CHAPTER 5
John spent most of the next morning overseeing the unloading of a floating platform overflowing with larger boxes. He couldn't read the contents but thanks to helpful staff at the businesses, they had gotten everything translated into English. The manifest said each item he'd asked for was there. And then some. Duplicates of some crucial parts as well. And many cases of food and jugs of water as well. After everything was stowed, the Robinson's and groaning Major West prepped for lift off. It went smoothly and without incident and before too long they were beyond the planet's exosphere and back into the inky depths of space.
"What a blessing everything ended up going so well," Maureen said softly to both men at the controls. "Who knew being held hostage would bring about so many benefits in the long run. I would almost say it was worth it. Almost."
"I couldn't agree with you more, except for the hostage part," John chuckled for a brief second. "A little hard work…well, who am I kidding, a lot of hard work and we would have gotten there in the end. Eventually. But I'm equally sure the good doctor isn't complaining about not having to do anymore manual labor. At least in this place." Again Maureen laughed. "In any case, at least Smith let us have his half of the reward money so there was more than enough currency to go around. I'm surprised he coughed it up, but I had no qualms about taking advantage of his 'magnanimous mood' as the good Doctor put it."
She nodded. Obviously, the reward was quite a hefty sum although they seemed to have had to go through hell and back to get it. "That was quite a tale they told. Can I tell you the truth?"
"Sure."
"It's a wicked thing to say but I wish I could have actually seen that brawl in the tavern as well as them chasing after us. That must've been quite a sight. Don said next time Smith gets him angry, he's going to think twice about hitting him, and that's really saying something."
From below they heard a loud bellow. "Ow, you sadistic simpleton! I explicitly told you to be careful."
"Deep tissue massage is rarely pleasant after an injury, Dr. Smith," the Robot explained patiently.
On the lower deck, a previously prostrate Smith visibly flinched as he raised his upper body off the examination table.
"Bah, Booby." The doctor cringed, he definitely didn't want to think about that word because of all the horrific images it instantly conjured up, but he let it ride. The chances of him running into, or rather falling into that buxom blue behemoth again was infinitesimally small. He released the breath he'd unconsciously been holding, forcing himself to relax. "Proceed. Careful, I said."
The Robinson girls lounged on the upper deck, seated around a small table, playing an animated round of Spite and Malice, while Will sat nearby viewing an entertainment program on the tablet the locals of Vedania had used. It had been a gift from his parents and he was happy to have it. It not only had a large selection of 'movies' and documentaries, but also a decent number of games. Will was delighted. Apparently even this far from Earth there were beings who liked arcade and first person shooter games and that put a smile on his face even though he lost his latest round. Again.
Mission leader and pilot were once more checking instrumentation after plotting a new course for what they hoped was Alpha Centauri. Behind them, other ships were leaving orbit, fanning out in different directions. Robinson and West paid them no mind. Most responsible pilots were not going to foolishly risk damaging their ships. What they didn't notice, however, was a vessel in their wake, so far back as to be unnoticeable. Double the size of the Jupiter, it mirroring their trajectory. Seated at the helm on chairs definitely not suited to humans, rested a large-bosomed blue-skinned female centaur with a scowl on her face and something other than business pursuits on her mind.