Chapter 3

––––––––

Sheed walked through the hold of the XR-30, watching the lights start to brighten, simulating the coming of dawn. The ship was silent except for all the usual noises, with the exception of one that filtered to the hold from the flight deck. Dynan was asleep at the controls again, dreaming – probably about Dain or what Maralt had done to him. Every now and then he would gasp as if struggling to draw breath, or a low, rending moan would fill the air.

If Sheed didn’t wake him soon, he’d wake up screaming. They tried to avoid letting that happen whenever they could.

He listened for a moment to see if the dream would subside on its own, but it didn’t sound like it would. He turned to the console along the back divider between the crew quarters and the hold where all the ship’s system controls were located, and sent a planetary alert to the navigation controls. The noise of the alarm was usually enough.

Almost the same instant, the hum of the engines changed pitch. The ship slowed. The sublight engines powered off, which was supposed to happen when they were about to enter a planetary system. Sheed watched Dynan straighten, looking out at the now unmoving points of light. They’d been on board ship for some three weeks. Entering the Cadal System meant they were only a few hours from landing. Or non-System, Sheed corrected, an outer System so far away from Brittallia that the navigation computer strained to identify and maintain its programmed course. That lack of information was one reason why they had to move so slowly. It took more than one pass through a System to plot where all the planets were, their orbital paths, and the inevitable anomalies. They didn’t have enough information to go on. There wasn’t much out here to recognize. Beyond this, for months on end, there was nothing but swirling gases. Some thought it the edge of the Universe.

Sheed knew that wasn’t true, but it felt like it none the less. Not much was known about this quadrant of deep space, except for the existence of this lone System with its one habitable planet. Less was known about the people who lived there. The last exploratory mission was fifty years old, along with the information culled from it. They had more recent information from a trip that Carryn had taken, but couldn’t tell anyone about it. They weren’t supposed to be here, breaking one of the more sacred laws they were required to uphold by even seeing this much of the place. The non-interference laws applied not only to their own System within Brittallia, but also places like this out on the edge of known existence.

Carryn’s report indicated that the people of this planet were at war with each other, fighting over petty differences, borders on a map. They lived somewhat archaically, without what could be called real technological advances. Maybe if they didn’t make some progress toward peace, they wouldn’t survive to gain any.

The navcom chirped again, warning of another planet – a real one this time, and a giant orange ball of gas filled the viewscreen. Before Sheed could correct the ship’s heading, Dynan did it. Far in the distance, the star of their destination was a dim but growing light. It would be good to be on the ground, looking up at that star, soaking in its warmth and energy.

Dynan deactivated the chair lock and climbed out before it slid completely back. He moved to the hold, rubbing his shoulder until he realized Sheed was there. He looked over the console controls and saw the same thing – all systems were operating properly, or most of them. All the important ones.

“Are we there yet?” Sheed said, asking the same question he’d asked every morning for the last five days.

Dynan rolled his eyes and didn’t answer.

“It’s your turn to do the dishes,” Sheed said, “and the laundry. We don’t need to monitor our water anymore.”

Dynan grumbled half an answer and disappeared back to his room. Sheed watched him over the security imagers that recorded every section of the ship. He changed clothes. He picked up a few loose articles from his room and stuffed them into the chute. He did the same thing in Geneal’s room. She was still asleep. He didn’t go into the crew quarters to collect his or Ralion’s things, and Sheed smiled at that. He came back to the hold and via the console, sent the commands to begin and complete one wash cycle. That was all there was to it. He went off to the galley next, but came right back out. Apparently, the dishes were done. Ralion probably did them, since for some reason he seemed to enjoy it.

There weren’t enough tasks to keep him occupied, something they tried to do. They did their best to distract him, but it didn’t seem enough to keep him from wandering into memories of grief and doubt. Sheed watched him as he stepped on the moving tread in the floor that served as a track, grasping the controls briefly to set the pace. It wasn’t long before he was running.