"So fragile, humans. You break so easily." He knees my groin and then breaks my kneecap.
"Like so," I crumple to the ground, "You're not even bleeding yet!" A knife is procured from his pocket. I feel the warm liquid start to seep out from my arm, not feeling the pain anymore.
"Oh, so sad, can't feel anything."
He's right I can't.... Why. Why am I showing mercy? I start to laugh, "Oh how stupid am I?"
"What for not screaming?"
"For showing mercy." The wound scabs over in a couple of seconds, arm and knee setting right along with it. I stand up to face him and say, "You… you called me a psychopath. I am not. I am a monster." I grab the rifle and it joins with my arm, pointing the new rifle arm at him, with just thoughts, I fire.
"Computer hail The United." A couple of beeps sound and Juna's voice echoes through the silent bridge.
"Reegen?"
"Hey babe. Oh fuck."
"Reegen?"
"Nagor?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Why am I still on this ship?"
"Yes, sir."
I collapse on my back seconds before I am transported to the teleporter, "Why the hell didn't I get transported to sick bay?"
"Sir!" One of the pirates redirects me.
"Much better."
Aiden comes rushing through, "Dad!" He falls to his knees at me.
"I'm fine Aiden, just in alot of pain."
"But your arm!"
"What about it?"
"It's limp."
"Yeah that's what happens when- nevermind. I've had worse Aiden."
"That is not comforting Dad.
"Not supposed to be, help me to my feet, don't touch my right arm."
Aiden scrambles to grab my left arm and pull me up.
"Thank you. Yo doc."
"I was a doctor when you were new."
"I know."
"What did you do this time?"
"Broken kneecap, shattered right arm, slashed left arm, although that's already scabbed."
"You and your ability to heal."
"Only when I'm pissed."
"That's also the only time you get like this." He starts to immobilize my knee and set a cast for my arm.
"Reegen!" Juna comes rushing in, "By the stars what did you do?"
"Landed on my arm."
"Where's the rifle?"
"That is a good question. Hey doc stop casting the arm."
"Why?"
"Trust me. Stop casting and do any x-ray."
"Ok." He has me stick my arm in a machine and lo and behold there is a scattered minefield of rifle parts.
"Yeah… it's complicated."
"Everyone out!"
The next thing I know I am waking up to Aiden reading from his books to me, "What happened?"
"You've been out for a week, the doctor had to take out the rifle."
"That. Right."
"Mom's pissed."
"Rightfully so."
"Doc told me to tell you that when you wake up you're free to leave."
"Hm. I'm just going to lie back down." Pins and needles dot my right arm, or at least it feels like it. It also feels ten pounds lighter. Before I can drift back into sleep alarms start to blare in my ears, "What in the hell is that?"
"Captain to bridge our Warp just failed to the point of auto-ejection."
"It did WHAT?" I bounce off the metal slab and sprint to the bridge, "What the hell happened?" I roar as I rush on bridge, still in the process of putting my captain's coat on.
"Auto-ejection. The orb overheated sir."
"Why?"
"Someone closed the vents."
"Who did matinence on those?"
"Solaris sir."