The start of a novella that gives us a look into Bathory and IKaggen’s travel to Nibiru, as well as hints of what’s been happening in the Black Veil. It starts with a little look into the travels of an explorer from Rally, sent out to chase for a dream…
…well, they found a dream.
A snippet below, and the full text in the chapter above. Enjoy!
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The shape of a young man resolved as he was caught in her own light and offered her a salute of recognition. “Matron.” It was Sectator-Citizen Johan Vanpel. The ‘citizen’ appellation to his rank meant he was still a cadet officer. Second Star to the Right had about a dozen cadets like him. The cream of the Academy’s crop, they were here to complete their training in the field.
None of them were going to graduate.
Liana shouldn’t think like that. She was an officer and should be setting an example for the rest of the crew, but she wasn’t a confessor. Confessor Tenit had died in Sarcophagus. The prime had been killed when they’d been ambushed after that system, when they’d been ‘safe’. Now it was just her and the XO as far as senior bridge staff went. It was hard to keep a strong back in those conditions, especially when you were on a ship that couldn’t spare enough power to run basic functions like corridor lighting.
“Sectator Vanpel,” she replied. “On your way to the bridge?”
“Yes, leader.”
“The elevators are back that way,” she pointed into the darkness.
“I know, ma’am. I, uh, just thought I’d take the long way.”
He didn’t ask if she needed help. Even in the RPSF, it was hard enough making your way as a human. As a pampered socialite, Liana had had to prove her bona fides even more than most, but she was walking on a broken leg. He was also, the woman suspected, a bit sweet on her. It might have just been her vanity talking, but it was nice to feel wanted. Especially now when the only other points of light were the ones that scarred her dreams. If he wanted to escort her to the bridge that was fine with her, even if both of them were pretending that he wasn’t.
A few moments of silence passed, the only noise in the dark hallway the soft tap of Liana’s cane on the deck. Vanpel broke it first. “Matron…” he began, stopped himself. The silence hung for a few more seconds. “Do you think they’re still out there?”
“I don’t know,” she lied. “But we’ll see what we can see when we get there.” No, they hadn’t given up. Press through the Tempest wasn’t enough for them.They’d hunted Second Star to the Right across three star systems, herding it like Rally’s dire wolves did an ironskin elk.
Another long moment. “If they are,” the younger man said. “…we can go home?”
Liana turned to him. She tried to offer him a comforting smile, but days of exhaustion and ever-present terror combined with the faint lights in the hall to make it into ghastly rictus. “Sure, sectator,” she said. “We’ll go home.”
~
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