Look to the Stars
The stars were always there. On clear nights, Bugs could look up at them, and, without really understanding why, think of a certain duck that had been annoying, aggravating, and scheming-but in the end, his friend.
"So what's this experiment they want you for, anyway?" Bugs looked quizzically at Daffy, who had the attitude of somebody who had a great secret that he was dying to tell, but couldn't.
"Sorry, Bugsy old pal, but that's hush-hush, top secret stuff. I can tell you that I'm supposed to report the day after tomorrow, which is why I'm in such a hurry. I gotta get my affairs in order, that kind of thing."
"What are they gonna do-send ya to Mars?"
"Nah. But you might not see me for the next few weeks."
Bugs regarded Daffy with familiar skepticism. "Well, in case we don't see each other again for a while, do you mind if I rent out your pond? I need the extra money."
"Yeah, sure, pal, go ahead." Daffy knew Bugs was joking. After all, it was only going to be for a couple of weeks…
That had been five years ago. Bugs hadn't seen or heard from Daffy since and nobody he talked to-not the strange little men who had picked up Daffy in a black SUV with dark windows, not the studio, or even foes like Yosemite Sam or Elmer, knew where he was. Even Taz missed him, but aside from grunts and growls, could tell Bugs nothing.
So Bugs had taken to looking at the stars at night, for no particular reason other than to ask, "Where's Daffy?"
The 24th and a half-Century
Captain Dodgers stood on the observation deck of his ship, looking out at the spiral edge of the galaxy. There were billions of stars out there-far more than could ever be seen on Earth with the naked eye. But it wasn't their numbers he was thinking of.
The Cadet wandered in. "I've f-f-f-finished th-th-th-the m-m-m-mission r-r-report, Captain Dodgers, Sir," he said, saluting smartly as he handed Dodgers a clipboard. "J-j-j-j-just s-s-s-s-put your John Hancock here."
Dodgers nodded as he scribbled on the sheet of paper. The Cadet looked at him with concern. "I-i-i-is th-th-th-there s-s-s-something wrong, sir?"
Dodgers shook his head. "Nah, not really. I was just thinking about somebody I once knew…a long time ago."
The Cadet knew what Dodgers, who had once been known simply as Daffy, meant. Out of all of the legends of the 20th and 21st centuries, only he had been brought back, to be a hero so that the future would survive. But the Cadet knew that there were times when Dodgers would get lost in thought, remembering days centuries past, times that not even holographic simulations could re-create-and of friends left behind.
"I-I-I'll j-j-j-just t-t-t-t-teleport this o-o-off, then," the Cadet said, leaving Dodgers alone with his thoughts, and memories.
The stars really were eternal, he thought. Like memories that were worth keeping.
THE END