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The Coriolus shot through the window, freeing the adventurers inside from the massive ribbon worm. Minus a collective sigh of relief, the bridge was quiet for several minutes.
“So, Devo.” Amber leaned toward the pilot’s chair as she spoke, focusing on Devo intently. “Got a question for ya.”
Devo glanced over his shoulder for a moment. “Your statement is slightly concerning, but go on.”
“I get that your old name is a source of grief for you now, but why is that, if you don’t mind my askin’.”
“There are several reasons for this. One of the main ones is that I wanted to separate myself from the church in every way possible, and removing myself from an obviously religious name was a logical step.” Without looking away from the windshield, he took a deep breath and continued, “Also, Devotion was the name bestowed on a little girl with no power and no prospects outside the ones ‘so graciously given to her’ by the church. As the man who has escaped that, I felt a new name was proper.”
Amber let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. “Must’ve been hard.”
Devo nodded. “It was the hardest thing I have ever done. Also, it is the best decision I will ever make.” Finally, he turned to look at Amber. “I do not remember the name my parents gave me. I hardly remember their faces. But they did not die only for me to become the Hand of Devotion, another puppet of the church.”
Zoox spoke up from his corner of the bridge, the other two jumping at the reminder of his presence, “I know you haven’t been out of the church long, but have you ever heard the term transgender?”
Devo, after correcting the ship’s course, shook his head. “This is a new term for me. Will you tell me about it?”