Closing my eyes I found myself in the observatory once again.  The open ceiling that was exposed to the void was almost reassuring. Traveling away from this place made me nervous like I would get lost or might not be able to return. But the room was almost barren. Behind me, there was a small bed and to the left was the bathroom. This place was meant for people of status and I was certainly not one of them. I stood stretching I had a little time before I had to head back to the captain. It would be good to get some rest. I looked at the bed and made my way over. I stopped was I stalling because I didn’t want to tell the captain. I knew what I needed to do so I walked over to the ladder and climbed down.

Luka spoke up knowing what I was coming down for.

”You’re heading to the captain?” I nodded and he sighed and stood up straight. Both he and I knew that this conversation was probably going to cause some ruckus. I stepped forward falling in line with Luka as he walked to the main deck. I was silent as I thought about the conversation to come. It wasn’t going to be easy but I wanted to at least try to expect what was to come. I focused on Luka’s back and straightened myself as we got to the door. Sliding open we walked in, bowing and stepping forward I walked to the lower landing and put one foot on the step leading upwards I stopped and waited for him to greet me.

”Orion, I didn’t expect you so soon. Don’t tell me there’s bad news.” He left the statement open but I could distinctly hear the disappointment in his voice. The room had gone quiet the moment I walked in, however now there wasn’t even a whisper.

”Unfortunately captain that seems to be the case. I came to report that slipping past the planet rotations won't be possible.” The captain sighed and stood up. I lowered my head and waited to be called upon. He walked to the right where an assistant was holding the pair of spectacles. They weren’t really a pair more like two circles that would connect when told to and would form a visor over my eyes. It was transparent, thus I was able to see through them. 

I looked to the ground, upon viewing the glasses I could feel myself slip away. It was one thing to look at and actually be able to enjoy searching for things. But every time I peered out it was like getting pulled. Resisting the urge to look out wasn’t something I was good at controlling. The captain grabbed the gear and put them in my hands.

”Show us.” His words were simple but said through gritted teeth.

I put them on and looked up. The room went dark and I made my way through the void. I pushed forward we were closer than yesterday so it was easy to pass by and search for what I was looking for. Stopping I once again found myself at our problem. This area of space was getting easier and easier to find. I looked out upon the situation. To the left was that large asteroid field. Traveling by solar speed meant that we needed to be in the direct light of the sun. This place was darker less light from the sun reached this area. The present area was alright as we were coming up on the sun. This also created an issue. The planets in this solar system were aligned quite nicely. But it presented a problem. To the right, we had the planet with the first SUS outpost. This was the smaller of the two and seemed to be older. They still had several ships within the area of the planet. Getting detected here would be easy. Below was the larger of the two outposts. I could see large ships powered by star cores. This was shown with the vibrant bright colors that came from the rear of the ship.

These were the law enforcement of the universe and my best chance at escape. 

However, it was made very clear by the captain at the time we had gotten attacked; that he was skilled at getting out of difficult situations. 

I focused back on the task, the sun. This sun was particularly large and in a stage of adolescence. It was strange that the SUS had chosen to inhabit this area because of this sun. Large and erratic the constant rays of solar flares were enough to make me worried. This would cause problems with the devices but not only that. I hadn’t been really close to a sun yet and I didn’t know what it would mean for my body. 

I thought about the incident for a moment. I had a problem with a rather large sun we had passed a few weeks ago. The feeling of being pulled wasn’t pleasant but could be managed with our gravity control. But it was the sun itself, whenever I’m near one it starts to react more irrationally. Sending flares and picking up in solar activity. Like the small star was reacting to my very presence. I remember this because one of the reasons the tail is so badly damaged is because a flare came directly at the lower cargo bay. Which at the time was where I was located with the other slaves. At first, I didn’t think anything of it, but every single star we have past sense has been erratic when we come near but calm beforehand. I know this because I’ve been the one navigating this ship sense. 

The star sent out a large solar flare that practically smacked me in the face. I took a step back alarmed at the sudden amount of energy that seemed to overwhelm me. Instantly I was back on the main deck of the ship dropping to one of my knees I took a steady breath inwards. That’s the first time I’ve actually been hit by something like that. 

“Orion?” The captain looked down at me with a face that I couldn’t read.

Standing I shuddered before looking to the captain.

“I’m alright” I responded before looking out.

“I can continue if you would like?” I said forcing my voice to stop shaking. My palms tingled and there was a cold sweat dripping down my back. I wasn’t going to show weakness in front of this man. I forced myself to stand taller and looked to him. I didn’t like looking this man in the eyes but now it was necessary.

His spectacles were on and there was a reflection of myself in there. The dark hair that framed my face was pushed back by the spectacles. My eyes were swirling. I’d seen this before when I stared at the sun. Instead of a normal color or even slits for pupils, my eyes were filled with color. Like right now they reflected the yellow sun I had been looking at. My iris was a yellow, gold, and red color. The outer edge of that was a thick black line that left a small amount of room for the whites of my eyes. This thick black line would get smaller but after gazing out for so long there was barely any white showing at all. I suppose that’s why people didn’t like the way they looked.

The captain shifted before looking back out. I needed him to believe that I was stable enough to navigate them. That way they wouldn’t find another way to navigate through space. This was my only way of staying out of the lower hold. I wanted to stay here, that way if something were to happen. For example, a large ship being detached from one of the SUS stations I might be inclined not to tell the captain. This would secure my freedom and the people below deck. 

“That sun is really irregular, do you think the galaxy we are in is prone to strange suns?” That wasn’t what I was expecting. I looked to the window feeling drawn to it again. The feeling of heading out again made me uneasy. My legs were still slightly shaking and my palms still tingled but I would show no fear.

”I don’t know, however, it can be said for this Sun.” I spoke as calmly as possible I needed him to make a decision so that I could return to my room. He sighed and looked out the main window and for a moment I saw it slip. There was a tired expression on his face for a moment before his eyes hardened and he turned to the crew. 

“We will try and pass that sun, It's gonna be our best shot for not getting caught.” The crew gave an ‘aye aye captain’ and I looked to him for permission to leave.

”Orion keep us updated but watch yourself around that sun.” I nodded and bowed turning to leave.

”Gunny escort Orion back to the observatory. Orion, I expect to see you again before dinner.” 

“Yes captain,” I spoke. Taking the first steps out the door I waited till the doors were closed behind me and Luka. The floor came fast as my legs gave out. Luka grabbed me by the shoulders and gently sat me on the floor kneeling before me.

“Orion are you ok?” His concern was actually visible on his features. I went to go stand and speak a response but my legs failed. I felt like something was swirling around me. My chest was heavy and I felt like I was having a hard time breathing. Luka shook my shoulders some as I almost blacked out.

”Orion now isn’t the time to blackout.” I nodded weakly before taking a deep breath and shaking my head. He was right this wasn’t a time to be blacking out. 

“I n-need your help,” I said to him. At one point I cursed myself for showing such a weak side but Luka didn’t seem to care. He was stoic about the situation. Taking my arm over his he guided me to the ladder. He shifted his weight when grabbing me and pulled me up by the waist into the observatory. He wasn’t breaking a sweat, I thanked the stars that it was him helping me out. 

“I’m s-sorry.” I grimaced as a wave of pain washed through me.

”Don’t be sorry, that was a pretty serious solar flare you took to the face.” Luka seemed like he was contemplating what to do next. It then came to my attention he hadn’t been up here fully before.

”The room i-is on the left.” I said trying to get my feet under me so I could walk to the room. I gasped as the pain pulsed and my legs locked up. The pain was immense and I could barely focus on breathing let alone walking. Whatever that sun had done the energy around me was swirling and pulsing. It was like it was trying to go inside me but there was a wall blocking it. And to be honest I was starting to feel a bit scared.

Luka moved me to the room and sat me down on the small bed before he stood up. What was happening? The small movement of setting me down had my head spinning. I watched the room darken and the lights slowly disappear. The feeling of something entering my body caused me to disassociate and then blackout. A sweet release.

Before I passed out though I could hear Luka muttering something. 

“Open the revival con...”