A Collection of Short and Unfinished Stories

A Most Unfortunate Affair (Unfinished)

This is part one of a two-part, unfinished short story. I stopped because I didn't know where I was going with the plot, but if you'd like to see part two, feel free to let me know in the comments below :)

Much love,

      Tangent Arrow

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I swear to the Gods, you always have your nose stuck in those weird 'book' things." The woman strolled into a large room, which had been turned into a small "library" for her crew.

"What can I say?" The man chuckled. "Human literature enthralls me."

"Would you just look up for once? Perhaps look out the window? It's been nearly 6 turns since you sat yourself down, Jax."

"Look at that," Jax closed his book calmly and stood up to stretch. "Indeed it has."

"Really? We've only 3 more until Supernova and you haven't gotten ready at all. Get moving!" She shouted and swatted at his head as he gasped and ran out the door-- as quickly as one can with a prosthetic leg, that is. The woman chuckled as her shipmate ran down the seemingly endless hallway.

She decided to seat herself in the armchair and watch the stars go by. It was one of her favourite things to do in her spare time. Although, now that she could only use autopilot for a certain amount of time before it threatened to destroy her entire control board, she didn't have much spare time at all. The coordinates of the Grand Imperial Supernova Gala were sent directly to her ship, so she had no choice but to enable autopilot and hope for the best. The time got away from her so quickly that, about half a spark later, she was surprised at the fact that her crew mate was all cleaned up and ready to board the Imperial Ship

.

In a rather short amount of time, the Imperial Star Station came into view. The ship's captain ordered her small crew to the bow.

"Men, I want you on your best behaviours. Our company has been invited to the Imperial Gala for many years now, and I want to keep it that way for many, many more. You are representing our trading company, and as the only trading company with a monopoly over so many planet's goods, it is expected that you are the best of the best. I advise that you dare not disappoint me this evening." She gave her crew a quiet glare and dismissed them to their quarters. However, one young man stayed back. He pleaded with her.

"Please, Captain, don't make me go to the Gala. I've not the cleanest past, I don't think the Imperial Guards would be very pleased to see me. You mustn't make me board the station. I-- I'll do anything." His superior sighed and rubbed her temple.

"Enoch, I've told you time and time again that you must attend this gala. I understand that you may be nervous, as it's your first, but I'm sure you'll do fine. As for your past, I'm sure the guards won't hold it against you; we all make mistakes." His captain assured him with a matter-of-fact tone. Enoch knew he would not be winning this battle. There was a pause between them.

"Now then, off you go. Tidy yourself up." She patted his shoulder as he left, defeated.

Enoch traced his way back to his room. On his way there, he ran into the ship's cook, Emmett. He was a robust man, with enough heart to fuel the ship they were standing in.

"Aye, laddy, what's the matter? You've had such a long face ever since ye heard about the gala. Somethin' happen?" He tried his best to figure out what was wrong. He always did.

"I-- It's nothing." Enoch forced a smile, but Emmett remained unconvinced.

"Listen, if you ever need to-- you know-- talk about anythin'-- anything at all, my door's always open." He gestured behind him.

"I'm fine, really. Thanks." With that, he turned tail and rushed the rest of the way to his cabin.

Enoch looked at himself in the mirror while straightening his tie. He wore a black suit with a light blue shirt. On his feet were vintage burgundy leather shoes and a tie to match, both of which he found while on a far off planet in the Milky Way galaxy. As he combed his dark hair, he started to think a bit too much about the gala that was swiftly approaching.

'What if I'm found out?' He thought to himself. 'Surely they'll think less of me.' He gasped as another troubling thought occurred to him.

"What if they kick me off entirely?" He said quietly to himself, trembling. "What will I do then?"

There was a jostling of the ship as they docked at the Grand Imperial Star Station. Enoch wiped away a few stray tears from his cheeks and he exited his quarters. As he walked down the long, winding hallway toward the exit of the ship, Captain Mellestrove looped arms with him.

"Captain, I-" Enoch began

"Look, if you're that worried about this party-- that's really just what it is, a party, I hope you know,-- just-- stick by me, alright?" Enoch nodded slightly and she ruffled his hair. "Atta-boy. You'll be just fine."