Donna Herkle, the self-diagnosed thalassophobe, crashed into the Elcyc Ocean. Her Explorer’s Guild Academy training partially kicked in, her eyes squeezed shut, and panic threatened to burst her lungs.

She reached the surface free of the escape pod’s restraints, gagging and lashing around for imaginary solid land. The pod fell beyond her view, deep into the unfathomable fathoms of blue, dark, black, dangerous water. She knew she could swim, but her imagination created sea monsters threatening to drag her to the endless bottom. An automated emergency raft inflated 10 feet to her right. She caught hold of the chest-sized capsule floating next to her and made her way towards it.

Even as water crashed in her ears, she could hear Captain Drake’s voice from the back of her mind.  “Lieutenant Herkle, if I didn’t know you better, I’d have you thrown into the brig. The child is legal Guild property now. Further attempts to reverse the decision will be treated as hostile. Stand down. That’s a direct order.”

Of the space vessel’s 67 personnel, she had felt like the only victim of the Captain’s direct orders. Maybe he had fixed his unwanted affections on her because she was an easy mark. It was years ago now, but she couldn’t block out the memory of his thin, or his unwashed scent, or the oppressive feel of the inescapable bulkhead behind her as he came in for an unwanted kiss. 

In those terrifying moments, she had wanted to escape, but the real chance was now created out of slim opportunity. Captain Drake wouldn’t see it coming. She had always been an easy mark. Once he was arrested and gone, his voice might stop taunting her. “They will not expend resources to find you” She imagined he would have said. “You’ll never get back home.”

Of course, it had to be a water planet. Her suit felt heavy, and she feared she would lack the strength to swim to the raft.

I must.

The pod’s automatic flight controls had been easy to redirect. It was just as easy to send a message to the royal armada. “I have the Prantanca. She’s safe” Donna hesitated “I’m… requesting asylum.” The princess would be worried about the intergalactic consequences of accepting an asylum seeker from the Explorer’s Guild, but if Donna were right, Talkscen would do anything for the child in the capsule.

Collapsing into the bottom of the raft, she waited. The capsule was secure in her arms.  Princess Talkscen had answered her hails as the pod made planetfall. They would be here soon.

She didn’t have to wait long. Shouts and clicks from the Elcyc sailors reached her ears and the dhow was now close enough to touch. Donna hesitated to grab the rope extended to her. Perhaps it wasn’t too late to turn back. But what would become of the child in her hands?

I must.

Sitting up, she tied the end of the rope to the capsule and waited for them to haul it up, then return for her. She clung to it, and they pulled her aboard effortlessly.

Princess Talkscen stood firm and tall on the deck, looking confidant now, a stark difference from the day she learned Captain Drake had taken her child. Donna carefully placed the chest-sized capsule in front of them and bowed low. “She is well, Princess.”

Donna started to open the casket. Talkscen held up a webbed hand and spoke a string of dolphin-like clicks and murmurs. Ton, the royal interpreter, translated with effort “Donna of the stars, do no open. Yet.” 

Talkscen clicked a command to her sailors, and the dhow started to move. Talkscen took the capsule in both hands, cradling it in her strong arms. She then approached Donna until their faces nearly touched and licked her cheek. An Elcyc sign of affection and gratitude. Personal space had little meaning for these folk, another thing to which Donna would have to adjust. “I thank you,” the Princess said in her own halting English. 

It had taken the Explorer’s Guild several months to translate their language. Though they were distant cousins of humans, their mingling with the aquatic life on the planet had created a species and culture so alien they might as well be fish.

They approached the palace. Sea trees towered dozens of stories above them, their long underwater roots anchored the buildings steady against the waves. These tree-islands were the closest thing the planet had to land, floating masses of tree roots; they migrated along with the currents and seasons. The royal home was built within an inter webbing of tree branches, extended over the waves. Pale sea glass glittered along woven paths and gardens. The royal dhow fit neatly in its port like a key in its hole.

“Among the roots,” Ton said as they followed the princess along a path to the center of the sea tree island. An opening in the roots and branches exposed a pool of clean ocean water. She approached the edge with the capsule, swiftly opened it, and poured the contents in.

An emerald fish, half the size of an adult, splashed unceremoniously out into the pond. Ton continued. “The Prantanca belongs among our roots. In the soon days, it returns, and the daughter will be born.”

Donna shivered. She didn’t like the thought of a surrogate fish swimming around in the ocean with the royal baby in tow, but it was safer here, where they’ve always been. They’re all safer now anyway; Captain Drake had enough pending bad karma for the Peace Enforcement Guild’s liking. She had received confirmation of his arrest shortly before she jumped ship. Unfamiliar hope found a home in her heart.

“I am glad you came. We count you blessed with us.”

“Yes, but…” Donna tore her eyes from the bottomless pool and shifting sea tree roots. “But… I cannot go home.”

The Princess approached Donna and licked her cheek again.

“You are home, Donna of the Stars.”