Jax came down the stairs from the flight deck to see his guest and temporary crew all lounging in the common space. Kori, Naomi, and Mr. Ichiko were crammed together on the sofa with Steve occupying the lone chair.
Rudy dropped down the central column and rolled out of the staircase.
Jax took in the scene. “Cozy?”
Mr. Ichiko looked over. “Captain, your collection of video entertainment is truly phenomenal. You are a connoisseur. So many pre-Empire classics.”
In Jax’s earpiece, Skip said, “I hid the porn.”
Jax smiled and nodded, knowing the camera pick up in the common room would see him. He said to the others, “Thanks. We spend a fair bit of time in the black, so it helps to have quality and quantity in entertainments.”
He walked to the small kitchenette and opened the refrigerator. “Beer?” Yeses all around.
He returned to the lounge section and distributed the beers. He grabbed one of the chairs for the small dining table and pulled up next to the chair with Steve sitting in it. The two exchanged a look, then tried to not look like they exchanged a look. Jax looked at Kori, who grinned and wiggled her eyebrows. She made a motion toward Naomi that Jax ignored. “So what’re you all watching?”
Naomi gestured to the screen. “Something called Fringe . They appear to be a secretive governmental agency that solves mysteries.”
Ichiko added, “With the help of what appears to be an insane man.”
Jax smiled. “It was a good show, you know, for two hundred odd years ago. It didn’t make the cut when the Emperor, then senator, started his purity nonsense.” He turned to look Steve. “Wouldn’t have pegged you for a fan of old-timey vids.”
Steve looked at Jax. “Plenty you don’t know about me.” Before Jax could respond, he added, “Our client picked it.”
Ichiko shrugged. “The oldies are the goodies. I think that’s how the saying goes.” He grinned. “I never approved of then-Senator Stenson’s politics. Such a closed-minded man.” He spread his hands. “And here we are.”
Everyone nodded solemnly. Jax extended his hand toward the large bulkhead mounted screen. “By all means.”
The episode of Fringe started playing.
* * *
Three days later, Skip woke Jax up two hours earlier than he should have. “Jax, get up!” the speaker in the ceiling blared.
Jax sat bolt upright. “What? What’s wrong?” The lights in his quarters raised to daylight levels.
“What’s going on?” Naomi groaned from the bed.
“Imperial patrol. Burning hard to intercept,” Skip answered.
“Same tub as the last time?”
“What’s going on?” Naomi repeated.
“Negative. IFF reads the INV-1203 Resolute . Another Warhammer class.” Skip answered, still ignoring the woman.
“Strong name,” Jax said, slipping his pants on and grabbing a Fantastic 7 tee shirt off the chair in the room's corner. He reached for the hatch handle.
“Should I wake the others?” the ship’s SI asked.
“What the hell is going on!” Naomi shouted, getting out of Jax’s bed.
He turned to her. “Were you not listening? Imperial patrol.” He opened the door and left his quarters. He walked past the berth next to his, where Mr. Ichiko was bunking, and kept walking. He neared the door to the berth he’d given to both Steve Delphino and Kori. He banged a fist on the door. He heard a series of shouts and groans and grinned. “Yeah, go ahead,” he said as he reached the staircase.
Naomi stepped out of Jax’s quarters, slipping a sneaker on. She looked at his bare feet.
Rudy popped up from the deck below. Jax stopped on the staircase. “What were you up to?”
The droid continued up toward the flight deck. “I was taking a nap.”
Jax reached the flight deck and immediately saw a blinking red indicator. He sat down and tapped the control. “This is Jeb Bartlet, Captain of the Joey Lucas . How can I help you?”
A nasal voice replied, “You can power down your engines and prepare to be boarded.”
Jax affected his most innocent sounding voice. “Oh, is there something wrong, Resolute ?”
“Transmitting your docking vector now. Auto flight will take over at five thousand kilometers. Resolute out.”
The massive shape of the sideways mushroom cap of the Imperial ship was visible now to the naked eye, the massive name stenciled in ten-meter-tall letters, RESOLUTE .
Naomi, Steve, Ichiko, and Kori crowded out of the staircase. The Japanese man asked, “What’s going on? Your ship said the Imperials were harassing us?” He looked past Jax at the now even larger Resolute . “I see.” The man looked around. “I don’t think I need to tell you all that our mission should not be shared with the Imperials.” Everyone nodded. “Also, if we can arrange it, it’d be better if they didn’t see me.”
Jax raised an eyebrow. “Why is that?”
“Long story. One I’m happy to tell when we’re safely on our way away from that Imperial monstrosity.”