Journey.2

Connecting... Silence. Connecting... Silence. “Yeah, Margue? Wow buddy it’s been a while. I cogged you having shipped out by now. You still local?”

“Yeah,” a slight grunt was followed with mechanical ambience. “Yeah, I’m still local, but not for long.”

“Oh yeah hunh.” Long pause. “And why is that?”

“You know why, it’s the whole reason I commed you...”

Before the final word left his mouth Cartein started up, “Whoa whoa whoa. I know it’s been a while but you are still not cleared. Are you listening Margue? I know you want to get out there, but you have got to come to grips. You aren’t ready to fly, and everyone knows it, and you know it, and going into the Void needs a clear head, someone ready for the long haul. And that ain’t you.” The end of his speech, a well practiced speech between the two of them, came softer than intended.

“You still there Margue?”

“Yup, just waiting on you to finish. If you have your hands free I can send you the specs and the flight plan.” Straight to the point, just like she always said.

“Wait a tick Margue, where are you going? Whose chariot?” A distant thump came over the line. “Ouch.” Cartein started mumbling, Margue saw in his mind’s eye Cartein playing his finger over the eye to track the words in digital. “Margue? Where did you get a chariot? And don’t tell me all this work is you, by yourself?”

“Well Cart, the files are a little ahead of schedule, I am finishing up those mods and repairs now.” More grunting.

“I know it’s been a few moons since we last commed, but this bucket is a bit old to be taking anyone into the Void.”

“Now hold on Cart, this is a good chariot, and it’s not like anything newer is going to be available anytime soon. Stars I tried to land a few modern compensators just for the bridge and everything is being redirected to the fleets over at Asarica. The ride will be a bit rough but...”

“Okay, okay. The chariot seems fine. But Margue, where did you get it? You know the Guild will never let me approve you taking a ghost into the Void.” Another pause. “Margue? Come on now. Margue?”

The voice came out like the desert on some desolate moon, dry and cracked, with a distant rasp, “she left it for me.”

Cartein was in no hurry to respond, uncertain of how to navigate this storm. “She left you that chariot?” He was going to go on, but thought better of it.

“Yeah.” Some water dripped onto the broken earth. “Yeah Cart, she left me this chariot. And she left me something else too.”

“Oh Margue.”

“She’s here Cart. She’s still here.”

“Now Margue...”

Margue’s voice cracked as he hurried to correct his old friend, “I know, I know it isn’t her, I really know that Cart. Fuck you think after this last cycle I don’t know it isn’t her? Of course I fucking know that.” Cart let the correction stand. “What I also know is that she left me a piece of herself, instantiated into this chariot. This chariot is her now. That’s why it took so long to arrive, they were getting her all situated in before they delivered.”

“Margue. This flight plan looks good. The specs are a little dated, and there are some worrying points in the fuel and efficiency areas, but overall it looks good. Do you want me to ask around about some of those newer compensators?”

“No. Thanks Cart.”

“Are you sure? There may be some rough moments in there with those old socketers.”

“I’m sure Cart. She’s almost ready anyway, and I am mighty anxious to get back out into the Void. I have a good feeling about this one Cart.”

“Hey Margue, I ran your plan by the core-side masters.”

“And?”

“You’re clear. The guild has supplies and fuel on route.”

“Thanks Cart.”

“Oh and Margue, rays guide you.”

“Waves keep you Cart, waves keep you.”