Starhold Vesta

Chapter 1.2

Another ARC9 sighting. My insides explode, but my face remains cold and passive. "Bullshit."

"The distress call did not make sense to my ship's navigation system, but we answered despite the incorrect signal."

"Explain why the distress call didn't make sense to your nav."

"The signal originated from a primitive device. The coordinates the signal gave were different from the ship's actual location—almost as if the signal was purposefully directing us elsewhere. When we used our technology to track the location of the ship, they fired at us."

I lean in closer. "But you were answering their distress call."

The creature's heavy-lidded eyes squint, giving me a look I know too well. "We are waste transporters. We don't require protective enhancements or arsenals of weaponry on our vessels. We sustained damage to our hull that has caused a toxic spillage in a vastly challenging sector to maintain. We sought the falsifiers to demand a reprimand and compensation"

Hope swells in me. "Have you found them?"

"No."

"Are you still searching?"

"No. They have become untraceable."

I drop the two canisters of liquid gold on the table before him. "Your information was valuable. Thank you for your time."

"The Earthen in the distress call," the creature wheezes before I can leave. "He sounded damaged."

I don't turn around so I can hide the flinch of worry that I can't control. "What do you mean by that?"

"Damaged. The Earthen was truly in distress. Broken. Somehow not whole."

"How do you know?"

"My line of work requires the ability to perceive turmoil to clear waste and hazardous materials. We are incapable of feeling most of these sensations. If we did, we would not be successful in our operations in waste management. But we are equipped with acute perceptions for pain, fear, and disgust, which makes our work necessary."

Gross, but okay.

"That Earthen's pain was detectable between the wide berth between our ships. Just as your hearing this is detectable now."

Returning to face the creature, I frown. "Thank you for your information."

When I make it outside, the wind is colder, the desert sand reflects the six moons' light like crystals. Captain Moon stands outside staring at the sky with his hands deep in his pockets. "Glean any gems for our journey home."

I pull my cloak tighter around my arms even though I can't feel the cold. "Same intel as the last ones."

Moon grunts in acknowledgment. "This whole trip was a waste of time."

I grind my teeth, a new habit I've formed after the long periods I've had to endure Moon's presence. "Not a total waste of time. Once is noteworthy. Twice is a coincidence. Three times is a pattern."

"Please spare me Nuna's notorious pearls of wisdom."

The words came out before I could stop myself from saying them. With urgency, I miss her. It's not a fierce longing, but the space between my arms where her body slides through is painfully empty. The feel of her fingers on my arm and face as she gently caresses me to sleep haunts my skin. I want to go home. I miss her. I miss my son. "She's right, though. This is the fifth instance someone has gone to ARC9's location and found nothing. It's the third ship to find them and only to be met with open fire. I was right. The whole thing was a trap."