Shoshone Station: The Galactic Consortium season 2

Episode Seven: Homecoming #1

Sophia had just arrived for her evening shift as a couple of healers were ushering a young woman into the unit. She stared at the back of the woman's head, trying to figure if people outside her parents' Order had ever braided their hair like that. Maybe it was just a style thing. The Order would surely not approve of the station or the Consortium. Even typical Americans were too strange for them.

Katja and another healer were leading the woman down toward the tank rooms. Sophia looked over at Bankim.

"Overcome with excitement of being on the station for the first time. Oh lordie," he joked, flapping his hand in front of his face.

Sophia laughed and swatted him playfully. "Stop it. Be nice."

"Just some dehydration and low blood sugar. Long trip without stopping to eat or drink. She'll be fine. We just figured a tank session wouldn't hurt."

Sophia spied something on the floor and went to pick it up. It was a necklace; she ran after the others to give it back. They were at the door, and she had hailed them . . . then she recognized the necklace. It was the same diamond-pendant necklace that she had sent home for Christmas.

"Thank you, miss," her sister, Shaelynn, said as she took the necklace from Sophia's unresisting grasp. She turned and went into the room before Sophia could think to react.

She didn't even recognize me. Then again, why should she? Sophia had changed a lot in the years since she'd run away. What was Shaelynn doing here? Sophia went back into the main room and sat on one of the couches, her head reeling.

Bankim stopped by to ask if she was okay. Not sure how to explain, she gave him a vague reply. She sat in a daze until Shaelynn interrupted her.

Shaelynn's hair was still wet from a shower. "They said maybe you could help me," she said. "I'm looking for someone."

Sophia looked up into Shaelynn's face. She'd matured a lot since Sophia had seen her last. There was no hint of recognition. She sat facing Sophia. "It's my brother. He ran away. Nearly two years ago now. I didn't even know if he was alive or dead . . . until this came." She opened her palm to reveal the necklace. "It was sent from the station. That's all I know. Nobody seems to have any record of him. His name is Zach. Zacharious Smith. He'd be a couple years younger than me. Can you help me find him?"

Sophia reached for the necklace, when Shaelynn gave a hiss. Sophia jerked her hand away, startled.

Shaelynn was staring at Sophia's bracelet.

"Where did you get that? That looks like—"

"It's me," Sophia said. "I'm . . ." She couldn't bring herself to use that name. "Shaelynn, it's me."

Shaelynn stared into Sophia's face, her eyes questioning. "Zach? But you're—"

"A girl," she finished. "I transitioned. I'm Sophia now, not Zach." She stared at the floor and then slowly looked up at her sister, fearing what she'd find.

Shaelynn looked thoughtful, uncertain. She didn't seem angry or disgusted.

"That's why I ran," Sophia said. "I didn't have a choice. There was no way they would accept this."

She pursed her lips. "No. They wouldn't."

Sophia clung to the they. Shaelynn hadn't included herself at least.

"It's a sin, Zach."

Tears slid from Sophia's eyes. "I know." She heaved a sigh. "But impure thoughts are a sin too. And I couldn't stop thinking . . . thinking of myself as a girl. Thinking about this stuff."

"You can pray for forgiveness for impure thoughts. But actions . . ."

Sophia laughed a dry laugh. "I would have been praying all day, every day. There wouldn't have been time for anything else. Believe me. I tried to stop thinking, stop being this way. But it was impossible. It was all a trap," she said, her tone bitter. "Either I'm a sinner and condemned to hell for my thoughts and actions. Or I stay and live in my own hell anyway, never able to admit what I truly am. Every way I turned it was the same. I couldn't. I had to get out. I'm sorry."

Shaelynn's eyes held tears as well. "I'm sorry. I knew you didn't like it, but I didn't know it was that bad."

"It wasn't all that bad," Sophia said, feeling badly for Shaelynn. "You were a good sister. Mom was a good mom. I still miss you guys."

It was Shaelynn's turn to laugh dryly. "The good sister. The good daughter. Fat lot of good it's done me."

"Is there a problem?" There had to be, for Shaelynn to have sought her out.

"We need to talk. I just meant . . . I don't know. It's tiring being the good one. Maybe I should have run away." She gave Sophia a sad smile. "I don't know about . . ." She gestured at her. "You're still my brother, sibling, whatever. You're still family. There's something you need to know."

Out of the corner of her eye, Sophia saw her roommate Craig. He had been helping out on the unit part-time. She looked at him. "I'm staying late," he announced with a meaningful look at the two of them.

Sophia started to rise. "No, that's okay," she said.

He gave her a stern look. "I insist." He waved his hand, shooing her toward her sister.

She nodded. She did need to take time to deal with this. "Yeah, thanks." She turned to Shaelynn. "They said you hadn't eaten."

"They gave me a snack. I just didn't have a lot of cash for this trip."

"It's okay. Let's go back to my place. I can make you some food. It'll be more private."

She nodded and followed Sophia out of the unit. "You have a place?"

"Rent an apartment with some people, Craig back there, a couple of others."