Ga’len was sitting in front of a terminal, looking at maps of New Eden. His brow was furrowed as he was deep in thought. His hands were moving across the interface terminal rapidly. Every now and again, he would stop working, take a sip of some old rum from his cup, smile as he looked through the view port at the space beyond and smile.
“You’re leaving?”, a small voice crept through the room. Breanne was standing there in the door.
Ga’len looked up from his terminal and saw the child. He got up, walked over to her and knelt on one knee to look her in the eyes.
“It’s okay, I am leaving on another voyage”, he reached over and scooped her up in his arms, “my little acorn, I will be back soon enough.”
“I know, I just always get a little sad when you leave. I miss you.” Breanne hugged Ga’len and he walked back over to his chair and sat down.
“Here, take a look at this. It’s the route I am planning on taking.” Ga’len pointed to a very complex route through the universe charts.
“Wow, you may be visiting some interesting places. So, do you promise to send me messages? Will you bring me something from your travels?”
Ga’len looked into Breanne’s eyes, smiles and said, “Yes my acorn. I will write to you and I promise to return with gifts.”
Breanne hugged Ga’len, got down from his lap and walked out the door. She turned as she reached the threshold and spoke in a calm, clear voice, “I will miss you. Neresa and Aunt Leainati will miss you. We all will.”
Ga’len got up from his chair walked over to Breanne and hugged her again. Tears filled his eyes as he spoke, “I will miss all of you too. I promise to stop by when I can. Take care my little one.”
He let Breanne go from their warm embrace and she left. Ga’len finished packing his things and loaded the cargo crates aboard his Vagabond.
Over the past few days, he had heard the Call of Ancient Whispers. The call to be true to himself and his ways of wandering about the universe. Making friends was always a good thing and spending good time with them ever better, but a seeker of the truths of life has to accept that their journey never ends.
It was time. He was ready to begin his next journey into the unknown.
