Lost in the Stars

Cody swept though the comms channels searching and listening. It was the same sets of static, automated reports, and local pirate radio stations. “You know you aren’t going to hear any thing. Besides the computer is listening anyway.” Robin cooed from behind him. Cody ignored her, sweeping though the frequencies again. "How many days have we been out here? Picking up nothing but the pirate radio stations. Which reminds me think they will have the Carbon’s game?”

Cody shrugged, “Probably on one of them. They are rather chatty today. Not playing their shitty mix tapes. Nothing interesting so far.” Cody shrugged. It has been a long three months out on the frontier. Not a single useful bit of data outside of the local pirate radio drama. Nothing from either alien nations. Nothing from the pirate warlords. “It’s like we used up the drama budget in the first quarter. Now everyone is trying to make due with what little is left.”

“Llllaaaaammmmeee” Robin responded. “Can’t someone kidnap a princess or someone?” She sighed, “I’d even take another season of that romance game show they were making. What was it called? Thots on cots?”

Cody scoffed at the terrible show. “You liked that because they didn’t cut the sex. And don’t try and tell me you watched it for the interviews and challenges.”

“Guilty as charged.” Robin said Cody heard her slide from her chair. “Now are we calling today a wrap? Or are you going to sit there for a while longer?” Cody pondered. They had been tracking the empty void for the better part of a work day. The only traffic was the usual drone ships that didn’t talk.

“Yah I guess. I can’t shake this feeling that something is going to happen.” Cody said switching the systems into operator away mode. “What do you want to do tonight? We got resupplied so pantry is stocked.” Cody said over his shoulder noting two new contacts into the system. “Also we got some non-drone traffic. Looks like a pair of Yachts.”

“I’m thinking we make something and do a movie night. We got enough popcorn. Make snacks and watch movies. That sounds nice.” Robin said Cody hummed an agreement. There was something about these two new contacts that captivated his attention.

The two points representing the ships swapping places as they were moving towards the listening post. It was almost like they were dancing. There was a large amount of transmissions as if the two ships were locked in a shouting match. “You really are focused on that. What is it?” Robin said leaning over Cody’s shoulder. “It’s two yachts.” Robin mumbled staring at the screen. Suddenly there was a blast of energy detected before everything went dark. “That’s strange where’d they go?”

“Mayday! Mayday! This is Princess Carola Votta I need rescue!” came though the speakers. It was clear that the princess was frantic. A distress beacon appeared where the two yachts were.

“You got your kidnapped princess.” Cody quipped at Robin before thumbed the radio. “Princess Votta, Comms-Station Corvus Mayday received, and relayed.” said Cody catching Robin relaying the mayday call up the chain. “Do you have time to give us a report?”

If you want to see the rest of this story share it.