Sentinels: Children of Valhalla (Sentinels Saga Book 1)

by Linn Schwab

  Mindy closed her eyes and continued to sniffle. Robin felt her relax in her arms.

  “Don’t leave us, Mindy,” she softly repeated. “Please don’t leave us.”

  “Exhaustion,” Major Richards concluded, after analyzing Mindy’s condition. “Poor thing,” she said. “Looks like she hasn’t slept a wink since she’s been here. It was only a matter of time before it caught up with her.”

  Robin sighed in relief. It hadn’t been easy, but she’d managed to coax Mindy to the station’s infirmary.

  Mindy listened quietly from the cot she was sitting on. She didn’t care what the major was saying about her. Nothing really mattered. She was going to die anyway. It was going to happen sooner or later. She had known it since her first day on Volaris. She was going to die, and her friends would all continue living without her. Will they even miss me? she wondered. Or will they forget me the instant I’m gone?

  Robin closed her eyes. “I should have seen this,” she said. “I’m sorry, Mindy. I’ve been so distracted, I just didn’t notice.”

  “Don’t worry,” Major Richards assured her. She held up a syringe filled with clear liquid. “She’s going to be fine. I’m going to give her a sedative now. This’ll help knock her out for a while.”

  Mindy eyed the syringe with concern. She recoiled a little upon seeing the needle.

  “Don’t be afraid,” the major told her. “You need to get some sleep. This is just going to help you relax.”

  Mindy flinched as the needle pierced her arm. “There you go,” Major Richards said. “Now lie down, and breathe deeply and easily. You’ll be asleep in just a couple of minutes.”

  Mindy laid back on the cot. “Robin,” she pleaded, holding her hand up, “stay with me.”

  “I’m here,” Robin said. She sat down beside Mindy and grasped on to her hand. “I won’t leave you. I promise.”

  Mindy relaxed. Her eyes slowly drifted shut and the pressure on Robin’s hand diminished.

  “Is she asleep?” the major asked after a moment.

  “I think so.”

  “Captain McNeil,” Major Richards called out through the doorway, “you can come in now.”

  Jenny stepped in and looked at Mindy. “How is she?” she asked in concern.

  “She’s just tired,” Major Richards explained. “It’s nothing to be worried about.”

  “But she tried to kill herself!” Robin complained. “What if she tries to do it again?”

  “Don’t worry, Robin,” Major Richards told her. “She couldn’t have opened the airlocks anyway. She isn’t authorized to operate them.” She pulled her card key out of her breast pocket and held it up for Robin to see. “The locks function only on card key approval.”

  “And what if she thinks of something else?” Jenny asked.

  The major shook her head. “I don’t think it’ll be a problem. She should be fine once she gets some rest. But now that we know what to look out for, we’ll all keep an eye on her just to be safe. Alright?” she asked, looking for Robin’s approval.

  Robin nodded her head in agreement. “Why isn’t Mindy able to sleep?”

  “It’s hard to say,” the major replied. “It might just be excitement,” she said, eyeing Jenny’s uniform. “Or, it could be that she’s having trouble adjusting. It’s not all that uncommon, really. A lot of girls have a hard time adjusting to this. Space stations are not our ideal habitat. We’re creatures of nature, not mechanical beings.”

  “That makes sense,” Robin said. “She said she wanted to go back to Valhalla. She kept saying she wanted to go outside.”

  Major Richards nodded. “That’s probably it, then. Just take a look around you.” She pointed to the metal walls and the ceiling. “Can you imagine a more bleak environment? We’re totally encased in steel plates up here, and completely surrounded by the vacuum of space. The psychological effects of that can be quite severe. But it’s something she’ll get used to in time.” She looked directly at Robin and advised her, “It’s not something you should lose any sleep over.”

  Robin frowned. She could already feel a sleepless night coming on. “Is there anything we can do to help her, Major?”

  “The most important thing is just to keep her occupied. Don’t give her time to dwell on her surroundings. Keep her involved with conversation and make sure she doesn’t spend a lot of time by herself. After a while, she’ll start to feel more comfortable. It may seem like a very simple solution, but believe me, that’s really all it should take. That and a healthy dose of sleep.” She set the syringe down and started to walk toward the exit. “I’ll stop by and check on her later. Meanwhile, if you need me, I’ll be in the control room.”

  As the major stepped outside, Jenny walked over and sat down beside Robin. “So,” she said, “how are you feeling, Captain Starling?”

  Robin took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “I’m scared,” she said. “I didn’t know what to do, Jenny. All I could do was hold on to her.” She fell silent and stared down at the floor with a look of sorrow and defeat in her eyes.

  “Hey,” Jenny said, “don’t let it get to you. You got through it. She’s gonna be fine. Okay?”

  Robin sniffled and forced a smile.

  “I have to go now,” Jenny told her. “I’ll see you at the afternoon session.”

  Robin bit her lip and nodded. I hope so, she thought, gently squeezing Mindy’s hand.

  Robin checked the infirmary’s clock every few minutes, wondering how long Mindy would sleep. As the time for her afternoon session drew near, she resigned herself to the fact that she was likely going to miss it. Mindy had slept all the way through lunch, and showed no signs of waking up anytime soon.

  “Robin?” someone whispered from the doorway.

  Robin looked in that direction and was surprised to see Virginia peering into the room. “What are you doing here?” she asked in surprise. “Shouldn’t you be at the lecture right now?”

  “Mm–hmm,” Virginia answered, then stepped inside. “Jenny was worried about you. She said she thought you might still be here. Aren’t you planning on coming to the lecture?”

  “I promised Mindy I wouldn’t leave her.”

  “Oh. Well, if that’s what’s bothering you, why don’t you go on to the lecture, and I’ll stay here with Mindy for you. Okay?”

  Robin carefully considered the suggestion.

  “It’s important for you to know what you’re doing,” Virginia told her. “It’s important for you more than anyone else. Your whole squad is going to be counting on you. You don’t want to let them down, do you?”

  Robin looked up at her with hesitation. “Promise you won’t leave her?”

  “I promise, I won’t let her out of my sight.”

  Reluctantly, Robin got up from the cot and left Virginia to watch over her friend. Just before she stepped out of the room, she glanced back over her shoulder and watched as Virginia sat down beside Mindy. Satisfied that Mindy was in capable hands, she hurried on her way to join up with the others.

  “It’s alright, Mindy,” Virginia whispered. “I promise I’ll stay with you for as long as you need me.” She gazed at the peaceful expression on Mindy’s face and searched her own feelings for any trace of emotion. This should be having some effect on me, she realized. But as always, nothing seemed to come to the surface.

  Mindy’s eyes squinted in the lights of the infirmary. She felt the presence of someone sitting by her side.

  “Robin?” she whispered. She felt the gentle touch of someone’s hand against her face.

  “Hi, Mindy,” Virginia answered her. “Did you sleep well?”

  Mindy nodded. “What time is it?”

  Virginia checked the clock. “It’s just after four–‌thirty. You must have been pretty tired.”

  Mindy glanced around the room and asked, “Where’s Robin?”

  “She had to go to the lecture. But she made me promise to stay here with you. Is that alright?”

  Mindy managed a po
lite smile, but Virginia sensed something was troubling her.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Mindy lowered her head in despair. “I don’t want to be a fighter pilot.”

  “Why not?”

  “I’m scared. I don’t think I can fly a plane by myself.”

  “Don’t worry,” Virginia told her, “I felt the same way. But my flight instructor kept assuring me that the girls who struggle the most with this often turn out to be some of the best pilots. And I was terrified the first time I climbed into the cockpit. I really was. But somehow, I found a way to get through it. And so will you. You just have to give yourself a chance.”

  Mindy gave her a look of curiosity. “How did you get through it?” she asked.

  “Well, I started to think about birds.”

  “Birds?” Mindy asked, brightening a little.

  “You like birds?”

  Mindy nodded. “I love birds. They’re so beautiful.”

  “So do I. Do you have a favorite?”

  “I like all the little birds that sing.”

  “Songbirds?”

  “Uh, huh. They always sound so cheerful and happy. I always wished I could be like them.”

  “Well then, flying a fighter should be a wonderful experience for you. Just imagine you’re gliding on the back of a bird, and you can see its wings stretched out beside you. That’s what helped me get over my fears. I’m sure it can work for you as well.”

  “You really think so?”

  “Of course. Tell you what. The next time you have a couple of free minutes, why don’t you just wander down to the hangar and take a close look at some of the fighters. You can even climb up and sit in my cockpit if you want. Maybe that’ll help ease your worries a little.”

  Mindy smiled. “Okay,” she said. Her eyes shifted to the clock. “Do you think I should try to catch the rest of the lecture?”

  Virginia stood up and held her hands out to Mindy. “Let’s go. I’m sure everyone’s going to be happy to see you.”

  WARM MILK 016

  Robin’s eyes opened. She felt a churning sensation in her stomach. The room was still dark. She could see by the dim light shining in from the corridor that all the other girls were still asleep in their beds. She propped herself up on one elbow and peered through the darkness toward Mindy’s bunk. It looked to her like Mindy was sleeping, but she still felt the need to be sure.

  Quietly, she slipped out of bed and made her way between the bunks. She leaned down over Mindy and determined that she was resting peacefully. Good, she thought, feeling a sense of relief. Mindy was sleeping on her own this time, without the aid of Major Richards’ sedatives.

  Checking the room’s clock, she saw that it was just after two in the morning. She glanced longingly back at her bed, but she sensed that her stomach wasn’t going to let her sleep. Taking great care not to wake anyone, she made her way out to the corridor.

  The station seemed eerily quiet to Robin. She found the shadows to be disconcerting. Am I allowed to do this? she wondered, walking alone through the dimly lit corridors. All I want is some milk, she told herself. Just one glass of milk from the cafeteria. As she made her way through the darkened labyrinth of passageways, she reminded herself of what Phoebe had told her. “Major Richards said the whole station goes dark for eight hours, except for the hangar and the control room.” She looked up and saw a security camera. Well, she decided, if someone’s up there doing their job, they already know I’m out here walking around. If I’m not supposed to be out here at night, I guess they’ll let me know about it.

  She kept moving forward, peering anxiously through the corridors. The station seemed so much bigger at night. It almost felt like she was walking in circles. How much farther? she wondered, beginning to worry she might have gotten lost. Did I take a wrong turn somewhere? Did I miss a familiar corner in the darkness?

  A sudden chill passed over her body, as if someone had just walked by behind her. She paused and looked around herself, suddenly feeling very alone. There’s someone else here, she told herself. But the area around her appeared to be empty.

  “Hello?” she called out, hoping to hear a friendly voice. She held her breath and listened for a response. There was a sudden creaking sound behind her, as if someone had just stepped on a loosened floor panel. She gasped and spun around in terror, but again she found there was no one in sight. Her heart was pounding against her chest now, reminding her of how she had felt at the academy when the lights had been turned off in the assembly room. But this time there was no one sitting beside her in the darkness. Robin was all alone in here.

  Her mind began to dwell on disquieting thoughts. She gazed at the walls with fearful suspicion. This place is so old, she thought. What kind of memories linger here? How many girls walked through these corridors before us? She peered somberly into the walkways around her, studying the well worn paths in the floors where Sentinels’ feet had been traipsing for decades. Hundreds at least. More likely thousands. Sadness tightened its grip on her heart. And most of them were probably dead before I ever took my first breath. She closed her eyes for a moment and wondered about the lives of her fallen comrades, trying to picture their faces and personalities. They came here just like we did, she realized. Young and alive, prepared to fight in defense of Valhalla. Yet now they’re dead. And someday, the rest of us will be with them.

  Robin shivered and clasped her hands on her shoulders. She suddenly couldn’t wait to get out of the corridor. The observation lounge was just ahead of her, obscured by the shadows that blanketed the station. The cafeteria’s close by, she realized. Just up there beyond the lounge. Continuing to push herself forward, she carefully positioned each of her footsteps. She winced at every little sound she made, fearing it might attract unwanted attention. I’m almost there, she told herself. Maybe the cafeteria won’t seem so frightening. Just one more room that I have to pass through. But as she stepped into the darkened lounge, a breathtaking vista opened up before her, momentarily sweeping aside her concerns.

  “Ohh!” she gasped in sudden surprise. She felt herself drawn to the giant bay windows and the patterns of stars in distant constellations. With the lights in the lounge dimmed to near total darkness, the view of outer space was more spectacular than ever. It almost seemed to her as if she could extend her hand right into the heavens. How many stars are out there? she wondered. How many planets, and moons, and suns?

  As Robin stood there admiring the stars, a Sentinel warship swept into view. The ship’s sudden appearance startled her. She flinched as its hull swept across the bay window. That’s a destroyer! she realized, remembering the displays she had seen in the classroom. She leaned forward and pressed her face against the window as the warship slowed and swung around. It’s going to dock at the spur, she decided. I wonder what it’s doing here.

  A churning sensation in Robin’s stomach suddenly reminded her of her quest. She placed her hands across her abdomen and forced herself to start moving again. The cafeteria was only a few paces away now. She could already hear the refrigerators humming, and strangely enough, she thought she could even smell coffee brewing.

  The cafeteria was dark as well. “Hello?” she called out from the entrance. There was no response. Definitely coffee, she decided, sniffing the air. As she cautiously approached the serving window, she noticed a large container of coffee with wisps of steam circulating from the openings on top. There was also a rack of clean mugs in the window. It looked as if the coffee was available to anyone who wanted it, so Robin decided she could probably relax. It didn’t seem likely that she was going to get in trouble.

  After grabbing a mug from one of the racks, she walked to the far end of the serving window. I hope there’s still milk, she thought, longingly eyeing the milk dispenser. She held her mug under the spout and pressed the dispenser’s serving button. To her relief, a stream of frosty white poured out. Taking care not to spill any, she slid her mug into a nearby oven and set the temperature reading to
WARM. She pressed the HEAT button, then allowed her eyes to drift shut for a moment as she listened to the oven’s operational hum.

  A clicking noise began echoing in from the corridor — the sound of footsteps steadily approaching. Robin’s heart began to race. Someone’s coming, she realized. She watched quietly as an older girl strode into the room and proceeded to draw a cup of coffee for herself. Robin found herself staring in awe at the splendor of the girl’s uniform. She was wearing black leggings under a dark tartan skirt, and a beautiful white blouse with shiny gold buttons. Draped over her shoulders was a loose fitting shawl with the same tartan pattern as her mid–‌length skirt. Resting regally on top of her head was a soft black beret that seemed to emphasize her poise.

  As the girl waited for her mug to fill with coffee, she glanced over and smiled at Robin. “Hi,” she said in a warm and friendly tone.

  “Hi,” Robin responded, still captivated by her uniform. Just as the girl turned to walk away from her, the brief shimmer of a reflection caught Robin’s eyes. Lined up neatly across the front of her beret were four shiny emblems that resembled academic stars.

  Robin gasped in surprise. Her eyes followed the girl’s every movement as she leisurely sauntered back out of the room. She blinked and checked the focus of her eyes. Four academic stars! she thought in amazement. She paused to reflect for a moment on what it had taken her to earn two stars. It’s not possible! she told herself. How could anybody earn four of them! As she continued to ponder what she thought she had seen, hear ears detected another set of footsteps approaching.

  “Hi, Commander,” she heard the girl say.

  “Hello, Delia,” a familiar voice replied.

  Robin blindly pulled her mug from the oven, still somewhat awed by what she’d just seen. The approaching footsteps continued to grow louder, and Commander Jeffries finally stepped into view.

  “Hello, Robin,” the commander said, looking thoroughly surprised to see her there.

  “Hi, Commander,” Robin replied. She looked down at the floor sheepishly while cradling the mug between her hands.