Claw, the story.

[Tic]

It was dark in the room, only a shape of a man could be seen in front of the window. He was looking upon
the stars, thinking;

How did I deserve such happiness.

He slowly turned his head toward the doors on the other side of the room. You could hear the sound of
shower. The man turned his head back to the window.

Yep, how did I deserve to be so lucky.

*beep* *beep* The phone ranged.

Man walked to the phone and answered the call.

Yes, who is it?

Its Ray.

Good day, commander, how can I help you? Man was surprised.

One of the transports is leaving in 30 minutes, we need your fighter wing out there.

But, sir, its my night off. I planed to be with my wife. He protested.

Im sorry to do this to you, but only your wing is armed.

But, sir

No but! I want to see you in the hangar in 15 minutes! Commander shouted.

Yes, sir. The man said.

He hung up the phone.

Who was it, honey? Woman voice asked.

Commander Ray.

What did he want?

He wants my wing to escort a transport that is leaving in 30 minutes

But this was your night off The voice sounded sad, very sad.

The woman appeared at the doors, she had wet hair, and the face of an angel. Her name was Jenny and
she was pregnant.

How are my babies?

Fine. Jenny replied with sadness in her voice. It almost hurt him.

Ill hurry back.

I know you will. She said. A smile appeared on her face.

She smiled to him. He put on his uniform and went out. Metal walls of Freeport 7 were reflecting
light that was coming from the lamps. He had to close his eyes.

Transport SA-14, departing in 20 minutes. Said the voice from the speakers.

The man thought to himself;

5 more minutes Maybe I should go back and kiss her No, I will do that when I get back, it will be better then

He walked into the hangar. There was a group of men talking few meters from entrance. One of them called him.

Hey, Jack, come here, I want you to meet someone. The man was in happy mood.

Jack approached. He didnt want to, but he did.

Hi, George Jack said.

This is Edison Trent, a friend of mine. George said, pointing at the guy beside him.

Pleasure to meet you. Trent said. Jack noticed he wasnt so happy either to be
involved into this conversation.

The same here. Jack replied.

Trent is going to capsule 2, maybe he will be able to repair hydraulics there. George said.

So, you are engineer? Jack asked. Hey, maybe there is something interesting bout this guy He thought.

No Trent answered. Im just helping out where I can, but I am leaving Freeport tonight. Got myself
a deal that will cover me for life.

Good for you. Jack said. well, I have to go, it was good to meet you. Nop, I was wrong.

Jack went to his fighter, climbed the little stares to his cockpit and put on his helmet.

This is Jack McClaine, requesting permission to depart.

Permission granted, safe flight Jack. Flight control replied.

He started his engines and flown to space.

Where were you Jack, I got worried? Sound was heard over the comm.

2 fighters approached him from aft.

I met some guy named Edison Trent, so we had a little chat. Now lets escort that transport so that I can
go back to my wife. Jack missed Jenny even after 20 minutes of being apart.

Sure thing, boss. Tell Jenny I said hello.

I will. *switches channels* Freeport 7, we are good to go.

Roger that, all systems show green. SA-14, you are cleared for departure.

Acknowledged Freeport 7, well see you in about 2 weeks.

SA-14 we are picking up unknown contacts on long range sensors. We are dispatching a fighter wing to
escort you out of the system.

What was that? Jack asked.

What?

I had something on sensors for a second. Jack said.

I had nothing. Other man said. Maybe it was a glitch

Navy, pick up, this is Freeport 7, we are picking up some strange readings on our long range sensors.

Unknown ships have breached the defence perimeter, men on stations!

What is that!? Jack asked. His voice sounded scared.

What?

Those four purple balls!? Over there! Under the Freeport!

What the

Oh, my God

But it was already too late. Freeport 7 disappeared in a blast. Jacks fighter was caught in it and was
spinning out of control. When it finally stopped, Jack had a good view over what was left of his home.
A sudden thought hit him Jenny

Nooo! Jenny!! Nooooo!!! Jack screamed. He paniced.

Boss, boss, get a grip of yourself, we have to get out of here!

Noo! Jenny! Maybe she survived! She couldnt be dead, she couldnt. But she was.

No one could have survived that. Said a voice in his head.

No

20 Minutes later, as they were cruising to the nearest base, Jack thought to himself.

Who ever did this no what ever did this will pay!


10 years later;


It was a dark night on planet Primus, one man was smoking in the alley. No sound was heard.
Another man approached from the shadow.

Did you bring the money? He asked.

Other man jumped.

Jesus, Jack! You scared me! I dropped my cigar. Man shouted, apparently angry.

Wasnt my intention. Jack sarcasticly replied Did you bring the money? He asked
again.

I did, I told you I will. His tone sounded like Jack offended him.

Jack stretched his arm towards the man.

Will you at least tell me why the hell do you need 50 million for?

No, I wont. Jack simply said.

Jack took a needle out of his coat. Looked at it, and then at the man. Man looked at the needle and said:

Jack, what the hell?

I am so sorry. He was telling the truth, he was sorry.

He was so surprised that he didnt get a chance to defend himself.


5 years later.

Two men were arguing in the room, somewhere on Freeport 2.

You bastard! Jack shouted. You promised me command of Enoy, not the Horizon!

Things have changed, Jack. I told you that. Man peacefully replied.

I waited 5 years and gave you 50 million to get that battleship, and now you are giving me destroyer
that even Junkers wont take! That wasnt fair, and Jack knew it.

As, I said, things have changed.

Jack was angry. He wanted to kill the man standing in front of him, smiling to him.

Ok, Ill take the Horizon. Jack said.

Smart move, Jack, smart move

Jack started to walk toward the doors.

What will you do with the ship, Jack? Man asked.

Jack stopped, slowly turned to the man, and said;

I am going to kill every nomad, destroy all their ships, equipment and every planet they have. I, will make them pay!

He was shocked. Jack turned to the doors again and left the room, leaving the old man alone.


18 months later


(Somewhere in Omicron systems)

Shields are down, captain! We cant hold them off for much longer!

I dont want to hear it, get the shield back up! Jack shouted. His time was here.

Our batteries are empty, sir, we cant recharge them.

_ Warning, warning. Hull breaches on decks 2 and 3, all personal evacuate those areas. Computer said.

I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE!

Suddenly, two nomad warships appeared, from nowhere. All the crew on the bridge turned toward the
view screen.

Im reading massive energy build ups, sir, they are going to fire, we must abandon ship and hope
they leave our pods alone!

Jack, get a grip, order evacuation!

But Jack just stared at two newly arrived ships, and their beauty. His rage disappeared for a moment,
and he forgot everything in the real world.

sir sir hey! Someone started pulling him to escape pods Sir, we must go! NOW!

Jack looked at the man, his frightened face, and made a decision.

No, you go, ill buy you some time to get as far away as possible. It was over, and Jack knew it.

Sir

GO! He ordered.

Yes sir! Young man entered the pod.

Pod was launched. Jack thought to himself:

This is it, I failed you Jenny Im sorry

Computer, set collision course for the nearest warship. Jack said. Well, if I must die, at least I will
take some of them with me.

Collision in 9, 8, 7, 6

The bridge exploded, Jack fell on the deck. Nomad fighter flown right into his bridge, drilling its way trough
the hull, and Jack could see its forward part.

Ship is going down, time to impact 47 seconds, location planet Primus.

No, I cant allow this. Pods There must be one left.

Jack found 1 pod, but it was damaged. This wasnt the time to be picky so he entered and closed the doors.

What do I do now, I cant go far. Pod is too damaged. Wait, what did computer say, impact on Primus.
I hope I can land there. Jack thought.

After Jack programmed coordinates the pod started moving on its own, reversing out of Horizon, and
heading towards Primus. It was too damaged to stay in space. Somehow, Jack managed to land it safely.
But what now, where to go? He knew almost nothing about Primus, or its wildlife.

Shelter, gotta make shelter He thought. He found a cave near the place a pod landed. Entered and
made sure nothing was in it. This was going to be his new home For now

He had to find food, and some materials to close the caves entrance for the night. He scouted the are a bit,
a found the crash site of Horizon. It was damaged badly, but there were some parts he could use. As he
came close to the ship, he saw that nomad fighters tail. He started kicking it with his foot.

You.. *tump* ugly *tump* little *tump* bastards *tump* flying *tump* around
*tump* killing. *tump* everyone *TUMP* Not so tough now, eh!

He heard a voice behind him, and turned around.
What the hell No No! GAAAAH!

6 months later

Jack was stunned. He tried to open his eyes. He couldnt do it. He realised he wasnt breathing, and that he
didnt need air. He could feel his body, but it was different, strange to him. He tried to move his arms and
legs, and every part of the body he knew. Nothing Although he didnt have eyes, he could see everything
around him, or sense it, he wasnt sure of that He was in something that looked like a cave, and he was
hungry, or the feeling he had was similar to hunger. He tried to move, and for some reason he started
hovering, about a meter above ground. He could fly! He tried moving from that one spot, and he realised
he can move in all directions, all he had to do was to think of moving forward, and he would start moving
forward. He left the cave he was in, and suddenly he started hearing voices, lots of them, that were far, but
still near him, or in him, he couldnt determine that. He started going up, up and up, until he reached outer
space. And then he realised what happened to him. He wasnt human anymore, he was nomad, nomad
inside a nomad ship, somehow linked to it. It felt like he wasnt in the ship, but as he was the ship itself.
Four nomad fighters approached him. And he could hear them, their thoughts. He couldnt quite understand
them, but he thought it was something about transformation not complete ignore for now
He was hungry, very hungry, he needed food. For some reason, thought of sun and its wormth attracted him. He was surprised by that, but he was hungry. He saw a Zoner eagle. And he knew human was inside. He thought about destroying him, and suddenly something was fired from his ship, from him, something that
was headed for the eagle. Eagle exploded, but the zoner launched an escape pod. He came close to it, and
he sensed the frightened mind of the pilot. With time, he found out that he was losing himself, his feelings and
memories. He knew it was the nomad part taking over, and there was nothing to do to prevent it. He
couldnt contact humans for help, they would kill him on sight, so only 1 option was left for him... Nomads
It was then that he realised that even if he hates nomads, if he is going to survive he will have to become one of them.

He couldn't have the name Jack anymore, and he remembered the story his mother used to tell him, the story of a Claw...


-------------------------

OORP: please don't post here, if you have any comments please send them to me via PM.

[Tic]

Updated again.