Storm and Pietro sat at the table across from first-mate, Kurt Wagner, and ship pilot, Scott Summers. Scott Summers leaned forward as he examined Storm and Pietro. Scott was a tall young man with brown hair and a little stubble on his chin. Over his eyes he wore a yellow visor with a red ruby quartz lens. He smiled as he began to speak to his potential customers.
"Well," began Scott, "Kurt tells me that you’re looking for passage on a fast ship from here to Albutgon, and you’d prefer to elude the Empire at the same time. Is that right?" Storm nodded. Scott smiled. "Well, my friend you’ve found the right ship. The Blackbird can get you there in no time, and without detection."
Storm and Pietro exchanged a look, but remained silent. "Haven’t you heard of the Blackbird before?" asked Scott.
"Should we have?" said Pietro.
Scott sighed and turned to Kurt. "I don’t believe this. My friend, the Blackbird is the fastest ship there is. It has no equal, and there isn’t a ship that can keep up with it. Trust me. You’re in good hands."
"Good," said Pietro. "How much will it cost?"
"Since I’m hiding you from the Empire," said Scott, "at least 10,000 credits."
"What?!" cried Pietro.
"Easy, Pietro," said Storm.
"Come on, Storm! We can buy a ship for that!" Pietro protested.
Storm turned to face Scott. "We’ll give you 2,000 credits now. And 15,000 more when we reach Albutgon," she said.
"17,000 credits?" asked Scott. Storm nodded. "My friend you have yourself a deal." Scott reached over the table and shook Storm’s hand. "The Blackbird is at port 94. We’ll depart in three hours." Storm and Pietro nodded and slid out of the booth. Scott turned to Kurt.
"Go and prep the Blackbird," he ordered. "And tell Jean that we have some passengers that are paying us 10,000 credits to take them to Albutgon."
"Not again," said Kurt. "Vhen vill you learn man? You can’t cheat a telepath. You know how mad she vas last time."
Scott frowned. "Fine. Tell her the truth. You and Kitty just make sure the Blackbird’s primed for take off." Kurt nodded. Suddenly there was an explosion of brimstone, and Kurt had disappeared. Scott fanned the stench of brimstone away as his friend departed. Then, he looked across the table to find an unexpected visitor.
"Well, well, well," began Scott. "Blobba must be really upset to send you after me, huh Fury?"
The man had taken a seat across from Scott, a smile on his face. There was plenty of stubble across his chin, and he wore a patch over his eye. He stared across the table at Scott and smiled. "You’re getting sloppy, Summers. The Gutt has had it. You double-crossed him, and now he wants your head, as well as Red."
Scott sighed. "Listen, I told Blobba that she’d talk to him. I didn’t promise him a date."
"It’s too late to cut a deal now, Summers," said Fury. "The Gutt has made his decision and had set the price on your head. And personally, I aim to collect."
Scott only smiled and shook his head. "Oh well, Fury, you might as well do what you have to do. Because I’m not going back to Blobba… dead or alive."
"Suit yourself, Summers," said Fury. He pulled out his laser pistol and aimed it Scott. "So long, Slim." Just as Fury was about to pull the trigger, his pistol zapped out of his hand towards a redhead standing at the end of the table. Fury’s head snapped in her direction, and then back towards Scott.
"Good night, Fury," said Scott as an optic blast erupted from his eyes and hit Fury in the chest. Fury slumped over onto the table unconscious. Scott stood up and looked at the young redheaded woman. "Could you have cut it any closer, Jean?"
"You know me, Summers," she said, "I aim to please."
"So, we’re back on a last name basis again, Grey?" asked Scott.
"For trying to cut me out of my share, you bet your ass we are," she answered.
Scott sighed. He looked at Jean. Her outfit was very similar to his. She was wearing black pants, long black boots, an open black vest, and a white long-sleeved shirt. It was the exact same uniform as Scott. On her side, she had a holster, where she slipped her newly acquired pistol. She turned to face Scott.
"Listen, whether you like it, or not," she said, "we are co-captains of the Blackbird. I expect you to start acting like it. Understood?" Scott simply raised his hands, signaling that he understood. "I’m serious, Summers. I’m not the type of girl you want to tick off!"
"I don’t know about that, Grey," said Scott. "In my opinion, you look pretty hot when you’re upset."
"You’re hopeless, you know that," she said. "Come on." Scott and Jean turned and started for the door. Jean looked over at McCoy who was standing behind the bar looking at the mess. Jean raised her hand, and a few credits lifted themselves from Nick Fury’s pocket. She moved her hand, and the credits floated over to McCoy. "For the damages." With that, the captains of the Blackbird left McCoy’s, and headed for their ship.
Scott and Jean walked across the port towards the ramp of the Blackbird. Scott stopped before stepping on the ramp, and turned to Jean. "Check and make sure Kurt and Kitty have finished the pre-flight," he said. Jean looked down at him, frowning with disapproval. "Look, no tricks this time, okay. Our passengers will be arriving soon." Finally, Jean decided to accept his explanation and boarded the ship.
Scott turned around to see a large mass making his way across the port. He had several people with him… bounty hunters. The large mass was with out a doubt Blobba the Gutt. His entourage consisted of his faithful assistant Minister Tolansky, and two more of the deadliest bounty hunters: Sabretooth, and the infamous Wolverine. Fury also brought up the rear holding his head. He was probably still in pain from blast he took earlier.
"Get over here, Summers!" said Blobba as he took a bite out of a large sub sandwich.
"I’ve been wanting to see you, Blobba," said Scott.
"Yeah, I thought you would," said Blobba.
"I don’t run away from anyone, or anything. You know that isn’t my style," replied Scott.
Blobba stared at Scott for a moment, and then put his arm around Scott’s shoulders. "Come on, Scott," said Blobba. Bits of the sandwich sprayed from his mouth as he spoke. "You said that you’d give me the hook-up with Jean! And you didn’t have to beat up Fury like that either. Come on, we’re all friends here."
"Blobba, you sent Fury to kill me," said Scott.
"Ah, come on. It was done out of love!" said Blobba. "I mean, your friend Jean hasn’t called me yet. Fury was only expressing my concerns to you. I mean, I have a reputation to uphold. It’d be bad for business if I just let you get away with it."
"Blobba," began Scott, "if you send anymore of your goons after me, they’re coming back to you in a box." Scott sighed. "Listen, just give me a little more time. Jean will call you. It’s just she hates to set up dates and all while she’s working. Once we finish this run, she’ll be free."
Blobba turned around and looked at his entourage. Wolverine had unleashed the claws on his hand, and Sabretooth stood by ready to launch at Scott’s throat. Fury had his other pistol trained on Scott’s forehead. Minister Tolansky stood by watching in his dark robes, ready to hock a major loogie at Scott as well. Blobba lowered his hands, gesturing for his men to calm down. "Don’t disappoint me again, Scott."
"Don’t worry, Blobba," replied Scott. "You won’t be disappointed." Blobba nodded. Then, he turned and led his entourage away. Scott shook his head. "Maybe if the fat fart tried a can of Slim-fast he wouldn’t need my help." Scott turned around to see a head, with a brunette ponytail phasing through the belly of the Blackbird.
"Hey Scott," said the girl’s head. "The pre-flight’s done! We’re ready to take off when the passengers get here."
"Thanks, Kitty," he replied. Then, he started aboard the ship to wait for Storm, Pietro and the others to show up.
TO BE CONTINUED…