The shuttle hummed through the upper atmosphere of Janoor III. Light turbulence shifted the four passengers gently as they sat in the aft compartment of an aging Type-8 shuttle. Two padded benches faced each other across the narrow space. Despite the utilitarian seating and muted bulkheads, the cabin pulsed with animated energy.

Lieutenant Commander Binedra Dowa sat with one leg tucked underneath her thigh. Her back was straight, hands gesturing with motions as colorful as the violet gloss on her lips. Her bald electric blue head gleamed under the cabin lights. The ridged line bisecting her Bolian scalp caught the faint shimmer most.

“I swear, if I don’t come back with soil under my nails and at least one sample of living river fern, this entire trip was a waste,” the doctor declared as she leaned forward. “The whole Jasnea River basin is full of plants that only grow near white water. They’re resilient, medicinal, and some even have bioluminescent spores.”

Ji-hee made a face. “Surely you have to be looking forward to more than just collecting spores.” The Chief Engineer smirked playfully.

Binedra laughed from her spot across from her. “I’m just saying, it’s not every day I get to vacation somewhere with plants I’ve only read about.

“I’ll give you that,” Ji-hee said as her expression warmed into a smile. Her purple bob shifted as she rested an elbow on her thigh and gestured lazily. “I’m here for the view too. But mostly for the inn. It’s supposed to have an open-air bar with real wood beams. There’s an Orion mixologist who wears too little shirt and too much cologne prowling the grounds.”

“You’re impossible,” Binedra grinned. Lt. Cmdr. T’Naagi cast a hesitant glance towards Ji-hee at mention of Orions.

Ji-hee shrugged. “We all have needs. Some of us just enjoy ours with a side of mint-infused synthahol and biceps.”

T’Naagi finally released a quiet chuckle. She sat beside Ji-hee, copper hair pinned up in a relaxed knot. Luminous pink irises peered out from her yellow-green complexion observantly. “At least you plan to hike in the mornings,” she offered. “Balance should do you well.”

Lt. Cmdr. T’Naagi could almost pass for Lt. Cmdr. Moon’s jade sister. An epicanthic fold lent the Orion’s eyes a similar almond shape. T’Naagi was also petite and lithe compared to many athletic Orion women.

“Oh, I’ll balance. One foot in the woods, one foot in that bartender’s personal space,” Ji-hee said brightly.

Binedra burst out laughing. The fourth passenger had been keeping quiet for much of the ride. Sohjeg sat stiffly beside the doctor. His shoulders sank low as he seemed to stare at a bulkhead between the ladies. He was clearly trying to occupy as little physical space as possible among the exuberant trio. His curls had started to frizz slightly from his rushed walk to the shuttlebay earlier. Sohjeg’s expression warmed as he thought of their talk of plants.

“I’ve actually been studying the river basin’s ecology,” he said in a low, articulate voice. “When they re-planted some of the wooods and meadows here, they included xeno-flora from worlds across the Federation. They even pioneered some plant based therapy methods here, after everything the people went through. They pioneered the framework for something called a grief trail, not far from here.”

All three women turned toward him with interest.

“Grief trail?” Binedra asked.

Sohjeg nodded. “They’re curated walking paths with layered sensory inputs. Aroma, touch, temperature gradients. They help regulate emotional processing. I used a similar design in therapy with Tellarite children after the Edron VIII evacuation.”

“That’s beautiful,” T’Naagi said as she tilted her head.

Binedra looked impressed. “Oh, you work with plants? Why didn’t you mention that before?”

“You never stopped talking about ferns long enough,” Ji-hee teased.

Sohjeg laughed lightly as the tension in his shoulders eased. “Not an issue, I just don’t talk a ton.”

T’Naagi’s voice was soft but full of quiet excitement. “I’m actually looking forward to the township fair most. They’re running old-style amusement rides, some manually controlled. There’s also a food festival with regional heirloom recipes. I heard there’s a lot of street food from different worlds too! I haven’t been to anything like this since I was little.”

Ji-hee let out a dreamy sigh. “Perfect. I can see you in line for the Ferris wheel, halfway through your third candied root skewer.”

“Sixth,” Binedra corrected as she gently nudged T’Naagi with her foot.

Sohjeg tilted his head toward the Orion scientist. “They’re making dumplings from riverleaf wrap. Grilled risso root skewers sound so good too.”

“Yes,” T’Naagi replied excitedly. “I heard they’re using red moss glaze from the southern gardens. It crystallizes when it cools. They say it tastes like cinnamon and smoke.”

Ji-hee glanced toward Sohjeg. “What about you, Counselor? What’s pulling you down to the surface? Besides riding with us charming maniacs, of course.”

Sohjeg leaned back slightly. “There’s a band performing at the riverside casino. Verdant Thorn. Ever heard of them?”

Binedra shook her head, but her eyes lit with interest.

“They’re Orion. A kind of heavy, experimental metal. Very layered. They’re not just loud for the sake of it,” he said. “Their lyrics explore the collapse of civilizations throughout history. There’s one track based on the failure of the Shinar Accords. Another is about the fall of pre-Federation Earth settlements. One ties the dissolution of Syndicate power in the 2370s to the psychology of frontier survival.”

Ji-hee blinked. “That sounds like history class with moshing.”

“It is,” he said. “Moshing is more Klingon doom metal nowadays, but I get what you mean. They’re raw. Poetic. Not angry so much as aware. It’s about what happens when systems forget to protect the people inside them. And how we live with the effects. They’ve also just got that good heavy metal tone, you know?”

Binedra let out a low whistle. “That sounds amazing. Can we go?”

“Definitely,” Ji-hee said. “I want to feel my bones vibrate a my soul questions its structural integrity. Let’s do it.”

All eyes shifted to the Orion on the shuttle, T’Naagi. She gave a small but thoughtful smile.

“I don’t know,” she admitted after a pause. “I’m not uncomfortable around Orions. It’s just strange sometimes. Growing up on Vondem, we had different customs and values. People expect one thing when they hear ‘Orion.’ I’m not always sure what part of me they’re reacting to. Whether that’s who I am, or some stereotype they read about. I never really spent too much time in an Orion bar or restaurant outside of Vondem, except for a passing visit.”

Ji-hee met her gaze, gentler now. “That makes sense.”

Sohjeg’s tone was warm. “I think two of the band’s members are from Vondem. They definitely don’t push Orion Free State politics. Verdant Thorn’s crowd is usually full of species who feel like they don’t fit the mold. They’re not a Syndicate nostalgia act either. They’re carving out something honest. Inclusive. There’ll be people from half a dozen systems there just to listen. This show is taking place at the Riverside Casino.”

Binedra leaned back with a look of impressed amusement. “They play music with that kind of message in a casino?”

“They’re performing on a floating platform over the river,” Sohjeg said. “It’s all open air.”

The shuttle found itself on final approach to its destination. Hills rolled into the pilots’ view as the clouds sat just below the descending craft. The broad ribbon of the Jasnea River caught the rising sunlight as a stretching silver band that snaked through trees and rock formations.

“Alright,” T’Naagi said after a few moments of deliberation. “But I’m making no promises if someone needs rescuing from a badly calibrated subwoofer.”

“Deal,” Binedra grinned.

Ji-hee leaned forward and tapped T’Naagi’s knee. “You’ll be fine. If anyone gets lost, we can just follow the bassline back to safety.”

Sohjeg chuckled quietly. The shuttle dipped heavily and banked. it slowed as the landing zone approached. Scents of wet soil and fresh foliage began to waft in faintly through the filters. The township waited below.