My name is Erik Cuso Jr. I am 26 and Captain of the Advanced Train “Loki's Gift” and I killed my Parents...
I was born to Erik Cuso SR and Annette Cuso. I grew up on Planet Nuremburg. There you can't go outside for too long because the air is like a drug. On warmer days the air could cause hallucinations and sometimes death if you weren't careful. It's easy to say growing up there wasn't easy but we got on well enough. On days when we couldn't go out at all my Dad would tell me stories of my ancestors the Vikings. The Raiders, Odin, Thor, Loki, and of Asgard, Valhalla, of the Ragnar?k and the amazing deeds of Beowulf. I loved those stories so much and I believed them because Dad told me they were true.
On one hot day when I was Fifteen a seal broke in my room and toxic gases seeped in. I started to imagine that I was a Viking Raider, Invading the Monasteries on the shores of England, and my parents were Monks who stood in my way...
I awoke to a horrible sight. There was blood everywhere. Realizing what I had done my only thought was to run. I sneaked aboard a Transport as it was about to leave and traveled across the stars. I took the name Sigbjorn Sigmundson and for the next ten years I took any job that passed my way all in the effort to avoid the Rhineland Police. I've never forgiven myself for what I did and I see their faces every time I close my eyes.
One job recently had me return to the world of my birth. Since we had some time I decided to visit my parents grave and and maybe make my amends with them. While sitting with them an elderly gentleman, the gravedigger, came to me and explained that I was never wanted by the law for murder. They had found the leak and figured out what happened and that I was actually a missing person. It was then that I went to the police and told them what had happened. I contacted by an attorney and told that my parents actually had a lot of money saved for me and tied up in bonds that had appreciated in value so much that in the end I was able to buy my own ship. I used what I had learned in the past ten years to become quite a profitable Trader.
Don't feel sorry for me I realize now it's not my fault. There's nothing I could have done. Now I'm well adjusted and ready for what the universe can throw at me. Bring it on.
I named my ship “Loki's Gift” after the Norse God Loki who in the simplest terms is the trickster god. He confused me into killing my parents but in turn gave me a way to make a life for myself...
The crew of the Loki's Gift comes from all sides of the Sirius System. I am her Captain and Pilot and call the shots. Angus “The Sledge” Iverson is my Co-Pilot and right hand man. We call him the The Sledge because he's so subtle. Being friends for years he knows how to keep me straight when I have a crazy idea. A smack on the back of the head usually does the trick. Mychal Ravinoff is my engineer. He kinda keeps to himself normally only talking to the engine. Problem is you can hear his side of the conversation but we think he hears the ship talking back to him. As long as the engine keeps running that's okay. Amina Al'zahara is our medic, cook and on long hauls our entertainment. Amina used to be an exotic dancer and continued to do so after finishing medical school. Eventually the hospital she interned at found out and fired her she happened along our ship. Originally just a passenger she eventually for a love for the stars and never left. She still belly dances for us on occasion and makes a mean Synth-Beef Stew. Aboard the Loki's Gift we have six Turrets. Cera and Edmund Foxmoore, married couple run the upper port and starboard guns. Edward Mcgill runs the lower port gun while Sven Kottr mans the starboard. A former Corsair named Jesus Ortiz fires the Forward gun. He also keeps the ship in decent terms with the Corsairs. I may still pay taxes but at least I'm not shot on site.
And then there's Conan. Just Conan. We don't talk to Conan. He scares us. Seriously the man is crazy. He brought along his own Purple Goddess Turret and made me install it before he would join the crew. To prove he's a psychopath I'll tell you this when letting loose with his gun all he does is laugh. Hard. The WHOLE TIME! Scary.
There is one more member of this crew that doesn't have a job and doesn't do any work at all. That would be Grendel, my Great Dane. I found him roaming the streets of Cambridge one day and just felt sorry for him. After a few feedings and some interesting times when he went through a jump gate for the first time, he's become enamored with the crew and the crew with him...
***Opening Encrypted Personal log***
Ship ID: Loki's Gift
Captain Erik Cuso JR
Conan has become a liability. So far he has fired upon multiple targets that otherwise would not have been a threat. My reputation is wrecked with the Junkers and other bribes to keep some of the unlawful factions from killing us on sight have cost me far too much. Unlike the Crew I actually like the guy but he needs to go. I've discussed the situation and the next time we run food to Crete he's going to stay there. I've contacted the Elders of the Corsair Nation and I've found him a place in the Omega Pirates Guild. My hope is that he finds his place there. I hope he finds a home.