Chapter 2 Elana
The spaceship where we’re filming our reality show just got attacked. Oh, my fucking stars!
I’m speeding away from the inferno that used to be The Adventure aboard an escape pod with six other survivors.
My co-star Regina cries on the shoulder of Harkin, the show’s safety advisor.
He looks uncomfortable with her emotional display but doesn’t say anything.
Justine, our makeup artist, stares blankly into space.
Our sound recording team, Kyla and Koreen, furiously debate what happened aboard the ship.
And me? My mind is racing, trying to unravel what just went down.
Was it one big explosion or a bunch of little ones?
Or bombs! It might have been bombs. How long until the ship completely disintegrates?
Maybe the bits that aren’t burning can last a while longer…
I sure hope so because I don’t know if everyone escaped in time.
My co-star Brigitta stayed behind with our cameraman, Loren, to look for stragglers.
And my other co-star Mia was missing when the escape pod left.
My heart starts pounding and a violent shiver wracks my body. I tighten the emergency blanket around me.
I’m still wearing the beautiful but skimpy gold costume for the Lady Scientist of Earth series we were shooting. It’s hard to believe that just a few hours ago, we were talking about our voyage to Orocopa 1 for the cameras.
The four of us were discussing the best way to approach the mysterious gold planet when all hell broke loose. Right now, I can’t remember the details, but something about the planet was bothering me before everything literally blew up. Oh, my stars, I can’t believe it blew up.
It all happened so fast. The explosions and the escape and the mad dash from terror to hope.
I almost wouldn’t believe it was real if this poor dress didn’t look like I survived a bear attack.
I can’t believe I even agreed to be on the show to begin with.
Because you wanted some excitement. Danger. Sex. Well, you got danger, dummy.
Ugggh. If I don’t stop thinking, I’ll have a complete meltdown.
I scan the escape pod for a distraction.
There’s nothing. Everything is tranquil and green inside the small vessel, typical of things from Xanx.
All the lighting is from bioluminescent sources, and it smells like soil.
Just like my lab on Earth, where I should be right now.
“So, what d'ya think, Elana? You’re the resident genius here. Were we attacked or are we just the unluckiest crew in the galaxy?” Kyla asks me.
“I told Kyla it must be an attack, but she’s too stubborn to see reason,” Koreen continues.
I can tell they’re just trying to include me, but I still feel myself shrinking back. The two Xanxian women have been nothing but friendly, but the stress of finding the right words is locking up my tongue.
“Um, I’m not sure….” I trail off, watching their avid gazes turn to disappointment.
All my nervous energy is making my social anxiety even worse. And then there’s the panicky feeling that makes me want to take some terrible risk just to keep my dark thoughts at bay. Having anything like a normal conversation right now seems impossible.
I felt the same a few months ago when we had an accident on the maiden voyage of The Adventure.
Afterwards, I was ready to take all sorts of chances to distract myself.
But I felt too awkward to act on most of my wild impulses.
It’s much easier to imagine sexy adventures than it is to have sexy adventures.
Now, I’m not so sure. The impulse feels stronger, more desperate, and seductive.
I know people think I’m meek and mousy: the stereotypical awkward scientists. But they don’t know about the wild woman inside that’s waiting to come out. I sigh to myself and tell my wild woman to chill out. We’ve got at least five hours before the rescue team can pick us up.
But that’s not what happens. Only a few minutes later, the escape pod com system signals an approaching vessel and an incoming message.
“Unidentified vessel approaching. Press yes to accept incoming signal,” the computerized voice says.
My inner wild woman perks up. As folks whisper and shrug, the escape pod computer prompts us again.
“If you do not press yes in one minute, the message will be deleted.”
My chest tightens.
“We’ve got to answer!” I blurt out.
Suddenly, I’m the focus of attention. As much as I want to shrink back and disappear. I stand firm. Since no one is talking, I reach over to press the button. A deep, Xanxian man’s voice stops me.
“I don’t know if that’s wise,” Harkin says. “Perhaps we should do a scan first.”
I want to argue, but he does have a point. I shouldn’t put everyone at further risk just because I’m having a panic attack.
“Alright, let’s do a scan,” I answer. “Computer, scan the incoming ship and tell us who it is.”
The com system voice answers back, “Analyzing.”
I feel a surge of satisfaction that I’ve taken control of this situation for the moment. Then the ship's computer begins to speak.
“The ship is named The Defiant. It is a Z class freight cruiser, registered six rotations ago in Lemargo to a Mr. Rotten of Xanx.”
Everyone onboard looks puzzled. I’m puzzled too, but extra curious. Then Kyla sits up straighter.
“Wait, was Rotten the Xanxian pirate that stole the chinchillas from The Corporation's research facility?”
“He said he was ‘liberating’ the chinchillas. And he wore very tight pants while doing it.” Koreen says.
“That’s the only Rotten I’ve heard of,” Regina says. She’s stopped crying now.
“He seems harmless enough,” Justine joins in, shaking off her daze.
“But he’s still a pirate,” Harkin says.
“I want to know why he’s here,” I say, and everyone turns to me. “We don’t have anything to steal, so it should be okay.”
“He could try to kidnap us,” Harkin suggests.
“He doesn’t seem like the kidnapping type, except with chinchillas,” I counter.
I don’t mention that I’d be up for a nice kidnapping right about now.
“Maybe he’s here to rescue us.” Hope flares in Justine’s eyes.
“A hero riding in to save us,” I murmur.
“I’d ride just about anything to get out of here right now,” Regina cracks, her usual sass back in full force.
Harkin scowls at her, then turns to me.
“I suppose there’s no harm in listening to Rotten’s message.”
I nod, barely able to contain my excitement. I press the “Yes” button hard.