Memory Bonds

That evening, Harmoni and Fleck met Tolith and Asplenium at the edge of town, near the library. He had his spaceship out there, and it looked like he and Asplenium had just finished loading their own gear.

A quick word to make sure they had everything, that they were ready, and the group went inside. Tolith seemed a little confused by how little they were taking, but he didn't comment on it, so neither did Harmoni.

The spaceship was big, but still cramped, thanks to Asplenium. Most of the spaceship was one room. There was a separate small space at the front of the ship, about the size of a bathroom, for controls. There was another elf already in that area.

“My copilot,” Tolith explained. “Takes two to fly most ships.”

There was another door to the side that, according to Tolith, had an actual bathroom. The rest was a large room Asplienum could fit in, though he did fold his tail and head close to his body.

Asplenium griped about the small space, and claimed Fleck was lucky. Fleck couldn’t argue. He was excited to see a new planet, but he could see why the dragons who did space travel were usually smaller, like Glow’s size.

The main room also had a table Harmoni and Fleck took a seat at, and bunkbeds pressed against the wall. The boxes Tolith and Asplenium had loaded were under the furniture, presumably to save space.

Harmoni put her own bag on the table for the moment. She could also probably put it on her bed. It was only the one bag, holding a spare change of clothes, toothbrush, and hairbrush. It wouldn’t exactly take up must space.

It also had Fleck’s scale oil and some cushioning he could use as a pillow. But the point stood. Small.

Tolith went to the controls with his copilot, and got them into the air. Going up was . . . not fun. Harmoni was shoved further into her seat, her head hurt from the pressure, and her ears popped multiple times as they went higher towards space. She was barely aware of her surroundings.

But, just as she was beginning to be lost, feeling this was all she knew, they leveled out. There were only windows in the control room, but by leaning forward, Harmoni could see the stars, and the darkness of space around them. Now it was almost like they weren’t moving at all. Harmoni could hear it more than feel it, the sound of the engines pushing them forward.

Fleck wiggled out of his seat and to the entrance of the control room. He wanted a better view of stars.

Harmoni leaned back against her chair, taking a few deep breaths after that.

It was needed, but after a few minuets of recovery, everything seemed . . . boring. The stars outside were neat-

That was putting it mildly. If Fleck looked around, he could see space in every direction, no clear up or down. He could see small planets of the galaxy off in the distance. It was cool.

And a bit disorienting.

‘Well, there’s just no pleasing some people.’

Harmoni smiled faintly. The point was, the stars were neat, but it didn’t feel like they were moving quickly, so the view wasn’t exactly changing. She hadn’t brought a book or anything else to occupy her time, not that she'd owned any, and she couldn’t see anything to do in this singular room.

She turned to Tolith, as best she could. “I didn’t know you were a pilot.”

“I wouldn’t except you to, seeing as we just met,” Tolith pointed out. “But yes, I am. It’s more convenient than getting a pilot.”

“You’ve still got a copilot,” his copilot pointed out.

“If I could make Asplenium drive, I would,” Tolith said.

It was silent again for a moment. “Isn’t it really hard to learn piloting?”

“Yes. And I am still learning. But I have plenty time.”

Right. He was sort of immortal.

Another pause.

“How long does it take to get to Iva?”

“About two days.”

“What?!”

Harmoni froze, eyes a little wider than usual. That muffled voice hadn’t been hers. Hadn’t been either of the elves or dragons either.

Both Tolith and the copilot got up and at least poked their heads into the room. Asplenium grabbed the bathroom door, and yanked it. The door was ripped right off its hinges, revealing a familiar slimy man in the bathroom.

“That explains the smell,” Asplenium growled.

“What the-?” Harmoni sputtered.

“Hell.” Tolith finished for her. “You snuck onto my ship?”

“If you couldn’t figure out I was here, I think that’s on you. Especially with the sniffers there.” He gestured to the two dragons. “I’ve wanted off that planet for years, but I can't exactly travel like a normal person. Iva sounds a lot easier to live on. And you.” Harmoni still couldn’t see his face, but she could tell he turned, and then he pointed at her. “You were right about one thing. I did have less slime after your little visit.” He drew in a ragged breath. “I should spend more time with you, see if we can’t replicate that.”

“So you stowed away on a ship to outer space?” the copilot asked. “Where there’s limited fuel and food, and only the vacuum of space to turn to for days? That’s . . . not very smart.”

“You were planning to bring a man and his whole dragon to Iva to punish him. I’m pretty sure you have the supplies for a stowaway,” Evin pointed out.

Harmoni felt sickened by his comment when he first made it, as she was by many things Evin had said or done. He was creepy. But she recovered as they spoke. She gazed at him with wariness, and almost exasperation.

“If you wanted to lose slime by being a better person, you’re off to a terrible start. You should’ve asked first. I don’t want you anywhere near me.”

Evin shrugged. “What are you going to do about it? Shoot me out into the vacuum of space? I don't think so. And I doubt we’re about to turn around and drop me back at Xentron. I still get off that awful planet either way.”

Tolith flung his hands up. “Well, this has all the makings of a terrible trip.” He glared at Evin. “I won’t throw you out, but you won’t be following us when we get to Iva.”

Tolith turned to her. “Now, Harmoni. The crate under the table has books on meditation and magic. I suggest you look at them, get ahead before we land.”

~~~

Tolith was partly right. It was a long trip to Iva, in a confined space, with people who were hostile to each other. There was a lot more sitting in silence and glaring at each other than Harmoni would like. During those moments, she ducked her head and tried to ignore it, tried to be busy with whatever else she had on hand. Usually a book. At one point a puzzle box. And she helped Fleck oil his scales.

It was also disorienting. There was no obvious indication of if it was night or day, or how much time had passed. But time was passing, and she could feel the effects. Harmoni had to check the clock to guess if it was a good time to eat, or sleep.

But, it wasn’t all bad. The crate under the table had board games. She would play them with the others sometimes, or just Fleck. She read the book Tolith had suggested, and tried some meditation.

They ate some of the rations on board, all dried food. Evin grumbled about there being no meat in there.

“I’ll make you meat,” Asplenium threatened.

Evin couldn’t understand him, and Asplenium didn’t mean it, but it was so funny. Fleck laughed at seemingly nothing for two minutes, chuckles slowly winding down.

Harmoni shook her head, but she smiled.

They also had to sleep eventually. Tolith turned off the lights, put the ship on autopilot, and everyone made use of the beds in the ship.

According to the clock in the ship, and that clock was on Iva’s time, it was somewhere in the afternoon when they arrived at the planet. Harmoni got a brief glimpse of it, white, blue, and green; smaller than Xentron. Then they got too close to view the whole planet at once.

The flight down was about as terrible as the trip up. Harmoni’s jaw rattled and her stomach flopped, especially when she briefly lifted into the air.

Fleck was built for flight, and taking it better, but dragons were much better at this taking off and landing thing. Maybe he should find a ship builder and give them some pointers.

Evin slid in his spot. He tried to grab the armrests, but of course they slipped from his grip.

“Great,” he muttered. “That elf’s going to get us killed.”

Harmoni thought that was a little hyperbolic, but she agreed with the sentiment.

They hovered for just a moment, near the surface, then the ship dropped. It gave a weird little bounce when they hit ground. After that, it was still.

“Thank God,” Evin said.

“Well, we’re here,” Tolith said, striding into the room.

Asplenium grabbed a crate in his jaw, and went down the ramp.

Harmoni had not completely recovered from that landing yet. But it would probably be better out in the fresh air then the enclosed cabin. She grabbed her bag and went for the exit.