Astrophysical (completed)

Chapter 18

The first few breaths of air were cool and refreshing after being on board for three days straight. Before Cassie began to do her 'duty' she instead glanced at the landscape of the planet. To her amazement, it looked exactly like she had pictured it based on the descriptions Ash had given her. It also confirmed that this was in fact his home planet and while that was good, she felt her stomach and heart aching for his presence.

The town was in the valley of a lush green landscape. All around, large trees, bushy shrubs, and fresh flowers bloomed and the small river running through it was calm and cool. The mountains surrounding them were tall and it looked like it would take a couple of days to climb them, but the greenery on them would make the hike worthwhile. Above, the skies were a deep blue, but the small distant sun lit the valley and made it feel more welcoming than most of the planets Cassie had been on.

Before she could go explore, the act that she and SA had to play to even be here called her back, as the young students began to disembark. Cassie joined SA and helped unload the last little bit of luggage that was still on board. Then as a large floating bus like vehicle approached, they began to gather them in preparation for loading them onto the new vehicle.

The other members of the Sovereign crew oversaw their work while observing and organizing the students. It was nerve racking to be watched so closely, but while on board, Cassie had found a translation chip gun so at least now she could hear what they were saying and know whether she should be alarmed. Everything sounded calm now.

Instructions were being given to the students as to their curfew and duties while here. These students were a mix of soldiers in training as well as scientists and each were tasked to meet and speak with the elders of this planet and learn from their past. They also would be touring the small planet to better understand what type of terrain this was home to, so that later they could potentially choose this for their home should they be granted the reward of retirement.

Once the busses had stopped near the docking station, Cassie and SA promptly began loading the luggage while the students boarded the bus. It was tedious, but they managed to get everything on quickly.

The two Sovereign leaders met with the other set of loading crews first before approaching Cassie and SA. The older man who had thick grey hair stood firmly with his hands behind his back as he addressed them.

"You will now be dismissed of duties until we return here in one cycle's time. Your accounts should have been supplemented enough for you to find decent lodging, although the ones where our students will be, are already full. At ease."

He threw up a salute and Cassie quickly saluted back. Then the two men split up onto the two busses and they pulled away from the docking bay. Cassie glanced over at the other two loading crew members, but they quickly turned away and made to leave without even acknowledging SA and Cassie. She instead turned to him once they had left, letting out a sigh.

"Well should we go out and explore then?" she asked smiling a little for the first time in a while.

SA raised an eyebrow at her. Now that his helmet had been off for a day or two his black hair was starting to become him. "Don't you mean make ourselves scarce? It's already clear to me that they don't trust the two of us and I don't blame them."

"I mean yeah, we should distance ourselves a bit especially since we won't be going back with them, but I still want to explore a little...What's wrong?"

He had opened his mouth as she said this and to her surprised his features tightened. "You can't just go around proposing these preposterous ideas, Cassie! Sneaking off a Governor's planet first of all is hard, but it gets even harder when those said Sovereigns are keeping careful watch over us. But apparently you just want to stroll about town like it's no big deal so why don't we just go turn ourselves in now?"