Pajorat II is beautiful from above. And judging from the greenhouses on Pajorat Prime, I bet it’s even more beautiful on the surface. It reminds me a bit of Meridian. Sometimes I forget that there are people who will never see it, my home planet. People who can look at a place like Pajorat II and think of nothing other than what a hassle the dense atmosphere must be.

But as much as I’d love to stay and see it up close, I have more pressing things on my mind.

“I’ve been thinking,” I say, finally getting the nerve to confess my plan to Byer. “Once we hear back from Kiv, you should take the Remus and go. You can meet up with the others. Kiv will help you. She’s good for it, I promise.”

“What are you talking about?” Byer asks, bewildered by my sudden announcement.

“I don’t know when I’ll be back,” I say, still looking out the glass at the swirling clouds of the planet below. “I feel bad for dragging you guys all the way out here. If you’re able to find another ride back to Alpha2, I don’t expect you to wait around for me.”

“I’m confused,” Byer says, certainly looking the part. “Are you going somewhere?”

“The signal—I’m gonna go find who’s on the other end of it.”

My mind is made up. If there’s any chance, however slim, that Lotus is out there…well, I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t find out one way or the other.

Byer doesn’t respond at first. He no doubt thinks I’m being rash, irresponsible, selfish. But he doesn’t say so. At least not out loud.

“Why?” he asks finally. And to my surprise, it doesn’t come out as an accusation. Instead, t’s almost as if he actually wants to understand.

I’ve been keeping it to myself—all my greatest fears, worries, and doubts—for so long, it almost feels wrong to say out loud. But the weight of it has gotten so heavy, it might not be a bad thing to have someone to share it with.

“There’s a ship,” I say, without meeting Byer’s eye, “Lotus. And everyone I care about most in the world is on that ship.”

The bridge is quiet, save for the gentle hum of the engine. I feel my chest tighten at the thought of my crew out there, alone in the dark, cold, unrelenting emptiness. Helpless. Waiting.

“Are you prepared to accept whatever’s out there,” Byer asks quietly, “even if it’s not what you were hoping to find?”

I give a resolute nod.

I’ve considered the possibility that I might go halfway across the galaxy just to find out that it’s not them on the other end of the signal. And I’ve considered the possibility that it is them, but that by the time I get there, they’ll all be dead. None of that matters. I have to know. I have to try.

“Alright,” he says at last. “But I’m going with you.”

I shake my head.

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“I appreciate it, but really, I don’t—”

“Jahdra,” Byer starts, “Captain,” he corrects himself. “We can keep fighting about it if you want, but I think you know how this is gonna end.”

I smile. We’re both stubborn. It can be a problem, but it can also be a blessing. I’m not sure why he wants to come along. But I know that his mind is made up, and once it is, there’s little point in trying to change it. Even if I can’t bring myself to say it out loud, I’m glad I don’t have to do this alone.

“You know, I could order you to stay,” I say with a smirk.

He shrugs.

“Go ahead. I’m not a member of your crew. I don’t take orders.”

We’re on our second orbit around Pajorat II when Chrys announces that we’ve received a message. Sure enough, it’s Kiv.

“Jahdra! I got your message, and I’d be more than happy to help out your friends on Prime, just as long as you don’t mind if I put them to work. Just kidding! Well, not really. Hey, no such thing as a free lunch, right? Anyway, I’ll go grab them as soon as I can. Let me know if you need anything else, okay? See you when you get back! Oh! Do me a favor and bring me back a piece of hallorath pie from Herminia, would ya?”

I smile to myself. I’m lucky to have someone like Kiv. Someone who has my back even all this time. Someone I can count on no matter how longer it’s been since we’ve seen each other last. I just hope I can find a way to pay her back someday.

“Well?” I say, turning to Byer. “You ready to do this?”

He doesn’t say anything, just nods, and I realize I’m lucky to have someone like him, too.

“Hey, Chrys, you still reading that signal?”

“Unspecified signal from unknown vessel,” Chrys answers.

“That’s the one,” I say. “Course correct relative to signal strength. In the absence of a signal, dampen engines and alert all decks.” Looks like it’s time to play a little hot and cold.

I watch Pajorat II fade into the distance as we head out of the system and feel an ache in my chest as I think about the people I’m leaving behind. For a minute, I think about turning around and going back for C-CIL and Shae. I hate the idea of them thinking I abandoned them, but I know they’ll be safer with Kiv than with me.

The first couple of hours pass by uneventfully, with Chrys keeping a steady lock on the signal.

I lean back in the command chair, fighting sleep, as I think about what I’m going to say to everyone when I see them. If I see them, I remind myself. I can already practically feel Ramy’s arms wrapping around me, pulling me into a giant hug and lifting me high off the ground as I yell to be put down. I can feel Meerin grabbing my face and planting kiss after wet kiss on my cheek as I laugh and squirm to get away. I can feel…

Suddenly, the command chair shakes, and I’m jerked awake from my half-conscious state.

“What was that?”

Byer is in the nav chair, looking gravely at the display screen and shaking his head.

“Two ships just showed up on the radar,” he reports. “One of them has fired on us.”

Shit. Not this again.

“I’m running max EM on the hull and taking evasive maneuvers,” Byer says before I can get a word out.

I run to tactical and pull up the weapons display.

“Give me photons, Chrys. Auto-lock with manual override,” I say.

“There’s a third ship,” Byer calls over. “He’s moving fast.”

It was bad enough last time when there was just one of them. Now there’s three?

“Hail them,” I shout, prepared to give them exactly one warning before I start firing.

“Please specify—”

“Any of them!”

I wait for a response, but none comes.

“Byer?” I call across the bridge.

“They’re not moving off,” he answers.

I pull up the photon’s auto-aim, locking onto the closest ship and firing a stream of photon bursts.

I wait for a minute.

“He’s falling back,” Byer reports.

It looks like that one’s taken the hint. Time to send the message to his friends.

I lock onto a second ship, but before I can fire, Chrys’s voice stops me.

“Incoming hail from unknown vessel,” she announces.

“Put it through,” I say, still ready to fire with the push of a button.

I’m curious to hear what they have to say.

“Hey there, MASSA-50, what’s your hurry?” comes the voice over the speaker.

Wait, what’s going on? I know that voice.

“Kash?!” I exclaim, unable to mask my surprise.

“J!” comes the unmistakable reply. “I told you not to run.”