When Valorie swung out on to the bridge, the Captain was already giving orders.

“We will be stopping at this system for today. Yulia, disregard the jump point and redirect us into the star system. I will help you find an orbit for our stay. Leon, please escort Valorie to her quarters.” He said, heading towards Leon’s station. Leon and Yulia were watching her like she had grown horns. When she reached out, Valorie felt anger in Leon and fear in Yulia. She couldn’t decide which was worse. She looked down.

“Yes, sir.” Leon freed himself and propelled toward her. From her time under imperial command, she knew better than to flinch away, but she wanted to shrink away from his approach.

“You know the way, right? Let’s go.” He said, directing her to the exit with his hands. She pushed off towards the exit, knowing he was right behind her. “I may not know what is going on, but you won’t give me a hard time, right?” It wasn’t a direct threat, but she could sense he meant it. She shook her head. It was never her goal to give anyone a hard time.

They entered the hallway in silence. The halls had changed for flight mode. It caught her off guard at first, and she paused by the exit. It was only Leon’s insistence that reminded her to move forward. The geared part of the hallway walls had closed up, halving their height. The patterns traced along the upper walls had opened up into handles that lined the left side like a ladder. It was easy to maneuver as she floated along.

About halfway to her room, Leon spoke up.

“So, what happened? What’d you say?” His lighter tone had returned. She looked over, and his eyebrows were raised. She could sense this attitude was a cover – it did not match the feelings she was picking up. Yes, he was feeling curious, but there was no friendliness to it. In fact, there was more than a little malice. She faced forward and shook her head.

“What, you’re not sure? Or you can’t say?” Leon asked, trying to get a better look at her face. Her eyebrows furrowed as she looked at him once again. She had already told the Captain and she trusted him to decide what came next. Leon shrugged off her glare.

“Won’t say, huh. Gotta be pretty serious.”

She picked up her pace, and he followed without another word. When they reached her quarters, he stopped at the threshold as she went in. Unlike the halls, the inside of her room remained unchanged in zero-g.

“I’m going to lock you in here for now. The door inputs won’t respond without my clearance.” He said. She turned to look at him with wide eyes. “Well, I could take you to the brig instead, but Cap’ll be pissed if I skip right to that. Unless you would prefer it?” His voice was still light, he even smiled as he offered to take her to the brig.

“No. Thank you.”

“Thought so.” He smirked, but the animosity eased as he met her frightened eyes. “Don’t worry, I won’t forget about you. Knowing the Captain, this is as much for your safety, as it is ours.” He said. She nodded, her eyes falling to the floor.

He meant to be comforting, and she understood that. Still, those words drew a line between her and the rest of the crew. The one she wanted to be a part of more than anything. Yet, here she was, observing once more.

“Behave yourself, Valorie.” He said, moving back as he hit a few keys on the outer panel by the door. The door slid shut, and the word LOCKED overlaid the inner panel. She drifted for a moment watching him float away. His light was cold but very bright. It burned with a passion she never saw in his physical demeanor. She wondered what he was hiding, but humans seemed like a puzzle she was not meant to solve. She sighed and started the opening cycle for her bed. If nothing else, she could give her body a rest.

While she waited, she decided to check herself in the bathroom mirror. The first thing that caught her eye was the white flower on her collar. The sight alone warmed her. Her smile faded as she remembered the fear she sensed from Yulia when the Captain announced the change of plan. She brushed her fingers over the smooth petals as she wondered if Yulia would trust her ever again.

Along the bedside, she found the safety buckles. She lied down, buckling herself in for good measure. They might not be making any more jumps, but if she drifted off the bed, a return to full gravity could be disastrous.

Once she was comfortable, her PD vibrated against her wrist. A quick check told her she had a message from the Captain. She couldn’t open it faster.

I will be holding a meeting after we establish orbit. Please be prepared to attend by video call.

Valorie let her hand fall back down to her side as her eyes slid closed. She could keep track of the time while giving her body a chance to sleep.

Her thoughts were restless, which made it hard to calm her body enough for sleep. She rolled over in search of comfort. Her breathing slowed, and her heart followed. Sleep was a necessary part of caring for her human body. It was also unsettling – relinquishing control as the body drifted closer to death. New fragments always had difficulty with sleep. They would panic as the body slipped out of their control, snapping it back to awareness.

She waited, easing away her control, and her body drifted closer to sleep. She was free to focus on other tasks.

“Olli, Hexa.” She called. She had lost focus on their connection, and it had started to fade.

“Evie. No changes on our end. You told Captain Hughes?” Hexa responded. The Luxe control room was before Evie’s eyes once more. Olli was not there. The seat next to Hexa was empty.

“Yes. He was not happy.”

“I’m sorry.” Hexa leaned back in her chair and the ceiling filled Evie’s view. Hexa felt sympathy and it mixed with Evie’s fears creating an aura of sadness between them. “Will you continue on your path?” She asked.

“I don’t know what the Captain will decide.”

“I am asking about your path, Evie.” Hexa was stern. Another line drawn. Evie was not a part of the Helianthus. She was not one of them.

“I am trying. Life outside Imperial control is much harder to predict.” She said. This confused Hexa. She could not relate. Not until she had more time to absorb some of Evie’s experiences.

“As long as we try, it is all Mother expects.” Hexa said. Evie knew this, as did every one of her sisters. The spoken reminder served as a pick me up in low moments.

“I know.” She said. The aura between them lifted and Evie’s heart felt a little lighter.

“Shall I connect Seda of the MRH Hayes?” Hexa changed the topic. When she spoke of Seda, Evie gained a sense of the distant connection. A newer fragment with a soft tone.

“Yes. Thank you, Hexa.” She said, and Hexa’s attention shifted away from her. She half listened as her sister established connection and context. She thought about the emergency meeting to come and her body shifted again. It seemed sleep would elude her for now. She exhaled slowly and opened her eyes.

Before her was the sky. Her eyes widened. The ceiling above her was painted in delicate whites and blues. A view of the daytime sky from as seen planet side covered her ceiling in painstaking detail. Great fluffy clouds, and a blue that managed to be both light and deep. The sight stirred an ancient sense of freedom in her chest. She admired it – amazed she had not noticed it until now. A smile spread across her face.

She knew for sure at that moment. The ache had been in her heart since breakfast, but now it was real, right in front of her. Her goal to protect the ship was not just her duty to her lost friend or her trapped sisters. It was something she wanted. She had found the home she longed for.