Silus

Tapping. Char stood at the control panel at the bow of the shuttle. Her patience was wearing thin as Lore began their tentative approach up the shuttles short access ramp. Lore stopped half way across the ramp and inhaled their surroundings as if it were their last breath; Char sighed. Eventually, Lore completed their metre long voyage and took a seat with Char at the head of the shuttle.
“You finish your pre-flight checks then?” Char asked with a palpable air of sarcasm.
“I thought you said you were doing them!” Lore’s voice carried genuine fear. Char shook her head.
“Bloody hell you’re young.” She smirked to herself as she got the shuttle underway.
They had barely broken the atmosphere when Lore started to complain. The ship was far from new but it was kept in surprisingly good condition. Despite this, Lore maintained that there was something wrong with the ships wiring.
“I can hear it.” They repeated.
“Hear what?”
“There’s a faint buzzing coming from that conduit, what if we’re leaking energy?”
“Into space. I’m sure we’ll be fine.” Char quietly re-routed power from the problem conduit. She knew it was easier than having Lore moan for the entire trip. “The Shunt drive on this shuttles a bit old. Takes a while to warm up so we’ll have to travel sub-light for an hour ish so get comfortable.”
“I’m fine when it comes to sub-light…”
“It’s faster that gets me.” Char finished, smiling.
“Exactly.” Lore couldn’t help but smile too. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Ask.” She tried to be as blunt as possible but it felt wrong.
“Did you fight in the war?” Char was taken aback by the question.
“Straight to business. Not asking about the ship or the house in the middle of a tree but personal.” She paused remembering who she was talking to. “Yes. Well, yes but really no.” She reached into her jacket exposing a pistol. She removed it and held it in her hand. From the base of its grip extended a flexible, transparent tube. “I was a field engineer. It was my job to keep everyone’s gear in fighting shape.” She ran her fingers down the pistols barrel. “Never used it.” She smiled a sad smile as if ashamed.
“There’s no dishonour in that.” Lore took Char’s hand into their own as if by instinct. “I’ve got more than a few skeletons in my future and I already regret them.”
“What do you remember from before we met?”
“I was in a mountain city, not too friendly about outsiders. I met up with Crait. Dreamt about you and that’s about it.”
“Crait… Hmm.” She was completely unphased by Lore’s admission.
Then the Shunt drive kicked in. Lore was almost immediately sick. It didn’t last long. As with when it engaged, there was a significant confirmatory jolt as the Shunt drive switched from active to idle. Switching back to sub-light engines, Char took the helm. Although she was the ships owner she lacked comfort in commanding it; the two seemed entangled, fighting to escape one another. After wiping themselves down, Lore made their way towards the bow. As if on autopilot themselves they began jabbing at the touchscreen console. After wresting control from Char the trip became noticeably smoother. Char gestured at the small station where they would be docking and handed Lore a thin plastic rectangle.
“ID. They shouldn’t check but just in case.” She smiled grabbing her own. “Place is a dump. True outer rim station.”
After a remarkably smooth docking, the two ventured into the central promenade of the station. The doors opened with a hiss as their old air rams leaked. The promenade was packed. While a floor was a logical certainty, Lore saw no evidence. The sound had already hit them but it seemed distant, mentioning it, so did everything else. Once again, for whatever reason, time had stilled it’s flow. That was until Char grabbed their hand and everything came flooding at them at once. Lore winced. Char held tighter. Together they stepped into the promenade and began their search for Silus. Their search however was short lived when a hand from the crowd grappled at Lore’s shoulder causing them to twitch their head to the right.
“Forgot about that, sorry.” They looked the pair up and down. “Good to see you again sir.” They gestured to a darkened corner.
“Bit quieter over here.” They smiled. “I tell you what, the war aged you young friend.” They paused, “They do know about the war don’t they.” They clumsily whispered at Char.
“Hello Silus. We’ve never met but I remember the war.”
“They said you might.” Silus smirked. “They left you a message.”
“Who’s they and why are we here?” Char asked. Lore looked at her confused. “I was told to find you and them.” Char gestured first at Lore then Silus. “Don’t know why.”
“To give you this. Lore gave it to me a few months ago.” Silus removed a small tablet from their jacket. They turned it on before handing it to Lore.
“A to-do list.” Lore frowned. “I gave you this?”
“Number one.” Silus smirked.
The List had a fair few items the first of which was ticked off ‘Think fourth dimensionally’ Lore smiled at their own humour. Lists.