To Sleep in a Sea of Stars

by Christopher Paolini

In a surprisingly quiet voice, Bishop said, “Ms. Navárez, I left a recording for you on the Valkyrie’s system. Contains all the pertinent information regarding you, your situation, and this attack. Please watch at earliest convenience. Unfortunately, nothing else I can do to help. Safe travels, Ms. Navárez.” “Wait! What—” The viewscreen flared white, and the aching pull in Kira’s chest vanished.

Then Falconi clapped Vishal on the shoulder. “Got everything you need, Doc?” Vishal nodded. “I swore to do no harm, but these aliens lack all sense of mercy. Sometimes the best way to avoid harm is minimizing it. If that means shooting a Jelly, then so be it.”

“Are you willing to help?” “We would be honored,” said Jorrus. “The pursuit of knowledge—” “—is a most worthy endeavor.”

The day was already getting late, but Falconi insisted they prep while they could. “Never know what might happen tomorrow. Could end up with another batch of hostiles breathing down our necks.”

Kira ran a hand over the curve of her skull. “You can’t fix the instinct for self-preservation.” “Oh yes we can!” Sparrow snapped. “That’s what separates us from the animals.

Life became so much simpler when you were faced with a physical threat. The danger was … clarifying.

Next to her, she scented sickness from Itari. It shivered, turning unpleasant shades of green and brown. [[Itari here: It is difficult for me to even be here, Idealis.]] [[Kira here: Just concentrate on protecting my co-forms. Worry not about the great and mighty Ctein. What you are doing is completely unrelated.]] The Jelly rippled with a wave of purple. [[Itari here: That is helpful, Idealis. Thank you.]]

Kira stabbed with a thicket of jabbing thorns: one for each of the buzzing orbs. But fast as the Soft Blade was, the orbs were faster. They dodged, jetting at odd, unpredictable angles that her eye couldn’t follow. Flesh was no match for the speed or precision of a machine, not even the flesh of her symbiont.

The happiness of two beings might be a small thing when compared with the immensity of the universe, but what, ultimately, was more important? Suffering was inescapable, but to care for another and to be cared for in turn—that was the closest any person might come to heaven.

But again, she did her best. As she had learned, sometimes you had to make a choice, any choice, even when it wasn’t clear which path was the right one. Life rarely provided such a luxury.