The Travelers - Chapter 5

ARLYTIAN TERMS
*Private data unit (PDU) - a personal computer; just a Data Unit is a publicly accessed computer.
*Icing box - a refrigerator
*Soaker - a bathtub
*Bellberry Juice - fruit juice from Arlytian made from (obviously) bellberries.  They are bell shaped berries that have a taste like a mix of blackberries and mint together.

Chapter 5

“Who will be the first disembarking?  Have you heard?” Cay asked Oz as they ate together a few days later.  Amrynn wasn’t with them.  As had become typical after collecting the Nevean samples, she was locked away in her laboratory, studying the samples and running a never-ending series of tests on them.  Cay and Oz were feeling her absence, and it was taking an increasingly firm tone to get her to lock the lab and come back to their quarters in the evenings, but they also knew she was thoroughly enjoying herself and all she was learning.  For that reason, they were mostly leaving her undisturbed throughout the day.

“Seren will be leading the first group,” Oz answered.  “I was just told today.  He’s handpicking a team to accompany him and determine a section of land that would be safe for us to start exploring, testing, and laying out some temporary abodes.”

“Who has he picked?”

Oz shrugged.

Cay rolled his eyes.  “You didn’t even ask, did you?”

“No.”

Cay took a bite of his food and chewed thoughtfully.  “He won’t take Backer Sabik. She’s his right hand pilot and he won’t risk something happening to both of them in the same expedition.”

Oz nodded his agreement as he kept eating.  Cay continued to guess at who Seren would take with him.

“I bet he’ll pick Charge Carter.  He was training in Arlytia defense before joining the Travelers and he’s been leading up security on the ship.  Backer Leto has a defense background too, but I don’t think he’d be as good as Carter.  Do you think Seren will take any of the female Travelers?  They all have some defense/offense training just like the rest of us.”

Oz shook his head.  “He won’t risk the women anymore than any of us would on Arlytia.”

Cay frowned.  “He risked Am when she led the Purifiers out to get samples.”

“Isolated incident,” Oz said.  “No one was better suited to lead that expedition and she was always in sight of the ship.  There were Travelers prepared and suited to go after any of the Purifiers who appeared at risk.  That’s why we agreed to her leading it when Seren approached her.”

“I know but I still didn’t like it,” Cay declared.  “And how is this coming expedition that different?”

“The team will cover more ground and be out of the ship’s visual range,” Oz said around a mouthful of food.  “And there’s no guarantee that our transmitters will work well outside the ship.  Much higher danger,” he concluded.

Cay acknowledged that.  “True.  It is risky, but I admit that I wouldn’t mind if he asked me as part of the team.”

Oz’s eyes flashed at those words and his voice got lower.  “Do not volunteer, Cayson.”

Cay’s eyes darted up from his food in a way that said Oz had read his mind.  “What?”

“Unless Charge Seren decides you’re needed on his crew and Amrynn and I are agreeable, you are not to willingly risk yourself by volunteering to be a part of this.”

“Ozias, that’s overstepping!”

“No, it’s not,” Oz said ardently.  “Our vows said ‘Three become one’.  We are one family, one unit.  Amrynn and I have as much say over your choices as you do.  What one does affects the others.”

“We agreed to Am collecting the samples!  This is no different!”

“We agreed after making sure of every precaution possible and the knowledge that help could be immediately available.  She was never out of our sight.  You would be.  And, she didn’t volunteer.”

Cayson glared for a long moment and Oz held his eyes.  It didn’t take long for Cay to break the gaze, but he rose angrily and stalked away, disappearing out the dining room door in just a few steps.

Oz sat back in his seat, his appetite failing him as it often did when arguing with Cay or Amrynn.  Knowing Cay as he did, he fully expected his husband to calm down, see Oz’s side, and come to agree—although that would probably be grudging.  It didn’t make the present any easier on Oz.  He hated when Cay or Amrynn was upset with him, and it happened infrequently enough that he always felt a little off-kilter when an argument that went further than a minor tiff occurred.  Pushing his plate aside, he debated the wisdom of going after Cay or leaving him to cool off.

*****

Cay stalked through the ship’s corridors, taking little notice to those around him and not really heading anywhere.  He just felt the need to walk as far as he could, and that feeling didn’t help matters because the limited space on the ship prevented any real sensation of escape.  He’d never been claustrophobic before, but lately there had been the feeling of minor panic when he remembered that to step outside the enclosure of the ship meant careening off into space, and yet there was still a strong desire to do it because there was the illusion of fresh air and openness beyond the walls surrounding him.

That had been a big element in his desire to volunteer for the coming expedition Charge Seren would lead.  He had firsthand information from Amrynn that the air and water quality was incredibly pure.  In fact, Amrynn had been shocked at its purity.  It had truly never seen pollution, and in the hours he and Oz had managed to pull her away from the lab, she’d mourned the reality that it would be near to impossible to maintain the purity at that level once they truly inhabited the new planet.

In the last few days, Cay had felt a growing yearning, even a desperation, to breathe that beautiful clean air, to feel the coolness of Neveah’s water on his skin, to be able to spread his arms without hitting walls and explore the new unknown world.  Oz’s determined order for him not to volunteer to leave the ship felt like a complete dismissal of what Cay felt he needed. 

With a mind consumed with anger and frustration, Cay wasn’t paying attention to his surroundings, and as he turned a corner he ran abruptly into Charge Seren, effectively knocking the lead pilot to the floor.  The accident broke through his angry fog like nothing else had and Cay felt mortified.

“Charge Seren!  I’m so sorry!  Are you hurt?!”

He knelt down by the pilot, who was looking a bit stunned at his sudden fall.  “No, no I’m not hurt, Charge Cayson, but I’d appreciate an explanation,” he said with an underlying fierceness.  He rose with a masculine refinement and a piercing gaze at Cayson.

Cay bowed his head in respect.  “I am sorry, Charge Seren.  I was distracted and not watching where I was going.”

Seren appeared to study him for a moment before nodding.  “I’d advise you to save your distractions for a time when your attention isn’t needed to keep from running into people, but no harm done this time.”

“Thank you, Charge,” Cay said gratefully, and then unfortunately let his mouth keep going on a sudden and rebellious whim.  “Could I trouble you to consider a request?”

Seren had been about to continue on his way, but he gave Cayson his attention.  “What is it?”

“I’d like to offer my services on the expedition to set up a locale for the Travelers to begin an establishment.”

His request was met with silence, but it seemed to Cay that Seren was considering his offer.  Then abruptly, Seren turned.  “Join me in my quarters, Cayson.  Let’s talk about this.”

Surprised but willing, Cay fell into step just slightly behind the ship’s head man and walked two long hallways before the pilot stopped at a door.  Seren entered his personal code on the keypad and led the way into the room.

Cay followed and his gaze quickly took in the space.  He was surprised to see that Charge Seren’s quarters were slightly smaller than the area Cay shared with his husband and wife.  He had assumed that although not married, Charge Seren would have been allotted the largest personal space.  Instead it was a tad smaller but laid out in a similar fashion to Cay’s room.  There were, however, a few things in the space that definitely delineated it as the Charge Pilot’s accommodations.  With a bit of envy, Cay noticed the private data unit sitting on a built in desk, as well as an icing box that was easily twice the size of the small ones that were a part of the other Traveler’s quarters.  A quick and discreet glance through the bathing room’s ajar door revealed a soaker, and Cay was fairly sure that was the only one on the ship.

Seren moved with familiarity to the icing box and spoke to Cay without looking at him.  “Water, Charge Cayson?  Or I can offer you bellberry juice.”

“Um, whatever you’re having is fine, Charge.”

The pilot withdrew a jug of juice and poured two glasses.  “In my quarters, I’m just Seren,” he said to Cay with a small but warm smile.  “Sit down, Cayson.  Let’s talk about your request.”  He gestured toward the room’s sitting area as he handed Cay the cold glass of juice.

Cay sat and said nothing.  He wasn’t really sure what Seren wanted him to say, and he was starting to feel guilty, although no less frustrated, over his impulsive volunteering.

“Were you aware that I was considering you for this expedition, Cayson?” Seren asked simply.

Cay’s mouth dropped open for just a moment before he caught himself.  “No, Charge…I mean, Seren.  But I’m honored!”

Seren nodded once, but his expression was unreadable.  “You’re the top medic on ship, Cayson…”

“Cay,” he interrupted quietly.

Seren smiled slightly.  “Cay,” he corrected.  “As I was saying, you’re the best medic we have and I know you’d be potentially invaluable to take along when the first of us depart in a few days.  However, I get a sense of turbulence in your request.  Why are you volunteering yourself?  I don’t question your courage, but with such an unknown in front of us, this brief mission could turn ugly should we meet up with violent predators or unnamed illness.  I would believe that Charges Ozias and Amrynn would be very worried.  I know you were when Amrynn’s team collected samples seven days ago.”

Cay felt his face heat and discovered the long forgotten feeling a being a child caught out in a misdeed.  Confirming Seren’s suspicions would reveal his own selfish motives, but he couldn’t bring himself to lie either.  In the end, his silence and clear discomfort spoke for him.

“Mm, I see,” Seren murmured.  “Ozias and Amrynn aren’t encouraging you in this participation, are they?”

Cay shook his head.  “No…well, Oz isn’t.  Amrynn doesn’t know anything about it.  Oz and I kind of had a clash of wills over it shortly before I…ran into…you.”

Seren managed a short chuckle.  “That explains a bit.  Tell me a few things, Cay.  Setting Ozias and Amrynn’s feelings aside, why do you so strongly want to be a part of this trip?”

“Because I can help!  I’d love to be able to explore this new land and seek out safe places.  I’m sure I could be a help in determining a secure plot for the Travelers.  Besides, it would be wonderful to experience not being enclosed by walls for a time.”

Seren sat back in his seat and rested an ankle over his knee.  “And what were Ozias’s feelings on your desires?”

Cay’s hand clenched involuntarily.  “He wouldn’t even discuss it.  He just ordered me to not even go there.”

“And yet you did go there,” Seren pointed out quietly.

“I…yes,” Cay admitted with a note of shame in his voice. 

Seren took a long drink, his piercing blue eyes never leaving their gaze on his guest.  “Cay, I’ve observed you, Ozias and Amrynn on our journey to Neveah.  It’s clear your trio is a happy one and there’s a lot of love shared among you.  Why would you jeopardize their happiness for a risk you don’t need to take?  Actually, I’d like to know why you’re so upset over Ozias’s order to you when it’s fairly clear to me that he’s stepping between you and danger because he doesn’t want to lose someone he loves so much.”

Cay could feel his face getting ever warmer, and it was pure shame, not embarrassment.  “I’ve no desire to worry them or take away their happiness.  I’ve just felt so…confined…lately.  I feel like I need space outside of the ship, and Oz wouldn’t listen.”

“Would listening to your reasons have changed his mind?” Seren questioned.

Cay thought about that before having to shake his head.  “No, that’s very unlikely.”

“Would you defy him or Amrynn if it came down to it?”

“No,” Cay said immediately.  “Not like that.”

“Then while you may not like it or perhaps even agree with it, the love you have for the two of them comes before personal wants as well as personal risks, yet so far today you’ve acted fairly selfishly.”

Cay doubted there was anyone who would have been happy to hear that conclusion, but he knew he couldn’t deny it without lying to himself.  “Yes,” he sighed.  “I have.”  He lifted his eyes to meet Seren’s.  “With all due respect Charge, I’d like to withdraw my request.”

“I thought you might,” Seren said simply.  “I’m also taking you off the list of potential Travelers for this mission.  But not,” he said earnestly, “because of any negative feelings from this conversation.  I’m taking you off because you, Ozias and Amrynn have something special that every Traveler…every Arlytian…hopes to have someday.  This overall journey is to provide our people with hope and the chance to live safely with the ones they love.  You’re the only marrieds we have right now and whether you see it or not, the three of you represent something very precious, and I don’t want to risk damaging that…for your sake and for the sake of the rest of us.  Do you understand?”

Cay nodded, feeling somewhat overwhelmed but also strangely pleased.

“Good.  Tomorrow I’d like your opinion on who would be a good medic to make the trip in a few days, but right now I think your time would be better spent seeking out Ozias and apologizing to him.  I can imagine the man is worried about you, and if he’s anything like me, he’d like to give you a good walloping.”

The color that had been slowly receding from Cay’s face returned full bloom.  “I can hope he’s not like you then, Charge.”

It was said without thinking, but Seren’s face very briefly filled with laughter.  “I’m sure that is your hope, Cay, but I’ve the feeling Ozias will be leaning toward my side of things.”

Silently, Cay agreed with him.  Finishing his juice, he offered the glass back to Seren with a grateful look.  “Thank you, Seren, for the talk.  It helped.”

“I’m glad,” that pilot answered sincerely.  “Go make up with your family.  I’ll be contacting you tomorrow.”

The two men parted company with ease and both knowing what they needed to do.