Tales of the Courier – Chance Encounters
Boxed in and trapped. Contained and enclosed, a courier’s bad dream scenario. 1courier tries the ride again, nothing, all systems are dark. A quick check of the m-com link reveals it too, is dark.
The rear cargo area of the heavy freighter is quiet, and darkness abounds. There is a slight feeling of movement as the freighter takes to the road. 1courier glances around and considers the predicament.
His eyes catch the faint traces of a deep blue glow. He turns toward the glowing sapphire light to find it emanates from Cheeky’s sapphire eyes. They are glowing and gaining brightness. The effect is entrancing and casts a bluish hue throughout the compartment.
Cool eyes
She is looking straight ahead and has the head tilt, meaning she is communicating internally with AI. This link is known only to her and 1courier. It is several minutes before she speaks quietly and with a calm, matter of fact, tone.
“We are not prisoners. We are being cloaked for the next leg of this journey. Our rendezvous had been compromised, and we were in target lock. The containment maneuver, was for our protection.” She falls silent with these last words, as those sapphire eyes continue to glow everything blue.
After a few minutes more, with the predicament reanalyzing, 1courier decides chit chat might help, and begins the chat, “the eyes are cool”.
The silence lingers on, and he thinks she is communicating with AI again, when she speaks quickly, and clearly, “The cargo pickup will occur just ahead, it will be aboard in thirty seconds. They take some getting used to, when they change”.
Self loading cargo is new, but not out of the ordinary for this day. In fact, 1courier thinks the idea of self loading cargo has great potential. He wonders if it will drop itself off too. Talk about cargo love.
Cargo love
There is a muffled thud from the back of the ride, and the ride settles slightly, as though a heavy weight has been added to it. Cheeky confirms the cargo is aboard, as the heavy freighter continues moving along the road.
Moments later the m-com flashes and is back online. 1courier tries the ride again. It immediately starts and all systems are a go. The timing of the reanimation of all things tech, isn’t lost on him, he wonders what will be next, and isn’t disappointed when Cheeky brings the news.
“We will be leaving soon. I’m awaiting word from the freighter pilot, we will be given every chance to escape.” She falls silent and continues staring forward, then closes her eyes. The compartment falls into darkness again.
1courier has a few seconds of empty thought as the words sink in. He thinks about having every chance to escape, and how that doesn’t really fit, with the not prisoners concept. It’s still sticking, as the rear cargo door unlatches behind them, and begins lowering.
Chance
The rear cargo door is fully open, and the freighter is moving fast. The second freighter is following close behind, as the cargo door strikes, and drags along the road. 1courier scouts the rear view mirror, looking for the right moment, as he jams the ride into reverse.
The heavy freighter following behind buckles inward, the entire machine begins to catapult before imploding silently, leaving a crater behind. 1courier jams the accelerator to the floor and grips the wheel, as the ride rockets backwards, out of the freighter and onto the road.
The wheels screech and catch the road as he shifts to drive and jets forward around the heavy freighter. The entire area is under attack and chaos reigns.
The return of the key is an unexpected, but welcome, diversion. Now, it’s time to go.
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