01 Yellowline

"One moment you're soarin' through the atmosphere and the next you crash land into a pile of trash,"  Dandy huffed, his arm resting on the side of his sporty red spacecraft.  A little yellow robot named QT was looking over the damage to the pompadoured man's ride.  He was told that it could be placed back within their large ship, but there was no way they would be able to leave the planet without a trained mechanic.

Dandy looked back over his ship, a look of aggravation on his face.  He kicked the side of it and shoved his hands into his pockets.  Turning his back on his robotic friend, Dandy had to think of a quick solution.  It was his fault the ship crashed down after his little joy ride, but he didn't want to have to deal with it.  That was going to be hell to carry back to the other ship...

"You go get it back in the Aloha 'Oe.  I'll go look out and see if I can find some guy ta fix the Little Aloha,"  Dandy didn't even look back at QT as he stormed away from his crash site.  QT sighed, calling up a tow truck company to help haul the Little Aloha back to the massive ship.

They weren't far from the Aloha 'Oe, Dandy's large yellow spaceship, but it looked like they needed some help.  While on the move, Dandy kept his head up, eyes scanning the new scenery for any sort of mechanic.  That or someone that looked like they knew a thing or two about fixing junk.

–-

The hospital bill had been pretty expensive after who knows what sort of procedures they had done on him and shoved tubes who knows where. He was discharged with his casts, one on his arm and one on his leg. He'd heal soon, he was very good at that. Was it practice? A sort of what didn't kill you made you stronger kind of thing?

He hobbled down the street and in his jacket and pants he had stuffed what money he could from that blasted suitcase. There was no way he would accept Frisbee's dirty money. Ok well he accepted some of it, but he didn't accept all of it. He could not accept all of it after that whole ordeal and come to think about it… it wasn't the first time, was it? He had always just thought it was his bad luck or an accident, but Frisbee's talk in that quiet hospital room...it had always been planned as a backup so he could never win. 

Never again. How could a person who had been his friend for nearly his entirely life have the balls to do that? They had gone through so much, done so many things! They had even stolen a pair of motorbikes when they were kids! He didn't need that kind of person in his life and he should have realized it when he was the person sent to prison instead of Frisbee. 

"Fuck you Frisbee, you were never a good lay any way! I just liked bumming the beers off of you," he said this out loud, mostly to tell himself he didn't care. Even though he really did. What he wanted more than anything was to get the mangled remains of his beloved car, even if he might never be able to fix it… he still wanted it. Frisbee had given him a number but shit, he didn't have a phone.

–-

Dandy was trudging down the street, looking like he was on a mission now.  He passed by different faces, not even giving them a second glance.  Even the muttering of the man that was about to pass him by didn't even get his attention.

His arm knocked into the man, making Dandy break his concentration.

"Hey, asshole! Why dontcha watch where you're goin'?!"  Dandy snapped, whipping his head around to see who he knocked into.  His eyes went wide in confusion as he looked over the guy. What in the hell was a guy like him doing on the street?  This guy looked like he had been in some sort of wreck based on the casts that covered his limbs.  He should have been in bed and not hobbling down the road.

"Yikes, didn't see ya there, baby!"  Dandy quickly apologized.  Or, at least his version of one.  "You're lookin' kinda rough there.  You need help, buddy?"

–-

He had been so upset and wading in his own thoughts that he had truly not been looking where he was going. He winced at the bump to his arm and muttered a curse under his breath. His eyes met the stranger's boots first and then he panned up to the man's face. By then, the stranger was already apologizing. 

"Yea...I woke up in the hospital and spent some time there. I don't even know where I am. I was told to go home and have some rest." 

James frowned a bit and readjusted his grip on his crutch. Hearing the nickname “baby” did make him get a little flustered. It was so dumb... but no one really called him that. It had caught him off guard. 

"I do need some help. You know any nice places to crash at? I got money to spend, so it isn't a big deal."

–-

Dandy nodded as the man spoke.  That story of just being told to "go home" sounded pretty rough to him.  It didn't look like this man had a ride.  Based on his get-up, this man probably wrecked it.  Leather jacket and pants? Totally a biker.

"Yeah I got a place you can crash at for a bit.  Not that I can really leave this place anytime soon..." Dandy rubbed the back of his head and looked over his shoulder.  "I have a ship a couple blocks that way you can stay on until you're back on your feet,"  he offered the man a little smile and held out his hand.

"Name's Space Dandy," he had a look of confidence as he introduced himself. "What do they call you 'round here?"

–-

Those words were like music to his pointed ears. He could crash at this dude's place? He's gotta have a whole fridge full of booze! 

"Oh, really? Hey, don't sweat it! I'll help you out any way I can," of course James didn't know why Dandy couldn't leave just yet. 

"Space Dandy? Is that what the announcers call you? They call me Sweet JP, but my name's actually James," he let go of his crutch to give Dandy a firm handshake. "Did you come here to watch the Yellowline race? Pretty intense wasn't it? Haha...especially there at the end. Whoo!" He laughed it off. "What a thrill."

–-

"Wait, was that race today?"  Dandy blinked as he let go of JP's grip.  "Son of a! I was plannin' on watchin' that!  That's the whole reason I came here!"  He pouted and kicked the dirt under his feet.  "I'll have ta watch some recaps later.  I know it’s gonna be all over the news..."  Then the talk of the ending had Dandy excited.

"Oh no way! You got ta watch the show?!  You're so lucky!  No spoilers, but did someone wreck?"  Clearly Dandy didn't keep track of the racer's names.  All that man wanted was to see those cars go fast.

–-

"T-today? No way!" JP laughed, "It's been two weeks. Were you coming from an outer ring planet or something? Planet Dorothy moves a whole lot faster on its orbit than you thought." 

Needless to say, he felt bad that Dandy had missed the whole thing. A recap in video or, better yet, in hologram would be his best bet. 

"Yep, I watched the show. Let's say I got a first row seat for that one," he gave his new acquaintance a sort of pained smile. "Someone did crash. I heard it was a pretty good one too," he shrugged. 

"I'll pay for you to stream it on your ship ‘n watch it. I want to see it as well, there's always little details to spot on rewatches," he was talking about his own car… and that… explosion. "Besides, when you're there in person, you can't really watch the whole thing you know? Only a section."

–-

First row seat.  Damn...

"God I wish that was me.  I woulda love to've seen it live,"  Dandy sighed, staying close to JP.  He kept an eye on him, leading the injured man down the street.  The mention of JP paying for them to watch it on the ship made Dandy grin.

"Oh, hell yeah! I'd love that!" His eyes lit up.  "I got a massive screen we can watch it on! It'll probably give you an even better look of the race, for sure!"  Then, Dandy remembered the reason he was even out and about in the first place.

"Hey, you look like you know a thing or two about cars! You look've got the look like a racer straight outta a magazine," he complimented.  "I was wonderin' if you could look at my ride on my ship.  I actually wrecked it a little bit ago and I was on my way to see if someone could help me see what's wrong with it," other than the rocks and trash smashed into its bumper.  "If you can help me out with my ride, I'll let you stay on the ship for as long as you need, baby~"  Dandy grinned, thumbing at his chest.

–-

"Trust me, it's going to be great," JP assured him. Though, he wondered just how big that screen truly was. It wasn't just a house after all it was a whole ship, right? Right.

"I sure do know about cars," he wanted to punch Dandy on the shoulder for the compliment. God he loved those, but he also hated them because he couldn't help but smile. "Who knows maybe I could be on the cover of a magazine some day," he weighed his options and he knew old man mole could fix whatever ailed Dandy's car. But he didn’t need to be told twice. The opportunity of having a safe place where he wouldn't get arrested again was just too good. "Wouldn't you know? I know just what to do to help you out. I need a phone to call someone up first.”

--

Dandy saw that little smile and mirrored it.  This guy was alright in his book.  He seemed pretty down-to-earth, so to speak.  JP really had style, from his hair to his jacket.  This guy really did look pretty damn good...

When JP mentioned having to call someone, Dandy reached into his pocket and pulled out a smartphone.

"Here, use mine," Dandy offered.  He swiped the screen, revealing a suggestive pinup of a woman.  No surprise there.  Once it was ready to dial, he handed it over to JP.  "You should be able ta get service, just keep an eye on the battery.  I always keep it kinda low."  Not on purpose, of course.

They turned a corner, so close to Dandy's ship.

--

"Oh, nice lady. She your girlfriend?" James grinned as he managed to catch a slight glimpse. He took the phone and dialed a number into it. It rang once, twice, and then a rough voice answered. JP set the phone to speaker, making it easier to just talk.

"Huh? Hello?" The voice said from the phone.

"Hey old man. You miss me?" This time his smile was one that beamed a lot more confidence. 

"Ah, JP. What do ya want?"

"I got a favor to ask. I got a ride I want to get looked at. It’s not my honey but still, I'd appreciate it if you could..." He trailed off on purpose, his soft tone of voice clearly practiced because he waited expectantly.

The voice behind the speaker grumbled, "Oh alright. I have something here for you to see." He mentioned a few coordinates, clearly simplified for remembering. "I'll meet you there starting tomorrow, kid. See ya then."

JP looked at Dandy with a grin as he hung up. "We can punch in the coordinates on your ship and we can sit back ‘n watch the race. What do you say?"

–-

Dandy listened to the call, staying quiet.  He did let out a little chuckle with how JP talked to the man on the phone.  Once the call ended, Dandy slid the phone back into his back pocket.

"Sure thing!  That sounds like a good time ta me,"  Dandy flashed a grin at JP as he placed his arm around their shoulders.  He gave him a little playful shake.

"We'll have a helluva time, baby! I got beer and snacks!  You really caught me at a good time.  We just stocked up!"  This man was so full of life and joy compared to when he started his hunt for a mechanic.  And it was all thanks to JP.

There was something about JP that made him smile.  The man was not only the one he was looking for, but he was turning out to be a really chill guy.

Before they knew it, the two passed a chain linked fence leading into a large parking lot.  A tow truck with Dandy's little red ship was waiting for him. QT and a feline alien waited for their friend.

"Well that didn't take long," the feline commented, his eyes focused on his phone. QT, however, was fully focused on Dandy and the new face.  He extended his hands, shaking the space cat's arm.

"Meow! Look at who Dandy brought!"  QT whispered.  Meow looked up, seeing Dandy with Sweet JP in his arms.  Meow's whiskers flickered.

"We got a new crew member for a bit, fellas! Meet Sweet JP!" Dandy beamed, gesturing at his new friend.  "He's gonna help us fix the Little Aloha!"