Carpathia

Carpathia IV: Episode 320 - The Open Road

Nerada, Former resistance hideout

Two weeks passed in a flurry of activity. Both Shadowdancer and Cerberus were repaired to near original specifications. With the ship finished and the trade completed, Aire and Azrael could have left immediately. However, not wanting to establish a new relationship based solely on transaction, they agreed it would be best to stay a couple of extra days to relax and have a little fun.

Trade did not end with the official agreement. Exchanges, both large and small, continued to take place, some amongst individuals, some larger gestures. The komodo gave the Carpathians more ore than they'd asked for and Aire went beyond just giving plans for a bowling alley and began building one in an abandoned warehouse, teaching the komodo both about the design and the game at the same time.

With the help of the matter synthesizers, a hundred Shadowdancer crew, and eager komodo, construction proceeded rapidly, with a level of glee and camaraderie one would normally associate with friends building a backyard treehouse together. More komodo trickled in every day, as word spread despite extremely thin communications. Some on foot. Some in rickety, overloaded ground vehicles. Some in the shuttles just delivered from Shadowdancer. A smattering of demons and pale-skinned vashtari arrived with them.

The small town of this rebel base grew quickly, with komodo of any planet proving themselves to be not just skilled builders, but fast as well. Streets laid. Buildings restored. New construction already underway. Ryuu strolled through the newly-laid cobblestone just as a line of streetlights lit up for the first time and it was then that he spotted Taxx resting on a bench, arms up and feet splayed out in front of him. Ryuu helped himself to a seat next to him.

Ryuu: Tired out, finally?

Taxx hardly moved, just letting his head flop to the side so that he could face Ryuu.

Taxx: I think my body just finally said "no." I've been working nonstop for two whole weeks.

Ryuu: It's a lot, and there's more to come, but much better without Lazmaedia breathing down your necks, isn't it?

Taxx responded with a sleepy nod and slow blink.

Taxx: It's a different kind of tired for sure. More satisfying than before.

Ryuu: Good to hear that. There is a lot of work to come but I have faith in the komodo.

Taxx: I would have been skeptical that we could do all the things we need to do. The list is long, but I've spent a lot of time with Teek and Trex and the other komodo on your ship. I see in them what we can be. I was worried that we might have trouble working with the demons and vashtari here, but now I know we can.

Ryuu was about to respond when he noticed Taxx's eyes widen and a smile curl up from the corners of his mouth. Now, instead of looking at him, Taxx looked past him.

Taxx: Speaking of...

Taxx jumped from the bench, all exhaustion seeming to have left his body all at once. Ryuu turned his away from Taxx to find Amenaru and Kit strolling up, with Amenaru giving a jaunty wave.

Amenaru: How's it going? We heard the bowling alley is almost finished.

Taxx ran over and pulled both Amenaru and Kit in for a simultaneous hug.

Taxx: It is! I'll be glad to show you.

Amenaru: Hopefully we can get in a game or two before we leave.

Kit: I just finished my analysis of your language with the universal translator. We've installed the latest on the last shuttle that we're preparing for you. I'd like you to look it over before we install it on the others down here.

Taxx: Of course I'll help. Does it have to be done now?

Amenaru: Nah, just sometime today or tomorrow. You know, when we were walking over, I thought you were getting tired, but you look very chipper now.

Taxx: I was just thinking while talking to Ryuu that I'm starting to get an idea of what my future should look like. In all ways but one. I suppose that will get sorted eventually.

Amenaru's ears stood erect, intrigued with how coy Taxx was.

Amenaru: Oh? And what is that one thing?

Taxx: Ah, well, I've said before that I've never thought much about life after resistance, including relationships. I'm not sure what I want in a mate, but I do know I want someone who looks at me the same way that you two look at each other.

Amenaru and Kit glanced at each other. Amenaru grinned while Kit blushed, ears turning bright red, as he looked away.

Ryuu: Careful. Kit is prone to overheat when you say things like that.

Taxx: Oh really? I'll be careful then. If we don't have to go right away, I know some of the lanes are finished. We can test them.

Amenaru: Perfect! We can do two teams, but we have five now. We need a sixth.

Ryuu: We won't have any trouble finding willing komodo over there.

Amenaru: Right. Should've known. More than enough to make teams. Let's go!

Ryuu put his arm around Taxx and together, they strolled down the street towards the bright lights and sounds of construction in the distance.

Bridge, NCCS Shadowdancer-A, The next day

The lift doors slid open and Aire stepped out, stifling a yawn, and with a steaming cup of tea gripped tightly in his hand. With bleary eyes, he glanced across the bridge. It was sparsely populated, with Trex in the command chair, Baal busy on the operations console, and a few other officers taking care of other critical stations.

Trex: Good afternoon, Captain. Long night?

Trex stood from the command chair and began making her way back to the security console.

Aire: Is it that obvious? I was up until 0600, but at least I managed a proper sleep for a change. It's been awhile.

Trex: I'm sure you'll be all better after you finish your tea.

Aire took his usual seat in his command chair and then turned it to face Trex, sipping from his teacup.

Aire: So long as I'm wide awake for our farewells later today. Anything to report?

Trex: Nothing out of the ordinary. Repairs are complete. Amenaru and Kit are upgrading the last shuttle with the new komodo language specs. Shep is making sure nobody gets into trouble. Oh, and the impromptu bowling tournament was a great success! The Neradians really seem to love it.

Aire: I'm glad. They have a lot of work both behind them and ahead of them. They'll need entertainment. Speaking of, is our parting gift ready?

Trex: Oh my, Quenya has been working her little tushy off getting it ready! I'm told she's just putting on the final touches.

Aire: Perfect. I'll be sad to leave, but I think we've done all we can to give them the best new start possible, just like Blue and King Riven did for us.

Trex: It's up to them now.

Aire took another sip of his tea just as the lift doors opened again and Joust burst through the opening, looking like he was being chased by a rabid dog.

Joust: Captain!

Aire stood, concern clearly etched across his face.

Aire: What's wrong?

Joust: I just found out... Amenaru and Kit are putting on an impromptu concert in the atrium and, get this... Kit is going to sing!

Shocking news, indeed, Aire thought. He'd only heard Kit sing twice, neither of which under ideal circumstances, but enough to make him desperate to hear more. First, in a grainy video taken from a distance and second at a funeral. The only one on the ship who had ever heard more than that was Amenaru. As much as he wanted to rush to the atrium himself and leave everyone behind, he couldn't leave the bridge unmanned and couldn't find it in his heart to deny others of the opportunity.

Trex: Well, don't just stand there you big goober. Get on down to the atrium. I can hold down the fort here.

Aire hesitated. A grand gesture from Trex, but while he didn't want her to miss the show, he was given the opportunity to go gracefully instead of being the mean old captain and he had to take it.

Baal: I'll stay too. You should go.

Aire detected a note of melancholy in Baal's voice. An observation that he tucked away into a file cabinet in his brain to remember for later.

Aire: Okay, but I'll not have you missing this. Patch the main viewer into the atrium and let Azrael know. They shouldn't miss this either. You can find two more volunteers to help you?

Trex: Oh, I'll scrounge up one more! Now go!

With a nod and no further argument, Aire slipped into the lift with Commander Joust to get to the atrium as quickly as possible.

Atrium, NCCS Shadowdancer-A

While the crowd gathered in the atrium, growing noticeably larger every time he looked up, Amenaru tightened the strings on his electric violin once more. Ready for another test, he drew his bow across the strings, bringing forth not a melodious sound one might expect from a violin, but harsher sounds, much like an electric guitar. He was close. Just a few more little adjustments. A pedal on the stage flicked the sound from various types of guitar to more traditional violin sounds.

Amenaru glanced up at the crowd again. It appeared to have doubled in size since the last time. In the front were at least two dozen komodo, all Neradian. Just as he was about to finalize his tuning, he spotted Aire in the crowd, about halfway back. Though he couldn't hear what anyone said over all the chatter, he could tell just from the gestures that those around Aire were encouraging him to jump to the front, offering to make him a path. Aire's shaking head told Amenaru all he needed to know. He wasn't having it, preferring instead to enjoy the show as part of the group.

Amenaru next turned his gaze to his makeshift band, Quenya on keyboard. A crew member he did not know on drums, but bearing Ramei's recommendation. Another on bass. Kit, fiddling with his microphone and looking like he might melt on the spot. So engrossed as he was in tuning his violin, that he forgot. It was only ten minutes, but an eternity to someone like Kit, facing such a large, expectant crowd, and he rushed over to him.

Amenaru: Kit! Are you feeling okay?

Kit nodded, but Amenaru did not find this at all convincing.

Amenaru: Listen. If you feel overwhelmed, just look at me. I will always be close to you.

Kit nodded again, this time far more convincing, with calm eyes and a sincere smile. Reassured, Amenaru came closer, touching his forehead to Kit's, The ears of each touching tip to tip.

Amenaru: Don't worry if anything happens. We're all with you. Are you ready?

Kit nodded once more, with his forehead connected to Amenaru's, they both moved up and down.

Kit: Yes.

Amenaru pulled away and flashed a big, toothy grin.

Amenaru: No matter what happens, you're gonna be great!

With kit reassured, Amenaru turned to the rest of the band.

Amenaru: Everyone ready?

Quenya: Ready! You got this, Kit!

Amenaru: Let's go!

Quenya began on the keyboard, a slow, easy start to the first song to get the crowd to simmer down and listen. That they did, within seconds, as the rest of the instruments joined in one by one. Last to start was Kit.

Kit: ♫ Leave the sleep and let the springtime talk
In tongues from the time before man
Listen to a daffodil tell her tale
Let the guest in, walk out, be the first to greet the morn ♫

If there was any chatter left in the audience, it was all gone now, shut down by the glory of Kit's voice in person. Amenaru stayed close to him, should anything happen, but Kit quickly adapted until he held the stage like he was the only one there. When they reached the chorus, Kit let everyone have it in full glory.

Kit: ♫ Come!
Taste the wine
Raise the blind
They will guide you from the light
Writing noughts 'til the end of time
Come
Surf the clouds
Race the dark
It feeds from the runs undone
Meet me where the cliff greets the sea ♫

At first, the Neradians in front didn't seem to know what to make of what they saw. Amenaru knew from his many conversations with Taxx that their musical traditions had been reduced to folk songs in small circles with the biggest events being tavern performances. Dangerous performances, for they could not let the vashtari find out about any of it.Whatever traditions of concerts and planet-wide shared musical experiences had long been forgotten.

After a couple of songs, the Neradians came around, growing more enthusiastic with each number and started to mix in with the Carpathian crowd enough that Amenaru could no longer see a clear divide between the two anymore. For the first time in the Neradian's memories, perhaps, they were sharing in a grand cultural experience.

The last song finally started to wind down, to applause and cheers and just as Amenaru started to put down his violin, Kit turned and looked him dead in the eyes and began a third, entirely unplanned song.

Kit: ♫ Lately I've been losing these nights
One more heartbreak and I'm done with this ♫

Amenaru recognized the song right away and readied his violin once more. The others picked up on the situation too and started to play, with Quenya first on her keyboard.

Kit: ♫ You found me all messed up
You found me down on my luck
So lost, but then I woke up in love!
When I was chasing highs
You went and saved my life
You picked me up
And then I woke up in love! ♫

Once again, the music wound down, the second final song, for real this time, leaving Amenaru and Kit, along with the rest of the band, to bask in the applause.

Shuttle Bay, NCCS Shadowdancer-A

Taxx: These last few weeks will be something for the history books. I understand that you have to leave, but I wish this could go on forever.

Aire: All things end, including Lazmaedia. We should all be so lucky that the good endings happen in our lifetimes. But here's to new beginnings. I asked Ensign Vayhama to prepare a parting gift for you.

Taxx watched with interest as Quenya walked towards him with a smile and some sort of computer device in her hands.

Quenya: With the crew's help, I gathered a selection of art, music, movies, and many other things of cultural importance from all over Carpathia and Tokkastra. It couldn't be all of it since that would require a computer the size of our engine core. I hope this will suffice.

Quenya handed the device to Taxx, who accepted gratefully. More than that, for after one look, he clutched it tight to his chest and began to tear up.

Taxx: Thank you. Over these last few weeks, I've realized that rebuilding will be more than just politics and infrastructure. We need to rebuild our culture too. Now, learning about other cultures will become a part of our own.

Aire: I hope we'll meet again one day and I look forward to lots of good news when we do.

Taxx: We might have been lost without your help. You've given us just the start we need. Until we meed again.

With the computer in hand, Taxx turned and stepped through the shuttle door. After one last look, he closed it behind him. The hum of the shuttle's engines ramped up until it was ready to fly. The crew watched as it lifted off the deck and turned to face them. One last time, they saw Taxx waving in the cockpit. The Carpathians waved back as it turned around and wooshed out of the shuttle bay.

Bridge, NCCS Shadowdancer-A, 2 hours later

The lift doors slid open and Aire stepped out, faced immediately with a bridge swarming with activity. Nobody noticed at first, but for Shep, who appeared to be awaiting this moment.

Shep: Captain on the bridge!

All stopped what they were doing and the bridge went silent but for the hum of the engines. Aire surveyed his team briefly before heading to his chair.

Aire: As you were. Kit, contact Cerberus.

Kit: Contacting Cerberus.

Joust: Do you think this is all worth it, Captain?

Aire: To end Lazmaedia's threat? Definitely.

Joust: No, I mean space travel. Some people think we should just stick to our own planets and not get involved with anything else.

Aire: Hmmm...

Aire paused, losing himself in thought, while Joust waited expectantly.

Aire: A human from old Earth once said, "We choose to go to the moon and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard." I think a culture needs goals and challenges to thrive. It's never safe, but life isn't safe. Besides, Lazmaedia was clearly expansionist. She may have found us anyway, even more unprepared, and then what?

Joust: It's a big galaxy and we've only explored a tiny bit of it. There's still much to learn.

Kit: Captain, I have Cerberus.

Aire: On viewer.

Azrael appeared on the viewer, wide screen, so that they could see his entire bridge crew.

Azrael: Captain Valro. We are ready to depart. Just set a course and we will follow.

Aire: We will be departing shortly. I know I've said it many times already, but it bears repeating. On behalf of the Shadowdancer crew, we owe you our thanks.

Azrael: And just as many thanks from our side. I am pleased to share the journey home with you.

Aire: We all feel the same about you. Engines at the ready. Aire out.

The viewer went dark and all on the bridge anticipated Aire's next command. Taking initiative, Teek turned in his chair to address Aire directly.

Teek: Awaiting your course, Captain.

The expected course heading did not come right away, as all anticipated. Instead, Aire paused before turning towards Kit.

Aire: Lieutenant Savea. I think one as well-read such as yourself can think of a nice quote, or variation on a quote, to send us on our way. Would you do us the courtesy?

All eyes were now on Kit, a proposition that would have terrified him into complete paralysis just a few short years ago. Now, he seemed notably unperturbed by all the eyeballs pointed in his direction. He thought for a few moments before clearing his throat to speak.

Kit: Afoot and light-hearted we take to the open road. Healthy, free, the world before us, the long dark path before us leading us home.

Teek nodded and swivelled his chair back to his console, knowing exactly what to do. With a few button presses, he plot the course to Carpathia and pulled the throttle. The engines engaged, the stars stretched out as though burrowing a path towards home and the Shadowdancer began its newest journey.

Music lyrics in this episode from:
Elàn, by Nightwish
Woke Up in Love, by Kygo

Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Less_End
Colourbrand
Falke2009