Kim
スター軍の司書
ON> Starbase Hayes
Jan Kancre, Soldier Third Class, walked through the corridors of Starbase Hayes, with a slightly downtrodden look on his face. He stopped and looked around, realizing something. A very important fact. "Why aren't there any signs or something? Then people would get lost looking for a bar."
With a sigh, Jan decided to double back to the location of his bunk, hoping to find another marine with a better sense of direction
The station's AI chimed in, "Because, most people ask for directions in these modern times." The voice was feminine and had a touch of sarcasm as it responded to the inquiry.
Stopping to reflect on his lack of thinking, Jan opened his mouth as if to say something. Then closed it. "You have a point. Can you at least give me directions to a popular bar?"
"The most highly occupied bar on this facility is located in the Northern most section of the base closest to the docking bays. I can direct your there with a volumeric arrow if you request it," The AI responded again.
Jan smiled brightly, and nodded. "Thank you please Ma'am, it would be beneficial."
A floating green, almost solid looking holographic arrow appeared in front of Jan, blinking helpfully as it pointed towards the correct corridor that would lead him to the junction. It waited for him to start walking before it started floating forward.
Jan gave a thumbs up gesture towards the ceiling and walked off in the direction the arrow pointed in.
After a few minutes of walking Jan could hear the din of a loud, boisterous crowd of rowdy, Marines and the loud clanking of bottles down the corridor. There were some shouts; as well as, the shattering of glass upon the metal deck grating that could only signal that he he was very close to his first drinking destination for the evening.
Jan smiled, and bowed to the wall. "Thank you Miss AI for the help."
The floating arrow folded onto itself, like it was taking a bow before it blinked out of existence.
Jan entered the bar, looked around, and sat right at the bar, ordering himself a beer.
The bar was almost filled to capacity. The end of the Offensive meant an influx of ships docking at the base to allow their Marines to return to Nepleslia Prime for their shore leave. Many of the Marines were showing off their newly replaced limbs or newly stitched war wounds. Everyone just seemed to be happy to be drinking and alive.
Jan, of course, mostly kept to himself. He was late out of boot to join in the offensive. And the fact that he has two weeks until his first assignment, the NSS Melissa Kenni sets off, didn't make matters any more bearable.
A short distance away, a woman with long, platinum blonde hair stepped up to the bar to get another round of drinks for some of her fellow ex-Red mates. She didn't seem to notice Jan for the most part as she called to the bartender, "Barkeep! Another round of drinks for the boys."
Jan sat back and shrugged. "Hey, I ain't a red, but I'm broke? Can you add me in on that?"
The woman glared at Jan for a second before replying "Well, I suppose... A drunk Green is the only Green I care to deal with." She ordered something for Jan along with the other orders.
Jan smiled. "Thank you for the drink!"
"Sure, whatever," she replied as she carried the rest of the drinks back to her mates.
Jan turned in the chair towards her. "Hey, where are you assigned at anyway?"
The woman turned with the drinks still in her hands, "The NSS Melissa-Kenni, I believe. Where are you off to, sailor?" She was in a little of a sour mood due to the fact that she was going to have to cut her lovely hair soon due to Green regulations. "I'm being assigned to the Melissa Kenni as well. Hopefully, neither of us will end up dead."
Jan thought for a second, looking at his drink. "In fact, I know that neither of us will end up dead!"
"Oh?" she raised an eye brow at his statement. "Why do you say that?"
"Because. We just won't end up dead. Don't tell me you think you'll already die on your first mission?" Jan stated matter of factly.
"Because, some people do end up dead," a fairly banged up looking male marine nearby commented loudly at Jan's arrogant yet fairly naive comment. "Never seen combat before, eh?"
"Well, no, but i've read up on combat tactics. And I listened to my father when he told me about combat."
The woman shook her head, "Well, if you think that you can rely solely on that, then you are as good as dead."
Jan shrugged. "Hey, I got out of boot camp with a recommendation. I figure that the most important thing about combat is staying alive. Or so that is what my father told me."
"That's pretty good, but what you hear and read are nothing compared to the real thing." A marine with the top left corner of his face, and his left eye covered in bandages said, rubbing the smooth covering of soft, white strips of cloth. "But you'll learn..."
"People end up dead in any sort of combat situations be it their first or their 100th, some of us are just lucky. the CC has been a mixed blessing," the marine man commented again as he toyed with the frothy contents of his glass for a moment.
"Perhaps. But life is always a learning experience. And people regularly beat the odds. Or so I'm told. Look at the marines of the NSS Alliance."
"I know it's been for me..." The bandaged man said half-heartedly. "I should have died for good 3 times without my CC... and if that aether blast hadn't just grazed me... #4 might have been my last."
"I'm not sure how I feel about the damn things yet. Or the fact they look like a tech's nightmarish interpretation of a spider now. I guess it bats the big fucking needle they used to use," the banged up marine stated with a tinge of disgust.
"I figure my fate is up to me and my comrades. Jan Kancre, Private Third Class."
"Well... shit. You better hope you're in the damn Blackguard or something..." The bandaged marine spoke to Jan, taking a shot of a thick tawny liquid. "But whatever. Keep your head down and remember not to fire an LBR in atmosphere. Staff Sergeant Barnum Walther." He introduced himself, in a non-committal way.
"Staff Sergeant Icarus Eros. It's good to trust your squad, they are closer than family sometimes. I find find blood mixing on the battlefield is just a good as blood running through your veins," the scarred marine added with a grin. He seemed thrilled by the introduction of SSgt Walther. "Fucking love promotions, don't you Barney?"
"I figure promotions would be beneficial to my long term monetary well being."
"You know what they say..." Barnum chuckled, tapping the covered portions of his face. "The more you lose, the more they give ya"
Jan looked at the long haired woman. "And you, ma'am?"
"So what's your name, Blondie? We all friends here. Or you more of a red head these days?" Icarus grinned at the former Red marine before looking back at the other boys. "Pretty much. At least they pay our medical bills."
Her eye twitched at being called both ma'am and Blondie. "My name is Hannah Rolchester, so don't call be Blondie," she replied to Icarus and then turned to Jan, "And I'm not old, so don't call me ma'am. It's not like I have a choice of where I go really. We are on 'probation' for fighting for our homes and beliefs."
"Well, you were fighting for what you believe in. That's all that matters."
"It's how wars go. When you lose, all of the wonderful things believe end up being wrong. I don't blame you though, it's a difference of opinion. I'd rather be fighting fugly baddies than pretty blondes unless it's in a tub of mud or gelatin. How about it, Hannah, you up for a roll?" Icarus said teasingly with a wink at the girl. He ran his hand over the top of his very tightly shaved red hair, enjoying the soft texture of the hair against his callused hand.
Hannah smirked, putting the drinks that she had been holding down for her mates to grab. They surrounded her protectively as she replied crisply, "I don't think so."
Jan sighed, and reached for his knife. No, not the huge one, the other one. "Hey, I don't think the bartender wants any trouble!"
Icarus snorted and waved the marines off. "I'm just teasing her. She's a Marine, she should be used to it. But I'm not one for pulling any of my weapons out for display. Keep it in your pants, Private Jan."
Barnum pressed his hands to his throat and sprayed out the better part of a large gulp of Lunar Lager, coughing quite loudly.
"You okay?" Jan slid the knife back into its sheath, removing his hand from it.
"It's quite alright," Hannah replied, "I am quite used to it, but you should also get quite used to getting turned down." She smiled cutely before grabbing her own drink and taking a swig of it.
"I swear, you guys are going to be the death of me." Barnum chuckled uncomfortably, coughing a little. "Especially you, Ike..."
Jan smiled and went back to his beer.
"Want me to buy you a new drink, Barnum, since you're wearing that one?" Icarus said with a grin and a chuckle at Hannah. "Of course, I'm used to pretty girls telling me no. But that's what working girls are for."
"I'm still not sure on that whole getting into a relationship with girls thing."
"Sure thing, you know my tastes. Lunar Lager, and that rare aristo girl that actually filters down to enlistment." Barnum answered somewhat wistfully, before glancing back at Jan. "Just don't pull a rear guard on us. That might be illegal in a few weeks."
Jan seemed puzzled. "Rear Guard?"
"Well, I can get the booze... the girl, I'll fight ya for," Icarus replied with a wink as he hopped up and walked over to the bar to get his new friend a new mug. He paused, "You take it with an orange?"
"That'd be a helluva lot sweeter than the lemons I've been served up these past few years. Sure." Barnum answered cryptically, brushing the skin on the uncovered portion of his face. "I was using a euphemism for sodomy. Some senator wants to cock block most of the marines of the 3rd Fleet." He explained, his tone denoting some sort of off-color joke.
Jan was still mostly clueless, but got the gist. "... So he's jealous because he didn't get any anal action during service?"
Icarus snorted as he caught the last part of the conversation as he made he was to the bar and tried to get the bartender's attention.
Barnum sighed loudly and smacked the right side of his face. "I was telling you not to go gay on us, Private Kancre."
"Going Gay would be beneficial. I intend to at least get my wife pregnant, when I find and marry her."
After a few minutes, he was in fact able to place his order and had two large tankards shoved into his eagerly waiting hands. "Thanks, add it to my tab." He returned to the table with the two large mugs in hand. He offered one to Barnum before he sat down. It had a large orange slice on the rim.
"Well shit... you'll be hard pressed to find a wife that can get pregnant, that isn't a girl..." Barnum said, remembering one of Jan's other comments. He accepted the drink and let a slight smile bend his lips. "Thanks."
"No problem, Barney. Yeah, that whole wife thing... I know my sister is single but I dunno if she's seeing anyone or even where she's stationed." Icarus pondered this information curiously as he took a swig of his own lager. "I love this stuff... like a meal in a cup."
"Okay. I have two weeks of Shore Leave. And I figure the other marines who will be on the MK won't be here for a few days! I need something to do other then get drunk!" Jan Kancre looked down at his beer. "I guess I shouldn't be complaining. I'm a soldier, I should be happy I get shore leave."
"Well, there are hookers. Unless you like to gamble there might be some airbike races going on," Icarus suggested with a thoughtful grin. "Sleeping is good. Uh... I don't know about the finding an actual relationship thing. I is just a two week shore leave in a military town... you'll be lucky to find one old enough to know what she's doing."
"I'm not interested in any short term flings, nor am I interested in contracting something from a hooker," Jan protested.
"Use protection? It's what the things are made for?" The scarred Staff Sergeant suggested.
"Try a Savtech JANE. I hear they're pretty hot, and make good assistants," Barnum suggested.
"There might be a couple strip clubs that might be worth while. I don't think there's a concert in town this month," Icarus was trying to be helpful but his plans were mostly involved with drinking and sleeping. It had been along battle.
"I think I might just go sightseeing," Jan commented thoughtfully.
[Hannah perked up after hearing the word 'sight-seeing'. "Well," she stated, "What exactly do you want to see?" She finished the rest of her drink as she waited for an answer.
Jan paused for a moment. "What is there to see, exactly?"
"...is this a trick question? Military town, maybe some barracks, strip clubs, bars, tattoo parlors..." Icarus chuckled again as he took another drink.
Jan paused, "I could go down to the planet and check stuff out there."
"There might be a library or town or some funky statues or some shit. i think most of the guys are gonna do a tour of all the bars and brothels they can," Icarus added after a few moments of thoughtful contemplation.
Jan sighed. "Hannah, have you ever been to Nepleslia anyway?"7
Hannah thought for a moment before answering, "Once, but that was a long time ago." She shrugged as she accepted another beer from one of her mates.
Hannah thought for a moment before answering, "Once, but that was a long time ago." She shrugged as she accepted another beer from one of her mates.
Jan thought, and placed the beer on the bar with a slam. "Up for a trip then?"
"To where?" she replied suspiciously.
"I have no idea. I might visit my father."
"A bit early for me to be meeting the folks, no?" she replied sarcastically.
"Hmm... I'm kinda in the mood for some sim action." Barnum said, cracking his knuckles. "It's always fun to kick arcade junkie ass at ArmorRunner7..."
Jan thought for a moment, and a worried expression appeared on his face. "No no no, I didn't mean it like that!"
Hannah burst out laughing as she toyed with the little marine.
"Smooth kiddo. A few more drinks and you'll be able to pass out in her lap." Barnum quipped, making a jab at Jan's possible state of intoxication.
Jan sighed, crying a bit inside.
Icarus spotted a pretty brunette woman in a short dress with a plunging neckline waltz into the bar and decided against making a move to get her attention since every other stag marine got the same idea. "Damn. " He lifted his glass and made a little toast, "To all those that will linger in our thoughts when we sit alone in bed at night..." He wanted to go into more detail but did not entirely want to offend Hannah's finer feminine sensibilities.
Barnum grinned rather wistfully and raised his glass. "Cheers."
"So Hannah, babe, Blondie... you getting drunk or are you just watching us get stupid?" Icarus asked good-naturedly once he placed his mug back on the table. He watched the Red Marines curiously.
Jan Kancre looked back into his beer, silent
"Psst, Jan. check out the ass on that girl that just walked in. Much better to lose your train of thought in than the beer," Icarus whispered to the much younger Marine in a less than secret tone of voice.
Jan jumped, startled a bit by Icarus, nearly spilling his beer. "Uh, I don't think she would like that."
"Nah, when a woman wears something like that into a bar where there are nothing but Marines, she's begging us to look." Icarus winked again and then noticed the buzzing of a data pad in his pocket. he retrieved it and saw he had to go. "Later boys."
"Laters Ike." Barnum waved the fellow Staff Sergeant off.
"You gotta think of it this way kiddo..." Barnum said to Jan, his own interest captivated by by the fine rear that had entered the bar. "You only live once, or 4 times if you're me. Admiring beauty is a natural part of life."
Jan smiled. "Some beauties are more subtle then others."
"And others, like a good book or a solid game... will completely drain the attention right out of ya." Barnum mused, staring at his glass. "For a few moments, it'll be your world... more than your world... and once you've taken in every piece of it you can... it'll be gone. Go figure."
Jan Kancre, Soldier Third Class, walked through the corridors of Starbase Hayes, with a slightly downtrodden look on his face. He stopped and looked around, realizing something. A very important fact. "Why aren't there any signs or something? Then people would get lost looking for a bar."
With a sigh, Jan decided to double back to the location of his bunk, hoping to find another marine with a better sense of direction
The station's AI chimed in, "Because, most people ask for directions in these modern times." The voice was feminine and had a touch of sarcasm as it responded to the inquiry.
Stopping to reflect on his lack of thinking, Jan opened his mouth as if to say something. Then closed it. "You have a point. Can you at least give me directions to a popular bar?"
"The most highly occupied bar on this facility is located in the Northern most section of the base closest to the docking bays. I can direct your there with a volumeric arrow if you request it," The AI responded again.
Jan smiled brightly, and nodded. "Thank you please Ma'am, it would be beneficial."
A floating green, almost solid looking holographic arrow appeared in front of Jan, blinking helpfully as it pointed towards the correct corridor that would lead him to the junction. It waited for him to start walking before it started floating forward.
Jan gave a thumbs up gesture towards the ceiling and walked off in the direction the arrow pointed in.
After a few minutes of walking Jan could hear the din of a loud, boisterous crowd of rowdy, Marines and the loud clanking of bottles down the corridor. There were some shouts; as well as, the shattering of glass upon the metal deck grating that could only signal that he he was very close to his first drinking destination for the evening.
Jan smiled, and bowed to the wall. "Thank you Miss AI for the help."
The floating arrow folded onto itself, like it was taking a bow before it blinked out of existence.
Jan entered the bar, looked around, and sat right at the bar, ordering himself a beer.
The bar was almost filled to capacity. The end of the Offensive meant an influx of ships docking at the base to allow their Marines to return to Nepleslia Prime for their shore leave. Many of the Marines were showing off their newly replaced limbs or newly stitched war wounds. Everyone just seemed to be happy to be drinking and alive.
Jan, of course, mostly kept to himself. He was late out of boot to join in the offensive. And the fact that he has two weeks until his first assignment, the NSS Melissa Kenni sets off, didn't make matters any more bearable.
A short distance away, a woman with long, platinum blonde hair stepped up to the bar to get another round of drinks for some of her fellow ex-Red mates. She didn't seem to notice Jan for the most part as she called to the bartender, "Barkeep! Another round of drinks for the boys."
Jan sat back and shrugged. "Hey, I ain't a red, but I'm broke? Can you add me in on that?"
The woman glared at Jan for a second before replying "Well, I suppose... A drunk Green is the only Green I care to deal with." She ordered something for Jan along with the other orders.
Jan smiled. "Thank you for the drink!"
"Sure, whatever," she replied as she carried the rest of the drinks back to her mates.
Jan turned in the chair towards her. "Hey, where are you assigned at anyway?"
The woman turned with the drinks still in her hands, "The NSS Melissa-Kenni, I believe. Where are you off to, sailor?" She was in a little of a sour mood due to the fact that she was going to have to cut her lovely hair soon due to Green regulations. "I'm being assigned to the Melissa Kenni as well. Hopefully, neither of us will end up dead."
Jan thought for a second, looking at his drink. "In fact, I know that neither of us will end up dead!"
"Oh?" she raised an eye brow at his statement. "Why do you say that?"
"Because. We just won't end up dead. Don't tell me you think you'll already die on your first mission?" Jan stated matter of factly.
"Because, some people do end up dead," a fairly banged up looking male marine nearby commented loudly at Jan's arrogant yet fairly naive comment. "Never seen combat before, eh?"
"Well, no, but i've read up on combat tactics. And I listened to my father when he told me about combat."
The woman shook her head, "Well, if you think that you can rely solely on that, then you are as good as dead."
Jan shrugged. "Hey, I got out of boot camp with a recommendation. I figure that the most important thing about combat is staying alive. Or so that is what my father told me."
"That's pretty good, but what you hear and read are nothing compared to the real thing." A marine with the top left corner of his face, and his left eye covered in bandages said, rubbing the smooth covering of soft, white strips of cloth. "But you'll learn..."
"People end up dead in any sort of combat situations be it their first or their 100th, some of us are just lucky. the CC has been a mixed blessing," the marine man commented again as he toyed with the frothy contents of his glass for a moment.
"Perhaps. But life is always a learning experience. And people regularly beat the odds. Or so I'm told. Look at the marines of the NSS Alliance."
"I know it's been for me..." The bandaged man said half-heartedly. "I should have died for good 3 times without my CC... and if that aether blast hadn't just grazed me... #4 might have been my last."
"I'm not sure how I feel about the damn things yet. Or the fact they look like a tech's nightmarish interpretation of a spider now. I guess it bats the big fucking needle they used to use," the banged up marine stated with a tinge of disgust.
"I figure my fate is up to me and my comrades. Jan Kancre, Private Third Class."
"Well... shit. You better hope you're in the damn Blackguard or something..." The bandaged marine spoke to Jan, taking a shot of a thick tawny liquid. "But whatever. Keep your head down and remember not to fire an LBR in atmosphere. Staff Sergeant Barnum Walther." He introduced himself, in a non-committal way.
"Staff Sergeant Icarus Eros. It's good to trust your squad, they are closer than family sometimes. I find find blood mixing on the battlefield is just a good as blood running through your veins," the scarred marine added with a grin. He seemed thrilled by the introduction of SSgt Walther. "Fucking love promotions, don't you Barney?"
"I figure promotions would be beneficial to my long term monetary well being."
"You know what they say..." Barnum chuckled, tapping the covered portions of his face. "The more you lose, the more they give ya"
Jan looked at the long haired woman. "And you, ma'am?"
"So what's your name, Blondie? We all friends here. Or you more of a red head these days?" Icarus grinned at the former Red marine before looking back at the other boys. "Pretty much. At least they pay our medical bills."
Her eye twitched at being called both ma'am and Blondie. "My name is Hannah Rolchester, so don't call be Blondie," she replied to Icarus and then turned to Jan, "And I'm not old, so don't call me ma'am. It's not like I have a choice of where I go really. We are on 'probation' for fighting for our homes and beliefs."
"Well, you were fighting for what you believe in. That's all that matters."
"It's how wars go. When you lose, all of the wonderful things believe end up being wrong. I don't blame you though, it's a difference of opinion. I'd rather be fighting fugly baddies than pretty blondes unless it's in a tub of mud or gelatin. How about it, Hannah, you up for a roll?" Icarus said teasingly with a wink at the girl. He ran his hand over the top of his very tightly shaved red hair, enjoying the soft texture of the hair against his callused hand.
Hannah smirked, putting the drinks that she had been holding down for her mates to grab. They surrounded her protectively as she replied crisply, "I don't think so."
Jan sighed, and reached for his knife. No, not the huge one, the other one. "Hey, I don't think the bartender wants any trouble!"
Icarus snorted and waved the marines off. "I'm just teasing her. She's a Marine, she should be used to it. But I'm not one for pulling any of my weapons out for display. Keep it in your pants, Private Jan."
Barnum pressed his hands to his throat and sprayed out the better part of a large gulp of Lunar Lager, coughing quite loudly.
"You okay?" Jan slid the knife back into its sheath, removing his hand from it.
"It's quite alright," Hannah replied, "I am quite used to it, but you should also get quite used to getting turned down." She smiled cutely before grabbing her own drink and taking a swig of it.
"I swear, you guys are going to be the death of me." Barnum chuckled uncomfortably, coughing a little. "Especially you, Ike..."
Jan smiled and went back to his beer.
"Want me to buy you a new drink, Barnum, since you're wearing that one?" Icarus said with a grin and a chuckle at Hannah. "Of course, I'm used to pretty girls telling me no. But that's what working girls are for."
"I'm still not sure on that whole getting into a relationship with girls thing."
"Sure thing, you know my tastes. Lunar Lager, and that rare aristo girl that actually filters down to enlistment." Barnum answered somewhat wistfully, before glancing back at Jan. "Just don't pull a rear guard on us. That might be illegal in a few weeks."
Jan seemed puzzled. "Rear Guard?"
"Well, I can get the booze... the girl, I'll fight ya for," Icarus replied with a wink as he hopped up and walked over to the bar to get his new friend a new mug. He paused, "You take it with an orange?"
"That'd be a helluva lot sweeter than the lemons I've been served up these past few years. Sure." Barnum answered cryptically, brushing the skin on the uncovered portion of his face. "I was using a euphemism for sodomy. Some senator wants to cock block most of the marines of the 3rd Fleet." He explained, his tone denoting some sort of off-color joke.
Jan was still mostly clueless, but got the gist. "... So he's jealous because he didn't get any anal action during service?"
Icarus snorted as he caught the last part of the conversation as he made he was to the bar and tried to get the bartender's attention.
Barnum sighed loudly and smacked the right side of his face. "I was telling you not to go gay on us, Private Kancre."
"Going Gay would be beneficial. I intend to at least get my wife pregnant, when I find and marry her."
After a few minutes, he was in fact able to place his order and had two large tankards shoved into his eagerly waiting hands. "Thanks, add it to my tab." He returned to the table with the two large mugs in hand. He offered one to Barnum before he sat down. It had a large orange slice on the rim.
"Well shit... you'll be hard pressed to find a wife that can get pregnant, that isn't a girl..." Barnum said, remembering one of Jan's other comments. He accepted the drink and let a slight smile bend his lips. "Thanks."
"No problem, Barney. Yeah, that whole wife thing... I know my sister is single but I dunno if she's seeing anyone or even where she's stationed." Icarus pondered this information curiously as he took a swig of his own lager. "I love this stuff... like a meal in a cup."
"Okay. I have two weeks of Shore Leave. And I figure the other marines who will be on the MK won't be here for a few days! I need something to do other then get drunk!" Jan Kancre looked down at his beer. "I guess I shouldn't be complaining. I'm a soldier, I should be happy I get shore leave."
"Well, there are hookers. Unless you like to gamble there might be some airbike races going on," Icarus suggested with a thoughtful grin. "Sleeping is good. Uh... I don't know about the finding an actual relationship thing. I is just a two week shore leave in a military town... you'll be lucky to find one old enough to know what she's doing."
"I'm not interested in any short term flings, nor am I interested in contracting something from a hooker," Jan protested.
"Use protection? It's what the things are made for?" The scarred Staff Sergeant suggested.
"Try a Savtech JANE. I hear they're pretty hot, and make good assistants," Barnum suggested.
"There might be a couple strip clubs that might be worth while. I don't think there's a concert in town this month," Icarus was trying to be helpful but his plans were mostly involved with drinking and sleeping. It had been along battle.
"I think I might just go sightseeing," Jan commented thoughtfully.
[Hannah perked up after hearing the word 'sight-seeing'. "Well," she stated, "What exactly do you want to see?" She finished the rest of her drink as she waited for an answer.
Jan paused for a moment. "What is there to see, exactly?"
"...is this a trick question? Military town, maybe some barracks, strip clubs, bars, tattoo parlors..." Icarus chuckled again as he took another drink.
Jan paused, "I could go down to the planet and check stuff out there."
"There might be a library or town or some funky statues or some shit. i think most of the guys are gonna do a tour of all the bars and brothels they can," Icarus added after a few moments of thoughtful contemplation.
Jan sighed. "Hannah, have you ever been to Nepleslia anyway?"7
Hannah thought for a moment before answering, "Once, but that was a long time ago." She shrugged as she accepted another beer from one of her mates.
Hannah thought for a moment before answering, "Once, but that was a long time ago." She shrugged as she accepted another beer from one of her mates.
Jan thought, and placed the beer on the bar with a slam. "Up for a trip then?"
"To where?" she replied suspiciously.
"I have no idea. I might visit my father."
"A bit early for me to be meeting the folks, no?" she replied sarcastically.
"Hmm... I'm kinda in the mood for some sim action." Barnum said, cracking his knuckles. "It's always fun to kick arcade junkie ass at ArmorRunner7..."
Jan thought for a moment, and a worried expression appeared on his face. "No no no, I didn't mean it like that!"
Hannah burst out laughing as she toyed with the little marine.
"Smooth kiddo. A few more drinks and you'll be able to pass out in her lap." Barnum quipped, making a jab at Jan's possible state of intoxication.
Jan sighed, crying a bit inside.
Icarus spotted a pretty brunette woman in a short dress with a plunging neckline waltz into the bar and decided against making a move to get her attention since every other stag marine got the same idea. "Damn. " He lifted his glass and made a little toast, "To all those that will linger in our thoughts when we sit alone in bed at night..." He wanted to go into more detail but did not entirely want to offend Hannah's finer feminine sensibilities.
Barnum grinned rather wistfully and raised his glass. "Cheers."
"So Hannah, babe, Blondie... you getting drunk or are you just watching us get stupid?" Icarus asked good-naturedly once he placed his mug back on the table. He watched the Red Marines curiously.
Jan Kancre looked back into his beer, silent
"Psst, Jan. check out the ass on that girl that just walked in. Much better to lose your train of thought in than the beer," Icarus whispered to the much younger Marine in a less than secret tone of voice.
Jan jumped, startled a bit by Icarus, nearly spilling his beer. "Uh, I don't think she would like that."
"Nah, when a woman wears something like that into a bar where there are nothing but Marines, she's begging us to look." Icarus winked again and then noticed the buzzing of a data pad in his pocket. he retrieved it and saw he had to go. "Later boys."
"Laters Ike." Barnum waved the fellow Staff Sergeant off.
"You gotta think of it this way kiddo..." Barnum said to Jan, his own interest captivated by by the fine rear that had entered the bar. "You only live once, or 4 times if you're me. Admiring beauty is a natural part of life."
Jan smiled. "Some beauties are more subtle then others."
"And others, like a good book or a solid game... will completely drain the attention right out of ya." Barnum mused, staring at his glass. "For a few moments, it'll be your world... more than your world... and once you've taken in every piece of it you can... it'll be gone. Go figure."
