The Other Path

Alliance.

Alliance.

 

After the meeting, we were dismissed to our quarters. We had an hour to prepare, after which we would meet at Shuttle Deck 12 before boarding our respective shuttles and departing for Terra. As I left the Conference Room, I noticed Timmick lingering in the hallway, pretending – unsucessfully − to be occupied by a blank spot on the wall. As I was the last to leave the room save the two Environmental Scientists I had seen in hushed conversation earlier, I assumed his intention was to ambush me. He probably wanted to get to know me because he and I were the closest in age. I didn’t blame him; I was more inclined to befriend him, bouncing and childish as he appeared, over any of the taciturn and secretive people in our party.

I also needed to know exactly what he was doing on said party; there had to be an important reason why someone so young - someone who had not yet even reached the age of adulthood - would be assigned to such a dangerous and contreversial mission. I highly doubted he was part of the InterTravel Bereau to begin with, unless he was of exceptional intellect or remarkable skill.

Slim and of moderate height, he had green eyes and brown hair that sprung up in every direction as if shocked; it didn’t mark him as any more than average, but there was a reason he had been assigned this mission, and I was determined to find out what it was.

“Hey!” He broke into a grin and bounced over to me when he saw that I was walking in his direction, “I was wondering if you’d like to, you know, talk? Maybe?”

I looked at him curiously, “I wouldn’t mind, no.”

His eyes gleamed with triumph, which had me worried. This kid was too happy for such a grave mission. It was imperative I find out more about him.

“Would you like to get something to eat, perhaps?” I proposed, trying not to smile at the way he seemed to radiate a happiness that filled the halls with light, “We only have an hour before the rendevous and I for one could go for some food.”

“I could eat a whole ship!” he exclaimed brightly as we set off in the direction of the Cafeteria, gesticulating every which way, “No, a whole planet!”

I raised an eyebrow, “You can’t eat metal, and as for a planet, what about the people? Would you eat them too? Need I remind you that cannibalism is illegal?”

He blinked at me, as if surprised I could have a sense of humour, “Was that a joke?”

Did I really appear so serious? Well, granted this mission was of great importance and was heavy with guilt, and I was treating it with seriousness and reverence, but I wasn’t at heart a somber person. I told him as much.

“I’m Kaiya.” I introduced myself as he laughed, offering my hand, “The Historian of the group.”

He quieted with some difficulty and took my hand, “Timmick. Oh, I already said that!” he laughed again, “Let’s go get some grub!”

The Cafeteria was near to empty when we entered. I assumed most of the crew were elsewhere, preparing for the next stage of the mission. A small room designed to seat fifty people, it was full of chairs and tables, with a small food dispenser at the far end. Twenty people seated in the middle chattered amongst each other. Upon our arrival, however, the volume dropped with a startling abruptness, and most eyes were suddenly trained on us.

I paused in the doorway, unused to such attention, but Timmick just barreled through, continuing his one-sided conversation about Hyperdrives and their relation to the growth of crops as if he didn’t notice the change in atmosphere. Perhaps he didn’t.