Rest

Kaihi

The Captain of the Trpimir does not look happy.

I ease myself down onto the flight deck, wincing as my boots touch solid ground. Zyla’s already been whisked away by a swarm of medics. I dust myself off, heart still pounding.

The Captain folds his arms, expression dark.

“Kaihi, this is a right old mess you’ve made.”

He frowns, eyes flicking toward the crumpled wreck behind me.

“My men can’t repair that thing. You’ll have to stay here a day while we figure out what to do.”

Yup. Definitely not happy.

But honestly? I’m thankful. I could use the rest.

Suddenly, he breaks into a grin.

“But aside from all that - I'm amazed you managed to get her onto the deck at all. I don’t think any of my pilots could’ve pulled that off. And you caught a wire, too - if you hadn’t, you would’ve slid straight off the other side.”

He laughs, shaking his head.

“Now that’s what I call an impressive feat.”

The compliment takes me by surprise. With the way he greeted me, I half expected to be thrown into solitary confinement. Instead, he claps me on the shoulder - his hand heavy, grounding.

“Tell you what. Let’s worry about the mission tomorrow. Right now, there’s only one thing to do - celebrate your safe arrival.”

He straightens, clicks his heels together, and salutes.

“Ace Pilot Kaihi Lahav. As the Captain of this carrier, I humbly welcome you aboard the Trpimir. I pray you enjoy your stay.”

Then he grins again.

My face must be a confused mess - somewhere between amusement and disbelief.

“Now,” he says, turning toward the hangar doors, “let’s head inside. We’ve got a feast prepared!”

Oh no.

Not another one.

It’s exactly the same as last time. No real food - just booze. More than I’ve ever seen before. I don’t touch any of it. I wait until everyone’s thoroughly bamboozled, then carefully time my exit.

The Trpimir is much like the Balsa, so I have no trouble finding the balcony overlooking the land below. To my surprise, Zyla is already there, leaning on the railing. A small box hums quietly at her feet, a loose tube wrapped in electrical wires waving in the wind, disappearing up her sleeve.

I step beside her, and we watch the darkening sky together. The sun disappeared half an hour ago. It’s cold, but we’re both wrapped in thick jackets.

She speaks first.

“Kaihi, what do you want to do with your life? What’s your dream?”

Once again, she catches me completely off guard. I think for a moment as the surprise fades.

“I’ve thought about it a few times. But if I live through this mission, I want to use the reward money to leave the military. Start fresh - build a new life, far away from the war.”

“Yeah?”

She wants every detail.

“I’d like to settle somewhere far from civilization, buy a house with its own airstrip… maybe even raise a family there. That’s my dream.”

She smiles, eyes still on the horizon.

“That’s a lovely dream. I… I like it a lot.”

She falls quiet. I turn to her.

“What about you?”

Her voice is soft, somber.

“I don’t know. I don’t have any. I don’t know what options I have.”

She turns and offers me a weak smile.

“The medics say I don’t have much longer. That I probably won’t make it to my next birthday.”

Her eyes, those beautiful sparkling greens, brim with tears.

“I’m scared, Kaihi. I don’t want to die. There’s so much I haven’t done… so much I haven’t seen.”

Instinctively, I step closer and wrap my arms around her thick jacket. She leans into me, sobbing quietly. I have no words, so I just hold her tight. My heart aches. What cruel sickness afflicts her?

After a moment, she calms and we pull apart. She wipes her eyes with trembling hands.

“Thank you. I needed that.”

I smile softly.

“Anytime.”

We turn back to the view. After a pause, she speaks again.

“Kaihi, what’s it like? To be up high?”

“To be up high?”

“Yeah. I can’t see it for myself, because of this illness. So I want to hear it from you. What’s it like… right at the top?”

My thoughts wander.

“Right at the top? It’s incredible. As you climb, it gets colder and colder, but a good cockpit keeps you warm and snug.”

She listens intently, eyes shining.

“The sky darkens, and you start to see stars. Then you look out along the wing - and you see it.”

“See what?”

“The Earth. The curvature of the Earth. You’re above everything - clouds, land, oceans, even the air you breathe - it’s all below you. You feel lighter, like you’re floating. And the glow of the atmosphere - it’s breathtaking.”

I sigh.

“I’ve only seen it once. Normally I’m not allowed to fly that high. But it’s something I’ll never forget.”

She smiles faintly, as my story ends.

“That sounds amazing. I wish I could see it.”

I smile back.

“Maybe someday you will. Hey, when we get to Aymar, once you’re cured, send for me. I’ll find a way to take you up. As the daughter of a powerful politician, I’m sure you’ll have enough pull for that, right?”

She nods, her smile growing.

“Thank you. I’d like that a lot.”

I return her smile and wish this moment could last forever. Suddenly an idea pierces my thoughts.

“Hey, can I take a picture of us together?”

Her face lights up at the suggestion.

“Of course! Great idea! Do you have a camera?”

I nod, and take out a small pocket camera that I keep on me. What for, I don’t know. But I sure am glad I have it. We stand, shoulder to shoulder, and grin as I hold the camera out in front of us. The shutter clicks, and we separate again. I smile.

“Thank you. I’ll have that developed as soon as we reach Aymar.”

She smiles back so warmly I think I might melt.