‘But he’d be your ass.’
Aurora glared at Kaylana.
‘Okay. Okay.’ Kay lifted her hands in the air. ‘Aurora, you can lie to yourself all you want, but don’t do it to me.’
‘All right,’ she whispered. ‘So I like Sky.’ How much and what it meant that she did were still another story. The Lunar Festival Dance seemed like ages ago.
‘What am I supposed to do?’
‘I think you should explore your options. And when you know which one you want to really be with, be with him.’ A smile teased Kaylana’s lips. ‘Or maybe both of them?’
‘Yeah, right. I can’t even handle one guy.’ Besides she didn’t even really know what Zane or Sky wanted from her. Relationships were a two way street and right now it felt like Aurora was driving blind.
Kaylana shrugged. ‘If you say so.’
Deciding to turn the tables, Aurora asked, ‘How happy were you to see Akemi again?’ Of course the answer was obvious, but she brought it up anyway. As expected Kaylana went off at supernova speed about how cute Akemi was and how she couldn’t wait to hang out with him every day.
Aurora grinned thinking that Kaylana could probably talk non-stop about Akemi for hours. She was happy for her friend. And yet, she wondered why her love life wasn’t that simple.
The feeling that Zane still didn’t trust her completely wouldn’t go away. What was a relationship without trust? And where did Sky fall into all of this? He’d lied to her too. Or omitted the truth anyway.
Before she could truly love someone, there needed to be trust.
And after Aurora’s last semester, she didn’t really trust anyone except Kaylana.
Chapter 10
Sky
Sky adjusted the miniature microphone on his flight suit, angling it so that his voice would broadcast clearly back on Earth. Why in God’s name had he agreed to do this?
Veronica Harley was already poised on screen, waiting impatiently for their interview to go live. She tugged on her business suit.
‘So, Veronica,’ Sky called out. ‘Do you think you can stop talking about me anytime soon?’ He said this seductively, like she was only talking about him because she liked him.
Veronica flashed a fake smile. ‘I thought you liked the spotlight.’
‘Oh, I do.’ Sky winked. ‘But only for the Alliance.’
‘As soon as you stop being interesting, I’ll stop talking about you.’
Sky gave Veronica his best flirtatious grin. ‘Baby, that will never happen.’ Maybe if he could sweet-talk her, she’d at least shut up about his last name.
‘Five seconds,’ someone barked off set.
Sky watched in fascination as Veronica put on her fake reporter facade. He couldn’t see her eyes through the sim glasses she wore, but he felt her stare.
‘Welcome to Broadcast Five News. This is Veronica Harley bringing to you today a special live interview where representatives of the Alliance and TerraUnited debate over lunar drilling. Joining us live from the Apollo Alliance Lunar Station is Skyller Dagan.’
Sky clenched his jaw.
‘Skyller, known as Sky to the Alliance, is the Chief Lunar Transport Pilot. He holds the most lunar landings in history and often instructs cadets at the Apollo Academy.’
Wow. He sounded pretty awesome.
‘We also have with us a TerraUnited representative to give their side of the story. He’ll be with us through audio only—’
‘And why is that?’ Sky interrupted. He got a thrill when Veronica’s nose flared in irritation. But her next words were smooth as glass. ‘The higher members of TerraUnited have refused to show themselves.’ For obvious reasons Veronica’s face implied to the viewers. ‘This is the only way they agreed to this interview.’
‘Right.’ Sky spoke to the member of TerraUnited. ‘Because you know you’ll be arrested the second you show your face in public? Because you’ll be interrogated and convicted of trying to take down an Alliance shuttle.’ Someone needed to put a stop to these terrorists.
Veronica cleared her throat, but before she could steer the interview, the secretive member of TerraUnited spoke. ‘Many of us are in hiding because we’ve had to take extreme measures to gain attention to our cause,’ his slightly distorted voice called out. ‘It’s not like we’ve killed anyone.’
Sky scoffed. ‘Like you haven’t tried. You couldn’t possibly have thought shooting a rocket at an Alliance shuttle wouldn’t risk the lives of the innocent crew on board?’
‘Innocent? Hardly. Your organization is going to destroy a world that’s not yours to destroy. Because of your decisions, we’ve been forced to take extreme measures.’
Veronica started to speak, but Sky cut her off.
‘Technically the moon isn’t considered another world. I think ‘satellite’ is the term you’re looking for.’ Sky pushed as much arrogance as he could muster into his voice. Maybe if he provoked this guy’s temper, everyone would see how crazy and irrational TerraUnited was.
‘Gentlemen,’ Veronica cut in. ‘I think we’re getting off topic. I invited you both here today, so that we could have an open and honest discussion about the moon mining from both perspectives. Sky, why don’t we start with you. And Mr TerraUnited, since you are unwilling to give us a name, I’ll just have to refer to you as Mr T. Please remain quiet as Sky speaks on behalf of the Alliance. Once he has finished, you may give a rebuttal. Are we clear?’
‘Crystal,’ Sky responded.
Mr T huffed but remained quiet.
‘Sky, tell us what the Alliance is doing on the moon right now. As the lead lunar transport pilot you see firsthand the resources the Alliance pulls from the moon and if there have been any consequences from the drilling.’
Ms Lovell helped prep Sky with the approved Alliance answers, so he had no problem rattling off his response. ‘Twice a day I transport precious resources from the lunar base to the transfer station. These loads are then carried from the transfer station back to Earth where they are immediately distributed and help alleviate the fast consumption of our minimal fossil fuels. Some of the helium-three we gather goes to nuclear fusion plants that help power our larger cities. That means that we are, on a daily basis, improving the lives of millions of people. Not to mention the platinum, iron, and other minerals that we’re bringing home as well.’
‘But you’re destroying the moon!’ Mr T interrupted, his voice filled with derision.
‘Careful,’ Veronica cut in, taking over. ‘But he’s right. Sky, you haven’t answered that part of the question. What, if anything, is the lunar mining doing to the moon?’
‘I’m getting to that.’ From what Sky had seen … there were no consequences. ‘The moon is covered in craters. All we’re doing is digging a little further down into them and removing material we need. It’s no different from the mining we’ve done on Earth. But with even more precision. We’re spreading our digging out, so that we eliminate any possible ill side effects. The moon isn’t some tiny little victim. It’s the size of Asia, so it’s going to hold up just fine.’
‘Okay, Mr T, what’s your response to this?’ Veronica asked, playing the moderator role perfectly.
‘The Alliance can’t seriously believe they know exactly what their drilling is doing to the moon. This is an untested experiment at best. What you’re helping accomplish could change life as we know it.’
That was the most rational response to come out of his mouth yet, Sky thought. But the Alliance calculated and re-calculated every risk. A backup for the backup.
‘You’re spouting off hypotheticals. TerraRist, oh, excuse me.’ Sky smiled, baring his teeth. ‘I mean TerraUnited. You’re willing to attack and hurt innocent people because you believe it may be possible that something could go wrong on an untested experiment?’ Sky choked out a laugh. ‘That’s absurd.’
‘Mr T, what do you speculate will happen if the Alliance continues to mine the moon?’
‘We know that damaging the moon will have
ill effects on Earth. In what capacity has yet to be seen. We’re messing with a symbiotic relationship that has co-existed for billions of years. Not to mention the fact that this is just the beginning for the Alliance.’
‘Please explain,’ Veronica jumped in.
‘What’s next for the Alliance? I’m betting once they’ve stolen all of the moon’s resources, they’ll move on. What’s next, Sky?’
‘Stolen? The moon is ours.’ Sky was truly baffled by this conversation. He spoke to Veronica and everyone else listening. ‘Clearly these TerraRists are complete loons. Who attacks innocent people on the possibility that we may be doing something they’re against?’
‘The moon is no one’s.’
Sky rolled his eyes. ‘Okay. How about this? All members of TerraUnited can find their own energy. When you’re sitting in the dark without electricity, you let me know how that’s working out for you.’
‘Boys,’ Veronica scolded.
She was so eating this up. There was no way in hell Veronica thought they were going to have a respectful discussion about this. You can’t have a normal chat with a conspiracy theorist.
‘We have scientists who sympathize with our cause working on those exact possibilities now. The moon and Earth share a symbiotic relationship. We know what you’re doing will ill effect our planet and one day soon, we’ll prove it.’
‘News flash. We’ve already hurt our planet and now we’re trying to help.’
‘It’s possible you’ll change our tidal patterns,’ Mr T continued as if Sky hadn’t spoken.
‘We’ve calculated the risks and are confident our mining will not change those patterns.’
‘For now,’ was Mr T’s only response.
‘Look, when you know for a fact that what the Alliance is doing is hurting the moon or Earth, you let me know. I’ll be the first to put a stop to it. The Alliance is built upon highly intelligent people, doctors, and scientists. Their only mission is to help save the human race. They’ve partnered with the Apollo Academy to train highly skilled astronauts. Everything they do … we do … is done with purpose and thought. You think we’d mine on the moon if we thought it was going to hurt us in the end?’ Sky stared into the camera, knowing this was the opportunity to sway anyone watching to their side—the Alliance. ‘That, in fact, would be the exact opposite of our mission statement.’
‘You’ll eventually see the destruction you’re causing. And until you do, we’ll be trying to stop you.’ Mr T disconnected his end of the call.
Real mature.
‘I hope you were tracking that call,’ Sky snapped at Veronica. He didn’t care that they were still live and broadcasting over the Grid. The fact that these guys weren’t in jail was a serious problem. The Alliance had an irrational enemy that was willing to kill. Not to mention his brother’s possible role in all of this. Only a few people suspected Rowan’s connection with Hailen and TerraUnited. They couldn’t take Rowan down without irrefutable proof. And the last Sky had heard the ladybug that had recorded what he believed to be Rowan’s voice was irreparable. Destroyed. And with it their only hope at connecting the dots.
It was only a matter of time before TerraUnited attacked again. And next time, Sky wasn’t so sure that the Alliance would come out unscathed.
Chapter 11
Aurora
Ms Lovell’s heels clicked across the cafeteria floor as she made her way to where the class eight cadets were gathered.
The class was quiet as Ms Lovell faced them. She smiled, tilting her head to the side. ‘As I mentioned yesterday, training is going to get more intense this semester. Today we need to see how many of you can cope with a shuttle launch and zero gravity.’
Sitting next to Aurora, Kaylana raised her hand. When Ms Lovell nodded in her direction, Kaylana spoke. ‘Haven’t we already experienced that in the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator?’
The last time Aurora had been in the NBS, aka the Academy’s gigantic pool, she’d almost died. Aurora glanced at Zane. He was looking back at her as if he’d been thinking about it too.
‘To a degree,’ Ms Lovell started. ‘The NBS allows you to work in your suits at a lower gravity. The only way to simulate true zero gravity is to go to space. But over the years we’ve created ways to simulate weightlessness for short periods of time. Today’s lesson isn’t just about zero gravity. We’ll be forcing three to four g’s on your body like you would feel on a shuttle launch.’
Aurora had guessed where this was going and Kaylana so wasn’t going to like it. At least the Vomit Comet had been replaced with the zero gravity rollercoaster. But Aurora didn’t think Kaylana would be relieved if she explained that the rollercoaster option was better than the forceful up and down movements of a parabolic flight in an enormous airplane.
‘I know this sounds intense. And it is. Your training this semester will take place in extreme environments—’
Coach Harris stepped beside Ms Lovell like he’d been waiting for the most dramatic point in the lecture to enter. ‘So today, Coach Harris will escort you all to Walt Disney World.’
Everyone glanced around surprised, not understanding what this meant. After Aurora’s last first day at ‘school’, she should have known their first day back at training would be something totally crazy.
‘That place is still there? Why? All of the old rides can be done on a sim,’ Rick asked Ms Lovell.
Ms Lovell’s smile faltered like she was disappointed they weren’t all excited to see a piece of history. ‘Yes, I know, simulations certainly feel real. But it’s not exactly the same.’
‘So what are we there to do?’ Jeanne-Pierre called out in his usual French accent.
‘You’re there to do whatever we tell you to do,’ Coach Harris barked. He’d apparently had enough with the questions. The class quickly quieted as Coach Harris strode around the alcove.
‘We’re going to a rollercoaster that simulates launch g’s and the following weightlessness. You’ll probably see it several miles out before we reach it. It sticks out higher than any building in Orlando.’
Kaylana grabbed Aurora’s hand, leaning close to whisper. ‘How high?’ she squeaked.
‘I think it goes around three thousand feet up.’ The second the words were out of her mouth, Aurora knew she shouldn’t have said anything. Kaylana’s face had taken on that pale look she got when thinking about heights. ‘Look, at least it’s not the Vomit Comet. That would have meant you’d be thirty-five thousand feet in the air.’
Kaylana’s eyes widened. ‘I guess this ride does sound better.’
‘What are you going to do in space?’ Aurora teased. Kaylana whispered something like I’ll deal with it, but Aurora couldn’t be sure. When Ms Lovell finished her lecture and dismissed the class, chairs scraped across the floor as they all stood up to leave.
Sticking close to Kaylana’s side, Aurora followed her out the main Academy doors. Kaylana remained silent as they descended the stairs and down to the waiting hoverbus.
Zane and Akemi were waiting for them when they arrived. Zane was out of his typical dark clothing and wore the same Academy uniform they were all wearing—shorts, a polo t-shirt adorned with the Academy emblem, and tennis shoes. Though his shoes didn’t look anything like Aurora’s flashing hot pink ones. If she had it her way, Zane would be wearing his dark cargo pants and combat boots.
‘You guys ready?’ Akemi directed the question to Kaylana, like he knew this might be hard for her.
‘Yeah.’ Kaylana plastered on a fake smile that instantly wobbled. ‘I think I’m just as excited for this as I was for skydiving.’
Aurora laughed, pulling Kaylana onto the bus behind her. ‘This won’t be anything like skydiving.’ She continued her pep talk as she sat down in the first open seat. ‘Jumping out of an airplane took way more courage. You got this.’
Zane and Akemi seated themselves on the bench across the aisle from them.
‘So what will it be like then?’ Zane leaned closer to Aurora, block
ing the aisle.
She turned toward him. ‘From what I’ve read, we’ll board a shuttle-like-vehicle where we’ll be separated into closed capsules inside.’ Aurora gestured with her hands as she spoke. ‘The ride will accelerate forward and then go up at ninety degrees, perpendicular to the ground.’ She motioned her right hand forward on a straight track, and then tilted her hand up directly into the air. ‘Then we’ll travel at like four hundred miles an hour up in the air. Once we reach the top, the car will decelerate until we feel like we’re in zero gravity.’ Aurora beamed. Just explaining it sounded fun. ‘It’s going to be nova.’
Kaylana pushed a shoulder against hers. ‘What are you some kind of adrenaline junkie? We’ll be falling down thousands of feet backward!’
Aurora pressed her lips together to keep from smiling. The fact that Kaylana was training to become an astronaut, but scared of heights was really kind of funny. ‘Kay, you’ll be fine.’ Aurora grabbed her hand just like she had the first time the Academy had asked them to do something crazy. ‘You’ve skydived already. This isn’t nearly as bad. And you won’t even see how high up we go because we won’t be able to see outside.’
Kaylana smiled, a real one this time. ‘You’re right.’ She bit her lip. ‘I guess I better start getting used to this kind of stuff.’
Zane snorted. ‘Uh, yeah. You are going to go into space one day. That’s at least a hundred thousand miles that way.’ He pointed up.
‘Way to make her feel better,’ Akemi piped in.
Zane shrugged. ‘What? That’s a fact.’
If Kaylana’s death grip on Aurora’s hand was any indication, Zane’s words weren’t helping. After hearing about his childhood though, she didn’t hold it against him. He didn’t know how to comfort anyone because he’d never been comforted. Aurora decided she’d show Zane trust, and maybe, eventually love.
Aurora held onto Kaylana’s hand, giving her what reassurance she could. ‘It’ll be alright. We’ll be together the whole time.’
Airborne Page 5
