So the Story Goes on and on and on and Skewed Right

1. Part One by JBaz
2. Part Two
3. Part Three
4. Part Four
5. Part Five⬇⬇⬇

They’d returned to the interstate after driving through a few red lights on the side streets, and Special Agent Cochran sped to Bentonville, where they quickly switched SUVs. The Ford Expedition they had been forced to choose had much less space than the Suburban, and with its bright red paint, the Ford stood out.

They’d continued north on I-49, constantly on the lookout for the bounty hunter in the vicinity around them. Agent Cochran kept the speedometer at a steady ninety miles per hour. The scenery sped by in a blur: towns, cities, and farmlands.

“So, Carl, the only thing we haven’t figured out is why this intergalactic being, this cosmic bounty hunter, as you call him, is pursuing you,” Thomas broke the silence in the SUV's cab.

“It’s a long story, and I’ll have to translate a lot into English, honestly, but I suppose we have time for it,” Carl said. Then he continued answering the agent, “It was sixteen Earth years ago. I’d just passed my cargo shuttle exams and received my licensing. I’d inherited a shuttle from my great-uncle and planned to start a business.

“I got lucky, or so I thought. As soon as I put an ad out, I was hired for a standing order from a Graku Sankik on Melvis Nine to deliver goods to one of the moons of Giovetta weekly. A run that would bring in an astounding twelve dekas – equal to fifteen hundred in US funds. A sum that, if spent wisely, could either allow me to retire in five years or to purchase a twelve-ship fleet of delivery shuttles

“I made twelve deliveries for Mr. Sankik. Never suspecting anything and never opening the cargo to see what I was transporting. I was naive, and I trusted my client.

“On my last delivery, the authorities met me as the last crate was unloaded from my cargo hold. They busted open the boxes with prybars, exposing the contents of each one. I was just as surprised as them to see the highly addictive, 100% illegal Titlin Dai drug. A drug rumored to put its users in a trance-like state allowing them to be controlled by another.

“Young and scared of the totalitarian government in that part of the galaxy, I ran. Boarding my shuttle and slamming the bay doors closed, I hurried to the piloting controls.

“They hired the Intergalactic Agency of Cosmic Bounty Hunters to pursue me and bring me back, hoping I would face a trial. I’m not ashamed I fled; I was scared and young. Even now, I’ll continue running.

“You see, once these bounty hunters get a sniff of you, not even a collapsing black hole will stop them, it seems. And sadly, I don’t think he’s been ordered to bring me back. I think if he catches me, he’ll kill my family, everyone around me, and myself.

“So, you see, Thomas, Agent Cochran, to keep my family safe, I’ll keep running as long I’m able.” When Carl was finished speaking, he leaned back into his car seat and closed his eyes.

No one spoke for a while. At some point, they had entered interstate twenty-nine and crossed into Nebraska before Jaylene asked the questions, which were in her husband’s mind, too. “Agent Cochran, where are you taking us? Is there a reason that you are helping us?”

“We’re close to our destination outside Surprise, just a little over an hour before we get there, Mrs. Duine,” the Special Agent replied, answering her first question.

They sat silently for another thirty minutes, Carl and Jaylene waiting expectantly for the agent to answer her questions. When it became apparent that neither agent offered to answer her, Carl started to open his mouth to ask for answers.

Barker began to whine and woof, pacing back and forth in the small space of the cargo hold. Felix started yowling out of nervousness due to Barker’s agitation. Realizing that Barker needed to relieve himself, Agent Cochran commented that it looked like a good time for them to make a pit stop. They found a little gas station in a tiny town. While Thomas and Jaylene took the twins and Adam inside to use the bathroom and grab some snacks, Carl walked Barker and tried to get Agent Cochran to talk to him.

“So, Rance, you never answered, my wife. Why are you and your agency helping us?”

“Please, call me Agent Cochran,” the agent said, looking Carl in the eyes and blinking his eyes vertically. Before Carl could say anything or even think about what he had just seen, Jaylene and Thomas came out of the station with the children.

Everyone loaded up, and shortly, they were back on the road. Carl didn’t get a chance to think about Agent Cochran’s eyes immediately after they were loaded back up because Adam was busily talking about the impressive man he had met in the gas station and all the tattoos the man had had. There were Smurf tatts and Scooby ones, and even Shrek was done in ink. The young boy was so excited that the man had many of his favorite cartoon characters on his arms.

The boy continued for so long that Carl was shocked when they passed a sign that read Surprise, Nebraska, and Agent Cochran turned off the road. He continued driving through a field for a while before stopping. Then, turning around in his seat, he said, “Well, folks, we walk from here.”

Getting out of the vehicle, Carl wondered how far they had to go before they reached their destination.

----------- 𝔗𝔬 𝔟𝔢 𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔲𝔢𝔡 -----------