A Thousand Days From Here
Ten years and a thousand days from here, Dean Venture's peddling his first ten-speed down a dirt road, his head tilted back and soaking in the summer sunshine. There are orioles singing in the high sumac branches, and needles falling into the basket. That holds a book of poetry and a bundle of daisies, a bottle of good wine and a box of chocolates.
And they're not for Triana Orpheus.
****
A thousand days from here, Brock is sitting in a French café, trying to remember the address of that old bistro he used to try to take Mol to. He doesn't have the right fare - but it doesn't matter when he ends up in the Loirre Valley, with a bottle of wine and a bunch of Guild rouges in the sights of his rifle.
With Mol's ashes in his pocket, he laughs and blows them away.
***
A thousand days from here, Hank Venture's polishing his first set of boots after running twenty miles. His first time in the field. His love of the situation? Completely and true. He's gonna be a grunt, the best grunt S.P.H.I.N.X has ever seen.
***
A thousand days from here, JJ Venture and Sally Impossible sit together on a deck chair, lounging together on the sun deck of the first Venture Industry lunar installation. They pop a cork and toast to the future, to Rocket's growth, and another day basking in success.
***
A thousand days from here, Triana Orpheus is with her father, attending a punk festival. As always, Byron is trying a little bit too hard, and Triana's trying to let him know she appreciates it. She's lucky - has a great boyfriend, even better friends. She likes her school - when it's not lame - and she likes the way the Outrider and her mother treat her - for the most part.
It could be better, it could be worse, but that was the way life tended to go - or so she had learned in her short, callow years on the planet.
***
A thousand days from here, Al and Shoreleave have gotten their first apartment off S.P.H.I.N.X's homebase. They fight about the curtains, their meals, and where and with whom they will spend their evenings.
But they're ridiculously happy, almost comically so. Brock can't stop mocking them over it.
***
A thousand days from here, Gary is S.P.H.I.N.X's top flight agent, a killing machine with remorse for the just and punishment for the wicked. He's got a cool car and a bunch of good friends, so he doesn't miss the cocoon.
Much.
Yeah, it's a sweet life.
***
A thousand days from here, Rusty Venture's looking out over the overgrown landscape. There's no one left but Helper now, no one to blame for his silent miseries or overweening joys. So he hires hookers and goes to bars, the king of a party that never started or ever will begin, oblivious. It's a form of joy, and he's willing to settle for it.