by Kal Spriggs
Elvis closed it out and he felt an idea begin to take shape. Before he could second-guess himself, he dialed Lieutenant Commander Perkins. His friend answered on the second ring.
Forrest Perkins's eyes were bloodshot and his face was sunken, he looked as if he hadn't slept for days... and his normally cheerful expression was just as dark as the last time Elvis had seen him.
Before he could say anything, Elvis spoke, "Skipper, we need to meet right away. How soon could you get out to Sanctuary Station?"
***
Forrest took a seat at the bar next to Lieutenant Elvis Medica. This entire thing had a surreal feel to it and part of Forrest wasn't really certain that it wasn't a dream... or a nightmare. "So," Forrest asked, "what's so important that you needed me out here, right away?" Forrest had taken time to clean himself up a bit, so at least he didn’t look like a homeless vagrant anymore. In truth, he’d been shocked by his own appearance. Got to take care of myself if I’m going to figure all this out, he reminded himself.
"You really believe this theory of yours?" Elvis asked.
"Yeah," Forrest said. That was why he had skipped Alannis's funeral. She was still alive, he knew it.
"Are you willing to bet your career on it?" Elvis asked. His olive-skinned face was intent and his dark eyes suggested that this wasn't the time for Forrest to hedge.
"Yeah," Forrest nodded. "I'm willing to bet far more than that on it."
Elvis let out a sigh, "Okay. Good." He swallowed and looked down at the bar. "I have access to the Widowmaker's systems. I can get aboard to the vessel, even get us departure codes."
Forrest's eyes went wide as he considered that. "I could put together a crew."
"We need to find out the truth," Elvis nodded.
It would be an act of piracy. It would be mutiny.
Yet no one else believed him... so really, what choice did he have?
Forrest’s face hardened as he realized what that meant. "We're going to do this... we're going to steal the Widowmaker."
###
About the Author
Kal Spriggs is a science fiction and fantasy author. He currently has four series in print: The Renegades space opera and space exploration series, the Shadow Space Chronicles military science fiction and space opera series, the Fenris space opera series, and the Eoriel Saga epic fantasy series.
Kal is a US Army combat veteran who has been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. He lives in Colorado, and is married to his wonderful wife (who deserves mention for her patience with his writing) and also shares his home with his infant son, two three feline overlords, and a rather put-upon dog. He likes hiking, skiing, and enjoying the outdoors, when he's not hunched over a keyboard writing his next novel.
