Refuge - Chapter 18: Epilogue - Pathway to the Stars
Imported from SF2 with no description.
New horizons lie ahead as Casey leaves more than the village and the planet behind.
***
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed the tale as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Refuge
by TypicalFloof
Chapter 18: Epilogue - Pathway to the Stars
Chapter Themes:
Mick Gordon - Everything Is Going to Be Okay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TRdx2tbUFI
Scanner - Across the Universe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22rw1OCYnCE
Casey breathed in the crisp morning air as he and Nora began the journey back to Baker Company's DropShip. Sitting astride the mare, he gazed out over the serene valley spread below them. Since Baker Company had moved the Capellan DropShip to Vella's spaceport, its hulking mass was not present to mar the picturesque landscape.
The feast the previous evening had been a more subdued, somber affair than the first he'd attended, but Casey was glad for it all the same. Cedric was right, he reflected. It will take time, but we'll heal.
Once the meal was over, Casey found himself walking alongside Nora's father. Abbott had placed a hand on his shoulder, letting Nora and Mary walk ahead of them. The fox turned to Casey and took a breath.
“Before you go, I just wanted you to know…" Abbott swallowed. “I couldn't be more proud to have you with my daughter. Mary and I had some reservations at first, but it's clear now how much you care for her." He looked deep into Casey's eyes. “Don't let anything happen to her!"
“I won't," Casey promised. Abbott gave him a small hug, and the two resumed walking amid the backward glances of Nora and her mother.
Hours before the Marik liaison officer was due to arrive planetside, Casey found himself seated in Roget's quarters.
“You wanted to see me, sir?"
Roget leaned forward. “I did. I have an unfortunate subject I need to discuss with you." He rotated the tablet laying on his desk and the screen flickered to life. Casey sucked in a breath as he recognized his bound form in the interrogation room. Wei's sneering visage was clearly identifiable even through the grainy image. He looked up at his commander.
“We recovered this along with footage of Wei interrogating an anthro."
“Matthew," Casey muttered.
“This is a summary of what you told me regarding your capture." Roget pushed a sheet of paper in front of him. “Wei and Devraux will be taken back to the Marik system and prosecuted. Coupled with the video, there will be more than enough evidence to convict them as war criminals."
Casey signed the statement and looked across at Roget. “Wei is a monster, sir. The things he did… he tortured a kid! What if the courts don't see the truth?" His voice hardened. “And I'm sure Devraux has connections. Who's to say he won't call in a favor and buy off the judge?"
Roget nodded sympathetically. “Wei and Devraux will stand trial under a military tribunal. A few of my friends from my militia days are high-ranking officers; I've already appraised them of the situation, and they'll surely be involved. They're good men, Casey. The bastards won't escape justice."
“I hope you're right, sir. Is there anything else?"
“No. I am about to issue general orders to prepare for takeoff. We leave tonight."
***
Casey stared out the window at the slowly shrinking blue-green globe. Nora had her back to him, holding his arms around her as she leaned against his front.
“Wow," she breathed. “It's so pretty!"
Casey smiled. “Savor the view while you can. Space gets pretty empty in a hurry."
He turned his gaze to their reflection in the thick glass panel separating them from the vacuum of space. The excitement sparkling in her eyes was infectious. An unfamiliar feeling swept through him then. It took him a moment to recognize it.
Hope. He had no idea how long it had been since he'd felt the emotion, but he finally sensed that he was ready to move on from his past. He had someone to love, a purpose to fulfill, and a future to look forward to. He smiled back at Nora and rested his chin on her head.
The DropShip's engines whined as they throttled up to full power. Pinpricks of starlight drifted by the pair as they held each other. From here, it would take a few days to rendezvous with the waiting JumpShip that would transport them light-years away. Casey had mixed emotions, but he was glad to leave Stridus-A behind him. The two stood in silent contemplation as the planet finally winked out of view.