Skylar kept track of Earth time, and by her calculations, she had been in space for at least two days. She had managed to digest part of what had happened since her arrival on the Knœnos, and her new comrades had contributed greatly to her adaptation. They had given her time and space and tried their best to understand what she was going through. Skylar had noticed that their empathy for her species was still limited, but she didn't hold it against them.
What had also intrigued her, and what she had discussed with Sarek, was their ability to understand each other. This led to a strange conversation.
"Captain," she began as they passed each other in a corridor, "I have a question."
"What is it?" he replied.
"How come you understand me when I speak?"
Sarek had looked at her, clearly surprised by her question.
"Well, the translator," he said as if it were obvious.
"The translator?"
"Yes, the translator."
"Which translator?"
"The one that's implanted directly into my nervous system, in my neck, and translates everything you say."
"But how can I understand you if I don't have a translator?"
"Let's just say it establishes a sort of telepathic link between your brain and mine, or that of the person you're talking to."
Silence. Skylar looked at him, this time it was her turn to be confused. She looked at him, incredulous, as if he'd simply gone mad.
"A telepathic link?"
"It's… yes. I can understand your confusion. However, you'll need it too. For the moment, you have no use for one, but when the time comes for your first exploration, we'll implant one. If you find yourself alone with people who don't have a translator, it'll be complicated."
"Okay…"
After this strange conversation, her first day, if she had calculated correctly, had been relatively calm. Sarek and the others had given her the time she needed to acclimatize to their surroundings. She had spent a lot of time exploring the ship, although “getting lost” would be a more appropriate term. Finally, Vahrak had provided her with a complete plan, which she could study in her quarters. She had also acted as a guide, showing her the most important places, except for the Command post. Then, seeing Skylar lost in thought, Vahrak decided to let her go about her business.
Skylar had eventually found the outer airlock, the only place apart from the Command post where she could see space. She contemplated the cosmic void for a few moments with a smile, then sat down against the glass to study the Glossary. She hadn't expected it to be so comprehensive and dense. She'd brought a notebook to take as many notes as possible. But the more she studied it, the more she realized that it sometimes lacked essential information on many species. Her insatiable curiosity drove her to want to answer these unresolved questions.
The Glossary offered a multitude of categories for sorting information: “inhabited planets”, “potentially habitable planets”, “uninhabitable planets”, but also “new species”, “vanished civilizations”, “galactic wars”, and many others. It was as if she were immersed in the Star Wars universe, but it was real. And it was her universe now. The deeper she delved into the Glossary, the more she felt a pang of sadness for her own species, who wouldn't be able to benefit from this knowledge for a long, long time. A very long time. Thinking of her people, she decided to consult the sheet on human beings to find out more about what was being said about them.
Original name: Human, human being
Category: Species
Type: Humanoid
Home planet: Earth, Terra, Dressa
Language: Unknown
Size: Unknown
Skin color: Unknown
Characteristics: Strong sexual dimorphism
“Humans, or human beings, refer to a recently discovered species native to the planet Earth. Members of this species show great variability in size, probably linked to strong sexual dimorphism. Their skin color is also highly variable, seeming to depend on environment rather than biology. Humans use many languages, not all of which have yet been recorded. This species is currently the subject of in-depth studies… “
"Well," says Skylar in a low voice, "it's not so bad. Maybe I could provide more information. Computer?"
"Yes?" replied the AI.
"Who's responsible for writing the Glossary?"
"The Home World Academy, under the approval of the Admiral."
"Can you tell me more?"
"Siirus is the home planet of this galaxy, where we are. All Captains, like Captain Sarek, are directly affiliated with the Academy. Their job is to explore the galaxy and keep a record of all new planets and species discovered."
"Okay, now I understand. So, as a human being, do I have the legitimacy to provide more information about my own species and planet to the Academy?"
"Yes, indeed, you have more legitimacy than the Academy Captains in this aspect."
"How can I help complete the Glossary, then?"
"You'll have to discuss it with the Captain, who will put you in touch with the Admiral and the Glossary editors."
"I'll do that. Thank you."
Skylar knew that thanking a computer was pointless, a bit like apologizing to a refrigerator after bumping into it. A few seconds passed, and then she decided to consult the Earth file. She knew it could be particularly interesting.
"Called Earth or Terra by humans, though still commonly called Dressa by many species, this planet was discovered by Captain M'cok."
"Terra, I understand, but Dressa ?" exclaimed Skylar, interrupting her reading.
"Are you all right?" asked a voice.
Skylar looked up from the Glossary to see Craarrain, the Ship's Navigator, facing her. Craarrain was a Furra, a shape-shifting species whose true appearance remained a mystery. They could change their appearance at will. Today, he had taken on the appearance of a tall, beardless man. Skylar noticed that his features seemed to adapt to the person he was interacting with. She looked forward to discovering more about them, perhaps later in the Glossary.
"Oh, hello," she said in a small voice.
"Is everything all right?"
"Yes, I was just reading the Glossary."
"Here?"
Skylar didn't respond immediately. What was the harm in reading here? Craarrain noticed her discomfort and ended up giving her the same smile she'd given him when they'd first met, which lightened the mood a little.
"May I sit down?"
"Please do."
The Furra took his seat, and a silence settled in. Skylar wasn't usually at ease in society, even with her own species, so when faced with a member of another species…
"There are better places to read, you know."
"I feel comfortable here, she replied, looking up at him. At least I've got a view of space."
"But all you can see is the void of space."
"Only if that's all you're looking for. There's so much more to see than the void."
"I just don't get it."
"It's… It's okay."
There was another silence.
"What were you talking about when I arrived?" Craarrain asked at last.
"I was reading the Earth sheet. I was wondering why Captain M'cok called her Dressa."
"Captain Sam's M'cok is an Ormean, and Dressa is one of their deities."
"What deity?"
"The Goddess of Death."
"Of Death?" exclaimed Skylar. "Why did they name my planet after a Goddess of Death?"
"Have you ever observed the weather on your planet? It's very unstable."
"There are planets where the weather is far more unpredictable than on Earth. Some of our neighboring planets, for example!"
"That's true, and there are even worse planets than yours. However, Captain M'cok comes from a very stable planet, where the weather hardly ever changes. That's why he named your planet after it."
"Oh, now I get it. An Ormean, you said?"
"Yes."
"Thanks for the explanation."
"And you, why did your people name their home planet “Earth”?"
Skylar thought for a moment. She'd never really had to answer that question. Very few people, apart from children, ever asked it seriously.
"Well, it's… It's a bit complicated, to be honest. Our planet's name seems to have originated in the realm of divinities too, Terra or Tellus, but over time, the precise details have been lost."
"So you also name your planets after deities?" asked Craarrain.
"Yes, apparently we do. Is this a widespread custom throughout the galaxy?"
"It would seem so."
"That's very interesting…" she said, taking a note.
The silence that settled in this time was strangely comfortable for both Craarrain and Skylar. In fact, she was beginning to feel comfortable in his company.
"Why aren't you in the Command post?" she asked after a few minutes.
"The ship's on autopilot, with the Computer handling everything. The Captain gives us a lot of free time when we're out exploring."
"When do I get to see a planet?"
"Any day now."
"In fact, we're heading for the Market," added a voice.
This time, Grige Khen, the head of Communications, stood before them. He was from a species known as the Hopperan. Hopperans were tall, sometimes reaching 2.10 meters in height, as Grige was. They were wiry, with blond hair and very pale skin. The first time Skylar had seen him, she'd thought she'd seen a ghost, but as she stared into his eyes, she realized he wasn't as frightening as she'd thought. His eyes seemed to contain galaxies, and she'd found them mesmerizing.
Craarrain and Grige exchanged a strange look.
"The Market?" she said, snapping back to reality. "What's the Market?"
"It's a place we frequent regularly. As the name suggests, it's where we stock up on provisions. And right now, we're in dire need of them. You'll come across many captains here, not all affiliated with the Academy, and not all as scrupulous as them. It's a very active place," explained Grige.
"Oh, does that mean you're going to implant me with the same translator as you?"
"Don't worry, it'll be painless, reassured Craarrain.
"I certainly hope so… It's not that I'm afraid of pain, but… well, yeah, I'm a bit scared, especially if this thing is implanted in my nervous system."
"Don't worry, Qidell will take care of it. He's very good with his hands."
" I'm relieved to have found you, I've been looking for you for a few minutes. What are you doing here?" asked Grige.
Skylar couldn't help smiling, knowing that an alien would once again be baffled by her actions.
"The human was studying the Glossary, and we talked about it," Craarrain quickly replied.
"Okay, but why here in particular?" asked Grige Khen, sitting down with them.
"Space, this is the only place on the ship where I can see space," intervened Skylar this time.
"There's the Command post.
"She's not allowed in there, Grige."
"Ah, of course. We still have a long way to go before we reach the Market. Would you like to study the Glossary together?" he suggested.
Skylar smiled again. Why not? It might be an interesting experience to study the Glossary with them. Perhaps they had a different perspective or knew more information than it contained. In any case, it was an excellent idea.
Skylar, Craarrain, and Grige spent much of the trip studying the Glossary. They started at the outer airlock, then ended up in the kitchen, surrounded by drinks and food of all kinds, which intrigued Skylar as they were supposed to be going to the Market to stock up on provisions…
Her two colleagues let her taste what was in their cupboards to compare with what the Glossary said. They also explained a few rudiments of engineering and piloting. Skylar was surprisingly enthralled by the engineering part. They made it clear, however, that none of them was as knowledgeable as Ilki'thelae, the Ship's engineer, although Vahrak was not to be outdone either. Finally, Ilki'thelae joined them.
Grige and Skylar were engaged in a philosophical debate about the nature of the Onboard Computer. Skylar argued that the Computer was closer to life than to Artificial Intelligence, while Grige thought the opposite. The discussion was lively but friendly. Beside them, Craarrain eventually fell asleep on the table. Ilki'thelae watched them for a moment, not really understanding the conversation, but when he realized what they were talking about, he joined in. Ilki'thelae were of a species that humans would have described as “little greys”. His skin was reddish, but otherwise, he looked very much like the typical representation of aliens that humans pictured.
Ilki'thelae listened attentively to each other's arguments, eventually siding with Grige. Skylar understood that these two couldn't consider the Computer to be alive, as their species didn't have the same ability to form emotional bonds with everything as human beings did. She wondered if there were other species similar to hers.
It was all incredibly interesting. As the question continued to be hotly debated, Craarrain finally woke up and sided with Skylar. Finally, a species that shared a similar point of view to his own. Before they knew it, Qidell joined them too. The conversation quickly moved on to other topics, and Skylar took notes throughout.
When Vahrak and Sarek finally joined them, they were surprised at how lively the conversation had become. After a while, everyone returned to their posts, as the Market was now in sight. Skylar headed for the infirmary so that Qidell could implant his translator. Craarrain had been right, the operation was painless.
As the Market drew closer, Skylar decided to change clothes. Her first planet, her first exploration, she wasn't ready for this! She opted for black jeans, a green plaid shirt, black boots, and a matching jacket. She tied her hair in two braids. She felt like she was in a movie. As she looked in the mirror, a strange feeling of nausea washed over her. It was so sudden that she had to sit down.
Two knocks on her door drew her out of her thoughts.
"Enter."
"Are you ready? we've arrived," Craarrain asked as the ship's vibrations came to an abrupt halt.
They had landed. They were officially on a planet other than Earth, yet Skylar had no desire to leave her quarters. An irrational fear gripped her.
"Is everything all right?" he continued, clearly concerned by her silence.
"I… I don't feel very well, really not well."
Craarrain knelt in front of her and examined her carefully. She was unusually pale.
"You don't look very well indeed. Don't move, I'll get Qidell.
Without further ado, Craarrain ran off. Skylar realized that her mind had managed to convince her body that she was ill, simply to avoid leaving the ship. She often found the human mind fascinating. A few moments later, Craarrain and Qidell arrived in a hurry. Skylar had not moved, still nauseous. Qidell knelt beside her and began asking questions.
"What's going on? where does it hurt?"
"I'm nauseous, I don't understand… I feel like I'm going to throw up…"
"This condition is not normal."
"So, she's really sick?"
"Yes, it seems so."
"Oh… I was so looking forward to exploring another planet…" lied Skylar.
"I know you were. Is it possible that this is due to something you ate?"
"We tasted a lot of things with Grige. Is it possible that one of these foods wasn't right for her?"
"Craarrain, by all the gods of the universe, don't let her taste food unless you're sure it's safe!"
Skylar knew very well that it wasn't the food that was causing her discomfort, but her own mind, which had persuaded her that something would happen to her if she went out. She was making herself sick all by herself. Qidell got up and called the Captain, who arrived in less than a minute. After hearing Qidell's report, they went into seclusion.
"Are you sure she can't come with us?" asked Sarek.
"Yes, I can't risk compromising her health any further."
"It wasn't meant to be this way, Qidell. We need her."
"She can't leave the ship…"
"We needed a human being. If we leave without her, we won't be able to get what we need," Sarek snapped.
"Captain, she's sick, so she's staying here to rest. I'm sure we'll find a solution."
"Let's hope so."
Skylar hadn't heard a word of their conversation. When the Captain returned to her, he apologized for her situation.
"I'm sorry you're sick on your first trip out. Please stay here and rest. We're meeting some friends, so don't worry if we don't come right back."
Skylar nodded and everyone left her quarters. As soon as the door closed behind them, her nausea instantly disappeared. It was almost magical. She stood up and paced. It was so stupid, completely absurd. How could she imagine that she wouldn't be safe outside?
Meanwhile, the others were all gathered at the ship's entrance, ready to exit.
"Where's Skylar?" asked Vahrak.
"She's not coming with us," he replied.
"What do you mean, she's not coming?" exclaimed Ilki'thelae.
"We need a human being," insisted Vahrak.
"She's sick, she can't leave the ship."
"It makes no difference!"
"We have to do without her."
"All these weeks of waiting and traveling for nothing?!" said Grige Khen.
"We can't do anything without her, Sarek, you know that."
"We'll find a solution, all right ?" we've got a human being, she just can't get out.
The crew looked at him, unsure of the viability of this plan, but for now, it was the only option. Sarek opened the door and they stepped out.
Meanwhile, Skylar lay back on her bed and thought. She couldn't pass up the chance to see a real planet on the pretext of an irrational hunch! that's why she'd come. She took a deep breath and stood up. As she opened the door, however, a sense of dread gripped her. She couldn't ignore this presentiment. She rummaged through her belongings and pulled out her retractable knife, which she slipped into her boot as a precaution. Sarek and the others must have left ten minutes ago. If this market were as crowded as those on Earth, she'd have trouble spotting them. On the other hand, if they thought she was really ill, they wouldn't expect her to follow them. She had to understand why she felt this way.
She headed for the exit, asking the Computer to guide her. However, just as she was about to open the door, a question crossed her mind: could she breathe outside?
"Computer?"
"Yes?"
"Is the air breathable for me?"
"Yes, the oxygen level is 20%, enough for humans."
"Thank you."
She opened the door. A foul-smelling breath hit her at first, but soon the odors stabilized. Her eyes widened. Her first planet…
Skylar had been strolling through this immense market for about twenty minutes. She'd thought she'd spotted the crew on several occasions but had always been wrong. It felt like an episode of Star Trek or Doctor Who before the action began. Grige hadn't lied: the Market was as bustling as an Earth market, but populated by aliens of all kinds instead of humans. Skylar found herself staring at one alien after another, a habit that must have been unusual here. She hadn't been prepared for this world. Each civilization seemed to have much in common. As she browsed the many stalls, she noticed strange foods and drinks, but also all sorts of trinkets. She was beginning to realize that the civilizations of the Universe shared much more than could be imagined.
At the corner of an exotic flower stall, in the middle of the crowd, she spotted them. At least, she spotted Sarek and Vahrak deep in conversation with three aliens. She had already seen two or three similar specimens in the Market: dark-skinned creatures, concealed under black hoods that hid part of their faces, and metallic hands. Out of caution, she had avoided them. It had made her feel like Frodo, hiding from the Nazgûl, an experience she had loathed. Now she was still hesitating. None of them had spotted her, the crowd was dense, but she moved discreetly towards them and hid behind another nearby stall. She intended to listen in on their conversation.
She thought she was being silly; she could simply have joined in and said she was feeling better. She was about to do just that when she spotted a weapon under the hooded coat of one of the creatures. It was quick and stealthy, but she saw it clearly. Skylar knew a weapon when she saw one, even light-years from home, literally. The more she watched them, the more she suspected something was amiss. Sarek and Vahrak were also armed. She had to get away, no matter where, she had to get away from them, from everyone!
She was sure it was a trap. She understood that. That's why she'd felt that strange sensation in front of the mirror. They'd all been lying from the start. Like when her mother had told her that Kitten had decided to leave when she was 8; or when her brother had explained that she shouldn't come for Christmas because “Vi's sick, we'd rather keep to ourselves” when she was 18; or even when her parents had told her that they wanted to be alone to try a “last chance” the following year. It had all been lies. And today, it was the same. They needed a human being, they desperately needed to restock their supplies, they'd isolated themselves to talk and Sarek hadn't seemed sorry for her, but for himself. They'd lied to her. He'd done it. Hell… Skylar had followed someone into space on a lie, and she'd known it all along.
She turned back, keeping an eye on them. She couldn't go back to the ship, whatever the trap, it was bound to her, and they all believed she was on the Krœnos. She couldn't get there. But where to go then? how could she escape them?
They kept talking. When she was sure they wouldn't see her, she ran as fast as she could, unwittingly jostling passers-by in the Market.
She ran and turned and turned. She was in total panic, unable to find her way back. Everywhere she looked, she seemed to see them. However, one problem remained unresolved: she had only seen Sarek and Vahrak, where were the others? She closed her eyes for a few seconds to calm down. The more she panicked, the more vulnerable she would be. She watched every face she came across, trying to catch snatches of conversation in the surrounding tumult. Then she spotted one, then two. Grige Khen and Craarrain were approaching her. They hadn't spotted her yet. She resumed her run in the opposite direction, and when she was sure they weren't chasing her, she finally turned around, breathless. But she found herself face to face with the Captain.
"Sarek?!" she said in a panic.
"I knew it was you I'd seen. So you're feeling better."
"Stop playing games. I'm not stupid, contrary to what you think. What do you want from me? why did you trick me? you're a liar."
"I'm sorry, but it was necessary. You'll understand later.
"Understand what?"
But Sarek didn't answer, and two powerful arms grabbed her from behind, arms with iron hands. She struggled, but it was useless. One of the arms grabbed her throat, and finally, she lost consciousness. They had betrayed her.
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