The Search for Cleo

by Aaron J. Ethridge

  As he said this, he powered down one of the engines. Azure immediately followed his example and shut down a second.

  “Cleo, love,” he said, turning off a third, “I think you'll agree that pulling one of these isn't going to be at all dangerous by any definition of the word.”

  “I don't see how it could be,” she admitted.

  “That being the case,” he continued, “I'd appreciate it if you and Azure could scout around...”

  “No.”

  “Alright,” he nodded. “That's completely understandable. In order to underline the fact that there is no danger, I'm willing to keep Azure with me, while you and Morgan...”

  “No.”

  “Sure,” he replied. “In that case; Azure, would you rather pull an engine or search for swag?”

  “She's not...” Morgan began.

  “I meant with you,” Robert pointed out.

  “That's cool, then.”

  “Swag,” she shrugged.

  “Alright,” the traveler replied. “I want you two to...”

  “You're going to let her and Morgan do it by themselves?” Cleo asked.

  “I am,” he answered. “As long as they're careful, there won't be any danger. They just have to make sure to stay in the light.”

  “In that case,” she smiled. “Azure and I will go on the swag hunt, while you two pull the engine.”

  “You just said 'no' to that.”

  “That was a preemptive 'no',” she explained. “Now that I know you were willing to let me veto you, coupled with fact that this engine room really is perfectly safe, I don't mind leaving you to handle the more tedious task while we get to explore.”

  “Good,” he said, wrapping his arms around her. “Be careful. And, that's an order.”

  “Aye, aye, sir,” she smiled. “You don't go anywhere but this room or the ship. If you do, I'll severely injure you. And, that's a promise.”

  “Aye, aye,” he chuckled.

  Several hours later, all four companions met back on the ship just before the sun went down. As soon as his helmet was off, Cleo slapped Robert over the 'you couldn't have reached the drive-room in the first place' situation. After this had been taken care of, the party started sorting through the swag the two girls had managed to collect.

  One of the first rooms they opened using the MCB was what turned out to be the officer's club. From this, they snagged a number of future-televisions and a collection of movies and TV shows. Sadly, none of the crew spoke ancient-Farlinic Empire, so the dialog was a complete mystery. Robert insisted that they watch some comedies (which they were able to identify by the pratfalls – which are universally understood – and the laugh-tracks – which were horrible) before they called it a night.

  Although, under normal circumstances, most of the crew would have found this less than entertaining, the fact that it was new made it fascinating. On top of which, they each did their best to figure out what the plot was in order to make speculations about what might happen next. As it turned out, this was a great deal of fun.

  Six of the companions also found it very enjoyable to be able to cuddle during 'TV time' once again (especially as they were able to do said 'cuddling' wrapped up in the sheets Celeste had made). Vox did whisper something about marital supplies to Robert, however, and Cleo ended up slapping the traveler more than once during scenes where the apparent-protagonists were in mortal (if hilarious) danger. Once this was over, they headed for bed.

  The following morning after breakfast, and after Cleo had slapped Robert for the additional nightmares she had during the night, the four companions once again went two separate ways. Morgan and Robert were having to completely pull the engine apart in order to fit it through the maintenance shaft. As this was going to take at least the rest of the day, Azure and Cleo had time to search for even more swag.

  Robert asked them to focus on finding tools, weapons, and medical supplies (even those of a marital nature), as well as additional light fixtures, and some space-glass for Vox. They succeeded in doing all of these things.

  First, they managed to cut their way through a broken door in the drive room that led more deeply into 'engineering' – which was loaded with tools. They then discovered an armory filled with energy weapons (by using the sensors on The Morgan-mobile to search for low-level power signals). And, just before the sun set on the second day after their arrival, they cut their way into the ceiling of a medi-bay still packed with supplies (including those Vox had become so desperate to get his hands on, and a number of high-pressure tanks filled with oxygen). As all of these rooms had – at one time – been well lit, they also found plenty of lights, and even some unbroken panes of glass.

  As soon as the last of the engine's parts were on board, Robert and Vox began the work of reassembling it. (Azure would have helped, but there simply wasn't enough room for her in the drive-room.) While this was being attended to, Morgan decided to relax in his bed, working away on the first formula.

  He had been thinking about it off and on since they had first found themselves trapped in the past. It was harder to do without his Rubik’s Cube, but he figured it was probably better for his brain, as well. As he lay in the dark with the puzzle shifting in his mind's eye, someone knocked on his door.

  “Come in.”

  The portal opened to reveal Azure and Cleo standing in the narrow hallway with a lamp the blue maiden had just put together out of parts.

  “Can we come in?” Cleo asked.

  “I just told you to,” he chuckled.

  “Where can we sit?” she asked.

  “Here,” he replied, sitting up and making room on his bed (which was the bottom bunk – Robert always got the top bunk).

  The two maidens stepped into the room and closed the door behind them. Azure then placed the lamp on the floor and the two sat down on each side of the young man.

  “I'm having a really hard time letting this go,” Cleo explained. “Azure and I have been over it a thousand times already, and we're just not making any headway.”

  “Which is why we decided to talk to you about it,” Azure added. “You seem to be able to 'get inside Rob's head' better than the rest of us.”

  “What did Doc have to say about whatever it is?” Morgan interjected.

  “What?” Azure replied.

  “Cleo always goes to Doc first,” the young man asserted.

  “I don't always,” she replied. “For instance, I didn't this time.”

  “We figured that, being a human man,” Azure said, “and therefore just as completely insane as Rob is, you would probably understand why he does all the stupid things he does.”

  “On top of which,” Cleo added. “You'll actually tell me the truth about it, even if it doesn't make any sense at all.”

  “Alright,” he smiled. “What do you want to know?”

  “If Rob really is in love with Cleo,” Azure began, “and honestly cares for me, why would he totally disregard our feelings, lie to us, and almost get you both killed?”

  For several seconds, he sat in thoughtful silence.

  “The answer to that,” he said at last, “is actually somewhat complex.”

  “We've got time,” Azure pointed out.

  “Plus,” Cleo added, “if you can't give me a better explanation than 'he just doesn't care all that much' I'm going to end up beating him unconscious.”

  “If possible,” Morgan replied, “it's that he cares too much.”

  “You were right,” the green maiden said, “he's just as crazy as Rob is.”

  “You just have to accept that one as a fact, Cleo,” he continued. “You mean more to him than the entire universe. In fact, during that brief period of time when we realized that you'd been kidnapped, but didn't know where you were, he told Vox and I that we were going to rescue you even if it meant 'blowing up' said universe.”

  “He was bluffing.”

  “I assure you,” Morgan replied with a dramatic pause, “he wasn't.”

&nb
sp; “Then, why...”

  “I'm explaining that,” he pointed out. “Since the thought of losing you fills him with a dread he can't express – which I know for a fact it does, because I feel the same way about both of you – he's not willing to put you in any danger he's not absolutely positive he can get you out of (and neither am I, for that matter).”

  “Well, then...” Cleo began.

  “Please,” Morgan said, raising his hand to silence her. “We then have to couple that with the fact that Rob believes – at least most of the time – that he's completely unconquerable. I'm here to tell you that he was shocked that we might actually end up killed by dramoor. I could tell by his tone of voice that he just about couldn't believe it. Which is actually somewhat understandable considering the fact that, in the end, it didn't end up happening.”

  “Only because...” the green maiden said with some heat.

  “Now, now,” the young man interrupted. “Think like Rob. It didn't happen because he told the perfect lie. The lie that would send you in search of him at the pivotal moment.”

  “That is insane,” Azure opined.

  “That is Robert Nathaniel Hood,” Morgan laughed. “At least, most of the time it is. Of course, I honestly think this time was a little different. I'm sure he didn't expect us to get that close to death, and I know for a fact that he didn't expect you to stay mad about it this long.”

  “How do you know that?” the green maiden asked.

  “We discussed it last night,” Morgan explained. “You slapping him again, and again, and again, has really left an impression on him.”

  “Then, I'll keep it up,” she said with a tone of resolve.

  “Don't overdo it,” he warned her. “Right before we drifted off last night, he said something about...”

  “About what?”

  “About 'putting you over his knee' if you didn't stop soon.”

  “He was bluffing,” she replied with a smile.

  “I wouldn't bet my...” he began before deciding to alter his wording. “I wouldn't bet on it. Something about the way he said it made me think I'd better have a tranq-gun on me at all times.”

  “You always do,” Azure pointed out.

  “That's true,” he nodded. “Still, Cleo, I'd appreciate it if you didn't put him to the test.”

  “I suppose I can stop, then,” she replied. “As long as you're sure he's learned something from it.”

  “I'm positive that he has.”

  “Good,” Azure said, taking him by the hand, “because we can't bear the thought of losing the two of you, either.”

  Just hours after this conversation, the drive was reassembled and filled with all the fuel the derelict had to offer. Vox then crafted a windshield for The Morgan-mobile (using the space-glass the girls had collected for him), and mounted it in place. As soon as this was finished, they were ready to depart. The ship slowly rose into the air, dragging behind it the pile of plating they had planned to bring along. This took a great deal of power and stretched their energy supply to its very limits. As a result, sacrifices had to be made.

  Every non-portable light in the ship was turned off, the gravity field was turned down to one-third Standard-G, and the shields were once again readjusted. This allowed them to protect the ship from the ion storm that was currently raging while, at the same time, consuming less power. Unfortunately, it also allowed even more heat to escape from the vessel.

  In order to keep their crops from freezing, Vox used one of the personal shield generators to give the farm an extra layer of protection, and both portable air conditioners were placed in the chamber, running on 'maximum heat'. All three ladies decided to take shelter from the oncoming cold by climbing into their beds wrapped up in their blankets as well as those of their significant-others.

  The men folk stayed on the bridge where Robert and Vox could constantly tweak the power as needed. After about an hour of staring out of their new window, Morgan began to get bored – and sleepy.

  “How much longer are we planning on staying up?” he asked, stifling a yawn.

  “You can go to bed, if you’d like,” Robert said, his attention on one of the ship's monitors.

  “Nah, man,” he replied, shaking his head. “I'm here until we can put everything on auto-pilot.”

  “Get ready for a long night,” Vox smiled. “It'll be morning before we're far enough out not to have to worry about the ion storms.”

  “I wish we'd discovered Thundera Coffee,” Morgan replied.

  “So do I,” Vox laughed, pushing several of the buttons before him.

  For a few minutes, the conversation died. Morgan then introduced a new subject in an attempt to stay awake.

  “Rob, man,” he said, “you are crazy fast.”

  “In almost every sense of the word,” Robert nodded.

  “I mean,” Morgan continued, “I've seen you fight. I've sparred with you. We've had countless sword-fights.”

  “Mmmm hmmm.”

  “You're faster than Cleo.”

  “In almost every sense of the word.”

  “You're not faster at getting angry,” the young man pointed out.

  “No,” the traveler admitted, his eyes still locked on one of the monitors, “she's got me there.”

  “Anyway,” he continued, “I've been playing her slapping you again and again through my head... again and again.”

  “I do the same thing,” Doc chuckled.

  “So do I,” Vox laughed.

  “I'm sure you all do,” Robert replied dismissively.

  “You could have stopped her every single time,” Morgan observed. “She telegraphs bad. At least, when she's slapping, she does. Although, she certainly doesn't do that in a real fight.”

  “Are you coming to a point, Morgan?” the traveler asked. “I'd hate it if you distracted me into getting us all killed for no reason.”

  “My point is that I could have stopped her,” he explained. “I'm not nearly as fast as you are, but those haymakers of hers might as well be in slow-motion. That means; you let her slap you.”

  “I'm not sure I see the point of your point there,” Robert replied, pushing a few buttons.

  “Why?” Morgan asked. “Why do you let her slap you?”

  “What difference does it make?”

  “I'm curious.”

  “The main reason, Morgan,” Robert said, “is that 'I had it coming'. Cleo was completely in the right. I was completely in the wrong. I'm engaged to a woman capable of feeling rage beyond the ken of mortal men.”

  “Ken?”

  “Knowledge,” Doc explained.

  “It's my duty, as her man,” the traveler continued, “to allow her to express herself. As I know that she loves me more than she'll ever be angry at me, it's perfectly safe – even if it is somewhat painful.”

  “From the outside,” Morgan replied, “it looks extremely painful.”

  “Maybe it is,” Robert admitted, rubbing his chin. “On the other hand, it has a touch of raw animal passion behind it that I find... stimulating.”

  “You mean you like it?” Morgan chuckled.

  “No,” the traveler corrected. “No, I certainly don't 'like it'. It just happens to make me feel... aggressive. One day, I plan to put that aggression to good use.”

  “How?”

  “Well, Morgan...” Robert began with a laugh before he was interrupted.

  “Rob,” Cleo said, marching into the room wrapped in sheets, with Azure and Celeste at her heels, “we are freezing to death. It has to be forty degrees in here. I can see my breath.”

  “No, you can't,” he pointed out, glancing down at one of the screens, “it's actually almost fifty-five degrees.”

  “It's not in our rooms,” Azure asserted.

  “Aren't you freezing?” Cleo asked, gazing into the eyes of her love.

  “Of course I am,” he nodded. “I hate the cold.”

  “Then, turn up the heat,” the even-bluer-than-normal maiden demanded.
/>   “We can't,” he explained. “We don't have enough power.”

  “You're going to have to do something to warm us up,” Cleo insisted.

  “Azure's got nothing to worry about,” Morgan smiled. “I have totally got her covered.”

  “Shut up, Morgan,” Robert laughed.

  “I'm not going let myself freeze to death, Rob,” Azure said.

  “Hot dog!” the young man exclaimed.

  “I'm not going to let Rob let me freeze to death,” Cleo asserted, moving to the side of her love.

  “What are you doing?” the traveler asked.

  “I'm going to sit on your lap...”

  “I don't think...” he attempted to interrupt.

  “And, you're going to snuggle with me,” she continued, completely ignoring him.

  “Honestly, dear, I'm not sure that...”

  “Then, turn up the heat!” she successfully interrupted.

  “I can't.”

  “I'll turn it up,” Morgan said, pulling Azure down into his lap.

  “Oh...” the slightly-less-blue maiden immediately replied. “Oh, that is divine. Your skin has to be close to seventy-five.”

  “You're not really touching my skin.”

  “Your clothes then.”

  By this time, Celeste was also happily sitting on her husband's lap, wrapping him up with her in their sheets.

  “Rob,” Cleo said with a tone of warning.

  “Just try to sit still,” he replied, pulling her down to him. “I'd hate for you to bump us to death.”

  “I'll handle the controls,” she said, adjusting herself and her blankets so that her hands were free. “You just focus on cuddling me, and keeping my blood from turning to ice.”

  “With the gravity this low, I can barely feel you sitting there.”

  “Being this cold,” she replied, “I can barely feel anything at all.”

  “That may be for the best,” Doc smiled.

  “Aren't you cold, Doc?” Morgan asked.

  “Not at all,” he replied, shaking his head. “My normal body temperature is around a hundred-and-five. I'm comfortable as long as it's between about thirty-five and a hundred-and-fifteen.”