Center Worlds - Spark

by Tim Morrison

  Chapter 6.4

  He's Not Dead - TGX-2 Medical -13 BA

  Hours later, Ryo came down to the medical centre where Kalen stood, reviewing reports as he watched Gya's sleeping form.

  "Any news?" Kalen asked.

  "It was definitely Idolan pirates. The bastards came deep into our space, after the supply depots. They must have been right by the Depot that the hauler was visiting, and then trailed it. We only have the two bodies though. Lyo's body is not there, they took him with them." Ryo replied.

  "She's under heavy sedation right now." Kalen said, indicating Gya's condition. "Mentally, she's not all there any more, Commander. I think she was more dependent upon Lyo than we realized. He's gone, and an entire part of her is gone also."

  A turn and a half later, Gya sat in her Father's quarters, wrapped up in some heated blankets, holding a mug of fortified broth as she listened to the final report.

  "He's not dead, then." She finally said.

  "As far as we know, he was not dead when the ship was destroyed. As to now, we have no idea." Ryo quietly said.

  "Are we going to find him?" She asked.

  Kalen nodded. "We've got the word out among the pirate groups that we are in contact with. Your Father has even posted a reward for Lyo's safe return, and a promise that if he is not returned, fleets will burn. We will find him."

  Gya looked up, eyes red, then blinked. "Captain Kalen, I want your job."

  Kalen looked at Gya with a startled expression ..."What?"

  She stood up. "When Lyo and I signed on board, you told us we could go as high as we wanted, there were no restrictions. You have been XO on board this ship for almost three Deca's. Not to sound impertinent, or disrespectful, Sir, but you at some point will want to move on. I am going to replace you when you do."

  "Gya, this is not the place-" Ryo began, but was cut off.

  "I am not leaving here, I am not leaving him, and I am not leaving you. This is all I have left of home, and I am going to stay. Captain Kalen, teach me everything. Commander Camelin, assist me, or get out of my way." Gya stated, tears streaming, but her voice was firm and solid. She dropped the blanket, put the mug of broth on the table, and walked out of the cabin, firmly closing the door behind her.

  "Very strong-willed girl, that one, Commander." Kalen said.

  "Give her the knowledge she wants, Kalen. If she wants to learn how to run the ship – give her everything. I'll find a place for her here, we've got to take care of her, now more than ever." Ryo replied.

  Gya walked down the corridor back to the quarters she shared with Lyo, passing through the door, she pulled it shut, then sat on the bed and began to weep.

  Three days it took, three days to mourn somebody she had grown up with all her life. Gya could not recall a time when Lyo had not been there. Even when she was very small, he had always been there, a slightly older boy, always close, never mean to her like some children could be. He had always been supportive. Her Mother and Father had both enjoyed his presence, and Gya had enjoyed being able to teach him how to be a proper Clansman.

  She had learned clan ways, Lyo learned them from her. What he learned, he then taught her. Together, they became a strong unit. Almost to the point of being able to predict each other. Then the Foaming Falls happened, Her mother had clipped young Aya to Gya's harness, then Lyo had shoved her out of the cargo hatch so she was in free fall, him flying down seconds later as the flitter with her mother still on board had slammed into a mountainside.

  At that time, Gya realized there was love between her and Lyo, but they were both far too young to do anything about it. Mother was gone, and Father, the Commander, was going off to war. Gya was determined to go with him.

  Lyo never strayed from her side. He had already sworn a blood oath to her father to protect her with his own life, and he continued to do so. They had trained together, learned together, grown closer as time progressed. It was too soon. Only a few weeks and then she would be able to be an officer, then they could really truly be together, now he was gone.

  Calm, cool, collected. Gya had to control herself. Panic served no purpose, Lyo was gone. He might be lost forever, or only for a few short days or weeks. For now though, he was gone to her. Pirates ranged far and wide and a ship could be halfway to the Rygol cluster by now.

  She looked at herself in the glass of the port and then took the dagger that Lyo had presented her with six cycles ago and sliced off a length of her shoulder-length hair. She did not deserve that hair, it was for Lyo. She could grow it again once he was back. She worked feverishly, slicing and cutting her hair until it was trimmed to a pixie cut, then she went to the dispenser and got some colourants to make up a hair dye. She was going to be different, act different, until Lyo was back. The old Gya died that day, a new Gya would emerge.

  She stripped out of the uniform and looked at her body critically, then depilated every hair on her body below her neck. Taking the colourants, she changed her hair and eyebrow color to match the new mood and look for Gya Desinlo. No longer alive, no longer real. She had died, and she would stay dead until Lyo was recovered. She also adjusted her skin tone, something not normally done as it was a vain thing that military did not normally have time for. Gya made the time, she made the adjustments. Her azure uniform was now adorned with a black stripe down both sides, and she wore the small dagger that Lyo had presented her proudly, clipped to her breast beside her rank insignia.

  She took a final look at herself in the port glass. The young woman staring back looked nothing like the old Gya Desinlo, Short hair, now so white as to be almost ice, which suited her soul. Skin paler than normal, which also complimented her hair to suit the new Gya. No more emotions, no more outbursts, no more anything. She was going to become the best there was, and she would find a way to find him.

  She walked out of her cabin, and right onto the bridge, where all noise and activity slowed down then stopped as she stood ramrod straight in front of the Command Console, where the Commander and Captain had also stopped what they were doing to look at this new person who stood before them.

  The Commander took in the new look and posture. Inwardly, he knew she was still hurting terribly, however she was here, and decorum required a response to a Cadet on duty.

  “You're not really in uniform, cadet.” The Commander said. Gya glared at him, 'This is my uniform now, Commander. The Black represents loss, or would you deny me that?”

  Ryo shook his head, glancing at Kalen who was almost hurting himself in an attempt not to laugh out loud at Gya, because the mood the young lass was in, he was sure she'd knife him if he did.

  “I don't intend to deny you anything, Cadet Gya. Are you ready to return to your duties?” The Commander asked quietly.

  “Yes, Commander. I am ready.” She replied in a very clipped tone.

  “Go see Sergeant Cato then, she's got some tasks that need done on the comm systems to recalibrate them.” Ryo said, and watched his daughter salute, then turn on her heel to walk over to Cato's console and ignored Cato's imploring look as to why he would send Gya to her.

  Kalen fought down the laugh and covered it with a discrete cough, which he then drowned in a mug of cold Kaf, grimaced, and went back to checking the reports from the latest Michelab attacks as the bridge returned to some semblance of normal activity.

  “I'm so glad you find this amusing, Captain.” Ryo said quietly to his XO.

  “Very determined girl, that one, Commander. We are lucky to have her, even with her creative display of ideas.” Kalen replied, then ducked as Ryo tossed a pad in his direction.

  “Remind me next time we have to clean the fuel ducts to send you in there to do it, Viktor.”