Shoshone Station: The Galactic Consortium season 2

Episode Seven: Homecoming #11

After the game, Kleppie dropped his parents back at home and went to meet up with some of the "gang" at a bar near the edge of town. He wasn't sure when this gang had become his gang, but it felt nice to be invited.

The bar was dingy and small, but with a couple dozens of cars in the parking lot. Kevin had bowed out. Beth had texted a couple of guys that she claimed Kleppie would know. Kleppie had run into a few people he did actually know: Steven Taylor and Lily Sky.

The inside of the bar was as ratty as the outside. Texas was probably the only state left that still allowed smoking in bars, and this place was hazy and dank. Kleppie coughed and waved his hands.

"Sorry," Mindy said and blushed. But moments later, her hand dunked into her purse and came out with a menthol cigarette.

Beth and Janet had upgraded to vaporizers. "Better for you," they commented. They blew thick clouds of vapors as they said it.

Not as good as not smoking at all, Kleppie thought but he kept that to himself.

Steven came over with a plastic pitcher of yellow, tepid beer. Kleppie sipped at his as the others offered a toast. "Great to have you back," Steven said, holding his glass up in a toast.

"Great to be back," Kleppie lied, returning the toast. "So what are you up to these days?"

"Walmart," was the reply. Not much else was hiring locally. "You? Still with the Navy?"

"I get my walking papers this month. Done," Kleppie replied.

"Not reenlisting? A big hero like you?" Mindy asked.

Kleppie shook his head. "Been staying on Shoshone. Going to space camp in the spring. Went into the Navy to see the world. Now I want to see the universe, you know."

"Awesome," Steven said. "Awesome. Way to take charge of your dreams."

"Thought about the station, actually," Lily said. "They say they have jobs. Not much around here, you know. Still, not sure about living up there. Or the Consortium."

"No big thing," Kleppie said. "It's safe. You barely notice you're in space. Until you go to the edge of bottom court, that is," he joked.

"Kleppie!" a voice interrupted his story. "Look, guys, it's Kleppie!"

The speaker was broad and fat. He looked older and rougher than when Kleppie had last seen him, but he still recognized Jake Turnball. With him were two other men. Kleppie recognized Luca, Jake's best friend since elementary school, but not the other man.

"Hey," he said, his voice cold. He had no desire to prolong a conversation with two of the worst bullies from high school.

"Saw you on the TV," Jake said, and then to Luca, "Didn't we?" Luca nodded, his eyes on Kleppie. Jake continued, "We said, 'Hey, isn't that the kid we used to shove into his locker?' We did, didn't we?"

"You did," Kleppie agreed. "And yes, I was on TV. Thanks for noticing."

"Get the fuck out of here, Jake," Beth growled at Kleppie's side. "We don't want to talk to you."

Jake blew her an air kiss, and he and his friends headed for the bar. Mindy leaned in and whispered to Kleppie. "He married Beth's sister the year after we graduated. Never understood what she saw in him. They divorced two years ago. He cheated. Jerk."

"That he is, was," Kleppie agreed.

They drank and talked about their lives. Jake wasn't finished, however. He eyed them as he drank. Three shots of liquid courage later, he started up from across the bar in a loud voice. "That Kleppie. Always said he'd stumble into some trouble. Didn't know it would be the middle of a nuclear incident, though. Classic Kleppie. Where were you?" He yelled this across the bar. "What part of the ship were you hiding in when that woman saved you?"

"He was in the gunner's seat, for your information," Mindy screamed at him. She'd been drinking, nearly three glasses to Kleppie's one. "He is a hero."

"Saved by that woman," Jake sneered.

That made Kleppie mad. "I served directly under Cheyenne Walker," he raged. "Never a better officer in the US Navy. I am damn proud of what she did, and for serving under her command."

"Tell her to get me a sammich," Jake joked, laughing.

"You'd never get a woman like that," Kleppie jeered.

"Fuck you!" Jake roared. "I put you in your place back in high school. Don't think I won't again. Think you're fucking better than us, you do. Been on TV, in space."

Kleppie rolled his eyes.

"Hey," Steven said, rising next to Kleppie as Jake stormed over, glaring. "He's just having a beer with some friends. Not putting himself above us or nothing."

"Exactly. I'm having a beer with all these fine people," Kleppie said, gesturing around the bar. The whole place had gone silent, watching the confrontation. "Don't think I'm better than any of them. Just you."

"Fucker!" Jake spat. "Step outside and say that. I dare you."

Kleppie rolled his eyes again. "No."

"Chicken?"

"I'm an adult," Kleppie said. "I don't settle disputes with my fists. Don't have to settle this dispute at all. You don't like me. Fine. I don't like you. You drink in your corner, and I'll stay in mine. Problem solved."

"Fucker," Jake said again. He came forward, pushing Kleppie.

"Don't do something stupid," Kleppie warned, his voice tight.

Kleppie saw the fist coming. He ducked to one side and landed a sharp elbow into Jake's solar plexus, a move straight out of the CQC, the Navy's Close Quarters Combat training module. Jake's breath left in a rush, and he sank to his knees.

Steven treated him to an "I got this" look and helped Jake to his feet. "Come on, walk it off," he said. "That's your third strike. Just walk it off and walk away." He led Jake back to his friends. "Get him out of here before he gets himself in worse trouble," he told Luca. Luca nodded and helped his friend toward the door.

The entire bar erupted in applause.