Darkest Reach

by Eric Warren

  After the ship’s accident, he’d been reassigned to Sissk and that’s where Evie had grown up. The unique thing about Sissk was it was one of the only Coalition planets with more than one intelligent dominant species on the planet. In fact there were twelve; some similar, others completely foreign to each other. But it was like the planet’s evolutionary cycle was on overdrive. How all twelve species managed to develop and evolve without murdering the hell out of each other she couldn’t figure out. But it had made for an interesting environment growing up.

  Evie deposited the rest of her water back in the sink and the glass in the matter recycler, making her way over to her closet. She pulled out one of her five identical uniforms and slipped it on, then took the time to gather her hair back into its ponytail which she braided and tied together so it lay across her left shoulder. She watched the green-tinted eyes staring back at her in the mirror. They seemed a little darker today, less vibrant than usual. She’d assumed her mother’s eyes were the same color since her father’s were a deep brown, but of course it was impossible to find out. She had hoped once she’d become an officer she would have access to more files on the Austin and the accident that claimed all but twelve lives of the crew. Yet there was nothing but the single file with very little information.

  Evie tore away from the sink, pulling her boots on and making sure she hadn’t left anything she might need behind. Walking out of her room with purpose, she tried not to think about the conversation with Dad earlier, but it was all that had filled her mind ever since she’d hit the send button. The last time she’d seen him he’d taken up painting again as a way to keep his mind fresh; he’d been quite the artist in his youth. And if the video was any evidence he’d only become more prolific in the past few years. He was a brilliant person and it had broken her heart to see him degrade so quickly.

  But that was the nice thing about the Coalition, they had provided all the care he would ever need. How could an organization that was committed to caring for the infirmed be all bad, as Cas suggested? He was convinced he was seeing conspiracies everywhere and while, yes, Rutledge had been doing some very reprehensible things, he was by no means a representative of the entire Coalition. One undesirable element…except. Except there had been Page as well. She’d never seen prejudice like that before. It ran deep in his veins; he still didn’t think he’d done anything wrong.

  She shook the thoughts from her head as she took the hypervator to the bridge. A few repair crews were checking some of the stations but it was nothing like the repairs required after their battle with the Sargans. At least the Sil had left most of their ship intact. Lieutenant Uuma, Page’s replacement stood at the tactical station, running what looked like battle simulations.

  “Brushing up?” Evie asked.

  The lieutenant grinned, her sharp features in contrast to her amicable demeanor. “Just familiarizing myself with the controls. I don’t want to be caught unaware out there.”

  “You did well against the Sil.”

  “Thanks. But it’s better if I have all these controls down solid. My reaction time needs to be less than a second when you or the captain give an order. I don’t need to be over here hunting for a button.”

  Evie placed her hand on the young woman’s slender shoulder. “I’m sure you’ll be fine. Is the captain in?”

  Uuma glanced to the command room. “In there, he came back about an hour ago and hasn’t left.”

  “Thanks,” Evie replied, making her way over to the command room.

  “Come in,” Greene said through the doors as Evie stopped in front of them. They opened to reveal Greene at his desk, reading a report on a datapad. “Commander?”

  “Sir, I need a minute of your time.”

  He leaned back in his chair and set the pad down, indicating she should sit. She took the nearest seat. “I have a…request.”

  “Name it.”

  “I need to take a day off Tempest. When we reach Cypaxia. My father’s there and he’s…not well. I could take a shuttle, then rendezvous with Tempest on the other side of the system the following day.”

  “I see,” Greene replied. “You know the shuttles can’t match Tempest’s speed. We’d have to drop to a normal undercurrent velocity.”

  “Yes, sir. I realize it’s an inconvenience. But I may not get another chance to see him. His condition is…deteriorating.”

  Greene stared at her a moment, his dark eyes watching hers. “I think we can spare a day, don’t you, Commander?”

  She broke into a smile. “Thank you, sir.”

  “I’d say you’ve earned it. One day won’t make a difference as far as Andromeda is concerned.”

  Andromeda. She’d only heard the alien threat referred to in such a manner one other time: when they were all in Admiral Sanghvi’s office. It sounded ominous. She turned to leave. “Commander?” Greene called.

  “Sir?”

  “Will you be attending the ceremony?”

  She arched an eyebrow. “Ceremony?”

  “For the Sil. Robeaux says they have an elaborate departure scheduled, since the consul’s companion will be staying on Eight.”

  “I’ll try to make it.” She really didn’t feel like watching a goodbye ceremony at the moment. Maybe they would need her on the bridge while it was happening.

  “See that you do.”

  6

  “For the duration of our time apart, and for the rest of my life, I will always carry a piece of me with you.”

  “And me with you.”

  Cas watched from the sidelines of the docking bay where Zenfor stood facing the other Sil, Mil’less. They had put their bio-suits back on, including the helmets that obscured their faces. It had been the way Cas had first encountered the Sil and from what he understood, what they considered their “natural” state. The only difference was the gems that had been suspended within their helmet structures weren’t present. They had been the only source of light on a Sil ship and Cas had to assume they had something to do with being connected to the Sil ship itself, as the Sil considered their ships to be living beings capable of existing in more than one dimension.

  He’d seen precious little of Mil’less since she’d arrived with Zenfor, she chose to spend most of her time in their quarters studying. She was shorter than Zenfor, but not by much. Though she wasn’t as imposing as the consul, her silence the past few weeks had unnerved Cas whenever he was around them. Where Zenfor offered information freely and without restraint, Mil’less was often silent to his inquiries, with no explanation given. Hearing her speak at this “ceremony” was a rarity.

  Zenfor reached up with one of her gloved hands and placed it on Mil’less’s shoulder. The other Sil did the same and they bent their heads until their helmets were touching. It seemed like an elaborate ceremony just for saying goodbye. Was this how every Sil parting was marked? Suddenly Cas felt uncomfortable. As if he was watching something far too intimate to be seen by someone else. He wasn’t the only one in the docking bay either, a small crowd had gathered, at Zenfor’s insistence, to witness the separation, and he still didn’t know why. Wouldn’t they want privacy in this moment, especially if they were more than just colleagues? Cas had never obtained a solid read on their relationship, though now it seemed as if it was much more intimate than he’d realized.

  He shifted on his feet, crossing his arms as his gaze met with Evie’s on the other side of the bay, standing beside Greene and a few of the other bridge officers. Admiral Sanghvi smiled as he watched the two Sil hold each other with their heads bowed. Then, as if from nowhere, a melodic sound filled the space. It had started low, then grew until it echoed and reverberated against the walls. It was nothing like Cas had ever heard before. It was enchanting, otherworldly, and captivating in a strange way. It was the type of music that immediately struck him at his core and he knew in that instant he would never forget it. Something shifted in the air and he found himself blinking away tears welling up in his eyes. What was wrong with him? He
never cried, especially not to music. But there was something about the sounds—there were no words as far as he could tell, just a harmonic melody that reached down to the depth of his soul.

  Before he could fully comprehend it, the music had stopped and Zenfor and Mil’less had released each other. They reached back and unclasped their helmets, pulling them off. The eyes of both Sil glistened as they turned from each other. Mil’less approached Admiral Sanghvi, saying something to him in a whisper and he nodded, leading her to the other end of the docking bay and down through the bridge connecting the ship to the station.

  Zenfor remained where she was, stoic as she faced the far wall.

  “I missed half my break for this?” said an ensign, a young man probably no older than twenty-two. He had a mop of messy brown hair but which matched his amber skin perfectly. He’d probably been one of those kids who thought he could get through life on looks alone.

  Cas had seen him once before in passing but had never spoken to him before. “Hey,” Cas whispered. “You witnessed something no other human has ever seen before. Be a little more respectful.”

  The ensign pursed his lips and gave Cas a side eye. “Whatever. Big deal. So she sung to her.”

  Zenfor turned her gaze to the ensign and he went rigid. She walked over to him, not even glancing at Cas. “You disrespect my culture.”

  “N—no, I was just—” The kid trembled.

  “When a Sil can’t appreciate a historical ceremony, such as the parting of friends, he is sent for judgement.”

  Cas’s eyes went wide. He’d seen the judgement chamber and had almost become a victim to it. He was also aware that as the captain of her own ship, Zenfor could technically consider herself a judge. If he didn’t do something quick, she might end up coating the docking bay with the Ensign’s blood.

  “Consul.” Cas stepped in front of the ensign. “Please excuse some of our more inexperienced citizens. In our society, a person does not fully mature until they are twenty-five-years-old, and thus tend not to appreciate the magnitude of certain aspects of life. We allow them to serve so young as we want the experience to be formative for them.” He glanced back at the ensign. Sweat had formed on his brow and he was almost cowering behind Cas.

  “I see,” Zenfor replied, studying the man behind Cas. “I will not have my culture mocked by an inferior species. There must be retribution.”

  Cas flicked his eyes to Evie who, along with Greene, had tensed, but remained where they were, their eyes glued on the confrontation. “There will be. He will be reassigned to menial labor for punishment. But he can’t learn and grow if he’s injured or killed.”

  “Killed?” Cas heard the kid say. It sounded like it was coming from a child. All the prior bravado had evaporated.

  Zenfor remained steadfast a few beats too long for Cas’s comfort before turning and exiting the docking bay. Cas heaved a sigh of relief, spinning on the ensign. He grabbed him by the collar. “Are you stupid? Don’t you understand how delicate all this is?”

  “I—I’m sorry, sir,” the ensign said, true fear in his eyes.

  “What’s your name?”

  “Magnus, sir. Jackson Magnus.” The words came out in heaves, as if he was going to hyperventilate right there in the docking bay.

  “Magnus!” Both Cas and the ensign turned to see Evie striding toward them. Cas let go of his collar. “Report to your duty station.”

  He nodded and took off in the other direction, giving Cas one last look as he left. Evie turned to him.

  “He has to pay a punishment. I don’t know how bad this is yet,” Cas said.

  “You should go after her. Smooth things over,” Evie said. “I’ll take care of Magnus.”

  Cas nodded and jogged to catch up with the Sil who was practically stomping down the hall. Fortunately no other crew members were in her way. “Is this cooperation? Is this respect?” she demanded.

  “I’m not going to apologize for him. He made a mistake and now he’s going to pay for it. Not everyone in the Coalition is like that.”

  “No, you only go behind each other’s backs to enact secret agendas. In my culture, the connection we have with each other is sacred above all else. Our shipmates are our family. No connection is too trivial or inconsequential. And we do not betray each other. If we do, the result is death.”

  Cas shook his head, still working to keep up with her long strides. “I wish we were that evolved. But we’re still learning. Your people might be an example—”

  She spun on him. “How can you stand it? Being among all these people and yet still being an outcast? I’ve seen the way many of them look at you. Does it not wear on you every single day? The way they keep you at arms’ length?”

  He winced. She wasn’t wrong, being back in the Coalition hadn’t exactly been easy. But it had been necessary, even if he hadn’t wanted to admit it at the time. “It’s…a challenge.”

  Zenfor leaned back, regarding him. “Such a conundrum. Records exist of my people being like yours once, at each other’s throats constantly. But we made it through. You will too, I suppose.”

  “Then you’ll still help us…despite what just happened?”

  “I gave you my word and I follow through. If nothing else your Coalition is a reminder of mistakes we made in the past we don’t wish to repeat.” She turned and resumed her course.

  Cas watched her go. Even a Sil could see how detached he was from everyone else here. Maybe he should take Sanghvi’s advice. Everything seemed to be pointing him in that direction. What would be the harm? Cas might not have been right for the old Coalition, but this new, better Coalition without all the corruption might just be what he needed. But he needed to talk to one more person before he made a final decision.

  He headed for sickbay.

  7

  The doors to sickbay slid open, revealing a pristine medical ward. All of the beds were made and all of the equipment was in its place. Everything looked brand-new as if the place had just been constructed. Cas glanced over to see Dr. Xax working away in her office. As the only Yax-Inax on board she’d be hard not to recognize what with her two sets of parallel arms and six eyes. She had been the one to accept Box as a semi-permanent sickbay assistant, which Cas realized he’d never properly thanked her for as it had given Box something to do all day other than sulk and watch net dramas.

  She glanced up when she saw him enter. “Caspian, what can I do for you?” Xax stood and maneuvered around her desk, a smile on her thin lips.

  “I came to see Box before we took off. We’ll be launching in half an hour or so.”

  “He’s not here, I’m afraid. Most of the staff is down in cargo four double-checking we have everything we’ll need for the journey. Last I was aware he was down there with them.”

  Cas gave her a curt smile. “I’ll head down there, then. Everything’s still working out?”

  “Couldn’t be better.” She raised two of her arms in a welcoming gesture. “Box’s bedside manner still needs work, but he’s an excellent nurse. His precision is unmatched. What was his original designation?”

  “He was originally built as a military robot, but then repurposed into a miner after the military realized they’d built too many. Him and four-thousand other units.”

  “It’s a shame,” Xax replied. “If they’re all as precise as he is, they would have made excellent healers. I guess he got lucky. I assume you haven’t heard anything about the status of his rights?”

  Cas shook his head. “The admiral promised to tell me as soon as he found out. I’ll let you know as soon as I do.”

  “I doubt it will make a difference here.” Xax waved one of her lower hands in dismissal. “I’d just like to see them try to come in here and take him from us.”

  “I really hope it doesn’t come to that,” Cas replied. He hadn’t even considered what would happen if Box was deemed not to have any rights. How would the Coalition react? Obviously Page would be released, or at least have his sentence reduced. Wo
uld they really try to forcibly remove Box from the ship? Especially in the middle of this crisis?

  “Have a good day, Caspian. You’re always welcome here if you need anything,” Xax finally said after the silence between them had become uncomfortable.

  “Thanks, yeah. I appreciate that.”

  The doctor nodded and returned to her office and Cas made a motion to open the conversation back up to thank her for everything she’d done but the moment was gone. Instead, he returned to the corridor and made his way to cargo four.

  ***

  “One-hundred and ninety-seven units of caloricum. Two more than the manifest shows,” Box said, his head in one of the portable containers off to the side of cargo four. Cas strolled up behind him as he read off the serial numbers on each of the units for Nurse Menkel, who stood off to the side.

  “Hey, Box.”

  Box raised his head, staring at Cas with his yellow eyes. “You aren’t medical personnel.”

  “No shit.”

  He raised himself to full height. “Non-medical personnel will need to be removed via suspension of nutsack.”

  “Hey, I was—wait, what?”

  “I have instituted a new rule. Medical personnel are not to be interrupted under penalty of nutsack suspension. It’s very easy. I grab your nuts, then haul you out of here by them.”

  Cas took a step back. “Box—” he warned. “Do not—”

  Box turned to Nurse Menkel. “Did I not institute that policy upon arrival?”

  Sweat had formed on Menkel’s brow as he watched the exchange. “I-uhh, I thought you were joking?”

  “Do it and I’ll make sure your consciousness is inside a repair drone by the end of the day,” Cas warned.