Meltdown Ophilion - Book One

23_OUTBOUND II

Orion's mind seemed blurry, as if he had just woken in the middle of the night. He felt disoriented, confused, helpless. But, it was too late to turn back. He would have to tell their story and simply accept the consequences. He wished there were a way out - somewhere to hide.

"Well," Orion began, weakly, "we... have a summons to fulfill... um actually, it's today..." he gave a kind of timorous smile, "in about ten mec-lan."

Menaro looked at him blankly. "Today! I see, well, what's the rush, and what is the location of the summons?"

"It's a bit difficult to explain, you see..." he glanced at his companions who, he thought, did not want to trade places with him, "...we found an old safe which contained maps of some of the zones of the asteroid belt. On one of the maps we found a summons... for today... and we think, uh... even believe that it's important that we fulfill it, that it has something to do with us."

The captain was puzzled. "I'm not sure I understand what you mean, but show me the summons and let's take it from there."

Orion laid out the maps on the table in front of him.

Menaro raised an eyebrow. "So you say you found these in an old safe?"

Orion nodded.

"These are quite valuable, you know? Have you had them appraised by a collector?"

Another nod.

"And this is the summons..." Menaro scanned the map then looked up surprised. "In zone ZL-31? That's hex-pirate territory. Only trouble there; why would you want to risk that?"

Orion looked around at his three friends, "there's more to our story, Uncle Menaro."

They took the next ten minutes explaining, as concisely as they could, what they had experienced in the last week. Menaro could see that, for them, this was not a game; they were sincere. But of course, it was beyond his credibility threshold.

"I'm sorry Orion, if it were some other place I wouldn't have a problem. We'd be risking our lives; that summons is right in the middle of some of the most fiercely fought-over territory out there – I know – I have friends who flew for the pirates and they barely got out alive. Besides, whoever made these maps is long since dead, maybe the codes were wrong, either that or the original message was not written correctly. Pirates are strange people." He inclined his head knowingly. "I promise to pay back the debt I owe you in full, but it'll have to be in some other way. In any case I need to have this ship ready to fly clients to Moog-Tah beach on the moon, Thizrah, in eight mec-lan. There's just no way we can do this now."

Menaro considered for a few seconds. "You know what," an idea had come to him, and it was much better than theirs, "why don't you stay here at my place while I'm gone. I'll be back in four calah, and then we'll think about what to do. I'm sure we'll come up with something. In the meantime you guys take it easy." He smiled. "I'll leave you some credit and you can have a good time; Portos-Caas has a lot to offer. Did you hear about the new calen-trance? You're going to go crazy over it! It's the latest thing and I don't think it's reached Kypro yet..." Menaro's wrist-com beeped. He looked at the screen and frowned. "Just a mec guys... I have to check on something in the office, take another look around. If you want, I'll work you into the schedule and we'll take a porthen off. I'll take you to some places on the moons that you never dreamed existed."

Menaro rose and exited the Elen-Tron. They watched him through the ship's windows as he entered the office. Orion felt like every last drop of power fluid had just drained from his engines. Now what do we do?

Jenna looked pensively out the window at the table where they had eaten lunch. You do your part, we'll do ours. Jenna remembered the relay. When you least expect it, the solution will come. You are on the right path – do not deviate.