Who's in Charge?

"Never know whats gonna happen next...... Got a call from Lily outa the blue. She was in trouble.... again. Gave me a list of stuff to bring to a planet on the far edge of the verse. From what all Lily was tellin' me to get sounded more like a ransom. Stuff like candy and supplies, to axes and gold. Most of the stuff was easy to grab. The gold? That was somethin' else all together...... So.... took it from the BlusSun warehouse at Washtown. Hell if it got Lily outa trouble, seein' how Xoxo needs her right now..... I think Xoxo'd understand. 'Sides.... later we can take it back. The colony there was livin' in the mid ages.... No guns or cannons there." Wasn't gonna be an easy day.... Lots of Small loads of cargo goin' out for the holidays...."Flyin' in and landin' the ship was the easy part. Grounded it on an island not far from the village where Lily said she was at. Getting the stuff there was a little harder. Had to get the big pontoon out and inflated, then loaded."



"Easy 'nough to get to the village.... bein' on the water and all. Tied the pontoon out to the Pier and waited for someone to show. Waited a spell, then Lily showed up and showed me where all to put the stuff. Ended up with it in one of the cabins..... Good thing too. Some crazy woman come and attacked us. Never said a word.... Just targeted me while Lily went after her. Had no weapons on me at the time..... Til I found the bow and arrows. Then it was my turn to return the favor...." Got the last of the small boxes and such on the ship. Some of it was bound for Greenleaf, and Paquin. The other stuff was for a few locations not far from em.... That was the good part of this trip....

"It took a while to fend the woman off.. then she set fire to the cabin Lily and I holed up in..... Tryin' to flush us out.... We just put the fires out where all they started. We got out of the buildin' while the attacker was tryin' to find more arrows. Managed to find a hidden cove to wait it out in." Gettin' clearance took almost 40 minutes..... Gorram 'liance at it again.... Wantin' to have details of where all I was headed.

"We waited it out til Lily's friends come... She left and talked to em on the attacker then she came back to get me.... She told me this was a village of all women and to not speak lessin' I was spoken too.... Somethin' 'bout em bein' like amazons... They were in charge. Once we talked to em, I took the pontoon back by my own self. Lily stayed for a while the met me at the ship. Wasn't my idea of a good day....." Looked like there was some salvage... After the last reaver attack. "Lily said she'd take care of gettin' the stuff back form the 'amazons'. That's fine with me... I flew back to Dragon's Egg to deal with the other stuff What needed to be done."

"When I got back, it was business as usual.... Cobb showed up and wanted to know what all was up. Wasn't much to tell.... Least not 'bout any gold...... Lily made sure to give me a little somethin' for my troubles in the meantime...." Grabbed a cup of spiced tea.... Got used to havin' it b'fore I left on a trip... Sometimes durin' the flight. "A few other folks dropped in with cargo later that day....'bout the same time the 'liance started puttin' lockdowns on ships.... They're makin' it bad for folks here of late. Crackin' down."

"Folks don't like it much. Hell, don't like it over much when one of em comes in and goes through folks's cargo. They popped the seals and went rummagin' through it like it was their own stuff. Then the soldier started askin' questions 'bout AuroraBlue.... Ain't none of her business. Wasn't gonna say nothin' no how anyway." The ride outbound was clear.... Good. No 'liance, nor reavers to worry on. "A few days back Xoxo got back after bein' cared for, for all those burns.... She wasn't quite her own self. Had some new lady with her... Had white hair and seemed all business. The woman took her to her tower house. Xoxo still looked rough. Tended to lean heavy on her new assistant.... Least I think it was an assistant... or one of her body guards. Who knows with Xoxo."

"Can see why Xoxo has a new person to deal with stuff. They come and go... Don't know if Xoxo knows 'bout her ship bein' locked up. If she don't.. I got my own plans to help her out.... 'Liance can't take what all ain't there. A little sticky here and there and the yokes' be off. Then I can fly the ship anywhere she wants it hid. Yeah.. She's bad news.. But deep down, she just as vulnerable as the rest of us in the verse."

Spice Dreams....

     "Callin' in favors and huntin' down stuff for a ransom ain't what I was plannin'.....But then nothin' ever is...." Had to get the rest of the gold loaded into the cargo container. Mule was runnin' slower then I wanted. "Seein' as I was 'round when Lily called.....She gave me a list of what all these folks want to get her back. Gold, wine, metals, and candy.. Candy.. Sounds like Lily wants it. Not sure it's gonna help any. More like they're gonna grab the stuff and take me too. Ain't sure anymore with Lily.... She's been a mite off of late. Like she's gone loco. Maybe she has. Figures....."

     "Was gonna head back to Al Raqis. Needed to find AuroraBlue and warn her on Lily's not actin' right. Been noticin' the rift splittin' her and Lily apart.... I know AuroraBlue knows...She's been watchin' for a while. Can see her in my dreams..... Waitin'....." Speakin' of... Need to watch on how I cut that spice Jai gave me. "I can close my eyes and see.... Lots of stuff.... Like the herd migrations... Been too easy. Mind's been wanderin' a lot. Sorta like what all happened when Xoxo had that accident. Just sorta knew..... The next deer went down easy." The container rang as the pallet full of gold ingots dropped the last few centimeters to the floor.

     "Spice.... Its addictive. Was told that. Know it now. Its been doni' stuff to me.... Like makin' my eyes change.... Don't like lookin' in the mirror no more. Not sure I can change what all's happenin' to me... Like my mind.... Whispers and vivid dreams.... Sorta real... Too real...." pulled the mule out of the cargo container then jumped out and sealed the door. Made sure to lock it up b'fore doin' anything else with it. "Lily was s'posed to get me some good spice. She ain't been r'memberin' nothin'....... So asked Jai... Made a deal.... Spice for power cells. Good ones."

     "She gave me a small canister.One with the purest spice there is... Gorram expensive too. Need it.... Lily was gonna give me some way back when. Sayin' I won't grow old. Can see why. It does stuff to you. Can't rightly explain it all. The scents on the wind are sorta... Well intoxicatin'.... Like the taste of fresh meat. Hearin' the wind's like a choir... Hell... The stuff goin' on in my mind. If I could get it all out, there'd be volumes of data files....". Lowered the crane arm to hook it up so it could be loaded into the stolen ship..... Yeah, yeah... Theft to add to the stolen gold and such.... "Nick showed up while Lily was still 'round.... Said she was gonna go on some mission. To rescue Krakken. Seems he got his own self into trouble. And Lily hates the feller. She's inprinted on him..... AuroraBlue and I are imprinted.... Like gravity. And I can see the gravity... 'round the planets and suns, to the whole 'verse, and then some....." The container locked down onto the loadin' track and fed into the cargo bay. Last one in.

     "Only reason I'm goin' to save Lily is I owe her for the times she hauled my backside outa trouble. Of late she ain't been to friendly- like to me. Even started tryin' to drug me. Gorram. Don't like no one messin' with me like that." Sealed the bay doors and headed for the cockpit to start the ship up. "Once this job's done, headin' for Al Raqis to find AuroraBlue, then back to Dragon's Egg Moon to hunt for more meat. Got a quota for a buyer who likes exotic meat...."

     "Saved the hides to trade to Elix. That and the antlers. Sure they'll fetch a decent price too. Need the coin to pay the bills and the other pilots for the hauls they're doin'. Wonder what all dreams I'll have while in the black. Quiet, dark, weightless. The spice'll show me. Its been doin' it of late... Never know...."

Bad Timin'.....

      "Wasn't surprised to get a call from Xoxo. She needed pilots. Said she had a shipment outbound from Dragon's Egg to Londinium. Her BlueSun cure." Had to snort at that. 'Her' cure. Hell, I knew it was Lily's. "I owed the folks there, so took the job. Had to haul fife large cargo crates full of the stuff. Jet was there waitin' to load his cargo. Seems a couple others were there too loadin' the crates into their holds. Definitely made a gorram mess of stuff...." Hangin' out in the ATS avoidin' folks wasn't helpin' with the mood...

     "On the way had a lot of time to think of what all my breakin' the blockade at Al Raqis done.... And how many folks were payin' the price.... Lot to think on. Gonna do what needs to be done to fix it. Ad if it means to haul Xoxo's meds, then I'll do it. Better save lives. Seems I'm not good at it of late. Can't even get back to Al Raqis to try to find AuroraBlue. been havin' pretty wild dreams, speakin' of..... Ridin' 'cross the sands.... On a big worm. Could smell the spice hangin' in the air.... felt the hot air on me....AuroraBlue."

     "Londinium air control cocontacted me, tellin' me where all to land the cargo. Wasn't likin' bein' there much.... Too many troops and 'liance flags...."

     "Landed the Shadow on the docks. Gorram Dock patrol gave me a run 'round on my papers, then let me unload the crates. Kept on eyein' me. Didn't like it one bit. Headed for a quiet part of town while the ship was bein' refueled." Takin' the time to go through all the backlogged paperwork I been neglectin'. Pariah showed up and was seein' what the new uncovered town was lookin' like.

  "Not a lot of folks walkin' 'round out there. Most of em were either sick, or to afraid to come outside for fear of the pox. Most everyone was wearin' some kinda mask to keep the germs from gettin' em. Had to admit some of the masks were gorram funny lookin' on some folks. After some more harassment by the 'liance troopers, was able to dust off and get the hell off of Londinium"

   "When I got back, seems all hell broke loose. Was back at the office when I hear an explosion. Doubt most folks'd hear that. I did. headed outside to see if I could spot where all it come from. There were small fires all over. Debris from where the explosion come from. Lot of smoke billowed out the main door of BlueSun's underground lab."Decided to walk outside. Was gettin' a mite edgy again.

     "Headed inside the underground buildin', when I head a scream.Took a bit of searchin' but found someone in the upper level. Grabbed what I could to stop their clothes from burnin' more, then carried em out to the lift. Gorram thing wasn't wrokin' right. Had to put the person down to pry the doors open. Soon as it was open 'nough I lifted the person and carried em outside far 'nough away from the entry. Puttin't he woman down, saw it was Xoxo.... and burned bad."

         It was startin' to get dark. Could see the clouds changin' colors. Don't get much time to set and watch a real sunset. "She was bad burned up. her clothes were torn and burned. Half her face was like melted wax. Only thing I could do was go to the truck outside and call for a medic. Ended up callin' the 'liance for help. Had to wait some time. So covered Xoxo in a cargo blanket from the truck and wait till they showed up. Wasn't too long b'fore the medic shuttle showed up. Got pushed aside while they did what they had to. Decided to head up there to make sure she was gonna be ok."

     Walked back to the office. Not sure why... Didn't want to do the papers. "They took her into the med room. Gave me the crawlies. Not sure why... but it didn't help me sleepin' that night. old nightmares came creepin' back..... The docs worked fast to stabilize her. They were doin' all sorts of stuff to her. Cuttin' melted clothin' and wrappin' her in gauze. A trooper made me leave. Coulda punched him, but knowin' me, I'd end up in jail for it. That wasn't gonna help Xoxo in case she needed somethin'. Lily wasn't 'round to be there, so it was up to me."

     "Couldn't get over how bad burned she was. Looked like she was tryin' to protect herself and didn't quite get covered. Wonder if she was doin' somethin' and it backfired on her. Can't put it past her..... But then she made some good enemies of late too. if Lily decides to get back, maybe she can find out what all happened.... But then I overheard the troopers talkin' 'bout em sendin' someone down to investigate the explosion....Figures."

     "When I was able to hitch a ride back to the surface, one of th etroopers kept badgerin' me 'bout what I saw and did. Wasn't much to tell. But figured they'd suspect me of somethin' anyway. Not the first time....." Someone was comin' I could hear the light footfalls on the bricked road outside the office.... The scent was familiar....."For now I was not ot go nowhere 'tilthey finished their investigatin'. How the gorram hell'm I s'posed to do my work if I can't go no where." Caught the scent...... Was Lily showin' up.... But there was a smell, different.... Baby smell. She come back... and had a new baby with her.

        Ok.. not a good time for her to show up with it.... Xoxo in bad shape..... And the 'liance not lettin' me work..... And a baby?

Good News and Bad...... Part 2

     My mind was workin' overtime while I was stuck in the medical center on Al Raqis. Maybe I needed to get outa there. Needed to do somethin'..... "All's I can say is this here virus ain't your normal kind like a cold or somethin'. Doc had me a mite worried on what they could do to help... and what all they couldn't. She said she was still searchin' for Lily and AuroraBlue. Not sure where all they're holed up. For now just gotta set 'round a place that smells of cleanin' chemicals and such 'til I could find a way outa here."

     "When the doc showed up to check on me, I asked if I could go somewhere instead of bein' stuck in the medical center. She checked me out then said she could take me to a quarantine house. Hell that was better then bein' where I was." Someone was comin' 'round again. Wasn't sure who all it was. Maybe it was Lily again. "After gettin' dressed, Went to the landin' deck level in a mask. The doc had a shuttle waitin' for me. She said folks there at the house were all infected too. All that was goin' through my mind was bein' in a leper colony...."

     "We got into that shuttle and headed out into the deep desert. Was thinkin' of all the folks that were sick.... Maybe cause of me. Not sure. A lot of folks been travellin' of late and any one of em coulda got through too. Then there's Lily and AuroraBlue sneakin' back and forth from place to place. I know Lily can't get sick. But AuroraBlue? Her I ain't sure of. That's whats got me a lot worried. Just hope she ain't sick." Pariah came walkin' into the shoppin' plaza to say hi. Hadn't seen her in a while. Mostly she worked at Firefly's. Guess she was feelin' a need to come and just hang out. Was ok with me.

     "Once we got out to the 'house', the doc showed me 'round. I was free to wander 'round the compound and house, but not outside. Seems they had automated weapons and 'bots guardin' us.... So we couldn't leave. No weapons, and no freedom. Like bein' under house arrest. Only way I could leave was if somethin' happened. Which didn't take more'n a few days. First Lily shows up and bites me bad on the forearm. I figured she had a reason for it. She said she had to. Was real important to her to do it. After she left someone else showed up and tried to shoot me, then was tryin' to burn the place to the ground."



     Pariah sat by the fire pit near the mall. She was just wantin' to have a little company cause it was over quiet of late..... No wonder. It was that time of year when folks were gettin' ready for the scare day... Halloween. "After the attackers left, found a protective mask and headed across the desert and back to the center. Had to find someone to tell what all happened. The others fled from the burnin' buildin'... Not sure what all happened to em. Lily was there in town when I got there. She led me to some big old place in Wadi Emit. She said it was Krakken's house. Feller had some serious money by the look. Stayed there and sent word to the doc from the comm in the house. She came a few days later and gave me some injection. Said it was the cure. Instead of four shots..... Only needed one. I knew Lily'd cured me and my system was burnin' off the dose the doc gave me." 

     "Later that day, she took me someplace. She slipped past the cruisers and heavy ships guardin' against anyone leavin' without permissions. Took me to some small moon. She was talkin' 'bout some strange common past. About where all she lived. How we all had some common ancestry. Hell, don't much on the whole genetics stuff so I shrugged it off." Pariah was sayin' she was lookin' 'round the area and liked some of the stuff we set up for Halloween. At least this time we had a real corn maze. One that was grown from the soil of Dragon's Egg. "Doc showed me a bunch of stuff. Most of it I couldn't figure out. Was still feelin' the effects of the cure bein' burned outa myself. Didn't r'member most of it. A few things I r'member. A tree in a covered little open shed."  

     "Then there was that pyramid. Gorram thing opened up and was shinin' a bright light on me. Wasn't sure why all that happened. But then again, Ain't sure why a lot of stuff happens to me that can't be explained..... Like that time I was in the Necronom data stream.. and survived. Not sure what all this means... Then again if I asked Blue, he won't say. He knows a hell of a lot more'n he's sayin'. Same with Lily. They know stuff but make you work to figure what all they're hidin." We watched the cats chasin' a few mice near the corn maze. It was like bein' at home watchin' the barn cats goin' after the mice there. pouncin' on em and playin' with em. Some even lettin' the mice go then chasin' em down again.

     "After the tour, the doc brought me back to Al Raqis, Not Krakken's place. That's ok. I was gonna hitch a ride back to Dragon's Egg as soon as I could. Needed to. Had a bunch of stuff still needin' to be shipped.... And to tell Xoxo what all happened. She won't be too happy...  Lily finally showed up. She was not herself.... Seemed she was thinkin' on somethin'. Kept talkin' 'bout her cub. Had a feelin' it wasn't AuroraBlue. The weird thing was, any time I mentioned AuroraBlue, Lily'd say, 'she be the death of me.' Kinda set me t wonderin' why all she was sayin' that. Might need to go through some old notebooks from the old lab. Who knows, maybe I can solve a mystery b'fore it does any damage."



Got Good News and Bad News...

     "Seems the moon here's better then anyone expected.... Could smell it in the air. Folks're settlin' on the ground. Someone even built a small ranch house and started up a garden.Hell, they even got bees to do the pollinatin'." Not much else to think on at the mo.... 'cept bein' scanned.... Again. "They had some livestock shipped down. Not a bad start."

   "When I had the chance, headed to Al Raqis. Wanted to make sure AuroraBlue was ok. Xoxo's been goin' nuts tryin' to get her back. Hell, even saw Seana come all the way out to Wadi Emit to talk with the Lady Rashad there. Seana was there for the same reason... That's when AuroraBlue came downstairs to visit. She was lookin' good, but still needed a bath." Don't like the idea of bein' given tea with spice in it. All I need is to be hooked on that stuff. "Rashad said AororaBlue could stay as long as she liked. S'pose it's ok at the time.... Not sure now..."

     "Got some good news.... Took some doin' but finally got hold of that Krakken feller. The one from Lily's datapad. He showed up at the station. Brought him down to see what all he could do for Lily. One thin' I know. Can't wake her again my own self. That's somethin' someone else had to do. And since the loss of a good friend, the only choice was this feller, Krakken. So now she wakes up and imprints on him. Not sure what all to expect. She wants another cub. Don't know what all to think on that. Thought AuroraBlue was the one to bring it all together." Had to shrug. Not sure if its a good idea or not. Want Lily to be happy.... but then what?....

    "So now she's runnin' 'round with Krakken. And Xoxo's been puttin' me to work. Not haulin' stuff.... Hell no. Buildin' and movin' stuff. Been havin' to do cargo hauls for her too. it pays the costs for runnin' the ATS office and payin' pilots to keep workin'." Still don't like bein' in a clinic... But gotta stay. Can't b'leive I got shipped here in a gorram stasis box. Doc Nat had to send here.... "When I had the chance, slipped off to do a little side run. A friend wanted some of that quality hooch. Said he'd pay good money for it. Been a while since I did an illegal run. But the money was good. So took a flight to Al Raqis and snuck in through the automated shuttle Jai had. Only way to bypass highport and the gorram blockade they had. Was hopin' to see AuroraBlue too..... " Good thin' I didn't now. She'd be sick too now.

     Aiya, this ain't good. Some virus, both docs said. All for a fever and some weird rash I got. hell if I know how exact I caught it. Seems some woman comin' out of the other clinic stopped and talked to me. She mighta been the one who's spreadin' it. Least that's what the Al Raqis doc thinks.... "Hope they can find the cure quick.... "Problem is, I been to a few other places now, talked with a couple folks, and all the time bein' sick not knowin' I was. First place was the BlueSun compound on Washburne. Had to drop of that load of seats and office supplies.

    "Then had to hop on over to Paquin to drop off a couple boxes of stuff for Xoxo's office there. Stopped at CATZ to see if Jai was in. Was gonna see if she had any cargo to go back to Dragon's Egg. She wasn't in so decided to head on home." Good thing. Jai's been bein' cautious 'bout this virus stuff. Smart woman..... "Gettin' back to D.E. was easy 'nough. Did a refuel then took the shuttle down to the surface. A few came 'round while I was workin'.... Hope they're ok. Don't want anyone catchin' this virus.... or plaque, or what all they're callin' it now..... Mutated, the doc said. That I do know..... Its changed..."

     "Got told it could be cause of my eyes.... Ok.. So at one time I was blinded... The 'liance fixed em up.. regenned em, but now I see in the dark like it was daylight... And daylight blinds me... Hell, least I can see... Lessen the virus makes me go blind... Jai said somethin' to that when she commed me... Doc Nat had me do down and wait for her in the clinic.... Then her and Jai show up in suits. Yeah... I know... To keep em from gettin' what all I got. They end up knockin' me out and puttin' me a stasis box to send me to the Al Raqis medcenter. Seems a doc there's workin' on stoppin' this here virus.... or viruses.... Doc said there were a few runnin' rampant here......" 

     "Now its a waitin' game. They gotta go get Lily... and AuroraBlue to check me for this here virus too. Lily I been 'round of late.... AuroraBlue? I ain't been near her in a few weeks. So she aughta be safe.... They think cause she's been in highport she coulda come down with it too. Hope not.... She don't need to be sick with this here thin' too. Just gotta hope they're both cleared."

Eye of the Beholder...

"Don't much know how it all got started....", sighin' and tryin' to put all my thought together, "B'twixt tryin' to do some work for BlueSun and doin' a search, stuff just, well..... Happens. Seems some of it started with hidin' Lily and Seana gettin' all riled I took her. Ok.... So maybe I wasn't all in my right mindset. But when you get blinded for a long while you tend to not see with your eyes....." but with your heart. Can't admit to it when so much is at stake. "Hell, Xoxo's been a mite nice to me of late. Even gave me some work settin' up stuff at the new BlueSun offices on Washburne. So maybe I pulled her out of the water on Dragon's Egg and called for help. Didn't think she'd be owin' me nothin'. Then she asks me to go and find the cub."

Somehow she figured it'd be good to search on Al Raqis. Headed there the first time only to get a lot of 'liance chatter. Seems they were tryin' to find me. Tillery got hold of me on my personal comm and got me to a safer spot to hole up for the night til I could get back to Dragon's Egg. Xoxo needed transport to Colchester to talk to someone there 'bout storage for some of the company stuff. Tabi was over at the Dragon so we went on in. Was a mite cold out there. Dark too. Didn't bother me much seein' as I can see pretty good in the dark. Anyway, Xoxo and Tabi talked..... Didn't much like how Xoxo was goin' on 'bout me bein' one of her boy's. I do some freelance work for her, but I don't work for the gorram company."

Lookin' out of the ship window, could see the station spinnin' slow in the black over the new moon that was gonna be home. Depends on how you see it. At this point anywhere is home.... "After Droppin' Xoxo at the station, was able to stop at the waterin' hole to get a drink and see who all was 'round..", had to grin at seein' her again. "Brooke was there! of all the folks I hadn't seen in a long spell, it was her. Told me she was out here on her own.... of sorts. Sounded like Dex left her... Gorram Shame. And the kids were in a good school. She looked a mite sad from the way she was tellin' me 'bout her. One bright note.... AT&S Was bein' set up on the station to help keep the business runnin'. Good thing too. Better up there then on the ground. reduces the fuel costs for cargo haulin' and salvage."

Put in a final call to the flight crew for dockin' then prepped for linkin' up with the dockin' ring, "Strange thing.... Been gettin' some pics on my data pad screen. Most were of what looked like AuroraBlue and her wanderin's....One of the first pics I got was a mite blurred but its what got Xoxo wantin' me to search for Anna. Said I needed to find her pronto. Then got more random pics." The ship bumped against the dockin' ring. Could hear the magnetic clamps seal tight against the hull. "Didn't want to believe it, but when I first got to Al Raqis the last time, it was like some kind of static in the air.... Somehow the sands were more bright... but it's all how you see it I s'pose. Went wanderin' for days out in the heat and sand 'til I found a scent. It was faint, but real familiar. AuroraBlue. 

Started shuttin' down the systems and engines b'fore goin' to the airlock, "Seems there was one pic that stood out. Been told of this Ardra bein'. Even got sent a pic of it... her... Aiya, don't know what to call Ardra....But there it, she was. A few other pics showed AuroraBlue touchin' her. That had me a mite unsettled. Who wouldn't be. From what all Lily was workin' on for her...." Grabbed my jacket and small duffel then went to the hatch, "Got a bunch of pics from some source.... Blue maybe."

"That second flight to Al Raqis had me on days of huntin' for clues and askin' 'round to see if anyone had contact with AuroraBlue. Found her tent and some mixed cargo she had tucked behind and in her small tent. Decided to leave her a feather. One from Dragon's Egg. Found it down by the water... Ice was meltin'. Eagles. Meant somethin' important to me." Opened the hatch and stepped into the canned atmo of the station. Had to let talk to Xoxo on the last shipment what came to Washburne.

"Spoke to some folks to see if they spotted Anna. Xoxo'd mentioned some pilot named Georgia. Found her a day or two after findin' the tent in the hills. She said the cub'd been there... After a long talk on explainin' who all I was and why I was searchin' for her."My boots clanged on the station deck grates all the way to the lift., "Ended up doin' some calls back and forth b'fore sendin' AuroraBlue's bear to Georgia to give to her. if nothin' else it'd let AuroraBlue know I was lookin' for her and was thinkin' of her. Said that when Anna was ready to come home, I'd head back and pick her up. My gravity was back and stronger now."

The lift was bein' a mite slow today... Too slow. "Then yesterday I get a new set of pics... Was of Anna setti' with a beggar. But then the pic was different.... Took me a mo to figure it out. One showed her settin' with the old feller..... the next.... Was a whole new angle. The beggar was still settin' as he was... Just the angle of the view was.... "Gorram it. Stupid lift finally decided to stop at my level. "Meant a new set of eyes. Well, sort of.... Its a mite strange.... Blue's been sendin' the pics. Least thats what I figured. Showin' where all Anna's been and what all she's been up to.... Now its a whole new view. Like Blue's with her... In her?" 

Got into the lift and hit the lower level office button. Started pacin' on the way down...."So it's not just AuroraBlue lookin'.... might be Blue's in there too. Yeah, yeah.... Maybe I'm a mite touched. You'd be too if you kept bouncin' from cold to hot a couple times in a couple weeks. But seein' is beleivin'.... Just got to wait and see."

"While on Al Raqis, grabbed one of the reward posters. Xoxo had someone set em out so if anyone found her, Xoxo'd know. Its how I ended up runnin' 'round the desert. Hell, I'd run out there again to find AuroraBlue. The sands or the snow... Don't matter much when it comes to her. Gravity bein' back makes everythin' a lot different... How we see stuff..... Everyone sees it different. Just happens to be in the eye of the beholder I s'pose." Xoxo's office. on this level. Got loff the lift and grumbled all the way to the door.... Eye of the beholder... Wonder how other folks see it...



Snow and Ice

Tossed another dried out log onto the fire... Good to know there're trees on this moon. "Its warmer in here now, Lily." Lookin' over at the still form on my cot. She ain't moved for a while now. "I'll get more wood in a spell. How 'bout I tell you what all I seen.... When I come down in the shuttle that first day we got here.. Wasn't sure what all to make of it. Looked like all snow and ice. Was snowin' even when I come down into atmo. Could see mountains and water... Lots of water, Lily. No more dry and dusty air. Wonder if its salty water. Some might be... But I figure some ain't. Like run off if the weather warms up."


"I figure we wait it out 'til then. Had to take you outa that tent. You ain't tame... Don't need to be in a gorram stale aired box. Why I carried you out. So you can feel the cold fresh air. Real atmo. This way when you wake, all you gotta do is leave the cave and roam the area...." Sighin', I looked over at her. The only thin' left of what it was to be a family.... Everythin' else was gone.... Everythin'...

"When I got you to ground, went out huntin'. Plenty of wildlife out here... You'd like it. Herds of antelope, birds, even predators... I seen wolves out on the snows.... Could smell somethin' else too... Big cats.... I know.. Not a cat.... But these felines ain't small... not by the scent. Ain't seen it yet. This here's a wild place. Somewhere to get lost in..... Might go do that when you wake up... Lessin' you want to end me.... And that's fine too.... Nothin' left to worry on..." Planned on goin' out to track the wolves again. Might need to get more meat b'fore the storm hits.

"Oh.... Seen some big bugs.... Out in the gorram snow. Ain't sure what all spiders were doin' out in the cold. Wasn't sure what all was goin' on when I run into some spun stuff laid out on the ground way out in the mountains... Grabbed some to see if Xoxo can find out what all it was. "Til I spotted a couple of them bugs. Busy weavin' webs in the snow. And they weren't small neither.... Aiya, the were big. 'Bout the size of a duster." Held my arms out to show her. Maybe she can see me, Maybe not.

"Yesterday I heard the ship comin' in.... Was Elix and Jet. Come close to where the cave was. Didn't want em to find where we're holed up, so went out to see em. They were talkin' bout some stuff.... Didn't much pay attention to it. Had a few tour runs to do too....."

Pokin' at the fire, Sparks flew up.. remindin' me of the fires that ended everythin'..... When my gravity... my sun..... my orbit..... disappeared....."Took Xoxo down here. Told her to watch her own self... But you know how she can be... How stubborn.... She took a four wheeler out and ended up fallin' through the ice. Had to go save her from drownin' and freezin' to death. Ended up callin' the 'liance to take her to their ship to warm her up." Pickin' up the shell AuroraBlue'd given me back on Paquin...... Chest was startin' to ache. Like it was gonna cave in.... Was I turnin' into a black hole? Devourin' myself..... Did it matter now? "I went back.. Pushed the ship hard to get there.... Wasn't fast 'nough....... Its crumbled.... Hale's. Bits were floatin'..... But that's all.... It was like my brain shut down. Was runnin' on auto pilot....." Touched the pic of her on the datapad.... Wanted to be ended with her.... AuroroaBlue. Closed my eyes tryin' not to feel the sting...."I tried Lily... I went and flew through the debris 'til the engines overheated from the dust in the intakes..... Was like a ship without a pilot.... just floated there.... Then I wake up in some gorram tent."

"You can end me when you wake up. It don't matter now. I can't see strait. Can't think strait.... Keep dreamin' of her. Like she's touchin' my face or my hand... Then I wake.. and nothin'..... Can't tell if its a nightmare or not.... I see Blue in it too.... Like he's coverin' her over like a blanket. Hell, maybe my brainpan is humped." What all'm I s'posed to do. Try to wake Lily up.. Try to find whats lost.... Try to finally end........

"When you wake, that'll be good. Then You can be free and wild like your s'posed to. This place is where you can do that. May be more snow comin'.... But the weather'll change... You'll see. Warm, with fresh water and herds of animals to hunt..... It'll be a good home. When the snow and ice melts... You'll see...."

From The Fryin' Pan.....

"When you get lucky, you go for it. Wasn't much work of late, but this here job pretty much fell into my lap... Was talkin' to Jai a few weeks back on Al Raqis. Was hopin' for some work from her. Most times she can help out when the work slows on Hale's." Openin' the hatch on the shuttle sent the rotten smellin' air inside. 'Nother batch of miners needin' a ride up, "While we got to talkin' Jo Massenberg showed up. Was needin' to lose some cargo she.... Aquired. Jai said she'd take it all, so I offered to take some off Jai's hands to take to a couple places what could use good liquor. With the deal done, all I had to do was wait for it to come to the docks. Easy 'nough. Went back to the station to fetch the Phoenix and load up. So back to the dry hot world... Again."

The ground shifted again as the miners and their families loaded in. Some covered in ash. "Laodin' the cargo was easy 'nough. Even has space for Jai's stasis freezers. She likes her fish fresh. Locked down the cargo then set 'bout leavin' the desert world for cooler climates", Thinkin' on that, had to groan lookin' out the forward viewport. "Out of the fryin' pan.... Hell you could fry an egg on the deck platin' just inside the ship."

"The trip was pretty much uneventful... for the most part. Made a stop off to get a few hands to help offload the cargo. Found a few willin' folk who needed the coin. Next stop, Colchester. Mikie was there to help us bring the cargo up to the bar. Once we got the stuff unloaded we took a few to swap some news then had to go get a few papers from the clinic there. No one was 'round.... so sorta took the papers needed to move the stuff I had without folks nosin' in Jai's business." Took a mo to make sure folks were strapped in. The ride was startin' to get a little choppy with the hot updrafts.

"Don't know.... When I got back to Hale's with the cargo for Jai... The air smelled a little off. Even the ground felt a little.... Different. Just somethin' I couldn't put a finger to. That night was havin' some pretty strange dreams... or nightmares. Coulda been AuroraBlue tryin' to tell me somethin' was goin' to happen or was happenin'." Cyclin' up the engines, the shuttle chuffed a mite... Gorram engine intakes startin' to clog with the stuff in the air. "Didn't help with reaver activity. Yeah, had a couple of em land and attack folks. Hell, one of em took the Phoenix b'fore I could shoot him. They were gettin' a mite bold now. Lily helped track the ship down and get it back b'fore they started to chop into the Phoenix." The ride was bouncin' folks 'til we left atmo. Lookin' out you could see the fires. "Takin' ships, huntin' folk.... Looks like they were regroupin'. I saw me a ship come outa atmo. Big one too. I guess a few folks saw it on the ground. The doc even made comment on seein' it landed. She even cussed to make a point of it...."

"After we got the ship back, had to head for the cargo stores to see what all mighta been rifled through by the reavers. They'd take anythin' they could use for weapons, or ship repairs... if you can call it repairs.... They didn't touch the cargo containers. Not like em to grab and run." The flyin' back and forth were startin' to blur into a routine. Drop and go back.... "On the way back from a small salvage run, the radio starts to squakin' 'bout tremors and such on Hale's... That's a first.... Landin' left me a mite surprised... Comin' home to not just tremors.... But gorram fires.... and lava flows in town.... Even Fooks wasn't untouched..."

"Seein' the town like this sorta brought up memories of MacLarens Drift's Prosperity in flames... Shadow..... and Blackburne. It wasn't just in one part of town.... It was goin' on everywhere. Ain't ever been this close to volcano.... Hell I ain't even seen a real volcano! Seems fire's been a good way of takin' everythin' you have and scatterin' it to the wind. My ma used to say somethin' like....'teaches us humility' and 'helpin' those who got nothin'. You don't learn that 'til you lose what all you got. Then you can say you understand the other feller." Dockin' at the station was easy 'nough.. Offloadin' this bunch was slow. Some elders were needin' the extra hand to get inside after the rough ride.

The ride back was no cake walk. Had to find a safe place to land the shuttle... what wasn't on fire or too uneven, "Volunteered to shuttle folks to the Blue Sun station in orbit. The thing was hauled in by super tugs and stuck in geo-sinc. Seems Xoxo's got a soft spot in her armor... She was offerin' the place as a refuge while stuff was goin' on the ground. Seana had sent out a message to folks to be ready in case it got worse.... Got a feelin' this ain't the worst of it yet. By nightfall the place was lit by fires in half the businesses and a couple homes.

"When there was no one 'round the evac area, I decided to check on places... See if folks were ok or needed help. One feller was sorta 'shell shocked'. Had to guide him to the shuttle and strap him in. Then saw Xoxo, Nick, and Gwen. Seems Nick got himself hurt. Got him to the shuttle then headed to the station so he could get some help. Doc wasn't 'round. Had to put a call in to see if one was available somewhere." The ground was off and on shakin'.. not bad.. but 'nough to feel it through your boots. "Took a look see at the hangar. One big old volcano was just settin' almost on the doorstep....smokin'.... The inside of the hangar was a mess. Took a few to grab what tools and equipment wasn't busted. Most like would need the stuff b'fore long."

"More folks started to wander in. Some covered in dirty of ash.... Some just lookin' scared. Went to check see if G was 'round. He wasn't in the Hanso office so checked the sheriff's office. Nada. he musta evacced in his ship already. Xoxo was lookin' for Catherine but no one's seen her for weeks now. AuroraBlue was 'round.... But stayin' outa reach. She was ok. That much I knew for sure. She was lettin' me know she was."

The streets were bein' lit more now by fires then lightin'. Aiya...."Talked to Seana on the folks that got lifted. Her and Xoxo were talkin' on stuff. Told em to get packed if thats what they were doin'. No sense in waitin' 'til the last mo. Hell, its a good way to get your own self ended. Xoxo went to finish what all she was takin' with her. Seana stayed for a few to talk with me on what all was goin' on b'fore she headed to finish what all she needed to do. Dav showed up with a few folks for transportin' up. Xoxo'd let us know 'bout the animals...... Livestock. Called on a few of the crew to help load em and move em in the Monster."

Somewhere down under our feet, the dragon was movin'...... Belchin' fire and growlin'. My dragon's down there. I know..... "Once everyone was in for this next trip, I cycled the engines. The heated air wasn't helpin' with the ride. Didn't help much lookin' down on Hale's Moon.... Lit by the volcanic activity and fires. The smoke and ash in the air was makin' ground visibility bad. What all was gonna happen next is anyone's guess....... Could almost say.... From the fryin' pan into the fire...."