Emica hadn’t the slightest clue what to expect when it finally came time to disembark the Crusader alongside the rest of the crew. And that uncertainty involving her reception only grew upon pulling up to what appeared to be some sort of performance hall in lieu of your typical Crusader Station. That being said, among those who had joined her on the platform prior to arrival, only the lanky fellow whom she’d never been properly introduced looked baffled. Meanwhile the others looked about ready to disembark the Crusader while it was still slowing down to park behind the others. And they weren’t alone in their eagerness to proceed.

  As in the time it had taken for the convoy to pull up alongside the venue, a litany of personnel had already begun to spill from its multiple entrances. With others from the grounds circumjacent also joining the mad dash. It was all so sudden in fact that it had inadvertently triggered the former party member’s fight or flight response. Spurring her to reach for the nonexistent firearm that had been confiscated after rejoining the convoy.

  Fortunately it became very clear very quickly that none of those rushing to relieve the crews gave one iota about her presence. Outside of the fact her idling on the platform was inhibiting the mass of workers trying to board. It was at that same time she realized Lux and the others were already on the move. Something she may not have caught if not for her height granting a glimpse of a blonde head skillfully navigating the crowd. And without any serious contemplation on potential repercussions the woman followed. The irony of which was not lost on Emica.

  After all many would have considered these prime conditions for pulling a fast one and disappearing. In what would have been a surefire way to avoid the shockwaves stirred by her previous affiliation and everything tied to it. But there were two problems with this strategy, the first of which being the quarantine was still technically in effect. Which would have made getting out of the city state undetected nigh impossible. Then there was the issue of retrieving her choker from the security officer named Faust. The “stone” at its center holding considerable value assuming it traded hands within the agreed upon time period.

  “A moment of your time my lady!”

  Emica’s face couldn’t help but contort as several smarmy but well-dressed men placed themselves directly into her path, forcing her to break stride. The most pretentious looking of the bunch taking her hand as he smiled up at her.

  “Legater Ackerg, a pleasure. I just wanted to take a minute to express appreciation for all your hard work today on behalf of the whole city. As well as thank you personally for accepting a position in this most vital Galen Run.”

  Don’t tell me this guy thinks I’m part of the Federation. And did he just say ‘Legater?!’ Crap, I’ll lose track my benefactor!

  “Happy I could be of assistance. But if you wouldn’t mind, I’m in a bit of a hurry. It’s one of my...crewmates! He suffered a somewhat serious injury and I need to figure out where he’s being treated.”

  “Goodness gracious! I certainly hope he makes a full recovery. But before you head off, if you could direct me towards this convoy’s commanding officer. So that I might continue expressing my appreciation.”

  Oh shit...I’m not even sure which of the remaining two Crusaders they were posted on...

  “Oh I’m sure they’re around here somewhere...”

  Things continued to take a turn for the worse as the man began to take a closer look at her appearance. A cause for concern but not quite a dead giveaway as raiding parties strategically chose attire with similar designs and color palettes to the LCF’s uniform options. The theory behind it being that security officers would mistake Volts for crewmates amid high stress situations. As even just buying a few seconds of hesitation could make all the difference in a confrontation.

  “You’ll find your man conferring with the half-lidded woman over there. She’s the real brains of today’s operation depending on who you ask.”

  Emica could feel the lump forming in her throat as a gruff voice interjected into the conversation, the imposing figure it was attached to offering a rare instance of having to look up to discern their identity.

  “Much obliged Mr...”

  “Rohner. Batten Rohner.”

  “I’ll remember it.”

  The two exchanged a firm handshake, maintaining steady eye contact all the while. In other words a prime opportunity for the woman to steal away from the troublesome interaction unscathed. Or so she had thought.

  “Wait.”

  The man’s tone made it clear he wasn’t asking. And while Emica did delay her flight, she stopped short of turning back around to face him. Clinging to the small chance he hadn’t gotten a clear enough look at her face to justify further intervention.

  “Misplace your standard issue officer?”

  The grizzled vet observed the subtle rise of the woman’s shoulders from behind as she sucked in a sharp breath.

  “Don’t carry one to begin with actually. I belong to the engineering division.”

  Rohner’s thick facial hair scrunched as he mulled over her claim. Given he wasn’t one to fraternize with the bowel dwellers often it was entirely possible the woman was being truthful. He wouldn’t have even known the identity of C274’s own engineer if not for their near disastrous choice to leave the heart of the Crusader unattended amidst the run. Something he hadn’t been shy about lambasting the young crewman for prior to arrival.

  “...and what was your name?”

  A brief pause.

  “Emica. Emica Lader. Don’t wear it out.”

  With that the Cloud Nine alumnus hurried off in the direction where Lux and the others had disappeared in, leaving the battered and indifferent security officer behind to stroke his beard. Any further questions he might’ve had in regard to the supposed engineer fell to the wayside however as one particularly nasty contusion occupying his back was aggravated by lifting his arm.

  “Speaking of worn out...time I looked into our accommodations...”

  *

  “The wound has been cleaned and redressed, which means he’ll be free to go after the blood transfusion is complete. Though someone will need to make sure he gets plenty of fluids and avoids any strenuous activities for the next twenty-four hours minimum.”

  The gang lounged around the inside of the ticket booth turned temporary medical office. Riga’s chief medical physician providing them the update on Faust before excusing themselves to tend to other patients. Leaving one of the station’s nurses to oversee the progress of the intravenous blood transfusion between a host of other clerical duties.

  “These cookies aren’t bad.”

  Lux unabashedly munched on the treat that had been intended for the donor, their aversion to sweets leading them to request juice instead. That of which Cade had gone to retrieve so as not to badger the shorthanded medical staff.

  “Little dry. Cade had better nab me a juice as well.”

  “Does this look like a cafeteria to you? Go stuff your face somewhere else.”

  The donor, who just so happened to be C362’s CO, wasn’t the least bit amused by her audience or their lack of bedside manner.

  “Don’t worry, I intend to. After we’re done putting that blood of yours to good use.”

  Jericka reclined her head back against the chair she was in and let out an audible sigh, contemplating whether it would be possible to will said blood to transfer faster.

  “Excuse me, I’d like two tickets to today’s matinee.”

  Wash had approached the ticket window from outside the interconnected room and made of show slipping his own half-eaten cookie through the slot. Brewer, who’d accompanied the group not unlike a newborn would its mother, warily played along. Accepting the leftovers as he’d been closest to the window when the pilot began his skit.

  “Uh, enjoy the show sir...”

  As Wash winked at the bewildered station officer and began to strut away from the ticket window another surprise member of the blood IV peanut gallery decided to chime in. Their dissatisfaction with the lackluster climax of the impromptu bit evident in their tone.

  “I would’ve turned him away if I was you slim. Or at least card the bastard. Make him work for it.”

  Lux concurred through a half-full mouth of theatre tender.

  “Yeah, tell him you need to be beyond a certain mental age to get in the door!”

  Emica clapped her hands and leaned back in her chair as she laughed from her spot beside the blonde. The two clearly operating on a very similar wavelength relative the current laid-back environment. Even more telling was the former party member’s reclaimed neck accessory, having been returned to her in the same condition as before the gate control room fiasco.

  “Will you all leave already!”

  Jericka had reached her limit with this particular group after being stuck on a Crusader with them most the day.

  “Shoot, final call already. Guess we’ll just have to come back tomorrow Esma.”

  Everyone in the room turned back in the direction of the ticket window where they saw that Cade had returned with both the juice and a familiar face. Lux was first to emerge from her jovial stupor as she moved to greet the pair as they filed into the room behind Wash. Though it was the latter of the two who held most her attention. What with there being plenty she wanted to catch up on following the brunette’s daring Crusader swap. The bandage covering one side of her face for example. Cade meanwhile went about distributing the juice pouches he’d acquired.

  “Before anything else I’d like to take this opportunity to offer the room by sincerest apologies for vacating my post.”

  Lux and even Brewer were ready to protest when Esma raised a hand to cut them off. Cade also threatening to snap the fingers of his free hand as the other handed Jericka her pair of juices.

  “Intentional or not, I failed to exercise the proper amount of caution when maneuvering the Crusader. Rest assured I’ll be more mindful in future scenarios that require my presence on deck. So if you could just extend your patience with me another convoy or two...

  The rookie placed both hands at her sides and bowed towards the room, her long hair thankfully concealing the pathetic look about her face. A mix of embarrassment at her poor showing as a security officer coupled with guilt stemming from what had happened to Youn. Cade breaking the news to her on the way over.

  then I’ll prove to you that the ignorant rookie who made such bold declarations back at Varza didn’t survive the trip to Verona.”

  Esma’s voice became thick with emotion as she struggled to stifle tears of frustration, not daring to lift her watery gaze from the floor until she regained a semblance of composure. Had she however, it would have become obvious that not a single soul in that improvised medical office held any contempt for their crewmate. With many of them even exchanging puzzled looks in response to the display of self-condemnation. In the end it was Wash who lead the charge in correcting this gross misunderstanding.

  “Admittedly I don’t know anything about these ‘bold declarations’ you made back at Varza, but I do know that everyone present recognizes the efforts made by the girl in front of them to be here. You, a CO whose been on the job for all of what? A month if we’re being generous? Because regardless of how YOU feel about the person who departed Varza, nothing will change the fact that they exhibited the resolve to take up a completely foreign position onboard a Crusader designated for a Galen Run. THAT means something. THAT carries weight.

  A hum of approval resonated throughout the room.

  You could’ve laid an egg on the way over here for all we care, and none of us would have held it against you. But you didn’t. The state of your cheek is proof enough of that. And I’m sure the reports will reflect your efforts even further once there released in a few days.”

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “Don’t hold your breath on everyone here reading those though.”

  Jericka allowed her gaze to drift to the blonde on the other side of the room.

  “Or penning them for that matter.”

  Lux opened her mouth to defend against Cade’s accusatory remark when Wash steered the conversation back on to the correct track.

  “If there’s one thing we want you to take away from your first Galen Run, it’s that we’re all proud of the steps you managed to take today. Even if you can’t find it in yourself to feel the same way, yet. And I’m sure you’ve realized it at this point, but field service is just one battle of attrition after another. So good luck finding folks as patient as this bunch.

  Another wave of approvals. Faust having managed to contribute this time around.

  Doesn’t matter long it takes you to get up to speed, expect to find at least one of us there waiting. Waiting and watching. Same as those who came before us and taught us the ropes.”

  Esma sniffled as she slowly raised herself back into an upright position, ignoring the way her tears caused the wound on her cheek to sting. Thankfully the sound of a glass item clattering around the inside of her drop pouch aided in distracting from the discomfort. At which point she recalled the bottle of acetone (gifted?) to her from Rohner. And while this might classify as wishful thinking on her part, perhaps both the bottle and lighter had been his own standoffish way of saying he’d be waiting for her somewhere down the line as well. Albeit a lot further than the others.

  “I’ll work on it...along with everything else. Though I don’t think I’ll be filling in as a security officer again anytime soon.”

  The brunette cast a sheepish glance at the one who’d taken her under their wing for the duration of the Galen Run, silently praying they wouldn’t misconstrue the meaning in her words. The teacher hadn’t been the problem after all.

  Speaking of said teacher, Lux used the meek display as a cue to maneuver her way in front of Esma, whom she offered a reassuring smile.

  “Seems we’re on the same page when it comes to suspending your security activities. At least until you can traverse a moving Crusader with more confidence. We can start you off with the stationary ones waiting for or undergoing maintenance in the docks. The engineers will bark at us sure, but pretending their Volts after they lose their patience makes the training that much more worthwhile.”

  Cade delayed fitting his straw through the juice pouch’s opening to speak up on the behalf of all engineers.

  “Think about the who put that juice in your left hand and then make that statement again!”

  Lux ignored the not-so-veiled threat in favor of gently turning Esma’s face to get a better look at the dressing.

  “Good thing to, I couldn’t stand the thought of such fair skin collecting another blemish.”

  The CO felt her face flush at the gentle touch and flowery words. A reaction she’d surely regret the next time she was alone with her thoughts. Luckily the moment passed quickly thanks to Wash’s voice reclaiming everyone’s attention again. He proceeded to raise the juice that had been doled out by Cade.

  “To Youn, Esma, and fair skin!”

  The rest of the room followed suit.

  “To new comrades!”

  “Don’t forget about the shadow monster! I think I heard the name Eidol being thrown around?”

  “And Lamella, that spoiled b—!”

  “To following in Galen’s footsteps.”

  Despite being out of character, and in an audibly drained tone at that, Faust somehow managed to broadcast his voice to all corners of the room. A toast worthy moment in itself that garnered an apt response from all those present. Including the nurse who’d come back in the investigate the commotion. In unison the group cried out with their arms extended towards their normally reserved companion.

  “Yeah!!!!!!”

  *

  It was early the next morning that Brewer stepped out onto the grounds of Station Riga’s provisional accommodations. In this case one of several dormitories belonging to the boarding school up the road from the amphitheater. Made available as like the performance venue the old multi-story building had been set to undergo renovations, only for the quarantine to delay the work by an extended period.

  The twenty-seven-year-old station officer took a moment to appreciate the view of Mennarouple’s lake from the campus, watching as a variety of boats prowled the coast for optimal fishing grounds in the distance. An altogether tranquil image that served as a far cry from yesterday’s mayhem of a procession through the castles dotting what might as well have been endless stone forest. But maybe that was exactly why he could appreciate this view all the more.

  “Early start slim?”

  Brewer found himself pleasantly surprised that he hadn’t flinched at the unexpected arrival, instead waiting serenely as the blonde came to stand beside him with a cup of brown liquid in hand.

  “There’s somewhere I need to be today.”

  And that ‘somewhere’ had him more nervous than all of yesterday combined, for whatever reason.

  “So I’ve heard.”

  The bespectacled man looked taken aback. Something Lux got a kick out of as she sipped from her drink.

  “Don’t let Cade’s infallible demeanor fool you. He’s a total pushover when it comes to dealing with me.”

  “Well, it’s not like I meant for it to be a secret anyway. If anything it felt like I owed him, or at least one of you, an explanation for joining. I know after years of watching from afar that field service isn’t something to be taken lightly.”

  Lux snorted.

  “Shit like that flies out the window as far as Galen Runs are concerned. Hell, if you hadn’t been humming and hawing on the ramp ahead of departure, I’d have probably just kidnapped the next closest person. Some unsuspecting yard worker or another.”

  “I guess when comes down to it, it really could’ve been anyone.”

  Having the truth spelled out for him admittedly led to some degree of disappointment. Not that Brewer held any delusions about his being dragged onboard. He’d simply been at the right place at the right time. Or wrong place at the wrong time depending on how you looked at it.

  “Your right, it could’ve been anyone. But we’re all sure glad it ended up being you Brewer.”

  “...”

  Some part of the longtime station officer assumed he must’ve misheard his catalyst into the world of field service, so unaccustomed to hearing his given name come out of the young woman’s mouth. That is, unless there was another Brewer out and about at this hour. Or perhaps someone with a similar sounding name whose actions during the run made them a more worthy recipient of such praise. It didn’t take him long to dismiss both possibilities as ludicrous considerations. At the same time he found it was becoming increasingly difficult for his eyes to remain focused on the fishermen in the distance. And while things didn’t quite devolve into tears, he was thankful that the presence of his round spectacles helped mask the subtle trembling of his countenance.

  “She has the right of it.”

  Brewer turned to see Cade and Wash exiting the dormitory in civies, both looking well rested. Not unlike the young woman polishing off the remainder of her warm beverage.

  “I mean how could we not be worried after it was decided half our martial strength was going spelunking into the enemy fortress. Only for you and Youn to show us just how needless those concerns were.”

  Wash smiled as he lowered his own red-tinted glasses to look out across the lake. Meanwhile Cade closed the remaining distance between the groups and gestured towards the coastline leading into the city.

  “I take it the early start means you’re going to see her today?”

  The man gave a weary smile followed by a tentative nod.

  “I’d have gone yesterday if I could’ve. I’m sure all of the adrenaline in my system would have made this a lot easier...”

  “I agree, adrenaline does fucking rule.”

  Lux reappeared after having discarded her empty cup, then proceeded to perform a series of dynamic stretches. Recognizing the value of morning aerobics, Wash followed his junior’s lead. Albeit an abbreviated version of each movement. Cade looked on amused before turning back to a puzzled Brewer.

  “In case you’re having trouble reading between the lines, we’ve decided to tag along...I filled them in on your situation last night. Sorry.”

  His apology was waved off.

  “It’s fine. I can assume you only brought it up because you knew this would be the result. Plus without you guys I wouldn’t have made it here to begin with. No sense in tampering with a winning formula.”

  Lux threw a friendly arm around their slender colleague.

  “Glad you get it, now let’s go give this fucker a taste of his own medicine!”

  The blonde pumped her fist in the air and began to drag the man along with her down the path. A fitting homage to their first interaction the day prior. Not to mention the first step to maintaining the groups quote, unquote winning formula. The two engineers weren’t far behind as they discussed the finer points of the days’ agenda.

  “We’ll want to acquire masks somewhere along the way. I know we’re all vaccinated but the goal should be not to stand out.”

  “The side effects of which shelved Esma for the day. Guess that means someone will be pulling double duty. To that end I call dibs on taking one off the face for the team. Given my pre-existing blotch, I’m counting on a potential second mark to help balance out my facial features.”

  “Hey, too soon moron! And you’re taking the formula thing too seriously!”

  Brewer smiled as he fell in step alongside the rowdy group. A melancholic smile reserved for what would be the last hurrah for this iteration of C362’s crew. A group far removed from the one that had departed Varza on such short notice. Not by choice, but necessity. And it was the convoys that understood this distinction that routinely came out the other side of such precarious excursions. Even if it meant accepting that those changes often entailed loss.

  A bold assertion to make given this would, in all likelihood, be Brewer’s first and last time participating in field service. But to have witnessed so much in the span of a single transit; castles, leviathans, turncoats, wandering shadows the size of mountains. It had felt more like he’d been writing a fairytale for some children’s anthology rather than filling out debriefs the evening prior. And yet from what he could tell the rest of the crew roster seemed largely unfazed by the day’s events. Leading him to believe that more was afoot during convoys than crews would let on whenever they decompressed at the wide array of establishments along the arcade. More content to boast about the places they’d been rather than diving into the logistics of how they reached them. Now Brewer knew why.

  “Anyone down to hit up Riga since we’ll be in the city? I know shits grounded but they should still be updating the boards for the region.”

  Cade was first to bite.

  “Uh oh, we’re we off to now?”

  Despite her position at the front of the pack the three men could tell their security officer was grinning like an idiot.

  “I hear Halk is lovely this time of year.”

  Now it was engineer’s turns to exchange knowing smiles.

  “Never been so I’m curious. And while we’re at it we might as well visit the Sigurd family grave on Youn’s behalf. Esma insisted, and like this one said I owe him for holding down the fort in my absence.”

  Cade couldn’t help but recall how close he and the security officer had come to becoming stains on the corridor wall during said absence. And while he personally may not have known the man all that well, there was no contesting that he’d been a fine officer. One that would be missed on the road. Perhaps he’d say as much during the grave visit.

  *

  “Disheartening isn’t it?”

  Wash cast a sidelong glance at the scruffy communications officer reclining on the yard ramp set beside the Crusader. The same man who’d been lounging under a canopy of his own smoke since the pilot arrived for the Galen Run almost a half-hour ago. The growing pile of discarded smokes at the foot of the ramp helping Wash realize the reason for his intermittent eye watering since exiting the station.

  “Two spots.”

  The man held up two fingers as a visual aide.

  “We fill those last two spots on the crew roster in the next ten to fifteen and this convoy gets the thumbs up for departure. We don’t, and the young lady over in Lansul doesn’t get her new heart in time. That’s why I said disheartening, get it?!”

  The now twenty-five-year-old engineer felt a sudden urge to pluck whatever number smoke the stranger was on and jam it down his throat. The only reason he didn’t being that they’d then have three spots in need of filling. So instead he moved away from the man and tried his best to remain optimistic. A task that became harder with each minute the deadline for departing moved closer.

  Flashbacks of all the times a Galen Run had been called off entirely or suspended began to occupy Wash’s vision as it often did during close calls. A montage that always culminated in the death of his mother, the only family he’d ever known. The immense frustration he’d felt then comparable to his current despair. Perhaps worse as the realization that fundamentally nothing had changed struck him. But just as he felt the ground was finally about to open up beneath him the sound of multiple footfalls cut through his brooding.

  “See, told you it had to be dock four! It’s always dock four!”

  He looked up just as two young field service personnel came screaming across the yard towards the delayed two Crusader convoy.

  “Big man blaming it on the rookie! Try directing that snark at the jackass from the assembly area! He’s the one who sent us to the opposite side of the station!”

  “I’m not mad at you, I’m mad at the world! Specifically the geniuses at the CoTC who strayed away from the usual design in favor of a split yard just to see if it could be done!”

  “Of all things THIS is what you get worked up over! You must be a riot at social gatherings!”

  The squabbling duo finally came to rest in front of Wash who alongside some of the other crew members had become curious about the newcomers. The young man, a fellow engineer by the looks of it, and young woman placed their hands on their knees and hips respectively as they looked over the stationary convoy.

  “We’re both here for the Galen Run. Which heap do you want us on?”

  It took a moment for Wash to respond, mostly due to the relief he felt that they’d be able to depart after all.

  “You’ll both be with me on this one.”

  He gestured to the Crusader behind him. Meanwhile the other crewmembers moved quickly to notify the CC and Head CO about the bump in personnel.

  “Name’s Wash, and I’ll be the one responsible for piloting the heap in question.”

  “Wash? What kind of name is Wash?”

  The young woman’s companion pushed past the two in favor of taking part in the introductions, likely wanting to get familiarized with the engine room before departure. Good man.

  “Best we leave that story for another time. Your friend’s got the right idea in that we need to get a move on. I look forward to working together.”

  Lux followed after Wash as he made for the nearest platform.

  “No need for both of us to look forward. You’re the pilot so I’ll leave that bit to you. In the meantime you can count on me to have both your back and everyone else's. Deal?”

  “Mmm, no deal.”

  A small growl the escaped security officer as she landed on the platform.

  “Sorry, if you’ve got my back then I’ve got yours. And that’s non-negotiable. Rest assured I’ll steer us clear of the trouble out front though. I’ve always been an excellent multi-tasker after all.”

  The two paused at the foot of the ladder, Wash’s grin prompting the blonde to click her tongue as her gaze wandered in the direction of the engine room. A small sigh followed.

  “Fine. But you’d better cough up the story about your name at some point!”

  The pilot slipped a pair of red tinted glasses from his breast pocket onto his face and gave a thumbs up.

  “Count on it sister.”