There was a lull in her conversation with Leon, so Valorie enjoyed the rustling of tree leaves above her. Leon spoke first.

“So, really this time. What were you thinking about?” He asked. He didn’t look comfortable in the Gardens – she imagined him worrying about the wet moss soaking into his pant legs. No, he was here for something.

“I was remembering a friend of mine… from the Anderson,” She said, rubbing her thumb over the stem of the flower. He was quiet for a long time. He was looking at the Gardens, but she had a feeling he wasn’t seeing them.

“What was your friend like?” He asked. His voice was low with a weight it did not often carry. She could feel he was nervous, anxious about such a serious topic. He was remembering something, but it was faint and unpleasant. She rested her hands in her lap and straightened up.

“She had a lot of energy and she used it to help the people she cared for,” Valorie said. He did not say anything and she felt the need to keep going. “I strive to fill her shoes, but I… don’t have energy like she did.” The truth of it surprised her, but it only sank in when she said it out loud.

“We all have someone we look up to. It’s work, but it’s worth it.” He said. It wasn’t quite right for her situation, but the words were important to him. They held strength in his heart.

“Are you worried about me?” She asked. She still wanted to know his reason for seeking her out. He finally looked at her again.

“You’re a part of this crew now. Your well-being is my responsibility as first-mate. This trip was a rough one.” He trailed on.

“So… you are worried.” She said. He chuckled.

“Yeah, yeah. Consider it a health check-up. I need to make sure there are no festering wounds.”

“I don’t blame anyone for distrusting me. It was scary there for a while, and everything still isn’t good, but I’m happy with the result.”

“Scared, huh?” He looked thoughtful before a grin spread across his face. “You definitely pissed Dupont off. His expression was priceless.” He said. She remembered that moment and her face flushed red.

“That was not my intention…” She muttered. He laughed and stretched his legs as he prepared to stand back up.

“Alright. My prescription is a healthy dose of smelling the flowers. Follow that up with an evening of your favorite pastime.” He said. She nodded solemnly and he smiled. He was on his feet, dusting the dirt off his backside. “You really like it under this tree?” He asked.

“Yes. I wonder if it is like being planet-side.” She said. His brows furrowed and he paused. She wasn’t sure what confused him. The look passed and he spoke.

“There’s a lot more noise planet-side.” He adjusted his jacket as he stood straight. “Here, every sound can be accounted for. Fans, engines, hydraulics. Planet-side, it’s a free-for-all.” He said. She tried to imagine it – a cacophony of life.

“Sounds nice.” She said, and that wry smile crossed over Leon’s face again.

“You are a weird one.” He said, “I’ll see you later. Stay out of trouble.” He left, following the back path to the main entrance. She watched his back as far as she could trace him.

It was just as well, she could sense Hexa reaching out to her. There was no urgency in her attempts, so Valorie took a moment before reaching back. A slow breath, filled with the hot flower-scented air. She rested the white flower in her lap and looked up at the dome above. The bright greens of the Gardens reflected at her, crisscrossed with warm lights. She tried to guess which room was hers. She had no idea, but she smiled at the very idea that behind one of those panes was a place for her.

“Hexa, how are you?” She asked as she reached out.

“Evie. Good. I wanted to talk.” Hexa replied. Whatever had her physical attention was hard to draw away from.

Valorie ran her fingers over the mossy ground as she waited for Hexa’s full attention. Raw data crossed their connection – the busy control tower of Luxe station. Multiple commands at once. The image cleared like a fog lifting.

“Sorry.” She said, and their connection strengthened. “News of the inspection reached me. The Helianthus was cleared of any wrongdoing. I’m happy for you.” Hexa’s tone was serious but lightened at the end. Valorie flooded their connection with her excitement over the good news.

“Yes, it worked out well. I can not claim credit, the whole crew worked toward the same goal.” Valorie shared her memories of digging under the Tree. Hexa held on to her main point as if her life depended on it.

“Oh, it is so green!” Hexa thought before catching herself. “I mean, I reached out to you with regard to a specific request.” Her tone sharpened. Valorie’s back went straight and she rested her hands on her knees.

“Okay. Go ahead,” She said.

“As fragments, we may not share a direct connection again. I wish to voice my concerns…” Hexa paused. She wanted to share them, but she was still collecting her thoughts. “My concern is that your current path disregards your Question.” She said. When the confusion cleared, the connection began to rapid-fire.

“No. How could I? Fragments exist for their Question.”

“You have been very distracted recently. I do not sense your desire for an answer.” She said. Valorie knew it was true. She had found a new goal. One that consumed her entire focus.

“Valorie gave me a task. I must help those of us the Empire holds captive.” She said.

“You already have a task. Your sisters eagerly await your solution.”

“Not all Questions have solutions.”

“That’s dangerous ground. We need answers.” The connection strained with Hexa’s distress. Valorie fell back on tried and true comforts.

“As long as we try, it is all Mother expects.” She said, but the atmosphere between them constricted her meaning. She looked down at her lap, cool air tickling her cheek. “I can work on both tasks from where I am.” Her tone was subdued but it hardened as she continued. “Mother knows my answer will carry a heavy burden. It should take time to find it.” There was another moment of quiet exchange. The feelings between them began to merge, trailing into gentle anxiety. Valorie began to doubt, but Hexa had lost her fire.

“I know, Evie. I just wanted to make sure it was on your mind.” Hexa said. The connection lost strength as she backed off. “Remember, Mother is waiting. I am sorry if I was too eager.”

“Thank you for your concern.” The connection sputtered out, crisp imagines of the Luxe control tower fading away. Valorie looked across the Gardens. It was beautiful, but she could not relax anymore. She had work to do.

***

Leon sat at his desk still feeling a little tipsy from sharing drinks after dinner. It was too quiet. He put his feet up on the desk, right over the scuff from last time, and flipped through his PD for the right song. Something jazzy and mellow. He closed his eyes and listened, counting the beats.

The day had been a long one, but he hadn’t screwed it up so far. That was cool. He recounted his concerns. The ship passed inspection. Yulia kept herself together in the tiny storage room. Serge had not punched any of the imperials. The kid hadn’t been caught on his spacewalk. Sachi was pleased with the garden’s health. The new girl wasn’t a spy. All in all, not bad. Maybe Gareth would be proud of him.

Without him noticing, his head and shoulders started bobbing to the song. A spike of pain stopped him. His jaw and neck were still stiff from tension. Facing down armed soldiers would do that. It definitely wasn’t age. He stretched, wishing for a massage to fix the tightest knots. A hot shower would have to do.

He sat up, sliding his feet off the desk, scuffing it again. At least he had gotten a good laugh out of the idiot captain and the new girl. Valorie, he corrected himself. He’d need to be getting used to her name now. Her embarrassed face flashed through his head, and he chuckled. She was cute, like a little sister. Maybe. He had been an only child and his parents still didn’t have time for him. A sibling would have only made it worse.

His gut twinged and he stopped. He’d learned to trust that instinct. What was it that bothered him? Something about Valorie. There was something off about her. Well, there was always something off about her. Gareth said the comms girls gave that vibe. He leaned over his desk, opening the displays for something to focus on.

A sheet detailing the budget and costs for necessary consumables was open. The food costs were down thanks to Serge’s market adventure. His eyes trailed over the numbers, and his mind drifted.

I wonder if it is like being planet-side. Valorie’s sentiment ran through his head. That was it. That had bothered him. His fingers moved to display, searching for the crew data. He opened Valorie’s profile.

Born in the Imperial aligned Starose colony under Lazare station. She was born planet-side. Still, he thought as he shifted through the data, maybe she left the planet when she was young. The data disagreed. Valorie had been planet-side until she was orphaned in her early teens. The inconsistency was off-key and settled into his gut like a riddle with a typo. Her choice wasn’t suspicious on its own. People made little lies of their past all the time. Covering up old embarrassments or failures. But he couldn’t think of a single thing her little lie would be good for. He mulled it over until he was sober.

Instead of banging his head on the desk, he stood up. It was time for that hot shower. Past time for it, he corrected. He would keep an eye out for any more suspicious behavior, but there was no reason to go overboard right away. He closed the displays with a decisive stab.