“I need to know more . . . ,” Eric said, only to feel the world whirl around him again. Suddenly the mystical sensation was gone, and the walls of the shuttle were simply the walls of the shuttle.

Three loud knocks on the hatch caused him to turn his head.

“Captain? Are you alright in there?”

“Fine. I’ll be out momentarily,” Eric said.

Eric really didn’t know what to make of the two entities he’d met, Central and Gaia. They were something more than human, yet they didn’t seem to act much on their apparent power. Of course, for all he knew they could be constantly pulling strings, but somehow he had the feeling they didn’t.

Central was analytical, logical, cool, and distant. For all his thoughts on the matter, Eric had no problem understanding how the Priminae could have mistaken the entity for a computer system. Gaia, however, was wild and fierce, more a force of nature than anything resembling a calculating machine. Eric didn’t know if Gaia had taken the name of the Earth goddess, or inspired it, but either seemed likely to his mind.

Of course, the big problem with either of them was obvious and frustrating.

How the hell am I supposed to maintain any sort of operational security when there are mind-reading alien entities floating around the universe?

Not that he could really tell anyone. Even as weird as the real universe was, talking about all-seeing alien gestalts that could read minds and warp reality would basically ensure he picked up a medical discharge, mental category.

Someday I’m going to write a book. It’ll have to be fantasy though, ’cause sci-fi fans will never buy this crap.

Eric sighed as he undogged the hatch and stepped out of the shuttle, nodding to the Marine who was waiting.

“Call back everyone,” he ordered. “We’re shipping out early.”

“Yes sir!”

►►►

AEV Odysseus

► Footsteps didn’t echo on the Odysseus as they had on the Odyssey. Something in the acoustics of the ceramic decks and walls baffled sound, but the steady tap of a marching boot still traveled well along the length of the many long corridors, at least until a crew member encountered a corner.

Steph paused upon hearing that tapping speed up and approach, and he turned to see Milla hurrying toward him.

“Evening, Milla.” He smiled at her. “I expected you to have leave?”

“Ranquil is not my home,” she said with a hint of sadness that warned him not to ask any further questions.

Milla wasn’t one to chat about where she’d come from, and Steph had a good idea of why that was. Too many had lost far more than soil, water, and air during the Drasin incursion, but there was something about the loss of a home that struck true no matter the scale.

“Ah,” was all he said. “So what has your attentions today?”