The Bronze Seagull - Ch. 9

"Why can't Steve tell me what's going on?  And why is he being so protective?  It must be something important.  I guess I have no choice but to assume he knows what he's doing."

----

After his meeting with Interface, Steve stopped by Dr. Lindsey's surgery to drop off the ice pack, then made his way to the observation deck to rendezvous with Dolly.  The whole time, he didn't once let Interface out of his sight.  He knew his friend wasn't in any actual danger just yet, but couldn't help but worry about his well-being all the same.

As the werewolf and fennec fox stepped through the door, they easily caught sight of the jackrabbit herself, peering up at one of the engines and writing something on a clipboard.

"Hmm... Engine 2 has lost a bit o' power, prolly due to the piston damage.  But I can compensate for that with a few hours o' overclockin', and we won't even slip behind schedule."

Interface's keen fennec ears perked up as he overheard this bit of monologue.  He unconsciously opened his notebook and took a few notes.  Steve blinked.

"What is it, mate?"

"She's going to overclock the engine in response to some piston damage," Interface said without looking up.  "Overclocking the engine might have other effects, such as making things hotter in the engine room.  It's an interesting chain of cause and effect; I might use it in a story someday."

Steve shook his head in disbelief.  "Interface, you'd make a good private eye."

"I doubt it, but thanks anyways."

Finally noticing the two, Dolly turned to face them.

"Oh, hey, doggie!  How'd the hunt go?  And who's that y'all got with you?"

"Please stop calling me 'doggie'," Steve moaned.  "My name is Steve.  And this is Interface, a good friend of mine."

"In whose face?"

"Interface."

"It's a nickname," Interface chimed in.  "I'm, ah, a little shy about giving out my real name to people."

Steve stepped to the side a little, allowing Dolly and Interface to talk directly.

"I ain't seen you around much, Interface," the jackrabbit commented.

"I'm a huge recluse.  Barely talk to anyone, hardly ever leave my cabin."

"Well, that's a cryin' shame.  Y'all need to get out and see the world a bit more."

"You sound like my mother... only my mother doesn't have a Southern accent."

Dolly gave Interface a funny look, and Steve decided to step in and change the subject.

"To answer your earlier question-- I still don't know who was in the engine room, but whoever it was was also in my cabin.  They made a mess of the place."

"So THAT was what that noise was," Interface muttered.

A quick exchange of facts revealed that the fennec's sensitive ears had picked up the commotion in Steve's cabin about an hour and fifteen minutes ago-- around when Steve had woken up in the detention cell.  Putting that thought aside for the moment, Steve continued his report.

"...I can't discuss the details, but I think our mystery intruder wants something from me-- and is planning to do something to Interface as an extortion tactic."

Dolly rubbed her chin.  "Huh.  Wonder who it could be.  Ah mean, I didn't even know y'all knew each other until jus' now."

Interface spoke up again.  "That's a good point, actually.  I haven't told anyone here that Steve and I are friends."

"Me neither," Steve added.

So how the hell did this stowaway know?  Who am I dealing with?  None of this makes sense...

Letting out a breath, Steve turned his attention to the view from the observation deck.  The sun was setting on the other side of the ship, so he had an excellent view of the full moon just above the horizon.

It was just like any other full moon, and he knew it was.  But for some reason, it inspired something new in him, something he'd never felt before.

The moon seemed special.  It seemed almost like a goddess he had an obligation to pay tribute to.  And he knew exactly how to do it.

"Steve?" "22?"

Ignoring Dolly and Interface, Steve took a deep breath before letting it out in the form of a pure, piercing werewolf howl.

"Awooooooooo... harooooooooo..."

It only lasted for about half a minute, but to Steve it passed in slow motion.  He felt as though he and the moon were the only objects in existence.  The moon seemed to comfort him, reassuring him that no matter what happened, he would prevail and solve all his problems.

His howl coming to an end, Steve turned around, his mind in a state of calm comparable to a Zen master's.

That calmness quickly faded as he realized that Interface had just disappeared.