Bidi’s Diner Part 3

Jack and Killian stood next to each other before the chef, their jackets already off, ready for work.

"Now, which one of you considers yerself more of a mechanic?" The large boar-like cook asked.

"Both of us can work on machines, but Jack here prefers it more than I do," Killian responded.

"Alright then, the cheeky furball gets to work with Bedo for a while and the dirty elf works with me," the cook ordered.

"Wait. I get the fur thing, but cheeky?" Jack tilted his head and furrowed his brow.

"And why am I an elf?" Killian asked, his eyes narrowed and focused on something in the distance in thought.

The pink man blinked, "I'm not blind. Don't think I didn't see that whore wrapped around you," he then turned to Killian, "And yer eyes are a strange green."

The boys seemed to ponder this before the cook yelled, "GET TO WORK!"

Jack jumped and ran out of the kitchen, slamming the door open with his body on the way out.

Killian turned from where Jack disappeared back to the cook standing with his hands on his hips, looking slightly agitated.

"You better take off that ring there."

Killian's finger twitched, "I'm sorry, but I don't think I can do that."

The boar-like alien picked up a butcher's knife on the counter next to him and began to clean it with a cloth, "That's too bad Killian, but if you don't take that ring off and work, we're gonna have a problem."

A bead of sweat ran down Killian's neck, He couldn't possibly know...

Killian frowned in hesitation until sighing, "Fine."

The pilot then turned to the coat rack and deposited his ring in his inner breast pocket.

"Alright, so whado I gotta do first?" Killian asked as he turned to face the cook. He smiled, walking over to the sink near the back of the kitchen. Around the rusty machines covered in grime were stacks of used crusty plates sitting on the counter, threatening to crash onto the ground at any second. The cook rested his hand on the edge of the dirty sink, "I want you to clean all of these."

*

Jack peered into the garage and scanned for the little robot. Not seeing anything from his current position, Jack walked into the junk field, watching his feet for anything he could trip over. From within the piles of robot and starship parts, little faded lights gleamed in Jack's eyes, but none of them were Bedo's. Jack arrived at the counter Bedo was first on when he and Killian met him, but again to no avail.

"Bedo?" Jack yelled out, slightly unnerved.

Jack continued to wander around the garage, finding himself among the most cluttered part of the rusting collection.

"Bedo?" Jack called again, "Uhm, I guess we didn't have any money ta pay for the food we ate, so I was sent here to pay off my debt."

Jack paused in his sifting around the scrap, surveying the garage from the little nook he found himself in.

"Where is he?" Jack asked himself out loud.

Suddenly there was a sound of whirring gears and the scrape of metal; Jack only had enough time to yell out in surprise as a pair of cold, hard, greasy arms snaked around him.

"Beeeeddooooo... Whyyy... Why did you bet-..." A damaged voice box of a robot cried out, its voice cutting out and turning to static.

Jack turned his head to find a badly damaged droid with grime covering its once shiny faceplate. Its golden eyes were dimly lit and the status lights on the side of his head flashed on and off.

"Get off me!" Jack roared, clawing frantically at the metal hands that held him. Jack's claws dug into the droid's alloy arms, ready to rip them out in the flash of an eye. However, before he could shred the arms apart, an electric shock ran through the robot and traveled over to Jack. The metallic arms dropped and Jack leaped away roaring in frustration. Looking back at the cursed droid through slighted eyes Jack found the little garage owner at his feet. Bedo's claw-like hand was held out in front of him, the two metal prongs alive with electricity.

"I appreciate you getting that thing off me an' all, but did you really feel the need to fry my hair?" Jack said through bared fangs.

"Well... If I actually had feelings I might say it was amusing to watch, yes," Bedo said as his little mechanical arm dropped to his side, "Now, quit your whining. You have work to do."

"And what exactly would that entail?"

"Cleaning the floor. I don't have the legs for it." Bedo stated as he rolled to the back counter.

Jack frowned, "Don't you have other droids to do that sorta work?"

"No."

Jack sighed and looked around at the piles to scrap as tall as him, "Of course you don't, considering all the crap just laying around."

Bedo emitted a soft series of beeps, almost as if the little droid was grumbling to itself in distaste. Bedo stopped in front of a dented rusty locker, "You'll find everything you need in here."

"And you seriously want me ta clean whatever floor space you do have?"

"...Yes. I'm not quite sure why you feel the need to ask about such a simple task twice. I will explain it so that even a feeble invertebrate would understand. First, sweep the floors clear of any dust and debris. Second, scrub the floor till they are shiny and they are 'clean enough to eat off of,' as you organic beings say. If you fail to do either of these tasks, you will be punished accordingly."

Bedo then turned and rolled away towards a small hatch in the wall. It promptly opened as he neared its proximity and he disappeared inside. The small door shut and Jack was alone in the garage, "... Fuck this."

***

Killian groaned as he arched his aching back in an attempt to get rid of the pain. He continued to scrub a dish as he rolled his shoulders when a pair of delicate fingers rested upon them. Killian immediately froze and stayed that way as the fingers began to massage his shoulders, claws tickling his collarbone as they moved. Killian's eyes wandered to the hand resting upon him and found a green reptilian hand. He looked further and found the pleased face of the hybrid waiter.

Killian's eyebrow twitched, "... Rinji, was it?"

Rinji smirked, "The one and only."

Killian let the plate and rag slip from his fingers and gently sink into the soapy water. Killian turned to face the waiter and fixed him with a glare, "May I ask why you're touching me?"

Rinji's eyes narrowed with glee as they glowed yellow, "No need to be so formal! You looked so tense, and we wouldn't want that before you even finished your job, now would we? I mean, what are friends for?"

Rinji had inched closer as he said this, placing his hands on the sink, trapping Killian in between his arms.

Killian leaned back, scowling at the waiter, "I wouldn't call us 'friends'."

"Hmmm..." Rinji reached up a clawed finger and placed it under his chin as if to keep Killian still as the hybrid appraised the Everenian, "I suppose your right."

Rinji leaned closer, "Personally, I'd like to be more than friends."

Killian's eyes widened and his face turned beet red. Killian shoved the hybrid away from him in anger, "What the hell is up with this place and sexual harassment?!"

Rinji's smile returned, "We like to think of it as a form of confession or appreciation..."

"Have you ever heard of taking someone out to dinner first before trying that sorta shit?"

"Well, I dunno about dinner buuuut..." Rinji strolled over to a set of thick rusty doors. Pulling on one of the metal handles, it opened with a soft pop. Killian could feel the cold air brush against his ankles like an affectionate house cat as Rinji rummaged around in the refrigerator. After a series of clinking, Rinji retreated from the cooling unit and let the heavy door shut on its own. In his clawed hand sat a platter of red jello and in the other, a can of whipped cream, "How about dessert?"

Rinji neared Killian once again and held the jello between them. Spraying a swirl of whipped cream upon it, Rinji smirked at Killian with glowing slitted eyes, "Don't worry, it's on me."

Killian hesitantly took the plate of jello from Rinji, If it gets him away from me, I suppose there's no harm.

Rinji then handed Killian a spoon and watched intently as the Everenian dug into his dessert.

*

Jack had already swept the floor of any particulates and had moved onto scrubbing the floor. Jack dunked the rag into the bucket of soapy water in anger, "With all the technology lying around this space heap, why the fuck doesn't this emotionless bastard have a damn mop?!"

As Jack alternated with the rag and scrubbing brush, his stomach growled obnoxiously. The Jalkoln recoiled and dropped his cleaning supplies, hugging his stomach in pain. Panting with his forehead to the ground, Jack wondered out loud, "Why the hell am I so hungry? I just ate..."

The hunger pains subsided slightly and Jack picked up his rag and brush, determined to get the job over with before the pain got worse.

***

As Jack was finishing up the floor, Bedo's hatch hissed open and out whirred the little mechanical devil.

"How is the task coming along?" Bedo asked.

"Done. Would've gone a lot quicker if you had better equipment," Jack snapped.

"Beggars can not be choosers," Bedo stated.

Jack growled, his eyes glowing amber.

Bedo's eyes adjusted in thought, "Hmmm. I think you forget my hospitality. You should be thankful, I give out very little."

"I can tell," Jack hissed through clenched teeth, "Am I done here?"

"With the floors, yes. There is only a little left to do on your ship. You will finish it."

Jack perked up slightly at the news, "Finally, some good news!"

*

Killian finished up the dishes and looked around for the cook as he dried off his hands with a rag. Looking around the kitchen, Killian found that the large alien was by the frier. Approaching the vat of bubbling oil, Killian cleared his throat. The chef turned around, seeing Killian looking at him expectantly, "So you finished with the dishes?"

"Surprising, I know."

The cook grunted, "Alright, well I guess until yer buddy comes back, you can clean up the back room."

"The backroom?"

"Yeah, the door with the red light." The cook gestured towards the other side of the diner.

Killian's face paled at the thought of what was behind that wretched door, "What is that thing that's in there? Are you sure it's supposed to be in there?"

The cook smiled, "Of course he's supposed to be in there! That's Bidi."

Killian's eyes widened in disbelief. Feeling sick to his stomach, he asked, "Isn't there anything besides that, that I can do?"

The cook grumbled and narrowed his eyes, "I don't think you're in a position to negotiate."

Killian gulped and turned to fetch the proper supplies. Gathering what he thought he might need, Killian then trudged to his ultimate doom. The red light above the door was cast down upon Killians facial features as his hand hovered above the doorknob. Sickering sounded behind the Everenian, and Killian retreated from the door, turning to see the ever-smiling Rinji.

"Good luck~ You're gonna need it, darling ~"

Killian glared at Rinji as he sauntered away, his tail flicking flirtatiously. Killian turned his attention back to the door, bracing himself. With a quick turn of the knob, the door flung open and steam rushed out in a wave of nauseating smells. Killian frowned and stepped into the grime, "Jack better hurry his ass up."

***

Metal groaned as Jack finished tightening the last bolt. Setting the wrench in his toolbox, Jack panted heavily, looking around the ship for any movement. Not seeing anything, Jack quickly moved through the ship as quietly as possible. Jack stopped outside a locked hatch near the rear of the vessel, once again looking around for prying eyes. Turning back to the automatic door, Jack input a passcode on a keypad located to the right of the door. The metal door silently slid open, the well-oiled gears providing a comforting silence as Jack stepped through the opening. The small closet was dimly lit and in the center was a large crate. Jack grazed his fingers over the sides, quickly checking to see if any of the security measures were tampered with. The box stored encrypted information vital to winning the galactic war. Jack and Killian had been entrusted to shuttle it across space. Not finding anything out of the ordinary, Jack fiddled with his earring, completely unaware of the mechanical eyes watching him from afar.

*

Sweat dripped profusely from Killian's forehead as he scrapped at the piping lining the walls. Not long after he had entered the hell kitchen, Killian had tied his handkerchief around his nose and mouth, attempting to keep out the smells and unknown debris. As much as it helped, it made it harder for Killian to breathe as he exerted himself. Ruddy slop piled itself onto the scraper as Killian struggled to move his arm up the pipe. Killian felt as though he was moving through molasses, and every movement made his limbs feel wobbly and weak. Killian deposited the grime into the bucket beside him and placed his hands on his knees, deciding he'll continue when he's caught his breath. Beside Killian sat Bidi on the edge of the tub, stirring away as his tail flicked this way and that. The beaked rat stared at Killian through his beady black eyes and wailed a high-pitched cackle. Killian grumbled at the fat rodent, "Laughing at my misfortune, huh?"

Killian's anger boiled as he looked around the restroom made into a makeshift kitchen. Suddenly the rodent dipped its spoon into the tub of red chili and flung the chunky liquid at the pilot. The steaming projectile hit Killian before he could move to react. It hit him square on his right shoulder, splattering over his jacket and a part of his neck and cheek. The red sauce burned his skin, but it was nothing in comparison to the fire that ignited in Killian's green eyes, "Why you little-!"

Killian whipped his hand out to grab Bidi, but just as he closed his fist, the rodent jumped from his perch and landed on Killian's arm. Killian grunted in surprise at the rat's evasion, and once again tried to reach for the creature. Bidi's giggling continued to grow as it scampered up Killian's shoulder and onto his back. Killian frantically reached around his head, attempting to throw the rat off him, blindly wobbling around the small room. Killian's handkerchief slid off his face as the rodent stole it from him triumphantly. Bidi leaped from the pilot's shoulder and onto the rusted metal sink in front of Killian. Killian gasped and gagged at the putrid air that floated around him and invaded his senses. A wave of nausea hit Killian like a wall and lightheadedness bloomed within his head like a flower on a warm spring day. Killian leaned heavily on the sink, struggling to keep his eyes open and his feet on the ground. Bidi cackled once more and leaped from the sink and onto the tub. Killian followed the rodent with his eyes and bared his teeth in anger, "What the fuck kinda place is this?"

Killian turned and once again leaped at the rodent with what little strength he had left. With his arms outstretched towards the scraggly little creature, Killian's knees gave out from under him. Killian's head plunged into the warm tub of chili, Bidi laughing wildly on the side of the tub above the pilot. Killian jerked his limbs about but no longer had the strength to pull himself out.

Bidi scampered to the other edge of the tub and leaped at a large red button next to the door that led back to the diner. Above the door to Bidi's personal kitchen, the red light began to pulse at regular intervals, alerting the diner's staff. A moment later the door flung open to reveal an elated Rinji.

Rinji grabbed the collar at the back of Killian's neck and hulled him out of the steaming chili. Killian gasped for air as chunks of an unknown substance slid down his cheeks and off his jaw.

"Looks like someone enjoyed the chili a little too much?" Rinji grinned.

The hybrid slid his arm around Killian's waist and dragged the pilot out of Bidi's playhouse, his limp feet dragging on the floor, leaving a trail of red liquid.