Previously [8]

[9]

“You must be ‘effin’ kidding me!” Doc Liz cried out at the sight of Derek and Joe lying on the floor next to the giant green rump of the Murblard. Doc was running toward them with a flock of med bots hovering behind her.

“Doc, have you… have you ever operated on a Murblard?!” Derek was trying to catch his breath.

“Yeah, in college. We did academic autopsies on them!” Doc Liz retorted, whilst examining the green body, twitching in agony.

“Please, Doc! He just saved my life!”

“I’ll see what I can do…” Doc grunted. Derek and Joe had barely got up when something hit the ship violently. Both landed back on the floor.

“To the bridge!” Derek bellowed, jumped up and ran onward with Joe following him closely. They heard Doc Liz cursing behind them, and the med bots screeching under the weight of the Murblard; Doc had to get him to the operation room.

“The Ghoul ship is trying to ram us. They want to take us down, Cap!” Jimmy yelled as soon as Derek showed up on the bridge. Derek took the pilot’s seat, yelling out commands. He tried to manoeuvre the Vulture05 away from the Ghoul ship.

“Why do they attack us, Cap?!” Jimmy yelled in despair. It was clear the old Vulture05 could not escape the technically more advanced Ghould ship.

“Dispatch’! Come in dispatch’! Inform the Ghouls we’re Gravediggers! Damn it! Dispatch’! Help us!” Derek yelled like a mad man, while the Vulture05 took one blow after another, with the noise of bullets clinking all over the back.

“Listen, Cap Derek! I shouldn’t be sayin’ it, but…” a hushed voice of the Dispatch’ finally hummed, “… the Government has registered you as outlaws and rebel forces! It’s classified…”

“What?! Why?! Come in, Dispatch’!”

“Get rid of the Vulture and lay low!” Dispatch went quiet.

Derek cursed. For some seconds it felt like all hope is lost. But the nature of planet Orpheus was as harsh as it was unpredictable. A thick wall of red mist rose in front of them, Derek steered right into it. The mists of Orpheus were a peculiar phenomenon - the electromagnetic particles the mists contained made navigation within them extremely tricky. Derek knew the Ghoul ship would not risk to follow them into the mists.

***

They were trapped in the mists for hours. It demanded constant attention to navigate through without running onto a cliff hidden by the thick veil of the red sparkling fog. Derek sat clutching the steering wheel, ready to move his ship away from the possible obstacles. He had avoided hitting cliffs several times. Finally, they drifted into open air, the navigation went back to normal. Derek made the last effort to land the Vulture behind some cliffs near a lonesome building, before he leaned back in the pilot seat exhausted.

Derek knew this was a fairly unpopular half-legal bar, used by travellers, smugglers and other scum. A good fit for them now. They were outlaws.

“You should hit the showers and get some rest Cap! We’ll keep an eye out for the Ghouls.” Jimmy nearly shoved his Captain into the hallway. Derek was the last one to leave the bridge for the disinfection shower. He was determined to go check upon Doc Liz. She was still operating. Afterward he planned to go past Sophie’s cabin to see if she and Annouk were okay and…

Absorbed by his thoughts, Derek noticed Sophie running his way only seconds before she reached him.

“Stop!” He screamed. Sophie stopped just inches from his chest.

“I haven’t been disinfected yet! I… we…” Derek stuttered.

“I just had to make sure you’re okay. Annouk fell asleep,” Sophie said, breathing rapidly. Derek saw, she clearly braced herself not to hold him close.

“I’m… I’m alright. We lost the Ghouls.”

“You should’ve given me to the Ghouls,” said Sophie.

“It doesn’t matter anymore. The Dispatch’ finally contacted us. We’re labelled as outlaws.”

“But…”

“Once an outlaw for the Ghouls, always an outlaw,” Derek said bitterly.

The two stood listening to the humming and clinking of Vulture’s engines.

“I’ll take a shower. I have to check how Doc Liz is doing.”

Sophie nodded.

“I should go back to Annouk. Although, she’s a sound sleeper.” Sophie gave a warm smile. Derek smiled back timidly.

As he turned to enter the shower, he heard Sophie whisper,

“Would you come to my cabin? When you check on Doc Liz. Please!”

Derek gave a short nod, before the door swooshed closed behind him.