Chapter 9
Hidden Motives
The Gravity Falls Museum of History wasn't normally open at night, but this was a very special occasion. Preston Northwest invited the shareholders of Northwest Industries to a party to talk about joining his daughter and son in-law in the aerospace industry. "Remember the last time I wore a tuxedo?" Dipper asked his wife.
"Of course. Crazy ghost, breaking my family curse, I think that's when I not only first saw you as a friend but also my crush." Pacifica answered wearing her red dress.
"And you both have come a long way since then." Preston said.
"With hopefully more to come." The man who said this, wore a grey business suit and rose-tinted glass. He had light brown hair and a thin beard and was Wendy's age. Next to him was a muscular Hispanic man in a black t-shirt and blue jeans. And sunglasses.
Preston recognized this man. "Ah, Martin. I'd like you to meet my daughter Pacifica and her husband. Pacifica, Mason, this is Martin Dale. He has been the majority shareholder of Northwest Industries for the past four years. The other gentleman is Raul his bodyguard."
"Preston please, you know I prefer to be called Marty." Dale said.
"And you can call me Dipper." He extended his hand and they shook.
"I'm looking forward to working with you. Honestly you didn't need to throw this Preston."
Pacifica explained. "This was more for the partners that have been with Dad a long time. Northwest Industries has no experience in aerospace, so it is a risk. We're holding it here to show them just a little of what's out there."
"I also wanted to say I told you so to the board that pushed for having my daughter declared dead." Preston said smugly.
Dipper then gestured to several display cases. "This is also opening night for a world tour of my personal collection of alien artifacts. Nothing that's fancy or expensive but things I've picked up that you'd have to go to another galaxy to find with cultural value to the people who made them."
"After this week these artifacts will be off to places like San Francisco, Paris, The Smithsonian, cities and museums all over the world. Frankly I'm just glad to get this stuff out of our room on Ixcia." Pacifica said.
"So, this is the entire collection?" Dale asked.
"All but one piece, something I promised to give someone." Dipper couldn't help but think that he failed Veritas but somehow, someway he would give that tablet to Stellara.
"I see. When do I meet your sister and her husband?"
"They're in Tokyo for a couple of days for conference with scientists from all over the world. Those guys are going to be so impressed that our translator implants letsMabel and Gideon understand all their languages."
"Now that is something my own company Dalesoft is interested in. The software in those must hundreds of times more advanced than our own translator app. To let you understand any alien language you never even heard before in an instant."
"Well there were a few races that we still needed help to talk to like the people who made this." Dipper pointed to a display case with a simple ornament made of woven strands of different colors in the shape of a diamond with a circle in it with lines crisscrossing the interior of the circle. "They're called the Kelmogi, a friendly race that had no vocal cords. They communicated by directly transmitting their thoughts to others."
"They could read minds?" Preston asked.
"No, their telepathy could only send thoughts any could hear in their heads. But since the implants were designed to translate spoken languages, they had to use a wrist mounted writing to talk device to be understood by other species.
Pacifica stared at the ornament. It was the only artifact she almost said no to being put on display. She wanted the Kelmogi's story to be told but it was given to the Ixcia crew just before the turning point of her and Mason's relationship to being more than just friends.
Nine years ago,
The Ixcia was docked on a tower in one of the Kelmogi's cities and people were scrambling to get on any ship and leave the planet. The crew was standing in between the mob and the cargo bay door. "We can't understand you! Especially if you all talk at once!" Gideon yelled hearing multiple voices in his head.
One Kelmogi stepped forward. Like the rest of her people she had black skin, a large forehead, eyes that glowed blue, three clawed fingers on each hand, long legs with two toes each, and no mouth. She wore a white robe and a large silver band on her arm. She traced on the surface of the band and a melodious voice spoke from it. "I am Skiradi of the Elder Council. How many of my people can board before the Imperium arrives?"
"Ixcia, how many Kelmogi can we carry if we double up the crew and use every room except for sensitive or dangerous areas?" Dipper asked.
"No more than forty-six. Any more would mean risks to all aboard." Was Ixcia's response.
"How do we choose who to take?" Mable asked worried.
"Children and at least one parent for each first." Skiradi said. "Next are the few sick and injured. Then the elderly including me to form a government in exile. The remaining will be those that are least able to make it to the next ship. The solders wish to stay and form a resistance."
The group nodded. Then Pacifica said. "Right. Ixcia warm up the engines and cloak once we lift off in case the Imps get here before we're finished."
"The injured should come with me to sick bay." Mabel said.
"Let's move people!" Dipper ordered. After the forty-six were loaded aboard Ixcia took flight and cloaked. Dipper, Pacifica and Gideon were on the bridge with Skiadi. "Pacifica keep your eyes on the scanners, we don't want any other evac ships hitting us by mistake."
"On it!" Pacifica said heading to navigation.
"I'll keep an eye on the engines." Gideon took that station.
"Everyone's secure here in sickbay." Mabel said over the comm.
Dipper looked out through the bridge dome seeing ships being shot down by Imperial cruisers. Everyone wanted to help but they had the forty-six onboard to think about. Once they cleared the atmosphere Pacifica asked. "Skiradri where should we take your people now?"
"All fleeing ships are to rendezvous at our mining colony in the Hewtru system." Skiradi said.
"That's five days travel from here. Setting course."
Ixica began the hyper jump. "Hyper Jump in 5…4…3…2…1."
Skiradi looked at each human. "I want to thank you all on behalf of my people. When our forces were betrayed by the third fleet and Imperium broke through our lines most off-worlders left as soon as they could, but you stayed and helped with the evacuation."
"We couldn't just leave people that didn't want to live under those guys." Dipper said.
Things were crowded on the Ixcia over the past few days. Gideon bunked with Dipper and Pacifica slept in Mabel's room. The Kelmogi got nourishment through photosynthesis so the lights were on almost all the time. On the fourth day after getting some their passengers to move so Pacifica could set up the usual training sessions. "Come on Dipper you need to do better than that."
"I think today is the day I finally am going to win a round against you Paz." Dipper said.
"We'll see." Pacifica took a combat stance. Dipper threw a punch, but Pacifica dodged.
As Pacifica tried to counter Dipper grabbed her shoulder and put his leg in a position to trip her. With one push Pacifica found herself on the floor with Dipper leaning over her pinning her shoulders his face just two inches away from hers. All either them could do was stare into each other's eyes and blush. The moment was broken when they heard giggling and the word "Kifi" in their heads. They turn to see the green and blue glowing eyes of several Kelmogi children staring at them. In the other direction Mabel had a big smile while Gideon clapped. "Uh, good move Dipper. I think that's enough for now." Pacifica said.
"Ri…Right!" Dipper said still blushing as he got up. "I better see how everyone in the upper decks are doing."
"I'm heading up too. We've be running the engines hard the past few days." Gideon said.
"Yeah, I'll put up the mat." Pacifica then thought. "My reflexes didn't kick in. How did he do that?"
"Pacifica, why didn't you tell Dipper how you feel?" Mabel asked.
Pacifica was shocked. "I can't tell him! Mabel even if he does like me if he touches me when I'm not expecting it, say like if we're married and in bed together sleeping and he rolls over, I could really hurt him!"
"But he just did that, and nothing happened!"
"I don't know how that happened."
"Maybe you should talk to Ixcia. Have your next session early. Just head to my room." Mabel looked at the children. "Meanwhile I'll tell them another story."
"That's a good idea." Pacifica said and then went to the upper deck running into Skiradi.
"Pacifica, I want thank you loaning your room to me and the other older Kelmogi." Skiradi said. "It is a beautiful room especially that painting."
"It was a birthday present from Dipper." Pacifica said with a blush. She was about to go into Mabel's room but stopped to ask Skidari something. "Skidari, I heard the children say something in your language. What does kifi mean?"
Skidari tilted her head. "Why would they say that? It is a word we took from the first alien race we met. It was something we had no word for since it was something that needed a mouth to do. Kifi means kiss."
"Thank you." Pacifica said turning away into Mabel's room hoping Skidari didn't see her turn red from so much blushing. "Ixcia I really need a session now."
"Of course, Pacifica." Ixcia said as her avatar appeared. "I have been watching what has been happening today and I am here to listen. Is what Mabel said true? Are you in love with Dipper?"
"Yes, at first back home on earth it was a crush I never acted on it. Dipper and I were in different social classes and my father would never approve of a relationship between us. After we came out here none of that was a problem but…Dipper deserves someone better than a murderer like me."
"You were not responsible for those deaths. The felggur had you under thier control. Dipper knows this. What you did should not factor into a potential relationship with him."
"What about my reflexes? I know they didn't react today in training but what if that was a onetime fluke?"
"You have been showing a great deal of control with almost fifty Kelmogi aboard. You have not injured one. As for what happened at training you have been with Dipper and the others for two years. Your body may have adapted to know what you do in your mind. That they will not hurt you and you will not hurt them, you know why."
"Because I'm in control of me."
"Pacifica you have made great progress these past two years. All data points suggest that we try reducing our sessions to once a week."
"You really think I'm doing that much better?"
"Yes."
The next day they arrive in the Hewtru system. "So which planet is this mining colony?" Dipper asked.
"None of them." Skidari said. "There is an asteroid belt in this system. The colony is inside the largest one."
Ixcia flew into the belt with her shields at full. The asteroid colony was massive, easily the size of a major city with large holes leading deep inside. "Hewtru mining colony this is the cargo vessel Ixcia. We have almost fifty Kelmogi refugees aboard. Please grant us permission to dock." Mabel asked on the comms.
The reply came in. "Permission granted." Ixcia displayed a map of the colony. "Proceed to this tunnel for docking."
"Roger that." Mabel said as they flew in and landed.
As the cargo bay door opened Skidari and the Kelmogi turned to the Pines family. "We have two things to offer you in thanks."
"You don't have to do that. I already got us a job transporting some of this place's Rokra ore to the Ulkxa, with what happened to your world they want to build more warships and will need it make shield generators." Gideon said.
"Please we insist." Skidari held up a diamond shaped ornament made of multiple colored strands. This is a symbol of unity and kindness for our people. You have shown these qualities to us more in these past five days then some of our own people in recent times.
Dipper took the small object. "Thank you. I collect things like this all the time, but this is going to be one I'll cherish."
"And for the second." Skidari turn to the others for an instant but then turned to the crew and all the Kelmogi held hands. Then the humans heard beautiful music pour into their heads. There were no words only an echoing melody that they would never forget.
Nine years later,
"Pacifica, are you okay?" Dipper asked snapping her out of her reverie.
"Yes, I was thinking about the Kelmogi and what came after." Pacifica answered.
"Yeah, I know what you mean." Dipper said squeezing her hand smiling.
"Mr. Northwest!" said a woman Pacifica and Dipper's age in a simple green dress, a brown braid and thick glasses. "Mr. Northwest, Ms. Pacifica, I need to see you."
Preston recognized this woman. "Oh, this is Mary. She was my personal assistant before I retired."
"That is something I want to talk to you about Mr. Northwest. The company needs you back." Mary said.
"Now that's sweet that you miss your old boss." Dale said with Raul towering behind him.
Preston sighed. "Mary, you are the most caring assistant I had, probably because you're the only one I treated with any respect. But I have made up my mind. The board voted for Martin and with Pacifica back I want to focus my time and money helping her with her goals of protecting our planet."
"So how about we toast to this bright future we're going to build?" Dale asked. "Where's the Champaign?"
"Just sparkling cider, I'm afraid." Pacifica said. "Alcohol and I don't get along." After a few glasses Pacifica stepped away. "I just need to freshen up."
In the ladies' room Pacifica was washing her hands when Mary came in. "Pacifica we really need to talk. Northwest Industries is in trouble and if we don't do something Gravity Falls will become a ghost town."
"Couldn't you ask Marty? He is the CEO."
"Marty is the problem. I thought that with you coming back it would light a fire in your father to take the company back."
"What is Mr. Dale doing that's so bad? He can't be worse than most of my family was."
"I know the Northwests did bad things but at least their prosperity was linked to the town's. You probably don't remember me; my mother was one of the maids in the mansion. After it was sold, we moved and years later I ended up working for Martin Dale who made his fortune by making several successful apps. When he acquired Northwest Industries and assigned me to be your father's assistant, I thought I would just have to bear him to go back to the town I grew up in, the town I loved. But then I saw how he changed into a man who could barely focus on his work and just spent hours looking at your picture and just did as Mr. Dale said. You've been back in town a few weeks now, have you noticed how many stores have closed? Have you looked into the companies records since you got back?"
"We've been busy and had to travel a lot."
"Martin will take pride in the fact that the mud flap factory no longer pollutes the river but only because he outsourced the whole thing to an African country; everyone in the factory lost their jobs. He sold all properties Northwest Realty had to another company. There's even a rumor that Martin is going to fund one of the presidential candidates in exchange for turning the forests into nature preserves! This town has practiced safe and sustainable logging practices since its founding! It wouldn't do a lot to help the environment, not enough to justify the loss of all those jobs."
"Why would he do all this?"
"I don't know! He has an agenda, but I don't know what it is. Most of what he's done is losing money."
"Mary, I'll check with my parents, friends, and my husband to see if what you're saying is true but I'm sure it is. I see how much you care about this town and so do I. I spent fifteen years trying to get back to this town, my home, the place I want to raise my children and I'm not going to let a cockroach like Martin Dale take it away!" Pacifica couldn't help comparing Dale to another she met who had a hidden agenda. Someone who had hurt the man she loves.
Nine years ago,
"The lode of ore should be here any minute Gideon. Would you bring it in while I'm out?" Dipper asked.
"Sure, but why are you heading out?"
"Taking care of those wounded Kelmogi has left us with only half our medical supplies so am going to pick some up."
"Aren't you going to take your gauntlet?"
"Bounty hunters aren't allowed here and I'm staying away from the shady parts of the colony."
"Are you sure you're not just trying to avoid Paz? You did almost kiss."
"No, we didn't! Even if I like her that way, which I am not saying I do, if we went out and it ends badly it would be hard since we live on the same ship. We're best just staying friends." Dipper walked away as the lift with the ore began to arrive.
As Gideon lowered the power loader he said. "Brother, I know you two are in love. You should go for it and be happy. I have to settle for loving Mabel from afar."
As Dipper left the docks, he didn't notice a black ship with four prongs that he hadn't seen in years was docked nearby or the yellow cloaked insect that began to follow him. After about two blocks distance away Crix made his move. "It has been a long time Pines." Dipper turned hearing Crix and the next thing he knew a brown fluid was in his eyes and he couldn't see, then he felt a shock and fell. Dipper felt one of Crix's droids carry him somewhere. "Don't bother calling for help, I got your communicator and this place is soundproof, you and I will not be disturbed." Crix said ending with his usual clicking.
"You're not getting Ixcia Crix!" Dipper yelled finding himself strapped to a chair. Then he felt Crix punch him in the gut.
"We shall see. Last time you tricked me because I knew nothing about your kind, so I have no idea how much pain you can tolerate." Crix chuckled.
"So, it's going to be torture?"
"I will do what I must. Now what is the access code to your ship?"
"Bite me!"
"If you insist." Crix bit into Dipper left shoulder drawing blood. Crix then spat. "You taste awful. Now let's try something else. Your former captain was a smuggler, where did he hide things on the ship?"
"So, it's not Ixcia you want. It's something Darnak hid on her? Well tough luck! He died just after he bought me, so he never had the chance to show me his hiding spots. We're finding them all the time, but they all have one thing in common."
"And what is that?"
"They were all empty."
Crix punched Dipper in the face. "The access codes! Now!"
Crix lowered the voltage of his electric prod. "No!" Dipper got another shock that he stayed awake for the pain this time.
"You owe Darnak nothing! He was supposed to deliver the item to me but then he turned around and tried to sell it to someone else! Just tell me where it is!"
"I don't know!" Dipper screamed his Crix shocked him again.
Half an hour later at the ship everyone was getting worried. "Shouldn't he have at least called by now?" Pacifica asked.
"This isn't like Dipper at all. The cargo is all loaded up and we're ready go. He should have been back with those supplies by now." Mabel said pacing.
Gideon then slammed his fist into his palm. "I say we go look for him!"
"I have his location. Dipper is in a warehouse in an industrial area." Ixcia said lowering the jet bike.
Mabel and Pacifica got on the bike a took off with Gideon following behind with his rocket pack. Outside the warehouse they saw several robots standing outside. "I recognize those! Crix's combat droids!" Gideon said.
"That crazy bug you guys told me about?" Pacifica asked. "Pacifica lowered her visor and looked inside. "He's got Dipper tied to a chair! Crix is hurting him!
"We got to get him out of there!" Mabel said pulling out her gun.
Back in the warehouse after almost an hour of trying to get Dipper to tell him what he wanted to know and Crix was losing his patience. "How can your ship's computer not know about any hidden compartments?!"
"As far as Ixcia figures Darnak gave her orders to delete any record of them so if she was boarded no one could find out he was smuggling by checking her files." Dipper said. "Look you beat, bit, shocked, and cut me! It doesn't change the fact that I don't know where that thing is or even what it is!" Dipper was covered in bruises, cuts, electrical burns, and a black eye.
"Like I would tell you! The only thing I will say is Darnak stole it for me and then I found out he found another buyer that I took care of him!" Crix went to a shelf and picked up a beaker with a red liquid in it. "Your sight is coming back; do you know what this is?" Dipper shook his head. "This is a solvent they use to clean the mining equipment. This solvent has a quirk, it works slowly on organic substances. So, tell me your access code or you will feel great pain as you hand melts away."
"And when you get aboard, you'll tear Ixica apart bolt by bolt to find it and kill anyone who gets in your way?"
Crix laughed as he poured the liquid on Dippers right hand. Dipper screamed at the burning sensation. "I have a counter agent. Just give me the codes and we might just save your hand." Crix pointed to a beaker on a shelf with an orange liquid in it."
"I *ugh* know you *Ahhhh* don't *shhhhh* care if you hurrrrt people! I won't let yoooooou hurt my…my family." Then Dipper thought. "I can really die here. I should have told Pacifica how I felt. At least I can keep my family safe."
At that moment one of the combat droids was knocked through the door with a dagger in its eye. "Dipper!" Pacifica came in her dagger flying back into her hand. Outside Mabel and Gideon kept shooting Crix's droids. "What did you do to him?" Pacifica asked.
"What I had to!" Crix pulled out his knife in his right hand and prod in his left. "Let's see what you can do newcomer!" The pair rushed each other, at first it seemed like neither touched each other but then Crix's prod broke in two. Then his right mandible fell off and Crix started bleeding green blood. "My mandible! My mandible! You'll pay for this you witch!"
"Paz! The orange liquid over there! Hurry!" Dipper groaned.
"I've been holding back…" Pacifica said. "…because I don't want another death on my conscience, but you hurt someone dear to me. So, if you don't get out of my way, I'll show just how deadly a Felggur can be!" Pacifca said to Crix pointing her dagger at him.
"Felggur?!" Crix in shock turned to see Gideon and Mable had shot and destroyed the last of his combat droids. If Crix still had both mandibles he would be clicking like crazy out of fear. He grabbed a controller and a black flying droid swooped down and snatched him. "Another time! Not even a felggur will keep me from my prize!"
Pacifica wasted no time. "Mabel get that orange stuff!" Mabel did as she was told.
"Pour it on my hand!" Dipper said. The chemicals neutralized each other but Dippers hand was in bad shape, they could see some of the bones in it.
Mabel worked quickly with the bio sealer while Pacifica cut Dipper lose. "That was bad! I can't just treat him here and we're still low on supplies on Ixcia! He needs a doctor!" Mabel said.
"Then what are we waiting for? There has to be one in the colony!" Gideon said.
Dipper was carried out and taken to the local hospital. Hours later they talked to the male Kelmogi doctor while Dipper rested. "He should recover from most his injuries quickly however…" the doctor closed his eyes for a minute. "…his right hand is another story. There was damage to the nerves, and he won't have full range of motion without weeks of physical therapy and it is going to scar."
"Can we see him doctor?" Mabel asked.
"Yes, but it's best that Dipper stay overnight for observation."
They came in to see while the bruises and cuts were gone Dipper still had had a black eye, but the swelling had gone down and his right hand was in a plastic cast. "Hey guys, thanks for saving my butt back there." Dipper said. "However, I like to propose a new rule, from now on we don't go anywhere without our weapons unless local authorities are very strict with enforcing weapon bans."
"Agreed!" The others said.
"Just can't believe anyone would go this far for a ship!" Gideon growled.
"Crix isn't after Ixcia, he wants something Darnak may have hid on her." Dipper explained everything he learned from Crix.
"So, he's after us because he wants something that we don't know what it is, and it might not even be on Ixcia anymore?" Mabel asked frustrated.
"Yeah, and he is certain this item still is on Ixcia. We should look all over her just in case."
Pacifica moved next to Dipper. "At least there's some good news. I scared Crix so bad that the dockmaster said he got on his ship and left. He shouldn't be back here until we leave."
With all that happened Dipper decided he didn't want to miss out on this chance. "Pacifica you told Crix that I'm dear to you. You are dear to me too. Pacifica I…I love you!"
Silence hung in the air for a moment. "Dipper, I love you too! But my reflexes…how can we have a relationship?" The next thing Pacifica knew Dipper pulled her close and kissed her on the lips. It felt so good, and Pacifica almost wished it would never end.
But it had to. "So, I think that answers your question." Dipper said with a smile.
"Alright, let's do it. After you get out of here, we can try dating."
"I'm so happy for you two!" Mabel cheered, her smile lighting up the room.
"Way to go y'all." Gideon gave a thumbs up.
"Thanks, but we should let Dipper rest and get the ship ready to go as soon as Dipper gets out." Pacifica had hardly believed that something so awful could lead to something so joyous.
Nine years later,
Pacifica was waiting in the board room of Northwest Industries wearing her usual gear from space. "You wanted to talk to me about something Mrs. Pines?" Martin Dale asked as he came into the room with Raul.
Pacifica took off her visor and placed it on the table. "I had an idea last night. What if we converted the old mud flap factory into a plant for constructing components for spacecraft? That way you don't have to wait and pay for the construction of a new facility."
"While that does sounds like a good idea, the factory would pollute the local ecosystem and I don't think my engineers will want to move a town in the middle of nowhere!"
"Are you sure? It's a beautiful place and it shouldn't be that expensive to make the factory safe for the local environment just like you could have done three years ago. Mary showed me the costs and even today it's something we can afford."
"I guess I just wanted to give an opportunity for a struggling nation the chance to contribute." Dale gave a nervous laugh.
Pacifica decided to change the subject. "Does the name Silver Brook mean anything to you?"
"Can't say that it does."
"What about Smithville or Buck's Pass?"
"No, what this about?"
"It's just funny because your company owns land and businesses in each of them."
Dale just held up his hands. "I own a lot of things. It's good business to diversify."
"Still it's strange that all three of these small towns have one other thing in common, once you acquired these properties the local economies took a nosedive! Silver Brook had half its population move out! Smithville's crime rate shot way up due to all the unemployment when you outsourced everything! Buck's Pass is now abandoned!"
"Is there a point to all this?" Dale was getting annoyed.
"You're doing the same thing to my hometown! You hate small towns, don't you? Where did you grow up?"
"Seattle, so what? You grew up here right? Richest girl is this small town must have felt like the princess of your own little kingdom, right? But unlike you I earned my fortune!" Dale shouted.
"We're not talking about me. We are talking about your actions and how they ruined whole communities!" Pacifica yelled back.
"Those people would be better off in the city! Small towns are breeding grounds for stupid ignorant people that hold progress back! So, what if not all of them get back on their feet? It's their own fault for not being smart like me! So, what if I made choices that fit with my ideal of the future? So, what if I sold weapons to a rebel army so the new government would give me a tax break on a factory for those truck accessories for hicks that were made here!"
"And that's what I needed to hear. You really want our tech, don't you? Did you know what this little piece does?" Pacifica asked picking her visor up. "It can see in all kinds of spectrums and even through walls. It even has a recorder built-in."
"Blackmail huh? Raul grab it! We'll scrub the data and copy the tech." As Dale's bodyguard tried to take the visor, he placed his hand on Pacifica's shoulder. Her eyes became cloudy and she grabbed his wrist and twisted it while forcing the back of his hand to hit his boss' face making Dale's lip bleed.
"My wrist!" Raul yelled in pain.
Pacifica eyes went back to normal. "You thought I was just some helpless blonde rich girl? Out in space I was forced against my will to become an assassin! I was holding back just then, or you would be dead right now!"
"My lawyers are going to have a field day with you!" Dale yelled.
"You're going to need them!" Agent Trigger said coming into the room with Wendy, Mary, and two deputies.
"She assaulted and tried to blackmail me!"
Pacifica just smiled. "While you were trying to cover up a crime. And I never blackmailed you, since I never asked or demanded anything from you. You see Marty this visor doesn't just record, years ago we found a way to link it's feed to Ixcia."
"Which she's streaming to social media sites all over the country right now!" Wendy said holding up her smart phone showing the live feed.
Trigger handcuffed Martin. "I have friends at the FBI who have been working for years to find a connection between your company and illegal arms sales. But they never would have known it gone all the way up to you if Mrs. Pines hadn't volunteered for this little sting operation. Your little confession should get us a warrant to check your company records and expose your whole operation."
Pacifica put her visor back on. "And I wouldn't have done this if you hadn't assigned Mary to assist my father. Like me and Sheriff Frost she was born and raised in this town. That and the technology you covet were your downfall. Goodbye Martin."
"Right for the jugular. You really are an assassin." Martin Dale said with a chuckle as he was led away.
"So, what happens to the company now?" Wendy asked.
Pacifica turned the feed on her visor off. "With Dale gone the board will have to appoint a new CEO and with this hitting the news the stock will drop allowing my parents to buy them for cheap making my family the majority shareholders again. We are going to recommend you as CEO Mary."
"But this company was your birthright!" Mary said shocked.
"It was but running this company isn't my priority right now. I'm trying to get our people ready for the day the Imperium comes to this galaxy and I'm trying to start a family, I'll be too busy to run the day to day operations of the company. You helped my father do it for three years Mary; I was serious when I told Martin what I wanted to do with that old factory. It's the first step in getting this town's economy back. Will you help me help our people?"
"If the board does pick me then yes!"
"Good. Now if you excuse me, I want to spend some time with my husband." Pacifica left and met with Dipper at the restaurant called The Club. Both had changed into nice clothes. "Hey baby."
"You sure are happy. I take it your plan worked?" Dipper said.
"The only tech of ours Marty is ever going to see for a long time are the ones that will keep him in a prison cell." Pacifica looked around. "As nice as this place is it will never hold a candle to our first date."
Dipper smiled at the memory. "I was afraid of messing it up and being our last."
Nine years ago,
It was a week after they left the Kelmogi colony and Pacifica went down to the cargo bay. Okay Dipper what do you need…" Pacifica saw that Dipper had laid out the training mat as a picnic blanket with some food laid on it. There was also a tarp over some cargo containers painted to look like a park.
"Is it okay? I know you must have expected something fancier but since we won't be at our next port for a while I didn't want to wait. I also needed help from Mabel and Gideon to set this up with only one good hand, especially since I'm not a lefty." Dipper said sweating.
"It's very sweet. Thank you." Pacifica sat down and they began to eat until Dipper knocked over a glass.
"Sorry!" Dipper said embarrassed.
"It's okay let me help you." Pacifica clean up the mess and put a small morsel in Dipper's mouth. "See Dipper? No big deal."
"Mason. My first name is Mason. It wouldn't be proper for you to date me and not know my first name."
"Mason…I like it! It's a good strong name. I know I made fun of Mabel's name when we met but it fits so well with yours. I love you Mason." Pacifica scooted next to Dipper.
Dipper took a deep sniff of Pacifica's hair. "Still smells like flowers and champagne." He said looking at the flowers painted on the tarp. "Out of all the flowers in the universe none compare to the beauty of you, my golden flower."
"For the first time I don't care if we ever get home, as long as I'm with you I'm happy."
"We'll get back someday. I want to show everyone there how lucky I am to be with you." The two cuddled for a good while after that, content just to be with each other.