Voyage of the Sanguine Shadow 1: Shadow Galactic (29 page)

Visibly relieved, Filan rushed to Takeo and
vanished into his long coat.

The ranking officer faced Fogg and recoiled
somewhat.  “What are you supposed to be?”

“He’s my friend,” barked Takeo, and he stepped
forward.

Now regarding Takeo, the officer firmly stated,
“The
Axiom
is being put back on active duty.  We lost a lot of starships
recently, and we’re pulling everything out of mothballs until our Star Fleet
gets back on its feet.  Sorry, but whether you like it or not, she belongs to
the Union Navy!”

Takeo squared his jaw.  “She’s been
decommissioned.  It was a legitimate purchase!”

“It doesn’t matter,” the officer shot back.  “Even
decommissioned, we reserve the right to reclaim Union property.  You should be
glad that we’re willing to refund your money.”  His expression softened
somewhat.  “Look, son, I know you guys put a lot of work into her over the past
two weeks, and we’ll pay you a fair rate for that, but the decision is made! 
There’s no use fighting it.”

Takeo’s eyes darted between Filan and Fogg.  The
sides of his jaw bulged.  He exhaled audibly and at last returned his attention
to the ranking officer.  “Fine,” he conceded, and he shook his head.  “Take
her.  We won’t try to stop you.”

“Thank you, son.”  The officer patted Takeo’s
shoulder.  “Go and see the harbormaster.  He’s got your money.  It’s all in
cash credits.  Hope you don’t mind.”  With a sympathetic nod, he returned to
his men.

Downcast, Takeo, Filan and Fogg journeyed to the
harbormaster’s office, where they collected their refund.

The days that followed were long and frustrating. 
With the Union’s sudden demand for functional starships, the price of even used
vessels skyrocketed.

“We’re never getting off this rock,” grumbled
Takeo.  “It’s been four days, and we’re no closer to getting a decent starship.” 
He sat at an outdoor table with Filan and Fogg, staring absently at a brightly
lit Astroburger’s interior.  Miserably, he shoved one of his Moon Fries through
a slick of ketchup to collide flaccidly with the remnants of his Deluxe Meteor
Burger.

“I find this food to be highly enjoyable,” noted
Fogg.  “You no longer find it to be an enjoyable experience?”

Takeo shrugged.  “We’ve had Astroburger every
night this week.”

“It is inexpensive, while being highly savory and
rich in essential proteins and fatty oils.  I am having difficulty
understanding what more is needed to enjoy your meal.”

Filan squeezed Fogg’s hand.  “I don’t think he has
a problem with the food.”

Takeo puffed his cheeks.  “No, I’m just
discouraged.”

“Does that emotional state have the ability to
sour the taste of food?”

Takeo regarded him flatly.  “Yes, it does.”

Fogg furrowed his brow, his expression concerned. 
“I do not wish to feel discouraged while eating.  Perhaps you should endeavor
to avoid discouragement during mealtime, as well.”  He bit into his burger and
took a moment to enjoy its warmth and rich, salty flavors.

“I’ll see what I can do,” Takeo said with a quiet
chuckle.

Leaning against his arm, Filan asked, “Did we do
the right thing, leaving the
Shadow
?”

Fogg answered, “I am less certain than I was at
the time of parting.  The
Sanguine Shadow
and her crew will carry on
without us.  Now that the ellogon Lodoxol no longer threatens the safety of the
starship, and now that she benefits from some minor celebrity through
association with Gavin Santiago…”  He trailed off.  Perking up, he looked
skyward and scrutinized the stars.  “Did you hear that?”

“Hear what?” sighed Takeo, and he finished the
last of his blueberry cola.

Filan glanced in the same direction as Fogg was
looking and shook her head.  “I didn’t hear anything unusual.”

He shrugged.  “My apologies.  I thought I detected
a familiar thruster whine.”  With a cheerful expression, he took another bite
out of his burger.  “In conclusion to the matter of the
Sanguine Shadow
’s
ongoing success, it is my expectation that she will thrive.”

“But what about us?  Don’t you ever think about
going back?” Takeo asked.

Filan poked his shoulder.  “Don’t give up.  It’s
only been four days.”

Takeo leaned far into her and uttered a muffled, “I
never give up,” prompting her to giggle as she nearly lost her balance.  “I’m
so passionate that I can only focus on one thing at a time!”  He came up with a
smile, and Filan feigned anger, though it instantly dissolved into beaming
laughter.

“I will resume this discussion at another time,” Fogg
stated.

“Anyone else feel like taking up smoking?” asked
Takeo.  “We can afford it now.”  He tickled Filan’s neck at the shoulders and
wore a playfully menacing face.

“No!” she both howled and laughed, doing her best
to retaliate.

“A reduction in playfulness is advised,” Fogg said
with a brotherly smile, “as I believe you are scaring the normals.”  He took
another bite of his burger.

Takeo regarded him with open wonder.  “Fogg!  You
made a joke!”

“You are a perceptive man.”

Takeo hugged Filan close.  With quite a bit more
cheer, they talked as they finished their food.

Fogg gathered up their trays, stepping inside to
deposit the trash and use the restroom.  As he was washing his hands, he
suddenly froze.  “I am certain that I recognize
that
sound!”  The sink
shut off automatically as he raced through the dining area for the doors. 
Pushing them open, he said to Filan and Takeo, “I shall return directly!’

Around the corner he ran, slowing as the source of
the engine growl he had heard came into view.  At the far end of the
Astroburger’s parking lot, a black Hulkr Rhino—in perfect condition—idled, its
tires’ sidewalls aglow with blue light.  As if in response to his presence, the
driver revved it a few times, and Fogg smiled.  He turned back toward his
friends and said, “It is a truck very much like Gavin’s!”

Takeo cast him an exaggerated thumbs-up, and Filan
pulled down his arm.

Behind him, Fogg heard a familiar voice say,
“Catch.”  He spun about in time to get hit in the palm with a set of keys. 
Somehow, he managed to secure them before they struck the walk.  “Hey, Fogg.” 
She was dressed in a black leather jacket, denim jeans, biker boots and a
bikini-style halter top.  Her red-feathered tresses had been tied up loosely at
the base of her neck.

“Taryn Sikes?” he said.

She nodded, and her smile broke free of her forced
calm.

Valerie climbed out of the vehicle and stretched. 
Filan and Takeo rushed to greet them, and they exchanged joyful embraces.

“How did you find us?” asked Takeo.  “Not that I’m
complaining, of course.”

“It wasn’t too hard,” Valerie cheerily answered,
and she tapped the side of her head.  “Gavin knew where to start looking.”

“So did I,” Taryn added, and she raised a brow.

“Is Zerki here?” asked Filan.

Valerie nodded.  “Gavin, too.  They’re waiting for
us at the cargo shuttle, maybe a couple blocks from here.”  Wistfully, she gazed
toward the transport.  “As soon you’re ready, we’ll head over.”

With a delighted smile, Filan shouldered her
backpack and said, “We’re ready!”

They all climbed into the Rhino and drove away
from the Astroburger’s parking lot.

Up ahead, the curved dome of the
Sanguine
Shadow
’s cargo shuttlecraft came into view.  The starship occupied most of
an empty parking lot.  As they drew close, Gavin’s face lit up, and he hurried down
the cargo ramp to meet them.  Glowing, he waited for them to exit the massive
pickup, whereupon he embraced his friends, each in turn.  “Welcome back, guys!”

Zerki stepped into view, wiping her hands on a
grease-stained rag.  “Fogg, what do you think you’re doing?”  She gestured
toward the cargo ramp.  “I didn’t buy that so you could leave it here!”

“Is there room for it aboard the
Sanguine
Shadow
?” he asked.

Zerki nodded in response.  “Plenty.”

Gavin giddily smiled.  “Thank you, Captain!”

Fogg brightened and bowed politely.  “Gavin, I
think it would be best if you parked it.”

“Not a problem!”

Zerki crossed her arms and huffed as she regarded
Takeo.  “I’m sure you had good reasons for it at the time, but please never leave
my employ again, Mr. Sato.”

He laughed uneasily and nodded.  “I’ll do my very
best not to, Captain.”

“I’m holding you to that,” she teased.

“Be right back,” Gavin responded, and he returned
to his truck.  It roared to life, and he eased it around to the cargo
entrance.  Slowly it crept up the ramp, and he idled it into place.  When he
turned off the engine, the silence that followed was momentarily deafening.  After
everyone was aboard, he closed the cargo ramp and hurried for the bridge.

Zerki sat in her captain’s chair, and the leather
quietly creaked.  “Let’s get back.  I think the
Shadow
misses us.”  They
all settled in and fell to quiet chatter as the shuttlecraft lifted off and
raced for the stars.  Within moments, their hauler came into view.

Zerki corrected for approach.  

With the grace of a leviathan, the lengthy
starship drifted, buoyed by the void, coated entirely in a certain sort of
black.  Where light touched the outer hull directly, the otherwise inky paint
appeared to be the color of blood.  Cones of light brightly bathed her name.

Her main hangar bay’s massive teeth lit up along
their seam, and the doors pulled open, sliding away from each other along
curved tracks.  The shuttle set down, and shop lights recessed in the ceiling
brightly illuminated the interior as the hangar doors sealed shut.  The vast
chamber pressurized.

“Welcome home,” said Zerki.

They walked to the lift at the back of the parts
shop and ascended to the observation deck.  Stepping off, they were greeted by
cheers and applause.  Collins soon stood at Zerki’s side, and D’Arro chatted
awkwardly with Taryn, while Takeo, Filan, Cajun and Fogg stayed out in the
halls, talking and laughing.  Krane, Jenn and Buck manned the bridge, and Valerie
stole away to Gavin’s room.

She stepped inside as he was setting down his
things.  “Hi, Valerie,” he said with a happy smile.

“Hi, Gavin,” she said.  “I’m not interrupting
anything, am I?”

“Well, I
was
setting down my things,”
chuckled Gavin, and he stretched as he took in his cabin.  “It’s nice to be
back.”

She rested her arms upon his shoulders and locked
her fingers behind his neck.  “What about Afskya?”

“It’ll never be big enough.”

“Think you could spend the rest of your life out
here with me?”

He beamed.  “Ms. Sawyer, are you asking me to
marry you?”

“Not yet,” she teased, and they kissed.  Valerie leaned
away and held his longing gaze.  “But all kinds of crazy things can happen out
here.”

Gavin whispered, “That would be my happily ever
after.”

“Good,” she breathed.  “Gavin, do you love me?”

“I do,” he said, “with all my heart.”

She pressed her forehead against his, squeezing
him tightly.  “Good,” she smiled, and she pulled away to share a deep,
passionate kiss.  She dimmed the lights, and they made love.

A full night cycle passed, and Zerki called for her
command crew to join her on the bridge.  Soon, she stood alongside Krane,
Collins, D’Arro, Gavin, Valerie and her junior officers.  “Good morning,
everyone.  I hope you’re all feeling rested.  Gavin, we’ll be jumping to
Hygeia.”

Collins perked up.  “Why Hygeia?”

“We have four crates of exotic K’n-yal herbs that
are taking up space in the fridge, and a whole lot of people in dire need of a
little good medicine,” she explained.  “I’d hate to keep them waiting, even for
an extra day.”

Valerie smiled.  “Agreed, Captain.  That’s going
to piss off a few kwercian nobles.”

“As well it should.”

“I’d hate for things to get boring,” said Gavin,
and he settled into the jump rig.  “I love hero’s work.”

Zerki grinned.  “Here we go,” she said, and the
restored PLA swung into position.

The
Sanguine Shadow
vanished from New
Falkirk’s voidspace.

Erik P Harlow lives in
sunny Southern California with his wife, two children, and his dog, Max.  An
avid gamer since he was ten years old, he has a passion for character-driven
storytelling.  He wrote the quests and storyline for JIRBO’s Sovereign:
Kingdoms and still runs a weekly Saturday gaming group.

He’s on Facebook and
Instagram.