Nimbus 2056 Part 10 Take 1

“Hey come on, pay your final respects to your co worker.” Gelben said nudging Stuckey’s shoulder.

“She’s gone who is next?” Stuckey his eyes glazed over.

“Why even bother. we are all wolf food, or something else’s dinner. No rescue for us.” Stuckey added.

“You, really aren’t taking this well aren’t you? Come on, if we don’t do it like you said her body becomes wolf food.” Gelben.

“Good.” Stuckey answered.

“Jesus, depressed much are we? Get the fuck up!” Gelben grabbed Stuckey and dislodged him from the chair.

Fableton had amassed a pile of tinder outside.

“Hey good work Fableton, that should do it.” Gelben.

Gelben and Fableton picked up Noah and set her on the pile of branches, leaves and dead grass. The click of the lighter emitted a tiny flame. A rush of wind, and the flame was out.

“GOD DAMN IT!” Fableton and Gelben both cursed in synchronized anguish.

Stuckey was propped up against the hull of the ship, not caring, not feeling, not doing anything, while the other two men huddled together to shield the flame. The fire was slow at first, then as it got warmer it stretched out it’s fingers till finally a reasonable pyro show appeared.

“You knew her the best. Do you have any words about her?” Fableton asked.

“Captain Alyssa Gabriela Noah, age 31, born February 27th, 2025. She died before history could be written. She grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where she graduated top of her class with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. She always looked up towards the stars, wondering how she could be up there with them. So she got her wings and scratched the surface of our sky. She took her coffee black with splashes of coconut oil and butter, unless it was fall. She was to fly this final flight before she got her dream of flying a space shuttle back and forth from Mars. Her Dad raised her on the classics of Post Malone, she always hummed something when she was nervous. She is survived by her bitch of an ex wife, who always hated to see her leave.” Stuckey choked through every word he said.

“Whoa, sounds like she left quite an impression on you.” Fableton.

“Best officer I ever served under.” Stuckey said wiping a tear from his eyes.

The three of them watched as the flame shot embers above to the night sky dotted with billions of stars. Then it happened.

GRUMBLE…HHHHRRRRRNNNNNNGGG.

“Are you fucking serious?! Have some respect.” Fableton chided Gelben.

“Okay, fuck you! I did the most work here, and I haven’t eaten anything in a while!” Gelben retorted.

The smokey aroma filled all of their nostrils and Gelben’s stomach wasn’t the only to realize it didn’t have sustenance.

“It’s been days since we’ve had anything actually cooked. A man can’t live on emergency rations and scraps.” Gelben said.

“What about that Caviar?” Fableton.

“It was pasteurized! YUCK! No thank you!” Gelben.

“You aren’t thinking of doing what I think you are, right?” Fableton.

“No of course not! I am just hungry is all.” Gelben.

Stuckey threw each of them a ration from the ship’s emergency supplies.

“Eat up gentlemen, who knows what the fuck tomorrow is going to bring.” Stuckey.

With the funeral underway, the men forgot about the other surviving member of Nimbus. She continued her convert pursuit and now was miles away from the crashed ship. The surrounding forest was starting to come alive as the nocturnal animals awakened from their slumber.

“How the fuck can this guy see?” Anastasia whimpered as she stubbed her toe against a fallen log.

Nuck Nuck heard the thud and stopped in his tracks. He spun around to look at the shadows behind him. His years of hunting kept his senses sharp, but his heart was heavy with grief.

Anastasia froze and dropped to the ground, she crawled under fern and waited.

Thud Thud Thomp Thud.

Nuck Nuck’s footsteps were heavy and coming closer. She quieted her breathing the best she could. Then she felt something slide with the pricks of a thousand legs across her thigh.

She let out a panicked yelp and jumped from the bush.

Nuck Nuck was there to catch her. He grabbed her fore arm and started leading her towards the direction he previously was headed.

“NO FUCK YOU! LET GO!” She screamed.

Nuck Nuck did not listen, he just continued walking her in tow.

“LET ME GO!” She yelled and started to drive her nails into his hand.

NUCK NUCK grimaced slightly and then he released.

“THANK YOU!” Anastasia.

“Yananahupe” Nuck Nuck said and then grabbed her by the hair and started walking.

She screamed and kicked. Her motions were useless against the brute of a man.