The night before the grand opening of the exhibition at the Tell Us Institute of Science was as serene as the sprawling luxury hotel could offer. The Mandoleer’s Folly crew, along with their distinguished passengers, enjoyed the comfort provided by their plush surroundings—a stark contrast to their usual quarters aboard the ship. Spacedawg, despite the undercurrent of unease that had accompanied him since their arrival, managed to find solace in dreams of his younger, more carefree days.
The morning light brought with it a buzz of excitement as the crew gathered for breakfast, discussing the day ahead with a mixture of anticipation and duty. As they made their way to the museum, Spacedawg’s gaze caught on a peculiar sight—children clutching action figures remarkably similar to him.
“What’s with the action figures?” Spacedawg asked Celine, his brow furrowing at the miniature plastic versions of himself in the hands of excited children.
Celine smiled, her expression a mix of amusement and pride. “It was a directive from High Command,” she explained. “They’re part of a new initiative to appeal to children and to help fund a project about safety in schools. They thought who better than Spacedawg Pauly
Birth Name: PaulyCurrent Alias: Spacedawg PaulySpecies: Human-Canine HybridDate of Birth: February 22, 1973Place of Birth: Washington, D.C., United States, Earth, Sol SystemOccupations: Former Chef, Brewer, Distiller, Garden Worker, Apprentice Cobbler; Current First Mate on the Mandoleer's Folly, Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Space Cavalry (RCSC) Overview Spacedawg Pauly is a unique entity whose life story spans both Earth and the..., the hero of the Canadian Expanse?”
Spacedawg chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief as they approached the ribbon-draped entrance. The Administrator handed him ceremonial scissors to do the honors, but as he tried to cut the ribbon, the scissors stubbornly refused to cooperate.
“These scissors aren’t working well,” Spacedawg announced to the crowd, playing up the moment. “How will I cut this ribbon now?”
From the crowd of children, a chant began to rise, gaining volume as more voices joined in. “Axe, axe, axe!”
Grinning broadly, Spacedawg played along with the moment. “Seems like the people have spoken!” He called his axe, and within seconds, it landed with a thud into his outstretched hand. With a dramatic swing, he sliced through the ribbon, declaring, “The exhibition is officially open!”
The crowd erupted into cheers, but amidst the celebration, Spacedawg’s earlier unease clawed back into his consciousness, stronger and more insistent than before. Celine, ever observant, noted the shift in his demeanor.
“What’s wrong?” she asked quietly, her eyes scanning the crowd as she spoke to him.
Spacedawg’s gaze was distant, his senses on high alert. “I can’t shake this feeling, Celine. Something’s about to happen. My gut’s never wrong.”
Without hesitation, Celine’s expression hardened with resolve. “I trust your instincts,” she affirmed. “Let’s not take any chances.” She discreetly signaled to the crew, her voice low but clear. “Everyone, arm yourselves discreetly. Stay vigilant and watch for anything unusual.”
As the festivities continued, the crew of the Mandoleer’s Folly remained on alert, their eyes scanning the joyful chaos of the exhibition opening. The joy of the children and the general revelry contrasted sharply with the crew’s tense readiness, each member prepared to defend against unseen threats. In the cosmos, as on earth, the line between celebration and catastrophe was often perilously thin, and Spacedawg knew better than to ignore the instincts that had saved them more times than he could count.
