Snark's Quest

by Timothy Ellis

  They all looked at each other.

  "You’re sure?" asked Anna.

  "Course I’m bloody sure!" Snark looked at the others. "I’ve been around, OK?"

  "Ok," placated Anna.

  Snark asked the question everyone was avoiding.

  "What are we going to do when we get there?"

  Anna sighed again.

  "We check it out. We see where it leads."

  "We’re lucky the cats put up the cash for the repairs, and more," he said. "All this flying around seeing what will happen, it costs!"

  Snark was overstating it, he knew. It did cost in food, drinking water, alcohol, and docking fees. But it wasn’t like they had to pay for fuel as well. Mostly it was costing time, but he wasn’t sure why this bothered him.

  Anna was slowly losing it. Jamie could see her temper rising, and headed it off.

  "We all know this is a bit hit and miss. That’s the nature of something like this. We’ve just got to go with the flow."

  "Humph!" grunted Snark.

  Sissness kept her head down looking at the screen. She could also sense the tension, and was not going to get involved. She didn’t like conflict. She liked everyone to get along.

  Patters arrived, and saw them all sitting together. But she could also sense some tension.

  "Had a win on the simulation!" she said to Jamie. He got up. "Let’s see," he responded, and they both made their way to the Bridge.

  "Snark OK?" Jamie asked Patters.

  "Why?"

  "He’s his usual grumpy self, but there seems to be something bothering him."

  "Yes, I’ve sensed he’s troubled in some way."

  "You couldn’t perhaps suss it out with him?"

  Patters looked at Jamie.

  "I can try."

  They entered the bridge.

  Fifty One

  Snark knew he was grumpier than usual, and his testiness was having an impact on the crew. But he didn’t know what to do about it. He’d almost been about to walk away from this crazy quest on his homeworld, but his Grandmother’s request had bound him to it in another way. A promise to her, had to be kept. And now there was much more at stake than some kind of reward for finding the Stone. He felt a weight of responsibility had descended on his shoulders. He didn’t like it. He’d spent a large part of his life avoiding it.

  He’d also read through Grandmother’s notes several times. They were disturbing. He knew he had to share some of this with the others, as they would help them with their next steps. But her visions! The descriptions of the cold evil were frightening. If the Destiny Stone was connected to it in some way, it meant they were heading for great danger. Bhatet was threat enough, and the Destiny Stone a nebulous goal, but the cold evil was something which scared him, and he wasn’t easily scared.

  He went off to find Patchet. At least the repairs kept his mind occupied, so he didn’t have to think about what they were headed for.

  Patchet was pleased with the results. All of the major hull breaches were properly repaired, as well as the areas damaged but not actually breached. Internal bulkheads were checked, and the internal fittings and fixtures, which had been thrown around or damaged in the collision, all looking much more ship shape. The gun emplacement and launchers were repaired, and fully operational again. The missiles had been an interesting problem to solve, but he’d made do. He smiled. He’d learned a great deal about the advances humans had made, but he’d also already known a great deal of this. His Grandfather had, after all, come from such a world, not so long ago. As exiles, they'd kept most of it to themselves. It was far too dangerous to release into comparatively technologically backward societies, without making them targets for all sorts of bad elements. And they didn’t have the necessary infrastructure to manufacture what they would have needed to create the kinds of tools which the humans had been using.

  He saw Snark climbing over some boxes and wires towards him. Snark. An interesting cat. He’d met some of the cat species, the curious ones at least. He’d had a pet domestic cat they’d brought with them when they left. He still missed it. These beings though, talking cats! And the centaur like bodies on the top of a cat body, with the three odd arms most species in this part of the galaxy had. And Snark was a grumpy bastard, if ever there was one.

  Snark was sniffing and grumbling when he met up with Patchet.

  "How’s it going?"

  "Not bad. Mostly done. Few final things still to do."

  Snark humphed.

  "Just as well!"

  Patchet rubbed his hands on a stained rag with some kind of silicon fluid on it.

  "So, where are you all headed?"

  The tip of Snark’s tail flicked, and his eyes became wide, the pupils dilating.

  "I have no idea!" he declared. "Looks to me like the women are throwing darts at a map."

  Patchet laughed, and Snark was a little relieved. The last thing Patchet should know, was where they were going, just in case he was taken by those trying to find them.

  "Like to live on the edge, then."

  "It’s not the edge I find difficult," he said, "It’s the not knowing. Bloody mop heads!"

  Patchet laughed again.

  "I ‘spose we are. Mop heads I mean. Bean poles with mops on top."

  He scratched at the little hair which poked out above his bandage.

  "Mop heads!" he repeated for good measure.

  Patchet pulled a folded and torn piece of paper from his pocket.

  "Don’t like the tablets much! Trust to a hardcopy every time. Of course I’ll send the invoice to you electronically as well. You can write on paper," he said wistfully.

  Snark took it in one paw, looked at it, and nodded to himself.

  "Once everything’s been signed off, I’ll send through the Gals." He hesitated and then stuck out the other paw. "It’s been good doing business with you."

  Patchet was a little surprised, but shook the proffered paw solemnly.

  As the little figure moved away down the corridor, he scratched his armpit. These were pretty crazy people. He had no doubt they were headed further out into the lesser known galaxy, where Bhatet would probably pick them off. After a battle of course, given the Seasprite’s firepower and technical advantage. But Bhatet had more ships than he knew what to do with, and the Seasprite was not a Battleship.

  He also needed to get going. He’d long since picked out an isolated planet with a small native population of swan-like creatures, and some great lakes, where he’d get a lot of fishing done. Nothing to interest Bhatet, the Brotherhood, or any other grifters, grafters, and hustlers, which might pop up in the galaxy. Time to disappear. He sniffed. As long as he had a supply of beer, and some spirits, he’d be fine.

  Fifty Two

  The Binary system of Perdita was impressive. A smaller sun orbited a much bigger one, creating two separate habitable zones. Great gas giants orbited both suns, swirling with pinkish-purple atmospheres, one with shades of deep green and blue, one with rings, and one surrounded by a dispersed asteroid belt. Around the deep green and blue gas giant, a half dozen moons orbited, some planet sized in their own right.

  The binary suns meant there was a complicated pattern of orbital dynamics existing within the system, and navigation needed to be careful.

  Byways station was in orbit around one of these planet-sized moons. Star charts from the Cat planet had it listed as an obscure stop-over point for those heading into one end of sector seven from sector ten, by bypassing most of sectors eight and nine.

  This meant it was dangerous. Anyone or anything could jump through at any time. They’d have to be careful, since those using this route, included Bhatet’s forces. Of course the Brotherhood could be waiting for them, already infiltrated into the population on the station. Who knew?

  The crew of the Seasprite had made it here, but it was touch and go. The ship itself was fine. Patchet had done a sterling job, and had been paid well.

  The trouble was the crew. Some divisions
had broken out about where they should be headed, and how. Some had wanted to be more cautious, and find out more evidence for their journey to the Perdita system. It was certainly 'off the beaten track'. Anna in particular was impatient, and as usual, headstrong, and had insisted they head off immediately.

  For Snark, even though he was a curious cat, he was also cautious when he needed to be. He smelled trouble. He wanted to have a good reason to travel across the galaxy. Jamie understood where he was coming from, but tended to try and be the neutral voice, and balance things out. Sometimes, both Anna and Snark would turn on him in frustration for his calm and even-handed approach.

  Snark needed a plan. A good one. And they didn’t have one.

  Everyone was on the bridge coming into the system, ostensibly to help, but more to get the full panoramic view of the spectacular scenery. As they neared the station, they opened a coms channel.

  Nothing.

  There was no reply.

  Snark checked the coms panel, as Jamie eased the ship closer. No, nothing wrong with their systems.

  They tried again, and again.

  Nothing.

  "I don’t have to tell you I don’t like it, do I?" growled Snark. "We should stand off."

  Jamie zoomed in the vid cams on the station, and employed all sensors in an effort to find what might be wrong. He didn’t like it either. The others were silent. They all had an eerie sense of something not quite right.

  Suddenly some static came over the coms, and they all jumped.

  "….Identify yourself….this is Byways station…. Identify yourself."

  The same message repeated itself over again.

  Anna checked the translator.

  "They’re speaking a known dialect of not-croc."

  "Still don’t like it!" hissed Snark.

  His tail was thrashing backwards and forwards, and all the down along his spine had risen up. His ears were back on his head, and his eyes were wide, deep, dark circles.

  "This is the Seasprite, a private yacht. Requesting permission to dock."

  Jamie’s voice was steady.

  The same message kept playing. It was obviously recorded.

  Suddenly another voice broke through the message.

  "Seasprite, this is Byways Station. You are cleared for docking. We are sending you instructions."

  Snark checked the console, and indeed there were instructions for docking at an upper arm of the station. Jamie was checking the vid of the station. There weren’t any ships docked that he could see. Not good.

  "Byways Station, we don’t see any traffic. What is your situation?"

  "Our situation is normal, Seasprite. It's just a bit quiet at the moment."

  The voice was still formal, but had a bit of an edge to it.

  "What do we do?" said Jamie.

  "We get ourselves back to somewhere civilised!" growled Snark.

  "We dock!" said Anna quietly.

  The others looked at each other.

  Patters was cautious, but couldn’t see they had much choice.

  "Let’s dock. But be ready for anything."

  Sissness looked frightened, much the same as Snark. She voiced what the others were thinking.

  "It could be a trap."

  Jamie sighed. It was up to him. He made up his mind suddenly.

  "OK, we dock, but we get the hell out o’ here at the first sign o’ trouble!"

  They seemed to float slowly towards the station. As they came closer they could all see the station was old, with some sections completely shut down. The top sections showed some lights.

  Sensors were reporting life forms on the upper decks, with power supplied, and seemingly normal functions in this area at least. Although the station had defensive weapons, they weren’t trained on the Seasprite, nor did any warnings show them they'd been targeted.

  They continued to ease towards the docking station. It seemed it could take them. Everyone was tense. Patters had fetched her favourite bow and had her arrows ready. She disappeared towards the airlock. Snark followed. Anna and Sissness looked a bit hesitant, but also followed.

  Jamie docked the ship. As soon as the docking clamps were secured, he made his way to the airlock, where the others waited.

  "Snark, Anna, and Patters will go out," said Jamie. "I want to stay here to man the weapons in case we need them. Also to keep the systems ready in case we need a quick getaway. Sissness will stay and help me."

  Not that Sissness would, but he didn’t want her going out there into the unknown in her current nervous state. He badly wanted to lead the expedition, but he also knew they might need to exit in a hurry.

  Anna and Snark shifted their belt suits into protection mode, while Patters donned a more traditional security suit she used for hunting anything more dangerous than she was, and which she'd brought with her. It had been customised for her.

  They went through the airlock and connecting tunnel. The airlock on the other side cycled, and the door hissed open. Weapons at the ready, they made their way through.

  There was no one there.

  Silence.

  Jamie’s voice came through their suit's com units. He was watching via Anna’s suit cam.

  "Nothing. I’ve been given a route for you to follow."

  He sent it to Anna, who looked at her tablet. They moved off.

  As they made their way along the corridors, they could see the station was in disrepair. It looked as if the corridors hadn’t been used in some time. They were walking through layers of dirt and dust.

  Patters led them around a corner, using defensive precautions. There was a figure at the end of the next corridor. Patters notched and aimed an arrow. The others aimed their weapons.

  The figure looked defenceless with just clothes, without other protective devices.

  "Hallo?" The figure put its three hands up, and walked towards them slowly. "I’m not armed!"

  The team looked at each other and lowered their weapons, while still staying wary.

  The figure came closer, and was revealed to be a, sort of, Frog.

  The frog hopped from one of four feet to another. Amphibious toes gripped the floor at the end of bent legs.

  "Welcome to our station," the frog said, before making a comical bow. "I am Grungle."

  "Thank you," said Anna briefly.

  She slowly lowered her weapon, and the others followed. The frog had noticed they'd come armed to the teeth, but was polite enough not to mention it. He beckoned them to follow, and led them down some more passages, until they came to a suite of rooms.

  "You can use these," he said, after opening the door to the common room. "We'll send you the costs for our various accommodations, and you can choose your option, if this is not suitable. I’ll also send the list of docking services."

  Anna thanked him, while Snark sniffed around the rooms. Patters stood ready by the door.

  Before the frog could leave, Anna took him aside.

  "When we arrived, there was no answer to our coms, and then a recorded message, before we talked to someone. We were just wondering?"

  "Oh." The frog seemed to be embarrassed, and hopped from side to side. "We are a bit short staffed at the moment. I hope there was no inconvenience."

  "Not at all," Anna reassured him. "Just wondering. Thank you for your assistance."

  The frog made another bow and turned to the door.

  "If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call."

  He turned, and hopped off.

  "I hope you heard all of that?" Anna asked Jamie.

  "Yes, weird. At least they’re reasonably friendly, and not hostile. It just seems business must be bad, and they don’t have a lot of traffic to this system. We’ll check it out further."

  They decided to rent the suite, although someone would always be on duty on the ship.

  As they were getting settled, the doorbell rang, and Patters went to answer it. A large not quite a Crocodile stood there, wearing some kind of pink floaty dress, and a matchi
ng hat.

  "Oh my dears, welcome to Byways station!"

  She came through the door, talking all the while.

  "It’s so long since we had visitors, and it’s very nice to meet you all. I’m Crocatich. I’m the station officer’s partner. You met him earlier. Grungle. "Grungle" I said, "Grungle, we must invite them to a lovely dinner to welcome them to the station, and they can meet some of our finest citizens." She lowered her voice as if in confidence. "There are some riff raff here you know. Doesn’t hurt to make sure you’re mixing with the best."

  Anna was about to introduce them, when she started off again.

  "We’re a tight knit bunch here on Byways, but you can say we’re very welcoming to visitors, and it’s been a while now since we had anyone to stay really, my dears, you wouldn’t know just how hard it's been! But we won’t think about that now! Do say you’ll come to dinner tonight!"

  "Yes, we’d be delighted!" Anna confirmed, even though she could see Snark shaking his head vigorously.

  "How many did you say you were?"

  "There’s five of us. Three from the Cat World, and two humans."

  "Humans, of course. I did wonder from the look of you, and we have been following events very closely. Of course, humans in the galaxy does raise the tone ever so much, I’m sure. We just didn’t expect to see any come all the way to our little neck of the woods! Lovely! We’ll see you at seven this evening then. Oh, and don’t you be naughty and bring anything. Toodleoo!"

  With that, she left, pink floating momentarily in her wake.

  Anna was a bit bemused. Dinner? Was this a quiet dinner for 50 again? She hoped it would be a quiet affair in reality. And now having been told not to bring anything, she knew they’d have to bring something. So far a frog and a croc. Who else would be at dinner? She thought briefly of the Mad Hatter’s tea party.

  Fifty Three

  They had some time to spend before dinner, so decided to explore. Patters had the first duty on the ship, but the rest of them set out to see the extent of the inhabited parts of the station, and possibly find a pub, bar, gin joint, or whatever they called a drinking, eating establishment here. This was where they were most likely to find out about this place, the people here, and what had happened to it.