Orion Zystro's Arc

Chapter 2 of 2

The captain's private quarters smelled like engine oil and old leather. Orion stood near the door, hands clasped behind their back. The captain sat at her desk, purple eyes studying them carefully. She slid a data pad across the metal surface. Orion picked it up and read the encrypted coordinates. Their first real assignment. A supply run to the outer platforms, solo. No supervision. No backup. This was the test. Orion nodded once and left the room. They had studied navigation protocols for months before joining this crew. Now they would prove they belonged. Dawn broke across Nereidum's port district as Orion climbed into the small transport ship. The power station outside the docking bay hummed to life. Metal panels gleamed in the early light. Energy conduits pulsed as they charged the vessel's core systems. Orion watched the fuel gauge climb while running through the pre-flight checklist. Each switch and button had to be exact. One mistake could strand them in open space. The coordinates on the data pad showed three stops across the outer platforms. Orion entered them into the navigation system and felt the engines rumble beneath their seat. The docking clamps released with a sharp hiss. They gripped the controls and lifted off. The ship rose smoothly above the port. Below, the power station grew smaller until it vanished. Orion set course for the first platform and checked the cargo manifest. This was more than a supply run. This was their chance to show the captain they could handle real work. Trust started with one successful mission. Orion pushed the throttle forward and entered the dark between worlds. The first platform appeared as a cluster of lights against the black. Orion guided the ship into the docking ring and cut the engines. Outside the airlock, a tall machine stood beside the platform entrance. Its sleek metalwork caught the station lights. The atmospheric distiller processed air for the travelers who came through here. Orion watched it work while they waited for the cargo bay to open. A message flashed on their console. The platform manager wanted the supplies delivered to the lower deck. Orion grabbed the first container and hauled it through the corridors. Their arms burned by the third trip, but they kept moving. The manager signed off on the delivery without looking up. Orion returned to the ship and plotted course for the second platform. Two more stops. Two more chances to prove themselves. They sealed the airlock and fired the engines. The captain would hear about this run. And when she did, Orion would be one step closer to earning real trust. The final platform docking went smooth. Orion delivered the last cargo and headed back to base. On approach, they spotted something new near the main hangar. A metallic vault structure stood separate from the other buildings. The captain's personal storage, they realized. That had to be where she kept the restricted files. Orion landed the transport and secured the cargo bay. They filed their mission report at the main terminal and walked past the vault on their way to quarters. The structure was built to keep secrets locked away. Orion would need more than good work to get inside. They would need the captain's complete trust. But today was a start. Three platforms, zero mistakes, and one step closer to their goal.