Disclaimer: Perchance to Dream was originally written in screenplay format and, in my rush to get the story out to my fellow Lexxians, I did little to adapt it into novella form. Due to that haste, the story was one-dimensional and convoluted and, well, bad. It is that which motivates me to rewrite it. (Also, my dear friend Jerboa is such an amazing writer that I feel I should make every effort to write my best. I expect to pale by comparison, but I should at least *attempt* to not be eclipsed. J ) If you have read this before, keep reading, it has changed enough that you should still be entertained and you might notice some aspects you missed before because I didn�t write them properly.
Xev stood before Kai�s cryopod, hugging a canister of proto-blood to her chest. She followed the
slick substance as it drained from the container, flowing through the tube to Kai�s chest, pooling
somewhere inside his assassin�s mechanics. Earlier that day he had almost run out. He had
stopped talking mid-sentence and collapsed on the bridge. Xev�s arms still tingled at the memory.
She had seen Kai fall dead � dead dead � before and it still slapped her emotions every time she
accidentally recalled it.
She looked down to her cherished possession and noticed with a pang that it was nearly empty. Desperation shot through her veins and her eyes flashed up to Kai. �This one is almost empty,� she said.
�We have more,� Kai replied, his calm voice making her desperation seem all the more foolish. She looked down, slightly embarrassed, but glancing to Kai revealed that his comment had been completely devoid of censure. Of course.
She hugged the proto-blood tighter to her chest. Some people, she thought, value money or jewels or food. But nothing, not one thing in all the worlds they had seen or would see, would ever be more important to her than this canister in her arms and the fluid it contained. Without it, Kai would just be dead. He would be preserved forever in his cryopod, silent and unmoving, he would never awaken to stand emotionless or tell her that the dead do not. As frustrating as he could be, the thought of living without that seemed�pointless. She might as well be on display in a cryopod with him.
Xev shrugged. � I just worry.�
His refueling complete, Kai removed the tubing from his chest and began coiling. Xev immediately set her beloved container on the ground and took the tube from him, eager to help. Kai accepted her assistance without a glance and immediately set his head back against the cryopod behind him, preparing to sleep. She had hoped for a thank you, but she didn�t receive one. She let her disappointment settle on her face, confident that it would go unnoticed. It did.
�Pleasant dreams, Kai.�
He lifted his head to look at her. �I do not dream, Xev.�
�But I do.�
He closed his eyes and the cryopod hissed shut. The sound was so abrupt, and the mist so cold, that Xev instinctively jumped away to keep from being hurt. But she knew from the dull, familiar longing in her heart that it was too late.
Silent and alone, Xev walked away from Kai.
* * *
Mot stopped to look up at the churning sun hanging in the sky over the scorched planet where he
had parked his ship. He�d never seen a supernova before, but he didn�t think it could be a good
thing. He wiped the sweat from his face, his neck, his arms. Nothing this hot could be good.
Mot idly wondered how old the sun was and what events it had seen. Wars, triumphs, marriages, divorces, births, deaths, empires rising and falling � He suddenly and distinctly became aware of sharp eyes on him. His apologetic expression already in place he raised to eyes to find Coral glaring at him as she shoved another crate into his already over-loaded ship. He smiled sheepishly. Coral�s glared hardened. Swallowing nervously, Mot returned his attention to the engine in front of him. She�s right, of course. He really should be focusing on the task at hand, getting the ship fixed. If he didn�t then he and Coral and even Bor and Evette will die here. And that, he was certain, would make Coral mad.
The ship shook as the others leapt inside. Coral pounded on the windshield. �Mot, let�s go.�
Mot calmly closed the hood and climbed into the pilot�s seat. Moving to press the ignition, he paused, his finger over the button. He wasn�t sure of the engine. It had looked okay, but it always looked okay, even when it wasn�t working, so he didn�t know what to do. And the ship wasn�t designed to handle this type of heat. There was really nothing he could do.
�No one get mad at me if it doesn�t start right away,� Mot cautioned, turning the harsh, flushed woman beside him. �It has a hard time starting when it�s hot outside.�
Coral pressed her hand firmly against the side of his face and shoved his view forward. �It�s going to have an even harder time starting when we�ve exploded,� she reasoned forcefully. Mot nodded, she really did have a point. He pressed the ignition button.
The engine sputtered�
groaned�
sputtered�
and started.
Mot turned to Coral and grinned triumphantly as he piloted his ship from the ground.
On the bridge of the Lexx, Stanley stood at the command pedestal, squinting up at the viewscreen. A bright ball of light pulsed in the distance. He couldn�t quite make it out, but it reminded him of something he had seen before. And it wasn�t something he particularly cared to experience again.
�Lexx,� he called, raising his voice even though the ship surrounding him could hear him if he whispered. �Is that what I think it is?�
�I do not know what you think it is, Stan,� Lexx replied, its thrumming voice filling the bridge.
Stan pursed his lips and rolled his eyes at the obvious response. He opened his mouth to ask his question again in simpler terms.
�What�s wrong, Stanley?�
Stan turned to see Xev striding onto the bridge. He looked quickly between her and the disturbing view on the screen. He hopped off his post, stepping down to her level. �I think that sun is about to supernova,� he informed, but he had already decided what to do about it. �Lexx, get us away from here.�
�As you request, Stan,� Lexx replied.
Xev stepped forward, moving closer to the screen, her brow furrowed, her eyes squinting against the intensifying light. Her own memories of the last supernova she�d seen were sketchy, but the roiling orb in front of them did look like one. One planet, brown and burnt from the heat, orbited nearby. Xev soon saw three other planets beyond it. Sad, she thought, a whole system of planets gone, a way of life destroyed. She sighed, feeling an heavy weight on her chest. It had been a depressing day. Maybe Stan would be up for a conversation. She could use a change of mood. She moved to turn back to the man behind her.
Just at the edge of her sight, Xev thought she saw something, a phantom in her periphery. Xev immediately looked back to the viewscreen, searching. Where was it? What was it? Her eyes narrowed, she scanned the screen. Suddenly, through the waves of heat emanating from the sun, she saw a small ship fighting to free itself the most distant planet�s atmosphere.
�Stanley, wait!� she called.
�Lexx, wait,� Stan immediately shouted to Lexx, startled by his companions sudden emotional outburst. He rushed to Xev�s side, following her stare to the doomed transport.
�Do we have time to save them?� Xev asked.
He knew that sound in her voice. That sound always lead to trouble. Always. �I don�t know, Xev,� he argued, �but I don�t think we should wait to find out.�
Xev shook her head at him and turned her eagerness to the robot head resting on the floor. �790?�
�I cannot accurately determine the status of the sun without a detailed survey, which would keep us here too long,� 790 informed her. Stan narrowed his eyes at the bodiless computer. That�s weird, he puzzled, why would 790 *choose* to help Xev. �I suggest we wake my comely cadaver. He was taught about supernovas on Brunnis 2,� 790 finished. Stan rolled his eyes. Ah, question answered, he thought.
Xev, readily accepting the suggestion, turned to leave the bridge. �Maybe he�ll be able to tell by looking.�
�You just froze him,� Stan protested. �And that ship can�t be carrying that many people anyway.� Steadfastly ignoring him, Xev walked from the bridge. Stan ground his teeth in irritation as he clomped back to his command post. �It won�t do us much good if we die waiting,� he muttered.
�Hello, gigantic bug ship!�
Stanley leapt into position as Lexx�s captain, looking up to his viewscreen. He was pretty sure he knew who would be calling. A chubby-faced man filled the display. Sweat dripped from his forehead and Stanley could just make out the unpleasantly close supernova in the rear window. This man was clearly desperate. This situation must be handled delicately.
He leaned casually against his armrest and smiled his smoothest smile. �This is Stanley Tweedle,� he said calmly, �Captain of the Lexx.�
�And irritation to all,� 790 added.
Stanley spared a glare in 790�s direction, then returned his tranquil gaze to the round-faced man on the screen before him. �Is anything wrong?�
The man shrugged and smiled sheepishly. �You see, Captain Tweedle, was it? My ship always sticks when it�s warm and, well, it�s stuck. We should have left earlier, but bargains were left to be made and we are not the type of salespeople who abandon needy patrons � even those who are in denial about their own doom.� He smiled widely.
�I�m sure he thinks that�s admirable, Mot.� A sharp-boned woman shoved aside her smiling companion. �Can you help us?� Her intense gaze focused on Stanley. He suppressed a chill. He definitely didn�t want that woman on his ship. He heard Xev�s footsteps approaching behind him and the shuffle of Kai�s swagger following her. He didn�t want that woman on his ship, but captain or no, that decision had just left his hands.
�Show him the sun, Stanley,� Acting Captain Xev ordered.
�Lexx, show him the sun,� Stan requested calmly. He slid down to sit on his pedestal, resting his chin on his hand. He could tell that the captain was no longer needed.
The churning sun filled the viewscreen, drowning the bridge in unpleasantly bright light. Kai stepped forward, inspecting the boiling mass. Xev moved to stand beside him, shifting back and forth on her feet, anxious to do something.
�Kai?� she gently inquired, repressing a good 60% of her eagerness.
�My knowledge of supernovas is cursory at best,� Kai began. �But I estimate we have a few minutes until the conditions become fatal.�
That was all Xev needed. She immediately turned around and began walking for the moth platform. �Stan, tell them I�m coming to get them.�
Unsurprised, Stan looked up to the viewscreen where the chubby man and the scary lady stared
down at him. He tossed them a tight, fake smile. �She�s coming to get you.�
* * *
Xev steered the sluggishly moth toward the defunct ship. The moth twittered loudly, complaining
about the heat. Xev wiped the sweat from her forehead, just as uncomfortable as the moth. She
inhaled slowly, the stagnant, unpleasant air filling her lungs. Well, she thought, she had wanted a
distraction and this certainly counted.
�Xev.� Stanley�s voice filled the craft. Xev located the squawker on the seat beside her. �Xev, they have cargo, so Kai is following you over in another moth.�
A whole other moth, just for luggage? �How much cargo do they have?� she asked.
�A lot, apparently,� Stan replied, clearly not enjoying their latest encounter. �And they said they can�t leave any of it behind.�
Shrugging, Xev set the squawker back down, sweat dripping from face. In this heat, Kai was
better suited to help anyway. Fly faster, Kai, she thought. It�s way too warm out here for me.
* * *
Xev hauled the last of the boxes toward Kai waiting by the moth, parked safely in the stalled ship�s
landing bay. Judging by how they pack, Xev figured they had stumbled upon some unusual
travelers to say the least. She was excited. Guests meant intrigue and intrigue meant entertainment.
And possibly some eligible and virile men.
�This is the last of it,� she informed Kai.
She handed him the box, their hands touching underneath to support it. A flash of shock and desire scorched through Xev. In the overwhelming heat, Kai's hands had warmed almost to normal, live temperature. She had long grown accustomed to the chill of Kai�s skin, she had even come to enjoy it during the brief moments when they touched, but this, live, warm skin�
�Take the first two passengers. You should go,� Kai said, turning her. His eyes found a single bead of sweat on her neck and followed it as it flowed slowly down toward the hollow of her neck. With one disinterested, warmed finger extended, he stopped the droplet just before it disappeared below the front of her top and brushed it away. �You�re hot,� he finished.
Xev�s eyes remained trained on his, still tingling from his touch, the trail seeming emblazoned on her chest. Kai turned back to the cargo, straightening the boxes to make room for passengers. Xev watched him a moment then sighed. �I�ve been hotter,� she replied as she climbed into the pilot�s seat. Getting back to the cool of the Lexx suddenly sounded like a good idea.
Glancing uncomfortably at Kai as they passed, Bor and Evette climbed into the moth beside Xev. Kai closed the hatch and stepped back. With a grateful chirp and more than its usual speed, the moth flew back to the Lexx.
Kai turned back around to the moth awaiting him. He looked inside, surveying the cargo filling all available space, save room for a pilot and two guests. Everything was packed. Climbing in, he sat down in the pilot�s seat to wait for his passengers.
�Wow,� a man said as he approached the moth. A round-faced man appeared at the opposite hatch, carrying a small stack of books. �We really appreciate it, Mister.� Smiling, he looked up to Kai.
Kai watched calmly as the man shrieked and his books clattered to the ground.
�That�s merchandise, Mot,� a woman hollered, rushing to collect the books. The man, for his part, seemed immobile, staring at Kai. �What�s wrong with you, Mot?� the woman demanded.
�Blimey,� was the only response Mot could manage.
Coral stood, the collected books in her arms, and looked into the moth. Her eyes instantly found Kai.
�Oh, dear.� The books fell to the ground.
* * *
Bor and Evette, looking in wonder at the massive ship around them, followed Xev into the bridge.
�Stan, it is very hot,� Lexx complained in its lazily insistent voice.
Stan turned to Xev and nodded. �Okay. That�s half.� He stood up on the command post. �Kai,� he said aloud into the channel still open to the moths. �Could you hurry up, please?�
Behind him, Kai entered the bridge, followed by Mot and Coral. �I am already here, Stan.�
�Lexx, get us far away from that sun!� Stan shouted.
�As you command, Stan.� Lexx quickly complied, steering its immense body away from the heat.
The entire group of Xev, Stan, Kai and the rescued passengers stepped forward on the bridge, watching the viewscreen. The sun churned and boiled, spinning in its orb during its final death throes. It shuddered, quaking in space as its color climbed from its usual yellow to orange and then to blue. Stan took great comfort in the fact that the view they were seeing was from the Lexx�s rear monitors and, he told him self, it was magnified about a billion times.
Mot, standing beside Coral, looked to those around him, watching the viewscreen, their mouths agape. Bright, flaming blue light filled the bridge making everyone look pale, blue, lifeless, like, well, like that weird guy, Mot realized when his eyes fell upon the pilot with the funny hair. The guy almost looked normal when he was surrounded by people just as pale as he was and Mot wondered if perhaps he had imagined it, like one of those day-mares. Suddenly, everyone turned bright red and they all averted their eyes. Mot�s quickly flashed to the viewscreen. The sun was gone and in its place was only swiftly cooling dust. His ship was no where to be seen. Another noble body of the cosmos and a damn good space ship destroyed. Mot looked again to the weird guy and was dismayed to find that, while the others had returned to their usual pinkness, he maintained the bluish, white pallor of the dead star. It wasn�t just him then, right? Other people saw the resemblance too? Bor and Evette and Coral, they all saw it? Swallowing nervously, he leaned to Coral beside him. �Do you see-�
�Maybe they�ll want a matching set,� she interrupted, clearly understanding his meaning. He sighed, relieved to be confirmed. Coral smiled widely and turned her attention to the pretty woman in the lizard dress. �You can drop us off on the nearest planet.�
The pretty lady looked down to the ground and Mot saw a robot head lying on the ground. Judging by the shell, which had a few nicks and bangs, the head was in near mint condition. It shouldn�t be stored on the ground. In a closet away from heat and humidity was best for mechanical parts, especially heads without bodies.
�How close is the nearest planet, 790?� Xev asked. Not surprisingly, he didn�t respond. When she was the one adored, she always thought Stan was being unnecessarily mean to the little guy, but now she totally understood. Stupid tin can. She looked to Kai, silently requesting his assistance.
�How close is the nearest planet, 790?� Kai repeated, to much greater results.
�Seven hours and twenty-three minutes, my Dumpling of Death,� 790 quickly informed.
Xev noticed the sharp-faced woman�s eyes perked up, looking with faint admiration at the robot head. �Nice alliteration,� she complimented. For her words, she received only a slick metal glare. �I am Coral,� the woman continued, addressing herself to Xev, �the sales manager, and this is my associate Mot, the owner of our decrepit transport.�
Xev watched as Mot�s round face clouded with hurt. �I loved that transport,� he defended quietly.
�The others are Bor and Evette,� Coral explained. �We would like to give you something from our selection as thanks.�
Mot�s joviality returned and he smiled as Xev. �We don�t have monetary riches,� he said, �but we are rich in oddities.�
�I doubt that,� 790 muttered to himself, likely giving voice to Stanley�s feelings, judging by the sour expression Xev saw blanketing his face. Stan didn�t like visitors, unless they were beautiful women. And Coral and Evette didn�t seem his type.
�But you will not, my decapitated friend,� Coral reasoned, �once we have unpacked our wares.�