After a rather lengthy and at times stomach-turning explanation of Brailack culture and physiology, the crew grows silent again. This time, Wil breaks the silence. “So, who is this and what’s the job?”
Zephyr takes a breath. “Her name is Prathea. She’s a chief scientist for one of the big multi-system corporations. Farsight Corp, she said.”
Gabe raises his hand. “Farsight Corporation is not just ‘one of’ the big multi-system corporations.” Somewhere along the way he seems to have picked up the rabbit ears gesture of air quotes. “They are in fact the second largest corporation in the entire region. Among other things, they are one of the largest research and development firms in the Galactic Commonwealth, holding several high-level contracts with the GC and Peacekeepers.”
Maxim leans forward. “I’ve heard of them. They supply the Peacekeepers with advanced weapons.”
Gabe nods. “Weapons research is also one of their larger verticals.”
Wil looks at his mechanical friend. “How do you know so much about this company, Farsight Corp?”
Gabe tilts his head. “I was built by Farsight. Another of their key verticals is service droids, primarily engineering and scientific models.”
Bennie leans over. “So, they’re like your Gods or something?”
Gabe’s head swivels to look down at the leering hacker. “I am not religious.”
Wil nearly falls over laughing. It takes a few minutes for him to catch his breath. “Okay,” he says, “back on track folks. Gabe, will dealing with Farsight be an issue?”
“No Captain. I was merely stating a fact. My loyalties lie with our crew.”
“Good to know.” He nods to the droid, who nods back.
“As I was saying…” Zephyr pauses and looks around the room before continuing. “She’s the chief scientist at some research station. All she said in her first comms was that it’s out near the edge of the GC.”
Wil stands up. “Okay, go ahead and get in touch with her. Figure out where she is, and see if she’ll commit to a number, too.” He smiles. “Just so we know. We can set course when we hear from her.” He turns toward the hatch that leads to the crew berths. “I’m going to bed now, see y’all later.”
Bennie climbs out of the chair Maxim had dropped him in. “I’ll be on the bridge. That new personality module I installed on the main computer is annoying even me. Gonna see what I can do with it.” He heads back toward the hatch to the long corridor, often called the neck, that connects the body of the ship with the forward section housing the bridge and armory. Without speaking, Gabe turns and follows the hacker out.
Alone in the lounge, Maxim looks over at Zephyr. “You've never mentioned Prathea to me. Even privately, where no one would hear you break protocol.” He sounds hurt, the concern is etched on his face.
She reaches up to stroke his cheek before placing her hand on top of his. “Love, before we were framed and saw what the Peacekeepers were all about, I took the rules, even those that hurt, seriously. The morning Prathea was announced as missing, I knew. I knew she’d left, washed out. Our ways are so rigid; it was like a switch. I spared her a moment to wish it had turned out differently and maybe in the back of my mind, wish her well. Then I pushed her from my mind and went to the assembly field for the morning parade.”
Palorians don’t have tear ducts—their inner set of vertical eyelids handle wetting and debris removal just like tears do for humans. Zephyr closes her eyes now, and Maxim can see that her inner eyelids are working overtime.