Earthlight Space Academy Boxset

by Heather Lee Dyer

  I force my eyes off the landing struts and upward over the structure of the ship. I study it in awe. All nervous thoughts disappear as we park underneath the small spaceship. I try, but fail, to keep my mouth closed as we exit the bus and walk toward the Academy’s ship. I glance sideways at the commander. He’s talking with his Year Twos as we board the ramp that’s lowered for our group. I look ahead again, glad his attention isn’t on me.

  I will fly this someday. I grin as we enter the ship and are escorted to a seating area facing a vid screen.

  Kai wraps his good arm around his chest as I help him into a seat. I kneel in front of him. “Are you all right?” I gingerly help him buckle in.

  He lets out a deep sigh. “The physical pain isn’t as bad as the worry for my parents,” he whispers to me. Cam buckles in on the other side of my seat, his limbs still moving as he stares up at the giant vid screen.

  “We’ll get them back,” I whisper. I wince as I see blood soaking through his shirt.

  A tap on my shoulder has me bolting to my feet. I’m face to chest with one of the medics from the base. I look up to his face. “I’ve brought some more bandages.” He steps backward, putting some distance between us. He hands me a bag, and I thank him.

  An announcement overhead says we’ll be taking off in five minutes. I frown and dig through the bag. I grab some gauze and kneel back down in front of Kai.

  “Is it all right if I—?” I point to the blood seeping through his shirt.

  He looks down and frowns. When he looks back up, I see he’s a bit pale.

  “I’ll be quick.” I ignore the tingles that zap through my body as I unbutton the dress shirt the hospital gave him. With my hands on his chest I can feel him inhale sharply at my touch.

  “Am I hurting you?” I look up into his deep brown eyes.

  He just shakes his head, his gaze capturing mine.

  I nod and force my eyes back down to the red bandage. I don’t have time to change it now, so I open his shirt enough to place more gauze over the blood-soaked bandage. I press gently to get the two to seal together. My heart races and my fingers tingle as they touch his skin.

  “Anja?”

  I blink and look around to see everyone is seated and waiting for me. I swallow and button Kai’s shirt back up. I sit down, shove the med bag under my seat. I buckle in without looking at anyone. My face burns, and I bite the inside of my cheek as I stare up at the vid.

  The spaceship lifts off smoothly and the vid screen snaps to life. Cam grabs my hand and squeezes. His face tips back in awe as he looks at the vid screen showing the darkening desert outside. The spaceship turns and we see the pink and orange of the sun setting over the Wall. Although a beautiful sight my stomach twists as I think of all the danger ahead.

  We skim low over the flat desert in the small spaceship. When I lean forward to raise my eyebrow at the general, he shrugs in his stiff uniform.

  “We need to stay under their radar.”

  I sit back, disappointment in my belly. I understand the need for stealth, but I was really hoping to get above the atmosphere. I ache to be up there looking down on Earth.

  I don’t have much time for pouting because we’re soon nearing the Wall.

  “Wow. Can you see that, Kai?” I point up at the vid at a dark line parallel to the Wall. As far as we can see on our desert horizon, tractors and trucks are lined up, their headlights blazing right at the Wall.

  “So much for sneaking in,” the general snorts.

  I bite my lip and stay quiet.

  26

  Under the Wall

  The spaceship lands softly near one of the canals, the only place where trees grow around here. I take a deep breath as I look around the ship.

  “We’ll be up there in one of these soon,” Kai whispers. He’s leaning toward me, but his gaze is taking in the ship as well.

  I nod and unbuckle. Cam is already bounding after Rand and the others. I turn to help Kai unbuckle. Gently, I help him up and back into the grav chair.

  “Are you dizzy?” Kai’s face is pale, making is deep brown eyes seem even darker.

  He nods. “Just hurts.”

  I lean down and grab the med bag. The cool evening breeze welcomes us as we head down the ramp. I inhale the familiar sage and basil. We follow the others toward the line of trucks. The Year Twos both have large backpacks on. I frown. They have no idea what they’re in for.

  The first truck we reach is Angel’s. She greets me with a warm hug, her eyes roving over the general, the commander, and the others in our group.

  “¿Quién es?” Angel points to Kai, who fidgets in the grav chair.

  “This is Kai. He’s…”

  “¡Ay Dios mío! This is the boy who’s been helping us?” Angel smothers Kai in a hug. Kai smiles and blushes, but grunts when she squeezes too close to his chest wound.

  “Careful, he’s been injured.” I laugh. I love how accepting she is of Kai. It seems either people are accepting of everyone or of no one. I’m glad I’m friends with the former.

  “Can you explain what’s going on here?” The general steps in front of Angel, his soldiers fanning out behind him.

  Angel speaks, her accent thick with emotion. “Yesterday, we experienced tragedy and danger that we were not prepared for. Not since the Migration have we been in such danger, other than from starving.” She glares at the uniforms surrounding her. “We’ve all been fighting for our lives and the future of our children since our government made the deal for our coast.” She places her hand on Kai’s shoulder and straightens up to her full height. “And the Chinese people are not to be held accountable for our circumstances. They don’t have any more power over what their government does than we do.”

  The general frowns, redness creeping up his neck.

  Angel then turns to address me, ignoring the general. “We spread the word about what happened, and everyone gathered here to show support for those of you whose homes were destroyed, or lives uprooted by the violence down in Hells Canyon. We noticed the Chinese amassing more military personnel on the Wall, so we’re lining this side of the Wall with as much of a show of non-violent force as we can gather. What was it called years ago? A sit-in?” She smiles at me, then turns back to the general. “A peaceful, non-violent, no weapons, show of support, sir. That’s the way we want to keep it. ¿Entiende used? Understand?”

  The General nods. “Our team wants the same thing, to stay under their radar and do this peacefully.”

  She puts her hands on her hips, and asks him, “So, what are your plans? I trust her,” she points to me, “but I don’t know you.” All around our circle can be heard whispering.

  I think the general has reached the end of his patience, so I step forward. “Kai’s parents have been captured by the same Unit. We’re sending a team to the other side of the Wall.”

  Angel looks shocked. “Why you, Chica? That sounds too dangerous, even with all your training. You should not be here at all.”

  “Because, this is all my fault.”

  “No, it’s my fault.” Kai stands up, weakly stepping toward me. “I should’ve been more careful.” He winces in pain, and I grab him around his waist to support him.

  “No, you were just trying to help us when no one else would.” I look at the general, briefly. Behind him more of the truck drivers and land bosses have joined our group.

  “I’ve been getting the medicines and water purifiers from Kai. He smuggled them to me, and I got them over the Wall. The reason you have medicine and pure water at all for your children and loved ones is because he risked his life for us. And now his family needs us. The same people that destroyed our camp last night kidnapped Kai’s parents.”

  Murmurs of outrage race through the circle.

  “And right now, I need to get a small team under the Wall. I need everyone’s help to do this.” I look over at the general. He nods, resigned that he’s not a welcome voice here. “We need you guys to provide some sort of distraction for us
. Once I get my team to the end of the lava tunnel on this side, there’s a stretch of about thirty feet where they’ll have to run out in the open to reach the Wall.”

  Everyone nods in understanding. I realize I’ve used the term “my team.” I don’t even want to look at the general to see what that did to him.

  I turn to Angel. “So, can you provide some sort of disturbance to keep the soldiers on that section of the Wall busy and not looking?”

  She smiles and looks around the circle for reassurance. “I think we can find something exciting to do. Can you show us where on the map this tunnel of yours will come up at?”

  The general pulls up the map on his tablet. I show her the area where they’ll go into the tunnel and where they’ll surface. “You can do this peacefully, right?”

  “Sí. Now let’s get going so we can spread the word. You go get your team in place at that exit point.” She gives me a hug, and then shoos the other leaders off as if they’re misbehaving children.

  I turn to the general and hand him back his tablet. He hesitates, but then folds his arms instead of taking it. “We only have one shot at this. I think you need to go with the team. Only to the exit point. They can take it from there.”

  “Really?” My palms start to sweat.

  “Is that really necessary, sir?” Kai asks, leaning away from me.

  I look at him. He’s trying to cover his emotions, but I can see the worry etched on his face.

  “Yes, I do, Mr. Tang.” The general uncrosses his arms and motions for his team to join us. “They know what to do once they get to the other side, but we’ve left the responsibility up to you kids to get them under that Wall.”

  I look around at the spec op team and the Year Twos. “I can do it, Kai.” I release my arm from his waist and help him into the grav chair. “We can watch their progress from that point with their suit cams, right General?”

  “One better. Here.” He hands me a small metal object. “Here’s an earpiece. You can listen to the team and talk to them. That way if they have any problems over there you are able to help immediately. You two,” he points to Kai and me, “know that area better than anyone.”

  “And me,” pipes up Cam from behind me.

  I smile. “Yes, but you’re going to stay here with Kai. When I get back, we’ll watch the vid together.”

  Cam pouts but doesn’t argue. I’m relieved, considering the important people we’re surrounded by.

  “General? I just wanted to say that I appreciate you helping us tonight. And for taking me seriously with this plan.”

  “We’ll see how the plan goes,” he says.

  I frown. “Well, here’s another thing you need to consider, general. Kai’s parents won’t be able to come back through the tunnels. Not only is it too dangerous to risk the exposure again, they’re too old to make it that far through the dirt tunnel.” I look over at Kai, who’s frowning. “So, while I’m taking your team to the exit point, you and the others need to figure out how to get them back over the Wall that doesn’t include the tunnels.”

  The general glances over at Kai. The Seven look at one another. I guess they hadn’t thought that far ahead yet. My stomach sinks.

  “That actually shows great future planning, Miss Toland,” says Commander Svell as he steps forward. “The general did say we’d plan the rest if you got our team under the Wall.” He glances over at the general.

  Cam wraps his arms around me. I hold my breath as I wait for the general to respond.

  “Yes, you’re right,” says the general finally. He takes his cap off and wipes sweat off his forehead before settling it back on his bald head. “Get Kai and your brother settled into the command center over there.” He points at a giant military truck behind our bus. “I’ll get the team ready for you to take to the tunnel.”

  “Thank you, sir.” I grab Cam’s hand, but then turn back to the general. “One more thing, sir?”

  His eyebrows practically touch as he frowns down at me. “What now, Miss Toland?”

  I point to the Year Twos. “Those large backpacks won’t fit in the second tunnel. They can’t take them over.”

  The General’s face starts turning red again.

  I quickly add, “If they have a smaller pack like mine it will work. It’s just we didn’t dig the Wall tunnel very big. What supplies we did bring over fit in our school packs.” I grit my teeth together as I watch the general switch his weight from one foot to another.

  “Fine. We’ll think of something.” He dismisses me with a nod.

  I lead Kai over to the command center. There isn’t a ramp, so I have to help him up the steps with Cam’s help. I get Kai settled inside. “You all right?” I run my fingers down his cheekbone, careful not to touch the bruises. He shivers and grabs my arm to pull me close. He kisses me like he’ll never see me again. When we break apart, we’re breathless.

  I smile and hand him his cell phone, which the doctors hadn’t noticed in his ripped clothing. “I’ll be back for more of that, you know.”

  “You had better.” His face is serious now, worry rippling across his beautiful features.

  “I’ll be back soon.” I pull the supply pack closer to him and grab out a water bottle myself.

  “I hate staying here while you put yourself in danger.” Kai’s eyes shine in the light of all the computers in the center.

  “I’m not going near the Wall. I’ll be fine.”

  “Well, don’t take any chances. Come back safe.” His eyes are now full of tears.

  I don’t dare speak for fear of crying, so I just nod. I open the door and give him the best smile I can muster and muss up Cam’s hair. I step out into the night air and close my eyes to get my emotions under control. Pull it together, Anja. Just like I do before I get into a simulator, I remind myself that I know what I’m doing, and I can do this. I put on a smile and go to join the general’s team.

  I’m officially introduced to the two spec ops team members and the Year Twos. They’ve swapped their large rucksacks for smaller black hiking packs. They’re all friendly enough to me, but they make it clear I’m not one of them. I mentally shrug. All I need to do is get them to the Wall, I don’t need to be friends with them.

  I tuck the tablet into my pack and place the communicator into my ear. I look at the others. “Ready?” They nod one by one as they test their earpieces. I look to the general, who has another tablet in his hands.

  “Yes. I’m tracking all of you through those communicators. It’s time.”

  I turn and start jogging toward the line of trucks. I hear the others join beside and behind me. I run parallel to the trucks, heading south toward the cave entrance. I wave at each driver as we pass. Everyone shouts encouraging words to us. I grin.

  Once we get past the caravan, darkness surrounds us without the lights of the trucks. I find the path and tell the others to follow single file. I don’t get a response, but three of them eventually move behind me. I hear the last of them, one of the Year Twos, swear as she trips over sagebrush and then moves onto the path as I suggested. I shake my head.

  My eyes adjust to the darkness and soon I’m sweating with the fast pace. I glance at the sky, tracking several space stations to orient myself. Soon I slow down and work my way around the boulders that hide this tunnel entrance.

  I climb down the rusty metal ladder and crack a light stick as I wait for the others. In the green light we all look like something quite alien down in the empty tunnel. I hand each one a light stick. “When you’re out in the open keep these hidden deep inside your jackets. But keep them for the second tunnel.”

  One of the spec ops guys looks around. “This isn’t a tight fit. We have plenty of room to stand.” He points the green stick upward to catch a glimpse of the ceiling.

  “Yes, but the one under the Wall is barely wider than your body. You’ll have to crawl the length of it.”

  He looks away.

  I turn and start jogging west toward the Wall. Slowly the others ca
tch up, not as used to avoiding so much debris down here as I am. We stay quiet as we make our way farther into the tunnel.

  When we reach the end, I point upward as I start climbing the ladder. Its rickety motion makes my palms sweat and my stomach flip as always. I grit my teeth and keep climbing.

  At the top, when no guns or shouts greet me, I crawl out and survey the area. There isn’t anyone around. I hear voices in the distance up on the Wall, but they seem to be running away from us.

  I smother a giggle as I see what they’re tracking in their spotlights. I turn back to the tunnel. “Come on out, it’s clear…for now.” I crouch down to the side of the entrance as the rest of the team emerges.

  I wait until they’re all up and we’re crouched down in a group. “Our distraction has begun.” I point ahead of us where a herd of cows is running away from us, parallel to the Wall.

  One of the Year Twos whips their head back the other direction. “I hear something behind us.” His voice wavers as he looks behind us.

  I turn to look. It’s too dark to see anything. There’s no moon out tonight, which is good because it means the Chinese can’t see us, but it also means we can’t see too far ahead of ourselves. I tilt my head and listen. A deep vibration cuts through the air and ground underneath us. I smile.

  27

  In the Dark

  I wave my arms for the team to come back toward me.

  “Hold onto the railing and stay very still.” I take hold of one of the metal fenceposts that surround the hole. They’re here more to warn animals not to fall into the tunnel than for support.

  The others obey, looking all around them.

  “What is it?” whispers one of them next to me.

  “More of that distraction,” I answer pointing north.

  “Seriously? Cows?”

  “They’re coming toward us?” asks one of the Year Twos.

  “These cows are used to this area. They know about the tunnel. As long as you keep hold of the railing, they’ll go around us.”