SWNOVELS Chapter CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Van awoke to the chemical scent of his hospital room. Misted glass walls obscured the view of the other patients around him. Van checked his limbs; he still had them all and his ankle was almost completely healed. He sat up in bed, straining through the multitude of aches and pains he found himself with. He looked and saw his clothes had been laundered, repaired and folded neatly on a chair nearby. A glass jug filled with water sat beside two small glasses on a table next to him. He leaned over and poured himself a glass. As he sat back on the bed, the door slid open. Dallas and Yukimi stood in the doorway.
They entered and Van saw the stump Yukimi now had instead of a left forearm. He suddenly remembered what happened to it and he felt ashamed. “I am so sorry,” he said as they sat down at his bedside, “It was a total accident, I swear.”
“It’s okay,” she said, sounding a little drowsy, “I can get another.”
“She’s full of painkillers right now,” said Dallas, and he let out a little chuckle, “The space ninja doctors were sick of her giving ’em shit, so they pumped her full of happy juice. She’s been like this for hours... It’s hilarious.”
Yukimi grinned inanely, clenching her eyes shut. Van giggled, “that’s awesome,” he said, “So, what happened, I kinda blacked out back there, did you have chainsaw hands?”
“Oh right, yeah; The arms, I didn’t even know the suits could do that, I activated them by accident. So, I was kicking some major balls. But then, the whole planet started cracking up, so-“
“I know,” said Van proudly, “I did that.”
“Sweet,” exclaimed Dallas, offering a ‘high five’, “I wouldn’t go sharing that around though. The space ninjas are pretty pissed about that planet showing up and destroying everything.
“So, after shit started going down, the soldier-bots started running off. I hadn’t heard from you two in ages, so I went looking for you. I found you in that room, sleeping on the job, so I picked you up and went out of the building to find a ship we could escape on. As I came out the main door, the Bessie was waiting. D00D got us back to New Edo, then you spent 2 days in a coma. That’s about it,” Dallas concluded, “Oh and one of you was dead for a bit but this is a super advanced alien hospital, so they fixed that like it was nothing.”
“Thanks, dude,” Van said, “which one of us died?”
Dallas shrugged, “don’t remember, I’ve been high since then, mate.”
Yukimi harped up, “we did it… You,” she said, slurring her speech, “we saved all of the things, tell me what’s on the letter you got.”
“I think I prefer her this way,” Van said to Dallas.
“Shhhh-shhhhh-sh,” Yukimi said, dopily holding a finger to her lips, “We- we don’t say things like that. We talk about letters, now whip it out!”
Van reached for his trousers and rifled through the pocket, “Here,” he said, handing them the letter. The two visitors huddled over the letter, reading it. The letter read;
Dear Van,
I found Bessie floating out in deep space. I’ve fixed her up as good as new and am sending her back out to you. You really should take care of her, my boy. She’s more special than you know.
I am both thrilled and deeply saddened that you find yourself with something worth dying for, once again in a relatively short life. I know you only wish for a peaceful life, but that will only be achieved if the rest of the Universe is free too.
Make me proud, and I’ll see ou for drinks when this is all over with.
Warm Regards,
Z.Z.
P.S: do you know where my stereo control went, I haven’t seen it since your departure and I refuse to control it manually?
P.P.S: Just realised you can’t reply to a letter. Please disregard the previous post-script message.
They finished reading and looked up to see a look of triumph on Van’s face. “I told you I knew a fucking Galaxian!” he said.
“I still call bullshit,” said Dallas.
“Well then,” replied Van, “You can meet him for yourself, because I’m going looking for him when I get out of here. You fancy coming along too, Yukes?”
She shook her head enthusiastically, “I can’t ,” she answered, “I have a job to do, I’m helping rebuild Thosis and Thosisa.”
“What do you mean?” asked Van confused, “what happened to Thosisa?”
“You ‘magicked’ another planet into the outer atmosphere of a binary planet system,” answered Dallas, “What do you think happened; the gravitational forces tore them all to pieces. The WWS had to evacuate the whole thing before it collapsed. It’s this one’s job to help them fix the damage. It’s just you and me from here on out.”
“Whatever,” said Van, lying back in his bed, “I’m gonna rest up for a couple more days, then we’ll get going. I still haven’t figured out where we’re gonna get money from. Once again, I’ve taken a job that doesn’t pay.” Yukimi and Dallas left Van in peace, letting him catch up on the TV he’d missed.
Over the next few days, the news outlets began to report on the scandal surrounding the newly uncovered OEO. As a lot of the Universe still had Ultimate soda in their systems, they didn’t question the information for a second and soon the OEO and its affiliated organisations were the most hated beings in 57 Galaxies. Huge bounties went up for the conspirators that managed to avoid the initial arrests and lynch mobs. Zeffross’ memory was eternally defiled as he was named as the ring leader behind the OEO’s activity and even their formation. No mention of who had sent the information ever surfaced, but the people of the Universe were united against a common enemy and the outlook was good.
Van didn’t see Yukimi again, Dallas said she hoped he would get better soon, but was furious with him after the painkillers wore off.
The time finally came for Van and Dallas to move on. They bid farewell to the Warriors of the Wandering Star and boarded the Bessie. D00D greeted them as they entered the cockpit. “Hey, D00D,” replied Van, “and; thank you for not listening to me.”
“You’re welcome,” said D00D, “where are we off to now, dear brother?”
“Well,” said Van, massaging his chin stubble, “we still need money and, if memory serves, the Veasiens still pay travellers for their genetic contributions. I say we go to planet Vease.”
“Is Vease the sex planet?” asked Dallas, lighting up a joint, “where they need to have sex with other species to avoid inbreeding?”
“What did you think I meant by ‘genetic contributions’?” replied Van.
“Then what the fuck are we waiting for? Let’s get the fuck outta here!”
The Bessie Fontaine lifted off and manoeuvred toward the hangar exit. They left New Edo and entered open space. Before them; lay an unending Universe, filled with limitless possibilities. Van hit the warp controls and set off for adventure.