Chapter 54
Haven
For the first time in her life, Haven found herself concerned about and planning for the future. She usually just floated through her days, going wherever her curiosity took her. She didn't plan for the next day. She usually didn't even plan for that day.
But the question of what they were going to do next hung not just over her, but everyone as they went about following Tanin’s orders.
She had to admit, they were lucky to have a captain who immediately took charge and gave all of them a task to complete.
It made things seem… easier, somehow. Even if it was just a single, simple task, following his order was easier than floating out in nowhere, trying to figure things out and panicking over the future that seemed so uncertain now.
She helped him figure out which systems were still working and, really, it was basically all of them. It had been abandoned for years. Over fifty, if she was reading the internal clocks correctly. The records of whatever had transpired here had all been deleted – by Alred, she was pretty sure.
But before he left, it seemed he shut down the entire system. He’d put it all into something like hibernation. All the doors were sealed, all the systems safely shut down, everything put to sleep. Which must mean that, before they got here, he must have sent a signal to wake everything up again.
The communication relay he spoke of before, the one he got the coordinates they used to swing, must be connected to this planet.
When he tapped into it to get the coordinates to this place, he likely sent the signal to undo all of that and bring it to life.
He’d prepared this place, set all the doors to unlock, the air recyclers to refresh the stale environment, and the power systems to kick on.
All in anticipation of their likely arrival.
It was incredible. He had no way of knowing he’d ever come back to this place. But in case he did, he’d set it up so that it would be immediately ready for habitation.
How many things did he prepare in advance, just in case? How many things did he take care of for them that they never fully appreciated? Even when he wasn’t here, he was still providing for them.
Between Tanin and Alred, although things were grim and uncertain, Haven felt strangely reassured. Like it was still going to be okay.
After confirming that the facility was intact, they went down to the mess hall to find Trove and Garnet serving up alien food she didn't recognize.
The nutrition powder – which basically had no expiration date – was still good and had been stored in a sealed room, so it was fine.
The food synthesizer also worked, but it only made large batches of food neither she nor Trove knew.
So, they made pans full of various things, hoping some of them would taste good.
This place was built to house and feed hundreds, easily.
So, they had more than enough powder to waste a little trying to figure out what they could eat.
And Haven, upon smelling the unfamiliar food, felt her belly cramping so badly, she didn't actually care about what she would be eating. As long as it satisfied the hunger that was roaring, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten in probably a couple days at this point.
The twins were already there, chowing down on something that looked like couscous that was flaked with tiny blue leaves or herbs or something.
She helped herself to her own bowl of couscous and added some brown sauce-looking stuff that smelled spicy and delicious before sitting down and helping herself with a loud groan of relief.
She didn't recognize whatever this was, but it tasted good, and she couldn’t ask for anything more at this point.
Tanin went to check on Garnet first. She smiled and assured him that she’d eaten a little as they were preparing the food pans. He insisted she sit and eat more as Trove brought out the last pan of what looked like a savory pudding of some kind.
The others trickled in slowly as they finished their own assignments. Each with a brief report to Tanin as they helped themselves to their feast.
Sway told him that he’d cleared out a few rooms near the entrance of the residential wing, enough for all of them. He’d stocked them with blankets and jumpsuits that he said seemed to be the uniform around here.
Vytln came back shortly after, escorting Grace.
Neither of them were limping anymore. Sway had already prepared a plate of food for Grace.
She eagerly grabbed it and tucked into the food – none of them had eaten in a while.
Vytln prepared his own food as he told Tanin that Goldie had gotten the beds down in medbay working and she was just finishing up with Rok and they’d be here soon.
Sure enough, not long after, the two of them joined them in the cafeteria.
Rok had taken the makeshift bandages off and he was smiling happily at everyone, a new scar on his forehead.
Goldie, however, looked despondent. She had found a bag in medbay and had it strapped on her back.
Though it was closed up, the shape was obviously that of a huge egg.
She was carrying Alred around, unwilling to set him down and leave him somewhere.
She still had puffy eyes from crying, but she made her plate without comment as Rok told Tanin that the medbay was fully functional now and, though most of the medicine had gone bad, the medscanners were working just fine.
Tanin was the last one to get food. He made sure everyone else was seated and eating before he accepted the plate Garnet pushed towards him.
They ate in silence. Haven stuffed herself, not at all concerned about what she was eating. She was just glad to have something in her belly. And she wasn’t the only one. The five pans of food Garnet and Trove made didn't survive the feeding.
And after it was all gone – Rok and Vytln took the last remaining bites as the biggest males on the crew – Haven found herself fighting the need to sleep. A full belly and the adrenaline crash were combining together in a potent spell.
Tanin got to his feet, looking out over his exhausted crew and nodded.
“Okay. We rest now. This place is safe and secure as we can make it for now. I’ll take first watch.
Sorbet, Tebros, you two will take second and third watch individually.
Everyone else, sleep. We’ll figure out what to do after everyone has had a chance to rest.”
Haven wanted to protest about Sorbet and Tebros and Tanin all having to sacrifice sleep to keep watch, but her words were cut off by a huge yawn, and no one else seemed bothered.
They all sluggishly and sleepily moved away from the table, following Sway down through the halls. It wasn’t a long walk. The mess hall and residential wing were close, and Sway had deliberately picked the closest rooms to clean and prepare.
Haven had never been so happy in her life to see the tiny bed waiting for her when the door opened. The rooms were clearly designed for one person, but that person was an alien-sized individual, so it was more than big enough for her to fit comfortably. Even with Vytln sharing it with her.
The two of them went into one of the rooms at random – it didn't matter which as they were all the same – and locked the door behind them. Haven fought back another yawn as Vytln, groaning, dropped onto the bed. He’d completely removed his envirosuit, leaving him in just his ripped jumpsuit pants, stained black with dried blood.
He sat there, watching as she groaned while removing her jacket and started to take off her own envirosuit.
It had been a long time since she had pulled it off, a fact she became aware of quickly as she made a face.
She was still naked underneath, but she was also sweaty and grimy and she desperately needed to clean off.
Luckily, each room also came with its own privy.
It was tiny, like an airplane bathroom, with the toilet inside the shower and the sink right in front of it.
There would barely be enough room for Vytln to turn around, but she was fine as she used the scentless soap of whoever had lived here before to wash off as she peeled away the envirosuit.
The suit was designed to deal with her waste, including her sweat, but that didn't make it any less uncomfortable for her. And she was grateful for the chance to sit on a toilet and relieve herself.
The soap smelled weird, but it cleaned her off just fine. And when she stepped out, dripping and naked, she dropped the envirosuit on the ground and shambled over to Vytln.
He was lying back on the bed, one arm over his eyes.
The other he opened for her, making room so she could collapse beside him, still naked and dripping.
He was still dirty and covered in blood.
She didn't rightfully care at this point.
She was full, she was clean, she was exhausted.
But she also had Vytln back and they had a safe place to sleep.
She didn't need anything more than that.
Haven was already asleep before Vytln put his arm around her and pulled the blanket over their bodies, lulled into sleep by the comforting, heavy beat of his heart. It wasn’t quite the same as the hum of the engine, but it was even better to her ears.
***
Haven had no idea how long she slept. It felt like a year judging by how stiff and sore she was when she woke up.
She meandered to the privy, relieved herself, then stumbled back to Vytln’s waiting arms and collapsed right back into sleep.
He put his arm right back around her and they drifted again, sleeping even longer.
When Haven woke up the second time, it was to him moving away to go to the privy himself. She then rolled over and put herself against the wall. When he came back, he laid behind her, scooping her right into his back, and they were gone again.