Chapter LXXII: Ballester and Gorgax

Chapter LXXII: Ballester and Gorgax 

Ballester is on his way to the hospital wing to visit Gorgax when Mollyester shoots him in the head. A couple of minutes later, he gets up, the bullet falls out, and he heads to Gorgax’s room. “F*****g b***h.” He enters, “Hey babe, how are you feeling?” Ballester asks. 

“I’m getting there. Luckily, it’s only sprains in my legs and arms, but my chest hurts pretty bad, and I woke up with a massive headache. It’s better than it was, but holy s**t.” 

“Ooh, look at your face, that looks like it hurt like hell.” 

“It was the last thing I felt before I hit the ground. In a way, that jagged piece of metal saved my life.” 

“How?” 

“It slowed my descent. Granted, I still got knocked out when I hit the ground, but at least I didn’t die.” 

“I gotta be honest babe, that scar is pretty hot.” 

“Really?” 

“Yeah, it’s pretty badass.” 

“Can I see it?” Ballester looks around for a mirror or something reflective. 

“Can you get up? I can show you in the bathroom.” She gets up, uses a walker, and heads to the mirror to check it out. 

“Oh my Scorpious, I’m ugly!” 

“I don’t think so, I told you, I think it’s hot.” 

“You don’t have to live with it, you don’t have any scars.” 

“Well, sure I do, you just didn’t know they’re scars.” He takes off his shirt. “That’s a bullet wound, that’s a bullet wound, here’s where I got hit with shrapnel, and they had to reconstruct this part of my abdomen here because a chunk got blown off.” 

“I thought that was just part of your natural anatomy.” 

“Nope, those are war scars, babe.” 

“Yeah, but it’s not your face.” 

“Who are you trying to impress? I already told you I think it’s badass... unless it’s a vanity thing.” 

“What? No! I just- I guess I gotta get used to it.” 

“Come on, I think Nyvar did a good job of sewing you up.” 

“Yeah, I guess she did, remind me to thank her.” 

“Thank me for what?” Nyvar asks, as she walks into the room. 

“For fixing me up.” 

“Well, it’s my job. Do you need any pain meds? How are you feeling?” 

“Yeah, I could use some.” 

“Sure thing, mom.” 

“Seriously though, thanks for taking care of me.” 

“You’re my mom, and my patient, of course I’m gonna take care of you.” 

“Was this the best you could do with my face?” 

“Yeah, sorry. You should have seen how open the wound was. If dad hadn’t carried you on your back, you could have died from the massive blood loss. I was able to graft some of the skin from Galaxian cadavers before I stapled you up, cause your skin wouldn’t shut all the way.” 

“Oh, I see the seam. I guess it doesn’t look too bad then considering.” 

“When it heals though, that seam will be the thickest part of your face, it might not slice so easily next time, so that’s a plus.” 

“When can I go home?” 

“Tomorrow, I wanna keep you here overnight and make sure your staples don’t bust open. But when you get home, I want you to stay in your tank, in the warmest, not hottest setting for the water, that should help with the bruising and sprains.” 

“For how long?” 

“Until you feel better, only you know how you feel.” 

“Ok.” 

“And no sex during that time.” 

“What?” Ballester and Gorgax ask at the same time. 

“You heard me.” Ballester and Gorgax look at each other, terrified. “Oh please, it’ll probably be a couple weeks at most.” Gorgax sits back on her bed. 

“This is a lot to process.” Gorgax says. 

“Well, it’s not THAT bad, you went a hundred something years without sex, a couple weeks should be nothing.” Ballester tells her. 

“I know, but now that I’m used to it, I’m feeling a withdrawal.” 

“Doctor, is there anything me and your mother CAN do?” 

“Yuck. If you must, I guess you could stick to hand and mouth stuff, but nothing that requires much movement from her, she needs to take it easy. Now I’m being serious when I say this, wait a few days first. If you go ahead and try stuff tomorrow, she’s going to end up pulling something, it’s not worth it.” Nyvar says. 

“Alright, fine!” Gorgax says. Ballester looks sad. 

“You may be my parents, and while I do care about your happiness, your health comes first, so I have to be a doctor before your daughter in this case.” 

“I- we understand, right Ballester?” 

“Yeah.” Ballester says, still looking pouty. 

“You’d better. If I have to fix you up again because you disobeyed doctor’s orders, I’ll keep you in the tank I keep for my regular Galaxian patients until you’re fully healed. I’m trusting you can do this without me having to fix you again.” 

“Ok, I think you’ve made it pretty clear.” Gorgax says. 

“Have I? Because I know how you two can be.” 

“Stop talking to us like we’re children, young lady!” 

“More like teenagers, horny, horny teenagers.” 

“You just wait until you come across a partner who you can bond with for life, and see how easy it is for you!” 

“Fair enough, but if you don’t wanna end up back in here, please follow my doctor’s orders.” 

“Fine, you can stop now.” 

“Can I? Because I want to really press the seriousness of this issue.” 

“YES! We’ve got it!” 

“I believe you, don’t make me regret it.” 

“Is this true?” Serge asks over the intercom to the hospital. 

“Is what true?” Gorgax asks. 

“That you and Ballester forgive Mollyester.” 

“Let us discuss it, we’ll get back to you.” 

“Oh yeah, we have that issue to deal with too.” Ballester says. 

“Well, she did try to kill me, are you just gonna let that go?” 

“You’re the one who kept trying to make it work, I wanted to get rid of her the second she showed up.” 

“Then I guess she’s going to have to go. Yes, I forgive her, but I can’t trust her anymore.” 

“Good! You finally came to your senses! Oh, I can’t wait to spread the good news! This c**t is finally getting out of here!” Ballester starts dancing like an idiot. Gorgax rolls her eyes and laughs. “I can’t wait to tell her the news!” 

“Be gentle about it, don’t be an a*****e.” 

“Aw, come on! I really wanna rub her face in it!” 

“No, it’s bad enough there’s conflict, you don’t need to pile on.” 

“Fine, but she deserves it.” 

“Maybe she does, but you should be better than that.” 

“You know, I realized something.” 

“What?” 

“What are we going to do for our anniversary if you’re going to be laid up for the rest of the week?” 

“You know those drugs you’re too scared to try?” 

“I’m not scared, it’s just...they’re alien drugs, what if I end up in a coma and never wake up? I’m not worried about dying, I’m worried about being a vegetable.” 

“I’ve done your human drugs, and I’m ok. Sure, it affects us differently, but who knows? You might actually like them. You see how much I enjoy them.” 

“Fine, what about them?” 

“There’s a vial of liquid, that when you mix it with water, transports you to another dimension, it astral projects you. There, we can have sex without our bodies having to actually move. Join me in the bath, and we’ll go to another plane of existence. And while it will feel like hours, only a few minutes will actually go by.” 

“That sounds f*****g amazing, but what if I never return to my body?” 

“See, you’re just making up things to worry about, that’s not the Ballester I fell in love with.” 

“Yeah, I don’t know what the f**k is wrong with me. You’re right, we’re going to have an amazing anniversary.” 

“I also have some various powders that have different hallucinogenic properties, including living the lives of different life forms for a little while. And remember, we still have pounds of what you call ‘super weed’ that we grew in the hydroponics lab on the ship.” 

“I forgot about super weed, that’s the only alien drug I’ve had so far.” 

“Yeah, you like that, but too chicken for the other stuff.” 

“Alright, you’ve sold me on it, we’re gonna party and have a great time!” 

“I promise, I won’t move while I’m high.” Gorgax tells Nyvar. 

“You guys are ridiculous.” Nyvar says. 

“Watch your mouth, Nyvar.” 

“Again, I’m your doctor before your daughter. Have fun, but like I told you before, if you end up hurting yourself and end up back here, you’re going in the tank.” 

“Ok, I get it.” 

“Sorry mom, but I’d be a terrible doctor if I ignored everything you guys are saying without any input. I’d be a terrible daughter too, I care about you and you’re reckless, I get worried.” 

“Aw, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize that.” 

“Sometimes I think you guys forget you have kids. Dad I’m not so worried about, he’s immortal, but you’re not.” 

“You’re right, I’m sorry.” 

“It’s alright, just be more careful, this was your closest call. After I fixed you up, I spent the next hour crying, because I almost lost my mom.” 

“Alright, I get it, come give me a hug.” Nyvar, tearing up, gives Gorgax a hug. 

“I love you, mom.” 

“I love you too, Nyvar.” 

“I love you too, dad, but you need to be more careful when it comes to letting mom think she’s you. I know you guys have fun on your missions, but she’s not you.” 

“I love you Nyvar, you’re right.” They hug. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some wonderful news to deliver to a horrible person.”