Moments ago, or a lifetime, or both...
The pistol was made in Kentucky. It had been forged with steel which started off as iron mined in Australia. It's designer was a man from Tokushima Prefecture in Japan who lost his son in a skiing accident. The pistol was purchased in bulk by the Terran Confederation, but was lost from the records by an unfortunate clerical error. The pistol ended up, through a series of strange events, in Marlowe's hand.
This pistol's barrel, also by pure happenstance, was now aligned with Captain Memnon's forehead.
Tears streaming from his eyes, Marlowe stares coldly at the captain.
"How could you kill my son?"
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Earlier, aboard the Terran Trader Ascendant Star
After talking with the passenger's boy Tom, Geiri discovers that the person to whom they are to sell the livestock on Junction is named Chovak. This sends chills down his spine -- this could be the same Chovak whose son's death he had (perhaps accidentally, perhaps not) caused. He could be the same Chovak who is known in parts of the Imperium as Chovak Rend-Ship, a bold and unstable pirate.
The Star's computer announces that it is too near a gravity well, and drops out of jump space prematurely. The crew discovers a small black sphere outside which promptly declares "This pod is for Agent Locke." After some discussion, along with threats of destruction by the strange sphere, it suddenly announces "identity confirmed" and opens an iris door on the surface.
Blake volunteers to head over to the pod, followed minutes later by Geiri, who was too interested to let examination of this pod pass by. Once inside they discover a pair of cylinders mounted to the far end of the sphere.
"Agent Locke, you are instructed to take these containers to Dockmaster Logan at the Junction Spaceport. Upon safe delivery, you will be paid 150,000 Solars per container."
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Aboard the Imperium's Destroyer Katmodi
"Commander Horrugil, we are two hours from the drop point."
"Thank you, Lieutenant."
Horrugil peers out of the bridge at the ring of transverse color around the ship. "I really do not wish to tarry here. Please ensure that the Terran computer begins calculations as soon as we arrive."
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Aboard the Ascendant Star
Memnon, Jack, Landon, and Marlowe keep watch as Blake and Geiri attempt to maneuver the first cylinder towards the Star's airlock. Blake discovers he has been planet side too long, loses his orientation and ends up vomiting inside his vacc suit. Jack prevents Blake from becoming lost to space as he gently positions the Star to catch him. The pair bring the cylinder aboard, and return for the second.
After the Blake and Geiri return with the second cylinder, the strange black sphere speeds away. Calculations are nearing completion, and Jack returns to the flight deck to convince the ship to fall into jump space. The rest of the crew ask the passengers to return to their staterooms, and then put last mysterious cylinder on the deck.
"Jump calculations complete," announces the computer.
Moments later the same computer states, with a casual voice, "Ship ahoy."
In the flight deck, Jack sees an Imperium destroyer slip out of jump space at the same moment that he presses the jump switch.
Meanwhile, on the cargo deck, the crew discover that the cylinders are stasis pods containing an approximately forty year old female in one and a young boy in another. A debate rages as to what they will do with the pods. What if they are diseased? What if they are slaves? What if they are rich? What if we replace the occupants with some of the passengers? What??!?
Finally a plan is hatched, at the insistence of Captain Memnon, to have Blake and Marlowe open the woman's pod safely within the airlock.
A whiskey bottle slowly clatters across the cargo deck.
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Aboard the Katmodi
"If I did not just witness this, I would not believe it." states Horrugil flatly. "Where does it look like they are heading now, Lieutenant?"
"They appear to be proceeding towards Junction, sir."
"Fine then. Let us try to meet them there. Try to avoid any Terrans enroute."
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Aboard the Ascendant Star
As they discuss what to do with the cylinder in the airlock, Captain Memnon presses a few buttons on the other cylinder. Landon, Jack, and Geiri look on as the panel indicates the boy is being revived.
Suddenly, a security program is tripped and the display on the cylinder states "Security Alert: Terminating Subject." In a last ditch effort to stop the cylinder from completing its murderous program, Captain Memnon shuts off the cylinder's power and forces it open. A young black male tumbles out, gasping for air. Eyes wide he coughs and reaches with both arms towards the floodlights attached to the ceiling of the cargo deck.
Marlowe screams within the airlock. "No! No!"
The airlock door opens as Marlowe rushes to the scene. Landon brings Marlowe a crash kit as the "doctor" attempts to resuscitate the frightfully cold boy. After a four tense minutes, Marlowe begins sobbing.
He yells "Stay away from that other stasis pod!" while staring at the ground.
Somewhere, deep in his grief-wracked mind, he is dimly aware of his own hand reaching up behind his shirt...
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