Jak Phoenix

  ***

  The crews of the Tempest and the Brigatine combined their efforts and worked for several hours, until they were all past the point of exhaustion. They mutually decided to take a break, before fatigue caused them to get sloppy and begin making mistakes. For a change of scenery, the crew of Dodge’s ship spent some time on Jak’s ship, holding up the walls and emptying his liquor cabinet.

  Cyan eventually warmed up to the other crew and became friendly and social with everyone. She sat down for a while, along with Jak, Baxter and Dodge as she was urged to open up about the reason she was there. Jak and Baxter filled Dodge in on the details of the events that had led them to that point in time. Dodge absorbed the story, punctuating it with comments and various looks of surprise.

  At the end of the story Dodge leaned back and crossed his arms. “Well then,” he said. “Unfortunately I’m gonna have to kick you guys out.”

  “What?”

  “We’re doing fine here, and you have to get going. Murdock only had a few stops booked after we intercepted him, so you’re never gonna catch him if you don’t get moving. The last stop we have on his log is out near the Devil’s Horn Nebula. I don’t know how you’ll track him down if you miss him there.”

  “If we’re going to be leaving soon, I’m just going to go finish up a few of the things I started,” interrupted Cyan, as she got up. “I ripped a few things apart that may be a bit difficult to put back together.”

  “Yeah, of course. I really owe you one,” said Dodge sincerely. He reached out and shook her hand. A rare spark of true happiness sparkled in her smile.

  “No problem,” she responded, as she turned and left.

  “Quite a girl,” said Dodge, after she was out of earshot.

  “Tell me about it.”

  Jak saw Dodge’s fatherly instinct kick in. “Don’t let her get you killed,” he said.

  “What do you mean?” asked Jak. He acted surprised, but he knew exactly where Dodge was going with his statement.

  “Hey, you and I both know that you’re gonna fall for her — if you haven’t already — and you’ll do whatever she says. Even if that means you’re gonna risk your life for some magic rocks.”

  Jak looked at him with a half hearted face of bewilderment.

  “Lucky we didn’t tell him about the part when she tried to take the ship over,” added Baxter. It was his turn to throw Jak into the ring with Dodge.

  In response, Dodge said nothing, but looked at Jak with a look of disgust and disappointment as if to say, ‘How the hell could you let her do that?’

  “Yeah,” said Jak with irritation, “Lucky.”

  “Look, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with her,” said Dodge. “In fact, I think she’s got a good heart in there.”

  Jak could tell how much Dodge cared by how animated he became when he spoke. There would be no stopping him until his point was across.

  “Still,” continued Dodge, “something isn’t sitting right with me.”

  That wasn’t good news. Dodge’s intuition was known in their circle of acquaintances as something that could usually be trusted in.

  “What’s that?”

  “Well a few things, besides all that nonsense you told me about you two and the space dragon and all that — which sounds made up if you ask me.” Jak and Baxter looked to each other and then looked quickly back to Dodge before he noticed. He counted off on his fingers. “First, you’ve got this problem with Murdock. I don’t like how all the sudden he’s got all this courage. That man was even scared of Baxter before. Second, he’s going out to the Devil’s Horn Nebula. For what? Why would he go out there? Third, you tell me that he’s planning on selling these tablets to Cartrite. If he wants them, then my bet is that he’s found some way of using their power for his own purposes. Cartrite isn’t just some junk collector. This guy’s ship, the Catalyst, is the size of a small city. His crew is a bunch of maniacs and creeps, and he’s already been able to take control and claim ownership over a few small worlds on the outer edge of the galaxy. Last I heard, he had cooled off for a while and stopped there. Now all the sudden, he’s requesting deliveries from the other side of the galaxy. You see? Something’s up. And you’re walking right into it.”

  Jak hoped the speech was nearing the end.

  “You don’t think I can take care of myself?”

  “No, you stubborn jackass. But you’ve got to understand. You’re entering a whole new world here. You’re past fighting over buried treasure with Murdock. If we hadn’t been lucky, he’d have succeeded at killing me and my whole crew. He’s on another level now. I hope this isn’t just about the money, because I can help you out.”

  “No, it’s not about the money anymore.”

  “Revenge?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Dangerous game you’re playing, my friend. You’re dealing with a guy who’s got a new toy he wants to try out, and that toy is murder. So either you’re gonna fall to his level or at some point have to walk away.”

  “I promised Rusty I’d go out there for him,” said Jak. “And, this thing with Cyan just came up and I want to help her too, so it’s not just about me, you know.”

  Dodge smiled a toothy grin and said, “Well, well, well. Is that a little bit of maturity I hear coming from the great space pirate, Jak Phoenix? Caring about others. That’s a new one. Look, buddy, I just want you to be careful.”

  “I hear you, Dodge, and your concern is appreciated. I’m going out there and I promise if it’s too big, I’m gonna turn back and tell Rusty and Cyan it just can’t be done. Fair?”

  “Hey, it’s your head — I’m just sayin’.”

  “If Murdock is setting us up at Devil’s Horn, then it’ll be his loss,” explained Jak. He felt the need to let Dodge know that he did stand a chance. “I’ve been through there and I know how deadly it can be inside. For all his money and fancy ships and luck, he has no instinct or piloting skills. I can fly circles around the guy.”

  “Then quit sitting around talking and get the hell out of here.”