The clash ended quickly. Deadpool's brutal skill had left Bruen defeated in less than a minute. As the last echoes of the fight faded, crew members rushed to the scene, their expressions turning from shock to unease as they took in the sight.
Bruen was on the ground, his legs severed, with greenish liquid oozing from his wounds, pooling beneath him in dark, viscous puddles. His body trembled, and his face was contorted in pain and fear. Even as his fellow crew members approached, Bruen's eyes remained fixed on Deadpool, wide with horror as he mumbled strange, unintelligible words under his breath.
Charlie, controlling Deadpool, expected the worst. He knew that in situations like this, the newcomer often ended up as the scapegoat. Deadpool was an outsider, and Bruen was their crewmate; surely, they'd side with him and look at Deadpool with suspicion. But what happened next surprised him.
Instead of accusing Deadpool, the crew quickly moved in to tend to Bruen, carefully lifting him and calling for medical supplies. As they carried Bruen away, Claire stepped forward, his expression a mix of frustration and sadness.
"I apologize for Bruen's actions," he said, bowing his head slightly. "This was... completely out of character. He's a trusted warrior and a friend. We've been through countless starfields together, and he's never acted like this."
Claire sighed, glancing away as if struggling to understand it himself. "Maybe it's just the toll of traveling through endless space. The vast distances, the isolation—it can wear anyone down. We're out here for months at a time, just us and the stars. Sometimes, people start seeing things that aren't there or thinking things they never would. Maybe that's what happened to him…" His voice trailed off, and he looked back at Deadpool with a forced smile.
"But please, I hope you don't hold it against him. If anything, I know now that you're stronger than any of us. You've bested our best fighter," he added with a weak chuckle.
Deadpool, ever the showman, puffed out his chest, striking a dramatic pose. "Stronger? That's an understatement, my friend! You're looking at the legendary Deadpool—the finest swordsman to ever grace this galaxy!" He launched into an exaggerated speech about his bravery and unmatched skill, leaving Claire to stare in bemused silence.
Meanwhile, Charlie leaned back, thinking over Claire's words. The idea that space travel could drive someone to madness wasn't far-fetched; astronauts on Earth underwent rigorous mental evaluations and training for that very reason. But this felt... off.
From the moment Deadpool had boarded this spaceship, Charlie had sensed something was wrong. The ship itself was dark and cavernous, with long shadows and corridors that seemed to stretch endlessly. The crew, despite being professionals, seemed tense and distracted, as if haunted by something unseen. Even when Deadpool cracked jokes, their responses were muted, distant, as though they were only half-present.
Once the scene was cleaned up, the crew dispersed, returning to their stations in silence. No one asked questions, and the entire incident was quietly swept away as if it hadn't happened.
Charlie was about to put Deadpool on auto-mode to focus on other tasks, but then he heard muffled voices coming from behind a nearby wall.
"Bruen is dead! I told you that thing was dangerous!" one voice whispered urgently.
Charlie perked up, curious. Even though they spoke in their native language, Green Lantern's ring translated it instantly.
Charlie had Deadpool move closer to the wall, listening in.
"Bruen was right from the start, but no one listened. That thing is beyond us. We need to get rid of it before it's too late."
Another voice cut in, sounding irritated and dismissive, rejecting the suggestion. The conversation grew heated, voices overlapping until it turned into an unintelligible argument.
"Something dangerous?" Charlie thought. Are they talking about the treasure they're carrying?
Two hours remained until they reached their destination. Suddenly, an alarming message came over the intercom: Bruen had disappeared.
The announcement sent a ripple of confusion through the ship. Given his severe injuries, Bruen shouldn't have been able to move, let alone disappear. When a crew member went to check on him, they found his room empty.
Claire, looking troubled, gathered the crew to question them. The last person to see Bruen explained that he had been muttering to himself before he vanished, barely coherent.
"He kept saying… 'that name,'" the crew member said, glancing around nervously. "But I think you all know what I mean."
Charlie noticed the other crew members exchange worried looks, nodding as if they understood. But no one said the name aloud. Some seemed afraid, while others shook their heads in resignation.
"Poor guy," Claire muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Maybe he couldn't take it anymore…"
"Maybe he threw himself out of the airlock," another crew member suggested. "Maybe he thought it was the only escape."
[TL Note - Isn't bro KO]
Deadpool, intrigued, loudly asked what "that name" was, but the crew only looked at him in disbelief. They exchanged glances, as if baffled that he didn't already know, but none of them answered.
Later, Claire approached Deadpool again, clearly rattled. He asked if he could stay in the room next to Deadpool's and begged him to keep watch, promising a generous reward if they could reach their destination safely.
Deadpool's eyes sparkled at the mention of money. "Say no more, buddy! I'll protect you like you're my own grandma's diamond ring," he said, giving a dramatic salute. Though in reality, he was just a virtual character following Charlie's commands.
An hour later, as the ship drifted through the dark starfield, four crew members stormed into Claire's room, shouting accusations.
"This is all your fault, Claire!" one of them yelled. "You just had to go after that treasure! Now we're cursed!"
Claire, terrified, covered his head and tried to back away, pleading for Deadpool's help. The crew, wild-eyed and furious, pointed to Deadpool, claiming that his presence was a sign, proof of the curse they now believed had followed them onboard.
"We have to get rid of him!" another crew member shouted, raising a weapon.
Deadpool, sensing a brawl, stepped forward, drawing his sword. "Everyone take a deep breath, okay? Let's talk this out before someone loses a limb...or worse."
But the crew members were too far gone, their eyes filled with panic and anger. Without waiting for another word, they lunged at Deadpool and Claire.
Deadpool moved fast, sidestepping their wild attacks and parrying their clumsy strikes. In their crazed state, they were no match for his skill. With a few swift moves, Deadpool disarmed and defeated each of them, leaving them sprawled on the floor.
When the dust settled, Deadpool turned back to Claire, who was crouched in the corner, trembling.
"Alright, buddy," Deadpool said, sheathing his sword. "I think it's time we had a little chat about this treasure of yours. Care to explain what's really going on here?"