Voyages Among Sand and Stars

Unfortunately Met: Aphelion

 Aphelion's body ached. Thirst clawed at his throat. And there was a blaster thrust right in his face. The woman behind the blaster looked just as bedraggled as him, which didn't make him feel much better.

Her question registered in his mind. She didn't know who he was. "You don't know who I am?" She could help him, maybe, but, she could also turn him into whatever group had targeted him. He winced. His head hurt and the torrent of thoughts did nothing to help.

The woman scoffed. "Why the fuck would I know who you are?"

"So you weren't trying to murder me?"

She dropped her blaster. Her expression morphed from cautious curiosity to burning anger. "You're the idiot that destroyed my ship." She clutched the back of her head with her free hand. When she pulled it away blood stained her fingers red.

"Me?" Aphelion asked, "I had no control, my engines were down. If anything, you're at fault." The blaster taunted him. It was still a danger when it wasn't pointed at his face.

"I can see why the Leviathans were trying to get rid of you," the woman said, "I don't make it a habit to do their dirty work anymore, but I can make an exception."

What blood was still in Aphelion's body drained away. "Wait," he pleaded, "Don't shoot. I think we can help each other."

The woman lowered the gun, and rested the weapon on her hip. She swayed as she appraised him. With great effort he stood up to meet her condescending stare.

He took her silence as a willingness to listen. He made his case. "Your ship was destroyed. You need a new one, I can buy you one."

"You're not going to buy me a ship out of guilt." The woman crossed her arms.

Aphelion shook his head, which was a mistake. His head throbbed. "No, I need to get home, and you know who tried to kill me."

She chuckled. Or at least, she chuckled as well as she could with the various injuries assailing her. "You got yourself into trouble with the Leviathans and you have no idea who they are?"

He hadn't ever heard that name before. He still didn't know what trouble he was in. Who was behind the attack? Were the Leviathans part of an insurrection, or were they Zetian? Were any of his delegates apart of the conspiracy? He needed to contact his parents right away. He gave the woman a half-hearted shrug in response to her question.

"So, I get you home and tell you about the Leviathans and you'll buy me a new ship."

Aphelion nodded. As this was below his normal negotiation transaction he held out his hand for her to shake it. In lieu of a written agreement, it would have to do.

She grabbed his hand but didn't shake. "Where's home?"

"Iota 9." He kept the specifics to himself for now. If he was being targeted as a prince, the fewer people who recognized him the better.

The woman chewed her lip, mulling over the proposal. "This is only a business transaction, if the Leviathans find us, you're on your own. Once I drop you off I never want to see you again."

I doubt you ever will, anyways. He slipped his hand from her grasp. "The feeling's mutual."

"I'm Ceres, by the way," she said, once again clutching the back of her head.

"Aphelion," he said, before he could think better of it.

Not that it struck a chord with her in any way. She turned on her heel and led him through the forest. He tried to march after her, but he was weak and in pain. There was some small amount of relief that she was in as much need of medical attention as he. They walked past the burning blue fire, which had reduced the spacecraft to no more than malformed metal lumps.