The Navigator

39. Interesting

Author's Note:

Song Credit: Sing to Me, Missio

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

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Jax hadn't thought it possible to be in possession of so much stuff. Having grown up losing any objects that he couldn't carry on his person to shipmates, evacuations, and early departures, it was not his common practice to own more than a few paltry items and a couple changes of clothes, outside of his mementos and tools. Now, however, he found himself surrounded by the full trappings of a home.

He unwrapped the protective paper from the constellation dishes in the box he was working on and placed them among their fellows in the kitchen cabinet, satisfied that his personal taste had led to a matching set. Not that mismatched dishes would have haunted him, but he did enjoy the consistency and was surprised by the amount of satisfaction he felt over it. Why would such a small thing as identical dishes matter to anyone when the universe was full of chaos?

He hummed to himself as he realized the answer was in the question, chaos outside-order inside. That made sense, he supposed, in a sort of planetbound way of thinking. A thought process he was determined to learn and participate in as soon as possible. Regardless of the potential consequences.

He had known it was a risk returning to the station, but hell, it was a risk working in the shipping office too. It wasn't like his white hair let him blend into a crowd, and anyone looking for him would know to check wherever Dade was. Since no one had confronted him at work, he had convinced himself that it wouldn't be a problem, and his desire to show Addy the Miri he held so dear heavily outweighed his concerns.

It was a miscalculation, a profound error in judgement that made his skin prickle with sweat and goose bumps at the memory.

Cargo Fall was over and the time he had reserved for them in the observatory had ticked away, forcing him to lead a flushed and weak-kneed Addy back into the halls and under the oppressive weight of artificial gravity. It was on this journey back through the stark, industrial space station towards their scheduled flight home, that he had been spotted. By someone of no small consequence.

Uri Ivanov had immersed himself in the preparations of the Actaeon as it was stocked and it's crew acquired. He, Jax, Captain Jameson, and the other officers had spent countless hours in meetings ensuring in the quality, compatibility, and compliance of his quarterdeck. Because they were his officers, as surely as he owned the Actaeon itself.

This owner's level of involvement was unprecedented in Jax's experienc. Hee knew that the owners and the Captains usually spent time together, determining the rule of law and expectations. Establishing trust between the two, before the one blasted off into the deep dark with the others most valuable possession. This had been different though, the inclusion of all the officers was disconcerting all on its own, but had turned out to be fairly enjoyable. Jax had appreciated the interest Uri showed to every mission critical task, and the way the man demanded whoever he was observing to justify their choices. Explain in exhaustive detail the 'why' behind things the officer under his gaze had never been questioned on, something Jax didn't sweat when it was his turn. Enjoying the opportunity to showcase his skills, no one ever asked for the details, only the results.

He and Uri had bonded over mathematic principals and the difficulties of variables, giving them a solid foundation as the departure date approached. So Jax was under no illusions of escaping unnoticed or pleading ignorance when the man himself approached with 3 other brutes that were obviously bodyguards. He was going with them, and the best he could do is keep Addy out of it. He couldn't pretend he didn't know her, the hold he had on her waist was a dead giveaway if the way they had been whispering and smiling back and forth wasn't enough of a tell.

Abandoning her on a nearby bench, Jax allowed himself to be escorted into a private room where his heart began its steady, accelerated climb. The temperature in the room rising dangerously, like the station had been blown off course and was now on a collision vector with the hot sun at the center of this small solar system. He tried desperately to control his breathing, using his years of unflappable control to smooth his expression, trying to give nothing away. Never in his life did he have more to lose, and he wasn't going to be intimidated into a bad choice.

Uri had been affable, at first, the friendly companion Jax had known shining through the pale blue eyes.

"I'm happy to see you alive and well Fairsail, considering you're supposed to be dead, along with the entire crew of my ship."

Jax continued to breathe slowly, every effort in place to keep his face impassive, determined to give nothing away.

"Imagine my surprise, finding you here on this inconsequential cargo station, with a woman on your arm no less. Isn't that interesting?"

Jax swallowed, unable to answer. What could he say? He didn't know what had happened to the colony scout ship any better than Uri did, and even if he could hazard a guess, there was a stranglehold taking place deep in his brain. He could feel it, the... whatever it was, that had moved him through space in the blink of an eye. Years of travel scattering out of the way in a moment. He couldn't explain it if he wanted to, he didn't, and the pressure in his head was telling him something else wasn't ok with the divulgence either. This was a dangerous game, Uri would want to know what happened to his unimaginably expensive investment and would not be gentle in obtaining it.

Uri went on with a defeated sigh "You aren't the only crewmember that's been found. I've been getting reports about them turning up in the strangest places across the galaxy. Very odd. And most of them have been about as talkative as you are." He had paused, then his relaxed posture morphing into what Jax had been expecting, one that by very definition was threatening. His fingers lacing together in a tight, clenching motion while his chin tilted up, observing his victim from over the bridge of his straight, long nose. All faux affability falling away, the hardened exterior of the very successful in a harshly competitive market replacing any softness that Jax may have been privy to before.

"Where is my ship, Fairsail? What the fuck happened out there?"

Jax hesitated, knowing he couldn't answer but also well aware that he absolutely had to if he wanted to leave this room in the same condition he had entered it. The goon that had moved around to his back was making promises with his cracking knuckles that he was sure the man would be happy to keep. He let none of his concern show on his face, denying them all the satisfaction of his fear.

"I don't know, Mr. Ivanov. I was on board, everything was going to plan, then I was suddenly here on this very station in a closet. I'm sure the others gave a similar testimony." This answer didn't seem to soothe his interrogator, but it didn't trigger the force in his head, so it was as good as he could do. Luckily, it seemed to be the expected answer, and Uri sighed, relaxing marginally.

"The others have said similar things, but it makes no sense." The member of the Flotilla looked to the side, his frustration apparent if no longer directed at Jax with the sharpness of a serrated edge. "I have no reason to believe that the Actaeon isn't still out there, poorly manned and without a method of communication." He spat on the floor, aggression leaking from his pores. "But it could also be floating empty or simply been destroyed outright. Both seem equally possible at this point. Unfortunately, that ship represents an investment that I am unwilling to lose, not when it could be found. So I'll tell you what Fairsail, you always struck me as a smart, disciplined man. And I never really understood why your aspirations stopped at a Navigator when you were obviously destined for greater things. I'm putting together another expedition, with the intention of finding the Actaeon and recovering it, rescuing any remaining crew in the process. I can think of no one better to lead that mission then the man who charted the course to the exact point it disappeared from in the first place. Can you?"

Of all the things Uri could have said, accused Jax of, this was by far the most unexpected. Captain. He could be a Captain, all he had to do was say yes and he could be space bound again, in complete control of his destiny and that of his crew.

Interesting.