This 'holiday' excerpt comes from Crewkin, a sci-fi story set in a space-time warp where a beleaguered ship, the Vagrant Spirit, meant only for short hauls, now travels. The crew knows little about what is happening or how it happened except for the engine they were hauling to reclamation, which has come online in an extraordinary way to take control of the Vagrant Spirit. The new crewman who came aboard at the start of this trip, Renna, is what the crew calls a podder or crewkin--bred, raised, and indoctrinated from birth into certain behaviors by the Markham Company to serve on long-haul spaceships that spend years in space. Renna knows she doesn't fit in with the short-haul crew and leaves them to celebrate their New Years' Eve celebration without her disturbing presence, but she is interrupted by Jake, someone the rogue engine has injured in some inexplicable way.
~ Excerpt from Crewkin ~
A subdued snick from the hatch announced someone
entering. Renna quickly switched the file off where she learned of her creation for the first. She rose when Jake entered the
flight deck, grabbed the container plate, allowing him to sink into the command
seat. His hands grasped the wide armrest in support as he lowered himself.
“Thanks.” He spoke in breathless rasps. He looked
aged, off-color with lines of exhaustion graphing his face. A week’s worth of
stubble covered his face. It was strange to see him scruffy after he had been so neat. At least he is nothing like
Dukan. [Her hated captain aboard her crew-kin ship.]
“Are you here to relieve me?” She regretted the disbelief in her voice.
“No, just brought you dinner.” He grinned, panting his answer. His crooked smile disappeared when he noticed her face. “Why are you crying?”
“I’m not. Emotion on duty is forbidden.” She placed the plate on the broad flat service arm of the co-pilot’s chair, wiped her face the best she could, and amended her answer. “I am crying over what is lost and unrecoverable. I told Lock I was not hungry.”
Jake’s smile appeared weak and askew as he caught his breath. “Not true—you’re always hungry.”
“Today is Kin Day.” They were all dead. An unexpected, painful gasp broke from her throat, and Renna sobbed in an uncontrolled manner. Calmness, professionalism, duty. The harder she tried to control herself, the louder the harsh sounds grew, and the more rampant her tears fell, both deafening and blinding her. Jake rose and wrapped his arms around her. She hid her face against his chest.
“Hush, it’s okay,” he said.
She knew it was not.
“I’ve tried so hard. Now I know Markham tried to kill you, because they wanted the engine destroyed. They want me dead. Today is a crewkin traditional celebration. I have no kin left, and I don’t belong here, so maybe I should be dead. I failed you, failed the Vagrant Spirit. Even Zak named me Markham when he renamed the CS9 [the engine].”
He gave her a gentle shake, saying in an uneven breath, “Hush...Ren. I’m sorry. I have to sit down.” He sank back into the roomy chair, sliding to one side, pulling her down with him, and letting her rest against his chest.
“I’m sorry for my unprofessional display,” she said when the spasms stopped, leaving her empty and ashamed.
“Not unprofessional. Cried a few times myself lately.”
The small tinks and whirs of the flightdeck somehow soothed her along with Jake’s breathing and warmth. She took a deep calming breath.
“You belong here whether by the manipulation of Markham Company or by pure chance. Tell me what Zak said.”
She explained about the priority change, Zak giving the CS9 Vagrant Spirit status. “I understand. I am Markham, although I don’t wish to be, and I will always be Markham. Your kin believe me capable of betraying the ship, of endangering you and the Vagrant Spirit. Crewkin would have the same doubts.”
“You’re wrong. You’re part of this crew.”
“Part of the crew, yes, only temporarily. Not like Ezry, Lock, and Ship Dog, never kin, but I swear to you, I wouldn’t cause harm to the Vagrant Spirit or to anyone on her.”
“I know, Ren. Maybe stress affects norms more than Crewkin, makes us irrational.” He patted her arm. “Don't fret. You’ve helped us in ways you don’t even know.”
“Are you here to relieve me?” She regretted the disbelief in her voice.
“No, just brought you dinner.” He grinned, panting his answer. His crooked smile disappeared when he noticed her face. “Why are you crying?”
“I’m not. Emotion on duty is forbidden.” She placed the plate on the broad flat service arm of the co-pilot’s chair, wiped her face the best she could, and amended her answer. “I am crying over what is lost and unrecoverable. I told Lock I was not hungry.”
Jake’s smile appeared weak and askew as he caught his breath. “Not true—you’re always hungry.”
“Today is Kin Day.” They were all dead. An unexpected, painful gasp broke from her throat, and Renna sobbed in an uncontrolled manner. Calmness, professionalism, duty. The harder she tried to control herself, the louder the harsh sounds grew, and the more rampant her tears fell, both deafening and blinding her. Jake rose and wrapped his arms around her. She hid her face against his chest.
“Hush, it’s okay,” he said.
She knew it was not.
“I’ve tried so hard. Now I know Markham tried to kill you, because they wanted the engine destroyed. They want me dead. Today is a crewkin traditional celebration. I have no kin left, and I don’t belong here, so maybe I should be dead. I failed you, failed the Vagrant Spirit. Even Zak named me Markham when he renamed the CS9 [the engine].”
He gave her a gentle shake, saying in an uneven breath, “Hush...Ren. I’m sorry. I have to sit down.” He sank back into the roomy chair, sliding to one side, pulling her down with him, and letting her rest against his chest.
“I’m sorry for my unprofessional display,” she said when the spasms stopped, leaving her empty and ashamed.
“Not unprofessional. Cried a few times myself lately.”
The small tinks and whirs of the flightdeck somehow soothed her along with Jake’s breathing and warmth. She took a deep calming breath.
“You belong here whether by the manipulation of Markham Company or by pure chance. Tell me what Zak said.”
She explained about the priority change, Zak giving the CS9 Vagrant Spirit status. “I understand. I am Markham, although I don’t wish to be, and I will always be Markham. Your kin believe me capable of betraying the ship, of endangering you and the Vagrant Spirit. Crewkin would have the same doubts.”
“You’re wrong. You’re part of this crew.”
“Part of the crew, yes, only temporarily. Not like Ezry, Lock, and Ship Dog, never kin, but I swear to you, I wouldn’t cause harm to the Vagrant Spirit or to anyone on her.”
“I know, Ren. Maybe stress affects norms more than Crewkin, makes us irrational.” He patted her arm. “Don't fret. You’ve helped us in ways you don’t even know.”
~*~
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I love how your excerpt sums up the spirit of Christmas, Rhobin, and of people coming together. Thanks for sharing, and thanks for all the great topics over the past year. Happy Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI like that this story hints at the reality that each of us brings gifts to others often unknowing. Sometimes we will never know how we have touched others, sometimes we will be blessed with a peek, but never believe we have nothing to give if we are willing to give of ourselves.
ReplyDeleteA very different twist on the Christmas spirit.
ReplyDeleteWell-written and another teaser. It's different take on the spirit of Christmas but at the same time it's about giving and sharing.
ReplyDeleteHi Rhobin, Many thanks for keeping the RR entertaining and engaging through the year. Your excerpt sums up the loneliness many must experience at Christmas and other major festival times. Anne
ReplyDeleteWhat fun to write in a world of spaceships and space travel. And yet, the characters have the same problems as we do on earth in 2018, nearly 2019.
ReplyDeleteJQ Rose