Captain's Log:

We have surfaced in realspace, at the far edge of humanity's claimed systems.

The nearest star to our position is 109 Piscium, and we have located the relic temple. It is, even at half a million kilometers distance, visible to the naked eye.

We are collecting all the data we can from this distance and have thoroughly mapped the exterior of the station - though what lies within remains a complete mystery.

Upon seeing the station, I could not help but to feel a very powerful sense of foreboding. I believe I am not the only one.

There are many questions raised by this temple, not least of which being why no one found it before. While it is at the edge of settled space, an object this large should have been seen prior to now.

I hope we can answer this and other questions soon.

Contact with Nadian Farland's vessel, the Raven's Ghost, will be made shortly.

*******

"Holy shit, I'm going?"

Brooks, his face on her tablet screen, looked slightly amused at her response. "Yes, but try to watch the language."

Apollonia immediately had the urge to spew out as many curses as she could while grinning, but resisted.

"Thank you, Captain," she said.

"This may be dangerous, Apollonia," Brooks told her. "You understand that, right?"

"Yes," she said. "Hey, it wasn't that long back when you sent me onto a pirate ship."

Perhaps it was the wrong thing to say to him, as his face darkened with guilt.

It hadn't been a fun experience that time, but this time she wasn't going to feel as alone. Brooks was there - and he always had a handle on things.

Plus, Nadian Farland.

She felt like she was floating on air; not only was she getting to meet a childhood hero - because everyone knew Nadian Farland! - but even more importantly:

Her test was being postponed.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

She had mixed feelings about her own excitement. This test was what she had wanted, had worked and studied for.

She was terrified that she'd fail.

She was even scared that she would pass.

It wasn't like she'd just be given a badge of rank right away. There was a continuing educational process, and she was fairly certain that at some point it meant she would have to go to the Voidfleet Academy.

There were many branches, but none of them were on the Craton. They were located in planetary systems, and . . .

She didn't know if she wanted to leave the Craton. Not yet.

At least, she thought, trying to remain mindful of the moment, she did not have to worry about it right now.

Brooks had terminated the call, and she received a notification to report to one of the docking bays where they'd be boarding a shuttle.

Nadian Farland!

Every kid growing up had seen his films, played his games, had the toys, or some combination thereof. The man found alien treasures and fought space pirates. Sure, there was huge embellishment, but there was a kernel of truth in his stories. He really had done exciting things.

She had been studying, but little was sticking, and she'd been lingering on the same page for the last ten minutes.

She closed her study programs and stowed her tablet, before gathering up everything she might need.

Which didn't amount to much; but she did bring a small medical bag that Zey had given her after Ko. It had some neatly-bagged equipment that might let her help someone.

Leaving her cabin, she stopped in the doorway.

Across the hall, watching her door, was Kell.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, unnerved.

She only now felt his intrusive presence, and she wondered just how the bastard managed to control it so precisely.

Kell watched her unblinking for a long moment, and just as she was about to ask again, he spoke.

"You did not take my advice," he said.

Anger, driven by fear, sparked up in her. "You mean your stupid fortune-cookie wisdom about awakening myself? I'm sorry, I didn't know I was supposed to treat that as actionable intelligence."

Kell said nothing, not even blinking.

"Really, what does that mean? Was I supposed to look up on my tablet how to awaken my true self and stop dreaming of being a normal person?" she asked.

"You did not even try," he said. "Your answers lie within."

"And you know what?" she said. "Maybe I don't want answers to whatever cryptic questions you want to pose to me. I don't care why I'm different or weird or creepy. I don't want to be a Seer, and I just want to do something . . ." she flailed for a word. "Something useful!"

Kell looked just slightly disappointed. "It is an unfairly short period of time for you. You are not yet ready. I am sorry. What will come will be a shock to you."

She felt her insides crawl. Kell had never been this talkative to her. Typically he was just . . . silent and staring.

He was still doing the latter, and she hated it. She was tired of it.

"You know I hate you, don't you?" she said quietly.

Kell nodded. "I expect so."

"You murdered a . . . a baby."

Kell's head tilted, an eyebrow going up. "You are so close to understanding. Yet you do not search."

"Fuck you!" she spat, turning and walking away as fast as she could.

Kell did not follow her.