Author's Note: This is an "alternate universe" to the previous set of stories except the last entry. They may use most of the same characters, but their circumstances and events are different.
There was a chime at the door.
Commander Bailes looked up from his paperwork. Rough face but clean shaven, looked about in his fifties with gray hair combed back. Dressed in a navy military suit uniform, markings showing that he held power and authority to some degree. He sat in a spacious office, one wall of glass showing space and stars outside.
"Come in," he called, pressing a button on a console.
The door whooshed open, two figures entering. Bailes smiled, a silent chuckle on his lips.
"Raju and Novia. Glad to see your trip into Logios space hasn't resulted in an uprising." He leaned back in his chair a bit.
Raju was roughly twenty four, with an athletic build, brown skin, eyes and short black hair. He wore sand-colored jeans with a long-sleeved white t-shirt and black hiking boots. A flatscreen device was mounted on his left wrist, a belt on his waist with a few pouches.
Novia appeared to be sixteen, having a slender teenage body with striking golden pupils and long straight silver hair in two large pigtails that reached her lower torso. She wore a black top that exposed her midriff, a white miniskirt with matching jacket, gray boots and black leggings.
"Believe it or not, Commander, you're a sight for sore eyes." Novia about collapsed in a chair in front of Bailes' desk, slouching down a bit.
"I'm going through the reports now; I don't blame you....so Lawthorn was really working with this Quinton person that you keep describing? And that's why he went corrupt?"
Raju nodded, walking over to a coffee machine and pouring two cups of coffee into styrofoam cups, dumping creamer into both of them. "More or less. That's all I was able to to discern."
"Well, intel came up with about the same information. But they came up with a bit more..." He sighed and leaned forward. "I have both good and bad news."
Novia leaned forward a little bit in anticipation, taking one of the cups when it was handed to her. Raju took another seat next to her. "Is it good bad news or bad bad news?"
"Heh...you never cease to amaze me, Raju. Just like a kid..." Bailes shook his head. "Probably good bad news. Lawthorn...ditched part of his crew that might have caused trouble for him. Force them into an escape pod and jettison them onto a primitive planet type of way."
"And how's that news to us?"
"We found the pod two days ago. Most of the crew survived and are living with the local populace. One of the crewmembers....was Haley Grumman."
Novia about dropped her coffee, Raju nearly spilled his. "Haley? She survived?!"
Bailes nodded, a small smile on his face. "She's become a work girl at a ranch there. Wants to stay for some odd reason, was estatic that you were alive. I told her I'd send you over to get you. She made a strange request to give her a few days. I think she's working on something."
"Commander...which planet was Haley jettisoned onto?" Novia asked curiously.
"Let's see here....Valencia." He looked up. "I'm sure you-"
"Yeah, we know the place. Been there a couple times. Old West type of thing going on, there is a small advanced outpost run by an old hermit who more or less operates an H3 "gas station". "
Raju paused for a second. "I'm not completely sure, but Haley's mom is supposed to be from there."
Bailes raised an eyebrow. "Really? How'd you find that out?"
"She told Shinako. A long time ago." Novia finished her coffee.
Bailes sighed. "I see. Valencia...seems to be a trouble spot. I don't understand why so much ruckus is over some underdeveloped planet which people can't even go to space from the surface. And then this..."
He rubbed his head and looked away for the moment. "I know this is going to sound like an impossible task I'm going to give you, but I would like you to find Peter."
"Sir....he went into hiding since last summer. We haven't heard from him since, neither have you." Novia objected firmly.
"I know. I'm beginning to wonder if he's all right. But I've not been able to reach him in any way since Haley vanished...and we still can't reach him till now. It's been almost nine months since we've heard anything." Bailes got up and walked to the windows, staring at space outside. "But his wife being from Valencia...Lawthorn having to do something with his wife previously...something doesn't but does add up at the same time. He might have some answers for us."
"If anyplace that holds a clue, it'll be that old air base back on Earth where he taught you to fly, Raju. That's a good place to start. That is honestly the only lead I have for you."
"Sir...I hoped that I wouldn't have to go see that place again." Raju admitted.
"Well, you've got people with you that'll watch your back. And you have your own starship. I wouldn't say you're on the run for the moment. Just watch your step, though." Bailes folded his hands on the desk.
"I see...thanks for the info. I'll look into searching for Peter." Raju got up from his chair and started to walk to the door.
"Raju...one more piece of advice." Bailes raised a finger. "Things may not be as they seem. And honestly, unless something else shows up, you're about on your own on this one. I don't have anything else that I can offer you except for a place to fix your ship and unload stuff off if you need it. If you need help from your friends, ask."
Raju paused before exiting the door. "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the chat and the coffee." With that, he and Novia left the room.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
FF Entry - Dawnstar Run 1
Newark Starbase
Lagoon Nebula Cluster
January 28th, 2081
The marketplace sector of the starbase was pretty empty. Very. Though brightly lit in most places, it stood stark empty. The dull metal tiles reflected some of the ambient lighting from above.
A strange procession came out of a public elevator nearby. A Navigator walked out, followed by a Roman woman and her teenage son, further followed by what appeared to be a Japanese assassin of sorts. The assassin was controlling a cargo lift cart by remote control, which had a large steel refrigerated shipping container strapped on top.
"Hmm....205....206.....207. There we go." The Navigator woman announced, looking up at the now empty marketplace slot, somewhat dingy and very bare. She seemed to be about twenty-five years old in age, with long smooth goldenrod hair that reached her midriff, with a bit of bangs and a lock running down her chest on each side of her head. She wore a long slightly full slate blue gown that about arrived at her ankles, robe-like sleeves tied to balloon out a bit at the shoulders. A violet banner was draped over the gown, running down the front and back, hiearchial symbols on the front near the bottom.
"I appreciate the help you have given my son and I, Yorina." the Roman woman commented, her form clad in a gray chiton. Her brown hair was held back in a rough bun. She stared at the empty spot, a data pad clutched to her bosom. "I do not know how to thank you enough."
"You just getting back on your feet is thanks enough." Shinako came to a stop, the cart slightly lurching. She seemed twenty-one, with Oriental features and black hair with large bangs and a short bushy and somewhat spiky ponytail. With black leggings and sleeves, she wore a purple sleeveless kimono jacket, fingerless arm gloves and boot covers. A wide magenta sash was around her waist, tied into a large bow on the back and the trailing ends hanging down till her calves. A white sports bra showed a bit between the jacket, and a katana hung on her right shoulder, a wakizashi wedged sideways on her back and a tanto tucked into the front of her sash. Then to top it all off, a pistol was strapped to her right leg.
"You'll get the hang of things. Already got you an ID, an apartment on one of the residential decks, bank account and a commerce permit." Yorina shrugged in a carefree manner.
The assassin started to wheel the cart into the market space, moving it to the back of the wall. Once stopped, she tugged an extension cord, plugging the refrigerating unit into a wall outlet.
"Forgive me for asking again, but I am still apprehensive as to who my customers will be." Adreana carefully set her newly found belonging on the counter which served as a barrier between the interior and the outside traffic.
"Might not want to put that there. Place it underneath. Someone swipes that, you'll have someone posing as you running around on the starbase." Shinako warned.
Adreana took the warning with a nod and placed it underneath on one of the shelves. Yorina nodded in approval, looking to see where Adreana's son went.
"They'll be people like humans, but they'll be other kinds of beings. Some aliens buy human food sometimes. Unless they're threatening you with a weapon, you'll usually be all right. Newark has good security for its residents." Yorina's head craned down the direction opposite from where they came.
"Pfft. Unlike Dortis." Shinako fiddled with a panel on the wall, a few lights flickering on in the area, illuminating the area a little more.
There was the running of footsteps as Adreana's son came running up, in boot sandals and a ivory tunic, with wispy hair the same color as his mother. A terrified look was on his face, panting somewhat heavily.
"Mother, look! A monster, its Hades himself!"
Shinako glanced at where the boy had come from, getting a mixed feeling of understanding but amusement.
"Hector, I have told you, superstitious creatures do not exist. And that is not the..." Adreana looked up, a gasp escaping her lips as she pulled her child closer.
A large creature with a gorilla body shape and about as massive as a large cow was slowly ambling its way towards them. It had a reptilian head sort of like a tyrannosaurus, a tail of moderate length and beige colored skin with a tinge of yellow. It had four feet, the front pair with four somewhat thick digits and claws on the end. It's body was clad in black shiny metal plating, olive green fabric covering its legs. It's pupils were round but bright amber, a scar on the right side of its face.
"Well well, what do we have here?" The creature cocked its head to one side, speaking in a deep but controlled voice.
Adreana let out a short shreik as Yorina about threw her hands up in the air, trying to get the woman to calm down. Shinako had a grin on her face, folding her arms and walking towards the creature.
"Natus...scaring children, I see?"
"I don't like people poking around my salvage, even though most of it is scrap." Natus jerked his head back in the other direction. "But what's this? New residents?"
"Yeah. We got them off one of the underdeveloped worlds....her husband was killed and she was being pressured by unwanted elements. So we 'liberated' them so to speak." Shinako's fingers emphasized the point.
Adreana was surprised when she saw Shinako holding a conversation with the beast before her. She inched forwad, pushing Hector to her side.
"By the gods...are you....are you?" She couldn't quite seem to find the words she wanted.
"Gods? That's an oddly religious term. Immortal? A mystical beast? I don't think so. I'm pretty much an ordinary Arkadalakkian as I'll get, probably not so well off. Haven't gotten that before."
"At any rate, sorry for scaring you boy. Welcome to Newark. There's hardly anybody that lives here selling anything in the marketplace; just me, that gun dealer who's gone for the day and a human who runs a snack bar. What goods do you plan to sell?"
Adreana was speechless for a moment. "Well, um...um...why produce. Vegetables, fruits, things of that nature."
"Seriously?" Natus' voice raised a little. "Finally something decent to eat on this station that isn't paste or comes out of a frozen canister. Fresh food?!"
Hector nodded quickly as he left Adreana's side, poking into the container and pulling out an apple. He went over, handing it over gingerly, not saying a word.
Natus looked curious, taking the fruit with three digits of one of his front legs and examining it with one eye. He let out a half grunt of contemplation as he plopped it into his mouth. There was some crunching as he effortlessly chewed then swallowed, a small bit of juice running down his chin.
"That hit the spot...its been two months since it's been live food I had." He licked his chin. "You're good in my books. If you ever get bored or need something, don't hesitate to ask. Kiosks, storage containers, compressors, almost anything you can imagine I can get it somehow. I don't do fix-it jobs. I'm a bargain salvage, not a repair shop." He shook his head. "You have no idea how many idiots walk in here asking me to 'fix the laser cannon' or 'rewrite the nav computer'."
"Why thank you." Adreana's head bowed a little.
"Yeah...I'll be going now. See ya, Shinako." Natus turned around and ambled off.
"What's an Arkadalakkian doing selling junk here?" Yorina was studying the wiring and electronics behind the counter, attempting to help set up the store.
"Natus is one of the bright ones of his kind that has "found the niche" where there's a need. Newark's a human station and very new, but has few residents and services. He used to be a freighter pilot and still has a ship I think, but I think he charters other people to get and sell stuff for him."
Shinako glanced at her watch then at the counter. "Hopefully Raju and Novia come by with the kiosk and your order register soon. I think they were talking to the station commander. They know each othe apparently."
"Admit it, Shinako. We know most of the faces of Newark and the faces of Newark knows us." Yorina took up a seat on the counter, her feet swinging a little and body hunched forward a bit, her hands bracing on the countertop edge.
Adreana stared at her valued inventory of produce, excited, nervous and frightened of what lay ahead. She owed her life to that man, so young and full of adventure, accompanied by his unusual, strong and brave female companions. Them working altogether was truly a sight to behold and marvel. And their kindness and generosity was something that she had only experienced at the hands of just nobles. She said a silent prayer of thanks, and for the first time since she left her old home, listened to the sounds around her...
Lagoon Nebula Cluster
January 28th, 2081
The marketplace sector of the starbase was pretty empty. Very. Though brightly lit in most places, it stood stark empty. The dull metal tiles reflected some of the ambient lighting from above.
A strange procession came out of a public elevator nearby. A Navigator walked out, followed by a Roman woman and her teenage son, further followed by what appeared to be a Japanese assassin of sorts. The assassin was controlling a cargo lift cart by remote control, which had a large steel refrigerated shipping container strapped on top.
"Hmm....205....206.....207. There we go." The Navigator woman announced, looking up at the now empty marketplace slot, somewhat dingy and very bare. She seemed to be about twenty-five years old in age, with long smooth goldenrod hair that reached her midriff, with a bit of bangs and a lock running down her chest on each side of her head. She wore a long slightly full slate blue gown that about arrived at her ankles, robe-like sleeves tied to balloon out a bit at the shoulders. A violet banner was draped over the gown, running down the front and back, hiearchial symbols on the front near the bottom.
"I appreciate the help you have given my son and I, Yorina." the Roman woman commented, her form clad in a gray chiton. Her brown hair was held back in a rough bun. She stared at the empty spot, a data pad clutched to her bosom. "I do not know how to thank you enough."
"You just getting back on your feet is thanks enough." Shinako came to a stop, the cart slightly lurching. She seemed twenty-one, with Oriental features and black hair with large bangs and a short bushy and somewhat spiky ponytail. With black leggings and sleeves, she wore a purple sleeveless kimono jacket, fingerless arm gloves and boot covers. A wide magenta sash was around her waist, tied into a large bow on the back and the trailing ends hanging down till her calves. A white sports bra showed a bit between the jacket, and a katana hung on her right shoulder, a wakizashi wedged sideways on her back and a tanto tucked into the front of her sash. Then to top it all off, a pistol was strapped to her right leg.
"You'll get the hang of things. Already got you an ID, an apartment on one of the residential decks, bank account and a commerce permit." Yorina shrugged in a carefree manner.
The assassin started to wheel the cart into the market space, moving it to the back of the wall. Once stopped, she tugged an extension cord, plugging the refrigerating unit into a wall outlet.
"Forgive me for asking again, but I am still apprehensive as to who my customers will be." Adreana carefully set her newly found belonging on the counter which served as a barrier between the interior and the outside traffic.
"Might not want to put that there. Place it underneath. Someone swipes that, you'll have someone posing as you running around on the starbase." Shinako warned.
Adreana took the warning with a nod and placed it underneath on one of the shelves. Yorina nodded in approval, looking to see where Adreana's son went.
"They'll be people like humans, but they'll be other kinds of beings. Some aliens buy human food sometimes. Unless they're threatening you with a weapon, you'll usually be all right. Newark has good security for its residents." Yorina's head craned down the direction opposite from where they came.
"Pfft. Unlike Dortis." Shinako fiddled with a panel on the wall, a few lights flickering on in the area, illuminating the area a little more.
There was the running of footsteps as Adreana's son came running up, in boot sandals and a ivory tunic, with wispy hair the same color as his mother. A terrified look was on his face, panting somewhat heavily.
"Mother, look! A monster, its Hades himself!"
Shinako glanced at where the boy had come from, getting a mixed feeling of understanding but amusement.
"Hector, I have told you, superstitious creatures do not exist. And that is not the..." Adreana looked up, a gasp escaping her lips as she pulled her child closer.
A large creature with a gorilla body shape and about as massive as a large cow was slowly ambling its way towards them. It had a reptilian head sort of like a tyrannosaurus, a tail of moderate length and beige colored skin with a tinge of yellow. It had four feet, the front pair with four somewhat thick digits and claws on the end. It's body was clad in black shiny metal plating, olive green fabric covering its legs. It's pupils were round but bright amber, a scar on the right side of its face.
"Well well, what do we have here?" The creature cocked its head to one side, speaking in a deep but controlled voice.
Adreana let out a short shreik as Yorina about threw her hands up in the air, trying to get the woman to calm down. Shinako had a grin on her face, folding her arms and walking towards the creature.
"Natus...scaring children, I see?"
"I don't like people poking around my salvage, even though most of it is scrap." Natus jerked his head back in the other direction. "But what's this? New residents?"
"Yeah. We got them off one of the underdeveloped worlds....her husband was killed and she was being pressured by unwanted elements. So we 'liberated' them so to speak." Shinako's fingers emphasized the point.
Adreana was surprised when she saw Shinako holding a conversation with the beast before her. She inched forwad, pushing Hector to her side.
"By the gods...are you....are you?" She couldn't quite seem to find the words she wanted.
"Gods? That's an oddly religious term. Immortal? A mystical beast? I don't think so. I'm pretty much an ordinary Arkadalakkian as I'll get, probably not so well off. Haven't gotten that before."
"At any rate, sorry for scaring you boy. Welcome to Newark. There's hardly anybody that lives here selling anything in the marketplace; just me, that gun dealer who's gone for the day and a human who runs a snack bar. What goods do you plan to sell?"
Adreana was speechless for a moment. "Well, um...um...why produce. Vegetables, fruits, things of that nature."
"Seriously?" Natus' voice raised a little. "Finally something decent to eat on this station that isn't paste or comes out of a frozen canister. Fresh food?!"
Hector nodded quickly as he left Adreana's side, poking into the container and pulling out an apple. He went over, handing it over gingerly, not saying a word.
Natus looked curious, taking the fruit with three digits of one of his front legs and examining it with one eye. He let out a half grunt of contemplation as he plopped it into his mouth. There was some crunching as he effortlessly chewed then swallowed, a small bit of juice running down his chin.
"That hit the spot...its been two months since it's been live food I had." He licked his chin. "You're good in my books. If you ever get bored or need something, don't hesitate to ask. Kiosks, storage containers, compressors, almost anything you can imagine I can get it somehow. I don't do fix-it jobs. I'm a bargain salvage, not a repair shop." He shook his head. "You have no idea how many idiots walk in here asking me to 'fix the laser cannon' or 'rewrite the nav computer'."
"Why thank you." Adreana's head bowed a little.
"Yeah...I'll be going now. See ya, Shinako." Natus turned around and ambled off.
"What's an Arkadalakkian doing selling junk here?" Yorina was studying the wiring and electronics behind the counter, attempting to help set up the store.
"Natus is one of the bright ones of his kind that has "found the niche" where there's a need. Newark's a human station and very new, but has few residents and services. He used to be a freighter pilot and still has a ship I think, but I think he charters other people to get and sell stuff for him."
Shinako glanced at her watch then at the counter. "Hopefully Raju and Novia come by with the kiosk and your order register soon. I think they were talking to the station commander. They know each othe apparently."
"Admit it, Shinako. We know most of the faces of Newark and the faces of Newark knows us." Yorina took up a seat on the counter, her feet swinging a little and body hunched forward a bit, her hands bracing on the countertop edge.
Adreana stared at her valued inventory of produce, excited, nervous and frightened of what lay ahead. She owed her life to that man, so young and full of adventure, accompanied by his unusual, strong and brave female companions. Them working altogether was truly a sight to behold and marvel. And their kindness and generosity was something that she had only experienced at the hands of just nobles. She said a silent prayer of thanks, and for the first time since she left her old home, listened to the sounds around her...
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