Nimbus 2056 Part 9 Take 1

He fell to his knees, and wept.

Anastasia watched from a distance as Nuck Nuck huddled close to Naia’s body. His tears ran down and splashed into her jet black hair.

He removed his saber tooth tiger pelt and wrapped Naia up. Anastasia’s eyes were transfixed on Nuck Nuck. She never saw such raw emotion towards the loss of a lover before. Seeing a man crumble because of a tragedy reminded her what love can do to a person.

She flashed black to the years of ghosting and being ghosted. Even her own ex husband abandoned her without saying so much as a harsh word.

“Frank, what the hell are you talking about?” Anastasia.

“I can’t do this to you anymore. I am done.” Frank.

“What do you mean you can’t do this anymore?! You are just going to throw a three year marriage away?” Anastasia.

“I never was in it from the beginning.” Frank.

“Whoa, what the fuck does that mean?” Anastasia.

“Don’t you remember our wedding night?” Frank.

“Yes, you got too drunk, and couldn’t even touch me.” Anastasia.

“That wasn’t why. I slept with someone, hours before I said ‘I do’” Frank.

“OH Jesus Christ! It was Mayra wasn’t it?! I felt something was going on, I just had this gut feeling about it. I was too naive. I wanted to believe that you could be a decent man, but NO! You just stuck your dick in anything that gave you a smile and wink!” Anastasia.

“What’s done is done. I am leaving. I’ll have the lawyer send the paper work over.” Frank.

Frank walked out of her life and was never to be seen by her again.

A low bellow of Nuck Nuck’s agony snapped Anastasia away from her memories. Nuck Nuck was on the move and carrying his departed over his shoulder. Anastasia continued the chase. She kept a safe distance, always within eyesight, but outside of earshot.

By the time Gelben arrived to the scene of death, neither Nuck Nuck nor Anastasia were there.

“OH jeez, I really need to take it easier on the cigars.” Gelben huffed and puffed.

“Where did she go? We were supposed to stay together!”

He looked down at the blood splattered ground, and jolted back. “Ok, she is proud independent woman. She makes her own choices. I am going back!”

Gelben turned around and meandered at a leisurely pace to the nimbus. On his return route, he saw Fableton kneeling next to something.

“What are you doing? Those wolves could comeback anytime!” Gelben said not following his own advice.

“It’s Noah. We can’t just leave her here!” Fableton.

“Like hell we can’t! I am not a mortician. People get paid to deal with dead bodies. Someone pays them, I don’t know who, but someone pays them.” Gelben.

“Are you freaking serious! There is no one else! It is just us! Gelben you prick give me a hand!” Fableton.

“AH fuck, okay fine.”

The two of them handled Noah, with the most care they could muster. The sun was just starting to descend into the horizon when they finally arrived to the wrecked hull of the nimbus.

“Ok, now what?” Gelben said wiping sweat from his brow.

“I’ve never buried a body before.” Fableton said.

“Wait we just carried her body all the way here, and now you want to dig a hole! You are something else!” Gelben.

“It’s that or a viking funeral.” Fableton.

Neither of the men, wanted to dig a hole. Neither man had dealt with death in this proximity before.

“Ok, you go grab some tinder. I’ll see if the ship has something to start a fire with.” Fableton.

“Nah fuck that! You go back out to the woods to get wood, and I will get a lighter!” Gelben was pissed he had to walk so much.

“You really are a son of a bitch!” Fableton reluctantly agreed. He didn’t stray far, getting the closest kindling he could find.

Gelben walked back into the ship. He rummaged through different shelves and drawers finding nothing. The blue twilight from the bridge shined through the shadows. It was Stuckey, sitting at the command chair.

“Oh he didn’t kill you?!” Gelben said.

“I am starting to think nothing will.” Stuckey replied.

“Do you know where I can find a lighter?” Gelben inquired.

“I don’t smoke.” Stuckey answered.

In that moment, Gelben realized he had a lighter all along. It was tucked into his breast pocket.

“We really are alone.” Stuckey said staring blankly at the screen.

“What do you mean?” Gelben.

“There is nothing. Nothing on radar. No satellites. No radio broadcasts. Just silence.”

“But how!” Gelben.

“It must have been that electrical storm we hit. That’s the only thing I can think of. Or we landed on an undiscovered place.” Stuckey.

“So I am to believe a bolt of lightning shocked us back in time?” Gelben.

Stuckey placed his head in his hands.

“Yes”