A Sci-Fi Christmas, by Dima

Another Christmas Special

Admiral Kelton stood at the rear of the bridge, watching the magnificent display on the viewscreen.  Magentas and scarlets and sodium-lamp yellows and even neon greens burst and twisted and lashed out.  Hearty applause rose up all around him, the bridge personnel also enjoying the extraordinary explosion.

“Shields,” an officer lazily declared, and the blue haze swept across the screen just as the scraps of the obliterated craft flew close to fill the view.  The captain turned around in his chair to meet Kelton’s eyes, who gave a barely perceptible nod.  The captain smiled and activated the comlink.

“Engineering, the enemy craft has been destroyed.  How is the hook holding up?”  A crackle filled the bridge and the din died down as all hands waited for the response.

“The hook is in perfect condition,” came the response, pride evident in the engineering chief’s voice, and the smile returned to the bridge officers’ faces, “She worked perfectly.  Almost like I’d designed it myself.”  Eyes rolled all around the bridge.  Lieutenant Commander Yttrushak had an ego to surpass even the captain’s.

“Captain Amarallo,” the admiral quietly intoned as the captain lifted himself from his chair, “A word, please.”

“Certainly, Admiral, certainly.”  Amarallo beamed, unaware of the rebuke he was about to receive as he strode toward his ready room, Kelton following very closely.  As the doors hissed close behind them, and Amarallo piped up:

“Really was a fantastic show, wasn’t it?  I mean, we reall-“  The captain turned around to face Kelton just as Kelton’s open hand landed a surprisingly heavy blow on Amarallo’s jaw.  Amarallo reeled and fell back against the table.  Dazed, he looked up at Kelton, who was upon him in an instant.

“Do you understand why we are here?” he bellowed.  “Those creatures must be destroyed!”  Amarallo’s eyes widened with confusion.

“I thought- we- the creatures-“

“You lost a prime opportunity!  We know they’re all gathering!  We know there are dozens more out there!  We cannot afford to pass on a chance to extract information from those filthy half-breed degenerates just to see fireworks!”  Saliva flew over the captain’s face and the admiral bellowed on.

“The next time, you incapacitate the ship, you board it, you take prisoners, and you cut off their revolting tentacles one by one until they reveal the location of every last craft!  DO YOU UNDERSTAND!?”  Another slap to the face, and Kelton stormed from the ready room without waiting for a response.

And orbiting behind a nearby planet was just such a craft.  Returus, the navigator, was quietly conferring with his commanding officer, Jessa.

“They got another one.”

“I know, Returus.  I saw it as did you.”

“They can find us.  They have the cane.”

“They won’t find us.”

“But the cane.  The hook.  It’s ours.  It’s connected to all of us.”

“But we’re smarter.  We’re hiding now.  The rest of us can hide.  They won’t find us.”

“Jessa!  As long as they have the candy cane, they’ll find each one of us!”

“They won’t.”

“Jessa!”

“Returus!  Listen to me!  The candy cane, yes, it’s the best tactical instrument we’ve ever developed.  But these ships, they’re not like the old ones.  They’re like nothing the galaxy has ever seen.  Even if they find us, we can escape.  We just can’t get cocky like Onturo’s team!”

The two stood in silence for a moment.  Returus broke the silence after a full minute.

“We need to get the cane back.”  Jessa nodded.

“You’re right.  And we will.”

“We have to board their ship and regain its swirling pepperminty power.”

“You’re right.  And we will.”

“We have to be with the others for Christmas.”

“You’re right.  And we will.”