Approaching the Airlock, Eirik spotted Jesper pacing in front of the prisoners. While he DID keep a minimum safety distance, his thoughts were as clear as to see as a movie on the screen. He wanted blood, much more blood before he would be satisfied. Eirik moved in front of his friend and looked him in the eye, causing his pacing to stop.

"Jesper, let's head back to the ship, there are things that need talking through and we do not need more ears listening to this conversation"

Putting his hand on Jesper's shoulder, he started moving the man away. He noticed the relieved looks of the prisoners as they moved away and remembered that he himself was most likely not a pretty or comforting sight at this very moment. They took a shuttle from the hanger bay and headed back. Upon arrival back to his ship, he noticed with satisfaction that internal security was not slacking off despite their apparent success. Then again, this was only the pirate strike team.

"SIGNE!!!!" he bellowed out, hearing a "Yes captain" to his right and a small "eep" at his left. Looking left he saw Las'Tai, mouth agape, gawking at him like a monkey in the zoo. Remember herself she quickly slammed her mouth shut and looked embarrassed. Turning right he saw Signe approaching. "I need you to send a team over to those ships. find out if they managed to send out a message to their Control Center and if so, what message they sent."

"Right away captain," The short woman said before turning around and bellowing orders at the technicians loitering in the back, who, judging from the scampering about they suddenly did, rightfully feared failing her when she was in command mode.

Eirik opened his mouth to yell out for the next person, but David beat him to it "Here captain". He said behind Eirik.

Jolting in surprise before turning around, Eirik hissed "I hate when you do that... anyways, can you take over here?? Jesper and I are gonna retreat, take a shower and then return here. we need to get all this washed off" He gestured to Jesper and himself, not needing to extrapolate further.

"Of course captain, right away." Replied David before turning back around to the shuttles to lead the salvaging effort.

Leading Jesper directly to his Cabin, Eirik sat him down at the desk and took a seat across from him.

"Jesper, we talked about this before, many times before and we made a deal, you and i. You keep me in check when I start to let go and I do the same. You checked me earlier. Now I'm checking you. I know that feeling of bloodlust all too well, but we know it for different reasons. I lose control because I am only truly alive during battle. You lose control around the Plyxii because of what happened back then. And you need to let go, my friend. It was not their fault and you know it. It was his fault and we will get him someday. I promise you that."

Jesper was shaking in his chair as he listened to Eirik, but as he finished Jesper looked up and into Eirik's eyes as he spat out, "You didn't see the delight those insane walking carpets took in torturing our unit!!! You were not there with us, captain!"

Eirik looked hurt as he replied, "No Jesper, I was not there with you. I was fighting my way back to camp through that jungle for a week, during the months-long dark period, evading enemy patrols out to get me and fending off alien wildlife with a stolen knife and a homemade stone spear. I survived that trip and came back with the rescue team on the chopper despite malnutrition, blood loss and exhaustion" Eirik leaned forward, his face less than a centimeter from Jesper's, who did not flinch or move, as Eirik almost whispered, "And I fucking helped save you guys from that horror show, so don't you dare sit there and try to lecture me about what happened you selfish fuck!!!"

Jesper looked like he might actually take a swing at Eirik, but he took a deep breath as Dr. Knud had taught him and focused on finding the right words. Knowing his old friend, Eirik let him have the time he needed to figure out what he wanted to say.

"I will not forgive and I will not forget" Jesper began, looking calm once again, "But you are right Eirik. My anger is misplaced and needs to be turned in the right direction before I unleash it like I did today. I am gonna hold you to that promise. I need his death, I need to feel him dying between my own 2 hands Eirik. I'm tired of being angry. But it's all I feel ever since....."

"Don't worry old friend. When was the last time I broke a promise willingly??" Said Eirik, breaking into the tiniest of smiles.

Jesper shrugged, "True" Then he got up and headed for the door. "I'm going to take a shower and retire for today captain. I need time to think."

"Granted" Said Eirik, getting up and heading towards his bath. "I will be at the hangar after my bath if you need me, Jesper"

"Received" Was the only thing Eirik heard as the door closed. He entered his own bath and enjoyed the rejuvenating feeling of washing the grime and gore off of his body.

After the shower, he got dressed and began running a brush through his hair to straighten it out while wet and easy to work. At the same time, a knock was heard from the door. "ENTER" he yelled, as always too lazy to go press the door button. The door opened and revealed Las'Tai.

"Shouldn't you be on shift right now??" He asked right away.

She saluted "No captain. The head of security moved around my schedule to better fit my natural rhythm."

"Hmm." He said, as he struggled with a small knot in his hair, "You don't have to salute me, this is a private ship, remember? What can I do for you Las'Tai?"

"...What happened over there, captain?? You and Jesper.... You looked like you went through a war zone...." She said slowly.

"Just some pirate ship boarding action, nothing major," Eirik said lightly as he finished brushing his hair.

"..Nothing.. Major.." She repeated, seemingly dumbstruck by the statement.

"Yes, nothing major. If you are worried about all the blood, well, welcome to Terran melee combat. Eventually, you will get to learn some of it, if possible." He said with a smirk at the end.

She bristled at his words "If possible?!!? Now listen here you-"

He lightly booped her snout with his index finger making her scrunch up her face and swat at his arms, breaking her beginning tirade "my ship, remember?" he smiled wide and started unrolling the bandage on his arm to inspect the wound. "Next stop is the Dr." He thought to himself.

"How can you be so light about what looks to be a mass murder??" She asked, fearing to hear the answer.

Eirik turned to her and his face turned serious. "They were given a choice to surrender or die. Just like I was given a choice with you and you were given a choice with this ship. This is what I keep talking about. This is why I believe in the gods. They present us with choices. There is no right or wrong answer. Only consequence. Action and reaction. There is nothing light about the actions committed on those pirate ships. But there is something light in me still being around to joke about it. I'm alive. I breathe, laugh, feast and drink, I live. Right here, right now, in this moment. And the only reason I feel this way right now is because of what I went through on that ship. That is MY choice in life and it seems to entertain the gods well enough to keep me alive."

He saw equal parts of confusion and understanding in Las'Tai's face as he talked and decided to end it there. Let the mystery move people's own thoughts, let them form their own ideas. "Enough of this. I need to visit the doctor. Want to come with or do you want to go soak in the jacuzzi?"

At the mention of the golden word, Her eyes shot up with shock and she squealed "NOOOOOOOOOOO I missed so much soaking time already!!!!" While sprinting out of the room and down towards the pool area.

Eirik chuckled at the Kloxna's antics. He really had to ask her about her age at some point. She couldn't be THAT old, perhaps what amounted to early '20s in human years???? With reactions like that at least...

Shrugging his shoulders he left his cabin and headed towards Knud's infirmary.