High Card (part 1) (1/1)
They were gathered around a table, settling down to game of poker. A group of four pilots, each packing a white 'strike' across the patches on their shoulders, indicating they were part of a penal squadron. Originally there were five, but one of them had been thrown into solitary confinement 2 days ago for a desertion attempt during a raid. One was a compulsive gambler and a known con artist who was thrown into the brig just last week for attempting to scam the base commander out of a bet, the other was an anarchist who got caught in an anti-government rally. The third pilot was caught trying to hack into a military network for shits and giggles, the fourth was framed for murder but decided to go on the run instead of clearing his name. While the fifth pilot who got thrown in solitary was a known deserter who had several failed escape attempts from the base. "It's been 48 hours." Hanbin, the hacker muttered, biting back a smirk as the cards in his hand were a straight flush. Mino, the framed man in front of him reached into his pockets, placing a wad of damp notes on the table in front of him before nervously glancing down at his own cards. "Ah shit. Looks like there goes this week's pocket money.""2 days in solitary. Well, looks like our other hotshot has set a new record." Taehyun, the anarchist grumbled, handing over the last of his money to the gambler, Chanwoo who then grinned from ear to ear. As if on cue, the door to their barracks was flung open and a battered, bandaged figure was thrown inside by a pair of armed guards who then slammed the doors shut after. "Speak of the devil." The anarchist's comment drew a round of chuckles from the table as the deserter slumped into a chair, reaching for someone's drink, uncaring of who it belonged to as he downed the liquid."Hey hotshot. How far did you make it before they started shooting?" "...20 meters." Junhoe, the deserter, buried his face in his hands as Chanwoo drew a few notes from the pile of cash in front of him before handing it over to Taehyun.
"Told you he wouldn't make it 50 meters." Taehyun cackled, drawing Junhoe's ire as the latter shot him a glare."You dipshits seriously making bets on me? What if I die?" "Oh then we'll just find someone else to place our bets on." Chanwoo shrugged, almost casually before breaking into laughter as well. "Speaking of which," Hanbin who had been silent had then decided to interject. "There's a new arrival. Y'all saw that blonde girl that just waltzed in with that hi-tech looking fighter the other day?" "That Chinese pilot?" Mino's expression had changed to a dreamy one as he tried to remember the face of the pilot that surrendered to base security, just yesterday. "Not gonna lie, she's pretty cute."Taehyun then rolled his eyes, knowing exactly what Mino was thinking at that very moment. "You're not thinking of getting in her pants now are you? Just like what you try to do to every other female pilot that passes by this God-forsaken air base." His disgusted outburst drew a mere shrug from Mino. "Hey I have needs too. Unlike you bunch.""Dude you're disgusting."The doors opened again as all of them turned to look at their visitor. It was the blonde pilot they were just talking about, escorted by an armed guard. The moment she entered, the guard then exited, leaving her with the five male pilots. As she felt the various stares on her, she raised an eyebrow at the five faces surrounding the poker table. "What? You bunch look like you've never seen a female in your lifetimes before." Mino had attempted to greet her but then sat back down, somewhat intimidated. Chanwoo sniggered, watching the wannabe Cansanova shrink under the eye of the new arrival. "Please excuse them." Hanbin was the first to speak up. "We were just having a friendly game. Take a seat. Join us." He then pulled out a chair for her, earning a shrug from the female in response as he nodded at Chanwoo to deal her a set of cards.-"Thank you very much, gentlemen." Handong let out a satisfied laugh, counting the growing wad of notes in front of her as Junhoe, Chanwoo and Mino looked on with unease, their cash piles already reduced by half as the Chinese pilot somehow managed to outplay them every time a hand was dealt while Hanbin and Taehyun grinned at their comrades' plight. Satisfied with her earnings, she then stood up, giving all five a friendly handshake before skulking off to her assigned room, at the end of the barracks hallway. "That lady..." Junhoe sighed, his earnings gone along with Mino's from being out-gambled by the Chinese pilot. "She's interesting." Taehyun nodded, looking as if he was lost in thought. "You crushing on her too, Nam?" Chanwoo gently nudged him with his elbow, earning a smack on the back of his head from Taehyun."Piss off, Jung. Admiring and liking someone are different"