So, how did I get here? Is it Devon that rescued me? Is this the Excelsior V?

  I swing my legs off the table and carefully stand up. I feel like my body ran a marathon without me. I have to sit back down. Muscle weakness—and grief—weigh me down.

  The door to the bay opens up and a familiar voice says, “Good ,you’re up. Now maybe we can get some answers around here.” A warm laugh.

  I look toward the door. “Devon. Thank goodness.” Then, “What took you so long? I was almost space junk out there.” I try to smile, but my heart just isn’t into it. My smile probably looks more like a grimace.

  I look around to see if there is anyone else in here with us. Between the crying and the almost dying I must look as horrible as I feel. I shift self-consciously on the bed.

  “Don’t worry. We’re alone. Everyone is busy getting your ship settled in the transport hold. I got you out of your ship myself.” He gives me that big beautiful smile. “I got to you just in time, it seems.”

  “Thank you, Devon. Again you were there for me. I was hoping it was you waiting behind the moon. I was out of oxygen...”

  Devon steps next to the bed and gives me a warm hug. I lean into him for support, my arms pinned to my sides. I listen to his heartbeat as he rubs my back.

  “You’re welcome, Kaci. I told you to trust me. Now, tell me what in the world is going on and what happened to your ship.” His grip tightens around me, and he’s trembling. He disobeyed orders in order to save me. I know now, that I need to trust him.

  I fill Devon in on what happened. He knows some of it already, more than Dr. Kincaid realizes. Before Dr. Kincaid found Abishai and me in his ship, I had already updated Devon on the situation up to that point. He’s part of my team, and most recently my friend, so I made sure he knew what we were facing down there. I had no idea the situation was going to get as serious as it did, though. I even tell him about Abishai and me.

  I make him swear not to tell anyone and stress to him just how psycho Dr. Kincaid really is. Abishai’s life depends on us not saying anything. As far as anyone else will know, I helped the good Dr. Kincaid finish his Eugenesis Project and my ship was damaged in the process. I’m not quite sure what to do about that last nuke we didn’t find. When my head clears, I’ll need to figure something out about that. In the far recesses of my mind, there is a small grain of hope that one day I will get Abishai back, too.

  Although Devon doesn’t like the idea of not telling our team, or his father, he promises me he won’t say anything, for now. It’s a relief to know that he hasn’t reverted to his old attitudes. Even the Misfits are being nice to me. Devon tries to keep his distance from me, ever since I told him about my feelings for Abishai. I appreciate that he values our friendship enough to not push me. My heart aches enough without having to worry about hurting Devon’s feelings.

  Our transport ship is the last one around Earth, so we are enlisted to help the Lunar Base evacuate all their people and equipment. Somehow, Devon has managed to make his disobedience look like it was all planned, that the Lunar Base requested us to stay. Amazing how he can always avoid getting in trouble.

  I take a shower and change my clothes and mechanically go through the motions of helping. Time creeps by. Minutes and hours that I’ve been away from Abishai. I try to focus on the simple tasks in front of me, to keep my mind from falling apart. Devon keeps me busy flying the shuttle back and forth from the moon to the transport ship. We bring up the last of the people and science habitats on this side of the moon. The only structure on the other side is the old prison. From here it looks like a dark bubble protruding from Luna’s side.

  We leave the long term monitoring equipment built into the moon. This equipment is aimed at Earth and has long term maintenance bots to keep it working. We will be able to watch the Earth for several generations at least. Even though all of humanity is leaving this solar system soon, we can monitor how the Eugenesis Project is progressing. No one alive today will be around to see Earth’s complete renewal though; it will be centuries before humankind returns to Sol system.

  The recycler barges join us, and we convoy away from the Earth and the moon for the final time. On our slow journey to Jupiter Station, the message is relayed to us that the Eugenesis Project is a success. Both serums have been successfully deployed. I make my way down to my ship, where she sits in the transport ship’s hold. I lock myself in, climb into my familiar pilot’s chair and cry.

  20

  Routine

  I take off my helmet, shake my sweaty hair out, and walk from the flight deck. I take the emergency maintenance ladder down one floor, instead of the elevator. If it were at all possible to avoid elevators altogether, I would avoid every single one of them. But on Jupiter Station, elevators are the only way to get around, except for the few maintenance ladders I’ve found. The elevators are just another reminder of Abishai. All the time we spent at the Compound in elevators and endless hallways. Stupid, I know, but I avoid them whenever possible.

  I have just come back from another scout ship training session, and I’m pleasantly exhausted. After Command found out that I successfully helped Dr. Kincaid complete the Eugenesis Project, I was guaranteed a spot on one of the scout ship crews. Devon also made it. He was the hero at Lunar Base. We are again on the same training team, but this time I don’t mind. Devon is different, softer somehow, and I love flying the little scout ships. I miss the Celeste, but these ships are smaller, faster, and built for long distance exploration. Exactly everything I have worked so hard for. If it weren’t for the giant hole in my heart left by the loss of Abishai, my life would be perfect.

  Devon and I spend a lot of time together. We hang out at meal times, go to the gym, and of course train together. It’s nice having a friend to talk to, and he’s the only one who knows my secret. All these years I missed out on a lot of social activities, so Devon is helping me make up for lost time in that area. He makes it easy for me to fit in socially, and it keeps me busy. He’s as popular as ever, but still makes time for me.

  I shower and change and then head down to my room to study. As a Scout, I have to learn about more than just space junk. I’m learning about retrieving raw materials, astronomy, geology and chemistry. My head hurts just thinking of all the chapters I need to read tonight.

  I smile as I think about my history homework. I have taken an interest in Earth history and its many cultures, ever since meeting Abishai. But now, it’s more than just learning about history in general. I’m learning about Abishai’s family history. After I returned from Lunar Base, an absolute emotional wreck, I pulled myself together and decided I would find a way to help Abishai, somehow. So I enrolled in an African Earth history class. I love studying about the cultures that formed Abishai’s mother’s world. There are many habitat ships that represent each of the African countries, and I hope to discover someone who knew Abishai’s mom. While I try to figure out how to help Abishai, this feels like, in some small way, that I still have some sort of connection to him.

  I also watch the holo vids whenever Dr. Kincaid is on. Usually he’s giving some sort of political speech or explaining how successful his Project has been. I don’t care about his words. I hate him. I can’t stand to see his face, but I hope to get a glimpse of Abishai. So far, he has never been seen with Dr. Kincaid. Dr. Kincaid hasn’t even mentioned his son. Each time I see Dr. Kincaid, but not Abishai, my stomach tightens and I get a sick, sick feeling. I hope Abishai is all right. I haven’t done or said anything to hurt Dr. Kincaid’s political ambitions and neither has Devon. Dr. Kincaid just gets more powerful, and although that makes me nervous, it gives me hope that Abishai is still alive.

  I finish the assignment for my elective college homework and put my books aside. My high school graduation is tomorrow. Our whole class decided to work toward an early graduation. We want to graduate before the Migration. We are going to be the last graduating class at Jupiter Station, where we have lived our whole lives. After graduation we will all go separate ways, be assigned to different habitat ships and jobs. We’ll be scattered among the two hundred and fifty habitat ships that make up the Migration to New Earth. Jupiter Station will be left only as an unmanned outpost. It will connect with Lunar Base and relay information to us as we head out of the solar system.

  A message comes in on my comm, and I see that it is my college history teacher. He wants to see me in his office. I tingle with excitement, although I try not to get my hopes up. My history teacher knows I’m looking for news on Abishai’s mom. He doesn’t know the situation with Dr. Kincaid, or why I need to find her, but I had to enlist his help so he could get me access aboard the habitat ships and their crew logs. I lock my quarters and head down to the Ed wing. Five elevators to endure.

  I’ve learned that each of the Migration habitat ships represents one of the countries from Earth. Or at least those countries that could afford to build a ship, or combine with another country. They feel this will help preserve the cultures and histories. A year ago I couldn’t have cared who the people were or how they were organized, but Abishai changed my whole mindset.

  I’ve chosen to do my final paper on Habitat Botswana. I was drawn to their colorful culture and artwork, which remind me of the murals and artwork in Abishai’s apartment. The colors, the murals of happy dancers, and the rich hues of the people and their clothing. It seems like it was forever ago that I was in that apartment with Abishai, instead of the weeks it’s really been.

  Dr. Zaman himself is from another of the African countries, Kenya. He has lived in space most of his life, but still has retained a thick accent and an affinity for wearing his colorful tribal clothes. He is my all time favorite teacher.

  Today he is wearing a long, bright red and orange flowing outfit. It makes me smile.

  “Hi Dr. Z. You want to see me?”

  “Yes, Kaci. Have a seat please.” I can’t tell by his expression if this is good news or not. He keeps his face carefully neutral.

  I sit down and wait. Maybe it’s about my grade so far. This is an elective class, so I shouldn’t be worried whether or not I’m getting a good grade or not. Being who I am, of course I expect perfection from myself, so I do worry.

  He sits down behind his desk, relaxes with his finger tips pressed together. He does that when he’s thinking. Great. I just want to get this over with.

  “There is someone who wants to meet you, Kaci.” He meets my eyes, and I can’t help but relax a bit under his confident gaze.

  I’m trying not to get too excited. It could be another dead end. Not knowing what Abishai’s mother’s name is has kind of made it hard to look for her. It seems there were a lot of African women who were transported off Earth the same year Abishai’s mom was.

  “It is a lady from Habitat Botswana.” I sit up straighter in my chair. “She has requested that you go to her ship to visit with her. She has seen your draft essay and has some comments for you. I know we’ve had some bad leads, but at least this way, even if she doesn’t have information on who you are searching for, you will at least get some good firsthand information for your paper.” His face lights up in a wide grin.

  Wow. “That’s amazing. I’ve never had someone ask to see me about my paper. I’ve been the one requesting time from them to talk. This is good, right?”

  “It is not unheard of for this kind of interest in one of my students. Our class is highly valued as a way of preserving history, even as we move away from Earth. I do suspect it might also have to do with your celebrity status on the holo vids. Maybe she is curious about the girl who saved the Project. It won’t hurt to just talk to her, whether or not she is who you’re looking for.”

  “Okay, I’m up for it. Just give me her habitat’s location, and I’ll take the Celeste over there right now. I need to take my ship on a final run anyway before I need to store her away.” I feel sadness wash over me, as I am reminded of having to part with the Celeste. During the Migration, I will be flying a scout ship, so she will need to be put into storage on one of the habitat ships.

  I get the location codes from Dr. Z and thank him for his help. I promise him an update as soon as I get back.

  I head down to the Celeste. I think about the last time I flew her, and I’m again overwhelmed by the loss of Abishai. The memories of Abishai and me flying over Earth together are still so vivid. I haven’t set foot in my ship since I was brought back from Lunar Base. Devon took care of making sure they repaired the comm and fuel cells.

  That reminds me that I should probably let Devon know where I’m going. I will be missing out on our daily workout.

  I swing by his quarters, but he’s not there. Probably at the gym already. I leave him a comm message and head back to the docking area.

  I enter the Celeste and am grateful that I’m alone. My emotions spill all over the place. I strap myself into the pilot’s seat, program in my destination, and request to leave dock. I send a quick message to the Habitat Botswana ship to let them know that I’m on my way.

  Pre-flight check done, I work on mentally pulling myself together. I remind myself, for the thousandth time, that even though it hurts to be away from him, at least Abishai remains alive. I somehow think that if he wasn’t all right, I would know it. So I find comfort in this. I then concentrate on how good it feels to be behind the controls of the Celeste again.

  Once out in the open, I enjoy the power and serenity of being in space. I love this part. The habitat ships are spread far apart between the planets, to avoid collisions or accidents; or rivalries. So I have lots of room to maneuver. The habitat ship I need to go to is stationed near Saturn. I rest back in my chair. My sensors are functioning properly, as well as the comm and fuel cells. I keep an eye on the life support. I know it’s fine, but after cutting it so close the last time, I guess I’m a little paranoid now.

  I get closer to Habitat Botswana and see that she is a beautiful ship. Her design is very different from the other habitats. Something about it looks familiar to me, but I’m not sure why. Her design is sleek and resembles a giant stingray. The control room is a bubble on top where eyes would be. The body of the ship is the triangular shape of the stingray, complete with a long tail. She’s not one of the largest ones out here, but I see a lot of private expensive-looking ships docked in bays all around her. I get a signal from their control room where to dock, and I head down.

  I squeeze carefully between two ships that are twice the size of the Celeste. They are of unusual design as well. They are graceful and similar to the scout ships I fly now. I dock carefully and prepare to board.

  21

  Astrid

  I leave the Celeste and find an escort waiting for me. Good, I would get lost in this ship. Most of the habitat ships I’ve been aboard are laid out all the same, in order to make mass producing them easier, but not this one. The uniqueness of this ship has me all turned around.

  My escorts are wearing uniforms, but not the gray one-piece kind that they wear on Jupiter Station. These uniforms are multi-colored and fashioned quite differently. Even the hallways are colorful. This is a nice change from all the white hallways in the Compound as well as on Jupiter Station. There are color coded stripes along the floor to give directions to different areas of the ship, and the lighting is pleasant, softer.

  Finally, after being led down many hallways and elevators (ugh), we stop in front of a double door. The doors are opaque glass and as we enter, it feels more humid in here; a greenhouse. I have a sense of déjà vu. The ceiling is high, several stories tall to allow for the variety of tall trees. Underneath the trees a waterfall cascades into a pool, and a winding path disappears into the bushes. Very similar in design to the one at the Compound. I smile and close my eyes, as the familiar trees, sounds, and smells remind me of being with Abishai.

  My escort breaks me out of my daydream and gestures to a woman sitting on a bench to my right. She is wearing a colorful dress with dark greens and bright yellows flowing all throughout the fabric. Her skin is the color of a cup of coffee with a touch of milk swirled in. I’m guessing she is about my mother’s age. When she sees me, she smiles and beckons me over. I instantly like this woman.

  I sit down next to her, and she takes both my hands warmly in greeting.

  “Hello, Kaci. Thank you for coming all this way to see me. I don’t get off the ship much, so I appreciate you flying over.”

  “You’re welcome, uh Mrs....” Great. I can’t remember what Dr. Z told me her name is.

  “Oh, you can call me Astrid, Kaci.” Her laugh is deep and rumbles from within her.

  I smile, enjoying the sound of her laugh. “Astrid. It was no trouble, I love flying, and this trip wasn’t that far.”

  “I bet you are wondering why I have requested you to meet me here?” Her hands are constantly in motion as she talks.

  “Well, yes. Dr. Z, well, Dr. Zaman, hinted it might be because of the final paper I’m writing for his class.” I frown. “I hope I haven’t written anything wrong or offensive.”

  “Oh no, child! No, your paper was beautiful. It was written as if you actually had experienced our culture. Not just regurgitating something you read in a book. Very unusual for someone who has lived on Jupiter Station all her life.” She tilts her head as if questioning me. Her deep brown eyes burrow into mine, searching. Her gold hoop earrings glint in the artificial sunlight.

  I hesitate. I hear in her voice more than just a question. She knows something, but I don’t want to get my hopes up again. My heart starts racing. I try to think past the web of lies I have constructed since meeting Abishai and try to come up with any truths I can share. “Well, I recently met someone who introduced me to this culture. So even though I didn’t know him for very long, I immediately fell in love with the people in his stories and art.” And Abishai. My stomach twists and knots in a tight lump.

 

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