Omnigalactic

by Christopher Conner

  “Agreed. I think as long as we have each other's backs, we'll be all right.”

  He pulled the plasma cannon from the magnetic surface. “In the meantime, I'm going to make sure all our weapons are in top shape for the contract. Got anything else for me?”

  I shook my head. “Nope. Just keep doing your thing.”

  “And Sai… thanks again. Not everybody would’ve done what you did. I owe you big time.”

  I couldn’t help but smile. “Partners, right?”

  He smiled back. “Partners.”

  Jord walked off — I assumed toward his workbench. I decided to have that talk with Glennsworth. My new boots thudded against the metal floors as I walked into the engine room. The room vibrated with the subtle hum of the main engine. Glennsworth sat in the corner, hunched over, book on his lap. He looked up at me, then back down at the book. “I know what you are about to ask me, and the answer is no, there is no entry for tree-eating insects in the book.”

  “That wasn't my question,” I said and leaned up against the engine. “I was just stopping by. You know, checking in with my new employee.”

  He kept his eyes down as he turned a page. “In the future, I prefer to study in silence.”

  “Don't worry,” I said. “We'll get back to the daemon-slaying. But ultimately, this is a business. Money comes first.”

  He looked up. “I understand. I only wish to continue digging deeper into the mysteries of the Grimoire. With it, and your help, I may finally resolve the quest I set out on.”

  “What is your quest, exactly?”

  He stayed quiet and rose to his feet, standing a foot-and-a-half taller than me. “That is for another time, I believe. I only request that we not diverge too much from rooting out daemonic entities. Otherwise, my employment with Omnigalactic will come to an immediate end, and I will proceed alone.”

  “I have to ask, why do you… do what you do?”

  “As I said before, it's for another time,” he said, dodging my question. “The only knowledge you require is that my quest and my reasons for practicing the occult are intertwined. One would not exist without the other.”

  I stared at him and tried not to look utterly confused. I poked his chest. “You are one cryptic son-of-a-bitch, you know that? I wouldn't be surprised if Daniel Glennsworth wasn't your real name.”

  “It isn't,” he said bluntly.

  “Damn it.”

  He smirked. “I'm kidding.”

  I shook my head and socked him in the arm. It was about time he loosened up. “All right, if you say so. You good now?”

  He nodded. “Yes. However, you must promise that when the time comes, you will be there to assist me, Just as I was there for you.”

  “I'm not sure what that's supposed to mean, or when that time is,” I said, eyeballing him up and down. I shook his hand. "But, you helped me bring my best friend back from eternal insanity, so I do owe you one. We have a deal.”

  “Excellent,” he said.

  “By the way,” I said, scratching my head. That lurking fascination crept into the front of my mind again. “Could you teach me?”

  He froze like he'd just been doused in liquid nitrogen. “Teach you? As in, take you on as my student?”

  I nodded. “I was thinking… if we're going to be doing this daemon-slaying stuff, it might be handy if I… expand my skill set. What do you say?”

  He stayed quiet, clearly deep in thought. I leaned forward in anticipation. The last time I’d asked him that question, it had been a flat-out no. Something was different this time. Was he considering it?

  He took a step toward me. His dark eyes glared at me with all the seriousness in the galaxy. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.”

  “Before I take you under my tutelage,” he said. “I want you to answer one question: How far are you willing to go?”

  I stood straighter. “As far as it takes me.”

  He studied me for a moment before nodding. “Good. Now, may I return to my studies?”

  “Sure thing. Just make sure you mop the floors before lights-out. The mop, bucket, and cleaning supplies are under the sink in the kitchenette. I'll be in the cockpit if you need anything.”

  “You are serious?” he asked, bewildered. He must not have taken me seriously when I said he'd be performing janitorial work. “You really want me to clean the floors?”

  “I have a motto,” I said. “If there's time to lean, there's time to clean. The Lady Luna will be treated like a proper woman, and a proper woman must be pampered and presentable at all times.”

  Behind me, I heard Glennsworth curse as I walked away. I suppressed the urge to laugh, pressing my lips together as tightly as they could go, until I was out of earshot. I had said it was an entry-level job. If I was going to pay him seven percent of the cut, he was going to pull his weight.

  Grabbing a cup of a brewed, stimulant-rich bean, I headed to the cockpit. I slumped in my seat, disengaged the autopilot, and took a sip. Hot, dark, bittersweet liquid warmed my body in the cold of space. Over the intercom, I told Jord to turn off the thermal dampeners to heat up the ship's interior a little bit. He complained it was already too hot, which was strange, coming from a Tresedi. Still, he did it anyway, then returned to his work on the new firearms.

  Regardless of whether we snatched the Chloran job or opted for something else, we needed to head to the Hub. There, we'd be centrally situated to wherever we needed to go. I engaged the prograde thrusters and left Anura's orbit, heading for the Wyn Gate outside the Anura Sector. Starships soared past me in both directions. I looked at the aft cameras and watched Anura and the reddish-orange Fire Eye Nebula behind it slowly shrink.

  My PCD pinged. Ellen had sent me an instamail. I opened it and read:

  Sai,

  I know you're a very busy person, but I just wanted to thank you again for everything. You three have provided a great service to the survivors and victims of the horrible tragedy that struck Melville. I only hope that we will see you all again in the future (this time, on more peaceful terms). Next time, I'll have to show you around the island chain. Lots of interesting wildlife here — and none of them have tentacles!

  A little update on the status of the research project: Although they are very upset, the university has granted us another six months of funding, and they are sending a disaster specialist out to survey the area and draft a mock-up of our new storm protection system. So, that's exciting. Tell Glennsworth not to worry; I didn't mention the giant monster. No word yet on when we'll get another dome. We might have to use submersibles or breathing apparatuses in the interim. I can't wait until we get back up to speed!

  Anyway, I hope you are doing fine. Message me back when you can.

  Your friend,

  Ellen Rupert, M.D.

  I sipped my warm, aromatic beverage and messaged her back, detailing our future prospects and whatnot. I tried to keep it professional and not too chummy. I won't lie; I kind of liked her. She was attractive (for a Human) and pretty smart. But, I didn't want to give her the wrong idea if she didn't like me back. I dunno, I'd have to see where it went.

  It was funny; I used to think my life was all routine. I'd accept a new shipping job, leave home, fly out, finish the job, and fly back home. So much my life had changed in such a short amount of time. I’d gone from my long career as a commercial pilot to being unemployed, then starting my own business, and to top it all off, banishing a daemon. Now, there I was, flying off again, but it was on my own terms. I was finally flying my own ship and working for myself; I was my own boss.

  As I activated the Lady Luna's Interspace beacon, I started to wonder whether it would become the new routine. What if it became boring and unsatisfying? I shook it off. If future jobs were anything like Melville, I was sure my life would be as crazy and exciting as ever. Heck, my life had only just begun.

  THE END

  stopher Conner, Omnigalactic