Free Voyage of the Sanguine Shadow 1: Shadow Galactic by Erik P. Harlow

corner cabinet.  Folded neatly and
placed upon his bed, he discovered a black utility vest and black cargo pants
with a red stripe along both of the outside legs.  He recalled Zerki’s attire.  I guess this is a uniform? he thought, and he shed his orange jacket. 
Lifting the vest, he put it on over his heavy shirt and took up the pants.  These
are way too small , and he set them back down.
    Gavin crossed the main room to the secondary
chamber with the plush deck chair and bathroom door.  For a moment, he gazed
out upon the stars, and he smiled.  He decided to try out the shower.
    Soon after he had dressed himself, his door
chimed, and he called out, “Come in!”
    A moment later, Valerie stepped through.  “Hey,
Gavin.  Captain wants me to get a call going with your mom and dad.  Is now a
good time?”
    Gavin nodded.  “Probably.”
    She crossed to his data station and sat down
before it.  After calling up the starship’s outgoing communications program,
Gavin recited his parents’ number, and she entered it into the call field.  It
rang several times before going to voicemail.  Clearing his throat, Gavin said,
“Hey Mom, hey Dad.  Hi, Amanda, if you’re listening to this.”  Sniffing, he
calmed himself before continuing.  “So, uh, something came up, and I have to
take some time off school for a while.  It’s pretty serious, and I’m not sure
when I’ll be able to talk to you again, so… I love you.  I love you all, and
I’m sorry for all this.  You should probably find a way to lay low for a while
if you can, like that time when Takeo was in trouble.”  He laughed dryly. 
“This isn’t because of him, by the way, but it’s that same kind of trouble. 
Anyway, I hope this message gets to you OK, and again—”
    The message center emitted a loud beep.
    “I love you.”  The connection went dead.  He
turned to Valerie.  “Do you think they got that last part?”
    She shrugged.  “They got the rest of it, for
sure.”
    He sighed heavily as she got to her feet. 
“Thanks.”
    “No problem.”  She nodded and turned to the door. 
“Dinner’s in a few hours.  Don’t be late, or you’ll get stuck with steamed
spinach and brown rice.”
    Gavin chuckled quietly.  “Thanks for the
heads-up.”
    “See you.”  The door slid closed behind her.
    Hours later, the starship’s cook sounded the
dinner bell, calling the crew to the mess hall.  Gavin rejoined Taryn and
Takeo, and they each received a plate of mixed vegetables and beef mash
drenched in gravy, a set of metal dining utensils, and a cup of water.  Turning
nearly as one to face the noisy room, they looked on with some dismay at how
quickly all the tables had filled.  Zerki, Valerie, Krane, Collins and D’Arro
had gathered around one table, leaving a few spaces unoccupied.  Taryn nodded
toward them just as Cajun stood slightly and waved for Gavin’s attention.
    “We got space for you,” he declared, and scooted
closer to his fellow salvagers.
    Relieved, Gavin smiled and glanced to his
friends.  “This guy’s alright,” he assured them and gestured to Cajun’s table. 
It took a moment for Taryn to realize she had been gazing at D’Arro.  She shook
it off and hurried to her friends.
    “You know this guy?” asked Cajun, as Taryn and
Takeo sat down on either side of Gavin.
    “For about 13 years,” answered Takeo, and he
offered his hand.  “I’m Takeo, and this is Taryn.”
    After everyone had shared introductions, Taryn
said, “I haven’t known Gavin quite that long, but I do know him… biblically?”
    Cajun’s salvagers erupted into laugher, and Cajun
nearly shot his coffee through his nose.  “Whoa, Gavin!  Man, you must be
packing a serious nine-iron!”
    His ears bright red, Gavin said, “No… come on.” 
He cast a flustered glance Taryn’s way.  Much to his surprise, she suddenly
straddled him, kissing him deeply as the others hooted and cheered.  “That’s
not fair,” he gasped