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Big Brother and online Hunger games.

Sympathy Has No Strings

Apr 7, 2014 by SuzyGold
1500 Word Essay for judging based on the requirements set forth in the competition by Ghoul and Porschefan101 for their King of the Nerds 1 Group Game - Defenders of Kingswood Entry for players Ilovesleep mminervini219 absol jkjkjk15 SuzyGold

Chapter 1

"But we don't have time to stop there, June.  You know we need to get to West Venus in two days.  We can go there on the way back."

I tried to smile but I knew that she knew that I didn't mean it. 

"It's my money that keeps this going, so I say where we will go and when we will go."  June stomped her foot.  The rabbit sleeping in the corner raised both ears and fell back asleep.  June stomping was not an uncommon occurrence.  She used her Telekinesis to float around so much, she needed to give those angry boots a workout.

"Gedrick, surely we can spare a half a day" a familiar voice said to me.

Jasmine had entered wearing a gold dress with olive trim. She was carrying one of her pets.  And was here to defend June from me, as usual.

"June only wants to make a quick stop I am sure, right hun?  It is said that a respite can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary."

"Yes, half a day would be lovely, thank you Jasmine."

I was still wondering what a "respite" was when June reached over and took Buffy, the pet savno from Jasmine's arms.

The savno was a pet that we had not encountered on other planets.  It was the size of a cat but had a hood over its head that was hard as wood.  Savnos can fall on their heads and their hoods take all the impact.  If a cat has nine lives, a savno might have nine hundred and this particular one maybe nine thousand!

Jasmine had come from a planet where the inhabitants had learned that at the end of each 100 day moon cycle, when the starless sky was black as tar, beasts would cross from the dark side of their planet for an entire day.   This common occurrence was viewed as an inconvenience, not a real concern.  However, one day, as she launched into space, she saw that a savno had been holding onto the side of her pod.  It's hooded head keeping it alive. Still a child, she opened the hatch and pulled it inside, causing her ship to lose pressure, and orbit and collide with an asteroid belt above her planet.  Knocked unconscious, she and her animal companions awoke on a planet somehow so distant from her home world that years later Jasmine has still never been able to locate her own planet."   

"Fine, one half day, but you have to tell Cobalt yourself."

"Cobalt loves me", June replies.

"Cobalt loves anyone who isn't telling him what to do, or making us late, and right now you are about to do both of those!"

Our pilot Cobalt was a single minded individual.  He basically wants to kill.  He killed his whole family and would have killed many more due to a virus he had been infected with but he was captured and converted from a bomb, into a weapon.  He still wants to kill, he probably wants to kill me and everyone else,  but the person he wants to kill first is the person who gave him that virus and that is not June or me, or a savno so we are all safe for now.  Fortunately, the only beating he's been dishing out this past month is on a set of drums we picked up two planets ago.

June floats off to talk to Cobalt and Jasmine sits down next to me.

"She's only a girl", she begins.

"She's older than you" I reply.

"Yes but my race matures quickly, you humans... never seem to mature.   She needs you."

"She has a funny way of showing it", I sneer.

"You are the father she needed.   Someone she could look up to.  Couldn't you try and be a little nicer?"

"I'll try" I reply, and we both know I am lying.

"We both know you are lying", Jasmine states, "and liars never endure what truth behooves them as the fire makes the flame burn and burn."

Jasmine walks away.

I stare at the rabbit not knowing what just happened.  The rabbit twitches at me.

"Don't feel bad bunny", I shrug, "I didn't get it either"

Chapter 2

After we arrive in Berlene Port,  I call everyone to the back.   Cobalt is currently not in pyscho mode.  No cannon arm, blades in his hands, red eyes, murderous cries.  None of that.  He will save that until the day he sees a member of the Laernys Guard.  The organization who has spread viruses across the galaxy killing billions.  The guard are highly protected and difficult to kill, but Cobalt was built for killing, literally twice.

I met Cobalt where I met Jasmine.  Both were living in a slum part of earth 2.  The failed planet.  I was there because I had lost a bet and had been forced to pay my way by working for man named Ivan.  I thought Ivan was going to be some terrible person but it was just the opposite.  Ivan was the cornerstone of all things good.  He took care of the people in his slum community and working for him in everyway was a blessing.

"Cobalt, stay with June and make sure she is safe, and...well don't kill anyone.  Jasmine, can you help me get some more Silvertyne, I notice the shield has been weaker and weaker on the ship."
"I can help arrange for a buyer", Jasmine begins, "but Silvertyne is expensive, even moreso in Berlene Port."

"Well I didn't want to go to Berlene Port but someone needed a new Wardrobe" I flick my hands through my short hair mimicking June.

"What do you care, I'm the one paying for everything anyway", June fires back," and you wish you had my hair"

"I told you that I will repay every penny, and I don't wish I had your hair", I know I am lying about both and I wonder if they do.

"You are lying", June says handing coins to Jasmine

"Definitely lying" echoes Cobalt as he follows June into the marketplace.

Jasmine starts to open her wisdom laden mouth but I raise my hand "not now Dr. Phil" I mutter, "let's just find that Silvertyne."

Jasmine works the streets for a while and tells me she has a lead on some Silvertyne and to meet her at the ship.  Unlike June, I know Jasmine can handle herself, even with Silvertyne dealers.  We need to keep our shields up because we travel at speeds that are very unsafe and our shields pay the price.   Jasmine has the uncanny ability to work with metals.  She can detect them in the ground as well by means of a Crystal in her arm.  It is something she didn't discuss with me back on earth 2 and something I have never asked her about.

Back on the ship, Cobalt is sporting a new hat. 

"If you had come I would have gotten you new clothes too" June teases.

"That's ok, I like wearing what I have on now"

I secretly hope they know that I'm lying, I really want new clothes.

"Well, that's too bad because I bought everyone else a new outfit too!"

I take the bag from her hand and see a black vest and a silver shirt.  I'm very excited but I try to remain calm.

"Thanks."

Having been a musician for most of my life, I was used to living the good life.  But while playing in resorts throughout the galaxy I found myself in trouble due to gambling.  Soon, I was in so deep that the local law allowed the casino to sell my services.   That is when Ivan purchased me.  But Ivan used my music to  bring happiness to the people in his slum village.  The same way he used Cobalt to protect the villagers. Ivan taught me that there is more to life than nice looking suit and a fancy gig.  However, a good black vest always made me happy and this one came with a silver shirt.

"Silvertyne is ready", Jasmine says.

"Are we ready to roll?" Cobalt asks?

"We are, and we have to get to West Venus by tomorrow and then.. where to next, June, legit or revenge?"

We wait as June flips through the book.  When June's father told her she could do whatever she wanted, he expected her to use his money to become an actress or a singer.  He just didn't know how hard it would be to find support.   But June is the lead singer for our band.  We put on expensive private parties all over the galaxy.  Most of the shows are legit, but we have an agenda, all of us.  And some of those parties just happen to be for certain people who have wronged us in the past. 

Jasmine looks up "Next one is scheduled is revenge" she says, handing the book to June.

June smiles. "It's for my dad."

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