Twinks in Space: Fantastic Voyage - Part Two - 10. Chapter 10 - Acceptance

Quigley’s ship, the Burn Throne, rose above the surface of the planet where he had made a home for himself and his family. Once it was beyond the atmosphere, he activated its cavitation engine, and the vessel disappeared into the void.

The emotions Quigley felt about his wife and daughter being taken had shifted. After his initial shock had subsided, he could only focus on wrath and getting revenge, but eventually he reached the point of acceptance. By that time though, Quigley had armed himself to the teeth.

Now, he was just feeling miserable. A little part of him still wanted to do horrible things to the mandroid who was locked in the cell in the back of his ship, but he had resigned himself to the demands made by the voice he did not know. The Burn Throne was headed toward the Hope 9 medical frigate; the voice had left him no other options.

Thirty-six hours had already passed since Quigley received the call telling him that his family was gone, and he was loathe to waste any more of the forty-eight that the voice had threatened.

Quigley thought of any person under the age of about nineteen to be a child, but he knew many of the sentient species in the universe develop much faster, and they thought of children as adults. Quigley did not question that someone would be willing to kill his wife and even his young daughter if the mandroid was not delivered to the Hope ship within the timeframe.

The Burn Throne’s computer informed Quigley that there were still two hours of flight time, and he left the bridge of his ship and headed toward the cell and his prisoner. He opened the door.

Phentrom sat upright, but he was still feeling very groggy.

Quigley stepped into the cell. “Malfunctioning…” he mumbled to himself, looking the mandroid up and down. “Can you even understand me?” He continued in an icy voice without awaiting a reply. “Mandroid designate 5NTRØM, you were supposed to be my way out. The bounty on your head would have been enough for me to move my family to some quiet little outer-rim planet. My wife, Finnow, and my little…” Quigley’s voice broke and the coldness in it began to falter, “and my Riah, they deserve a peaceful life, and because of you, because I accepted this bounty on you, the loves of my life have been taken from me.”

His fingers came to the handle of the blaster that hung at his hip, and they wrapped around it. Quigley squeezed his gun’s grip and gritted his teeth. “Whoever this villain is who took my family, she will pay.” Quigley softened even more and he released his gun. “They didn’t deserve to be targeted. What’s so special about you anyway, malfunctioning mandroid? Why would someone be willing to attack a child for you? Godsdammit, my family better not be hurt!”

Quigley clenched his hands into fists. “I thought I was out. I thought this bounty was my solution.” His hands relaxed. “I’ve been in this life since I was a youth, wasn’t exactly forced into it, but haven’t been able to get out. I just want to be with my loves.” Quigley scowled at the mandroid. “Why in the name of all the gods am I talking to a broken android?” He turned to leave the cell.

Phentrom quickly calculated the meaning behind all of Quigley’s words, and he spoke. “I know who has your wife and daughter.”