by Martin HC
“They went into the Darkspace because they were fools, what does it matter now, they're all dead and we're here, now.” she said, calming him down. With a cheeky smile, she continued. “Look, come with me to bed, and if you're still not tired then we can keep ourselves entertained under the covers, until you do get tired.”
He looked torn now between the importance of his message and the offered reward for following his lover to a bed. Jill reached out and took his hand, then stepped backwards with him towards the doors.
“If it's already waited thirteen hundred years, it can wait for one more night,” she reasoned with him.
Agreeing with her logic he made to follow her, then saw what he sought lying on a table, not the floor. She looked at him, and he spoke back.
“OK, I'll come with you to bed, if you read that data pad,” he said, pointing to the table. “Just that one, and it's not long.”
She rolled her eyes, but agreed.
“Fine, but once I've looked at it, you're coming with me to bed, deal.”
He nodded in agreement, so she walked to the table, lifted the pad and began to read in a half mumble, half recognisable way.
“As a resu..... …. ..and derelict... .. duty. … minister fo... …... and ….chancel... …. .. … …tenced to death. The chan.... … as was... …. exec... …. publicaly,” she stopped. “Alright Haydn, I've read it, let's go.”
“You have to read it all, don't stop till you've read all of it, it's just a little more.”
“Fine, but I'm still not seeing the wow factor in it yet,” she answered, now annoyed. Then continued her half mumbled read. “The minis.. . …pansion ., Alsi..n. F..r..e.r .., run awa.., disre..ardi.. hi.. pledge .. …. .lty.. an. on site exec......on … o..der has bee.. iss..d to any...e who finds him.”
She looked at him now, finishing her read, clearly still not impressed.
“OK, last part now, I promise. Look at the picture on the next page, and tell me who the Minister for Expansion, Alsinan Ferner, is.” he told her.
Looking back down, Jill flicked against the screen, and her eyes found what Haydn so thoroughly pushed on her. She couldn't look away, the same height, the same hair, the same build and the same face. Looking back up at Haydn, Jill answered him.
“That's Bob!”
“I know, right.” Haydn cried out in joy, having finally shared his discovery. “Bob, Arterou, Alsinan Ferner, whatever his name is. He was the one who organised for the Desian fleet to enter the Darkspace, he was the reason their empire collapsed.”
“I can't believe that's really him, in an image taken over thirteen hundred years ago.”
“I can't wait to tell Y'Riell, she is going to flip when we tell her about him.” Haydn said, looking very pleased with himself. “Anyway, let's get to that bed, I believe a certain genius someone was promised some exercise.”
To all those who purchased and read this piece of work, I thank you.
To those that enjoyed it, I'm glad to done something with my time in life which has brought you joy, and hopefully if you read the sequel you'll enjoy it just as much.
To all the haters, why not give it a try yourself and see if you can do better.