“Good work, gang. Another profitable haul.” I said encouraging to the crew gathered around the dinner table. I looked in their faces and saw their satisfaction and content. If I were a decent, good-natured, and upright citizen, that would be payment enough for me. But I’m not a decent, good-natured and upright citizen, so I needed the cash in my hands to feel well paid.
Taking my seat at the small, rectangular table in the mess hall, I smiled. “Okay. Eat up kids. We got a big day ‘head of us tomorrow.”
I looked at the plate in front of me with a sort of intrigued disgust. I picked up the metal fork and began pushing the gray-ish mixture around the plate.
“What’s the matter, Captain? Don’t feel like protein today?” Vance, my first officer, said smugly.
“Do I ever?” I retorted.
He only shrugged and returned to playing with his own food. I rolled my eyes as soon as I was sure he wouldn’t see. Brothers. Well, if you want to call him that. We weren’t related by blood except for maybe thousands of years back, but he was the closest thing I’d had to a family. The whole crew was. I’d never known my real family. They sent me off to school so long ago. I guess they didn’t want me around. Who needs them anyway?
“So Cap’n?” Raquel’s voice interrupted my thoughts from across the table.
“What is it?” I asked, not sure I wanted to know. Raquel had a bad habit of asking bizarre and often awkward questions at bad times. I was starting to get the feeling that this would be one of those questions.
“About the conversation we were having earlier…” She hinted.
What conversation? Why couldn’t I remember what we were talking about? Then it hit me. Shoot. Not now Raquel, I pleaded, not now. “Uh…what were we talking about again?” I asked innocently.
“The nickname thing.” Raquel stated in a matter-of fact tone.
Double Shoot. Not good time at all. “Oh. That. What about it?” I asked.
“I think we should all get awesome-ish code names!” She exclaimed.
Her sister Kristy grinned wide. “That’d be SO cool!”
Great. Two against one.
“Little help here, Vance.” I whispered to my right.
“This is funny. I think I want to see how this one plays out. You’re on your own.” He stated, sounding interested. Thanks a ton, Vance. Love you too.
“Listen,” I said, addressing my attention back to Kristy and Raquel. “I’m not so sure what’s wrong with your own names.” Ha! Take that. I can play the battle of wits well too.
“Nothing. I just want a cool code name. And besides, all the spies in the old movies did, so why can’t we?” Raquel asked.
I noticed several pairs of eyes fix their attention back on me. I was definitely alone on this one. Why did everyone think that this was fun entertainment?
“Ah. Of course. Okay then, you can have a cool name. How’s about that?” I attempted to compromise.
“Okay! I pick Poa! Pronounced poh-uh.” Raquel smiled angelically.
Poh-uh? What kind of nickname was that?
I heard Vance snicker. I wanted to punch him right there, but I tried to maintain a non-violence policy on the ship, which was hard to do when I was the one causing all the violence.
“Poa it is then. Anyone else want one?” I asked in my “say yes and I’ll hurt you” voice.
Kristy’s hand shot up. Shoulda seen it comin’.
“I call Mimi!” She said in a fast, high pitch voice.
“Anyone else?” I asked, obviously irked. No more hands. Good.
“Way to be, mom.” Vance whispered snidely as I sat down.
So much for my non-violence policy.
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