Ten cycles passed, fading like dying stars beneath false skies.
The ship still cut through an endless azure ocean, far from Mala, far from land, far from anything that could change him.
Malik stood near the bow, one hand lightly resting on the cold steel rail.
He felt that feeling again . . . one that he forgot. But, he couldn't quite understand it.
Never knowing the grasp of land, solely the wave of a ship that has fought over a hundred forgotten battles.
He hadn't dreamed in years, only locked away memories he shouldn't remember. He had to stare at a beachside he longed to step on, as they took in a young girl.
Abruptly, a voice ruptured his thought.
"Malik. We have a new recruit today. Stay sharp." Rumbled Captain Cyrus, strolling heavily across the ship with such trust that he sees the ship as home.
Malik only gives a swift but respectful nod. He snaps out of it, because he knows this is all he has, he can't let it go.
. . .
In a lower deck, the rough captain stares with sea-like eyes at the recruit for the marines. He opens his crusted lips with a stubbled silver beard and a long scar passing vertically past his left eye.
A faintly light-skinned young girl, with short jet-black hair, slowly raises her head to face the captain. She stares with her dark eyes, ominously reading anybody.
"Name?" Captain Cyrus asked.
"Kaya, sir!" she answered steadily but firmly.
Kaya's resume and all her qualifications lay flat on a desk between them. It states that she is eighteen years of age.
The cold air condition fills the room as the captain takes a slight glance at the resume and gives a shivering stare to Kaya again, and asks: "Before we begin, do you have any questions?"
"Yes!" Kaya responds quickly with compassion. "I've got a question: Who's the guy behind you?"
The captain's expression becomes staggered as he takes a slow turn behind him to reveal from the back of the room his co-captain and nephew, Lieutenant Samir.
Samir has a tough-gruff like appearance with a more youthful appearance than Cyrus, but the similarities are apparent.
His low haircut with dark hair, and dark skin contrasted with his large brown eyes and strong but gentle posture emulate how well the captain has nurtured him to be an exceptional marine.
"That is my nephew, Lieutenant Samir. He will take after me once I retire by summer."
He skimmed though her resume, one piece of information caught his eye.
It read: "Trial Status: Success from Harmony."
A trial's existence is normally locked to public awareness, however, of the millions of applicants to the Marines, there has yet to be a successful trial status in years.
"I'll show you the crew members momentarily; however, there's something I'm more interested in about you."
Kaya leaned in, attentive to listen to the old captain's words. The Captain holds the paper firmly and reads it before making his remark.
"You're from the people of Ishkana—the realm of Harmony?"
"Yeah . . ."
Cyrus peered closely at her, ". . . Interesting."
He cleared his throat, "On your application, it states that you have a successful trial. Not many people are capable of attaining this, even hearing about this concept is alien to the masses because it is confidential by military personnel."
"I've heard that those that have completed such trials in success cross a deep path that is beyond comprehension to my memory. If you have any of those, please demonstrate them to me."
Kaya tenses up and asks the captain after a second of thought.
"Well, Captain, think of anything, and I mean anything. I'll read your mind."
She adjusts herself back in her chair.
Captain Cyrus scoffs.
Hah, this little girl won't ever guess that I'm thinking of my favorite sport, Tagline.
Her eyes strained, slightly.
She giggles to herself, composes, glancing with bright amber eyes, asking, "So who's your favorite Tagline team?"
He cackles as he could not believe what he has just heard at this moment. Noticing his cup of coffee on the table he hadn't finished, he decided to drink it as he grins to himself, whilst closing his eyes. He takes a second, reaches out his hand that has faced war.
"Welcome aboard, Private Kaya." He looks at her, her smile looks a bit wider than usual.
Lieutenant Samir puts his hand on Captain Cyrus's shoulder and comments: "Looks like we found another member for our crew."
Samir pats his uncle's back then gets back to his duties as a lieutenant. Captain Cyrus nods with a smile at his nephew and gets back to his business. "Now, it's about time you meet the crew."
Slowly standing up from his chair, the captain points to the door to assist Kaya on where to go. She swiftly strides to the door as she waits for hiss next instructions.
"Now Kaya, I'm just an old man, I think it's helpful that I get my young son to tour you across the ship."
The captain adjusts his posture and prepares to yell Malik's name but is stunned to see Malik right in front of him in a flash.
"Can I help you guys?" Malik abruptly says.
"Ahh Malik, yes . . . please tour this new recruit across the ship, she's one of us now ya know." The captain mumbles as he slurs his words.
His eyes quickly widened in ambivalence at his son who had grown . . . different.
Malik instantly straightens himself and gives Kaya a nodding grin with shut eyes as he puts his hand out for a handshake, bending his wrist awkwardly. "I'm Malik, nice to meet you."
Kaya shakes Malik's hand firmly with respect. "My name's Kaya, also nice to meet you!"
"So uhm . . . oh yeah, let's explore the ship, rookie!" Malik asserts but playfully.
Kaya giggles and punches his shoulder.
Malik gives a wholesome smile as he points to the metal door leading to the main deck.
The door leads to a staircase. Below, two floors to the main hall, rooms scattered across them.
Bright chandeliers light the room, welcoming them. High wooden tables sit across the hall.
"Well, this is the main hall. Looks like a ballroom, right? I think Kamil is here."
Malik affirms his point and dominantly steps into the room.
He then sits on the handrail and strides down the stairs to the bottom.
"You coming?"
Kaya confirms as she steps back and makes a huge leap of faith in the air to land right next to Malik. He widens his eyes. The two of them step into the middle of it.
"This is where the crew's rooms are. However, there are ten rooms, but there's an eleventh room that the captain strictly forbids us from ever entering." Malik adds.
He points to the eerie room. The door leaks a maroon aura. On top of it, lay a screen.
The screen above it flickered, but it displayed nothing, only hummed.
Kaya feels intimidated by it, then stares at Malik with her piercing large brown eyes. Malik stares deeply at the room as if he were born in it.
He notices her long stare and the both of them make strong eye contact. Kaya's eyes glimmered amber-gold as she reached out into the abyss—using her mind-reading ability on Malik, as she still locks eyes with him.
Something is not right with that room . . . and he knows.
But, I can't read him. It's like there's an infinite number of thoughts fogging his head.
What is he?