"Dock 6, got it."    That is only three docks away.  I can easily get there and back in 25 minutes.    He raced for the driver's seat.  "I'll be back."

He didn't wait for Brocks reply.   He shut the door, brought the throttle up and deftly adjusted the fans to slide the monster out of his parking spot and away from Brock's ride.

Out in the open, Dake threw open the throttle and slammed the fans to full angle.  They roared as they bit in to the air, and the monster lept forward.  He raced down the docks, weaving the limo at speed around the obstacles that presented themselves.

Coming up on Dock 6, he slowed the monster and drove slowly.  The first ship that caught his attention was a Dingo class.    Just like Rusty on Hera.  I do miss the real flying.

He lowered the monster to the ground and got out to take a better look at the ship.  For just a moment he forgot about the ship he was looking for and admired the lines of the Dingo.    With a pulse engine too.

He followed the fuselage until he saw the name on the ship.  Destiny.        No way.  That's Kale's ship?   He shook his head.       Leave it to him to pick a Dingo to captain.   Kale.  The thought of seeing him again scared Dake a bit.  He decided he couldn't do it.  He took one last look of the beautiful ship and started to get back into the limo.    Too bad you aren't my destiny.     Then something or someone caught his eye at the ramp of the Destiny.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:00, Fri 08 Dec 2006.

He saw a blonde woman walk up the ramp like she belonged on the ship, but that is not what attracted his attention.  It was the woman already on the ship talking to another fellow.

She was beautiful.  Even from where he stood he could tell she had a slim, shapely figure and long dark hair.   She moved with a grace and assuredness that he couldn’t help but watch further.

His fear of meeting Kale again started to fade with his growing curiosity of the woman.   Was she part of the crew?  Were she and the fellow together?  He took another few steps toward the ship.

[From Destiny: Cargo Bay]

Kale walked up to Dake a huge smile on his face ... inside he was dying, inside his head was screaming to run away, screaming that he still - after all these years - wasn't ready for this, "Well look who it is.  All grown up an' everything." he said wishing Dake didn't look so much like Nate, "It's really good ta see ya, its been ... well its been a while there."

But not long enough, there was nothing good about seeing him, but still he stood there with that stupid smile on his face. Standing there uncomfortably trying to decide if he was supposed to hug the other man or offer him a hand shake or if just a nod of the head would suffice.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 22:12, Sun 10 Dec 2006.

Kale startled Dake.  He hadn’t seen him standing in the cargo bay, and when he finally did see him there was no way to avoid eye contact.   He watched Kale step down off the ramp of the ship, and silently cursed himself for not getting into the limo and leaving when he had the chance.     Too late now.  Distracted by a pretty girl, and now look where it landed me.  What they hell am I going to do now.  Just the sight of him makes my stomach turn over.

When Kale approached, Dake put on his best professional smile.    Make nice, smile and nod, and then feed him a line and get out of here.  ”It has been a while.  You are looking good.”     If he asks me to stay and chat, I turn him down and get back to the judge.

Alright, Dake's nodding his head, I'm goin' with the head nod. Kale thought.  He was surprised to be greeted with a smile, his hand reached up and rubbed the back of his neck a sure sign that he was uncomfortable, "Righ' uh, thanks.  You too.  Yer lookin' nice an' ... healthy ..." Kale finished lamely. Oh God, oh God why in the gorram hell did I come out here. There was a silence then as both men stared everywhere but at each other.

Alrigh', ya gotta say somethin'.  Say somethin' cause this is ruttin' awkward.

"Uh ... how ya been?" Kale said.

Looking healthy?  That is almost as lame as me saying ‘you are looking good’.  What am I doing here?

”Hanging in.  Driving a limo for a judge here in town."  He shrugged.  ”It ain’t flashy, but pays way more then the interplanetary hauling job I had."

Get out now.  Tell him I have to go, get in the limo, and drive away.  Why am I still here?

"A limo?" Kale arched a brow - that was probably about the last thing he expected Dake to be doing, "Well ... well ain't that shiny." he said with a nod of his head.  The silence was back.  The tension was palpable.  Kale wanted to make a break and run for it but he couldn't.  Years of growing up together with young man had him rooted to the spot.  He coughed in the second awkwards silence and looked back up at him, wincing again at how much like Nate he looked.  He was going to say something, anything but no words came out.  So he was just standing there looking like an idiot.

Dake didn't know what to say.   Yeah, I am driving a limo.  It ain't what I want to do, but it may just pay my way back into a skiff.

He wanted to say something, but he couldn't think of anything.  The silence stretched.  He loved Kale like another brother, but how could he forgive him for taking Nate away to the war.   Nate wouldn't have gone on his own, but he wouldn't let Kale go alone.

Finally, Dake stammered out, "Yeah."  He shrugged.  "Like I said, it ain't exciting, but it pays the bills and then some."     Isn't that what I just said?  Mentally, he slapped his forehead.

Then it hit him.  Harley!  "Hey, before I forget, if a guy named Harley shows up to take the pilot job, don't hire him.  He has family here to take care of.

Kale actually chuckled a little as Dake ended the silence by saying the exact same thing he's just said, "I see ya been improvin' that vocabulary there.  Got two ways 'o sayin' the same thing now.  Good fer you." Kale smiled and for just a second it was like old times.  Just like when he and Nate used to rag on Dake when they were younger.  He immediately felt awkward again, "Sorry, uh ..."

Then Dake blurted something else out, "Harley?  Don' reckon I even know what yer talkin' 'bout.  Don't got no interviews with a fella by that name.  Don't got no interviews at all.  Think I mighta lost the last damn decent pilot in the 'verse ..." Kale said, his voice tinged slightly with pain.

Just for a moment Dake saw the Kale he remembered.  The guy he idolized with his brother.  Without realizing he what he was doing, he let down his guard.

"Puhlease.  Any of the cargo haulers on the dock could fly that ship just fine.  I have flown one before, and it is a pretty simple set up."

When he finished he was half smiling, and then he met Kale's gaze and he could see something was bothering him.  The silence returned.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:42, Mon 11 Dec 2006.

Kale looked back up at Dake for a second he was angry at him for being insensitive to the fact that he'd lost Ren ... but Dake didn't know that.  There was no way he could.  He hardly registered the fact that Dake said he had taken to piloting friegthers like Destiny before when the silence started up again.  He was going to tell him good day and be done with this, but when he opened his mouth that wasn't what came out, "Ya got anywhere ta be tonight? You'd be welcome ta stop on by fer a meal or somethin' we could ... catch up." Kale said.  Immediately he regretted saying it.  What was he thinking.  The last thing he wanted to do was sit around and 'catch up' with Dake.  What were they going to talk about?  'Man do you remember that time when Nate, you and I jumped from the Talpas Bridge, and oh ya, remember how Nate's dead now?'  That'd be loads of fun.  About as fun as it had been having a harpoon launched through his gorram shoulder.

No.  Thanks.  I have to get back to pick up the judge.  No possible way I could be back tonight.  Thank you for the offer.

"Sure."

What am I doing?  Say no!

"Getting caught up sounds good."

I don't want to get caught up.  Say no, you idiot!

"What time is good?"

Gorram it Dake, ya weren't s'pose ta accept. Kale mentally cursed the other man.  "Whenever ya get off is fine, we normally do meals 'bout 6." he said instead.

Nodding, Dake checked his watch.     Ai Yah Tien Ah!  I only have 5 minutes til the judge touches down.

He looked up at Kale.  ”I have to pick up a passenger, and am running behind.  I will see you at six.”   He reached out to shake Kale’s hand, and then walked back to the limo.

He open the door and started to get into the drivers seat, but stopped like he was going to say something more.     Tell him now.  Tell him you can’t make it, and then go and enjoy yourself with Brock and Beck.   You have a good thing going here.  Don’t mess this up.    Instead he only nodded again, got in, and roared back the way he had came.

Dake held out his hand to shake Kale's and for a moment he completely blanked on what to do.  His mind was still processing the fact that he's just invited Dake to come eat with the crew and he'd said yes.  There was a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.  He was not up for this.  He shook his head then.  Go on, shake his gorram hand. his mind told him.  His own hand clapsed in Dake's for a second and then Dake was taking off and Kale was left staring at the skid marks that his limo had left.  Limo or skiff's, that boy was still hell at the wheel.  Kale stood there a moment longer before heading back to the ship, his last thought was that they didn't even have any decent food on board ...

[To Destiny: Cargo Bay]

Dake raced back to the pick up area for the judge's flight and saw that the transport had already touched down.

No doubt he was one of the first out and has been waiting.  This isn't going to be good.

It took him 10 minutes to get to the front of the line and in that time he mentally made himself ready for a lashing.  When he saw the judge standing by the side of the exit ramp tapping his cane on the ground impatiently, he knew it was time well spent.

He landed the limo expertly next to the judge, grabbed his hat off the seat, and jumped out to open the door.

He opened the door.  "Good evening, sir.  I hope your flight was well."

Judge Taylor ignored him and got into the back of the limo without a word.

Not a word.  This was going to be bad.

It took until Zurich street and the entire bourbon before the judge said anything.  He started by clearing his voice.  It was a sound like stones rolling along the bottom of a creek.

Not good.  The clearing of the voice is never a good thing.

"Mr. Collins.  Another clearing of his voice.  "May I ask what took you so long?"

Dake knew better then to answer the question.   Judge Taylor was not looking for an answer, he was just ordering his thoughts for the tirade.

"I pay you an exceptional wage to drive my limo, but it seems to me that you believe punctuality is not inlcuded in your duties."  After a moment of silence, Dake heard two more ice cubes hit a glass and then some more bourbon being poured.  "I was one of the first off the transport, and then stood to the side of the line while others were picked up by their limo drivers.  Limo drivers who were on time to pick up their employers.  Employers who pay their drivers less then I pay you to make sure I do not stand out in the cold.

After another silence, the judge sighed.  "Mr. Collins, let me make my expectations perfectly clear.  In the future, you will do everything within your power to make sure you are to every pickup at least ten minutes early.  Every time you fail to meet that expectation, I will dock your pay.  Do not test me in this, Mr. Collins, or you will find yourself in need of a new job."

There was only silence as the barrier behind Dake rose to the ceiling.  'Non-early' a couple of times, and the guy has a near heart attack. I swear, if there was a way to get away from all these stuffed shirts, I am taking it.  Racing or no racing.

About thirty minutes later found Dake done with his work for the night after swinging by Baker St. to pick up Judge Taylor's wife from her hair appointment at one of the those ridiculously expensive salon's she went to and then it was off to their pent house apartment.  His phone rang as he watched the Judge and his wife enter their building.

He put in his earpiece and activated the phone.  He put on his best imitation answering machine voice and said, "Hi, it's Dake.  Did you think you missed me?  'Cause, ya didn't."  He reverted back to his regular voice.  "Who dis?."

Brock's high pitched laugh filled Dake's ear - just a bit too loud for an ear piece, "You bloody sod - you think your funny don't ya?" he didn't say who it was, but there could be no mistaking, instead he just plowed right on, "So, Taylor chew you out for bein' late?  I saw you pullin' up just as I was gettin' ready to pull out, mate.  Tough break, I don't know why you went through all that just to be keepin' Harley here." Brock said.

Dake found himself mildly amusing, but Brock’s reaction made him guffaw.  It had been a rough evening, and Brock’s voice was a relief.  Brock always made Dake feel good.

”Oh yeah, quite the reaming.  Then, I had to listen to him question my integrity with his wife while the screen was down.  I so wanted to tell them ‘I can hear you’, but I played the good little driver.”

”Honest, B.  I went to see that guy Kale.”  He didn’t know why he was telling Brock other then the conversation with Kale kept running through his brain and was threatening to make it explode.  ”He knew my brother, Nate, when we were growing up.  We were really good friends until Nate died.”  He paused again, not sure where he was going or if he even should continue.  ”Anyways, I felt a perverse need to see him.  It felt like shit, and I am looking forward to a few drinks and jokes with you and Beck.  End the day on an upside.”

"Kale?  Oh ya mean the Cap'n fella?  I didn't know you actually had friends growing up." he said in jest making fun of Dake.  His joke was immediately followed by his own laugh as Brock was always laughing at his own jokes, "Well, ya have a nice catch up, and all that?  Always nice to be seein' old friends." Brock had begun to say when Dake told him it'd been awful.  There was actually a small pause and then Brock's voice spoke up once more, "Well then you get right on over here, Beck's finished cookin' and everything.  We're having a pot roast and if you don't get here soon there won't be nothin' left - if Becky let's me touch the bloody thing.  Keeps smackin' my hand away and telling me I can't have any 'til ya get here.  So hurry up mate.  That's what I was callin' to say anyway.  Hurry up."

Dake couldn't help but laugh.    None of the heavy stuff for Brock.

"I am on my way.  I just gotta put away the beast for the night, so give me 20 minutes."

He ran through his list of things to do before he could head over and decided 20 minutes would be cutting it too close.  "You had better make it 30 minutes, so don't wait for me if you are starving"

He gunned the big vehicle into traffic and headed for the garage around back.

"Thirty minutes?  Blimey, could ya take any longer?" Brock complained, "Alright, alright, thirty it is but your bringing over something to drink then." he said, "See ya soon, mate."

Brock hung up and the phone line went dead.

He finished with the limo in record time, put on his leathers and was starting his bike when his promise to Kale flashed through his mind.   He tried to shake it, but it was persistent.    No.  I am not going.  I don’t owe him anything.  Not after what he did.       He slammed on his helmet, pulled on his gloves and raced out of the garage intent on getting to Brock’s on time.  Then his hands turned his motorcycle in the opposite direction.      Ta Ma Duh! What are you doing?   You don’t have time for this Niu Shi!      He tried to take the exit ramp to get turned around, but only succeeded in fighting the motorcycle to a stop on the side of the freeway.

He got off and threw his helmet on the ground.   A primal scream ripped from his throat and then he sat down next to his helmet oblivious to the traffic whizzing by.     Why?  Why do I have to do this?     Nate’s smiling face danced through his mind.     Nate?  Are you doing this to me?   Why?   Nate, I don’t know if I can do it.   It hurts to much.   It still hurts too much, Nate.   Please.   Don’t make me do this..     Tears streamed down his face.    Thoughts of his brother and Kale taking him on their adventures brought a forced chuckle from him.     For a long time, he sat thinking of the three of them, and what Nate and Kale meant to him.   He didn’t know how long it was before his thoughts ran out and left him tired and shaking.

Gorram, you two were a cuple of crazy bastards.   Nothing you wouldn’t try.   And you always let me go even when I was a pain in your ass.  You don’t know what that meant to me.  I never told you.   I owe you that.

He put his helmet back on and zoomed back into traffic headed toward the docks.  He had just enough time to make it, and if he pushed it a bit, he might still be able to stop off and bring something to drink.