Chapter 20

June sat down and stared at Joey. He was cute in a boyish way. It was so sad that he’d also been ripped from his home. There was nothing to do but let him hang there and work it out himself.

Vic had left in a huff. That was so typical of him. Just when things get tough emotionally, he bails out. Perhaps that’s why she never found herself interested in him. Sure he had the bad-boy, seventies-slacker-mentality, give-it-to-the-man that made him endearing, but that was only good for so long. It was actually starting to get old.

Maybe she’d grown up along the way and he hadn’t. That had to be it. Vic was Vic and always would be. With Dexter, Mike, and Argmon around why should he change?

Joey still hadn’t moved. June placed the immobilizer gun on the table. It was a good weapon, but only good for one shot before you had to recharge it. Dexter had brought it up and had put it in the lounge. Dexter had a way of knowing when things were going to happen.

She wanted to reach up and brush his curly, blond hair from his eyes, but she’d tried touching a person in an immobilizer field before and had her hand stuck. The field could be deactivated if you wanted to, but it also wore off on its own after an hour or so.

“You shouldn’t have gone after Vic like that, Joey. He’ll help you if you let him, but you can’t attack him just because you’re upset over this mess. You know what I did when I got here? I curled up into a ball for a week and refused to eat or talk or anything. It didn’t help until I started talking about it. Oh, and don’t mock his authority either. He really doesn’t like that.”

June had butted heads with Vic on more than one occasion. He was a man who always wanted to either be in control or give the appearance of control. Unfortunately June had become much the same except much less pig-headed than Vic.

“So how long should I leave you there?” It hadn’t occurred to her that Joey had no idea how long he would remain up there. “I can turn this off any time, but I’ve got to know that you’ve calmed down and you’re ready to start accepting this. I know it’s difficult, but throwing a fit isn’t going to change anything. In fact it’ll just make things worse for all of us.”

Joey’s eyes moved and kept looking at her. He could hear her. She’d been placed in an immobilization field before and you could move your eyes, hear, and breathe. That was about it. It was a very efficient weapon for capturing people.

“If I let you down, will you sit and talk to me and not go all bonkers? Blink once for yes, twice for no.”

Joey blinked once.

“If you try and jump me like you tried to jump Vic, I assure you that I’ll scream for Dexter. He was nice to you once, he won’t be so friendly the second time, I assure you of that.”

The gun had several buttons on its side, all unlabeled. Why people who made things like this felt the need to make everything without good identifying marks was beyond her. Perhaps it was a way to create a more universal weapon without specific markings for one specific species. Who knew?

All she knew was the red button was on and the green button released the person.

“Brace yourself. The table is hard.”

She pressed the green button and Joey fell onto the table. He bounced slightly and gripped his side and groaned. She’d forgotten he was already hurt.

“I’m sorry. I should have put something soft down for you. I thought you’d catch yourself.”

Joey grunted, “Don’t worry about it. I’m fine.” He rolled off the table and onto the bench seat.

“We’ve got something around here for pain, but it’ll put you to sleep.”

“I’d rather be awake right now, thanks.”

June bit her upper lip. “You want a beer or something?”

“No. I don’t want anything.”

“Food?”

“No.”

“Do you want to take a shower?”

“No! Nothing. Just leave me alone.”

“Look, Joey, I was depressed for a long time when I got here too. I know what you’re thinking. Talk to me.”

“If you know what I’m thinking then you’d just leave me alone.”

She wasn’t about to do that. “I took pictures when Vic took me back. If you want to, maybe later, you can look at them.”

“Are they something that’ll make me feel better?”

“Well, no. They’re kind of freaky with all the empty houses and empty streets. I still have nightmares.”

“Like the one I had?”

“Yes. I’m pretty sure I pushed that onto you. I’ve done the same thing to Vic.”

“So what’s up with him anyway? He doesn’t seem really surprised that I’m here or even care that his mom wants to see him. He just acts all tough and distant.”

June shook her head and brushed her hair back. “That’s just the way he is. Figure he came here and had no idea what to expect and no one here to help him. I think he thought he might find his dad and imagine how he felt when he got here, your age, and was all alone. He’s been through a lot.”

“How’d he get this ship and everything?”

“That’s for him to tell you. I’m not going there and I probably won’t be there when he does finally tell you. Hearing that story once was enough for me.”

And it had been enough. She still got shivers thinking about the first time Vic told her. She’d only been on the ship for a couple weeks when he told her. She would listen to it if Vic made her, but she wasn’t going to do it willingly.

“It’s that bad?”

“Look, you’ll have to wait until he tells you, but yes, it’s that bad. If you think you’re having a bad day, well, just wait until he tells you. You’ll look at him differently. He’s stubborn and all, but…”

What else could she say. She hadn’t given it much thought about what Vic’s personality was like. After hearing his story about what it was like when he got here, she didn’t want to hear anything more about it. He’d tried on occasion, but she would always have something better to do and leave him talking with Mike or Dexter.

SPX-39’s head rose slightly from its body. June smiled. Finally a distraction. The robot was distracting almost to a fault.

“SPX-39, it’s safe to come out. This is Joey. He’s not going to hurt you.” She held a hand out to allow it to sit next to her.

“SPX-39 is not so sure about that,” it said in its electronic voice.

“He’s from the same place that Vic and I are from. You can trust him.”

“SPX-39 doesn’t trust Vic.”

“You trust me, don’t you?” June asked in a cooing voice.

SPX-39 expanded a little more. She had to work with it many times. Vic just didn’t have the ability to talk nice with it. He got frustrated too easily.

“SPX-39, this is Joey. Joey, this is SPX-39.”

“Um, nice to meet you.” Joey reached out to shake its hand.

SPX-39 shrunk back.

June said softly, “Where are your manners? Shake Joey’s hand and be nice to him. He’s not going to hurt you.”

“SPX-39 thinks he wants to crush my hand.”

“He’s not going to crush your hand.”

Slowly one arm extended and touched Joey’s ever so briefly before retracting.

“Now that you’ve done that, please go talk to Tootsie so we can get underway.”

“Because June wishes it, SPX-39 will do it.”

The robot expanded to its full height and raced from the room. June laughed. Joey was still looking at his hand.

“What is it?” she asked.

“That’s the first robot I’ve touched and I think it was the strangest thing that’s happened to me since I’ve been here.”

“Really? You’ve met Joop-Nop, haven’t you?”

“Well, yeah. That was weird too. Is there anything else I should be prepared for?”

June laughed. Oh was he in for more surprises. He still hadn’t met Mike.

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Chapter 19

The lights were dimmed and the music was soft. A bath was just what B.T. Justice needed and he was the only one on the ship allowed to take one. It was all just a matter of time before the SS Acid Rat and its captain arrived. He would have them trapped in a tractor beam before they knew what hit them. It was such a perfect set up.

“Sheriff Justice, sir,” a voice on the con interrupted.

Perfect timing, wasn’t it. He hadn’t even been able to light the cigar he’d been chewing. What was it with this crew? Couldn’t they understand an order not to be disturbed.

“What is it? This had better be important. I left orders not to be disturbed.”

“Sir, it’s important. Should I put the message on the viewer?”

“Message? Message from whom?”

“Sir, it’s GCP Central Office. They have been trying to reach you. I told them you were indisposed. I don’t think they’re too happy.”

“Didn’t you tell them we were silent running?”

“I think you should listen to the message, sir.”

“Put it through.”

A panel on the wall slide aside and a viewer sprung to life with color before Counselor Pitrine appeared on the screen. Justice had never seen the man before and was disappointed to see that he looked as much the weasel he’d suspected he would. He even held his hands up to his chest while his twitchy nose wiggled with every syllable.

“Sheriff Justice, we have been attempting to contact you for several hours now. Your crew keeps telling us you are not available and that you are running a silent patrol around your system. We need to inform you that your request was discussed because of the charges you made against the SS Acid Rat. It appears that this ship has been tracked before and is wanted in over forty systems for an abundance of crimes. You are therefore relieved of any pressure to pursue the ship. The council will convene again tomorrow and we will take steps to apprehend the ship and its crew. You are to take no action-.”

Did he just say take no action. Justice leapt out of the bathtub.

“No action! No action! I’m not letting them get away and get lost in your system.”

“…and we would appreciate your staying out of the way so the Galactic Patrol can apprehend them. If you have any other information regarding the ship and its crew, you are ordered to forward it immediately to the GCP Central Office for processing.”

“I’ll do nothing of the sort! You’ll let them get away. They’re mine and I’ll deal with them in my own way. I can’t believe this.” Sheriff Justice grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist. With water still dripping off his body, he opened the door to his room and shouted. “Junior! Hamburger! And get the GCP Central Office on the con.”

He pulled the cigar from his mouth and threw it on the ground. It felt good to smash it with his heel. How dare they usurp his authority? Well, maybe it wasn’t usurping, but they were not letting him finish what he’d started. They were preventing him from bringing down this scumbag.

Where was Junior?

B.T. Justice stomped back and forth across the room. He thought about putting on clothes and toyed with the idea once or twice. He’d left soapy foot prints on the carpet and it was probably a good idea to wear clothes when speaking with that weasel Pitrine. Oh did he have words for that one.

“Where should I put this?” Junior asked as he entered the room. Justice had just dropped his towel.

“Get in here and close the door. Put that on the table. Did you get them on the con?”

“Yes, sir. They’re on hold now. You should put something on. I don’t think they’ll want to talk to you in your all together.”

“Don’t talk like an idiot, Junior. I’m getting dressed in my evening robes. I was supposed to be sleeping after all.”

The robes were blue and gold just like his ship. It made him proud to wear the colors. He just had to make Pitrine see and feel that pride so there would be no doubt that he was the man to take up the chase.

“Put it through.”

The screen turned on. Pitrine looked sleepy.

“Sheriff Justice, can I help you? It’s quite late here?”

“It’s early here. I just heard your message. I must disagree most strenuously. I feel I am the perfect man to take up this chase.”

“What is this regarding again?”

Imbecile. “It’s about allowing me to pursue the SS Acid Rat out of my solar system. I’ve found their home port and would like to …”

“No.”

“What?”

“Absolutely not. Should you get in the way, you could cause more trouble and the suspect could escape.”

“But if we hid in their home port system, we could…”

“No. That’s not the way we do things. This is why you were not allowed to continue pursuit. We have a system in place and it works quite well.”

“So well that they’re wanted on over forty systems.”

“Yours is not a position to dispute the way in which the Galactic Patrol does business. Yours is to hand over any information you feel would be pertinent to capturing them, alive. Should you not do so, you will be in violation of agenda…”

Pitrine kept talking, but none of it was what Justice wanted to hear. He’d been denied. Halted in his tracks before the chase really began. Even if he were to capture them, he’d have to turn them over to the Galactic Patrol. He’d lost. He’d lost the first chase in his new ship.

But wait. Had he really lost? They didn’t know he was outside his system and if the SS Acid Rat came through his system…

“What if they come through my system again? They’re now wanted there. Could I apprehend them there?”

Counselor Pitrine looked confused as his speech was cut off. “Of course you could. We can do nothing if they are caught breaking a law in your system. As long as you understand that when they are done serving the term in your system’s prisons they must be released to the Galactic Patrol to answer to crimes committed in other systems.”

“Most assuredly. I will maintain my vigil and notify the GCP Central Office of anything I discover.”

Pitrine narrowed his eyes. Justice switched the viewer off, dropped his robe to the floor, and strode back to the bathtub.

“Junior, bring me my drink and a fresh cigar. And let me know the moment the SS Acid Rat or any other ship for that matter, enters this system.”

He was going to have his prize. He was going to go home with the SS Acid Rat in his custody or not at all. They were his. Oh yes they were.

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Chapter 18

“Mom? Mom where are you? Dad?” The house was empty. Not only were Joey’s mom and dad missing, but everything was gone. No furniture. No carpets. The walls were stripped of all pictures and posters. The doors were all open and each room showed the same barrenness.

“Hello!” Joey’s voice echoed and gave him a chill. “Is anyone home? Hello.”

He found his way though the house and looked outside. The sun was intensely bright. He had to shield his eyes. The heat was almost unbearable. He ran across the vacant street to the neighbor’s house. The door was open.

The house was in the same condition as his own; empty. He checked several houses, running from one to the other. Each time he encountered the same thing. Everyone was gone.

Joey stood in the middle of the street and screamed.

# # #

“Joey, wake up. Wake up.”

When he opened his eyes, June was over him, shaking him. June. The woman who smelled like his mother. It was the perfume. It had to be. She wore the same perfume his mother did. He smiled.

“You were screaming.”

He rubbed his eyes. “What time is it?”

“It doesn’t matter. What were you dreaming?”

“Nothing. It’s not important.”

June stood up and shook her head. “If it wasn’t important, I wouldn’t be asking. What were you dreaming?”

Joey smacked his lips and tried to recall. It was so foggy. “I was back at my house, but it was empty. No one was home. No one was in my neighborhood either. Everyone was gone.”

“Was the sun really bright?”

“Yeah. It was. How’d you know that?”

“I had the same dreams when I first got here.”

“Same dream! Why?”

“Vic will have to explain that. I think we’re still adrift so let’s go see if he’ll talk to you now.”

The bed wasn’t that comfortable so Joey wasn’t too sorry to get out of it. He was even more uncomfortable to see Dexter sitting on the bed across just watching; his three eyes blinking out of time with each other.

After using the extremely small, all-stainless-steel bathroom, Joey followed June up to the kitchen. Vic was there.

“I don’t care what it takes you tin can, just talk with Tootsie and get her working again.”

Vic was talking with a robot. It was crude in design consisting of a cylindrical body and head with large protruding eyes. It had arms and legs little thicker than rope, but equipped with oversized hands with too many fingers on each. Joey counted seven, but thought there may be more.

“SPX-39 isn’t good communicating with Tootsie,” it said.

“Well SPX-39 needs to learn how to be. I didn’t buy you to just sit on this ship and play games with the crew.”

“But the crew likes my games.”

“Excuse me, Vic. Joey’s awake.”

Joey assumed the robot’s name was SPX-39. It looked surprised when it saw Joey, shrieked, then collapsed into itself. It fell to the floor with a loud clang looking like nothing more than a fancy coffee can.

“What was that?” asked Joey.

“That was SPX-39. The most neurotic robot I’ve ever had to deal with. Now that he’s spooked he’ll be like that for hours. Why I ever bought that thing.”

June scooped up the robot and placed it on the table and sat across from Vic. “Because you knew it was in danger of being scrapped and took pity on it. That’s why.”

“Pity. That must’ve been it because it sure wasn’t common sense. I think I’ll scrap that thing if we ever get going again.”

Joey sat down next to June. Her scent made him feel more comfortable. He knew something was up, but didn’t want to jump to any conclusions before he knew what it was.

“So kid, how you feeling?”

“I’ll feel better once I know what’s going on.”

“Want a beer?”

Joey chuckled. “I don’t think so. It didn’t taste as good as I thought it was going to.”

“It wasn’t really beer,” June said. “It was actually a Klovokian Ale and a particularly strong one. They’re good, but you need to drink them really slow.”

“That’s not important. Kid, you need to know what’s going on and you need to know sooner rather than later. This isn’t going to be easy. You ready?”

“I guess so.”

“Earth isn’t what it used to be. That’s why we can’t go home.”

“What do you mean? I was there just yesterday.”

“No, you were there in two-thousand-five. You weren’t there yesterday. This is where the shock part comes in. On Earth, the year would be closer to ten-thousand-five.”

Joey blinked not comprehending what Vic had said. That couldn’t be right. How could that be right? Eight thousand years in the future?

“How?”

“Something about the machine my dad built sent us through time and space and far into the future. From what I’ve been able to figure out, about eight thousand year into the future.”

“But, why can’t we go home?” It still made no sense. They couldn’t possibly be eight thousand years in the future. There’s no way. No one could do that.

“Look, kid. I hope when you left, my mom was doing alright, but there’s no way I can go back and see her. Earth isn’t the place it used to be.”

Joey looked at June. “You mean, the dream?”

June nodded.

“Kid, I’ve looked and looked, but the best answer I’ve found is there was a galactic war about six or seven thousand years ago. A weapon went astray and our sun went into a premature nova. Not a supernova, but just nova and it didn’t blow the Earth away, but it got hot enough to kill everyone off. Everyone on earth is dead, but you’ll have to understand, all that would have happened long after everyone you knew was already dead and gone.”

That was comforting. Not only was the Earth a wasteland, like he’d seen in his dream, but everyone was dead. Dead and gone. Never to be seen again. It was all lost. Everything. There were no more Iron Butterfly albums. No more Carlos. No more mom and dad.

What had they thought after he left? Did they worry? Did anyone miss him? What happened to them all?

“Everyone?” his voice felt weak as he asked. He felt sick.

“Kid, we’ve been back to Earth. I can take you back there if you want. June’s been there with me twice now. Not much changed over the years and we were actually still able to find our old houses. Everything was empty. It was all gone.”

“Just like my dream.”

“I think you got that from me,” June said sheepishly.

“What?” why was everything so confusing. What was going on?

“I picked up some strange psychic abilities that I really don’t have any control over. I was having the same dream and I must have been forcing it into your dreams too.”

“I don’t understand. Everything is gone.”

“June, I don’t think the kid is going to snap out of this one.”

“He has to.”

“Look, kid. I’ll put it another way. Maybe this’ll be easier. You, me, and June here are the last people from Earth. We’re it. Everyone else is dead.”

“No! It can’t be. It just can’t.” Joey tried to stand up and got his legs caught on the table’s bench. He banged his elbow hard on the floor. “It just can’t.”

“June, you need to get him something. I don’t want Dexter to knock him out again.”

Joey laid on the floor and kicked his legs and tried to force the bench to move out of his way as if it was the bench’s fault he fell down. He didn’t care. He just didn’t care.

“It’s not fair. It’s just not fair!”

Why did he press that button? Why? He was so stupid. All he had to do was leave, but no, he had to be a nice guy and look at that machine with Elsa. Joey stood up and started punching the refrigerators. He didn’t care how much it hurt. The pain let him know that he was still alive.

“This is your fault!” he screamed and pointed at Vic.

“My fault? How’s this my fault?”

“Your father built that machine. Without it, none of us would be here.” Joey lunged at Vic. He extended his hands to grab Vic’s throat. He stopped just a few inches from a very frightened Vic.

“Sorry I took so long.” Joey tried to turn his head, but could only move his eyes. June was holding what looked like a gun with a large opening pointed at him.

Vic took several quick breaths. “Kid, that was close. I’m going to have to leave you there until you calm down.”

“Vic, is that a good idea?”

“Look, he lunged at me.”

“Can you blame him?”

“Well leave him in there for a little bit or lock him up somewhere. I think he’ll be more comfortable right there, though. And come get me when that tin can wakes up and feels like talking to Tootsie so we can get out of here.”

Joey started to cry. Why had he pressed that button? Why?

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Chapter 17

Vic got into his seat next to Argmon. The chase had been fun, but now it was over and it was almost time to get back to business. If nothing else, he could spend a few minutes talking with Argmon. The two of them had shared this same cramped cockpit for, what was it, almost six years? It was another year after that when June had shown up. Boy was that kid, Joey, really in for a shock.

“So what’s the status?”

Argmon growled gruffly.

“Are you sure it was the same ship? The Apprehension. You know they’re not supposed to leave their solar system, right?”

Argmon cocked his head to the side as if to say “Give me a break.”

“Okay, I was just checking. You never know. You know, I think you gave Joey a good scare. That smile was priceless. I thought he was going to piss himself.”

Argmon didn’t laugh.

“Oh come on. I know you didn’t mean to scare him. You didn’t mean to scare me the first time I met you either. Or June. Or Dexter.”

A low, angry rumble came from Argmon’s chest.

“Hey, I didn’t know Dex was going to hit you like that. I was surprised too when he took you down with one hit. Little bugger is quick, you got to give him that.”

Argmon shrugged and nodded.

“Hey you two, mind if I join you?”

“Hey June. How’s Joey doing? Did he go to bed without a fight?”

“Well,” June bit her lip. “He freaked out a little bit. Wanted to call his parents.”

“Sounds familiar. So what happened?”

“Dexter offered to keep an eye on him and well, Joey kind of offended Dexter.”

“Is the kid going to be okay?”

“He’ll be fine. He’s going to have one big headache in the morning though. I really think you should have talked to him tonight though. He’s going to have a real bad day tomorrow. Even if we do make it to port.”

“Oh, we’ll make it to port alright. Planchar is paying us nearly double our normal rate for this shipment.” Vic smirked and half-closed his eyes. He was so good at this shipping business.

June shook her head. “Have you ever thought of getting shipments that don’t have us breaking any laws?”

“We’re not breaking any Galactic laws, so we’re not really breaking the law.”

“Vic, you know how I feel about that answer.”

“Are you trying to tell me this isn’t exciting?”

“At first it was, but now I just don’t know. I’m not getting the same rush when we run from the cops.”

Vic laughed and smoothed his moustache. “The fuzz are never going to catch up with us. We’re too good.”

“That’s the kind of attitude that’s going to get us caught one day and I think that’s what scares me about you, Vic.”

Argmon chortled agreement.

“Oh what do you two know?”

“I know you’re a fun guy Vic, but I also know you don’t want to end up in the GCP Central Jail. Cute guy like you would have a tough time in there.”

Vic sighed. Maybe she was right, but he wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of telling her that. He still liked the feeling he got when he ran from the police. Besides, they had rules to follow and that made it all the easier to get away from them.

Argmon had been checking something and he leaned closer to read a display.

“What is it?” Vic asked.

Argmon shook his head and heaved a defeated breath.

Vic leaned over and looked at the display. “You have got to be kidding me.”

“What is it, Vic?”

“The Apprehension is making a course for the Munchkada system.”

“Our home port?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“Vic, this little game has got to end.” June turned and left.

This wasn’t that bad though. The police could sit there, that was true. They just couldn’t exercise any authority. If they did, they were in direct violation of Galactic Law. That was of course if they hadn’t contacted GCP Central Office and gotten permission to leave their system, but that took days to happen. There was no way they got permission to leave their system in time to come after them.

They had given chase though. Vic had suspected they would and Argmon had done a great job of leaving multiple trails so they just floated out of sight. It still didn’t answer the question of why they had gone to the Munchkada system. Vic had Tootsie change the ship’s numbers.

“Tootsie.”

“Hello, Vic.”

“Tootsie, did you change the ship’s numbers?”

There was a long pause. “I don’t feel good about doing it, but yes, I did.”

“Did you change them when we went onto Bamda?”

Again another long pause. “You didn’t ask me to.”

Vic pressed his face into his hands. Tootsie always took everything he said in literal extremes.

“How many times have I had you change the ship’s numbers before we land?”

“Almost every time.”

“Almost?”

“You didn’t this time.”

“Tootsie!”

“You never gave me a standing order to change the ship’s numbers each time…”

“I shouldn’t have to.”

“I’m only a computer.”

“Do you really need to point that out to me now? Did you ever use any other numbers of real ships?”

“I can’t do that.”

“Why not?” Vic gripped his hair.

“That would be illegal.”

Vic pulled on his hair. That’s why the police cruiser went straight to their home port. All the other numbers Tootsie had used were fake and not even real ships. All they had to do was track down the numbers that gave a real home port and they were there. Now they knew about him, about the crew, everything.

“Tootsie, wasn’t changing the numbers in the first place illegal?”

“Yes, but to use another ship’s numbers is another charge.”

I’ve really got to get a less moralistic computer for this ship.- “Tootsie, I need to give you a standing order.”

“Ready to receive.”

He had to word this carefully. There couldn’t be any misunderstanding. Tootsie was going to take this literally, so he needed to make sure she understood. “Never, under any circumstance, do anything that will upset me.”

There was a beep that resounded through out the entire ship. The lights dimmed. Both Vic and Argmon looked around nervously. Argmon whimpered.

“Tootsie?”

Tootsie’s response wasn’t in her normal sweet tone, but more mechanical and harsh. “Processing. Please stand by.”

“Vic!” June yelled from the lounge. The con was out. That couldn’t be a good thing. Just when he thought he knew all about this computer stuff, something else went wrong.

“Hey Argmon, when Tootsie comes back online, get us out of here.”

Argmon barked.

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Chapter 16

June shrugged. “I’m guessing you know the rest of the story. I didn’t find any bodies. I found that weird machine. I walked up to the machine and pressed the button. Like an idiot, I got inside the tube and pressed the other button. Next thing I know I’m looking at tall, dark, and smugly here.”

Joey closed his mouth. He hadn’t even taken a sip from the beer Vic had offered him. He’d been completely dumbfounded.

“You actually thought that Elsa was a killer?”

“When two people disappear, it does look suspicious. Of course now I know the truth.”

Joey thought for a moment. “If you two are here, where’s Hector? Your father, Vic?”

“I never found him. When I got here it was just me,” Vic said.

Joey almost took a drink from his beer but instead asked June, “So this was in the eighties some time? When you went into the machine?”

“October Eighty-three. Five years ago.”

“Wait, five years ago? Eighty-three wasn’t five years ago. It was over twenty years ago!”

“What?” Vic nearly shot out of his seat. “Twenty years? You mean I’ve been out here in space, nearly thirty years!”

“Wow, I hadn’t thought of that. How long did you think had gone by?”

“Hell, I’ve only been out here for seven or eight years. So thirty years has gone by on Earth?”

“I guess so.”

“How’s my mom? Is she doing alright? Man, she must be old by now.”

“She seemed really depressed. She misses you and your dad. I think if she could just talk to either one of you and know that you’re alright she’d be happy.”

“I don’t think that’s going to happen, kid.” Vic’s face slackened and he ran his hand through his hair.

“Why?” Joey asked.

June pulled Vic back into his seat and changed the topic. “So, Joey, you’re from the new millennium?”

“Yeah.”

“So what’s it like? Are there flying cars and stuff?”

Vic jumped in too. “Yeah, kid, has man finally made contact with aliens?”

“Well, no and no. Wouldn’t you know those things? Haven’t you two even tried to go back to earth? I mean, you are in a spaceship and all. Can’t you just jump back there whenever you want to?”

The light in Vic’s eyes went out. The same thing happened to June. It was as if a dream had suddenly been shattered.

“Kid, I’m going to level with you, but not until you finish a beer or two.” Vic took a long drink off his.

Joey decided it may be in his best interest to drink the beer. Vic looked like he was about to explain how he’d run over the family dog or something. Joey drank. It was bitter and nasty, but he couldn’t think of anything he’d rather be drinking. And drank. Vic wasn’t such a bad guy. Perhaps with time they could become good friends, even if Vic was old enough to be his grandfather. And then drank another. June could be his mother! The silence was so heavy that everyone jumped when a top was popped on a fresh can of beer. Vic filled that silence.

“My story, kid, is a little more complicated than June’s here. Now I showed up and there were no friendly faces to help me out of a jam. Man, I had nothing here to help me out but myself.”

Suddenly a lot of growling and barking came over the central con system.

“Argmon detected a ship jumping to hyperspace just a half a light year behind us. My guess is that police cruiser did follow us.

“Thanks Argmon. Keep us adrift for about another thirty minutes just in case they double back in an attempt to trick us.”

Argmon growled.

“Eep. Eep Eep.”

The noise caused Joey’s head to swivel and see something odd standing in the doorway. If he hadn’t been drinking he would have screamed in shock and disbelief. As it was, he felt mellow and relaxed.

The odd something was about two and a half feet tall with green, scaly skin. It had three arms that each ended in three fingers as well as three feet with three toes each. The three eyes on its head just above a green pig snout were a little disconcerting and Joey had to blink several times to make sure he wasn’t seeing things. When it came into the room Joey saw it also had a tail with three spikes on it.

“Hey Dexter, come in and meet Joey. He’s new on the ship. Joey, this is Dexter. He’s a tri-ped from the planet Trifecta.”

“Eep. Eep Eep.”

“That’s about all you’ll get out of him kid. Like I said before, don’t underestimate him. Dexter has helped us out of more than our share of jams before.”

“Um, hi Dexter.”

“Eep. Eep. Eep.”

Dexter’s eyes didn’t all blink in unison. Joey was certain it was the beer, but continued to stare. His head lolled to the side and he could feel the dull ache in his side return.

“Hey kid, what time was it when you left? I mean about?”

“I don’t know. Eight. Maybe nine? Couldn’t have been that late. I had just crashed my bike in front of your mom’s house. Broke a vintage Iron Butterfly album too.”

“Man that sucks.”

“Tell me about it. I didn’t even get to listen to it.”

“Well kid, I tell you what. You need to get some sleep. I want to tell you everything that’s going on here, but you’re in no condition. I thought the beer would just relax you, not put you to sleep. June’s going to put you to bed, I’ll get this ship to a port, and then we’ll all talk about this when we’ve all had time to rest. How’s that sound?”

“Sounds pretty good.”

“June, you don’t mind, do you, babe?”

June sighed. “I guess not. Come on Joey. The beds are close.”

“Eep. Eep. Eep,” Dexter added.

“If you want to keep on eye on the new guy, you’re more than welcome,” Vic said and he left and went back to the cockpit.

Joey struggled to his feet. He was about to sleep on a spaceship. He’d had beer and now was about to go to sleep. How cool was that? He was going to wake up and be millions of miles away from home.

“Wait a minute! I need to let me folks know I won’t be home. They’re going to worry.”

Joey felt the pangs of panic grip his chest. What would they think? They would think he ran away. No! They’d find his bike and think he was killed or kidnapped or worse. Well, what could be worse? He had to let them know that everything was alright. He just had to.

“Joey, you can’t.” June put a hand on his chest before he could rush from the room.

“Why not? We’re on a spaceship. We can do anything can’t we?”

“No. And now you need to get some sleep.”

“Suddenly I’m not tired. I need to call my folks. I need to talk to them.”

“It’s not happening, Joey. I can’t tell you why because Vic hasn’t told you why. Now just get into the bunk room and go to bed.”

“No! I want to know what’s going on.”

“And you’ll have to wait for Vic to tell you. Now get in there or I’ll have Dexter put you in there.”

“Eep. Eep Eep.”

“He doesn’t scare me.”

Dexter moved. Joey didn’t even know what hit him.

---

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Chapter 15

“Mom! I’m going out for a while.” June actually had no intention of going further than her neighbor’s yard, but her mom didn’t need to know that. She had Madonna playing in her Sony Walkman and before she could hear her mother’s reply she had put the headphones on and was out the door.

“…Living in a material world and I am a material girl.” With the headphones on June was certain she sounded exactly like Madonna. She didn’t turn to the right to go immediately to her destination. Instead she turned to the left and went next door to her friend’s house. Tonight they were going to find out for sure what happened.

Her friend Jennifer Gomez bounded out the door even before June could take a step up the walkway. She was dressed in a puffy mini skirt in black with a hot pink top with torn off sleeves. Her hair was teased and hair sprayed so high June wanted to warn her to stay away from any matches.

“Like, this is going to be so totally cool. I love that little jacket. It must have been murder to get those sleeves rolled up like that.” Jennifer had recently seen the movie Valley Girl and was using every phrase possible from the movie as well as the style.

June wasn’t going to be distracted by talk of clothes even though she was proud to have finally rolled up the sleeves on her dad’s hound’s-tooth checked blazer. “Jen, can you believe it. I actually saw where she kept the keys. I think I can snag it if you can distract her.”

“Really? Like, no way. That is like so totally awesome.”

They walked down the block away from their target. June wanted to approach the house on the side opposite their own houses.

“So do you think there’s like bodies and stuff in the garage?”

“I don’t know, but I’ve got my dad’s Polaroid in my purse and if there is, we’ll get pictures of it.”

“I’m, like, so totally excited.”

June put her headphones on. The Valley Girl talk was already getting old. She was able to tune out the inane babble of her friend only until she heard her say…

“So, like, June, do you totally think that she, like killed them?”

June took off her headphones. “That’s what my parents say. They’ve been living on this block all my life. They say the husband disappeared first. Then, a few years later, the son. The police investigated, but never found any bodies or anything so both cases were eventually dropped. They say she refused to let anyone into the garage and the police, seeing how grief stricken she was, didn’t push for a search warrant. They searched the house and everything, but never found a trace of violence.

“Dang. So like twenty years ago she killed her husband and ten years ago she killed her son?” Math was never one of Jennifer’s strong suits.

“Close enough.”

“Aren’t those bodies going to be, like, all dead and nasty and stuff?”

“We just need one picture. That’s it. Then we can go to the police and finally everyone will know the truth.”

“So you’re going to have the little old lady arrested?”

“She’s not that old and if she’s a killer, I don’t want to live next door to her another day.”

June had enough of all the rumors at school. Even though she was seventeen now she was still teased about living next door to a killer like it was some sort of disease that would rub off on her. Boys never asked her out on dates. Other girls, except Jen, had shunned her at school. Enough was enough. She was going to get proof one way or the other that Old Woman Elsa was or was not a killer.

The two had gone all the way around the block. They were approaching the house. The killer’s house. The house where one woman lived alone with the memory of what happened to her husband and son. The woman who would be found guilty or absolved before the night was over.

“You remember what to do?” June asked Jennifer.

“Like so totally. I give you time to get to the back door, then I ring the front door bell. You grab the key and I run around the back.”

“She moves really slowly, so give her lots of time.”

“So, like, do you think she hurt herself killing them or something?”

“Jen, just get ready. I’m going.”

Jen brightened up. It really bothered June that her best friend had gone from acting so smart to acting like a total ditz after seeing one movie. She was never going to be like that. No way.

The back of the house was dark. The only light came from the kitchen. There, just as June had suspected, was Old Woman Elsa. Just like she was every night she was sitting at the small table sipping tea.

Elsa’s head popped up as if she was surprised. June hadn’t heard it, but Jen must’ve rung the door bell. Slowly Elsa got up and started walking toward the front room. This was the chance June had been waiting for.

She rushed toward the back door. Night after night from her bedroom window she’d watched Elsa come to the back door and grab a key. June’s heart raced as she touched the door knob. This was just a little old lady. Surely she couldn’t kill her or her friend. Right? She was old and slow. She kept telling herself this over and over as she turned the knob and pushed the door ever so slightly open. She paused just long enough to listen.

Nothing.

June pushed the door open and saw next to the back door hanging on the wall a wooden box. June opened it. It was full of keys. Dozens. Which one was the right one? She didn’t have time for this. The old woman was sure to be at the front door by now and possibly heading back. June liked having a head and all she could think about was Elsa cutting it off and hiding the body in the garage.

“You’re it!” The keys each had a sliver of tape over a smaller sliver of paper with letters. One said garage. She swiped the key, closed the box, slipped out the back door and closed it quietly behind her.

Jen startled her as both pushed in behind the same bush in the back yard.

“How’d it go?”

“I got it.”

“That totally rocks. Now what do we do?”

“We’ve got to wait for her to go to bed. Then we can go into the garage.”

“Look, there’s, like, no way I’m going in that garage.”

“That’s fine. I can do it myself. Look, she’s back. We need to keep our voices down.”

Jennifer lowered her voice to a whisper. “I’m going to go back home. Just being in her yard is giving me the creeps.”

“Jen, you can’t leave me here.”

“I so totally can. You only wanted me to help you get that key. You got it. I’m sorry, but I’m not going to sit here in a bush all night in my new outfit waiting for Old Woman Elsa to realize you took it and come out here and kill us. I’m sorry.”

“But…but.”

Jen got up and left. June was crestfallen. Her best friend had bailed on her at the worst possible time. Just up and left leaving her high and dry. That was so uncool.

There was no way June was going to leave though. She was here for one reason and she was determined even if her friend wasn’t. Jen had been teased some, but being so much prettier and bubblier she had been able to shrug most of it off. June wasn’t so lucky and this was her only hope of salvation from the torment.

Elsa was at the sink. She must be washing the dishes.- Elsa was washing the dishes and soon she would be getting ready for bed. Weeks of watching and planning and it was all coming to this moment.

The lights in the kitchen went out. June took long deep breaths. Her heart raced. She counted to twenty knowing that that was about how long it would take her to shuffle across the kitchen and out of sight. She could almost taste it. June pulled her father’s Polaroid camera from her purse. Her plan was to snap a few quick pictures and run. That was the plan. It was so simple.

Am I counting too fast? Too slow? No, I’ll wait just another moment longer. Oh please just get out of the kitchen.

June had lost count. After one more deep breath she rushed over to the garage door. The key wiggled in her hand, or was it her hand that was wiggling? It took several tries before she was finally able to put the key into the lock.

What if she came outside right now? Don’t think about it. Just get the door open and get inside the garage. That’s all you have to do. Just get it open.

The key turned and June opened the door.

---

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Chapter 14

Joey allowed himself to be led down the hallway. The cockpit where Argmon sat must be the front of the ship. As quickly as Vic had gotten to him in the passageway Joey must have arrived somewhere in this passage. Vic stopped at the end.

“This here is the kitchen where June put you until things were safer.”

Vic pointed to the kitchen. Joey didn’t even want to think about food right now. He was too nervous. The way Vic had been responding to questions just wasn’t right. It wasn’t the way a normal person would have responded.

“And on the other side is one of the bunk rooms. This one is usually mine, but people can sleep where ever they want. I’m not big on the whole ‘this is my space’ so if you want this room, take it.”

“Aren’t there any door?”

“Only on the bathroom. Why? You got a thing for doors?”

“No reason. Just asking. Thought it was a little strange that there were no doors.”

“Would you want to be stuck on this ship behind a locked door? Doors are for emergencies only!”

That did make sense. “I guess not.”

“Now watch your step on these stairs. They’re steeper than the look.”

Vic took hold of the rails with his hands and slid down the staircase. It was closer to being a ladder than a staircase, but it appeared to be permanently attached so they must be stairs. Joey took a tentative step down. The slope was steep and the steps were small. He decided to turn around and go down like he was on a ladder. It was tight also. Joey wondered if he was claustrophobic. He didn’t panic and kept breathing. When he got to the bottom he had to assume that he wasn’t.

The bottom passage continued straight ahead. Vic was already walking, his boots clanging on the deck.

“Here’s more rooms. They’re smaller down here. I think this ship was built with a captain and crew in mind. Just pick a bed and sleep in it. You may want to make sure Joop-Nop wasn’t sleeping in one before you crawl in. I sure hope he changes to something less messy the next time he eats.

“On the other side here is where you’ll probably end up spending most of your spare time. It’s the lounge.”

The room was large and had several seats that looked quite comfortable. A machine that looked suspiciously like a vending machine sat against the far wall. No one was in the room. Joey looked all around the room. Video screens displayed different programs. One looked like news being read by a blue man with large orange sores on his face.

“If you’re looking for the bathroom, it’s on the other side with all the bunks. It’s not big and nothing special, but when you got to go, it’s there for you.”

“Where’s everyone else? I thought you said there was a crew.”

“The rest are probably down in the cargo area.”

“Who else is there on the crew?”

“Let’s see, there’s Dexter. He’s short but don’t under estimate him. He doesn’t talk a lot either. Actually, I’ve never heard him really talk.”

“Hey Vic.” June came up a set of stairs. Joey didn’t notice where they went, he only noticed June. Now that his brain was finally his own, he could finally talk to her coherently. She frowned when she saw him. “Hello, Joey.”

“Hi.”

“Still stuck on that one word response, eh? I thought you’d be over that by now.”

Vic laughed and slapped Joey on the back. “The kid is over it. I think he’s just a little shy.”

“I’m not shy.”

June smiled. “So you can talk. I’m glad to know it.”

“Hey June, you got a minute? Joey and I need to talk with you. I thought if you shared your story with him, the rest wouldn’t come as such a blow.”

“Are you kidding me? You told me your story and still thought I was going to go insane.”

Joey tuned out of the conversation for a moment. Vic had said something about not being able to go home. June was talking about going insane when she found out about what was going on. Vic didn’t seem bothered by any of it. What was going to come as a blow?

“Hey,” Joey interrupted. “I need to know what’s going on and I need to know now.”

Vic and June both looked at Joey. Vic motioned for them all to go into the lounge. “Take a seat, kid. You’re going to want to be sitting down for this.”

Joey sat in a large couch that instantly conformed to his body. It was possibly the most comfortable thing he’d ever sat in. It was like being in a bean bag, the one back in his room, but somehow more comfortable. Vic and June sat in chairs across from him.

“June, you remember Joey? I think you should tell him how you got here first. Then I can explain everything else. You want a beer before we get started, kid?”

A beer? Not even his own father had invited him to drink a beer. Joey hadn’t even thought of drinking one.

“Um, I’m only eighteen.”

“Old enough to vote, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Old enough to serve in the army, right?”

“Well, yes.”

“Then you’re old enough to drink a beer.”

Vic got up quickly and went to what Joey thought of as the vending machine and hit one of the buttons three times. He handed beers all around and then sat back down.

“Let’s hear it, babe.”

June rolled her eyes. “Alright.” She adjusted herself slightly. “I grew up next door to Old Woman Elsa. That’s what we all called her.”

---

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Chapter 12

It was as if the entire galaxy unrolled at his feet. The lights in the passage went out and the wall blinked from its dull gray to black. At first Joey thought he might have gone blind, but his eyes started to focus further and further away. Stars! Billions upon billions of stars.

It wasn’t only the wall that had gone transparent but the entire passageway. The ceiling, the floor beneath the metal grating, it was all a window now. Everything was so clear. No light pollution to block even the dimmest stars. Everything was here.

Joey looked around to try to find a familiar star, but everything was out of place.

“Don’t try, kid. We’re not even on the same arm of the galaxy as Earth. We’re about seventy-thousand lights years from home right now.”

Joey thought about this. “You mean you know where home is?”

Vic pointed through a dense smattering of stars. “See that? That’s Galactic Central Point. About a million stars orbiting a super-massive black hole. Those star systems make up about ninety percent of the galaxy’s population. The rest, like Earth, are so underdeveloped that no one even goes out there. Sure there’s been visits, but no one hangs around for long.”

“But if you wanted to, you could go home, right?”

Vic took a deep breath and shook his head. “I don’t want to go into it right now. Just enjoy the view. I’ll introduce you to the crew, then you and I and June can all sit down and we’ll tell you all about what’s going on. Sound like a plan?”

“Sure.” Joey returned to staring at the stars. He was in outer space. He was really away from home and further than he’d ever imagined he’d be. He had hoped that one day he might get to go to the moon, but here he was, thousands of light years away from home. Carlos was never going to believe this one.

Vic pressed the button and the walls went opaque again. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to Argmon. His bark is worse than his bite.”

“Bark?”

“Hey Argmon! Meet the latest addition to the SS Acid Rat crew.”

There was a chuffing growling noise from the passageway. Vic led Joey into a small room with an outside view. Hundreds of lights and dials blinked in confusing patterns. Two left arms covered in yellowish hair reached around, one on the arm of the chair, the other in a handshake greeting.

The four-armed monster that stood up from the chair was about seven feet tall, Joey was too panic stricken to notice an exact height, and had the face of a dog. It curled back its lips to reveal a set of fangs and Joey was sure he was about to be eaten. Again.

“Argmon, stop that. I told you when June got here that people get scared when you smile.”

Scared wasn’t the word for it. Joey felt all the blood drain from his face and the food he’d eaten threatening to come back up. The monster lowered its lips and looked downward as if it’d just been scolded. Well, it had been, hadn’t it? Vic had scolded this monster. Joey, after catching his breath, struggled to speak and only a faint squeak came out.

“Now look what you did! You done scared the kid. Just sit back down and keep an eye on things while I show him around.”

Argmon shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. When he turned and sat back down, Joey whispered, “Nice to meet you.” Argmon waved two left hands and remained quiet.

“Sorry about that. I should have given you more warning. He can be quite a surprise when you first meet him, but he’s a teddy bear inside.”

Vic’s tone was reassuring, but Joey wasn’t reassured. “I’m sure.”

With an arm around Joey’s neck, Vic led him down the passage.

“This isn’t a big ship. I hope you’re not disappointed. June was big into Star Trek and she had expected that it’d be huge with hundreds of people on board. We’re just a small, private shipping vessel.”

“So what are you shipping?”

“We’re currently bringing a load of tonindrium to a small planet just on the outskirts of GCP called Planchar. They haven’t been able to get a good shipment in ten years, so they hired us to bring it to them. That’s what we do. We bring select shipments to select clientele.”

Joey twisted his face. “You pointed toward Galactic whatsitcalled and we’re not heading in that direction.”

Vic stopped. “You see kid, there’s something you’ll have to learn. I’ve had to teach this to everyone on the crew. Each planet has its own set of laws. Those laws don’t extend beyond that star’s sphere of influence.”

“Sphere of influence?”

“The point where the star’s gravity no longer has any measurable effect. Once we’re out of that realm of influence, we’re in the clear.”

“Wait a minute, you mean you break the law?” Joey ducked his head under Vic’s arm and backed away.

“It’s not that cut and dry. You see, like this shipment we’ve got here. Tonindrium is only found on one planet in the galaxy, Bamda. Those people have a monopoly and hold on tight to what they’ve got and only sell so much to specific distributors. My clients need some. So they hired me to exchange their money for the proper currency and I went down to the Bamda and bought it with the correct currency. Now there’s a law on Bamda that only licensed vessels can haul tonindrium away from the planet, but that’s a local law not a GCP law. Follow?”

“No.”

“Since we’re not in their star’s sphere of influence anymore, we’re not breaking any laws.”

“But you broke the law in that system.”

“You’re looking at this from the wrong angle. We’re doing what’s right so the people on Planchar can have a shipment of tonindrium.”

“Are you trying to tell me that you’re out here breaking local laws like Robin Hood?”

“See, now you get it.”

Once again Vic put his arm around Joey’s shoulders and pulled him along. If Vic was Robin Hood, what did that make the rest of the crew? His Merry Men? And was June his Maid Marion? This was crazy? Joey pulled free of Vic. He had to put an end to this. This wasn’t where he belonged and certainly wasn’t what he was supposed to be doing. He was supposed to be on Earth.

“Vic, do you know your mother is at home waiting for you and your father to return? I talked to her and she misses you desperately.”

Vic deflated and he shook his head. “Look, kid. Do you want the truth now or do you want to wait until we talk with June?”

“I think I’d like it now.”

“You’re not going to like it.”

“I don’t care. I don’t belong here. I belong back on Earth. I’m supposed to be home right now doing my homework and getting ready for school tomorrow. I shouldn’t even be here. If I hadn’t crashed my bike and gotten all banged up I would never have met your mom and I wouldn’t be here.”

Joey cupped his hands over his face and cried. He felt like such an idiot.

“Joey, if I could have gone home, don’t you think I’d be there right now? Don’t you think I miss my mom? Don’t you think June misses her parents?”

Actually, Joey hadn’t thought of that. There were a lot of things Joey hadn’t thought about and now that his mind was clearer…

“Why are you so young?”

Vic’s eyes lit up. “Now you’re asking the right questions. Let’s go find June and she can tell you her story and then we’ll talk about what’s going on. All this will make a lot more sense then.”

---

Chapter 13

“Junior! Where’s that hamburger?” The Police Cruiser Apprehension had just come out of light speed and once again there was no ship. They hadn’t sent their coordinates back to Bamda so no one would know where they were. Worst case scenario they’d think he was on silent patrol. The GCP Central Office review was going to take far too long. Those criminals would be long gone.

Junior huffed and puffed as he stopped with the glass wobbling in his hands. This was his forth trip. Four would be enough. B.T. Justice took his seat in the center of the bridge for the first time since this chase began. He placed the glass in a holder on the arm rest.

“Sir, remotes are returning to the ship. We’re processing the data now.”

“Fine.”

He knew what it would reveal. They’d come to a point where seven different ship signatures went in seven different directions. This was a crafty one he was, but he’d landed on Bamda with a valid ship number. Sheriff Justice was ready for the news.

“Sir, all remotes report that all trails end with no trace of the ship. In fact, all end in the middle of space with no stars anywhere in sight.”

This was a crafty captain indeed.

“Did they use radar at the end of each trail?”

“Yes sir. Radar detected nothing and no further sign of any ships jumping to light speed. I’m think we’ve lost them.”

“What did I tell you about thinking?”

“Sorry, sir.” The dejected officer turned his chair around to face his console.

“I want the home port coordinates of each ship signature we’ve been following. I want descriptions of each ship and its present whereabouts.”

The clattering of fingers on keyboards filled the bridge. That’s what he wanted. His crew working frantically to solve the problem he already knew the answer to. He knew it was the first ship’s signature they were following. The SS Acid Rat. What a pathetic name for a ship. No longer did he want to just sit by and see the crew in shackles and the computer’s memory wiped. No. Now he wanted to see that ship blown out of the sky.

But he wasn’t going to do that. If he blasted the ship it would also set off the highly unstable shipment of tonindrium. There was a reason that only select ships carried the cargo off Bamda. It was a safety precaution. The load of tonindrium they were carrying, nearly seventy-five thousand tons, was enough to blow a star apart. As Sheriff he wasn’t about to let that happen. He was going to find that ship and demand that the GCP Central Office adjust its standards to allow him to pursue anyone taking tonindrium off planet in an unauthorized ship.

He just had to catch the ship first.

“Sir, the only valid ship number is designation 694-alpha-eplison-92-zeta. The ship is the SS Acid Rat and is home ported out of Munchkada System.” The officer paused in his report. “Sir, isn’t that dangerously close to the…”

B.T. Justice stood and turned around quickly. “Yes it’s dangerously close to the black hole. To the Eye of God as so many like to call it. That is precisely why a ship like the SS Acid Rat would choose it as a home port. No one in their right mind would dare go near it in fear of losing their ship. That is exactly why we are going to go there.”

“Sir?”

“Daddy?”

He let Junior get away with that one. There was more he had to say. “Gentlemen. We are going to lay a trap for this culprit. As soon as he gets home, we’ll be there. Waiting for him. Set course for the Munchkada!”

---

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Chapter 11

There had been several more stops and starts. June had shoved something into Joey’s mouth and he ate it, but he wasn’t quite certain what it had been. Tasted like chicken and steadied his head. The details were foggy, but his clothes were gone and he was wearing coveralls. He’d checked the new pockets and he still had his wallet and pocket knife. He was finally dry at least.

The kitchen, now that he could have a better look around, had two picnic-type tables with benches. All were attached to the floor and had multiple seat belts. Cupboards lined one wall and refrigerators the other. The refrigerators had clear doors so the contents, most of which looked to be terrestrial such as apples, slabs of meat, and cartons of liquid, could be seen. There were also things that looked like tree branches that moved slowly like a wooden octopus.

June, now that Joey could see her clearly, was beautiful. She had long, blonde hair that framed her round face. She had eyes of an emerald green that almost looked too deep-green to be real. In his current state he couldn’t keep his eyes on her face and they kept drifting down to her shapely body garbed in a tight-fitting, black outfit that was trimmed in hot pink.

“Keep your eyes up here, bud. You’re in no shape to go getting any ideas like that.”

“Sorry.”

“So what’s your name?”

“Joey.”

“Joey what?”

“Provoski”

“Where are you from?”

“Earth.”

“I know you’re from Earth. I kind of figured that one out on my own. I mean are you from San Diego too?”

“Too?”

“Don’t worry, your one word vocabulary is normal. I went through it when I got here.”

“You?”

“You’re in no condition to hear how I got here I can assure you of that, bud. I mean, I know exactly what you’re going through. The disorientation will pass and then you’ll really be in for a shock.”

“Shock?”

“Look, this nearly monosyllabic conversation is getting really dull. I’m going to go back to work. You stay here with that belt on and don’t touch anything. Do you understand?”

Joey nodded. His brain was semi-functional and that was a blessing, but he still didn’t have full control over his body. His head dipped once again to June’s chest and she snorted in disgust and stomped out of the room.

At least now he’d have a chance to think. So he was aboard a spaceship. Somehow that just didn’t sink in. He doubted it ever would. How could that machine back in Elsa’s garage have transported him to a spaceship? There wasn’t technology like that. He must have passed out and this was all some strange dream. He’d flipped over his handlebars on his bike and she gave him some kind of drug. That had to be it! He was hallucinating. He was still on earth.

But why the strange lurching feelings? He had wet himself so perhaps that was just his body getting sick and trying to get the drugs out of his system. That had to be it. June was probably just Elsa trying to take care of him.

So why the strange questions? She wasn’t reacting like Elsa had. June was snippy and short with him, yet gentle at other times. She was a girl, that’s why. That’s what girls did, wasn’t it? Even ones in space? Well, she had asked if he was from San Diego so she must be too.

Joey tried to stand up but was restrained by the belt. He wanted to get up and get away. Even though he could focus on things there was nothing he wanted to focus on. There had to be a way out of here. A way to get back home. He didn’t want to be here.

Something oozed in through the doorway. It was iridescent green and flowed like a thick slime. God it’s coming right at me!

The slime made sucking noises as it moved across the floor and was nearing Joey’s foot. Joey was still trying to figure out how to undo the belt. Now would be a good time to be free. What was the other person’s name?

“Vic!”

“Hey kid. Hope everything is going alright down there.”

“Green slime!”

“I’m coming down kid. Sit tight.”

“Fast!”

“Keep your pants on. I’m coming.”

Joey held his feet straight out, but the slime, after not discovering the feet where they should have been, extended upwards. It was agonizingly slow and Joey didn’t have enough strength to hold his legs up for long.

“Joop-Nop. Leave him alone. He’s new on the ship.”

The man who’d said it was the face Joey had seen. The same brown hair and brown caterpillar moustache. He was wearing a cream-colored shirt under a black vest and black pants that matched his black boots. His voice was deep and commanding.

The green slime made a burping farting noise.

“I don’t care if you’re hungry and want to be human shaped. He’s a guest right now and you’re not going to eat him.”

It made a depressed gasping sound and oozed back out the door. Joey started breathing again.

“Sorry about that kid. How you doing?”

“Good. What was that?”

“I see you’re making a little more sense now. That was Joop-Nop.”

“What’s a Joop-Nop?” The encounter had done something to get Joey’s metabolism up and his mind was actually clearer. His brain no longer felt like that slime thing looked.

“Joop-Nop is its name. It’s a being that we found on the planet Escaonth a couple years ago. He’s a good addition to the crew. He can change into whatever he eats. Like the old saying goes, you are what you eat, but with Joop-Nop it’s more literal than that.”

“So it was going to eat me?”

“Oh he doesn’t eat much. Mostly harmless.”

Joey shook his head. Whatever that thing was it brought reality to bear.

“I want to look outside.”

“What for? It’s just a lot of black out there kid. I don’t know about you, but I’m much more into colors myself. Black is just so depressing.”

“I don’t care. I want to see outside.”

Looking outside was going to make this whole thing real. Maybe by looking outside he’d be able to come to grips with what had happened and try to figure a way out of it.

“Look, kid, my name’s Vic. Vic Gallegos.” Vic extended his hand. Joey shook it.

“I’m Joey. Provoski.”

“Well Joey, let’s get that belt off you.” Vic pressed his thumb to the buckle and it detached. “I’ll have to get your thumbprint so we can encode you into Tootsie’s systems.”

“Tootsie?”

“Tootsie is the ship’s computer. She’s really nice, but she can be temperamental.”

“I heard that, Vic.” The voice came from an overhead speaker.

“You know I love you.”

“Masher.”

“Be nice to her and she’ll be nice to you. Just keep that in mind, kid. Come on. Let’s get you that look outside and I’ll introduce you to the rest of the crew.”

“How many are there.”

“Heck, I don’t know. I lost count.”

Vic started to walk out of the kitchen.

“Vic, where are we?”

He stopped. “Kid, I’ll let you make up your mind about that.”

Joey, now no longer restrained by the seat belt, got up and wobbled for a moment. The floor didn’t feel entirely stable at first, but he got both feet on the ground, took a deep breath, and was able to follow Vic.

The floor was indeed a steel grating and made clanging noises as they walked, but the walls were something altogether different. They didn’t feel like steel, but didn’t have the appearance of fabric or drywall. Joey stopped and rubbed his hand over a section of wall.

“What is this?”

“Kid, that’s a special material used only in spaceships. It’s called dura-plasti. It’s a light-weight plastic material that can resist puncture. If you punch a hole in this stuff, say with some space debris or a blaster it’ll heal itself.”

“Blaster? Heal itself?”

“Kid, you’re not in California anymore. In fact, you’re not even close.”

Vic put his arm around Joey’s shoulder and it was then that Joey realized how tall Vic was. And thin. Despite being thin Vic was strong and he pulled Joey along.

“I’ve been out here for a while now and I’ve got to tell you, it’s unlike anything you’ll ever see or do back on Earth.”

“You are Victor?”

Vic laughed. “I haven’t heard that name for years. My mom was the only one to call me that.”

“Your mother Elsa?”

“Yeah, that’s her. I thought you may have known her. June knew her, but never talked to her. Her story is a trip. You’ll dig it, kid. But first, let’s take a gander outside.”

Vic stopped in front of a wall panel. “Last chance. It’s a lot of black out there.” He reached for a button.

“Do it.”

Vic pressed the button and Joey’s life was never the same again.

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Chapter 10

“Sheriff Justice, this is Counselor Pitrine from Galactic Central Point Central Office. We will convene in two days to discuss your request to continue pursuit beyond your system’s sphere of influence.”

“Two days! Two days. Are you serious? I can’t sit here and wait two days while the criminal flees. Do you realize how far away he’ll be in two days?”

“Sheriff Justice, this is not our problem. If you had apprehended the suspect prior to his leaving your system or planned for this contingency then perhaps…”

B.T. Justice cut him off. “How do you plan for someone to come in and take a load of tonindrium?”

“Again, that is not our problem. Your system is the provider of this product and it is your own local law that prevents people from taking without proper approval. Inter-galactic laws do not prevent independent shipments from being transferred.”

“They should!” The sheriff nearly bit through his cigar as he ground his teeth.

“You can forward the name of the individual and the name of the suspect’s ship to GCP Central Office. We will review the person’s record and add his name to your system’s wanted list. That’s the best I can do right now. As for your request to continu pursuit beyond your own system’s boundaries, that will have to wait for two days.”

Justice slammed his meaty fist down on the console controls and the visual display turned off. “Junior!”

“Yes, daddy sir?”

“I swear I’m going to pound you the next time you call me that.”

“Sorry, sir.”

“Junior, I need a hamburger.”

“I’ll get right on that.”

This was intolerable. Twice now he had the SS Acid Rat within his grasp and twice they had escaped. Sensors had indicated that it stopped about four light years out and made a course change as well as a serial number change. Not only had the crew broken the law by taking an unauthorized shipment of tonindrium off the planet, the ship’s computer had now broken the law by changing the ship’s serial number. Aiding and abetting. He wanted to be there personally when they wiped that computer’s memory banks.

The crew was silent. His outburst must have been overheard, not that it was much of a concern. His crew needed to be on their toes and they were always on their toes when his dander was up.

“What’s their latest course?”

A junior office turned in his chair. “Sir, they are currently headed toward Galactic Central Point. I think they’re heading for the capital.”

“You think?” B.T. Justice clasped his hands behind his back. “Did I tell you to think, boy?”

“Sir?”

“If I wanted you to think I would have told you to think. Perhaps you think you can take this hat off my head and do my job.” The Sheriff cocked the hat back on his head and leaned down to look the younger office in the eye.

“Sir, no sir.”

“I’m the one that does the thinking here. Is that clear?”

“Yes sir.”

“This is my ship and if anyone is going to do any thinking on this it’ll be me. If I want your opinion I’ll give it to you.”

Junior ran up holding a plate with a hamburger on it. “Here’s your hamburger, dad…sir.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s a hamburger.”

“Junior, come here.”

B.T Justice dragged Justice Junior across the bridge by the ear. Pulling the young man’s head close, he asked through clenched teeth, “Did I say I was hungry?”

“No.”

“Did I say bring me something to eat?”

“You said to bring you a hamburger.”

“If I wanted something to eat, I would have said bring me something to eat. Since when have I ever said I wanted a hamburger.”

“Just now.”

“Son, when I say bring me a hamburger, I mean bring me a drink. Preferably as strong as possible.”

“Why would you say you want a hamburger?”

“Do you think I want the entire crew to know that I want a drink? Do you think I want them to see me as having a moment of weakness? Do you think I’d ask for a drink in front of the crew?”

“You just told us all not to think.”

“Boy if your momma wasn’t dead I’d clobber you. It’s my own fault you grew up so stupid. Now go get me a hamburger.”

Junior looked down at the plate with the hamburger and his eyes widened.

“Go!”

Why couldn’t he have brought that drink the first time? Now I’m going to need something for this headache.

“Sir, we’re still in the Kuiper belt. Did GCP Central Office give you permission to continue pursuit?”

They hadn’t had they. But they didn’t say specifically that he had to stay put. Not in those specific terms. And if he got out there now and was able to capture the criminals then he could return them to his system before actually pronouncing them under arrest. No one had to know. It could work. It had to work. He couldn’t go back to the planet embarrassed for having the largest shipment of tonindrium leave the planet on an unauthorized vessel.

“Follow their course.”

“Sir?”

“Did I tell you to think about it or to punch in their last know coordinates and follow them?”

“Yes sir. Setting controls now.”

“Here’s you hamburger.” Junior said hamburger in a coughing sound as he handed the drink to Sheriff Justice. He took the drink and downed it in one swallow and handed the glass back to Junior.

“I need another. This one’s empty. And hurry, we’re about to make the jump to hyperspace.”

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