Captain NorthStar Lightwalker's Arc

Chapter 3 of 14

NorthStar's shuttle had barely touched the fleet when the message hit his comm. A diplomatic envoy was inbound. They expected him to host. He felt the old freeze try to rise, cold in his chest. Move first, he told himself. One foot. One order. He gave the order before he had a plan. Clear the wooden dock by the water. Open the brick-pillared shelter that had stood unused for months. Hang the old bronze bell where any arriving guest would see it. His chief engineer met him on the deck, arms crossed. "You've got an hour," she said. "Don't think. Do." NorthStar moved. He helped tie ropes to the dock posts himself. He swept the shelter's stone steps with his own hands. He hauled the mossy bell tower upright at the path's mouth and tested the rope. The sound rang clean across the water. Crew members stopped, then joined without being asked. The envoy's craft landed as the last lantern lit. NorthStar stood at the dock's edge, coat straight, the silver ring still tucked at his chest. He did not wait to be greeted. He stepped forward first and offered his hand. "Welcome. Your seat is ready." The envoy paused, surprised, then smiled and took his hand. Inside the shelter, the meeting went smoothly. No fumbling. No apology. When it ended, the envoy promised to speak well of him to the council before the next session. NorthStar watched the craft lift away. His engineer came to stand beside him. "That," she said, "is how you get a seat." He nodded once. He had not frozen. He had moved first. And somewhere ahead, the council door had cracked open an inch wider.