A Short Hop
It was supposed to be a short hop, two systems over, pick up and return, 100,000 Galactic credits for no questions and no problems, he was good at that, that's what had kept him alive until now. Here he was, barely a half a century old and looking down the short tunnel of death, it wasn't a pleasant feeling.
He'd fired out of Ryogen space on schedule, everything was green across the board and he had settled in for a 2 hour trans-dimensional trip, it would be as boring as it ever was after 30 years of watching it through his cockpit more than watching sky planet side anywhere, but he prefered it that way, he was a loner, too selfish a person to ever make any being a good mate. He'd even tried his hand at legal employment once, but that was long ago in another life.
Right now he was lost, alone, and running out of options, power was falling below 10% and that meant he didn't have long until the cold of space begins creeping in on him. That cold was no stranger to him, he'd faced it before, but during those times he had hope, now there was nothing, nowhere, he was alone in Black space and knew his chances were lower than the IQ of the average Thilandian labor hog.
It had happened before he realized, even if he'd been fully alert, hands on the controls waiting for any warning, he wouldn't have been able to change anything............. thats what kept him from going off the edge as he sat there waiting on death to come, he knew there was nothing that could've been done, and resigned to that, settled with knowing he was where the Galaxy wanted him to be, and that was that.
He did have regrets, too many for a man his age, but they were there none the less, along with the pride of accomplishment he had for other things in the past, all in all, it had been a good life, things should balance out and if nothing else, he should get another shot at things if Kharma could be believed.
He did wish for a moment that he'd asked that one female all those years ago, that he'd stayed and fought for her and made his stand, built something on that backwater planet worth having and raised a family, but then dismissed it all as folly, he wouldn't have stayed even if she'd said yes........... that was his curse, to never stay anywhere, to always be looking beyond the next system, the next planet.
It wouldn't be a bad thing to die out here, this ship and him had been through many an adventure together, had logged many galactic units both inter and trans-dimensionally, she was a proud ship, and he had been a worthy Captain for her, she was the love of his life, and he was hers, each knowing they had no other and therefore doing all they can for the other in their own way.
That was all finished now, thanks to the energy rupture that had sent them spiraling off and through that Black Hole, they'd logged their last unit, and to think, it would all end with an unsatisfied client, and no one to even know his fate, that was the one regret he couldn't get over, no one knowing.
If he possessed any vanity it was for his reputation, he had never cheated, lied, murdered or stolen from any being, he always delivered on time no matter what the circumstances, and he always cared for his cargo as if it was his own. He didn't move large or illegal cargo's so he managed to avoid any trouble with Galactic patrols, and on the occasion when he'd had reason to not be found, his little ship had safely taken him through a trans-dimensional door and away from any trouble.
He'd taken on this new client after a recommendation from one of his older clients, the being was a stranger in this system and was seeking some of the comforts from home, and since he wasn't exactly registered in the sector in which he lived, and he was not welcomed back in his home system, he required my special skills to get what he wanted. We'd negotiated and settled on terms when he did the only odd thing.
He gave me a schedule and route, he insisted I use it and follow the timing exactly, that was the code that had been set for the exchange, if anything was deviated on by even a fraction the delivery would be canceled and I would be out my credits. He was adamant about it, forcing me to promise everything I had or ever would, so to make things easy I didn't complain too much, especially when realizing it was an unknown route and would save me even more time.
His attitude and that strange smile he kept giving me was a little irritating, but I needed the credits so I tried to shut off my feelings of revulsion and be civil, it would be over and done quickly and then I wouldn't have to see him again hopefully. He was an "oily" character, he looked normal, but somehow seemed out of place in his skin, but he had seen worse and stranger, and 100,000 credits bought a lot of not looking or worrying, besides the deal was done.
We'd parted and he waved as he turned with that strange little smile of his and left me alone in the bar to drink my brew and watch the girls dance beneath the multicolored halographic lights that painted there nude bodies with 3D scenes meant to drive male beings into sexual ecstasy. He enjoyed the show, but long ago gave up trying to win the hand of these types of women, their feelings were false and he was always left cold and empty after his time spent with them. They were dead souls without hope, and hope had kept him alive for too many years for him to join them......................
Until now that was, he had about two more minutes, already he could feel the cold seeping in, he should put on his inso-suit and get his mask and oxygen ready, but why? He could delay the inevitable for another hour, but hope had left him empty and he had made Peace, so dying seemed o'kay now.
His breathing was easy, and he sat watching the heat of his breath fog in front of his eyes, the fogs bringing back memories of his youth, the trip his parents had taken him on back to Earth, to a place called San Francisco, where they had been born. Their parents had soon after loaded on a launch and left Earth to begin settling Arydius and I had come along after they had been married. I loved San Francisco, we were there for four days and I didn't sleep for more than ten or fifteen minutes at a time trying to see it all.
My favorite time there had been in the evenings as the sun set and the huge Fog rolled in across the bay, that was a good memory, he'd hold on to it a little while longer, it was like he could feel the fog envelope him, it seemed to chill him deeper than a bath in ice water, but almost immediately began to warm as it wrapped around him, he felt his breathing slow, that was o'kay, he was tired, this trip had wore him out and he'd gotten to watch the Fog roll in so that was good. Dad could carry him back to the hotel, he was going to sleep..........
Somewhere, very far out beyond the edge of space, beyond the edge of our imagination he waits, cold and frozen in sleep, dreaming of San Francisco and waking to feel the sun someday, and his ship slowly drifts along to the currents of Black space beings of inky darkness and deep cold drift alongside and touch the ship, exploring it and the being within, absorbing his memories, the ships charts and history, "out there" they say in the voice they all share, "out there is life, out there is food, we must find our way to out there, the other has sent us the beacon, now we must follow." ©2008 RS Stoner