Chapter Text
Four bodies in various stages of advanced decomposition.
Crew identifiable by records left by Pony Express of employee appearances and clothing authorized for travel on the "Tulpar" Type-F freighter 0926WO. Of the bodies located, one was located in the utility room containing the cryogenic pods and three were located in the crew rest area with signs reflecting repositioning of the bodies after death. Two of the bodies reflect signs of violence amongst the crew members and the other two reflect a level of self-harm indicative of suicidal intention with the intention of causing death. Retrieval of the bodies with the help of K.C. crew members S. Erklung and B. Anai allowed for the total collection of all biological material on the "Tulpar". Of the four bodies, three have been stored in the "Basat-13M" primary morgue while one body has been stored in the "Basat-13M" auxiliary morgue.
Exploration of the "Tulpar" resulted in the discovery of a living crew member in the further right cryogenic pod in the utility room. Originally believed to be deceased, the crew member was transported to the "Basat-13M" autopsy room for post-mortem examination before showing signs of life. The crew member, identified as the ship's captain, resides in the medical bay coma pod of the "Basat-13M" while plans for recovery are currently being made by myself and Captain Kuara.
May God have mercy on his soul.
There was an old earth phrase that went something along the lines of stepping on a cat's back and curiosity killing it back to life- and though I don't remember it, I'd wish maybe you would at times. It's enough that the discovery on the freighter freaked out Simon so bad that he hasn't talked to me since he returned, but the fact that you keep insisting on bothering him means I have to step up and be the asshole and tell you to cut it out.
I appreciate you showing a level of curiosity that keeps our crew in-check during long travels, but the last few days have been the furthest thing it has been from needed. Anai is still recovering all the excess cargo that Pony Express hauled out on the Tulpar and since Simon is out of commission, why don't you take some initiative and go help her out with organizing all the bullshit in the cargo bay that we picked up from that waded-up steel ball of a ship? I'm sure she'd appreciate it.
While I'm at it, please don't bother Karina. It's enough that she had to ship out of a report to Kut in such short notice about the bodies, but the miracle survivor too? She's already got enough grey hairs on her. Give her a break. You can talk to Simon after he's gotten some time to digest everything him and Anai have come across. Karina is a whole different beast. I'm reigning you in now but I expect that she'll let you know when she is ready to let you stuff your nose into all the Pony Express business we've gotten ourselves wrapped in. For now, Cargo bay. I better not find you sulking around anywhere else.
Good luck,
Zaya.
After four days, Karina finally let me see the bodies, but she won't let me see the survivor. Each of them have been dead for far too long.
It isn't the first time I've seen a dead body, but ones these old almost feel wrong to look at for too long. Like skeletons in an unearthed burial site being awoken from their long, deep slumber in the dirt and wood. Peaceful, almost. Sad, mostly. Some of them are pretty young. The oldest one looked like he had a couple years away from a sweet long retirement full of beach chairs and mimosas.
God, how long has it been since I've had a mimosa?
I think Karina finds me odd sometimes. I know I overstayed my welcome in the morgue, but I don't think I can help myself in the case of all, well-- everything we uncovered when we came upon the Tulpar. Karina hasn't let me onto the ship, safety concerns she says, so I stave off my curiosities with the bodies we have tugged onto the Basat. Each one of them tells a story that I can't seem to let myself not think about. The injuries, the parts of humanity I can still see in their sunken in deceased faces, the pony express logos on their clothing. Karina seems especially protective of the female crew member she stored in the auxiliary morgue. Something about "needing to find a proper space", but I wasn't quite sure what she meant by that when she had practically grumbled it out. However, she seems to have her hands so full with the survivor that I think she may have simply let me stay in the morgue as a way of keeping me away from him.
The captain of the Tulpar, the only survivor of the crash, fifteen years after the fact.
I caught a peek of him while I was being pushed away by Karina for avoiding my duties at the cargo bay. Just red, that's all I saw.
Just red.
They said his name was Curly. Some high ranking captain, probably was around when I was just a kid, cruising across the stars. I wonder if he was up there when I was still down on the ground.
I wonder if he'll ever fly again.