The Whorls of Jupiter

Chapter 14 Prominent Rage

August 5th 2521

"Where are we going Cap?" Oddie asked nervously as La Trois input the navigation coordinates.

"Back home. We got what we came for. Whatever happens next is not our concern."

"It is our concern!" Jorge shouted as he staggered into the bridge.

"Jorge?! You made it..." La Trois said surprised.

"Yeah, where's the kirin?! We need to stop it!"

"We're a freighter Jorge. Don't get your hopes up. Look at the NAV board. It's already departed and well out of intercept range."

Oddie was shocked, "Holy shit Cap. How the fuck is it flying that fast?"

"The kirin must be red lining the engines."

"He'd be dead in minutes of radiation poisoning," Jorge murmured.

"I suspect Jorge, the kirin isn't concerned about that."

"What's the plan, Cap? We're just turning tail and going home?"

"Something to that effect... This will be the final voyage of the Prominent Rage."

"What do you mean?"

"We had to vent our core before launching to space. We'll be unable to refuel at terminal velocity."

"Wait? Are you saying we're gonna fucking die in here?"

"Not necessarily. Our descent is taking us right past Yari Station. We'll abandon ship and parachute back onboard."

"You think they really want to see us again?" Jorge asked.

"Would you prefer venturing past crush depth and visiting the core?" La Trois asked.

"Fair point Cap."

"Gentlemen! Prepare to abandon ship."

In minutes the three remaining crew of the Prominent Rage were in the airlock preparing to make the risky jump to Yari Station. At terminal velocity, the Prominent Rage was burning outside and rattling with extreme turbulence. Jorge and Oddie secured their helmets as a wrench came loose and smashed into La Trois's exposed face.

"Cap!" Oddie shouted as he saw something fall on the floor. Oddie instinctively reached down and picked it up. Oddie looked at it and realized it was a contact lens.

"Cap?" Oddie murmured in fear as he saw the glowing thirteen point cataract in La Trois's exposed eye. In a single moment La Trois grasped Oddie and drew his railrevolver.

Jorge looked up to see the gun trained on him and was confused, "Cap? What the fuck are you doing- Oh." Jorge spotted La Trois's eye and just stopped. Mentally exhausted Jorge couldn't process the implications and just said frustratedly, "This doesn't make any sense though."

"It doesn't have to," La Trois replied as he used the butt of his pistol to slap the airlock controls. Behind Jorge the doors opened and the howling winds tore at him but he used his magnetic boots to remain still. He and Oddie were wearing their helmets while La Trois stood completely unaffected by the unbreathable Jovian atmosphere.

"You were an excellent crewman Jorge."

"I..." Jorge sighed confused and tired, "I don't know what the fuck is happening Cap but let Oddie go."

"Can't do that. He's important."

"I'm wearing graphene. Whatever shit you're trying to pull you know I'd be better at it than him."