The ambassador said nothing for a long moment, instead simply sidling up next to him and looking out. Its eyes lingered on the vast construction areas, but then moved to the stars.

"They are much brighter off of Earth," it commented. "I understand it is because of the lack of atmosphere. But the difference is stark."

Brooks looked out. The stars were brighter, but he wondered if it was even more of a shock for a being who had looked up at the stars for much more of its life than he had.

He glanced around behind them. The Ambassador's arrival had not gone unnoticed, and he saw many eyes watching them.

He forced his smile again, feigning a relaxed demeanor he did not feel. Though, at least, he didn't feel nauseated again. Something he'd read in the reports was that that reaction did not typically last long.

"You're seeing an alien star already," he noted. "The star of this system, Proxima Centauri, is actually the closest star to the Sol System. She's part of a trinary system, actually. We can't see the other two stars - Rigil Kentaurus and Toliman - from this angle, but they're quite close, by astronomical standards."

Kell leaned forward, touching the clear panel that separated them from the void.

"I recall its position in the sky. I did not give it special attention at any time. But I know of this star. The others . . . they are moved. In new positions."

"We're four light years from Earth, so most are not that far off," Brooks commented.

"To me they are," Kell replied.

Brooks smiled again, but unconsciously; he hardly registered that he was feeling less unnerved around the Shoggoth, and he reached a hand up to put it on the Ambassador's shoulder. "You're going to see many others before-"

Kell's head turned sharply towards Brooks as his hand settled on its shoulder.

A stab of fear went through Brooks. He removed his hand. "My apologies if touching you was an issue-"

"No," Kell said, interrupting him. His face was just as calm, but there was a tone to his voice that was different. "You are the least frightened I've met so far."

Brooks wasn't sure he'd agree with that assessment - but remembering the voice of Admiral Vandoss, he suddenly wondered.

"I suppose we'll get used to you over time. You're just very different," he replied. "There's often an adjustment period for species that have just met each other."

Kell returned to gazing out of the window. "I have no difficulty being among you," it said. It said it so easily that Brooks didn't doubt it. "You are not unfamiliar to me. Being around you here is no different from the rest of my history. Your type of life is always around." The Shoggoth's green eyes flickered over to him. "All that is odd is that you are not running away."

"We no longer have a reason to be afraid," Brooks said confidently.

Kell shook his head. "You are very wrong about that."

Brooks knew his expression went dark. But before he could speak, the Shoggoth spoke again.

"There is still much to fear in this universe, Captain."

Brooks was unsure how to reply. But Kell turned away from the window, giving him a curt nod.

"When the ship leaves, I would like to observe from the bridge."

Brooks took a moment to reply. "That is fine. We leave in thirteen hours."

*******

The massive screens that lined the bridge gave Brooks an almost complete view of space around the ship. While everyone, from the highest officers to those in the crew pits could see the screens, his heads-up display in his eyes provided him a true complete picture of space around the ship - he need only turn his head and look, as if the ship itself was made of glass.

But none of these were true windows; merely screens.

Unlike the ships of old, the Craton's bridge was deep inside her heart - as safe as could be.

It was important; this was the brain of the ship, and as long as they were alive, and at least one of the seven reactors were functioning, she would be able to keep cruising, keep exploring, and if need be, keep fighting.

"Sir, we are coming upon the edge of Proxima Centarui's Oort Cloud," the Navigator, Ji-min Bin informed him.

"Flight Control, bring in all our drones. Administration, signal all civilians to take a seat - we will be entering zerospace in one minute. Set course for outpost BH-317."

Their affirmations came, and he leaned forward in his chair.

A door behind him opened with a soft hiss and he glanced back.

Ambassador Kell walked in. It looked around, taking in the view of the bridge.

Brooks sat highest, to give him a clear view of the crew pits and the best view of the screens. Just slightly below him was a ring where the department heads sat, and below each of them were further areas, going into shallow pits, where the crew operating each section were busy. Though the vast majority of the ship's functions were controlled by computers and artificial intelligence that could operate faster than any human mind, there was always still work to be done for living hands.

There were two seats near the Captain's chair, and Brooks gestured to one. "Have a seat, Ambassador. We will be making the jump to zerospace shortly."

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"I prefer to stand," Kell replied absently. "All of these people operate this ship?"

"That's right," Brooks said. "Urle - why don't you help answer the ambassador's questions?"

Urle nodded, stepping over. He gestured to the other officers and began to explain their roles.

Brooks focused again on what was coming. He'd entered zerospace more times than he could even count by now - but it still thrilled some part of him. He wondered if it was the same feeling a sailor felt when they finally left harbor, just the wind filling their sails, going to a place they had never seen before. Places of legends and stories.

But unlike in those days, where he could take his ship was truly infinite.

He interrupted his Executive Commander. "Ambassador, I should insist you sit now. We are going to jump in half a minute and it can be quite the jolt."

"I took such a trip to Proxima Centauri," Kell replied. "A Shoggoth does not fall down regardless of the 'jolt' - I shall remain standing."

Brooks exchanged a strained glance with Urle. "Very well, Ambassador."

Urle sat down, and Brooks gripped his seat in excitement.

"Take us in, Navigator."

"Aye, Captain." Bin was an accomplished navigator, but he could hear the excitement in her voice. All of their hearts were beating more rapidly.

Ten, Brooks thought.

"Initializing Zerodrive systems. All systems within operational parameters."

Nine.

"Fusion reactors are all stable, beginning the distortion field."

Eight.

"Gravitational fields increasing."

Seven.

"Tenkionic attraction increasing."

Six. Five.

"Aperture has begun to open."

Four. Three. Two.

"Entering Zerospace," she breathed.

One.

He felt the movement; they all did. It felt like they had stepped off a cliff and were falling. His heart jumped in his throat, and he only just managed to keep the smile off his face.

"We are now in zerospace," Ji-min Bin said. She was beaming.

The feeling of falling faded as they achieved the hyper-velocities that were evidently the norm in this alternate dimension. "Time until reaching outpost BH-317, approximately seventeen hours."

"Keep us at half-cruising until we are thirty light-years out of the Sol System, then increase to full travel speed."

"Why do the screens show nothing?" Kell asked. "I have been curious to see what 'zerospace' looks like."

"I'm afraid that is not allowed," Urle said. "All viewports are covered during our time in zerospace - it's for the health of the crew."

Kell nodded, seemingly accepting that. "I can understand why."

Brooks looked at him curiously. "I was not aware you knew much of how our zerodrives operated."

"I know very little," Kell replied. "But the place you call zerospace - that I have knowledge of."

Brooks glanced at Urle again.

"Perhaps you can tell us about it, some time, Ambassador."

Kell shook his head. "Unlikely."

It was a frustrating answer, but not a shocking one. Humanity's history of interacting with alien species had often been one of such frustrations. One couldn't take such a refusal on a surface level; cultural taboos, top-down decision-making, or simply different psychologies could cause many questions to have to simply remain unanswered.

Though, he had to remind himself, technically the Shoggoths weren't aliens. They were earthlings, like humans - and if they were telling the truth about their ages, then they long-preceded mankind.

"Stop the ship," Kell said.

It caught Brooks off-guard. "What?"

"Stop the ship, immediately," the ambassador repeated, urgency in his voice. "Pull us back into normal space."

The demand irked Brooks, and something in the being's voice made him want to listen. But it was his ship, and ambassador or not, he did not give orders here. "Ambassador, with all due respect-"

"Sir!" Ji-min Bin's voice said loudly. "Detecting an anomaly in zerospace dead in our course!"

Brooks barked his order. "Bring us back to realspace!"

An emergency alarm went off; just as going into zerospace caused a jolt, coming out - especially this fast - would cause another.

They exited into realspace hard. Even though all bridge crew were strapped in, they were thrown against their restraints.

"Damage and casualty reports," Brooks ordered. "Cenz, find out what this anomaly is and if it's dangerous."

"Casualties are minimal, Captain," Doctor Y noted. "Seventeen contusions and eight minor concussions. Possibly one broken clavicle. I have presently dispatched medical teams."

Cenz turned in his seat, his face screen showing confusion. "Captain, I detect a vessel, but no anomaly."

"Can you identify the ship?" Urle asked.

"It is approximately 3 kilometers in length, a long-range cruising ship that does not match any known ship of the Sapient Union. I believe it is a Hev vessel."

"It's not broadcasting any identifiers?" Brooks asked.

"No, Captain. The ship appears to be drifting, though residual heat suggests it was under power very recently. It is approximately 300,000 kilometers distant from us."

The Captain looked to Kell. "Is that ship why you said we should leave zerospace?"

Kell's eyes were slightly closed, intently staring ahead, as if actually looking at the ship.

"No," he finally said. "But it is related."

"It is possible that the anomaly we detected could have disabled the Hev vessel," Cenz noted. "Though I am not sure how. I believe the vessel has at least 21 fusion reactors, though all are offline."

Brooks tapped his chin. "Let's see it."

The screens zoomed in, and an impossibly small speck turned into a monstrously long vessel.

Hev ships were often very large, and this was on the smaller side. It was crude in appearance, as most Hev ships were, and it was very narrow, with a heavy protective shield at the fore. Exposed heat dissipators jutted from its main body at intervals, still glowing a dull red.

"There are no external signs of damage," Cenz said. "The ship was likely only minutes ahead of us, though I believe heading towards Earth."

"Likely a trader," Urle noted.

"From what I understand," Kell said, "the void is very large. Why are they so close to us?"

He had grasped that concept quickly, Brooks thought. "Zerospace is unpredictable, and most ships travel through well-known routes that offer the greatest safety. The routes into and out of the Sol System are extensively mapped."

"And if two ships hit?"

"That can't happen," Urle added. "The stabilization fields that ships create around themselves repel each other and we'd simply slide around another vessel."

Something seemed very wrong to Brooks.

"Dispatch probes to investigate the vessel. If they are Hev, there are likely a hundred thousand at least aboard that ship. I'm not going to leave them to die."