by Pearl Tate
Snorting, I laugh, and we giggle at my snort the last few steps to the door.
“Everyone will love these brownies! Chocolate and peanut butter, right?” Susan confirms I’ve concocted her favorite again. My favorite is mint. Icing sugar with mint extract swirled in the top instead of peanut butter… to die for! “I hope everyone hates them, because I’d like to have two.” Susan holds open the door for me again.
“I know! Maybe nobody else will show up. You never know. I plan to think positive!” Laughing, I realize just how true that is. As we stomp up the stairwell, I start reciting the ingredients and steps to make them. One of these days, Susan will break down and make some for me!
“I love them. I don’t even care what they have in them.” Susan’s words make my heart sink. She doesn’t realize that it’s the same old thing for me. It’s become clearer and clearer that I give what’s important to me and everyone else just takes.
No—that isn’t true! She isn’t like Charlie. I have to keep my chin up and stay positive.
“You showed me how to make them, or at least the hot plate part, remember?” Susan is always kind when she points out I'm repeating myself to her.
“Oh, yeah!” I shake myself out of the funk I’ve slipped into. Planting a smile on my face, we walk into the room. “I was thinking it was Stephanie, but it was you.” The table's already busy with our friends. “Damn! Are we late?”
“No. You guys are right on time. Especially since you have food.” Beth waves us over and pulls out a chair for me.
Sinking gratefully into it, I shrug off my backpack and throw it on the floor in front of me to pull out the napkins. Everyone can use them as plates too.
Beth’s face is a foot from the basket as I uncover the chocolate miracle inside. “Damn, Lisa. You really fucking rock the brownies.”
I just laugh and shake my head at her antics. Beth is super sweet with authentic bleach blond hair. My hair’s light brown with natural highlights. It looks dark compared to her almost-white head.
“They’re still warm,” she squeals as she carefully pulls one out and onto a napkin. The basket’s already starting around the table. Smiling, I settle back to enjoy watching everyone pick one out.
It’s sad, but I’m not even hungry. The phone call with my mother that inspired these, also killed my appetite. Figures.
“Ladies, ladies.” Shelly claps her hands above her head as she pulls our attention to her. As the organizer of our meetings, she usually has a great agenda. I don’t come to learn. I come to help. “Oh yeah! Brownies.” She takes a second to pick one out before passing them along. “Let’s break into groups for our specific issues. With the eight of us here, that should make it so we can cross reference our strengths and weaknesses for each other.”
I don’t move as everyone pulls out their questions on the last week of notes. Just behind Karen across the table, I see a streak of lights and then pulsing flashes. “What is that?”
As soon as the words are out of my mouth, the light swells, brighter and brighter. It doesn’t make any sense? What could be thirty feet up and that bright?
A funny feeling starts in my chest, drawing me from my feet. Excitement flows through me. I’m on my feet and practically running to the window. Getting there first, I can’t see a thing outside.
It’s blinding! I’m in a spotlight and can’t focus on a thing from the intensity. The elation I'm experiencing is strange. My skin’s tingling, and I swing around to look at the others.
I can’t see anything though, even when I turn around. It’s as bright looking back into the room as it was when I walked to the window. “Guys?” I couldn’t have burned my eyes that quick! Right?
No one answers, and I notice everything around me start to shake. Softly at first but picking up speed and intensity the longer it goes on. Now I’m scared. “Susan!” My voice sounds far away even to myself. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m petrified now or what?
I can feel myself getting light-headed as I start to hyperventilate. Everything is white and silent around me now. Shutting my eyes, it cuts back on the light, but it’s like laying out on a bright summer day. My eyes water profusely behind my lids, and I feel tears begin to slide down my cheeks.
But I can’t move to wipe them away. I’m frozen! It’s only as I begin to lose consciousness that the darkness finally takes over.
CHAPTER THREE
- Travek
“This ship better stay together!” Gilip’s determined expression is at odds with his permanent scowl. We calculated what we assumed would be a safe trajectory to enter the Earth’s atmosphere. Now we're all holding our breath as we descend.
As the hull readings climb higher, Sol glances back and forth, his head swiveling from the panel to me. My face is carefully blank. I knew this could be a suicide mission, and I tried to talk him out of it.
“Travek?” Sol’s voice is barely a whisper as the readings climb above acceptable levels. He's trusting me to get us through this.
“I see it.” There’s nothing we can do at this point. We’re committed. This is just one of many things that can go wrong. “Almost… there.”
We break out onto the other side and the readings begin to drop immediately. Thank the Sacred Mother. One catastrophe averted—on to the next.
I sink back into the chair and try to relax. Looking over the blue and green planet below us, I can’t help but be mesmerized by the sight in front of us. It’s beautiful.
“Where to?” Gilip’s deep voice is more relaxed now. But that’s the next question I don’t have an answer for—yet.
“Cruising speed at this altitude for the moment. Let’s all relax and see what we detect.” I’ve been preparing for this. I understand that Bren felt Hannah for a long time. As long as she took to get to another planet, they call Mars.
We assumed he perceived her once she left the Earth atmosphere. Everything is speculation at this point though. My trip here is not only to find my mate but also to narrow down some of these unknowns. After all, we need to be able to replicate this trip in the future if we want to make it a profitable venture.
Settling into a daily reflection stance, I let the ship around me fade away. I probably look like I’m sleeping, but I’m not. All Quasar males are trained extensively in morning and evening daily reflections.
Taking deep breaths, I turn my attention inward. Focusing on nothing. Feeling nothing.
My surroundings drop away, and I no longer perceive my brother or Gilip. There’s nothing, and that’s relaxing as I focus on thinking about nothing.
A pinpoint of light begins in my peripheral vision. Watching it carefully, I relax more. Waiting.
Slowly, it gets bigger and my skin tingles in anticipation. Yes. It feels good. Right.
My internal vision watches the light stream out as if a beacon towards me. That’s it. It has to be.
It’s as good a place to start as any. We don't have any other choice at this point. And if it's wrong, we'll just keep looking.
Snapping my eyes open, I spot my brother Sol watching me with a strange expression on his face. “What? Did you see something? Or sense something?”
“Both.” Turning to Gilip, I wave my hand in front of his face, still locked onto the panel. “Manual override.” He straightens immediately, passing control to me.
This is my favorite part. So often we rely on the computers to navigate. Almost all the time really.
“Are you fucking serious?” Gilip still doesn’t trust any of this. He thinks Bren has staged an elaborate hoax. Tempting for all of us, but I know differently. I’ve seen the markings.
Instead of watching, he gets up and moves into the crew area of our ship. “Inform me when we’re there.” His heavy boots echo on the floor as he moves away behind me.
“Sure.” I smile at Sol as I drop our ship quickly, and we faintly overhear him swearing behind us.
“What do you feel? Do you really think you felt something?” Sol wants to believe as
much as I do. And I do believe. His voice drops lower, and I can barely catch him add on, “Is it your mate?”
“It feels like destiny. Almost hurts, but it’s a pull. Just wait.” I don’t say any more as we drop smoothly down toward a green area of the planet. As it gets bigger in front of us, my entire body is encased in the knowing.
Excitement fills me along with elation. This is it!
I lock our destination in on the area of the green space that seems to call to me. As I study the lighter green in my vision, the on-board computer drones, “Twenty-eight quasenda parcs.”
“Should I get the staging area ready?” This is what Sol’s really excited about. Using the technology, we’ve only tried a few times before. Each time his excitement magnifies, and his eyes light up. I assume our Uncle Reelo's mantra is droning through his head like it does mine.
“Yes. Let’s do it.” Every time we’ve used the silver box, it’s displayed a holographic ring where our target would arrive. The only place large enough on this ship is the still fairly small cargo bay in the back. Even emptying it all out, we aren't positive it will be enough space.
Setting up the auto-navigation to where I feel her presence, I walk into the back after him. We pass Gilip in the prep area eating. “Where are you going?” His mouth is full as he talks and follows behind us.
“You’ll see.” Gilip is one of my best friends, but he’s only here for the adventure. He loves getting off the Discovery and seeing new things. I can’t remember a time he didn’t say yes to whatever hare-brained idea I thought up.
Standing in the practically empty hold, Sol and I take positions in the only area left to stand. We dumped almost everything except what could fit in the bins and nets that carry items on the side. When I fire up the box and it begins its low strange hum, I hear Gilip draw a quick inhale.
“What the fuck, Travek? Where did you get that?” His strained voice lets me know he’s not positive he’s on-board with whatever might happen next.
I don’t even turn to look at him when Sol answers. “Travek found it in our family’s scrap yard. He fixed it.”
“Are we here to start a war or what? What does it do?” Gilip’s mind is really off—speculating the worst. How typical of him. He must imagine I plan to blow something up.
I’ve successfully locked the destination point as I turn to answer him. “Transporter. Only way better than anything we have on the market on Quasar.” Brushing by him, I return to the front. I don’t know exactly how long I have to lock in the target, but we’re close.
Sol stays in the back as we discussed previously, but Gilip has followed me to the front view screen. “Holy Sacred Mother. Everything's so dark.” He falls heavily into the seat next to me.
Nodding, I settle the box between my legs as I manually take over the controls again. There are thousands of poles below us with lights atop them. Moving ground vehicles stream around everywhere. In the distance, I make out large aircrafts that appear to take off and land in a long, narrow strip.
That only catches my attention for a second though. The pull to a dark building ahead of me has me directing the craft to dive quickly. The faster we can pull this off the better.
“Hang on!” My yell is directed at Sol who only has the rear harnesses to keep him from flying around. I hear a loud thunk and then swearing as we drop just above the treetops, racing toward the building quickly.
And then we’re there. Hovering in front of the building, I can see shapes moving around in the building. She’s right there! Right there!
CHAPTER FOUR
- Travek
I feel as if I could reach out and caress her. It’s the most startling but wonderful sensation. Until this point, I've been excited about the prospect of not having to go back to Quasar and having my own female, but now... it's suddenly much more real. Much more personal.
“Travek?” Gilip’s shocked voice shakes me out of my reverie. Ignoring him, I flip the switch and start the transporter before looking over at him. I don't want any more of his negative insights wearing me down while I'm enjoying this moment.
His eyes are wide with wonder as they stare at my neck. “What?” Bringing my hand up, I grasp above the neckline of my flight suit.
“Mating marks…” Gilip’s voice drifts off as I nod. Of course.
“Incoming!” Sol’s yell sounds worried. That's not good, but it's to be expected the first time.
Jumping up, I race to the back, so I don't miss her materializing. I want to hold her as soon as she arrives. I should be the first one to catch sight of her and touch her. It’s stupid, but I already feel possessive of her.
A ball of sparkling light hovers over the destination area, and I see immediately why he’s worried. It’s large. As multiple shapes start to solidify, I realize there’s more than one. More than two.
As soon as they all fully formed, the internal light of the process drops away. I realize they’re all in the position they were in before dropping onto the cargo bay hold. Some are standing and a few are sitting. None of the females that were sitting have chairs under them any longer. The transporter was programmed for biological.
I’m on my knees and skidding towards them. There’s so many I don’t even bother to count. But I recognize her instantly. Before she collapses from her standing position, I pull her small, soft body into my arms. I brush her light brown hair away from her face. She’s stunning.
Her skin is much lighter than mine and feels silky under my fingertips. Her breathing is even and light as it puffs through her cute nose and mouth. Even her lips are a lovely shade of pink.
“Eight!” Gilip’s shadow falls over me from the door. “We got eight of them?” His voice is almost a roar. Instead of excited, he's furious. What is his problem? Can't he see any potential in this?
Glancing up, I notice my brother Sol still hanging onto the cargo netting over me in shock. He doesn’t say a word, but Gilip has enough to say for all of us.
“I knew you were coming to look and see what you felt—if you felt your mate. But you had a way to steal them? Did you plan this?” He appears ready to attack me with his snarling face and wild hair. Giving up on all semblance of control, his hair slaps the ceiling as he looks at me accusingly.
“I only planned on getting her, but we haven’t tested the device in any long-range moves. Just across the cargo hold on the Discovery. It must have adjustments that can be made, but I don’t know how—yet!” Breathing in her fresh scent calms me as I stare at Gilip who’s almost ready to explode.
“Maybe the pick up gets larger the farther we are from it? It isn’t as precise?” I nod my head in agreement to Sol’s quiet hypothesis. He's trying to change the focus, but Gilip isn't letting this go.
“Put them back!” Gilip’s snarl is final. When I glance at him, I realize he isn’t kidding.
“We’ve never done that before. We have to set the destination—”
Sol’s explanation is cut off by Gilip who’s digging his hands into his hair. “I don’t care. This isn’t right. We don’t steal people.”
They continue to bicker as they move towards the door to the front. Gilip's right, but this is for the greater good. We are about to change our planet's history.
I look down at my mate who's still unconscious in my arms. Her breathing is still calm and soft. Running my hands through her hair, I realize there are lighter streaks in the brown waves. They catch the light and my attention as I rub strands between my fingers.
Yes, I'll admit that I'm not just doing this for everyone else. I'm suffering some pangs of guilt too. I've no idea if this young female will ever forgive me for taking her from her family, but I have to try.
A rocking sensation has us all looking at each other with wide eyes. Gilip and Sol sprint for the front while I study the females scattered across the hold. They're all so different. Their hair and skin tones are varied from light to dark.
We have travel stasis pods but only the five. And there are eleven of
us now, with eight females. They will just have to stay here for the moment.
“What going on?” Yelling towards the front, I can hear swearing and bickering. Nothing specific though, as far as what’s going on. The jostling has smoothed out, but we're still not traveling forward. More sideways in relationship to the way the ship would go. How are we traveling sideways?
Setting my mate down, I begin laying out a cargo net over the women. Straightening heads and limbs so they lay side by side, feet to head, I rotate them.
“We’re caught in some kind of transporter beam! Maybe Humans? Or Ashen?” Sol’s feet stomp towards me, and he begins helping me spread the net over the females. Taking turns, we secure them to the floor, hooking the cargo net to the wall on either side.
Skirting around them, I gently pick up my mate from the floor and follow Sol to the front. Gilip is fighting with the controls and trying to regain power in navigation.
Dropping into the seat, I arrange her limbs as comfortably as I can. “Any success to report?”
The scathing look Gilip throws me answers that question immediately. Our altitude is climbing as I watch out the front of the craft. It’s clear we are traveling toward a more remote area of their planet. Leaving the green, we head up toward a white landscaped area.
Blue water surrounds the white ground cover as we get closer to where we’re obviously being pulled. “Any suggestions, Gilip?” I realize he’ll have gone through every possible scenario to break out of this and stay alive.
Sure, you can usually break away, but most life forms will perish in the aftermath. Our bodies just can’t take the whiplash that will occur. Only someone in the stasis pods could survive that.
“Not if we want to stay alive.” His voice is resigned.
“We stay alive then. We can always end our lives later.” I peer down at my peaceful mate. I’ve just found her. I’m not ready to give up yet.
