it is the truth.”

  Mark heard the last and smiled as spoke. “You ignore the lies it and go on. You don’t kill the guy.” Mark dragged her out of the dorm hatch into the main passageway running around the hull of the ship.

  “Of course you don’t kill the guy silly. You just cut off or burn a section of skin so they are in pain for a very long time to remind them not to say it again. Otherwise people start believing the lies.” Frowning she grabbed Marks hand making sure he could not release his grip on her arm as they walked around the curved passageway.

  “Well, you don’t do that either. Not if you are going to be around me and my family you don’t. Or anyone else that is decent. You prove to other people that they lie by being truthful yourself and not doing the things they accuse you of.” Mark tucked the torch into his thigh pocket and then sealed the flap.

  An officer started out of the elevator as they approached and did a double take as he saw Mark. “Hey you’re that Murderer the news lady was talking about.” Looking at Kay for a few seconds. His eyes going up and down her well-built body before he reached up to his wrist and tapped his comm. “I have a vid now of you and this pretty woman. If she come s up dead , you are going to pay.” Then noticing Mark’s grip on her arm egnoring ignoring her hand firmly over Mark’s his . “Do you need help Mam? Do you want me to call the patrol lady?”

  Rolling her eyes. “No I don’t want you to call anyone.” Slipping her harm around Mark. “Just mind your own business cockroach.”

  “Enough damn it. He was just trying to help. Now apologize to the man.”

  Her lip curled up. “The only thing he wants is down my panties and I’ll cut his balls off before I let him touch me.”

  “Godstar! Not everyone that helps you or gives you something wants to rape you.”

  The Officer started down the passageway. “Just remember Commander I have you on record. Nothing better happen to her.”

  Kay shook her head and turned to Mark. “Ya , hear that. H h ow is that turn the other cheek shit working out for you? By the time that news bitch gets done with you, the ship will lynch you. She has done it before to my uncles political opponents and people that have pissed him off.” Looking down at the bulge in Mark’s thigh pocket. “You need to stuff that torch up that bitch’s cunt and pull the trigger.” Looking up into Mark’s eyes. “That is just a torch and not a weapon isn’t it?”

  “In my hands it is a weapon ok?”

  “Only if you are kissing them at the time. You need a real weapon now!” She demanded.

  “Oh come on Kay. No one is going to try to kill you while you’re with me.” The elevators doors closed and with no destination punched into the panel it slid out into the down shaft as a loaded elevator car came up that needed its place at that deck. The car slid down until it found a vacant standby slot to wait for orders or a vacant deck.

  Reaching up she gently rubbed Marks head a s pain flashed across his face before he grimaced at her as he shied away still with a protective bandage on it . “That what you told yourself while Perry was trying to bash your brains across the deck? That he really wasn’t trying to kill you. Or how about when he was finger raping and about to kill your friend what’s her name Jolleen, just to get a stupid tittle to a couple of stupid boxes everyone thinks they want. And just to rub it in, how about your little friend that was knocked off the hold hatch platform with his brains turned to mush? Wasn’t that meant for you?”

  Kay shook her head. “ How a bout we get the stupid weapon so we don’t have to spend any more time worrying ourselves stupid about getting our stupid butts raped or killed by a whole bunch of stupid ass hole I don’t know about. Believe it or not I really did not know e verything about my father ’ s business. And he really has s that work for my old man that has told me a hundred times that he would have me killed if I ever left the Clan.” Holding up her hands shaking them back and forth. “News flash, I am doing just that. What do you think the odds are that my old man will simply smile and say Oh well? Not to mention that my dear old brother has tried to kill you some 5 times in the last week , the last one only a few minutes ago and will be back out of the brig g in a few hours as soon as dads lawyers gets the judge paid off. Time to get your head out of your ass love and find a decent weapon before we both wind up dead.” She seemed to have grown older as she talked and became more comfortable around Mark. Becoming herself.

  “Sorry but the weapons locker is locked until morning. Not to mention getting a permit to get one out.” Mark frowned. But I guess you do have a point.”

  Kay looked at Mark for a few seconds frowning. “Didn’t you convert a bunch of torches into weapons fighting off pirates in the hold last week?”

  Mark shrugged and shook his head yes .

  “Well then. Make this torch into a weapon love .”

  Mark grimaced as he took the torch out of his pocket. “That was a different, older and a lot cheaper torch. These new torches can’t be made into weapons.” Seeing her look of baffled incredulity , Mark held the torch up for her to look at. “See the 6 little pencil laser rods around the outside are pointed toward a spot a few inches past the muzzle where they combine to form the heat spot. The six laser rods are fixed and can only be adjusted to move the hot spot along a few inches right in front of the torch. The cheaper torches we used to have, had only one big laser rod that was split into 6 beams pointed out to the sides and then a ring of reflectors focused the beams back toward the hot spot in front of the torch. It was a simple matter to pop out the splitter in front of the laser and then burn a hole through the reflector and focus ring to create a solid beam weapon.” Slipping the torch back into his pocket as he tapped the Tramp Town deck on the elevator’s panel to it .

  “Shit, we are dead meat love.” She hugged Mark as tears started running down her cheeks.

  Looking at her crying hopeless pain washing over her as she hugged him. Mark took the torch back out as a smile suddenly came to him. “No , maybe not Kay. I have an idea. I think I can make the torch into a weapon if I can find the parts I need.”

  The doors opened onto Tramp Town and Mark stepped over to the Club house noticing the old toy lock from the gate maze in front of their old compound was gone and replaced by a very expensive smart lock good enough for a safe on the hatch . Palming it, the screen beeped and said but the hatch did not open . “You are not authorized to enter. ”

  Trying it again, it still did not open as it said . “ You are not authorized to enter. Further attempts to enter and the authorities will be called. ”

  Seeing the heat signature of someone inside the club house that had to be Jolleen Mark he hit the announcement icon. “Come on, let me in Jolleen . You forgot to put m M y print in isn’t working .”

  He watched the heat outline of a body walk over to where the security panel was located and Jolleen came on the comm. “I know. You traitor. Your new girlfriend is with you. Go away.” Explaining why the little panel would not accept his print with a stranger with him. He should have remembered that little option.

  “Damn It Jolleen, she is not responsible for what her father had done to you. Open the hatch.”

  “No! Go away.”

  Shaking his head. “Mark tried to Mark enter ed the bypass code they had for into the cheap toy security unit the Club had gotten when they were 8 years old and had taken over the container but t
. T he hatch did not open ed . “Damn it. Mickey , can’t you bypass or break into the damn security system and open it up?”

  “No Mark, I helped Jolleen pick out and install the new security system and lock. I do not need to break in. I have entered the new code, place your palm on the screen to register into the system and you can open the hatch.”

  Mark placed his hand on the screen for a few seconds as a beam scanned his face and body until it beeped. Then the beam scanned the area around Mark “You are not alone. Identification must be pro vided for guest before entry.”

  Rolling his eyes. Mark st epped to the side to allow Kay access to the screen.

  After Kay palmed the screen and was scanned , the hatch ’ s lock clicked and Mark threw the new heavy multi- bolt ed latch that would probably survive the destruction of the hatch and walked in .

  As Kay followed Mark, they walked in, Jolleen came into the front shop end of the container. Disgust as then as covered her face as she turned red looking as she looked at Kay. “I am still cleaning up the fucking mess her family is responsible for. I want to take another shower just looking at her.” Tears started streaming down her cheeks. “Hell , I have taken a dozen showers and I still feel dirty.”