EXCAVATOR: Tales from the Twelve Vessels

Chapter Thirty-three: Collective

The return to the Jinsuo was a bittersweet experience. At first, Meera welcomed the return, praising the comfort of her compact unit, taking in the smooth, recycled air. There was something so special about a place that was molded to fit her shape, or perhaps, a place she had been molded to fit.

There was comfort in the familiar.

But there was also dread in the monotony.

As the weeks went by, the happiness of occupying her living quarters began to fade, overtaken by nostalgia for a place she hardly knew. The certainty of filled lungs was replaced for a longing of a biting breath. The manufactured lights didn't burn the same way as the heat of a distant sun. For whatever longing for a new horizon she had prior to her leaving the Jinsuo, the desire increased by tenfold after she'd actually seen it herself.

Meera began to take solace beneath the lot of the Jinsuo's 803rd excavation team. The orange lamps and the earthen tones reminded her of the palace she had been and all of the places still left to go. This was normal, the 803rd had explained, the post-first trip blues. It's what kept them coming back for more. It made sense, she supposed. They had to counterbalance the constant threat of combustion with something.

She was admittedly lost in thought when Sanji barrelled down the steps that morning, four weeks after the crew had returned from Feint.

"Good news scrubs," Sanji called out into the bunker. "Guess who got approved for the replacement detailer?"

The crew was spread out across the lower level. Donough and Rufe were lounging on the couch. Aya was rearranging data strips while Reese observed from the kitchen counter. Carthy was in their office with the door propped open. Meera turned around from her seat at the mess table to get a better view of her.

Carthy spoke out into the common space. "What kind of infantile training are they going to make us sit through in exchange?"

"None," Sanji responded with a smug grin. "I got us out of that shit."

Meera flinched in anticipation of her own question. "So, have I been...suspended?"

Sanji shrugged. "They tried to, but I told them if they did the whole crew would resign."

"And they believed that?"

She scoffed. "Of course they believed it. Because they know we're the only crew that would ever go through with it."

Aya spoke up from the data racks. "We have a series of resignation letters drafted up for this very purpose. Unfair suspensions, hazardous work conditions, gross food rations. Not the first time we've threatened them."

The revelation somehow wasn't exactly ear shattering after calculating all of the 803rd's prior shenanigans. "I wouldn't want you threatening to quit the excavation forces for my sake."

"Of course we would. Either we all go to planet or none of us do. That's how we do things in the 803rd. We weren't gonna let them screw you over for doing the best you could." She approached the dining table. "Excavator law number three: If you do things half assed you're gonna wind up half dead." The amusement in her expression dissipated. "Fair warning, though. You're on main control's radar now so watch yourself. If they catch you slipping up again they'll give you one of their famous talking-to's." She mimed a gagging motion.

Rufe sat up in the couch and turned. "Does that mean Meer is officially one of the degenerates now?"

"AYYY!" The group erupted in celebratory camaraderie.

Sanji bit back a grin. "Relax," she drawled above the chorus. "You know I can't legally encourage that." She directed her attention to Meera, smile breaking through. "But yes. Congrats on the debauchery. Your reward." She handed over a tablet sized display. "This came through the inbox today. I think it was meant for you."

Meera took the tablet, furrowed brows lingering on Sanji as she walked away. She looked down at the display. It lit up once it recognized her face, display glowing a light pink. In the upper right corner was an insignia she recognized, a series of intricately woven lines in front of the shadow of a serpent. She read the message.

INTERVESSEL COMMUNICATION.

ADDRESSED TO: THE 803RD EXCAVATION TEAM OF THE COLONIAL VESSEL JINSUO.

SENDER: PRIVATE CITIZEN, MAUDE AQUATTA

HEY.

STILL ALIVE.

JUST GOT BACK FROM DRINKS WITH A FRIEND. FIGURED IT WAS TIME TO SAY HELLO.

SO HELLO. HOPE YOU ARE ALSO NOT DEAD.

HAVE A NEW ADDRESS, SHOULD BE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MESSAGE. REACH OUT WHENEVER.

INTERVESSEL COMMS ARE EXPENSIVE THOUGH SO DON'T EXPECT ME TO ANSWER RIGHT AWAY.

THANKS AGAIN.

SW

Meera scrolled down to see the address listed below. She'd have to copy it down and put it into her contacts as soon as possible. There was a warmth in her chest, the melting of a weight she didn't realize was there. There were threads in that symbol of the Maude Aquatta, threads that remained untied up until this moment. And as that thread was tied, a new one

Her expression must've given something away because Reese and Aya were already on their way to peek over her shoulder.

"What is it?" Donough asked.

Reese answered "Aw, it's our favorite krey from the Maude."

"Oh yeah," Rufe responded with recognition. "What was their name? Sank? Swam?"

"Sauk," Meera enunciated.

Reese frowned. "What kind of message is that?"

Aya squinted to get a better view. "I think the Maude charges per word for intervessel messages."

He made a noise of disgust. "That sucks, why would anyone want to live on the Maude?"

"Probably because it's where you aren't," Carthy called back.

Rufe and Donough oohed at that.

Sanji crossed her arms. "You going to respond, Meer?"

"Of course," she almost laughed. "I'm going to as soon as I can. I just have to figure out what I'm going to say. There's so much to talk about, I don't even know how to narrow it down."

"Tell xem about the new detailer," Aya suggested. "That's news."

"Tell xem I said hi," Rufe added.

Sanji rolled her eyes. "What are we, a bunch of neonates? Do we want to send imprints of our hands over, too? Let the kid figure out what she wants to write on her own. Come on, we got work to do on the lot."

The rest of the crew grumbled as they made their way to the stairs.

Sanji spoke again amongst the chorus of stomping boots. "You coming, Meera?"

The voice shook her out of compiling the list of potential conversational topics for her newfound penpal, Sauk Wood. The possibilities were endless. The excitement was palpable. "On my way!"

Meera took one last look at the message before setting it down and joining the rest of the 803rd.