A Breath of Mars [Open Novella Contest]

02 | The Offcomer

Daria waited atop the ramp of the cargo holder as her crew lumbered onto the aircraft. Her ship, the Apollo Luna Module, was undeniably the smoothest flying scouting module at the Hub. Its spherical design made her extremely efficient for scraping through spaces atmosphere and it had all the newest features recently commissioned by the ISA. Excitement surged in Daria's veins at the prospect of flying the Luna for the first time with her new FTL drive.

Daria's First Mate, second in command, and best-friend, Aine Vanson, sashayed up the ramp toward where Daria stood with her arms folded over her chest. "My, my. Don't you look happy," Aine teased as she readjusted the straps of her pack. Despite being two years Daria's senior at 24, Aine could often portray the mind of a twelve-year-old.

Aine flicked a lock of tightly coiled hair from her forehead, hair Daria had always been exceedingly jealous of. Daria blinked out of her revere. "Sorry," she said instinctively.

Aine shook her head at Daria and lent down with a more genuine expression. "You okay? Considering it was supposed to be your wedding day and all?"

Daria smiled grimly at her friend. "I'm fine. We've just postponed it until I get back."

Aine raised her eyebrows suggestively. "I'm sure you'll find a way to make it up to him," Aine chortled and moved on into the heart of the ship to get ready, not before making a vulgar motion that would have scorched children's eyes.

"Morning Captain!" Kasen, the Luna's communications technician, greeted joyously. Kasen was the youngest member of Daria's crew with his 18th birthday only a week ago. He was a quick-witted boy who looked up to Daria as an ideal older sister. Thankfully, he hadn't seen Aine's crude gesture. She didn't need Kasen getting any ideas.

Daria couldn't help her lips curling at the edges at Kasen's eagerness. "Good morning, Kasen."

Kasen nodded, distracted by the screen of his self-built computer as he walked up the cargo ramp. Kasen had a habit of walking as he typed, and hacking government databases.

Daria was about to check he wasn't hacking any government databases when someone interrupted her. Kasen walked into the ship ahead of her.

"Captain Diles?" came a full-toned voice. Daria spun around on her heals to come face-to-chest with an offcomer. As ridiculous as it sounded, the first thing to grab her attention was his hair. Currently, the black locks were twisted back into a low bun, tied off with a fabric strip. Hair past the shoulders was rare on the Hub, especially for a guy. Most men kept it shaven close to the scalp for efficiency. Daria could sense this young offcomer was trouble, and she didn't want trouble on her ship.

Daria said nothing, only raised her eyebrows in answer. "I'm your relief medic," he said.

Daria frowned at the stranger. "Relief medic?" she repeated quizzingly. "I don't need a relief medic."

He shrugged one shoulder. "I was told your former medic caught strep throat. I just follow orders."

Mirren had caught strep throat? Just the previous day Daria had passed Mirren in the corridor and the woman hadn't said a word about being ill. How quickly could someone develop strep throat?

Daria drew out a long sigh, seeing no way around the situation. She didn't have time to radio the Commander nor Mirren, so this . . . boy would have to do. "Fine. We meet in the bridge in five for a debrief," Daria said, dismissing him. Having a new crew member was not what Daria needed. Why had the Commander not mentioned this earlier? That there was to be a relief medic? Perhaps he knew Daria would have protested an offcomer joining her crew immediately before a crucial mission. Daria did not have the time or the patients to educate him on their systems.

"Seren Tabek."

The offcomer was standing in the doorway to the innards of the module, one hand bracing against the frame. Daria blushed when she realised he had been watching her leer at nothing.

"In case you were wondering," he said, and slid the door shut behind him.

Tabek. Tabek.

A Tabek was on her ship, as a medical specialist. Daria was having trouble comprehending it all.

Daria lolled in her chair in the Bridge of the Luna Module as they drifted through space toward Mars. Her two Helmsmen, Tallie and Ravi Rhine, piloted the ship from the flight deck bellow. Being twins made her two Helmsmen think with one mind, an advantage on all accounts. They shared the same alluring green eyes and were strikingly identical considering their gender difference.

Pike, her Second Mate, stood to her left with Aine to her right. Pike, a 41-year-old, short-fused man, had only been assigned by the Commander to Daria's crew because she was inexperienced. His face was regularly clean shaven, his scalp buzzed to 1mm in length. Everything about him was about order, loyalty and precision. He was the Commanders agent, reporting back every incident or minuscule mistake Daria made. After the success of this mission, Daria would have a word about Pike to the Commander. She didn't need his babysitter.

Tabek drifted back to the forefront of her mind. She should be more focused on the mission ahead, but they were currently in a vacuum of space, so her help was limited.

The Tabek's were a renowned family of some of the best flight pilots. Seren, the youngest of five brothers, was rumoured to be one of the most versed and accomplished pilots the line of Tabek's had ever seen. Yet here he stood, somewhere off in her ship, as a relief medic. Daria didn't understand why. Why he would give it all up for such an inferior job? She certainly would never give up hers.

Daria gazed around the Bridge, noticing the seven individuals occupying it: the helmsmen, first and second mates, navigator, communications technician and herself. That left her medical specialist, two knowledge specific flight ambassadors, flight engineer and her general technician somewhere else on the ship. Daria made it a mental habit to know exactly where all her crew members were at all times. Her ship was equipped with a fully self-confident crew, a crew she'd travelled with for 11 months straight now.

An hour into the flight showed no complications. Daria fingered the semi-transparent screen in front of her which displayed a complete overview of Mar's current state. Her flight ambassadors would know every word on the document, but Daria liked to be prepared for her missions.

The Bridge was limited in decorations. It was a sphere cut in half, no windows, no corners. Her ship was fully pressurised to human standards, meaning they didn't float around like fish underwater. Her ship also did not have a kitchen, which Daria did not like.

Daria couldn't help but think about Neiko. This hadn't been the first time their wedding was postponed. The first was for a special mission on the Commanders behalf. The second had been a drill. The third was to go to Mars. If there was a fourth, Daria didn't think there was going to be a wedding at all.

Daria announced her leave and left to stroll to the viewing area in the outer regions of the ship. The bridge was located in the direct centre of the vessel, the most secure location. Daria passed the empty halls in silence but found herself halted in front of a small circular window.

There it was. Mars.

It was even more stunning through her eyes than the computer holograms and documents. The sun clipped the edge of Mars, presenting flawless lighting to brighten the red planet. It was a blend of light-blush reds, sangria reds and dusty oranges. Small amounts of white dotted the poles, breaking up the sunset hues. It looked exquisite in contrast to deep, bottomless space, Jupiter nothing but a speck in the background.

In a flash, the hallway was illuminated in red.