[Celeste]

Alone on the bridge, Celeste reclined in the captain's chair. With the ship safely docked, Moon had gone out to the docking platform to meet his friend, Silver.

A sense of foreboding set Celeste on edge, and she shook her head. No, not a friend, more like a shady business associate. I don't trust him.

The Phoenix Star, or rather the Raven Sky, rested motionless in the vacuum of space, connected to the port on a cylindrical platform arm. Several arms extended from a central hub like spider legs. With two docked ships per arm, the platforms were indeed full. Robotic and manned maintenance drones crawled over the ships like new spider hatchlings. Celeste wondered who Silver displaced to make room for Moon's ship.

The Oracle space station resembled a massive dandelion seed head, consisting of many rounded habitat disks mounted on tubes radiating out from a spherical core. Each pod represented an expansion over the station's five-hundred-year life. It served as a central hub for mining operations of the metals-rich asteroid fields in the Delphi system.

Taking advantage of free time, Celeste connected to the infoweb via the station interface. With the ship com array down, it had been months since they had seen any news. She searched for her name. The results shown on the display panel in front of her brought only dismay. Numerous references mentioned her as a dangerous fugitive.

I am still wanted as a terrorist. Apparently, they know we survived the torpedo.

Scrolling through the tabs with waves of her hand, one announcement caught her eye, drawing out an audible growl. "Ali, you cowering witch..."

Sai responded, "Priestess, are you unwell?"

Celeste unclenched her fists and took a deep cleansing breath. "I'm fine, Sai. But I am no longer a Priestess. Our puppet of an Empress Pro-Tempore had me thrown out of the Sol Priesthood. Apparently, I brought shame to the order." She slumped into the chair.

"I would beg to differ, Priestess. The true Sol Empress heirs grow within you. Logically, that makes you the one true Priestess."

She rubbed her hands across her swollen belly. "I suppose so. But others do not see it that way."

"I do, Priestess. And so does Captain Moon."

Celeste smiled. "Thank you, Sai. I needed that affirmation." She straightened up in the chair, grimacing at the effort it took to heft herself up. "Are you able to see what Moon is doing out there?"

"Yes, Priestess. Most of my external visual sensors are not functional, but I tied into the dock monitor system."

"Show me."

An image of just outside the ship appeared on the display panel. Moon and Silver stood next to one of three crates on the dock, engaged in an animated discussion. Another tall and rough-looking man with dark curly hair stood behind Silver, scowling as he watched the negotiation. Moon stepped up on the side of an open crate, lifted the hinged lid, and lifted out a round orange block. He presented it to Silver.

Celeste murmured. "Looks like Moon is trading away our cheese." She looked up. "Any audio, Sai?"

"No, Priestess. There are no sound receivers near enough for clear audio."

At another crate, Moon pulled out two folded garments, letting them unfurl as he held them up. Silver scanned the shimmery party dresses with his eyes and reached out to stroke the fabric. They were obviously designed to highlight the feminine assets of the wearer. Yet another crate contained colored bottles of wine and liquor.

Someone is going to be disappointed that their fancy party supplies will not arrive.

Moon threw his arms out, then approached Silver with a pointed finger. The other man jumped between them, pushing Moon back. The discussion continued until Moon dipped his head and walked away. Silver grinned.

Moon stomped into the bridge and plopped down in a chair to Celeste's right. He closed his eyes and huffed.

She arched her eyebrows. "Not so well?"

Gritting his teeth, he hissed, "That crook! He knew I was in a desperate situation. This is costing three times what it should."

"Did you trade away the cheese, wine, and slinky party dresses?"

Moon snapped his head around to her. "You were watching?"

"Yes. Sai was monitoring you."

He cast his eyes up to the ceiling. "Figures..." He shook his head. "Silver can turn fancy things like that around for a profit. I also had to throw in a few crates of specialty alloys and everything I had in my operating account. But that's not the worst of it. I'm going to have to reimburse my clients for those crates. And some of them are unsavory people you never want to disappoint."

Celeste shook her head. "Moon, you need better business associates." She paused. "I have another business proposition for you." He lifted his eyebrows as she continued. "Far past the outer colonies is a secret safe-haven we call Sanctuary. Get me and the babies there safely and I will cover your losses."

"How far past?"

"Two months or so, depending on relative speed. I'll give you the coordinates once we get to the colonies."

"My losses will probably be over sixty-thousand credits."

"Don't worry. I have access to enough resources to cover that."

Moon smiled as he reached across to shake her hand. "I can hardly refuse. Very well, Priestess, I accept." Standing up, he continued. "The dock workers will begin external work soon. They shouldn't have to come inside, but I am going to lock down the ship anyway. In a few days we should be on our way. I am going to go into the commissary to arrange for supplies. Are you good here?"

Celeste sighed. "Yes, but I really would like to get off this ship for a while."

"Hmm, let me scope it out. If it looks safe, maybe sometime later?"

She nodded. "Okay."

He looked up. "Sai, watch over Celeste while I am gone."

A voice replied, "Of course, sir."

Celeste's eyes tracked Moon as he walked off the bridge and disappeared down the hallway. She looked up. "Sai, will you keep track of Moon for me?"

"Oh yes, Priestess. I always do. He has an aptitude for finding trouble."

*****

Celeste yawned as she awoke from a nap. She sat up and glanced at the cabin display panel above the desk, which showed the time in one corner.

With a touch of a com button next to the bed, she said, "Sai, is Moon back?"

"No, Priestess."

"It has been five hours. Where is he?"

"He is in a tavern next to the commissary, Priestess."

She groaned. Oh, no... "Do you have a visual, Sai?"

"Yes, Priestess. I accessed the tavern security system. Their firewall is woefully inadequate."

An image appeared on the display panel, dark and grainy at first, then adjusted for better clarity. Only a few people occupied the tavern, scattered about at the bar stools or at one of several dark-colored tables. A holographic image of a scantily clad young woman danced seductively on a small stage. Wearing a black apron, the robotic bartender stood at attention behind the bar. Moon sat motionless at a round booth in the back under subdued lighting, his head bent down while grasping a glass half-full of a frothy amber liquid.

Celeste widened her eyes as concern came over her. He seems so sad.

A young woman with long blonde hair and heavy makeup slid in the booth beside him. She put a hand on his shoulder and appeared to engage him in conversation. Moon turned to acknowledge her, dipping his eyes to her ample cleavage displayed with a form-fitting black top. Flashing a smile, she shimmied closer to him.

A sullen look came to Celeste's face as she watched. Her breath quickened as a flash of anger darkened her heart. She shook herself out of the feeling.

Why should another woman getting close to Moon bother me?

She called out, "Sai, what can you tell me about that woman with Moon?"

"Accessing station database now." A facial picture of the woman came up on a window in the bottom right corner of the display screen, one without makeup. "Her name in Angelique Boone, nineteen Earth years old, and lives in an apartment on the Oracle port with a three-year-old son. She was charged twice with theft, but each time the charges were dismissed when the complainant failed to appear for her hearing."

"What about financial records?"

A string of numbers appeared on the screen. "Her account is presently overdrawn. Past deposits were irregular and of varying amounts. Oh, and there is a pending eviction notice against her by the port for non-payment of rent."

"Umm, Sai, was accessing her personal data illegal?"

"It would not be illegal for me, Priestess, since I am just a computer algorithm. But it would be an illegal search on your part since you requested the data."

She groaned, mumbling, "I think Moon has corrupted me." She stood up. "Sai, can you get me past port immigration? I think he needs an intervention."

"Yes, Priestess. The gate in unmanned now and I should be able to forge access through the auto-system. If I may ask, Priestess, is Captain Moon in danger?"

"In a way. I think I know what this Angelique is doing. She targets freighter crew for theft and likely prostitution."

Celeste gazed at the video feed as she slid on a pair of Moon's altered pants. The woman put an arm around Moon as she laughed, likely at one of his cynical jokes.

Oh, she is good at this and Moon is an easy mark.

Celeste felt a tightness in her throat. If not for a chance meeting years ago with a Sol Priestess, I would have become like her.

Celeste wrapped her soft scarf around her head in a shemagh to conceal most of her face while walking onto the deserted dock. No challenge came at the immigration gate.

She whispered through her viewer. "Okay Sai, I'm in. Lead the way."

"It is not far, Priestess."

Her eyes widened and her mouth gaped. On the video feed, Angelique dumped a white powder from a small vial into Moon's drink while distracting him with a kiss on the lips. Celeste quickened her pace through a dim walkway, breathing heavy while supporting her belly with one arm.

Celeste burst through the open door and spotted Moon as he raised his glass to his lips. She shouted, "Moon, stop!"

He froze, dropping his jaw. "Celeste, what?"

When Celeste came to the booth, she snatched the glass from his hand, placing it on the table just out of his reach. "Don't drink that. It was drugged."

The woman's face turned ashen and her eyes widened. Celeste slid into the booth, trapping the young woman between her and Moon. Celeste narrowed her eyes. "Angelique Boone, is it?"

Angelique's chin trembled. "I meant no harm--"

"Oh, but you did, Angelique." Celeste leaned back. "Tell me, what is your young son's name?"

"Please, don't bring him into this," the woman pleaded. "I'm just trying to raise him... give him a home. Please don't turn me in. They will take him away."

Tears welled in Angelique's eyes. To Celeste, they seemed genuine.

Celeste patted her belly and spoke in gentle tones. "I understand. Soon I will have my own, and we both want a good future for our children. I am not here to judge you, but your present path will lead you to ruin." She pulled a small stack of credit slips from a pocket and placed them on the table. "This is enough to pay your back rent and a few more months. But you must find a better way. Your son deserves that."

Celeste grunted as she slid out of the booth, allowing Angelique to leave. The young woman gazed at the money, then took it up in both hands and held it to her chest. "Why? Why would you help me?"

"Because I was once like you. You have a second chance, Angelique. Don't squander it." Memories that Celeste would rather forget rose in her mind. Over a decade ago as a runaway teen, her life would have spiraled into meaningless tragedy if not for the intervention of a certain Sol Priestess.

Angelique nodded, grabbing the money and dashing out of the tavern. Moon's blurry eyes followed her.

A beep from Celeste's viewer caught her attention. Sai said, "Is Captain Moon well, Priestess."

Celeste smiled. "Just drunk, Sai. Thank you." She lowered her voice. "But please do not address me by my title when I am in a public space."

"Oh, I am sorry, Priestess. I mean, Celeste."

Moon's head swayed as he sat wide-eyed. "Umm, what just happened here?"

"Perhaps redemption, Moon. Come on, let's get you back to the ship."