Recap
In the last instalment. Cutter had been visited by Sentera. The woman who lead him to the ambush where he was shot, being blinded by her beauty, Cutter forgave her and offered her a job on the ship. Kart remembered her, but, after an altercation Cutter convinced Kart not to tell Hackett about her involvement in the shooting.
"Thanks, Kart. I appreciate it." Cutter said. As he slid himself slowly off the bed.
His left leg swung over the edge of it, with no incident. But, once his right leg made it over the side, pain from his wound began to creep up. He gritted his teeth and slid forward, his feet reached the ground and he stood up. He wasn't able to stand up straight, as the skin from his side was tight. He felt as though stretching would tear it apart. Hunched over, he took his first step. Sentera slowly put an arm around him to help him along his way.
He felt slow and helpless, but, walking slow helped him manage the pain. Soon he was out the door of the med-bay and out into the main, connecting hall of the ship. From this large area, you could reach the crew quarters, and engine room where the engineers worked. Even the staircases that lead to the lower levels. He walked ahead, towards the hallway which came off this main room and lead to the cockpit past his own quarters. Cutter knew that if Hackett was anywhere it was in the cockpit.
The ship hadn't taken off yet, he must have been waiting for Cutter to be well enough to travel. As far as Cutter knew, the next stop was Jex, back to talk to Desh, bring him the FST's, get their cut for the drop-off and get a new job.
"You sure you don't want me to carry you Cutter?" Kart asked with a tone, full of concern. "I don't think you should be walking in this state." He continued.
"I'll be fine." Cutter said. At this point, he regretted his decision to walk. But, felt it was too late now to tuck himself into a ball and have Kart carry him around. Besides. Baz-Janges was sure to be lurking around one of these corners, what a way for him to be seen. "Little Cutter is going to bed." Cutter could hear that slimy voice echo through his mind. He had always made some sort of comment in the past, whenever Cutter was being carried around.
While on their walk, he spotted many different crew members of the ship. Some tossed a sympathetic look his way, some even stopped to ask him how he is. But, standing around chatting was the last thing he wanted to do now.
They reached the cockpit after some time, the slow march had been the most uncomfortable walk he had ever had to go on. The door to the cockpit opened, and instantly Cutter could hear talking. Hackett was standing by the window looking out, but near Cutter's seat was Baz-Janges. Great, Cutter thought to himself.
"I'm just saying while he's out of commission I can take over. I'm a good pilot, there's no need for me being wasted in the engine room." Baz-Janges complained. As Cutter stepped into the room with his entourage both of them turned around. "What are you doing walking Cutter! Kart, you were told to bring him to his bed." Hackett said while walking to them. "He insisted Hackett. What was I going to do? Knock him out." Kart grumbled.
Baz-Janges's beak, which rose up from his chin to cover his mouth, lowered, with that out of the way, he gave a slimy toothy grin using all that was left of his teeth. Shadows cast from the indents and scars across his scaled face rippled in the light of the room, as he stared intently at Cutter, before tossing an eye at Sentera. "Who's that?" Baz-Janges spat out.
"Sentera Engano." She said confidently while releasing Cutter to stand up as straight as she could.
"I met her yesterday and offered her a job." Cutter told Hackett. "Without warning me?" "I was a bit tied up to mention it."
Hackett crossed his arms. "How did she get onboard?" Hackett asked. "I used my initiative." She stated. "You think that's acceptable?" She fumbled a bit. "I told her to come here when she had her things in order and was ready to depart." Cutter stated.
"What can she do?" Baz-Janges asked, with a few hisses throughout the question. Sentera remained quiet.
Hackett gestured with the wave of his hand, wanting her to answer the question. "I feel a bit on the spot. I can't think." Sentera nervously said. "I can do whatever is needed."
Hackett shook his head and sat down in his chair spinning it around to look at them, leaning back as he did. "Well, I need someone to work in the engineering room. We've been needing someone to keep an eye on the anti-gravity emitters. Can you do that?" He asked. Baz started to laugh as he finished. Cutter looked at Sentera and noticed her face turn pale. "No." She quietly responded.
"I couldn't do much when you took me on Hackett. But, you still kept me around." Cutter said defiantly. "That was different Cutter, you know that." Hackett sighed. "I can't just give people jobs if they aren't useful."
"I'm good at talking." Sentera said sheepishly. "Clearly" Baz responded. Hackett raised a hand to his face and scratched at his cheek while in thought. "I suppose you could work down in the kitchens. Hagser has been asking for some help. He won't be easy to work with, He's very particular. But, it's there. When you're not working there you can clean the ship." Sentera nodded slowly in response to Hackett.
It's better than nothing, Cutter thought to himself. "Also, it's good you're here Cutter. I've decided that while you're recovering Baz is going to take over as the co-pilot." Hackett said. "What! He's taking my job!"
"Did you not hear me? Temporarily. Doc's orders. Besides, you won't recover anytime soon if you're working." Baz-Janges looked almost as shocked as Cutter did. "You can't do this Hackett!" Cutter shouted. "Cutter! You can barely walk, how do you expect to fly a ship!" Hackett argued.
"All I need to do is sit in my seat. I can do that." Cutter complained. "Enough! It's my call to make."
"Kart show Sentera to the crew quarters. By the way. It's only temporary, we'll be letting you go if it's not for you." Hackett said. "Come on you two." Cutter could hear Kart's voice from behind, as a hand landed lightly on his shoulder.
"I was thinking, Sentera could stay with me." Cutter said softly. "I know exactly what you thought, Cutter." Hackett shook his head. "This isn't a Doshan party barge." He continued.
Baz-Janges began to laugh at Cutter, as he then sat down in Cutter's chair and swiveled forward to the control board, leaving his back to Cutter and the other. But, continuing to laugh to himself.
Cutter was back in his quarters when he heard the voice of Hackett coming in over the intercom. "Everyone's accounted for, we're bound for Jex and will be there in no time. Until we reach Jex it's business as usual." The announcement that would fill Cutter with the slightest joy before, didn't even make him crack a grin now.
He felt angry. He was angry about losing his job, angry about being in pain, angry by the way they treated Sentera, angry at Hackett and the way he spoke to him, more than anything he hated Baz-Janges. That stupid lizard, his messed up teeth, his grins and slights at every turn. Cutter felt like a prisoner aboard this ship, he barely walked it for fear of having a run-in with him. The creep. I hope he dies! Was the last concise thought that Cutter made that night.