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For as long as Guybrush can remember, he’s always wanted to be a space pirate.
Cruising through space, going wherever he wanted, doing whatever he wanted in his own personal shiny mech… rather than the current bucket of bolts he’s stuck with…
Okay… that was mean. It was the first mech he made, mixing and combining whatever parts and bits he could steal- err find. But after that crash landing, there was no way he could travel galaxies let alone get off-planet with the thing.
Which led him here to the biggest shiniest building in town.
The headquarters of MarleyTech.One of the most influential mech builders in the galaxy. Having a MarleyTech mech was practically a status symbol. So of course you wouldn’t see one in the hands of your average pirate.
But then again, Guybrush wasn’t going to be an average pirate, he was going to be a mighty pirate! And really, wouldn’t robbing MarleyTech and flying one of their mechs make an awesome start to his pirating career?
Breaking in wasn’t too hard, Guybrush had years of practice after all. An open window here, some quick sabotage of the cameras there and before long, Guybrush found himself in the hangar.
So many different mechs surrounded him, so many to choose from. He’d have to narrow it down some.
Maybe it would be better if he stuck with something built for speed? What’s the point of stealing a mech if it’s gonna be too slow and he gets caught by the authorities anyway? So he ignored the bulkier mechs and looked around at the sleeker models.
None of the colors really appealed but he supposed he could always just ask Herman for a paint job… even if that meant having to talk to Herman.
One caught his eye, there was something different about it compared to the other models.
Wait… Guybrush glanced around the hangar. While he couldn’t outright remember the names, he could recognize all the models whether it was seeing them flying through space, in the sky, or just being advertised.
But not this one.
So a brand new model? One that hasn’t even been revealed to the public yet?
Oh this was PERFECT!
With a grin, Guybrush made his way to a catwalk and rushed over to the unknown mech.
Stealing not only a new never before seen mech but a Marleytech one at that!? People would be talking about him for decades!
However before Guybrush could fiddle with the control panel, he heard one of the large doors to the hangar opening.
Without any hesitation, he found a spot with boxes to hide in, covered in tarp.
Peeking through, he could see several people walking in. Most of them looked like basic bodyguards but the two in the front.
One was a tall, intimidating man with a dark beard. His expression was so smug that Guybrush had to resist the urge to pop out and hit that expression off his face.
The other was a… honestly very very pretty redheaded woman in a purple business suit.
Wait… he’s seen her before… now where has he… oh… oh no no no no!
Isn’t it just Guybrush’s luck that MarleyTech’s current CEO comes into a company hangar at the same time that Guybrush is trying to rob her!?
He could hear their voices echoing throughout the hangar.
“I’ll have you know that it is only because of the Board of Directors that I’m allowing you in here, let alone having this meeting in the first place. I do not trust you, LeChuck.”
LeChuck (now where did Guybrush hear that name before) just let out a laugh that if it were from anyone else would sound jolly and boisterous. But from this guy? It sounded like the kind of laugh someone would make before they stabbed you or blasted you.
Guybrush carefully watched as the two approached the elevator to the catwalk he was on.
“Now Ms. Elaine, may I call you Elaine?
“No.”
“Ms. Elaine, it hurts to hear you treat such a valuable client such as myself so cruelly. What would your dear Grandfather think?”
Guybrush couldn’t see Ms. Marley’s expression but he could tell that this LeChuck guy obviously touched a nerve.
“...Let’s get this over with.”
Immediately, Guybrush pulled himself back inside the box he was hiding in but he could still hear the conversation, becoming clearer and clearer as they got closer to his hiding spot.
“This is our newest model, code name: The Narwhal. It is a little physically weaker than some of our heavier models but it makes up for it in speed and weaponry. Its most unique feature is that it requires two pilots to control it.”
“Interesting. Perhaps a demonstration should be in order… a hands-on one… if you catch my drift?”
Guybrush could hear steps on the catwalk, was someone walking backwar-
The box suddenly shook and Guybrush let out a squawk of surprise… oh no…
It didn’t take long before the tarp was quickly pulled off along with the lid of the box. Standing above him were Elaine Marley, her guest, and a bunch of bodyguards with guns.
“...Hi…” He squeaked out
It was only after seeing LeChuck’s face up close that Guybrush finally remembered where he had heard the man’s name before.
LeChuck, leader of the most famous (or infamous, depending on who ask) mercenary companies in the galaxy.
“Well, well look what we have here, it seems we found a wannabe pirate.”
Guybrush couldn’t help but notice the particularly nasty way he said “wannabe” but had to shove that thought aside for the sake of surviving.
“I can explain.”
“So can I. I see some hapless junker that somehow broke into the hangar of one of the most protected mech manufacturers and hid himself, waiting for the opportunity to steal the company’s newest model before it could even be revealed to the public. Sounds like a new recruit for the LeCrew.”
Guybrush swore he could see his life flash before his eyes. The “LeCrew” was known for taking criminals and “rehabilitating” them by letting them work for the company instead of serving jail time.
Though how successful that was was up for debate. A lot of people just saw it as LeChuck recruiting people who wouldn’t be missed as laser fodder. But hey, who would miss a bunch of criminals, right?
This was not how Guybrush’s story was gonna go, dammit!
“I can explain! You got it all wrong!”
“Oh really? Well, let’s hear your explanation.” LeChuck said in an arrogant smug tone
“The… um…”
Guybrush turned to look over at Ms. Marley and blurted out the first thing he could think
“Ms. Marley hired me!”
LeChuck laughed as if he just heard the greatest joke in the world, Guybrush could only nervously laugh in response.
“That’s right, I did!”
LeChuck and Guybrush stared at Ms. Marley in stunned silence.
“He’s one of our test-pilots for the Narwhal. He was supposed to stay in that box for another hour to test how he would handle small spaces and now we have to start over again because you opened the box.”
Wow, she spoke with such authority that for a moment, even Guybrush believed her.
“I think we need to reschedule this meeting, LeChuck .”
LeChuck looked like he wanted to argue but the tone in the CEO’s voice was clear that she made her decision.
“...Fine. But this conversation isn’t over, Ms. Elaine. I will see you another day.” LeChuck said, trying to sound friendly but failing
“Men, you may all escort Mr. LeChuck off the premises.”
“Are you sure you want us to leave you alone, Ms. Marley?”
“I’ll be fine, I just need to check on our test pilot.”
With that, all the bodyguards went over to LeChuck and the group walked back towards the elevator to take them down. But not before LeChuck shot a rather angry glare at Guybrush before leaving.
“Now that he’s gone… I’m Elaine Marley, CEO of MarleyTech but I’m sure you knew that. But who am I talking to?”
Now without the threat of a gun to his face, Guybrush had to admit before he thought that Ms. Marley was pretty but seeing her up close made him realize that she was beautiful. And he couldn’t help but find himself tongue tied.
“Uh…gee… well… gosh…”
“Relax. I’m not going to turn you in as long as you tell me the truth.”
Guybrush swallowed, “G-Guybrush Threepwood, Mighty Space Pirate!”
“A space pirate?”
WHY DID HE SAY THAT!?
But instead of, like maybe panicking or pulling a weapon on him or any other reasonable reactions to someone like her encountering a space pirate, Ms. Marley just smiled.
Wow, that smile!
“Well you’re certainly not the first to attempt to rob MarleyTech. Not many get as far as you did, Mr. Threepwood. Though I have to admit, you don’t really look like a pirate. Your face is too… sweet.”
“Hrdrl…!?” Guybrush nonsensically responded
Ms. Marley raised an eyebrow and turned around, ready to walk away but Guybrush grabbed her wrist.
“Bgglw! Mfrnkf! Wa-Wait!”
“Hey, you can talk! Since you can indeed form complete sentences, let me ask you something. Why did you choose to be a space pirate?”
Guybrush wasn’t sure what she was expecting so he gave an honest answer.
“Why wouldn’t anyone? I mean… okay they don’t exactly have the best reputation… and for a good reason with a lot of them… but just think of the freedom! Not having to follow every little rule and demand. Getting to be your real self and not just what everyone in charge demands you be! Go anywhere, be anyone! …Um am I… making any sense?”
Ms. Marley’s smile grew, there was a sense of excitement behind it… and maybe a little bit of mischief.
“Perfectly.”
With that, she slipped her wrist out of Guybrush’s hold and immediately tore off her fancy business jacket and started to roll up her sleeves and unbutton the top couple buttons on her blouse.
HUH!?
“M-Ms. Marley!?”
“Call me, Elaine! You have no idea how long I’ve been looking for an opportunity like this.”
Before Guybrush could ask further, Elaine rushed towards the console in front of the Narwhal and the two watched as the mech’s two cockpits were opened.
“Well, hop on in!”
“H-huh!? Wait, you actually want me to pilot this thing!?”
“Isn’t this what you came here for?”
“Well I would’ve gone with any mech honestly… but didn’t you tell LeChuck that it needed two pilots?
Elaine smirked as she climbed into one of the two cockpits and buckled into the seat.
“Yes, which is why I’m coming with you.”
“You’re what!?”
“Don’t worry, I actually worked as a pilot before I was forced to take over the company in my grandfather’s stead. I can take care of myself!”
“That wasn’t what I was worried about! I mean… even if it’s your idea… wouldn’t this… be kidnapping?”
“Well isn’t that what pirates do? Fly through space, steal valuable treasure, kidnap “damsels.””
“Well… I uh… technically I’m not really a pirate yet.” He responded, as if that was the biggest thing to worry about right now
“In that case, I’d say running off with MarleyTech’s newest model and its CEO would be an exciting start to that career wouldn’t it?”
Guybrush looked at Elaine’s face, searching for any sign that this was a joke or a trap even.
Elaine’s smile dropped and she looked at Guybrush pleadingly.
“Please… I want to go with you, Guybrush.”
And then he saw it. Something familiar in her green eyes.
That same feeling of being trapped as he spent his childhood in that junkyard of a town. That want of freedom that’s motivated him since he was a boy as he stowawayed from ship to ship…
Now that he thinks about it, she looked pretty damn miserable when she came in and as awful as LeChuck seemed, he doubted that was all that soured her mood.
Thus without any more hesitation, Guybrush leapt into the other cockpit and watched as the latches closed on both him and Elaine. It didn’t take long before he could hear Elaine’s eager voice speaking through a comm system.
“Let’s go, Guybrush!”
So this was it. This was the start of Guybrush Threepwood Mighty Space Pirate… heh yeah this was a pretty good start to his legend.
“Let’s go, Elaine!”