No man can run from his destiny...

[captain0tyras]

I have these dreams on my long hauls. When I'm chasing rumors of Aliens or running down a bargain on those Narvidian artifacts that gain me so much love when I drop them off to the factions. I've had these dreams as far back as I can remember, since the day my pops told me he was giving me Bonnie Blue.

That night, I had a horrible nightmare. Maybe it was from the spice and vudka me and Pops shared over his retirement. Maybe it was me in another age, another life. I was in the Blue. And I was running for my life. Every syndicate had a price on my head. And in the way of dreams, I knew it was for nothing more than the politics of me buying and selling some wares where they didn't want me to.

Every turn I found a patrol or bounty hunter hot on my trails. Every turn I took a potshot I couldn't afford to repair before I slipped away. Half my crew was dead. The other half wanted off on the next rock we came to. A few wanted me dead. I had nothing but a First Mate, an old friend of pops by the name of Osmund.

He was a good man, but past his prime. Flying with my dad for so many years, I'm sure he saw some things... But my dad never did no wrong... Never had him running for his life. Months we ran. Headed home to Javat. One little blip of no man's land to go and we were home free.

And there she was. Black as midnight where she didn't glow pink and ominous. I knew she saw me as she lunged straight for me. I tried to turn, but couldn't. I tried to fire the guns but the bullets warped around the damned thing, as big as she was. I heard screams as soon as she came beside me. I ran towards them. And I saw Osmund go down with a hole in his chest bigger than my arm. I saw lights. I saw THEM, and then I felt pain like I never knew before. And the world went white, and I faded into darkness.

I awoke screaming back in my bed. I never knew no fear like it. I wanted to stay dirtside forever after that, but no man can run from his destiny, as pops always said.

Shaken. Scared. Aware of dangers that seemed only in my head, I took the datapad from pops anyways, and took Bonnie Blue out for the first time as I headed for Javat prime.

No man can run from his destiny.

[captain0tyras]

I crept into port without a hitch, shivering at how relieved I was. I went to the palace, a place of wonder I had never seen in my waking life. In my dreams I knew I'd seen marvels that made it pale by comparison. I waited ages to see the prince, and handed the data pad off to a stuffy little secretary. I got some creds and a thank you and then shoved out the door.

So much for the introduction my father wanted to give me. I left the palace with a trade permit in hand, and wondered what I would do next. My father always talked about the cheap spice to be found on Prime, so I went to the exchange and bought as much as I could.

Preparing for another voyage in the abyss, we set out for a nearby Thulun planet. Still nothing. I was relieved, but the anticipation of my dreams had my heart racing until we came to port. And then we came to the exchange. I couldn't believe it. The spice I had brought such a short distance sold here for more than twice what I paid for it. I wanted to make the trip over and over, quickly doing sums in my head and seeing how rich I could get in a year. More than I'd seen, more than my village had seen, in my life.

But the dreams, the dreams... House Thulun had never been in them. Had never staked a price on my head. But I didn't want neutral parties to trade with. I wanted ALLIES. So I went to the palace, much the same as the one back on Javat. And I took a couple of jobs. They wanted me to carry some packages and this mysterious woman to a couple of different places. And I did it. Turned out the witch was a
Steel song operative.

But Thulun welcomed me back and offered me a trade permit and a death warrant. I didn't NEED a warrant. I didn't plan on hunting anybody, but I'd heard it would keep other hunters off my back. And there when I got back was this pinched nose little woman tugging 4 packs of luggage and carrying half a dozen data pads. Turns out she was a politcal officer. Knew the ins and outs of the exchange and kept tabs on who was mad at who.

My dream flashed back before my eyes, and I asked her to join my crew immediately. She came cheap, seeing as she had no other real options. And back to Javat I flew. She paid her dues as soon as we landed, telling me within an hour that Javat and Steel Song were in a trading alliance. It sounded good, and when she explained what it was, it sounded great. I immediately started buying all the weapons I could find off the streets, and sold them on the exchange. I lost a little money, but the spice runs made me more than enough to cover it.

The years passed. I ran out to a nearby planet controlled by the Steel Song Clan after a scare with a pirate. They already loved me, and another trade permit and warrant came quickly. Along with a low level rank to match the ones from the other great houses.

But it wasn't enough. My dreams started again. Every night they came. The bounty hunters, the battlecruisers, the giant black abyss...

I set sail for the Syndicate space lanes the next day. I expected the crew to grumble about giving up the good profits and safe spaces. But everyone was excited. Somehow I knew I was already older and wiser than I'd ever been in my dreams. Osmund was still my second, Rebecca was still keeping tabs on who hated who and where my best bet was for a quick buck.

And I lucked out again. I was a pretty good pilot in my own right. Every chance I got I took the Blue out and practiced. I could fly her in circles around big bulky Merchants and Battlecruisers, and I could sneak up on patrols and pass them without every hailing them, friend or foe. I always let Becca do the deals, never bothering to ever barter prices down a bit beyond what she got. I never set foot in the wilds unless it was to create a quick cache when there was a sale on something I knew I could sell for twice over a month down the road.

But then I met Owen. He looked odd in a full space suit, even in the safety of the little Indy "Palace" I found him in. Never got the full story, but I've still never seen his face. I'm not certain he takes his mask off when he bunks down. But damn can he fly. He took Bonnie Blue and made her do loops around any loops I could do. He never flinched as he twirled her through asteroid fields and UNDER an Indy pirate ship that decided to give us chase.

And I knew it then. I knew my dreams were just that. Dreams. But no man can run from his destiny, as my pops always said.

No man can run from his destiny.

[fallen]

+1 great writing! I love the theme running through.

[contributor]

@capn0tyras nice post. I'm enjoying seeing more and more ST fan fiction lately. Does this come from the experiences of a particular captain you actually played or is it an aggregate of ST experiences? I'll be waiting for the next post, I'm smelling an encounter with Narvidians coming sooner or later.

Welcome to the forum as well.

[captain0tyras]

This is my current insane captain. And the dreams were my last insane captain.

There was another post, but my smartphone is not so smart and I lost it all. Will repost later.

[contributor]

Interesting, for a long time I've been thinking of Star Traders as a game that features reincarnation rather than perma-death. Each new captain is born with the wisdom, experience, unlocks and now nightmares of previous captains.

[BlastGT1]

Awesome fan-fiction! I am loving the stories, and the dreams from the past captain is a great touch. One of these days I'll have to write one of my own, although mine are more likely to be unrelated episodes rather than a series following one character. I'm just waiting for inspiration to hit me.

Keep up the great work!

_______________________________

"Issue the standard Cadar greeting, Ensign."
"But sir, that's one of our allies!"
"I know that, Ensign. We're confirming that the treaty is still in effect!"

[Cory Trese]

Very nice!