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Prism was rather surprised to find that he didn't have to seek out Sandy as he had the others. Sandy came to him with a proposition of a few days in space to buy some things he needed for his experiments. Prism was more than happy to agree, and he packed a small bag with the necessities for the trip and awaited the day they would leave with great anticipation.
Sandy had asked that they take his ship, so when he arrived at the moon, Prism waited on the lunar surface to board the sleek gold Comet. Sandy landed and waved, and Prism turned to embrace Nightlight and Jack.
"Be good," he said.
"No promises," Nightlight replied, his glowing eyes gleeful.
"That's a good boy," Prism said.
"Have a good trip," jack said.
"And you have a good first snowfall," Prism said. "Next time, maybe you can come with us."
"Maybe," Jack said, but his eyes shone with the love of space travel. He was one of the first of the Earthlings to discover the joys of traversing the galaxy, and though it was tempered by the fear and mystery of the vastness of the universe, Jack loved going out to see new worlds and peoples.
Prism waved one last time then walked up the gangplank into the beautiful golden ship. It folded into an inner compartment and the door slid shut behind him. Prism stood there and looked around. He had been inside the Comet only once. When they had been going back to Earth, they had stopped at a spaceport to get Sandy's ship. Prism had paid the expensive docking fee and guided the Comet to rest beside his own beloved ship to surprise Sandy. The Sandman had been so overwhelmed and pleased that he had promised to supply Prism with all the Dreamsand he could want. So far, he had kept the promise, and that, coupled with knowing that Shadow Man would never touch him again meant he could sleep now, and he took advantage of it.
There was a soft rapping noise, and Prism looked over to see Sandy gazing at him. He gestured at the copilot's chair, and Prism smiled and held up his small bag. Sandy pointed off to the side where a locker was built into the ship. Prism put his bag in the locker then seated himself in the chair. He brushed his fingers over the controls scanning the board. It had a Beaming setup, one of the more expensive options from the company who had manufactured the ship, LightBeams. It was very nice, and Prism reclined and watched as Sandy set their coordinates then pushed them into hyperspeed. The sensations could barely be felt.
"Marvelous ship, Captain," he said when the controls were finally locked and they were free to move around the cabin.
Sandy's dreamsand particles drifted up and formed a top hat, which Sandy tipped as he bowed. Prism smiled a little the stood up and peered around.
"One of LightBeams finest designs," Prism said.
Sandy nodded, and he puffed up a little. He began to speak in Symbology, which Prism was quite fluent in by now.
"It was an absolute honor to be a Star Captain," Sandy said.
"So you don't regret being retired from the position?" Prism asked.
"No. That Age has passed, as sad as that is to say," Sandy replied. "But I have gone from granting the wishes of children across the galaxy, to giving dreams to those on a single planet. I like it better this way. It's more personal. Besides, I'm employed by the Tsar to give dreams. Now that is an incredible honor."
"You are more than an employee, Sanderson," Prism said. "You are one of his dearest friends. He loves talking with you and hearing all your stories."
Sandy perked and his cheeks darkened with a blush as he smiled sheepishly. "You are too kind, Prism."
"Just telling you what Lunar thinks, Sanderson," Prism said. He stood up and walked around, running his hands over various surfaces as he explored. Sandy watched him with a pleased smile on his face. "Gorgeous. Wonderful," he murmured. "Such exquisite design. LightBeams is missed."
"No doubt," Sandy said. He ran his hands over the console. "But I regretfully don't know much about what's going on in the galaxy these days. I've been so focused on Earth for so many years now that my days of being a well-known and beloved wish-giver streaking through space in my Comet seem very far away indeed."
"Fond memories?"
"Some. Some not so fond. But oh, they were thrilling days of sailing through the stars and granting wishes. I fought pirates and outran star cruisers and was nearly swallowed by a black hole. But those days are gone, and I am now the Sandman of Earth, giving pleasant dreams instead of granting wishes. My star has fallen into the sea, and I cannot go back."
"Do you want to?" Prism asked.
Sandy looked thoughtful then shrugged and changed the subject to Prism's job. He'd spent his days and nights on Earth recently bolstering children in their last days or through the toughest times in their lives, and he had many faces and names that he recalled. So they talked about that as they sailed through the stars with a trail of Dreamsand behind them, comfortable in the golden Comet as they moved swiftly and silently through space toward a merchant port in the next solar system.
The shopping was uneventful, as shopping at galactic merchants went. They nearly got into two fistfights and did in fact have to fend off several thieves, which made for a rather thrilling day. But most of their time, they were haggling at shops and gathering supplies. Sandy was stared at by many of the passersby, especially when he was around his ship. Prism wasn't looked at nearly as much, but the two men were very different, even if they did come from the same age.
At last they had gotten everything they needed, and they spent a few hours packing the cargo hold of the Comet for the return trip. Sandy noticed that Prism was very good at lashing down the supplies. He was pretty sure they could get into a space fight and not a single crate would be moved unless the cargo hold itself was damaged. After checking everything one last time, Prism, shut the hold and turned to Sandy. As he did, his sharp eyes caught a glimpse of the thieves they'd faced in the shadows of a building, watching them. Prism's lips tightened, but he said nothing about it.
"Ready to go, Sanderson?" Prism asked.
Sandy nodded, popping up into the air as he stretched. "It has been a delightful trip, but I'm already homesick. I used to have no home to go back to. My future was in the stars."
"As was mine, when I was on the Moon Clipper," Prism said. He scanned the docks and caught the thieves staring at them again. It definitely wasn't a coincidence. "Let's go. I'd like to set sail already. The stars are calling us homeward."
Sandy smiled and boarded the Comet, tapping away at the controls while Prism made sure their docking fee was fully paid. Prism came back in and sat down. Without a word, he shoved Sandy's hands aside and launched the ship. Sandy was too shocked to move for several moments as Prism expertly piloted the ship away from the dock at a startling speed. Then he came to his senses and shoved Prism's hands away.
"What do you think you're doing?" Sandy symbolized angrily. "This is my ship, not yours! I pilot my ship."
Prism glanced at him then sat back. "My apologies, captain," he said contritely. "It just seemed very important we get away as quickly as possible. She's all yours now."
That small act soured Sandy's mood toward Prism, and he kept giving him sidelong glances as sand mimicked steam coming out of his ears. Prism barely noticed, keeping his eyes on the radar that showcased crafts around them. Three small ships began following them, and Prism squirmed.
"We should go faster," he said.
Sandy gave him a scowl and shook his head. Prism itched to take the controls again as the ships approached, stealthy as could be. He saw them take up a defensive position, and he reached down and buckled himself in. Sandy glanced at him and noticed the creases of worry around Prism's eyes. Then he looked at the radar that Prism was staring at and realized just why his companion was acting so strangely just as the ships sensors flashed and indicated that weapons were being fired at them.
The ship rocked hard as one of the concentrated light beams struck the side, knocking them off course. Sandy gasped then began complicated flying maneuvers as the pirates began to circle and push them in the wrong direction.
Sandy fought the controls as Prism clenched his hands in his lap and watched the former Star Captain struggle to get out of the way of the three pirate ships. He bit his bottom lip but didn't dare to touch the controls again. He didn't want to make Sandy mad. He could still remember his vicious beating when he'd been lost in the darkness and Obscurus had used him to torment the children of earth with Night Mares. Sanderson Mansnoozie was an ancient, powerful being, and it was not wise to make those persons angry. So Prism sat and watched with growing anxiety as the pirates continued to have the upper hand against Sandy. Then he saw something alarming on the radar.
"Black hole off the starboard!" Prism gasped. "They're herding us into the vicinity!"
Sandy looked out toward starboard and then froze as he saw that Prism wasn't kidding. For a moment, he felt nothing, then his entire being stiffened and his golden color turned white as he realized that history was repeating itself.
Prism saw Sandy blanch and braced himself just before abject terror hit him. Using a combination of willpower and actual power, he managed to curb the effects as the feeling washed over him. When he was able to focus again, he saw that they were running out of time as the ship entered the gravitational reach of the black hole.
"Sanderson!" Prism shouted, but Sandy didn't react. So he made a decision and reached over to snap Sandy's buckle on then pushed his hands away and took the controls.
Prism immediately widened the radar and noted the pirate ships hanging back. That gave him the perfect opportunity to shock and scare them. He flipped the Comet to face them, but let it fall back toward the black hole. Sandy melted into his chair, so scared he couldn't function, and Prism had to fight the fear as he rapidly typed out his command and aimed the Comet right below the ships. He closed his eyes and felt the pull stretching them out, waiting for the right moment.
Just at the point when the ship began to whine and shudder and they began to feel physical pain, Prism hit the hyperspeed, and they rocketed forward, slinging themselves out of the gravitational pull of the black hole and scattering the pirate ships. They recovered quickly and began to gather their forces again, but Prism already had a plan. That was a good thing as his ears were beginning to tingle, the first sign that Sandy's fear was getting past his defenses. He took a deep breath and focused, watching as the ships approached in hyperspeed.
Prism snarled. "You want to play, I see," he hissed. "Then you'll pop us off when we come out?" He grasped the controls and grinned. "Let's have some fun then."
He twitched the controls, a daring thing in hyperspeed, and the Comet tapped the one above it. It happened in an instant, the ship bounced into the slipstream and disintegrated. The other two didn't back off, so Prism twitched them again, coming within inches of touching one of them. That was enough for the two ships to break out of hyperspeed and slow down, leaving the Comet streaking along alone.
Prism let out his breath, set the ship on autopilot toward the Moon Clipper, then looked at Sandy. Sandy was still frozen with fear, but his color was slowly coming back. The fear wasn't draining away fast enough, though, and Prism's shields finally broke down. His senses were flooded with terror and the last thing he knew, he slumped in his chair and the world faded away.
Prism came to when a cool, wet rag was swiped across his forehead then patted down his cheeks. His eyes struggled to open, and when they did, he was astounded to see Lunar. His head was swimming with the remaining tendrils of terror, and Prism realized that he must have been sleeping for awhile if the effects of Sandy's terror were beginning wearing off. Lunar smiled down at him.
"Well hello there, Prism. How are you feeling?"
"Inebriated," Prism murmured. He gestured at a glass of water and eagerly sipped at it to wet his parched throat and tongue when Lunar handed it to him. Feeling better, Prism slowly sat up and leaned against the head of his bed. His head spun, and Lunar steadied him and took the glass, setting it back on the bedside table.
"Well, Sanderson said you had quite the time getting back here."
"Is he okay?" Prism asked.
"Yes. He's staying here on the Moon Clipper while he recovers. He managed to land the ship, but he's not doing well. He's been sleeping a lot, but he did mention pirates, a black hole, and terror."
"Mm, yes, that about covers the return journey," Prism said. "What I can remember at least."
"Are you hungry?" Lunar asked.
"Ooh, yes please," Prism said.
So Lunar brought him some moon cheese and crackers, and they ate in comfortable silence. The food did help, and Prism felt better, though he was still in a fog. Several crackers in, he stopped chewing suddenly as a familiar sensation swept over his awareness.
"Sanderson's having a nightmare," Prism said, setting aside the plate of food..
Lunar's expression showed shock before he grabbed Prism's hand and teleported them to his room. Sure enough, Sandy was tossing and turning, black streaks in his golden sand. Prism staggered over and dropped down beside the former Star Captain. Gently placing his hand on Sandy's forehead, he grasped the gritty Night Mare sand then paused. He took a deep breath then yanked it out. Black sand exploded outward as Sandy woke up suddenly, his mouth open in a silent scream as he looked around frantically. He finally noticed Prism and Lunar, and he relaxed, though his cheeks did darken in a blush. He waved half-heartedly.
Lunar approached. "I thought Star Captains couldn't have nightmares."
Sandy shrugged, looking anywhere but at his friends.
"How about some cheese and crackers?" Prism asked. "You've got to be hungry. I know I am."
Sandy hesitated then nodded. Lunar retrieved the plate of crackers and cheese, and hopped up onto Sandy's bed as Prism pulled out the desk chair. Sandy took a scoop of the creamy cheese and swirled it neatly onto a cracker. He gazed at it for several moments before he ate it.
"Are you really okay, Sanderson?" Prism asked.
Sandy sighed heavily and shook his head, taking up another cracker.
"I know you said you'd faced a black hole before," Prism said. "But I didn't realize how badly the encounter went. Makes sense."
"Two," Sandy symbolized, chewing on his cracker. "There was also the one on your ship while we were heading back after we defeated Obscurus."
"Ah, yes. You reacted poorly then, too," Prism said. "But you know something? Most space sailors are afraid of black holes. I'm one of the few nowadays who can actually retrieve black hole shadows, which are useful in so many old recipes."
Sandy glanced at him and smiled sadly. "That doesn't excuse my rudeness toward you, Prism."
"What rudeness?"
"I believe you were aware of the pirates, and that is why you commandeered my ship. I didn't realize that, and thought you were being presumptuous. Please forgive me for such a wrongheaded assumption."
Prism smiled, swiping some cheese off the knife with his thumb then licking it away. "I didn't want to make you angry, to be honest. In most other circumstances, I would have explained, but you seemed so irritated by my 'presumption' that I just didn't want to fight." He paused and tilted his head. "Not quite," he murmured in surprise. "I was afraid to make you angry. Yes, that's it. I was afraid."
Sandy's mouth fell open. "Afraid of me? Why?"
Prism glanced at Sandy. "You are quite adept with your whips."
Lunar giggled. "I remember now. You beat him up really badly, Sanderson, and then knocked him out and made him dream."
"Thanks for that, by the way," Prism said.
"For knocking you out?" Sandy asked in surprise.
"No, for giving me dreams," Prism popped another cracker in his mouth and chewed for a long time. When he swallowed, he glanced at Lunar then Sandy. "That's what broke his hold. That's when I started to be afraid. And that's what pulled me out of his filth long enough to come to my senses."
Sandy reached over and touched him. "You certainly kept your head while they were attacking us," he symbolized. "And you managed to set the autopilot back here before you passed out, which I am impressed by. But I am terribly sorry for everything going wrong. Next time, I shall trust your judgment. You are aware of so much that I am not, and I really need to remember that."
Prism nodded then swiped up some cheese before he leaned forward and put a dab on Sandy's nose. Sandy gasped in surprise then snorted and shook his finger at him. Prism smiled. "You are forgiven, Sanderson, as long as I can ask for your forgiveness, too. I acted as if you were as green as Jack at space travel. I should have told you about them, at any point, and things wouldn't have reached the point they did."
"Forgive and forget, I say," Sandy said.
"I'd rather forgive and learn from it," Prism said. He held up his cracker. "To honesty, friendship, adventure, and dreams."
Sandy and Lunar tapped their crackers together with Prism's, then they all crunched on them.
"Do we need to unload the cargo?" Prism asked.
"All done," Lunar said. "After I tended to the two of you, I needed a distraction. Sanderson, I left your items in the ship, but they will need tied down again."
"I'll show you how," Prism promised. "As long as we take it slow. I'm still rather sloshed."
Sandy nodded, and they all brushed the cracker crumbs off the blankets before they made their way toward the docking bay. They kept at a slow pace without needing to talk. Prism felt at ease with both Sandy and Lunar, and he considered the adventure. If there was one thing Sandy had taught Prism, it was that communication was important. Sandy was unable to talk out loud using any form of verbal speech; he'd given that up when he'd become a Star Captain. But that didn't mean he didn't communicate in other ways. Prism knew that very well, but sometimes he needed a reminder.
All in all, Prism felt the shopping trip with Sandy had been a success. He'd learned more about the Star Captain, had enjoyed his company, and had outflown space pirates. And he'd come out of all of that with a stronger friendship with the Sandman. He couldn't ask for anything better.