The Red Rover, page 3
part #6 of The Rover Series Universe Series
Callista nodded, wiping another tear away. He could see somewhat of a smile developing on her face.
“Will you sit with me a little while longer?”
“I couldn’t get up, even if I wanted to. Here’s a tip, don’t get old.”
Callista chuckled as he smiled. She rested her head on his shoulder as the two would sit in silence staring once again at Dee-Dee’s headless body.
We could really use an infusion of good right about now.
<>
Jovan leaned over the copilot’s console, staring to the point of obsession at the monitor. Radar flashes, coming from what they still believed was an unidentified Rover, would appear every three seconds or so.
Whenever he wasn’t busy acting as a flight instructor to his fellow cadets, Jovan would be glued to the seat at the navigation terminal with a sidearm in his lap, making sure there wouldn’t be any surprises awaiting them at their next destination. He had experienced the price they paid for being unprepared and was determined to never see it happen again.
A grunting snort could be heard as he sat back and shook his head. It was Witchy, yet again. The creature was coiled in the captain’s seat, out cold, although sometimes it was difficult to tell from the wretched sounds that would emanate from her mouth. Not to mention the smells that came from pretty much everywhere else on the creature’s body.
Saying that the cockpit reeked would have been an understatement. Marius, the clever guy that he was, had stuck the cadets with the responsibility of cleaning up after her, even though he was the one who rescued her in the first place. Still, it was clear to anyone with a brain or sense of smell that Witchy needed a bath.
The issue, of course, was who among them besides Marius would have the stones to try and force her to take one. This was one of those rare occasions where Jovan’s physical limitations worked to his advantage.
Jovan glanced in the direction of the pilot seat. Rio was at the controls. She hadn’t said much to him since taking over for June. The ship’s autopilot was active and yet she gripped the reins like her life depended on it. She looked so stiff and uncomfortable for some reason.
“You know, most people would be enjoying what you’re doing right now.” He remarked.
“Yeah, well, we’ve got a big job ahead of us, don’t we?”
Rio turned to him, wide awake. She was locked in.
“Isn’t that what Marius says?”
“Marius says a lot of things. I tend to tune out most of it.”
“That sounds like something Gordie would say.”
Oh shit!
Jovan guffawed. If ever a statement could have been made about how much time he had been spending with Gordie in the last x-number of days and months, that would have been the one. He also couldn’t be sure if that were a compliment or not.
“It does, doesn’t it? Who would’ve guessed Gordie had it right all along?”
“You two have become pretty close.”
“Trust me, I’m just as surprised as you are.” He sucked his teeth. “Gordie has—what I’d consider to be a very unique world view. I mean, he hates authority. You always have to repeat yourself because he gets so easily distracted by—nonsense. But—he’s got a big heart. And I’m pretty sure if it wasn’t for him, we’d all be dead or at least I would be. Can’t speak for everybody else.”
Rio exhaled. She probably didn’t expect him to become so philosophical all of a sudden, but Jovan had gained nothing but respect and admiration for Gordie. It was Gordie who sought him out to learn how to pilot the StarForger and now he was their secondary flight instructor after him. They all had come a long way from their neophyte training, but no one had come farther than Gordie. He was the man.
“I noticed you haven’t been using the exoskeleton much. You don’t like it or something?”
“Nah, it works perfectly fine. I just haven’t had much use for it. Between flying, training, eating and bathing, the versatility of my wheelchair is something that can’t be beat. Although, all things considered, I’d still rather be walking under my own power.”
“I bet. Do you really think we’re gonna find a Rover?”
Jovan turned to her. That was an abrupt change of subject. She was staring straight ahead. The stars were bright and dynamic, even if the bulk of them were millions of miles away. Jovan sighed, wanting to choose the right words. He was on constant alert now, though he had good reason for behaving in such a manner.
The morale around the Red Rover was on an upward trajectory ever since the beacon’s discovery. For the first time since their journey had begun, there was an actual destination in mind. They were no longer flying by the seat of their pants hoping against hope. This time was different. This time they had a legitimate reason to be positive.
“It’s okay, you can tell me the truth. No judgments here.” Rio went on.
“Judgments are the least of my concerns.”
“So, you admit you do have concerns?”
Jovan scoffed again. How could Orion keep any secrets to himself, even with a journal? Rio had a unique gift when it came to probing for information.
“Come on, it’s gonna be a while till one of us is relieved. Nothing wrong with a little idle chit-chat.”
She flashed an infectious smile, her freckles popping against the starlight. She knew he was a captive audience and the amount of time they spent flying together would be better served by talking, rather than just sitting in abject silence.
“Okay—my concerns. I’m concerned that this’ll all be over one day. That whatever we find out there will be the end. We’ll establish a colony. You and Orion’ll have babies perhaps—”
Rio scoffed and rolled her eyes. He must have touched a nerve.
“And uh—our space adventures will be over.” He sighed. “And then we’ll just get old and all this’ll be a memory. And I’m still not sure if I’m looking forward to that.”
Rio’s eyes widened. He couldn’t be sure how she took his comments, but she was the one who went fishing in the first place.
“You really think Orion and I will have babies?”
“Well, you guys are having sex, are you not?”
Rio just stared daggers at him without saying another word.
“What? It’s not exactly a secret, you know. The Red Rover’s only so big.”
Rio sucked her teeth, turning her attention back to the great unknown. He had been doing a pretty good job straddling the line before he decided to dive bomb right over it. With a silence falling over the cockpit once more, so returned the reality that Jovan had been able to overlook for at least a few minutes.
Witchy still needed a bath. This was getting ridiculous.
<>
Marius’ eyes shot open as a cramp materialized in the pit of his stomach. He fell over onto his left side, clutching his belly. Callista was long gone. He grimaced, either he had an excess amount of gas hidden inside him or this was the ulcer to end all ulcers.
“God dog it. Aww.”
Marius rolled onto his stomach. He used his hands and feet to push himself up, hugging the wall for balance. He felt another regurgitation coming on as he covered his mouth. Some of his bodily fluids leaked through his fingers as he brought his second hand up to catch it.
He entered the cadet’s locker room, making a beeline for their stalls. He pushed open the door with his shoulder, falling to his knees as he threw up in the toilet. He held his head over the bowl long enough for his body to go from regurgitating fluid to air. Marius opened his eyes. The mixture of green fluid with his blood was upon him once more.
“How can there still be shit in there?”
He flushed the toilet, staggering his way out of the locker room. He passed Ozone’s headless body, still clinging to the ceiling on his way to the infirmary. Next to his chambers, this was the place he was spending the bulk of his time as of late. He opened the cabinet where they kept the painkillers and the antibiotics. Supplies were beginning to run scarce.
He had been consuming the Red Rover’s supply in secret since they escaped from the Draconoires. Those medicines were the only relief other than sleep that kept him from living his life over a commode.
He unwrapped two injectors, one painkiller and one antibiotic. He stuck both into his chest, above his left pectoral, pushing in as the medicine entered his bloodstream. Marius exhaled with glee. He took his time removing the injectors, before setting them down on the counter.
He reached out to the medical bed, located in the center of the room and climbed up onto it. He would have to clean up the mess before exiting, lest he want his cadets to find out what he’d been doing.
At this stage, Marius couldn’t wait for them to discover another Rover. If for no other reason than they would have better medical equipment and supplies. It was the little things that made all of the difference.
“God, please give me strength.”
CHAPTER TWO
RADICAL IN NATURE
Kabibi sat in silence as he observed the last scintilla of Iscoa’s light source diminish just outside the crashed space vessel. He turned to see Altarhi fading in and out of consciousness, while still cradling the vakata in his arms. They had added a suppressant over the vakata’s inhalation area to avoid a potential violent exchange and keep it from awakening while they moved it. After all, these two were researchers, not regioners. Kabibi pressed his lips together and whistled. Altarhi pivoted, greeting him with a look of disgust.
“Do you hear that?” Kabibi asked, pointing a finger above him. “The silence has returned.”
“Your point?”
“We can leave now.”
“Well, it’s about time.”
Altarhi slid the vakata off of him to the floor as he rose to his feet. He walked towards their splicers which resided on the vessel’s control board.
“What are you doing?”
Altarhi turned back, a look of confusion on his face.
“You just said we could leave.”
“Yes, but have you already forgotten? We’re taking the vakata.”
Altarhi’s mouth shrunk along with his shoulders. That was about the last thing he wanted to hear from Kabibi. Still, they had violated every Fonantian regulation up until this point already. It would have been foolish not to bring the vakata back with them, even if they were detained for their actions. This was a discovery too great not to risk it.
“Altarhi. I understand your misgivings, but the truth is, you cannot return to Fonantis without receiving immense scrutiny unless we are together. And I cannot return without this vakata. So, you tell me, how would you like us to handle this contingency?”
Altarhi respired and shook his head.
“What do you need me to do?”
Kabibi smiled. “Grab the topside of the vakata, while I take the lower portion.”
He stood in front of the vakata’s legs, waiting for Altarhi to secure the other side. They each lifted, bringing the vakata back towards the front of the vessel. Kabibi gestured for him to set the vakata across the control board.
“Now explain to me again, exactly how we’re supposed to get out of here with our new consort? The drop from here to the surface would have an adverse effect, would it not?”
“I have to ask, is there ever a time where you’re not over-dramatic?”
Altarhi shrugged. While he was accurate in his assessment of their situation, his lack of optimism was bordering on pathological. Kabibi gathered his thoughts—twiddling his fingers up and down against one another. He snapped his fingers as his eyes lit up with excitement.
“I think I’ve got it.”
Kabibi climbed onto the vessel control board just beyond the vakata’s legs. He took his splicer and attached it to his waistband. He then began scooching closer to the vakata, grabbing both legs as he pulled himself between them. He wrapped his arms underneath and looked up to see Altarhi standing right where he last saw him.
“I thought you wanted to leave?”
Altarhi climbed onto the control board. He sat down and repeated the same process as Kabibi. He slid underneath the vakata, wrapping his legs around its upper body. His was a much easier section to hold onto.
“All right. On my signal, I want you to activate the splicer. Then we’ll gradually slide off the control board and fall to the surface. Agreed?”
“Sure. At least, if we’re going to die, it will be quick.”
Kabibi sneered. Altarhi’s demeanor was not making this any easier. Kabibi’s left hand hovered over the splicer’s initiator. He waited for Altarhi to do the same. Once set, Kabibi pointed at him. They both activated their splicers and remained careful as they moved towards the edge.
“On two, we go.” Kabibi said. “One. Two. Go.”
They leapt off the edge, careening towards the surface in the blink of an eye. Sand fanned out from their collision as they were all covered from head to toe. Kabibi groaned. Falling from that height was not an ideal solution for them, but at least they only needed to do it once. Altarhi emerged from the sand, coughing. He shook the loose particles from his eyes, nose and mouth.
“See. It worked.” Kabibi remarked with a slight chuckle. This was his way of lightening the mood.
Altarhi glanced at him for a brief moment before pushing himself backwards, away from the vakata. He took his time rising to his soleplates and clutched his lower back. He reached into the sand, revealing the splicer. He clicked it a second time, which released the splicer’s secured end from the vessel’s control board as it recoiled back to its original configuration. He began walking back towards the Nanjemoy.
“I think this would be a lot easier with the dolly.” Kabibi said.
“What do you think I’m doing?”
Altarhi shouted back while not breaking stride nor turning around. Kabibi placed his interest back to the vakata. He parted its legs, so he could stand as well. He stepped aside and recoiled his splicer. Altarhi returned with their airborne dolly, running it alongside the vakata.
“Whenever you’re ready.” He facetiously stated.
Kabibi set the splicer at one end of the dolly. He hurried back to the vakata’s legs. Altarhi stood on the other side. At the same time, they lifted the vakata onto the dolly and took their time setting it down.
Altarhi reactivated the dolly as they brought it over to the rear of the Nanjemoy. They loaded the vakata inside, closing the compartment. Kabibi beamed at their latest discovery, turning a moment later to see that Altarhi was also amused.
“Now you’re happy all of a sudden?”
“Not in the slightest. I’m just curious as to how you’re going to flit around our new companion here, once we arrive in Fonantis?”
Kabibi stood for several moments in silence.
“You haven’t the vaguest, do you?”
The two exchanged eye contact. Altarhi was sporting somewhat of a gleeful expression. Kabibi returned his expression with a wide grin.
“I’ll tell you on the way. You operate.”
He walked around to the traveler side of the Nanjemoy, getting inside without uttering another word. Now, any additional time they wasted not returning home would be the fault of Altarhi.
<>
Darkness was restored as the Nanjemoy raced across the batstu, increasing in velocity as the two researchers were on their way home to Fonantis. Altarhi maintained operational control, keeping a watchful eye on the jagged peaks that protruded from beneath the sand. At the speed they were traveling, any one of those peaks could have split the transport in half.
Kabibi was beside him—his body halfway between the seats—attending to the vakata. If Altarhi had stopped or made any sudden deviations for any reason, the next time he would have seen Kabibi, it would be on the other side of the casement covered in sand and glass.
Without warning, Kabibi began jostling about as Altarhi glanced behind him. The vakata was trembling while Kabibi tried his best to hold its head steady.
“What’s going on back there?” Altarhi asked.
To think that Kabibi had risked their entire existence, never mind their careers, to safeguard this vakata and now he was being irresponsible by experimenting on it. He should have been more focused on figuring out how they would be able to reenter Fonantis once they arrived at a regioner entry point.
“I gave it another soporific. The suppressant only works but for so long. However, you needn’t worry, I’ve got it under control. Just focus on what’s in front of you.”
Famous last words.
“Well, you better have a plan, because we’re almost there.”
Altarhi checked his onboard compass. They were nearing the Fonantis outer perimeter. Coming up ahead of them were a superfluity of bright lights that glowed under a colossal convexity that spread as far as his eye could see. Set along the Sniamoo marine, Fonantis had become the finest city-state in the northern hemisphere.
A colorful blanket brushed against him as Altarhi turned to see Kabibi taking his time to drape it over the vakata.
“Kabibi!”
“Almost done.”
Kabibi continued fiddling behind them as Altarhi began to decelerate the Nanjemoy. They were nearing one of Fonantis’ main border entry points and Kabibi still hadn’t relayed what the plan was. Altarhi shook his head. Nothing about this situation was looking good. At this rate, Kabibi was going to have them sent to the directorate for sedition. Of this, he was certain.
Altarhi leaned forward as his eyes grew in diameter. A portion of the convexity concealing the entry point on the surface level was beginning to open. Four Fonantian Regioners, in their matching dark green helmets and uniforms, revealed themselves as they blocked the entrance to the city-state.
Behind the regioners was a triple-barreled artillery defense armament that remained perched high above the entry point. Any one of those barrels would have been enough to destroy the Nanjemoy, if it came down to it. Three barrels would have been overkill.
Altarhi noticed one of the regioners making a hand gesture towards the armament. It began moving into an angled position directly over the entry point and by extension the Nanjemoy, once they reached it. Drops of sweat were developing all over his woolly face.
