excerpt from a space opera

   A faint whooshing sound, barely audible, caught Dak’s attention. It was a very familiar sound and it did something strange to his heart.

  Neither of them had said anything for hours - Xandor wasn’t much for small talk with a slave and spent a lot of time half-asleep anyway - but Dak’s loneliness suddenly reached new heights. 

  He said quietly, 'They’re powering up the engines.'

  Xandor didn’t react at first and Dak wondered if he was asleep again. Then he replied, just as softly, 'Yes. We’re leaving for Earth One. Royard will be doing a night shift in the pilot’s seat.'

  Dak had somehow managed to forget that. His world had strangely shrunk to only include the most immediate, concrete facts and fears of his existence. The world outside these bulkheads was receding into a dream.

  The whoosh was accompanied by a distant clang and other vague noises. He recognised them all - this was the airlock being secured, that was the mooring being disengaged. He closed his eyes and imagined himself in the pilot’s chair. It was suddenly so real that he expected to feel the smooth shape of the helm control in his right hand and hear the scratchy voice from the station traffic control operator in his ears. 

  The engine noise rose to a smooth buzz. The ship vibrated softly in response. He would now be saying his goodbyes to the operator and shifting the helm control ever so slowly to set the Sky Vixen in motion. 

  His right hand twitched. There was no helm control under it. 

  Dak pressed his sleeve against his face to stop the tears. 

  Xandor’s voice was so gentle that he nearly didn’t hear it. 'It will be alright, boy. Go to sleep now.'