(Author slams a wrought-iron door behind himself) Hey... sorry. I know I haven't updated for a while, but I've been busy with... well, life. School, home, etc. Plus, I've been working on something private, so I haven't really been paying attention to this story. This chapter seems a little lackluster to me, but it's the only one I've got, so please, forgive me.
Also, before you start reading the actual chapter, I would like for everyone to take moment of silence for the innocent people - 6 adults and 20 young children - who were killed earlier today (12/14/2012) in Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. May they all rest in peace.
-o-
The Gunship flew through the void of space, with virtually no destination. It had been several days after they had left Earth, and they were no closer to finding Samus than Gear was to becoming organic. Ayame had been piloting the compact shuttle nonstop ever since they left. She refused to even allow herself the luxury of sleep. She couldn't rest until she saved her mother. Her eyelids felt heavy all of a sudden. Her head drooped a little, her eyes slowly closing.
Maybe just a little catnap, she thought tiredly. She slowly fell asleep.
-o-
"Ayame!" shouted a voice. She was too tired to respond. She just wanted to get some sleep. She felt a hand on her shoulder shaking her. "Ayame, wake up! We've got a problem!" She opened one eye a little and saw Connor hovering over her shoulder, a look of panic on his face.
"What's the problem?" she asked as she rubbed her closed eye. She was answered when the ship suddenly shook as if it had been shot. Ayame was suddenly alert again. "What's going on?"
"We're in an asteroid field!" called Anthony from his seat. "We've got one coming in from the left! Drop the ship!" Ayame quickly did as told, shifting the blue sphere forward, making the Gunship fly down from where they were.
From that position, she could see just deep in trouble they were. The floating boulders were all at least as large as single-story houses. Some were even as huge as skyscrapers. Others were as big as Earth's moon. It would've been a fascinating sight if not for the fact that any one of those oversized rocks could crush them in an instant.
"Hang on!" Ayame shouted to the others as she steered the ship out of the way of another asteroid. "Gear, can you trace a way out of here?"
"Of course I can," the AI replied. "I'll just need a minute. Try not to get us killed until then."
"That's reassuring," Anthony deadpanned. The ship kept heading forward, dodging every space rock that threatened to make them go boom.
Ayame's brow became drenched with sweat. Did Samus ever have to deal with stuff like this? She steered away from yet another asteroid hurtling toward them. She cursed aloud. "Come on, Gear! Hurry it up, will you!?"
"Bossy, aren't we?" Gear replied snidely. "I've got a route planned out for us. Veer right, then left, then do a loop-de-loop, then head up, dip down, and then-"
"STOP JOKING!" Ayame shouted at the AI, who chuckled. Ayame rolled her eyes… which then widened when she spotted something. "Um… guys?"
"What is it?" Connor asked as he gripped his seat's armrests nervously. Ayame pointed toward the ship's windshield. Both Connor and Anthony looked. Connor's eyes widened comically. Anthony gawked at the sight. Under his breath, Connor muttered, "We're doomed."
Just ahead of them was the biggest asteroid any person had ever laid eyes on. It was nearly twice the size of Earth's moon. It was heading right for them. Ayame sighed. "We just can't catch a break, can we?"
"BLAST IT WITH MISSILES!" Gear shouted in suggestion.
"It's too big for that!" Anthony yelled. "We can't go around it either! We're gonna crash!"
The asteroid just kept coming, a slow, death-dealing boulder of destruction. Just as they were about ram into the massive rocks crater-dented form, the gigantic space rock was suddenly covered in explosions. The great boulder then cracked open and split into dozens of fragments, all of which floated harmlessly past the Gunship. Behind where the asteroid once was, was what looked like a large cargo ship, complete with huge containers on either side of the vessel.
Several pods were ejected from the ship, all of which went after the flying chunks of the massive asteroid. The three on board the Gunship let out breaths that none of them knew that they were holding. Ayame looked at the cargo ship with gratitude.
"Man," she said in a relieved tone. "If it wasn't for those guys, we would've been pancakes on that oversized rock."
"Ayame," Gear spoke up. "We've got a call coming in from that cargo ship. You gonna answer or should I?"
"Probably be best if I answer," Anthony said as he walked up to the communications table by the pilot's chair. He flipped a switch, activating a comm-link. "This Anthony Higgs answering your call. Who am I speaking to right now?"
"Don Buck," replied a man with American southwestern accent. "Cap'n of the mining cargo ship Blue Phoenix. Y'all're lucky we blew up that rock when we did, otherwise you'd flatter than a flapjack!"
"We owe you big time, captain," Anthony said back with an amused smile on his face. "Thanks a ton."
"No problem at all!" Buck said cheerfully. "Say, y'all hungry? Dudn't look like that ship 'o yours can hold a lot 'o supplies. How 'bout ya join us for good ol' fashioned southern cookin'? We got plenty to go around!"
"I… don't think that'll be necessary."
"Nonsense! I insist! We'll show you some southern hospitality! Dudn't matter to us whether y'all're human or otherwise! Come onboard!"
Anthony sighed in defeat. He turned to Ayame and said, "You heard the man. I doubt he's going to take no for an answer."
"Besides," Connor threw in. "I could go for something to eat other than the dried food that we've been stuck with."
Ayame snickered a little. "I guess it couldn't hurt. I'm pretty hungry myself. Gear, find us a place to land on that cargo ship. You can rest your power cells when we get there."
"Finally," Gear groaned. "I've been waiting to be able to get some sleep."
"Computers can sleep?" Connor asked with a confused look.
"Let's get going before Buck changes his mind," Anthony recommended. Ayame nodded, and when Gear finally found a spot for them to land, she moved the ship to the specified area.
They got out one at a time, Ayame going first. She had to admit; the cargo ship was impressive, and in great condition to the point of being pristine. They had landed in the ship's docking bay, where a special energy barrier kept air inside and vacuum outside. There were a few pods onboard as well. They appeared to be modified shuttles for mining in space. They designs were brilliantly done. She would love to meet the person who came up with them. A crewmember came up to her as Anthony and Connor joined her.
"Welcome aboard the Blue Phoenix," he said in yet another country accent. "Boss Buck is waitin' for y'all on the bridge. Follow me."