Travel to Faraway
© 2021 by Walter Reimer

Thumbnail art by  ahro



Signing the A Quiet Life over – part-ownership, captain’s license, master command codes, certifications, etc. – to Dashufenke Jax took only a few moments, under the watchful eyes of a Transcosm representative, who had come to This Far partly for the purpose of overseeing the transfer. The representative, a badger femme named Laffer Pavla, had also come to open a branch office in the system that would be a counterpart to Meredith’s new office on Downtime.

While the rest of the crew congratulated the rat for taking command of the freighter, Laffer took Meredith aside and offered the golden palomino mare her paw. “I look forward to working with you,” the badger said.

Meredith’s ears flicked at Laffer’s Core accent, but she smiled as she shook paws with the badger. “Same here,” she said. “Why is the company setting up here as well?”

“Liaison with the Kashlani. Transcosm wants to open contracts with their Support Department. Imperial Chartering’s idea.”

“I get it. Been in the Colonies long?”

The badger chuckled. “That obvious, huh? I was transferred to God’s Armpit from Medusa before things went to shit. I’m staying on this side of the line, thank you.”

“Your family?”

“They came with me. Are you from here? This Far, I mean.”

Meredith nodded. “Born here.”

“Does everyone live here, in this one arcology?”

“No, there’s a few farming settlements scattered around, and of course Magus Station. We’re fairly new as colonies go; people haven’t started spreading out yet.”

Laffer smiled. “I can’t wait to tell my husband. He’s always wanted to try his paw at farming.” She cocked her head. “Are you married?”

Meredith’s reply was a turn of her head and a wide smile as Fuji walked up to her, a beer in each paw, and as he held one out to her the mare caught Laffer’s grin.


***


Laffer had left a few hours before, with the party in full swing, and now things were starting to wind down.

Christina George, looking a trifle inebriated but still steady on her hooves, came up to Meredith and Fuji. Her boyfriend Hui followed behind her, the bear looking sober. “We’ll miss you both,” the Hereford cow said, hugging the mare before gathering the Komodo monitor into a hug that threatened to smother Fuji in the bovine’s cleavage. She kissed the top of the bull’s head as he struggled in her grip before releasing him. “Oh hush, you,” she chided as Fuji made a huge production of gasping for air.

“We’ll miss you too, Christina,” Meredith said, “but you’ll be dropping by the station for this and that, I’m sure. The ship’s based out of This Far, after all.”

“Yeah,” Hui conceded, “but we’ll still miss you. Now, I need to get this dainty flower to bed before she passes out – “

“I’m not drunk!” Christina protested.

“You’re close to it,” the bear said, “and I didn’t bring an artigrav lifter with me.”

The cow gaped at him before giving an angry snort. “Oh, you just wait till I get you in bed.” She kissed Meredith on the cheek. “Stay in touch, okay?” she asked before grabbing her boyfriend in a headlock and walking to the door as the remaining partygoers laughed.

“Have fun, you two,” Fuji said, and he turned to Meredith. “You okay?”

“A little sad,” the mare admitted. “We’ve been through a lot together.”

He slipped an arm around her waist and gave her a slight squeeze. “Yeah, we have. But we’ll see them again, or at least keep in touch, and we have a new path to walk.” He smiled. “Together.”

Her smile matched his. “Together.”


***


Accommodations and the new office on Downtime were being prepared, so the delay in moving to the station was put to good use.

Besides, it was high time that Meredith and her family met Usama and Kirana Castro, Fuji’s parents.

Passenger service had been restored, and two cabins had been reserved aboard the liner Kifalme. The larger of the two was for Meredith’s parents and her two brothers, who were now nearing their respective second birthdays. Fuji and Meredith had their own, somewhat smaller, cabin.

On the other side of the ship.

Meredith stood naked in front of the mirror in the cabin’s small bathroom, and she smiled as an equally unclothed Fuji came up behind her and hugged her. He nuzzled her neck gently before asking, “You okay?”

“Yeah. You know they’ll ask about children.”

“I know.” She shivered as he reached up and gently nibbled behind her left ear. “Want to discuss it?”

“Sure,” and she let him take her paw and lead her to bed.