XX

Responsibility

They stood around the table in the central command office, which was in an offshoot hallway down from the main deck. There were chairs that were quite comfortable but not a one of them felt like sitting. A long silence passed between them. Luigi and Daisy traded glances. Falco studied the pattern of the walnut wood table top while Fox looked up and stroked the fur of his chin. Toad faced away from them and rested his mushroom cap on the chrome wall. Peach had taken Fox's suggestion and went to get some rest in the crew's quarters. Mario stood at the head and observed.

"Pinna?" said Falco, finally breaking the silence. He was beside himself at the suggestion. "That's on the other side of the galaxy." They had retrieved the princess. It was time to bring her back to the citadel. As far as he was concerned, that was the extent of their obligation. That was "Mission Accomplished."

"And it's in the Unwatched Territories," Fox added. "I don't like going there if I can avoid it." Perhaps, it was nerves but he plucked a hair from his chin and winced. It was starting to dawn on him that this journey was far from over. He glanced at Lombardi and could see the agitation written in the wrinkle of his brow. Poor Falco, he didn't get it. He had no idea what they were in for.

"We just braved the Outer Rim," said Daisy optimistically. She looked around, searching for a friendly face, someone who shared her hope but none of them so much as threw her a glance. She suddenly felt stupid and naive. Luigi grabbed her hand and squeezed. It was encouraging and in a smaller voice, she added, "How much worse can it be?"

"Much," said Fox with more edge in his voice than he intended. "The Outer Rim is wild, true. But the Unwatched Territories are a safe haven for pirates and bandits."

"You'll be right at home, Toad," said Falco dryly.

"Funny," said Toad. "And why are we going to see a tree on Pinna?"

"The Rachquid Queen told me that's where we'd find Lady Bow," said Mario. Even as he said the words, he didn't believe them. The safe bet was that the Queen was lying to bargain her way to freedom. He knew that but he also knew what he felt when she spoke to him, when her tone softened and he almost heard her melody. There was a warmth to it, a sensation that was reassuring. He looked to his brother for support. Luigi and Daisy grimaced but held on to each other. Mario's gaze fell. He felt a pang of guilt for asking his friends into danger. For some reason that he couldn't quite place, he didn't feel the same level of alarm on his own behalf. It wasn't bravery, he was quite sure of that, but, curiosity, maybe?

Toad sighed and said, "So we're going to rush off to pirate space just to see if the giant squid was telling the truth?"

"Think of the payout, Toad. You said so yourself. It's too good to pass up." He could see that none of them supported the idea. An appeal to the scoundrel's greed was as good a bet as any to get him on his side.

The idea intrigued him. The Shadow Broker had cheated him of thirty-five percent. Thirty-five goddamn percent. Being cheated out of what he was owed was like an itch in his mind. He did the job. He lost his ship. He risked his life. So, the job didn't turn out as expected. There's still a cost for labor. Who else is dumb enough to risk life and limb? The Shadow Broker should be so lucky to have a guy like him. A real low down stand-up guy. He nodded and turned to the table to finally address the group properly. "What we got for the warp pipe was just enough to cover Luigi's arm," he started slowly, thinking it out in real-time. "But now I'm just about broke again. And I do want my ship back."

"And I want you off mine," Fox shot back.

"Then, we are in agreement," said Mario. He pressed the button on the intercom. "Slippy, set a course for the Attican Relay. We're making the jump for Pinna."

"Aye, aye, Commander," said Slippy through the scratchy intercom speaker.

They broke from the table. Fox went to his old command chair, sat in it, and balanced his chin on his fist. He wanted it to be a reclamation but it was a hollow gesture. He knew as everyone did who actually was in charge. Even Slippy was taking commands from the portly intruder, now. He felt so displaced, an old dog that no one had time for anymore. Toad went to the mess hall to get a drink, something to take the edge off. Luigi gestured for Daisy to go on ahead to the crew's quarters. He informed her that he wanted to talk to his brother alone and would catch up with her later.

Mario was down in the engine room, watching the turbines spin. His brother joined him and leaned on the railing. The Great Fox was equipped with three NTD-FX9 plasma engines that rolled over each other. The rotating engines allowed the super-dense hydrogen plasma maximum contact with the three massive plates of palladium hydride that absorbed hydrogen ions to generate the cold fusion reaction that powered the ship. The slow winding of the massive structures was hypnotic.

After a long while, Luigi said, "You can fool them with all that bounty talk but I know you don't give a damn about that. So, tell me truthfully, why are me and my fiancé following you into more trouble?" There was a twinge of bitterness in his voice. Daisy and he had plans. They were getting married. They were going to start a family. Saving the galaxy from a very old turtle was not on the list.

"I saw something out there, Luigi, when I went through the warp pipe. And I can't shake it. I have to know. And the Rachquid Queen told me this was the next piece." As he watched the engines roll, he realized why he didn't fear for himself. A dreaded thing had become known to him and him alone and it fell to him to do something about it. It was his responsibility.