Destination Unknown Epilogueby LeatherGirl
EPILOGUE
A small knock rapped on the front door. Grunting in frustration, Jack Crichton pushed aside his bowl of popcorn but clasped on to his can of beer. He raised the remote towards the blaring television before him and pressed mute. Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Hang on a minute!” Jack called out with a mouth full of popcorn. He shook his head. Always during a football game.
Jack kept his eyes on the television situated in his lonely little cottage near the coast of the Atlantic. He wasn’t about to sacrifice even a second of looking away. It was the playoffs after all. He walked backwards to the door, opening it without bothering to see who had interrupted his Sunday ritual.
“Jack.” A familiar voice called to him. Jack turned to see DK. His face immediately brightened and he grasped the solemn man in a quick bear hug. DK widened his eyes momentarily as he was released and brought up a large manila envelope in his hands. Jack glanced at it briefly and slapped DK on the back, closing the door behind him.
“Come in, come in. We’re in the fourth quarter and it looks as though our boys may be going to the Super Bowl!” Jack exclaimed. He led DK over to the couch. He placed the bowl of popcorn onto the coffee table and leaned over the side of the couch to stretch for the small refrigerator. He took a beer out of it and handed it to DK, who accepted politely. Jack settled in his usual spot and smiled at DK, glad to see him once again.
“It’s been a long time.” DK said quietly, placing his unopened beer on the coffee table.
“You should come by more often.” Jack replied fatherly. DK gave him a smile, running his fingers along the manila envelope. Jack eyed the envelope once more and became serious.
“What’s going on?” Jack asked. DK looked down at the envelope, almost as if he had forgotten it was in his hands. He looked back to Jack with a very serious expression. Jack thought he saw a hint of excitement in his eyes, however.
“I was getting ready to go home from work…” DK began, lifting the envelope a little. “When my superior handed this to me.”
Without any further explanation, DK handed the envelope to Jack and awaited his reaction. Jack eyed DK curiously, completely forgetting about his football game. He set his beer down. He carefully opened the envelope and proceeded to pull out the contents of the package. He remained silent, studying what he found within the envelope.
DK watched Jack flip through the numerous photographs he had received at IASA. They were direct from the Hubble Telescope. When he had first viewed them, and the many times after till his arrival at Jack’s residence, DK had felt an excited wave pass through him. His mind was reeling with possibilities and scenarios.
Jack’s mouth had slowly dropped open. He flipped through the photographs a second time and a third. He then paused at one in particular, bringing it closer to his face to study it. He grasped his reading glasses from the top of the fridge and refocused on the single photograph.
The image was somewhat blurry but unmistakable. Through the cloudy wisp of the Milky Way arm was a small section of space and one little craft. The small white craft had an American Flag and the words “Farscape One” printed on the side. It had a few alienable modifications to it as well, almost rendering it foreign. But Jack knew this craft as well as DK. It was indeed Farscape One.
His heart began to beat faster, as he was sure DK’s was already speeding. He looked at DK in awe. DK had a full smile plastered on his face by now.
Jack shook his head and flipped through the other photographs once more. He studied the others, noting within Hubble’s sight the unfamiliar ships in the very same space as his son’s module. He didn’t know what to make of them or the entire package for that matter. He looked back to DK in wonder.
“He’s alive.” DK said almost giddy.
Jack swallowed hard and looked back to the photograph of the module once more. He cared not for when these pictures had been taken or how they had fallen into his hands. He felt the sorrows deep within finally melt away. All those sleepless nights satisfied. His son was alive. That was a hell of a lot more than he had yesterday.
THE END FOR REAL!