Following a jump, the bridge remained vigilant for twenty minutes. What happened next would depend on the Captain – most treated it as a break for the bridge crew. Inside the space between, there was no way to gauge distance, no visual markers, nothing. It would take the pull of a star – hopefully the one Leon had chosen – to drag them free of the space between. Any change to speed or orientation could lead to them getting lost. The crew needed to sit and wait. Many early explorers reported high anxiety during this quiet time. It became tradition to encourage crew to enjoy it as time off instead.

At the twenty minute mark, Gareth opened the intercom.

“Alright, everyone, you have 40 minutes for free roam. I wouldn’t go too far from safety, but this is a good time to freshen up. Contact me if you have any issues.” He said and closed the intercom.

“Sure, you don’t wanna run a commercial ship, Cap?” Leon asked with a grin. Gareth rubbed his right temple, as if easing a headache.

“Well, they probably make more money.” He sighed. Leon looked thoughtful for a moment and then nodded.

“Probably.”

“Are you going to put something on to listen to?” Yulia piped up.

“Like what?” Leon’s face soured.

“Don’t gimme that look.”

Valorie listened as the two of them started to argue.

She found it a little strange that everyone was content to stay in their seats and chat. Imperial ships kept a skeleton bridge crew during jumps. Everyone else disappeared the moment they were dismissed.

It was the real Valorie’s favorite time to go people watching, and she would drag Evie with her. Evie wanted as little attention as possible. Valorie dragged her along anyway. Whether it was eating or exercising, Evie learned to enjoy their excursions. She realized how small her world was when she saw the ship from a new perspective.

Music interrupted her reminiscing, and she focused on the world around her again. Leon was beaming with excitement, while Yulia rolled her eyes.

“Aww, don’t look so upset. I know you like it, too.” Leon said. The music was electronic, with low even beats, but relaxing. Yulia scoffed but quieted down.

Long before the argument finished, she noticed Gareth start reading on his PD. His breathing slowed, his entire focus on the PD screen. Curious, Valorie reached out. She sensed a mix of curiosity and contempt. If the chance ever presented itself, she needed to ask him what he was reading.

***

As they neared the ETA, Valorie focused on the system ahead. She could still feel her sisters at Luxe. Distance mattered little after the initial connection. She felt no contact in the target system. Without one, she needed to be inside the system to detect life with certainty.

Within the last moments of the jump, she was sure she could get a basic feel for the system. She had no proof, so this feeling was unreliable at best. She couldn’t feel a thing from COL 258. Null systems were common – more common than live systems. Even so, she couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed that her skill would not be of use. She yearned to prove her usefulness.

The ship’s rattling returned as the star’s pull began to drag them free of the space between. Gareth called for Yulia to reverse, slowing their forward momentum. When they burst into normal space, the star was a beast, full and bright, before them. Yulia veered off to avoid the heat and gravity of the massive star. The engines flared as they pushed away from the star’s gravity. The ship shuddered against those opposing forces in a momentary struggle. Yulia pushed the engines harder, and the ship broke free of the pull.

As they gained distance, they gained speed.

“No settled life detected. No transit life detected.” Valorie spoke up. She didn’t feel any joy from her correct prediction.

“Really? Nothing?” Yulia asked. Valorie heard the uncertainty in her voice but didn’t understand it. She felt the ship picking up speed again, heading for the next jump point.

“It’s not weird, Yulia.” Leon said.

“I mean, I always figure, there is got to be another ship or something out there.” She was watching her displays, one hand moving along the console, while the other held the yoke.

“Nope. Unless we’re following a popular route, another ship isn’t very likely.” He said.

“That’s a lot of pressure.” Yulia mumbled. When Valorie reached out, she found a growing sense of awe tempered by unease. This she could relate to. She had the same feelings when she looked into the void.

Once they were at a safe distance, Yulia redirected the ship towards Leon’s next set of coordinates. This was the normal loop for modern interstellar travel on medium vessels. Valorie leaned into her seat. One done, three more to go. Yulia maneuvered the ship, and the star passed overhead, lighting up the entire bridge.

“Do you sense only other people or can you sense any life?” Gareth asked. She turned to look at him. He was watching her, resting his head on his knuckles as he leaned back in his chair. His question was serious, and he was curious. It was an honest feeling, and she was completely unprepared.

“Any.” She answered. His eyes lit up, but his voice remained calm.

“How do you know the difference?” He asked. She felt her blood run cold. As an Imperial Captain, he must have had a debriefing on the SCT. It included a true description of their powers, with a less than true explanation for their powers.

“They feel different.” She said. Humans had tethers. A unique feature among all the species Mother had encountered. That opened too many questions, she needed something easier to swallow. Gareth was still watching her. His hand had slipped over his mouth as he considered her words. She tried a different direction. “How do you know the difference between red and yellow?”

“The mind’s interpretation of differing frequencies?” He asked. Now, that was beyond her. She blushed, searching the floor for an answer. She was becoming frustrated with her inability to respond. He straightened. “I’m sorry. You mean to say, I am asking you to explain what “red” is, aren’t I?” His serious tone eased into a more friendly one. Leon chuckled from his seat. Valorie winced.

“I… Think so?”

“Easy, Cap. Your nerd is showing.” Leon said. When he spoke, he leaned so far back in his chair, he was facing the ceiling. She wondered why he didn’t bother to turn around. Gareth ignored him.

“Currently, planets are only scanned if they fit a tight set of criteria that may indicate life. If we could determine there was life on a planet before scanning, it would open up our findings to species that do not fit such narrow definitions.” Gareth said. There was a spark in his eyes as he spoke she had never seen before. Leon finally turned around to face them.

“Translation: your abilities could make the Helianthus very attractive for exploration to the Database. The Captain’s long term goal.” He said.

“We’re gonna go exploring!” Yulia piped up with a laugh. It lightened the mood, and Valorie found her voice again.

“I have trained to tune non-human life out as noise, but I could try searching for it if desired.” She said. Leon chuckled, but Gareth answered her honestly.

“That is all I ask.” He said with a smile that lifted her hopes. She found herself smiling back once more.

“So… Can you sense any of that in this system?” Yulia asked. She was feeling hopeful, too. Valorie frowned.

“No. I haven’t felt anything here.” She said. She wished she had better news.

“Oh. Still creepy, then.”

“Don’t listen to her, Valorie.” Leon said, turning back to his station.

“What?” Yulia glanced over and saw Valorie’s disappointment. “Oh. Sorry! He’s right. Don’t listen to me.” She said, with a grin. When silence followed, she tried to fill it. “Where’s a jump point when you need it.”

“Just another 34 minutes before gravity clearance, and then another 10 for viable coordinates,” Leon answered with a smirk.

“So unhelpful.”