Chapter 15 Rotten
“Are you ready to get us through the asteroids? One false move and we’re done for,” I say to Falen.
He purses his lips and turns back to the control panel.
“I’m ready. But I’d like to know why we’re taking this risk.”
“Are you sure about that?” Wyn asks.
“Of course. I mean, that’s what Elana thinks, and I trust her,” I say.
“Do you? Because this could be a suicide mission, and I’d hate for it to be because you’ve got the hots for some human reality show star, or you want to look like a hero today.”
I turn to Wyn. I know he likes being the voice of reason or whatever. But it stings a little to hear these words from him.
“It’s not about being a hero or because I have the hots for her. I have more than the hots. I have the loves.”
Wyn gives me a look.
“You know what I mean.” I say quickly. “We’ve begun to bond already. I’ve felt what’s inside of her. She’s honest and strong. And if she says we need to investigate that planet, I believe her. She says it could be the key to saving the galaxy. It’s the right thing to do. I feel it in my bones.”
“And your bones have never led you astray?” Wyn asks.
“Not since I met her.”
Wyn sighs and nods.
“Alright. Let’s navigate this asteroid belt.”
It feels like it takes an eternity for Falen to chart a course through the field of swirling rocks.
And it takes all my strength to wait patiently as he runs computer simulations and notes the angles and degrees of our possible paths forward.
I want to suggest we just wing it, but I don’t think he’ll appreciate that. Finally, he tells me he’s ready.
“How long will it take to get through the asteroids?” I ask, expecting it will be quick. After all, it’s a pretty short distance through.
“Three days,” Falen replies.
“Really? That seems like a lot.”
“That’s what it will take to stay safe.”
I grumble. Even with the fate of the galaxy on the line, I can’t imagine Elana wanting to risk a faster passage through.
I send a message to Elana’s biocomm explaining the plan and seeing if she wants to join me on the bridge as we start our journey through the asteroids.
She says she’ll be here soon, but not to wait.
Hmmmm. Maybe I should go grab her and bring her up, anyway. But no, I don’t think that’s what she really wants. She wants to do her research. Her discipline is amazing to me, a little frustrating too, because it’s getting harder to be away from her for even a short time. Falen looks back at me.
“Shall we begin?”
“Hell, yeah! Full speed ahead.” I say and we glide forward as slowly as I’ve ever seen this vehicle move.
I groan. A kid on roller skates could outrun us at the rate we’re inching through the entrance of the asteroid belt.
As the giant rocks begin to close around us, Falen steers us through with utmost care.
And it’s working. He’s got our maneuvers timed so that none of the asteroids get close to us.
Occasionally we need to slow down further or speed up, but mostly we maintain a nice steady pace through the giant boulders colliding around us.
Maybe I should go take a nap. I thought zig zagging through asteroids would be fun, but it’s actually a real snooze.
“I think I'll go–” I begin to say, when the ship's computer voice turns on.
“Incoming message from radio channel 31B. It’s a shared frequency.”
Oh, that’s interesting. We’re nowhere near inhabited areas or any large ships that we can detect. Maybe it’s the planet eater broadcasting their nefarious intentions.
“Computer, who’s the message from?” I say.
“It’s from escape pod 3 registered to The Adventure out of Xanx.”
I immediately break out in goosebumps.
This must be from one of Elana’s co-stars. She’s got to hear it. I send her a message explaining and she immediately replies. She’ll join us on the bridge right away.
When she arrives, she’s adorably out of breath, like she ran here all the way from her quarters.
“Have you listened yet?” she asks from the doorway.
“No, I was waiting for you.”
She hustles over to my side, then stands close enough that I can feel the heat from her body.
“Let’s play it now.”
I nod.
“Computer play message.”
The comm system crackles to life.
“This is Brigitta Krepp from The Adventure, escape pod 3. I’m here with Loren, the cameraman from The Lady Scientists of Earth.
This message is for the Galactic Safety Authority Squadron 12.
I’m not able to connect directly, but please confirm you’ve received this message.
” Elana and I look at each other, then keep listening, knowing this message isn’t for us.
“I’d like to share my coordinates for the rescue we discussed earlier. ”
Brigitta then begins reading the coordinates. Faster than I thought possible, Elana starts entering the data in her biocomm. Brigitta finishes that, then suggests a time for pickup. It’s less than a day away.
“Please confirm receipt of this message promptly. We may be out of range soon,” Brigitta’s voice says, then the message ends.
“We’ve got to meet her,” Elana says.
“We do? It sounds like she wants the Galactic Safety Authority to pick her up. I know you want to discuss your theories with another scientist. But how urgent is this?”
“The fate of the galaxy’s at stake. If that’s not urgent, I don’t know what is.”
Her passionate reply makes me smile.
“And you don’t want to leave it in the GSA’s hands?” I ask, trying my best to respect the “proper way of doing things,” that she seems to like.
“Stars, no! I trust myself. And Brigitta too.”
I frown.
“What about me?” I ask. I wish I didn’t sound so needy.
Elana closes her eyes and thinks for a second, then looks at me gently.
“I trust you too.” Her cheeks turn pink, like she’s embarrassed to admit it.
“Okay, let’s send her a message and say we’re on our way.”
Elana shakes her head as if she’s just realized something.
“What about the people who are supposed to rescue her?”
“Now you’re concerned about that?” I raise my eyebrows at her.
“No, I just don’t want them to waste their time.” She crosses her arms.
“We’ll send out a message to them, too. We’ll keep things totally buttoned up. Only we shouldn’t say we’re a pirate ship. We can just confirm the message.” I suggest.
Elana looks suspicious but nods.
“Alright, let’s send out the messages and then get going.” Elana smiles.
My hearts thump in excitement.
“Yes!”
“And how are we going to make it there so fast?” she asks.
“Leave that to me.”