The hum of the ship’s systems thrummed softly, a steady rhythm that blended seamlessly with the faint clicks of Walter’s paws as he darted through his enclosure. Zaria’s fingers danced over the holographic display, tracing the delicate outlines of constellations waiting for names, weaving intricate paths through the infinite void. Each connection she made felt like uncovering a secret the universe had left just for her. Here, in the solitude of her lab, she thrived. The world beyond her walls—the noise, the chaos, the endless demands of social niceties—faded into insignificance.
The lab was her sanctuary, a refuge of quiet precision and singular focus. The star map before her expanded, shifting under her fingertips as she fine-tuned its pathways. She paused, studying the trajectory of a distant star system, her mind wholly absorbed in the delicate puzzle. Her lips twitched in satisfaction as the alignment clicked into place.
In this space, she didn’t need anyone else. Zaria knew the value of teamwork—she wasn’t blind to the camaraderie that held the crew together, the shared purpose that gave meaning to their missions. But when it came to her maps, to the science she poured herself into, she was a team of one. Here, interruptions were unnecessary, and polite small talk was an unwelcome distraction.
Walter’s sudden chittering drew her gaze. The ferret wrestled a meaty bone from his hidden stash, his tiny body twisting as he maneuvered the prize with determined enthusiasm. He paused to glance at her, blue eyes bright with triumph.
“Walter,” Zaria said with mock exasperation, her voice cutting through the hum of the lab, “if you find one more meaty bone, I’m enrolling you in rehab.”
Walter froze, the bone clutched in his tiny jaws, and tilted his head as if weighing the seriousness of her words. Then, with a dismissive twitch of his tail, he resumed his feast, chittering as though he had just won a grand prize.
Zaria’s lips curled into a small smile, warmth blooming in her chest. The sight of her quirky companion, so unaffected by the vastness of the galaxy outside their walls, reminded her of the simplicity she cherished in these moments. The galaxy might be indifferent and infinite, but here, in this little corner, she had her map, her questions, and Walter. That was enough.
A soft chime pierced the stillness of the lab, cutting through Zaria’s focus like a scalpel. She flinched at the intrusion, her tranquil bubble bursting as the ship’s AI spoke in its usual smooth yet unyielding tone. “Lieutenant Commander Jenkins, please report to the bridge. Priority one briefing in five minutes.”
Zaria froze for half a beat, her hand hovering over the holographic map. The words Priority One rang in her ears, slicing through the remnants of her calm. Her heart gave a sharp kick—equal parts nerves and excitement. “Priority one?” she murmured, the term crackling with urgency and promise. This was why she was here, wasn’t it? To help, to solve, to uncover the answers no one else could.
Her fingers flew over the console, tapping a sequence to save her work before she turned toward Walter. The ferret had stopped chewing mid-bite, his blue eyes locked on her as if he could sense the tension hanging in the air. He clutched his bone tightly, his whiskers twitching in mild alarm.
Zaria crouched beside his enclosure, her tone soft but firm. “Stay put, Walter. No adventures while I’m gone, alright? And pace yourself with those snacks. You’re not the size of a nebula yet, but you’re getting there.”
Walter squeaked in reply, a sound that could have been agreement or defiance—it was hard to tell with him. Zaria shook her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips, and pressed her fingers to the cool glass of his habitat in a quiet promise to return.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Standing, she grabbed her utility belt and slid her datapad into the deep pocket of her light blue lab coat, a color specifically designated to distinguish her from the medical staff. Too many times, the sight of “Dr.” on her ID had led to a parade of crewmates asking her to diagnose everything from headaches to stomach bugs.
“If you’ve got a meteorite stuck in your chest, I can analyze its composition,” she muttered under her breath as she adjusted the belt. “But anything involving flesh and blood? Wrong doctor.”
Walter let out another squeak as she headed toward the door, her steps purposeful now, the familiar thrum of duty settling into her veins. As she crossed the threshold, the quiet warmth of the lab was left behind, replaced by the hum of the USS Horizon Seeker’s corridors. The ship was alive with its own energy, and Zaria was ready to answer its call.
The lab doors slid open with a soft hiss, a breath of cool, sterile air brushing past Zaria’s face as she stepped out. The tranquil hum of her private sanctuary faded, replaced by the ship’s rhythmic pulse: the murmur of voices, the steady thrum of machinery, and the faint metallic echo of boots against the polished floor. The corridor stretched before her, gleaming and orderly under the bright overhead lights, the harshness of recycled air a sharp reminder of how far they were from any planet’s surface.
Crew members bustled past, some nodding briskly in acknowledgment, their movements sharp and efficient, each person seemingly driven by a sense of purpose. Zaria’s shoulders tightened instinctively, the vibrant energy of the main corridors always jarring compared to the solitude of her lab. The chatter of passing crew was a low, unintelligible hum, punctuated occasionally by clipped orders and bursts of laughter that bounced off the metallic walls.
Her pulse quickened, anticipation and nerves tangling in her chest as her thoughts darted to the Priority One summons. She tried to dampen the thrill that rippled through her, focusing instead on keeping her pace steady. Adventure had a way of exciting her—so long as it didn’t take her far from her lab’s comforting predictability.
Her gaze flicked downward to the orange lights embedded in the floor, blinking in rhythmic sequence to guide her way. Each pulse seemed to echo the steady beat of her heart. The lights had been installed to combat her spatial dyslexia, a necessary adjustment to navigate the Horizon Seeker’s maze-like corridors. They had felt intrusive at first, a glaring sign of her shortcoming. Nine months later, they were both a crutch and a grudging comfort.
“Just follow the breadcrumbs,” she muttered under her breath, her tone wry. The words brought back memories of her first few days aboard—wandering into the engineering deck instead of the mess hall, or ending up in the observation bay when she was aiming for the cargo hold. The stifled laughter, the quirked eyebrows—she had felt every glance like a pinprick.
The lights had been Master Sergeant Reynolds’s idea. “Safety,” Reynolds had said at the time, but Zaria knew better. It wasn’t just about safety; it was a leash, a way to tether her movements to the ship’s design. She gritted her teeth against the thought, forcing herself to focus forward.
Her steps carried her closer to the bridge, the corridor narrowing slightly as she ascended an incline. The orange lights pulsed steadily beneath her boots, guiding her upward. The noise of the ship softened, the sounds of activity receding as the anticipation inside her grew. Her mind churned with possibilities. A Priority One summons could mean many things—perhaps they’d discovered an uncharted planet, or even stumbled across a celestial anomaly that defied established theory. The thought sent a spark of excitement coursing through her, quickening her steps.
As the final set of lights blinked into the bridge’s entryway, Zaria paused, letting out a slow, steadying breath. Her fingers brushed against the edge of her utility belt, grounding herself in the familiar routine. The doors slid open with a whisper, spilling warm light across her face and illuminating the threshold. She stepped forward, straightening her posture, her professional demeanor sliding into place like a well-worn glove.
The hum of the ship seemed to synchronize with the beat of her heart as she crossed into the heart of the Horizon Seeker’s operations. Whatever awaited her inside—unknown worlds, unprecedented challenges, or perhaps something beyond her wildest calculations—Zaria felt the spark of readiness flare within her. The unknown was her domain, and she would face it head-on.