15 Purpose Addiction 4

Katia and Olga stared at us. Their eyes visibly surprised at our appearance. "What happen?" said the Twins. "Met an ambush? I never thought you'd be this battered, Sister Regina." I waved my hands. "We did this to our own selves. She punched me and I punched her and we rained blows at each other."

Their jaws slightly hung, "Why?" they asked while wrinkling their foreheads. "We have a disagreement." I scratched my side. "But it's all fixed now."

"Yes," replied Captain. Her gaze traveled at me for a moment before turning it towards the twins. "We have settled our problems. But indeed, we were ambushed by the Corporation. They were led by Stan and that Major Tom."

"Those bastards came after you?" Henry Jims appeared from the left, his collar disheveled and he has this intoxicated look. Could smell alcohol from him, there was also traces of cigar. "They must be crazy trying to attack you both," Henry Jims chewed. "I mean Nix Regina, the duo that helped us fight a horde of aliens?"

"What do you mean by that name?" I asked. He replied, "Oh you mean what they call you two? You guys have been making news, especially the Captain of yours, Nix. She has impressed a lot of son of bitches. I don't know why they are making this move while you two are quite popular. But hey, a mega-corporation that is galaxy wide and strong enough to fuck over two people. Welcome to Mars folks."

We are on Mars, a planet where all hopes of humanity began. This former red planet was one of the first that humanity colonized. You'd think that it would be hot but yet there is heavy snow outside the establishment. The terraforming project made Mars this way, it happen because they broke the poles of the planet. They say it will take years for Mars to develop its ozone layer. And that day has not happened yet. Outside the window, I could see the dome cities that have taken over Mars. Although we call them 'dome cities' they are just the entryways that lead to the mega-city labyrinth city inside Mars. You see, to successfully colonize Mars they have to create these cities. Under the dome, cities are large sheets of metal that protect the people living here from cosmic rays.

Unlike Ganymede, Mars is strangely strict. Yet many bounty hunters are staying here as well in hopes that they can enjoy their Carnal desires upon Mars giant establishment of brothels and casinos. Katia and Olga own one of the many finest brothels here in Mars. In fact, they are wearing their tight leather suits, emphasizing their beautifully enchanted figures.

"Quite harsh out here," said Katia. "How about we go inside? The corporation is powerful but they really don't have that much control here on Mars."

"Let us," said Olga.

We followed the Twins inside the doorways while carrying our luggage's, making a reasonable march along the tight metal tunnels of Mars. Neon signs, disgusting hairdos, the smell of drugs lingering the air, barely dressed women, powered armored guards, drones flying everywhere, the holographic advertisements worse than Ganymede. My impression of Mars is quite bad. Captain Regina, as usual, didn't really care while pushing any idiot that offers her anything.

We arrived in the place where Katia and Olga lives, a rather fine establishment that was rather tame compared to the buildings we saw. The place was filled with red curtains, allowing privacy for the customers. Their silhouette as they enjoy whatever they are doing can be vaguely seen. Men in black shirts stood guard, flaunting their implants and their ability to discern any threat.

"Folks," Henry Jims hollered at the Guards. "This here is Regina and Nix. They are our friends and make sure that you are hospitable to them. Give them anything that they desire. Is that understood?"

Could see their glasses lit up. Their glasses were shared surveillance that allowed them to contact their peers. They gave Henry Jims a nod. Katia and Olga took Captain to a partitioned space, as I followed I saw someone familiar walking with files on hands. It must have been imagination.

I followed them through the partitioned space while massaging my head. The maze-like hallways confused me until we reached the living space where Henry Jims and the Twins live. It was a rather tidy looking place, surprising even for me who thought that it would be filled with something.

"What?" Henry Jims chuckled. "Just because we own this establishment means that we sell ourselves out or fuck anyone 24/7. It may sound like heaven but is bad for business."

Captain groaned, "I don't understand why you continue your profession when you have this establishment. Are the costs of living on Mars that high?" Henry Jims and the Twins nodded. Katia said, "It is. We manage but we really have to chase after bounties as well. Though we say that as an excuse, we found bounty hunting as a purpose for us three. Feeling alive with your senses sharpen like knives feel better than drowning in lust."

"Is that so?" Captain nodded. Henry Jims crossed his arms, staring at the fluorescent lamp before eyeing us. "So any ideas why those guys want us killed? I thought we struck a deal with Charlotte?"

"I thought so too. But it seems like they want their ships back for some reason," Captain sat on a stool. "All I heard from Stan and that Major is that they are going to intercept an asteroid that could hit the space station near the edges of our Milky Way System."

I palmed my face, "Don't tell me it's a camouflaged ship filled with aliens? No, they won't be moving and be this desperate if it weren't. But don't those fucks have ships to spare?"

"They are the Corporation," Katia sneered loudly. "They have always been cheap bastards that would take what they want. But I guess they did not expect to have their asses kicked by Sister Regina here." She waved a tablet with a video of Captain ramming their ships and killing their troops.

"Anyways," Olga snapped. "Since they want to capture or make use of us. We have two choices. Either we fight back or wait until this blows over. So...you two are welcome here until then."

***

We got a bunker from the Twins, a room with a bunker bed and what we need. Kitchen, a restroom, table where we can eat and even one holographic TV with a couch. Katia and Olga said sorry about the bunker room but was honestly better than what we were used to.

Captain hogged the TV. I vaulted and sat on the couch, Captain took a glance at me, chewing on that piece of beef jerky she found on the fridge. I glanced at the Captain. Her usual stoic face was gone. "Should I help you treat that wound?" Captain eyed me. "Well, you did do it."

I sighed. I produced the antiseptic and some of the auto-syringed that heals the stem cells. Captain visibly cringed at the sight of the syringe. "Oh come now," I grinned. "Don't tell me you are scared of this?"

"Yes," she said without any hint of holding back. "I am indeed scared of that. I don't have any problem telling you that." She said with a brave face. I twisted the bottle open. Smeared it all over her face, then she acted like a bullied kid. "You are quite mean."

"I am not," I snap at her. "Anyway, I haven't really thanked you, Captain."

"Hmm?" she looked at me. "I never really needed that. You save my hide. I saved yours. We already fought so no need to rewind that conversation." She beamed at me. "Besides, if you weren't skilled enough I would have left you behind."

"Skilled?" I scoffed at that. "I am not. I am just lucky to have survived this far. Who knows what will happen?"

"You are a man," she said. "Shouldn't you be saying that and that white knight kind of thing?"

"Captain, gender equality is a thing for ages now. Besides, implants are the greatest equalizer of men and women. Now we have the same human strength from all of us. So the White Knight stuff isn't really that popular now."

"Which is sad since I was fond of such a thing," she said with a lowered voice. "I was a High Noble from Earth you know? My family has a long line of Knights. Maybe that's why I am good at killing."

"Oh yeah," I said. "You were a High Noble. But why leave Earth?"

"Earth is quite devastated you know? Not because there were disasters or anything like that. The pollution is enough to kill you that they have to clean Earth. All those factories are being moved everywhere. They are going to treat Earth as a protected planet. The Corporation has gotten rich because of that you know? All those factories moved to distant planets. I mean they are going to make a Factory Planet. Just a planet for factories operated by bots and mechanized arms. I heard that the Corporation have three planets already and is already expanding them."

I carefully wiped the cut on Captain's face. "So what happens to the people living on Earth? Are they thrown out or something?" Captain shook her head. "No, some of them are going underground while the High Nobles are going to stay. Earth turned into an unbelievable shithole but it is still home you know? No matter what they cannot abandon it. Some even call it their 'purpose' for staying alive."

"Is that so?" I covered Captain's wounds. I traced her slender neck and carefully searched for a vein. I injected the syringe into her carefully. "Ah," she gave a rather sexy moan. "These injections are really weird." I nodded. "Well, nanomachines fixing all your wounds help. I prefer injecting it directly but well it is much better to do it cleanly."

"Well," she palmed her neck. "You are quite injured yourself. Shouldn't you be disappointed that you are much wounded than me?"

I looked at Captain, "I can't really hurt my lovely Captain that much. Well, I owe you my life. In fact, I think following you around is my purpose now."

She started taking care of my wounds. "You are quite the softy, Nix. I mean as a soldier who fought for aliens. You still have your emotions. That's odd. I thought everyone got their chemical castration?"

"I paid to skip that," I said. "Still, that thing only lasts for a week. I just think that having no emotions is like becoming an alien. Those emotionless bugs don't have one. I admit that I broke while fighting those bastards. But still, you can say that I got used to it. So call me a softy but I rather keep what makes me human."

"I see," she said. "I guess that makes sense for you." She didn't have anything to say other than that. She continued taking care of my wounds. Our bunker room had quite the view, so I choose to look at the bright lights of the underground city. Captain's gentle yet calloused hands thoroughly clean my wounds. She then cleaned my neck, injected the auto-syringed and covered it with a bandage. Cocking my neck, I reclined on the couch.

"Captain, I have a question."

"Ask away."

"What's our purpose?"

"You tell me."

"I am asking you because I don't know about it."

"So?"

"So?"

"I mean why are you looking for this purpose? You live and live. That's just what life really is. There is no meaning to anything other than that. I mean we live our days and wait for things. We have our hobbies and we endlessly seek for some meaning to our existence. Some argue that it is just waiting for death while some say that it is a journey. I don't know what to say to that. All I know is that I am alive. And that's really it for me."

"That's quite vague."

"I know. But I just don't see why you would worry for something like that. I have heard it many times. They say that we are always looking for it. But you know what those people always say to me when I ask them that?"

"What?"

"Purpose finds you. Some never meet their purpose while some do. So you should try culling that Purpose addiction of yours. It might come or not. So don't be impatient."

I nodded my head slowly. That was all I could do as I ponder about Captain's words.