Private Blue Milk Run

[Judd]

"We're still mid-transit to Stewjon."

After a moment, Judd built back up a little of his ornery attitude. "I meant after the job, smart-ass." Truthfully... he'd been so desperate to change the conversation, he'd blurted the first distraction that came to mind.

The less he could spend thinking about his past, the better. His robotic hand twitched, before the Dowutin could massage it with his other hand. There was no saving the game. Judd stood up from the table, heeding Levi's advice, and shooting a look Jacen's way. "Stupid game, anyway." On top of all his other excellent qualities, he was a sore loser. Maybe some time away would do him good. To cool down from...

Bump.

Immediately, Judd took a rumbling step back from the door, his heavy pistol finding his hands, eyes wide. A breath passed, and the pirate's expression hardened again, the moment of fear passing.

"Better check it out." He opened the door, following where he thought he'd heard the sound.

- Levi - Jacen Nimdok -

 

[Levi]

“Mmm. Sounds boring.”

"It was." Levi said plainly. Hence why he was out doing pirate stuff and not slaving away at the harbor. He turned to answer Judd more properly next, although it still revealed little, "We'll see where the winds take us." Their line of work was fickle. This had been a nice break, but if they didn't get a new job, they'd have to make their own. At that point it was just a matter of deciding what they wanted.

The sound put everyone on high alert. Levi slowly crept towards the cargo doors, and opened them, jumped behind the wall for cover just in case something dangerous revealed itself. But there was nothing, "What?" He muttered incredulously, delving into the hold itself. No scary monsters or stowaway bandits sprang out at them. It couldn't have just been a bit of machinery, could it? The ship made plenty of noises, but this sounded different.

Bump.

There it was again. But the source was more clear: Their cargo. The large crate rattled at the noise. "…Dammit," The client had given their word there would be no nonsense, so long as they didn't open it. Suddenly Levi was having his doubts. He looked over the crate and gave his men a final look, before unlatching the lid. He looked inside, and saw a veritable horde of little reptilian creatures all sitting inside. They blinked. He blinked. Then all at once they began spilling out like a wave across the hold. Levi spat in surprise, nearly toppled over by the sheer volume of them.

"G— Gi—" He struggled to speak while being trampled by their little feet, "GIIIIZKAAAA!" The damn pests were a nightmare for any spacer. And now there was an army of them on board. Levi pushed off the Gizka and stood back up, shaking his fist, "That's it! Next stop we make, I'm getting a damn ship cat."

Judd - Jacen Nimdok​

 

[Jacen Nimdok]

"That's it! Next stop we make, I'm getting a damn ship cat."

Jacen, who had snatched up a gizka during the chaos, looked offended. "Who needs a cat when you have me?" he asked, baring his teeth at the little creature frantically trying to leap out of his grasp. "How much of the cargo can we write off as 'lost in transit'?"

Judd Levi​

 

[Judd]

Judd followed behind Levi, watching with grim agreement as Levi walked over to the crate, hefting his own blaster pistol threateningly towards the box. He swore, if they were transporting people...

He couldn't see what was immediately in the box as Levi opened it- there was enough of a pause for Judd to wonder if it was anything at all- but as a horde of creatures skedaddled like hell out of the open container and into the ship, Judd snarled in annoyance. "Damn it," he grunted, as he watched the Gizka begin to disperse into the ship. "Not again..."

There'd be no way to get them out now.

He seemed like he was about to say something in response to Levi, but was halted in his tracks as Jacen implied he would eat all the little pests. Judd blinked, before giving the youth an incredulous expression. "As your doctor... Ah, what the hell. Go wild, I don't care."

"Why's somebody transporting gizkas, anyhow?"

- Levi - Jacen Nimdok -

 

[Levi]

Levi stared at Jacen incredulously, then when he realized both him and Judd were actually considering it, he scoffed, "Put it down, you knob!" He snatched the Gizka, and dropped it back into the crate, "We're not risking a perfectly lucrative job because of your insatiability!"

"The job said the crate wasn't to be opened. If they find out any are missing, we might not get our due," Levi turned and began corralling a herd of the pests, "Which means we need to get them all back in! So put yourselves to good use!"

"Why's somebody transporting gizkas, anyhow?"

"Who bloody knows? But if they're crazy enough to transport Gizka in secret, they're probably crazy enough to count how many make it to port!" He had a bunch of them squirming in his arms, which he also dropped back into their little crate. Upon closer inspection, there was some food and water dispensers inside, but there wasn't enough of that or frankly enough space to accommodate them all properly, "What the hell? Are they pets?" In any case, they must have reproduce manically over the last couple days, as was their nature. They'd probably do so again before they got them all back inside. The Outrider II would probably be having a Gizka problem for weeks.

Jacen Nimdok - Judd​

 

[Jacen Nimdok]

Jacen grinned at Judd’s approval of his plan—then scowled at Levi as the Devaronian snatched the gizka from his grasp. The gizka were infamous for breeding out of control; he doubted their employers would care if a few went missing, especially since they had already multiplied substantially. No, this wasn’t about the job. Probably Levi just didn’t want to see him eat any cute little live animals.

"...Which means we need to get them all back in! So put yourselves to good use!"

Sticking his tongue out behind Levi’s back, Jacen grabbed a few of the gizka and obediently placed them back in the crate. Unharmed and unbitten.

Judd and Levi began theorizing as to the purpose of transporting the infamous creatures, with Levi suggesting they were intended as pets. “They didn’t do a very good job packing them up for shipping,” Jacen remarked after catching a glimpse of the tiny supply of food and water. “Do gizka mate, or are they basically born pregnant?” If the former, putting more than one in the box had been a major mistake.

Judd Levi​

 

[Judd]

At the Captain's insistence that they 'make themselves useful', Judd snorted like an irritated bull. But he turned regardless, stomping after the gizka as they danced around his ankles. A few swooping grasps with both his organic and cybernetic hand, to no avail. The little buggers were too small, and too quick.

“Do gizka mate, or are they basically born pregnant?”

Judd looked over to Jacen, his annoyed expression only growing. "Do I look like a fething veterinarian to you?"

The Dowutin resorted to slapping at the gizka, growling with growing frustration as they jumped away from his hands. Every. Time. "Kundza. Kundza!" He continued to swear in his native tongue, the words raising in volume and creativity the longer he went.

- Levi - Jacen Nimdok -

 

[Levi]

Levi was able to get his crew working. He did his best to wrangle a few more, currently stuck trying to retrieve a few that had somehow made their way onto a high up cargo rack, "Son of a- This is absurd," He hopped up, managing to grab one by the leg and causing it to squeal. He winced at the sound, then again as the other Gizka perched on the shelf hopped onto his head before landing back on the ground, "Blasted creatures."

Jacen posed a silly question, and was given a silly answer in response. Levi probably would have laughed at it if he weren't so flummoxed by the Gizka horde, "Hardly makes a difference either way." All that mattered to him was that they multiplied at a comical rate, and that he needed to get them back in the crate before they could cause any damage.

"Kundza. Kundza!"

"Bless you."

There was a ping from the engine room. A faulty system, as Levi confirmed on a nearby console, "Good gods, they move fast!" The devaronian began a brisk jog toward the engines, "I don't know about you all but I'd rather not suffer a hyperspace malfunction because of a bunch of Gizka!"

Jacen Nimdok - Judd​

 

[Jacen Nimdok]

"Do I look like a fething veterinarian to you?"

Jacen opened his mouth to reply, then closed it, his face flushing with embarrassment. He seized another pair of gizka and put them in the crate... only for them to jump out again.

"It does make a difference," he said to Levi. "Because if they reproduce asexually, putting one in a container would've had the same result regardless. But if they have to mate, then shipping them separately could've kept the population down." At the very least, it would be more evidence that their employers had engaged in blatant negligence.

An alert went off. The gizka had already gotten a hold of the ship's wiring. Jacen didn't even need to hear Levi's exclamation before he took off running toward the engine room... and found it full of leaping gizka.

Judd Levi​

 

[Judd]

"Bless you."

"Feth you."

Judd continued to charge after the small gatherings of gizka, actually managing to get his hands around one... and it wriggled out of his grip. A fresh round of swears began anew, as the Dowutin continued to chase after the little varmints, not caring in the slightest about whatever reproductive discussion Jacen and Levi were going on about.

The two of them ran out of the room, leaving Judd to stare down the horde all on his own. Judd narrowed his eyes, like a rimworld duelist. The gizkas slowly turned their heads, suddenly seeming much more daunting.

"No more Mister Nice Judd," said the medic, cracking his neck to the side. One gizka made an adorable blergh sound.

Then, the pirate charged valiantly into the fray.

He was outsmarted and outmaneuvered at every turn.

- Levi - Jacen Nimdok -

 

[Levi]

Levi waved a hand frantically, "Who cares?! Just put them away!" He had no interest in an academic discussion about Gizka in this particular moment. He dropped a few more in the crate, stuffing them down.

"Feth you."

"That's 'Feth you, Captain'."

There was no more time for the back and forth, as warnings from the engine room put Levi on high alert. He and Jacen both went to deal with it, while Judd stayed behind to hold off those in the cargo bay. "Get outta there you buggers!" Levi ran forward and grabbed a Gizka, whose head was stuffed into an electrical panel, chomping on wires. The captain pulled him out, but the Gizka pulled his meal out with him. There was a spark, and suddenly the lights in the engine room sputtered, and shut off, "You have got to be joking!"

Jacen Nimdok - Judd​

 

[Jacen Nimdok]

Jacen pursed his lips in irritation at his crewmates’ obtuseness. But it was hard to stay mad when they were throwing jabs at each other too. It was all so ridiculous…

Less humorously absurd was the matter of the gizka chewing through the wiring. Upon entering the engine room and finding it filled with the rodents, Jacen tried to grab as many as he could, as Levi and Judd had done. He was about as successful as they were. One of the critters evidently got a hold of something important, because the lights went out.

Predatory eyes gleaming, Jacen let out an animalistic snarl. It had exactly zero effect. And why should it? All three of the pirates fulfilled some monstrous archetype, but the gizka showed no concern for their safety in the face of fangs, horns, or… whatever Judd had going on. Big rock monster vibes. The gizka had evolved not to be afraid of anything, presumably because it was so easy to replenish their numbers.

Mouth closing, Jacen decided to try a different approach. He knelt down, pushing scaly little bodies aside in the process, and concentrated. He had studied methods of using the Force to control animals, but he had never actually tried it. If he could influence them to return to their crate willingly, it might just save all their asses…

Judd Levi​

 

[Judd]

A heavy thump could be heard from the other room, followed by a quiet, shameful "Ow, fuck."

Judd had tripped.

- Levi - Jacen Nimdok -

 

[Levi]

Levi's eyes struggled to adjust to the darkness, though sight was aided by the many other lights still blinking throughout the engine room; It was a good sign too— The Gizka had only damaged the room's overhead lights, not shut down power entirely. He tossed the culprit back towards the door, and it squee'd through the air before landing unharmed, returning to its simple-minded hopping.

The devaronian was running all around, scrambling to make sure no other gizka were chomping at wires, bumping into a various consoles and creatures as he did. Then, the density of gizka seemed to get lighter and lighter. He looked over to the doors, squinting to see the silhouettes go Gizka beginning to march out of the room, "Now what?" He was none the wiser that Jacen was beginning to control the little monsters.

Jacen Nimdok - Judd​

 

[Jacen Nimdok]

Oblivious to his surroundings, Jacen continued to exert his influence over the gizka. They came out of various areas of the ship, hopping single file back into the box. Or they tried to—there was soon not enough room inside. Their smooth bodies slipped and slid over each other as they scrambled for purchase.

The connection was two-fold, and Jacen found himself suffering from the same cramped, claustrophobic feeling as the animals. Overwhelmed, he pulled back, losing his concentration. The gizka began jumping out of the crate again.

“It’s not big enough for all of them,” Jacen moaned, clutching his head as he staggered into the main area. The ship was a mess, with bitten wires sending out sparks and consoles knocked over by Levi scattered about. “They need more space!”

Judd Levi​

 

[Judd]

When Jacen entered the room, he would've seen something... strange.

Judd was standing off to the side, obviously teeming to the brim with impetuous rage. Which was not an entirely unusual occurrence, save for the fact that Judd was now holding his good hand over one of his eyes, and glaring at the cute little gizka with murderous intent.

Judd frowned at Jacen as he noticed the animals streaming back into the box. More of that force-damned force, Judd reckoned. He still wasn't used to it, still didn't like it, but in this situation, the Dowutin could relent that it was necessary.

"I could make 'em fit," Judd growled, his tone betraying exactly what he wanted to do to the little pests. Then, he relented. "Or.... you charm them into a pod, and we're done with 'em."

- Levi - Jacen Nimdok -

 

[Levi]

Levi followed the trail of Gizka back into the cargo room, where he saw them hopping politely back into the container. Oh, and Judd was there too, seemingly nursing a war wound the little creatures had given him. The devaronian turned to see Jacen, at last piecing together that this was his doing. That Force stuff continued to prove useful when they needed it, and thus Levi decided not to look this gift orbak in the mouth.

Unfortunately, there was still the problem of space. These Gizka had frankly outgrown their container. Judd suggested leading some of them to an escape pod, where they could remain for the rest of the trip. A sound enough idea, even if Levi was still concerned about the profit margin, "I don't know how we're going to explain this to the client, they said not to open the crate…" He had opened the crate, and now they were paying for it. And it's not like it wouldn't be obvious now, when they led some of the Gizka out from somewhere other than their original storage.

"Bah," He muttered. He was a con artist, he could come up with something, "They broke out! Irresponsibly, our client had stuffed them all together, and over the course of the trip they overflowed! The damage it caused to our ship is on their hands! Perhaps we could squeeze some extra payment out of our buyer for the trouble." Levi rubbed his hands together greedily, "Send 'em to the pod."

Judd - Jacen Nimdok​

 

[Jacen Nimdok]

Jacen eyeballed Judd, wondering if he meant to eject the gizka-full pod into space. Levi on the other hand was still interested in making a profit off the creatures.

“I can’t think of anything better,” Jacen said, before stretching his mind toward the gizka once more. They hopped toward him, trilling and cooing, then passed him by on their way to the escape pod.

Well, except for one, which hopped out of the crate, only to stop. It squatted down and dropped a slimy, wriggling surprise on the deck before following the others. The newborn gizka writhed in its own afterbirth, eventually gaining its footing and hopping along after its mother, leaving splatters of goo everywhere it landed.

Fighting to maintain his concentration, Jacen avoided looking at the mess lest he gag. “I’m not cleaning that up."

Judd Levi​

 

[Judd]

"They broke out! Irresponsibly, our client had stuffed them all together, and over the course of the trip they overflowed! The damage it caused to our ship is on their hands! Perhaps we could squeeze some extra payment out of our buyer for the trouble."

"I can stomach that," Judd finally said, crossing his arms over his chest. Anything to get them out of this.

Jacen began commanding the disgusting little creatures towards the pod. Judd pointedly ignored the miracle of childbirth they were all forced to bear witness to, instead walking along the edge of the river of gizka, pointlessly making sure none strayed from the path.

Finally, the creatures began crawling into the escape pod, and Judd snapped a question the captain's way. He had the same concerns as the vampire. "You reckon we jettison the trash, or is this secure enough to hold 'em?"

- Levi - Jacen Nimdok -

 

[Levi]

Jacen abided, sending the Gizka off towards the escape pod. One stopped to give them a heinous show, which Levi grimaced at, "Despicable creatures." He didn't make any delegations regarding the mess, either planning to just do it himself or hoping that someone else might fall on the sword instead.

"Jettison? Certainly not! I told you we're wringing a profit out of these monsters! Beside, I'm not wasting a perfectly good pod on a horde of Gizka." They had gotten them all this far, might as well see it through to the end. There was a lurch, and a ping from the ship intercom, "Right on time." They had arrived at their destination: Stewjon.

Jacen Nimdok - Judd​