Trip To The Dead Zone. Part 3 (Finale)

Recap
In the last instalment: Flux met with the leader of the High Flyers, Razor-Jax. Through some awkward negotiations, Flux managed to organise a deal. Where the High Flyers would supply speeders to Ember's Gunners. It wasn't what he was sent here to accomplish. But, it was a start, to get what he was really sent for.

Source Pixabay

One drink turned into two, which continued that way for some time. The High Flyers had proved themselves to be good hosts. When Razor-Jax had re-emerged the time for negotiations were finished and others came in to fill the room. Flux and Bo-Daki both stuck out amongst the others, but, it didn't seem to bother anyone.

"You're under my protection while you're here." Razor-Jax had said to Flux in passing. He must have noticed that Flux was looking uncomfortable. It did help to ease his discomfort, but in the back of his mind, Flux knew to keep his wits about him.

He stood in the corner of the room looking out at the others, no one bothered him. The most anyone would do was look in his direction or give the occasional nod. Bo-Daki on the other hand seemed to fit in well. It's like he's one of them. Flux thought as he watched him.

Shortly after settling in, Bo-Daki produced those stupid cards he's always carrying around. Pungo. The game he always tried to coax Flux into playing with him. Flux wasn't the gambling sort. Games didn't interest him at all. The High Flyers though seemed to love it. What was initially two or three High Flyers had turned into Six. Those were just the players. Other than them there was now a large group of rowdy spectators cheering them on as they played. Occasionally swapping out for each other as the rounds went on. Bo-Daki, by the look of it, was raking in the cash. Nobody seemed to be beating him.

I'm glad I never accepted his invites to play. Flux thought to himself. The money Flux lost on his first day here, had been slow to return. The last thing he needed was the small amount he had accumulated to go into the pocket of Bo-Daki or anyone else for that matter.

Flux then noticed someone approach out of the corner of his eye. The Doshan woman. Loeta, if his memory served him right. "Bo-Daki has told me a lot about you. You're a good shooter." She said when she got nearer.

"I'm not the worst." Flux responded, trying not to sound cocky. "Good enough to take on this whole room of High Flyers?" She said with a more serious tone. Is that a trick question? Flux asked himself.

"What do you mean?" Flux asked as he stood up straight. She turned and looked at Bo-Daki. "Coming in here and swindling the entire room out of their FSTs. Not exactly smart, considering who they are." She whispered while looking back at Flux.

"Swindling?" Flux shook his head slowly. "Pungo. That game he's playing. The one he made up back on Kah-Vita. It's going to get the two of you killed when they find out."

"No. That's not." Flux thought for a moment. Pungo? He knew a lot of games. Pungo wasn't one of them. Bo-Daki! You are an idiot! Flux put his bottle down and made his way to the table. Aiming to get behind Bo-Daki. He had to press himself between many of the High Flyers to do so. They smelt like leather, oil and sweat. Finally, the sea of people parted and he could see the mindless fool. Flux stood beside him and looked out at the table.

The huge pile of FSTs in front of him looked comical, especially compared to the measly amount the others around the table held. Running his eyes from the FSTs to the faces of the High Flyers around the table. Flux could see that tensions were starting to rise. Nobody likes losing.

Flux looked to Bo-Daki, he was grinning like a lunatic. Drunk on his winnings. His winnings and the bottles he kept getting handed. "Flux. You came over to help celebrate." Bo-Daki said over the rowdy crowd and the cheers being thrown from afar.

"What are you doing? Are you crazy! Stop winning." Flux whispered. Hoping that it was loud enough for him to hear. Without anyone else being able to hear him. "Why would I stop!?" Bo-Daki belligerently exclaimed. Fool. Flux thought.

What can I do! How can I stop him! Flux wondered frantically. He saw the crowd part on the opposite end of the table. "Outta' the way." He could hear a drunk Trisken voice come through. Razor-Jax He thought when he looked at him stagger his way into view. Please don't sit down.

Then he saw Razor-Jax tap the shoulder of one of the High Flyers sitting at the table. Then with the wave of a hand, the man was up and away. Razor-Jax slowly planted himself firmly before Bo-Daki. "Come on then. Let's see how lucky you are." Razor-Jax said as he threw some FSTs on the table.

Please Bo-Daki. Please let him win. The thought hadn't even finished when Flux heard Bo-Daki take a breath. "You came over to give me some money too? How kind of you." Bo-Daki confidently slurred.

The noise and cheering had gone still and silent. The music could now be heard better. Flux was starting to get agitated. Bo-Daki. You're going to get yourself killed. With me along with you.

They both started to play after Bo-Daki had dealt Razor-Jax his cards. The game seemed to go back and forth, with nothing major happening. Flux found it hard following along. So did Razor-Jax as it seemed. "This game Pungo. How have I never heard of it?" He asked while squinting at his cards. "It's making a name for itself," Bo-Daki replied.

In the Hive, but he doesn't even realise. All it takes is someone to shout that he's cheating and it's all over. Is he cheating though? He could hear a tiny voice echo around his mind. It was enough to fill Flux with the slightest bit of hope for their situation.

"What does this hand mean?" Razor-Jax enquired. "That hand means you've lost. Because I have this hand. This card deducts your cards numbers. Which adds them to my hand. Bringing the grand total to. 43, while yours is 0." Bo-Daki started to chuckle. "I'll take the pot. And another drink."

"You told me that you can only receive another player's points if you have that card." A man shouted while pointing at a spent card on the table. The crowd started to smell blood, and Razor-Jax's face turned from confused to annoyed, while he inspected his hand. "Yeah. It does. But, when you have these two cards they transform." Bo-Daki said confidently. Is he caught? What the hell is he even saying?

"I can't follow these rules!" Someone else shouted from the crowd.

All Flux could hear over the grumbling of the crowd around him was a bang. It sounded like the door was kicked in. "Razor-Jax! The lads spotted a Militia patrol. Heavy numbers!" Flux could hear the distressed voice from the other side of the room. Razor-Jax jumped to his feet, throwing over the chair as he did. The rest of the crowd raced after him. Throwing bottles and furniture over as they ran. "Come on lads! Get some Vits into ya' we're under attack!" Razor-Jax shouted as he took the lead.

The room was empty in an instant. Leaving only Flux and Bo-Daki sitting quietly alone, with music playing in the background. The tempo of the song was slower than what had been playing.

"What the hell were you thinking!?" Flux asked angrily. Trying the keep his voice down. "I was having some fun!" Bo-Daki said through his nose. Flux clenched a fist and took a swing at him. The first one missed. The second one landed though. Flux readied the third punch. But, Bo-Daki lunged from his chair into Flux. The two of them spilt onto the wet floor.

Flux pressed a knee into Bo-Daki's side. It knocked him off balance slightly. But he came back stronger with a punch. The jab turned into a good hit. Flux raised his arm to deflect the next one. Flux pushed with his other hand. Trying to reach Bo-Daki's throat. But his wrist was grabbed. They wrestled for a moment. Until Flux started to knee Bo-Daki in the back. Three punches came in which Flux blocked. The fourth though, landed. Flux kept assaulting Bo-Daki's back with his knee. Until he could feel the relief on his wrist. With the opportunity he grabbed him and spun. Flux got to his feet first and landed a knee on Bo-Daki's throat and he started punching him until he stopped swinging his arms.

In the fight, Flux noticed the music had stopped and through the calm, he could hear explosions and feel the rumble resonate through the building. "What were you thinking!? You could have gotten us killed!" Flux shouted. Spitting blood speckles onto Bo-Daki's face. He started to sob and Flux released the pressure on his neck. "I wanted to take them for all I could!" "Why!?" Flux exclaimed.

"Because of Loeta!" He said, now Flux stood up completely. Watching Bo-Daki writhe around on the floor for a moment, sobbing uncontrollably now. "I love her." He said through the tears that were starting to make the blood on his face glisten even more.

"I told her. She just stared at me. Then said that she was with someone. One of these scumbags!" Flux put out a hand to help get Bo-Daki to his feet.

"Come on. Stop crying." Flux said. As Bo-Daki finally stood up, staggering slightly. He started to get a hold of himself. Poor bastard.

Bo-Daki wiped his eyes with his hands and for the most part, the crying had stopped. He couldn't raise his eyes to look at Flux though. Then the door opened. "You two coming out or what!?" A High Flyer shouted. They were pumped up on adrenaline. Or Chems. Flux nodded to the Trisken. "We'll be out now." The High Flyer let out a hoot and ran back down the hall.

Flux turned his attention to Bo-Daki. He raised his eyes to meet Flux's stare. They were bloodshot and full of hate.

"She introduced me to him. Some drugged up looser called Fainter. I hope he dies."