Chapter 2

Zennith and Markus enter a dimly lit port, the cantina on the far end is warbling out a soft melody. The walls, tinged green with the light, are covered in dust and soot from the many ship engines that pass through the port.

“ you think we have time for a quick stop off at the cantina kid?” Zennith said.

Markus nods in reply.

“ good, your not nervous are you? Or have you never been in the capital spaceport?”

“no sir, its just, ive never been one for spaceflight. I prefer to be smashed if I get on a ship, that way I sleep.” Markus replied. “ plus, with you being the reason I was sent here in the first place,i never thought I would be getting back to my post so soon. I kinda was hoping for an extended leave, if you will”

“ heh, I understand that one mark.” Zennith places a paw on the fox's shoulder. “ what say we go and grab a few drinks before our flight. I dont mind making dolohov wait. Do you?”

Markus smirks and replies “ No Sir.”

The two enter the cantina, just as the stereo finishes a rendition of 'come sail away' by styx. The walls in here are covered in a burgundy paint with a cheap disco light show over in one corner, casting a rainbow out over the main floor. The tables are mostly empty, and the bar is occupied by three one person aside from the bartender.

Zennith walks up to the man at the bar, whom he recognized almost instantly, and taps him on the shoulder before ducking to his other side.

The stranger turns around and spots markus, not noticing that there is a wolf sitting on his left at the bar.

“ well hello markus, I thought you were bringing Zero with you?” he says.

Markus smiles and points to zennith sitting at the bar “ I did sir”

The man turns to look at Zennith.

“ well hello there Ezekial” Zennith said. “ I hear they call you commander Dolohov now correct?”

Dolohov smiles and slaps zennith on the back “ You havent changed a bit since we got out of spec ops have ya?” Dolohov chuckles and motions the bartender to bring another round.

“ well, I had to keep my sanity somehow when I was in spec ops with you and casandra.” Zennith replied.

Markus, meanwhile, takes a seat on dolohov's other side, listening to the two catch up.

The bar had begun to fill up with the din of returning travelers and freighter pilots before the three noticed that they had spent the last four hours drinking and talking.

“ Well, I think we've kept the general waiting long enough eh?” Dolohov says, glancing at his wrist to determine the time.

Zennith lays some money on the counter for the bartender before getting out of his chair.

“ I guess we have a four day flight to be able to finish our talk. Though I am sure that you two will be sleeping” He jokingly punches Markus in the arm as he says this.

Markus chuckles a little, mostly from nerves, as he too gets up and shoulders his flight bag. He gives Zennith a semi-serious look before smiling back.

“ I think it best we get a move on, dont you?” Dolohov said, placing an arm around both their shoulders. He begins to wobble forward a little before the other two realize they need to help their drunken commander to the ship.

Dolohov,not being a small guy, at 6' 5” and 220lb, was rather burly for feline. His dead wieght made it hard for the two canines to carry him onboard the ship.

“Sir?” Markus said, looking at Zennith from under Dolohov's arm. “ Is he usually like this when you two meet up?”

“ To be honest kid, I never thought of Zeek as much of a drinker. This is the first time I've ever seen him stumbling drunk. Though we did party when we were in spec ops, he was always the clean cut guy who never drank to get smashed” Zennith replied.

Markus lowered his ears a bit and looks at the floor “ Well, it wasnt until after he picked me from basic that he really started drinking to get smashed. He keeps telling me that he drinks to forget the night he made the worst mistake of his life. When I asked him what that was he would always tell me to mind my own business.”

Zennith looks at markus curiously, remembering, vaguely, the same night that markus was talking about. He loses himself in thought before he realizes that they are securely onboard the strike ship. He looks around and blinks.

“ Wha?...wow were already preped for takeoff then?” he asks markus, who is seated next to him.

Markus nods and says nothing, his eyes focused straight ahead.

“Where is dolohov?” Asks Zennith

“ We put him in the sick bay so he can sober up. The auto pilot will navigate us once we take off. At least then I can sleep.” Markus replies, a hint of apprehension in his voice.

Zennith reaches over and places a reassuring paw on the fox's shoulder, giving him a light squeeze “ you werent kidding when you said you didnt much care for space flight. You sure you can do this? Or would you rather I take the controls?”

Markus shakes his head a bit. “ No Sir, it is my duty to take you back and besides, the only way I can overcome it is to keep doing it until I feel comfortable with it.” He smiles a little to himself as he begins his final checks for take off.

The cabin is silent as the muffled whir of the plasma engines starting up is heard. The display flashes an all clear as the flight paths are recorded and approved. Markus flips two switches and the distinctive whine of the FTL drive is heard as it mixes with the sound of the engines. The whole ship shudders for a moment as it lifts gently from the surface of the planet.

Markus pushes the throttles forward and angles the nose up toward the sky. He gives a glance over at the wolf sitting on his left. “You ready sir?”

Zennith nods, his eyes closed. “ go for it kid.”

Markus presses the gravitational brake release and the ship blasts into the heavens, the plasma engines pushing it to the outer atmosphere.