In the nearly 1000 years I’ve been alive, I’ve never really had a place that felt like home. Navas comes close, though.
As we approached our destination I was treated to a sight I’d seen countless times before: a sapphire blue planet, speckled with streaks of fluffy white clouds. Most of the surface was covered in water, but near the horizon you could see a thin strip of emerald peeking through—the western edge of Navas’s one and only continent. A minuscule glimmer, barely visible from here, may have even been the city we operated out of, Milanya.
Instead of the surface, the Lodestar was heading towards a small silver dot far beyond the horizon. This was the Navas Interplanetary Spaceport: a colossal ring of steel orbiting high above the planet. To get to Milanya, we first had to dock at the spaceport, then take a shuttle down to the surface.
“Hey Kethe, what’s the first thing you’re gonna do when you reach planetside?”
Micken’s question came out of nowhere. Knowing it would be easier to answer him instead of trying to coax out his rationale, I mulled it over. “Probably head down to the library. I should catch up on the latest research.”
“Boooring.” Micken turned away from me. “What about you, Alesha?”
“You know full well the first thing I’ll be doing is submitting our survey results to our contractors,” she replied. “And the Captain will be tagging along this time.”
I withered a little under her razor-sharp glare. “Yes ma’am.”
“You two are no fun.” Undeterred, Micken moved on to his next target. “How about you, Raynor? Got any big plans for shore leave?”
He gave a noncommittal grunt, but otherwise did not deign to respond.
“Primm?”
Primm scowled up at Micken from her station. “You know, some of us are still working here.”
“You’re all so depressing. It’s Navas, baby!” Micken did a little fist pump. “A little slice of frontier paradise. I have it on good authority that even the ritziest coreworlders fly all the way out here for vacation.”
“Yeah, well, they don’t already live here, do they?” was my reasoned response. “I’ve seen enough of Navas to be sick of it.”
Micken wagged his finger and tut-tutted my way. “How could you say that? Every guren knows there’s no place like home.”
I rolled my eyes. “Is it home, or a getaway? You’re not making any sense.”
“It’s both, my dear friend. Both.” He gave an exaggerated sigh and shook his head. “One day, you’ll appreciate it.”
Micken must have decided I was a lost cause, as he left to go harass the rest of the crew on the bridge. In a way, he wasn’t wrong. Sure, it was nice to have a place to come back to, and I’d developed a fondness for Navas over the decades. But no matter how warm and welcoming it was, from the moment I touched down I’d be itching to get back out there.
“All crew, prepare for final approach.” Primm’s sudden announcement jolted me out of my thoughts. She was speaking into the PA system, her voice reverberating throughout the entire ship. “We will be docking at Navas Interplanetary Spaceport soon. Until we are fully secured, please remain in your cabin or at your station.”
Primm glared at Micken as she said those last few words. He slinked back to my side, antsy as usual. During manual docking procedures, he would often be the one to guide the Lodestar into position, but Navas was busy enough that docking was automatic. Since we were currently being remotely piloted by Orbital Traffic Control, Micken had nothing to do.
“Can’t they take us in any faster?” he whined.
“You say this every time,” I retorted. “Look, it’s coming into view now.”
The spaceport was directly in sight now, and despite Micken’s complaints, we were approaching it quite quickly. Given Navas’s reputation as a tourist hotspot, it was suitably massive, capable of accommodating the grand passenger liners that frequently visited. There didn’t seem to be any currently docked, but there was plenty of traffic regardless, since the spaceport served as a major hub for the less popular frontier worlds and small colonies in the region.
At this distance, you could see the entire structure was spinning slowly. When viewed head-on, it looked like an enormous wheel with six spokes. The outer ring housed the hangars and dry docks, while a much smaller inner ring contained cafes, shops, and shuttles down to the surface.
“See those large blocks?” I pointed towards the spokes. On each radial, a nondescript mass bulged out between the two rings. “Those are counterweights. Their positions are constantly shifting to keep the station’s center of gravity stable. Because it changes, with all the ships coming and going, you know? So there’s all these rails and hydraulics and cables that move them back and forth and—”
I stopped, noticing Micken’s bemused look. “What?”
“Just marveling at all the random junk you cram into that noggin of yours,” he said. “What’s the point of it all?”
I shrugged. “It’s fun to learn new things.”
“If it’s relevant to me, maybe. Otherwise it’s a chore.”
“In that case, you better develop an interest in port compliance real quick,” I replied.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Kethe?” Micken’s face darkened. “Oh no. You can’t be serious.”
He stepped away and immediately bumped into Alesha, who had somehow appeared right behind him. “Don’t even think about it,” she warned, blocking his escape. “It’s your responsibility now too.”
“Don’t worry Micken—Alesha and I will help,” I said. “It’s only a little bit of paperwork. It won’t take that long.”
“He’s lying, and you know it,” purred Alesha.
Micken looked back and forth between the two of us in terror. Alesha crossed her arms, while I averted my eyes. The spaceport was looming above us now as we glided slowly towards the open hangar ahead. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Micken wilt as he resigned himself to his fate.
“Good boy,” said Alesha.
----------------------------------------
About three hours later, the three of us finally stepped out onto the spaceport promenade. Micken stretched his arms out and shook his head. “Ugh, that was horrible.”
Alesha smirked. “Now you know what we’ve been dealing with this whole time. I told you it would take forever.”
The Lodestar was securely docked in the hangar behind us. The rest of the crew had long since departed; the three of us had to stick around to complete the formal docking procedures. It consisted primarily of rote paperwork, where we had to share the crew roster, ship specifications, and whatever goods or equipment we were transporting. The work itself was easy, and Alesha and I were so used to it that we could do it with our eyes closed. We slowed down to explain things for Micken’s sake, but that wasn’t the reason why it took so long.
“We spent an hour and a half just waiting for the port inspector to get around to us!” Micken dropped his arms abruptly and slumped against the wall. His eyes were like those of a dead fish at market, staring vacantly from the ice. “I don’t wanna do this again.”
Alesha rolled her eyes. “Oh get over it, it wasn’t even that bad. Three hours is pretty quick, actually.”
“It’s true,” I added. “If you consider how lethargic most guren administrative work is, and how this is a busy passenger port on top of that… frankly, I was expecting it to take another hour at least.”
“Please tell me you’re joking.” Desperation dripped from Micken’s voice.
I patted him on the shoulder. “You’ll get used to it. It’s your responsibility, now that you’re First Engineer.”
Micken groaned. “Curse that old geezer, dumping this on me out of the blue.”
On the last leg of the expedition, Sothas had announced his engagement to Freia, our cook. Both of them were retiring to spend their last few centuries together. Naturally, we held a celebration for the two on the Lodestar, where I also preemptively promoted a dumbstruck Micken.
“Still, it must have been a pain for you two as well, huh? Finding out on such short notice and all that.”
I shot a covert glance over at Alesha, who was as stone-faced as ever. Of course, my reaction gave it away regardless, and I watched as Micken's quizzical look dissolved into a horrific realization.
“No… You knew?”
I sighed. There was no point in hiding it any longer. “...Before the last expedition, he took us aside. Said he wanted it to be a surprise.”
Micken scrunched up his eyes and shook his hands in front of him, struggling to form words. “That—but—shouldn’t he have told me, at least?”
It seemed clear to me why Sothas kept him in the dark, but for Micken, I had to spell it out. “If you knew, you would have pestered him about his engagement the entire trip, right?”
“Naturally,” said Micken. “I’ve been trying to get them together for nearly a century. They’re a cute couple.”
He was right about that. Freia had carried a torch for the old engineer for so long, it was hard not to root for her. I’d never admit it to Micken though. He was just too obnoxious about all things love and romance—Sothas and Friea were no exception.
“Well, considering how long you spent prying into his love life, he probably just wanted to get back at you a little,” I replied.
“Ohhh, that slick-shelled scoundrel. I’ll return the favor one day, he’ll see,” said Micken, glowering ominously.
Alesha, for her part, had been cackling maniacally. “I can’t believe it took you this long to figure it out. Why else do you think Sothas was so hands-on with your training?”
“I did think it was a bit much, even for him,” sighed Micken. “If only I could have put the pieces together sooner…”
For some reason, I got the sense that Micken mostly lamented his missed opportunity to grill Sothas during the trip.
“There’s still the farewell party in a couple weeks,” I said. “If you’ve got complaints, take it up with him then.”
His eyes lit up at my suggestion. “Now that’s a plan.”
We reached a large open area and came to a stop. It was an indoor plaza of sorts, lined with casual eateries, stores stocked with travel necessities, and vendors selling Navas-themed souvenirs. In the center of the plaza, a small waterfall peeked out from a cluster of artificial fronds, mimicking the natural rainforests seen on the surface. Above that gentle cascade, a torrent of departures and arrivals scrolled by on a prominent four-sided screen, which also displayed flashing advertisements and the current time in a few of Navas’s major cities.
“I believe this is where we part ways,” I said, turning to Micken.
“Oh yeah, you’ve got that meeting with Sothas.” Micken nodded and frowned. “Still dunno why I wasn’t invited. I hope it isn’t about me.”
“Honestly, I’m not too sure either.” I shrugged. “He hasn’t told us anything about it.”
A few days ago, Sothas had taken Alesha and I aside and asked if we could talk in private once we arrived. He hadn’t been forthcoming with any details, and the two of us saw no reason to change that. He also didn’t indicate why Micken wasn’t included, though I reckoned it wasn’t a snub.
“Well, whatever it is, I don’t think it will take too long.” I examined the clock across the way. “We should have time to grab dinner after, if you’re free.”
“Not tonight—I’m a little busy,” Micken replied.
I raised my eyebrow. “For all your badgering, you never did tell us what you’ve got planned.”
“I’ve gotta catch a shuttle down to Milanya. Family is waiting.”
“Oh?” That wouldn’t have been my first guess, but he was pretty close with his siblings.
“Yeah, my brothers decided to visit.” said Micken. “It’s been a while since we’ve all been in the same place. We’re gonna hit the town.”
“Sounds fun,” was my dry response.
“It will be!” he exclaimed. “If there’s one thing us Wrykers know how to do, it’s party. You should come hang out sometime! Tonight’s just the start—they’ll be here all week.”
“I’ll think about it.” I’d met his brothers a few times before. I don’t know what went wrong with their childhood, but they all ended up the same: energetic and infectiously positive. It was nice having Micken around to help me loosen up from time to time, but five of them at once? Just the idea was exhausting.
“Well, catch you guys later then?” Micken started to leave, but turned back as he went. “I’m still down for dinner sometime, so don’t forget!”
I waved him off and turned to Alesha. “So, uh, do you know where we’re going?”
She glared at me for a moment, then closed her eyes and sighed. “Yes, I do remember. This way.”
I gave a sheepish grin and followed after her.
----------------------------------------
“This is where he told us to meet, right?”
After a modest walk, we’d arrived at a quiet little nook of the spaceport. Off the side of a seldom-used corridor was a cozy lounge that Sothas had given us directions to. There were a couple metal tables surrounded by wicker chairs and a pair of sofas. On the far wall was a large window with a view of the stars.
“He doesn’t seem to be here yet,” I continued, looking around.
“Then we wait,” Alesha replied.
We sat down at one of the tables. With nothing to do, Alesha closed her eyes and started to meditate. She claimed it helped her stay focused, so I tried to have her teach me once. It went… poorly. I kept on getting distracted by every new thought that popped into my head. Secretly, I kinda liked it that way.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
So while Alesha did her thing, I wondered what Sothas would talk about. It probably had to do with his retirement somehow; it was the only major thing that had happened recently. Well, that and his engagement, I suppose. Engagements meant weddings, right? So maybe it was a wedding invitation… though you’d usually just mail that. Eventually the two of them would pass on, but that wasn’t happening any time soon. Of course, they’d leave behind children then… or at least, I assumed that was the plan. My mind conjured up images of little Freias and Sothases, knowing full well that wasn’t how it worked. Well, whatever they looked like, someone would have to look… after…
My mind froze at the implication. Surely I was overthinking it. And yet, the pieces fit together perfectly.
“Oh no.”
Alesha snapped out of whatever trance she was in. “What’s wrong?”
I gulped. “Do you think he’s going to… ask me to be their godfather?”
“Ask you to what?”
She sounded so confused I thought she must have misheard. “You know, to raise their kids. It’s not like they’ll be around to do it themselves.”
“I know how reproduction works, Kethe.”
“Right? So what if they want me to…” I looked over at Alesha, who almost seemed to be pitying me somehow. “What?”
She contemplated her response for a moment, then simply stated, “For as smart as you are, you sure can be dumb sometimes.”
“I—um, sorry?”
Before I could ask her what she meant, I saw Sothas rushing down the corridor behind her. You wouldn’t think he was nearly 2,500 years old given the way he moved—fast and agile, with purposeful strides. Still, you could see signs of his age if you looked closer. Centuries of mechanical labor had scuffed and chafed the armor plates on the backs of his hands and arms. His shell, which was once surely a pristine white, had been weathered over the millennia into a striated, faded gray that was reminiscent of driftwood. It felt fitting for a man who spent his entire life sailing the stars.
Alesha turned around and watched his approach. Sothas was the tallest person I knew, aside from Raynor, which helped him close the gap between us quickly. As he arrived, he gave us a quick bow.
“Sorry I’m late.” His voice was deep and gravelly, but always had a warmth behind it that showed through. “Would have been here sooner, but I plumb forgot about picking this up on the way.”
He gestured to a parcel under his arm. It was tightly bound and wrapped in brown paper. Tucked against it was an envelope, covered in writing I couldn’t make out from here. My curiosity was piqued, but I pushed it aside for now.
“No worries, we just got here ourselves,” I replied. “You know how long it can take to get checked in.”
Sothas nodded, sitting down across from us. “Sure do. How did Micken get along with it?”
“He managed,” said Alesha.
“He did say it was the worst experience he’s ever had,” I added.
“He managed,” said Alesha again.
Sothas chuckled. “Can’t say I’m surprised. Means I made the right choice, then, not keeping him here.”
I blinked in surprise. “Oh! So that’s why you said not to bring him along.”
“The poor lad needs a break, and I’m sure he’s sick of me and my mug nosing into everything he does,” said Sothas. “Sooner he gets down to Milanya and unwinds, the better.”
“That’s very considerate of you,” I said.
“Hah! Or maybe it’s me that’s sick of him,” said Sothas.
He was likely trying to deflect my praise. I decided to let him off the hook and move on. “So now that you’re fully retired, what are your plans?”
“We’ll be here on Navas for a couple seasons at least,” he said. “Say our farewells and what have you. After that, we’ll leave for Firanol.”
“Firanol? If I’m not wrong, that’s…” I searched my memories. “It’s near Bellos, on the opposite side of the core, right? Why there?”
“It’s where Freia grew up,” Sothas replied. “She still has a few siblings living there. One of her sisters offered to be godmother, so we’ll be settling down there.”
The knot in my stomach dissipated at his words. With the benefit of hindsight, it was apparent that I never would have been considered for the responsibility; Sothas knew my disposition, and I’d never been that close to Freia. I avoided Alesha’s smug gaze and felt my face growing hot. Thankfully, Sothas continued speaking.
“Firanol’s a mite like Navas, or so she tells me. Lots of water, plenty of coastline. Might try and take up fishing when we get there.”
I gave him an incredulous look. “Fishing? You?”
“Well, Friea’s gonna need something to cook, ain’t she?” he replied, as if it were obvious. “It’ll be fun, I think.”
“Doesn’t it involve a lot of sitting around and doing nothing though?” I asked.
“I’d say he has the patience for it,” interjected Alesha. “After all, he did mentor Micken.”
“That is true,” I said.
Sothas laughed along with us. “Can’t see it being any harder than that. Besides, I got at least another 50 years in me. Should be plenty of time to get the hang of it.”
“50 years?” I looked up at Sothas. The mild discomfort I saw on his face meant I hadn’t misheard him. “I mean, I know you said that’s the minimum, but still…”
Sothas sighed in regret. “I know. I… I wasn’t sure whether to mention it or not, but I feel like I should, at least to you. I’ve hit dispassion.”
I jolted upright. “Really? Since when?”
“Since the last expedition, I’m afraid. Long enough to be certain.”
“I can’t believe it.” I slumped back down into my chair. “I thought you, of all people…”
“Believe me, neither could I. Spent years denying it, I did, even as the symptoms got worse. Thought that, having made it this far, maybe I’d be one of the ones to dodge it outright. But…”
He sighed.
“I don’t know what it is. My skills and knowledge are still there, but the motivation’s gone. It’s gotten worse and worse each year. The spark or what have you, it’s missing. Like I’ve gone and ran out of juice and now I’m just drifting through space.”
I was still in shock. For as long as I knew him, Sothas was the quintessential starship engineer. I couldn’t comprehend it.
“You always loved what you did. How does that just… vanish? I don’t—” Alesha placed her hand on mine underneath the table, and I caught myself. “Sorry. I’m not trying to criticize or anything.”
“I know Kethe, I know. If our positions were reversed, I would feel the same way.”
I felt a prickle of unease at the notion. If even Sothas wasn’t immune, then one day I might also… But no, I wouldn’t be at risk for another millennium. And not everyone experienced it. And if the last trip was any indication, I could die young. There was nothing to worry about.
“It’s not all bad,” said Sothas. “It changed my perspective on a great many things. Shameful as it is, I never would have accepted Freia’s proposal without it.” He stared out the window. “I suppose that’s why she waited until now. Even though she’s younger than me, she’s been ready to pass on for decades, you know. Her dispassion may have been milder than mine, but when I think about how long she’s suffered through it, all for my sake… I’m truly lucky.”
I could hear the love and affection in his voice as he spoke of her. It was deeper than I’d ever observed, and for some reason it filled me with sadness. Was it the knowledge that, with their love, the end of their lives was on the horizon? Was I already starting to mourn my friend? Or was I envious? Did it remind me of how lonely most of my life had been? Sitting there, in a forgotten recess of the spaceport, I didn’t know.
“So, I resolved to retire after this expedition,” continued Sothas. “On paper it was so I could complete Micken’s training, but I also wanted to make another memory with Freia before calling it quits. One that I could leave a record of, knowing what was in store for the future.”
He lifted up his diary—a battered, silver medallion on an unadorned chain—and gave me a wink. Sothas knew I didn’t keep a diary, but unlike Micken, he never judged me for it. He wasn’t quite as bad as me, but his entries were sporadic and infrequent. At least, that was the case when we first met. I suspected that he’d been a lot more diligent this last trip.
“Soon, I’ll pass away,” Sothas declared. “This diary will be all that remains of me. I want to tell my children what adventuring with you was like. Tell them about our friendship. That’s what this last trip was about for me.”
I stared at the table in silence, letting his words sink in. The finality of it all was starting to drown me. It was like the gears in my head had locked up, paralyzing me. I got the sense that Alesha and Sothas were having a silent exchange. Eventually, Sothas spoke up.
“How are you feeling, Kethe?”
He was looking directly at me. I thought about how to respond. Part of me wanted to blow it off, but I knew his worry was genuine. In the face of that, I couldn’t answer with anything less than absolute sincerity. Not when his years were numbered.
“I’m struggling,” I admitted. “It was difficult enough when you first told me you were ready to retire, but I thought you’d still be around for a while. That made it easier. Now it feels like the end is so much closer. I’ve been with you longer than anyone else in my life besides Micken. I’m not sure I’m ready to lose that. When that day comes, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
Sothas closed his eyes and nodded solemnly. After a long pause, he started to speak slowly, choosing his words carefully.
“That’s okay. It’s only natural to feel sorrow. When I’m gone, I’ll leave behind a gap in your life, and there’s no single way to deal with it. I don’t want to invalidate that. But I fear that the way you think of my departure will only make accepting it harder.
“I’ve seen how you cope with loss, Kethe. Death and passing—you mourn both equally. But there’s a reason why we reserve the word ‘death’ for accidental, premature endings. Not all ends are the same. Eternity is not the goal. All stories must end; all we can strive for is to end them on our own terms. Peacefully passing away at the end of a full life… Accomplishing that is no small triumph. It deserves to be celebrated as well as mourned.
“This is the true difference between death and passing. I know that it’s difficult for you to make the distinction, Kethe. But I am not dying. I am not a casualty of fate. This is my choice. When I pass away, it will be the end of a long and fulfilling life, together with the one I love. I hope you can celebrate that, when the time comes. I want you to find joy within your grief.”
I looked up at Sothas. I wanted to tell him that I could. I wanted to assure him. But all I could manage was a weak nod.
“Thank you,” he said. There was still concern in his eyes, but the serious atmosphere cleared up. I let out a breath that I hadn’t even noticed I’d been holding in.
“This wasn’t what you wanted to talk about though, was it?” said Alesha.
I turned over her comment in my head until I realized what she was getting at. “That’s right, you said you had something urgent to talk about.”
Sothas smiled and nodded. “Right you two are. I could have said all of this weeks from now at the party. That was the plan, in fact. But when we entered the Navas system, I got this letter.”
He brought out the envelope from under the table and placed it in front of us. It was made out of a thick, pale blue stock and had already been opened. This time, I was able to make out the name of the sender.
“Captain Hensen?”
Sothas nodded. “The one and only.”
I closed my eyes and reclined, nodding. Before I bought the Lodestar, Hensen was my captain and a mentor of sorts to me. I served under him for longer than any other Seeker, and I only left his crew because I lucked into a chance to set out on my own. We’d fallen out of touch, but I never forgot how much he helped me when I was just starting out.
“I want you to read it,” Sothas said, passing me the envelope.
I looked at it. “Are you sure? It’s addressed to you.”
“I’m sure.”
I reached in and pulled out the letter, unfolding it. It was only a couple pages long, but entirely handwritten. I leaned over so Alesha could see it and started to read.
To my old friend, Sothas:
I hope this letter finds you well. It’s been a century since I last wrote, and even longer since we’ve met face-to-face. I regret not reaching out sooner; life as a Seeker is always busy, and I’ve never been the best at prioritizing the people around me. But now that I’m hanging up my wings, I have no excuses.
I looked up from the letter. “He’s retiring?”
Sothas merely nodded, waiting for me to continue. I turned my eyes back to the letter.
The end of my career has changed my perspective on many things. I’ve gained appreciation for all the good in my life, but my mistakes and failings have stood out all the more. So I’ve set out to clear my regrets before I pass on. And there is nothing I regret more than how we parted ways.
When I dismissed you, I lost more than my most senior engineer—I lost a dear friend and ally. You later said that you understood my decision; that as Captain, I couldn’t show favor to you and had to hold you accountable for your mistake. But I know you felt betrayed by my decision and the cold, indifferent manner in which I carried it out.
“That accident…”
I struggled to find the words I wanted to say. It was a tragic incident where one of Hensen’s landers ripped itself apart during a planetary descent, killing all three passengers. Although the cause was inconclusive, minor issues during repairs were called out, and Sothas was ultimately held liable for the oversight and fired from his post.
“It wasn’t your fault,” I said. “I’ve never thought less of you for it.”
Sothas closed his eyes and held out his hand. “I know, Kethe. Keep reading.”
In the centuries since, we’ve both done our best to put it behind us and maintain an amicable, if strained, friendship. But I never truly acknowledged the pain you felt when I didn’t stand up for you. Even if your dismissal was inevitable, I should have spoken with you in private first. If I had, we might have parted on much better terms. Instead, I closed myself off and spent the next few years consumed by guilt. I may have even stopped exploring, were it not for a visit from Kethe.
He was building his own crew at the time and caught wind of what happened. Even without knowing all the details, he had unwavering faith in your abilities and wanted to give you a second chance. When I agreed and gave him your contact info, he thanked me profusely. Oh, if only he knew! It should have been the other way around. His belief in you redeemed me, and I felt assured knowing there was a place for you.
“I never knew,” I breathed. “I mean, I just thought I got lucky. It’s hard to find an experienced engineer, much less convince them to join a greenhorn on his first expedition. I knew you were grateful, but for even Hensen to feel that way…”
“It bears repeating,” said Sothas. “You had faith in me and gave me another shot. I’ll always be thankful.”
I blushed under the praise and escaped back into the letter.
So now that my journey as a Seeker has come to an end, I find myself in the possession of various notes, records, and charts that I’ve used to aid my search. Considering how much I owe him, I want Kethe to have them. I’ll send them separately from this letter via a secure carrier—you should be able to pick them up once you return from your most recent expedition. Deliver them to Kethe, and pass along my best wishes for him and his crew.
The letter continued, but I stopped reading and set it aside.
“So what’s in the package?” asked Alesha, who hadn’t quite finished reading.
“He left me his notes,” I said, dazed. “All the research he’s done as a Seeker. He left it. To me.”
Such notes were often a Seeker’s most prized possession. Upon retirement, they’d usually be published or passed on to their second-in-command. But I was a rival Captain, and hadn’t been a part of his crew for centuries.
“Then he must really consider you his protégé,” said Alesha.
I nodded. Alesha had never met Hensen, but she knew how much I considered him to be a mentor. I always presumed it was one-sided.
Sothas brought out the parcel and slid it over to me. “Think it’s time for you to open this.”
I unraveled the twine and peeled back the wrapping. Inside was a large box and a stack of thin cards. I recognized the latter as digital storage chips; they were labeled with obscure names like “L sec map 3” and “eject sim”. The box contained more unwieldy items: antique star charts, some printed research papers, and even a few Progenitor artifacts. I picked up one and examined the large four-pointed star etched into it—a symbol found on every pod ever discovered.
“The Mark of Origin,” I murmured to myself.
“So, any leads?” Alesha asked.
I set the artifact down. “It’s hard to say. Most of the info is probably on those chips—I’ll have to check them on a computer later. It’ll take me some time to look over all the papers and charts, but it looks like he was hunting down Progenitor pods. He must’ve seen a pattern somewhere and was pursuing it.”
I was eager to get down to Milanya and dive right in, but I knew Alesha was going to drag me around for the next few days. Reluctantly, I closed the box, wrapped everything back up, and tied it together carefully.
“Thank you,” I said, facing Sothas. “For bringing these notes to me and letting me read the letter, of course, but also so much more. You’re the best engineer I’ve ever known, and I’m fortunate to have had your service and friendship all this time.”
“The honor’s been all mine,” he replied. “You three will do great. I know it.”
He gently tapped his chest twice as he said this, declaring his sincerity. It was a common salute amongst Seekers, one that I’d seen Sothas make thousands of times. It dawned on me that this might be the last time. I pushed down the surge of emotion I felt and simply nodded.
The three of us stood up in unison. “See you in a few weeks then,” said Sothas.
“Yeah. It’ll be great—a proper send-off,” I managed to reply.
“Watch out for Micken though. He’s planning to get back at you,” added Alesha.
Sothas chuckled. “Oh, I’ll be ready. His brothers are in town, and they promised to share some stories from his youth with me. Should be something in there to get him flustered. Can’t let him get the last word at my own farewell party, can I now?”
He gave us one last wink and set off down the corridor. I couldn’t help but grin. Even now, in the twilight of his life, that part of Sothas hadn’t changed.
“He seems happy,” Alesha said.
“Yeah. He does.”
Alesha looked over at me, perhaps noticing something in my response. Too late, I turned away, avoiding her gaze.
“You doing alright?” she asked.
“I’ll manage.”
She looked down the corridor again as Sothas rounded a corner and disappeared from view. “He cares about you, you know.”
“I know.”
She looked back at me. “Take what he said to heart, okay? He put a lot of thought into it.”
“I’ll try.”
She nodded. “I’ll head over to the shuttle bay. Take a moment and join me when you’re ready.”
With that, I was alone. I sat back down and stared out the window at the stars. They twinkled, then began to blur.
It would be a few more minutes until I was ready to leave.