Entity: StarStation, #1

By Toshi Drake

Trapped on a spaceship, hunted by an unknown and deadly creature, will he survive the night with no help in sight?

Lieutenant Michael Collins's week just went to hell. The suspicious actions of his captain escalates as he orders Michael to investigate a dead ship's heart—the cephalopods that pilot the star drive system. The mission forces Michael from the safety of his ship and his lover, Commander Eizen Sartris, while straining the bond with his own ship's heart, Padua. Attacked by Siwu pirates, Michael finds refuge on a damaged alien vessel, where he waits for Eizen to rescue him. But in the dark cold wreckage, he discovers a thriving garden tended by a strange young boy on behalf of his enigmatic "Mama." Fear dominates Michael's thoughts as he struggles not to succumb to the darkness and terror of abandonment. To survive he must rely on his wits and hold fast to his faith that Eizen will find him before the pirates—or before the mysterious entity on board decides to destroy him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Toshi Drake
• Release date: Sep 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215308332

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Every day something within my home and ship, Padua, broke. The ship’s shell was something of a lemon, and I ached every time I had to venture into the ventilation shafts to see what had gone wrong. The casing was fairly old for a transport vessel and obviously reaching its last leg. I never understood why the Virgo Cluster Corporation allowed such a clunker to remain in service. The young crew was still stretching their own legs while having to make shoestring repairs. The situation wasn’t fair to anyone, and I guess, especially me and Padua, our ship’s heart—for whom the ship was named—who was so young. I wanted Padua to have a ship in top condition to learn and explore. I wanted the very best for both of us.

I hated fixing something every damn day.

Parts were scarce because of our location. Nothing nearby was suitable, and what planets we did find weren’t technological strongholds and always begged for our scraps. We transported plants and animals to these worlds, which were sanctuaries and safe havens. But when planets and ships fought for resources, this needed to be dealt with on a higher level. The Admiralty must have known, but I think they had too many irons in the fire and couldn’t be relied on to look at the bigger picture.

I loved Padua. She was an eight-foot-long cephalopod, who was small because of her age. Avidly curious, she was only four years old in human years. Her big black eyes black followed the humans everywhere. Padua was one of the best things that happened to me. The Maternai—the leaders of my people—choosing me to be Padua’s bonded was a great honour. Mechaniques were humans specially bred to connect on every level with the cephalopods, the ship’s hearts. The cephalopods, native to Mechania, were given the name ship’s hearts by the Terran humans who first splashed down on the planet. The name was really dumb, but it stuck when the Asyrans—another humanoid race from a nearby planet—and Terrans began to use them to help power and navigate their interstellar ships.

Padua and I had been introduced in an arranged meeting, and we just knew we had to be together. However, when we were selected to fly this craft, it wasn’t what I’d expected. We didn’t get a brand-new ship with that new smell. We were placed together in a refurbished one, where the captain wasn’t the best at making good choices with regards to Padua. In short, we had to make do, a lot. And I hated that with a passion.

Worst thing about all of this was Captain Mathias Knight knew about the ship’s situation, but he never wanted to take the time to fix Padua properly. He was constantly on the go, always a new destination, with no moment to pause. He had ideas about how we could change the galaxy’s perception of Terrans, but the Virgo Cluster Corporation wasn’t on board with his plans and cut the purse strings, forcing Knight to follow their policies and protocols.

When Padua had a break near some backwards cluster planet, Captain Knight assumed because I was bonded with Padua that I could talk my way into getting parts from these poor planets and revamp them for the ship. Sometimes I could do that. Other times it was completely impossible. You could only splice a fibre optics cable so many times until it became useless.

The Virgo Cluster Corporation was a military conglomerate that safeguarded the five local star systems, including Proxima Centauri and Barnard’s Star. The Sol system was mostly Terrans, as they’d colonized the outer planets’ moons once they used all the resources on Earth. Barnard’s Star system had some hospitable planets, like Asyra and Mechania, but most of the time they kept to themselves.

Right now, we were traveling on the outer edge of Kepler-42, an area with very little life. So I had to make do with what was available on board.

I shook off the frustration. It never did any good when I went crawling through the ventilation corridors. The amount of damage and crud that caked the walls was disheartening. Pipes grew cracks and leaked their contents everywhere, leaving detritus to continuously build up. Someone should have been taking care of the minor cracks, but the maintenance staff and I didn’t have the time or energy to focus on that.

I made a mental note to get someone on the job because the shafts should fit a grown man easily, but now I had to squirm and wiggle my way through layers of dirt and spooge. And I was considered a small man.

The current issue that had me in the corridors, thankfully, was an easy find and simple fix. The crystals were cracked and needed acetone to help seal the cracks. Acetone was part of my toolkit, as the majority of the ship ran on various crystals. With a quick buff on the surface, I saw the internal components light up, and the communication system was back online and running.

Coll, you done yet? a squawk from my personal comms echoed in my ear. Rolling my eyes, I debated ignoring this particular officer. He was usually a prig, and I hated dealing with him. He also thought because he was bridge crew he could boss me around despite us being the same rank.

Sorry, man. Comms still down, I answered before turning the earpiece completely off. If he had to ask, it was open season.

Lieutenant Collins, turn your earpiece back on and speak properly to Lieutenant Davis. Right, the captain had the capability of overriding all comm units.

I wrinkled my nose and tapped the earpiece twice, so I was available to everyone again. Aye, aye, Captain. Soon as I’m out of the vent shaft. Gotta be careful with the equipment, right? I answered, squirming through the narrow corridors, my elbows tucked in close.

Lieutenant, I don’t know why you insist on being so difficult. Can you not do the repairs without snide commentary? Just fix the problem and be done with it. Captain Knight sounded so tired and perturbed by my inability to not be sarcastic.

But he asked a stupid question. Of course the comms is working. He called me, didn’t he? I whined, rolling to my back and wincing as I felt something gooey soak through my uniform. My back was going to be covered with unmentionable stuff, and I prayed it wasn’t the waste-water pipes I was working under. I shuddered at the mere idea.

It’s a legitimate question, and you could have answered it with a straight yes or no answer. You didn’t need to be so scornful, Knight explained.

I sighed and nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. Davis was still a jerk.

I’d like to see you in my ready room once you’re out of the underbelly, Knight ordered.

Underbelly was the nickname for the area where I worked. The ventilation corridors, the transporter shafts, every place where it wasn’t visible to the public eye. Aye, aye.

Sliding out of the narrow opening feet-first was always a challenge. I might accidentally kick someone, and despite my attitude, I did like the majority of the crew on Padua. The person standing at the edge was one of my favourite people. His hand was warm on my ankle as he supported me out of the access point. I got chills whenever Commander Eizen Sartris touched me, however innocently. Eizen, what’s up?

I’ve asked you to address me by rank when we’re both on duty. It’s a formality but please? His nose wrinkled delicately, and I hummed.

Eizen always tried ways to get me to follow orders, to be more in line with other officers while on duty. But his broad shoulders and perfectly parted auburn hair always made me want to ruffle him up. His forest-green uniform had every crease sharp and crisp. He was everything I wasn’t as an officer. Some days it annoyed me to no end, and other days I couldn’t believe he’d chosen me.

When we first met at the Moon Ceremony on Asyra, I never thought the handsome commander would want to be with a scruffy man like me. He’d said he was entranced by my witty repartee, my ability to get into trouble even when the leaders of our people were in the same room. Three years later, and I was still shocked he’d managed to find a way to keep me. I think I tested him sometimes—accidentally or on purpose—to see what he would do. He had rescued me back then, and every day since he rescued me. I didn’t think I’d have a position on Padua if it wasn’t for his calming influence and steady personality.

Okay, Commander Sartris. I guess you’re my escort to the fearless leader? I asked, trailing behind him. I discreetly rubbed at the grease and grime on my hands and my pants. I didn’t even want to imagine what the captain would say. Did the captain want me to stand on the bridge as I was, with liquid dripping down my back, oozing who knows what on the pristine floor? Can we make a stop elsewhere first?

Eizen turned and looked at me. Probably would be a good idea. You… don’t smell good. Can you use the maintenance showers?

Is there a particular reason why you chose there? I stopped in the hallway and crossed my arms. The fucker, even if I loved him, was going to admit he didn’t want me in his… er, our quarters.

You know why, Mick, Eizen said softly. It’s not for the reason you’re thinking either. The maintenance showers are meant for this kind of cleaning. The personal showers are less robust.

You don’t want me to be seen on the bridge officers’ deck, I blurted out. Even after three years, I worried that Eizen might be ashamed of me, but I never voiced it out loud. I had always wondered if he wished I would do more, promote myself more, so I would be able to move up the command chain. But that was never me. I wanted to be with Padua and Eizen.

No, Michael. That’s not it. You’ll be faster and cleaner. Go shower, please. I’ll wait for you. Eizen gave me a shove toward the maintenance transporters before following. Why do you have to give the bridge crew a hard time? They’re only doing their jobs.

Davis is a dick, I said, sneering the lieutenant’s name. He thinks because he sits at the helm, he’s better than me. I paused in the vestibule and growled. Thinking about the man made me angry all over again.

Eizen nudged me along until we were outside the locker rooms. He looked me over carefully before placing a brief kiss on my forehead. He does not. Go get clean so we can get your meeting over with. Eizen leaned against the smooth wall and crossed his arms.

He looked so patient. I nearly sighed at the sight of him waiting for me. While I accepted that Eizen and I were together, sometimes doubt reared its ugly heads. But when he looked at me and smiled, I saw the mischief and cheekiness in his wicked grin, and I knew he was mine.

Davis might deserve some of it. I snorted and darted inside the large shower area. The room had benches and lockers with fresh clothes, and as one progressed, an open-concept area with showerheads and taps spaced an equidistance apart. Half walls separated each shower to give some semblance of privacy.

Undressing was a relief as the smell was beginning to stick to everything and make me nauseated. I tossed the offending uniform in a laundry chute, apologising briefly to whomever was stuck on laundry duty.

The waterless shower was painful as it blew microcleansers against my skin, abrading it but getting the plasma and ooze off. I think this was the reason I hated the maintenance showers. They were bare-bones and brutal. Officers’ quarters had running water with varied temperatures.

Once I was done getting my skin stripped off, I dressed in the appropriate uniform, then studied myself in the mirror and sighed. My silver hair was slicked back, but once it dried, it would stand up in an awful cowlick. I had resting bitch face with grey eyes that glared at everyone, even when I smiled. According to Eizen, though, I smiled brighter than the stars when I looked at him. Shaking off the inevitable wish of being taller and broader like Eizen, I straightened the jacket and went out to join the mostly dozing Eizen.

Hey, Eggs, done with my shower. We can go greet the boss together.

I thought I had you trained not to call me that. I hate it when you do. And please don’t call him ‘the boss.’ He is our captain and deserves that respect. Eizen kissed my forehead and nuzzled my nose. You look better now. Taste better too.

I call you Eggs because it’s an acronym of your name, Eizen Grant Godric Sartris. I laced our fingers together, briefly taking comfort in knowing he was my partner in all things right now. I knew when we stepped onto the bridge, he would become my commander and all affection would cease.

Why did I ever tell you my full name? When we entered the transporter lift that would take us to the bridge, both of our demeanours shifted. Our hands dropped from each other, and he became taller and less relaxed. His face grew blank, and the man I had fallen for disappeared.

Lieutenant, Commander, of course you arrive together. And so neat. I’m shocked. Captain Knight acknowledged us with a smirk as we exited the lift. Explain to me why my communications link isn’t working. I have been trying to contact Admiralty for hours and was barely able to make a connection.

Davis, at the helm, had turned his head and was watching the scene avidly. I sneered and turned back to the captain. There was a faulty crystal in the wiring system within the corridors, sir. I think I might have to go topside and have a look at the communication array, I explained, standing with my hands behind my back.

Didn’t you just fix the array at the planet depot last time we docked? He brushed a wayward strand of brown hair off his forehead. I never would admit this to Eizen because he thought something was off with Captain Knight, but I had found Knight attractive at one point. He had a million-dollar smile that made you want to do things you probably shouldn’t.

"I’m not sure what’s going on with the communications array, sir. Perhaps a spacewalk would be a good idea right now. I know we are near the outer edges of our range, and I would like to keep an eye on all of our tools. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to Padua and not be able to get help."

Trying to schedule a spacewalk right now is impossible, Lieutenant. We have cargo that needs to be transferred sooner rather than later. We can’t just pause our course trajectory because you have an idea of what could be wrong. I think you need to have another look inside the ship or speak with Padua about different possibilities. The captain turned to me and narrowed his eyes. Also, it would please me if you adjusted your attitude toward others of the same rank. I caught the tail of the exchange between you and Lieutenant Davis, and it wasn’t very professional.

Sir.

Do you understand? We want a team who works together. And your attitude suggests otherwise. If you don’t shape up, we may have to discuss options. The smile he gave me never reached his eyes.

I stood up straight and nodded. I didn’t want him to look at me like that again. Yes, sir. I will endeavour to adjust my attitude accordingly. Apologies to anyone who was offended. I was pretty sure Davis snickered. I saluted sharply and left the bridge. How dare he reprimand me in front of everyone? Was he trying to be demoralizing? If he was, it was certainly working.

I wanted Eizen to follow me so I could get cuddles and comfort, but I was pretty sure he was on the evening watch and I wouldn’t see him till late in the night. My office and the place where I’d been catching some sleep was close to Padua’s sleeping area, and I headed there instead of the quarters I shared with Eizen.

Clear acrylic pipes throughout the ship allowed Padua free rein. Our suite had a full-sized aquarium where she could visit us when the mood struck her. Her tanks were filled with a blend of specially created plasma that came from