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Pit Stop at Starbase 17

Type: Short Story Location: Starbase 17 Status: Canon (confirmed by creator) — full text preserved per archival standard

Summary

Cargo pilots Zeni Barbarosa and Benny "Benny the Jet" Starchaser put in for repairs at Starbase 17 after narrowly escaping a pirate flagship while running desperately-needed supplies from Kila Vas to the war-torn Milky Way aboard their ship, the Desert Star. Over drinks at Diamond John's Sports Pub, they're approached by an old friend, Captain Lyle Durand, who's since moved into running luxury goods between the Snickers Galaxy and Maf, and who dangles a tempting, discretion-paying contact — for later, once repairs are done.

Full Text

Pit Stop at Starbase 17

The air inside Diamond John's Sports Pub was thick with the aroma of fried food, spilled beer, and the faint tang of industrial cleaner — a blend Zeni Barbarosa associated with relaxation after a long haul. The big man leaned back in his chair, his broad shoulders straining the seams of his leather flight jacket. He chuckled as he wiped barbecue sauce from his thick fingers, his booming voice echoing through the pub.

"I tell ya, Benny, I thought we were toast back there. When that plasma bolt scraped the hull, I could've sworn it was the end. But you? Mr. Cool-as-a-cucumber, dodgin' debris and plasma fire like it's just another Tuesday."

Across the table, Benny "Benny the Jet" Starchaser grinned — as much as a massive amphibian could grin. The sleek green skin of his oversized frog-like head glistened under the pub's neon lights. He perched on his motorized skateboard-like device, his short but muscular arms propping him up as he shoveled a spoonful of seasoned mealworms and grubs into his wide mouth.

"Ribbit," Benny croaked, his deep, resonant voice vibrating with good humor. "Cool-as-a-cucumber? More like fried-to-a-crisp. We were lucky the shields held long enough for that last jump outta there. Those pirates meant business."

Zeni barked a laugh and raised his pint of beer in a toast. "To luck, then! And to Starbase 17 — the only place in the universe where a guy can get a burger this good and not have to worry about dodging plasma bolts."

Benny lifted his own pint, the oversized glass dwarfed by his webbed hands. "To Starbase 17. And to the engineers who'll fix our poor ship. Ribbit. May their prices be kind."

The two clinked glasses, the sound swallowed up by the hum of conversation and the occasional cheer from the holoscreen in the corner, where a game of zero-gravity basketball played out. Around them, Diamond John's was alive with activity. Traders, pilots, and station workers mingled in a chaotic yet oddly comforting rhythm. The walls were lined with memorabilia from countless galactic leagues and sports events, and a live band in one corner strummed out a tune that was just loud enough to be enjoyable without drowning out conversation.

A Narrow Escape

The duo's latest run had been one for the books. Their cargo ship, the Desert Star, had left Kila Vas loaded to the gills with supplies desperately needed in the war-torn Milky Way: food, medicine, and basic tools for rebuilding. The pay was good, but the risk was astronomical — literally.

"Did you see the size of that flagship?" Zeni said, shaking his head. "Those pirates weren't messin' around. I've seen battleships smaller than that thing."

Benny nodded, his throat inflating slightly as he swallowed another mouthful of grubs. "Ribbit. Yeah, but they weren't counting on us sneaking through that asteroid belt. Good thing you've got nerves of steel when it comes to tight squeezes."

Zeni grinned. "Tight squeezes are my specialty. What'd I say? 'Thread the needle, Benny.' And thread it we did."

"Ribbit. More like scraped it. You're lucky we didn't lose an engine."

"Details," Zeni said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Anyway, we made it. And now here we are, alive and kicking, with enough credits in our account to patch up the Desert Star and still have some left over for a proper vacation."

Benny's eyes widened. "Vacation? On Starbase 17? That's rich. Ribbit. You're not seriously thinking about hittin' the Garden Sphere and sniffin' flowers, are ya?"

"Hey, don't knock it till you try it," Zeni said, grinning. "But nah, I'm thinkin' more along the lines of the Entertainment District. Maybe catch a show, listen to some live music. We deserve it after that run."

Old Friends and New Plans

As they settled deeper into their meals, a familiar voice called out from across the pub. "Barbarosa! Benny the Jet! You old space dogs still breathing?"

Both turned to see a grizzled man in a battered flight suit weaving through the crowd. Zeni's face lit up. "No way. Durand!"

Captain Lyle Durand, an old friend and fellow cargo pilot, slapped Zeni on the back and nodded to Benny. "Heard you two had a close call out there. What'd you do, tick off the wrong pirate lord?"

"Something like that," Zeni said, gesturing for Durand to pull up a chair. "What about you? Still running those high-risk routes?"

Durand grinned. "Nah, retired from that game. These days, I'm running luxury goods between the Snickers Galaxy and Maf. Less stress, better pay. You should think about it."

Benny raised an eyebrow — or the amphibian equivalent. "Ribbit. Luxury goods? That's a far cry from the medical supplies and rations we've been hauling. But sounds tempting."

Durand leaned in, his voice dropping. "Well, if you're looking for a change, I've got a contact who's always in need of reliable pilots. Pays top dollar for discretion."

Zeni's eyes narrowed, intrigued but cautious. "We'll think about it. Right now, our ship needs repairs, and we need some downtime."

Durand nodded. "Fair enough. But keep it in mind. Starbase 17's a good place to make connections."

Repairs and Reflection

Later that evening, Zeni and Benny wandered down to the Desert Star in Docking Bay 42. The scorched hull and battered thrusters were a testament to their harrowing escape.

"Ribbit. Think it'll cost a fortune?" Benny asked, eyeing the damage.

Zeni sighed. "Probably. But we've got the credits, and we've got time. We'll get her fixed up good as new."

They stood in silence for a moment, gazing at their ship. Despite the danger and the chaos, they both knew they wouldn't trade this life for anything. The stars called to them, and as long as there were goods to haul and places to explore, they'd keep answering.

"C'mon," Zeni said, clapping Benny on the back. "Let's see what this station has to offer. I hear there's a live band in the Entertainment District tonight."

"Ribbit. Lead the way, captain," Benny said, his motorized skateboard whirring to life as they headed off into the bustling heart of Starbase 17, ready for whatever the universe threw at them next.

Named Elements Introduced

Appearances

  • Creator-provided detail (uploaded document, "Pit Stop at Starbase 17")

Open Questions