38. Dust in the Air
THIRTY-EIGHT
DUST IN THE AIR
Elena
Threading my way through people, I retreat to the gate. The longer I’m away from Lukys, the more I worry he might do something regrettable. He’s done regrettable things in the past.
Jenna isn’t here. Now that I know… We can leave. I have no intention of remaining if my sister isn’t here, especially not without my ship.
A weight lifts off me despite the sadness in me growing. I push it away, push it out of my head, arguing with my emotions that I will deal with them later.
“Good morning, everyone,” a voice booms behind me, and I pause to peer over my shoulder.
Half-way up the main path, I hesitate, feeling compelled to listen.
Up on the powercell’s stage, I take in Commander Lunteer, an attractive, middle-aged man with shoulder length hair and a scruffy jawline.
He’s flanked by soldiers and scientists.
They circle the machine while managing tablets and controls. “Brace!” he chuckles.
The powercell pulsates and a breeze rushes over everyone.
A hushed whoa emanates while the commander glances at the powercell with a smile.
“Don’t worry. It’s preparing for its launch.
Soon, our powercell will be completely charged and we’ll have the means of intergalactic communication once again! ”
I look around as some people laugh nervously. Others cheer.
“Tell us what news you have from The Sovereign!” someone yells. “Tell us what happened to the central encampment!”
The commander raises his hand. “I have news, but, please, do not call out your questions until I’m done. Today is a day of celebration. Soon, we will have protection and energy once again!”
More people cheer and the commander smiles.
“In minutes, the reason my battalion was sent here—the powercell—will be operational, and our broadcasts, including your own, will be on par to what we had on The Dreadnaut. The darkness we have lived in for the past month will be no more. Communication with those in other galaxies will be possible once again.”
I see hopeful expressions on the faces of those around me. I shuffle back as the commander continues to speak.
Jenna might have gone to another galaxy. It’s possible… Mateo’s ship is built for longer periods of travel unlike my parents. They could’ve flown straight for the colony ship pod and left all of this behind.
What he’s saying is… good news.
“What about The Sovereign? What news from The Sovereign?”
“As for The Sovereign,” the commander pivots, “We still do not have word from them. Like I said, that will not be the case shortly.” He raises his hand again when more questions are thrown his way.
“They could very well be on their way. We will have a better chance of reaching them soon. We only need to wait a few short minutes.”
I eye the giant machine behind him as several flashing tendrils of electricity jump and connect within the inner, round frame. The hair on my arms rise. I take a step back.
“They’ve abandoned us!” a woman cries.
One of Commander Lunteer’s officers steps forward. “Lies and rumors! No one has abandoned us.”
“Tell us what happened at the Central Encampment!”
Lunteer shoots his officer a stern expression. “These are rumors. Don’t believe every broadcast you hear.” His stance shifts as he addresses everyone. “The Central Encampment is under new leadership.”
“What about Commander Graft?”
“Commander Graft is dead.” There’s a momentary silence.
“What happened at the other camp will not happen here.
We have order, duty, and purpose! Not only have my men and women concluded their original mission, we understand how important it is to continue fighting against the Ketts, despite the unimaginable loss of our beloved Dreadnaut.
We understand accepting refugees and providing aid is among our greatest missions in the battles ahead.
Because of that, we continue to welcome you here as we await help.
” He scans the people directly before him.
“And today, life will be easier and filled with more hope. That, I can give you. Today, our ancestor’s powercell will have been restored to its original glory—today, we reclaim some of the glory we lost! ”
The machine pulsates again and a breeze rushes past me. My hair flutters as I hear gasps.
A subtle buzzing fills my ears.
The commander faces the machine as electricity strikes out from it. “Shortly, our gift will be operational! Brace yourself against its power.”
It pulsates again, and this time I’m forced to take a step back.
“What’s going on?” someone asks.
“Is this normal?”
“Should we be so close?”
The people around me shield their faces with their hands.
Along with several others, I turn for the gate. The commander continues to speak as increasingly stronger gusts collide into my back. I hear someone yell, see someone stumble.
“Everyone, remain calm!” Commander Lunteer shouts.
The wind throws me to the ground, and I barely manage to catch myself with my arms. The buzzing in my ears grows with the shouts as I glance behind me.
Blue light shoots into the sky, causing an eruption of tendrils to explode at the top of the machine.
As I rise to my feet, I have to shield my eyes from its brightness.
I need to get out of here.
I dash forward to join the rising chaos at the gates. Being pushed into each other by the wind, I topple over the first person when someone grabs my arm and hauls me up.
“Elena.” Greg helps me to my feet. “Don’t get yourself hurt now.
” He offers me his hand again after I shake myself off and I take it.
He drags me after him and into the people pushing through the gates.
Soldiers yell to stop but their shouts are drowned out.
As Greg leads me through, I see the blue beam ascend from the machine.
I frown as it shimmers and releases something into the air.
When we’re outside, I let go of Greg’s hand when I spot Lukys within the fields. Oh no. His eyes are wide open, but his face is taut as he gazes between the beam and the scrambling people.
“Everyone remain calm!” Commander Lunteer’s voice fades into the distance behind me. “Close the gates and stop them!”
I run for Lukys when Greg calls out, “Elena, wait!”
I hesitate and face Greg. He jogs to me as I glance at Lukys over my shoulder. I watch as his gaze moves in my direction. When our eyes meet, anger and relief floods his expression. He rushes my way.
“Where are you going?” Greg asks. “Are you staying here?”
“No, are you?” I frown, looking back at him while wondering what will happen when Lukys gets here. “That— that powercell might blow—”
Just as Lukys reaches us, a spaceship takes off. It lifts slowly, making my ears roar. I clutch my head as it flies higher, assailed by wind and noise.
Lukys pulls me to his chest and shields me.
I grip him and watch with awe as a massive electrical ball rises up the beam from the center of the encampment.
It rises higher and higher. Then lightning explodes out from it and floods the sky. It grows until it creates a blueish veil that spreads. Soon, I lose sight of it in the distance.
I blink as little, sparkling dust particles flutter down upon me.
I wave the particles away before I breathe them in, discovering a pleasant, sweet smell in the air soon after. For some reason, it reminds me of Lukys.
“What is happening?” He grasps me tighter to him. “We are leaving. Now.”
“You guys are leaving?” Greg tears his gaze from the veil to look at us. “I thought after seeing you around the last few days that you might be staying—or had decided to stay.”
I agree with Lukys. “We’re not staying.”
Now, more than ever, I just want to be back home.
Home…?
Down in the camp, people have stopped running to stare at the sky, at the powercell’s beam. At the same time, several more ships take off. I watch as one flies toward the veil, then through it. But instead of breaking or dissolving the shimmering dome, it bubbles open, reforms, then closes.
Lukys coils his tailtip around my ankle, tightening it in warning.
“If you’re leaving now, I guess this is goodbye then,” Greg says.
“I do not like this dust…” Lukys interjects with a hiss, waving his hand through the air. “It smells too sweet.”
I agree. But my brows furrow as I glance at Greg. “Wait, you’re staying?”
Greg sneezes and shrugs, way too nonchalant for what’s happening.
“It’s particle matter from the powercell.
Or the remnants of a stabilizing coating.
Though”—he waves his hand like Lukys and catches some in his palm—“I’ve never seen it this thick before.
If our ancestors used coating to keep the machine from degrading, they used a lot. ”
“You don’t seem overly concerned?”
Greg lifts his face to the sky. “It looks like a shield. Maybe the powercell is more than a powercell.”
Lukys and I look up with him. I blink as dust gets in my eyes.
“A shield?”
“This is a military encampment, right? It wouldn’t be unheard of for them to install shields?
It’s just too bad none of the shields were active when they were needed most. Trust me,” Greg sighs, “I have thought of leaving for another camp. But I’m no hunter like Lukys.
Also, Levy intends to stay. At least here…
There’s a pharmaceutical ship in the lot.
And that’s as much as I think I can hope for. ”
I take in his tired appearance and dirty hair. “We never had the chance to say goodbye before…” I realize this might be the last time I see him.
“I assume you didn’t find your sister then?”
I shake my head.
“I wish you luck, Elena. I’m sorry you didn’t find her.” He turns and levels with Lukys. “Keep her safe until she does.”
Lukys’s nostrils flare and catching his gaze, I see the anger return to it. Anger at me. When he reaches out his hand, I take it despite his disposition, straightening my back. I knew it might come to this.
“Bye Greg. Tell Levy I say goodbye too.”
With one last glance at Greg, who’s now walking away, I let Lukys guide me into the forest. The dust disappears as the canopy covers us. Still, I see the shimmering veil through them, warping the color of the sky to a brighter blue.
Where it ends, I don’t know. But as I squeeze Lukys’s hand in mine for reassurance, he doesn’t squeeze back.