Twinks in Space: Fantastic Voyage - Part Two - 26. Chapter 26 - Back on the Burn Throne

The Stealth Witch raced through the void at staggering speed toward Eleithon’s workstation.

Captain Suoki had just disconnected the call to Fonith.

“I’m sorry about your companion,” Eleithon said from the cockpit.

Quigley was seated in the ship’s kitchen next to his wife Finnow, and Riah was on her father’s lap. Captain Suoki was pacing the floor of the short hall between the two rooms.

“Golvinte was a good man,” Captain Suoki declared, “and he got us out of there. He didn’t deserve to be gunned down like that.”

“No, he did not,” Quigley agreed. “I’m sorry, too.”

Captain Suoki looked at the bounty hunter with shimmery eyes, like he was trying not to cry. “We met him the same way we met you. He was hunting Phentrom.”

Quigley looked guilty. “Sorry about that also.”

Riah hugged her father and said up to him, “I wanna meet Phentrom, daddy.”

“We might someday.”

“What about now?”

Finnow took her daughter’s hand. “We need to head home. We’ve already had too much adventure.”

“But I wanna, mommy!” Riah whined.

Her father kissed the top of her head and replied, “Riah, you and mommy just went through something scary; even daddy was scared.”

“I’m not scared,” the child stated defiantly. “I wanna meet Phentrom. And why are you upset?” Riah looked at her mother, then her father.

They did not understand. “What do you mean?”

Riah stretched her little arms out to the Stealth Witch’s kitchen and declared, “I like this ship! It’s neat! And Miss Eleithon gave us snacks. And I like Suoki.”

He peeked in at hearing his name, but he was still distraught, and he turned back to Eleithon in the cockpit. “Golvinte saved us. He made it so we could get away.”

“I know, hunny, and I’m so sorry,” she replied gently.

Finnow looked out into the hall at Captain Suoki. “Is there anyone we should inform about what happened to him?”

Captain Suoki cried aloud, “Oh no, poor Priestess, poor Thesio! She’s going to be heartbroken.” He could not stop a tear as it trickled down his cheek. “Golvinte, godsdammit.” The captain rubbed his eyes hard. “You were a good man.”

Eleithon called back to the others, “Only five minutes until we reach my workstation.”

When they arrived at the moon that orbited the enormous ringed planet, Quigley thanked Eleithon again for helping save his family. “I owe you,” he declared. “I’ll probably owe you forever on this one. Thank you, Eleithon.”

She smiled and nodded, and Quigley led his wife and daughter onto his ship.

“Wait,” Riah called out, “isn’t Miss Eleithon coming with us?”

“No, sweetie,” her mother replied. “It’s time for us to go home.”

Riah frowned. “But Suoki is coming, right?”

“Yes indeed,” the big man replied, hobbling up the Burn Throne’s steps to its entrance with his cane in one hand. “You three are going to drop me off in Boullia Bay before heading home.”

“But I wanna meet Phentrom!” Riah said with a pout.

Her father made a serious face. “I need to get you two home. You and mommy need to be safe.”

“We are safe, daddy. We’re on the Burn Throne now. I love your ship!”

Captain Suoki chuckled and agreed, “This is a very nice ship indeed.”

“Wanna see my room?” the little girl asked, and she grabbed the bearded fellow’s large hand and began pulling him down the ship’s hallway.

Finnow turned to her husband, and when they were alone, she said, “Quigley, thank you for rescuing us.”

He took his wife’s hands. “I would do anything for you.”

“Can we move to Boullia Bay? I know our house is nice and we have neighbors, but it’s never felt like home, and I haven’t made a single friend. I want to live near my sister and be part of her community.”

Quigley smiled at Finnow. “Phentrom and I discussed many things, one of which was the recent improvements that have happened in Boullia Bay. He loves it there, and you’re right about the community. He told me about quite a few of the folks he’s connected with, sounds like a great group of people.”

Finnow was surprised by Quigley’s positive response. She expected that she was going to need convincing.

“I know now that it was Fonith who took you and Riah,” Quigley continued, “but it made me realize that you’re connected to no one in the community where we live, and that’s not safe. No one was there to help you. You need to be somewhere you fit in, where you feel connections to the people around you.”

Quigley’s words were exactly what Finnow wanted to hear, and she kissed her husband.

Riah returned with Captain Suoki. “And daddy takes us on trips in the Burn Throne to the beaches on Xyphan.”

“Oooh,” Captain Suoki cooed, “I love those beaches.”

“Yes,” Finnow agreed, “they’re very nice. Suoki, do you have someone you’d like to call in Boullia Bay before we get there?”

“That’s okay,” the big man replied, “I’m going to meet up with a group of friends who live in town.” He smiled. “Thank you though.”

Quigley then asked, “What’s the eighth location?”

“Lyoth and I have several safe-houses from our days before the Ulaa-Lah,” Captain Suoki replied vaguely.

Quigley nodded and did not press him further. He looked down at his daughter. “Wanna help the Burn Throne take off?”

“Of course!” she declared, grabbing her father’s hand.

They headed to the cockpit, and Captain Suoki and Finnow stepped into the doorway behind them. Quigley let Riah push the buttons that launched the ship from Eleithon’s workstation on the moon with the gaseous ringed giant, and the bounty hunter helped his daughter input the coordinates for the oasis planet of Zigga.

“Here we go!” Riah squeaked. She initiated the cavitation engine, and the Burn Throne entered hyperspace. “Daddy, I love your ship. How long till we get there?”

Quigley pulled up the timer on a screen. “Just a little while, only a little over three hours. Should we cook some food?”

“Yeah, I’m hungry! Can we make fried astro-serpent?”

Captain Suoki perked up and said, “Riah, that’s one of my favorite dishes! My own mommy used to make it for me when I was little like you.”

Riah giggled at the idea of a tiny bearded version of the big man.

Captain Suoki turned to Quigley. “Can I help? I don’t mean to brag, but I’m quite skilled in the kitchen.”

Riah replied. “Yes! Let’s all cook together!”

“Riah,” her mother said gently, “Suoki is a guest on our ship, and normally we would let him relax while we cook for him.”

“Nonsense!” Captain Suoki declared. “I already think of you three as family! If you’re family to Fonith, you’re family to me.” He paused. “I mean, I’m just offering my help with the cooking, as long as I won’t be in the way.” Captain Suoki laughed and held up a hand to his mouth as if he was going to whisper a secret. “I know my way around the kitchen.” He rubbed his big belly and Riah laughed again.

Finnow smiled and waved toward the hallway. “It’s all yours!”

Riah screamed in delight and led Captain Suoki to the kitchen.

He started opening cupboards and pulling out what they needed.

“The astro-serpent is in here,” Riah informed him, pointing at the refrigeration unit.

“I love this dish,” Captain Suoki said down to her, “but I need help!” He grabbed a chair from the table and slid it over to the counter, positioning it with its back secure against the lower cupboard doors so it was stable. “Pop up on here and give me a hand.”

Riah squealed, and her mother could not help but laugh at the kitchen’s doorway.

Captain Suoki helped the little girl get a stable footing on the seat of the chair, and he grinned over at Finnow. “Riah,” he said, turning back to the child who was now on almost the same level as him, “let’s start with the batter and breading. Can you please break these three firechicken eggs into this bowl?” He handed her the large dish with the uncracked eggs sitting in the bottom of it.

“Aye-aye, captain,” she said as resolutely as her little voice would allow.

This time, Riah’s father snorted a laugh. He was standing beside Finnow, and the two of them were watching their daughter.

“I’ll set the oil on high over there on the stovetop, and I’ll grab the astro-serpent.” The big man opened the refrigeration unit and pulled out the frozen snake meat. “Oooh, these are fancy astro-serpents! My mother always got the smaller, cheaper ones.” He peeked into the bowl of eggs. Riah had cracked two of them and was onto the third, and he told her, “Those look perfect!” The yolks were bright blue.

“Oh no! I got a piece of the shell in there!” Riah cried.

Captain Suoki took a more serious look, and he smiled. He dipped his fingertip into the raw eggs, slid the tiny bit of shell up the side of the bowl, and asked, “Riah, can you please grab it for me?”

“Got it!” Riah replied, taking the piece from his finger and dropping it into one of the empty shells on the countertop.

“We’ll whip them up in a few minutes, but first…” He paused and placed the astro-serpent onto a cutting board. “Wow, look at this, Riah. These are beautiful scale-less yellow runners. Isn’t that a silly name, Riah? Snakes can’t run!”

She let out a peal of laughter.

Captain Suoki used a cleaver to chop the frozen astro-serpent into chunks, and he set them aside. He handed Riah one large and one small measuring cup. “Next, we need two big scoops of this bengat flour, and one little scoop of the talidahn powder.”

Riah carefully placed the dry ingredients into a separate bowl, and Captain Suoki gave her a tablespoon and a teaspoon.

“We also need one tablespoon of ground pepper, two teaspoons of both onion and garlic powder, and one teaspoon of chili flakes.”

Riah nodded as she followed the recipe he gave her. It was straight out of his head.

“Would you like me to take care of the eggs now?” Captain Suoki asked.

“Yes please!”

He took the bowl and picked up a whisk. “Why don’t you use the teaspoon and gently stir up those flours and spices so they’re nice and mixed?” Captain Suoki began to whip the firechicken eggs, and a moment later, they were a pale blue fluff that was perfect for dipping. He dunked one chunk of astro-serpent at a time into the eggs, and Riah rolled each in the dry mixture before Captain Suoki carefully added them to the hot oil. They sizzled, and soon the ship smelled delightful.

The quartet ate together, and their meal was delicious.