E:A Vol 7 Ch 15—January 30, 2121

Chapter 15: January 30, 2121

The morning after finding the room ten miles below the surface of the planet, and the controls for a power generator, Zy’nayth, Ja’val, Kol’non, and Second Science Commander Gno’toz met in Ja’val’s private science lab on the Raythian flagship.

“Task today is to find out what broke and how we can fix it,” Ja’val scooted up to his desk. “Drones should be where we parked them. Chancellor, scout the room a little more thoroughly now that we’re rested. Need a clue as to where to look. It has to be a burst pipe or something of that sort. Maybe the energy processor isn’t working correctly. Or it’s not distributing the energy as it should.”

Kol’non had his drone on auto-hover in the room with the four workstations, a sort of control room. “Processing and distributing? I know that’s what it’s supposed to do, but where is it sending all of that energy? If it’s grabbing the planet’s geothermal heat, turning it into consumable energy, where’s it sending it? The city-ship?”

“The city-ship doesn’t have any intake valves for…” Ja’val stopped, swiveled his chair to a different computer and began typing away. Schematics for the Mythican city-ship came up on the station’s main monitor.

“Ja’val?” Zy’nayth asked.

“Remember when the battlecruiser attacked and dumped a bunch of Rayth onto the city-ship? The first attack on Terra 2…the rebels went below the shields.”

“Yes. To remain undetectable to the scanners.”

“Yes, but perhaps…” he turned his monitor, “see these,” he pointed as everyone turned to the screen. “Thought those were for dumping water in case of a flood since they didn’t connect to anything under the city. But…” he whizzed his way through multiple screens then groaned, “nothing in their database.”

“You thought they were possible intake valves for the energy,” Zy’nayth’s statement was more of a question.

“That was my thought, yes, but the valves don’t seem to lead anywhere, at least not to the ship’s power rooms.” He sighed. “Sorry, thought we were onto something.”

“You are,” the Second Science Commander said, “but not with regards to the city-ship.” Now the group turned to his computer screens. “The schematics we uncovered show what appears to be energy conduits leading from the power room, here where the High Chancellor’s drone is, to the far side of the mainland. The schematics stop abruptly. I haven’t found any other information yet. In any case, my guess is that there is another facility at the other end of the mainland. I’ll continue to look for more schematics unless you wish to.”

“You go ahead. If you’re right, and there is another facility, perhaps some sort of manufacturing facility, that would explain the need of a power generator. I’m going to guess that there’s a break in the connection between the two facilities. Energy can’t get to the second facility, so the pressure built up and blew. Or conversely, it’s trying to draw in more heat and can’t and imploded somewhere.”

The four men studied various sections of the schematics while Gno’toz looked for more. Zy’nayth broke off now and again to get more images of the power room and the vents in the area. It was nearly 11:30 when Ja’val had his plan sketched out. “We’re going to need one drone to follow the intake line, one the distribution line, and I’ll still need one in the control room to try and fix that other workstation. Might be good to have two more drones down there just to speed things up since it looks like we have several sections that branch off.”

“How long to prep two more?” Zy’nayth asked.

“Thirty minutes, tops. I’ll head to the jet bay now. Gno’toz, I’ll need your help with that.”

Zy’nayth tapped his comlink, “John, Victoria?”

“Here,” they answered in unison.

“Victoria, we are going to need food and refreshments up here for the four of us, I feel it will be a long day. If you could arrange for that, I would appreciate it. John, I need a good pilot, you up to it?”

“Even if I wasn’t, I’d be there.”

“Thirty minutes, come to the Ja’val’s private laboratory on the flagship, and bring my son with you. Victoria, that will mean more food.”

“Got it,” she replied,” I assume he’ll be with you the rest of the day.”

“Until I feel he needs rest, yes. This will be a nice diversion for him.”

“All right. I’ll get snacks arranged.”

Zy’nayth thanked them then contacted his Flight Commander. “We are going to need another pilot in thirty minutes,” he said, “turn over your station to the Second Flight Commander.”

“Understood.”

“For a minute there, I thought Ky might be our fourth pilot,” Kol’non said.

“No, but as you said last night, this will be good for him to experience. Plus, he has felt as if he has not been able to help everyone like his sister in the infirmary. This will boost his confidence.”

John and Ky’nayth arrived twenty minutes later. He had four large shopping bags filled with containers of food.

“Have you eaten lunch, Ky’nayth?”

“No. Mommy say I eat with you. If wrong, I go back down.”

“I want you here to observe what we are doing. I was not sure if your mother had you eat before coming up.” Zy’nayth smiled at his son. “After lunch, we have a big project ahead of us. What did Aunt Janice make?”

“Just sammiches but put extra stuff in for snacks,” Ky’nayth said as Ja’val and Gno’toz walked in. Each grabbed some food, Zy’nayth pointing out that the flagship team had made up two drink coolers for them, one with water, the other with iced tea.

“I thought you might like to help me pilot a drone,” Zy’nayth told his son.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

The First Flight Commander walked in, Zy’nayth offered him food, then had Ja’val explain what they were doing.

“The High Chancellor will take his drone down this chamber,” Ja’val pointed to the room’s main screen on the wall. “First Flight Commander, you will go down this path. I haven’t quite figured out which is the intake and which is the distribution pipe. John, you will stand by. If a path splits, you will be sent down it. The controls are almost exactly the same as our cruisers, go ahead and get comfortable. You and the Flight Commander get to pilot them down and into the fissure. From there, it’s about a thirty-minute flight to the workroom where the First Commander’s drone is located. Any debris in the way, use lasers on low; that has worked so far for the High Chancellor.”

“Drones with lasers. I like this already,” John said as he studied the controls. “Ky’nayth, want to sit with me while I power this up and fly it down?”

“Is it okay Daddy High Chancellor?”

“Go ahead.”

Ky’nayth set his sandwich on the counter then climbed up on John’s lap and continued to eat. His eyes watched the controls and the screen as John powered up the drone and made sure he understood the display. “Yeah, just like the cruiser. Mind if I fly around the jet bay a little to get used to the cameras?”

“Go ahead. Try to use the arms as well,” Zy’nayth said.

“This button, Uncle Colonel John,” Ky’nayth pointed, “activate arms. Then control with this and this but can just use one and put this to auto but not precise, just use if has ‘mergency or something.”

“He knows his stuff,” John said. “Thanks, Ky. Oh pardon me, Student Pilot One.”

Ky’nayth beamed, finished his sandwich, took a big drink of his iced tea, watching as John and the First Flight Commander’s drones were teleported to an area near the fissure on the planet.

“Comfortable with the controls?” Zy’nayth asked.

“Need a little practice with the arms, but flying isn’t a problem,” John replied. “I have a feeling Ky can take over if I have issues.”

“Hopefully you will not need to do much detailed work, if it comes to that we can switch drones. Son, come sit with me now, please.”

The boy hopped down, moved his glass of tea to his father’s table and climbed up on his lap. “Oh, you inside already,” he said.

“While we wait for John and the Flight Commander, you can take the drone around the room and explore a bit. Watch for falling debris.”

Ky’nayth took the controls and buzzed around the room. He checked out the different items, used the arms flawlessly, and even ventured a short distance into the tunnel that this father had taken to the room.

“Okay. I think we’re ready to begin,” Ja’val said as the two new drones joined Zy’nayth’s.

“I re…relink controls to Daddy High Chancellor,” Ky’nayth said.

“Relinquish,” Zy’nayth corrected. “You did extremely well, Student Pilot One.”

“Thank you, Daddy High Chancellor.”

“Gentlemen, to make things a bit easier, please use my name,” the First Flight Commander said, “I’ve worked with the colonel long enough to know he’s a friend. I am Fahn’dir.”

“And all of you know my name,” said the Second Science Commander.

“How did John manage that?” Zy’nayth smiled.

“Got to know each other pretty well after the attack. Got tired of calling him by his title, bugged him until he told me his name,” John grinned as Fahn’dir and Zy’nayth’s drones went down their assigned pipelines.

“Path split,” Fahn’dir said a few minutes later.

“Same,” Zy’nayth added.

“Hold, let me check,” Ja’val said.

“Daddy go right for second. See?”

Zy’nayth turned the drone and let the lights shine on what his son saw, “Another path. Fahn’dir, go a little farther, see if either path splits again. Do not go far.”

“No split.”

Ja’val turned to Zy’nayth, “Would go faster with another drone. Up to you.”

Zy’nayth knew Ja’val was referring to Ky’nayth. “It would. Ready another drone,” he replied then kissed the top of his son’s head.

Ja’val tapped his comlink, “Third, can you get another Science drone prepped. No extra measures needed. Let me know when it’s ready. Ky’nayth, you’re going get to pilot one. Boot up that station next to your father.”

Ky’nayth looked at his father who gave him a nod. He again moved his drink then grabbed a bag of chips and sat in the chair, which he found was too low for him. Zy’nayth adjusted it and found a pillow on the cot that Ja’val kept in there when he just wanted to take a quick nap. “Sit on this, should be the perfect height now.”

“Thank you. Computer on. Code for drone?”

Ja’val walked over and typed in the complex code. “Once the Third has it ready, the screen will come up. Then power her up.”

“Do you remember how to get to the fissure and the facility?”

“Yes, Daddy High Chancellor. I no see how to get to your room, though.”

“I will direct you when you get to the fissure.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Drone five ready,” the Third Science Commander said.

Ky’nayth powered it up, tested the arms and the camera, moved it a little, then said he was okay to be teleported.

“Kid’s a natural,” Kol’non said. “Definitely the Supreme Commander’s son.”

Zy’nayth watched over his son’s monitor as the boy slipped the drone down into the fissure, given directions by his father. He bobbed and rolled his way through to the facility and went over to the north door, “This tunnel?”

“Yes. Run through a controls check.”

“Kay.” Ky’nayth went through the controls, rattling off items as he tested them, “Uncle First Science Commander, should I record?”

“Yes, please, Student Pilot One. Follow your father’s path. At the split, High Chancellor take the right, Ky’nayth the left. John, head to Fahn’dir. Fahn’dir, go right, John left. Remember, she may still rumble and shake, and even if she doesn’t, there may still be falling debris. Be very alert. One more second, please, I want to make sure I have all of your cameras on my screens. “High Chancellor, you first. Good. John. Turn left and right. Good. Fahn’dir. Thank you. Ky’nayth.” Ja’val chuckled, “Nice roll and spin.”

“That equipment is extremely expensive,” Zy’nayth said, “be careful with it.”

“Understood Daddy High Chancellor.”

Three hours passed. Movement through the tunnels was slow due to fallen debris. Ja’val commented that the casing around the pipes was in good shape despite areas where there were large cave ins. As Ky’nayth’s tunnel took a turn to run parallel with the one his father was exploring, the Second Science Commander noticed there were two other pipes off to the side feeding into the main pipe, one of which was spewing boiling water.

“No, Chancellor,” Ja’val said as Zy’nayth went to investigate. “Let Ky do this. It’s a tight fit even for his smaller drone. Ky, scan every inch of it. Chancellor, just keep going down this pipe. John, Fahn’dir, anything?”

“So ours are the distribution pipes?” Zy’nayth asked and moved on.

“Seems that way, if it stays on course, it will empty in the gulf. Fahn’dir’s is heading to the second facility…if there is one…but…hmm…it also appears to be a distribution pipe.” He sighed, “Intake has to be below these pipes. Sorry, Chancellor, I should have figured that out.”

“Just find the issue and let us get it fixed. Construction of these pipes and the work area we found are not quite what was expected. You cannot assume the intake pipes are below these.”

“I wish our scanners could get through this metal or cloak or whatever is shielding them from us. Good work, Student Pilot One. Appears to be a minor break, not enough to cause the quakes, at least, doesn’t appear so. Ky, go a little further.”

“We have another split here,” John said.

“Chancellor?”

“Still appears to be two pipes, but mine does not appear to be splitting off soon.”

Ja’val typed on his holographic keyboard. “Ky, keep going; camera on the pipes.”

“Position of the burst pipe noted,” Gno’toz said. “Also noting it is not venting anything. I can get another drone prepped to go down and repair it.”

“We don’t know what the pipes are made of, we better wait. Okay, Ky, that’s good. Doesn’t look like anything is damaged further down. We’ll come back to this. Head to John’s position. John, stay put until he arrives.”

Ky’nayth’s little drone flipped around and buzzed back to the other pipeline.

“His seems to move faster than mine,” John frowned watching Ja’val’s monitors.

“It’s smaller and isn’t loaded with the equipment the other four are. It’s just a basic camera, scanner. More for speed and maneuverability.”

The little drone deftly made its way to John’s position and circled around it. “I here!”

“John, you head right, Ky, left. Take it slow, Ky.”

“Yes, sir. I went fast to get here. I go slow to scan and take pictures.”

***

“Smoke!” Ky’nayth said nearly an hour later. “Smoke!”

Ja’val zoomed in on Ky’nayth’s camera. “Stop. Lower down to the pipe and zoom in as much as you can. I need to know if there are any small holes in the pipe before we get to the smoke.

“Yes, sir,” he said and adjusted his controls lowering his drown until it was almost sitting on top of the pipe.

“First, anything showing up on your controls?” Ja’val asked.

“Checking, but I’m pretty sure I’ve figured out that workstation one has all of the info we need, and it’s broken,” Kol’non replied.

Ja’val sighed, “I wish they would have mapped these pipes.”

“They probably did and it’s in the broken workstation.”

“They should be in a central database with the facilities’ schematics. How did they ever run anything…” he sighed again, “Sorry. It would just be easier if everything was altogether. Ky continue forward, be very careful. Anyone else picking up anything?”

Zy’nayth had his own computer up and running. He tapped into Ja’val’s and called up all six screens to run parallel with the First Science Commander’s. Then he called up a seventh monitor and displayed the schematic of the facility and the paths of the drones so far.

“We are encircling something,” he said. “Something rather large.”

“And I’m back to Fahn’dir’s pipe,” John said.

“Catch up with him, but rescan as you go in case something was missed.”

A few minutes later, Ja’val told them that Fahn’dir and John were going in a circle but Ky’nayth’s path was heading away.

“John, go as fast as you safely can,” Zy’nayth said, “try to complete the circle. Fahn’dir and I will continue as we have.”

“At cliff,” Ky’nayth said. “It not smoke. It steam.” He moved his camera to show all angles of the area. “Water down there. Where pipe goes.”

“Follow the pipe down. Take a temperature reading of the water, please,” Ja’val said.

Ky’nayth descended, going slowly to take the best images he could of the surroundings as he went.

“Can it handle that heat?” John asked.

“Unless it is as hot as a sun, yes,” Zy’nayth said.

“Pipe no reach water,” Ky’nayth said.

“Stop where you are and lock the camera on pipe,” Ja’val said. “Good, perfect. Okay, rotate the camera slowly, following the pipe down to the water.”

“That’s our intake,” Gno’zol said, watching the feed from Ky’nayth’s drone. “Something caused the water table to drop significantly. That’s at least six feet. Can you get a sample of that water?”

“I can. I extending arm. Kay. I take temperature reading. Can you read temperature; is it come through?”

“It has, thank you.”

“Kay. Taking sample of water.” His small hands moved over the controls as if he’d been doing this for decades. He knew where each control was located and how to adjust his small, short body to reach across and hit the correct panels as he went. “Kay. Sample secure.”

“Begin running prelim test program one on that sample. Take another put it into the secure box. I’ll analyze it up here,” Ja’val said.

“Prelim one, running. Taking second sample.” After a moment, “Second sample secure.”

“Prelim one not showing anything unusual,” Gno’toz said a moment later.

“Ky, explore that well, look for any cracks in the wall,” Ja’val said.

“Split,” John said and glanced at Zy’nayth’s displays, “Looks like I’m halfway between the big guy and Fahn’dir.”

“Continue to me,” Zy’nayth said. “Flight, when you get to the split, head down that new branch.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Found hole,” Ky’nayth said then took a sip of his tea and popped a chip in his mouth. “This fun. Like detective looky for clues,” he chuckled.

“Well, that’s where the water went,” Gno’toz said looking at a V-shaped expanse opposite of the pipeline. Half of the V was below the waterline.

“Ky, go under water, follow how far down the crack goes.”

“Kay,” he said and adjusted the thrusters.

“What caused that?” Kol’non asked. “If the quakes are due to not getting sufficient intake, and this is our intake pipe, something had to cause that crack.”

“The old chicken-egg scenario,” John said.

“Chicken-egg?” Gno’toz asked.

“Which came first, the chicken or the egg? You need a chicken to lay an egg, but you need an egg to hatch a chicken.”

“The chicken came first, obviously,” Gno’toz said.

“And you’re sure of this?” John asked.

“I am now. God did not create eggs. He created animals.”

Zy’nayth smiled, “Smart man.”

“This branch has a lot of blockage,” Fahn’dir said.

“Yeah, around that split it got worse,” John said.

“We are almost to the split,” Zy’nayth said, “we may have to blast our way in.”

“Wait until your son’s drone is with you. He’s running one more ring around the cavern underwater,” Ja’val said.

Zy’natyh’s comlink buzzed. It was a signal from Victoria. “Just checking in. Need more food?”

“What time is it?”

“About 6:00 p.m.,” Ja’val replied to his boss.

“Can we safely park the drones here and have a relaxing meal? It will also give me time to explain to the rest of the team what is going on.” Zy’nayth looked at Ja’val who gave him a nod. “Good. Victoria, my beloved, we shall be down for dinner. Ja’val, Kol’non, Second Science Commander, and First Flight Commander will be joining us.”

“Do those two eat normal food?” Victoria asked, “They’ve taken the serum, right?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Okay, setting extra plates. I assume you want Vince here?”

“Yes. The Alpha Team and spouses. Becket if he is up to it, and Simon.”

“Got it. Janice said dinner will be ready in 30.”

“We shall be there. No, wait. If there is an aftershock…would it be too much to ask for you to bring the food up here?”

“Your conference room?”

“Yes.”

“Food will be there.”

“Thank you. Sorry to inconvenience you. I know you have so much going on. And before you scold me, yes, I know we have a mess hall up here. I realize I have been inconsiderate. I will tap them for food from here on out.”

“Don’t worry about it. Janice and David always assume the entire family will be with us, so we have the food. Love you. See you in a few.”

At first, Zy’nayth thought of just working through dinner, but he knew his son needed something more than the chips and fruit he’d been snacking on all afternoon and more than that, they all needed a break away from their monitors.

Vince, Chris, Alessa, David, Kaven, Be’atta, Lutia, Simon Harris, Victoria, Ny’van, Janice, and Amelia pushing Becket in a wheelchair joined Zy’nayth’s team in his office on the bridge of the flagship. Though the two newer Rayth in the group were known to everyone, those who hadn’t been in the lab throughout the day were unaware of their names which was a Rayth tradition; they generally didn’t give out names to anyone outside of family. But having come through the rebel attack together, the First Flight Commander and Second Science Commander gave their names, even though Becket and Victoria knew Gno’toz from working on the serum with him.

“Sorry it’s nothing fancy,” Victoria said, “shepherd’s pie will have to do. Honey, Mik’kenna is standing by to be teleported up, you didn’t say she could come.”

“Oh dear, yes, by all means,” he tapped his comlink and ordered for his daughter to be teleported to the bridge. He went out and grabbed her up into a strong hug. “Forgive your daddy, he did not remember to invite you to dinner. Sweetheart, I am so very sorry. I love you. I cannot forgive myself for forgetting to invite you.”

“It’s ‘kay, you work hard and no has lot sleep. Mommy say it business meet, so I…I sort of not worry but disappoint a little,” she said with a little mist in her eyes. “Daddy, I glad you ‘pologize. I started think maybe I did bad.”

“You could never do anything bad. My beloved daughter, I love you so very much.”

“Love you, too!” she kissed his cheek, all forgiven. “We has shepherd’s pie. It has taytoes!”she told her father as he pulled an empty chair next to his for his daughter—a place of honor on the flagship of the Raythian Empire.

The expanded group was told about the day’s adventures, including Student Pilot One’s first expedition with a drone. “He handled that thing as well as the High Chancellor,” John said. “Quick learner.”

“Thank you!” Ky’nayth beamed. “I read all I can on all stuff Daddy give me ‘bout ship and drone and stuff. It sort of easy. I natural.”

“Yes, you are,” Zy’nayth smiled at his son. “I have my son to help me with this much like my daughter helped my wife with her with her crisis.”

“I help? I just fly, I not really help.”

“Ky’nayth, you are a tremendous help. That you even knew how to take samples impresses me,” Ja’val said. “I really appreciate you being there.”

The boy waved his hand like it was nothing. “I say I read all stuff. Samples easy. I know all protocol too. I study all time.”

“Are you guys going to be at this all night?” Victoria asked.

“It depends on how blocked the tunnel is,” Zy’nayth answered. “If it looks like it is going to be a several hour project, I may call it an early night. There have not been any major quakes since we were able to shut the system down. I am tempted to call it a day now.”

“It would give me a little time to review the schematics in more detail,” Ja’val said.

“You’re going to bed. If he says it’s going to be an early day,” Lutia said, “you’re curling up with me in bed. You haven’t slept more than a couple hours a night. Kel and I miss you.”

“Well, I guess if it’s an early night, I will be in my wife’s arms, not looking at schematics.”

Victoria looked at her husband, “Lutia has a good idea.”

“Daddy, I stay up. I can get into that crack. See what’s in there,” Ky’nayth said.

“Ja’val, do you think there will be any major quakes tonight?”

“If I am correct in thinking that the quakes were caused by that generator, then most likely no. A few tremors perhaps, aftershocks, but there shouldn’t be any large quakes. However, there is a chance that these past quakes have caused some plate issues and there will be a quake regardless.”

“I think I will take a chance. We will leave the drones where they are and trust they will be safe. We will all retire early. Ja’val, you may work two hours on the schematics unless your wife wishes more time with you. Lutia, at that point, he is to go to bed. If he does not, you will send for me and I will make sure he does so,” Zy’nayth grinned. “The same goes for everyone. Two hours, at the most, after dinner, to do whatever you want. Then you will go to bed. The team working with the drones will return at 6:00 a.m. Ky’nayth, you will not come up until 8:00 a.m.”

“Daddy, I be up on time, I can go at 6:00, it no problem.”

“You will wait until 8:00. That will allow your mother time to sleep in a little before she has to be up to fix you breakfast.”

“But Aunt Janice fix breakfast. She always up early.”

“Aunt Janice needs to sleep in as much as everyone,” Zy’nayth said then looked at the head nurse, “she deserves it.”

“But Daddy! I need ‘sperience. I be ‘kay. I fix my own breakfast. I have fruit. Please!”

“Honey,” Victoria said to her husband, “regardless of wanting to sleep in, I am on the early shift tomorrow. I have to be up anyway. I can, if you want, fix both you and Ky breakfast.”

“Please Daddy!”

“I know you’re worried about him being up so early,” Ja’val said, “but if he gets sleepy during the day, I do have that little cot in the lab for when I need to doze off for a few minutes.”

“I no get sleepy. I ready to help!”

“Very well. However, I am not going to wake you in the morning. If you are up in time, you may join us, but if you need more sleep, go ahead and sleep. I would rather have you awake and alert than sleepy and sluggish. I need my people in top form. Janice, if you would get him up at 7:15 that gives him time to eat without rushing, take a bath, and get ready if he does not join us earlier.”

“I will,” she said.

“Ky’nayth, promise me.”

“I promise, but I be up!”

“Kenna, I’m free tomorrow morning,” Kaven said, “want some help taking care of the puppies?”

“Uncle Vice Chancellor help to take them to island, but I need help taking to visit infirmary. It lot work.”

“Happy to help with that or anything else.”

“Anything I can do?” Chris asked.

“You’re taking care of the city,” Vince said, “since Victoria won’t let me.”

“But I can do something while sitting in your office staring at the computer screen.”

“With us blasting our way through to the second facility,” Kol’non said, “Ja’val could tie that computer into Ky’nayth’s and he could be a second set of eyes on that drone. Since we’ll be digging and we have to watch for debris, Ja’val and Gno’toz will have enough to do watching over our shoulders. It’d be good to have someone looking over Ky’s shoulder’s too.”

“I think that wise course of action,” Ky’nayth said, trying to sound like his father. But for everyone around the table, it was all they could do to stifle the laughter rising in their throats.

“Bubby do good job, but good to have Uncle Lieutenant Colonel Christopher watching just in case,” Mik’kenna added, causing a few to cough into their napkins and a couple of chuckles to make it past their defenses.

Mik’kenna put her hands on her hips, “Why you laughy?”

“Sorry, my beloved. It is just unusual to hear both of you sound so grown up,” Zy’nayth said.

Dinner was finished, those that didn’t have spouses to tend to stayed at Victoria and Zy’nayth’s and played with the dogs for a about thirty minutes then left them in peace so the family could have a night together. It was the first time in weeks where the house was home to just Zy’nayth, Victoria, and the twins, with only Becket and Amelia in a guestroom. The chambers seemed unusually quiet, but that quiet meant things were getting back to normal on the city-ship, and that was a good sign. Mik’kenna and Ky’nayth got to sleep in their own rooms for the first time since moving to the new quarters. It was also the first time they truly had separate rooms. They had selected rooms at Victoria’s Montana estate but due to always having other family members with them who used those rooms, they’d never slept in them.

“I’m worried,” Victoria said to her husband as she got into her pajamas after mentioning it was the first time the twins would be sleeping in different rooms, “think they’ll have trouble?”

“If they do, we will help them adjust. Both seemed eager to have their own beds, making a fuss over rearranging their clothes in their dressers or where the pups would sleep.”

“Could be nervousness or anxiety.”

“We told them that if they got scared, they only had to wake us,” Zy’nayth said. “They will be quite fine.”

“Zy…”

“They will be all right…”

“No, not that. Honey, we only let Kenna work half a day in the infirmary. We need to be fair. Ky should only work until lunch.”

“He will be quite disappointed.”

“Zy’nayth, we will be fair.”

“You are correct. I was only stating that he would be disappointed. I will talk to him in the morning.”

Ky’nayth had his new uniform that he got for Christmas out and hanging on the back of his desk chair. He was patting it down, trying to make it look as sharp as his dad’s all-white near-floor length leather jacket. He pulled on the pants, trying to push out the wrinkles but wasn’t having much luck. He ran in his underwear, carrying the leather uniform to his parents’ bedroom, “Mommy, help! Uniform crinkly. I no can wear like this on flagship!”

Victoria grabbed the jacket and pants and the white tee shirt that he wore with the beige uniform and told him to put on his pajamas. He ducked into his room, got on his clothes and met her at the laundry unit. “See this button, this is just for getting wrinkles out; it doesn’t clean the clothes. Put it in here, it scans it to see what it is: shirt, blouse, jacket, dress, whatever, then it presses it appropriately. Just do the same for the pants and shirt.”

She stayed for the couple of minutes that it took then she told him to take them and either hang them up or lay them across a chair. “Then you go right to bed.” She leaned down and kissed him. “I’m proud of you my little Fire Warrior. Goodnight.”

Back in her own bedroom she collapsed on the bed. “Mik’kenna’s out, Ky’s putting his uniform away then he’ll probably fall right to sleep. He looks both tired and excited. Now,” she said as she slipped under the covers, “three extra hours of sleep for me. I love you, Zy.”

Zy’nayth set his book aside and turned out the lights. When he turned back to his wife, she was sound asleep. “I love you so much,” he whispered as he kissed her curly hair. “Sleep well, my beloved.”