She still wasn’t a hundred percent this is the right thing but it is the best idea they had besides blowing it up. Whisper and Fury are still in the middle of re-writing all of the programing and new personnel roster so the ship knew that the Eydulans are the new crew. Even with all the work Whisper is doing Kat is worried about the Conglomerate tracking the ship.
Mark walks over to Kat as she watches the Eydulan’s board. “I want to tell you I'm grateful for the time you held my coin.”
“Of course Mark, I'm sorry it took so long to give it back to you.”
He shakes his head, “Don't be. If I hadn't been around, tied to you, I wouldn't have found a place to call home. So there isn't any need to worry about me, I'm staying.”
“That's great, we can always use your talents, plus who would keep the ship clean.”
He laughs, “Of course, now I just need to find the right being to give me coin too.”
Knox waves up toward Kat signaling the last Eydulan’s on board. Now she can finally see Gale and Knox. It had been a busy couple of days and they only got to briefly see each other before they got pulled away again.
Knox in his usual fashion gives Kat a bear hug but not too tight. “How is my little Kitty Kat?”
“Sore but alive.” She says rubbing her bullet wound, “How are you two doing?”
Gale answers while hugging Kat, “We are doing great dear but I think it’s time for us to head home to Bexar Omega.”
Kat wasn’t expecting to hear that. “But… Why now?”
“We will always be there if you need us. We just want to head back home.”
Knox says, “Wrex told me there are some squatters in our house that showed up about a week ago. Don’t know how they got through the traps but we need to flush them out. Plus we miss our garden and our sky. Which I know what I’m going to be doing for the first few weeks we get back.”
“Yes dear, thats right. We are going to be getting the garden back in order. So get ready to open up that safe you call a wallet.”
Kat laughs. “You two are always at each other aren’t you?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Knox says crossing his arms.
Gale says, “Someone has to keep him in line.”
Knox laughs, “Someone does do they. You sure you’re up for it Gale?”
“I’ve been up to it for the past forty years and I’ll be ready for the next forty.”
Kat asks, “When are you leaving?”
Knox answers, “Soon. We just have to get a few things off the Felicity and we are going to take this beautiful gal back with us.” Knox points to a long Conglomerate cargo ship parked next to the Felicity. “I had been wanting one of these for years but could never get one. They kept selling out.”
Kat gives her goodbyes to both Knox and Gale. They both reassure her that if she ever needs anything they will drop everything and come to her. Kat is sad to see them go. It was really nice with them there but things had been getting rough over the last couple of years and there is a small relief that she won’t drag them into something dangerous or get them killed.
Graven finds Kat in their room on the Felicity. She hadn’t been on the ship when it was that empty for a few years and it reminded her instantly of all the alone time she had and never wanted again.
“So darlin’, Tia just gave me the credits for helping her get the cores back. Want to see it?”
“Sure I guess. Why not just deposit it?”
“Just look.”
Graven hands her the credit chit. The flat card reminded her of what she used to see in all of Graven’s old movies as a credit card. She doesn’t get many of these, seeing as most everything she does is just digital. Hitting the button on the front brings up the display of how much is on the chit.
Not sure if what she is looking at is correct she rubs her eyes.
“Does that really say two hundred thousand?”
“That it does.”
“Can she afford that?”
“She can. Being a stewardess has it perks. She’s also highly sought after and has a high hourly rate.”
“Do you know what her rate is?”
“I do.”
“Are you going to tell me?”
“Only if you really want me too.”
Kat thought about it for a moment and decided against it. Hearing that amount would just make her angry or jealous. She just got two hundred thousand credits and didn’t want that excitement to be overshadowed.
Graven asks, “So, what now?”
“First we head to Flostian Paradise and spend some of this. Then we get back to work.”
“We going to take everyone else with us?”
Kat stands up from where she was sitting on the bed. Reaching up to wrap her arms around Graven’s neck, starring deeply into his bluish green eyes.
“No. They can live without us for a week or two.”
<<<<>>>>
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Starship Magic 4: Extraction Page 17
