Kaelis leaned against the back wall of the bridge, arms folded, watching the fog-drenched hills flow past the window, all the while mulling over the thousand-year-old book now burning a hole in her pouch. Drifting her attention to her teammates congregating at the windshield, she studied Sheah, who was silently fidgeting with her usual high-strung restlessness. Yeah, she was definitely going to throw a fit once she found out Kaelis ignored her orders, that much was guaranteed. But Dez, and especially Jira, they would have Kaelis’s back. The two of them were experienced types, and Kaelis was sure they’d appreciate such a historic discovery. She would find out soon enough.

  As she fixated on her little deception, the mist finally began to dissipate ahead of them, revealing an open, undulating field cast in the light of the evening.

  “Okay. We’re clear,” Jira announced.

  “Ah, good to be out of that fog,” piped Dez, taking a sip from a hot mug of tea.

  Sheah let out an allayed breath. “Crew, we did it,” she said. “We avoided the Unbound, nobody almost died, and look at all of the relics we found!” She satisfyingly patted her overstuffed bags. “I think this was our best job yet. I am so proud of all of you.”

  Dez chuckled to himself. “Hell of a day. Right, Kaelis?”

  “Hm?” said Kaelis, roused from her thoughts. “Oh, uh, yeah. It was great.”

  Sheah smiled. “Indeed. Now—” She swiveled around and pointed triumphantly towards the horizon. “It is back to town, straight on through the night. We can’t keep the client waiting!”

  The crew grumbled wearily in unison.

  “All night?” groused Kaelis. “You gotta be joking.”

  “I am not. Need I remind you that we are on a strict timetable, and—”

  “I’m awful sorry, Ms. Ziedler,” said Dez, putting down his tea. “I know you wanna make a good impression, but the Union’s got rules for a reason. Sure, the client might get a bit antsy, but they can afford to wait an extra day or two.”

  “Well, yes, but—”

  “I’m just sayin’, we've been on the clock fer a while now, it’d be nice to unwind for a bit. Especially since shore leave was cut so short.”

  “Yeah, I’m with Dez,” said Kaelis. “This is no time for business. We finally scored a good haul, we should celebrate!”

  Sheah looked off, hesitant at the notion. “Perhaps another time,” she said. “I would like to put some distance between us and the hills—”

  “Aw, that can wait. Let’s have some drinks, take it easy!”

  “I must insist that we—”

  “Whaddya say, Captain Sirroza?”

  Jira stared ahead at the fields, characteristically stone-faced. “I don’t care.”

  “Ah, come on,” urged Kaelis. “Do it for Dez. You want him to relax, don’t you? Think of how tired and sad he looks.”

  Dez pursed his lips. “Sad?”

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  “Fine,” said Jira.

  Kaelis cheered. “Then it’s settled!”

  “It is most certainly not settled!” Sheah asserted, waving her hands about. “Yes, it would be nice to laze about for a spell, but at the same time it is imperative that we return to Bruckhaven at once.”

  “Oh, we’ll be back before the client realizes it,” said Kaelis. “Besides, it’s dangerous driving at night. Those Unbound sure do like the headlights.” She looked towards Sheah and shrugged. “How we gonna turn in this score if the ship is destroyed and we’re all dead, hm?”

  Sheah tapped her cheek, weighing Kaelis’s argument.

  “C’mon Boss. You can afford to cut loose a bit.”

  Sheah drooped her head. “Okay, yes,” she finally caved. “We can take it easy for one night.”

  “Alright!” Kaelis cheered, performing a little dance.

  “But we must take off at first light, understood?”

  Dez smiled. “Fine with me.”

  “And we will need to get off of the road first.”

  “What’s the big deal?” asked Kaelis. “You worried another crew’s gonna mess with us or somethin’?”

  Sheah nervously averted her eyes. “I simply do not like being this exposed, is all. Captain, if you would.”

  “Got it.” Jira angled the wheel, swinging the ship towards a clearing between some large rocks in the distance.

  “Alright, celebration!” sang Kaelis. She moved towards the door, her mind turning towards her bottle of five-year-old whiskey stashed inside her desk. “This calls for the good stuff.”

  “Just be sure not to go too crazy,” Sheah called to Kaelis as she stepped onto the deck and made her way to the galley.

  Kaelis turned back and flashed her a reassured grin. “Aw, Boss, you know me. I think I can handle myself.”

  Kaelis awoke with a snort, eyes crusted and mouth dry, laying on her cot in a tangled heap. With great effort, she heaved herself upright, clutching her throbbing head and moaning with regret. At least she’d made it to her bed this time…

  She looked around her blurry room, finding her bearings, all the while wincing at the morning sun and the jostling of the ship. The world outside her window was passing by, and based on the light the Red had been on the move for some time. She groaned—whether she liked it or not, it was time to get up. Flinging herself out of her cot, she threw on the closest pair of pants and fumbled wearily to the door.

  After several rounds of cold water to the face, Kaelis shuffled out of the washroom, leaning against the walls for support as the ship rocked and swayed. Haltingly, she pushed herself into the galley, catching Dez just as he excused himself from the table.

  “Ah, morning’ sleepy head,” he quietly greeted, mug of tea in hand. Kaelis cringed at the volume of his voice. “Rough night?”

  “Yeah… I think,” Kaelis croaked, rubbing her eyes and thinking back to the haze that was the previous evening’s celebration. “I didn’t… do or say anything too incriminating last night, did I?

  “Not especially,” said Dez. “You did steal Sheah’s glasses at one point, though.”

  “…Yeah, that sounds right.”

  Dez threw back the last of his tea and broadly stretched. “Welp, good luck to ya,” he wished, giving her a little salute. He made his way down the corridor and descended the ladder at the far end, disappearing into the engine room.

  Kaelis stumbled over to a lukewarm pot of coffee sitting on the stove. Throwing the remaining contents into a mug, she haphazardly tossed in a large spoonful of sugar and performed a lazy stir, sloshing bits of brew onto the countertop. Beverage in hand, she dragged herself over to the back window and looked out at the rolling plains falling away behind them. She took a deep sip of her coffee and squinted out at the world through her headache, letting the warm light of day revive her.

  Just then, something in the distance captured her eye. Out there, on the fringes of the plains, was a great plume of dust, billowing into the air from a singular point. Slowly, it grew bigger. No, not just bigger—closer. Kaelis leaned in for a clearer look, nearly pressing her face against the glass. After a few moments she was able to barely make out a form at the base of the plume—a large ship, dark and angular, kicking up dirt as it charged towards the Redland Runner at full speed.

  Kaelis straightened herself and casually took another sip of coffee before venting out a weary sigh.

  “…Okay.”