Lucky Day

"We should stop for fuel, Maddox."

"We have plenty of fuel, Boom."

The fuel needle reverberates close to E. Maddox Forge, intrepid space smuggler, looks to his anxious co-pilot Boomer.

"I know that look, Maddox. I don't like it. What are you thinking?"

"Quasar Six is up ahead. We'll fuel up, eat and sleep for the night there."

"Are you crazy, Mad? Quasar Six is nuts, dirty, and I'll need a shower just from showering there. It's a seedy planet and I don't trust our cargo's not gonna get stolen. Besides, it's bad enough we're deflecting from the mission to refuel. I told you to do that before we left."

Maddox looked at Boomer.

"Dude, what's the mission again?"

Boomer groaned.

"This. This is why I'm here. If I wasn't here, the cargo wouldn't make it out the dock door, let alone Axiom Nine."

"Why are we going there?"

"MADDOX!" Boomer exclaimed.

Maddox laughed, patting Boomer on the head.

"I know why we're going there. Don't lose your head."

"Maddox, with you, losing one's mind is relatively easy to do.

The duo landed their ship, The Harbinger, at Quasar Six's seediest market. Maddox looked at one of the attendants menacingly.

"Fuel the ship. If you do absolutely nothing else, I guarantee you will get a sizeable tip."

The bulb headed alien chittered as Maddox and Boomer entered the truck stop.

"I don't like it here." Boomer said.

"What's not to like? Cheap food, liquor and a room."

"Have you seen the bugs in those rooms?!"

"If it's gonna make you feel better, go sleep on the ship."

"Who's gonna keep you in line?"

"I'm capable of behaving."

"The untrained circus animals on Luxon Three acted better."

"I'm thoroughly insulted." Maddox laughed.

A strange sound emanated from a corner of the establishment. There a portly, scaly humanoid with tusks called to Maddox.

"Hello, Friend! Are you looking for a good time? Perhaps, a trinket for the wife at home? If, and only if, you're interested; I have quite a selection of items in the back lot."

Maddox and Boomer looked at each other.

"Beg your pardon if Shorty is more to your liking,"

Maddox wrapped a hand around the Dealer's throat.

"Boomer's my co-pilot. If this is how you attempt to get customers, you can go screw yourself. I don't like you and I don't conduct business with..."

A side eyed glance pierced the Dealer.

"... Whatever you are." Maddox said.

"I completely understand that and wholeheartedly agree. My name is Silas."

Maddox refused to touch Silas's scaly webbed hand.

"Boomer and I need food, some kind of alcohol and sleep."

A cage rattling and a young woman's piercing shriek echoed through the bar.

"What was that, Silas?" Maddox asked.

"I have no idea! I was here with you."

The sounds continued. In a double large cage, a young woman shook.

"What's she doing in a cage, Silas?"

Maddox asked irritated.

"I received her in this condition! I can't explain how she was prior to this!"

"Who rattled the cage?" Maddox asked the girl. The girl pointed to two male aliens with blue skin and what appeared to be gills. Maddox looked at them.

"Fuck, those two are ugly as hell; eh Boom?"

"Don't put me in this!" Boomer exclaimed.

The taller of the two blue men smiled, showing razor sharp triangular teeth.

"Ooh, those s'posed to scare me, Fishface?"

"You want de girl, you gots ta fight me. Ain't dat right, Sy?"

Silas smirked.

"This ain't my battle, gentlemen. Just don't break anything."

The taller blue man strode towards Maddox.

"If you think you're tough, Fishface, I'll knock your ass out in three."

"Prove eet!"

Maddox closed his giant hand and in one swing, crippled the tall blue man.

"Excessior!" The other blue man exclaimed.

"How did you..?" Boomer asked.

"Sub aquatic humanoid from Neptune. Gills gave me a clue. Then, the teeth cemented his identity."

Turning to Excessior's companion, Maddox shrugged.

"He's gonna live. I only knocked him out for a while."

The other blue man hissed. Maddox approached the cage door, looking at Silas.

"How much?"

"How much for what?" Silas asked.

"Her. She's coming with us."

"Like Hell she is! Maddox, we're on a mission. The chancellor of Axiom Nine's gonna stiff us if we don't get the cargo there on time."

"We were stopping to sleep anyway. So, Sy, how much is she?"

Silas looked at Maddox, then the girl.

"Take her. She costs more to keep than I'd make selling her. Want the cage?"

Maddox shot an evil look at Silas.

"I'll take that as a no. She's all yours."

Maddox watched as Silas opens the cage door. In what appeared to be a tattered dress, the young woman approached. Scared and dirty, she squeaked as Maddox pulled her to him.

"You're going to be alright. Are you hungry?" He asked.

The young woman nodded.

"So am I. Silas?"

"Yeah?"

"No more human dealing or I report this.."

Maddox scanned the area.

"... Operation."

The trio entered the dive. A middle aged woman, lit cigarette in her mouth, approached the table.

"We're outta the Laxaian Mushroom soup and the meat of the day is Enfans Sus Domesticus straight from the farms of Callux Six."

"I'll have the Canis Auris with Mead."

Boomer licked his lips. Maddox looked at the woman."

"Two orders of Noodles and Cheese. One with meat, one no meat."

"A'ight I'll get that outchere shawtly."

Ashes fell from her cigarette, landing on the table.

"So, Miss.. What's your name and where you from?"

"Sierra and Axiom Nine."

Both men looked shocked.

"As luck has it, Sierra, we're due there tomorrow."

"You are?!" She exclaimed.

"Yes." Maddox replied.

"Ow, my ear." Boomer said.

"Sorry. I haven't been home in a month or so. I was kidnapped. Somehow when I came to, I was bruised and encased in that cage."

"We'll get you home."

Sierra smiled.

"Thank you."

The trio's food came. Boomer and Maddox ate voraciously. Sierra ate a few bites and finished.

"Not hungry?" Maddox asked.

"It's not that. I haven't eaten much. My stomach hurts."

Maddox looked half sympathetic and half ready to kill.

"This will all be over soon."

"Thanks."

As they finished eating, Boomer went to the ship.

"I'll guard the cargo. See ya later, Mad, Miss Sierra."

Boomer closed the door to the ship. Maddox took Sierra into a local shop.

"Find a change of clothes. Tell me when your done."

"Why?"

"I'm not letting you stay in that dirt. In the room, you can clean up before going home."

Sierra smiled.

"Thanks."

She entered the shop. There a woman her age met her.

"Can I help you?"

"I want a dress but it has to be beautiful."

"I think I can help you."

The shopkeeper located a dress in a dusty yellow color.

"This would look amazing."

"Thanks."

"Anything else I can do?"

"Do you have any..? "

Sierra whispered in the shopkeeper's ear.

" I can help you there too."

After gathering what was needed, Sierra and Maddox proceeded to pay.

"Here." Maddox handed the the shopkeeper money and proceeded to leave. Upon returning to the room, Maddox removed his shirt and boots. Thirty minutes later, Sierra emerged dress in a shift, barefoot. Withstanding the urge to touch Sierra, Maddox took a pillow and slept on the floor.

"Aren't you going to sleep up here?"

"Sweetheart, if I do that, we both won't want to leave when we get to the planet. Go to sleep."

Mildly saddened, Sierra falls asleep. Maddox wasn't as fortunate. When morning came, Sierra looked ready to take on the universe. Maddox awoke, escorting Sierra to the ship.

He looked at Boomer.

"Boom, you mind piloting for a while? I need sleep.

Boomer looked at him, then Sierra.

"Fine with me."

Boomer hid his smirk as Maddox went to the back of the ship, falling asleep instantly. Boomer looked at Sierra.

"How're you feeling?"

"Better. Thank you both for everything."

Within a few hours, The Harbinger landed on the royal dock of Axiom Nine. Boomer woke Maddox.

"Bro, we're here. We need to see the king."

"Yeah, ok," Maddox said.

Sierra walked to the castle door. The Vizier, Xi, welcomed them. Xi eyed Sierra.

"We're here for King Stavros. We have a shipment from Gamma five."

"This way, gentlemen."

Stavros looked to Maddox, noticing Sierra. Shock overtook Stavros.

"My daughter! She's come back, I knew it!"

Stunned, Maddox and Boomer stared at each other.

"Your highness?" Maddox asked.

"Princess Sierra's been missing for months! Where did you...?"

"A market on Quasar Six, your majesty."

"Those monsters!"

"I'm safe now, thanks to Maddox and Boomer." Sierra said.

"Indeed. Gentlemen, you can have whatever you wish. My daughter's return holds more value to me than anything."

Maddox thought a moment.

"Your highness, I'd like to stop privateering and settle."

"Name any plot of land, It's to be yours as well as its furnishings."

Maddox smiled.

"I'll figure that out, but for now, I'd like to sleep."

"Xi, show these gentlemen to a room."

"Yes, your Grace."

Before they departed, Maddox approached Sierra.

"So, I saved a princess. Think I could get a reward or something." He said with a smirk.

Reaching on her toes, Sierra kissed Maddox's cheek.

"Maybe you will, If you're lucky."