Outcasts of Gideon

Dewey Buck : Part 2

He flipped a switch near his left pinkie and spoke toward the screen. "Eleven nineteen XVF prepared for departure," he said.

"Departing through course three seven," came a woman's voice.

"Dawn, you don't have to pretend you don't know me." Dewey's left arm twitched from the extension.

The vid screen blinked, filling with Dawn's face. "Dewey, we have to keep a clear channel here. Grant doesn't like it when we socialize. And the empty isn't free."

Dewey shook his head and frowned. "We ain't socializin' if we're just sayin' whose comin' back to Pyroeis."

It wasn't the first time Dewey had made this very same argument. From her expression, he could tell Dawn wasn't having any of it. "Eleven nineteen XVF, you are cleared for launch through course three seven." When she extinguished her video feed, the screen switched back to the passenger cabin.

"Damn it, Dawn. The least you could say is goodbye." He sounded a little more whiny than he cared to.

With his left middle finger, Dewey flipped another switch. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have clearance to depart for Pyroeis. Please ensure you have stowed all personal belongin's and are secured to your seat. The Lackey Shuttle Service cannot be held liable for injuries or property damage due to unsecured personal items."

He flipped the switch again and stared at the vid before him, counting to ten. Taking a deep breath, he reached his right index finger toward another button. Before he could press it, he saw a person burst into view in the passenger cabin below.

Two other people rushed into the room. They wore LSS uniforms. The man they were chasing was tall and thin, covered in the chocolate brown dust of Phaethon. Dewey flipped a switch to activate the comm.

"I have to be on this shuttle," shouted the thin man. Dewey recognized his voice. He didn't recognize the man.

"Sir, you are not authorized to be on this shuttle," said one of the men in uniform.

Dewey unstrapped himself and turned toward the hatch. He jumped down the ladder into the passenger cabin. There he found the thin man cornered in the back row of seats. "What's goin' on here?"

The thin man looked his way and smiled. "Dewey, tell these people I have to be on this shuttle."

Being in the room made it easier for Dewey to place the voice. It sounded like someone he knew, Bobby Ray Elliot. The person standing before him looked nothing like his friend. "Bobby?"

The thin man raised his arms, presenting himself. In one hand he held a battered messenger pouch. His clothes were tattered and covered in dust. Even from this distance, Dewey could tell his friend did not smell good. Bobby looked like he hadn't bathed in weeks.

Dewey tried to remember when he last saw Bobby. It had to be better than a month prior. Might have been two. This person barely resembled the man he knew. He had a haunted stare and skin stretched too tight across his face. "What the hell happened to you?"

"Do you know this guy?" asked one of the men in uniform.

Dewey gave in to Bobby's pleading stare. "Yeah, I should have told you guys he was comin'."

"We'll have to file a report."

Dewey waved them off. "Go ahead. Make sure you mention that I vouched for him. I can sign off on it."

The two uniformed men looked at each other, then turned to leave. Bobby stepped out from behind the last row and walked as if to see them out. "Sorry you guys can't go with us."

Dewey scowled. "Dammit, Bobby! Ain't you caused enough trouble? And seriously, what the hell happened to you?"

"It's the new look." Bobby spun around as though a model on a runway. "What's the matter, don't like it?" He offered a weak smile.

"You look terrible. I'd say like shit, but I've seen better shit."

"Not gonna win any beauty pageants?" Bobby stumbled toward the back row of seats and landed in one. "I haven't been sleeping is all."

"Or eating."

One of the passengers stood. It was the person who looked like a surveyor. "Hey, is this shuttle still going to Pyro?"

Dewey frowned. "Sorry, Sir, we'll get underway in just a few minutes."

Bobby lurched from his seat and grabbed Dewey's arm. His hands were trembling. "I found something." The words were hardly more than a whisper. He held on, pulling Dewey back.

"Whatever it is, I don't want any." Dewey broke free, heading back toward the pilot cabin. As he mounted the ladder, a thought broke through. He looked back toward Bobby. "Is it phaethonium? Did you find some?"

The other passengers turned to look as well.

"No, it's nothing like that." Bobby reached a bony hand into the messenger pouch. He pulled out an item wrapped in cloth. Lifting it toward his face, he stared at it, looking like a child with lost treasure.

The surveyor leaned toward the object, his eyes trained on it. Bobby thrust it back into the messenger pouch and sat down. Turning, the surveyor lowered himself into his seat. "Can we get underway now?"

Dewey continued his climb. As he regained his seat in the pilot's cabin, he triggered the hatch to close.

Without warning, the ship began to shake around him. He looked over the ship's controls. Nothing indicated any sort of problem. The vid showed the passenger cabin. All four people were looking around them.

Dewey's mind raced. If something was wrong at the station, it would delay them. Standing quickly, he grabbed hold of the handles above him. Without further hesitation, he triggered the anti-grav drive. The ship lurched upward, pulling hard on his extended arms.

With one hand, he flipped the vid screen to cycle through the various cameras. He selected another switch that combined all feeds into one. His eyes met the passenger entrance. It was sealed.

As they cleared the station, the vibration stopped. Flipping a switch near his left pinkie, he spoke toward the screen. "Eleven nineteen XVF to dispatch."

"Eleven nineteen XVF, this is dispatch," came Dawn's voice.

"Dawn, as we were liftin' off, I felt a vibration. It doesn't seem to be the Aion. Can you check to see if anyone reported a tremor on Phaethon?"

"Why would there be a tremor on Phaethon?"

"I have no idea, but the shuttle isn't vibratin' now that we're away."

Dewey stared at the blank vid screen. He activated the passenger cabin feed. The passengers all looked settled in, including Bobby.

"Dewey, Phaethon dispatch reports a tremor. They thought it was you departing."

"Why would they think that? The anti-grav doesn't vibrate."

"They're saying that Phaethon can't have seismic activity. It's a solid mass."

"It definitely shook."

"Sounds like you got out just in time. The station is still shaking. All traffic in and out of Phaethon is locked down. I'll let you know if I hear anything more."

Dropping the connection, Dewey focused on their ascent. When the shuttle cleared the atmosphere, he killed the anti-grav. Engaging main engines, he felt the familiar tug on his arms. The silence of floating gave way to a deep sound of heavy static. It reverberated through the vessel. The thrust pressed all the passengers – including Dewey – back into their seats.