The Navigator

13. The Largest Crevasse

Author's Note: 

Song Credit: Anachronism, by Cry Wolf

Disclaimer: This Chapter contains some mature language and sexual themes. This story is rated mature so discretion is advised.

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Jax scanned his ID chip at the security gate, a green light indicating he was a welcome guest of the Quartermaster and was allowed entry into his temporary home. The mansion was expansive and well appointed leaving a person with an impression of old money on a new planet. It was a peaceful space when it wasn't full of swaying, drinking bodies that bopped discordantly to music that filled the entire house.

He had managed to settle the dispute Dade had sent him to deal with, but it had taken the rest of the day and it was after dark now. The only light coming from the soft lamps and inset ceiling lights that adjusted themselves using a sophisticated AI that adjusted to the preferences of the user in the room, or various other criteria.

This meant that as he stood in Dade's office, connecting his communicator to the sophisticated printer, if he hadn't heard the other person enter, the lights changing from his preferred clinical white to a softer ambiance would have told him he was no longer alone. He didn't look up right away, he was deliberating with an argumentative piece of technology, and refused to be distracted and deterred. This was important and it was going to be handled right now.

Predictably he won out over the protestations of the printer and was collecting his photo from the tray in only a few moments, flapping it dry. With a quick inspection and soft smile he put the new likeness of his girl in the same pocket over his heart, where the image of her mother lived still.

He looked up then, appreciating the sight of his friend who was waiting patiently, two glasses in his hands. Jax knew what they contained, one would be Dade's preferred whiskey, neat without even ice to sully the flavor. The other was genuine gin, with just a splash of soda and twist of lime offered without strings attached or expectation.

He grinned at Dade appreciating yet again how good a friend he was. The young Quartermaster of Vulpus was a few years older than Jax's 27, but his face seemed ageless, smooth and bright, only slightly aged up by the bushy ginger beard he had grown in Jax's absence. The color of his beard was odd considering the blonde color of his hair, but not unheard of.

Its presence told Jax exactly how long it had been since Dade had served on a ship, you couldn't use a respirator with facial hair. Even without it, Jax knew to the day the last time his friend had gone to space. It was the same day Billy hung up his own grav boots. In fact, most of the crew of the Estonia never returned to the deep black after it had managed to limp back to port. Only Jax and a few others had shaken the experience well enough to keep working, but no one would ever recover completely.

Fleeing from the memory, Jax accepted the glass from his friend as they left the office, turning into the lounge where Billy had set up his large array of screens and monitors. He could have taken up a different space, one that wasn't so central in the home, but Dade liked being able to see him, be in each other's presence even if Billy was working. Besides Billy insisted that the side room that he could have used was perfect for servers and he couldn't possibly work in the same space. Too much heat.

Billy spun in his chair, tapping his temple, letting Jax know he was turning off his communicator and giving him his full attention.

"You two certainly had a busy day." Dade commented idly while settling himself into a corner of the leather couch that used to dominate the room before Billy moved in.