Therans In Space: Chapter 9

“So. We have two of them now.”

Both shards floated around one another in a tube on the table. The old shard that was smooth cut stone but the one they got from Magreega was curved with some ribbing and lightly decorated. The shards hummed when near each other, the sound echoing in Jenny and Ya’Cahin’s ears. There wasn’t any feedback though meaning the enhanced dampener was doing its job.

Both Ya’Cahin and Jenny stood in regular clothes and had their arms folded. “Yep. Twice the trouble. When we used the shard last time we saw the whole universe. What do you think we can do with two of them?”

“Honestly I don’t know. This is new territory for me too.”

“Your friend. What’s his name?”

“Zi’Zan,” she said and sighed. “I’ve known Z’Z my entire life. He’s basically my big brother. And a dork. Even more than Tahu or Trey. We talked with sign language a lot. He always called me little riar. Riars are these furry flying things from Zanic. I always talked about flying and escaping home. Seeing the universe. And he was always right there with me. He just went first. I wouldn’t be who I am without him.”

Jenny nodded. “And how long has it been since he disappeared.”

“Feels like star cycles,” brushing her fingers over her head and looked over at her first mate. “I know what you’re thinking. He could be dead and this is a wild linp hunt. But I have to look. Have to try.”

She shoved her hands into her pockets. “I know. Not trying to convince you to give up.”

“Just making sure I’m aware that it could end up that way.”

“Yeah.”

“I appreciate it. And I am. But I’d rather know then wonder forever.”

“Then let’s stop wondering. And get to experimenting.”

Taking her hand out of her pocket she walked over the containment field. Bringing up the display she tapped it a few times and then hit enter and the tube opened up. Almost immediately she was awash with energy from the two shards as they harmonized. They recognized Jenny and it was like they were eager dogs ready to go for a walk.

Jenny and Ya’Cahin held hands and with their free hands reached out to the shards. The smooth shard flew toward Ya’Cahin’s palm and the horn slid into Jenny’s fingers. The power flowed through them like ice and fire and their eyes rolled to the back of their heads as the galaxy was spread out in front of them.

 They went from standing in their armory to floating amongst the stars. Surging through the planets, dodging things like black holes and comets. Even though they knew they weren’t really out there or going to be hit by them. But it was hard not to flinch.

“Okay.” Jenny said and stared at her captain. “Breathe. We’ve done this before.”

“Yeah. We’ve got this.” She replied and looked around at the cosmos and she had to fight hard to not be overwhelmed by all of it. Shivering she blinked a few times and focused on Jenny. “Okay. How do we do this?”

“I have no idea. Shards we’ve felt before but this,” Jenny stared into the emptiness around them thinking deeply and something jumped to mind. “Your friend. Zi’Zan. Can you think of him? Picture him in your mind?”

Ya’Cahin raised her eyebrow but slowly nodded and thought back to the last time she saw him. It had been so long but she saw him as if it had been only a few hours ago.

He was thin, skin a lighter blue than Ya’Cahin’s. His eyes sparkled with life and he wore a grin wider than Jenny had ever seen on Tahu or Trey. Like Ya’Cahin he had spines that traveled around his skin though his were primarily coming from his mouth instead of head.

She looked at her and smiled brightly but his image faded and was whisked away into the dust. She looked after him and reached but felt the shard in her hand she was brought back to their floating point in the sky.

But Jenny looked in the direction where he disappeared and Ya’Cahin looked deflated. “Well that worked out dandy.”

“Yeah it did.”

“I’m pretty sure I did sarcasm right that time.”

“No look,” she pointed into the distance where before it was empty now there was a twinkling point. “That spot. I think that’s where he is. Maybe.”

“Let’s check it out!” Ya’Cahin shouted and suddenly space rolled and both of them almost fell over despite floating in whatever the hell this was. Stars and galaxies zipped past them at dizzying speeds and suddenly they jolted to a halt holding onto one another for dear life.

“Okay. Let’s never do that again,” Ya’Cahin mumbled.

“I second that,” Jenny agreed but looked at where they were.

It was space yeah but there were three stars close enough to be the suns of this planet. Two were yellow but one was green. The planet in question had a mini constellation of moons around it. The planet was green with flashes of light under the surface and it reminded Ya’Cahin of the gas giant that they found the first shard on.

But gleaming from within it was a bright purple beacon of light. A beacon that jolted through them with the same intensity as the shards in their hands. Another one was here. “Okay so there’s a shard here. Does that mean Z’Z is too?” she asked.

“Well we got brought here because you wanted to find him. And the shards are, well, whatever the hell they are. So maybe they’re in the same location. Or at least close.”

Ya’Cahin stared at the planet longer, trying to memorize what its surface was and details about it. “Then let’s set a course. For wherever this is.”

“Aye aye,” Jenny saluted and the universe faded away. The floor of the ship was now a reality and gravity settled on them. Both took a step back then guided the shards back into their containment tube. Once the door shut they let go of each other’s hands and leaned onto the console sighing.

Taking careful steps out of the room they walked straight to the bridge. Jenny stumbled forward stepping over a case in the way. She scowled looking at the floor and then stared at the mess of clothes, gadgets and then clumps of wraps with pieces of sand still attached.

“The ship’s a mess,” Jenny mumbled. “Need to get on cleaning this place.”

“Definitely. Put Tahu and Trey to good use,” Ya’Cahin said.

Her hands were shaking though and she couldn’t stop herself from smiling. Not only did they have an idea of where to go next, she had an idea that he was still out. She felt better than she had in a long time.

The bridge had its usual crew of Seth and Ula. Ula piloting as they cruised through the cosmos and Seth sitting in a side chair reading a novel he’d downloaded. There were a few jackets thrown about, a dirty floor of containers and half finished drinks at the dashboard.

Tapping a few keys on the console Ula hit the windshield next and then whirled the chair around. “Hello captain. Our course is good and we haven’t had any pursuers of any kind. From the surge in psykik force I assume that your experiment was successful.”

“That it was,” Ya’Cahin all but skipped over to her. “We have a heading. We have a planet to go to. We know where Z’Z might be.”

“Your lost friend?” Ula asked standing up. “What’s the planet?”

Ya’Cahin paused for a beat and then shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know the name but it was green and kinda gas gianty. Had a bunch of moons around it.”

“And three suns,” Jenny added and walked over to Seth reading over his shoulder. He glanced up at her and flicked the tablet up to the top. She scrunched up her face to read it but shook her head. “Too many words not in English.”

“You’re the first mate and you haven’t learned all of the common languages.”

 She hit the chair lightly and shrugged. “I’ve learned like two of them. It gets me through most conversations.”

“There’s only three.”

“Exactly. So whatcha reading?”

He rolled his eyes and smiled, “In simple words it’s a mystery novel. Very good. This is the third one in the series.”

“It’s a series?”

She sat down in the chair next to him and then his words clicked in her mind and she rotated to face him. “When have you had time to read?”

“I make time,” he said scrolling back to his point in the book. “Go set our course with the captain.”

“Boo,” Jenny turned and Ula had pulled up a map of the galaxy. They were scrolling through the entirety of it trying to find planets that loosely matched that description. Ya’Cahin watched the map with her arms folded.

“Wait wait. There that one,” jabbing her finger at the map she pointed at a planet and the map paused. Her finger hovered over a gas giant and its rotating moons. Ula stared at the planet tilting their head. They rotated the image of the planet on their hand and then expanded it so that it filled the map instead of just being a section.

“It’s called Gilo. The solar system is inhabited but not this planet. The moons around them have some small colonies. I think they harvest the gas of the planet and some other resource from the surface of the giant.”

“Are they hostile?” Jenny asked.

“No history of that at the present. This system hasn’t had many visitors.”

“Then we should tread lightly,” Ya’Cahin said. “Set our heading Ula.”

Ula went to sit down in the chair, hovering their hands over the console. “According to my sensors we won’t be able to complete the trip. We need to refuel and restock at a way station.”

“Alright so pit stop and then on to Gilo,” Ya’Cahin said and clapped her hands together. “And in the mean time we can put the crew to work. House cleaning and then a snack.” She tapped her ear and went into the intercom system. “Tahu, Trey, Rizier and Alice. Join me at the bridge. ASAP. Come on chop chop!”

Jenny rotated around in her chair and raised her eyebrow. “Chop chop? Really?”

“I didn’t become captain not learning quick.” Grinning she walked over to her hair and fell into it comfortably. Crossing her legs and stared at space floating around them. Taking a very deep breath she leaned back in her chair and when the doors wooshed open she rotated around.

The other four members of the crew came into the bridge, yawning or stretching. “Hey Yaya you’re looking happy. What’s going on?” Tahu asked.

“We’ve got a lead on my friend,” She got to her feet and spread her arms wide. In doing so she knocked over a thermos and then kicked it across the bridge. “And we’re going to be hitting a pit stop before getting to the planet. In the meantime. Our house looks like shit. So, until we hit the pit stop we’re cleaning the whole damn thing. Top to bottom.”

The four of them were speechless at the sudden surge of information thrust onto them. Alice was the first one to get her composure. “I guess I’ll start with our rooms. I really hope they’re not all disasters.”

“See I knew I liked you Alice,” Ya’Cahin pointed at her and then at Trey. “Hallway is all you Ula. Can you also hit the bathroom Seth. Me and Jenny can do the bridge. Rizier work the storage room and Trey the mess hall.”

“What about me?” Tahu asked puffing out their metallic cheeks.

“You’re going to be flying the ship,” Ula said pushing themself to their feet. “With limited fuel we’ll need efficient flying and that’s something that I am not adept in.”

Tahu held a hand over their chest and then wiped their cheek slowly. “I’m touched Ula. Thank you.”

They left their chair and pat them on the shoulder. “Fly us there safely. I’ll bring the cleaning supplies.”

Ya’Cahin got out of her chair and stretched her arms above her head. Once Ula got everything they set apart on their task. Shining the floors and walls, cleaning the bathroom, rearranging all of their collections of weapons, armor, books, tablets and extra stuff. The mess hall was the biggest task and they all ended up finding their way there once they finished. Probably because she shouldn’t have expected Trey to be able to do it on his own.

Jenny held a mop in her hand, leaning against it and watched. Watched Trey tossing cleaning cubes at Seth and Ula. Watched Ya’Cahin and Alice telling jokes and stories from the past. Rizier however walked over to her their sand shifting to intrigue on their face. “You’re in deep thought. But not contemplative. You’re calm. Relaxed.”

She never knew what to make of Rizier. They were something that she couldn’t even fathomed back home. Sand that fused itself together to be a living being. But even by their own admission they weren’t exactly living. And the form that it liked to take had four arms and wore bandages across their skin.

“I am Zier,” she sighed and held out her hand to them. Tilting their head they looked at her before taking her hand. Closing her eye’s she showed them a glimpse of her life before the meteor. Her time at her college with the few friends she’d made and of her family back home. She opened her eyes again and looked at them.

“That was my life. And it was nice. I liked it a lot. After the meteor I thought I wouldn’t be able to have a family again. To be happy. And yet here I am. I have all of you. You’re my family. I’m happy.”

Rizier tilted their head back and forth before finally nodding. “I can understand that. And I’m glad. The notion of family is foreign to my people but I’ve enjoyed my time with you all. This is pleasant in a way I didn’t know of.”

Jenny squeezed their shoulder and nodded. “I’m glad. Now let’s finish this up before we make a bigger mess.”

And so they focused on the mess they had made. It took the six of them to accomplish this but they made it happen. Ya’Cahin leaned against her vacuum and stared at the newly cleaned mess hall and her crew sitting at the round table spinning in their chairs at varying speeds. She laughed and backed out letting the door woosh close behind her and out toward the bridge where Tahu was piloting the ship. From what she could see from the bridge they were at a bit of a lull in the journey.

She went to the copilots seat but kicked her legs up onto the dashboard. The zorg pulled themself out of the mainframe of the ship and rested their hands on their head before glancing at her. “Finished cleaning captain?”

“Just enough,” she said and smiled at them. “How close are we to the refill station?”

“Should be pulling up to it now,” they said touching a few keys on the dash board and leaned back in the chair. Ya’Cahin leaned forward watching the ship turn and curve around mild asteroids before the preferred one finally showed itself.

The asteroid was far larger than any other in the system, big enough to have its own collection of satellite asteroids around it. The top of it had long ago been blasted almost entirely flat. Built atop it now was a small outpost built there but almost had two very large cylindrical tanks stationed behind it but were half buried within the floating rock.

At least four other ships were presently parked on the asteroid, most the same size as their own. Tahu sat up and manually controlled the ship as they flew into an empty spot. They tapped the dashboard a few times before finally landing in place. The ship shook gently and they were good. Undocking from the ship Tahu stretched their arms above their head.

“Who all is coming ashore?” they asked and Ya’Cahin shrugged.

Tapping her wrist she keyed into the intercom. “If you’re hungry meet us down below. We’re heading out.”

Tahu snorted. “Come on captain. You could pretend to be conventional.”

“Me? Conventional? Are you feeling alright Tahu?”

“I must not be,” they laughed and left the bridge going down the hallway and taking the short elevator down.

They met Jenny, Seth and Rizier below. Jenny and Seth already had suits on. Ya’Cahin changed into hers as well. “No one else coming along?”

“Alice isn’t feeling too hot and Trey is actually just tired,” Jenny said and shrugged. “No Ula?”

“Only need one zorg off ship at a time,” Ya’Cahin said and tapped her gauntlet. Her helmet grew out of the suit and snapped into place. Similar helmets appeared over their heads and they went to the air lock. The alarm sounded for a moment as air sucked out and then the ramp lowered.

Gravity was strangly light as they walked. Each step was increasingly buoyant, leaving the ship behind. Tahu jumped slightly and went at least ten feet up before settling back down beside the others. “Alright, so note. Do not jump that high or we’re going to get launched into orbit. Thank you Tahu for helping us learn that.”

“Always glad to help captain,” they said and pointed ahead. A cloud of gas rumbled its way toward them. It was clear at first but pockets of it flash and glowed to life here and there almost like an epileptic disco ball.

“This is a person, right?” Jenny asked glancing at her captain and Ya’Cahin nodded. “How do we talk to it?”

“It doesn’t have eyes or ears. It senses wave lengths so you guys can’t talk to it. I believe Rizier or Tahu could do it without tools.”

“That I can,” Tahu said turning their fingers. The tips flashed with light in an almost random combination. But the gas alien flashed back and they continued the communication for a few more minutes. The gas flashed again and then finally dissipated. “They’ll bring fuel to the ship in a few minutes. Let’s get inside.”

The five of them walked with Ya’Cahin and Tahu in front, Jenny and Rizier in the middle and Seth in the back. The outpost wasn’t that large at least not from where they looked. It was only one floor high and once they finally entered it was divided into two. Immediately to the left was a wall of goods, mainly food, minor supplies, and basic books.

Everything was in a floating cube that sat atop a pipe affixed to the wall. Each box had a soft blue light coming from it and a hum. Whenever something was taken out there was a sharp suction noise and then the humming resumed. On the opposite side of the wall was a counter with another one of those gas creatures.

The other side was a bar, stools lining it and a multi armed alien behind it dishing out meals to order. It was like a moving translucent blob with something resembling a skeleton within it. It had at least seven arms that stretched and moved around. Some with plates, others with a skillet and another with mugs. The bar was half filled with customers and somehow this blob server was taking care of all of it.

“Half a gas station and half a diner,” Seth mumbled. “Interesting.”

“Head to the diner, Tahu and I will take care of the refueling. Oh and you can ditch the helmet if you want. This place adapts for it customers,” Ya’Cahin motioned and moved to the left. She went to the wall, taking a basket from high above. It floated beside her as she shopped. She poked through the containers one at a time, taking out bags, some containers of liquids, and fruits that were fresh.

Picking one fruit free of its vine she turned it in her hand, a blue nut with a hard shell. She charged it with energy and the shell softened entirely. Popping it into her mouth she chewed and sucked on its juices, “Nothing like psykik berries.”

She picked out more fruits and a few vegetables filling the floating box as much as she could. Dried meats, seasonings, and more. Going toward the lower right of the wall she picked out a few mechanical parts. Small rectangles that pulsed with yellow light. Essentially batteries for her two zorgs.

Taking the cart over to Tahu they glanced at her and then the contents and arched a mechanical eyebrow. “Can we afford all that?”

“You really think I can’t budget? Come on.”

“There’s a reason Ula usually does the shopping Yaya.”

She snorted and set it down. “Just run the numbers zorg.”

While Tahu did that the other three found spots at the bar. The gel alien moved its mouth but the noises it made were just warbling, thick gelatin noises. When it spoke, its entire body vibrated yet its arms remained steady as it worked.  Though it didn’t like it when Rizier tried to place an order. Many races weren’t fond of another mind in their own, even if it was as simple as talking. So Jenny did the talking for them.

“What are we about to eat?” Seth asked glancing at the small menu that had been on display. The language he could decipher but it was heavily smudged and written over.

“I think I pronounced it right,” Jenny shrugged. “Regardless its space food. We’ve accepted it all looks weird right?”

“Indeed you did,” Rizier commented to them both mentally.

“You know Zier I just thought about this. I’ve never seen you eat solids. Just drinking. How do you do that?” Jenny turned to face them and they shrugged.

“I usually absorb things that I can and spit out what I cannot,” they said pretty calmly but added with a hint of humor. “Though once I crack bones the marrow is pleasant.”

“Please don’t joke about that,” Jenny said and RIzier tilted their head to the side.

“Was my gest not amusing?”

“it was,” Seth said. “Just where we come from that was a real possibility. So not your fault Rizier.”

“Hm. Unfortunate. I have more to learn about jokes then.”

The cook spoke in its warbling tones and came around with a trio of trays. Slapping them against the counter it slid them and the trio each looked at their food. It was some sort of shelled creature with tiny legs. The shell was peeled away revealing the meat underneath.

Seth recoiled slightly from the meal before him but Rizier and Jenny dug in immediately and let out mutual signs of enjoyment as they ate. Seth sighed but followed suit eating at the alien shellfish that crunched at his lips. It was savory and sweet, sweeter than he had imagined. He wasn’t sure if it were the natural oils of the creature or the grease it was cooked in.

Jenny picked one of the legs off and bit off a tiny piece of meat and sucked on it. “Alice should have come out. Maybe we can take some back on the ship.”

“I believe that is the case,” Rizier thought.

“A to go box? If we get one for her then Trey is going to want some too. Or else we won’t hear the end of it.”

“Unfortunately,” she picked off a few more legs then stared at the blob as it warbled at her. “Oh yeah. Gotta pay.”

She pulled out their cards and handed one over. A tentacle approached with a card reader hooked to the tip. Sliding the card through it beeped a few times and then clanked. The blob warbled and Jenny could feel that it was angry.

“Did our card just get rejected?” she asked glancing at her crewmates.

“Sounds like it,” Seth mumbled and continued to eat.

Rizier nodded slowly, “I believe that our captain and Tahu have miscounted our numbers.”

“So, what do you suggest we do?” she said testily and glared at the two.

“You have money, don’t you?” Seth asked glancing at her. “Spend that.”

“Seriously? I’m saving that.”

“For what?”

“None of your business that’s what,” she dragged her fingers through her hair groaning. “Dammit Yaya.”

Reaching into her back pocket she produced her own personal card and handed it over to the blob. The card scanned and this time it bleeped in acceptance. Taking it back she pressed her finger against it and a display was projected. The numbers dropped off but she sighed. It wasn’t as low as she feared but she still wasn’t happy.

“Hey can we get a box for these things?” she asked but the blob had moved on to another customer. Sighing she picked from the shell, a chunk of meat with the shell still attached and leaned back on her stool.

“What’s up team? Enjoying the greasy cuisine?”

Ya’Cahin arrived the box floating beside her. “Where’s Tahu?” Rizier inquired picking up their food. “I assume on the ship and we’re ready to go.”

“Right you are!” she gave a thumbs up. “Refueling should be finishing up right about now. Oh is that rink? I love diner rink. Jenny can I have a piece”

Jenny glanced back at Ya’Cahin and glared. “You owe me money.”

“What? How?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll transfer the funds back on the ship Captain,” She got up and then glanced at the floating container and snapped her fingers. “Aha. That’s where I can get one then.”

Running across she came back with her own floating container to which she placed her snack within it carefully and glanced at the other two. “You keeping yours as well?”

“No. Trey can suck it,” Seth said finishing the other half of his food without more to add.

“I have already finished,” Rizier said showing a shell that was entirely cleaned of meat though there were a few bits of sand left behind.

“Yikes, talk about a clean plate,” Ya’Cahin said. “Guess you really were hungry.”

“Indeed captain,” they said nodding.

The five of them exited and made their way back to the ship. Along the way another gas bubble floated toward them and flashed a series of purple lights that then spiraled throughout its form. It finally settled on dark blue and then back into the grey that it had been prior.

Tahu held up their hands flashing the lights along in a sequence of greens that went dark like a tree leaf but then bright into neon and settling on a soft red. The gas flash pink to orange and then floated away.

Boarding the ship together Tahu and Ya’Cahin immediately went to the bridge. Ula was there and nodded toward them both. “The ship is refueled. Our energy reserves as well. The Cladian people are very thorough in their tune ups. I am sure that Tahu will want to test things later.”

“Right you are,” they winked at them and then hooked into the ship. Feeling the current run through them, they tapped on the dash board and through the menus. THey started the ship up and nodded. “Ah yes. Ships running smooth. Setting course for Gilo. Let’s hit it!”