8. Risk and Chance
EIGHT
RISK AND CHANCE
Elena
I wake up to thudding—again—and voices seemingly calling out my name. My eyes snap open to the shadowy white ceiling of my room.
“Elena, are you there!?”
Dad?
I sit upright and notice the pile of clothes in the corner of my room and the empty bottles littering my bedside table.
“Hello?” I huff.
Not Dad. My shoulders deflate as I slide my feet off the bed and stand, proud I only wobble a little. Rubbing my temples, my head vaguely aches but I’m still a little light-headed. I need to eat, rehydrate, and take a shower. I stink.
I pick up a pink shirt from the ground and throw it over my tank. Fanning out my hair, I walk to the door with more courage today than I’ve had in the days past.
I made a vow to my parents on behalf of my sister last night. I’m not going to drink.
Today.
From this point on, I’m going to try and stay sober, at least for as long as I can bear. I owe it to my family to put some effort into surviving this nightmare.
“Elena? Are you there?” Greg, or Levy, calls out, their voices faint and muffled by the walls of the ship. I think the ship’s AI is subtly amplifying them.
I forgot they told me they were going to check in on me. As prepared as I’m going to be, which is not at all, I leave my room and head to the front of the ship, bypassing the food replicator my stomach desperately wants me to approach.
Spotting Levy and Greg on the left, I briefly glance out the front.
Finding the trees and brush empty and unassuming, relief hits me as I face the two men.
They’re wearing the same clothes as yesterday except Levy’s no longer in a jacket.
He’s wearing a short-sleeved blue shirt that fits his form.
His toned muscles are outlined and visible.
Greg still has his rifle over his shoulder.
Their faces are pinker today. Scruffier too.
They shuffle on their feet when they spot me walking toward them.
“There you are,” Levy yells when I stop a short distance away from the glass. “We were beginning to worry!”
“I was sleeping.”
“We figured that could be the case. It’s pretty early in the day still.”
Both men squint at me. Feeling their curious gazes, I shift on my bare feet, suddenly wishing I’d put on socks. Wiggling my toes, their exposure makes me feel vulnerable.
“Are you and your brother still doing okay in there?” Levy asks. “We’re not here to bother you. We just want to make sure you’re okay.”
I nod. “We’re fine. He’s still asleep, still recovering.”
Levy nods in return. “Well, if you’re interested, because it will come in handy if help doesn’t arrive as soon as we need it to, Greg and I found a river and small lake past our ships where the ground slopes.
” He tilts his head to the right. “The water is fresh. Clear all the way to the bottom. Unirradiated. We saw it when our ship came down and it’s much closer than you would think.
It’s enough water for everyone. We won’t run out. ”
I cross my arms and consider them. “Thank you for letting me know.”
“If you ever need to go down and collect some, just let one of us know beforehand and we’ll go with you. Have you been tuning into the radio?” Greg rolls his shoulder, shifting his rifle.
“I have.”
“Good,” he says.
The men look at each other when I don’t say anything else.
“I guess if you’re all right and there’s nothing you need, we’ll continue searching the area around our ships.” Levy raises his arm then drops it.
“I—” I peer behind them at the trees.
“What?” he asks.
“Have you guys noticed anything unusual out there?”
Their brows furrow. “Everything is unusual out here. You’ll have to be more specific.”
“A naga,” I blurt out. “Have you guys seen a naga?”
They straighten and look at each other. Greg peers over his shoulder at the trees before both men face me once more.
“Thankfully, no. We haven’t seen any sight or indication of the aliens yet.
Not in the areas we’ve explored. We know they live here, but where?
” He shrugs. “We’re not here to make enemies. Just trying to make it to tomorrow.”
I nod again awkwardly. “Okay. That’s good.”
That’s… relieving.
“If we do, we’ll let you know. That is, if we escape with our lives.” Levy chuckles while Greg shakes his head.
His humor makes me feel a little better. Maybe last night was my imagination… It had to be. Eyes don’t just gleam in the darkness like that, do they?
Both men, in fact, appear more at ease outside today than yesterday. The figure had to be from my imagination.
“I have one more question… If you’ll entertain me. Have you…” I lick my lips. “Have you heard anything over the broadcasts about a woman named Jenna? Jenna Viller?” It’s a long shot to ask them but I could’ve easily missed something they might have heard. The channels seem endless.
Greg pauses before shaking his head. “I can’t remember hearing that name but if I do, should I alert you? Are you searching for someone?”
“Yeah, my sister.”
“That name sounds familiar,” Levy says.
“She’s a pretty popular singer.”
Greg’s face falls. “I’m sorry. There seems to be a lot of broadcasts for missing persons.
We’ve mostly been rooting for information about The Sovereign, and if help is on the way.
If any help is on the way. If you hear anything like that, let us know.
As well as any information about what happened before The Dreadnaut blew.
But if we hear the name Jenna, we’ll tell you. ”
“Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
“Yeah. Sure,” Levy agrees.
I say goodbye and watch them walk around the front of my ship and down the slope on the other side, only seeing the bucket in Levy’s hand as they vanish into the brush.
My stomach growls and pressing my hand to my empty belly, I finally give the food replicator my attention.
I waste no time eating a plate of toast covered in bamjam, with a side of ship-cattle patty.
Despite still being hungry after I’m finished, I forego anything else, intent on not wasting what little resources I have. Soon I’ll be down to only pasta.
I clean up breakfast before going to the bathroom, grabbing and disposing empty bottles from the previous days on the way. I take a quick shower and dry my hair, then get dressed. Afterward, I return to the front control panel.
“Initiate AI.” I wait as Lula appears before continuing. “How are the ship’s water stores?”
The screen shimmers and a human face emerges. “The ship’s water supply is at sixty-seven percent capacity. It will need to be replenished in three hundred and thirty-five more gallons.”
That’s not good, but it’s not terrible.
“I command the AI to tune into the local frequencies and change them slowly. If the word Jenna is said, remain on that channel.”
I scan the wilderness as static fills my ears.
The landscape is bright, and the skies are clear and blue this morning.
The trees are cast in an airy golden light that illuminates their pine needles and leaves.
The flowery bushes across the meadow lift their twiggy branches toward the sun, uninhibited by any shade.
Several birds fly between the trees, making noises I can’t hear, and a small bug with white wings flutters outside the window.
Sunrays streak through the woods edging the forest leading up the mountain, lightening the shadows within.
I take in the rocky slopes and the mountains past them where the gorge and water are supposed to be.
It’s beautiful. No, it’s gorgeous.
Earth is indescribable in its wild glory. Every time of day—morning, midday, or evening—the view has stunned me. There’s no end to its beauty when I’m faced with it on nearly every side, all day long.
I could live for this view. This and my sister.
Before long, I find myself standing in front of my ship’s hatch where there’s additional seating and a place to put on one’s shoes and coats. Locating my black sneakers among them, I lean against the wall and shove them on my feet. Just in case.
Facing the door once more, I debate opening it. I’m going to have to sometime… Eventually, I will need to refill the water. I shake my head, not wanting to think about that day before it comes. I need to be brave.
Like I’m being brave right now.
I don’t give it much further thought, ready to make this leap without Levy or Greg nearby. Although I’m beginning to like them, I don’t trust them. Not yet at least.
If I see an animal or a naga, I’ll close the hatch.
The door is quick. It’ll be okay.
Shuffling, I ready myself, trying to imagine what my older sister would do in this situation. Jenna would probably never willingly go outside on an uncolonized planet like Earth. Not if it meant she would potentially be unsafe.
“I command the AI to open the hatch.”
The door makes a clicking sound before popping out and sliding to the right.
With my view suddenly unhindered, I’m soon blasted with a strange assortment of noises and rich smells.
Several of the flowery bushes press into the ship.
I reach down and touch one of the leaves with my fingers without having to leave it.
Rough but fine, the texture is interesting.
Feeling the flower next, I discover the petals to be as delicate as they appear.
Floral scents flood my nose, and a wild, indescribable thickness covers me as humid air envelops my body. My flesh prickles despite the warmth.
Reaching my hand outside, the sun hits my skin.
My heart thrums and my toes curl. Excited and anxious, I pull back in and take a step deeper into the ship.
“I command the AI to close the hatch.”
The hatch reverberates and shuts with a woosh and a thump, shutting off my access to Earth’s alien environment. As temperate, cool air brushes over my skin, I feel more hopeful than I have since I’ve landed here.
I can do this.
I can survive.