Illion

The engine control panel was thankfully untampered with, and with Lolli-N’s help, and a further three hours of tearing out wires, we got the water filtration system back online.

But that’s the least of our problems.

My ship is teeming with Zyxien cybernetics, and according to Lolli-N the entire Zyxien fleet is only a few days away from Osticara, and that only a few further days to catch up to our evacuation fleet.

Dear universe! I was told we’d have more time than this.

“I want all the captains of the three other vessels online now.” I command Miith.

My captain’s chair isn’t as comfortable anymore, and I squirm under the gaze of my crew as they stare at me with nervous anticipation.

A holographic screen flickers in the centre of the bridge; three images of men in uniform fixate their gaze solemnly at me; waiting.

The atmosphere is denser than gobstopper candies.

“According to our relay system information, the Zyxien fleet en route to Osticara is currently estimated to arrive in just under three days.” I push my glasses up, “and we’re currently six months away from the Central Planets. Based on current calculations, should the Zyxien fleet choose to pursue us…they would overtake us.”

“The estimated time of arrival was later than three days.” The captain of The Orgal, retorts. “Our data sets are not able to send back to Osticara to gather information, but your ship is severely outdated – are you certain the information hasn’t been corrupted during transmission?”

“I had them request it four times.” I swallow; hiding the tremble edging its way into my voice.

Another captain, of The Azarine a man with pink hair like candy floss, cuts in, “they don’t even know we’re here. As long as we keep systems on minimal, we should go undetected.”

“We have a Zyxien cybernetic infestation on board The Marillion.”

Silence.

“Whatever stealth The Marillion had has been compromised.” I continue, “our engines can’t outcompete with theirs, according to the mathematical models.

“Our crew is working to eliminate the problem, but it’s more…complicated than we first anticipated.” Then I add quickly, “but they didn’t hack the mainframe – the Zyxien only have the coordinates for The Marillion.”

“Our ships are already over the passenger limit.” The captain of The Orgal says, “there’s no way we can abandon you as a decoy.”

“No.” I cut in hastily, “we’re on our own. The three of you will continue to the Central Planets undetected.”

“And The Marillion?” The eyes of the crew are locked on me; the entire bridge has frozen to turn and stare. The captains wait in silence. Silence. Everywhere; no one draws a breath as they wait.

“The Marillion has a fuel stockpile.” My voice is barely more than a whisper, “we’ll take the long route. Hopefully we can distract them enough until reinforcements arrive.”

There’s a quiet gasp from the crew. There’s no reinforcements. We’re already the last line of defence. The Raeg empire is not going to send their already strained navy to save one outdated cruise ship.

The captains immediately protest, as their conscious dictates.

“There must be another way.”

“That’s madness, you’ll never make!”

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

“Better off manipulating the gravitational rings of Julipar and catapulting to the Outer Rim planets.”

“No.” I interrupt them before they can divulge into debating, “we are under orders to return to the Central Planets, and I will not lead a fleet of Zyxien ships to outpost planets.”

“You can not. Captain Marillion, you can not sacrifice your ship and your passenger-”

“I can not lead a Zyxien fleet directly to an undefended planet system!” The outrage in my tone surprises even me, and I slump back in my seat as silence falls again. Then, in a quiet voice, I continue. “Perhaps they won’t even chase after us. As far as they know it’s only this ship.”

“So, what then, captain?” Lolli-N is right beside my seat, standing with her hand on the armrest.

“We will divert our course to the Asteroid Belt past Julipar.” I pause; pinch the bridge of my nose. “Should the fleet follow us, I’ll try to lose them in the Nebula. We won’t make it much further if things go wrong.”

“The universe save your souls.” The Captain of The Azarine murmurs, and the others repeat the sentiment.

Aurelia

Besides the little episode of droid maiming this morning, and a few homebots coming in with missing fingers and toes, shift was pretty boring.

I haven’t seen Lolli-N, Enea, or Illion all day, so I just sit alone in the cafeteria. No one bothers talking to me, but that’s probably because of my resting bitch face; don’t blame them.

I wonder if Enea is still mad at me from this morning?

These Marillion milkshakes only numb your senses so much. Who am I supposed to complain to (if not her) when I’ve drunk my fill?

“Pick up!” I grumble for the millionth time as my call goes to Enea’s voicemail.

I can’t believe I passed up an offer for supper with Illion for that bitch I call a sister. I already felt like shit about that and she’s really not making it worth it. Considering she didn’t even show up.

“Ugh.” I want to slap that stupid smirk off her face. I really hope I didn’t hurt Illion’s feelings. I didn’t think about that yesterday and now it’s just sinking in more and more with every hour.

Was he asking me out? Or was it like a friendly thing, because he’s a chivalrous captain? Who knows because we’ll never find out!

Actually, scratch that. I will find out.

My phone is out of my bag in an instant, messages open, until I realize I don’t actually have his number. I only have that weird bracelet he gave me yesterday.

If I could at least text him with it, it might be more useful. But it just blinks a little gold light at me. Damn it.

Where would he be, then? His shift ends at 7pm, and it’s already half past. He’s got to be around somewhere.

I don’t even have Lolli-N-

Wait. I do.

With a speed faster than Enea’s relationships, I reopen messages and call her.

“Pick up, pick up, pick up….” I’m hissing under my breath, when (thank the gods!) I hear the ping of an accepted call, and Lolli-N’s high voice piercers my ears.

“Aurelia!” She sounds so happy, “how’re you? Everything good?”

“Yeah! I was just uh…wondering if you know where Illion is?” I try to play it off nonchalantly, but the nervousness in my voice is kinda telling.

“Hmm.” She pauses, “I’m not sure, I think he’s had a bit of a tough shift so he’s probably just chilling somewhere. I can check.”

Tough shift. Oh no. Coming from Lolli-N that can’t be good.

“Do you need to talk to him?” I can hear her punching keys on a computer in the background. “Is it something I can help with?”

“I…” I groan, rubbing the back of my neck, “I feel pretty bad. He offered to take me to dinner yesterday and I said no because I had already agreed to go with Enea. I want to make it up, but I don’t know where he is.”

Lolli-N uhms and ahs a bit, and I can hear more keyboard smashing on her end. “Today’s not the best day for that. He’s not in a great mood.”

“Oh.”

“It’s got nothing to do with you, just… a lot is going on right now, y’know?”

“Okay. I get it. Where is he though?”

“Aurelia.” Lolli-N’s voice shifts to warning, “he needs some alone time this evening. Maybe tomorrow.”

“Okay fine. See you tomorrow.” I hang up on her before she can say anything else. Clearly this old homebot isn’t going to help me out.

And clearly Illion isn’t doing great.

And considering I’m the official wifey now, I might as well do something about that. How much I can do is still debatable. But when I’m not feeling good, I just like to sleep and drink tea.

And he didn’t sleep last night, so that means he probably will tonight, which means he’ll come back to our room sooner or later, if he isn’t there already.

Our room. It’s kinda empty right now to be honest. He’s got all his Marillion postcards on the closet door, a desk of papers, the hot drink machine, and a few colourful lamps. Sparse. Icky.

I always say a new vibe is a new you, so maybe if I help spice up the room a bit it will help. I’d get sad living in a small room like that all my life too.

With a new skip in my walk, I hurry my way to the sub section of the main deck, where a bunch of shops are lined up. Built into the wall, with colourful roll up curtains stretching out over the fronts; the windows display all sorts of odd things. From fish bowls to tennis shoes to go-karts. But that’s not going to help.

After rushing through a few shops, and finding nothing to fit my taste, I end up in the last one with thirty massive flower bouquets towering over me in a display case.

Oh, baby yes! I haven’t seen fresh flowers for months! It’s not something common on Osticara. I’d take them all if I could, but that would be overkill.

Thrusting my card at the cashier, I get her to pull one down for me, and with a bouquet of tulips in hand, I make the journey back to our room to spice things up just a teensy bit.