Science Fiction 2400 Cosmic Highway - Restless Encounter
#3
Chapter 2
A shower and some grub in you can do wonders, even if the grub tastes like a stale half-reconstituted crap biscuit. At least the shower was hot... a little too hot actually. It gets that way when the ship’s sublights are cooking, and some of the enviro units are on the blink. I only got mildly scalded, though Black will still probably make me rub that smelly cream all over.

At least the heat worked that kink in my back, and I’m in a freshly laundered racing firesuit. They still stank, but it had a fresh stink. I’m checking over the list of repairs Haak managed to complete when Black stomps onto the bridge, a glowering thunderhead brewing on his young face, his racing suit looks like it’s been ironed.

Whatever.

“Hiya Black,” Iyer grins.

Black, our onboard ship medic, ignores him. He is relatively new. He’s only done two jobs with us, and I can tell right now he’s not happy about something.

Why not?
Perfectly / Lonely

“Captain,” he says in that clipped British tone that makes him sound ultra elite. “I thought you said you had downloaded all in-system e-messages before leaving Earth!”

E-messages are electronic audio and text messages. They’re the lifeline of any spacer on the job. The connection to what was really important: to home, to family...to sports results...

“I did,” I say and tap a command to open the logs.

“There are no personal messages on file, Captain” Black says.

“Hell,” I mutter. “Haak!” I call on the comms. “Is the CPU screwin’ us over again?”

“No more than usual,” she calls cheerfully.

“Missing the missus, already are we?” Iyer winks at Black, “Not that I blame you. She is quite the looker. But you did just get out of cold sleep.”

While Iyer was correct, it wasn’t the right thing to say to Black who was in no mood for idle banter.

Black and Mrs. Black had tied the knot only a couple of weeks before we had shipped out, and Black, nearly half my age, had all the propensities of a love-sick Romeo at this stage in his relationship with his wife.

I myself had never married. Sure I had some close calls. But ship life--runnin’ the shipping lanes--isn’t easy on family life, and I cared too much for myself to put me through that special kind of hell. I’d seen too many other space cowboys end up with ruined homes. No sense following suit.

Black didn’t say anything so Iyer continues talking. “Did you bring any pictures of her? You never didn’t invite me to your wedding you know.”

“There was a simple reason for that,” Black shoots back. “I didn’t want you there!”

“Aww. Now I feel bad,” Iyer says with another grin. “Did you bring a picture of her at least? ‘Cause a man can only stand so much ugly in the deep reaches of space. No offence, Cap.”

“Stow it, Iyer.” I turn to Black. The kid is decidedly unhappy and looks like he’s going to pop one in Iyer’s eye. “I don’t know what to tell you, kid, I chose ‘Receive Messages’--you can see it on the log here.”

He stared at the log then grunted in response, turning away. “It’s going to be a long trip,” he says, falling into a nearby chair and sliding to a slouch. He gives a small groan as he fiddles with a silver cigarette lighter, etched with some fancy script, flipping the lid open and closed and open and closed.

It sets my teeth on edge, but I let it slide. I can be patient. Sometimes anyway.

I turn my attention back to the missing messages.

I wonder... I tap another command and bring up the messages. And there it was, a single message from an unknown sender. Why was it the only one? I jam a key down on the keyboard, and as it opens and the text begins scrolling rapidly across my screen. My frown deepens as I read:

SECURITY ALERT: EYES ONLY MESSAGE FOR YOUR AND YOUR CREW. ANY OUTSIDE DISSEMINATION WILL HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

PAYMENT: COMPLETE THE MISSION QUIETLY AND YOU’LL RECEIVE THE AGREED-UPON PAYMENT.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: INVESTIGATE STATION PANDORA. LOCATE DATA TAPES. CREW HAVE INEXPLICABLY CEASED COMMUNICATIONS. SEND ENCRYPTED COMMS OF ANY INFORMATION IN TIGHT-BEAM BURST TO THIS ADDRESS.

My eyes scan the long number that follows. Then I noticed the next line.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: RECOVER AND RETURN ANY LOST CREW FOR INTERROGATION AND YOU WILL RECEIVE TRIPLE THE PRICE.

I give a low whistle. Triple the price! That would pay off my other debts and finish the final payments on Restless. I needed those credits.

I decided to add that in because it’s an extra challenge and seems like something their employer would be willing to pay. Right?
(Likely | 6[d10]) Yes

That’s what I thought.

Is the station in orbit?
(50/50 | 1[d10]) No, and...

Is it a research/science station?
(Somewhat Likely | 7[d10]) Yes

STATION IS LOCATED DEEP WITHIN THE PLANET’S CRUST AT THESE COORDINATES.

“Did they do it?” Black asks looming over my shoulder, still glowering.

“Did who do what?”

“Our employers. Did they tamper with our personal messages? Why is that message the only one listed?”

“Dunno. Maybe,” I respond. “This message wasn’t in the system before we left Earth. They did say they’d give us more info enroute. The message must’ve come through now that we’re in system. Don’t look so unhappy, we stand a good chance of making triple our usual amount.”

“Triple?” Iyer gives a victory shout. “Now that is what I’m talking about!”

“Don’t celebrate yet,” I stand up and pick at the racing suit as if that’d make it ride more comfortably in my crevices. “We still got the job to do.” I key the comms again. “Haaks, get up here, and tell me you got the comms working at least!”

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RE: 2400 Cosmic Highway: - by Jingo - 08-19-2022, 10:32 PM
RE: 2400 Cosmic Highway - Restless Encounter - by Jingo - 08-23-2022, 12:43 AM

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