Hounds of Orion

If Cam had to describe Logan’s ship, Cerberus in two words, it would ‘Non-Descript’. It wasn’t huge, like any of the tankers, ferrying supplies from neighboring sectors, easily a kilometer long from one end to the other. Nor was it small, like the shuttles used to transport people from planet to planet roughly the same size as one of the ancient automobiles that littered Earth hundreds of years. It was simply the size it needed to be. A metal hull, 500 meters long and 50 meters wide floated gently on the gravdoc, with a hatch roughly 50 meters high looming over him as he sat down next to the gangplank, waiting for his new ‘Master’ to show up.

He didn’t have to wait long. As after only ten minutes, Cam spotted the familiar faces of Logan and Marcus walking toward him. Seeing their faces caused a fresh wave of rage to was over him and he had to stop himself from lunging at them the second they got close enough, settling instead for gripping the edges of his seat so tight he could hear the wood crack in protest.

Logan was the first the speak, already do damage control as he held his hands up in surrender. “Look kid, I know you’re probably pissed. But trust me -”

“Trust you?!” Cam snapped in response. His anger had boiled over in such a force that he couldn’t contain even if he wanted to.

“I did trust you! And look where it got me! I have no home Logan. No name. I’m the equivalent of a slave! THIS is what I got for trusting you!” He shouted, spit flying from his lip as the dam broke and a flood of emotions came spewing forth.

“Cameron I-” Marcus tried to cut in, but was cut off by Cam’s continued tirade.

“It’s not Cameron anymore, Marcus. It’s Cam. And you’re not responsible for me anymore so why the FUCK are you here?!”

Marcus didn’t raise his voice in return. He simply allowed Cam to continue yelling, letting him get everything out he had been bottling since this morning. Then he took a breath and spoke in a gentle, warm tone.

“I… Don’t have a home anymore either, Master Cam. I relinquished my post shortly after you were escorted away.”

This got Cam’s attention. He stopped, stunned for a moment, his anger replaced by a sense of confusion. “What do you mean, Marcus?” He asked, slightly more aggressive than he had intended.

“He’s coming with us,” Logan said matter-of-factly, looking at Cameron with a look that radiated both irritation and understanding. “It was a part of the deal. A stipulation on Miranda’s part that Marcus volunteered for. I was getting ready to explain it to you before you decided to throw a temper tantrum.”

“Because you bought me Logan! Like fucking livestock!”

“No! I saved your life!” Logan was shouting back now, taking a step forward as both men invade the other’s personal space. “You and I both know that you would have died or had been left to rot if Lendrick got his way!”

“Then what am I supposed to do now?!” Cam shot back, practically foaming at the mouth.

“Live!” Logan bellowed, drawing out the word until his face turned purple from exertion.

A heavy silence fell over the three of them, the only sounds being the grinding metal of heavy machinery, and Logan’s breathing. It took him a minute to gather himself, though somehow, he managed. He sighed heavily and looked Cameron in the eye, his anger and irritation replaced by something else, regret.

“I’m sorry Cam.” He said, his voice slightly raspy and tinged with exhaustion. “Really, I am. But I wasn’t about to let that happen to you. I wish that I could have done it a different way, but this is all I could think to do.”

Cam was taken aback at this display of vulnerability from the man. Something in him clicked in that moment. Like before, it hadn’t felt real enough for him yet. But seeing Logan look at him with such… pity was enough. His mask of bravery that had been sustained by anger and distraction was shattered in that instant. He wanted to cry. Wanted to wish that this was all a bad dream and wake up like nothing had ever happened. But he couldn’t. This was his reality now. Cameron Pellyn had died today, and left of husk of his being behind. How that husk was filled was now left up to him. Was this really how he wanted to begin this new life, regardless if it was his choice to live it?

No.

Cam took a moment to collect himself, closing his eyes and inhaling deeply. He took in the fresh air through his nostrils, letting it fill his lungs, before slowly exhaling. He imagined that with every breath he was pushing a piece of his old self out. His anger, his arrogance, his apathy, all were products of his old life and there was no room for them now. When he opened his eyes and looked back at Logan, he still felt the anger that had overtaken him a moment ago, but it was a mere ember, when compared to the raging inferno from before. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever stop feeling this heat that burned inside of him, for now, he could focus on another feeling… clarity.

“Look…” He began, chewing at his lip as he searched for the right words. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get over this.”

Logan nodded slowly, opening his mouth as if getting ready to reply, but Cam wasn’t done just yet.

“However…” He said, steeling himself as he continued. “What’s done is done. I can’t change the past no matter how badly I want to. I’m don’t want to be angry all the time. I don’t want to be wallowing in a past life that I’ll never return to.”

“So what do you want then?” Logan asked, raising an eyebrow in appraisal.

“I want to do what you told me to. I want to live. Whatever that looks like out there in Free-Space, I want to live.”

A small smile slowly crept onto Logan’s face teasing the corners of his mouth as he nodded. “I think we can do that. Free-Space is a pretty big place. Shouldn’t be too hard to do that out there.”

“Then tell me what I need to do.” Cam said. His eyes set in a determined glare as he held out a hand towards Logan.

Logan looked at the outstretched hand, then at Marcus, the two of them sharing a widening grin. He then turned back to meet Cam’s gaze as he reached out as well, taking the offered hand in a firm grasp.

“First things first Kid. We got some homework to do.”