Ted's mud-stained orbs held mine in a steady gaze for what seemed to be an eternity before he attempted to run his digits through the tangled grease mop that had once passed as hair.

"Are you sure? I thought she was out past Nebarii at that one facility."

My focus shifted from his confused expression to the terrain beneath our feet. Besides the weight of our current topic of discussion, I found it difficult to watch him struggle with his personal health this way.

Two years ago his comment would have been accurate. We had located my mother - by accident - out past Nebarii in a facility that was deep into the research of genetics. Useless didn't know about the frantic demands I made to Issac or the unconcerned way he instructed me to drop my obsession. He had no idea that she disappeared soon after we unearthed her location as if someone were hiding her from me. There were many things Useless didn't know.

"It was short-lived. No matter what I said to Issac he wouldn't hear me out. You know how he can be," I explained, my eyes still glued to the dirt-covered ground. The simple act of remembering even half the shit that spewed from his mouth back then made my entire body shake with rage. How I managed the ship ride here I had no clue.

"He's an asshole, Logan. I know it, you know it, hell everyone we know knows it. Might as well call 'em it."

I offered a nod in Useless' direction but my mind still raced through all my suppressed memories of a man that was supposed to be my guide. There was a massive accumulation of undealt issues between the two of us, many of which, would never be addressed. I now found my original request on the tip of my tongue, unable to come to fruition as the nervous energy within me hummed. The words I'd been dying to speak since I reunited with my friend not even an hour ago so close to verbalization.

"Ted, I need to rescue her."

My friend's eyes widened at my statement and his hands shot up to reveal his palms. "You are asking the wrong human Logan. I don't know how you expect me, someone with absolutely no superpowers, to help you accomplish that."

"You're the only one I can ask and you know it."

Useless glanced over at me with a suspicious glint in his eyes, like I had uttered words of deception. "I can name at least three others who are more qualified."

I nodded in silent agreement. Isaac, Nix, and Dumpling were much more qualified in damn near every aspect that counted. Hell, even Tiffany was better equipped than Useless thanks to her Mecca tech but it came back to one small detail. They weren't Useless. None of them possessed what I needed, what I wanted, for this particular escapade.

"True, but none of them are demented enough to even try. Their balls are too small."

A small smirk fluted onto his chapped lips. "Yeah, you got me there." He let out a sigh as his eyes reconnected with mine with an air of acceptance and strength. "So you got a plan?"

My body recoiled at his inquiry but not because I didn't have a plan. I had concocted a plan weeks ago as I tracked the ghost ship across the cosmos. What I didn't know was if Useless would go for it or not. It was a 50/50 toss at this point.

"You remember how to pilot a ship?"

Useless scoffed. "Like I forgot how to... Wait," He paused to peer over at me. "Are you seriously thinking of stealing a ship?! I got the gonads, don't get me wrong, but seriously?"

The smile I allowed to grace my face was weak at best but I hoped it didn't show. I still wasn't certain this was the best course of action. But we needed a ship and one with a crew that wouldn't shoot to kill.  "Not just any ship, if you catch my drift."

Useless raised an eyebrow at me. "Oh? Ohhh!" Realization flashed over his eyes before a satisfied expression settled onto his already smug mug. "Dude I am so in now."

I let out a chuckle riddled with the remnants of my nervous energy. If there was one thing I could count on from Useless, it was the deep-rooted desire to piss off those that didn't appreciate his unique flavor.

"I was expecting that kind of reaction," I admitted.

"For the record, I think you're absolutely bat shit crazy but I commend you for it. I do have a few itty-bitty questions on how in the hell you plan on taking your uncle's ship though."

That very question had haunted me for quite some time now, however, with slight assistance in thinking outside the box from Useless, my confidence would surely rise to the occasion. Even as we discussed it I could feel my internal tides begin to shift in a more favorable way.

"I think I got a few ideas."

words - 826
total words - 9232
written - 03/28/2020
last edited - 05/05/2020