“I’m just glad you and Ratha didn’t rip each other’s heads off. Things have been getting better lately. We managed to pass each other on the street this cycle and not glare at one another,” Veera joked lightly, aiding Asha in the preparation of a final sending off dinner for her and Winters. Her husband was occupied packing and checking all their supplies, with Zolta volunteering to help. Xan was seated on the bed with Fenrir’s head in his lap. After many visits to the temple of Kel both to help Xan with his recovery and to satisfy Thantis’ innate curiosity about the world, Fenrir had gotten quite used to Xan’s presence and the young Cauthan’s ability to deliver exceptional ear scratches. It warmed Veera’s heart to see such happiness within the walls of her once barren home. Her smile drew Asha’s attention.
“Just when I thought you and Russell couldn’t be more in love the two of you go and get…married. That’s the human word, right? It suits you,” the young mother declared. Veera poked at Asha’s now visible baby bump. She was approaching her second quarter of gestation.
“And being with cub suits you, Asha. You’re adjusting well?”
“Gentia says everything is proceeding normally and I’ve gotten a lot more used to the whole thing. It’s definitely given me an appreciation for my mother. Three times is nothing to sniff at and this cub is only going to get larger.”
“How many do you want?” Veera pressed with a mischievous smirk that Asha quickly adopted herself.
“Seven!”
“Man down!” Winters called from the corner as Zolta found himself on his ass at the idea of seven cubs running around. “You can do it kid, chin up now! Veera and I can watch over one or two.”
“I’ll bet when Fenrir’s old enough he can give them a ride!” Xan added as the hyrven looked up at him. “That’s right little guy, Fenrir’s your name. But at this rate you won’t be little much longer will you? Your parents are feeding you well.”
“If you think I’m allowing my cubs anywhere near that thing you’re insane,” Zolta asserted, earning himself a pout from his mate.
“Zolta, if he’s been good his whole life by that point I’m sure Winters and Veera will make sure it’s alright. Don’t you want something like that for them? Life here is dull and hard enough as it is. I think they’d like it,” Asha said, causing a pall to fall over the five of them. Io cut in, making it six.
‘Sir, couldn’t we take them with us?’ She asked, earning more than her share of confusion. Winters shook his head.
“You know as well as I do the answer to that question, Io.”
‘But you said you’d ensure Veera could come if-’
“Veera is the only one who could, Io, and you know it,” Winters insisted with a firm tone. “She has no family left on Mara and she’s been well trained. She’ll be able to handle space. You’d take the three of them with us? A pregnant mother potentially exposed to that sort of radiation or G-forces? Take them away from their families and homes and jobs? Yes, life down here is tough but it’s their life. Who are we to know what’s best for them?”
‘Ah yes, the Ghaelen. I apologize, sir,’ Io said with a polite bow, though her face was full of conflict.
“Where would…what?” Asha finally asked, more than a bit caught off guard by the debate between the human and his spirit.
“Unless I’m mistaken, I believe Io was asking why we couldn’t take all of you with us if a human vessel arrives searching for Russell,” Veera explained, causing Xan, Zolta, and Asha to look at one another contemplatively.
“Who knows, could be fun. Look at all his gear,” Xan eventually said, scratching Fenrir’s chin. “Are most humans like you, Winters?”
“No. Most aren’t trained like I’ve been. We’re a bit more squishy on the whole, shorter too,” Winters described, earning a chuckle from Io as the AI made a gesture that conceded what he’d said was true.
“I’d say you grabbed the good one then, Veera,” Zolta interjected. She smiled and waved her feathers at the smith.
“What about the females? Do they all look like you, Io?” Xan asked. She batted her eyelids playfully at him.
‘Only the pretty ones, Xan.’
“And how many are pretty?”
“Don’t you have Eris to worry about?” Winters cut in with a laugh, noticing how Xan seemed to fluster at her mention.
“I mean, things have been going better, yeah. But…”
“Hey, you don’t have to tell me. I’m just glad it’s improving. Think she’ll be able to keep you company when we’re gone?” Winters asked kindly. Veera smiled to herself, happy to hear Xan’s recovery seemed to be a time of improvement in other aspects of his life.
“Between her and everything that Thantis plans on teaching me about herbs and fungi and whatever else grows out there in the spring, I’d say I’ll be plenty busy as the snows melt. But I will miss you, Fenrir. Don’t forget me when you’re out there, alright?” Xan demanded quietly, bending over to nuzzle the pup.
“We’re all really glad you’re feeling better, Xan,” Asha added as she stirred the communal pot. “How’s your pain?”
“It’s just the lingering stuff, you know? The wounds are pretty much scarred over now, see?” Xan lifted his eyepatch to show them all a nasty new scar cutting across his left orbit.
“How about showing that off to Eris instead of us?” Zolta suggested. “Females dig scars, right Asha?”
“I prefer my men brawny and in one piece. Isn’t that convenient?” Asha replied happily. “Though Xan, I know there are plenty of girls in the village who swoon every time Antoth walks by, and he’s got scars all over him.”
“He can still walk,” Xan quipped dejectedly.
“Alright, new topic then,” Winters declared. “Asha, do you think you’re well enough along with the cooking that you’d care to show us all what you’ve been working on?”
“Go ahead, Asha. I’ve got this covered,” Veera encouraged, prompting the young female to bound over to the bed and hold up a large bundle of hyrven and ursae fur. She stood there for a short moment with a smile on her face as everyone gave her their attention.
“Veera, Russell, I’d like you two to understand that this isn’t really a gift from me. My master and a handful of others at my temple helped out, as well as Zolta and his master who did the bone work and prepared the hides. What I’m trying to say is that this is to thank you both on behalf of a grateful village.” With the dedication out of the way, Asha motioned for Winters to stand as she unfurled the first cloak. Winters looked like a kid at Christmas, except he also happened to be a space marine.
“I am never taking that off,” he declared immediately. Veera cleared her throat and looked at him accusatorially. “Uh…yeah alright, I’d look a bit silly naked. But other than that!”
‘I daresay Asha might manage to bring cloaks back into style on her own,’ Io agreed, watching with interest as Winters turned and knelt slightly so that Asha could easily drape the garment over his shoulders.
“Now, I wasn’t exactly sure what to do about your armor, Russell. I know it’s plenty warm, but I figured you’d still want to wear it for ceremonies or other occasions, so that’s why you have a third set of clasps,” Asha explained, prompting Winters to run his hands up the inside hem of the cloak. He found two heavy flaps fastened to the interior. With care he removed a small leather hoop and a bone fitting on each side. The match was apparent as he folded them out, revealing a wide band of dark, dyed leather that would lie across the broad chest of his armor.
“Asha, that’s amazing!” Veera exclaimed, seeing how the seamstress had affixed symbols carved from ursae bone to each flap. Over Winters’ right breast was the shield of Uthos. Over his heart rested the sigil of Kel.
“This is fucking badass,” Winters muttered.
“Are you joking, Winters? Flip the darn cowl up!” Xan yelled as Zolta burst into laughter.
“You…don’t think it’s too much?” Asha asked reticently. “It was Zolta’s idea.”
“Bit of help, Io?” Winters requested, receiving a projection of himself and seeing that the cowl was not made of ursae like the rest of the garment, but the head of one of the hyrven he’d slain. The eyes had been fitted with dark, polished rocks and the largest fangs remained in the upper jaw which rested atop his head.
‘I take back what I said,’ Io remarked as Winters gaped at the headpiece. ‘Asha will manage to bring cloaks back into style…at least among the HEL.’
“Holy fucking shit…”
“Asha, he’s not cursed this much in as long as I can recall, even when we’re mating and things get a bit…out of hand,” Veera said with waving feathers as Xan began coughing loudly. “I’d say he loves it.”
Winters returned the armor flaps to their place and did up the two smaller clasps near his neck and the middle of his sternum. They fit well and the bone was intricately carved, securing the cloak tightly to him. He shrugged his shoulders and felt the support of bone there as well; a foundation for the extra fur that gave his profile a bit more intimidating volume. “Zolta, may I?” Winters asked, glancing at Asha.
“Just this once, human,” Zolta confirmed with a smile and pride in his mate’s work, flicking his tail once at the human.
Permission given, Winters gathered Asha up in a tender hug. “It’s incredible. Thank you so much, Asha,” he said softly, so as not to harm her ears. Asha’s tail waved back and forth furiously and her feathers shook as he released her. “You’ve done the Twins very proud as far as I’m concerned.”
“You’re welcome. Thanks so much,” Asha murmured, taken aback by how enthusiastically Winters had received his gift. “Veera, this one is for you.” Asha presented her second creation as the small gathering fell silent.
“Asha, that’s what you were going for?” Zolta asked with wonder. Before them was a cloak of dense ursae fur, tailored for Veera’s female form. Stitched throughout the garment was snowy gray hyrven pelt, a pattern that evoked Veera’s own natural striping. The hem of her cowl was lined with the fluffy fur of a hyrven’s tail. Unlike the shoulders of Winters’ garment which had bone in the interior to create volume, the shoulders of Veera’s cloak were slim fitting and featured long, carved bones that evoked teeth or ribs as exterior accents.
“It’s wild, just like you Veera. Go on, try it!” Winters encouraged, taking over the slow stirring of the stew as Veera allowed Asha to place the cloak over her shoulders. Io helped her take a good look.
“It’s wonderful, Asha. Thank you so much!” Veera said tearfully, hugging the seamstress tightly as the significance of such an intricate gift sunk in. “I can safely say I’ve never owned anything like this. It’s magnificent!”
“We’re so glad you like them,” Asha replied. “Between me and Zolta we figured the two of you would demand nothing in return for the ursae. While that ended up not being entirely true we were still able to convince the heads of our temples to set aside the materials for these. I hope they serve you well on your trip.”
“I can assure you they will, especially since I plan to leave my armor at the pod,” Winters said. “They can get wet, right?”
“A bit. They’re more meant for the colder seasons. I’m sorry it took so long; the snows are already melting,” Asha lamented.
“It’s perfectly fine, Asha. I’ll show him how to maintain pelts in the rain if need be,” Veera assured her. “For now why don’t we all eat? That stew is looking more than ready.” Spirits were lifted around the fire as even Fenrir sat down for his meal.
-----
“Thanks you two. Have a great night and come see us the moment you’re back!” Asha insisted as Winters, Veera, and Xan dropped her and Zolta at her parents’ home.
“What she said. Be safe out there, alright? Even without the ursae you never know what’s hiding in that forest,” Zolta added, bumping forearms with Winters as the human unloaded a large sack of dato from his back.
“Thanks for taking these off our hands, would have spoiled otherwise. We’ll give the rest to Gentia,” Veera said.
“And this is from me,” Winters added, withdrawing from amongst the dato a large, synthetic leather-bound book that he’d produced at the pod. He opened it to a random page and allowed the three young ones to crowd around; using his helmet’s light to give them the necessary illumination.
“Russell, what is this?” Zolta asked quietly, seeing all sorts of diagrams and blueprints as the human flipped slowly from page to page.
“It’s knowledge, Zolta. Knowledge and rudimentary technology. All of it can be implemented using the materials and tools you and your fellows have on hand, maybe with a bit of help from the other temples. Io helped come up with the ideas and the layout, as well as the printing,” he explained, watching as Xan pointed at a diagram for an Archimedes screw connected to a basic aqueduct.
“Zolta, if you guys built this and then connected it to this,” he postulated, pointing across the page at a wooden water wheel. “That would provide the turning force. We’d have river water funneled right to the village! At least I think that’s what’s going on here…”
Asha’s eyes widened with wonder, though her mate looked a bit put out. “This is so simple,” he commented. “Why didn’t anyone ever think of this?”
Winters spoke sympathetically to the young smith. “There’s a whole lot that can pass you by when you’re trying to survive. That book there has technologies that span about a thousand years’ worth of human development, depending on the culture they’re derived from. Io and I collectively decided to damn the rules in this case, given that we can maintain plausible deniability if you choose to implement any or all of them. In the wake of the raid you’ll need all the help you can get. Show it to your master, Zolta, him and Antoth. I’m sure between the two of them they can prioritize the most feasible and needed projects. Pretty sure we have a basic crane in there…”
“We’ll do that. Thank you so much, and you as well, Io.” Zolta replied with humility.
‘It’s my pleasure, Zolta. This is our home too,’ Io insisted, momentarily co-opting Winters’ helmet.
“It certainly won’t be boring while you’re gone. Thank you,” Asha added, taking the book from Winters as Zolta shouldered the dato. With a final wave, Winters and Veera said their farewells and allowed the young couple to retire for the night before moving on with Xan.
“Thanks for coming with me, and for those human inventions. Thantis is going to go absolutely crazy over that,” he said with a laugh. Winters nodded.
“I know you don’t need us to walk you, but we’ll miss you too, kid. You and Thantis do your best to understand the ‘why’ behind each of those machines.”
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“You bet we will! And I was just being weird that night, Russell. It’s no big deal,” Xan clarified.
Veera placed a hand on the shoulder of Xan’s good side as they slowly made their way through the thinning snow of the streets. She’d heard about the incident from her mate the night it happened. “I don’t think I’d have behaved any differently, Xan. We’re both glad you’re out of that dark place. We were honestly a bit worried to leave you.”
“Yeah…I get that,” Xan said, looking at the ground. “I’m not saying everything’s great or whatever, but I won’t be gone when you get back. You never know what life holds. If I die now the only answer is nothing. Took a while but I understand that much at least.”
“Thantis is teaching you well,” Winters replied. “Those are wise words.”
“Yeah, he’s seen a lot. It’s humbling, really, seeing everything he’s written and documented over the years. When he passes on it will be up to me to keep all of that alive. I honestly don’t know if I’m up to the task.”
“When they came for us you rose to the task, Xan,” Veera said solemnly. “And you’ve only grown since that day.”
“I…thanks Veera,” the young scholar replied with a hint of embarrassment as they arrived in front of his family’s home. “Bring home a few things for me and the old man to look over, alright? And goodnight, Io.”
“We’ll be sure to,” Winters agreed as Xan leaned heavily on his cane. Slowly the wounded Cauthan lowered himself to sit in the snow and opened his arms. Fenrir silently padded over to him and snuggled up to his chest, receiving a bit of jerky and a good deal of petting as a reward. Winters and Veera looked at one another with pride as Xan regarded the animal with no small amount of emotion in his eyes.
“Thanks buddy…for everything.”
“We could leave him here with you, Xan,” Veera offered, resting a hand over her chest as Xan bonded with the little hyrven. He shook his head.
“Let him be in the wilds for a bit, let him grow, teach him to hunt. I don’t know how fast they mature but maybe he’ll even find a mate out there. If he still wants to come back home after that…then yeah, I can spend some more time with him.”
“Fenrir isn’t the only one growing up it seems,” Winters declared, helping Xan back to his feet and bidding the young Cauthan goodnight. “Good luck, Xan.”
“Thanks Winters, you too Veera.”
The couple watched as Xan turned and walked into his home, calling out into the well-lit space as he entered. With nothing left to do but enjoy their final night together, Winters and Veera headed for home.
“I’m really damn proud of that kid,” Winters whispered as they walked hand in hand. Veera raised her feathers in agreement.
“He’s not a kid anymore, Russell.”
“No, no he’s not. Killing has a habit of doing that to you.”
“That’s the burden of Uthos, darling.”
“I know. It’s one we’re happy to bear,” he insisted, looking into her eyes. “No matter how well you learn to fight I will always want to protect you.”
“Never hurts to have a backup plan,” Veera teased, leaning in and licking his cheek. “How are you feeling tonight?”
“Sex?” He asked jokingly.
“And everything else.”
“Would a quiet night together trouble you terribly?” Winters requested with a small smile. Veera felt her chest tighten with warmth.
“I’d love that, Russell. Besides, I’m not sure there will be too many Cauthan looking to interrupt us out there.”
“Hmm…can’t wait.”
“Me either.”
-----
“You can send a couple of your acolytes over whenever they’re free. Everything perishable is yours,” Veera told Gentia as the elder stood at the west gate with them, final goodbyes already long said. Both Veera and Winters were heavily burdened with their cloaks, weapons, and gear. The human had donned his armor in order to transport it back to his pod for safekeeping.
“You are too kind, Veera. The Goddess will surely bless you and your mate on your travels. So long as there is a roof over your heads,” Gentia nodded to the tent hanging from Veera’s pack. “Her light will reach you. And while you are gone the rest of us will thrive anew.”
“Good,” Winters added shortly. “Take care of Antoth, Gentia. He’ll blame himself for every little thing that goes wrong.”
“You need not lecture me on my duty, cocksure young man. But I don’t think you quite have the right of it. The Huntress has that more than covered, it would seem.” Veera and Winters glanced at one another but didn’t argue the point. Gentia smiled knowingly as the sun crested the western tree line. “I have seen love in all of its forms, young ones. Theirs is unique, and just as true as yours. Do not worry for us. We will survive as we always have.”
Winters nodded, smiling as Io appeared on his HUD to bid Gentia a fond farewell in her own silent way, waving tenderly at the old Cauthan. ‘Oh how I will miss her wit and willing use of that cane…’
“I won’t keep either of you any longer. What is your destination?” Gentia asked as Winters looked to the west.
“The mountains, to the west.” His reply earned an inquisitive look from the elder.
“I know not of what you speak, human, but I know you will care for her. And she will care for you in turn. Go now, and may you both strengthen the bonds you swore before me and the Mother.” Veera nuzzled Gentia tenderly before they parted, a broad smile on her face as she prepared to leave her village for an entirely new purpose. Gentia’s eyes sparkled with life, as though Veera’s excitement and happiness were contagious. The starving girl she’d watched over had become a thriving young woman in her prime.
“We will, Gentia. Selah.”
“Selah, my child. May your parents and the gods watch over you.” The elder remained at the gate as the guard on duty saluted, seeing Veera, Winters, and their little hyrven off until they’d disappeared into the trees and on towards whatever adventure they chose for one another.
-----
“Oh I can’t believe you’re actually going to be gone for over a year. Promise you’ll leave messages with the comm buoys? They might make it back before you do depending on ship travel,” Sandra Winters implored of her daughter, the family standing on one of the many VTOL platforms of the New York metro area spaceport.
“Yes mom, I promise,” Alice assured her for what had to have been the fifth time. “Don’t worry. Russell’s ship already went along this route. It should be a wonderful opportunity for me to study the local fauna of a few of the worlds they cataloged. Did you see that report about the planet with magma lizards?!”
“Alice Elia Winters you will not go anywhere near a so called magma lizard unless there’s a squad of Jumpers with you, is that clear young lady?” Sandra placed her hands on her hips as her two older children snickered behind her. “The two of you won’t be laughing when she’s a world famous xenobiologist! Just be safe, sweetie.”
“I promise,” Alice said again, embracing her mother tightly before hugging her sister and brother. Finally her father held her tenderly, though she felt something slip into her back pocket as he did so. The look in his eyes when he withdrew clearly indicated it was HEL business only. She didn’t mention it. “Thanks for seeing me off everyone. I’ll be back before you know it.”
“That’s the spirit, young lady!” A booming voice interrupted from just outside the Winters family circle, heralding the arrival of Natori Kaczynski. Marshall Winters didn’t bother hiding his surprise, though he followed basic decorum.
“Natori, how unexpected. You remember Sandra, yes? And these are my oldest children, Adam and Emily. Everyone, this is Natori Kaczynski, Beta Division admiral and captain of the HMV Event Horizon, the ship Alice will be stationed on.”
“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Natori. It’s been too long,” Sandra remarked politely, taking his hand as he gave her a small bow.
“Too long indeed, though you look radiant as ever. Emily, Adam, it’s a pleasure to meet the two of you. And may I commend you on finding your way in life without falling into this trap that’s captured the rest of us,” he joked. The two elder Winters children smiled and nodded, not really sure what to make of the animated admiral. “Now then, we have but a few minutes. Shall we, Alice?”
“Please go on ahead, Admiral. I’d just like to say my final goodbyes,” Alice said politely, embracing her siblings again and then her father and mother in turn.
“Be good, sweetie. Remember your training and don’t forget to keep your body strong. We have no idea how viable artificial gravity is yet.”
“Yes dad, I will.”
“I’ll miss you so much, Alice, but I know you’ll make us proud out there.”
“I’ll be sure to come back as a doctor, mom,” Alice promised as the voice of the station’s VI rang out above them in a pleasant cadence.
‘Final boarding call for shuttle three five seven, connecting to HEL lunar ferry Cassiopeia.’
“Gotta go, guys! See you when I get back!” Alice called, hefting her duffel over her shoulder and walking onto the shuttle. Due to the military nature of the trip she and Natori were the only individuals in the cabin, which could comfortably seat eighteen with luggage. She placed her bag next to his in the luggage rack, secured it tightly, and took her seat next to the tall, lanky admiral.
“Is this your first time leaving the planet?” Natori asked as the pilot informed them of standard launch procedure. The door to the shuttle sealed shut with a hiss and the two of them buckled their lap restraints before connecting the central buckle to each of the shoulder straps. The seats tightened them automatically, ensuring that the only movement the two passengers were capable of was rotation of the head.
“It is, sir,” Alice confirmed. “Feels like a roller coaster. Woah!”
Natori laughed as the shuttle’s engines kicked in and began pushing them up and away from the platform. Alice knew her family would still be there, waving after her. She breathed deeply, knowing the heaviest acceleration would begin soon. “There you go, Alice, nice and easy. Give it a thirty count.” She nodded and pressed her head back against the seat, counting slowly and keeping her breathing steady as the forces of the shuttle’s thrust pressed down on her body. She felt her diaphragm beginning to struggle, but soon after the pressure began to abate and she sucked in air again. She glanced over at the admiral to find him looking most unperturbed. He gave her a broad smile.
“Some of the old farts enjoy that, watching the young ones go through liftoff for the first time and bragging about how in their day and blah blah blah,” he went on, tossing his head back and forth to add to the impression. “We should be thankful of how far we’ve come in such a short time, from almost anywhere near a major population center to the moon in less than three days.”
“No small thanks to us?” Alice asked with a smile that Kaczynski readily returned.
“And Alpha,” he agreed. “Omega and Delta may hog the limelight on occasion, but we’re the ones making everyone else’s lives better. Allow that to humble you, lady Winters. You’ve been given a great opportunity.”
“I’m not disputing that, but lady Winters?” Alice asked incredulously.
“It sounded a tad fantastical to me when coupled with your surname. Please be assured I meant no offense. You don’t have a military designation, do you?”
“No sir, I’m civilian research,” she clarified, momentarily thinking of her brother. The celebration for his promotion to first Lieutenant was the last time they’d all been together. Kaczynski continued with his musings.
“Yes, I suppose there aren’t many of us in Beta that have bridged that divide yet. Miss Winters will have to suffice for now, as I didn’t notice any rings.”
“You notice quite a lot, Admiral Kaczynski. Alice is fine in casual settings.”
“Indeed? Thank you, Alice. The sharp eye is why I’m an admiral and in charge of my own cutting edge boat.”
“Boat?” Alice giggled, leaning forward as her restraints eased and the black of the thinning upper atmosphere filled the small windows of the shuttle. She could barely feel the thrust of the engines anymore. “Oh wow. The simulators are pretty good but this is…hey!” She yelped as Natori leaned over and undid her buckle before popping his own and pushing off, allowing his body to slowly float to the ceiling.
Will the passengers in the cabin please return to their seats until the airlock between the shuttle and the Cassiopeia has been established? The annoyed voice of the pilot cut in. Kaczynski simply turned to the nearest camera and pointed to his insignia. An annoyed huff was the only other protest they received.
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re young at heart?” Alice asked, experimenting with a slow somersault.
“On occasion, but never as a compliment. Thank you, Alice.”
“I can’t understand why. Is space that boring already? It’s only been twenty three years since first contact!”
“A lot can happen in that span of time, Alice,” Natori said wisely, placing his hands behind his head and turning to gaze down at the Earth. “But I hope that as more and more humans make this journey that our curiosity grows, that we always consider it to be thrilling instead of some banal aspect of reality to be forgotten behind a screen or hologram.”
Alice remained silent for a moment as she contemplated the admiral’s words. She didn’t know much about him, having only been introduced the day he’d taken her to see her father at Cape Canaveral. It was rare to meet someone high up in the HEL’s military that was so personable. She found that refreshing. The Delta officers she’d interviewed for her masters had all been rather straight laced and uninterested with her subject of study, the aliens of the pacified worlds. “Can I ask a question, sir?”
“Let us transfer first. We appear to be coming up on the lunar ferry now.” Natori gestured to the window and Alice pushed off the nearest chair to join him.
“Wow, would you look at the thrusters on that thing?” Alice marveled. The shuttle itself wasn’t anything particularly fancy, but the power needed to ferry up to two hundred individuals to the lunar base and back at a decent clip lent the posterior of the vessel an imposing profile.
All passengers please stand by for docking. A few moments later the shuttle shifted slightly as the airlock was established between it and the lunar ferry. Alice and Natori collected their bags and made for the exit, waiting for the green light to indicate hospitable environments within the tube. As they passed through it and transferred to the Cassiopeia, they found an environment akin to a sleeping car on an overnight train. Unlike the shuttle, the ferry was already crowded with HEL personnel, civilian researchers who’d been assigned to the Event Horizon, and their families. Alice smiled at the scene of children enjoying zero gravity.
“How very far we’ve come,” she whispered.
“Yes, quite the inspiring scene, isn’t it?” Kaczynski asked, saluting the handful of HEL uniforms that bore military insignia before the two of them made their way through the ship towards unclaimed berths near the front. When they located an empty one, he assisted Alice with her bag before pulling himself into a seated position on one of the beds within, allowing the young woman to take up a position opposite him. The door was left open. “I believe this is the best I can do for privacy without causing a bit of a scandal, Miss Winters. Now what was it you wanted to ask me?”
“It’s about the mission, sir.”
Natori raised his brows and glanced casually into the hallway. “I may not be able to answer you, but continue.”
“I noticed on the crew manifest that I’m the only xenobiologist of any level. This is when I was considering who I might ask to oversee my work when I eventually decide on an appropriate subject. There are more qualified scholars in that field than me. You took me to see my father. You met me on the platform in New York today. I don’t want to be the kind of person who’s looked down upon as the Admiral’s favorite.”
“Ah Alice, I believe you misunderstand my intentions,” Natori said apologetically. He fiddled with his duffel for a moment before withdrawing his personal datapad. After a moment of swiping around he turned it and showed her a picture of himself and two women, one about his age and of what appeared to be Anatolian descent. “I have a daughter myself. That’s her at graduation, and my wife. She went into Alpha division. She has a regular desk job, nine to five, as part of a team making sure that every Ghaelen visitor to our system is appropriately documented. It is not flashy or well known, but I couldn’t be more proud of her. Every time I get on a shuttle I think of the times things have gone wrong, Alice. I think of my little girl and I thank God every day that she will stay safely on Earth for now, even as people like your brother journey through the stars. I cannot imagine how Marshall and Sandra feel, agreeing to let you go after what’s happened. Truth be told I didn’t need you to convince your father and General Osmundson. The Event Horizon was the only option.”
“Then why?” Alice asked, knowing well enough the truth of his words.
“Because the world is not just made up of fathers and mothers, is it?” Natori asked with a smile. “You want to go after him, don’t you?”
“Of course I do!”
“And it is that reason, along with what I feel is my duty to your parents, that I take an interest in you, Alice. Understand that this interest is in you as a person, and only as a person. Your research and your career choices are yours alone to make. I will not intervene if there are disputes between you and your colleagues, unless of course the issue is forced all the way up the chain of command,” Natori promised. Alice let out a sigh of relief.
“Thank you. It just feels a bit wrong, what with the rest of Russell’s crew and all.”
“I understand the hesitation to feel special, Alice, but in this case you are. I went through every dossier of the Lancer’s crew. Most of them don’t have siblings or other family in the HEL. Of those that do, only you are qualified to be a part of this mission.”
Alice shifted uncomfortably on the bed, rubbing the coarse blanket with a hand. “It’s alright, sir. Thank you for letting me be a part of this.”
“Don’t think it’s just a gift, Alice. I know we usually send xenobiologists to systems only after we’ve confirmed the presence of alien life, but in this case I believe it will behoove us to have at least one on board, someone young and not yet set in her ways, someone capable of adaptation. The possibility that your brother’s ship encountered another species is not low, given that it’s not yet returned. Should we find…something…I believe you’ll be the most in demand doctoral candidate on the ship. Was that all, Alice?” He demanded kindly.
“Oh yes, of course. Thank you for your time, Admiral. And thank you for escorting me into space. It was comforting having someone along who’s a veteran. I’m sure you have much to attend to. I’ll be fine here.”
Natori smiled as he stood gently and grabbed his belongings, floating out into the hallway with a wave. “I’m sure I’ll see you around the shuttle and the Event Horizon. My office is always open, Alice…unless we’re using the main rail gun. See you around!” With that jovial parting Alice was left alone to ponder the words of the admiral, to say nothing of the manner in which he carried himself. She hadn’t really considered it before, but she knew he was right. A missing ship could mean many things, and a new alien species was definitely one of them. Shaking her head and blowing her weightless hair out of her face, she closed the door to the cabin and withdrew the tiny data chip from her back pocket.
“Alright dad, what was so important?” She wondered as her datapad booted and she inserted the chip into the universal port on the side. After verifying she was alone she answered a handful of security questions that were clearly designed by her father, including the name of her first boyfriend. “He’s never going to let me live that down,” she moaned, finally completing the security verification. A message played across her screen.
Alice, as you might expect neither William nor I were particularly impressed by Natori’s little display. Consider this a bit of Omega payback that I’m passing on to you in the hopes that the petty arguments of older men might do the youth some good. Contained within this chip is the entirety of the Event Horizon’s blueprints, including the reactor specs. That thing’s a damn piece of work and Natori’s team should be proud. Just don’t tell him I said that. The only things I’ve scrubbed are the details of the weapon systems. We still don’t know how the Ghaelen were monitoring our communications back around first contact and Alpha’s not been able to get them to share. We still win the ground war but, well, if we lose space the ground war doesn’t matter. Anyway, enough of an old soldier’s ramblings. I want you to commit these blueprints to memory, Alice. Every maintenance shaft, every access corridor, every blast door, every escape pod, every hangar, remember them all. In the event that whatever got Russell comes for you I want you to have every possible advantage in that situation. Your mother and I will be thinking of you every day, Alice. I know we say it all the time but we are so proud of everything you’ve achieved and we eagerly await whatever it is you’ll do next. See you planetside, Alice. –Love Dad
Alice broke into a tearful smile as she opened the file and scrolled through all the decks and sectors of the Event Horizon. “Well, at least I won’t be bored on the way to the warp point. Thanks, dad.”