(Vecto: Voyage is the sequel to Vecto: Vengeance. You can buy Voyage at http://amzn.to/1SErRma. Tell others about who Vecto is and use the hashtag #WhoisVecto).
A dark, militaristic planet--home to Gyro's widow. A technologically advanced carbon ice...
(Previously: Vecto meets Erich's new friends: Trip, a kid with OCD, and Cutlass, a man who talks like a pirate.)
Minutes later, three plates popped up from the center of the table--food for all but Vecto.
"If you're worried about credits, I can help," Erich offered when he noticed Vecto didn't order any food.
"I am fine," Vecto said. "I am not hungry."
Cutlass chewed his turkey with his mouth wide open and drank a glass of water. "Arr, stop ye kiddin'!" he said, "Take a bite!" He offered some of his bitten food.
"No thank you," Vecto replied.
"Now hold on thar," Cutlass said. "Yar not some scurvy-dog veggie lad, are ye?"
"You mean vegetarian?" Vecto couldn't help but correct him. "No."
"Then come on, lad! Eat up!" Cutlass demanded and threw his turkey on Vecto's plate.
Who had he heard that from? From Leroy Johnson, that's who. Out of respect, Vecto picked up the turkey. Instead of sucking the carbon from it, Vecto formed an esophagus with his shield and put the turkey in his mouth. But he forgot to chew and watched as the others stared at him in surprised silence for a second. Then Cutlass laughed heartily.
"Now that's the spirit!" Cutlass yelled as Trip looked disgusted.
"I-I can't believe you just ate after that-that ... ribald slo-slo-slob," Trip said, looking away and sanitizing his hands.
Vecto thought that he should have at least tried to chew, but it didn't seem as if they paid attention to that part. "Excuse me," he politely said and abruptly stood and left.
"He didn't mean it," Erich assured, wondering where he was going.
"Arr, it probably didn't settle well, and he went to the head," Cutlass said, meaning the "toilet," and took another gulp from his glass.
Sure enough, Vecto went to the restroom to dislodge the food from the pocket of his shield. He couldn't afford making any more mistakes. It was pertinent that he kept his identity secret. As fascinating as it was to meet Erich, he realized he must avoid human contact in order to remain anonymous. It was time for him to communicate with A.I. Sarah and find the coordinates of Zendora.
But like every other time he was about to do something, more danger arrived. The ship shook ... more violently than a simple exit from a graviton flux. Vecto looked around the stall, comprising of a frictionless funnel toilet and a force-field-enclosed stall. He knew the ship wasn't leaving the gravity well so soon. And it was unusual for a ship this large and advanced to jolt so heavily.
It was followed by Sarah's voice. "This is an emergency," she said. "Please return to your lodgings in a safe and orderly fashion. We assure you that we have the situation under control. Please return to your lodgings for safety. I repeat, This is an emergency."
A male's voice cursed in the stall next to Vecto. "Geez, can't a man go to the bathroom in peace?" The man walked out of the restroom, neglecting to sanitize his hands.
Vecto was calm as he did a MZI scan to form a Lapton map of most of the ship. It didn't take too long to see what the emergency was. The hull was breached, and enemy combatants were rushing inside.
Perhaps a little enemy hunting exercise would do him some good. He couldn't help but think they came searching for him. If only they knew who they were dealing with.
(Who are the combatants, and why are they boarding the ship? Find out more in the next installment of Vecto: Voyage!)
Below is Vecto's disguise.
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