Sea of Words

He can feel the ice, cold and deep in his veins. There's chatter below, sharp high frequencies that meld together. Joy.

Swallowing hard, he turns away from the glass. He needs to get his suit if he is to go down to the planet. Grale is inhospitable to humans otherwise.

The corridors are brightly lit, a sharp contrast to the dark outside. He stands in the opening, blinking. There are spots in his eyes and eventually, he shakes his head and steps onto the smooth metal. He is comfortable without his sight, has been since birth.

He reaches the branch off and turns right. Above him, a voice rumbles. It is still odd to hear speech, even after five years in space. He was still used to the clamor of frequencies that resonated in his bones. He could feel them, confusion, joy, anticipation. It was getting stronger as the ship entered the atmosphere.

At the end of the corridor, the metal door was already opening and he could see the captain's large shadow.

"Captain Alandra," he said wincing at the feel of words escaping his throat. Was he too loud again?

Alandra smiled at him, shaking her head slightly. The bells at the bottom of her hair chimed with the movement.

"Seres, I was just coming to get you. "

He nodded at her, raising an eyebrow in question. She stepped out of the doorway and his eyes were drawn to the ship's insignia on her left shoulder. A sun engraved on a flask, it was the favored ship of his parent's science expedition.

"We'll be on the planet in a few minutes," she said. "Do you have everything? We won't be coming back for at least a planetary rotation."

He nodded again, tapping the bag dangling from his right shoulder as he stepped through the doorway. He paused, licking his lips and swallowing.

"Thank you for taking care of me"

Alandra smiled and inclined her head, before striding off to leave him alone with the suits. He watched her until she turned the corner and then turned to look at the suits.

His own was in the farthest corner. Mostly black with a few shades of blue, it contained a small radio clipped to the belt. He stepped up to it and turned the dial to make sure it worked before removing the suit from the hook and laying it on a nearby bench. He unzipped it and stepped in, finally relaxing for the first time in days.

He wasn't home quite yet, but he was one step closer.

---

The ship touched down, gently on the ice. Seres hovered by the ramp, twisting his fingers together. The radio on his belt exploded into a high-pitched screech that resonated in his teeth. He reached for his own frequencies, softer than the ones the locals used, but no less strong, and a high buzz emerged from him, spread through the ice to the tower in the station. The antenna would transmit it below the ice where J'na and Kita would hear it, know he was saying hello.

The door opened with a groan and the ramp hissed out, settled on the ice with a soft thump. He held himself back, vibrating in place. Captain Alandra would be the first person off the ship as protocol dictated. Then, he would be free to join her having taken the diplomat's place on the ship.

She walked past him, bells chiming with every step. Her boots clanked on the ramp and he tracked her progress by the sound. The sound changed as she stepped onto the ice and he stepped up to the opening of the ship, peering out into the white.

For a moment, he couldn't see anything. Then there was a flicker of movement and he could barely make out the Zadgo slithering up to greet the captain. He squinted, shuffled a little closer to the opening. The pale blue markings on the Zadgo's head resembled a five-faceted diamond. He didn't recognize it, but he had only seen a fraction of Grale before his parents had sent him off planet.

Captain Alandra fiddled with the radio on her belt and a loud burst of noise sprang forth. It gave him the jitters and he moved back a little. Zadgo greetings were always too enthusiastic as they traveled for miles under the ice without seeing another. More noise, sharp bursts of high pitched sounds and a low thrum underneath it all.

He sank into it, relished the feel of the vibrations in his bones. The captain was greeting the Zadgo, an observer by the name of J'aarl and explaining that they had come to drop him off. J'aarl let out a medium burst of sound, a more reserved greeting and he could feel the question in his lungs.

He took a breath, gripped the straps of his bag tightly and started down the ramp.

---

J'aarl looked up as he came towards them and inclined his head. It was a very humanlike gesture and Seres stopped for a moment, blinking. Then, he bowed, turning the dial on the radio to express his thanks for the welcome. J'aarl rumbled back acceptance and carefully, turned his body back to the Captain.

Seres turned away from their conversation and headed to the right. The entrance to the city would be below and there were a few pods that would take him to the science station. Ice crunched under his feet as he walked. His eyes adjusted quickly to the light and soon he could make out the pale metal structure in the distance.

Powered snow topped the structure and he kept a wary eye on the icicles as he passed beneath the arch. A strong wind could knock them down and they were sharp enough to tear into him. The door slid open with a loud groan as he neared it and then immediately slammed shut behind him.

It wasn't lit; it never was. The lights had long since burned out and they never bothered to replace them. Seres didn't mind. He had lived in the dark for longer.

His footsteps echoed on the metal, rattled his teeth. In the distance, he could hear a faint hum. It was probably the machine powering the gate.

Soon, the air changed. It smelled wet and he could hear a lapping sound. He could barely make out the faintly glowing pool in the dark, but his eyes were quickly adjusting. The algae were growing in it again and they lit up the water with a soft purple glow.

Their light reflected off of the pod bobbing on the other side. It was anchored to a small dock and it creaked as he walked upon it. There were algae growing on it too, though this particular strain glowed green.

He stepped forward and a small screen slid out at a touch. He put in the authorization code. They never changed it. There were only eight people on the station after all. There had never been anyone new in his lifetime.

With a beep, the screen slid back inside and the metal of the pod slid open to reveal a padded chair. He settled himself in, felt the metal come back to cover him. Then, with a rumble, the pod moved and sank into the water with a faint splash. Soon, it was heading down into the deep black of the sea.

He can feel the ice, cold and deep in his veins. There's chatter below, sharp high frequencies that meld together. Joy.

Swallowing hard, he turns away from the glass. He needs to get his suit if he is to go down to the planet. Grale is inhospitable to humans otherwise.

The corridors are brightly lit, a sharp contrast to the dark outside. He stands in the opening, blinking. There are spots in his eyes and eventually, he shakes his head and steps onto the smooth metal. He is comfortable without his sight, has been since birth.

He reaches the branch off and turns right. Above him, a voice rumbles. It is still odd to hear speech, even after five years in space. He was still used to the clamor of frequencies that resonated in his bones. He could feel them, confusion, joy, anticipation. It was getting stronger as the ship entered the atmosphere.

At the end of the corridor, the metal door was already opening and he could see the captain's large shadow.

"Captain Alandra," he said wincing at the feel of words escaping his throat. Was he too loud again?

I've been trying to plan out a magical system for the Caretaker and I may finally be getting somewhere

He stood outside her door, fiddling with his watch. The steel loomed over him, a cold shadow sinking into his heart. Their son had been chosen.

The name had come across his screen and he could do nothing, but approve it. There was no reason for dissent, none at all. Yet, the shadow in his heart lingered and the chill spread to his bones.

He should have spent more time with Akian. Should have spent more time with all of them really. But, the office had called and as always, he had answered. He hadn't even noticed Akantha's illness, not until it was too late.

Swallowing hard, he pushed open the door.

"Hello Akantha," he said into the grey of the room.

She stirred, opening her lovely brown eyes to look at him. He shifted under her gaze, but stepped forward and closed the door behind him.

"Hiram," she said.

Her voice was threaded through with surprise and he felt shame well up in him. He really should have visited sooner.

Something of his thoughts must have shown though because her gaze sharpened and she sat up, coughing.

"Out with it," she gasped, sucking in a breath. "You...you wouldn't be here otherwise"

The familiar sourness of guilt churned in his throat. She knew him well. He wished he could say the same.

He walked closer, sinking into the chair beside the bed. It creaked dangerously under his weight and she snorted, looking at him with a faint smile. He smiled back and felt wetness in his eyes. He hadn't seen her smile like that since before the divorce.

"They've picked Akian to be the Alezrani," he said and watched the smile slide off her face.

"No"

"It's out of my hands Akantha. There's nothing I can do. Nothing"

He looked at the floor. The weight of her gaze pressed into him and the shadow in his heart grew deeper, his bones colder.

"I'm sorry," he said and wished he were back in the office.