“Big party for her and Prince Axis today in Capital City. Suppose they be back in a day or two.”
“Have Ketchum keep his spies out in Bristola. I wanna know when they get back. We need her soon as we can get her. Also, send word to all the Cap’ns. It’s time we meet. I want to take on Bristola soon. I got me big plans, Hofer. I got me big plans.”
“Aye, Cap’n. I’m beside you. All the way.”
I downed the cup of fruit juice and whiskey and looked away as the sunset rose high in the West, like every morning. This morning just tasted a little bit more delicious.
Seven
Ceritha
I watched the sun slide into the Western waters and marveled at watching it disappear into the horizon I normally watched it surface from every morning. It was a bizarre feeling, made my world feel more backward than it already was.
The elaborate celebration in Capital City had been lovely. Vania and Daphne had been incredibly nice to me, if a little bit strange, being Earthlings and everything… Overall, I found them charming. Even all the Farian men and women were ultra-welcoming. When I had arrived in Bristola, a couple days later, there had been a small fanfare, but there would be a larger welcome in a week. I was mainly allowed to be to myself so far, which I appreciated. I had been wandering Bristola for a few days now. It seemed Axis could sense I had been overwhelmed by the ostentatious welcome in the Capital and needed a bit of time with myself and the ocean.
The gazebo from which I watched the sunset was at the end of a short dock, set back in the bay, where the ocean waves made gentle cascading sound against its buffer, but which rarely had the severe beat of wind or tough draw of storm surge. It was a lovely little place with draping vines and lights entwined in blue and white flowers I had never seen before but looked like little hearts. I sat and watched the starlight begin to peak out and wondered about learning the constellations. They were the same stars, we were in the same system, but they were all in different frame of reference positions here.
Silent tears trailed down my face and I started to shake. How was I going to do this? How was I going to be so far from home? For the rest of my life? I would be able to visit, occasionally, and there were holographic calls I could make home, calling upon Nerite more than she would like, I was sure, but… Cowrie and Murex would eventually go home and then I would be alone… So alone…
As I looked out to trace the moons treks across the surprisingly still bay waters with tear-glossed eyes, a firefin spun up into the air and splashed back down, flawless, beautiful, illuminated by the moonlight.
A smile crept to my lips, unbidden. My friends… I would always have these friends.
The firefin swam up to the dock, popping its head up out of the dark waters. It was a deep shade of scarlet, perhaps the night’s darkness or perhaps a different shade of their scales here on Farian that I would adjust to. He was a young one, only about ten feet long, out for a joy swim. He was curious of me, perhaps sensing my sadness. I was surprised he would come so close to a Curan, since they didn’t speak to animals here.
“Hello… I’m Ceritha… I’m new here… I am excited to meet you…” I pressed the intention of my words to him. The firefin stood up taller in the water, front set of fins spread wide, like wings in the air, a symbol of alarm. “It’s okay… It’s okay… I can speak to you…” I whispered calming Will, helping him feel comforted, helping him feel safe.
He was curious back, telling me his name was Rensi and he was stunned to have a Curan to talk to, that he didn’t think that was possible.
“I’m from Serpul…” I sent the impression of my other planet to him, showing him images of me playing with dolgons and firefins in waters much more turquoise than on Farian. “I'm here to help with the blue flu… I’m a scientist.” The impression of these last words sent quivering fear and anger rushing back toward me, images of Farian Curans in hazmat suits with sharp needles, tranquilizer guns, and nets. He rushed in circles, his anger pummeling my mind. I rushed soothing Will through him, trying to show him how I had treated my animals, with needles, but with their permission… To help them. He slowly calmed. “Can you tell others? Can you tell others that Ceritha from Serpul is here to help them?”
Rensi rose up into the air, this time, fluttering his wings, a symbol of joy, and did a backflip not far off from me, flicking me in the face with water droplets, then he swam away, with a whispered salutation of hope and welcome.
I hugged myself and looked up at the glittering starlight. “You won’t get me down,” I told the stars. “I have friends here.”
I stood up and nearly ran back to my room. It was late and I needed to get at least six hours of sleep. Tomorrow, I would start building the laboratory. Cowrie and Murex were ready to start doing the work. Cowrie was eager and
