The Gravediggers of Orpheus [13]

A Sci-fi flash fiction

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Previously [12]

[13]

Captain Derek fell to his knees and stared at Joe’s dead body for a couple of minutes while the med bots cleaned up the blood. Joe was alive only moments ago, but now his eyes stared at the ceiling lifeless.

“I’m very sorry,” said Doc Liz, closing Joe’s eyes with a white-latex-glowed hand. Derek had no time for grieving. He got up and ran through the corridors to the bridge. Sophie didn’t follow him; she had to get disinfected to take care of Annouk.

“What are the stat’s Jimmy? Did we ditch the Ghouls?” Derek bellowed marching into the Bridge. The crew sat with their faces grim - all heard what happened to Joe.

“Cap, maybe you need a minute? I mean Joe…”

“Report our status!” Derek said sternly.

“Reporting; we lost the Ghouls. Only complete nutjobs would follow us into the red mists. But we won’t be flying far, Cap. The fuel…”

“I know, Jimmy. Prepare for an emergency landing!” Derek held the steering wheel steady, without any trace of emotions on his face.

It wasn’t long until all the displays of the Vulture before him lit up in red blinking dots - they were running out of fuel. Their solar panels could barely produce enough energy to sustain the ships heating, not to run the whole thing. Derek steered his ship to a landing, and despite the violent shaking, he made it slide onto the red sands of Orpheus smoothly.

“Good job, Cap!” Said Jimmy. Derek sighed heavily. He didn’t feel good about himself. One of his guys had died, because of Derek’s decisions. If he hadn’t put his interest in Sophie above the safety of his crew….

***

Derek knocked quietly. Sophie appeared behind the swooshing door, pale and tired.

“I’m sorry I raised my voice at you. It’s not how I’ve been taught to treat a woman,” he said before entering.

“Come in.”

He couldn’t go past Annouk’s cradle without looking at the baby. The little one stared at him with her clever eyes, as if she knew his heart. She reached her little hands to Derek. He smiled and took the baby in his arms. How beautifully frail life was! This is worth living for, he thought. His eyes turned to Sophie’s guilty face.

“What you did back there...”

“I don’t have my memories, but my body seems to remember more than my head. I know how to shoot and defend myself. Doc Liz said I probably was a trained assassin before my memory got wiped out.”

“You threatened her with a gun you stole.”

“I had to do things quick. I knew you weren’t safe. With just Joe by your side. None of you are soldiers like…” Sophie went quiet.

“Like you were? I… I guess I don’t know you at all,” Derek said ruefully.

“You regret proposing to me, I understand,” Sophie lowered her eyes. “I should’ve just let Ghouls shoot me after I got you to the ship.”

“No point in doing that. Even without your signal, they can still track Vulture. We are outlaws now. Don’t… don’t cry, please!” Derek put Annouk back into the cradle. He tried to wipe Sophie’s tears away with his large palms. There she was - his gentle Sophie, not the murderous robot shooting down Ghouls. Derek enveloped her body, Sophie snugged in his embrace sobbing. This is worth living for.