For a ship traversing space at the rate of half a light year each day, there were moments where Jahrae felt the speed frustratingly slow.
Still 83 days away from their destination, time failed to move fast enough for Jahrae. Llhaesa was alive, and she was in distress. Accepting time as an interloper through 83 days seemed ridiculous, and left Jahrae wishing she could will away the properties of the universe that served to create this obstacle.
Well knowing this was wishful thinking on her part, Jahrae went about her daily work with vigour and purpose, her focus drawing her away from the slippery slope of frustration.
On the morning after her Aailhra experience with llhaesa, Jahrae spryly walked into the team room, ready to work. Saehressa, Chsensera, and Jesnsera were already absorbed in their work, looking to uncover yet more clues. Jahrae logged onto the interface, refraining from sharing her experiences until the entire team was in the room.
Chsen and Jesn – nicknames in tandem whose rhyme never failed to bring a smile to Jahrae’s face, almost as if there names were the title of some video cartoon – had proven their mettle with several discoveries, seemingly finding one useful nugget of information on a daily basis.
Fifteen minutes after her arrival, the entire team was at their workstations, readying for their workday. Jahrae got up from her chair, walked around to the front of her desk, and with the desk behind her, sat down on its front edge. “Good morning, team! I wish to share an interesting experience from overnight.
Prior to bed, as per usual, I engaged in Aailhra. I am knew to this practise, unlike Saehressa, and so my mind is still learning how to send healing energy, still learning to open up its receptivity to healing energy, still learning to focus.
I projected distant healing toward llhaesa, and what for me was a startling sensation, distant healing flowed back toward me, drawing my complete attention. This healing flowed from llhaesa, and while almost indescribable, I endeavour to try to explain.
At essentially the same time, healing energy flowed from each of us to the other. I cannot explain what occurred, perhaps Saehressa can. Somehow, we touched each other, touched our respective souls. From this, I know genetic masking no longer affects llhaesa – she is as she was – but she is in distress, from yet another government that finds her a threat.
I will conclude by saying our connection was brief and very deep – there is no love lost through time or distance; in fact, our love is likely stronger. Llhaesa takes comfort in our coming arrival, though we are weeks away – knowing we are coming is sufficient to see her through her travails.
There is more. Time has not mellowed llhaesa or her view of injustice. Once freed, she will turn to activism, because she senses a need there, and she senses an ability to change. Would we expect anything less from her?
I mention this because… upon our arrival, I contemplate returning this ship to Arrhazon after we see to a few things first.
Chsen and Jesn, you have uncovered how the Jredvarha team programmed the minds of 129 different people, programmed them to believe they knew llhaesa in her masked identity, giving this faux person planted in their midst an immediate place in society. We will offer to assist them in removing these faux memories.
I will apologise for the invasive conduct to their government on behalf of ours. With our presence now known, I will gauge the potential to establish relations between Arrhazon and their world. Along with these things, I will assist llhaesa, will stand with her, because I know she wishes to see change on that world – and that might get a bit dicey in the doing.
Each of you must decide if you will remain or return to Arrhazon. Those of us who stay, we will be on our own until a ship, possibly this one, returns six months later.
Mum, please call up our research of this planet, specifically their language and what we have for information on the most prominent languages. There is one in particular – English – that came through in my connection with llhaesa – I just searched it out, and found basic references to it, but I will need a comprehensive programme. I must study this over the next several weeks, and come to an ability to understand and converse in this language.” Jahrae paused here, looking to see if others harboured questions.
“Jahrae,” Saehressa spoke, “I wish to stay with you and llhaesa. My family will be here, and with family is where I wish to be. This time… I will not quietly watch my daughters pursue change; I will stand right with both of you, fully engaged.
M’traliel spoke next, after first whispering to Khahishra. “Llhaesa is dear to us; so much of our lives wove together. She was our informal leader – we all recognised her as such. We thought her lost, with her now found, we will not walk away.”
Jahrae spoke up, knowing where the team is going. “Mum – Hrilleae – you must return to Arrhazon; dad is there, and you need to be with him. You must also fill in Chief of Government Gl’nsiel on our activities. Jesnsera, you are of the Service, and you must see to your commitment, duties, and career. You will return soon enough. Elsrensia and Chsen, I leave to you your choice.”
Chsen rendered her choice immediately. “My choice is to remain, Jahrae. I joined with you to find llhaesa; she filled my dreams through childhood, yearning for that wonderful being that patiently rendered piano lessons.
I have a secret of my own. When llhaesa was lost, I could not bear to be near a piano – I underwent counselling for this, and the therapist felt the best course was to back away. I play again, for the first time in 12 years.”
“Chsen, that is wonderful! Might you play for us this evening?” Elsrensia asked, already looking forward to the performance. “Jahrae, I too shall remain with the team. I cannot pass up the chance to study their medicine; in addition, I suspect llhaesa and others will require medical services not available on this world, based on my initial review of information on the state of their health system.
There is another concern, Jahrae – one you have not faced on Arrhazon. Arrkarhara is not a safe world for same sex couples – discrimination is rampant. Some there will view you and llhaesa, as well as Khahishra and M’traliel, as rather exotic creatures, decried as decrepit and immoral.”
“I too fall into the decrepit and immoral quagmire, Elsrensia.” Chsen surprisingly added, the others turning toward her. Chsen looked over at Jesn and winked, the two falling into laughter at the sudden attention focused their way.
Jahrae walked over to where Chsen and Jesn sat, her arms folded. “If I read between the giggles and unspoken words emanating from you two, I would guess we have a coupling in the nascent stage here, team. What do we make of this pairing?”
“I think you just lost your roommate, Jahrae,” Hrilleae offered as observation.
“I suspect we will endure love song after love song sung one to the other tonight.” Khahishra offered. As each of the team good-naturedly teased the now revealed couple, Jesn and Chsen grew red of face together.
“Hmmm…” Jahrae mused, the index finger of her left hand rising to make a point. “Perhaps the giggling that came to me in dream two nights ago might not have been dream at all, but the play sounds of a couple surreptitiously gathered upon the sofa in our suite. Am I wrong in this assumption, and do I have cause to speak on your behalf with the Admiral?” Jahrae loved making them squirm, her mischievous spirit now fully returned.
“Speak… with the Admiral?” Jesn sounded worried.
“Why, yes… you are a member of this crew, and as such are required to sleep in single officer’s quarters. In order to bunk down elsewhere, reassignment of quarters is necessary, and that requires the Admiral’s permission.
Since I have overall command, my request for reassignment of quarters will carry significant weight with the admiral. However…
Chsen, you just indicated your desire to stay with us on Arrkarhara. Jesn is in the Service. This creates a significant logistical issue for your partnership.”
“Jahrae, if it were desirable for a member of the Equalist crew to remain on Arrkarhara, I volunteer for this assignment.” Jesn interjected. “When the ship returns, it might prove helpful to have someone here in order to facilitate contact. Moreover, some equipment would remain with us, so we would have communication with both AISV Equalist, and with Arrhazon.”
“A salient argument, Jesn…” Jahrae countered, “but might you have saved a breath and us that sale of a tale by simply saying you wished to remain in order that you regularly get laid?”
Chsen, sipping on hot tea in that moment spewed this sip two metres to her front. The remainder of the crew burst into laughter, loving the prospect of welcoming two new lovers to the greatest joy of adulthood. All found excitement in this new coupling – and if she spoke the truth, Saehressa silently rooted inside for this ever since Jesn joined the team.
“Jahrae, you always can make me laugh!” Chsen managed after her laughter settled enough to speak. “Aside from the embarrassment inflicted upon us, I thank all of you for your support.
Oh… Jahrae, in 83 days you might well be with llhaesa. I am thinking Arrhazon might find video of the entirety of your first day reunited to be quite interesting, wouldn’t you think?”
“Your reassignment to an overnight shift for the duration of this voyage is quite imminent I think, young Chsen. On the other hand, perhaps you seek this video in order to master certain… skills which you currently only abstractly surmise and have yet to implement?” Jahrae followed this with a wink at the remainder of the team.
“OK, I deserved that!” Chsen offered up a truce, which in truth was more like surrender. “You have proven my better in this exchange; I bow to the wisdom of age!”
