A Time To Dock [Vignette]

The sea glowed pink as if lit from inside, catching the suns. On the shore, the dome cloistering the habitable zone seemed to eat up the light, strangely matte against the shining waves. The D.V. Ephemera swayed as it drifted downwards.

“Two days,” Lyla grumbled, furiously polishing the last dirty spoon on the ship. “I want to be out of here in two days.” Aishi laughed, pulling out a trunk from a low storage compartment. The box was out of place in the plain, efficient ship. Stars and swoops were carved into the polished mahogany. Aishi flipped the copper latches and pulled the top up. Inside, the walls revealed a neat line of compartments waiting to hide her treasures. She fished through the box, leaning over the edge and tossing through the pile of clothes inside.

“Calm down, Captain, it’s just an inspection. They do it all the time in this sector. Dock all the passing ships that aren’t big wigs. Look imposing, maybe get a little contraband from the dumb or the desperate. Meanwhile, we will be getting marvelously drunk and maybe stocking up on some goodies before we hit Bletus.” Aisha stood triumphant, stout leather boots held aloft as she kicked the trunk. With practiced ease, the lid shut, clasps snapping shut with a crisp click. Lyla’s sigh was audible even across the ambient noise of the Ephemera.

“You mean you’re going to get thrown in jail again and I’m going to have to get you out. Again.” Lyla huffed and dropped the spoon into its holder with a pointed glare at her navigator.

“It’ll be fine. Really, you should let loose a little!” The ship interrupted them with a loud beep. In its customary polite-but-disappointed-teacher tone, it announced “Estimated five minutes until docking engaged. Repeating: five minutes until docking engaged.” Lyla closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead before pushing blonde bangs out of her face.

“I’m going to get changed. Do not leave without me.”