Page 20 of Life-Debt

In Veloc, I informed him I would be most appreciative if he could keep her company, and that the resupply process tested Pandora’s patience, which was little on a good day.

He hooted a laugh. “Little Cousin, she has offered her blessing for me to entertain her little fox, so you must keep her company and learn more about space so you do not encounter such trouble in the future.”

With a rueful expression, Delta replied, “I’ve had my fill of such trouble for a few years. That’ll be how long it’ll take me to have any competence at all.”

“Nonsense,” I replied, rising to my feet and patting Delta’s shoulder. “You’ll get the hang of it soon enough. You’re ahead of most. You can follow instructions. The hard part will be learning how to read the manual. Once you master that, you’ll be all right. Mystoran, what is the process at this spaceport for resupplying post quarantine?”

“You will have docking rights for this bay for the duration of your stay. If you do not want to fuss with going into the spaceport for specific parts and supplies, I can speak with my kin and have the things acquired for you using your token account. A small repayment for bringing him back to us alive and well. It has been at least five generations since anyone in his family line has undergone stasis, and we had no knowledge of his suitability for it.”

One day, the truth might bother me less. “It was a last ditch measure on his crew’s part. They could try to save one, so they did. Drawn lots, as fair as it gets. They’ll likely need me to work on the freighter to explain the adjustments I made, or do additional work on the engine.”

“Oh, yes. These bays connect, so you will have full access to the freighter once the bodies are removed. They are doing that now. They will spray the ship down with disinfectant, but it will be safe for humans within three or four hours. I volunteered to help, as engine parts can be heavy and Veloc are strong.”

I bet. “I appreciate that. Thank you.”

“It is my pleasure. We owe you his life-debt, and that is something we take seriously. You found him in dangerous space, which sees few travelers.”

I understood. While it had only taken a few hours to reach the shiftgem gate, luck and luck alone had guided me to Delta and the derelict freighter. Family often appreciated my willingness to scout through space few traveled without good reason.

Once upon a time, the space beyond the shiftgem gate had been bustling, but the spaceport had moved on. People still used the gate to the spaceport’s new location, three hops away, but most took a more direct route with fewer jumps.

The shiftgem gate remained, in case someone discovered something more of use or a new spaceport set up operations. I gave it a few years before some enterprising merchant set up another installation, especially if someone wanted to venture off into the uncharted space a few light years away.

Sometimes, I thought about pushing my ship’s limits and charting new space. Even a light year worth of additional charting brought in a pretty penny. More died in the attempt than collected pay, although I’d bagged a few tokens from having recovered charting derelicts and their crew.

I’d even gotten credit for the charting, as I’d been the first to reach the uncharted space and return with a map despite the map having been made by someone else.

It helped I’d seen a destination I could verify on their map with only a month’s extra travel. I’d one-upped the original mappers, identifying a new planet and its three moons. As was the right of the discoverer, I’d named the planet Pandora-001, and I’d named the moons Vixen, Fox, and Vulpes in honor of my fluffy companion. I wouldn’t be the first to take naming things too far. Other planets named Pandora existed, but I’d been the first to use a number to distinguish mine, which meant when the naming authorities swept through the new maps, my Pandora would keep its name and the others would be forced to adopt subsequent numbering.

The moons would likewise be protected thanks to my careful numbering of my discovery.

Long after we passed on, my fox would live as a label on a map. She might be more remembered for her crazy owner, but she would be remembered.

Realizing I’d become rather lost in thought, I sighed. “There’s no debt owed. Anyone decent in my shoes with my equipment would have done the same. I recover derelicts. That’s how I pay for this token guzzler of a ship.”

“What is your ship’s name?” Delta asked.

“I haven’t given her one. I just address her by her identification number in port. Every derelict I’ve come across were all named. I figure if I break the mold, maybe I won’t have that sort of luck. Don’t get me wrong. I love my ship, and I worked hard for her—but no names. And not because I don’t want to make an attachment, but rather due to the nature of my work.”

Mystoran trilled, a sound I interpreted to be amusement. “You have found yourself in company with a most sensible homo sapiens. Whatever will you do, Little Cousin?”

“Learn how to fix engines,” Delta announced.

I chuckled at his enthusiasm. “Then let’s begin. Your first job will be to dismantle my engines and put them back together again. We will evaluate every part, replace those in need of repair, and make certain my ship does not add to the clutter littering space.”

SEVEN

Pandora would ultimately decide

For seven days, we overhauled my engines, and I taught Delta the name of every part, the importance of every bolt, and how the shiftgem crystals interacted with everything to create energy capable of hurtling my ship through space. To test his work, I used the comm system to request hover authorization in the quarantine bay, which had plenty of space for the three feet I wanted in every direction to test the system.

They gave me flight authorization for outside of the bay, promised a tug if the engine didn’t check out, and recommended I fly around Cremora Delta 005-23, which was a half-hour flight from the spaceport. I accepted the offer with delight, requested thirty minutes for flight preparations, checks of the other systems, and boarding the excitable Veloc and my vulpes vulpes, who hunted through a maze of cargo crates together.

I feared I would need to leave my precious fox with her new friend, who handled her energy and quirks with grace.

Pandora would ultimately decide, as the vigor of space often wore the animal down. I did my best, but sometimes, my best wasn’t enough—not when the feathered predator might be able to offer my fox a better future.

Rather than worry about it, I whistled for the pair, who came running over, both on all fours, continuing their elaborate game of chase. The Veloc won, although I doubted Pandora understood she’d been beaten by someone many times her size. “Delta’s done his first engine overhaul, and the spaceport has granted permission to do a flyby of Cremora Delta 005-23 to do a full system check in a live environment. You can come if you would like.”