Re: Stories From Jupiter
Thanks very much for the comment, Belle ^_^ Now without further ado, here's the next instalment.
Reilly Turner
Reilly Turner clutched at the bullet hole in his left arm. It was bleeding bad, soaking his standard issue blue uniform. He sat at the controls of the Prison Ship, his mind racing as to what his next move was. Alarms and sirens screamed out from the displays in front of him. The ship was sinking. It would take him with it down to the depths of the planet. One particular display caught his attention. It was a radar of sorts. And there was a ship close by. He checked his fuel reserves. Checked what was still working. He could make it. Just. He tapped at the controls. The Prison Ship groaned, struggling to obey.
“C’mon,” urged Reilly. “If I’m still going, then you shouldn’t have a problem.”
Reilly was old. He felt it every day. He felt it in his knees. He felt it in the lines on his face. He felt it every day. His hair was thinning and voice was becoming frail. Reilly looked over his shoulders. Two dead bodies. The result of the shootout earlier. One wore the same uniform as himself. The other wore a prison jumpsuit. Reilly turned his attention back to the controls. He ordered the docking gantry to extend. His Prison Ship lurched over towards the other vessel, like a desperate free faller reaching out for the only handhold that could save him. Crunch! It was not pretty, but he was docked. He was saved. He sent an override to the other vessel’s outer door, opening it and ensuring someone could come to his aid. After a few minutes, the door behind him slid open. Reilly turned, saw a man and a woman. They saw the bodies before they saw Reilly.
“H…help,” said Reilly. “Prisoner…tried to esc…shot me…killed Earl…you were close…”
“So you thought you’d dock with us to get help?” said the man. “What about your comms?”
“Shot…in pieces,” replied Reilly.
“Alright,” said the man. “We’ll let you use our comms to contact police, get some medical help.”
“No…n-not, no police,” said Reilly. “Better they think I’m dead, or they’ll…they’ll make sure I am…it’s a different…different world…under President Grant.”
“Fine, we’ll get you to a hospital.”
The man lifted Reilly out of the chair. Reilly was still bleeding.
“Name’s Dex, by the way,” said the man, then to the woman, “Mia, get this ship undocked, let it sink under the clouds.”
The woman, Mia, looked at Dex in disbelief, “What about these people?” said Mia. “Their families will want us to bury them.”
“I don’t want to get involved in a police investigation,” said Dex. “I’ve got my own investigating to do and I can’t do that when I’m wrapped up in blue tape.”
“So that’s it, huh?!” exclaimed Mia. “These people don’t get the dignity, the respect, that they have a right to, just because you got errands to run?!”
“That’s it,” said Dex softly.
“How can you be so cold?”
“How can you not?”
“It’s all that keeps me alive.”
“Don’t like how I run things? Then sink on this ship. But while you’re on my ship and sucking its air, you’ll follow my orders.”
Dex turned away from Mia and continued on his way back to his own ship, still carrying Reilly.
The door creaked open as Mia looked inside. Reilly was lying on a bed, his wound bandaged. Dex had done an okay job of it too. The old man smiled as he saw Mia.
“I was worried for a moment,” he said. “You look as gorgeous as an angel, thought I might’ve crossed over as they say.”
Mia smiled, “You’ll be fine. We’ll get to a hospital soon.
“I can’t thank you enough, my dear,” said Reilly. “I was lucky that you came upon me. This planet is so big, and filled with vile creatures, that I doubt anyone would have noticed had one old man disappeared below the clouds.”
“The other two,” Mia sighed, “will anyone notice them?”
“You have, sweetheart,” said Reilly.
Mia sat on the end of the bed. She took care not to rumple the blankets. The gentle hum of the engines filled the room. It was a reassuring sound. They were still flying, treading the air, keeping their heads above the clouds. Mia listened to that sound and fell into her own thoughts. Reilly noticed the look of contemplative concentration on Mia’s face.
“What’s the matter, dear?” asked the man.
“I wonder if any one would notice if I sank,” Mia said in what was almost a whisper. “If they did, would they cry? Or would they cheer?”
“That’s no way for a beautiful young lady to talk about herself,” said Reilly.
“I would be one to cheer,” said Mia.
Before Reilly could answer, the door swung open forcefully. Dex stood in the doorway.
“I need to ask our guest some questions in private,” Dex demanded.
Mia nodded and stood, “We’ll get to a hospital soon, old timer.”
Dex stepped aside from the doorway and mockingly gestured for her to step through. After she had left the room, the door was shut and Dex remained where he stood.
“What do you want to know?”
“Where can I find the woman who wears the Dolphin Ring?” asked Dex.
“Dolphin Ring?”
“The ring has two dolphins - aquatic mammals from Earth’s past - two dolphins entwined on a gold band.”
“Why would I know someone by jewellery?”
“Because she was present at a murder scene.”
“Whose murder?”
“Mine.”
The man blinked, “I think you’d better start from the start.”
“Know her or not?”
The man paused, “I have heard of the Dolphin Ring. It’s one of a kind, from Earth, the only one like it left. Thieves spoke of it in revered whispers. It was alaywas trying to be stolen from the one who wore it. Last I heard she was in Equa.”
“Equa. That was the first place I looked. Thanks.”
“Got any other leads to follow?” said the man.
Dex sighed, “No," he paused, “One last question, how’d you do it?”
“Do what?”
“Break out of your cell and kill the two guards.”
The man smiled, “You have a keen wit. You can call me Reilly, Reilly Turner.”
Last edited by Mr Spork; 03-28-2008 at 08:40 AM.