Yulia admired Gomori station from her front-row seat at the pilot’s station. She loved watching the destination grow out of nothingness. Gomori was small compared to most stations and square. They relied on the colony below for growth. Additions were haphazard but many, fitting the Union standard. She glided into the bay, slowed by the artificial drag built into station hangers. She had no idea how it worked, but she didn''t need to. The transition was smooth, and the ship locked in, freeing her of responsibility. She glanced over her shoulder at the Captain. He was back in his normal, more muted, uniform. She thought it still looked sharp.


    “We made it.” She grinned. He nodded, giving her one of those real smiles that made her day. She turned back to the yoke before he could see her blush. Still grinning to herself, she began the procedure for locking out the pilot’s controls. She had five days of shore leave ahead, and only one thing she absolutely needed to get done.


    ***


    Three days into shore leave, that one thing was still holding Yulia up. She stood in front of Valorie’s door contemplating whether to ring in. This was the third time she had stopped by, full of gusto to invite Valorie to explore the market. But again she held back at the last moment, remembering the way Valorie avoided her eyes. So here she was, frozen in place staring at the panel next to Valorie''s door.


    If she were just going to get stuck in this spot, what was the point of coming in the first place? Things had been awkward since the whole inspection thing began. Deep down, her first reaction to Valorie breaking the news was despair her brother might be right. She had faced Valorie with the fear in her heart, and Valorie had picked up on it. Looking away from Valorie’s door, Yulia smacked the side of her head. She had spent too much time with Serge’s paranoia.


    No, it wasn’t fair to blame him. She rubbed the side of her head, mussing up her blue hair. She had come to tell Valorie there was nothing to worry about. She wanted to chat and gossip like friends did in her favorite movies. That was why she was here. Her hand hovered over the panel.


    The image of Valorie’s eyes lowered to the floor flashed through her head. The way Valorie disappeared the moment she was released from the bridge. How she went silent whenever Yulia spoke. Serge said it was all in her head, but Yulia was sure Valorie was avoiding her. What if her attempts to fix things was an annoyance? Her hand froze. That thought sent her gut roiling. She couldn’t afford to make things worse with Valorie. They had to work together after all. She withdrew her hand and started walking without a destination in mind.


    **


    Valorie sat very still on the edge of her seat, staring at her PD. The bell for her door could go off at any moment. At first, she had been reading one of the articles Gareth sent her and having a hard time with it. A lot of the language went right over her head. Then, she sensed someone approaching her door. She had gotten to know Gareth, Quinns, and Leon by life sense alone. This had to be one of the others. It was a warm light flickering with doubt. It had a strangely familiar undertone, a feeling she had picked up once before on the Helianthus. Yulia? She waited, but no ring came. The person was still there, hovering by the door.


    That familiar undertone reminded her of someone she had known long before. She thought it was because Yulia was a little like the real Valorie. Energetic and friendly. But there were differences. The more Valorie got to know about Yulia, the more those differences came to light. Yet, the odd sensation of familiarity remained.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    The person stepped away from the door and started down the hallway again. Valorie deflated back into her chair, closing her PD. That was the third time it had happened. Why did she come so close only to move away? Valorie followed some advice she had heard before and tried putting herself in Yulia’s shoes. A sense of obligation might cause her to approach someone she was uncomfortable with. Her heart sank a little. Yulia probably saw her as a burden.


    Valorie stood up and paced across her room. The movement sent fresh blood through her limbs, easing the tension in her shoulders. She could tell Yulia there was no such obligation. No reason Yulia should have to keep pushing for something that bothered her so much. Valorie paused in her steps, looking out her window into the Gardens, eyes trailing along a nearby branch. That could work, right?


    Or, she thought, would that be too strange to say? It might only make Yulia more uncomfortable. Valorie started walking again, but this time it didn’t help. She was only going in circles. It could be a good idea, but maybe she should confirm it with someone first. The first person that popped into her head was the Captain. He might understand where she was coming from. At least, he understood the SCT mindset. She took a steady breath and opened her PD.


    **


    A walk with no direction landed Yulia in front of the gym. The doors slid open before she even thought of going in. Well, it was open now. She stepped in and decided she might as well get her daily exercise over with. Serge wouldn''t have to nag her today, he''d appreciate that. From the entrance, she heard the hard jingle of the metal barbell. She didn''t have to guess who it was.


    “Hey, big brother.” She said, passing by the aerobics equipment. He didn''t react as he finished his set. After resting the bar in place, he sat up and looked at her. His face was flushed from the workout, but his eyes were wide as he stared.


    "Yui?" His brow furrowed, "Everything okay?" He asked. Okay, that made her a little mad.


    "What? I can''t get a little time in the gym? I was cooped up for like 10 hours." She said. He wiped his face with the towel over his shoulder, before running it through his hair.


    "No, it''s just weird."


    "Then you''re the weirdest of them all, barbell brains." She said sitting down at the bench across from him


    "Weird for you."


    "Wow, rude."


    "Is there something bothering you?" He said.


    "No," She muttered, looking away. "It''s nothing."


    He sighed and lay back on the bench, preparing to lift again. He waited, then gripped the bar and waited again. When she didn''t say anything, he breathed out as he pushed up on the barbell.


    "It''s like, I don''t know what to do." She said. He put the bar back and sat up in a fury.


    "Something has been bothering you - and it''s been almost a week. Just get it out of your system, Yui. Please." He pleaded. She frowned at first and then wilted. He was right this time. She tried to think of how to say what was on her mind but the way he stared at her threw her off.


    “Valorie might, I mean, she probably hates me.” Her voice was stilted. Serge blinked and raised his eyebrows.


    “What? That’s -” He managed to catch himself. Yulia watched as he froze and pondered his words for a moment. He had been about to ask, that’s all? Those two words took the floor out beneath her. It made her feel she was only wasting his time with something so insignificant. This time, though, he caught himself. She watched him think, and warmth seeped into her dower mood. She could see ideas crossing his mind and getting vetoed. She would be proud of him if he could be so gentle with anyone else.