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“. . .and that was when the man realized he had taken off his spacesuit,” the young Priest said, a smile tugging at his lips.

Apollonia burst into laughter, stopping a moment to wipe away a tear.  “Dark, what some people do on drugs!”

“He said he did not drink or do drugs, he was simply . . . confused,” the Priest replied, more seriously.

Apollonia was not sure if he was saying it to be funny or if he genuinely believed that the man had been telling the truth.

After he had led her from the mission, they had begun to talk more – she had told him of life on New Vitriol, the funny stories of oddballs and weirdos of her wild colony home, and then he had regaled her with equally crazy tales of the red light district.  Quite a few of them ended up with someone being out of their spacesuit, though they were always rather . . . creative in getting there.

The shady crowds had not bothered her nearly as much when he was there.  If anything, everyone seemed to give quite a respectful distance to the young Priest of the Infinite, and it had made her feel better.

They’d been walking some time, taking a twisting route that did seem to be leading them to the spaceport.  Apollonia had seen a few signs pointing the way.

And she’d found that much of her apprehension had drained away.

“You don’t really believe that, do you?” she had to ask.  “He was definitely drunk and on drugs.”

He considered.  “I know men lie.  Some lies we cling to as if a life preserver on the turgid ocean – things we need to continue living.  Many men go mad in the Dark, and my faith exists to be a safe port for them.  Thus I will not call him a liar when I did not see him drink, or a junkie when I did not see him with a needle.  One day, when he is ready to face the lies in his heart, if he is ever strong enough, then it will be for the best if he recognizes them himself.”

“But,” Apollonia teased.  “You still tell the story for a laugh!”

The young priest smiled.  “Well, I’m still a flawed man myself.  And it’s not often I have such pleasant company.”

Apollonia looked away, feeling awkward suddenly.

“We are, for your good and my ill, however, at the Spaceport,” he continued.

Raising an arm, he pointed towards a sign, which was lit up with the words ‘SUS CRATON‘ in bold letters.

“Oh,” Apollonia said.  “I guess we are.”

He seemed to be waiting for something, and started to open his mouth to speak, but Apollonia quickly spoke first.

“Have you ever considered taking your . . . mission of the Infinite out of here?” she asked.  “I mean, there are other places where people aren’t always getting drunk or high or trying to stab each other.  I know these people need the help, but in other places they might be willing to listen, too.”

He looked thoughtful before he answered.  “I have considered it.  One day, perhaps I will – if the Infinite wills it, I will be given a sign, I am sure.”

Apollonia nodded.  “Oh, right.  I guess the Infinite has infinite wisdom, too,” she said, then immediately felt bad – she had not meant it mockingly, but it might have come off that way.

He did not seem like he took it badly, though.  “With that, I bid you farewell,” he said, offering her a formal bow.  “Go with the Infinite, Apollonia Nor.”

She couldn’t think of what to say or do except return his bow awkwardly.  “And um, may the wind always be in your sails.  And red sky in morning, sailors take warning.”

The young priest smiled warmly, if faintly, then turned, his hands folding in front of him, walking back the way he had come.

Apollonia watched him a moment, then called out.

“Will I ever see you again?” she yelled.

He turned, the same smile on his lips.  “I will always be at the safe port,” he told her.  A large group of people passed between them, and when they were past, the Priest was gone.

She hadn’t even asked his name, she realized.

A hand fell on her shoulder, and she jumped.

“Apollonia!”  It was Jaya.  “Oh thank the stars.  I thought you were lost!”

Turning, Apollonia saw that Jaya had a couple bruises, but looked otherwise no worse for the wear.

“Jaya!  I’m glad you’re okay . . .”

The woman smiled.  “On the contrary, I think it was probably good for me.”  Her face turned serious.  “Though you should not tell anyone I said that.”

Apollonia felt almost light, her mood was so good.  “I should have known you’d kick their asses.”

“We are lucky they decided to throw the first punch,” Jaya said, trying to hide her smile.  “Though I was mortified that you nearly got hurt.”

“Why did it matter who punched first?”

“On Gohhi, fault resides with whoever launches the first attack,” Jaya said.  “So no one wants to be the first to throw a punch.”

She gestured towards the dock to the Craton, where Apollonia now saw the Response officers from the bar, talking to a few other fresh Response officers from the ship.  A group of Gohhi’s private security guards were walking away, their uniforms ranging from frumpy to ostentatious depending on the company they worked for.  One annoyed-looking official was with them, though he did not look so upset it was worrying.

“No one is hurt?” Apollonia asked.

“Fortunately not seriously – on either side.  Though once that one drunk’s jaw sets I hope he will be more circumspect with how he addresses people who disagree with him.”

Jaya headed towards the security station, where Apollonia expected some grilling.  But the officers only gave her a scan check and asked if she had any injuries.

“I’ve got a hangover,” she admitted.  A dull ache had been forming at the back of her head for awhile, though it hadn’t yet broken her happy mood.

“That’s all?” the officer asked.

“Yeah.  I drank a lot, I guess.”

The officer opened his mouth, but then paused, his eyes going to the side as he got a message.  “Dr. Y suggests you come down to his office – he would be glad to help you.”

“That sounds good,” Apollonia murmured, heading inside where Jaya was waiting.

“I’m heading to Y’s as well,” Jaya said with a sigh.  “He is the doctor on duty and I don’t wish these bruises to fester.  I suppose he wishes to chew me out as well.”

“Wait, you?” Apolloni asked.

“Oh, yes.  I outrank him, but he . . . well, you know how Y is.  I have seen him dress-down admirals for mistakes while never breaking decorum.  It is simply his way with words.”

Apollonia laughed again.  “Yeah . . . I know just what you mean.”

Neither of them really wanted to hurry – Jaya to avoid Y, and Apollonia because she was suddenly remembering something.

“We didn’t even talk about my letter,” she said, her happiness disappearing in a heartbeat.  Replaced by misery.

“Have you been considering it this evening?” Jaya asked.

“I hadn’t really thought about it since you invited me . . .  I’ve been doing research on Squat’s on Sand’s people like you suggested . . .  Abmon are so different from us.  I don’t even know where to begin with what to say.  I mean, he doesn’t have a mother and father, just . . . some pod who laid him as an egg and never knew him.  He left before his siblings grew up, so even they didn’t know him.  Who do I even address the letter to?”

“His people,” Jaya said.  “Just because his blood relatives did not know him does not mean they do not wish to know.  And he had peers, friends, of his own age who would know him.  They are different, yes, but there are similarities between all beings.  The trick is just finding out what they are.”

“What do we have in common?” Apollonia asked, her mouth twisting.

“You knew him,” Jaya said.  “Perhaps you can tell me?”

Apollonia blinked, surprised.

“As for what I know,” Jaya continued.  “He was a very stubborn being, who wanted to help no matter the cost – though you know that.

“I also know that Golgutt is a much warmer world than Earth, so he was always cold.  But aside from warming his room, he accepted it and never complained.  In fact, he sought out a transfer to a human ship because he wanted to get to know other species.  He came knowing he’d be miserable, because it was worth it to him.”

“I never knew he was cold,” Apollonia said.  She found herself thinking back on the time she’d known him.  It had been brief, but something about the being had made her feel a level of comfort – like she had known him for far longer.  He had almost immediately become like a fixture to her, as much as Y or Jaya or, in his own way, Brooks.

Jaya stopped, and Apollonia snapped out of her thoughts as the woman looked at her.

“So my thought is – tell him as you know him.  His family who were robbed of their chance to know him will be pleased to learn a little more.  And his friends, they will know precisely what you mean, and their memories of him will be a little sweeter for knowing that he was himself, to the very end.”

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