Black Hole Heartbeat

Lavell - 56

Down in the Mess Hall, Lavell poured hard candy into a bowl. She picked

out her favourite colours and ate them first. Forr was in the gym, working

on his hand to hand combat. On the flight to Purple 24 Roka had mentioned

he used to be a boxing coach, and Forr had since enlisted his help. Elizabeth

had not been to the gym since they had returned from the last mission.

She tipped her last of the sugary sweets into her mouth. Nyomee walked by

holding a tray and Lavell waved her over. The Human's golden eyes widened

in distrustful surprise.

"Hello," she said cautiously.

Lavell looked down at Nyomee's plate. There were two turkey legs, bones

crossed and meat glistening with grease. It looked a big meal for such a

small Human.

"I thought you might want some company," Lavell said.

Nyomee picked up one of the legs and bit into the meat, tearing it from the

bone. The crisp skin dropped back onto the plate in shreds.

"I'm used to isolation. It's how I lived back home," Nyomee said while

chewing.

She wiped at her chin with her forearm, taking away the grease but leaving

a smear of grime behind.

"Was it always that way?"

"It used to be better. Simpler."

Lavell focused her absorbsion panels as Nyomee spoke. She had told the

truth, so far.

"How did it use to be?"

Nyomee took another chomp of the meat, slurping it away from the bone.

"We were a self-sufficient society. Farmed, raised livestock, things like that."

"What changed?"

"It just couldn't stay like that. Power struggles started. A harsh winter killed

off a lot of people and raised tensions among the survivors."

Lavell could sense something, but she wasn't sure what.

"That's why you left?" she asked.

"Yes," Nyomee said.

Lavell's panels started to twitch, but she didn't need them to know Nyomee

was lying. She was staring down at her plate, pushing the bones around

with the backs of her fingers.

"There's more to it," Lavell said, leading her.

Nyomee looked up and let out a heavy sigh.

"They were the catalyst for why I had to leave."

"What happened?"

"You must understand, many people came to escape the rest of the galaxy.

It was a fabled place, its existence whispered of with weak hope. I did not

flee there. I was raised there, and my grandparents simply sought the peace

it promised. But several people were driven there through fear. Then Yerin

was invaded."

"Who invaded you? Another city?"

"We have no other cities. That's why everyone felt so secure. Until a Krei

ship landed outside our walls."

"The Krei invaded Purple 24? Why were they even there?"

"As a Jahlder, it's only natural that you would associate the Krei with

butchery and bloodshed. But these people were not conquerors. They were

refugees."

"I don't understand," Lavell said.

"They had heard the whispers. All they wanted was to be safe. But they weren't Human, so..."

Nyomee looked down, burying chin in chest. Lavell touched her hand.

"Our leaders shot them. The unarmed, the innocent, the young. Gunned

down to preserve our perfect peace. How could I be part of a society that

would do that to people who only wanted safety and shelter?"

"It must have been horrible."

Her grip tightened and Nyomee recoiled.

"Sorry," Lavell said.

"I left that night."

"So why join us?"

"When Yerin was good, my people told stories of the Fire."

"The what?"

"Elizabeth Ranger touched it and lives. I was told a great person would

survive the Fire, and I was taught that great people are good, at heart. I am

here to aid your quest, and to redeem my own soul," Nyomee said.

"That's a very noble aim."

"Thank you for offering me your company, Lavell. I hope that next time we

can choose a lighter topic for discussion."