"At least we survived," I offered. "It could have been much worse."

  Tyler snorted. "Sure, we survived. This time. But for how much longer? You heard the Warden; he fully expected us to die against those 'Achai' or whatever he called them. This is nothing but a game to him. A way to alleviate his boredom. His freaking boredom!” He slammed his fist on the tray table of the stadium seat, releasing his tension, fear, and frustration. “Who knows what he'll throw at us next?"

  "He did say he'd reward us for succeeding," Alyssa pointed out.

  “He said he’d give one of us a boon,” I said. “We have no idea what that means. How can he single us out from a distance?”

  “The pill,” Tyler said. “It must be able to do more than we thought.”

  “Which is even more terrifying than before,” Ally said. “What if it turns us into mutants? What if one of us grows wings or something?”

  “I think wings would be kind of cool,” Tyler answered, reaching behind his back to see if anything was growing there.

  “We need more information," Ben said. “We don’t know anything about the Warden. His purpose, motivation, capabilities. He obviously has pretty advanced technology. Is that common here, or is he the only one who possesses it? Does he control this entire galaxy, or is he just one Boss out of many? How many people has he pitted against one another, and is it really just for entertainment, or does he have a greater purpose? What is that purpose? He said chaos energy doesn't flow properly here. Why not?”

  “That’s a pretty hefty brainstorm for a guy who can barely stand up,” Matt said.

  “You know me. Once the challenge presents itself, it’s hard not to run with it.”

  "Could the disruption in the chaos energy have something to do with the Warden?” I added.

  “Another great question,” Ben agreed. “I like the way you think, Noah.”

  "While you two rub your brain cells together, the rest of us need a plan," Tyler cut in. “The Warden already proved we’re sitting ducks out here.”

  “I agree,” Ben said. “We’ll have time to process all of our questions later. We need to get moving so we’re less of a target. Once we have the hyper⁠—“

  “Captain,” Meg's voice crackled over the comms. "The hyperdrive is back online."

  "Music to our ears, Meg," Matt said. “Your timing is amazing.”

  “I know,” she replied lightly. “Leo and I are shifting back to the shields. Holler if you need anything.”

  “Thank you both,” Ben said.

  “Now we just need a destination,” Matt said.

  “Levi, project the star map the Warden provided,” Ben added.

  “Projecting,” Levi replied.

  An expansive web of star systems dominated the projection that appeared where the Warden’s face had been minutes earlier. Each like a primitive organism, the systems were outlined in rough circles, with an apparent primary star in the center—though some of the systems were binary or even trinary in nature—with the planets cast around the solar luminescence.. A small red robot-head occupied the far left of the map inside one of the amoeba-like borders, indicating our position in the known galaxy, which itself stretched for what appeared to be millions of light years. I couldn’t begin to wrap my head around the full extent of Warexia’s scope. If we were back on Earth, the Solar System would be a single amoeba out of thousands.

  “I think we need to zoom in a little,” Ben said. “Levi, magnify the area around us. Keep the nearest three systems in the projection.”

  “Aye, Captain,” the AI replied. “Processing.” All the other systems disappeared before the area around Head Case quickly expanded inside the hologram. The nearest three systems were composed of nearly sixty planets in total, all of which were represented as plain blue orbs of similar size. Eight of the planets had numbers floating above them, that ranged from a little over thirty-thousand to nearly eight hundred million.

  “What do you think those numbers mean?” Alyssa asked.

  “I’m going with population,” Ben answered.

  “The only clue the Warden’s giving us about the galaxy, it seems,” Matt added. “Assuming they’re even accurate.” He tried to air-tap on one of the planets, but they didn’t appear to be accessible.

  “So what do we do, just pick one?” Tyler asked.

  “We don’t know anything about them,” I said. “Or about the galaxy in general. We have no idea if this place is generally peaceful or if it’s a chaotic hive of scum and villainy. If we choose the wrong planet, we could stumble into yet another bad encounter.”

  “All part of the show,” Matt said. “The more we know, the less fun it is for the Warden, I’m sure.”

  “I think we should avoid the more populated systems for now," I said. “Smaller worlds are likely to have smaller militaries or at least less opportunity for someone to pick another fight.”

  “It’ll also be easier to avoid attention,” Matt agreed.

  “Theoretically,” Tyler said. “With the luck we’ve had so far, we’re going to wind up picking the Warexia equivalent of Sparta.”

  “Wherever we go, we’ll approach with caution,” Ben said. “Come out of hyperspace some distance away and do a full sensor sweep. It won’t tell us anything about the general attitude, but right now every puzzle piece we can put in place helps.”

  “Maybe we should expand the map a little more,” I suggested. “Give ourselves more options.”

  “I’m sure one of these planets has to be okay,” Alyssa countered. “The sooner we can land somewhere, the happier I’ll be.”

  “I’m with Red,” Tyler said. “We should pick one of these. The sooner we reach civilization, any civilization, the faster we can learn about this place, and the quicker we can get back where we belong.”

  I shied away from his suggestion. “I don’t know…”

  “Come on, Katzuo,” Tyler cajoled. “Some of us want to be here for as short a time as possible.”

  “I know, I just think that running for the nearest inhabited planet is exactly what the Warden expects us to do. He could be handing out a task to kill us to another group in these clusters right now.”

  “I’m with Noah,” Ben said. “We can’t know for sure, but there’s no technology I’m aware of, Sigiltech or otherwise, that allows a ship to be tracked in hyperspace. We need time to repair our damage and get our feet under us. And the further we go, the more time we have. Plus, there may be a chance we can move outside of the Warden’s influence. A place where he may not have other groups under his thumb.”

  “So what…we’re supposed to spend weeks in hyperspace while Kaiju is all alone?” Alyssa said.

  “I thought you have a roommate,” I replied.

  “I do, and she’d never let anything happen to him. But I want my kitty.”

  “I feel badly for you, Ally,” I said. “I really do. But I also think there’s a greater risk you’ll never see Kaiju again if we stick too close to shore. Remember, someone redirected us here. To this spot. On purpose. As far as I’m concerned, we can’t get far enough away from it.”

  “I’m with Noah, too,” Matt said.

  Tyler threw up his hands in frustration. "Fine, fine. I can’t argue your logic, even if I hate it.”

  “Ally?” Ben said, looking for a quorum.

  She sighed. “Okay, but if we end up in a bad spot again, I’ll be sure to point out that I was ultimately against this decision.”

  Matt chuckled. "I'll be sure to note that under I told you so in the Captain’s log. Levi, zoom out to two weeks’ distance via hyperdrive.”

  Since the map wasn’t two-dimensional, nearly twenty new systems were added around us, with almost a hundred inhabited planets.

  “Geez, this place is huuuuuuggggeeee,” Tyler commented.

  “That’s only two weeks out. The whole thing stretches over a year,” Matt said.

  “I’m going to die here, aren’t I?” Alyssa said.

  “No,” Ben replied firmly. “I won’t let that happen.”

  He believed it strongly enough that I was willing to believe it, too.

  “Should we close our eyes and point?” Tyler asked.

  “Let’s just take a few minutes,” Ben said. “Levi, cycle through each system.”

  The projection jumped to the next system. We looked over the populations. It was all we had to go on. “Next,” Ben said, skipping us to the next one. We repeated the process a few more times.

  “How are we planning to choose like this?” Alyssa asked.

  “Gut instinct,” Ben replied. “If you feel strongly about one of them, you’ll know it when you see it.”

  We hopped through four more systems before Tyler became the one to single a planet out. “That one,” he said. “Goldhaven.”

  I checked the population. Sixteen thousand three hundred and eighty-seven. Definitely on the smaller end, but not the smallest we’d seen.

  “Why that one?” Matt asked.

  “Like Ben said, it’s just calling to me.”

  “Seems as good a spot as any,” Alyssa said.

  “Noah, any objection?” Ben asked.

  “No. I trust Tee’s instincts.”

  “Thanks, man.”

  “Then Goldhaven it is. Matt, make it so.”

  “Aye aye, Captain,” he replied with a grin. He entered the remote coordinates while we returned to our seats. "Next stop, Goldhaven."

  I watched through the forward surround as space began twisting around us, bending into a fisheye view as a soft hum emanated from somewhere within Head Case. Within no time, the distorted space seemed to compress in on itself, the stars collapsing together as if they’d been placed in a blender, until only darkness remained.

  CHAPTER 29

  “Compression complete,” Matt said. “We’re on our way.”

  “Really?” Tyler replied. “I didn’t feel a thing.”

  “What did you expect to feel?”

  “I don’t know. Butterflies in my stomach. A tingle down my spine. Something.”

  “Sorry to disappoint.”

  I sank back with a weary sigh. “Maybe now we can relax a little.”

  “Some of us,” Ben replied. “But you seem to have forgotten something." He pointed to my forehead.

  “Right.” The bloody bandage clinging to my forehead. The hectic action had distracted me from the wound.

  Matt whistled low through his teeth. “Damn. I can't believe you’re walking around like that. Let's get you patched up." He motioned toward the exit.

  I didn’t move. Matt was a nice guy, an amazing pilot, and obviously skilled with a rifle. A fighter, to be sure. But to me, that meant he couldn’t be good at everything. Noticing my hesitation, his expression softened with understanding.

  "If you prefer, Ben can show you to sickbay instead. He probably needs some time there himself.”

  Equal measures of relief and embarrassment warred within me. I shouldn't need pampering over basic first aid. What the hell was wrong with me? "I-I'm okay," I stammered unconvincingly. "Just tired, you know?"

  “He’s right,” Ben said gently. “I do need to run a new health scan after pulling more chaos energy. If we can get a baseline, it’ll help me understand my limits. Noah, you’re with me.”

  “What should we do?” Alyssa asked.

  “You can either return to Deck Three for free time, or we can check with Meg and Leo, and see if you can help them with repairs.”

  “I can’t relax right now,” Tyler said. “I might as well make myself useful.”

  “Yeah, me too,” Ally agreed.

  “Don’t worry,” Matt said. “I’ll find some way to put them to work.”

  Ben nodded, motioning toward the exit. I shuffled after Ben, feeling like the world's biggest wimp. I had to believe exhaustion was the culprit. I’d been so eager to help after Tyler woke me up. There was no other reason I should feel so weak now.

  We took the elevator down to the medical level in silence. My thoughts continued their collisions in a tug-of-war between our current predicament and darker ruminations about all I had lost. Ben likewise seemed preoccupied, his thoughts likely turned to the Warden and our distant destination.

  The elevator doors whisked open on Two, allowing the deck lighting to chase away my darker sentiments. I followed Ben around the elevator shaft and down a short passageway to an unmarked door.

  "Just through here," he directed.

  I ducked through, bracing for olfactory assault. Instead, a light smell of flowers or lavender, or something similar, immediately made me think of a spa instead of a hospital. Three doors waited against the rear bulkhead, all of them open, leading to small available treatment compartments. The only thing in them appeared to be diagnostic chairs, sporting non-threatening instruments and an attached terminal to run scans and review the results.

  My gaze snapped to the room's current occupant. Ixy rested behind the counter, pedipalps clicking in greeting as we entered. Her dark eyes glittering above curved fangs conveyed warmth rather than menace, but only because I already knew she was friendly.

  “Hey Ixy," I offered. “What are you doing here?”

  "Hellosss." She completed her greeting with an approximation of a bobbing bow. “Comesss to ssseee Bensss. Fixing yousss?"

  "That's right," Ben confirmed, entering behind me. "If our stubborn patient cooperates." He glanced my way. “Ixy came down while I was still here. I told her to stay while I went to confront the Warden. I figured she’d be a nasty surprise if the boarders tried to breach further into Head Case. I guess she decided she was comfortable.”

  “Yesss,” Ixy agreed.

  “I’m glad you’re here. You can assist.”

  “Yesss.”

  I wanted to question how an oversized arachnid would assist with my wounds, but I didn’t want to hurt Ixy’s feelings by questioning her abilities. Instead, I followed Ben into the first compartment without comment. Ixy trailed behind us, only able to fit her front half into the small space.

  “Have a seat,” he said, pointing to the diagnostic chair.

  I did as he ordered, resting back in the surprisingly comfortable seat.

  “Turn your head toward me.” He opened a nearby cabinet to pull out what I assumed was an antibiotic and some clean rags. “Any idea why your cuts opened?”

  “None at all,” I replied, tilting my head obligingly as Ixy reached toward my head. It took some effort not to pull back from the giant spider limb stretching toward me, but somehow I managed to remain still. She hooked the end of her appendage beneath the soiled dressing, peeling it back as gently as I’d ever experienced bandage removal.

  Ben took her place, dabbing away crusted blood with an alcohol wipe. The abrasive sting barely registered.

  “It looks like it’s getting infected,” Ben murmured. “You probably shouldn’t have left the hospital when you did.”

  “I thought you wanted me to leave the hospital so you could scoop me up and carry me to Never-Never Land,” I replied.

  “We did try to plant the idea in Tyler’s mind. Subliminal messaging doesn’t always work.”

  “How did you do that?”

  “We intercepted the broadcast and inserted some extra packets. The messaging referenced Tyler directly, so it didn’t bother anyone else. Actually pretty simple for Levi to accomplish.”

  “How did you know Tyler would be so compliant?”

  “We looked up his family history, and we knew you went to school together and played on the same eSports team. The Stinking Badgers, right?” I nodded. “I love it. Tyler’s a good guy. A little lonely. All his friends are screen names.”

  “It’s not easy for us geeks,” I admitted.

  “Believe me, I know. I got to ride on Matt’s coattails some of the time, but I’ve been in your shoes, too.”

  “How did you and Matt end up friends?”

  “My dad died when I was young. My mom raised me, two brothers, and a sister. Matt’s mom left him with his father when he was young. We lived in the same apartment building. His dad didn’t really care what Matt did, as long as he wasn’t giving him any trouble. He pretty much ignored him. Matt was at our apartment more than he was at his, so my mom and Matt both like to say she raised four boys.”

  “Sounds like he had a tough go of it.”

  “At times. We made it work. Anyway, we monitor police bands, among other things. Levi picked up on your accident, did some digging on you, and our algorithm pulled your name for the ride of your life. Only, it wasn’t supposed to be this kind of ride.” He paused to tap on the terminal’s touchscreen. “Rest your head back. I’m going to have the auto doc run a scan on you. If it is an infection, it’ll tell me how best to treat it.”

  “Seriously?” I asked. “That’s so cool.” I let my body go slack, my head resting against the chair. Ben used the touchscreen to recline me a bit more.

  “Close your eyes,” Ben said as the machine came to life, a light shining down over my head. I did as he asked, able to sense the light as it passed over my face. “Tell me more about your parents. What were their names?”

  “My dad was Noah, too,” I said, emotion bubbling up at the mere thought of them. “My mom’s name was Natsuki. It means summer moon.”

  “Beautiful.”

  “Yeah, she was.” Talking about them in the past tense, thinking about them, started the waterworks all over again. Maybe it was exhaustion. Maybe it was adrenaline withdrawal, or maybe this was the first time I had let down my guard since it happened. At that moment, all of the pain and loss came flooding out, and I found myself bawling like a baby. I didn’t care that Ben and Ixy witnessed it.

  Ben handed me some tissues, and then Ixy comfortingly stroked the hair on the top of my head. I don’t know how long I cried, but I was glad I wasn’t alone this time. I couldn’t hold onto the emotion forever. When the tide flowed back out, it left my eyes feeling puffy and probably red. I blew my nose, looking up at Ixy, whose eyes had somehow gained a rippling expression of sorrow and compassion despite their inability to change. I glanced over at Ben, whose own tears had streaked his cheeks.

  “I didn’t get to tell you very much about them,” I said, sniffling.