The Gravediggers of Orpheus [4]

A Sci-Fi flash fiction. An entry to the SciFriday.

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The previous parts of the story (although each installment can be read as a stand-alone):

[1]

[2]

[3]

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[4]

Derek had spent hours fixing the old Vulture05, with motor oil up to his elbows, he had dug up corpses from the debris when all the excavation bots broke down, but he had never ever held a human baby. He was about to object, but doc Liz ignored the Captain’s frightened face and shoved the tiny survivor baby Annuk in Derek’s arms. The little bundle howled like an emergency bot, but once the baby noticed Derek’s bewildered face staring at her, Annuk went quiet and examined him with a pair of clever eyes. Derek swallowed hard, it felt like she could see straight through him. The little eyes were dark and wise like the starlit universe outside the ship.

Doc Liz smiled at Derek.

“Let’s take the little one to her Mama.”

The survivor was finally strong enough to take care of her baby. The woman’s name was Sophie, she remembered living in the slums of the war-torn side of planet Orpheus with her mother. The baby’s father was one of the rebel soldiers.

“A reckless bastard like the rest of them,” said doc Liz, “should’ve taken care of his girlfriend, instead of running around with the boys waving their guns pointlessly. The Ghouls always win.” Liz shook her grey head. She had her firm opinion about the rebel forces, and Derek respected it. He too wasn’t eager to partake in the war - there could be no winner, no matter which side you took. The corpses were all the same - whether the Government Ghoul soldiers, the rebels or the civilians.

Derek held the baby gingerly and approached Sophie sitting in the bed. Tears of gratitude shone in her eyes.

“This is your little girl Annuk. But you can give her another name if you want,” said doc Liz.

“Oh, no, it’s a lovely name.” Sophie took the baby.

“It was Captain’s idea, the name,” one of the Gravedigger boys grunted. The crew had gathered in the tiny cabin given to Sophie to witness the reunion.

“Thank you,” Sophie looked into Derek’s eyes.

Derek, the Captain of the Gravedigger vessel Vulture05 blushed and stared at his feet instead of answering, while his crew stood around smirking at their shy Captain.

Suddenly the ship shook violently, with all the lights twitching.

“That ain’t no wind, Cap!” Derek’s co-pilot yelled into his ear through the communicator he wore constantly.

“I’m on it,” Derek and the crew were about to run to the bridge, but he turned back looking at Liz.

“I’ll take care of them, go!”  Doc Liz said, supporting Sophie and Annuk while the vessel kept shaking.