“Hmm,” Levi mused, digesting the information.
“Don’t worry, I will help you with everything. Don’t feel bad about not knowing much about this place, most groundies don’t. Why should you have to? The Academy really tries to push students to know everything about Ohmani and space stuff, since we’re in the thick of it and everything.”
Hearing the words ‘space stuff’ and ‘in the thick of it’ in the same sentence almost gave Levi a heart attack. Fletch, on the other hand, tied the words together nonchalantly.
“That is one really good thing about this place. Students graduating from the Academy are thirty percent more likely to get a space-related job. It’s a great school…one of the best actually. That’s the only reason I am up here. After I graduate I want some sort of career that allows me to travel the galaxies and meet different kinds of people…some sort of intergalactic career. Maybe political science?”
Levi was glad Fletch was talking so much. It was keeping him distracted from looking out of the windows at all the gigantic spaceships and peeing his pants.
“The only reason you are there is to go to school? You must have some loving parents.”
Fletch’s robot shrugged awkwardly. “My parents are back on the ground in India. They pay for me to board up here. They are college professors…specialize in Linguistics,” Fletch added.
That must be the accent Levi had picked up on but before he could confirm his guess, the train began to slowly decelerate, refocusing Levi’s attention out of the window. As the train crept slowly around a sharp corner, a colossal Spaceark came into view. Levi’s eyes shot wide. With its metallic exterior and lack of windows, it looked like an impenetrable fortress. The ship was an ominous dark grey with four tail-like projections jetting from the back like a dragon.
“Those are the microfission power thrusters,” explained Fletch. “Once you leave the stratosphere those babies will start breaking atoms apart like mini nuclear factories propelling you through space.”
“Oh…my…,” Levi trailed off.
The ship was directly on the right-hand side of the train now. It rumbled loudly, causing the glassy walls of the train to vibrate. Suddenly, the sides of the Spaceark began to open up like an emerging butterfly to produce wings. The bright primary colors of the American flag shown now in contrast to the ship’s darkness.
Fletch looked at Levi’s chest and then said sympathetically, “Don’t worry, the flight isn’t too bad. Once you finish the spin initiation it will be a piece of cake.”
Levi looked at Fletch with a questioning glance. “Spin initiation?”
“Well, the sci-fi entertainment industry kind of has it wrong. See, you can’t just make gravity so easily…so we fake it by spinning in space.”
Levi couldn’t take any more of this.
“You see the centripetal force of rapid spin creates artificial gravity. Otherwise, you would float out of your seat!” Fletch explained. “It just takes a second to get used to it.”
“So does that mean you are spinning right now too?” Levi asked.
“Yep! At a velocity that exactly replicates the gravity you’re feeling now. The whole asteroid is spinning like a rotisserie chicken. Cool, huh?”
Nauseating was more like it, but even he knew the Earth was technically spinning as well.
The maglev squared up parallel to the spaceport and came to a halt. “Please stand behind the yellow line.” A programmed voice instructed over the speakers. After a dramatic clicking sound, the glass panels on the right side of the train lifted to reveal the inside of the spaceport. “You may now exit the train. Thank you for riding with us today.”
The passengers began exiting the train. Axella, Bockie, and Levi moved into the center of the massive dome-shaped room. Fletch floated up beside them.
“Well, guys, this is it! The gate is right over there.” Fletch pointed.
“Thank you, Mr. Hemingway,” Axella offered out a trembling hand. “You were a monumental help today.”
Fletch flashed a grin. “You’re welcome!” he said, hovering forward to shake it.
“So,” Bockie began, “if your real body is up in space right now, do you have feeling in that thing?”
“Yes, ma’am, I can feel your fingers pulling on my waistband.”
“Dang, thought I could sneak a quick look,” she grumbled, snapping the elastic of his trousers shut.
Did his grandmother have any sense of shame?
“Thanks for helping us navigate this maze,” Levi said sincerely. “You should get an ‘A’ for the day.”
Fletch chuckled. “It’s no problem, I’m happy to do it. Actually, if you all don’t mind I would love to meet you at the spaceport when you land. Off the books, just as a new friend. I can help you get to your hotel and maybe show you around the area.”
Axella and Levi both said “Yes!” in unison. This guy was a Godsend.
“Great! Well then, I will leave you all to it. Remember, just get past the spin part and you’ll be fine. I have to head back to the main core to put the robot back before disconnecting. Fourth period ends in twenty. Don’t forget to visit the Ohmani welcome desk next to the gate. They will get you set-up exchanging currency and filling out paperwork. I will see you all tomorrow.” The robot version of Fletch then nodded and took his leave, hovering back towards the maglev.
They walked over to the welcome desk and a little old woman greeted them. Over the next fifteen minutes they exchanged currency, filled out paperwork and updated their licenses.
“You’re all set to go,” she proclaimed, stuffing their hands with information brochures. “And don’t worry, hon,” she directed towards Axella, “just get past the spin part and you’ll be fine.”
“What’s the spin part everyone keeps talking about?” Axella asked Levi.
Levi re-told what Fletch had explained to him as they walked towards the gate.
“Cool!” was Bockie’s reaction.
“Oh my,” was Axella’s. She was looking more nervous than ever.
“You know, we haven’t eaten since breakfast. How about you all go to the bathroom, freshen up, and I will grab us some lunch at the café right there. We have thirty minutes until boarding.”
“What a thoughtful grandson I have.” Bockie stood up on her toes to kiss Levi on the cheek. She then grabbed her daughter’s arm and led Axella to the restroom.
Levi walked to the café, bought three sandwiches, and returned to sit near the gate. The next thirty minutes were more ordinary than any he had experienced all day; no grandmother rapping, dramas with abusive strangers, or Indian boys in robot bodies. The streak had to be broken at some point…
“Hey, Vi!”
Levi spun towards the female voice, confused. Only two women would know his name, let alone nickname, and they were sitting in front of him with mouths full of honey ham.
“Kierra?” She stood smiling like they were back in school at the lunch table. Her multicolored wisps were flying behind her under the giant air-conditioning vents.
“What’s up?”
Was she serious? “Well, I’m about to hop on a Spaceark and shoot up into space to live in an asteroid.”
“Oh, the one that would have wiped out mankind except for the fact that Earth was saved by a friendly alien race? Yeah I think I’ve heard of it. It’s called ‘Origami’ or something, right?” she retorted just as ironically.
He smiled. As shocked and confused as Levi was, he had to admit he enjoyed their bantering satire, partly because it made light of the ridiculous turn of events in his life in recent days, and partly because he had never thought she possessed any wit.
“But seriously, why exactly are you here?” Levi asked.
She flashed the screen of her tablet.
A ticket.
“I’m moving to Ohmani too!” she exclaimed.
Kierra had to be joking. That was a little eerily ironic.
“I know what you’re thinking…I’m obsessed with you or somet
hing,” she said with a dismissive wave of the hand.
Intuitive and witty…
“Look, I’ve always wanted to study on Ohmani…I’m very interested in astrobiology. Did you know if you go to school there you have a fifty percent greater chance of getting into an intergalactic career?”
“I heard thirty percent.”
“Whatever, it’s basically the same thing.”
Was it though? Why did women always exaggerate?
“I like this young woman!” Bockie interjected. “So, you’re going to Ohmani all by yourself to take control of your education. How fearless of you.”
She glowed. “Yes, I will be staying at the Central Academy of Ohmani’s boarding house. They only accept the most outstanding students from the ground, and with my GPA and internship experiences, they accepted my application this morning.”
“Impressive! It is nice to see such a driven young lady. And how brave of you to travel and live by yourself in such a faraway place.” She turned her attention to her grandson. “Vi, you should learn a little something from this girl. His grades are terrible.”
Levi frowned. He was not proud of that fact.
“Well, I do have to admit, I am pretty driven when I really want something,” she professed confidently. “My father is travelling to Ohmani today on business for a few weeks so he is going to help me get settled in before leaving back for LA.” She pointed to a shiny spot in the crowd. The bald man from the plane stood up and walked towards them.
Her father was the UN Ambassador for Midaki Relations? The same man his grandmother had hit over the head just an hour before? Levi took a deep breath. Why him?
The man walked over to them, frowning. Kierra took charge of the introductions.
“This is my father, Vernean. Dad, this is Levi Avondale and his mother and grandmother.”
“Axella.” Axella out-stretched her hand, blissfully unaware of the drama that had taken place during her slumber on the airplane. Vernean shook her hand. “And this is my mother, Orella.” Neither Vernean nor Bockie cared for skin contact.
“Call me Bockie.”
“You know them?” Vernean asked Kierra.
“Yes, daddy. I go to school with Levi in Fort Bragg...went to school,” she corrected herself. “They are all moving to Ohmani today too!” she said, taking on a higher-pitch than normal.
“I see,” Vernean huffed, wrinkling his nose.
Bockie puffed. “Well, you may be rude as all get out, but you’re raising a darn good child. Impressive young lady,” she said with a firm nod.
Vernean coughed deep in his throat. “Thank you.”
An awkward silence fell over them then and Kierra stood staring at her feet. Bockie apparently had not heard Kierra say that Vernean was flying back to Los Angeles after his business was over in Ohmani. If Vernean lived in LA and Kierra lived in Fort Bragg, it was highly doubtful he played a large role in her day to day upbringing. Levi’s heart went out to Kierra. He knew all about broken families and absentee fathers.
“Attention passengers. Flight 128 to Ohmani Spaceport will now begin boarding.” A ticket concierge spoke into the intercom. “We would like to invite first class passengers to board at this time.”
“Well, I will see you on the other side!” Kierra said, glad for the distraction. “And it was so nice to meet you Axella and Bockie!” She flashed a perfect set of pearly whites and made her way to the gate with her father shining beside her.
“I like Ms. Wharran,” Bockie said. “Take her on a date. Why don’t you date?”
Levi decided not to engage the conversation. The last thing he wanted to do was take dating advice from Bockie. Many would assume that taking love life advice from an old woman would be smart; after all, the elderly had years of experience and wisdom to share. The problem was, Bockie never had much luck in the relationship department. She was a casual dater until her early forties, when apparently she fell madly in love with a habitué she had met at the hotel she worked in. Four months into the affair, she became pregnant with her only child, Axella.
The initial news of the pregnancy gave a young Orella a sense of peace, for she was sure the announcement would finally unite her with this man who had made so many promises. Instead, he disappeared, leaving Orella to raise the child on her own. Bockie’s heart had hardened beyond repair and she never again trusted a man after that incident. Instead, she swore off relationships claiming they were nothing but a chemical disease that she found the cure for… staying single. When it happened to Axella with Kaylan, Bockie passed on her wisdom, which seemed to stick with his mother also.
Obviously, she was not projecting her pessimistic perspective on him now, maybe because Levi was her grandson and she knew, as a man, he would never abandon his family like his father or grandfather. Levi had always felt a huge responsibility to be the first Avondale worthy of carrying and passing on his last name. Sorry Bockie, he thought, but Kierra would not be the one who would end up inheriting it.
“At this time we would like to invite all remaining passengers to begin boarding for flight 128 to Ohmani Spaceport.”
His heart jumped a beat. It was time.
4 Across THE VOID
Levi and about five-hundred other passengers stood up from their seats. The gate was subdivided into A through M and even further into one through three depending on which floor of the Spaceark you were designated for. Their tickets were in section D1. The ticket concierge scanned their tablets and they made their way down the hallway towards the Spaceark. He didn’t expect to be so anxious. He immediately thought about Axella and turned his head to see if she had passed out from nerves. Uh Oh. His mother was leaning up against the wall, whimpering, eyes shut so tight he was afraid they would be sucked back into her head.
Levi ran to her. “Mom, everything will be fine. I have something that will help you relax when we get in there, I promise.”
Axella’s eyes shot open and she fell to her knees, rummaging through her carry-on. “I forgot about this,” she said, pulling out a miniature flask of golden liquid. She lifted it to her lips and drank the entire thing. “Whoo,” she said, shaking her head at the piercing in her throat.
“Well, I didn’t necessarily have that in mind,” Levi said, grabbing her elbow and helping her stand.
A child walked by them, looking at Axella with a judgmental expression. As they continued walking, Bockie came to stand on the other side of him. “Don’t give your mom those drugs when she’s got alcohol in her system.”
Bockie was right. He felt envious of his grandmother at the moment. Axella and he were dragging their feet, while she was practically skipping towards the ship, her delicate body looking ridiculous compared to its massive proportions.
When he entered the Spaceark, a flight attendant motioned them to their seat. To Levi, the inside of the Spaceark looked like a completely vertical stadium or the sides of an opera house. A row of seats lined up against the wall, three stories high with small balconies. They made their way to their seats. Thump, thump, thump his heart pounded against his chest.
Axella patted Levi’s hand. “I love you,” she said simply.
“I love you too, Mom,” he said with a full heart.
“Thank you for doing this for me,” she said, buckling her harness two clicks too tight.
“I would do anything for you,” he replied with a smile. It was true.
“Scotch,” Bockie said to the flight attendant who was making her first trip around.
The flight attendant began pouring.
“You’re not going to check for an ID?” Bockie joked.
The hostess giggled. “And for you ma’am?”
“Make it a double,” Axella said.
Levi stared open-mouthed at Axella. He had never seen her drink, and she was on a roll.
“Moving to space and drinking? Well, Ax, it’s nice to see you living a little,” Bockie observed. “To experiencing life’s adventures with each other,” they cheered.
Bockie took a sip of the golden liquid. Axella downed hers in a few gulps. She put her delicate hand over her mouth trying to keep it down.
“Another please,” Axella said to the hostess.
The ship vibrated their seats as if awakening like a dragon after a hundred year slumber. Did he hear something rattling? Thump, thump, thump. Levi nervously put his hands in his jacket pocket. The pills. No, he wouldn’t take one.
“Attention passengers, we would like to welcome you onboard this Spaceark,” a voice began. “In a few minutes we will begin our ascendance to Ohmani Spacestation. Please fasten your harnesses and place all personal belongs in the storage container below your seat. The flight information hologram will appear momentarily. If you have any questions following the hologram presentation, please feel free to ask the avatar anything. If the avatar cannot answer your question or you require additional assistance, please use the red call button. Thank you, and have a wonderful flight.”
The hologram of a man appeared on everyone’s lap. Some sort of theme song-sounding tune projected from speakers in the curved head of his seat.
“Hello Axella Avondale, my name is Charlat Mincey,” it began, mistaking him for his mother. Levi had switched seats with Axella so that she could sit in the middle. He heard Axella giggle when Charlat also addressed her by the wrong name. Her breath smelt like bitter malt with hints of smoke and vanilla.
“In a few minutes we will be flying to Ohmani Spacestation. I will be assisting you this flight by answering any questions you may have. In a moment you will be able to choose the topics, if any, you would like to know more about.” Four headings appeared at the four corners around the transparent man. They read, Flight to Ohmani, Life on Ohmani, History of Ohmani, and Beyond Ohmani. Charlat spent a minute talking about safety protocols and then another explaining how to use the hologram’s program. Finally he said, “Thank you for your attention and I hope you have a wonderful flight. At this time you may explore topics you would like to learn more about.”
Journey to Ohmani (Across the Infinite Void Book 1) Page 5
