Closure - Part 1
17 Jun 2017LordPsymon
Closure - Part 1 
“What do you mean it’s been sold?!” I asked in disbelief.
“Sir, the ship has been sold off to cover excessive docking fees. That’s what happens when you leave a ship and don’t pay, I’m afraid.”
The apathy from the docking bay attendant was pinching all the wrong nerves. Regardless, I attempted to maintain my composure.
Just chill. It’s not like I’m struggling for credits right now.
“Okay, okay. Fine. This is bullshit, but whatever.”
The clerk shrugged. “Station policy, sir. I’m sorry, there’s not much I can do. Ship’s probably got a new owner by now. Could you move along please? There’s other people who need assistance here.”
Looking down the long queue behind me, I took a deep breath and let out a long sigh. At least I can afford to splash out a little.
“I get it. Fine. I’m out.”
I strolled with a slow pace through the shipyard. It was a strange feeling looking at all the shiny new ships, polished and waiting to be christened by their first pilot. I never ever imagined myself ever looking at brand new ships as a viable option.
My eyes darted up and down a Vulture, sleek and deadly looking. I dunno. Pretty as it is, I don’t know if I’d be comfortable reaping for a living.
My attention then turned to a Diamondback Explorer, a flexible utility craft that can be outfit for various purposes. A ship I could potentially get comfortable with, but after an hour or so of gazing at ships well above my price range and avoiding eye contact from salespeople as I browsed, I decided to stick with what I knew.
A brand new Cobra MK3 sat under a spotlight with a fresh cobolt blue paint job. The charm of the Cobra was almost begging me to fly it out of the yard. I needed something I could depend on, and the Cobra saved my life countless times over the years. I had made up my mind and signalled a salesperson, purchasing the blue Cobra, and treating myself to an assortment of A-rated upgrades.
Given the poor run of luck I had been having, I settled on the name- Discordia.
I could barely hide my grin as it was transferred to a hangar bay and I sat down on the pilot’s seat for the first time in my new Cobra. The fresh smell of a brand new starship was something to behold, but there was a battle between sadness and euphoria.
On one hand, it felt amazing to be back in a Cobra. On the other, it wasn’t Rattlesnake, a ship I had grown affectionate toward. Still, knowing that Discordia would perform better was enough to quell the sadness and get me excited for the future, without all the breakdowns and mishaps from White Pearl.
I chuckled as the hangar platform raised me into the cavernous docking bay of Wohler Terminal. Good thing I let Benny handle all the interactions with that guy. Hopefully he removed any way of tracking me down.
I plotted a course for Nortes- I had some loose ends to tie up. By some miracle, I had managed to keep hold of the letters Luke wrote for his fiancée back at the slave camp. I felt the guilt ease as my new Cobra sped out of the mailslot of Wohler Terminal.
It’s not just Benny’s sister and me who got justice by putting Reck away, I thought as the frameshift drive spooled for the first jump. The stars stretched and the ship rumbled as it tore into hyperspace. But for James- Luke too, and Emily. It’s about time I brought her some closure.
If there’s one word I could use to describe the planet Fach, it’s gorgeous. ] I could see that it is free from the hectic pacing of Cubeo 3 and lush trees lined the roads leading away from the coast-line star port. It was no wonder this planet was a popular tourist spot. Everything was so pristine and calm. I could see myself retiring here one day. I sat back and relaxed, looking out the window of the monorail carriage as it took me into the city.
It was lucky I had credits left over from obtaining and upgrading Discordia as everything on Fach was expensive, food, transportation and accommodation were demanding top tourist premiums. It was clear that I was not to linger in this place for too long. I found a quiet cafe on the edge of a large park in the middle of town and sat at an outside table, quietly admiring the scenery around me.
Hopefully Luke’s info is still good.
I pulled out a piece of paper from the pile of Luke’s letters with contact details of a man named Mike, who was to be the best man at his wedding. I pulled out my datapad and composed a message.
Greetings, Mike.
I hope I have your contact details correct. You don’t know me, but I knew your friend, Luke. He was a friend of mine, and I have come to Fach to bring some information, and hopefully some closure with what happened to him to his fiancée, Emily. I’m sure it’s quite strange to get a message out of the blue about a friend who went missing, but it’s a long story, and one perhaps best told in person.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Though Mike’s reply was suspicious and crude, he agreed to meet me in town. He turned up in a clean, white blazer and his dark hair was slicked back, while a neatly trimmed goatee occupied his chin. Having been away from Imperial space for a while, I suddenly felt under dressed again but he seemed to pay no mind to it.
“So,” he said, pulling up a chair opposite to me, “you have information on Luke?”
I nodded, holding up the package of letters Luke wrote. “That and a bunch of letters he wrote for Emily.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “I see. I hope you can forgive my manner, but Luke had disappeared without a trace years ago, and for someone to contact me years later claiming to have known what happened is a little more than suspicious.”
“I get it,” I said. “But I made him a promise before he died and I intend to keep it.”
After explaining about our time in the factory in Eravate as slaves, and how Luke came to end his own life, Mike’s face battled between pain and relief. His lips trembled.
“Excuse me, if you will. I need a moment.”
“Sure,” I responded.
Mike walked away into the park across from the cafe, spending many minutes alone. I sat back, contemplating if I was making the right decision.
Is this the right thing to do, opening up old wounds like this?
Mike returned, taking a seat opposite me again.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “We were friends since we were little boys. I was going to be his best man at his wedding. Still-” he took a deep breath. “I guess it is good to know the truth in the end, as painful as it is.”
I looked out toward the park. “Yeah, he was good man. His ‘glass half full’ attitude was refreshing, despite our situation.”
He frowned. “And you spent three years in that place?”
“Something like that, all under the noses of the Feds too.”
He stroked his goatee. “Not at all surprising that the Feds struggle to keep organised crime under control.”
“The Imperials haven’t exactly been doing a great job either, nor have they done much to prevent abuse of the indentured servitude system,” I said, fighting against the urge to yell as I thought about how Fiona was treated.
Mike paused, and opened his mouth as if to speak. “Explain,” he replied.
“Well, up until recently, an admiral had been operating a drug and slavery ring right in the heart of Smurf territory.”
Mike chuckled. “Sorry, I know that is not funny, but it is amusing to hear someone from Cubeo use the term ‘Smurf’ so casually. But yes, I had heard about that. Anyway, I think it’s time I took you to Emily, so she too can know what really happened to Luke.”
I nodded, but hesitated. “Alright. Though, I’m wary of opening up old wounds.”
He gave me a reassuring look, standing up and gesturing me to walk with him. “It’s the right thing to do. I think anyone would prefer to know the harsh truth than spend the rest of their lives wondering what happened.”
I sighed. “You’re right. Let’s go.”