Out of Time - Hummingbird: Book Three: Hummingbird, #3

By Jonathan Crocker

Ten years have passed since the Ethereal invasion. The human race is on the brink of extinction, the last remnants of humanity scattered and on the run. Hidden bases and outposts house the last million humans, while humanity's leaders struggle to decide whether to hide away forever or to fight back.  

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jonathan Crocker
• Release date: Oct 25, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386855972

Book preview

PART ONE

ONE

The Hummingbird shimmered in the distance, as the light from the nearby red giant glinted down over the small moon's surface. The immense star looming in the sky provided an imposing presence, being many times larger than a standard system's star. Its light glowed a deep shade of red, only slightly distilled by the moon's artificially-created atmosphere.

The landscape was fresh and green, plant life thriving all around. There were enough trees to give the landed ship a bit of cover as the crew walked the short distance to the nearest settlement.

How long do we have to stay on this dump?

The questioner was a short, stocky man with a thick beard and a filthy appearance. He had a pair of goggles strapped to his head, and a sour expression glued to his face.

Lighten up a little, Carbuckle, a tall woman walking beside him said.

Both of them were holding weapons – the woman had a large blaster rifle clutched in her hands, while the grimy-looking man had an old-fashioned gunpowder pistol in his right hand.

It's a beautiful day out, the woman continued. Can't you appreciate anything?

Right, Mara, Carbuckle shot back. We're going to go rob a bunch of women and children. The world's such a beautiful place.

You know they're not actually women, right?

Carbuckle shrugged, his short legs trying to keep pace with Mara's long stride. Both of them were lagging behind their leader. Walking out in front of them was a woman with long black hair, her face equal parts beautiful and grim. She wore a long, dark coat, open in the front, the tail flowing out behind her as she walked. Her sleek, black prosthetic leg was quite prominent, as her trousers only covered her one good leg.

No matter where she went, Diera Hawk cut an impressive figure.

How far? she asked, glancing back over her shoulder.

Half a click, Mara said. Give or take.

Let's pick up the pace. I want to be back in the air before sundown.

Any particular plan this time? Or just the usual?

Kill anyone with a weapon. We'll hit the town hall quick. Carbuckle, you go inside, gather what you can. Mara and I will hold them off from the square.

They'd already analyzed a map of the small town from their scans. They knew which buildings were likely to house what they were looking for, and which directions trouble might come from. In an ideal scenario, they'd have more fighters. But Diera liked to keep her crew small. She hadn't replaced a single person that had left over the years – not Ronan, and not Deacon.

So they made do on these missions with their small assault team through a combination of better planning and better skill – and more than a little luck. Most small towns didn't have military-trained guards. It was usually just common citizens or militia who had weapons, and they weren't too hard to get the better of.

Diera kept up her brisk pace, Carbuckle and Mara following behind. Entering the town was always an interesting prospect. Sometimes the townsfolk screamed and ran away. Sometimes they grew angry and aggressive. Often they just stood there, staring. Diera seemed to enjoy all responses equally – though she especially liked when they got aggressive. Shooting Ethereals was one of her favourite things to do.

The trio wandered right up to the edge of town, never breaking stride. A number of civilians were within sight, going about their daily affairs. The crystalline structures that made up the town were much smaller and simpler than their towering brethren in the major cities, none higher than two or three storeys. But they still provided a strange atmosphere of vibrant colours, appearing so different from human settlements.

I hate these Ethereal planets, Carbuckle spat.

What don't you hate? Mara asked.

Their voices attracted attention – speaking a language that was foreign to the blue-skinned folk milling about the area. Even as heads turned, Diera still strode confidently up the main street, making straight for the town's centre – a single-storey violet building that sat in front of the town square and a large fountain. There were still some features reminiscent of human design, even in another universe.

As they walked, an Ethereal with feminine qualities approached, her face stern, her words angry. She was pointing a finger at them, though she didn't appear to be armed. Diera's companions were unsure how she would react, given they had no way to actually communicate with the locals – at least not with words.

Diera responded by drawing a blaster pistol from her hip and pointing it straight at the alien's face. The Ethereal took a step back, the aggressive tone fading away. More eyes were focused on Diera, who had finally stopped walking. Mara and Carbuckle exchanged looks as the barrel of Diera's pistol sat centimetres from the Ethereal's face.

She's not armed, Mara reminded her captain.

Maybe not, Diera said. But she's pissing me off.

Without warning, Diera pulled the trigger. Mara tensed as an energy bolt erupted from the end of the blaster – only to sigh a moment later when it fired wide of the Ethereal's head. Diera holstered her weapon and continued walking, her point made.

So much for playing nice, Mara noted to Carbuckle, as they again fell in step behind their leader.

The blaster shot had scorched the side of a building, and drawn a lot more attention to the group's presence. Ethereals were appearing from within buildings and connecting streets. By the time Diera reached the little square and fountain in the centre of town, there were several dozen aliens surrounding the area. Not many of them had weapons, but the fact that any did was an ominous sign.

Be quick about it, Mara said, as Carbuckle made his way up a few steps and into the town hall.

Carbuckle knew the drill. He didn't want to linger any more than Mara did. While Diera was often itching for a fight, Mara and Carbuckle were a little more concerned with their own safety.

This isn't looking good, Mara commented, as the Ethereals kept appearing, more and more of them approaching the square.

We've held off bigger crowds than this, Diera responded, though she had drawn both of her pistols.

I suppose. But I'd rather not test our luck.

A scuffle behind them had Mara looking back to see three Ethereals rushing out of the town hall – Carbuckle had sent them running. One look at the pair of human women had them scurrying off, disappearing into the growing crowd. Mara was tapping her finger against her rifle as she watched the aliens. They were talking to each other, and she had no idea what they were saying. Were they going to attack? Diera had fired the first shot. It would be reasonable for them to retaliate. Or were they just frightened? Maybe even curious?

The minutes seemed to drag out as they stood there, the big red sun glowering down at them. Everywhere she looked, Mara was certain that angry glares were aimed her way. And why wouldn't they be? Her crew was uninvited at best, invaders at worst. Wouldn't any upstanding citizens – of any civilization – be in the right to fight them off? But this was all part of the mission. The information they were seeking was invaluable to the resistance effort. She just wished Carbuckle would hurry up, before things got out of hand.

You done in there? Mara asked, into her communicator, her eyes never leaving the gathered crowd.

Just a minute, came the gruff response. Can't get into the mainframe.

Don't tell me we have to send the captain in to do your job.

I said just a minute.

There were at least a hundred blue-skinned aliens filling the square. Mara and Diera both had their weapons drawn, standing on the steps that led up to the town hall. Before Mara even realized what was happening, Diera discharged one of her pistols. A green bolt of energy drew the gaze of everyone present, before slamming into the chest of one of the Ethereals. Just as the bolt hit him, his body jarred, his own blaster shot fired high and wide of where the two humans were standing.

Sarah, you there? Mara asked, into her communicator.

I'm here, a voice replied.

We're going to need some backup.

On my way.

There was an odd silence as a number of Ethereals had backed away from their fallen companion. Diera had just shot one of their own – though he had been about to fire himself. It was hard to tell how many of them were carrying weapons. Angry voices yelled out from the crowd, breaking the silence. Mara raised her rifle, taking aim at some of the angrier faces. She didn't fire – she didn't want to be the one to start a skirmish. But she was ready if one broke out.

Mara nearly jumped at the sound of another scuffle behind her, but it was only Carbuckle, emerging from within the building. He stopped as he reached the two women, taking in the scene. The tension was quite palpable.

Problem? he grunted.

Let's get moving, Mara suggested. Nice and slow.

She took one step down and then another, planting her right boot onto the street, eyes still scanning the crowd. Carbuckle was right behind her, having drawn one of his own pistols. Diera didn't move, though. She seemed to have locked eyes with another Ethereal – one of the few aliens carrying a weapon.

Mara knew what would come next.

Let's just get out of here, she urged.

Diera fired anyway. And this time, there was no eerie silence that followed. This time, as soon as the Ethereal body hit the ground, the crowd rushed forward. Yells and screams filled their ears. Diera continued firing both of her pistols in succession. Loud blasts were heard as Carbuckle discharged his gunpowder-based firearms. And Mara took a deep breath before finally unloading her blaster at the two Ethereals closest to her.

But even with all their firepower, they'd be overwhelmed by such a crowd. It was only a matter of time.

Mara grunted and fell to one knee as a blaster shot from somewhere hit her left leg. Carbuckle moved in to cover for her, bullets flying from his weapons, dropping a pair of Ethereals. But he, too, was dropped as several aliens reached him at the same time, slugging him and kicking him.

Just as things appeared grim, with only Diera holding her ground – long coat waving in the breeze behind her as she fired both weapons in rapid succession – a rush of air caused a number of Ethereals to stagger. Up above, the Hummingbird had appeared in the sky, only about five metres off the ground. The cannons swivelled around, taking aim, and powerful blasters issued forth, mowing civilians down in their tracks. The sheer power of the ship's weapons had most of the aliens backing away, some turning to flee.

Diera was still shooting, trying to pick off the ones that the Hummingbird hadn't scared off.

Good timing, Mara groaned, as Carbuckle tried to help her up.

The ship hovered a bit lower, the cargo bay ramp descending, allowing them to clamber on board without the ship actually touching down. They wanted to make a quick getaway. As Mara and Carbuckle managed to haul their battered bodies onto the ship, Diera casually hopped up, her long legs easily making the short jump. She fired a few parting shots as the ramp began to close behind her.

Everyone on board? Sarah asked, her voice echoing through the ship's communication system.

We're good, Diera replied. Let's get out of here.

Mara was lying on her back, trying to catch her breath, as Carbuckle was inspecting her wound.

Just a burn, he growled. You'll be fine.

Yeah, I know, she said, nodding. So what'd you find in there?

He didn't say anything at first, instead turning his gaze Diera's way.

I think I found it, he said. What we've been looking for.

TWO

Bethany Hartnett sat in the pilot's seat of the small freighter, her fingers gently teasing the ship's controls, delicately maneuvering it this way or that. Her long, dark hair was strewn about the seat's headrest, the soft melodies of piano keys filling her ears as her chosen music played out over the speakers on the bridge. She found the serene sound to be the perfect complement to the vast nothingness of space that she was constantly viewing through the ship's front window.

Barely nineteen years old, she was part of a three-person smuggling crew. They'd started out ferrying supplies between human outposts. From what she'd heard, that had once been a fairly routine task. But not anymore. With the Ethereal empire in control of the former human territory, the last vestiges of humanity were scattered and hiding in remote locations. Smuggling meant keeping off of Ethereal scanners, and locating places that weren't easy to find – hiding from the Ethereals was difficult work, and it made Bethany's job harder as a result.

Do you really have to play this music all the time?

A head poked through the doorway, that of a boy a few years younger than Bethany herself. He had a bit of a babyface and  a slight frame that made him appear even younger.

Come on, little brother, Bethany teased, glancing back at him. We had a deal, remember? Whoever's flying gets to pick the music.

Yeah, what a deal, he groaned. You're always the one flying. And when we're at warp, you don't even need to do anything! The ship flies itself.

Maybe. But as long as I'm sitting in this seat, it's my call. Go back to your bunk if you don't like it.

I can still hear it in my room. Why do you think I came up here?

How about something a little livelier then?

Bethany reached down and hit a button on the console, and the slow, melodic music faded away, replaced by a much faster-paced style of piano. The notes were struck with a certain levity, but at a dizzying pace. Bethany could picture a skilled pianist's hands rushing up and down the keys with frivolous precision. It was a light, happy sound that filled her with a sense of comfort and purpose.

Come on, the boy said. This is just as bad.

Listen here, Thomas, Bethany shot back. You don't get to insult Chopin on my ship. You'll be thanking me the next time we're in a scuffle. The music helps keep me sharp.

A scuffle? When have we ever been in a scuffle? We're smugglers. We avoid scuffles.

He's got a point, a third voice noted.

A tall, dark-skinned woman walked onto the bridge and dropped herself into the co-pilot's seat. She was an attractive woman, with sharp, angular features. One side of her head was shaved close, while longer hair was parted over to the other side, creating an exotic look. It was a style that her girlfriend loved.

Wow, you're looking good today, Lenora, Bethany said, leaning over to give her lover a quick peck on the lips.

You're looking pretty good yourself, beautiful.

Now I have to deal with this, too? Thomas moaned. How did I end up here? What did I do to deserve this?

We can leave you at the next stop if you want, Bethany shot back.

The next stop is in Ethereal space, you can't leave me there.

You mean I shouldn't leave you there. But that doesn't mean I can't.

Give him a break, Bethany, Lenora said. It's always the same thing with you two. You'd think after all this time flying together you'd be used to one another's quirks by now. I think you just like pestering each other.

Maybe.

And speaking of Ethereal space, when were you planning on crossing over?

I wish you wouldn't bring that up, Bethany said. I hate going across. The other side freaks me out.

Maybe you should have thought about that before you teamed up with Diera Hawk.

Yeah, maybe.

I can't wait to see Diera again, Thomas said, sighing. She's so pretty.

Are you still there? Bethany asked, glancing back.

She's over twice your age, Thomas, Lenora added. I'm sure there are some teenage girls on the station. Stick with me, I'll be your wingman.

Don't encourage him. Besides, I thought you had a crush on the general, Thomas?

Oh, right! the boy said. They're both so pretty. I wouldn't even know how to choose.

Don't worry about it, Bethany teased. Neither of them would have you, so you'll never need to choose.

Aw, be nice to the kid, Beth, Lenora said. If we can find him a proper girlfriend, then he wouldn't have to be the third wheel anymore.

Yeah, yeah. Anyway, this'll be your first time meeting Diera, won't it? That should be interesting.

It will, yeah. I've heard a lot about her. Tons of old stories.

Well I just hope she doesn't try to steal you away from me.

Don't worry about that, beautiful, Lenora said, leaning over for another kiss. I'm not going anywhere.

Do you guys have to do that all the time? Thomas asked, averting his eyes.

See, if you helped him out instead of teasing him all the time, he'd be making out with a girl in his quarters right now. And we'd have a lot more privacy.

We'd have to find a girl willing to take him, Bethany said.

Thomas scoffed and then started back down the hallway towards his bunk. The ship wasn't large, but it was a comfortable size for three people. There were only two crew cabins, but Bethany and Lenora lived together, so two was enough. For a freighter, there wasn't a huge amount of cargo space, as they had modified part of the cargo bay into a more comfortable living area, with something of a lounge attached to a larger galley. Bethany and Thomas often spent weeks, if not months, between stops so they tried to make life as comfortable as possible. Lenora had only been on board for a few months, and Thomas was already feeling a bit cramped.

Do you think he likes me? Lenora asked, after the boy was out of earshot.

Of course he likes you, Bethany said. You heard him talking about Diera and the general. He likes pretty girls.

Oh, so you think I'm pretty then?

Maybe I do.

Seriously, though, sometimes I feel like I'm intruding. I know you two have a close bond.

You tease him a lot less than I do, and I've seen the way you two get along together. Trust me, he likes you just fine. It's nice, even for him, having another face around here. This life can get pretty dull.

It feels strange to say that, doesn't it? A life lived constantly on the run, that can be snatched away at any moment if we make the slightest mistake – that shouldn't be boring at all.

Maybe not. But things have been getting easier lately. It feels almost like the Ethereals have eased off a bit the last year or two. Like they've gotten comfortable. They don't view us as a threat anymore.

Funny, given how the Birds of Prey have been raiding Ethereal settlements lately, collecting data.

The Birds of Prey, Bethany echoed, chuckling a little. I always get a kick out of that title. Is a hummingbird a bird of prey? And our ship is called the Sparrow. Not exactly striking fear.

I guess she just has a good sense of humour. Or maybe the meaning is just that we're more than what we seem – innocent and fragile and harmless at first glance. But we can do a lot of damage if given the chance.

As Bethany glanced down at the console, she realized that they had almost reached their destination. Diera Hawk had called an emergency gathering. It was quite unusual. Most of the group's communications were handled over secure networks, rarely ever meeting in person. But three days ago they'd received word that a meeting had been called.

Here we are, Bethany said. I hope that damn machine is still working.

You really don't like crossing over, do you? Lenora asked.

Are you kidding? Of course not. What if that phasing device malfunctions and sends us to the wrong place?

You could say the same thing about your warp drive – it could just as easily malfunction and destroy this ship every time you engage it.

Stop thinking so rationally. I'm allowed to have my fears, aren't I?

Lenora smiled, and didn't say anything more.

Here we go, Bethany said, as she dropped the ship out of warp.

They were sitting a few hundred thousand kilometres away from a small planet. It was a remote system, and the planet was jagged and rocky. It certainly wasn't habitable. Far in the distance sat a pulsar, the centre of this particular system. It didn't emit as much light as most stars, and the unique properties of the collapsed star made the system an ideal location for clandestine meetings. It certainly wasn't somewhere the Ethereals would be likely to look for them.

Bethany took a deep breath and then pressed a button on the console. Nothing changed – at least nothing they could visually observe. But the readings on the console clearly indicated that they had phased into the Ethereal universe. Everything looked the same. The pulsar was still off in the distance. The rocky planet was still in the same spot, slowly gliding through space. The stars in the backdrop all looked identical.

Well, this is it, Bethany said. You'd best go get ready. I know how you like to make an impression.

Good idea, Lenora said, standing up.

She leaned over and gave Bethany one final kiss, then strode off the bridge, heading back for her quarters. The piano music was still playing, the current track slow and wistful. It matched how Bethany felt at that moment, as she guided the Sparrow towards its destination.

Bird's Nest, come in, she stated over the ship's communicator. This is the Sparrow.

Greetings Sparrow, a voice replied. Glad you could make it. Match the planet's orbit and we'll send you the landing coordinates.

Roger that.

She flicked the communicator off, and started the Sparrow in closer. It would be nice to get off ship and stretch her legs a bit. She'd never been to this particular outpost before. But given how remote it was – and that it was on the Ethereal side – she doubted there was much to it. Probably just a few basic supply shops, set up temporarily, and – if she was lucky – somewhere to get a real drink.

I really need a drink, she muttered to herself.

THREE

Diera Hawk was sitting at a table in a large room. As was common in such conference rooms, there was a holographic three-dimensional blue map hovering over the centre of the table. The room was in an underground bunker, a place that the resistance had taken claim of almost ten years before, when they'd first started recon missions into Ethereal space. It wasn't a place that Diera had visited many times, but she was familiar enough with it. It was one of six such sites that the humans had set up on the Ethereal side. So far none of them had been breached.

Seated around the table with her were the eight other captains of the Birds of Prey – her little recon group. Years ago, Diera had reluctantly joined forces with what was left of the Republic. She'd never seen eye to eye with the Republic, but the human race had been devastated to the point that they were forced to work together. And the people who were leading the resistance gave Diera quite a bit of discretion to run her own show. As long as she shared her intel, and played along with the long-term goals, she could more or less do as she pleased.

That was how she had recruited some of the finest young smugglers into her ranks. Each of them brought something unique to the table, and each of them was loyal. Diera didn't take people into her squadron unless she felt she could trust them. And given that she was a woman with serious trust issues, that was saying something.

Most of the individuals sitting around the table were men, of varying ages and builds. They were people Diera had dealt with over years in the smuggling business, or their direct descendants. The lone exception was a young woman, in her late teens, who captained a small vessel with her brother – though Diera had heard that she'd recently taken on a third crew member.

Bethany, Diera said, turning the conversation in the direction of the young woman. What do you make of the situation?

Bethany looked a little surprised that she was being called on. She rarely volunteered opinions in group settings like this, preferring to bring things up to Diera in private.

It seems promising, the young captain replied. So that's what all the recent raids were for? Gathering star charts?

That was one of the motivations, yes, Diera said. Information in general is always helpful. Anything we can glean about the Ethereal plans or movements is a plus. But yes, the resistance had asked that we focus our efforts on mapping the Ethereal core planets.

Are we planning to take the fight to them?

I'm not sure what the resistance's ultimate plan is. But understanding how the enemy consolidates their power is certainly to our advantage.

I'm surprised we didn't have this information before. I mean we've had contact with the Ethereal rebellion. Didn't we already know this stuff?

Our contact with the Ethereal rebellion has been fragmented since... Since my father died. We have no records or data from that era, and we've never been able to re-establish contact with Melville, the individual who led the rebellion in my father's place. It's possible that my father was aware of these developments, but that was never passed on beyond him.

Bethany was nodding, as were several of the other captains around the table. Despite their little incursions into Ethereal space, they'd never managed to link up efforts with whatever remained of the Ethereal rebellion. Part of the problem was that they didn't even know how much of a rebellion was left. It had been more than fifteen years since the events surrounding Joseph Hawk's death. And while there were still rumours and scattered reports of resistance to the Ethereal government, they hadn't been able to locate any organized rebellion.

So, as you can all see here, Diera continued, addressing the table once more. We have some pretty detailed information about the layout of the entire Ethereal civilization. More importantly, we're getting closer to determining just where their central power base is, and where the most devastating places to strike might be.

It's so much bigger, Bethany noted. Than our civilization, I mean.

Yes, it stretches quite a ways. It's almost five times the size of the human civilization prior to the invasion.

Diera pressed a button, allowing the map hovering over the table to overlay the former human territory in red. The size difference was quite noticeable, with the blue portion completely enveloping the red.

So for now, our mission remains mostly the same, Diera said. Each of you are going to take a sector and scout it out. Remember, the deeper we go into Ethereal territory, the more dangerous things get. Make sure your stealth tech is in good working order. And don't be afraid to use the phasing devices to escape if things go bad. Gathering this intel is important, but I'd prefer it if nobody died along the way.

It seemed like the meeting was coming to a close. The missions would be distributed to each captain, and they'd likely be on the move again soon. Just as Bethany was starting to get out of her chair, Diera called their attention again.

Some of you might be wondering why I brought you all here, she said. Why I didn't just transmit new orders. We've spent the last few years picking at the corners of the Ethereal worlds. Not unlike they did to us, except we lack the power to destroy their planets. But after today, we'll be going deep inside their territory. This might be the last time we're all together. I thought it would be a good idea to have one last celebration – just in case. So first thing tomorrow, you'll scatter to the winds. But tonight, the drinks are on me.

There was a brief cheer, as the captains all stood and clapped. Diera took a few moments to speak with each of them in turn, before the group dispersed out into the larger section of the base. Bethany was the only one left, as Diera made a point of approaching her last.

I heard you took on a new crew member, Diera commented, as sounds from the adjacent room began to waft in.

I did, Bethany replied, her head turning to the doorway.

Striding into the room, looking resplendent in a garment that looked like a cross between a formal Japanese yukata and an evening cocktail gown, was a tall, slender black woman. The dress was a deep violet colour, with a long slit up one side, showing off the woman's toned leg. As she got closer, it became apparent that there was something strapped to her hip – a long blade tucked away in a decorative sheath.

Trust me, Bethany continued. You'll like her.

Looks like she can handle herself, Diera commented. Is that a sword?

A katana, Lenora clarified. The weapon of a samurai.

Diera narrowed her eyes as she drank in the sight of the exotic woman. There was something about her.

This is Lenora, Bethany said. Lenora Kane.

The elegant woman gave a slight bow, even as Diera laughed.

I remember you, she declared. Not that we've ever met. But Ronan used to talk about you. Now that brings back memories. It's been many years since I heard the name Ronan Kane.

He was my uncle, Lenora said. And he spoke of you often, too.

Did he teach you how to handle that blade?

Not as well as he could. He taught me the basics, and I picked up the rest on my own. I was quite young back then.

So tell me... is he...?

Nobody knows for certain, Lenora said, shrugging. As far as I know, Uncle Ronan was still living at New Okinawa when the Ethereals took the planet. If he's still alive, no one's heard from him in nearly ten years.

He would have been pretty old by then, I guess. He lived a good life. Though I'm sure he gave them a hell of a fight before the end.

Lenora nodded, offering a sweet smile. Bethany placed her hand on the woman's back, rubbing it gently. Diera noted the movements, and how the two women seemed to inch slightly closer together. It was a good sign. This was a hard life, and finding someone helped. For a second, Diera's thoughts drifted far away, reminiscing about someone she once knew.

So where are you going? Bethany asked, drawing Diera's attention back to the moment. You made it sound like you're not coming with us.

You have strong intuition, Diera said, nodding. No, I won't be heading deeper into Ethereal territory – at least not yet. The information we've gathered is best delivered in person. I have a date with the general. After that, I'm sure I'll find my place.

Oh, you're heading back to the Redemption? I should send Thomas with you.

Where is that cute little brother of yours, anyway?

Uh oh, watch out, Lenora said. From what I've heard, the infamous captain of the Hummingbird likes guys a bit younger than herself.

Ronan always did have a big mouth, Diera said. For a man who couldn't speak. What's more important is where the three of you will be going.

I thought you'd be sending out the missions in the morning, Bethany noted.

For everyone else, yes. But you have the most dangerous mission of all. And the most important. I didn't want to make a big deal of it at the table, but I'm sure you noted something peculiar about the overlap of the star maps.

I did.

What was it? Lenora asked.

Bethany can fill you in later, Diera said. For now, just know that you'll be heading the deepest into Ethereal territory. We need to confirm this information, and long-range scans won't do. I need you to get to that planet and see it with your own eyes. If we've really located the Ethereal homeworld, then it changes everything.

And that's why you need to go back to see the general, Bethany reasoned. You don't want to be left out of the conversation of what to do next.

Smart girl. That's why I picked you for this job. Like I said, you have good instincts. And you're the only ship in my little squadron that's never actually had a fight yet. Some people might consider that a drawback – that you have no experience when things go bad. But this is a stealth mission, and I want the crew on it that's never been caught before.

Works for me. Anything you need.

Keep your heads down out there. And tell the kid I'll give him a big kiss if he makes it back in one piece. Now you two get out there and have a good time. Might be the last one you get to enjoy for a while.

FOUR

The kitchen counter, made of wood from the finest available birch, gave a bright atmosphere to a room that lacked any natural light. The cabinetry was a similar light tone, and several hanging lights mimicked the effect of real sunlight. There were even a number of green, leafy plants growing up above the cabinets, providing a splash of colour.

It wasn't an overly large space, but the counter was wide, which was just what he liked. Bellamy handled the knife with precision, slicing the long green cucumber into near perfectly even sections. There was a pot of water boiling on the gas-fired stove behind him, and something was already cooking in the oven. He smiled as he drank in his surroundings, the stubble on his face bending into a tight grin.

As he finished chopping and slicing, he slid the ingredients into a big mixing bowl, and began tossing it around. He glanced around, looking for something. He slid open a drawer with his free hand. Then he opened one of the cupboards.

Hmmmm, he mused. Where are you hiding?

Daddy?

Bellamy turned, his gaze finding the young boy seated at the kitchen table, those big blue eyes staring across the counter at him. The boy was in the middle of sketching on his tablet, a favourite hobby for the six year-old. The boy had bright blonde hair, hanging down almost to his shoulders. Bellamy wasn't a fan himself, but the boy seemed to love his long hair – and so did his mother.

What are you looking for? the boy asked.

Just some spices for dinner, Bellamy said, still tossing the salad. He finally placed the bowl down on the counter and started looking through the cupboards in earnest.

After poking around in a few cabinets, Bellamy sighed, shaking his head. He walked over to a doorway that led farther into the domicile, the boy following him with his eyes.

Lucy? Bellamy called out.

A woman appeared in the doorway beside her husband a moment later. She had the same sparkling blue eyes as the little boy, and the same lustrous blonde hair, though hers was considerably longer. She was wearing casual trousers and a simple t-shirt, but the plain clothes did little to diminish her radiance in the eyes of the man standing beside her.

What is it? she asked, as she leaned forward and kissed Bellamy on the cheek. You need to shave.

Where'd my spice rack go? he asked, moving back towards the kitchen counter. Don't tell me you gave them away again.

Lucy raised her eyebrows and then glanced down at the boy, still sitting at the table.

Uh oh, she said. Daddy's mad at me.

The boy laughed.

You're killing me, Lucy, Bellamy said. You know how hard it is to come by those spices. And how much they cost me.

Maybe you should be a little more generous then, she replied. We have a responsibility to take care of the people who live here.

Yeah, we take care of them when we're on duty. But why do you have to go giving my personal things away?

You're just upset that you can't create the perfect dish every single night. Don't worry, your cooking is still the best around. Isn't it, Jason?

Yeah! the boy agreed.

Bellamy frowned, but it only caused Lucy to smirk at him.

If you need more spices, then why don't you just ask Sloan to deliver more? Lucy asked, walking across the kitchen and grabbing a small tomato out of the salad bowl.

Oh come on, Bellamy groaned, trying to shoo her away. And you know as well as I do that getting in touch with Sloan isn't exactly easy. Who knows when he'll be back here? It could be months before we see him again.

Lucy dodged Bellamy's attempts to divert her from the food, snatching up a slice of cucumber.

You should keep in better contact with your friends, she stated.

I'll get right on that, he said. Now, since we don't have any spices, I'll have to improvise. Maybe some nuts would do. And carrots. Yeah, that should work. Lucy, do you mind heading over to hydroponics and grabbing a few things for me? I'm a little out of stock.

Of course you are. What do you think, Jason? Should we take a little walk to help daddy out?

The boy was already scrambling over, eagerly accepting Lucy's offered hand. She led the boy through the living room, which was a little utilitarian in terms of furnishings, but was brightly painted and had more plants to provide a homey feel. Again, there was no natural light, given the lack of windows.

Lucy opened the front door of their home, leading not outside, but rather into a long, wide corridor with grey walls and bright overhead lighting. Every few steps was a similar doorway, and every now and then people would emerge or pass by, often saluting as they did.

General Lockwood, one man greeted as he passed by, and Jason turned to watch him go.

Who was that, mommy? the boy asked.

That was Jeremy, she replied. He's one of the engineers that helps keep this place running. Without people like him, you wouldn't have such a nice home.

Hand in hand, the pair continued down the hallway, eventually reaching a large circular room that served as something of a hub for the station. There were always a large number of people congregating in the area, and a large number of hallways that led away in different directions.

Do you remember which way we're going? Lucy asked, pausing to allow Jason a chance to look around. Every hallway leads to a different section of the station, right? Do you remember what they all are?

Command is that way, the boy said, pointing to one corridor. Engineering is that way. Recreation is over there. School is down that hall. And... ummm...

Only two left.

His answers were based more on what he remembered, rather than official titles. The school for children was held in the research and development wing of the station, for example. And recreation was more of a catch-all for the mess hall, merchants, the lone bar that the station housed, and a few recreational activities. There was also the corridor they'd just come from, which led to crew quarters – all 592 individuals who lived on the station were housed in that wing, in addition to a large number of spare bunks for people stopping by.

Where are we going right now? Lucy asked, bending down closer to the boy's head.

Hydroponics! he exclaimed, as though just remembering why they had set out at all. That way.

And last? Come on now, isn't it your favourite?

Oh! The hangar bay. Mommy, can we visit the hangar bay? I want to see the ships.

Not right now, sweetie. Maybe later, after dinner. But we have to get daddy's ingredients, remember?

The boy cast a forlorn look in the direction of the tunnel that led to the hangar bay, but he didn't protest as Lucy led him in a different direction. She received a few more salutes and greetings as they crossed the hub of activity, eventually entering another wide corridor. Instead of the grey walls, though, this hallway was lined with glass, allowing a splendid view into the actual hydroponics labs, which were full of life.

Everywhere one looked, green was the predominant colour. Plants were growing out of glass containers that had a very thin layer of dirt, mixed with a chemical solution. The ceilings were covered with bright white lights that acted as sunlight. Between the carefully-calibrated lighting, and the chemicals feeding the roots, the citizens of the station were able to grow just about any plant that they'd be able to on a planet's surface. The only limitation was the amount of available space. The station was only so big, after all.

Here we go, Lucy said, as she pulled open one of the glass doors, letting Jason enter the room ahead of her.

There were a