Eddie Monsoon - Live and on Parole
Who: Eddie Monsoon
Where: Blue Dwarf : Prison Cell #03, Deck 204
When: After a Twelve Month Suspended Sentence
"Wake Up Monsoon. It's time"
Eddie woke with a start and sat up from his bunk. He was in one of
the Spartan, white cells that were part of the security facilities on
Deck 204. Standing on the other side of the forcefield that stopped
him from exiting was Major Harris his boss and temporary prison
warden.
"Alright mate? Time for what? Breakfast? I could murder a bacon roll
right about now."
"Time's up your parole starts today. As of 08:30 this morning you
will no longer confined to your cell, but will return to active duty
as a crewman of Blue Dwarf." With that, Harris turned off the
forcefield, deposited Eddie's clothes and artefacts on the small
table, and left to allow him to get changed. Eddie clambered out of
bed and began to get dressed, thinking back over his past year of
incarceration.
Almost a year ago, Eddie had been caught rigging the security cameras
in the women's gym locker room to broadcast to his quarters. Not only
that, an investigation had brought a number of crimes Eddie had
committed whilst aboard the Dwarf to light brewing and selling
moonshine, smuggling, blackmailing and theft of the Medi-Bay's
medicinal alcohol supplies. Eddie had appealed to Captain Monsoon,
who had no choice but to sentence Eddie to twelve months in lock-up.
Besides, if Jed had given Eddie amnesty his involvement in the
moonshine/smuggling/blackmail business may come to light. And he
couldn't have that.
Dressed, Eddie collected his personal items and left the cell. He
moved into the main security office where he signed all the right
forms, before being unceremoniously kicked out into the corridor.
"Freedom!" said Eddie to no one in particularly. He decided to
celebrate with a pint in Parrotts. After realising it was only 8:45
in the morning, he decided it'd be best just to have a bacon roll in
his quarters.
Arriving back at his quarters having grabbed a bacon roll and a cup
of coffee from the vending machine in the corridor Eddie saw that
he had a message waiting for him on his view screen. Finishing off
his hasty breakfast he asked Holly to show him the message.
EDDIE JMC WANT BLUE DWARF BACK, BUT I'M NOT GIVING IT BACK. MAY
TURN IT INTO CASINO/BROTHEL AND MAKE SOME CASH. NEED ADVICE AND HELP
CONTROLLING CREW.
HOPE YOUR WELL,
JED CALVERT (CAPTAIN)
P.S. HOW WAS PRISON?
Eddie read the message again. If the JMC and the Space Corps wanted
the ship back, that would mean returning to Earth. Across the galaxy,
Eddie had a number of bounties on his head and if he were to return
to the solar system. The bounty for him on Neptune alone was big
enough for the person who caught or killed him to BUY the whole
smegging planet.
Leaving his quarters in a rush, he made his way up to the Drive Room
on Deck 001 and moved over to a small glass walled office with the
words `Captain Jed Calvert Commanding Officer' stencilled on the
door. He knocked, and he heard Jed cry a "Come In" before entering.
Jed was sat behind his desk, a glass of whiskey in his hand and his
laser pistol on his desk. "Come in pardner, take a seat" he said,
indicating the chair in front of his desk that didn't look half as
comfortable as Jed's. Eddie sat down and Jed poured him a whiskey.
"So Ed, how was the slammer?" Jed asked casually
"Ah, y'know mate all prisons are the same. Shite." Said Eddie,
downing his whiskey "You said something about the ship having to go
back to Earth. What's that all about?"
Jed looked at Eddie "Them scum sucking molluscs in the JMC want Blue
Dwarf back so they can put it to good use recrewing it
with `competent' officers and sending it out to do some `productive'
work out in the ass end of nowhere."
"Right, and...we don't want that right?"
"Naw, pardner. I have vision y'see this ship could make us a
fortune. I want us to steal it right from under those fat cats big
ol' hooters and turn it into something we can make a bit of money out
of. But it's gonna be difficult, what with most of the crew wantin'
to mosey on back to Earth. I need your help buddy" Jed sat back in
his chair and drained his whiskey. He fixed Eddie with a steely glare
whilst the Irishman made his decision.
"So, mate" said Eddie eventually "you want me to betray the crew and
become a fugitive again I might add just to make fabulous amounts
of riches. I don't think that's likely, I'm loyal to my mates I am."
Eddie sat back definitely. No way was he going back to prison.
"There's a lifetime's supply of alcohol and hookers up for grabs to"
added Jed casually.
"Deal" said Eddie simply.
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