Chapter 16 - Unsettling
817 Words
The food bay had grown quieter as Mira finished the last few bites of the strange nutrient mixture.
To her own surprise, the bowl was nearly empty.
The cubes too.
Across the table, Seyrin was still reviewing the notes floating on the projection panel, his fingers occasionally tapping symbols that rearranged lines of information.
Mira leaned back slightly in the chair.
“So… how many questions did you end up asking?”
Seyrin glanced at the display.
“Thirty-two.”
Her eyebrows rose.
“That’s it?”
He tilted his head slightly.
“You expected more?”
“Honestly, yes.”
“I attempted to limit the session to avoid overwhelming you.”
“That was considerate.”
Seyrin nodded faintly and began closing the recording interface. The glowing panel dimmed slightly as he finished cataloging the information.
“One final question,” he said.
Mira sighed softly.
“Alright. Last one.”
“Your family unit on Earth. Describe it.”
Her fingers slowly stilled against the edge of the table.
“My… family?”
“Yes.”
She hesitated.
“Just my parents,” she said quietly. “And a younger brother.”
Seyrin recorded the information carefully.
“Are they nearby?”
“They live in the same state.”
Another small pause.
“Were you close with them?”
Mira looked down at the empty bowl.
“…Yeah.”
Seyrin did not push further.
He closed the display completely.
“That concludes my questions for now.”
Mira exhaled slowly.
“Good.”
Just then—
Heavy footsteps echoed in the corridor outside the food bay.
Mira stiffened slightly.
The door slid open.
Drokan stepped inside.
The large alien filled the doorway, his broad shoulders nearly brushing the frame. His expression looked darker than usual, his posture tense.
He didn’t say anything at first.
Just walked straight toward the food preparation console.
Mira shrank slightly into her seat without realizing it.
Drokan’s presence always felt… heavier.
More intimidating.
Seyrin noticed immediately.
“Drokan,” he said calmly.
Drokan grunted in response.
Seyrin studied him for a moment.
“You appear agitated.”
Drokan didn’t look up from the console as he activated the food dispenser.
“I am fine.”
“That was not my question.”
Drokan’s jaw tightened slightly.
“I said I am fine.”
A tray slid from the console and he grabbed it with one large hand.
Only then did his gaze shift.
For a moment his eyes landed on Mira.
She froze.
The look wasn’t friendly.
It wasn’t exactly angry either.
Just… intense.
Unsettling.
Drokan’s eyes lingered on her for a second longer than comfortable.
Mira’s fingers curled slightly against the edge of the table.
Then he turned away.
Without another word, he walked toward the door.
The heavy footsteps echoed again as he left the room.
The door slid shut behind him.
Silence returned to the food bay.
Mira realized she had been holding her breath.
She slowly let it out.
“…He doesn’t like me,” she murmured.
Across the table, Seyrin watched her carefully.
“That is not accurate.”
She shook her head slightly.
“He looked like he wanted to throw me out an airlock.”
“That is also inaccurate.”
Mira wrapped her arms lightly around herself again.
“He’s… scary.”
Seyrin stood from his chair and moved a little closer to the table, his voice quieter now.
“Drokan is protective.”
“Of what?”
“The ship. The crew. Stability.”
“That didn’t look like protection.”
Seyrin studied her expression.
“You are frightened.”
She hesitated.
“…A little.”
“Drokan is not angry with you.”
“Then why does he look at me like that?”
Seyrin considered his answer carefully.
“Drokan distrusts unknown variables.”
“Meaning… me.”
“Yes.”
She swallowed.
“That’s reassuring.”
“But,” Seyrin added calmly, “he would not harm you.”
Mira looked toward the doorway Drokan had disappeared through.
“You’re sure about that?”
“Yes.”
Seyrin rested one hand lightly on the edge of the table.
“He may appear harsh,” he continued, “but he values the safety of this crew.”
“And I’m… part of that crew?”
“You are under our protection.”
Mira let that sink in.
Slowly, the tightness in her shoulders eased a little.
“…Okay.”
Seyrin nodded once.
“Drokan will adjust.”
“You sound confident.”
“I know him.”
Mira looked down at the empty food tray again.
“…I hope you’re right.”
Seyrin remained beside the table a moment longer, making sure her breathing had steadied.
Only when she seemed calmer did he finally speak again.
“Come,” he said gently.
“We should return.”
- Writer
