Ebb and Flow

[Silvaeatum]

On the moon Qerr’Malic, there are many clusters of cities, and within one such place a young skrell opened their eyes for the first time in the soft light of a warm pool, gills taking in air from the water as the doctor looked them over for any defects, noting down the information on a waterproofed data pad.

      Ry-Set Duk’Vesi watched on as a nurse carried away the eggshell fragments, the Qrri’Myaq sending tentative psionic waves into the water. There was at least, some chance the child would respond now, that they were finally out in the world. The echo that floated back was clear, but resonated with questioning and curiosity, rather than the intuitive understanding they had hoped for. They sighed, headtails curling apprehensively.

      Lyu Vek, young skrell and avid enjoyer of watching ships land in the distant entertainment district, tried to pay attention to the meaning of the lesson. They itched at the small tuux growth on the back of their head and tried to let her understanding connect them to the rest of the class, but nothing was connecting. It was moments later that they understood, but the counselor was already moved on to another section. Minutes later they attempted to explain a fact about vaurica they had recently learned, but their classmate didn’t seem to grasp it.

Perhaps they hadn’t understood it well enough to explain. 30 years later, the explanation seemed to repeat over and over. Lyu sat at their desk, looking over a lab report for their xenobotany class, headtails hanging tiredly at the prospect of staring at another fruit bearing plant when they could be feeding Xenobiology class’s buurgis.

The research paper sat on the table, printed lettering holding the culmination of decades of research. Lyu loaded the file into the submission and leans back in her desk chair, looking out her window at the city beyond, skyline changing constantly but somehow always familiar. She stood up and walked past her roomates, sleeping in a huddle of casual wear and flashcards, heading into the bathroom and looking in the mirror. Her tuux blended in well now with her headtails after recovering from the dye procedure, and a small chirp of satisfaction escaped before she quieted down again, glancing back at the sleeping pile.

Aboard the small SCC Margo, there was very little research to be actually done, and so most days were spent waiting for scans to compile so she could sort through them. She looked out the window, almost falling asleep several times before the chime of new data stirred her. Only a few more months of this and she would have fulfilled her experience requirements to pursue a real position. It would all be worth it. It had to be.

Her apartment was much smaller than she would have liked, there was no bath for soaking, but at least she had windows to the space beyond, portholes in the side of the ship’s passenger section. Lyu carefully tucked her passport into her purse, taking only a moment to glance at the Ix symbol on the front cover. She made her way out of her door and down the hall to the elevator, taking care to fix her jacket before stepping into the capsule. The chamber slowly rose as the skrell inside takes a deep breath. She was honored. She was absolutely terrified.