S.P.E.C.T.O.R – [A Sci-fi space adventure with fantasy elements]

“Should I inform Princess Liluth of Rowena’s suggestion?” Shalendra asked just before a familiar voice asked from the door.

“Yes, you should. What did Rowena suggest that I do?” 

Riniya was just about to reprimand her eldest daughter, who had entered without permission, when a notification appeared on the holographic screen before her, causing her eyes to widen in surprise as she stared in shock.” They left the planet!”

“Left the planet? Why?” Liluth asked in shock as she ran around the desk to read the message herself.

“Didn’t you say they were returning to their hotel to…” Kerala began to ask Shalendra and was about to say something when she remembered that Liluth was in the room and so quickly finished her question with, “to spend some time alone?” 

“That’s what Rowena told me,” Shalendra replied with a confused look.

“Were they not supposed to be honeymooning here? Why are they already leaving?” Liluth asked in a sad tone.

“I don’t know, dear, but I’m also curious to find out,” Riniya said to her daughter before turning the Keerla and saying, “Contact the orbital elevator space station and try to get someone to intercept and find out why they are leaving, point out that I still wish to meet with them and thank them personally. In case that fails, dispatch one of the ships in orbit to intercept the shuttle they arrived on.”

“On it,” Kerala replied before quickly pulling out her communicator.

“So, are you going to tell me whose ring that is supposed to be that you were looking at back in the shop?” Adam asked as they rode the orbital elevator back up to the station.

“Secret,” Rowena replied while sticking her tongue out at him.

“Huh!” Adam replied.

“I will tell you after we return and the stream is no longer active, since I don’t think we should mute it again,” Rowena replied in a serious tone. 

[Handsome3horns (Vinox 2): Finally, she understands our pain.]

[Superior4horns (Vinox 3): What pain, you fucking idiot. The stream is only muted; it’s not like he just suddenly went offline.]

[Lizziethetruepower (Palaxia): She does have me curious who that ring is supposed to belong to now, though.]

[NonpareilRaphilia (Aaru): Agreed. I wonder why she won’t say on stream.]

[Whostolemyduck (Earth): Could it be Princess Solar’s, the one you mentioned before when explaining how she discovered the use for Jenix?]

[DeverinianLordMalacoss (Deverinian 9): I considered that myself, but I doubt it. We know that Princess Solar received a ring from a friend, but she never mentioned who that friend was. If it were the streamer or Diva Rowena, as you’re thinking, then they had their perfect opportunity to give said ring to Shalendra, who could have passed it onto Princess Solar.]

[Whostolemyduck (Earth): Good point.]

“So how long do you think we will have to wait for the jewellery to be delivered to the shuttle?” Adam asked.

“Not long; it should arrive shortly after we do, if it doesn’t arrive before us,” Rowena replied.

“That quick?” Adam asked in surprise.

[AlamoMatador4thewin (Earth): Damn, Earth delivery companies could learn a thing or two from that.]

[Gunlovergirl (Earth): Agreed. If they don’t deliver it late or damage it, they fucking steal it and claim it was lost.]

“I take it delivery companies are not that quick on Earth,” Rowena replied curiously.

“Err, no,” Adam replied simply.

“We are now arriving at Orbital Station.” The automated voice suddenly announced.

[Noobkiller9000 (Earth): I still can’t get over how quick those orbital elevators are.]

“Let’s go,” Rowena said happily as she stood up from her chair after it released the restraints and led the way back through security and towards docking bay forty-eight.

[[The delivery from Falenas jewelry has arrived and been stored in the shuttles cargo bay.]] Spector suddenly announced, causing Rowena to flash Adam her I told you so smile, which in turn caused him to roll his eyes in response as the pair entered docking bay forty-eight.

“How goes the installation? Are we ready to go, Spector?” Adam asked as they boarded the shuttle.

“The temporal displacement stabilisation device has been successfully installed within me,” Spector replied through the shuttle’s intercom.

“Good, prepare for launch,” Adam instructed.

“Affirmative, sealing airlocks and venting atmosphere from the docking bay,” Spector replied before going silent as the docking bay was depressurized, after which it added, “Opening docking bay doors.”

Adam, Rowena and everyone watching watched as spinning lights illuminated next to the docking bay doors before they began to open, revealing space outside, after which Adam took the controls and piloted Spector Unit Five out of the docking bay before following the HUD’s navigation to where Spector was cloaked and waiting for them.

“Captain, we are receiving a communication from the orbital space station,” a Solarian communications officer on the bridge of one of the Solarian Space Force ships suddenly reported.

“I can guess what this is about,” the Solarian captain said with a smirk before adding, “Put it through.”

A moment later, the image of a Solarian who was panting for breath appeared with the access doors to docking bay forty-eight behind him.

“Let me guess,” the Captain said with the same smirk before adding, “You failed to catch up to them, and now it’s up to me.”

“Shut up and get moving,” the Solarian on the space station replied angrily before cutting the communication.

“Really now. Why even bother calling in the first place if you’re only going to cut the call straight away?” The captain said with a chuckle before turning to the sensor operator and saying.

“Locate a shuttle with the designation Spector Unit Five; it should have just left docking bay forty-eight.”

“I have them; they’re currently on course away from the station,” the sensor operator replied.

“Plot intercept course and engage,” the captain ordered the helm officer before turning back to the sensor operator and asking, “Are they preparing to jump into FTL? Where are they heading? Towards the jump gate?”

“Negative, Captain. The shuttle is not heading in the direction of the jump gate, nor is it showing signs of preparing to jump into FTL,” the sensor operator replied.

“Where are they going then?” The captain asked in confusion before turning to the communications officer and ordering, “Hail them.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“Incoming communication from the SSF ship Nobu,” Spector suddenly announced.

 “They’re probably wondering why we suddenly decided to leave after telling Shalendra that we were heading back to the hotel,” Rowena stated before adding, “I also doubt Shalendra was only there to help us. She was probably also there to keep an eye on us.”

“Keerla no doubt thought it was suspicious that someone who could defeat a group of Caninians just so happened to be there to help Liluth when she needed it, which is why she assigned Shalendra to accompany us,” Adam added.

[Celebrityhunter69 (Earth): So they didn’t really trust them?]

[DeverinianLordMalacoss (Deverinian 9): Probably the only one who did was Liluth because she was too young to know better, but that’s also questionable considering how smart she is.]

[Phoenixempress (Fenix Nest): I would certainly be suspicious if someone suddenly appeared to save my daughter in the nick of time like that, as well.]

[Thewhitesoverign (Felinia 7): That did happen to you, though.]

[Phoenixempress (Fenix Nest): True, but I was the daughter and not the parent at that time; it’s a different perspective.]

[NonpareilRaphilia (Aaru): I expect it doesn’t help that the Solarians are most likely investigating the two of them but are failing to find anything.]

“So, are you going to answer?” Rowena asked with interest as she shifted herself slightly in her seat to get more comfortable.

“There’s no point. They would only question us about our reason for leaving, and we would be forced to lie to them again,” Adam replied as he nodded at the viewscreen where the outline of Spector was visible before adding, “Besides, were almost at Spector.”

“Still no response?” The Solarian captain asked with a frown.

“No, sir.” The communications officer replied.

“What are they thinking? They’re not preparing to jump into FTL or anything. I can’t figure out what they’re planning,” the captain said as he looked back at the bridge’s viewscreen. And just as he finished speaking, he saw the shuttle suddenly disappear.

“WHAT! WHERE DID IT GO?” the captain shouted in shock as they quickly stood up.

[HackerSu (Trillion): I wonder how the crew of the Nobu are reacting right now? To them, the shuttle had probably just suddenly disappeared.

[Prestigious3horns (Vinox 2): They’re probably going out of their minds trying to figure out what happened to it. 🤣]

As the chat discussed and imagined what they thought the crew of the Nobu was experiencing right now, they saw Spector Unit Five land in Spector’s docking bay.

Adam leaned back in the shuttle’s pilot seat and took a deep breath.

“Nervous?” Rowena asked curiously, with a small smile. 

“Of course. If this fails to work, who knows where we could end up,” Adam replied before asking, “How are you so calm?”

“Because I know that this will work and that we will make it back,” Rowena replied with a calm smile.

“How?” Adam asked in surprise.

“Secret,” Rowena replied while giving him a playful wink before adding, “Let’s go. I’m sure a certain two young ladies are eager to receive their rings.”

“You’re right,” Adam replied with a nod before taking another deep breath and saying, “Let’s go, Spector.”