Chapter 9 - The Frequency of Curiosity

As they emerged from the warp, the small viewport filled with the swirling chaos of an encroaching Dead Zone. Naia immediately extended her harmonic field, stabilizing their immediate surroundings. The effect of the chaotic energy was growing, but with many Navigators coming to hold it back things should work out.

Theia's eyes lit up with pure fascination on display.

"Remarkable. The way you manipulate... it's like you're weaving order into the very fabric of reality. Watching it this closely was a good choice. I feel like I'm learning something!"

Evander shot Naia a puzzled look, showing that he noted the obvious shift in Theia's behavior. Naia felt pride and unease at Theia's almost obtuse praise. *Something* had definitely changed, but she really couldn't put her finger on what it was. As they started to disembark, Theia turned back to Evander.

"Analyzing the Dead Zone's energy patterns, there's a node of greater stability about 500 meters northeast of our position. If we can reach it, Naia's powers would be amplified significantly by remaining there."

Evander's eyebrows rose and his visor flashed with red glowing data points.

"That's... an astute observation. How did you determine that?"

Theia smiled confidently, a hint of her usual nature returning and snuffing out the scholarly curiosity. The woman waved a gloved hand, causing a ripple of orange chaotic energy to flare around it. The effect was subtle, but the implications were clear.

"Just a bit of mental calculations based on the energy fluctuations I can feel. Shall we proceed?"

The four moved out towards the spot discussed, Naia couldn't shake the feeling that they were dealing with a somehow very different Theia than the one they'd met just days ago. Poros watched the almost awkward looks and uncertainty on his friend, but he merely expected that she was uncomfortable with the other woman for different reasons.

As the squad reached the node, the effects were clear. A bubble of relatively extreme stability compared to the unraveling reality at the edges of the area naturally formed a protective dome around the group. Naia breathed a sigh of relief as the energy flows smoothed out and her powers grew more effective.

Humming softly, she began to channel the extra power to a more specific purpose. Her harmonic staff glowed brightly and cerulean energy wove into orderly nets that spread ever outward. The Dead Zone shifted and settled as the shell of the colony was stitched together - the degradation halted almost entirely by the harmony she imposed.

"It's really incredible how you can affect an entire reality with such precision, Naia. Your abilities are really quite something."

Theia's voice had a strange quality to it - almost reverent. She turned to Evander and gestured around them.

"So do we need to do anything else, or just stand and protect her?"

"There shouldn't be anything to protect against according to reports, and the rest of our squad will be assisting in the actual evacuation, so she will focus on maintaining the stability of the region until we're told we can leave. I've already listed this spot on mil-net. Command said we'll rotate shifts in two hours."

Naia, trying to focus on her task, was keenly aware of the blonde's proximity and attention after being told to stand down. Interested eyes would switch from her form to the cerulean energy under her dominion and then scan the surroundings. It was almost as if the woman was making sure that nothing would interrupt the Navigator.

It was... a little disturbing, but also a strange comfort.

"Do you think, maybe, you can tell me about what you're doing now?"

"She'd have to stop using her hums to answer you. I doubt it will lead to a better result."

Poros pointed out, speaking to her for the first time since they arrived. 

"Ah. Well, I'm sure she can talk later."

Theia replied nonchalantly, waving away the concern like her curiosity wasn't important. The blackthough the effort was making her voice slightly strained.

"Actually, it's not that hard to multi-task. My voice is used to help focus things, but because of this node you found... I don't need to adjust as much."

"Keep the chatting on mission, please."

Evander said, his tone slightly tense with authority. The rebuked woman shrugged, then gave Naia a sly smile before speaking again.

"Of course, dear~"

The endearment made the Navigator's breath catch. She'd just... used it on Evander even after learning she and him might be more than coworkers? Naia couldn't tell if the woman meant something more by it or was just being playful. She seemed to shift her mood a lot, but hadn't *seemed* malicious.

Then again, the woman's emotions were locked behind a dense fog of chaos that the Navigator couldn't pierce. She reasoned that it didn't matter at this moment. What did matter was keeping this Dead Zone stable. Naia took a deep breath and refocused, trying to ignore the distractions that the woman brought.

The hours went smoother after that and the throat that had been used all that time ached less than she expected when she heard they would have to hold off a collapse like this. Altogether she spent seven shifts standing in that area. Poros was reassigned after the first and Theia was also recalled back to Command.

Their squad leader alone stood at her side through it all - though he hadn't talked to her more than necessary and spent his attention on his terminal. When the Navigator returned to the green zone, she was exhausted. She and Evander had shared a tender embrace before boarding the warp transit , but she hadn't chosen to talk about anything either.

'Even though his plan sounded so simple…'

She just couldn't bring herself to look at his face, or be near him at all, while asking what he thought of Theia… even if it was just about her joining the team on a professional level. Naia decided she would take a long shower before getting some sleep. Perhaps a little more *time* would make it easier to confront her boyfriend?