Dan Flores
Chapter Two
Chapter Two
[draft]
The presence of the Queen Mother has certainly placed a spotlight on the Kailyuan System and it is a positive one. People from star systems across the universe have made hyperspace travels to visit the once feared empire to fill its open courtyard. After all, it is extraordinary enough to live during the reign of the Sovereign Queen Mother but seeing her in person is a treat coveted by all beings of all races. Clouds of starships of all types of classes and grades gather at the borders of the Kailyuan system. All of them are asking for clearance to enter the empire to sightsee, shop, and attempt make their way to the royal courtyards with the hope of spying the beloved Queen. A medium-sized research vessel approaches one swarm of ships.
“Please slow your vessel and prepare to stop,” hums the placid voice through the cockpit speakers. The ship’s captain, a stout bronzed biped whose appearance is like that of a dozen or so angry barrels that have been carelessly stacked upon each other, nods his well groomed head in agreement. The disembodied voice doesn’t acknowledge Captain Qeg’s nonverbal gesture. Not even Lt. Somtam, the six and half foot female sitting in the pilot’s seat, saw the captain’s order. She has worked with Captain Qeg long enough to know what he’s thinking. The two grew up together on the Furnier after all, along with many of the ship’s crew. Nepotism plays a large role on the ship. Jobs are often inherited from parents as trades are passed on to the offspring. Captain Qeg inherited the Furnier from his father, who inherited it from his father. The same goes for Lt. Somtam and her position. Some folks may not like growing up knowing that they’ll be stuck with the same job as their parents, but those on the bridge don’t complain much. Lt. Somtam slows the ship to a standstill and allows it to idle.
The viewport of the Furnier nearly spans the entire length of the bow. “Aw, fer cryin’ out… Would you look at this?” Captain Qeg grumbles to everyone and nobody in particular at the same time. “I’m already regretting this stop. Why are there so many people? The queen ain’t going anywhere.” His voice has all the warmth of chain-smoking middle-aged man who chases his whiskey with raw eggs. “All I wanted was to reward my hardworking crew with a nice visit to the zenith of technology but apparently everyone else in the galaxy had the same idea. Sorry everyone. This should be a picturesque view of an extremely rare ring system but we can’t even see it with all these other folks and their ships. It looks like some giant beast sneezed all over the front of our ship.” He ends his complaint by tossing his stubby hands in front of himself.
“You’re overreacting, Captain. The view is still quite spectacular.” Lt. Somtam’s voice is velvety and dark, nearly as dark as she is. Her skin is like that of the darkest plums, a purple so rich and so deep that the color seems to fade to black, save for the glittering specs that uniquely adorn her body. She is of a race whose appearance is decided by the skies above them. Upon birth, the newborn is held up to the sky and the stars above are imprinted upon their very skin, be it day or night. Those born during the day will have blonde hair while those born at night have silvery-white hair. Lt. Somtam’s birth was an uncommon one as she is one of a few who was born during a new moon and thus has no hair. “This may only be me,” she says in her smoky voice, “but I rather like the view. It has a beautiful balance of nature and technology. I particularly find the various sizes of the ships and their disorganized spacing to serve as appropriate commentary on sentient life’s mark on our universe by trying to make our way into nature by our own means instead of progressing as nature would intend for us to do so.”
Captain Qeg closes his eyes and lets out a short sigh. “Lunalaei, why must you always disagree with me, huh? And on the bridge of all places. Why can’t you just once support me? I say ‘Look at all these people,’ why can’t you just agree and say something like ‘Yeah, look these no-good, rotten so-and-sos. How dare they!’ Just once, I’d appreciate it if you’d support your captain instead of challenging him every chance you get.” He runs his mighty sausage fingers over his short, clean hair and down the back of his neck.
Lt. Somtam, who is the Furnier’s voice of reason, calmly responds as she always does. “I’m not disagreeing with you, Captain, and it is definitely not my intention to come off as defying your authority. I’m simply offering an alternative outlook on the situation to ease your troubled mind. Why don’t you have a seat in my chair and take a rest.”
The captain chuckles heartily. “And I suppose you’d be gracious enough to shoulder this weight and offer to fill in as captain while I rest my weary head?”
“The thought is very intimidating but, for the good of the ship and its crew, I am willing to sacrifice my peace of mind and offer my sincerest attempt at maintaining the Furnier during your break.” Lt. Somtam gestures become melodramatic as their banter continues.
“What about Chief Officer Boonis?” asks the captain, motioning to tall fit man with a stern look, pointed ears, and coarse hair that frames his entire face. “His job title states that he assumes the position of commanding officer in my absence. It would be a breach in the chain of command to overlook him and leave you in charge.”
“But you wouldn’t be absent. You’d be sitting in the pilot’s seat so Chief Officer Boonis can continue doing his job and I can take the figurative reins under your supervision. Everybody wins.” Lt. Somtam grins slyly. The virtually idiot-proof control console is tiled with a multitude of glitzy colored lights that twinkle in the pilot’s solid onyx eyes like galaxies captured in globes.
Captain Qeg glances over at Chief Officer Boonis who simply shrugs. “I’m okay with this arrangement. Guys?” A unanimous clamor of agreement rumbles through back half of the bridge which is filled with nearly two thirds of the Furnier’s colorful crew of numerous races of all ages.
“So this is the thanks I get for dragging you all on this mandatory vacation.” Qeg spreads his arms open and faces his audience of planets and ships, all of which are completely unaware of the playful mock mutiny occurring in the heart of the Furnier. A hologram of the Kailyuan royal coat of arms flashes onto the lower part of the viewport. A trilling chime accompanies the image, prompting the crew that they are being hailed. “Alright, slackers, time to go back to pretending we’re professionals. Lt. Somtam, put ‘em through.”
The lieutenant obeys the command without verbally or physically acknowledging the captain’s orders, as she does. She sits up straight and speaks in a soothing but authoritative voice, “This is research vessel Furnier requesting permission to enter the Kailyuan System.”
The coat of arms vanishes in a blink and is replaced by a sharp Kailyuan border control officer in a crisp uniform. His lips part but the words are lost. He arches his left eyebrow as he sees the ocean of faces looking back at him. He immediately regains his rigid composure and gently clears his throat. “Please state the nature of your business.”
Captain Qeg takes a step forward and puffs out his massive chest. “Captain Qeg, sir. We come looking to restock some provisions for our travels and to refill our reserve energy cells. We’re also greatly interested in doing some sightseeing and a bit of shopping. We understand that there is no finer tech in the universe than Kailyuan tech and we got some gearheads and tech nuts who are chomping at the bit to have a looksie at your superior wares.”
The sleek man in the uniform makes an unseen note on the device in front of him. “Yes, well that all sounds standard. A few questions if you’d indulge me Captain.” The Kailyuan does not wait for the captain’s response as he wasn’t actually expecting an answer other than some form of agreement. “Ahem. Firstly, your…” He looks up from his screen and glances at Lt. Somtam. “Pilot, yes?” Again, he doesn’t wait for a reply but looks back down at his screen. “She has announced your ship as the ‘research vessel Furnier’. Your ship is quite large for research work. Is there any particular reason for this or is it to accommodate all of the persons behind you?”
“No sir, everything’s on the up-and-up. As you can see, we’re a fairly large crew, several generations, in fact. Yes sir, we like to keep it in the family ‘round here. We are 138. This lot that you see here is roughly two score. The rest are taking inventory and tooling around in the guts of the ship. We know each other. We trust each other. We work together like clockwork and we start ‘em apprenticin’ young so everyone knows their place and their job through and through.” Captain Qeg looks side to side, leans in a half step closer and places his open-palmed hand near his mouth as if he’s about to tell a secret. “Between you and me, it works wonders on the ledger, if you know what I mean.” He doesn’t actually whisper this but says it just loud enough so that he’s only speaking just a tad lower than his normal boisterous volume.
The Kailyuan official feigns a subtle smile. “I shall pass that on to the treasury department,” he says dryly. Captain Qeg and his first mate exchange glances in amusement at the officer’s half-hearted attempt at a joke. “Next question, you said that you are here for recreational purposes but you are a research vessel.”
“That’s right. Three generations of data skimmers in this craft.” Captain Qeg always beams with pride whenever he says this.
The officer, however, does not seem to share the captain’s enthusiasm. “The only ‘data skimmers’, Captain, that they Kailyuan Empire recognizes are the official machines used by Kailyuan scientists for data retrieval. True, authentic data skimmers, ‘superior wares’, as you put it, are skillfully crafted in the heart of the most prestigious Kailyuan development facilities. What you mean to say is that you are pirates, correct?”
The crew senses the sudden tension but it’s Chief Officer Boonis who coughs softly to signal to Captain Qeg to remain calm and allow the slight to pass. The loquacious captain takes the hint and attempts to look sincere. “We are freelance researchers by trade, sir. I’d like to add that much of our work comes by means of commissions and contracts by folks who prefer to have someone else do the heavy lifting. So the bulk of our work is quite honest, but there are those who do refer to us by that label. Might I ask what the pertinence of this question is?”
The Kailyuan continues with his information quest. “The Kailyuan Empire simply wishes to understand the conditions of your stay. If you are here simply for recreational purposes, then there is no problem. If you are here for research, we have certain rules you must adhere to. For example, anything found or discovered, in the rare case that such an event should happen, you are bound by Kailyuan law to report said finding. You would also not be allowed to keep anything that you should find, regardless of its value or importance. Anything found within the Kailyuan System, or any kingdoms under its reign, is sole property of the Kailyuan Empire. Recordings regarding said findings are also to be reported to the proper Kailyuan authorities for investigation. Once everything has been properly examined, the heads of those respective departments will note your contributions to the discovery in any form of literature regarding the discovery.”
Captain Qeg spots an opportunity to interject and politely cuts the officer off as he is pauses for a breath. “Whoa, that’s quite alright, officer. We’re simply here for a long overdue vacation and to stock up on some of your fine gear. That’s all. No business, all pleasure. You have my word as a captain. No research.”
The Kailyuan officer rests his shoulders slightly, showing his relief in the captain’s reply. “Very good. We’re nearly finished. I see that your crew is very diverse. Tell me, is there anyone in your crew who is of Vanischi descent or of any people under Vanischi rule?”
“No, sir. No Vanischi personnel on this ship or in my crew by any extension.”
“Are there any among your crew who is or has ever been a citizen or resident of the Vanischi or any planet under the Vanischi rule?” Captain Qeg simply shakes his head. “Are any members of your crew sympathizers of the Vanischi or do they have any ties to any persons who identify, whether publicly or privately, as Vanischi sympathizers?”
The captain’s response was simply, “No.”
“Have you or any of your crew members been to the Vanischi System within the past three years according to the Kailyuan solar cycles? I’ll give you time to convert time units if necessary.”
“That won’t be necessary. I was born on this ship along with the great majority of its inhabitants and in my forty-two years aboard this vessel, I can assure you that this here ship has not been anywhere near the Vanischi System.”
“And is it safe to assume that I also have your word as a captain that all information exchanged is, to the best of your knowledge, correct?”
“To the best of my knowledge, yes, that is correct.”
“Then you’re all set.” The straight-laced border control officer suddenly perks up and smiles. His cold and accusatory voice seems to have been switched to a new setting by some unseen puppeteer. “There is a visitor’s pack available for download with detailed information regarding all the tourist attractions, shopping areas, points of interest, emergency contact numbers as well as locations for all police stations, hospitals and embassies.” His limbs, once stiff as though oxidized to near immobility, have sprung to life as he motions with open palms in impeccable precision to the appropriate locations in the virtual “Heads Up Display” that has materialized around the edges of his projected window. “The pack also contains itineraries for all events in the system, including all times when the Sovereign Queen Mother herself will make appearances at the royal palace courtyard. The courtyard is massive but there are many visitors in the system so please allow yourselves plenty of time if you plan on attending any of the Queen’s appearances. You can find the visitor’s pack in your HUD. Just look in your notifications tab. Your visitor’s pack also comes with a complimentary augmented reality download which provides any of your compatible devices with a number of exciting features, such as a virtual tour guide and x-ray mode which allows you to see the entire layout of your surroundings within 500 meters in real-time from your current point of view. There is also an invaluable coupon book to assist in making the most out of your visit. We hope that your stay is a pleasant one. Please fly safe and thank you for visiting the Kailyuan System.” His thin purple lips practically disappear as his smile stretches from one side of his pale grayish freckled face to the other. He snaps a perfectly executed Kailyuan salute, signaling the Kailyuan coat of arms to flash on the projector once more and with that, he is gone.
The Furnier is quiet for long moment. Lt. Somtam finally breaks the silence. “That was kind of weird, right?”
“That was downright unsettling, that’s what that was.” Captain Qeg and crew stand in silent bewilderment at the mercy of the thriving spacescape in the gaping maw of the Furnier’s mighty viewport, now visible without the previously threatening then inviting feed that had obstructed their view a moment ago. “Alright lieutenant, take us in. Slowly. I think it’d be best if we make as few ripples as possible ‘round here. I don’t need to relive that bizarre episode back there.”
“On that we are both in agreement.” Lt. Somtam smiled to herself, eyes locked on everything in front of her. Her long slender fingers delicately punch buttons, toggle switches and pull levers. She knows the entire layout of the sprawling console by heart. She can read everything by touch. She doesn’t even have to look at the myriad of color coded buttons in their linear patterns to be certain of what she’s touching. She is in complete sync with the console, much as she is with Captain Qeg.
If it weren’t for her need of sleep, the ship wouldn’t even need the superfluous co-pilot, not that she would even entertain such an arrogant notion. Lunalaei is actually quite fond of her co-pilot in many ways. Aesthetically, the two couldn’t look any more different. Kairee’s skin is a powdery pink hue sprinkled with dainty white freckles, her lilac hair with the off center metallic-pink streak always pulled back smartly into a neat bun. Lunalaei likes to remind her that she looks like a cupcake in a flight suit. Kairee is still quite young, though twenty-year-old pilots are not exactly a rarity, but they are also not all that common. Pilots so young are mostly found on ships with crews who contain multiple generations of specialized people. Some aging professionals may feel threatened by the presence of someone so young apprenticing under them, but not Lunalaei. She genuinely enjoys teaching Kairee and that sentiment is reciprocated by Kairee’s unquenchable desire to learn and improve her skills. The eighteen year age gap is one of the more peculiar particularities that draws Lunalaei to her protégé as the co-pilot falls into a category somewhere between a younger sister and a daughter, both of which are pleasant people unknown to the lieutenant. “Idea,” the pilot announces, “why don’t we let the rookie take us in?”
Captain Qeg’s shoulders rise and fall like a stone wall on a fault line. “Why not? With all this mutiny and goings on, let’s all just slide on over into the seat to our right and do the other person’s job.” He looks over at Kairee who doing her best to keep from squirming in her seat. “How ‘bout it, Baby Bird. D’ya think you can do Mommy and Daddy proud and set us down in one piece? Because if high speed dirt is what I have to look forward to, I’ll just hurl this boat at the landing pad myself.”
Kairee grins at Lunalaei who gives her a confident wink. The young lady sits up straight behind the control console. “Not only will I put this baby to bed,” she assures Qeg, “I’ll read it a story and kiss it on the head.”
“I like the confidence and the rhyming is okay, but we need to work on the lingo. Lieutenant, what are you teaching her?”
“To not crash the ship and kill us all.”
“Priorities, Luna! First we sound cool, then keep the crew alive, otherwise who’s going to follow her lead if she sounds like that? No offence, Kairee.”
Kairee’s emerald eyes flashed wildly. “Captain, by the time we touch ground, you’ll consider upgrading Lt. Somtam for a new model.” She stands tall with a small flourish of her hands displaying herself.
The captain proudly claps his hands. “That’s more like it! Cocky, haughty, and you even took a jab at your mentor’s age. Nicely done. Take us down.”
The young co-pilot’s smirk vanished and the fire in her eyes was extinguished. Her bottom dropped into her seat so hard that she nearly bit her tongue. “Lt. Somtam,” she pleaded, “you know that I didn’t intend to call you old. I wouldn’t ever do that.”
“Relax, Kairee.” Lunalaei’s voice was far too tranquil for Kairee to relax. “You see, I had planned on having you accompany me as I register the ship and fill out the mind-numbing forms that go along with the registry, not to mention taking the stiffs on an inspection tour of the Furnier. You know, all of the boring stuff that I always do while everyone else rushes out to have a grand time.” Lunalaei pauses to savor the moment because she knows that Kairee knows exactly where this conversation is going. “But today is special day indeed because I have come to the realization that you are ready for more responsibility. I am confident that you are ready to carry out these super important, ultra boring pilot’s tasks on your own. I, on the other hand, will be the first person to step out onto the landing pad and make my way over the best spa that this system has to offer. Isn’t that wonderful?”
“Yes, ma’am.” All of the joy has left her face and has been replaced with embarrassment and regret. That’s what I get, she thinks to herself, for trying to play along.
“Chin up, girl,” Lt. Somtam’s soothing voice comforts young Kairee. “I would never leave you to all of that on your own. It’s against Captain’s policies. There must always be a minimum of two people for accountability and to watch each other’s backs. That’s why you’ll be working with Captain Qeg on this one.”
Panic rushes over Kairee as she imagines the sinewy wall no longer in his captain’s chair but staring over her shoulder, double checking her work as she takes care of his ship. Why did she go and say all of that talk of impressing him? Kairee hadn’t even noticed that he was now standing directly behind her.
“My expectations are quite high, Kairee,” the captain whispers ominously. She nearly jumps out of her flight suit, though she hides her surprise well. “I trust that I will not be disappointed.”
Kairee quickly composes herself, swallows hard and puts on a brave face before she spins around to look the captain in the his dark eyes. “I deliver on my word, Captain. You will not be disappointed.” Lunalaei smiles at the back of her purple hair.
“Good. Now take us in real nice like and remember that it’s not enough to not crash into the planet, please mind all of these clowns in the sky as well.” He points to the countless vessels in orbit.
“Aye, aye, Captain!” Kairee winces to herself, wondering if she would catch any flack for that response.
Captain Qeg’s laugh bellows and thickens the air on the bridge. “Ah, I could get used to that.” He lets his boots fall heavily as he saunters over to his plush chair. He collapses in it and sinks in deep with a content smile.
The Furnier slowly descends towards the nearest planet to the left of the Kailyuan home world. Kairee cautiously weaves around the flocks of spaceships, taking special care to not get too close to any. She had already earned the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and it was her aspiration to earn the respectful title of “Lieutenant” rather than simply being referred to as “Kairee” or “The Rookie” by Lt. Somtam and Captain Qeg, regardless of how obviously fond they both were of her.
The throng of crew members have begun to disperse, making their way to their quarters where they can safely strap themselves into their individual seats before the Furnier can make atmo’. Gravity dampeners are a wonderful thing, but they won’t do a lick of good should some misfortune befall them and a hole is punched into the hull. Dampeners can’t keep a body in the ship if that body isn’t tautly tethered to the craft. After all, the captain likes to talk big and put on a strong front, but he loves his crew more than life itself and maintains a strict safety-first policy on board. Of those on the bridge, Chief Officer Boonis was one of the last to move. He stood in expectation. Something isn’t quite right. He felt it in his bones, in his blood and through to the ends of his thick, bristly sideburns. He stood a moment longer, waiting for the other shoe to drop until the ship was only moments away from the planet’s atmosphere. His foot twitched to start for his chair when it happened. The other shoe. He sensed a hesitant shuffle in the air behind him. He already knows what’s going to happen. He closes his eyes in preparation for whatever was about to come. “Go strap yourselves in. We’re about to make atmo’.”
A young man steps out from behind the first mate and squares off to face him. The man looks a great deal like Chief Officer Boonis except that he appears to be in his mid-twenties and his hair is shaggy. He is dressed in rugged leather and dull brass buckles. A somewhat bulky device covers his right eye and divides his unkempt hair across to the left side of his head as well as his right temple and under his right ear. His eye piece is standard tech for researchers as it can be used in place of a handheld device for studying a great many forms of information. Most researchers only wear theirs while they are conducting research. Dofey Boonis wore his every waking moment of everyday for two reasons: it allows him to inspect everything all of the time and he has personally modified it to suit any and every need in his everyday life. He’s quite proud of it. “I just wanted to know which locations we are going to visit on this trip. A detailed itinerary hasn’t been issued, which is a bit unusual for Captain Qeg.”
“That’s because I’m a wildcard, kid! You can’t know what I’m going to do next.”
The young man sighs. “You’re going to tell me to shut up, sit down and strap in.”
“Dofey, shut up! And go sit down and strap yourself in. That goes for all three of yous. The last thing I need on this vacation is your folks sulking on account of y’all not following procedure and you got shot outta the ship like a dang clay pigeon!” Iss and Jaynecia poke their heads out from behind Chief Officer Boonis and smile; the latter has an appearance similar to a feline lycanthrope, the other like a great dinner plate with a face. “We’re fixin’ to make atmo’. Git!” The captain jabs a stubby through the air and points at some extra seats along the back of the bridge.
“I’m only asking,” Dofey begins as he and friends make their way to the seats, “because I don’t know what we’re going to do or if we’re going to do everything together as a big group…”
“A group of one hundred and thirty eight men, women and children, Dofey? Son, do you really think that we’re all going to hold hands and make a mile long chain everywhere we go?” By now, Mr. Boonis is sitting in his seat with the five-point harness securely fastened along with the corners of his mouth turned downward in a disapproving angle. His son has barely arrived within kicking range of his seat.
“Of course not, Dad.” Chief Officer Boonis shoots him a glance that puts him in check. Dofey takes the hint and remembers the protocol. “I mean Chief.” He has spent the past ten years of his life shadowing his father on the bridge, being groomed to one day take his place. Unfortunately for Mr. Boonis, that day seems very far away. “I’m simply inquiring our schedule for the next two weeks, that’s all.”
“No, that’s not all, Dofey. That’s never all with you,” the captain murmurs as he pinches the top of the bridge of his doorstop-shaped nose. “Take it easy.”
“I am being easy, Captain. See? I’m calm. My voice is very controlled,” he rambles as he fumbles about in his seat.
“I’m talking to Kairee,” he sighs. The young pilot, on the other hand, knew exactly who he was talking to and had already made all of the appropriate adjustments for a smoother ride. “KAIREE!”
Terrified, Kairee snaps to attention in her seat. The pink has nearly drained completely from her face which was beaming only one happy second earlier. “YESSIR!” she instinctively shouts back.
“You’re doing fantastic, honey. Keep it up,” he calmly states. “Also, you don’t need to yell. I’m sitting right behind you.”
“Thank you, Sir.” The pilot expels a massive sigh of relief and melts into her seat.
“Son,” Mr. Boonis calls out in a voice that is filled with equal parts exasperation and waning patience, “please just say whatever it is that you’re getting at and do as the captain says.” He points to the still unbuckled harness that is still crumpled behind his son’s back and under his legs.
“Flip that order, Dofey! Seatbelt first, then spit it out. If one of us has to tell you to fasten that durn thing one more time, I’m gonna have Kairee open the hatch and learn you why we got protocols!”
Dofey quickly clicks the five buckles and tightens the straps. Without giving much thought to the words buzzing about on the tip of his tongue he blurts out, “I want to go to the dead planet!” Captain Qeg and Chief Officer Boonis groan loudly. Realizing that what little opportunity he may have had at making a convincing case at getting his way was long gone, he decides that he may as well go all in on it. “It’s just that I’ve never seen a dead planet before. It’s a rarity! It’s completely different from an inhospitable planet.”
Captain Qeg raises his hand and Dofey becomes silent. “Miss Prisima, would you be so kind as to indulge us in what a ‘Type-X’ planet is and stifle his curiosity?”
Jaynecia’s triangular ears twitch towards Dofey as she perks up in her seat. “A Type-X planet is a planet that was once inhabited but has been stripped bare of all its natural resources and is unable to supply a means for artificial resources. However, what makes a Type-X planet a Type-X planet is that the damage done to it is beyond repair and irreversible in that no amount of clean up can ever make the planet hospitable ever again, hence why it is often referred to as a ‘dead planet’.”
“There you go, young Boonis. Mystery solved.” The captain crosses his tree trunk arms triumphantly.
“Yes sir, I know all of that from my studies but I just want to see it for myself. That’s all. Plus, the planets are all going to be so crowded with people and crowds make me so uncomfortable. My skin feels all itchy and I have trouble breathing and whatnot.”
“Ah, there it is.” Captain Qeg slaps his thighs with a painful sounding smack. “Young Boonis don’t want to mingle with the unknowns. Do you think I like rubbing elbows with folk?” A moment passes. “That wasn’t asked in rhetoric,” the captain asks in a commiserating voice. “Do you think I like dealing with people, Dofey?”
“No sir,” he admits. “You don’t like anyone outside the walls of this ship.”
“That’s right, boy, I don’t. I can’t trust them. Now, we don’t got a lotta material things for them to take, mind the guts of this ship and some personal baubles, but there is a great deal of treasure in here, one hundred and thirty-seven precious gems to be exact. I can’t go on having delusional notions that others have our best interests at heart simply for my own peace of mind, you get me?” Dofey nods. “Now, I’ll level with you: I’m not looking forward to dealing with the crowds and the lines and all those savage simple folk that tend to occupy those crowds. I especially don’t care for the thought of all of us splitting up and going our own directions like many ants exploring beyond their colony, but that’s what’s gonna happen, yes?” Dofey nods again. “The thought of a few hours on that lonely planet sounds mighty inviting but the truth of it is my crew needs me. We’re a family, right? Family needs to stick together. Look at your old man. Do you think he wants you kicking about on that toxic rock? What about your ma? Now, I know that she won’t like that one bit. Jaynecia, do you really want to go to that turd of a planet?”
“Oh yes sir, I do! Everything I know is from books and information passed down through generations. Obtaining firsthand knowledge of something so rare is just about the apex of euphoria to a Nekonian, especially if we were to find something never before seen by conscious eyes. Research has been done on dead planets before but opportunities for that are so rare! It would be a thrill just to see all of that nothingness for myself and proudly declare to people, especially other Nekonians, that every word of it is true, or false,” she adds in a mischievous voice. “How could I pass up such an opportunity? Nekonians are, after all, the greatest source of information in the universe, you know.”
“Yes, how could I forget,” Captain Qeg admits regrettably. “Serves me right for thinking that you’d be the voice of reason. Iss, I know for a fact that you’re not as cheeky as these two. Please tell me that you don’t want to go there too.”
Iss Milla simply shrugs. “I goes where Dofey goes.” His response flows in a singsong quality, as is the nature of an Octovoc’s speech.
Captain Qeg’s barrel-like head falls into his powerful but defeated hands. He mumbles into his palms, “How does someone with sidekick-like qualities end up with a sidekick of his own?” He takes a moment to himself and contemplates the situation. Should he give in and allow the awkward twenty-somethings, whom are still children in his eyes, to venture on their own in such a hostile location? It is, as Jaynecia said, a rare opportunity. It’s also incredibly dangerous. If they were to run into trouble, they’d be completely on their own. He wouldn’t be able to reach them fast enough. He could always send a chaperone, but it isn’t right to have someone else suffer on their account. Besides, whom would he send? Lunalaei? He wouldn’t even dream of asking her. It wouldn’t be right. She deserves this vacation just as much as anyone, maybe more so. His eyes silently creep towards the back of her smooth, dappled head. She shakes her head in an almost telepathic but definitely nonnegotiable “No”. She didn’t even have to turn around to see that he was looking in her direction. A small chill runs down the back of his neck. His first mate? There’s no way that someone as rational as Naylor Boonis would ever be okay with babysitting detail on a dead planet. Still, as his right-hand man and Dofey’s dad, he does a quick check with him. The stone-faced man locks eyes with his best friend. The muscles underneath Naylor’s eyelids twitch. That settles it, the captain thought to himself. He breathes out sharply and makes his announcement. “All right, Dofey, Jaynecia, Iss.” They sit up straight and listen. “I’ve given it a great deal of consideration and I have come to the conclusion that you are adults and therefore old enough to make your own decisions. I can respect that. However, as adults, you need to learn that you have certain obligations, both personal as well as professional. The details of said obligations include, but are not limited to, your family, your crew and your captain. As your captain, I am declining your request to travel to the Planet X. That’s what I’m calling the dead planet. Sounds cool, right? Now, you’re a very bright young man, woman and…gender neutral being, with solid futures ahead of you all. Dofey, you’re next in line to take your father’s place once he retires. I don’t know if you understand how prominent being a first mate is. If’n it ain’t that important to you or you make light of it, don’t think I won’t rearrange the chain of command and have Lt. Somtam as my second.”
“The future suddenly seems so bright and at the ripe age of sixty. Yes sir, everything will be smooth sailing then.” Lunalaei kicks up her feet and laces her fingers behind her head.
“Don’t you mind her sass, boy. Besides, she knows that I desperately need her behind that console more than I need her jawing in my ear. Don’t you take no slight by that, Kairee. You’re shaping up to be a fine pilot, you hear. Me and the lieutenant just have a history nearly as long as me and Chief Officer Boonis.”
A look of confusion passes over Kairee’s face. “Was that an apology?” she whispers to Lunalaei.
“It’s pretty much the closest you’ll get to one,” she assures her apprentice. “That means he likes you.”
“So, I repeat,” the captain continues, “Planet X is off limits. While I understand your curiosity and desire to acquire knowledge of an alien world, I will not allow yourselves, or anyone else in my crew, to be placed in harm’s way in your attempt to feed this curiosity. Obvious dangers aside, you were all present when I told the strange thin-lipped man that we are here for recreational purposes and not for research. I’m counting all forms of inspectin’, investigatin’, as well as general lookin’ and peepin’ about, as manners of ‘research’. My decision is effective immediately and is closed to any further debate. If, for some CRAZY reason,” he wiggles his hands beside his head to emphasize the craziness of what he is about to say, “there is some sort of tour (though I can’t for the life of me even imagine why such a thing would exist) or if an o-fficial guide that is authorized by the Kailyuan government to take visitors, not bribes mind you, to Planet X, then and ONLY THEN can you go to the forbidden planet. Is that clear?”
The three look at each other, then at their captain and simply reply, “Yes, sir.” The captain sighs and slumps against the back of his once again comfy chair. Jaynecia and Iss both slip on their own eye pieces and silently connect to Dofey’s private channel. They smile internally as three invisible words float in front of them: “Oh, we’re going.”