Fury and Ash (an Angela Haverbrook story) - Part 1, Red Vista

This is a fan fiction. Events depicted here are not canon, though perhaps they could be. SpacePaladin15, love your universe, thank you for letting us play in the sandbox.

See my other works!

• SSN - concluded
• Riot! - concluded
• Higher! - concluded
• Special Operations - concluded
• Solar Wind - taking a quick break

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Memory transcription subject: Angela "Songbird" Haverbrook

Date [standardized human time]: August 22, 2137

The shuttle I was on made its way sunward towards the town of Red Vista. I looked at the urn next to me, filled with the ashes of my friend Ruhan, known to me a "Lambchop". The war was over, and everyone wanted to get to rebuilding as quickly as possible, but some needed a bit more help getting home.

We are all prepared to give our lives, but none of us are ready to be the one left behind.

As I felt the shuttle slowing down, coming towards the landing field, I began gathering up my belongings. I didn't have much with me, leaving the majority of my equipment with the band. I'd meet up with them again once this little side quest was wrapped up, so really all I needed was a few changes of clothes and toiletries. Everything, including Lambchop's urn, fit into a single pack.

I left my small cabin as the shuttle came to a rest with a slight jolt. The rear loading doors yawned open, and the heat of the region hit me square in the face. Walking down the ramp, I was met with a scene that wouldn't have been out of place in the American South West. It was dry, hot... Red soil, with scrub vegetation. I felt like I was in a cowboy movie. At least the visors that Skalgan law required had an auto-tint feature, but I'd definitely need to plan extra breaks due to the heat.

It was a quick walk from the shuttle to the terminal, where a very sleepy looking Venlil sat behind the desk. He had his head down.

"Name?"

"Haverbrook, Angela." The Venlil raised his head turned slightly to the side in a way that said he was looking me over as I handed him my identification. I had tried to be as unintimidating as possible, but I was still human, and with a military grade fitness at that.

"What brings YOU here, Miss Haverbrook?" I could sense the distain in his voice, already making me feel like I was in hostile land.

"I'm looking for a person named Leshan. I served with her son, and I'm bringing home his ashes."

"Ruhan was a trouble maker. Clearly predator diseased, just like you." OK, there was DEFINITELY some ill will there. This was not looking good.

"Perhaps, but a mother is still a mother, and it is my duty and honor to bring him home so that his soul can be at peace."

"Ugh, fine. You military types are all more trouble than you're worth. Make your delivery and get gone." The agent handed my ID back to me, and I gave him a quick nod, stepping away from the desk. I could feel stares on me as I exited the terminal and walked down the street. Seriously all this place needed was a bad soundtrack, and I would be in an old western.

Two blocks south, three west. I came to what could be considered a modest home. Not as extravagant as some of the buildings I had passed, but it wasn't a run down shack either. As I approached though, I got the distinct impression that no one was home. I tried knocking on the door anyways, but there was no response.

Well... damn.

I turned around to leave when a white van pulled up. A pair of exterminators got out, and I could see them approaching me, so I stopped and held my hands away from my sides, palm forward so they could see they were empty. "Can I help you, officers?" I asked calmly.

"You're no help to anyone, PREDATOR" the one on the left snarled. "Why are you here?"

"I'm trying to return Ruhan's ashes to his mother, Leshan. Do you know when she'll be home?"

The two exterminators looked at each other. "She'll be working at the water treatment plant until the end of the claw. You can leave the precious ashes, and go."

"I'm sorry, officer, but Ruhan was a good friend of mine. I would prefer not to disrespect his memory by simply leaving the ashes on the doorstep. Perhaps there is an establishment where I can wait peacefully and get something to drink?"

"You can try down the road at the 'Drunken Gojid', not that they would actually serve you."

"Thank you, sir. If I may, I'll be on my way now. Good paw to you." They nodded and moved to the side, but as I passed by them, I saw one of the two tense up. I shifted my weight slightly, bracing for the kick I knew was coming. Sure enough a half second later, his leg shot out, foot kicking into my right shin. I stumbled a bit, but quickly recovered.

"Careful, humans aren't used to our gravity here. They tend to fall down a lot."

I nodded. "Thanks for the warning. Good paw."

A few minutes later I reached the Drunken Gojid. It appeared to be a simple dive bar, a little shady but no worse than some I played at. When I walked in, everyone turned to stare at me again. This was already starting to get old, but I sensed more fear than hate this time. I walked up to the bar where a Venlil bartender was wiping some glasses before putting them away. I quickly looked over the menu on the wall behind him, picking out a few items. After waiting what would have been an unacceptable amount of time in any human establishment, he must have decided I wasn't going away and finally "noticed" me.

"We don't serve any predator food here."

"That's fine, I can eat Skalgan food just fine. May I please have a stringfruit salad with the firefruit dressing and a glass of water?"

"It's a two drink minimum, human."

"Sure. In that case add two shots of the shadeberry wine. I've heard good things about that."

The barkeep grunted and keyed in my order. The price he asked for was clearly highway robbery, and I was tempted to ask him why he was being predatory to a visitor but thought better of it. If the trend of this town was anything to go by, he'd probably call the exterminators again. A few minutes later my order came up, and I carried it over to a seat in the corner of the bar. I kept quiet, munching on my salad slowly. It did actually taste quite good, but I was too worried about my surroundings to fully appreciate it. Biding my time, I made sure to sip the wine, rather than chug it like I saw the other patrons doing. While I waited, I sent a note to Leshan indicating where I was. She was subdued in her response, but agreed I made the right decision, and that she would be leaving soon.

I noticed several more people come into the bar. One of them was the exterminator from before, laughing with a few others. Someone pointed to me though, and I could see him scowl. After a while, he walked over to me with several others.

"You're still here, predator?"

"Well, Leshan wasn't done with her shift so I was waiting for her."

"And you honestly want me to believe that?"

"I don't much care what you believe. I just want to finish my business, then I'll be gone."

"See that you are."

They moved off, keeping an eye on me. I sent another message to Leshan, telling her I was leaving the bar and that I would wait in front of her house. When she asked why I simply said "exterminators". The venlil eye-roll emoji was a cute response, but it also said everything I needed to know.

Carefully I stood up and made my way to the door. I got about half way through the bar when a sharp kick to the back of my leg caused me to drop to my knees. "What did I tell you about the gravity, predator?"

I stood slowly, and began walking again. This time there were two kicks and a shove. I tumbled, and my head bounced off a table. There were jeers and laughs as I landed roughly. "Looks like the big scary predator isn't so scary, is she?" Laughing again. Part of me wanted to rip his idiotic head off, but I'd been in enough bar fights to know it never ends well. There's nothing worse than an asshole cop.

"Really, just go back to where you came from. We don't want your kind here, predator."

I pulled a small hand towel from my pack and wiped my face, feeling the sting where the table cut me. I used the table to help me stand again, but as I opened the door to exit the bar I felt a heavy thump as officer asshat rammed his head into me, knocking me to the dirt outside.

I laid there a moment as they all laughed again.

"You seem to be falling down a lot, predator. What do you have to say for yourself?"

I frowned. "This is quite the welcoming you have given me. Thank you... I'll be sure to come back another time..."

"I'd suggest you don't."

"No really, I think I will be back..." I muttered as I stood again, stumbling off back to Leshan's house.