Fatherhood Part 12

The Misadventures of Fang Udonta

Chapter One

"Your first mission. Are you scared?" Peter asked the Ravager, with a concerned look on his face.

Well it's not my first mission, I've done loads Peter" Proctom replied as gently as he could, but Peter continued.

"But it's your first time away from home for ages". Peter insisted, as around him the other Ravagers had almost completed the final preparations.

All the Ravagers just smiled to each other, courtesy of the innocent way Peter spoke, but it was true, Proctom had done a few short missions. But this was the first time he would be leaving the Elector for a week, on several missions on several worlds which Kraglin had spent several weeks setting up.

"No, I'll be fine, I'm just piloting the M-Ship, the rest will be carrying out the missions. Proctom reassured the young boy who was helping out with all the preparation on the M-Ship, which generally meant getting underfoot and sitting in the captain's chair, with his beloved Fang beside him.

Peter was just absorbing information and giving out pretend orders, which was natural at the age of four and most of the Ravagers just indulged his game, since in the Captain's chair at least he was out of trouble.

"Food, all prepped and everything is good," Iztel said coming back into the cockpit, in truth all the Ravagers took care of their own supplies, but he was making an exception for Proctom, which everyone knew but said nothing about.

While the final preps were being done, Iztel came and took the young Ravager aside and addressed him in low tones.

Look, lad, I've made sure you've got nothing too spicy, and I packed extra medication for you, I want you to take it every day, and just take it easy. Don't be doing anything stupid…you got me. "

"Iztel, I haven't had a fit in almost two months" Proctom tried to argue, but Iztel just held up his hand."

"I don't care, I want you to take it…are we clear."

Iztel had a commanding tone, which sounded so fatherly that Proctom just nodded while Iztel just squeezed his shoulder. Iztel was losing his assistant for a week, and wouldn't let it be known that he was concerned.

In the last several months, since Proctom's recovery which had gone smoothly, but he knew that being a maintenance expert, bomb maker and his own assistant, a mission like this were essential if he was even going to recovery or even acquire his confidence.

However, Iztel had already pulled the others aside and told them to keep an eye in "his boy", which everyone agreed to do. It was unspoken, but everyone knew of the connection between Iztel and Proctom, and why it was important to the MasterChef.

While this was going on, Peter and Fang were sitting in the main pilot's chair, moving back and forth clearly imagining they were flying through Space, as the rest of the Ravagers came in, for this mission Yondu had chosen. Proctom, Jamsean, Gunnsen and Yarovesky. Since they had worked together before and knew and trusted each other.

Yondu felt like he was taking a risk putting the "Von Spiers" together. It was rare that even Kraglin and he run missions together, too many variables if it went tits up, but they still worked well together, and it was a risk he was prepared to take.

"Everything good and prepped," Proctom said, taking his red leather coat off and hanging it on the back of the chair. Which Peter pulled across himself like a cape, as Yondu and Yarovesky came into the M-Ship, "I want your M-Ship", Peter stated trying to look more grown up with the Ravager coat around him, to which Proctom just laughed.

"Peter, this took me a long time to buy, so you can't have it. But anytime your parents let you, I'll take you out anytime." The Ravager promised and not for the first time looked over his M-Ship. It had been Iztel's idea since all his extra activities had acquired a vast fortune. When the crews joined the Ravagers, they were all given an M-Ship on a loan basis. They could either buy it or just leave it.

However, that meant it could be taken back at a moment's notice. But if they brought it outright, no matter what even if they got kicked out of the Ravagers, it would be there. If they died on a mission, then the Captain would repurchase it, and transfer the money to a next of kin or whoever.

Iztel had gone over the figures with Proctom and found that he could more than afford it, and the name and title was transferred that very day. Proctom who had never really had anything of his own his entire life, felt a sense of pride at his own M-Ship, though he still hadn't figured out what to name it, and had left it up to Peter to choose in the end.

Peter was just content to pretend to fly, as Yondu came into the M-Ship., and the rest of the crew joined him in the cockpit. "Right you jackasses, get moving, I want the mission completed, preferably early. I hate this sinkhole of space" He informed his crew, as he scooped up his son before the four your old could try to hide somewhere.

"Please bring me back a present". Peter asked the Ravagers with a smile, to which Jamsean responded with a "Maybe", though the answer would probably be yes since they often brought Peter back something nice, and suitable for his age.

With that concluded, Yondu, Kraglin and Peter made their way to leave, but as they exited, Peter noticed Horuz speaking on hashed tones to Yarovesky, he couldn't really understand what they were saying, but managed to hear as he was leaving the M-Ship hanger.

"Look asshole, you and me. We're not "together", I can do and screw whoever I want…in fact I'm going to. You're just a means to an end…don't ever forget it".

Horuz looked like he was about to say something, but instead changed his mind and just stated. "Have a good mission, see you later", and with that he just walked away, leaving Yarovesky standing there, a look on his face, Peter couldn't understand, but his green eyes flashed suddenly, as Yarovesky he turned back into the M-Ship

A few minutes later little Peter watched from the glass window overlooking the M-Ship hanger, giving them a wave, even though he didn't know if they could see him and wave back. As always, he felt a little bit sad, he loved the M-Ships, and the Hanger and sometimes the crew sat with him and explained how things worked and how to take care of the ships. It was his favourite place on the Elector, and he knew if he were good and older, he would have one of his own, and his daddies would teach him to fly.

However, in the end, he went back to the Mess Hall and helped Iztel out with the cooking, and did his lessons, but he was quiet, and then he became quieter and just looking around. Until in the end, he went up to the central cockpit and climbed the metal steps to see his parents doing their essential jobs.

Yondu knowing his son from his steps alone, just turned in his chair, "I hope you have coffee with you" he told his son, and to his surprise, little Peter just shook his head, and his lips twisted, and Kraglin turned in his seat.

"Peter what is it?" The Xandarian asked his son, and little Peter's voice came out in a strange combination of a whisper and whine, and his green eyes looked sad.

"Daddy, I can't find Fang".

"Ok" Kraglin just signed and motioned for Peter to come forward, and the toddler scrambled into his lap, as the First Mate of the Elector, pulled up the ship's sensors, while Yondu rubbed his finger over his lips in a bid not to laugh.

Fang, that stuffed animal which Peter loved, and who usually never left his side, but who had been lost several times, which generally led to a search, by Peter, or the crew to find him. It usually was Proctom who did the searching, but he was on the mission after all and Kraglin wanted to make it quick.

With Peter in his lap. Kraglin stroked his son's spike blonde hair, as he went through the ship, in the usual places, since a stuffed toy would always stand out in the chaotic world of the Elector.

After a few minutes with Peter squirming in his lap while Kraglin went through the ship, in the end, Kraglin just frowned and checked the Elector once more. It was nothing new or special going on, though he did notice Horuz was standing on the frequently abandoned secondary bridge, drinking beer and staring out into space, and wondered briefly what that was about?

"Ok, Fang's not showing up anywhere", he informed his son as Peter just begun to panic, "Where is he, daddy?"

"Don't worry I'll find it", and Kraglin went over the sensors again, while Yondu who was just observing this, motioned for his son to come over to him, wanting this settled and settled soon.

Peter left Kraglin and scrambled into Yondu's lap, and the Captain of the Ravagers, spoke to his son, softly but firmly.

"Peter, we're not going to search for him, and I am not going to ask the crew to do it. Where did you last see Fang?"

Peter thought for a moment and screwed up his little face "I don't know". The voice came out in a bit of whine, so Yondu encouraged him to think about it some more.

"I was saying goodbye to Proctom, and the others…I was sitting in the Pilots chair…and"

The realisation hit Peter like a crashing wave, and his little mouth dropped in shock, and the four-year-old begun to panic.

"I left Fang on the M-Ship."

Dun Dun Dun

To be continued

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