Changing Course

by Brey Willows

  Jessa’s mother looked bemused and accepted Kylin’s arm. “I understand you’re responsible for the initial retrieval and safekeeping of our captain and her crew.”

  Kylin looked like she wanted to laugh. “I pulled her into a tree after she drew the scavengers away from her crew. And then she duped me into taking her with me to see if there were other survivors.” She grinned at Jessa. “I didn’t really have to do any safekeeping. Your daughter is tough as prowler hide.”

  There was no mistaking the pride in her mother’s expression, something Jessa had never seen before.

  “Shall we sit? Or would you prefer to go back to the ship?”

  Jessa gave Kylin a questioning look. She’d be fine talking here, but she wondered if Kylin wanted to see the inside of the ship. Kylin winked at her and motioned to the table where the administrator sat. “Why don’t we stay here for a bit?” She turned and pulled Asol forward. “This is Asol. She got us out of a particularly difficult situation and has been with us since. We wanted her to join us, if you don’t mind?”

  Jessa’s mother frowned, clearly unsure what to say. Asol’s presence was based on emotion, on their connection to her, and not on something concrete. It would be lost on her, and Jessa was incredibly grateful she’d learned that being connected to people was about more than their usefulness.

  Kylin didn’t wait for an answer. She gave Asol a little push toward the table, and then took the seat next to her. Jessa sat beside her mother, and once again noticed that she reached out to touch her but pulled back.

  “Nice to see you again,” the administrator said with a smile.

  “You kept your word.” Kylin motioned for drinks and got him another.

  “I try.” He took a sip of his drink and nodded at Jessa’s mother. “The fleet commander had been searching for the captain, but her life-scan didn’t show up on their readings. Indemnion is too far outside the connective comm system for a personal scan to show up without a definite location.” He grinned at Jessa. “There were some very happy people when I reported you were here.”

  Jessa’s mother cleared her throat. “Yes, well. Continuing on.” She took a sip of beer and winced. “The Indemnion administrator has informed us that there’s an extreme situation involving the trafficking of people, and he has requested intergalactic assistance with the issue. Have you found the problem to be as reported, Captain?”

  Jessa nodded. “I have, Commander. The situation has devolved greatly just in my short time here, and free people are now afraid to leave the walled cities. Anyone outside them is in grave danger.”

  “As you cited the intergalactic policy 369A, we have been required to begin the deployment of security officers to Indemnion. However, as you know, there’s a requirement that there be intermediaries in place for such an operation.” She looked at Kylin, her expression appraising. “Though the administrator is in place, he assures me that you would be better qualified to act in that position, Kylin Enderson. Do you feel that to be the case?”

  Kylin’s lips twitched, and Jessa knew she was trying hard not to laugh. Had she sounded so stilted and formal when she’d landed here? She knew the answer.

  “I believe I could act in that capacity, yes. I don’t have any training, but I understand the politics and problems here, and I’d be acting for the people with no agenda of my own. I think the administrator and I would make a good team.” She nudged Asol. “And I think it would be good to train the youth here in new tech, because that will be one of the ways we move forward.”

  Asol’s eyes were wide and she looked from person to person. “Yeah. What she said.”

  Jessa’s mother took a deep breath as if to avoid saying something sharp before she turned back to Jessa. “Then that’s settled. We’ll accept Kylin Enderson as the ambassador for change on Indemnion. What is your intention, Captain? Will you be returning to take a new position on a new ship? Or will you be returning ho—to your planet of origin?”

  Home. There was that word. She studied her mother and saw beyond the distant facade. She’d been worried. She’d come to Indemnion when she could have sent any number of other people, because she’d needed to see Jessa for herself. It was a revelation, and it made her want to grab her mother and embrace her. Instead, she reached out and touched her mother’s hand, which made her mother smile slightly.

  “I admit I’ve been living in the moment, and I haven’t given much thought to what would happen if I could leave. I’d like a little time to think about it, if I may?”

  A flash of disappointment was quickly followed by an implacable nod. “You may. We’ll need to spend a few days understanding the full scope of issues involving this planet, and Kylin Enderson will need to begin working with the security forces as soon as they arrive. You may take the time you need to decide on your next position.” She swallowed and looked at the table. “And perhaps we may find some time to have a discussion of a personal nature.”

  “I’d like that.” Jessa had never had that kind of discussion with her mother, and she found that she very much wanted to. She wanted to tell her about Kylin, and the Volare, and her friends Sherta and Liselle, and how she’d learned to ask questions and let people in.

  Kylin pushed back her chair and stood. “Unless you need us now, it might be a good time to take a break. Maybe we can meet for dinner?”

  The administrator stood and held out his arm. “Good idea. I’ve got some calls to make. But let’s meet on the ship. I’ve always wanted to see what the inside of one of those beasts looks like.”

  Jessa took Kylin’s hand and noticed the way her mother looked at their hands, as though trying to work out a puzzle. “Thank you for coming for me. We’ll see you soon, and I’ll bring my remaining crew with us when we come tonight.”

  Her mother gave her a quick nod but didn’t say anything else.

  They made their way back to Kylin’s house, and Asol, who hadn’t said more than a few words while they were there, couldn’t stop talking. She thanked Kylin repeatedly for including her in the new plans, and though Kylin laughed and smiled, Jessa could tell her thoughts were a million miles away, as were Jessa’s.

  She thought they’d have months together, but the time had come when decisions had to be made. And what she’d told her mother was true. She’d always thought she’d go back to being a ship’s captain, but was that what she wanted now? Where did that leave her and Kylin?

  When they reached the house, Asol went inside, still chattering away, but Kylin stopped Jessa at the door.

  “You’re thinking so loudly you might as well be saying it out loud.” She kissed Jessa’s hand. “Let’s work it out.”

  Jessa’s heart broke with relief at the simple statement. It was that simple. They just had to work it out.

  * * *

  When Kylin had seen the fleet officer at their door, her heart had nearly shattered before she made it up the stairs. She knew it meant Jess would be leaving her, far sooner than she was prepared for. But when she’d looked into Jessa’s eyes, she’d seen what she needed to. Jess wasn’t about to just up and leave. It wasn’t like last time. Jessa looked as stunned as Kylin felt, and that made it bearable. When Jessa had taken her hand and hardly let go throughout the meeting, she’d known they’d work it out. Somehow.

  “Let’s talk out our options.” Kylin poured them all a cup of tea, and they sat around the table.

  “You’re going to be the ambassador for Indemnion. That’s decided. Right?” Jessa smiled. “Congratulations.”

  Kylin shrugged. “It sounds like a hell of a job, if it means helping security decide how to deal with what’s going on. But I think it’s worth it.”

  “It’s more than just helping the security forces here, though.” Jessa motioned toward the window. “It’s acting as the go-between for Indemnion and the Intergalactic Alliance. You’ll be able to tell them about the beauty of the lands here. You can help shape Indemnion’s image on a massive scale.”

  “Tourism.” Asol spok
e around a mouthful of fruit. “People should see what we’ve got.”

  Kylin nodded slowly. “I like that idea. But we’ll take it slow, and there’s a lot of work to do before that’s an option.” She took Jessa’s hand. “What about you, love? What is it you want?”

  Jessa stroked the top of Kylin’s hand as she thought out loud. “I love what I do. What I was trained to do. And now that I know what I’ve been missing by being, well, my mother,” she grinned when Kylin and Asol laughed, “I think I’d be an even better captain than I’ve ever been before.” She didn’t miss the way Kylin’s eyes tightened slightly. “But that means leaving you, and that’s not an option. So how do I keep doing what I do and keep us together?”

  There was silence as they considered the question. The fact that Jessa didn’t want to leave her made her heart soar, and if there was a way, she’d find it.

  “I’m going to have to leave the planet to talk to people, right? People in high places.” Kylin tapped on the table as she thought. “And I probably have to do that sooner than later. So I can leave with you, and we can go do that together.”

  Jessa nodded, her gaze glued to Kylin. “Go on.”

  “There’s no question I need to be here, helping get things underway and watching out for people. But while I’m doing that, maybe you can help elsewhere.”

  Jessa frowned. “You want me to go?”

  Asol stood up and backed toward the door. “I think I’ll go to my room. Or go find an underground crime ring. Whatever. You probably need to have this conversation without me.”

  Kylin laughed and threw a wad of paper at her. “Coward. Why don’t you go tell Jessa’s crew what’s happened and bring them to the ship at dinner time?”

  Asol nodded happily. “Perfect way out. Thanks.” She slipped out of the house, closing the door softly behind her.

  Kylin turned back to Jessa, shaking her head. “Back to what I was saying. No, I don’t want you to leave. Obviously, I want you by my side. But things are likely to get unstable before they get better, and you know how I feel about keeping you safe.”

  Jessa folded her arms and glared at her. “You know how much I love you making decisions for me.”

  “Oh, sweet lady, I wouldn’t dream of it. Just hear me out.” She poured them more tea and sat down, thinking. “You’ve got connections. You can tell people about Indemnion. About what we can offer, and Asol’s right, the tourist thing would be great. It would bring in money and help the people here prosper. And…” The idea flashed up and she grabbed it. “You could be the person who runs the tourist ship that brings people here. You’d still be captaining your own ship, but this time you’d have intimate knowledge of the place you were taking people to. You’d still be flying, but this would be your home base, so we could still be together. And when things have settled down here, I could fly with you occasionally.” She waited, carried away by the perfect idea.

  Jessa stayed quiet, thinking, and Kylin let her process. Finally, she nodded.

  “I think it would work. And because it would be part of a regeneration project, we’d get the funding to do it well, and maybe even put environmental protections in place from the start.”

  Kylin slid from her chair and knelt in front of Jessa. “It will be hard for a while, but you know I’m in love with you, and I want this to work. But being with someone shouldn’t take away their dreams, it should just mean you help them achieve those dreams in a different way.” She held Jessa’s hands between her own and kissed her fingertips. “Your dream was to fly, and I won’t take that away from you. And if I know you’re coming back, I’ll always be able to wait.”

  “Your dad wanted you to leave Indemnion,” Jessa said gently.

  “He did.” Kylin blinked back the sudden tears. “But he also said to make a difference, to help people. And if I can help the people here, and then get away to fly with you sometimes, I think I’ll have kept my promise to him.”

  Jessa leaned down to rest her head against Kylin’s. “Thank you for loving me so much. Crashing onto this planet was the best thing that could have happened to me. You’re my home, and if you’re here, then that’s where I’ll always be.”

  Kylin kissed her, slowly, deeply. “You changed the course of my life, and together we can make the stars jealous.” She stood and led Jessa to the bedroom, where they took their time making love, and Kylin caressed every inch of Jessa’s beautiful skin. She wanted to remember this moment, the one that would give them a future together, the moment they decided to try for forever. Life was about to change in every way, and she was ready.

  Epilogue

  Eighteen months later

  Jessa stepped off the luxury passenger ship and smiled at the few stragglers still pulling their bags behind them. She scanned the landing dock, which had been moved to the grasslands on the other side of Quasi, much to the dismay of the people who were used to having the privilege in the Heathers. Kylin leaned against a post, her arms crossed over her black uniform with deep blue trim. She was looking at Jessa with that grin she loved, the one that promised she wouldn’t be sleeping at all tonight. She ran down the dock and threw herself into Kylin’s arms.

  “Mmm.” Kylin nuzzled her hair. “There’s my sweet-smelling mate.”

  Jessa pulled back and smiled at her. “I never get tired of hearing that.”

  “And I never get tired of saying it. Good trip?” Kylin put her arm around her waist and led her toward a small flyer.

  “Really good. Great passengers who are excited to see the cryo volcano and visit the Falls.” She got into the flyer and belted in. “How are things here? And why are we getting into a flyer?”

  Kylin smiled and got the flyer off the ground. “I have a surprise for you.”

  No matter what questions Jessa asked, Kylin wouldn’t tell her where they were going. But once she saw the red sand below them, she laughed. “Thalla?”

  Kylin set the flyer down just outside the walls, where several other flyers were parked under protective shields to keep the storms from damaging them. “It’s been way too long.”

  They made their way into the city easily. The giant gates were no longer shut, as the threat from the outside was no longer an issue. When the door opened, Sherta pulled them both in for a hug.

  “It’s about time.” Liselle came to the door as well and gave Kylin a solid punch to the shoulder before giving Jessa a hug.

  Asol peeked around the corner, and Jessa laughed when she jumped forward and swung Jessa around in the air. She looked older, wiser. But she still had the infectious laugh and enthusiasm she’d had when they’d met her on the docks. That felt like ages ago.

  They settled down for dinner around the table and talked about life.

  “Did you know Kylin gave me the flyer she built?” Asol still talked with her mouth full. “I made modifications, thanks to all the new tech flooding in. But she’ll always be the best girl in the air because she was built by Kylin.”

  Kylin nodded her approval. “And Asol has been teaching as many people who want to learn about the tech brought in by the IA. We’re not behind the rest of the universe anymore.”

  “And the slavers?” Jessa asked. She was glad to have this time with their friends, but she couldn’t wait to get Kylin alone.

  “Eradicated, for the most part. All slaves have been freed and helped to start new lives, either here or on a planet of their choosing. Most of the slavers have been taken off planet to a Claxon colony, where they’ll serve out their lives making things of use to other planets. The nomads are free to roam, and the general fear of them seems to have dissipated massively.”

  It was like a different planet. Jessa and Kylin had gone with her mother to Intergalactic Fleet headquarters, where they’d given a full report, and Kylin had been able to detail what she saw as the primary issues facing the planet. They’d been taken seriously, and plans had been put in place almost at once.

  The best part about it had been Kylin’s reaction to the ship.
She’d caressed it like a lover, taking in the curves, the controls, the facts, and options. She’d been truly amazed, and Jessa was so glad she’d been able to share it with her. When they’d left the docking station in the Heathers and moved into space, Kylin had kept her face and hands pressed to the window, watching as Indemnion fell away. As they’d traveled, Jessa had pointed out various areas they were passing. The name of that nebula or star, this moon or that nearby planet. Kylin had been in her element. But when they returned to Indemnion to meet with the security forces, she’d been in her element there, too.

  Jessa loved that she simply adapted to the moment, to being the person she needed to be. It was sexier than anything on any other planet, and she was so incredibly proud of Kylin for taking her place, for being the person she wanted to be.

  “And the Volare?” Jessa asked. “I mention them on the ship.”

  “They’re doing great. They’re taking it slow and only letting a certain number of people on their island per year, but some of them have gone out into the world. There’s still a lot of mystique around them, but they’re doing well. They’re going to survive.” Kylin’s face lit up, and it was clear how much that meant to her.

  “And how is it going with your family?” Sherta asked. “I understand you had some changes there?”

  Jessa laughed. “That’s an understatement. When I disappeared, my father wrote me off, as is expected on our world. But my mother and siblings refused to give up hope, and were all caught off guard at how much they cared about my welfare. After I told my mother about my time here, and all I’d learned, she decided it would be good for her and my siblings to learn some of what I did. They traveled to various planets in order to learn more about the inhabitants and cultures from a closer perspective.” She smiled and shook her head. “We’re closer than any family on Othrys, and I think others are starting to develop emotional ties as well.”

  Liselle smacked Asol’s hand with a spoon when she went to dip her fingers into the stew to pluck a piece of meat out. Asol shook her hand and stuck her tongue out.