CHAPTER 1 - "The 48th Day"

Deep within the Kurast nebula a large ship slowly patrols, this ship is 10 decks high and nearly 250 feet long. With two large engine pods to the rear a blue glow blows propels the ship slowly forward. The bottom of the ship houses two large satellite arrays that are used to mask the ships energy readings making it stealth. Around the top and side of the ship houses several cannons in various sizes. The ship looks old, the metal shows blemishes and corrosion and various panels are missing exposing the internal equipment. At the top of the ship there is a neck that is elevated in the shape of a gooseneck. At the top of this goose neck flashes multi-colored lights in several windows that leads to the bridge. Inside the bridge is the sound of Elton John's song, Crocodile Rock so loud it vibrates the loose outer panels of the bridge. The bridge crew are sitting at their stations with strange sunglasses and appearing to be using their controls as a piano. There we have Commander Silas Benjamin sliding into the center of the bridge wearing a bright purple suit, sunglasses and holding a hand walkies talkie radio to his mouth like a microphone used in concerts. Silas sings the lyrics as the bridge crew play the melody using the computers at their consoles like a musical instrument. The ship slowly rolls to port as the helm is being ignored while the song plays. Armed Marines usually meant to guard the bridge are dancing with each other. The young Lieutenant Skye Green slides in wearing a bright pink suit and only her socks so that she can slide around the smooth metal floor. Silas and Skye dance together in-front of the entire bridge crew as the nebula rotates behind them in the windows acting like a concert backdrop.

The fighter hanger in the lower bowels of the ship vibrate as the music is blasted throughout the bays. The flight crew dance with each other, some dance with open bottles of beer in their hands as others lit cigarettes in their mouth. The outer turrets of the ship move in sync with each other as if they are dancing to the beat while the crew gunners move their joysticks back and forth making each cannon sway. The music plays over their intercoms as major areas of the ship party as if it was the large warship was a college fraternity.

A man wearing a blue buttoned down uniform slowly walks onto the bridge, he walks right past the marine guards while they dance with each other. The bridge crew fixated on the show being put on by Lieutenant Skye Green and Commander Silas Benjamin, the uniformed man walks behind them and stands at the very back of the bridge at the internal communications console that is broadcasting the music and bridge show to the rest of the ship via the monitors. The uniformed man switches off the internal communications cutting the music from the other compartments and then turns off the music and dance lights from the bridge. The bridge crew looks back to see the  Captain Dreco Devoy behind them who is the commanding officer of the ship. "Keeping the music from broadcasting in my quarters does nothing if i can hear it 3 decks in every direction." He says with his arms crossed and a frustrated look on his face. "Get your uniforms back on and turn this shit off, this is a ship of war not a nightclub. Commander Benjamin and Lt. Green BOTH of you in my ready room right now!" the captain says as he slams the ready room door adjacent from the bridge.

Reluctantly Benjamin and Green walk into the Captain's ready room shutting the door behind them. Both stand at attention next to each other but in a show of defiance are still wearing the colorful suits they wore during the song. "What are you both this time, Sonny Bono?" He says as he sits down at his desk. "Elton John..." Benjamin says as he fixes the collar of his suit while Green giggles under her breath clearly intoxicated. The captain raises his voice "SIT DOWN! The both of you!", they both sit down and Benjamin places his feet on the desk for a few seconds before the Captain slaps his feet back off the table. "What have i told you about putting your feet on the fucking table? It's rude as hell, wars have been started for less." the Captain says sitting back in his chair. He places his hand over his face in pure frustration of his officers. "What part of STEALTH SHIP does not register to any of you? This is a stealth patrol ship and even though sound does not travel in space vibrations do. Not to mention most of the crew are completely distracted, hell the ship was rotating because helm was playing the fucking piano. What if we got attacked during that? The captain says to them expecting an answer. Benjamin removes his sun glasses and looks at the captain now with a serious face, "By who? We have not had a major conflict in over 40 years. Local pirates and smugglers can't even dent this ship assuming they can even detect us. We have been out here for 48 days... 48 fucking days of drifting in this nebula that looks like a day old fart. We can't get any of the television channels broadcast out here because of the soup and this ship frankly has nothing to do on it to keep from going crazy." Sharing Benjamin's concern Green speaks up from her silence "It was my idea captain, Benjamin just made it happen but it was me who gave him the idea." The captain laughs sarcastically "Thats hilarious you both have been banging each other since you came on board whatever he does you do and vise versa. You don't even sleep in your own quarters anymore. I did not originally have a problem with this but you both are just as bad as each other when it comes to this degenerate bull shit. I need to trust my command officers at least enough they don't cut power to internal communications in my quarters so they can have an Elton John concert on the bridge of my STEALTH war ship." Tired of the argument Benjamin takes off his purple suit of which his uniform is located underneath and says, "Im sorry cap next time we have a concert we will include you, we needed a backup singer." The captain face palms leaning forward on his desk "well it won't matter for a while anyway, we have been ordered back to fleet command headquarters in Corsica for a 3 month refit and overhaul of the main engine pods. I'm sure you will find plenty of clubs and bars to get thrown out of in Corsica. Now get the fuck out of here and to your quarters, we make the hyperspace jump tomorrow morning." Benjamin gets up and heads to his quarters as Green hesitantly asks "Do it's have to be our OWN quarters?" The captain looks up disgusted, "I don't care Green just go away."

A loud notification comes over the PA system, "Now hear this, hyperlight jump to Corsica in 37 minutes. All flight decks secure loose vessels, engineering report when board is green." Benjamin is half on the bed while Green takes up most of the bed he slowly slides out of the sheets onto the floor now realizing how bad his hangover will be from the concert he hosted the following night. They help each other into the shower while attempting to share the same cigarette. Green takes the cigarette and attempts to inhale quickly coughing the smoke out of her lungs, "What the hell is this shit where are the Newports?", taking the cigarette back from Green and attempting to shield it from the water he replies "We ran out of those a week ago, all we got are these nasty things Gabe grows in the engine room."

Benjamin and Green walk onto the bridge together now cleaned up and in their proper blue fleet uniforms. Green takes her station as Benjamin reports to the Captain. The captain looks over at Benjamin and says, "Good to see you in a proper uniform, the engine room reports all systems are green and we are clear to jump to Corisca, begin the jump sequence." Benjamin picks up the main intercom microphone and says "This is the Commander, stand by for jump." Benjamin inserts the jump key into the console as Benjamin starts the countdown, "Jump in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... JUMP" he turns the key in the console and the ship blinks out of its location into high orbit of the planet Corsica. Corsica is the capital of the Independent Planetary Union. "Jump complete, setting course for Setzer station", he says as he puts the intercom down. The ship slowly enters a docking ring with its nose slowly making contact with the airlocks. The blue hue of the engines dissipate as the engines are shut down.

Tristram City, Planet of Corsica 2 months later...

Two months pass, Town square of Tristram bustles with life as thousands of people make their way through the various markets and vendors that litter the downtown area. Tristram is the Capital city of the core worlds, permits are required to live in the city which makes makes the homeless and crime nearly non-existent. Violent crime often gets your permit revoked and the criminal deported from the planet which prides itself on its cleanliness and lack of poverty. The invention of the mass fabricator which can 3d print nearly anything from raw materials has made every home a beacon of luxury. Androids and artificial intelligence handle most labor and the massive skyscrapers and ever evolving due to automation of construction. All military officers are assigned moderately sized condominiums to their respected rank and family status. The larger the family the larger the condo. Each condo is assigned an A.I. that can present itself in the form of an android avatar to act as Secretary, maid, Butler and nanny to the officers. A.I.'s are normally regulated by code that keeps it in a favorable personality. This keeps the A.I. professional and mannered. Of course in the Benjamin household the A.I. is not only unregulated but programmed to be as outspoken as Silas himself. 

Since returning to Corsica Skye has moved into Silas's home and they have spent the last month having the time of their life. From parties to off road racing they have been attached at the hip. They are not only lovers but best friends, their personalities are so similar they can finish each other's sentences and both feel completely comfortable with each other. Tonight is the first night Silas has left his comfort zone and is nervous for what he is about to say to Skye. She is sitting in the hot tub on the balcony of the upper penthouse of the Griswold building. She lays back relaxing wearing a narrow black sports bra and black panties holding a drink in her hand taking in the view of the sky. With so many ships entering and leaving hyperspace the sky looks as if there are dozens of shooting stars and a noise dissipation field around the building keeps the noises low and calm. Silas now concealing an object in his hand attempts to walk outside only to turn around back to his starting position. He inhales his cigarette several times and attempts to walk out again, it is the first time he has ever been nervous to speak to her and he turns around back to his starting position. His A.I. avatar, Geoff which looks unlike most androids. He looks like a robotic skeleton with blue glowing eyes, a metal Mohawk that Skye made for him and an oversized suit Silas gave him. Geoff walks past him stopping to notice his master pace back and forth unlike he had never seen before. "Sir have you finally lost your mind? I knew it was coming but I never expected so soon." the avatar says to Silas in a sarcastic tone. "Geoff just ignore me right now and pretend i'm not here..." Silas says in a nervous voice. Geoff sarcastically walks into Silas bumping into him, "Sorry sir you wanted me to pretend you where not there." Silas turns Geoff around and says into his where his ear would be "That way, somewhere over there." as he points across the room. Silas finishes his cigarette, and wearing only his shorts he walks to the balcony hiding his object on the outside of the hot tub as he climbs in with Skye. As soon as she sees him enter she nuzzles up into Silas's arms and closes her eyes in comfort. Hearing Silas's heartbeat race she quickly opens her eyes and looks at him, "Something is wrong, why are you all wound up?" she says as she brushes her hand along his chest. In a panic he says, "Nothing its alright Geoff startled me is all." she closes her eyes again and a moment later opens them again looking up at him into his eyes, "No he did not, I can tell when your lying to me just tell me." she says in a calming tone. Now concerned that she is worried he reaches behind him and picks up a small black box covered in velvet. He opens it which has inside a small silver wristband with a small engraving on the top. "I can't imagine any other life i would want and anyone else i would want it with, will you marry me?" he says with a shaky voice. For hundreds of years after humans left earth it became more customary for military partners to wear wristbands instead of rings in order to free the hands from obstructions. From triggers to gloves rings where phased out as gloves connected to space suits became more common. Without hesitation she sits up and looks at him and then the wristband "yes of course i will marry you" she says enthusiastically to alleviate Silas's tension. Skye slides the wristband onto her right arm and wraps her arms and legs around Silas.

The door chime goes off a few moments after Skye wraps herself around Silas. "Don't bother getting up this must be my only purpose since im no longer allowed outside, what am I? A fucking house cat doomed to live indoors." Geoff says in a sarcastic tone as he walks to the front door. Geoff opens the door and quickly finds a large pistol in his face, "What the fuck are you? A large man in a blue uniform says to him. Most androids looked humanoid but the man was startled by a skeleton with blue glowing eyes and a metal Mohawk in his face. "I see the pizza place is getting sensitive about my lack of tips, I suggest you stand slightly to the left before the platform you're standing on shocks you with ten thousand volts. My masters are very creative when it comes to home defense." Geoff says sarcastically showing no fear of the large pistol. Hearing the comments Skye and Silas jump out of the tub, Skye reaches under the sofa pulling out a sawed off shotgun and Silas reaches behind a picture frame on the banister to produce a large pistol of his own. "What the hell is going on?" Skye screams towards the front door. "Crime seems to be going on miss Skye." Geoff says turning his head a complete one hundred and eighty degrees to respond. "What the hell is this thing Commander?" a man yells from the door. Realizing it is Captain Devoy Silas and Skye put down their weapons. "Thats Captain Devoy you moron let him in!" Silas yells at Geoff. "So not the pizza guy coming back for his tip, got it." Geoff says as he slowly walks away. Silas and Skye walk Captain Devoy in still wearing next to no clothing they all sit down on the sofa. "Your house is about as bonkers as you make my ship, what compelled you to make your android look like a creepy skeleton?" The captain says not surprised. "Well Captain Devoy, it started when we wanted to make a heavy metal band, I modified Geoff to play the drums and we liked it so much we kept him that way. The mohawk is the best part." Skye says proudly. "I'm in your house you don't need to call me Captain Devoy just call me Dre." The captain says leaning back. "So... why did you call me here?" Dre says more confused than ever. "OH! that's right, I completely spaced. I wanted you here right after I proposed. If she said yes I wanted to ask you to officiate our wedding and if she said no I was hoping you would prevent me from hanging myself off the balcony." Silas says calmly not seeing anything dark about what he just said. "I'm hoping you will still keep us Captain Dre, I know most captains are not comfortable with married officers serving on the bridge of the same ship." Skye says hesitantly as she nervously plays with her hair. "its just Dre when we are off duty and its not like anyone would notice, remember that time I caught you both fucking in my quarters on my bed in my sheets? Yeah... It's not like your discrete I am used to it by now." The captain says holding back a laugh. "We got you new sheets and cleaned your shower" Skye says without any concern. "I did not know about the shower... Yikes... ok anyway yes I would be glad to officiate your wedding are you planning to do it aboard the ship or somewhere else?" the captain says. "HA, Hell no, are you kidding? That ragged old ship no way I wanted to do it in the Arcane Sanctuary how does that sound hun?" Silas says looking over at Skye. "Ooo I like that, That's a good idea, yeah Captain we are doing it there the ship is too dark and smells like sweat and cum." She says cringing to the thought of it. "Just text me the time and date and I will make it happen, I'll leave you kids too it and remember we are out of here in about 18 days so keep it before then.... And... Skye the ship was refurbished it is much brighter and no longer smells like cum you are going to like the improvements." The Captain says as he gets up and walks out the door. Geoff mumbles at a low volume, "not even an apology" as he slams the door.

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