Ant and Four

Ant and Four Chapter 20

This is a story about two boys growing up in the galaxy, in a distant future. Neither of them is human.

It is not an erotic tale, but one of friendship and love. The story contains no AI-generated material.

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**Ant and Four 20 - Field Trip
**

by Winter

 Ant was up early the next day, freshly showered and groomed and wearing clean clothes as he came down the stairs and stepped into the inn's foyer. Mrs Brunner stood behind the reception counter, leafing through some kind of ledger. When she saw him, she took off her reading glasses and gave him a wistful smile.

"I always knew my Anty would up and leave some day," she sighed. "Not one to sit still for long, you are."

"We might be going on a little trip, that's true." Ant kissed her cheek. "But we'll be back before you know it."

"And you take away my little garden gnome, as well. Ach, this old house will be so empty."

"Don't let out our rooms just yet, Mrs B. I promise, we will be back."

"With fun and adventure on the beckoning?" She scoffed. "I think not. I saw that handsome young man of yours, and that steely-eyed lady. They come to take you clean away."

"That's what they think." Ant nodded toward the kitchen door. "Mind if I fix myself and Niklas some cold eats? We've got a couple of errands to run this morning."

"Help yourself, Anty. Or wait a few minutes and I'll cook for you."

"You work too hard as it is, Mrs B. We don't need special service."

Despite his talk about cold food, Ant had time to heat up some beet pie and lentil soup, with toasted bread on the side, before a bleary-eyed boy trudged into the kitchen. They helped carry the food out to the oak table, and once they had eaten, Ant cleared away. By then, Niklas was bouncing.

"Do we go now?"

"Not yet. We've got some shopping to do, but first we need to visit the hospital."

"Hospital? Ant, no!" The boy shook his head vigorously, and tapped his cast. "This is s'posed to be on for weeks, and I don't wanna stay there again!"

"Don't worry, it's just a minor check-up." Ant winced a bit before he continued. "And you kinda need a shot."

"What?"

"Yeah, I know. I don't like them either. But if we actually go off-world, you need it."

"I'm not sick."

"But you will be. Trust me, I didn't get that shot before I started travelling with the Calm, and I got very sick."

"Why?"

"Everywhere's got different germs, viruses and the like. And if you go between star systems, it gets way worse. Come on!" Ant started walking, and Niklas followed reluctantly. "Your body can handle most things around here, but soon as you set foot on another planet, or even a space station... Well, it won't be pretty."

"What happened?"

"We stopped at this station, I forget the name of it, to pick up supplies. It was a kind of shady place, with stores that sold some things off the shelves, then others behind the counter. And there were bars and night clubs that had... well, stuff I wish I hadn't seen and hope I'll never see again." Ant grinned, even though the memory wasn't a very fun one. "I was fine for a couple of hours, then I started feeling queasy."

"And?"

"I threw up on the floor. Barely missed Raeder's shoes." Niklas giggled. "Then all over the wall. Then I collapsed."

"Just 'cause you didn't get the shot?"

"Yup. And when they did jab me with the needle, I was so out of it I tried to bite the nurse."

"Really?"

"Mhm. I missed his fingers, but he still yelled a lot."

"Did you get better?"

"After a while. It worked, I haven't been sick like that ever since."

"I don't like needles."

"I know." Ant held out his hand, and Niklas took it. "But try not to bite."

* * * * * *

"Thank you very much, ma'am. Have a good day, you hear?"

"Y-you too, sir." The young woman's face turned pink as Ant smiled at her, while she handed him the last of their bags. "Th-thank you for shopping here."

As they left the department store, Ant was grinning and his tail was swishing back and forth. Niklas, on the other hand, was still pouting. Every now and then, he rubbed his upper right arm. Underneath the jacket, a colourful cartoon band-aid covered the tiny scab left from his injection.

In truth, the boy's mood had actually lifted considerably, once their shopping spree started. After leaving the hospital, Niklas had been a thundercloud, practically shooting lightning out of his eyes. Ant had born the brunt of his ire, but he had shrugged it off as if it were nothing. Thinking back to his own childhood, he knew fully well that anger was a fleeting thing. Especially unfounded anger. Needles, he knew, didn't really hurt all that much. Most of the fuss lay in the fuss itself.

Niklas had soured even further when it stood clear that Ant was about to spend more money on him. They had argued all the way to the store, but in the end, Ant won out. He smiled to himself as they walked back towards the inn; to think, that the boy had actually tried to out-stubborn him. In the end his winning argument had been that if Niklas didn't tag along, he would have to wear whatever Ant picked for him.

So now his little ward had several new outfits, a blue backpack that matched Ant's own, and a smaller bag for toiletries. Plus a couple of books. Pretty much all he would need, Ant thought, if they were to go on a short trip with the Calm. If. He still wasn't exactly sure what they would do. He had agreed to meet up again, and he had promised Niklas that he would at least hear Raeder out. After that, who knew?

But the urge to travel had bitten him, and he wasn't sure he could easily shake it off.

They packed their backpacks after a light lunch, then Ant once more reassured a teary-eyed Mrs Brunner that they would, indeed, be back. After all, their whole stock of tools and raw material still cluttered the shelves in Ant's room, and he had paid for two months' rent in advance. The old inn-keeper nevertheless hugged them both as if it were goodbye, before they set off for the western gates.

* * * * * *

Tow was closing the cargo bay ramp just as they arrived, and his face lit up when he spotted them. Grinning back, Ant settled for a brief hug this time, while Niklas received a pet on the head.

"Are you checking in?" the mechanic asked. "Ant, your quarters are ready for you, but you gotta give me few minutes to dust off the sheets in the guest room."

"We're not here to stay," Ant said. "But the little guy hasn't ever been off-world. We might go on a short trip, if that's okay."

"It's really the captain's say, but sure. Hop on aboard."

"I got my shot an' all." Niklas spared Ant a glare for the 'little guy' comment, then slipped down his jacket to show off his band-aid. "It hurt a little, but not much."

They passed through the mud room, then Ant and Niklas dropped their backpacks on one of the couches. Knife glanced up from a magazine, but said nothing. Which, Ant knew, was about as much of a welcome as they were likely to get. Tow made for the kitchen area, and returned with glasses filled with soda and ice. The bubbles made Ant's nose twitch, but not enough to cause a sneeze. The three of them started off down the corridor that led to the bridge.

Halfway there, Ant's door stood ajar, and he peered in. Immediately, something inside his chest felt warm. His room hadn't changed at all. It was small, smaller even than he remembered, with a bed, a nightstand, and a closet door. His old clothes were probably gone, burned like all the rest of the stuff he had radioactivated, but it didn't matter. None of it would have fit him now, anyway. On the wall was his only decoration; a framed picture of a grinning wolf boy, surrounded by his crewmates. The photo had been taken shortly after Ant's first mission with the Morning Calm crew, when they had stolen back computer discs from a group of industrial spies. He smiled at the memory. Raeder had kept him out of the real danger, but he had still found it a thrilling endeavour.

"You saved it. But how?"

"We didn't," Tow said. "But Raeder printed out a new one, and went all the way back to Essta to find the right frame."

"Really?"

"Really." The mechanic chuckled. "He cleaned up in here before we touched ground. Ant, he truly misses you. We all do."

"Well, we're back now," Niklas proclaimed, but then his face fell. "I mean, Ant is. I'm not back, 'cause I've never really been here before, but I'm here."

"Which is fine." A deep chuckle made the boy smile. "Welcome aboard, junior crewman."

"Thank you, sir!"

"Easy on the promotions, chief." Ant grinned. "This very temporary recruit will muster out well in time for school."

"Oh, come on!"

"We talked about this."

"And I said you're better than any school I've ever been to."

"I could teach you about maintenance," Tow said. "And we've got enough books on military history to educate a general."

"You're not helping." Ant frowned. "We aren't here to stay."

"But..."

"That's final."

Both the boy and the mechanic seemed a bit dejected as they left the quarters and headed for the bridge. It wasn't as big as the common room, but it still felt impressive to Ant. Facing a large windshield, stood a row of consoles. During his stay with the ship, Ant hadn't really been interested in learning how to drive it, but every now and then he had been known to press buttons just for the fun of it. In hindsight, he felt sure that Calm did her best to keep him from causing any real harm, overriding whatever it was he keyed in. Raeder sat behind the main console, staring at a screen filled with what looked like schematics. He looked up when he heard them enter, and smiled.

"Welcome aboard."

"Temporarily."

"Whatever. Sit down, guys. Tow, did you bring me a drink?"

"You know it, cap." He handed over a glass. "With extra lemon, as always."

"You're the best." Raeder shut off the screen. "Readings are still strange. I wish you would've waited..."

"With what?" Ant asked. "Or is it none of my business."

"You haven't...?" The captain turned to Tow, who didn't meet his eyes. "Okay."

"I... I couldn't..."

"Hello, Ant. Good to see you again. I'm so glad to have you back."

"Just visiting, Calm." Ant smiled at the main screen, a really large one set on the right hand wall. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Niklas give a small wave. "But it's nice to see you, too."

"And young master Ramirez is here as well." The boy giggled at being so formally addressed. "This ship will be so busy."

"Visiting," Ant reiterated, then he turned to Raeder. "And hoping for a little space flight, maybe."

"Sure. Where do you wanna go?"

"I don't know much about the neighbourhood. Is there somewhere with oceans?"

"Oceans?"

"Seas, Niklas. Lots and lots of water."

"I only ever saw the river."

"I know. But you're gonna love a good beach."

"Lareda's not very far from here," Raeder said. "Five hours, maybe. There's a pier taverna that serves an aubergine stew to die for."

"Captain," Tow said in a low voice. "We really should let the repairs 'bot finish."

"There's something wrong with the ship?"

"No, Ant, not with the ship. We've got..." Raeder's voice trailed off. "We've got a kind of a project going in the hold."

"The other ship," Niklas piped up, and Ant's ears perked. What other ship? "The broken one."

"You a towing service now?" Ant grinned. "Far as I can remember the hold was either empty or filled with contraband."

"We're not smugglers!" The captain huffed, then he chuckled. "Not very often. Tow, surely the 'bot can work while we fly?"

"Yes, but I'd prefer it if..."

"The kid wants to see the stars, don't you?" He turned to Niklas, who nodded eagerly. "Calm, pre-flights, please."

"Already on it, captain."

Ant went over to one of the small porthole windows along the left side of the bridge, and stared out over the parking lot. Something didn't sit right with him. Not enough to be called foreboding, but still. Uneasy. But watching Niklas, so happy and excited he was practically vibrating, chased the bad feelings away. They were like night and day, the wary and introverted child he had come to know, compared to the smiling, chattering boy who was now peppering Tow with question after question about space flight. He wanted to encourage that side of Niklas, wanted him to know that life could be good. Should be good.

Would be good.

Taking off was very different from doing so in the Fourtitude. Ant stood behind Niklas at a viewport, and watched as the ship kicked up dust. Then the ground fell away, and Konigsbrucke shrank into a barely-there dot inside a green forest. The boy gasped, eyes wide as the Morning Calm passed through clouds, then rotated up and back, as it exited the atmosphere. After a couple of minutes, there were pinprick stars all around them, interspersed against dark space.

"Wow..." It was little more than an exhale, but Ant could hear the tremor in the boy's voice. "We're really going..."

"We are." Ant patted his good shoulder. "That was the exciting part. Now it gets boring for a while."

"What about... you know, when we go faster than light?"

"It already happened." Ant nodded to the viewport. "Look at the stars."

"They're almost still."

"Almost, but not quite. They're really far away. If we passed by a planet, you wouldn't be able to see it 'til it was gone."

"That makes no sense."

"I know. Come on, let's get back to the main room."

Ant introduced his little friend to table tennis, but the two of them missed more shots than they hit. Still, it was fun, and a part of Ant was glad to play with someone just as bad as him. Before long, though, the pull of the workshop became too strong. They watched as Tow took apart a rifle and cleaned it, while Ant tried to make sense of the different parts. He hoped that he wasn't too much of a pest, poking and prodding and asking about this and that.

After a brief lunch consisting of sandwiches, they all sat on the couches and talked. To Ant, it felt as if no time had passed since last he had flown with the Calm, yet somehow it also seemed as if ages had come and gone. They were all the same, but he was all new. Try as he might, he couldn't wrap his head around the differences.

Tow disappeared after a while, to check on something, but before Ant could ask he found himself dragged to the gym. Knife's grip on his upper arm was not gentle, and her grin looked all but feral. The two of them warmed up, while a worried Niklas was reassured by Raeder. This wouldn't be a fight, just a brief sparring. Nevertheless, it didn't take many seconds before a punch to the nose had Ant seeing stars. While he blinked the cobwebs away, his arm got locked behind his back, and the mat rose up to greet him.

"Get your head into it!" came Knife's near-growled voice. "You think an enemy'd go easy on you 'cause you're dreaming?"

"There's no enemies here." He huffed as she let him up. "What happened to sparring?"

"What happened to everything I tried to teach you?" she countered. "You got soft."

"I'm not a fighter."

"That's for damn sure. When it gets real, you better find your focus. Now, stance!"

* * * * * *

Niklas made big eyes over the Laredan oceans. So did Ant, even though he had seen plenty of beaches by now. But the sight of so much water still awed him. For a second, he remembered his near-fatal night swim on Seaport, but before it showed on his face, he shrugged the memory aside. This place had no moons, and therefore not much in the way of tides. Besides, it was daytime, and the beach had lifeguards.

Borrowing sunoil from the captain, Ant smeared the tip of his nose, the only part of him that was vulnerable to the sun. Niklas objected to the oil, but relented when Ant warned him that they were on a much hotter world. The sand on the beach confused the boy at first, but once he took off his shoes and socks, a grin spread on his lips. He kept his jacket on, though. The two of them walked, hand in hand, at the water's edge, enjoying the occasional wave that washed over their feet and made the sand muddy.

There were double takes, every now and then, but all in all, both the locals and the tourists seemed quite laid-back.

Since their inner clocks were on Akkha time, they had dinner while the sun was still high in the sky. The taverna Raeder had recommended lay about a hundred metres out from shore, on the edge of a pier. There was water all around them, and the sea breeze worked as extra seasoning. Ant tried a dish called moussaka, and apparently his happy face was very funny. Raeder in particular, smiled every time their eyes met. It was odd, in a way, to see the captain in a new light. When they parted, or rather, when Ant jumped ship, he had thought of Raeder as an adult. Now, though, the two of them seemed almost the same age. He knew he had grown out of the feisty kid he had been, but he hadn't seen himself as a grown up before.

Yet they now talked and joked as equals, and he liked it.

Ant spent the remainder of the afternoon sitting on the beach, watching as Raeder helped Niklas build a sand castle. At times, he caught the boy casting longing glances at other kids who were splashing in and out of the water, yelling and laughing and chasing each other. A couple of them had come up and asked him to join their games, but he showed them his cast and shook his head. Ant decided to come back some other time, or maybe go someplace else where the boy could play for real. Where they both could play for real.

Neither of them had been given a carefree and joyous childhood, but things could change. Ant was determined to make a better life for them both.

They decided to stay the night on Lareda, when the sun began to set and Knife still hadn't returned from wherever she had gone off to. Tow, who wasn't a fan of large open spaces, had retreated to his whatever project back on the Calm. Ant had forgotten to ask about it, and right then and there, he didn't really care. It was too nice an evening to waste on work.

A breeze brought cold air in from the sea, and both Niklas and Raeder closed their jackets. Ant, of course, wasn't bothered. The wind tousled his fur and made his ears twitch, but didn't reach his skin.

The three of them strolled along the beach, watching as families packed up to leave, while seagulls hopped around looking for bits of leftover food. Ant held his arm around Niklas, who was leaning into him. It was a mild surprise when Raeder took his other hand, but Ant found that he didn't mind. The touch stirred up memories of another, smaller hand, but it also brought about new feelings. Ones he hadn't really experienced before and had no name for. Mine, some part of him wanted to say. These, are mine.

Back in the Belt, hundreds of wolfs had been crammed into a small town, and any real sense of belonging had been quelled by the knowledge that, at any time, anyone could be taken away to work in another mine. Or, simply die. It had been different with Four. The two of them had been companions, friends as close as friends could be, but Ant had never felt this... possessive. When a teenaged boy gave Raeder a prolonged, appreciative glance, Ant found himself glaring daggers. Almost snarling.

The word family passed through his mind, but whatever this was, went deeper. It was puzzling. Niklas was his friend, and now his son. But Raeder? He didn't love Raeder, not in the way he had loved Four. There was a bond, though, even though their reunion was less than two days old.

In the end he decided not to dwell on it. Instead, he squeezed the captain's hand, and they both grinned when their eyes met.

* * * * * *

That night, Ant slept like a log. The familiar room, the familiar bed, the familiar scent of whatever detergent the Calm crew used for their laundry, all lulled him into a near-dreamless sleep. Only once did he wake, when someone tip-toed past his door. Niklas, he deduced from the lightness of the steps. A minute later he heard a toilet flush, before the footsteps retraced their path. When the guest room door closed, he allowed himself to drift away again.

Morning brought with it the smells of brewing coffee and browning bread. Ant went for a quick shower, followed by a perfunctory brushdown. Once dressed, he entered the main room. Niklas looked up from his seat at the dining table, and grinned. The boy's lips were smeared with orange marmalade, and he had crumbs down the front of his t-shirt. At the kitchen counter, Tow held up a plate stacked with toast.

Ant licked his lips.

* * * * * *

They had just cleared away after their morning meal, when a bleary-eyed Knife walked in. She merely grunted when they greeted her, and filled a mug to the brim with coffee. Where she had been, or what she had been doing, Ant didn't dare ask. Instead, he turned to Tow.

"Where's Raeder? He's usually up early."

"At the crack of dawn, as always." The mechanic chuckled, the deep sound resonating inside Ant. A sound that made him feel safe and calm. "He had some things he wanted to get, from town."

"We staying one more day?"

"Probably not. I need to go scare up some spare parts for the... well, our little project. Figured we'd drop you guys off first."

"Can we go with?" Niklas asked, giving Ant his best pleading look. "Please, papa?"

"Where are you going?"

"No idea. Some place that has a good junk yard, probably."

"Hmm..."

"Please?"

"Electronic junk?" Ant's mind had begun to wander, back to when he had helped working with the Fourtitude's circuit boards. Tow nodded. "I think... I think I'd like that. Maybe we could build some games. simple ones, but still fun."

"So we'll go?" Niklas bounced in his chair. "Say we'll go!"

"How's the arm?"

"Fine."

"And the ribs?"

"Hurt a bit, but I took my pills."

"Well then." Ant shrugged. "Yeah, why not?"

The boy's cheers were interrupted when the door to the mud room opened, and Raeder stepped in. He glanced Ant's way and raised an eyebrow, but Ant just smiled. The captain was carrying a small paper bag, and Ant's nose twitched. Nothing edible, as far as he could tell.

"What's with the celebration?"

"We're going with you to look for a junk yard!" Niklas's voice was almost shrill. "Me an' Ant!"

"Nice." The captain put his bag down on the kitchen table, then turned to Ant. His smile seemed a bit hesitant. "I... I got these made for us."

"What is it?"

"These."

Ant watched as Raeder poured out a number of small boxes onto the table. Five, he counted, and he had a feeling where this was going. For a second, he frowned; he didn't like the feeling of being manipulated. But when Raeder handed one box to Niklas, and the boy's face lit up with a happy grin, Ant couldn't help but relent. He shook his head. When he got his own box, he opened it up. It contained a round metal disc, fit with a safety pin. The front showed stars against a dark backdrop of space. Golden symbols caught the light of the ceiling lamps.

"Kanji?" The captain nodded. "'Morning Calm'?"

"Close. 'Morning Calm crew'. I got one for each of us."

"What a wonderful idea," Calm said from her screen. Her image blurred, and an exact copy of the badge appeared in the top left corner. "How do I look?"

"Perfect."

Niklas fidgeted with his pin, but after a couple of tries he managed to open it, and fastened it on his jacket. He beamed with pride, and Ant couldn't hold back a chuckle. They all donned their badges; Ant on his t-shirt, Raeder on his flight jacket, and Tow on his boilersuit. Knife simply huffed, and tossed her unopened box onto the coffee table.

"C'mon, don't spoil the party," Tow said. "It'll look great on you."

"I don't wear bling," she countered in a surly voice. "Nothing that can get stuck or grabbed."

"Well, it's still yours." Raeder shrugged, then turned to Niklas. "Looks good on you, ensign."

"Thank you, captain."

"Are we ready for take-off, cap?" Tow asked. "I'd really like to get going."

"I think so. Anyone else?"

They all nodded, except for Knife, who was busy re-filling her coffee mug. Calm faded from the screen, and was replaced by a star map. One of the tiny dots lit up.

"Taurus Three. Semi-unofficial settlement, with plenty of under-the-counter traders."

"Electronics?" Ant asked. "More specifically, electronic junk?"

"There is a spaceship graveyard, Ant, where you can salvage anything you want. For a fee."

"So, let's go."

Once more, Niklas stood glued to one of the bridge's viewports, when the ship took off. Ant joined him. It was breathtaking, to watch the ground disappear, and the whole thing was over so quickly it barely triggered Ant's fear of heights.

* * * * * *

"So," Ant asked once they were flying through the void between stars, and there was little change outside the windows, "What's this project of yours? Can I help?"

"I guess it's not so much repairing as it is rebuilding." Ant and Tow were sitting on the couches in the main room. Niklas had stayed behind with Raeder on the bridge, while Knife had retreated to her own room. "The Iron Lion picked up a derelict ship, and I've been waiting to test my new repairs robot."

"Mercs?"

"Pretty much. Or anything that can bring in a buck. Kinda like us, but they're a bit less reluctant to enter restricted zones."

"Oh, I don't know..." Ant mused, smirking. "I remember going right past the occasional 'No Trespassing' sign."

"Only when necessary." The large mechanic chuckled. "And only when it was safe."

"Safe-ish."

"Yeah, well..." They both laughed. "We were pretty deep into a red zone when we found you."

"I never thanked you properly for that, did I? My life is a lot better now, in spite of everything."

"No need, my boy. Did you... did you ever go back?"

"No." Ant shook his head. "I thought about it, but the Belt never really felt like home. Not like... not like the Fourtitude."

"Ant..." A pained expression crept onto Tow's face, and Ant felt his own eyebrows furrowing. "Ant, where exactly did you lose it?"

"I didn't lose it! I told you, Four took off, to try and save the settlers inside the galaxy core. We were at Land's End."

"Do you think that he could have gone all the way through? And come out near the Longship cluster?"

"Longship? Where's that?"

"It's uninhabited. Too dusty from a nearby nebula, but sometimes fortune-seekers end up there."

"Why would Four...? And no, there's no way he could've gone all the way through. If he were still alive, he would have called me. Or at least, answered all my calls." Ant's jaw suddenly dropped, and he felt a chill run through him. "Tow, when you say 'derelict'..."

"I'm so sorry, Ant. I should have told you, but it didn't seem very important. Then, after your story, I... We..."

"Where is he?" Ant stood up, his fists clenching and his voice turning into a deep growl. "Where?"

"He wasn't onboard. Ant, the ship was empty, there was nobody inside."

Ant spat out a curse, then stormed off towards the passageway that led to the cargo hold. A cacophony of thoughts and memories surged through his head, and he snarled when Tow tried to catch his arm.

"Ant, don't! It's... You shouldn't see it."

"I have to know."

"Ant, he's not there." Tow hurried ahead of Ant, and blocked the corridor. "You'll only hurt yourself."

"Move."

"Think about it. When I said derelict, I meant it. The ship is dead."

"Move!"

"What's all the noise?" Knife appeared behind Tow, scowling. "What's up with the pup?"

"I told him about the PTV. He didn't take it well."

"It's a wreck. Anything that was on it is long dead."

"You're not helping. Ant, you really don't want to..."

"Get out of the way!"

With a growl, Ant stepped forward and took a swing at Tow, who backed away just in time. Knife moved in between them and Ant saw her take a fighting stance. He was too enraged to care. When he tried to go past her, she punched him in the gut. Hissing with pain and fury, he turned to her, fists clenched so hard that his claws were digging into his palms. Another jab landed on his nose, and he took a step back, mimicking her stance. The smell of blood filled his mind with red.

"Really, pup?" she grinned. "You wanna do this here and now? Without a mat to land on?"

"I need to see the ship."

"If Tow says you don't, you don't."

Growling, Ant tried a punch, but Knife dodged it with ease. She bounced back, half on her toes as her weight shifted. The move triggered a memory deep inside Ant's muddled head, and he knew what she was about to do. In the old days, this was when he would try to block her kick, and end up in a heap on the floor.

Not this time.

He leaned back, just a little, and when her foot came rushing towards him, he was ready for it. Time seemed to freeze, and he could see realisation dawn in her eyes. He was taller now, and she had misjudged the distance. The impact nearly broke his arm, but he still managed to grab hold of her leg. Using her momentum against her, just the way she had tried to teach him, he turned around and threw her down the corridor. She landed hard, but bounced right back up. This time, every trace of amusement was gone from her face. Almost too fast for him to see, she drew a knife in each hand, the blades as long as her arm.

"Stop it!" Tow yelled, his deep voice laced with despair. "Both of you, please!"

"Ant!"

The sound of Niklas's shrill yell brought Ant halfway out of his rage, but there was still something inside him that wanted to fight. That was his enemy down there, glaring so viciously at him. His enemy, and he needed to... needed to... what? He moved to place himself between her and Niklas, and his growl deepened. That's what he needed to do. He had to protect his kin. Nothing else mattered. Then another voice rang out, and this one further lessened the red haze inside his brain.

"Ant, stop! You too, Knife. Stand down!" Raeder dashed past Ant, and held out one hand toward each of the combatants. "Ant, we need to talk."

Talk? He didn't want to talk, he wanted to fight. To bite! He snarled again, but this new person just looked saddened. That was... that was no enemy. A little more tension left Ant's body, and he drew in a deep breath, to try and dispel his anger. It partly worked.

"Let me see the ship," he growled. "I need to know for sure."

"I'm so sorry," Raeder said, his voice hitching. "I... I should have told you, soon as you finished your story. But there's really nothing to see."

"Still, I have to..."

Before he could finish the sentence, an explosion rocked the floor, and they all had to struggle to keep their balance. The lights flickered, and went out. Almost immediately, deep red emergency lights came on, and while still blinking to adjust his vision, Ant saw Raeder press a comm button on the wall.

"Calm, what's going on?"

"The cargo hold, captain." The computer's voice had a slight edge to it. "My cameras are all down, but I can detect a massive energy surge, coming from the repairs robot."

"The robot? Where is it?"

"Inside the PTV. I don't fully understand. It was supposed to run diagnostics only, but it seems to have patched into the main electricals."

"Shut it off!"

"Negative, captain. It doesn't respond to any commands. Even radio is down."

"How's our ship?" Tow asked. "Are we affected?"

"Yes, chief," Calm answered. "I had to shut off navigation in order to keep us on life support. We are drifting, sub-light."

"Papa, what's happening?"

"I don't know." Ant crouched down, and took the frightened boy into his arms. Niklas's trembling body chased away the remaining anger. "But we'll be okay. The Calm is a sturdy ship."

Tow and Raeder started running towards the cargo hold, but Knife hung back. Her eyes met Ant's, and he nodded. No more fighting. Together, the three of them followed the captain and the chief.

The hold was filled with bitter smoke, and electricity sparked from the ceiling where several light fixtures had been blown out. Ant gestured for Niklas to stay back, then he dashed inside. Even in the dim red glow, even through the smoke, he could make out the familiar cube shape of the Fourtitude. The little ferry was in a sad state. Much of its paint was gone, and many of the outer panels hung ajar, with fresh smoke pouring out of them.

Ant coughed, and his eyes began watering as he made his way over to it. To his right he could see Tow, using a fire extinguisher on a sparking wall panel. He couldn't see Raeder anywhere.

The ramp was down, but before Ant could get to it, he saw the Fourtitude's door open. He froze, unable to move. No, it couldn't... couldn't be...

Just then, the emergency lights flickered off, and the few remaining fixtures lit up with regular white light. There was a figure standing in the doorway, shielding its eyes. A man. Ant rubbed away smoke-tears with his knuckles. Yes, it was a young man, dressed only in white briefs. But he seemed familiar. The way he moved, the way he stood there, blinking in the light.

Then Ant saw a mop of blonde hair, with a tuft of light purple. Ocean blue eyes met his, and a smile he had missed for far too long, stabbed at his chest. The name slipped out before his brain could even think it, as barely a whisper.

"Four..."