Chapter Text
tacet: an instruction indicating silence on the part of the performers of a piece
It's been silent for days. I keep strumming the song-wires, sending simple is anyone there messages to every corner of the ship, but no one is answering. Everyone is either asleep, or… or…
Dead. Don't be a coward Rubato, they're dead.
The last message I received was from my stave's officer, Forzando. Xe was nearly asleep — I could hear it in the quiet groaning of xis song. Xe told me that I was the last person on the ship who hadn't caught the mystery illness, and xe ordered me to stay quarantined in the engine bay until I receive further instructions.
I told xim that I was sick now too.
I heard xim sob over the song-wire. That was the only time I ever heard Forzando sound anything but confident and strong. Xe told me it was an honor to work with me, and may the stones bless our journey. I said the same. He never answered again.
I've kept myself locked in the engine bay ever since — I've lost count of how many days it's been since then. I haven't eaten or slept. I keep listening for signs of life outside my little hidey-hole, but I hear nothing. Nothing but the hum of the star-killer tanks feeding the engines on the other side of the wall.
My innards are gurgling with hunger and nausea. I can barely think. My brain is demanding sleep. Fevers and chills wrack my body. I've never been this sick before.
I'm scared. I can't stop myself from trembling and crying like a hatchling. I want to go home. I'm going to die out here, alone.
Maybe someone will come one day. But they won't come soon enough to save me.
I'll leave a message for them. Proof I was here, proof that I tried.
𝄏 𝄏 𝄏
My name is Rubato of West Lava Lakes, child of Vivace and En'Serrant, beloved of Anacrusis of Southern Shores, second-stave engineer for the space mission Eridani Senza'Morendo.
And I'm entirely alone in deep space.
There were twenty-three Eridians on my crew. Everyone but me… died. Cause of death unknown.
If anyone hears this message: tell Erid I'm sorry. I can't do this on my own. I'm not some genius scientist, I'm just an engineer. I should have never agreed to this. I should have said no and stayed on Erid with my mate. Maybe whoever replaced me would have prevented this all from happening. Or maybe they would have died too. But at least I would be home with my mate and my friends and my family as our star was eaten and all life on our planet went extinct.
…If anyone hears this message: tell Anacrusis I love them.