Chapter 6

"Sorry, ma'am, but I was instructed to tell you that your husband and Mr. Estrada are in a meeting with the navigator at the moment. Captain said he'll come out to find you when they're through."

"Oh, I see. Well thank you, Mr. Bates." Giving the helmsman a genuine smile in appreciation, Zarabeth turned around to look about the deck beneath them, watching the spacers either working or standing in small clusters talking and laughing idly. Now that she couldn't go back into the stateroom, she found herself at a bit of a loss of what to do, seeing no other option but to simply be content to wait there on the upper deck.

"It must be difficult, ma'am, not always being able to be with the Captain even if you're finally both on the same ship."

Looking back at the alien man as he spoke, Zara shook her head with a small laugh. "This is Jim's job. I knew when he asked me to come that it would be like this. But I don't mind. Gives me a chance to talk with you and the rest of the crew."

The helmsman chuckled low in his throat at her reply, the middle aged dog-man pulling a hand up to scratch at one of his ears before looking back over at the girl. "Your husband is a highly respected man among us, ma'am. He has nothing but praise whenever one of us asks after you and how you've both adjusted, and now we know rightly so. It's not often that any of us are treated the way you see it fit to do so."

Leaning against the railing beside the helm, Zara let her eyes wander upward over the complex webs of rigging and sails high above her, a small smile continuing to eclipse her mouth with every word Mr. Bates spoke. "I spent four years flying on a boat like this. I know the lifestyle well enough to have complete appreciation and respect for the work that you and the crew put in every day. And Jim has always spoken so highly of all of you. I'm very grateful that he's found a crew that he trusts so much."

"If you don't mind my asking, what did you do those four years? I haven't heard of many women who worked on ships before, at least not for that long if they weren't officers."

Zara tried to keep from being nervous as she thought carefully about her answer, unsure at first of how to explain herself without involving the part of her being a slave and all. "I knew the Captain's family, so I worked for her after she graduated from the Academy. I was kind of her personal assistant." She looked around her at the beautiful star-dust clouds rolling past the ship as she continued. "I've missed flying. I don't think I know anything quite as freeing as being on a lone ship in the middle of the endless Etherium. Makes anything else seem pointless almost. All you want to do is keep flying and never stop."

"Aye, you've got that right, ma'am. Most of this crew, or any spacer for that matter, feels that same way. Helps us forget home and family for a while, at least long enough to keep our minds to our work and not on being homesick. Leads a man with nothing to feel as though he can hold the universe in his palm."

Zarabeth caught herself nodding in agreement with him, thinking about how flying was almost like an equalizer. It didn't matter if you were the captain or a cabin boy, it still gave one that same feeling of endlessness.

Zara had stayed up late a few nights before talking with Mr. Bates, a night when Felix and Jim had to go over their charts later than they'd anticipated. She'd thoroughly enjoyed talking with the helmsman, coming away from their conversation feeling refreshed and content.

"Do you have family, Mr. Bates?"

"Aye, ma'am. Well, not of my own per say, but I have a mother who somehow is still alive and kicking and a brother who I've not seen in well on five years. He's a spacer as well, you see, but our paths haven't crossed since he started working on those exploration voyages. He's an adventurous one my brother. He got that from my father, whereas I'm more of a play it safe man myself. Being cautious is what we're all about after all, on these trips anyway."

Watching as some of the crew changed their posts for the evening, Zarabeth gave a small laugh as she realized something. "Jim hasn't even told me where we're going. I haven't thought to ask until now. Is this another protection mission?"

Looking in obvious surprise between the girl and the wheel beneath his hands, Mr. Bates chuckled quietly as he adjusted the direction of the ship a little. "We've all been carefully instructed by the Captain not to let on as to where we're headed. Says he wants it to be a part of the surprise for you. But yes, we're working to keep a secure border around an area for a certain event. Easy enough of a job. Probably why the Captain felt comfortable enough to have you along. But I won't say any more about it. Would be bad if I let something slip and it was me who spoiled anything."
Holding her hands up a little in mock surrender, Zara nodded to affirm her understanding with a small laugh. "Understood. Won't ask anything else then."

Turning around as the sound of a door opening redirected her attention, Zara pushed herself away from the railing she'd been leaning against as Jim came out onto the upper deck, meeting her halfway. Smiling up at him, she felt his arms wrap about her waist to pull her close, her cheeks reddening slightly as the boy leaned in to give her a small kiss. Jim knew that it embarrassed her to have him show even that much affection to her while the crew was around, but Zara knew he just loved watching her blush.

"All finished then, I see?"

Jim gave a low chuckle, releasing the girl a little to hold her beside him. "For now. Sorry I had to keep you waiting again." Hearing voices coming closer to them from back in the stateroom, Jim turned his head to watch Felix and the ship's navigator, Mr. Donnelly, join them on the upper deck. "We should be good for at least the next week with that course. Mr. Bates? Donnelly will explain your new orders in full, but here's the general idea of it. We can shave off at least another three days in getting there if we cut straight through the Warmanic Quadrant instead of going around to stop on Soros. We can easily wait until Thalis to resupply."

"Aye, Captain. Makes perfect sense to me."

"Good man. I'll leave you to it then. Oh, and Felix? I've been putting off starting that report, but I suppose we'd better get on that if we're gonna be there earlier than we planned."

Zarabeth couldn't help but smile a little as she listened to Jim rattle off this order and that, noting that certain brightness in his crystal eyes. It was a look he only got when he was completely in his element, doing something he really loved.

Remembering something, Zara playfully gave the boy's side a few firm pokes to get his attention. "Have either of you eaten yet?"

"Dinner? No. Haven't exactly had the chance yet."

"Good. Neither have I. I'll just quick run down to the galley to see what Tucker has left. Oh, that and I have something in the oven that should be ready right about now. You two get started on your report or whatever and I'll bring dinner up in a few. Sound good?"

Answering her with a simple kiss against her cheek, Jim beamed down at her in nothing but complete adoration, releasing his hold on his wife with a bit of ticklish prodding. "You should really come along more often."

"I know it." Giving his hand a small squeeze before squirming out of his grasp, she looked over her shoulder as she made her way down to the main deck, flashing Jim a quick smile before noticing how tired Felix looked standing beside him.

Coffee. She was going to bring coffee up for them too.