Ghosts

Posted on Sat Nov 18th, 2017 @ 11:35pm by Lieutenant Cor Cordale

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/4
Location: Cor Cordale's Quarters
Timeline: After "The Aftermath", "Feasts of Four Kingdoms"

The doorway swished open to the darkened room that belonged to the Thux, though upon his command the lights turned on. From dark and dreary to almost cheerful, the Thux's quarters were a glimpse into his soul. Various assembled and painted models lined one of the walls, ranging from ancient Naval war craft to slightly more modern aircraft, to the more fantastic and impossible. A Naval battleship that had wings and a spinal mount cannon, a space craft that looked more like a building with engines attached to it, and a bipedal heavy armor vehicle of some form. Some had tiny lights in them to make them look more realistic, others had intricate paint jobs meant to emulate military camouflage. It appeared that building models was something that the Thux was very enthusiastic about.

He padded in, the door swishing behind him, and as soon as he was alone he removed his shirt. Confining, but supposedly built to breathe... Cor was thankful that his quarters were a few degrees cooler than the rest of the ship. Fur had its perks, and well, thankful that he had control over his own quarters environment. Imagine having to share? Pff...

He needed a few things to get his mind off the last two hours. A bite to eat, something to drink, but more than anything else right now he could use a shower. Stepping into the bathroom, the Thux removed the top half of his uniform, showing the sight of his upper torso and the roadmap of his life that it was. His physique was that of a miner rather than an engineer, with a solid frame that seemed carved from wood and giving a dash of color with his cobalt-blue fur. Where the scars weren't, that is. Some of them were fine traces, hard to find unless you looked for them. Others were thicker, but still well hidden in his thick fur. The most prominent was along his left shoulder, where the border between skin and simulacrum lay. A thick ugly scar, carving where his shoulder blade WOULD be in two and going clean through, a harsh reminder of the world before. Time before.

'You're thinking about it again, Cor'

The Thux perked up, some might even say he jumped. Long day, and yeah, he was thinking. How could he not? He was essentially ordered to take a job, then a meal, then a nap. Overseer much?

'Yeah, she's a horrible person. Big deal, you've worked for worse'

"Yeah I..." and he stopped, his hand sliding up to trace along the hexagonal dog tag hanging from his collar. Sometimes the collar itched. Sometimes it felt cold. Right now, it just felt heavy. He looked in the mirror, just to make sure that the only pair of eyes that stared back at him were his own. Convinced that it was just him and his damned memories, he started up the shower. Sonic showers made his prosthetic itch, but hot water showers meant he'd take forever drying off his fur. Sonic it was.

A few minutes later, the Thux walked back into his living quarters with a towel around his waist and a much more relaxed posture. What he needed now was, well, a meal... a drink... and a distraction.

"Computer, load media to wall display." he called up, and the computer replied an inquiry as to what to load up. "Let's go with Invincible Masters, advance about fifteen minutes in, pause playback." and the computer complied. The Thux had a soft spot for terrible kung-fu cinema. From the Shaw Brothers, gods of the craft, all the way to the Five Clones of Bruce Lee... he'd sit through anything with enough Crane Style in it. Hell, sometimes he even laughed himself sore.

Tonight, he could use a good laugh.

Wearing a pair of dark boxers, content to just be alone and about to relax with one of his favorite movies, he went to the wall replicator and got himself a good enough combination for watching a movie: Popcorn and beer. He sat down on his couch-seat, popped open the bottle, took a swig, and set it down next to the other two.

Other two.

He released the breath he didn't even know he was holding. It took him a few moments to realize the movie was playing, but he had no memory of telling the computer to start the movie, nevermind two other bottles. He reached out a shaky hand to touch the other two bottles, as though to dispel them like so much smoke. They were real. Cold and collecting moisture, like they were always there.

"A... alright then. Movie for three. Hope you like kung fu." he said, and tried to resume his relaxation. He made it another twenty minutes into the movie before fatigue had won the battle it was fighting the entire night, and Cordale could stay awake no longer. He recycled the bottles and the uneaten popcorn, before heading to bed. First thing's first, though, as he passed by a thick book on a pedestal on his way to his room he stopped and put his living hand on the cover.

"I promise to be a better Thux. I promise to solve my problems rather than run away from them. I promise to forgive people who are ignorant of things because it isn't their fault." he took a shaky breath, "I .. I promise to forgive. I promise to live. I promise to be free. F... Free enough for ... for everyone who I ... I carry with me."

He took a sniffle. "I promise I'll try not to curse so much." then he shook his head, "You're right, I shouldn't make a promise I can't keep. I... I promise I'll try to make it one night without getting all blubbery. Not a day goes by that I don't miss you both." and with that, he gave the book a soft pat. "I'm a Thux. We keep our word."

His nightly ritual complete, the Thux sat down in his bed and reached over to take a solid grasp of his prosthetic shoulder. A few presses, a click, and a twist and the entire limb went limp as it was removed from its housing on his shoulder. Removing it and setting it on the table next to the bed, the Thux looked thinner, incomplete... almost wrong. He wiped away at some of the built up grime from the assembly and disposed of the rag. "Computer. Set alarm for 0700. Reminder, for grease." and the computer acknowledged the request. With that, the Thux dimmed the lights, but requested a soft blue glow instead of total darkness.

"No. I'm not afraid. Just ... might need to use the head." he said to himself. At least, he hoped it was just himself. "But, you guys are right... I have worked for worse. If I promised to forgive stupid people, I have to at least consider the position... IF she shapes up."

"Oh, I have options. There's a whole STATION down there. Plus the Dalacari starbase. Did you SEE that place?" a pause, "Well no, neither did I." he grumbled, half asleep as he drifted off to what sleep would come to him.