Separate Ways

Corvus and Sasha sat waiting in the large spaceport on Sareen for Rik to arrive. They hadn’t seen Rik until they left him on the medical barge to be treated properly for all of his wounds. Corvus left with Sasha to inform the Federation of the Butcher’s death and of their situation. The Federation offered both of them refuge Delirium, which was the capital world of the galactic government, but they didn’t mention Rik. Despite all of his heroic actions, he was still a wanted man and didn’t want to sell him out.

Sasha looked over at her brother, now dressed in a tan undershirt with his leather jacket RIk had given him; his pants were black with a beige stripe down either side of the pant legs. His hair was no longer spiked as he was going to let it grow out now, and ditch the whole punk/outlandish look for something more classy; maybe he’d find a girl that way. She could do nothing but smile at the sight of her brother with their father’s patch proudly worn on his right breast.

Looking down at herself, she didn’t mind the new outfit she had picked up thanks to the late Savan Trengotti. She had a dark green tank top with a blast vest over it that fit tightly to her body and led down to black cargo pants. She kept the same boots she had worn since Fares, and despite being through hell and back, they were still comfortable and in one piece.

Corvus stared straight ahead into the dark abyss of space that looked much more promising than it had before. Before it seemed as if the pitch black of space were going to swallow him and Sasha whole, but now the trillions of stars he could see were nothing but open doors. He felt his father’s patch on his jacket and had a new found respect for his father, despite leaving everything to him. It had ripped Corvus out of his childhood and forced him into adulthood which he now appreciated, because Sasha was alive partly because of it.

He could still feel a sting in the back of his neck from when he was in the Butcher’s estate, and the image of the Butcher barrelling down on him was hard to remove. Words couldn’t describe how he felt that it was all truly over now, and having his sister safely back in his arms was immeasurable. Sasha still had nightmares and began to develop a small sense of anxiety while she was alone. He said that they’d find her someone professional to talk to once they reached Delirium, as what she experienced was not something anyone should live through. Regardless of her nightmares, she was thankful to be alive and they both owed everything to Rik and Vikurl.

Soon, two ships entered the spaceport, one being Rik’s ship, the other being an old but slick looking starship that was shaped like an upside down ‘w’ with the three points at the back of the craft. The front of the ship was rounded and met in the middle with a tip that had a large gun mounted on the bottom. It looked like an impressive starfighter but for its larger size it was definitely of starship make. Both ships landed close to them and both ramps from the ships dropped down onto the spaceport floor. Corvus and Sasha got up and walked toward the two starships.

Rik exited his ship and approached the two of them, dressed in a similar fashion to how he normally dressed. Sasha hugged Rik tightly and he hugged her back with a small smirk on his face, and looked over at Corvus who was happy to finally see his friend again.

“You’re feeling better?” Corvus asked. Rik let Sasha go and turned fully to Corvus. He held his hand out and Corvus shook it firmly.

“I am, thanks to you, and Vikurl.” Rik said.

“What’s with the other ship?” Corvus asked. Rik looked over at it and threw his arms outward.

“Well,” he explained, turning back to Corvus, “a few years ago Orion was telling me that he had this ship and had no use for it. I suggested giving it to you when you were old enough, and well, that’s what he wanted.” Corvus was shocked.

“You mean?” he asked.

“Yes, it’s yours now, kid.” Rik said. Corvus didn’t know what to say as he examined the ship more closely, noticing small aesthetic things he found fairly appealing. It needed a bit of work but seemed as if it was in fully working order. Now he knew why Rik so desperately wanted to meet them in some random refuelling station.

“Rik, I don’t know what to say.” Corvus said, baffled at his new gift.

“Don’t say anything, just get your sister to the Delirium, safely.” He said. Corvus nodded but then realized how Rik worded his statement.

“Wait, you’re not coming?” Corvus asked. Sasha looked at Rik with the same disheartened look Corvus had. Rik sighed and put his hand on Corvus’ shoulder, gripping it tightly.

“The Federation wants me dead, and before I go anywhere near them I need to try and fix things with them.” He said.

Corvus nodded, understanding that Rik had skeletons in his closet that had yet to be revealed. He may have been friends with his father, but Rik had done many things in his life he wasn’t proud of. Corvus knew only a handful of things that Rik had told him, but he knew once he made it to Delirium he would try to patch things up for him. Perhaps his story about Rik’s heroic deeds would go a long way.

“Thank you, Rik. Thank you for everything.” Corvus said, forcing a hug onto Rik, which felt awkward at first but was perhaps long overdue.

“Thank you.” He responded. Corvus let go and looked at Rik wondering what exactly he did for Rik other than drag him through his nightmare.

“For what?” he asked.

“It’s not exactly something I can explain in words, kid.” He responded. Corvus nodded and didn’t want to pry too much.

Rik had been through the most depressing years of his life, even more so than his abusive childhood. He had been faced with adversity and suicide on more occasions than he could count and seeing how much Corvus put into getting his sister back inspired him. Sasha’s capacity inspired him. For what they’d been through, to still be alive was miraculous. They cared more about each other than they cared about themselves.

“Will we see you again?” Sasha asked after a short moment of silence. Rik looked up and around the spaceport.

“Probably. I’m sure you two will get into some more trouble in the future, so I’ll have to bail you out.” He said.

“Likewise.” Corvus said. Rik knew he was probably right as Corvus’ father had bailed him out plenty of times. It would be iconic that Corvus would follow so closely in his father’s footsteps. Rik then noticed the pin on Corvus’ coat that Orion had given to Sasha back in his apartment. He pointed to it and smiled.

“Where did you get that?” He said. Sasha nodded and Corvus looked down at the badge, then back to Rik.

“My dad gave it to Sasha, before he died. She gave it to me.” He responded.

“That meant a lot to your father. He got that way back when they issued him his first starfighter. It’s fitting that you have it now.” Rik said. Corvus looked back down at the badge and over at Sasha, who was staring back at him with a look of pride, not in herself, but in her brother. He’d come a long way since Fares, and he finally made good on his promise. He had a starship, and they were off of Fares. It took a lot more effort than either of them cared to admit, but on the other side of the storm it felt worth the struggle.

“Take care you two.” Rik said stepping away from them toward his ship. Corvus put his arm around Sasha, watching Rik walk away. They didn’t want to think it’d be the last time, but in Rik’s world it was very possible that they’d never see him again. It was a bittersweet moment to watch their hero walk away from them and back into his treacherous life of crime and bounty hunting but it was all he knew and to rip him from that seemed wrong.

Corvus remembered back to when he first met Rik, as he wrapped his arms around his chest and mouth to stop him from running after Sasha’s kidnappers. From that point on he not only changed his life, but he changed him as a person. He’d learned so much from Rik about war, hope and himself; before all of this he was careless and naive about the galaxy but he had a new found perspective. He wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot and he had a lot to learn, but with time he would become a great pilot like his father.

Rik walked up the ramp and it closed behind him. After a few moments it ascended into the air and shot out of the hangar like a bullet. The echo of his ship leaving left an imprint in their bones that ran deep. They had both been through hardships that took a toll on both of them, but also changed them for the better. It moulded them. Sasha found a new inspiration to go into the fight against the slave trades and Corvus now knew his destiny was to follow in his father’s footsteps.

Whenever he looked at Sasha he felt blessed that she would get another chance at life. He led her toward their father’s ship, which was now Corvus’ ship. A doorway had been opened before them and the galaxy was their doorstep; with the right mindset and tools they knew after what they’d been through that they could do anything.

Entering the ship he could tell how old it was by the architecture of the hull, but it was made by the best shipwrights in the galaxy. Walking through the ship, they could see all sorts of different things their father had in their possession and on one of the shelves in the main hull was a picture of when their mother and father got married. It was strange to see the two of them together, so young and happy, not knowing what horrors would greet them later in life.

They made their way to the cockpit of the ship, and Corvus took his seat in the pilot’s chair which his father had been in many times. Although their father was dead his presence was all around them in the cockpit. Corvus adjusted the seat to his height and looking over at Sasha the smile on her face warmed his heart, and when she turned to look at him he smiled back at her.

“You ready?” he asked. She nodded and as he activated the ship for the first time he decided that he needed to name his new vessel. There was only one name that would fit, and it felt disrespectful not to use the name. Orion. He thought to himself, and the hum of the engine and electronic sounds of the sub-systems activating gave Corvus goosebumps, and sent chills down his spine. Perhaps it was his new ship, or his new life but either way he was truly happy for the first time in a long time.

Orion would carry them to Delirium safe and sound, and beyond that he would carry Corvus through the rest of his life. He wanted to see Rik again, and fight by his side but as he exited the spaceport and ascended into the starry abyss of space he knew that it was better that they went their separate ways. Their paths would meet again and for that, he could not wait.

The End