The Afterparty

[Fellow Hoodlum]

Last one down. Browning's ship was past a wreck now, bits fell off it with every turn.
He was done. The Ampoliros was starting to batter the other Osiris. The gunners
getting better with each round, The infernos had ceased, to be replaced by the
crushing power of the battlerazors. More heavy mortars crashed home.
The hull started to glow around the reactor, and in a split second the ship vanished.
Debris flew like a hailstorm. Browning's ship caught a turret spinning away.
"Oh bugger, didn't need that. Just one more drink would have been good."
The sound of the small ship breaking up roared across the comms.
"Well I suppose its not been bad guys, Regards to Hoodlum when you see him next.
Next case is on me. No more jokes about the cage and I know where he hid the keys,
I always had the combination to the safe." Never was much in there anyway, could
never work out where the old git stashed it all away."
The Raven broke into two pieces. the wings scattering away.
"Oops, sod it another bl**dy ship. The insurance won't cover this, have a dance for me."
A small flash of h-fuel burnt like a meteorite across the sky.
Just the darkness.

---

Some say he is a proud member of: "The most paranoid group of people in the Community."

[Mariella]

"Be touched by an Angel" she whispered praying to find the right second.

She saw Browning?s ship fall into peaces.. "I am close.. maybe not close enough,
but damn close..."

The wings were glooming and it was a look that made her get a goose-skin.
"Damn guy, I won't let you go this way.. There are lots of tequilas to be drunken.
Even I have to carry you home again.."

The moment right befor the air could escape his cockpit, she pushed the tractor.
"Load tractored" the ship-computer snarred..

"I got him", she was laughing and crying at one time..
"I told someone to have a look at him.. I never break that promise.."

Same second, a huge lightning flashed to her left.
"Don't worry, baby, had him as target for longer" Even Nightfall couldn't decide
wether to be happy or sad.. "He's okay ?"

Both knew, the answer only could be given on board of the Ampoliros..
"Mendoza, I'm coming in, leaving a treasure-chest - take care, it get?s on his feet, again..", she said.
"you will match it alone, for a minute, Nightfall"
Another loop and she landed at the yacht..

---

[Nightfall]

Nightfall nearly missed the fighterbay doors in his haste. He hit a few containers as he was coming in too hot. He jumped out.

"Dammit, don't loose yourself now Bernard!" he swore.

The medical team was already extracting Browning from the cargo hold of Mariella's Avenger. Mariella was there, looking a bit worried but calm, confident that the old pirate will come back.

"Hurry up men! Let's get him to the sickbay!" Nightfall approached.
"You won't go like that on me old chap, we still have some drinks to drink and tales to tell."

They took him to the sickbay...

---

If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God? - from 'Nightfall' by I. Asimov
The Outcasts consider Siniestre Nube a sacred place for several reasons. Early explorers discovered a jumphole within the depths of the cloud that leads to a strange world of ringed stars and strange craft. All ships in the burrial ground are placed facing that hole to honor the Alien Spirits. - An Outcast rumor

[Usha]

The fog, that surrounded her, slowly disappeared..

The glow of her eyes beacame more intense, when she raised her voice..

"Mephistopheles.. Brother.. you see ?"

She moved towards him..

"Old power is back ? No, my dear.. you failed like a bloody noob.."

Her laughter and derision filled the dimension

"You wanted the drunken soul.. and didn't get it.. it would have been the first
strong soul, you could have get.. and now.. I even can't feel, if he?s there or not"

The fog appeared again.. "His friends are the key.. strong ones.. we got to get rid of them.."

Silence filled the room..

---

Demon-Princes, daughter of heaven and sister of the night. Her name means "dawn".

[Damian]

Damian spoke up.
"It would appear that the reason that didnt work was because he was touched by an angel, now why didnt you realise that? Surely you arent that blind are you Mephistopheles?
There was a small chuckle from some of the others in the room.

---

D'Evil..Damian (son of chaos)

[Mephistopheles]

"pffft!" Mephistopheles/Belial snorted.
The Nova blasts... blinded me!

---

D`Evil..Mephistopheles (Soul Harvester) -- D`Evil..Belial (D`Evil.. doer)

[Fellow Hoodlum]

Browning slowly opened one eye, what the f*ck. Where was he. If this was the afterlife
it bl**dy hurt, though there was no doubt which way he was going, down was the only
option. Hell must hurt something like this.
His head pounded and his lungs felt like they had been sucking on nothing. The rest was
just a dull ache. Holy Mary this was not going to be fun, he just wanted to be somewhere
else for now. Death had to be preferable to this.
He let his eye move round the room slowly, the other didn't seem to be working too well.
He thought he saw a figure motionless just there. Words from an old song flashed into
his ragged mind ... She was all in white at the foot of my bed, I said Angel of mercy
I'm alive or am I dead ... The origins slipped his mind, it would come to him.
Must be mistaken, not possible. Ah ... What he wouldn't do for a nice bottle of anejo,
and to skin up a large one. Sleep overtook him again.

---

Some say he is a proud member of: "The most paranoid group of people in the Community."

[Nightfall]

Nightfall entered the room. Mariella was already there. A nurse was doing the routine checks.

"How is he?" he asked. He immediately realised the densesness of his question... the man he was looking at didn't look good. He said nothing else.

"For the moment, he is asleep." the nurse replied.

They just stood there in silence.. unable to say anything.. exchanging glances..

"I bet that if we brought a bottle of Tequila and open it, he would just jump on his feet and take it for himself..." Bernard said in a futile attempt to be funny and rise her spirit up a bit... he would have better shut up, all his grim thoughts were visible on his face.

---

If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God? - from 'Nightfall' by I. Asimov
The Outcasts consider Siniestre Nube a sacred place for several reasons. Early explorers discovered a jumphole within the depths of the cloud that leads to a strange world of ringed stars and strange craft. All ships in the burrial ground are placed facing that hole to honor the Alien Spirits. - An Outcast rumor

[Fellow Hoodlum]

He slipped in and out of conscienceness, things flicking round his mind like a rolodex
on speed. Nothing was making much sense anymore. His penchant for loud music on
when flying caused a swirl of lyrics in his head ... The cuervo gold, the fine columbian.
Make tonight a wonderful thing ... That made sense, and so bl**dy apt.
"Pass that 'kin bottle mate." Did he say that out loud ? Though he could think of nothing
wonderful at the moment.
Time lines moved back and forwards. Stupid things rattled off the sides of his skull, all
those things still to be done and undone. So much to do, so little time. God what a mess.
Just make some sense please. Merciful sleep took him at last.
Somebody yanked the pull cord and his mind lit up again. Who was he, The real name
long forgotten in time, replaced with that one word moniker. His first ship had the serial
number 1911A1 and some joker had pointed out the relavance. Some long forgotten
arms designer and manufacturer from Earth. Could have been much worse.
Click. Darkness returned.

---

Some say he is a proud member of: "The most paranoid group of people in the Community."

[Mephistopheles]

Mephistpheles/Belial was playing with the medical equipment...

"Come on you old fart. Die already. The two will fall then... And after... the Galaxy falls! hahahahahaha"

---

D`Evil..Mephistopheles (Soul Harvester) -- D`Evil..Belial (D`Evil.. doer)