File 5.1 - Silence Before the Storm

Only the array of hangar lights shined into the dirty cockpit. The main doors held shut, keeping the Niphliheim hidden. Neither of the crewmates in the cockpit had any interest beyond the thick glass-like material. They propped their feet up on the console without a thought to what they might be near. It was fortunate for them everything was in lockdown mode or Sheila would have given them a fierce yelling to leave them deaf for a day.

It wasn’t like either cared about Sheila anyway. They could get away with such disregard, since she wasn’t on board, same went for the Captain. It was the boring task ‘Guard the Ship’, but they accepted it. Negotiations weren’t their taste.

Nate sat himself comfortably in the co-pilot seat. The departure of Edgar left the seat vacant and not normally filled by him. He barely fit into the seat. His part muscle and part fat figure had them making use of him in the cargo hold more than playing back-up to Sam. Most of the console was foreign to him, but he knew enough to keep the bird in the air, if forced.

Leaning back in the seat made it groan painfully, wishing Nate would leave. He had nowhere else to go. “Sure am ‘cited ‘bout tah new job. Jes’ th’nkin’ ‘bout tah creds we’ll get.”

Shifting his feet a little, Sam looked quite settled with his pilot seat. He wasted no time giving it his own personal touches with various pin-ups and shot glasses on top of the dash of the console. “I’m a lil’ uneas’d by tah ole th’ng.” His butt started to get a little numb from his posture, forcing him to move around a little. Sam made sure his feet stayed reclined. It was important.

“Eh? Tah muney! Thunk ‘bout it!”

“Ya, ya, I know what ja sayin’. Jes seems lil’ off all tha creds fer doin’ footwork. Dun seem like work if ya ain’t usin’ tah Niph.”

“Ya jes wan’ ta h’ve a job tha makes mah work.”

Sam laughed a heartedly at the thought. “Can’t say I’d dis’gree. M’re work ya might fit tha seat bett’r.”

“Les see ya move tah goods w’th those sticks!” Nate threw up his thick arm at Sam proud of his body, despite not being the perfect sign of fitness. It was true enough he was the strongest physically in the crew. Any heavy lifting went his way.

“These sticks keep ya from fallin’ outta tah sky! So ya might want ta give ‘em a lil’ mor’ ‘spect!”

“An’ these guns keep ya wallet full!”

The two stared at each other for a long moment before laughing loudly. Neither had much to do with guarding the ship from nothing. It wasn’t as if anyone important enough cared about them. They had nothing to do. It was the only way to pass some time.