“This is what I suggest we do: let’s borrow a strand of Fïac ’s hair. I’ll send it to the cruriac (pharmacy). Then we’ll have them analyze it and formulate a drug to get the dye off. What do you say?”
“Please do so. There’s also this.” Lafier pulled the memory crystal up off her chest. “It’s the navigation log of the patrol ship Goslauth .”
When Lafier held the memory crystal in hand, the starpilots saluted it.
After a moment of solemnity, Sporr gave a sign. “Senior Staff Officer , go take it off her hands.”
“Yes.” The starpilot with the emerald green hair and a mysteriously fatigued look on his otherwise arresting countenance stepped forward to receive the memory crystal with due reverence.
“Now then, Fïac , Ïarlucec , please follow me. I’ll take you to your rooms. Actually, on second thought, it looks as though we should take the noble prince to the infirmary first,” she said, eyes on his left shoulder. “I can’t help but marvel at how it could even be possible: to get off with just an injured shoulder after fitting Her Highness with such amusing dress!”
“I’m not the one who shot him!” she snapped.
Thirty-seven minutes later...
The glagac byrec tlaimr (flagship of the Tlife fleet), the patrol ship Cairhdigh , reemerged into normal space from the Sfagnoff Gate . And as soon as it did, they received copious amounts of data in communications from the Hairbyrch , which they then began to greedily consume.
“Lonh ,” said Kilo-commander Cahyoor.
“What?” Commodore Tlife looked up.
“Word has come in that Fïac Bœrh Parhynr and Lonh-Ïarlucec Dreur Haïder have been rescued.”
Tlife grunted disbelievingly, mouth agape. It was just so implausible. He’d known them to have been on the patrol ship Goslauth . What were they doing out here? “Is the Goslauth actually intact?”
“I’m afraid not. It would seem the Goslauth did fall in battle.”
“Ah. I’m truly sorry to hear that. But if that’s the case, then why is Fïac Lartnér here?”
“It appears she escaped as per the captain ’s orders, and fled from danger to this terrestrial world . However, the full report has yet to be composed, so I don’t know the details.”
“Hmm... Well, I can’t blame you.”
“Fïac Lartnér carried the Goslauth ‘s navigation log back with her, and there is some information of especial interest recorded therein.”
“Go on, then.”
“I have ascertained whence they surfaced.”
“Where was it?”
“Gate 193 of Céïchu . According to the captain ’s inference, they carried a gate from the area 4.1 light-years away to the Bascotton Star System.”
“The captain being Hecto-commander Lexshue... She was a fine starpilot ,” he said, pacing.
“Yes. Her reasoning process was fluid and unstrained, and I agree with the conclusion the hecto-commander reached. As for the analysis of the rest of the information stored in the captured ships, we have only just begun, but I assume it will corroborate her deductions.”
The map of flat space rose back into view on the Commander’s Bridge . Cahyoor indicated as he spoke: “Two domains exist between this point and Gate 193 of Céïchu. They are the Bœrscorh Gamtécr (Gamtek Viscountdom) and the Febdash Barony . I strongly suggest we split the fleet with all haste in order to allow the lords and the gosuclach (servant corps) to evacuate, if possible.”
“Are we able to contact the Vorlash Countdom ? Perhaps by skirting around Gate 193 of Céïchu ?” he pondered, back to standing still.
“We ought to try it. Shall we use the Ftuné ?”
“I think the Ftuné might need to recuperate at the moment,” Tlife feared.
“No other ships can bear to take up this mission,” Cahyoor stated authoritatively.
“True...” Tlife nodded. “We need to carry on quickly. Let’s drive the Ftuné to the edge of exhaustion.”
“Yes, sir. We mustn’t, however, make those two accompany the ships there.”
“Of course not. Why do you always insist on pointing out the obvious? Arrange for a ship to transfer them to at once.”
“Understood.”
“Surgery complete. But you received great first aid.” The army medic , a genetic Lander, removed the creurpaucec (medical support machine) from Jinto’s shoulder. “So great we probably should’ve just left it as is. In any case, it’ll be awkward for a bit, but by the time you reach Lacmhacarh your tissues will’ve totally regenerated.” The medic bandaged Jinto’s left shoulder and made the dressing stiffen.
“Thanks.” Jinto stared at the shoulder. His new cast had hardened in place, running from his elbow up.
“Your clothes are here, by the way. Hope you like the design.” The medic proffered the jumpsuit . Its left sleeve came out at around the hips. The rest of the outfit above the hips was seamless. It was tailored to match Jinto’s present figure.
“I like it a lot,” he said, putting it on.
Then a linewing starpilot entered the infirmary with impeccable timing, as though they’d estimated Jinto’s surgery would be done at that moment.
“This half-fleet has been tasked with a new mission,” they stated. “We must have you depart the ship, Lonh .”
“What, already?” said Jinto, surprised.
“The Captain expresses her chagrin. She said she would’ve liked to ask you all about your adventures over a meal.”
“Please give her my regards.”
“Of course. Now, come with me, if you would.”
Jinto bade the army medic goodbye and exited the infirmary. The starpilot led him to the take-off deck .
“We’ll be having Lonh and Fïac transfer to the communications ship the Aicrul . Since it will be taking you to the imperial capital without stopping, you should be home in around three days.”
“I’ve never been to Lacmhacarh,” admitted Jinto.
“Is that so?” The starpilot looked a tad taken aback.
Upon embarking onto the boat , he found Lafier waiting inside.
She was wearing a military uniform without any rank insignia, and her hair had turned bluish-black once again. “Hey, look at that, it’s back to normal,” he said jocundly. Though her black hair and “one piece” look had a charm all its own, seeing her now convinced him that her true hair color and a military uniform suited her the best.
“Do you really think it’s back to normal?”
“Yeah, of course...” But Lafier’s eyes and tone rang alarm bells in his head, and he lost all conviction.
“Look carefully.” Lafier held some strands in hand. “It’s lost color.”
Now that she mentioned it, the color did look slightly lighter, closer to a primary shade of blue than before. “But this color’s pretty, too,” he said, trying to pacify her. He was about to defend himself, before realizing that there was no need.
The situation had demanded her hair be dyed. Besides, there was no reason she had to be in such a rush to remove the dye anyway. If more time had been spent analyzing it, it may even have proved possible to formulate a chemical capable of doing the job without damaging her hair.
“I’m not attacking you,” said Lafier. “I’m simply disappointed in your faulty memory.”
“C’mon, it’s not that different!”
While Lafier hadn’t been angry before, those words sealed his fate. The royal princess turned away pouting, and refused to speak until they sat down for breakfast the next day.