The Tenth Voice -
The Journal of Orzal Dax.

Oh James… did you really think we didn’t know today was your birthday? Did you honestly believe you could slip it past us with a quiet smile and a change of subject? Absolutely not. Not on my watch. In nine lifetimes I’ve arranged more surprise birthday celebrations than I can count. For family, friends, mentors, even the occasional unsuspecting ambassador. So organising today was, frankly, child’s play. And the look on your face when you walked in? Utterly priceless. Worth every whispered plan, every coded message, every moment of Jean pretending she “had no idea what you were talking about.” We’ve been plotting this for months. Everyone was in on it. Even the ones who can’t keep a secret to save their lives managed to hold the line. That alone should tell you how much you’re loved. And now, seeing you settled into your favourite chair, worn out, content, surrounded by the remnants of laughter and cake, that’s reward enough for me. Your family came. Your friends came. Your colleagues ...

Back on Docosie after two days at the moon base with James. An interesting trip, different pace, different silence and absolutely worth it. Now I’m back home, sitting in the back garden with Jodo stretched out beside me, enjoying the familiar warmth of the colony again. Ranih is out with both sets of parents. They’ve headed to the central park, where most of our outdoor concerts are held, because today there’s a crafts fair with stalls, demonstrations, and all the usual bustle. I’m not entirely convinced either my father or Ranih’s father truly wanted to go, but they were given full permission to retreat back here if boredom struck. So I’m expecting the pair of them to reappear at any moment, probably pretending they lasted longer than they actually did. I’ve got beers chilling and a selection of nibbles ready for their triumphant return.

James wrapped up his tasks ahead of schedule this afternoon. I helped him quite a bit. Entirely voluntarily, of course, and I genuinely enjoyed it. The extra time at his side meant I learned far more about the moon base’s setup than I ever expected. There’s a surprising amount of complexity beneath the surface. That seems to be the way with most things. A quick glance only offers a shallow introduction; it’s only when you take the time to dig deeper that the real understanding begins to form. With that in mind, the old axiom “never judge a book by its cover” still holds true. It applies to systems, places, and, most of all, people. It reminds me of when I first met James. Beforehand, I only knew him by reputation. It was only after spending time with him, both on duty and off, that I began to see past the surface and discover the person behind the stories, the friend I have today. Image from Unsplash by Alexander Andrews.