Fahna and Spacer
Warning, this is pretty long X_X
The Loriana was passing by the Joistia Star when Fahna came on deck. Master Grant came over and told her they needed to talk. He said that they were headed for Metroopler, and they would have to stay there for a month or so while the Loriana had some work done on her.
“WHAT!!!! We have to stay in port for a month!!!” she shouted. “Why a month! That’s too long! I’ve never been away from space for more than a week!”
Master Grant held up a hand, “Calm down, it wont be that bad. Think of it as a new experience. Metroopler is a really big city. You will have a chance to shop and spend some money…”
“Well, whoop-die-doo,” she said sarcastically, “you know how much I’ve been talking about buying a new dress. And hey maybe I can get one with lots of ruffles and buy a matching umbrella.” They were quiet for a while as they looked out in space. “It’s just going to be weird is all.” She turned to walk away, “But no more than a month?”
Master Grant looked sheepish, “Well, uh, actually no more than two.”
Fahna sighed in frustration and went below deck to do some target practicing.
After a couple weeks spent around port, Fahna finally wandered away from the ship to look around the huge city. After stopping and getting a new pair of boots, she decided to look for someplace to get a tattoo. She noticed that she was getting into the darker part of the city. The buildings weren’t as well kept, and the people started looking more dangerous and punked out. That of course didn’t stop her from asking a girl, with long purple spiked hair and horns implanted in her head, if there was a tattoo place around. The girl, who actually turned out to be quite friendly, wrote down directions to Heaven’s Tattoos, which was only a few blocks over.
OoOoOoOoOoOo
A couple hours later Fahna paid, and walked back out into the streets. It was dusk outside, which was as dark as it got on that planet. As she was walking back she noticed three large guys who had been behind her for quite a while. So in order to see if they were following her she took the next turn that came by. It turned out to be an ally, with a garbage unit and some trash lying around. She whipped around to find the three guys blocking the way out.
“Hey there girlie.” The first one said.
“What’s a girl like you doing all the way out here.” The next one taunted in a baby voice.
“I think she came to play with us.” The last one replied dangerously.
Fahna took a step back and smiled, “You know you guys are pretty brave to confront a girl who has a gun.” She took it out of her belt.
The three men, who obviously had not noticed it before, looked unsure and started backing up. But Fahna threw the gun behind her.
“Listen, I’m thinking you guys need to learn that not every girl out there needs a gun to protect herself from people like you.”
The men laughed. And the first one lunged at her. She stepped to the side and watched him stumble. Fahna looked at the other two and raised an eyebrow, “Your friend isn’t to bright is he?” The man who stumbled was coming back for her and she spun around and kicked him in the head knocking him out. “Wow,” she looked down at her new boots, “these things are pretty cool.” One of the guys came up and punched her in the back. She swore and threw a punch at one of them, hitting them in the nose. The other guy, who she had not been watching, came up behind her and grabbed her arms. The man with the bloody nose walked up to her smiling, thinking she couldn’t attack. She returned the smile, and brought her leg up and kicked his face. He howled in pain as he grabbed his nose again. Fahna threw back her head and knocked the other guy’s face. She took advantage of his confusion and pulled away. She spotted a long piece of pipe, and picked it up. She looked apologetic, “Sorry, this is taking longer than I wanted.” She hit both the men across the head and they collapsed. Fahna dropped the pipe, and went over to pick up her gun. “Don’t worry, you guys should be ok.” She put her gun away and went over to the guy with the bloody nose. “You, I’m thinking, might need to see a doctor about that nose though.” She walked out of the ally and back to the Loriana without any more trouble.
A week later Fahna found herself at The Tipp Café. She was sitting at the long window table, drinking a cinnamon cappuccino (and of course pigging out on doughnuts and bagels), when a cat-man walked in. She couldn’t help but notice him. He was wearing a dark blue jacket with gold trim, dark blue breeches, and a pair of big black boots. His furry grey chest was showing, and he had a circular necklace on, with the words Carpe Deum inscribed on it. Fahna stopped staring and looked out the window.
“This seat isn’t taken is it?” She looked over and saw the cat-man.
“Uh,” She looked down at his furry stomach, his abswere well built. She didn’t think Cat-people could strengthen muscle as well as humans could. She realized she was staring again and surprisingly felt herself blushing. Fahna looked back up at his face, “no.”
He sat in the seat next to hers. Fahna looked down the table and saw all the other chairs were free. She shrugged and stuffed another doughnut in her mouth.
“I’ve never seen you here before.” He smiled as he tried to start a conversation.
“Well, maybe,” Fahna replied with a mouthful of food, “that’s because I’ve never been here before.” She wasn’t in the mood to talk.
Fahna saw him staring at the top of shirt, and clenched her fists, “Hey you got a problem?”
She snapped to get his attention to her face. He smiled, “Hey if you could stare at my chest, I should be able to stare at yours.”
Fahna blushed hard, and jumped out of her seat. She swore at him and started to walk out. But he grabbed her arm and laughed, “Hey, sorry ok? I was just kidding around. Seriously, come finish your food.”
She glared at him, and for some reason, she did decide to stay. They talked for a while, and she was surprised at how much she was enjoying his company. He asked her to meet him back at the Café the following day and she agreed.
“But hey wait a second.” She said as they were walking out the door. “I don’t know you name.”
He gave a toothy grin, “Yeah, right. I’m Spacer.”
Fahna couldn’t help returning the smile, “ Fahna Muy.”
“Well then Fahna Muy, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
And they went their separate ways.
It had been two weeks since they met, and they saw each other practically every day. Spacer took Fahna to a rocky field that was a little ways outside the city. They both jumped off his airspeeder, and she followed him over to a big round boulder.
“So what’s this place?” Fahna asked curiously.
“I like to come here sometimes. It’s away from everything and I thought it would be nice to spend some time alone with you.” He grinned.
Fahna’s stomach flipped. “Yeah?”
He sat down on the ground and pulled her down with him. “Yeah.”
She smiled as she leaned against him. “So Fahna Muy, I don’t know anything much about your past.” They sat there surrounded by grass, as Fahna told him about Heather Cove, and The Loriana.
When she was finished Spacer frowned. “Fahna. I’m worried.” He pushed his hair back with his free hand. “I’ve heard talk on my ship about the Captain having problems with my seeing you.”
“Why… should it be a problem.”
“I don’t know. I really like you. I think they don’t want me to think about leaving. I guess they are afraid I might talk… about things I shouldn’t talk about…”
Fahna was confused. “I still don’t get what you’re trying to say. Talk about what? What exactly do you have to hide?” She stopped leaning against him and sat up.
Spacer sighed and looked up at the sky. “I haven’t really told you anything about my past. I told you I work on a ship. But I didn’t tell you what kinda of ship it was…”
Fahna stood up and looked down at him. “You’re a pirate aren’t you?”
Spacer got up and stood next to her. “Uh, yeah actually... i am... but listen. I really like you. And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before.”
“So why are you telling me now?”
“I think it’s important to know that if we stay together, you could be in danger.”
Fahna lifted an eyebrow, “And you don’t think I can handle it?”
He laughed lightly, “I don’t know why I keep forgetting you’re a weapons expert...” They were both quite for a while, until Spacer broke the silence, “So, about me being a p-“
“Pirate.” Fahna finish. “I don’t care.”
He was shocked, “What?”
“I don’t care.” She said simply. “Your past is behind you, you can’t help who you are.”
“But I’m- I’m,” he was confused, he thought she wouldn’t want to see him anymore, “You don’t care at all about the things I’v-?”
“Are you trying to get me to never speak to you again?” She sighed, “Yeah I’m pretty ticked that you waited this long to tell me. But what am I suppose to do?”
“Ok, uh thanks for understanding…?” he still looked shocked.
Fahna smiled, pulled him closer, and kissed him. “No problem.” She said as she pulled away. “So is that why you wanted to bring me out here?”
“Well actually my ship isn’t too far away, but I already told you, I wanted to have alone time.” He smiled slyly and pulled her back and kissed her again.
They spent the rest of the day there. Spacer told her about his past and how he became a pirate. After he was done, they both sat there in comfortable silence and looked at the city and the woods surrounding the field.
“We should go.” Fahna said when she realized how long they had been there.
“Yeah.” He agreed.
Fahna jumped on the airspeeder and looked over at Spacer, “I had fun.”
He hopped on, next to her, and kissed her, “Me to.”
They both laughed and rode back to the city.
A few days later Fahna was at The Tipp Café, sipping her cappuccino, and writing in her journal. A fox-girl came over and sat next to her.
“So you are Fahna.” It was a statement.
Fahna looked up from her journal and raised a eyebrow, “You have a problem with that? I don’t believe we’ve met.”
The fox-girl looked annoyed. “No. We haven’t.” She looked Fahna up and down and laughed. “I can’t believe he set his standards so low.”
Fahna clenched her fists and glared, “So I take it you mean Spacer.”
She looked confused, “Spacer?”
“Isn’t that who you are talking about?”
The fox-girl pushed hair out of her face and more to herself than to Fahna said, “Spacer? Oooooh… yeah.. Oooh… duh. Yeah… I’m talking about Spacer.”
Fahna figured that the girl needed mental help. And decided it wasn’t worth getting mad about. “Excuse me, I think I’ll be leaving.” She slammed her journal shut.
The fox-girl grabbed her arm, “No. I haven’t told to yet. You need to stop seeing Spacer. He can’t be getting mixed up with someone like you. If you don’t stop seeing him. I’m afraid we will have to erase both of you.”
Fahna lifted an eyebrow again, “Oh, yeah, erase… Whatever.” And she got up and walked out.
The fox-girl followed her. “You obviously have no idea how serious this threat is. The Captain of our ship will not hesitate to kill either of you. Chances are he’ll have you killed right off and he’ll punish Spacer by giving him a few days suffering before finally killing him.”
That made Fahna stop and look at her.
The Fox-girl continued, “The Captain of our ship is a brilliant man. He gets his respect by making examples of others. The crew will know if Spacer continues seeing you. The captain won’t want them getting ideas.”
Fahna was still doubtful, “What are you gaining by telling me this?”
The fox-girl gave a cold smile, “Spacer and I go way back, I thought I might try and spare him from the pain he’ll experience once the captain finds out he wont stop seeing you.” Her smile grew, “I’d imagine that yooou’d get a quick death, but Spacer will get to stay alive for a few days, with no food, and he’ll probably get the whip more than couple times a day. He’ll have loooads of stuff done to him, but I will say one thing for sure…”she laughed, “it WILL be gruesome.”
Fahna couldn’t help but glare at her, “How can you laugh at something like that? I don’t get it. Why wou-“
Someone tapped Fahna on the shoulder. She turned and no one was there. She shook it off and continued, “Why would it b-.”
The fox-girl was gone.
Fahna’s eyes widened and she leaned up against the window of The Tipp Café. She slid down to the ground and sat there. She had been told stories of what some captains did to gain respect of and show authority over their crew. Spacer was apart of a ruthless ship as far as she could tell by what he had told her just the other day.
“Damn it. Damn it.. Damn it!” she stomped her foot on the ground. People stared at her as they passed.
What now?
A week later… Fahna went to the rocky field where Spacer and her had been before. He had left a note at the front desk of her hotel asking her to meet him. He was already there when she rode up. He was leaning against that same round boulder.
She walked over, “You wanted me to come?”
His face brightened when he saw her, “Yeah, I wanted to know why you haven’t been meeting me at The Tipp.”
“I think you know.” She said sadly, “A fox-girl came and told me what your captain would do to you if he found out you were seeing me.”
He looked surprised, “Tristie told you? I wonder why she’d go out of her way and do that…” He pushed the thought aside, and smiled at her, “I really don’t care what happens to me though. I can find a way out of it.”
Fahna couldn’t believe his attitude. “Uh, well, I do. I don’t want you to get killed because of me.”
He kept smiling, “It would be worth it.”
“I just came here to tell you why I wasn’t meeting you. I really like you Spacer, its just-.”
Spacer held up a hand, “I understand that you’re worried Fahna, but don’t be.”
“Rrrraaah!” She stomped in frustration. “Why are you being so stubborn! I WILL NOT stand by and see you get hurt!”
“Well I’m not hurt though am I?”
They stood there talking for a while. Him trying to convince her that it would be ok for them to be together. And her not believing it was possible.
She sighed, “Spacer, I’m leaving.”
“Ok, well how bout we meet up at the Tipp tomorrow, we still need to tal-.”
She interrupted him, “No Space, I’m leaving. The Loriana is shipping out tonight. And actually I basically just had to run away from Master Grant so I could see you one last time. I should be getting back soon. They are probably out looking for me…”
His eyes were suddenly sad, “Fahna… Do you love me?”
“What?”
He stepped closer to her, “You seem to just be trying to get away, not giving this a chance at all.”
“And what kind of chance am I suppose to give this? If we stay together we get hurt, or we’d be running, always looking over our shoulder. What kind of life would that be?”
“The point is we’d be together.” He brought his hand up to touch her face.
Before she could say anything a blue, three-eyed man came up from behind the rock. It was no one that Fahna recognized, but Spacer seemed to know him.
“Zut-wuy-tuca, what are you doing here?” Spacer asked quickly.
The intruder looked directly at Spacer, “I’m sorry. Captain’s orders.”
Four other identical men appeared behind him.
“What is this?” Fahna put her hand on her gun. But before she pulled it out something caught her eye, in the distance she saw three of her crew mates coming into the field. She looked at Spacer, who was still looking at the blue men.
Zut-wuy-tuca quickly pulled out a small gun and aimed it at Fahna’s head and pulled the trigger. Spacer knocked her to the side, and the blast went threw her left shoulder.
“Damn it!” yelled Fahna as she fell to the ground holding her shoulder. Spacer quickly knelt by her side, “Fahna, Fahna don’t move, I’ll get some help.”
Fahna forced a smile, “It’s not that b-.” She didn’t finish.
The blue men laughed, and Zut-wuy-tuca put a hand on Spacers shoulder. "I’m afraid we are going to have to leave her here to die. You though, must come back to the ship. I imagine you’ll be a good source of entertainment these next couple days.”
Spacer tried fighting but was quickly overcome by the five men. One of them twisted Spacers arm, a loud snap broke out through the field, and Spacer yelled out. He was quickly dragged away into the forest. Fahna was alone.
“Spacer!” Fahna yelled after him. She was on her knees, still holding her shoulder. She pulled together strength she didn’t know she had, and got up and started running after them.
Haftom, Leruiscole, and Cayileit caught her from behind, and eyeing her bloody shoulder, insisted that she see to it right way.
“Let me go! I have to help him!” she elbowed Cayileit with her right arm and pulled away. She started running after Spacer again, until Haftom stretched out and twisted her right arm behind her back, and Leruiscole grabbed her legs, and they dragged her back towards their air-rider on the out skirts of the fields.
Fahna ignored her throbbing shoulder and couldn’t help thinking about what the fox-girl had said…
“I’d imagine that yooou’d get a quick death, but Spacer will get to stay alive for a few days, with no food, and he’ll probably get the whip more than couple times a day. He’ll have loooads of stuff done to him, but I will say one thing for sure… it WILL be gruesome.” She could see the smile on the fox’s face, and hear Tristie’s awful laugh ringing in her ears.
“No!” she screamed at the woods, her eyes watered up and she started crying uncontrollably, as she realized she was never going to see Spacer again.
It had been almost two weeks since Fahna last saw Spacer.
She was once again out in space on the Loriana. She refused to talk to anyone about what had happened during their month in Metroopler. Master Grant knew it had to do with a man, and that something had happened that last day. But other than that he was in the dark. Fahna’s shoulder had been taken care of, and the loss of blood only kept her bed ridden for 24 hours. After that Fahna began working around the ship. She didn’t talk to anyone unless they asked her a question. She always seemed to be deep in thought thinking of something or someone. Master Grant had decided to go and do business in Heather Cove, to give Fahna a chance to talk to her old family and friends, he figured it was all he could do since she wouldn’t talk to him about it.
Late one night Fahna was in her small room, and someone knocked on the door.
“Come in.” She called quietly.
Master Grant opened the door, “You got a package.” He handed it to her. And walked back to the door, “Good night Fahna.”
She stared at the package and absentmindedly called good night back.
She picked up the yellow envelope and tore it open.
Fahna-
I hope you are doing ok. I’m sorry I couldn’t stay with you and get you help. But obviously if you’re reading this you took good care of yourself.
But anyhow, I told you I’d get myself out of trouble. Not to say I got off Scott-free, but I’m still alive and kicking. But it looks like we won’t be seeing each other for a while. Once things calm down around here, and we finish the assignment we are working on right now, I’ll see what I can do about withdrawing from this crew. I really don’t think this life is for me anymore. I mean no promises, I think it would be at least a few years before I can get away. We’ll be together someday though. You best not be falling in love with any other guys. I’ll write you again soon.
-Yours
Spacer
P.S. Seize the day. Keep in mind what’s important, but never be afraid to have fun.
Fahna’s eyes filled up with tears. She flipped the envelope over and a necklace fell out. It was his Carpe Deum necklace he always wore. She slipped it around her neck and started crying again.
The Loriana finally landed in Heather Cove. The first thing Fahna did when she got there was go to her best friends house. She really wanted someone to just talk to, and not necessarily about Spacer, she wasnt sure she wanted to talk about Spacer at all. She did come to the conclusion that she was going to start being her regular self again, and not be upset about Spacer any longer,(I mean he had said they would be together eventually, that’s what was important.) Although when she got to Anya’s home her father answered the door, saying she wasn’t home and wouldn’t be back for a long time because of some job she got. Then he closed the door, just like that. Fahna was shocked at his rudeness, and extremely disappointed she wouldn’t be able to see her friend.
Her next stop was her parent’s house. Not because she wanted to talk to them or anything. But she figured she should at least drop by to tell them she was still alive. Her mother opened the door.
“Fahna?” Her eyes grew ever so slightly wider.
“Hey, I thought I would come say hello.”
Her mother glared. “How thoughtful of you.” She opened the door a little more. “Come in if you’d like.”
Fahna did, and sat down on a chair in the living room.
“I’ll go get you father.” Her mom walked out of the room.
The smell of the house did not offer her any comfort. She could hear her parents voices in the other room. “ What’s she doing here?” It was her father.
“How should I know….”
Fahna sighed, she couldn’t get comfortable in the chair she was on. She looked around the room. There was no sign that the people in this house had a daughter. Her parents wedding picture hung on the wall on the other side of the room. And she remembered when she was little her picture had hung right beside it. She shrugged it off, as her parents came back in the room. They sat next to each other on the couch and looked at their daughter like she was a very unwanted guest.
“So what did you need?” Her father asked strait out.
Fahna swallowed and forced a smile, “ Oh, I just thought I’d come see how you guys were doing.”
“We’re fine.” Her mother said fast.
There was awkward silence.
“So is that all?” her father wanted to know.
“Yeah I guess so.” Fahna answered quietly.
Her mom gave a false smile, “Well then, it was nice seeing you again Fahna.” She got up.
Her father followed, “We can show you to the door.”
Fahna got up and walked after them, “Well, uh, it was nice seeing you guys.”
Her father opened the door.
“Yeah. We’ll see you Fahna.”
She walked out the door and it closed right behind her. She shook her head, and started walking back towards the ship.
On her way, a flyer caught her eye. Fahna picked it up off the ground, and stuck it in her pocket.
“Absolutely not!” Master Grant shouted as he looked up from the flyer. “You will not be going off on your own, to work under anyone by the name of Flint!”
“That’s not fair! You don’t even know this one! Can’t we at least go meet him before you decide!” Fahna was sitting on the back of a wooden chair in Master Grant’s study.
“ You know me Fahna, I don’t normally pass judgment like this, but you are only 17 years old, and he’s a Flint.” Master Grant walked behind his huge desk and sat in his chair. “Nathaniel Flint was a ruthless cut throat of a creature. Do you know what you’re asking of me to let you go work for his nephew?”
Fahna sighed, “That’s why I say if you’re so worried we can go meet him ahead of time.” Fahna smiled, “Unless, you know, you don’t think I could d o it...”
Master Grant looked up from the flyer, “Well of course you can do it dear girl. You can do anything you set your mind too.”
Fahna raised an eyebrow, “I don’t know, I think you might be doubting if I’d be able to handle a job…”
“No, no, no, I think you can do it. You’ve been training with me for the last seven years. You are the best apprentice I’ve ever had.” He said confidently.
“Aren’t I the only apprentice you’ve ever had?” she smirked.
He started searching through his desk for something, “Well yes of course, but that’s not the point… ”
Fahna sat quietly and fiddled with her necklace. Master Grant pulled out a pen. And wrote something down on the flyer. “The point is that you could get this job if you tired.”
“So you’re going to let me apply!” She jumped from her chair and ran over and hugged him, “Thank You so much!!”
Master Grant looked a little stupefied, trying to figure out if he had actually given her permission.
He gave in, “We can go and meet him tomorrow, how’s that?”
Fahna smiled and hugged him again, and left the room.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
The next day Fahna tore out of bed and got dressed like a bolt. When she went on deck she found out that Master Grant had left with out her. She ran to where the address had said to go if interested. Master Grant was walking out the door as Fahna reached it. He seemed happy.
“Ah, Fahna, Mr. Flint is quite busy. But he seems quite unlike his Uncle…”
Fahna looked at him, waiting for more.
“It would seem that he does have need for a weapon’s expert on bored his ship. He told me to give this address to you and for you to go there tomorrow night.” He smiled.
“Yeah!” Fahna jumped around happily, smiled big, and took the paper from him, “Thanks!”
“Not a problem. Now you just need to make sure you don’t goof off on this ship. No more random explosions. Last thing I need is for you to contact me telling me you blew up the ship.”
“I. Would. Never.” Fahna said, pretending the idea was preposterous.
“Well, there’s a first time for everything.”
The two of them headed back towards the ship...
Master Grant started rambling on about things she should remember when she boarded the Etherium.
Fahna listened, and realized how much she was going to miss him.
The Loriana was passing by the Joistia Star when Fahna came on deck. Master Grant came over and told her they needed to talk. He said that they were headed for Metroopler, and they would have to stay there for a month or so while the Loriana had some work done on her.
“WHAT!!!! We have to stay in port for a month!!!” she shouted. “Why a month! That’s too long! I’ve never been away from space for more than a week!”
Master Grant held up a hand, “Calm down, it wont be that bad. Think of it as a new experience. Metroopler is a really big city. You will have a chance to shop and spend some money…”
“Well, whoop-die-doo,” she said sarcastically, “you know how much I’ve been talking about buying a new dress. And hey maybe I can get one with lots of ruffles and buy a matching umbrella.” They were quiet for a while as they looked out in space. “It’s just going to be weird is all.” She turned to walk away, “But no more than a month?”
Master Grant looked sheepish, “Well, uh, actually no more than two.”
Fahna sighed in frustration and went below deck to do some target practicing.
After a couple weeks spent around port, Fahna finally wandered away from the ship to look around the huge city. After stopping and getting a new pair of boots, she decided to look for someplace to get a tattoo. She noticed that she was getting into the darker part of the city. The buildings weren’t as well kept, and the people started looking more dangerous and punked out. That of course didn’t stop her from asking a girl, with long purple spiked hair and horns implanted in her head, if there was a tattoo place around. The girl, who actually turned out to be quite friendly, wrote down directions to Heaven’s Tattoos, which was only a few blocks over.
OoOoOoOoOoOo
A couple hours later Fahna paid, and walked back out into the streets. It was dusk outside, which was as dark as it got on that planet. As she was walking back she noticed three large guys who had been behind her for quite a while. So in order to see if they were following her she took the next turn that came by. It turned out to be an ally, with a garbage unit and some trash lying around. She whipped around to find the three guys blocking the way out.
“Hey there girlie.” The first one said.
“What’s a girl like you doing all the way out here.” The next one taunted in a baby voice.
“I think she came to play with us.” The last one replied dangerously.
Fahna took a step back and smiled, “You know you guys are pretty brave to confront a girl who has a gun.” She took it out of her belt.
The three men, who obviously had not noticed it before, looked unsure and started backing up. But Fahna threw the gun behind her.
“Listen, I’m thinking you guys need to learn that not every girl out there needs a gun to protect herself from people like you.”
The men laughed. And the first one lunged at her. She stepped to the side and watched him stumble. Fahna looked at the other two and raised an eyebrow, “Your friend isn’t to bright is he?” The man who stumbled was coming back for her and she spun around and kicked him in the head knocking him out. “Wow,” she looked down at her new boots, “these things are pretty cool.” One of the guys came up and punched her in the back. She swore and threw a punch at one of them, hitting them in the nose. The other guy, who she had not been watching, came up behind her and grabbed her arms. The man with the bloody nose walked up to her smiling, thinking she couldn’t attack. She returned the smile, and brought her leg up and kicked his face. He howled in pain as he grabbed his nose again. Fahna threw back her head and knocked the other guy’s face. She took advantage of his confusion and pulled away. She spotted a long piece of pipe, and picked it up. She looked apologetic, “Sorry, this is taking longer than I wanted.” She hit both the men across the head and they collapsed. Fahna dropped the pipe, and went over to pick up her gun. “Don’t worry, you guys should be ok.” She put her gun away and went over to the guy with the bloody nose. “You, I’m thinking, might need to see a doctor about that nose though.” She walked out of the ally and back to the Loriana without any more trouble.
A week later Fahna found herself at The Tipp Café. She was sitting at the long window table, drinking a cinnamon cappuccino (and of course pigging out on doughnuts and bagels), when a cat-man walked in. She couldn’t help but notice him. He was wearing a dark blue jacket with gold trim, dark blue breeches, and a pair of big black boots. His furry grey chest was showing, and he had a circular necklace on, with the words Carpe Deum inscribed on it. Fahna stopped staring and looked out the window.
“This seat isn’t taken is it?” She looked over and saw the cat-man.
“Uh,” She looked down at his furry stomach, his abswere well built. She didn’t think Cat-people could strengthen muscle as well as humans could. She realized she was staring again and surprisingly felt herself blushing. Fahna looked back up at his face, “no.”
He sat in the seat next to hers. Fahna looked down the table and saw all the other chairs were free. She shrugged and stuffed another doughnut in her mouth.
“I’ve never seen you here before.” He smiled as he tried to start a conversation.
“Well, maybe,” Fahna replied with a mouthful of food, “that’s because I’ve never been here before.” She wasn’t in the mood to talk.
Fahna saw him staring at the top of shirt, and clenched her fists, “Hey you got a problem?”
She snapped to get his attention to her face. He smiled, “Hey if you could stare at my chest, I should be able to stare at yours.”
Fahna blushed hard, and jumped out of her seat. She swore at him and started to walk out. But he grabbed her arm and laughed, “Hey, sorry ok? I was just kidding around. Seriously, come finish your food.”
She glared at him, and for some reason, she did decide to stay. They talked for a while, and she was surprised at how much she was enjoying his company. He asked her to meet him back at the Café the following day and she agreed.
“But hey wait a second.” She said as they were walking out the door. “I don’t know you name.”
He gave a toothy grin, “Yeah, right. I’m Spacer.”
Fahna couldn’t help returning the smile, “ Fahna Muy.”
“Well then Fahna Muy, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
And they went their separate ways.
It had been two weeks since they met, and they saw each other practically every day. Spacer took Fahna to a rocky field that was a little ways outside the city. They both jumped off his airspeeder, and she followed him over to a big round boulder.
“So what’s this place?” Fahna asked curiously.
“I like to come here sometimes. It’s away from everything and I thought it would be nice to spend some time alone with you.” He grinned.
Fahna’s stomach flipped. “Yeah?”
He sat down on the ground and pulled her down with him. “Yeah.”
She smiled as she leaned against him. “So Fahna Muy, I don’t know anything much about your past.” They sat there surrounded by grass, as Fahna told him about Heather Cove, and The Loriana.
When she was finished Spacer frowned. “Fahna. I’m worried.” He pushed his hair back with his free hand. “I’ve heard talk on my ship about the Captain having problems with my seeing you.”
“Why… should it be a problem.”
“I don’t know. I really like you. I think they don’t want me to think about leaving. I guess they are afraid I might talk… about things I shouldn’t talk about…”
Fahna was confused. “I still don’t get what you’re trying to say. Talk about what? What exactly do you have to hide?” She stopped leaning against him and sat up.
Spacer sighed and looked up at the sky. “I haven’t really told you anything about my past. I told you I work on a ship. But I didn’t tell you what kinda of ship it was…”
Fahna stood up and looked down at him. “You’re a pirate aren’t you?”
Spacer got up and stood next to her. “Uh, yeah actually... i am... but listen. I really like you. And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before.”
“So why are you telling me now?”
“I think it’s important to know that if we stay together, you could be in danger.”
Fahna lifted an eyebrow, “And you don’t think I can handle it?”
He laughed lightly, “I don’t know why I keep forgetting you’re a weapons expert...” They were both quite for a while, until Spacer broke the silence, “So, about me being a p-“
“Pirate.” Fahna finish. “I don’t care.”
He was shocked, “What?”
“I don’t care.” She said simply. “Your past is behind you, you can’t help who you are.”
“But I’m- I’m,” he was confused, he thought she wouldn’t want to see him anymore, “You don’t care at all about the things I’v-?”
“Are you trying to get me to never speak to you again?” She sighed, “Yeah I’m pretty ticked that you waited this long to tell me. But what am I suppose to do?”
“Ok, uh thanks for understanding…?” he still looked shocked.
Fahna smiled, pulled him closer, and kissed him. “No problem.” She said as she pulled away. “So is that why you wanted to bring me out here?”
“Well actually my ship isn’t too far away, but I already told you, I wanted to have alone time.” He smiled slyly and pulled her back and kissed her again.
They spent the rest of the day there. Spacer told her about his past and how he became a pirate. After he was done, they both sat there in comfortable silence and looked at the city and the woods surrounding the field.
“We should go.” Fahna said when she realized how long they had been there.
“Yeah.” He agreed.
Fahna jumped on the airspeeder and looked over at Spacer, “I had fun.”
He hopped on, next to her, and kissed her, “Me to.”
They both laughed and rode back to the city.
A few days later Fahna was at The Tipp Café, sipping her cappuccino, and writing in her journal. A fox-girl came over and sat next to her.
“So you are Fahna.” It was a statement.
Fahna looked up from her journal and raised a eyebrow, “You have a problem with that? I don’t believe we’ve met.”
The fox-girl looked annoyed. “No. We haven’t.” She looked Fahna up and down and laughed. “I can’t believe he set his standards so low.”
Fahna clenched her fists and glared, “So I take it you mean Spacer.”
She looked confused, “Spacer?”
“Isn’t that who you are talking about?”
The fox-girl pushed hair out of her face and more to herself than to Fahna said, “Spacer? Oooooh… yeah.. Oooh… duh. Yeah… I’m talking about Spacer.”
Fahna figured that the girl needed mental help. And decided it wasn’t worth getting mad about. “Excuse me, I think I’ll be leaving.” She slammed her journal shut.
The fox-girl grabbed her arm, “No. I haven’t told to yet. You need to stop seeing Spacer. He can’t be getting mixed up with someone like you. If you don’t stop seeing him. I’m afraid we will have to erase both of you.”
Fahna lifted an eyebrow again, “Oh, yeah, erase… Whatever.” And she got up and walked out.
The fox-girl followed her. “You obviously have no idea how serious this threat is. The Captain of our ship will not hesitate to kill either of you. Chances are he’ll have you killed right off and he’ll punish Spacer by giving him a few days suffering before finally killing him.”
That made Fahna stop and look at her.
The Fox-girl continued, “The Captain of our ship is a brilliant man. He gets his respect by making examples of others. The crew will know if Spacer continues seeing you. The captain won’t want them getting ideas.”
Fahna was still doubtful, “What are you gaining by telling me this?”
The fox-girl gave a cold smile, “Spacer and I go way back, I thought I might try and spare him from the pain he’ll experience once the captain finds out he wont stop seeing you.” Her smile grew, “I’d imagine that yooou’d get a quick death, but Spacer will get to stay alive for a few days, with no food, and he’ll probably get the whip more than couple times a day. He’ll have loooads of stuff done to him, but I will say one thing for sure…”she laughed, “it WILL be gruesome.”
Fahna couldn’t help but glare at her, “How can you laugh at something like that? I don’t get it. Why wou-“
Someone tapped Fahna on the shoulder. She turned and no one was there. She shook it off and continued, “Why would it b-.”
The fox-girl was gone.
Fahna’s eyes widened and she leaned up against the window of The Tipp Café. She slid down to the ground and sat there. She had been told stories of what some captains did to gain respect of and show authority over their crew. Spacer was apart of a ruthless ship as far as she could tell by what he had told her just the other day.
“Damn it. Damn it.. Damn it!” she stomped her foot on the ground. People stared at her as they passed.
What now?
A week later… Fahna went to the rocky field where Spacer and her had been before. He had left a note at the front desk of her hotel asking her to meet him. He was already there when she rode up. He was leaning against that same round boulder.
She walked over, “You wanted me to come?”
His face brightened when he saw her, “Yeah, I wanted to know why you haven’t been meeting me at The Tipp.”
“I think you know.” She said sadly, “A fox-girl came and told me what your captain would do to you if he found out you were seeing me.”
He looked surprised, “Tristie told you? I wonder why she’d go out of her way and do that…” He pushed the thought aside, and smiled at her, “I really don’t care what happens to me though. I can find a way out of it.”
Fahna couldn’t believe his attitude. “Uh, well, I do. I don’t want you to get killed because of me.”
He kept smiling, “It would be worth it.”
“I just came here to tell you why I wasn’t meeting you. I really like you Spacer, its just-.”
Spacer held up a hand, “I understand that you’re worried Fahna, but don’t be.”
“Rrrraaah!” She stomped in frustration. “Why are you being so stubborn! I WILL NOT stand by and see you get hurt!”
“Well I’m not hurt though am I?”
They stood there talking for a while. Him trying to convince her that it would be ok for them to be together. And her not believing it was possible.
She sighed, “Spacer, I’m leaving.”
“Ok, well how bout we meet up at the Tipp tomorrow, we still need to tal-.”
She interrupted him, “No Space, I’m leaving. The Loriana is shipping out tonight. And actually I basically just had to run away from Master Grant so I could see you one last time. I should be getting back soon. They are probably out looking for me…”
His eyes were suddenly sad, “Fahna… Do you love me?”
“What?”
He stepped closer to her, “You seem to just be trying to get away, not giving this a chance at all.”
“And what kind of chance am I suppose to give this? If we stay together we get hurt, or we’d be running, always looking over our shoulder. What kind of life would that be?”
“The point is we’d be together.” He brought his hand up to touch her face.
Before she could say anything a blue, three-eyed man came up from behind the rock. It was no one that Fahna recognized, but Spacer seemed to know him.
“Zut-wuy-tuca, what are you doing here?” Spacer asked quickly.
The intruder looked directly at Spacer, “I’m sorry. Captain’s orders.”
Four other identical men appeared behind him.
“What is this?” Fahna put her hand on her gun. But before she pulled it out something caught her eye, in the distance she saw three of her crew mates coming into the field. She looked at Spacer, who was still looking at the blue men.
Zut-wuy-tuca quickly pulled out a small gun and aimed it at Fahna’s head and pulled the trigger. Spacer knocked her to the side, and the blast went threw her left shoulder.
“Damn it!” yelled Fahna as she fell to the ground holding her shoulder. Spacer quickly knelt by her side, “Fahna, Fahna don’t move, I’ll get some help.”
Fahna forced a smile, “It’s not that b-.” She didn’t finish.
The blue men laughed, and Zut-wuy-tuca put a hand on Spacers shoulder. "I’m afraid we are going to have to leave her here to die. You though, must come back to the ship. I imagine you’ll be a good source of entertainment these next couple days.”
Spacer tried fighting but was quickly overcome by the five men. One of them twisted Spacers arm, a loud snap broke out through the field, and Spacer yelled out. He was quickly dragged away into the forest. Fahna was alone.
“Spacer!” Fahna yelled after him. She was on her knees, still holding her shoulder. She pulled together strength she didn’t know she had, and got up and started running after them.
Haftom, Leruiscole, and Cayileit caught her from behind, and eyeing her bloody shoulder, insisted that she see to it right way.
“Let me go! I have to help him!” she elbowed Cayileit with her right arm and pulled away. She started running after Spacer again, until Haftom stretched out and twisted her right arm behind her back, and Leruiscole grabbed her legs, and they dragged her back towards their air-rider on the out skirts of the fields.
Fahna ignored her throbbing shoulder and couldn’t help thinking about what the fox-girl had said…
“I’d imagine that yooou’d get a quick death, but Spacer will get to stay alive for a few days, with no food, and he’ll probably get the whip more than couple times a day. He’ll have loooads of stuff done to him, but I will say one thing for sure… it WILL be gruesome.” She could see the smile on the fox’s face, and hear Tristie’s awful laugh ringing in her ears.
“No!” she screamed at the woods, her eyes watered up and she started crying uncontrollably, as she realized she was never going to see Spacer again.
It had been almost two weeks since Fahna last saw Spacer.
She was once again out in space on the Loriana. She refused to talk to anyone about what had happened during their month in Metroopler. Master Grant knew it had to do with a man, and that something had happened that last day. But other than that he was in the dark. Fahna’s shoulder had been taken care of, and the loss of blood only kept her bed ridden for 24 hours. After that Fahna began working around the ship. She didn’t talk to anyone unless they asked her a question. She always seemed to be deep in thought thinking of something or someone. Master Grant had decided to go and do business in Heather Cove, to give Fahna a chance to talk to her old family and friends, he figured it was all he could do since she wouldn’t talk to him about it.
Late one night Fahna was in her small room, and someone knocked on the door.
“Come in.” She called quietly.
Master Grant opened the door, “You got a package.” He handed it to her. And walked back to the door, “Good night Fahna.”
She stared at the package and absentmindedly called good night back.
She picked up the yellow envelope and tore it open.
Fahna-
I hope you are doing ok. I’m sorry I couldn’t stay with you and get you help. But obviously if you’re reading this you took good care of yourself.
But anyhow, I told you I’d get myself out of trouble. Not to say I got off Scott-free, but I’m still alive and kicking. But it looks like we won’t be seeing each other for a while. Once things calm down around here, and we finish the assignment we are working on right now, I’ll see what I can do about withdrawing from this crew. I really don’t think this life is for me anymore. I mean no promises, I think it would be at least a few years before I can get away. We’ll be together someday though. You best not be falling in love with any other guys. I’ll write you again soon.
-Yours
Spacer
P.S. Seize the day. Keep in mind what’s important, but never be afraid to have fun.
Fahna’s eyes filled up with tears. She flipped the envelope over and a necklace fell out. It was his Carpe Deum necklace he always wore. She slipped it around her neck and started crying again.
The Loriana finally landed in Heather Cove. The first thing Fahna did when she got there was go to her best friends house. She really wanted someone to just talk to, and not necessarily about Spacer, she wasnt sure she wanted to talk about Spacer at all. She did come to the conclusion that she was going to start being her regular self again, and not be upset about Spacer any longer,(I mean he had said they would be together eventually, that’s what was important.) Although when she got to Anya’s home her father answered the door, saying she wasn’t home and wouldn’t be back for a long time because of some job she got. Then he closed the door, just like that. Fahna was shocked at his rudeness, and extremely disappointed she wouldn’t be able to see her friend.
Her next stop was her parent’s house. Not because she wanted to talk to them or anything. But she figured she should at least drop by to tell them she was still alive. Her mother opened the door.
“Fahna?” Her eyes grew ever so slightly wider.
“Hey, I thought I would come say hello.”
Her mother glared. “How thoughtful of you.” She opened the door a little more. “Come in if you’d like.”
Fahna did, and sat down on a chair in the living room.
“I’ll go get you father.” Her mom walked out of the room.
The smell of the house did not offer her any comfort. She could hear her parents voices in the other room. “ What’s she doing here?” It was her father.
“How should I know….”
Fahna sighed, she couldn’t get comfortable in the chair she was on. She looked around the room. There was no sign that the people in this house had a daughter. Her parents wedding picture hung on the wall on the other side of the room. And she remembered when she was little her picture had hung right beside it. She shrugged it off, as her parents came back in the room. They sat next to each other on the couch and looked at their daughter like she was a very unwanted guest.
“So what did you need?” Her father asked strait out.
Fahna swallowed and forced a smile, “ Oh, I just thought I’d come see how you guys were doing.”
“We’re fine.” Her mother said fast.
There was awkward silence.
“So is that all?” her father wanted to know.
“Yeah I guess so.” Fahna answered quietly.
Her mom gave a false smile, “Well then, it was nice seeing you again Fahna.” She got up.
Her father followed, “We can show you to the door.”
Fahna got up and walked after them, “Well, uh, it was nice seeing you guys.”
Her father opened the door.
“Yeah. We’ll see you Fahna.”
She walked out the door and it closed right behind her. She shook her head, and started walking back towards the ship.
On her way, a flyer caught her eye. Fahna picked it up off the ground, and stuck it in her pocket.
“Absolutely not!” Master Grant shouted as he looked up from the flyer. “You will not be going off on your own, to work under anyone by the name of Flint!”
“That’s not fair! You don’t even know this one! Can’t we at least go meet him before you decide!” Fahna was sitting on the back of a wooden chair in Master Grant’s study.
“ You know me Fahna, I don’t normally pass judgment like this, but you are only 17 years old, and he’s a Flint.” Master Grant walked behind his huge desk and sat in his chair. “Nathaniel Flint was a ruthless cut throat of a creature. Do you know what you’re asking of me to let you go work for his nephew?”
Fahna sighed, “That’s why I say if you’re so worried we can go meet him ahead of time.” Fahna smiled, “Unless, you know, you don’t think I could d o it...”
Master Grant looked up from the flyer, “Well of course you can do it dear girl. You can do anything you set your mind too.”
Fahna raised an eyebrow, “I don’t know, I think you might be doubting if I’d be able to handle a job…”
“No, no, no, I think you can do it. You’ve been training with me for the last seven years. You are the best apprentice I’ve ever had.” He said confidently.
“Aren’t I the only apprentice you’ve ever had?” she smirked.
He started searching through his desk for something, “Well yes of course, but that’s not the point… ”
Fahna sat quietly and fiddled with her necklace. Master Grant pulled out a pen. And wrote something down on the flyer. “The point is that you could get this job if you tired.”
“So you’re going to let me apply!” She jumped from her chair and ran over and hugged him, “Thank You so much!!”
Master Grant looked a little stupefied, trying to figure out if he had actually given her permission.
He gave in, “We can go and meet him tomorrow, how’s that?”
Fahna smiled and hugged him again, and left the room.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
The next day Fahna tore out of bed and got dressed like a bolt. When she went on deck she found out that Master Grant had left with out her. She ran to where the address had said to go if interested. Master Grant was walking out the door as Fahna reached it. He seemed happy.
“Ah, Fahna, Mr. Flint is quite busy. But he seems quite unlike his Uncle…”
Fahna looked at him, waiting for more.
“It would seem that he does have need for a weapon’s expert on bored his ship. He told me to give this address to you and for you to go there tomorrow night.” He smiled.
“Yeah!” Fahna jumped around happily, smiled big, and took the paper from him, “Thanks!”
“Not a problem. Now you just need to make sure you don’t goof off on this ship. No more random explosions. Last thing I need is for you to contact me telling me you blew up the ship.”
“I. Would. Never.” Fahna said, pretending the idea was preposterous.
“Well, there’s a first time for everything.”
The two of them headed back towards the ship...
Master Grant started rambling on about things she should remember when she boarded the Etherium.
Fahna listened, and realized how much she was going to miss him.