Malan leaned back in one of his new mess hall’s softly padded leather chair and examined more of the changes to Tanwen’s interior. Perhaps mess hall was a bit of an exaggeration. It was fairly similar in size to the Sparrow’s, enough for a small group of people to sit and eat comfortable together around the central table.
Around the edges were various sleek, grey kitchen units and some simple appliances, though Tanwen had already informed him that anything more advanced would have to be purchased and added. Unlike the bridge’s dark and serious tones, the mess was light greys and bright lights, clearly intended to be more comforting to his future crew as they relaxed.
At the present moment, they had the capacity to make coffee and heat meal packs, though at this present moment, as he savoured the first slightly bitter sip from his mug, he’d happily have settled for just the coffee.
His stats going up was all well and good, but this? This was a proper reward.
Malan was allowed only a few minutes of drinking his coffee in blissful peace. A mental flicker from Tanwen warned him of the new presence in his ship’s approach, and the additional set of doors opposite his seat slid open, revealing the crimson-robed scribe. Her hood still up, showing only the slightest hint of her copper locks, Malan caught a moment’s hesitation from her as she saw him, and realised this was the first time she’d seen him outside of his groundsuit.
He smiled.
“Scribe Tarai—welcome. Coffee?”
Her hesitation grew, but she shook her head finally. “No, thank you. May I?”
She was gesturing towards the chair opposite him, and he nodded, a touch surprised the Scribe had felt the need to ask. She was attempting to put him at ease, show proper respect to his position as Captain or Starbound, if he had to guess. It was an appreciated gesture, even if it was an unnecessary one.
Tarai pulled her hood down and clasped her hands in front of her on the table seriously, though her thumbs fidgeted slightly as she looked consideringly at him.
“First of all,” she began, tone slightly unsure. “I would like to both extend my apologies for the behaviour of my travelling companion upon your landing. She was unaccountably rude, and I would like you to be aware that I do not share her views in the slightest.”
Malan hid his surprise with a shrug. “I knew there would be consequences for what I did and said to the UGC command. As much as I stand by my actions, I can’t exactly fault her anger. Losing a Starbound to the Eclipse would have been an unprecedented disaster.”
“Why did you do it, then—if you don’t mind me asking?”
“You saw the first reason, right after the Major finished her little tirade. Two children back where they should be. Safe. At least, as safe as you can be.”
A strange look passed across her face, but it was gone before Malan could really work out the emotion behind it.
“Most Starbound, from what I’ve heard are a lot more… big picture in their actions. I can’t think of any that would move so brazenly, or take such risks for just two lives.”
“Well, I was pretty certain that the UGC would send help—I didn’t think there was much chance they would gamble on losing Tanwen to Eclipse. The only real risks were surviving the battle in the first place, and what would be waiting for me after it was done.” He shrugged, letting out a slow. “Either way, I know what it’s like to be on the other side of this thing. Praying for a rescue that doesn’t come until it’s far too late—and these kids were far younger than I was when it was me. What the hell’s the point in all this power if I can’t stop other people from going through that?”
By the time he was finished, Tarai was wearing a small smile that made her practically glow with warmth. She had relaxed a little too, leaning back in her chair, the tension having bled out of her shoulders.
“That…is a better answer than I could have hoped for,” she admitted.
“Then I think it’s your turn, Scribe Tarai. Why are you here, really? Because it doesn’t seem like you’re part of the escort.”
“That’s true,” she said, slowly. “I suppose I should be as straightforward with you as you have with me. It is a little known fact that upon bonding with a Starbound, the Nexus assigns each Pilot with an Ananchra—a guide along their path of growth. It is their job to guide the Pilot in gaining strength and fulfilling their purpose to their full potential. ”
Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
Malan frowned. “And they have assigned me you?”
She nodded. “Yes. I can explain aspects of the Celestial System, advise your on evolving and growing your strength and add extra context and information regarding your Skills and capabilities. Moreover, should you desire, I can act as your liaison to the outside world. I can negotiate with the UGC and Nexus on your behalf, deal with your requisition requests, manage your supplies and receive and request summons and orders from the Nexus and UGC. In short, it is my job to support you in achieving whatever goals you may have, and facilitating your success as a Starbound Pilot.”
Malan couldn’t help the twist of suspicion in his stomach. He’d grown up in the UGC—lived his whole life going to their schools, seeing their military and governments. The UGC had been born out of the wars for control of the Galaxy’s resources—a desire to turn towards ‘Peace, Prosperity and Partnership’. Humanity coming together to solve its problems. Noble ideals. But, at the end of the day, it was run be people, just as any other government or ruler in human history had been.
He had seen enough in his relatively few years before even thinking about history to not trust in the integrity of politicians.
“Where would your loyalties lie, should I agree to this?”
“It would be dishonest to say I don’t hold any loyalty towards the Nexus—I do. They took me in when I had nobody else. Cared for me—gave me purpose. The UGC, on the other hand, I’m not especially tethered to, beyond them being nominally in charge of the Nexus’ defence. But if you accept me as your Ananchra, things change. The expectation of the Nexus is that my primary loyalty becomes yours. I cannot properly serve my purpose if the Pilot I am bound to can’t trust the intent behind the advice I give.”
There was no real reason for him to assume this was the truth, but he’d still felt the need to ask, and despite the lack of a guarantee of honesty, he still felt better for the answer. He liked Tarai, at least on first impression. His gut told him she was being honest in her words, although, he also had the feeling she wasn’t telling him everything.
“And if I say no?”
“In truth,” she said, meeting his eyes firmly, “when you arrive at the Nexus, the UGC and the Scribes will probably force the issue. No Ananchra has ever been rejected to my knowledge. If not me, you’ll likely be forced to take someone.”
Malan pursed his lips at this, but he knew it for truth rather than an attempt at convincing him to accept her. It did help his decision somewhat—if he was going to be saddled with someone, why not her? She’d already impressed him, and it wasn’t like he could afford to turn his nose up at additional information about being Starbound. Not if I want to grow as strong as I need to.
He opened his mouth to say as much to Tarai, but she beat him to it. “Before you say anything—there are some things you should know that may make you reconsider me. You knowing technically damages my case for being your Ananchra, but I believe if we were to work together—or even if you are going to grow to your potential—this is information you need to know.”
Malan closed his mouth slowly, narrowing his eyes, before leaning forward with his elbows on the table and his fingers interlocked. “Go on.”
And she did. She told him about how he’d been chosen. About the Adepts being aliens, and how they’d referred to him and his Starbound. Touched by the void. Voidborn. He had more context for those terms than she did, but he still knew next to nothing. So far, all being touched by the void meant was being able to see celestial energy and two horrific run-ins with the Abyss.
He should have been frightened, he supposed. Or perhaps anxious. But the more Tarai told him of his growth being curtailed, his progression being…managed by creatures that had never even met him or deigned to try and communicate; the more he found his teeth grinding, and a hot, pulsing fire thrummed in his core. Malan could almost feel their strings trying to loop themselves around him, and the thought of it burned away at him.
For some reason, as Tarai finished he found himself thinking of a skeletal-thin man upon a phoenix throne, baring his gums in a savage grin as he fell away to ash.
“So whatever these creatures are, they mean to slow me down so they control me?” he asked, and Tarai nodded. “And how do you feel about this?”
Tarai sighed, and met his eyes. “Honestly? I was in two minds. The idea of it didn’t sit well with me—that level of deceit and manipulation never could. On the other hand, I had no idea what kind of person you were. Very few of the Starbound are perfect, and some of the most powerful and some of the most flawed from what I have heard. The kind of power the Adepts spoke of in the wrong hands… I could empathise with their caution.”
“And now you’ve met me? It would be difficult to accept somebody who I thought would be actively trying to manipulate and control me.”
“Well, that’s just the thing—I am the thing meant to hold you back. Starbound are normally assigned a Scribe that has been studying for decades. I’ve been doing so for a little under five years. There were no orders or anything to do anything other than my best to support you. They seem to be just assuming that I’ll perform my duties so poorly because of my inexperience that appointing me is enough to limit your growth.”
Malan smirked. “Am I detecting some resentment?”
“Well, I was initially most worried about who you were. But now I’m at least fairly certain you’re not some kind of reckless psychopath? Yeah, I’m more than a little pissed off about the implied disrespect.”
Malan chuckled as Tarai allowed her facade of professionalism to slip just a little. “I’m going to be honest Tarai, I don’t have any intention of slowing down in the slightest. My aim is to be strong enough so that if I decide to help somebody, there won’t be a thing in this galaxy capable of stopping me. I’ve spent too long unable to protect the people I want to protect without relying on other people. Knowing that it flies directly in the face of what the Adepts plan, are you still committed to supporting me in this if I accept you?”
“I am.”
He grinned and reached a hand across the table.
“In that case, welcome to my crew, Tarai. There’s nothing to eat but basic ration packs, I have no way of paying you and in the few days I’ve been captain, I’ve nearly died on several occasions. I think you’ll fit right in.”
