Parallel: United Front

Chapter 26: Woof!

Outer Ring, Kudan.

1928 Hours, July 30th 3039.

Dayle, Raines and Arthur entered the derelict ship with relieved smiles. It felt good to finally get back home after walking around town for so long. Dayle, in particular, hummed a happy tune as he gently rocked a nylon bag back and forth.

Arthur's brows furrowed as he watched Dayle. "Dayle, be careful."

Dayle, in reply, chuckled and raised the bag. He winked at Arthur and reassured, "Don't worry, Art, I know what I'm—whoa!" Dayle tripped over a wire and almost crashed to the floor. Luckily, he retained his balance after a few stabilizing hops. Dayle quickly checked the bag's contents. "Whew." He heaved a sigh of relief when he saw that all was still intact.

"You were saying?" Raines, never one to miss an opportunity to hit Dayle, jokingly teased.

Dayle snorted. Luckily, they entered Dee's workshop, which allowed him to change the subject. He raised the bag, and then happily announced, "Food's here! Hope you're hungry."

Dee looked up from her table in shock. "Food? You got something for me?" Dee was stunned. She could not recall the last time someone bought her a meal. She looked at the grinning man with furrowed brows. Was he planning something?

"Jesus, what kind of life did you live?" Dayle grunted when he saw her scowl. He walked over to the common area and set the bag down. He took out a couple of takeaway packs and then placed them on the table. "It's just dinner, relax." Dayle pointed at Arthur and Raines, who had sat down on the sofa. "The team that eats together, kills together, and lives forever."

Dee scrunched her nose. "Is the middle part necessary?" Her mouth said one thing, but her legs moved of their own accord to join them.

Arthur smiled, and then stood up. "Please, sit." He gestured at the chair, allowing Dee to slide in next to Raines. Arthur then sat down and handed a pair of chopsticks and a fork to Dee. "Which do you prefer?"

Dee chuckled and then took the chopstick. "My father taught me how to use these. It's always fun to shove that knowledge in people's faces."

"Hehe, a woman after my own heart." Raines nudged Dee, laughing as she took a pair of chopsticks herself. She then looked at Dayle, "Do the honors?"

Dayle raised his fork. "Thanks for the meal. May we all be here for the next one."

Arthur and Raines smiled and said, "Amen."

Dee looked at the trio with interest in her eyes. "I didn't take you for the religious type."

"I'm not." "Kinda." "I am."

Dayle, Raines and Arthur simultaneously replied.

Dayle chuckled and pointed his fork at the food. "Don't get me wrong. I'd like to believe we all have a purpose, but I can't believe in something I haven't seen myself. I'll just do my best not to be an asshole while I live. Anything after that... Well, it was never in my control to begin with. Why care?"

"Mmhm. I too can't believe what I haven't seen," concurred Raines. But then she sighed and said, "But, I've also seen some things which I can only describe as 'miracles.' Well, that and, I guess it feels good knowing assholes suffer after they die, you know. And, who knows, maybe if you're good enough, the big guy might throw a bone your way every now and then."

Dee looked at Arthur, who remained silent, "Art?"

Arthur chuckled. "Honestly, I do believe there's something or someone out there watching over everything. I am not certain if it's the Abrahamic, Judaist, Buddhists, Egyptians or whatever who got it right, but I cannot wrap my head around all of humanity being an 'accident'. Something about that just does not sit right with me." The young man looked at Raines and laughed, "And like Raines said, I too take delight in the belief that evil people get punished after death. Otherwise, what is the point of suffering under the reasoning of a good life?"