Keepin' Busy

"Seems things can change as fast as the wind. Been everythin' from buildin's bein' built while others been torn down for new apartments." Grabbed up a bale of hay to feed the horses and cattle at the rodeo site. Someone's gotta do it. "Lot happened after we left that rim world. Had to head back... at least to somewhere where we could get a signal." cuttin' the twine holdin' the hay bale together, I took good handfuls for the hay nets. "It was time we left back to familiar territory." The horses greeted me then went to eat after I filled their nets with fresh hay. "Made contact with a friend to pick us up and take us to AL Raqis. Not the first choice of places to head to, but no real 'liance 'round in those parts. When we got there, the captain locked us in the ship for the night. Seems AuroraBlue woke up b'fore I did and got outside somehow." Had to go fetch another bale for the other horses.

"She was out wanderin' the edge of the dunes watchin' the giant worms out on the sand when I found her. Jai happened to be there and offered us a place to stay at the Zenobian embassy. Didn't take us long to rest up after a long hot day. She was startin' to burn a little fromt he sun, so I told it might be better to stay inside durin' the day and move around by night. AuroraBlue was sleepin' a lot. Coulda been the heat or her growth spurt." Had to to get the other animals fed. It's been all I could do to keep my own self busy. "After a couple of days I had to go find us some food. Most of the stuff on AL Raqis has spice in it. I knew I couldn't eat it, and I wasn't sure it was a good idea for her to either. So I spent most of a day to find some offworld food and barther for it." Took a bale of hay to the bull pens. Cut the twine and shook it out for em.

"Then while I was out there looking for more food, I got a call from the captain friend. She told me AuroraBlue came ot her and sort of asked to be flown to see Krenshar. I was about half crazed after Krenshar threatened to kill her. Had the captain rush me back to Hale's Moon. I didn't care who saw me runnin' 'round. I needed to know she was ok. When I got there Lily met up with me. She stopped me.... She never did tell me why. Just said I couldn't go get her. Not to go near her. Whether for her safety or not I didn't know. My world was wobblin'... And my friend was tellin' me stay away." Punched the fencin', crackin' the wood with my fist. Hardly felt the pain. "What she was doin' to me by sayin' that. Like askin' me to cut my own heart out. But if it kept AuroraBlue safe, I stay away."

"Made my own self busy buildin' pens and the stands while the rodeo got ready to open. Was all I could do. Work... work hard so I could fall asleep and not dream. Did what I could durin' the event too. Didn't help overmuch to ease the pain I was in."No one'd know how much I was hurtin' inside. Ain't been sleepin'. Had to resort to meds to help me sleep. Doc don't know I been raidin' her lockers for stuff... At least for now." Grabbed two more bales for the horses in the pens. "Then there's the mercs that come to Hale's Moon. Delta and hus crew. When Bram and I talked to him, he said Brooke sent him our way. Said he was being paid to look for hard line 'liance folks. Showed us the list. Now why was Nack Barnes's name on it I have no idea. Now I know Brooke. She'd never go hire mercs. I even contacted her for a confirm. Sure enough, she was gorram upset they used her name to do anythin'. She wanted nothin' to do with Delta or his crew. So I passed hte info on to Seana so she knew what all was goin' on and that Brooke wasn't involved with em."

Picked up the bales and took em to the far end of the pens. Cutting the twine and grabbin' handfuls, I loaded the feed bins with hay. "At least you all like seein' me 'round. "Pattin' em as I went along. "When the rodeo finally got under way, we had a bunch of folk come to have fun. Tried to get involved, but somehow it just didn't make me happy. Then that night.... AororaBlue won the Princess of the rodeo contest. Krenshar didn't bring her. Figures. I was there. Then he made some insane claim on Lily. She didn't b'long to anyone." Slammed my other fist into one of the metal pen supports. Didn't care if I broke somethin' at that point. "I knew she could feel what I was feelin', even the pain. Maybe she'd know I was still alive and thinkin' of her."

"Decided to build another ship. I know Seana's tryin' to get me my ship back, but til then I need somethin' to keep me busy. I thought 'bout it when I met up with Haley. A small bundle of energy all wrapped up in a beagle's body. For a short time, I had a little fun playin' withHaley while Seana caught a shuttle on down to the surface. When she got there, we talked for a bit. She's been as close as anyone can get to a parent since Duncan. Not sure I can talk to her on my feelin's right now. I know I can't with Lily now. She's too busy with other stuff. Buildin' and all for Xoxo. Speakin' of... She showed up and got on me again. She's startin' to treat me like she does Lily. Don't know if I can think of it as a compliment or not. Gorram woman."

Drivin' the mule back to the hangaafter feedin' the animals didn't do a thing for my mood. "She likes makin' nice then chews you out. Never know when she goes ballistic. But she was focused on Davion this time. Made sure to warn him 'bout her." Headed for the mines. Been a place I could go to get some quiet. I moved down deeper into the darkness where I didn't need to wear shades. "What if I climbed down deep. Farther down then I ever been. Sort of like the black but with gravity." The florescent lichens looked like stars glowin' in the black. "Maybe I'd just slip awaydown here. Was she lonely like me? Missin' me as much as I was her? Aiya, it was hard not to after gettin' a pic of her from somewhere. Found it near my bedroll in the eagle's nest. Was a pic of her sleepin' on a fur in a little indian costume. Not sure who sent it...." Needed to climb further down. Not wantin' to slip and fall. "Dark, queit, and cool... I shut down my radio. No one on the surface needed me right now. Anyone wants me, they can climb on down and find me."

Don't care over much now. "Down here I can escape the verse and all its noise and light. Nothin' but my thoughts, memories , and feelin's to keep me company down here. The gravity that holds me in place... No one else can understand, 'cept one... Far away in the verse."