Chapter 3: [Entertainment] John 14 Study Begins...

[Entertainment]

Matthew 28: the last three verses

“And Jesus came. And spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’  Amen.”

Moose smiles at Art-bot and tips his hat.  “You think on that, Art-bot.  I’m gearing up for a walk.  I’ve got some recon to do this morning.”  Moose grabs his Bible and slides it in his pack.  He slides his coms in his ears, small, white, he tests the frequency and nods.

Ephesians 6: 10-20

“Finally, my brethren, be strong the Lord and in the power of His Might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand int he evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able tot quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take th helmet of salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints- and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known th mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

Moose steps out of the cargo bay and onto the dock, the hydraulic doors sealing behind him with a hollow hiss that echoes through the steel corridors.  The air outside is still, heavy with frost.  The great arteries of the First Last Stop hum faintly in the distance — a spaceport holding its breath.  A few maintenance bots shuffle along the platform, their brushes whispering over the cold deck plates.  One pauses to sweep a cluster of fallen pages from an open crate before continuing on without a word.  Pale light bleeds down from the upper gantries, reflecting off the ice forming in the seams of the floor.

Moose takes a long breath, his shoulders rising beneath the weight of his trench coat.  Steam curls from his mouth and vanishes into the blue haze of the dock.  His red cap is pulled low against the cold, his boots crunching softly over the frost on metal floors.

Across the expanse, the flight control tower still glows, dim but alive.  A few windows flicker with movement — silhouettes pacing, systems waking.  He watches the faint light for a moment, nodding to himself.  The directors were coming back online.  Which meant soon, he and the CS01 could orbit again.

He steps off the dock and onto the main concourse.  The cold bites through his coat.  Breath fogs before him as he moves through the skeletal marketplace — empty stalls, half-lit signs, the ghost of a crowd that once filled the space.  Winter had come to the First Last Stop.  Moose tugs his coat tighter, one hand on the strap of his pack, the other holding his Bible by the spine.  His pace is steady.  His eyes are forward.

Habakkuk 2: 1

“I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected.”