IV

The Mission

Mario held the little metal canister of medi-gel with the nozzle pointing at Luigi's open socket. Blood continued to pour in rhythm with his pulse. Mario squeezed the trigger and green gel sprayed on the wound like soft soap. A moment later, the gel activated and tightened across the wound, forming a shrinkwrap and staunching the bleeding. Luigi took a seat next to Daisy, her arm nestled in the sling.

"We have to get out of here," said Mario, tossing the canister of medi-gel back to Toad.

"No," said Toad. "We've got a job to do."

Daisy's cheeks flushed an angry scarlet. "How can you think of the job at a time like this?"

"Because my ship is halfway to fucked and I don't see any other way off planet in the meantime."

"I just lost a damn arm for you, Toad," said Luigi through gritted teeth. Sweat beaded on his forehead from the pain.

"And I'm very sorry for that, Luigi. I'll buy you a new one. Once we complete the mission. Once we get the coin." He jabbed with his index finger to make the point.

Mario's eyes narrowed at his captain. "So the coin is all that matters?"

"When you're in debt to the people I am," said Toad, "the coin is all that matters. So until someone responds to Luigi's transmission, we forge ahead. Understood?"

Daisy stuck out her tongue with her cheeks puffed out. Luigi dabbed his soaked forehead and his eyes fell to the ground. Mario went quiet but then he came to an awful realization.

"You never told us what we were doing here in the first place. It's the Outer Rim. Nobody comes out this far."

Toad smiled. " And that's why we're here. Because somebody did."

"What are you talking about?" sighed Daisy.

"What I'm about to tell you is strictly off books." Reaching into his knapsack, he removed a cigar and lighter. He bit off the end, spat it out, lit the tip and took a long, deep puff.

"So," he started slowly. "A C-Sec officer in Observation Division was at his terminal. Late night, eyes getting heavy, end of his shift kind of thing. And he sees something where he's never seen anything before. A ping. It's all black space in the Outer Rim. Observation is grunt work for newbies and imbeciles. But there it was, clear as daylight. And he couldn't believe it. Had to pull out the training manual because he forgot the protocol. So he calls his superior officer, who joins him in the middle of the night and there they are, the two of them, huddled around this little terminal. And the ping stays, strong as ever. Right here on 1-1. So they contact the Galactic Council and they see it and decide to send out a Spectre."

"One of their elite agents?" asked Daisy, leaning forward, clearly interested.

"That's right," said Toad. "And not just any Spectre either. They dispatched Lady Bow. She went alone on a private shuttle. The Council wanted to keep it hush-hush because of those Stargazer nuts that have been cropping up. The flight went smoothly and she radioed that she made planetfall without incident. Then, she just disappeared." Toad took a long draw from his cigar and held it in. "That was six weeks ago," he said as he exhaled blue smoke that hung between them like a cloud.

"Why would the Council send their best agent on a mission for some ping?" asked Luigi, wiping his forehead again.

"That's what we're here to find out," said Toad. "I'm a scoundrel. You know this to be true. Things don't make it my way if they're squeaky clean. And the coin on the table if we get "Mission Complete?" Well, let's just say it was too good to pass up."

"So this isn't a recon, it's a rescue," said Mario. The pieces were finally falling into place.

Toad shrugged. "Officially, we aren't here at all. But there's a bonus if Lady Bow makes it back with us alive."

"Betting on people's lives," said Daisy, her nostrils flared with disgust. "You really are a scoundrel."

"We better get some shuteye," said Toad, ignoring her. "In the morning, we head for the transmission site."

"What transmission site?" asked Luigi.

"Where Lady Bow's ship made planetfall," said Toad, rubbing his temples. Luigi, slow on the uptake as always, was giving him a fast migraine. "Its signal beacon should still be active. We find the ship, we find her."

"And if we don't find her?" asked Mario.

"Then, we find what she was looking for," said Toad and he took one final puff from his cigar and stamped it out. "Sleep tight." He lied on the rocky ground, shut his eyes and immediately began to snore.

With the blast shields down, Mario was able to put on his signature red cap. He pulled the visor down above his eyes and he too fell quickly asleep. Daisy and Luigi sat with their backs against the wall, both of them too sore to move.

"I guess we match," said Daisy, gesturing to their arms.

"Yea, sweetheart," said Luigi tenderly. "I guess we do."

"Let's try to get some sleep," said Daisy as she laid her head on his good shoulder.

"I don't think I can. Daisy, being inside that thing. I can't stop thinking about it. I'm too scared to close my eyes."

She took his hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. "Oh Luigi, you're shaking."