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A long-awaited trip - Printable Version

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A long-awaited trip - Savs - 11-26-2024

25.11.834

"I ain't so sure. I mean, it's a miracle we got through Cortez without drawing any attention. And even more we made it here."

The older man looked about the dimly lit bar on the Barrier Gate Station.

"And they haven't even got proper ale."

The younger man across the table had been staring out the window at the large asteroids nearby the station. He turned now and, at last, said, "Look, you said you wanted to go on a trip, so we're going on a trip. You've been going on about the wonders of the universe since I was yae tall." He gestured at around table height.

"Aye, but not at the cost of my life, and especially not at the cost of yours, Gerry."

Gerry shrugged. "Nothing's gone wrong so far. Besides, I've been flying almost as long as I've been walking. And this Jackdaw you got us is a cut above what I'm used to."

The older man threw up his hands, chuckling. "I knew I wouldn't be able to convince you. You've always been a right stubborn one."

"Just relax, Uncle, we're going to go see some things and we'll be back in Bretonia before you know it."

Uncle Keegan apparently decided he had tired of his mediocre drink and pushed it away. "Well," he started as he pushed himself up from the table, "I'd better go find that friend of a friend if we're going to figure out how to get to Inverness."

"Do you want me to come with?"

"No no, I'm old, not an invalid. I'll see you back in the room later."

"All right, good luck."

Uncle Keegan stalked away stiffly and Gerry picked up his mug and took another sip as he turned to look out the windows at the murky views of the asteroids.

He said quietly to himself, "Finally, my life is about to get interesting."

RE: A long-awaited trip - Savs - 11-26-2024

26.11.834

"Well, Inverness isn't too interesting," Gerry said.

"Sure ain't."

There was silence for a moment.

"Actually, wait a second." Gerry turned around to look at his uncle. "Think about this. This time not two months ago, like you'd been doing for years, you was flying some boring route in an asteroid field with that yellow-brown of Bretonian space all around you--"

"Aye, and look at me now. Out in the independent worlds seeing the sights!"

Uncle Keegan's lined face brightened considerably.

"See, we've just got to take a more positive view of things!"

They turned their attention to the planet coming up on them. The scanner indicated it was called Forres.

"You know, I reckon the universe wants us to be here. How else could I've gotten that Junker bloke to send us on this errand here?"

"We might even turn a small profit from this venture!"

"There some sort of station around the planet there? Might be nice to pop in for a quick break? Me legs are getting a bit stiff."

-----------

After a brief negotiation with docking control at Freeport 14, they were admitted and found their way to the bar. While Uncle Keegan was doing some stretches, Gerry went to take a look at the news and jobs board.

He screwed his face up after some reading and muttered to himself "Vagrant?" He turned to the bartender and asked "What's a Vagrant? Some local faction of bandits?"

The bartender was fiddling with something behind the counter and didn't look up. "Yeah, something like that. The pilots don't say too much about 'em."

Gerry shrugged and turned to walk to the table he and Uncle Keegan had claimed.

"Right, so where's this package going?"

"Invergordon Shipyards, one of the assistant administrators."

"The day is wearing on, let's get going, eh?"

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Later, on Invergordon

"Did you see that blue light out toward the star?"

"Nah, probably just some trick of the light. The star is kind of blue, too, ain't it?"

"Maybe, I just thought it was moving or something."

"I didn't see nothing. But where do we go next?"

"Oh yeah, what now? Maybe the barkeep will have an idea."

Gerry got up and ambled to the bar. He signaled the bartender and asked quietly, looking around surreptitiously.

"Hey, uh, listen, my uncle and I over there," he gestured with his thumb briefly, "we're on a little walkabout and just looking for interesting sights. Do you know of anything to see before we head on back to House space?"

The bartender took a look over Gerry's shoulder at the gesture and returned with a low whisper, "If you're willing to brave a minefield to get to Ontario, I hear there's an astounding ancient alien site with some crazy lights. I bet with the right... motivation... you could even find out where the jump hole is." After a moment, Gerry realized what he meant, and slid him a chit. The bartender nodded and smiled, and said "Give me your datapad and I'll give you the coords."

A moment later, Gerry sat back down at the table with Keegan. "I've got it, something spectacular the bartender promised."

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[+]Spoiler

"That is something."

"Aye."

[+]Spoiler

"This made this trip worth it."

"Aye."

"Those aliens sure made something incredible."