Pirates

Chunks of red rocks pass by the Oasis as the spaceship cruises by. Blake watches from the windows, thick and impenetrable. In the Outer Belts, Red Asteroids sit the spaceships of merchants wanting to do business with each other, including the Oasis. Blake begins his job as an official mechanic today.

In class, Blake taps his right foot loudly counting down the seconds to leave for work. The students' dismissal signals Blake to hurry to his room for his gear and change of clothes. After gathering everything Blake heads to control room A. He walks briskly to be early.

"Congratulations Blake, I will come by to check on you at the end of your shift," says Jacob.

"Thank you, Jacob, see you then," says Blake.

Blake logged into the mechanic portal he now has new clearance to and began work on control room A. About halfway through his shift the door opens. He thinks it is Jacob and turns.

Standing behind him is an unknown person dressed in an X emblem on his chest - a pirate.

Breach. Beep. Breach. Beep. Breach. Level. 3. Immediate Action. Resounds throughout the intercom.

The person, who is a man, comes towards Blake with his first held high with a knife. Blake has a metal tool in his hands. Blake side steps but the pirate slash Blake's check. Blake hits the man on the top of the head. Not one of his proudest moments. Blake secures electrical tape around the pirate's hands and feet, wrapping them tightly. He covers his mouth.

Blake sends a message to Jacob and to security. Blake is stuck with the pirate for a couple of minutes as everyone is in chaos. Jacob did not come in, instead, security people came in.

"We received your message, we'll take it from here," said Kevin

Security took away the pirate.

Blake walked down to get his check cleaned in the infirmary. As he walked into the waiting room he saw there were a lot of people there. The pirates had done a deal of damage on them. He waited 30 minutes while more gravely injured patients were taken care of.

Lily called his name. She was studying to work in the infirmary. She worked deftly to clean out his wounds.

"Did it hurt Mr. Sharp?" Lilly asks while being professional.

"No," says Blake.

Blake left the infirmary.

Blake has finished his shift and has not heard back from Jacob. He went to his quarters to ask his wife Ingrid. She was leaving her quarters when Blake walked down the hall.

"I have not heard from Jacob, where is he?" Asked Blake.

"He's injured, at the infirmary," said Ingrid with tears in her eyes.

Blake gave her a hug.

"When can I come to see him?" Ask Blake.

"After his surgery recovery," says Ingrid.

Blake goes cold inside. Jacob, someone close to him, is currently in pain. He tried to stay positive.

Leaving Ingrid to attend her husband, Blake heads to meet with Rex for dinner. A lot has happened since this morning. His only new job seemed like the news of the day, now the pirates attacking and Jacob in the infirmary brought anxiety to Blake's life.

Blake served himself food on his tray but did not feel like eating. With his cut, he thought chewing would be painful too. Rex held a conversation with other members of his merchandising team. They were clearly agitated.

"We lost so much in the product," says Rex.

"Yeah," agreed on others in unison.

"A fourth of the materials are gone," says Rex.

Blake silently listens to the conversation.

"What happened to the pirate I knocked out?" asked Blake

"Being interrogated, I doubt we will get much out of him. Will have to turn him into an IFF interspace investigation force," says Rex.

Message notification lights on Blake's handheld. Lily wants to see him at the library. Blake scrunched his brows, thinking they did not have any school work to do together. Blake excuses himself and heads to the library.

Blake wanders to the study room. Lily is there by herself alone. Blake sits across from her and looks around twice. There is no school work.

Suddenly Lily takes his hands. Blake's heart raced in his chest. Lily sweeps one hand through Blake's hair and traces his face. She leans in. Blake leans in. Their kiss is electrifying. Blake feels a rush of euphoria. He has to stop himself. Now is not the time.

"Lily," says Blake as he pulls away from the kiss.

"Blake," says Lilly.

"I don't think this is a good time, we have to help Oasis," says Blake.

Lily nods.

They walk away from the library and head their separate ways.

Blake wakes up to go visit Jacob. Ingrid gave him the news that Jacob is allowing visitors. Blake munches hurriedly on his breakfast- eggs. He walks to the infirmary with hope. He uses a mask for Jacob's safety.

Jacob lies in a bed. His ribs are healing and his spleen had surgery.

"Jacob, I came to see you," says Blake.

"Blake, good to see you, can't talk much," says Jacob as he points to his ribs.

Blake talks about Oasis. How they have gotten along since the pirate attack. Jacob nods. Blake talks about his work as a mechanic now that he is official. Peter, the Engineer, has been his supervisor since Jacob was unwell.

Blake finishes the visit by giving Jacob a soft-neck pillow he bought from the Oasis shop.

Blake will not be heading to class as classes are suspended until further notice. He is to help the merchandising team then work his mechanical shift.

His mind and body tire from helping the merchandising team recategorize every product in stock. It is mind-numbing work. His mechanical work brought any kind of joy. Ready to sleep, Blake unwinds with music, his mind wandering to Lily's soft lips. Not now, but he can dream about it until the morning.