Space Tripping 2: The Chaser by Patrick M. Edwards

Author:Patrick M. Edwards [Edwards, Patrick M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Published: 2021-12-09T05:00:00+00:00

WORD SECTION 0027

The Cube ship reappeared from within a different black emptiness situated approximately 3,616 light years away from the Maelstrom. It streaked across the star-pocked interstellar landscape for a few dozen miles as Jopp pulled them out of the corkscrew and applied the brakes, all the while his passengers continuing to scream and hurl curses.

“Alright! Alright!” he shouted as the ship slowed to a lazy drift. “Would you two shut the phoob up already?”

Chuck and Phyos replaced their loud screams with heavy breathing and furious glares at the pilot. Jopp gave Chuck a sympathetic smile.

“Sorry for freaking you out, Buddy.” He turned to Phyos with a smug grin and said, “To you, I’m not sorry. And you can wipe that frown right of your lovely, distinguished, green face. As the person who roped us into this extended cross-galactic near-death experience, you don’t get to be mad. You should be smiling like a kid eating an entire slab of frosted jubla because,” he forcefully tapped the navi-screen, “I fucking nailed that jump.”

Phyos opened her mouth to retort, but her eyes caught the readout from the control panel. She blinked, leaned in closer, and said, “Well fling my feces, you actually did it.”

“Jopp,” said Chuck, “that was fucking righteous. I didn’t know you could fly like that.”

“Okay, okay. Don’t act too shocked. It’s insulting.”

Phyos swiped her fingers across the control panel, tapped a few icons, and pulled up the image of a planet that was mostly green, but with sizable patches of crimson and gold. The caption beneath it read: Gjenlu, fifth planet of the Alizlos Solar System.

“Kind of looks like a Christmas ornament,” mused Chuck.

“A what, dear?” asked Phyos.

“Is that the Earth holiday you told me about? The one where the creepy old guy breaks into your houses to eat your snacks?”

“I mean, sort of… there’s also like a religious aspect to it… and gifts, lots of gifts…”

“Fascinating,” said Phyos, “Well, don’t fret. When we’re on Gjenlu, no creepy fellow is gonna steal your treats.”

“Who the fuck said we’re going there?” scoffed Jopp, “Look, Prof, I went for the anomaly jump ‘cause as you stated, it was our best chance of avoiding an unpleasant death. I never said we’d continue on with this insanity. I’m out. And I think I can safely say the Earth Ape and Big Red are also out.”

“As a matter of fact, I am still very much in.”

Three heads spun around toward the source of the voice. Bhanakhana stood tall in the control room doorway. A large open robe was draped over his shoulders. He wore no shirt underneath, and his torso was wrapped in sani-seal healing bandages.

“Heeeeey,” said Chuck, “How you doing?”

“This may shock you, but I have felt better.” Bhanakhana let out the tiniest of chuckles. He walked toward his chair, a slight wince of pain with every other step.

“You can’t be serious, Red,” said Jopp, “C’mon, this is not our problem.

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