Gone & Missing

[Toaster]

Beige slumped into the pilot’s seat with a resigned sigh. He leaned his head against the headrest and gazed out through the open canopy at the web of catwalks and lattices that crisscrossed the hangar bay’s ceiling. The pilot’s story had been Beige’s greatest fear.

“Sir?” Victor’s holographic sphere sprung to life before him. “Did you learn anything?” The AI’s tone was cautious, aware that the mercenary’s mood was troubled.

“Yeah,” Beige murmured in response, closing his eyes. He recounted what he had found out in the bar. Victor listened intently, slowly bobbing up and down in midair. As Beige came to the end, the hologram came to a standstill.

“What do we do now?” The AI inquired after a moment of silence.

Beige slowly opened his eyes and looked at the orange orb before him. He remained silent.

“We should investigate the site of the attack,” Victor suggested.

Beige averted his gaze, defeat clouding his eyes.

“If the attacker was what I think it was-,” he began.

Victor pulsed angrily.

“Sir,” he interrupted the mercenary, “we have not been given conclusive proof of what has become of Miss Sable. We came out here to investigate. We are not done yet.” The AI’s tone was determined, almost rebellious. Beige glared at the sphere in surprise.

Victor was right, Beige knew. Things were looking bad for Olivia, but what the man in the bar had told him did not mean that she was gone for good. She had dropped off of his scanners, nothing more. A sly smile cracked the mercenary’s lips. He wouldn’t lose hope just yet.

“Alright, alright,” he conceded, raising his hands in mock defeat. “Not like I could stop you anyway. Ship’s controls are all yours, after all.” He chuckled softly.

Victor’s bobbing slowed down, performing what resembled a nod.

“That is correct, sir,” he replied. The ship’s engines sprung to life and the canopy slid shut around them. “Fasten your seatbelts, please.”

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Olivia Sable