Chapter 11
Rayne screamed the entire way through the jump, just as she had done the first time when we had left her homeworld, Wildern. I let out a triumphant cheer as we shot through space and time, because we had managed, against all of the odds, to escape the Karaak’s deadly grasp.
When the jump was complete and we were spat out the other side, Rayne and I were thrown forward in our seats so hard that it was only the harnesses that strapped us into the chairs that stopped us from hitting the front window. Rayne grunted as the seatbelt winded her, and I did the same, but it didn’t help that I was also pissing myself laughing at her. Her face was green from the motion sickness, and the moment the ship came to a halt, she undid her seat belt, stood up, and took some deep breaths.
“You okay?” I asked as I undid my belt.
“I’m never going to get used to that,” she panted.
I looked out of the front window and saw a cloud of dust around us, and I remembered that some of the particles had been swept into the tunnel with us. It reminded me of coming home from the beach with sand-filled shoes, and as the particles poured off the ship and floated off into the darkness, I thought about all the times I’d had to sweep up a similar pile. At least in the vacuum of space, it quickly dispersed to reveal the great inky expanse speckled with stars.
That, and Rayne’s face as she tried not to puke.
“Okay, I’m good,” she said as she slumped back down into her seat. “As happy as I am that we got out of that mess, I really hate doing those jumps. It just doesn’t agree with me.”
“Me, neither,” I said. “I’m just not as dramatic as you are.”
“Dramatic?” she scoffed. “I’m not the drama queen in this relationship.”
There was a pause as we both absorbed what she had said. We hadn’t really discussed what was going on between us, and now that she had used the r word, I couldn’t help but smile inwardly. Yet neither of us was ready to address it just yet, so we just brushed over it entirely as we found something to tinker with on the controls.
“Do you think the Karaak could have followed us?” Rayne asked as she stared at one of the screens.
“They will be distracted by the Lilacron ship for some time,” Francine said through Bob as the robot trotted over to us.
“I’m still not used to this,” I said as I eyed the robot. “It’s very weird. But it’s good we can all be in the loop.”
Rayne grinned happily.
“I can imagine that the AI will give the Karaak a run for their money,” Francine-Bob continued.
“I wish we could see the look on their faces when they realize that the Lilacrons aren’t in the ship,” I said. “In fact, let’s just hope they shoot the ship out of the sky and don’t bother to check if the Lilacrons were in there. That would mean they might not even bother to try and find us. I know I’m being optimistic, but I’m feeling positive right now.”
“I never want to see one of their faces again, honestly,” Rayne said with a shudder. “Seeing all of those teeth is enough to give me nightmares for weeks.”
“True,” I said. “I take back what I said. I never want to see the face of one of the Karaak again if I can help it.”
“I can’t believe the Lilacron AI sacrificed itself for us,” Rayne said. “I could never imagine making that kind of a choice. You spend your whole life fighting to survive, but it was so happy to give everything up to save the Lilacrons and us.”
“Like it said, it doesn’t cherish its life the same way we do,” I said. “But I know what you mean. It’s a lot to sacrifice yourself like that, knowing full well that you’re running head first toward your death.”
“Isn’t that sort of what you’re doing?” she asked. “I mean, you’re risking your life every day trying to save the Lilacrons and Earth.”
“The difference is, I’m kinda hoping I’m gonna come out alive on the other side,” I replied.
“True,” she said. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make the conversation this deep.”
“Don’t apologize,” I said. “It’s good to talk about this stuff.”
“Yeah,” she said. “It’s just, where I come from, you don’t get in the habit of imagining your future, because it’s never guaranteed that you’ll have one.”
“What if you did allow yourself to imagine a future, though?” I asked. “What would it be like?”
“Uh…” she said as she looked out of the window in front of us. “I want a house. It doesn’t have to be big, but it needs to be, you know, sturdy.”
“Alright,” I chuckled.
“I want it to be in nature,” she said. “I want there to be plants and trees and fresh air. I want there to be sunlight. But mainly, I don’t want to have to worry about something coming to rob me or kill me. I want to sleep deeply and not wake up to every sound. I just want to feel safe.”
“I know a place just like that,” I said as I reminisced about my home back on Earth. “I hope I can take you there one day.”
“I hope so, too,” she said as she turned to me and smiled. “Oh, and I also want your coffee machine.”
“Not a chance,” I chuckled.
I got out of my chair to stretch my achy muscles, and as soon as I was upright, I felt a wave of exhaustion wash over me. My brain felt like it had melted, my eyes felt too big for their sockets, and my eyelids drooped. I realized it had been far too long since I had a decent night’s sleep.
“Francine,” I said mid-yawn. “Where are we going now?”
“We are headed to the Cersine Space Station,” the AI replied. “It is renowned for welcoming all travelers, and is also known for its impressive facilities.”
“Facilities?” I asked.
“They have an excellent, state-of-the-art medical center staffed with the area’s best doctors,” Francine explained.
“What do we need doctors for?” Rayne asked.
“You want to have the Lilacrons checked,” I guessed as I glanced over my shoulder.
“It seems like a wise precaution, given all the recent disruptions to their sleep cycle,” Francine replied. “And since the station is on the way to the colony, I thought we might as well take advantage.”
“Makes sense,” I agreed.
“What else do they have at the station?” Rayne asked.
“The usual fare,” Francine replied. “Weapons and food are the bulk of the transactions, but there is also a trading floor where people buy and sell anything.”
“Sounds like they have it all,” I replied.
“Indeed,” the AI said.
“How long until we get there?” I asked.
“It is quite a distance,” Francine said. “I would estimate that it will take us around seven hours to reach it.”
“Are you happy to be in command of the ship for that long?” I asked. “I’m absolutely bushed.”
“Of course,” Francine said. “Sleep well, Will.”
“Oh, I will,” I chuckled as I rambled eagerly into the living compartment and flopped down on the bed.
I couldn’t keep my eyes open, I was that tired. The pillow under my head was wonderfully soft and cushioned my head perfectly, and I felt myself start to drift.
I felt the bed move and dip inward beside me a few moments later, and I opened one eye to see that Rayne had crept in beside me and had curled up on the edge of the bed as well. I smiled and closed my eyes again, and a moment later, everything disappeared.
I slipped into a deep sleep and stayed there. It was beautiful. I didn’t dream, I didn’t think, and I hardly even moved all night. It was pure, uninterrupted peace, and my unconscious self enjoyed every second of it.
When I eventually woke up, I found myself lying on my side with my arm on something warm. I peeled my eyes open and realized that, during my sleep, I had rolled over and put my arm around Rayne. I had tucked my knees up under hers, and we had slept like that for however long it had been.
She was still asleep, and I could feel the calm rise and fall of her chest underneath my arm. Her blonde hair looked like silk that had been draped on the pillow, and it snaked toward me like a gorgeous, golden river.
A part of me just wanted to stay here forever. We were floating in space, and no one could reach us. It was just Rayne and me, and no one else, and I realized that I liked that a lot. I never wanted to move from this spot, with her in my arms, and where nobody could interrupt us.
Except, of course, Francine.
“Good morning, Will,” the AI said inside my head.
“Morning,” I whispered. “How long was I out?”
“Seven hours exactly,” she replied.
“Apparently, I have a good body clock, then,” I chuckled. “Any problems?”
“No,” Francine replied. “But we have almost arrived at the Cersine Space Station.”
“Great,” I sighed.
“You do not sound overly enthusiastic,” Francine said with an amused expression.
“I’m warm, I’m comfortable, and I’m cozy,” I said. “Give me a minute to get up. An AI alarm clock isn’t exactly a relaxing wake-up call.”
“You know, it’s strange sharing a bed with someone who talks to themselves,” Rayne chuckled without rolling over. “It’s starting to feel like there’s three of us in here, not two.”
“Did I wake you?” I asked.
“No,” she said groggily.
“Convincing,” I laughed.
“I’ve been up for a while,” she said. “I’ve just been enjoying myself. Lying down and doing nothing is pretty fun. You should try it sometime.”
We both laughed, but then I remembered that duty called. I managed to pull myself away from her to sit up. I got out of bed, went to the small bathroom in the back wall of the living compartment, and then I came back into the living compartment. I made myself and Rayne some strong cups of coffee, and I gulped it down as I trudged into the cockpit.
“How are you feeling after your sleep?” Francine asked as I sat down in my pilot’s chair.
“Like I’ve been reborn,” I sighed happily. “I have never had a better sleep than that one.”
“My theory is that you slept so well because of what you humans call ‘spooning’,” Francine mused in a cheeky tone. “What do you think?”
“Shut up,” I laughed, and I took another sip of my coffee and watched some of the stars drift past. “It was just… a nice sleep.”
“Sure,” Francine said.
“How long until we reach the space station?” I asked.
“Approximately fifteen minutes,” Francine said.
“Great,” I replied. “That gives me time to drink my coffee before we get there.”
“I am glad you have your priorities straight,” Francine quipped.
“Always,” I chuckled and took another sip of the glorious liquid. “God, I love caffeine… So, have you been here before?”
“No, but it is a common stopping point for most travelers who pass through this region,” Francine said. “Some of the AI from Lilacron used to trade our corn products here for various medical and electrical equipment.”
“I see,” I said. “Well, you’ve sold this place to me so far. I’m excited to see it.”
“I am intrigued to explore their medical facilities while we wait for the folding engine to recharge,” Francine said. “They have had some medical advances over the last few years that I am curious to investigate.”
“Like what?” I asked.
“Some of the doctors there specialize in nano-technology,” the AI replied. “As you know, I am interested in such inventions for personal use, so I am eager to learn what discoveries and advancements they have made with it.”
“Sounds good,” I said.
“Morning, Francine,” Rayne said as she walked into the cockpit.
“Good morning, Rayne,” Francine-Bob said from the corner.
“How are you?” Rayne asked.
“Fine, thanks,” Francine and I both replied in unison.
Rayne laughed at our comedy double-act and sat down.
“Rayne, I have a surprise for you,” Francine said.
“Ooh, I like surprises,” Rayne said excitedly.
“Here,” Francine said as part of the control panel slid back.
The Lilacron AI had made the section that Francine used to create new objects, which she had apparently nicknamed her ‘workshop’, much larger and more high-tech, and Rayne and I both gasped when we saw what was inside.
“No way,” Rayne giggled as she took the item out of the compartment. “No way!”
“Wow,” I said with a smile when I saw what Rayne was holding.
It was a suit, just like mine. Only Rayne’s had some different shading to it and lacked the sliver of Francine’s shell in the chestplate that I had. Still, it was awesome, and I couldn’t believe that Francine had managed to make her one with everything that had been going on.
“I had some time while you both were asleep, and I thought that I would put it to good use,” the AI said. “I hope you are pleased with it.”
“Pleased?” Rayne gawked. “I’m over the moon! Pun intended.”
We all laughed, and Rayne stared lovingly at her new suit.
“Well, you got it just in time, too,” I said. “Because we’re almost at the station.”
We both turned to look out of the front window as a dark pink planet came into view. A moment later, I could pick out the flash of light that had to be the space station. The light hovered over the planet, and as we drew closer, I could see more details. The station was smaller than the one above Aghoa had been, with a few different levels, a docking bay, and a very large main segment that I assumed housed all of the trading floors, food halls, and the medical center.
“For somewhere that you described as being popular, there’s not that much traffic,” I said as I noted the absence of any other ships flying into the space station.
“Yes, that is interesting,” Francine said. “I will attempt to contact control to approve our landing.”
“And while you do that, I’m gonna get changed,” Rayne chirped, and then she hurried off into the living compartment to get into her new suit.
I waited for the familiar sound of the door sliding shut, but it never came. I waited for a moment, and then I slowly turned around in my seat to look behind me.
Rayne had her back to me in the living quarters, and I watched as she took off her cloak and laid it down on the bed. Then, she took off the form-fitting fleece she always wore and put that down, too. Underneath was a gray, long-sleeved top that had a number of patches all over it, from where she’d mended it over however many years she’d owned it. Then, she grabbed the bottom of her shirt with both hands and started to pull up.
I quickly looked away, cleared my throat, and refocused on the space station. Rayne really was beautiful, but I was also a gentleman.
“What do you think?” Rayne asked as she walked into the cockpit a minute later.
The suit looked incredible on her. In fact, she looked badass. The protective, dark gray material covered almost every inch of her body, and darker sections decorated the sides of the suit to add some shape to it. It hugged her closely, like some defensive shadow that was determined to keep her safe, and a feeling of relief washed over me now that I knew that she was protected by the suit.
“It looks awesome,” I said. “How dare you look better in your suit than I do in mine?”
“That’s not true…” she said, and I gave her a withering look as she sat down in her chair and fastened her seat belt. “Okay, maybe it’s a little bit true. I look great.”
“Yes, you do,” I said with a smile.
“Will, I am unable to make contact with the control room at the space station,” Francine said through Bob.
“That doesn’t make any sense,” I said. “Surely, they don’t just let you fly in there unannounced?”
“I am unsure,” Francine said.
“Well, I really wanna see this medical wing,” I said. “It’s gotta be worth having a look, right? And it would be nice to find someone who can make sure our passengers are okay.”
“I agree,” Rayne said.
“Alright,” Francine said. “I have to admit, I am interested in--”
“The nanobots,” I chuckled. “You mentioned.”
I took control of the ship again and flew toward the space station. I kept expecting someone to tell us we had to wait our turn, but we made it to the entrance of the docking bay at the edge of the building without receiving any instructions. The hangar doors slid open as we approached, and I took us inside once the light over the door flashed green.
The hangar was pretty large, though it was nothing compared to Aghoa. Still, it was crowded, and it took me a moment to find a spot where I could set down. Once we were tucked into our spot and the thrusters were off, we peered through the front window at the hangar beyond.
The hangar was dimly lit, and one of the lights flickered just enough to make my eyes feel funny. There were plenty of spaceships lined up inside the hangar, all of which appeared to be shut down. There were hundreds of ships, neatly lined up in rows, but there was none of the bustling activity like there had been at Aghoa. It felt weird, and when I glanced toward the entrance to the station, I felt a twinge of unease that I didn’t at least see some sort of official walking toward us.
“Well, it looks pretty busy,” Rayne said as she stared at the long lines of ships. “That’s a lot of spaceships. There must be hundreds of different kinds of aliens inside the space station. I can’t wait to see all the different species.”
“There’s nobody in here,” I said.
“Well, yeah, it’s just a parking bay,” Rayne replied.
“But normally there are people milling about,” I said. “There should be crews to load and unload ships, and where’s the official who’s supposed to sign us in? Hell, there should be people just wandering back and forth between the station and their ships.”
“So, there’s no one in the docking bay, and no one in the control room,” Rayne said as she turned to me. “What does that mean?”
“I don’t know,” I sighed. “But I’m sure it’s not good.”
“Should we leave?” Rayne asked.
“The next nearest station is several hours away,” Francine said. “And it won’t have as much to offer.”
“I think we should find out what happened here,” I said. “If we just leave without finding out, then we may find ourselves walking into a trap later. Besides, Francine says the next station isn’t as much fun.”
“That is not what I said,” Francine protested.
“First rule of scavenging,” Rayne added. “Gather supplies when you can. I think we should take a look as well.”
Bob, Rayne, and I left the ship a couple of minutes later. As soon as my feet touched the floor of the hangar and I looked around at all of the empty ships, my brows furrowed. The atmosphere inside the hangar was severely off. The air felt cold and still as the sheer silence pounded against my eardrums, and every one of our footsteps echoed loudly in the dead space. Even Bob’s four feet pattering around on the floor sounded ten times louder than it should have.
A couple of emergency exit lights glowed in the distance, and the fit-inducing flickering light continued to flash and buzz overhead. It was so eerie that it felt like we had walked right into a horror film. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and a shiver went down my spine, as though someone had just dropped an ice cube down my top.
“I think you’re right,” Rayne said as she looked around.
“What about?” I asked as the door of my ship slid closed and the shields engaged.
“This is definitely not good,” she replied. “It’s creepy.”
“It feels like we just walked into a morgue,” I said and pointed to the doorway at the end of the room. “Come on. Let’s go inside.”
I looked for any sign of movement whatsoever as I walked through the hangar, even if there was some tiny alien with seven legs, or something equally small. But all I saw was the neverending lines of empty, dark ships. A feeling of foreboding crept into my stomach like ants through the undergrowth. Something was really wrong here, I could feel it in my gut. Something had happened to the aliens that had been here, and we were about to find out what or who it was.
I pulled my gun from its holster and held it out in front of me. Rayne did the same as she pulled out her own gun. She’d left the fireball launcher back in my ship, but she was just as talented and effective with her normal gun. She had that serious look on her face that she wore when we were in a stressful or dangerous situation, which was far too often.
We stopped in front of the door to the station, and the sudden silence sent shivers down my spine. We waited for the door to open automatically, but to my surprise, it remained closed.
I finally pressed a large blue button, and the door started to slide open. I raised my weapon, ready to shoot anything on the other side that looked like it would attack me, but the door froze in place after opening a mere inch or so.
“Seriously?” I sighed.
“One second,” Rayne said, and then she scampered off down one of the rows.
A moment later, she reemerged holding a metal bar that was just the right size to pry the doors open.
“How the hell did you find that so fast?” I asked.
“I’m a scavenger,” she said as she handed me the bar. “It’s kinda my job to notice things that could be useful or worth something. Well, it was my job, anyway. So, Mr. Nanobot Muscles, have at it.”
“Thanks,” I chuckled as I took the bar from her.
I shoved it in between the doors and started to try and lever the doors open. When they didn’t budge, I added a little more weight, and then more, until I was using all of my body weight and my strength to wrench the doors open. I grunted loudly and gave it one last pull until finally, the doors slid open wide enough for a body to fit through.
And one body did fit through. Only, it wasn’t mine or Rayne’s body, it was someone else’s.
And that someone was dead.