I stare blankly through the glass panes of the bay as I travel up to the dock. I have a million questions and no time to ask any of them.

Was Lotus here on Pajorat Prime? What would they be doing all the way out here? Did they run into trouble on the way to Herminia and change course, like we did?

I walk onto the command bridge, still in a daze.

“Chrys, can you take us toward Pajorat IV?” My voice sounds strange, like it’s coming from somewhere far away, and my mind feels like it’s running in a hundred different directions at once. I watch Pajorat Prime grow slowly smaller as the ship moves away from the dock and out into open space.

Kash mentioned they tried to run, but who were they running from? Were they trying to avoid inspection or was there something else going on? Were they able to get away? Are they still out there somewhere?

“Do you wanna tell me what’s going on?” the sound of Byer’s voice makes me jump, rousing me from my thoughts. I stare at him for a minute, shocked at first by his presence, and then shake my head in an attempt to bring myself back to reality.

“Yeah, sorry,” I murmur, trying to think of the least panic-inducing way to answer his question.

“They’re running inspection rounds on Pajorat Prime, so we’ve gotta clear out for a while until we can come back and pick up our fuel,” I explain, trying to push the thoughts of Lotus to the back of my mind and focus on our present predicament.

“The rest of our fuel,” Byer corrects me. “I managed to get about half of it loaded.”

“Thanks,” I say with a weak smile. “Anyway, we’re gonna go to Gallus and wait things out for a bit.”

“Gallus?” Byer asks.

“It’s a moon off of Pajorat IV,” I answer. “We can hide out there for a few hours until inspection’s over. Hopefully they won’t snag us when we drop back in.”

Byer chews this over for a minute. His annoyance is palpable.

“What about C-CIL and Shae?” he asks stiffly.

“We’ll pick them up when we come back.”

Byer scoffs.

“Do they have any idea what’s going on?” he asks, “Or did you run off without telling them anything?”

I look down and shake my head. I do feel bad about leaving them with no explanation, but what I said earlier was true—if we end up with a security team or, god forbid, Garda on our ship, it’s better for everyone if they’re not around. I’m probably doing them a favor by leaving them out of this.

“Look, I know you think this is stupid, but I couldn’t come up with anything better,” I say, throwing my hands up in resignation. “This wasn’t exactly something I was expecting to deal with today.”

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“So this was your idea?” he asks. But I can tell by his tone he’s waiting for me to contradict him.

“Not exactly,” I answer reluctantly.

There’s a long silence before Byer speaks again.

“I almost hate to ask,” he starts, “but have you considered the possibility that this could be a trap?”

The truth is, I hadn’t. Not even for a second. I wanted to trust Kash, so I did. I wanted to believe that this person I’d just met was genuinely looking out for me, and the thought that this could all be setup had never even crossed my mind. I don’t think it’s a trap. It doesn’t feel like it’s a trap. But that’s how any good trap should look from the outside, isn’t it?

I sigh, the weight of my own naïveté settling over me. And then I say something that surprises us both.

“Okay. You’re right. Let’s come up with a new plan.”

Byer looks at me with an expression of disbelief that then gives way to one of relief. And in that moment, I see something in his eyes that I recognize as the first step toward trust for the both of us.

Lotus is still in the back of my mind, a slew of unanswered questions barraging my subconscious, but I know I’m going to have to wait before I get any answers. For now, I have to focus on the task at hand.

“Going back to Pajorat Prime is out of the question, at least for now,” I say.

Byer nods in agreement.

“Do we know anything else about the other planets in the system?” he asks

“Not much,” I confess. “Kiv did mention something about terraforming projects on Pajorat II, but—” That’s it. Kiv.

“Chrys, change course. Pajorat II.”

“Current coordinates: GCP Gamma1, 0.061. Destination: Pajorat II.”

“What exactly is on Pajorat II?” Byer wants to know.

“I have a friend there. I’d trust her with my life,” I say as way of explanation.

He considers this for a minute.

“Let’s keep orbit and see if we can get a message through to her. It’s not worth the risk to try and go to the surface. We don’t know what’s waiting down there.”

I nod in agreement.

“Does Chrys have her ship’s comms ID?” Byer asks.

“If she’s still on the Arcadian,” I say, pulling up a list of stored ship IDs on the control panel.

It turns out Byer and I actually make a pretty good team when we’re willing to work together. Who would have thought?

I’m in the middle of recording a message to Kiv when Chrys interrupts me.

“Incoming: unspecified signal from unknown vessel.”

I feel my heart skip a beat. Is someone hailing us?

“Put it through, Chrys,” I say.

“Incoming: unspecified signal from unknown vessel,” she repeats.

It’s not a hail. Well, that’s good, I guess. At least we can rule out the Vanguard, and probably Pajorat security. They like to make themselves known.

“Can you be a little more specific?” I ask Chrys.

“Unspecified signal from unknown vessel. Signal strength: weak. Origin: unknown.”

Great. That’s way more specific. I roll my eyes, wishing C-CIL was here to help straighten Chrys out.

Then something occurs to me.

“Wait, is it…a distress signal?” I ask, suddenly remembering the signal C-CIL kept picking up on the way here. I glance over at Byer. I wonder if he’s thinking the same thing as me.

“Signal type: unspecified,” Chrys answers.

Jesus Christ. Whoever said a computer’s intelligence is superior has clearly never met this one.

“What do you think?” I ask, looking at Byer.

His only reply is a shrug. I chew my lip, thinking. Do I ignore it and hope it’s nothing or try to track it in case someone out there needs help? I’d hate to leave someone stranded if they’re in trouble, but we’re not exactly sitting pretty ourselves. Besides, someone else is bound to pick up the signal sooner or later.

“Incoming: unspecified signal from unknown vessel,” Chrys says yet again.

I rub my forehead and groan. I don’t have time for this right now. I’ve got to focus on getting this message to Kiv, and I have a feeling Chrys isn’t going to shut up about the signal unless I tell her to.

“Why don’t you put a pin in that, Chrys,” I say, leaning back in my chair. “Unless it’s—” I stop mid-sentence, almost afraid to finish the thought.

Unless it’s someone we know.

Someone like Lotus.