Part 6

*the scene opens on the bridge of the Freyja, as Gonick's personal battleship has been named. It's an odd tradition, from older times, as most ships in the Wolfpack have alphanumeric designations, but some traditions die hard. Gonick is busily puttering at one of the workstations, and does not notice Emma and Edward stepping on the bridge.*

Emma, loudly: Hey, Gonick!

Gonick, after jumping about three feet into the upper bulkhead: God damn, Emma! Don't sneak up on people like that! It's not nice....

Emma: Noted. So are we ready to go?

Gonick: Yes, everything seems to be ready. We'll depart at 0515.

Saganami: I understand we're not using the jump gate?

Gonick: That's right. In order to follow a trail, it's often counterproductive to take large jumps forwards.

Saganami: Makes sense. One other thing, though. Do we HAVE to have all of these androids around?

Gonick: Unless you have a better way to man a ship this size with three people, yes we do. What's the problem, anyways? They're not sentient, they barely have features.

Saganami, muttering: That IS the problem....

Emma: Get over it, Eddie. Hey, it's 0515.

Gonick: Ok. Here we go! Allons-y!

Emma, to Saganami: He gives commands in French?

Saganami, to Emma: He gives commands however he feels like. It is his ship, and his tweaks.

Emma: Even so... French?

Saganami: *shrug*

*about an hour or so later*

Gonick: The long range sensors have picked up the trail. It's actually quite short.

Saganami: Seems Guido's about as smart as we hive him credit for.

Gonick: Hmm, indeed. I almost wondered if he found our crumbs. Almost. Anyway, the trail would seem to lead to Nausithous.

Emma: I still can't figure out how you say that.

Gonick: It helps to gargle a bit while speaking. We'll be there in about an hour, so sit tight, and play Asteroids or something.

Saganami: Why am I not surprised that you programmed a video game database into this ship?

Gonick: Because you know me.

*one hour, five minutes, thirty five seconds, and several hundred asteroids later*

Gonick: Here we are! The planet Nausithous.

Emma: Great. Another ecumenopolis. Those never get old...

Gonick, ignoring Emma's sarcasm: According to my readings, the corvette was destroyed in orbit, via it self-destruct mechanism.

Saganami: Well, we figured as much.

Gonick: Yep. I'll turn on the derb scoops, and call up the planetary capitol. I have some 'pull' with the governor.

Emma: No need. They're calling us.

Gonick: On-screen.

*the front viewscreen shimmers to life, revealing the image of a human male, who is grinning broadly*

Morranr: Gonick! You old pirate! How've you been!

Gonick, massaging forehead: I told you, I never touched those derbs! I'm not a pirate!

Morranr: Well, whatever you call yourself these days, I'm always glad to see you. What brings you to my humble little planet?

Gonick: A refugee.

Morranr: From the Care Bear Wars?

Gonick: No, older than that. *fills Morranr in on the details*

Morranr: Yes, we recorded that ship's detonation. Seemed odd at the time.

Gonick: If you could check your records for the rough time of the detonation, and see which ships left your space around that time, I'd owe you one.

Morranr: Hah! You mean you'd owe me one less!

Gonick: *massages forehead*

*about ten minutes later*

Morranr: I got that info you wanted. According to the logs, only three ships left the area. A private skiff, a recycler fleet, and a cruiser.

Gonick: Hmm. Recyclers are automated, so I doubt he left posing as derbs. What have you got on the skiff?

Morranr: Local rich kid out for a joyride. His parents specifically requested clearance.

Gonick: That leaves the cruiser. Did they file a flight plan?

Morranr: Damn straight. Nobody leaves Nausithous without one.

Gonick: May we have a copy?

Morranr: Sure! Here ya go.

Gonick: Got it. *skims the data on a nearby screen* Oh, not good.

Morranr, Emma, and Saganami in unison: What?

Gonick: His course. It leads straight towards his old shipyards.

Emma: We left those intact?!

Gonick: Seems it's not good to get cocky, even when you've caught the bad guy. Or, like, ever.

Saganami: We should call for re-enforcements. Guido always was good at shipbuilding.

Gonick: Agreed. Emma, if you would?

Emma: Sure, no problem. I'll just be over here, Uhura-ing.

Morranr: You can count on the support of the Agency, as well.

Gonick: That's good to hear, though I doubt we'll need THAT many ships. Even Guido is bound by the laws of physics.

Morranr: I'll make the preparations on this end. Morranr out.

Gonick: Now we wait. Oh, I just remembered. You'll love this.

*Gonick goes over to a cabinet set into one of the bulkheads, and withdraws a loaf of white bread, and hands Saganami a slice*

Gonick: Ok, hold this beside your head, and say 'toast'.

Saganami: I beg your pardon?

Gonick: Just do it.

Saganami, holding bread: Toast?

*nothing happens*

Gonick: Ok, now give me the slice.

*Saganami hands Gonick the slice of bread*

Gonick, holding bread: Toast!

*a laser beam shoots from an emitter array somewhere on the ceiling, and hits the bread. It crispens immediately*

Gonick: It only works for my voice.

Emma: OhmygodIwantone!

Gonick: You'll have to take that up with Marcus. He's banned them on the base, something about fire hazards.

Saganami: Well, when the fleet arrives, you'll have a chance. We ought to gather as much data as we can until then.

Gonick: Make it so.

Emma: *rolls eyes*

Audio Tour (Part 6)