Shadow Cipher

17. Jake

"Jake,

I'm sorry that I'm doing it this way. Kevin threatened Cygnus's life if I didn't come to him and I can't let him hurt my brother. I want you to know that my time with you started out as the most frustrating experience of my life, but turned into the most wonderful. I fell in love with you. You can be sweet, charming, adventurous, exciting, and extremely sexy. I could go on, but I wouldn't want you to get a big head. Just know that if I could, I would spend the rest of my days with you traveling the galaxy. I'm sorry I'm making it so you don't get the payday you were hoping for, but I hope you eventually understand.

If I could make one request of you, it is that you find Cygnus, check on him. If you have the time and energy to do so, please watch after him. He won't take losing me well.

Tell Franklyn I'm sorry I won't get to finish our game of chess.

I love you,

Your Wife,

Nova."

I'm back on my ship, staring at the note I found in my pocket. When did she write this?

"Where is Nova? Did that scamp get away again?" Franklyn asks

My heart hurts... "No Franklyn.... er... I suppose she did."

"Then let's go get her! We must find her, Jake!" he proclaims, as determined as ever. Even though he puts up a front of being as annoyed with her as I used to be, I know he got attached. He has been trying to get me to change my mind about taking her to Bolton longer than I've been thinking about it.

I sigh, "We can't. She chose to leave to save her brother. She says she is sorry that she didn't get to finish your game of chess though."

Franklyn comes up to me and points at my left hand. "What is that?"

"That's a wedding ring, buddy. Nova and I got married... right before she left me." He makes sad robot noises and leaves the command room. I start pacing, trying to figure out my next move. My heart says follow Kevin. I have the tracker in Nova's ring, I can follow where they're at. I know she's still alive, but she asked me to go to Cygnus. I suppose I should do the one thing she asked of me.

I set the navigation back to Valnak, where this journey began. I put in to push the engines as much as possible without killing the ship. It should only take a week. Good. I don't think I can stand being alone on this ship for much longer than that. Hopefully this week gives me time to figure out what to say to Cygnus.