Dusty's Dilemma
Xerin (Dusty's Dillema, image by Lloyd Smith)
“You are a Springbreeze?” The incorporeal voice asked, the pitch hiding a hint of surprise. “Do you know an Azzar Springbreeze?”
“Yes” she replied, looking around. She stood alone in a square room. In front of her was a clear desk and an empty chair. The room was clearly meant to be a small office, startling only due to the eerie blackness which permeated through the open window. It was barely midday, so light should have been streaming inside.
“She is... was, my mother.”
“I see,” a pause, and the voice dipped an octave, “and what makes you think you are suitable for this expedition?”
She then felt a comfortable coolness touch her mind, and suddenly the room faded into darkness.
^Rokja?^ a familiar voice broke through her thoughts, shattering the memory she had been replaying in her mind.
^Father!^ she instantly sent back, ^and please call me Dusty!^
“Well I’m here” he vocalised. She opened her eyes in surprise, jumping back with a squeal.
Standing over her was a male Tuleonetian, his brown fur tinted with grey. They were in a busy spaceport terminal, with figures of all forms and races bustling around them. Despite all the different beings he still looked oddly out of place, clad in the simple loose fitting robes traditional to the nomadic peoples of Daggett 4. His garb was so at odds with the bright colours and angular tunics favoured by the rest of Concordium society.
^Is everyone back home ok? How is Fiachinn?^ she asked, switching back to their telepathic communication.
^He is well, and sends his regards. Oh yes, he had something for you!^
Dusty closed her eyes again with a smile, expecting the cool mental touch which preceded a Meld sending, but instead she felt a package pressed into her hands. She opened her eyes once more and gave a guilty shrug to her father.
^It’s easy to forget isn’t it?^ he said with a knowing smile.
A group of Gervians strode past pompously. They were chatting excitedly with each other. Although the sound of their voices was alien to Dusty’s ears, the Concordium Common they spoke was at least familiar.
^Voiceless! How terrible it must be to have to vocalise their thoughts!^ she replied, glancing at them uneasily.
^Even now that I’ve lived on Daggett 5 among so many foreigners, I still cannot get used to not using the Meld. I sometimes find I am talking to myself and forget that they cannot hear me. Some of my friends must think I am a complete idiot,^ she continued after a long pause.
^They just do not understand how we communicate silently. They cannot. We are unique in the use of the Meld.^
^Except for the Saraven, you mean!^ she snapped more harshly than she had intended.
^I’m sorry, father, I know her death haunts us both still.^ she added when he did not reply.
^Open the package!^ he said, quickly changing the subject.
She did as he asked and tore the paper wrapping off, revealing a card box. Gingerly lifting the lid off, she found a mound of fur lying limply among some coloured padding. She looked quizzically up at her father not understanding what it was, and saw that he was chuckling to himself. A moment later, the cool brush of a Meld sending touched her mind, and she closed her eyes.
She was suddenly looking through the eyes of another. In front of her stood a huge Ursian. He offered the familiar wrapped package forward and it was taken by unseen hands.
“It was my favourite hat when I be much younger...” the Ursian growled with a helpless shrug. “It always gave me good luck. I hope it be doing that for her, too.”
She opened her eyes once more, pulled the hat out of the box and placed it on her head. She was scared that it would stick on her ears, but the heavy fur lining pulled right down to her eyes. Her father reached over, and pulled a string on top of her head. Long fur flaps sprang out and sat on her ears, leaving only their long points sticking out. The strings at the flap ends dangled down like cheap earrings. She let out a happy giggle and, leaping up, wrapped her father in a hug.
^It’s lovely! Tell him thanks. I know this must have meant a lot to him.^
He held her close, and she smiled happily into his chest as she felt his fingers gently pinch the soft fur at the back of her neck as he always had done ever since she was a tiny kit.
^When does your shuttle leave?^ he asked after a while. Dusty released her father unwillingly, but held on to him at arms length, etching the image of his kindly face into her memory.
^Soon. I should start boarding now, really.^
^Don’t go. I knew it was a risk that the techies would corrupt you when you moved here, but I never expected this.^
^I have to, father, this is a great opportunity. A new planet! Scans didn’t pick up any sentient native inhabitants. It’s as fresh a start as I can hope for. I want to make something of my life, and this is how I want to do it.^
^I’ve lost your mother already, I don’t want to lose you, too.^ he replied seriously, his eyes boring into her own.
^You’re not losing me, silly. I can board a shuttle and return through the gate whenever I want. You could come visit when I’ve got a place set up. Oh, will you?!^
“Last call for settlers bound for Kahontsi Ehnita. This is the last call for Kahontsi Ehnita!” a bored voice thundered out over the microphone system. All around, Tuleonetians rose from their seats and said their farewells to waiting friends and family. Many had bulky packs with them, most with tools strapped on any spare surface. They were all hardly and tough stock.
^This is it, then, Dusty. If I cannot persuade you to stay then at least let me impart a father’s blessing.^
“May Kemwe watch over you Rokja Springbreeze, and Oubas sustain you on your journey” her father said aloud without waiting for an answer, placing a paw on her head. His odd incantation had earned glances from those around them, but for once Dusty was not embarrassed by her heritage. Instead, she felt her heart soar in pride at her father’s words.
Tears sprang unbidden into her eyes, and she once again pulled her father close into a hug. She gave him a quick squeeze, then released him and sprang off towards the gate.
She turned once before she went through and saw her father standing alone, his shoulders slumped. Sorrow tugged at her heart once more, but before it could change her mind, he raised a paw in farewell and he turned away. Setting her jaw, she also turned, and ducked into the shuttle.
They had accepted her application too easily. She was young, she had no useful colonist skills and yet they had given her a place among the initial pioneers. Why? And what did her mother have to do with it. It was clear that the questioner had known something about her family, but what? What were they hiding from her?
(by Gareth Kay)
