{"data":{"id":18345,"title":"Sojourner Travelogue","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/serialized-fiction\/18345-Sojourner-Travelogue","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/18345","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/18345","channel":"Undefined","category":"Undefined","series":"News Update","images":[{"id":26463,"name":"source.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/media.robertsspaceindustries.com\/weozjmuuh3hwh\/source.jpg","alt":"","size":843046,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2019-09-19T15:49:32+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/26463","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/26463\/similar"},{"id":27892,"name":"source.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/media.robertsspaceindustries.com\/w3o9r4zgppm77\/source.jpg","alt":"","size":900916,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2021-09-06T14:48:40+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/27892","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/27892\/similar"}],"images_count":7,"translations":{"en_EN":"This short story originally appeared in Jump Point 8.08.\nBEGIN RECORDS: 2950.08.03_21:48 SET\nThe subject of today\u2019s lesson was \u201cenjoy that which is set before you.\u201d I needed to learn this one. Glad it found its way to me.\n\nA bit of a recap. Last night, I headed over to the Twyn\u2019s stand right as they were setting out a fresh batch of merguez, so dinner wasn\u2019t all bad. Those definitely go down as one of my favorites on long hauls. Caught the stall cashier giving me a long look and got self-conscious about my arm, even though it was covered. Didn\u2019t think much of it when I went back to the same broken chairs in the Covalex hub to catch some sleep.\n\nI woke up this morning to find another Twyn\u2019s sandwich next to my rucksack. There was a note written across the packaging:\n\nKeep an eye out for the Ithaca, CapEzura\nSpent the morning on the observation deck and was about to give up when I saw a Reclaimer tagged Ithaca come in true and smooth. Made my way to arrivals as the ship\u2019s crew exited an elevator and spread across the station. I followed the one heading to the TDD and eavesdropped on his conversation. He seemed nice and polite, so I staked up outside. He took one look at me and immediately asked if I was Church of the Journey. Said I was and he introduced himself as Captain Ezura. Didn\u2019t even flinch when he shook my cybernetic.\n\nHe invited me aboard Ithaca and made introductions. The crew was welcoming and seemed used to having sojourners aboard because they didn\u2019t ask the usual barrage of questions, like where I was going or question why it was called a \u2018church\u2019 when it\u2019s really just a set of beliefs, etc. They just accepted that I was along for the ride, wherever it took us. All of \u2018em had been with the Captain for a while, which is usually a good sign. I offered to help with dinner, but Captain Ezura (everyone onboard calls him \u201cCap\u201d) said it was his turn to cook. After, I began cleaning dishes but was ordered to get some rest. I almost protested, but orders are orders and it\u2019s been awhile since I\u2019ve slept in a bed.\n\nFeeling thankful my Journey has brought me here.\n\n2950.08.04_19:33 SET\nToday\u2019s lesson was \u201chome is where the Journey takes you.\u201d\n\nI\u2019m exhausted, but still buzzing about everything that happened. I\u2019m thankful Cap is ok and the rest of us, including this big, damn ship are all in one piece.\n\nI piloted today. It\u2019s so strange to say that. Didn\u2019t think the first time since the crash would be like this, but the Journey sets its own course, right?\n\nI\u2019m getting ahead of myself though. First, Ithaca\u2019s beds are surprisingly comfortable. Way better than what I had on Vigny. Don\u2019t know how long I slept, but I awoke to the crew helping Captain Ezura onto a nearby bunk. He looked sick and couldn\u2019t keep anything down. They gave him an injection of hydro-gel and put him to bed. Everyone hoped it was food poisoning and not something contagious.\n\nThe crew held a meeting and let me sit in. We\u2019d traveled to Pyro while I was asleep. Cap got a tip that some kind of fight went down and there was scrap to be found. The debris field was massive and the pickings good. Only problem was Ithaca now sat smack dab in the middle of it, with no one excited to fly us out.\n\nBakka was the usual co-pilot but left technical flying in tight spaces to Cap. Got the sense Cap liked flying through scrap and Bakka liked collecting it. From across the table, I could see Bakka\u2019s sweaty hands at the thought of having to fly out of here. Devadiga wanted out of Pyro fast. Even though the scrap was fresh, she\u2019d seen signs that someone else might have started salvaging the claim. She was convinced that whoever it was would be back any second, and this being Pyro, there was a good chance they wouldn\u2019t be friendly. Taisei, the engineer, wanted to leave, but knew that damaging the ship would make things worse.\n\nThey debated a bit and, I don\u2019t know what made me do it, I mentioned I used to be a pilot. Talked about my time with Vigny and some of our more memorable hauls. Didn\u2019t mention the crash and all it took from me.\n\nCrew put it to a vote and decided to give me a shot. Even though none of \u2018em are members of the Church, they seemed convinced the Journey had brought me here for a reason. If I could navigate out of the wreckage, then we could safely leave Pyro and see about getting Cap some help. That\u2019s when I started to get nervous, but it was too late to explain that I hadn\u2019t flown since getting my new arm.\n\nA shiver ran up my back when I first grabbed the sticks. It was strange. The cybernetic made it feel like it always did, but it was somehow new. Could sense the crew watching anxiously, so I started slow and steady. Captain Ezura had left Ithaca in a tight space between hunks of a Merchantman and a Hammerhead.\n\nI held my breath as I brought the throttle up. There wasn\u2019t much room for error with my first few moves. Thankfully, Devadiga helped by calling out crucial adjustments from the scanning station. This thing is so much bigger than Vigny, but I started getting used to it. Somehow I navigated away from those massive pieces without damaging the ship. Soon I was making accurate adjustments and picking up steam. Everything felt good and normal, like it used to be.\n\nI wanted to say that I didn\u2019t think about you during it, that what happened was out of my mind, but I couldn\u2019t stop remembering. I never would have thought it, but I think that\u2019s what kept me focused.\n\nAfter clearing the field, I relinquished control to Bakka. Felt drained both physically and mentally, forgot how much that can take out of you. Came down here and checked on Cap. He\u2019s sleeping now. Gonna get some sleep then check on Bakka. See if he needs me to take over.\n\n2950.08.05_16:51 SET\nWell\u2026 I knew it would happen eventually, but not sure I\u2019m ready for this.\n\nWhile I slept, Bakka brought us to Prime. Guess Cap and Taisei are from here, so it was an ideal spot to rest and sell scrap. Cap\u2019s feeling better already. He thanked me for stepping in, even offered me a cut of his take, but I politely declined. Could use the credits but it didn\u2019t feel right. Told him his ship and crew had already given me more than he\u2019d ever know. He didn\u2019t press me on what that meant. Just told me I was always welcome aboard Ithaca and that they\u2019d be launching in two days. Part of me wanted to stay aboard to see where they go next, but I know the Journey brought me here for a reason, like how it delivered me to that ship. Before I disembarked, Cap made sure I had details on how to reach him directly.\n\nNow I\u2019m sitting in the spaceport lounge debating if any of the crews here would take me with them to somewhere far away, even though I know I should stay and deliver your personal effects to your family. It\u2019s what I should\u2019ve done months ago but I\u2019m still scared. Scared of what they\u2019ll think of me, the person who failed to bring you home safely. Scared that I won\u2019t be able to keep my shit together when I talk about you.\n\nThis is the stop I\u2019ve been fearing the most. Part of me even hoped the Journey would somehow avoid it. But here I am, building up my courage to do what\u2019s right and telling myself that \u201cone must reflect on where the Journey has brought you and how the path has changed along the way.\u201d\n\nThink I\u2019ve done enough reflecting for now. It\u2019s time to visit your parents. Not sure if this sojourn was all about bringing me here or helping me figure out what comes next. Guess there\u2019s only one way to find out.\n\nThe End","de_DE":"Diese Kurzgeschichte erschien urspr\u00fcnglich in Jump Point 8.08.\nBEGINN DER AUFZEICHNUNGEN: 2950.08.03_21:48 EINGESTELLT\nDas Thema der heutigen Lektion war \"Genie\u00dfe das, was vor dir liegt\". Diese Lektion musste ich lernen. Ich bin froh, dass es den Weg zu mir gefunden hat.\n\nEine kleine Rekapitulation. Gestern Abend ging ich zum Stand von Twyn's, als sie gerade eine frische Ladung Merguez zubereiteten, also war das Abendessen gar nicht so schlecht. Diese geh\u00f6ren definitiv zu meinen Lieblingsgerichten auf Langstreckenfl\u00fcgen. Die Kassiererin am Stand warf mir einen langen Blick zu und f\u00fchlte sich wegen meines Arms unwohl, obwohl er bedeckt war. Ich dachte mir nicht viel dabei, als ich zu denselben kaputten St\u00fchlen im Covalex-Hub zur\u00fcckkehrte, um etwas Schlaf zu finden.\n\nHeute Morgen wachte ich auf und fand ein weiteres Twyn's-Sandwich neben meinem Rucksack. Auf der Verpackung war ein Zettel geschrieben:\n\nHalten Sie Ausschau nach der Ithaca, CapEzura\nIch verbrachte den Vormittag auf der Aussichtsplattform und wollte schon aufgeben, als ich eine Ithaca mit der Kennzeichnung Reclaimer einlaufen sah, die ganz glatt lief. Ich machte mich auf den Weg zu den Ank\u00fcnften, als die Besatzung des Schiffes einen Aufzug verlie\u00df und sich \u00fcber die Station verteilte. Ich folgte demjenigen, der zum TDD ging und belauschte sein Gespr\u00e4ch. Er schien nett und h\u00f6flich zu sein, also stellte ich mich drau\u00dfen auf. Er warf einen Blick auf mich und fragte sofort, ob ich die Church of the Journey sei. Ich sagte, ich sei es und er stellte sich als Captain Ezura vor. Er hat nicht einmal gezuckt, als er meine kybernetische Uhr sch\u00fcttelte.\n\nEr lud mich an Bord der Ithaca ein und stellte mich vor. Die Besatzung war einladend und schien es gewohnt zu sein, Fremde an Bord zu haben, denn sie stellten nicht die \u00fcblichen Fragen, wie z.B. wohin ich gehen w\u00fcrde oder warum man es 'Kirche' nennt, wenn es doch eigentlich nur ein Glaubenssystem ist usw. Sie akzeptierten einfach, dass ich dabei war, wohin auch immer die Reise gehen w\u00fcrde. Sie waren alle schon eine Weile mit dem Kapit\u00e4n unterwegs, was normalerweise ein gutes Zeichen ist. Ich bot an, beim Abendessen zu helfen, aber Kapit\u00e4n Ezura (alle an Bord nennen ihn \"Cap\") sagte, er sei mit dem Kochen dran. Danach begann ich mit dem Abwasch, aber mir wurde befohlen, mich etwas auszuruhen. Fast h\u00e4tte ich protestiert, aber Befehl ist Befehl und es ist schon eine Weile her, dass ich in einem Bett geschlafen habe.\n\nIch bin dankbar, dass meine Reise mich hierher gebracht hat.\n\n2950.08.04_19:33 SATZ\nDie heutige Lektion lautete: \"Zuhause ist dort, wohin dich die Reise f\u00fchrt\".\n\nIch bin ersch\u00f6pft, aber immer noch aufgeregt \u00fcber alles, was passiert ist. Ich bin dankbar, dass es Cap gut geht und wir anderen, einschlie\u00dflich dieses gro\u00dfen, verdammten Schiffes, alle unversehrt sind.\n\nIch war heute der Pilot. Es ist so seltsam, das zu sagen. Ich h\u00e4tte nicht gedacht, dass es das erste Mal seit dem Absturz so sein w\u00fcrde, aber die Journey bestimmt ihren eigenen Kurs, nicht wahr?\n\nAber ich greife mir selbst vor. Zun\u00e4chst einmal sind die Betten auf Ithaca \u00fcberraschend bequem. Viel besser als die, die ich auf Vigny hatte. Ich wei\u00df nicht, wie lange ich geschlafen habe, aber ich wachte auf, als die Besatzung Captain Ezura in eine nahe gelegene Koje half. Er sah krank aus und konnte nichts bei sich behalten. Sie gaben ihm eine Spritze mit Hydrogel und legten ihn ins Bett. Alle hofften, dass es sich um eine Lebensmittelvergiftung handelte und nicht um etwas Ansteckendes.\n\nDie Besatzung hielt eine Besprechung ab und lie\u00df mich daran teilnehmen. Wir waren nach Pyro gereist, w\u00e4hrend ich schlief. Cap hatte einen Tipp bekommen, dass es eine Art Kampf gegeben hatte und dass dort Schrott zu finden war. Das Tr\u00fcmmerfeld war riesig und die Ausbeute gut. Das einzige Problem war, dass Ithaca jetzt mittendrin sa\u00df und niemand Lust hatte, uns auszufliegen.\n\nBakka war der \u00fcbliche Co-Pilot, aber das technische Fliegen in engen R\u00e4umen \u00fcberlie\u00df er Cap. Ich hatte das Gef\u00fchl, dass Cap gerne durch Schrott flog und Bakka ihn gerne einsammelte. Von der anderen Seite des Tisches aus konnte ich Bakkas schwitzige H\u00e4nde bei dem Gedanken sehen, von hier wegfliegen zu m\u00fcssen. Devadiga wollte schnell aus Pyro raus. Obwohl der Schrott noch frisch war, hatte sie Anzeichen daf\u00fcr gesehen, dass jemand anderes mit der Bergung des Claims begonnen haben k\u00f6nnte. Sie war \u00fcberzeugt, dass derjenige jeden Moment zur\u00fcckkommen w\u00fcrde, und da es sich um Pyro handelte, war die Wahrscheinlichkeit gro\u00df, dass er nicht freundlich gesinnt sein w\u00fcrde. Taisei, der Ingenieur, wollte gehen, aber er wusste, dass eine Besch\u00e4digung des Schiffes alles noch schlimmer machen w\u00fcrde.\n\nSie debattierten ein wenig und, ich wei\u00df nicht, was mich dazu veranlasst hat, erw\u00e4hnte ich, dass ich fr\u00fcher Pilot war. Ich erz\u00e4hlte von meiner Zeit mit Vigny und von einigen unserer denkw\u00fcrdigen Beutez\u00fcge. Den Absturz und alles, was er mir genommen hat, habe ich nicht erw\u00e4hnt.\n\nDie Crew hat dar\u00fcber abgestimmt und beschlossen, mir eine Chance zu geben. Obwohl keiner von ihnen Mitglied der Kirche ist, schienen sie davon \u00fcberzeugt zu sein, dass die Journey mich aus einem bestimmten Grund hierher gebracht hatte. Wenn es mir gel\u00e4nge, aus dem Wrack zu navigieren, k\u00f6nnten wir Pyro sicher verlassen und uns um die Hilfe f\u00fcr Cap k\u00fcmmern. In diesem Moment begann ich nerv\u00f6s zu werden, aber es war zu sp\u00e4t, um zu erkl\u00e4ren, dass ich seit dem Erhalt meines neuen Arms nicht mehr geflogen war.\n\nEin Schauer lief mir \u00fcber den R\u00fccken, als ich das erste Mal nach den St\u00f6cken griff. Es war seltsam. Durch die Kybernetik f\u00fchlte es sich an wie immer, aber es war irgendwie neu. Ich konnte sp\u00fcren, dass die Besatzung besorgt zusah, also fing ich langsam und vorsichtig an. Captain Ezura hatte die Ithaca in einem engen Raum zwischen den Brocken eines Merchantman und einer Hammerhead verlassen.\n\nIch hielt den Atem an, als ich das Gaspedal hochdrehte. Bei meinen ersten Z\u00fcgen gab es nicht viel Spielraum f\u00fcr Fehler. Zum Gl\u00fcck half mir Devadiga, indem er mir von der Scannerstation aus wichtige Anpassungen zurief. Dieses Ding ist so viel gr\u00f6\u00dfer als Vigny, aber ich begann mich daran zu gew\u00f6hnen. Irgendwie konnte ich diesen massiven Teilen ausweichen, ohne das Schiff zu besch\u00e4digen. Schon bald nahm ich genaue Anpassungen vor und kam immer besser in Fahrt. Alles f\u00fchlte sich gut und normal an, so wie es fr\u00fcher einmal war.\n\nIch wollte sagen, dass ich w\u00e4hrenddessen nicht an Sie gedacht habe, dass das, was passiert ist, aus meinem Kopf verschwunden ist, aber ich konnte nicht aufh\u00f6ren, mich zu erinnern. Ich h\u00e4tte das nie gedacht, aber ich glaube, das hat mich bei der Stange gehalten.\n\nNachdem ich das Feld ger\u00e4umt hatte, gab ich die Kontrolle an Bakka ab. Ich f\u00fchlte mich sowohl k\u00f6rperlich als auch geistig ausgelaugt, ich hatte vergessen, wie viel das aus einem herausholen kann. Ich bin hierher gekommen und habe nach Cap gesehen. Er schl\u00e4ft jetzt. Ich werde etwas schlafen und dann nach Bakka sehen. Mal sehen, ob er mich braucht, um zu \u00fcbernehmen.\n\n2950.08.05_16:51 UHR\nNun... ich wusste, dass es irgendwann passieren w\u00fcrde, aber ich bin nicht sicher, ob ich dazu bereit bin.\n\nW\u00e4hrend ich geschlafen habe, hat uns Bakka nach Prime gebracht. Ich sch\u00e4tze, Cap und Taisei sind von hier, also war es ein idealer Ort, um sich auszuruhen und Schrott zu verkaufen. Cap geht es schon besser. Er hat mir gedankt, dass ich eingesprungen bin, und mir sogar einen Teil seiner Einnahmen angeboten, aber ich habe h\u00f6flich abgelehnt. Ich k\u00f6nnte die Credits gebrauchen, aber es f\u00fchlte sich nicht richtig an. Ich sagte ihm, dass sein Schiff und seine Crew mir bereits mehr gegeben haben, als er je erfahren w\u00fcrde. Er hat mich nicht gefragt, was das bedeutet. Er sagte mir nur, dass ich an Bord der Ithaca immer willkommen sei und dass sie in zwei Tagen auslaufen w\u00fcrden. Ein Teil von mir wollte an Bord bleiben, um zu sehen, wohin sie als n\u00e4chstes gehen, aber ich wei\u00df, dass die Journey mich aus einem bestimmten Grund hierher gebracht hat, so wie sie mich auf dieses Schiff gebracht hat. Bevor ich von Bord ging, vergewisserte sich Cap, dass ich die Details hatte, wie ich ihn direkt erreichen konnte.\n\nJetzt sitze ich in der Lounge des Raumhafens und \u00fcberlege, ob mich eine der Crews hier an einen weit entfernten Ort mitnehmen w\u00fcrde, obwohl ich wei\u00df, dass ich bleiben und Ihrer Familie Ihre pers\u00f6nlichen Gegenst\u00e4nde \u00fcberbringen sollte. Das h\u00e4tte ich schon vor Monaten tun sollen, aber ich habe immer noch Angst. Angst davor, was sie von mir denken werden, von der Person, die es nicht geschafft hat, Sie sicher nach Hause zu bringen. Ich habe Angst, dass ich mich nicht mehr zusammenrei\u00dfen kann, wenn ich \u00fcber Sie spreche.\n\nDas ist die Station, vor der ich mich am meisten gef\u00fcrchtet habe. Ein Teil von mir hat sogar gehofft, dass die Journey sie irgendwie vermeiden w\u00fcrde. Aber jetzt bin ich hier und fasse den Mut, das Richtige zu tun und mir zu sagen, dass \"man dar\u00fcber nachdenken muss, wohin die Reise einen gebracht hat und wie sich der Weg auf dem Weg ver\u00e4ndert hat\".\n\nIch glaube, ich habe jetzt genug nachgedacht. Es ist Zeit, Ihre Eltern zu besuchen. Ich bin mir nicht sicher, ob mich dieser Aufenthalt hierher gebracht hat oder ob er mir helfen soll, herauszufinden, was als n\u00e4chstes kommt. Ich denke, es gibt nur einen Weg, das herauszufinden.\n\nDas Ende","zh_CN":"This short story originally appeared in Jump Point 8.08.\nBEGIN RECORDS: 2950.08.03_21:48 SET\nThe subject of today\u2019s lesson was \u201cenjoy that which is set before you.\u201d I needed to learn this one. Glad it found its way to me.\n\nA bit of a recap. Last night, I headed over to the Twyn\u2019s stand right as they were setting out a fresh batch of merguez, so dinner wasn\u2019t all bad. Those definitely go down as one of my favorites on long hauls. Caught the stall cashier giving me a long look and got self-conscious about my arm, even though it was covered. Didn\u2019t think much of it when I went back to the same broken chairs in the Covalex hub to catch some sleep.\n\nI woke up this morning to find another Twyn\u2019s sandwich next to my rucksack. There was a note written across the packaging:\n\nKeep an eye out for the Ithaca, CapEzura\nSpent the morning on the observation deck and was about to give up when I saw a Reclaimer tagged Ithaca come in true and smooth. Made my way to arrivals as the ship\u2019s crew exited an elevator and spread across the station. I followed the one heading to the TDD and eavesdropped on his conversation. He seemed nice and polite, so I staked up outside. He took one look at me and immediately asked if I was Church of the Journey. Said I was and he introduced himself as Captain Ezura. Didn\u2019t even flinch when he shook my cybernetic.\n\nHe invited me aboard Ithaca and made introductions. The crew was welcoming and seemed used to having sojourners aboard because they didn\u2019t ask the usual barrage of questions, like where I was going or question why it was called a \u2018church\u2019 when it\u2019s really just a set of beliefs, etc. They just accepted that I was along for the ride, wherever it took us. All of \u2018em had been with the Captain for a while, which is usually a good sign. I offered to help with dinner, but Captain Ezura (everyone onboard calls him \u201cCap\u201d) said it was his turn to cook. After, I began cleaning dishes but was ordered to get some rest. I almost protested, but orders are orders and it\u2019s been awhile since I\u2019ve slept in a bed.\n\nFeeling thankful my Journey has brought me here.\n\n2950.08.04_19:33 SET\nToday\u2019s lesson was \u201chome is where the Journey takes you.\u201d\n\nI\u2019m exhausted, but still buzzing about everything that happened. I\u2019m thankful Cap is ok and the rest of us, including this big, damn ship are all in one piece.\n\nI piloted today. It\u2019s so strange to say that. Didn\u2019t think the first time since the crash would be like this, but the Journey sets its own course, right?\n\nI\u2019m getting ahead of myself though. First, Ithaca\u2019s beds are surprisingly comfortable. Way better than what I had on Vigny. Don\u2019t know how long I slept, but I awoke to the crew helping Captain Ezura onto a nearby bunk. He looked sick and couldn\u2019t keep anything down. They gave him an injection of hydro-gel and put him to bed. Everyone hoped it was food poisoning and not something contagious.\n\nThe crew held a meeting and let me sit in. We\u2019d traveled to Pyro while I was asleep. Cap got a tip that some kind of fight went down and there was scrap to be found. The debris field was massive and the pickings good. Only problem was Ithaca now sat smack dab in the middle of it, with no one excited to fly us out.\n\nBakka was the usual co-pilot but left technical flying in tight spaces to Cap. Got the sense Cap liked flying through scrap and Bakka liked collecting it. From across the table, I could see Bakka\u2019s sweaty hands at the thought of having to fly out of here. Devadiga wanted out of Pyro fast. Even though the scrap was fresh, she\u2019d seen signs that someone else might have started salvaging the claim. She was convinced that whoever it was would be back any second, and this being Pyro, there was a good chance they wouldn\u2019t be friendly. Taisei, the engineer, wanted to leave, but knew that damaging the ship would make things worse.\n\nThey debated a bit and, I don\u2019t know what made me do it, I mentioned I used to be a pilot. Talked about my time with Vigny and some of our more memorable hauls. Didn\u2019t mention the crash and all it took from me.\n\nCrew put it to a vote and decided to give me a shot. Even though none of \u2018em are members of the Church, they seemed convinced the Journey had brought me here for a reason. If I could navigate out of the wreckage, then we could safely leave Pyro and see about getting Cap some help. That\u2019s when I started to get nervous, but it was too late to explain that I hadn\u2019t flown since getting my new arm.\n\nA shiver ran up my back when I first grabbed the sticks. It was strange. The cybernetic made it feel like it always did, but it was somehow new. Could sense the crew watching anxiously, so I started slow and steady. Captain Ezura had left Ithaca in a tight space between hunks of a Merchantman and a Hammerhead.\n\nI held my breath as I brought the throttle up. There wasn\u2019t much room for error with my first few moves. Thankfully, Devadiga helped by calling out crucial adjustments from the scanning station. This thing is so much bigger than Vigny, but I started getting used to it. Somehow I navigated away from those massive pieces without damaging the ship. Soon I was making accurate adjustments and picking up steam. Everything felt good and normal, like it used to be.\n\nI wanted to say that I didn\u2019t think about you during it, that what happened was out of my mind, but I couldn\u2019t stop remembering. I never would have thought it, but I think that\u2019s what kept me focused.\n\nAfter clearing the field, I relinquished control to Bakka. Felt drained both physically and mentally, forgot how much that can take out of you. Came down here and checked on Cap. He\u2019s sleeping now. Gonna get some sleep then check on Bakka. See if he needs me to take over.\n\n2950.08.05_16:51 SET\nWell\u2026 I knew it would happen eventually, but not sure I\u2019m ready for this.\n\nWhile I slept, Bakka brought us to Prime. Guess Cap and Taisei are from here, so it was an ideal spot to rest and sell scrap. Cap\u2019s feeling better already. He thanked me for stepping in, even offered me a cut of his take, but I politely declined. Could use the credits but it didn\u2019t feel right. Told him his ship and crew had already given me more than he\u2019d ever know. He didn\u2019t press me on what that meant. Just told me I was always welcome aboard Ithaca and that they\u2019d be launching in two days. Part of me wanted to stay aboard to see where they go next, but I know the Journey brought me here for a reason, like how it delivered me to that ship. Before I disembarked, Cap made sure I had details on how to reach him directly.\n\nNow I\u2019m sitting in the spaceport lounge debating if any of the crews here would take me with them to somewhere far away, even though I know I should stay and deliver your personal effects to your family. It\u2019s what I should\u2019ve done months ago but I\u2019m still scared. Scared of what they\u2019ll think of me, the person who failed to bring you home safely. Scared that I won\u2019t be able to keep my shit together when I talk about you.\n\nThis is the stop I\u2019ve been fearing the most. Part of me even hoped the Journey would somehow avoid it. But here I am, building up my courage to do what\u2019s right and telling myself that \u201cone must reflect on where the Journey has brought you and how the path has changed along the way.\u201d\n\nThink I\u2019ve done enough reflecting for now. It\u2019s time to visit your parents. Not sure if this sojourn was all about bringing me here or helping me figure out what comes next. Guess there\u2019s only one way to find out.\n\nThe End"},"links_count":0,"comment_count":15,"created_at":"2021-10-06T02:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"4 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-09 10:05:52","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":18344,"next_id":18346}}