Sodenia- The First Space Bastion

by Luigi Robles

  The only glaring question is, what would we do if there’s an attack? I am sure that Fain has thought about this, and yet he has decided to still go through with it. He must really feel it’s necessary. After all, if the aliens don’t kill us, we just might end up going crazy and killing each other. The stupid council shouldn’t have ever been on board. Larissa felt her jaw tighten but let go of the anger as soon as she caught the gesture. I guess I need to make sure that we can evacuate at a moment’s notice, but still, it will be dangerous. On the other hand, are we constantly going to be waiting for them to attack? What if they never do and we just wait in ever growing paranoia? At the end of the day, this does seem to be the right thing to do, and it might even be a way to unify the ship.

  Larissa followed her regular shift, attending to matters all over the ship, but she did leave five hours before her shift would usually end and took forty crew members with a background in building with her. She was supposed to meet the people who had suggested the carnival-like games in the second-largest open space, where they kept the majority of the supplies.

  To her surprise, a larger group of people, at least a hundred more than she was expecting, was already waiting for her.

  “There are a lot more of you than I expected,” Larissa said as she neared.

  “Yeah,” one of the foremost people in the group said. “As soon as we began telling people that we were picked to help out for the Space Walk preparations, they all wanted to help. It can get pretty tedious up here.”

  That’s when Larissa noticed that the majority of the people who had shown up, besides the ones she was expecting, were people from the facility that housed Sodenia on Earth.

  “This is going to make things a little bit more difficult,” Larissa said. “But nevertheless, I am happy to see all of you here. With any luck, we’ll finish the booths ahead of schedule.”

  “We will try our best to stay out of the way,” a different person said, “and to help as much as we can.”

  “Oh, I have no doubt about that,” Larissa said. “I know all of you are professionals, the same as the crew on board Sodenia. It’s choosing who gets to build the stuff that has me worried, and the space for building.” Larissa let a smile show.

  “Just let us know how we can be of help,” a different person said. “We’ll get right on it. We’ve been itching to have some kind of movement around here.”

  It never occurred to me to assign duties to the people who came on board from the facility, Larissa thought. Surely, they could be helping a great deal. I’ll talk it over with Fain later. I bet he’ll have some thoughts on the matter.

  “Alright, this is how it’s going to go,” Larissa said, pacing back and forth twice. “Those of you who are good at building things, step to the far left.” The crowd began to shift. “Those of you who have any artistic skill, step to the left.” More of the group began to move. “Those of you who have been wanting to exercise, remain where you are, and those of you who have never built anything before, move to the right.”

  Four large groups of people formed before Larissa.

  “OK, that’s good,” Larissa said. “Now, each group divide yourself into two, and the people who submitted the ideas for the games, step forward.”

  Larissa’s knack for organization and her ability to see far ahead in any projects was showing. She was making difficult decisions without hesitation, and the people followed her instructions willingly. It was times like this when it was clear why she had become the lieutenant commander of Sodenia.

  Larissa spent some more time dividing and organizing the groups of willing personnel so they would be as efficient as possible. In the end, there were twenty-one groups of people ready to work on the carnival-like games.

  Larissa took it upon herself to mark the areas where the games would be located. As the groups of people unloaded the incoming materials, Larissa walked around the larger area, painting the ground with a spray can.

  Soon they were all working, and the old-world games began to take shape. As the long shift ended for the rest of the crew on board Sodenia, more people joined in the Space Walk effort. Pycca, Eora, Fain, and even August were all there until the last piece of trash was picked up and the games were ready.

  This is starting to look nice, Larissa thought. It looks like we are going to have a lot of fun tomorrow, although I don’t think that I’ll fare well in these kinds of games. Nevertheless, I’ll give it a whirl. Maybe I’ll come out above Eora and, if I really try, Pycca. I won’t get carried away. There’s nothing wrong with some friendly competition. Nope, there isn’t! And then perhaps, after I dominate most of the games, Fain and I can take a walk and talk about how good I was. He’ll say, “You know what, Larissa, you are the best. You make me forget about the killer aliens we have on our tail, and I just want to spend all of my free time with you.” In fact, I think I should practice some of these games tonight, when I get back to my quarters. That way Eora and Pycca really won’t stand a chance.

  A familiar voice interrupted Larissa’s thoughts.

  “Larissa?” Fain asked.

  Larissa felt herself blush, and quickly turned around, acting like she had forgotten something.

  “Are you OK?” Fain asked again, stepping in front of her.

  “Ah, yeah,” Larissa said. “What makes you think that I’m not? I’m fine.” She forced a smile.

  “Maybe you are working too hard?” Fain asked with a concerned look on his face. “You know you can always ask for more help if you need it.”

  “No, I’m fine, really,” Larissa said, still trying to calm her nerves. “I mean, really. But thanks for your concern. So, what’s up?”

  “Alright, if there’s anything I can do, just let me know,” Fain said, with one hand resting on the back of his head. “I just wanted to come and thank you personally for all of this.” Fain made a quick gesture to the array of games that were already up and the hundreds of people working together. “None of this would have been possible if it wasn’t for you. Without hesitation, you would take the entire load of the world on your shoulders and find a way to deal with it. I think you are an amazing person. Thank you, Larissa. You are one of a kind; something special.” Fain smiled slightly.

  Larissa felt Fain’s words hit her like a speeding train, but in a good way. The way Fain had said it left no doubt in her mind that he meant every word.

  “Ah, I don’t know what to say,” Larissa said bashfully. “But hey, that’s what I am here for. Don’t mention it. I’m looking forward to tomorrow. Maybe we can play one of these games together.”

  “No way, knowing you,” Fain said. “You will beat me for sure. I don’t think I can ever come up with a good enough strategy to beat you.” Fain chuckled.

  “What’s the matter, Captain?” Larissa questioned. “You aren’t afraid to go up against extra-terrestrials and their spaceships, and yet you are afraid to go up against little old me?”

  “Alright, if that’s what you want,” Fain said with a grin on his face.

  From afar, August was yelling at Fain. It was inaudible through the crowd until he got nearer.

  “Fain, stop slacking off.” August looked like he was yelling at the top of his lungs, yet it was barely audible. “I need your help to move this crate.”

  “I’ll be right there,” Fain yelled back.

  “Why is he yelling? Is his wristband not working?” Larissa asked.

  “Apparently it has been glitchy since he got the prosthetic,” Fain said. “Kya is working on a solution for it as we speak. I’ll see you around.”

  “I’ll see you around,” Larissa echoed.

  Fain began walking towards August, and as August kept screaming, Fain ran. Larissa was sure they were just enjoying working together.

  The anticipation for the time off was real. People were smiling, arguing playfully, and enjoying themselves, and for a minute or two, even Larissa was able to forget the looming danger.

  Eora was finalizing the last of the
day’s exercises, testing the drones and ship’s cannons. Excitement built up within her. She wanted the shift to end, because in all her life she had never had the joy of experiencing a carnival. The aliens had come to Earth before she was ever able to enjoy such things as carnivals or theme parks. Society was too scared to be out in the open in large groups for a long time. And by the time she was able to join the ESAF, she had outgrown such activities. But the games that she had helped build last night looked promising, offering a distraction to everyone.

  “The thirty-six dodging targets have reached their maximum allowed distance,” Cass said. “They are getting out of range fast.”

  “Begin full power maneuvering,” Eora said with authority. “Small cannons one through six, take out those targets before we lose them to speed. On screen.”

  The main screen in the weapons bay highlighted the thirty-six targets moving wildly in order to avoid Sodenia’s firepower. But the skill of Sodenia’s cannon operators was precise and refined by many years of training. Eora knew that they wouldn’t miss.

  “On target,” Garret yelled out from the cannon operating booth. “Firing one shot each.”

  The targets disappeared from the main screen in an instant.

  “Where is the long-range target now?” Eora asked.

  “It will be at its maximum distance within a minute,” Cass said.

  “Can we get a visual that far out?” Eora asked. “Ready an E5 long-range missile. Prepare to lock on to target on my command.”

  “Trying to establish visual 111,093 miles away,” Matt said. “Coming on screen.”

  The main screen changed view, looking for the smaller target. When Matt first found it, the screen was shaking and the target was blurry, but soon the target appeared before them, complete with details.

  “E5 long-range missile,” Eora said. “Lock on and fire when ready.”

  “Firing in three, two, one… E5 LRM fired. Engaging full thrusters,” Garret yelled out. “Reaching target in t-minus five minutes.”

  Eora and the crew in the weapons bay waited in silence for the missile to hit. This would be the last exercise of the day. Eora could hardly wait to get it over with. During the day, she and the rest of the weapons bay crew had successfully run seventy-four drills, from operating drones and pushing them to their limits to target practice, all while moving through space at an outstanding speed.

  With ten seconds remaining, a timer appeared on screen, counting down the last few seconds as the main view began to zoom out. There was a bright flash on the main screen.

  “Target destroyed,” Garret yelled out.

  The entire weapons bay came to life with cheers, and most of the crew got out of their seats to celebrate.

  “Alright, alright.” Eora made her voice heard. “Everyone quiet down. Listen.”

  The weapons bay became silent once again.

  “I just want to say, it was one hell of a job we did today,” Eora said, letting her serious side show. “And it wouldn’t have been possible without each one of you. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication. It’s because of you that we stand a chance against the aliens. That being said… Tonight’s Space Walk is meant for us to relieve the pent-up stress that we have all been feeling. And we do deserve that, but! Make no mistake, while you are out there having fun, you should know full well that the enemy could attack at any time. If any kind of alarm goes off, I want you all back here in the weapons bay. Got that?”

  “Yes, ma’am!” they all responded.

  “Alright, let’s go have some fun,” Eora said, back to her usual self. “Who here thinks they can take me on in the ring toss?”

  Eora thought about going back to her quarters to change, but all she would accomplish by doing so was changing back into the same exact uniform she was wearing now. Instead of going through all that trouble, she decided to go straight to the Space Walk event, letting her hair down as she boarded a corridor pod.

  The designated area for the event was teeming with life. Hundreds of people had already gathered around. The ship lights in the area were turned off, letting the lights from the carnival-like games illuminate the place. The temperature in the room was also slightly different, Eora noticed. It was colder than the rest of the ship. Perhaps they were trying to set the mood, or they were accounting for the thousands of people still to show. People were already forming lines in front of the games, and the giant scoreboards that Larissa had installed in the center of it all were starting to populate.

  So, this is what it’s like to be in a carnival, she thought as she walked. There are so many things I want to do all at once. I want to try the games and talk to people. Wait, is that some kind of grilled food I smell? Is that the smell of bacon?

  Sure enough, at the end of the fair, there were three small food stands serving bacon-wrapped hot dogs, bacon-wrapped mushrooms, and grilled corn. There was also one thing she had never heard of, but she was able to distinguish the letters above the stand. It said Funnel Cake.

  What’s a funnel cake? she wondered. Is it like a cake in the shape of a funnel? Or a cake with a funnel on it? Either way, there’s only one way to find out.

  She beamed. The intoxicatingly delicious smell was beginning to fill the area, and large lines were forming in front of the food stands, more so than at the games.

  Ha! It’s amazing what Larissa was able to pull off, Eora thought. Even to the last little detail.

  Eora let herself get lost in the Space Walk carnival, going from game to game, trying the delicious grilled food, enjoying herself, and talking to people. It all reminded her of why they were out in space in the first place and what they were doing far away from home. The answer was clear and would always be the same: to protect the people of Earth.

  August had felt the terror of the Acram firsthand, quite literally, when one of the beasts pulverized the bones inside his hand. His new prosthetic hand, although top of the line and the best Sodenia had to offer, still had an alien feel to it. He was able to feel sensation and touch just like before, but some part of it felt like it didn’t belong to his body; a foreign object. He wondered whether this was a permanent feeling or just an adjusting phase that he was going through. The prolonged use of the prosthetic caused him pain, but he was sure it would go away as soon as the swelling around the amputated area receded.

  The doctors in the medical bay had told him to go easy on himself, that it would take some time to adjust. But August didn’t have that luxury, or more accurately, he didn’t want to sit back and let the world pass in front of him.

  He was determined to enjoy the night. He owed it to himself and to the people who saved his life.

  He decided to try his luck with some basketball; he remembered being good at it as a kid. And he was sure that Larissa hadn’t tried to rig the games in any way. The hoops wouldn’t be smaller than regular ones, and they didn’t look oblong. It was good old-fashioned basketball. The rules were simple: you made a basket and you scored points. Each person in line had three shots. The shots from ridiculously far away or half court would count as seven points, while the two other options counted as three and two.

  When it came time for August to try his luck, he thought about going all out on his first try despite his body telling him otherwise. He stayed way back, almost to where the line for the game began; he wanted to attempt a seven-pointer. He bounced the ball twice, and that alone gave him all the confidence he needed to make the shot. The ball wasn’t over-inflated; it was just right. After a few seconds of weighing the ball in his good hand, he threw it using his non-prosthetic hand. The ball went through the exact center of the hoop without a problem. The crowd cheered.

  But August, instead of cheering with the crowd, reeled in pain. He felt as if the muscles all around the new prosthesis were tearing themselves apart. He knew then that he had exerted too much force for the condition he was in.

  “Commander, are you OK?” a crew member asked from the crowd, stepping towards August.

>   Humans aren’t meant to fail, he thought. I had already made up my mind about it. We have all the tools necessary to adapt and overcome any situation. If I let this thing that’s in front of me now beat me, as simple as it may seem, I might let something else beat me in the future.

  August lifted the index finger of his prosthetic hand, gesturing to the crew member to wait.

  “One second. I am just a little winded,” August said, not letting his weakness win. “But I can do this. It’s just going to take some getting used to.”

  The crew member-turned-carny bounced the basketball back to August. He stood bouncing the ball, thinking of a better way to throw it without injuring his body any further. He settled for throwing the ball with less care and just a bit more force, so it could rebound off the backboard.

  “Here goes nothing,” he said as he threw the ball with more of a swing than a precise movement.

  It worked. The ball bounced off the backboard and made its way through the net. His body felt sore, but not as bad as the first time around. As the crowd cheered once again, he knew that he had this game in the bag. He asked for the basketball, bounced the ball once, and made the third shot in the same way as the second time.

  The crowd cheered even louder when they saw that the ball had gone in the third time. And for August, all those times he spent playing basketball as a kid were finally paying off.

  August was looking forward to playing the other Space Walk games. He was keenly aware of the games he would be good at and the ones he would not. But he was happy, because now he knew how his body would react to certain movements, and that made him feel whole again.

  At first, I was scared, August thought as he lost himself in the carnival. Scared of not ever being myself again, scared that the alien had taken something that I would never be able to replace. But now I can start seeing myself in the bigger picture. We don’t have to be perfect to make a difference, and we don’t have to be perfect to enjoy our lives. We only have to try to make a difference and try to enjoy our lives. Open up to new possibilities and new horizons. Because we never know where we are going until we get there.