Another Story - 2

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.