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Tourist

Jace was back on the Bridge with Khoth beside him. The crew he’d invited to be a part of this historic first flight were buzzing behind them with excitement. Chili was a hit. She had been held by just about every person on the Bridge, but she was back in Matias’ arms, her little eyes were closed now, and she was breathing softly, completely asleep.

“We’re close to exiting the gate!” Dai Suzuki enthused, clapping his hands together in excitement.

The Osiris had a map of the interior of the gate up on the screen and showed their location within it and the gate that was coming up.

“Our first alien world,” Dr. Isa breathed and shook her head. “Will they welcome us though?”

“The Pilot made clear to them that we need to work together,” Matias said with a faint frown. “They are evolved species, more evolved than us, so it should be fine.”

“Ah, yes, but the Khul are more evolved, too, and they want to liquify us and feed us to themselves and their machines,” Dr. Hayter pointed out, his chubby hands moving restlessly over his uniform. He wasn’t quite comfortable in it.

“The Pilot is prepared for whatever comes,” his father said with a flicker of a glance towards Jace, who smiled in response. “Have faith. Their technology is all Altaeth and the Osiris and Gehenna control it.”

“Let’s hope we don’t have to,” Dr. Isa said.

Jace rather agreed with her, but while inside the gate, the Osiris’ ability to know what was going on--and his own--was more limited. Davies clearly thought that elements at all levels of the Alliance would be gunning against him.

Yet Jace had hope. Haseon would be the first alien world that he had ever been to. Yes, he’d played around on the Moon with his father, but this was different. So different. But, in addition to that, he’d be fully starting something momentous for humanity and the Alliance. Which sounded insane, because somehow, he thought he was qualified to do this, to change things. But he had the training. And he had the dream. He had to make it work.

Your destination on Haseon is the capital city of Ylore in the Zaka Ward. Ylore is a city of 350,497 citizens and 10,301 non-citizens, the Osiris informed him. In addition to being the seat of the High Council of the Alliance, it also houses the Thaf’ell’s equivalent of the Supreme Court, as well as being home to embassies for all Alliance species that meet certain minimum requirements.

Those requirements being? Jace asked. Wait, don’t tell me. I’m sure that they are all based upon how useful the Thaf’ell sees each species? Or how well they can integrate with Altaeth technology?

Both your suppositions are correct, the Osiris answered.

Ylore was once an Altaeth city, yes? Jace asked.

Yes, Haseon itself was but a small outpost of the Empire, the Osiris said.

Small? A whole planet full of Altaeth cities and tech? Jace’s eyebrows rose.

Yes, small. Insignificant, the Osiris said.

Jace wondered what the Thaf’ell would think about their homeworld being called insignificant.

Okay! Well, I am looking forward to seeing what you would consider the heart of the old Empire, Jace said.

Yes, the Osiris answered succinctly then asked, Would you like to see a live feed of the city?

No, I want to see it with my own eyes for the first time when we land, Jace said. I want it to be a surprise until I get there.

I promise that the quality of the video is exceptional--

It’s not that. I want to experience it first-hand. Just be in the moment, you know? Jace explained.

It would be best if you were fully present in every moment and considering the future as well, the Osiris sounded slightly chastising.

Point taken, but this is important, Jace answered.

This is Jace’s dream, Osiris! Walking in an alien city! Breathing the air of a world no human has ever been on! Gazing at architecture that another species lovingly crafted, Gehenna enthused. She wasn’t on the Bridge, but with Davies, planning his protection. He wants to simply drink it all in.

Jace smiled. Gehenna’s got it.

Gehenna’s statements are illogical. This obsession with physical experiences is overrated, the Osiris said in what almost sounded like distaste.

Jace could understand that as the Osiris really couldn’t be anywhere yet was everywhere. It likely couldn’t understand experiencing things physically.