The Key of Astrea

Penwales

The Strider's main drive shut down as they entered Earth's orbit and the ship flipped around to face the blue-green sphere. The view filled the cockpit. In spite of being tricked into this mission, Jack couldn't help feeling a sense of awe. This is a beautiful planet. Even though he was trapped with Hocco's killer, he felt like celebrating his first visit to a planet in several years.

Jack unfastened his harness and floated up from his seat. Using handholds in the cockpit, he pulled himself to the galley. Jack rifled through the cabinets until he found a bottle of amber liquid. He squeezed a shot into a small cup. The grooved interior was designed to contain the fluid even in zero gravity.

The door to Victus's cabin opened, and the man masquerading as Hocco floated into the galley. Jack suppressed his anger. He wasn't going to let this man spoil his mood. So, Jack filled another grooved shot glass and handed it to Victus.

"To a smooth mission." Jack held up his glass for a toast. Without waiting for Victus, he sucked the amber liquid out of the grooves and savored its sweetness and warmth. It tasted smoky and slightly fruity. When he swallowed, it burned a trail of heat down his throat. He sucked air through his teeth and tossed the glass toward the sink net. "I'm ready to go planetside, and while I'm down there, I'm going to pick up some supplies for the ship." And maybe a little something for me, Jack thought.

"Do not get sidetracked." Victus tossed his empty glass toward the sink. It clinked into Jack's before getting caught in the net.

"Don't worry." Jack pushed off a cabinet and floated toward his cabin. "Getting home is my number one priority."

After packing a duffel bag, Jack climbed down to the cargo bay. He grabbed his leather jacket from the locker and made his way through the airlock to his spaceplane. Jack had named the plane Pepper, after his ex-wife. As a wedding gift, he had commissioned an artist to paint her likeness—ice-blue skin and red hair—onto the side of the plane's tail. Even though they were now divorced, Jack couldn't bring himself to change the name or remove the painting.

Jack entered the plane and secured the door behind him. Out of habit, he kissed two fingers and touched the ceiling. He passed through the small cargo area—lined with eight vac suits—and strapped his duffel into an empty seat. Jack strapped himself into the pilot's seat and ran through the preflight routine.

Jack activated the communicator and said, "Ready for release."

"You are all clear," Victus said. "One thing, though..."

"What's that?"

"I cannot reach Mister Torres."

"Is that a deal breaker?"

"No, he may not be free to talk, for security reasons."

"Or he learned that you're an evil body-snatching warlord."

"Amusing," Victus replied with no trace of amusement in his tone.

"Oh, sorry, I thought I had the comm turned off," Jack lied.

"In case he cannot meet you, he will send his colleague Aindriu Ward. They both know the situation and will lead you to the Selkans' location. This remains our best option."

"As much as I hate saying it, I agree with you."

The docking clamps retracted, and the spaceplane drifted away from the Strider. Jack turned the nose of the Pepper toward Earth's southern hemisphere. Then he hit the thrusters and dropped toward Acacia City Airfield. The airfield catered to clientele who owned private planes and spaceplanes like the Pepper, while the Acacia City Spaceport, or ACX, was primarily for commercial flights and arrival and departure of cargo.