Rae and Essa’s Space Adventure

by Donna Maree Hanson

  I closed my eyes to sort through the competing thoughts in my head. I breathed slow and deep.

  Thorn unstrapped himself and floated towards me. ‘Are you hurt?’

  I shook my head. ‘No, I’m thinking things through. Alwin must have shot Bub to help us get away.’

  ‘I knew he hadn’t betrayed us,’ Rae said. ‘We have to go back for him.’ Tears had left a trail on her cheeks.

  Both Thorn and I turned to her. ‘How do you suggest we do that? We’re not even sure we’ve got away.’

  She shook her head and then turned to Mother. ‘Opi?’ Rae pleaded.

  Opi held Vee, who sagged when released from the straps. ‘You’re as safe as we are, Vee. No promises just yet.’

  Vee looked at her original and there was a light in her eyes. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Do you know who I am?’ Mother asked.

  Vee nodded. ‘You are the template. The original.’

  Opi touched Vee’s face. ‘I’m sorry for what has happened to you. I’ll do what I can to help you. I can’t undo what has happened in the past, but I can help you have a better life. Do you trust me?’

  Vee nodded. ‘Thank you for not killing me.’

  I’d never seen real rage on my mother’s face before. She swallowed once and the expression faded. Turning away from Vee, she said, ‘Alwin has his own path. We don’t know for sure he helped us. He could raise the alarm and they’ll be here to pick us up any minute.’

  ‘Mother! How can you say that? That’s Alwin. My Al…he wouldn’t…couldn’t.’

  Mother kept her face impassive. No wonder the pirates couldn’t get information out of her. I couldn’t tell if she thought Alwin was a traitor or a hero.

  The pod jerked. Thorn looked out the view screen. ‘I can’t see who has us.’

  ‘It’s a bit soon for Slick, isn’t it?’

  ‘I don’t know. How long have we been arguing?’

  ‘It’s not too soon for the pirates to have come back and found us if Alwin raised the alarm.’ Mother delivered that deadpan.

  Rae sucked in a huge sob and wiped tears from her eyes with her forearm. Vee backed up against the wall, a bit overwhelmed by all the voices, all the action. I caught her eye and nodded, hoping to appear confident. Her life had been shit so far. I didn’t want her possible death to be worse than that. It wasn’t why I rescued her.

  Clamps grabbed the pod and drew us inside a dark hold. Thorn readied himself to pounce on whoever opened the door. If it was the pirate ship, I wasn’t looking forward to meeting Bub, given how mean I’d been. Rae was a mess, half anxious to see Alwin again and half scared to be back into the hands of the pirates.

  Mother sat calmly, wasting no energy on fretting. I considered that. No wonder she was a successful businesswoman. Now I understood where I got my nerve from. I was like my mother. I was a Gayens.

  Then there was nothing. No one came to open the pod. We were left in a dark hold, not knowing if we were recaptured or rescued. I didn’t like waiting and neither did Thorn. He thumped the hatch.

  ‘Should we open it?’ Rae asked, a touch hesitant.

  Thorn shook his head. ‘We don’t know if there’s atmosphere out there. There are no sensors in here.’

  I unstrapped my harness, went up to Thorn and massaged his shoulders. He glanced at me, a flash of hope in his eyes.

  I shook my head. ‘My handheld is full of useful apps, but not one that can detect if there’s atmosphere out there.’

  ‘How much do we have in here?’ my mother asked.

  Thorn glanced around the interior of the escape pod. ‘It’s rated for two weeks for one person.’ He studied us, doing some mental calculations. ‘A few days.’

  ‘I hope whoever picked us up figures that out.’ I sat back down in my seat and folded my arms. It had seemed such a good plan. All that excitement about escaping and now we were back in limbo, as we had been in our cell.

  ‘No point in stressing about it,’ Thorn said. ‘Maybe we should take a moment and rest up. I must admit the painkillers I took are wearing off.’

  He came up beside me and took my hand. ‘You?’

  A headache had been growing behind my eyes. It wasn’t debilitating but I felt tired too as the drug left my system. ‘Yes, it’s wearing off.’

  ‘May I?’ He indicated the spot next to me. After a nod from me, he was there beside me, a warm, large body.

  ‘I’m sorry I got you into this,’ I said quietly. Mother was comforting Rae and organising Vee. Thorn’s strong arms embraced me. I gasped and he grinned, which helped me relax. It was so right to be in his arms.

  ‘I’m glad we’re safe. I’m glad you’re safe,’ he said softly in my ear.

  My heart beat erratically at the sound of his voice. ‘I never meant for you to get caught up in this.’

  ‘I know, but you’ve been marvellous at getting us out. You know, I saw my father again and as confronting as it was, it was worth it. And you got your mother and your sister back. There’s nothing scabby about that.’

  I nodded, liking the soft look in his eyes. ‘So, do you still think I’m a moneyed-up harpy?’

  ‘Oh, definitely.’

  I pulled back, my face showing all my shock.

  He laughed at my expression and leaned in close to whisper in my ear. ‘What I want to know is will you be my moneyed-up harpy?’

  He drew back to catch my expression. Tears pricked in my eyes. He knew I was a clone. I’d been a right pain in the butt, but still he found something to like. ‘I’m not sure in what capacity.’

  He smiled. ‘The thought occurred to me that I could use someone as handy as you on my ship—’

  ‘And?’

  I watched his eyes, the slight flare of nostrils before he leaned in to press his lips to mine. His kiss was gentle and sweet. I liked it, but wanted more. We separated.

  ‘Not very convincing,’ I said.

  He came in again and captured my mouth, his arms tightening. His kiss possessed me, took me on a journey where my heartbeat thumped in my ears and my breath was stolen away. His tongue engaged with mine and it was divine.

  When we separated, me still within his embrace, he asked, ‘Better?’

  I smiled, closed my eyes and rested my head on his chest. It was like being home. ‘Definitely.’

  The tapping from outside woke me. Thorn lifted away from my side, instantly alert.

  Rae had her arms around Opeia and they both turned their heads to the hatch. Vee lifted her head, her gaze still desolate, face expressionless. It was like she was ready to be taken back and had given up hope.

  ‘It’s opening,’ I said to the others.

  Thorn stood by the hatch, concealed from view. A head appeared. I saw greasy hair and a lopsided grin.

  ‘Slick,’ I yelped.

  Slick screwed his face up as he looked left and right. ‘Where’s Thorn?’

  ‘Here,’ Thorn said, coming into view. ‘You did it!’

  Thorn launched himself out the door and picked up the younger man and swung him around.

  I climbed out and smoothed my ship suit. ‘What took you so long? We were out of mind with worry.’

  Slick swept hair from his forehead. ‘Patience is a virtue, little harpy.’

  ‘You’ll regret that, little greenhorn.’ I grabbed and hugged him.

  ‘So if you lot are in here, who is in the other escape pod?’ Slick asked, shoving a hank of greasy hair out of his face.

  Our eyes swung to the other escape pod that Slick had retrieved.

  I swallowed. ‘Not Bub Rugby?’

  As I spoke there was a bang on the escape pod’s door and I jumped. Palpitations signalled my unease.

  ‘What’s going on?’ Rae asked, climbing out the hatch.

  ‘There are two escape pods,’ I replied.

  I saw a light leap into Rae’s eyes. ‘Alwin!’

  Thorn shook his head. ‘We don’t know that.’

  ‘But you can’t leave whoever it is in there.�
�� Rae made puppy-dog eyes at me and Thorn.

  I grabbed Rae’s arm to stop her running over and getting in the way. Thorn assessed the round metal contraption, his top teeth biting his lower lip. ‘Slick, get my weapon.’

  Slick ducked out of the hold and came back carrying a pulse weapon. A nasty thing that burned deep into flesh. He locked gazes with me and nodded. He and Slick went to the hatch. The banging grew louder. Whoever it was, wanted out.

  After a nod from Thorn, Slick keyed the control that would open the hatch. I held my breath and Rae squished my forearm, her nails digging deep, her eyes riveted to the dark hatch. A bloodied hand flung out and a dark head appeared. We stood there like dummies.

  ‘Doesn’t look like Bub Rugby,’ I said.

  Rae let out a cry and bounded off, nearly pushing me over. Alwin’s head lifted up at the sound, his scar livid on his face.

  Rae leaped through the opening, nearly smothering Alwin.

  Thorn and I shared a look, then a grin, which turned into a laugh. ‘Looks like he wasn’t a baddie after all.’

  Opeia had climbed out. ‘Of course he’s not.’ She peered around me, and then let out a relieved sigh.

  ‘Give me a hand,’ called Rae. ‘He’s injured.’

  Thorn went over to help extract Alwin. He nodded when Rae gave him instructions, clucking over Alwin as if he was fragile as broken glass. Both of them bore it well. My heart rate had dropped back to normal and I turned back to our pod just as Vee climbed out, her eyes wide. Slick stood beside me.

  ‘This is Vee. Be nice to her, she’s had it tough.’

  Slick nodded. ‘Welcome aboard.’

  He looked over his shoulder at Thorn and Rae assisting Alwin and then turned back to me. ‘Not bad going for a moneyed-up harpy.’

  My hands went to my hips, my eyelids narrowing. Someone was going to pay for that comment.

  Alwin was able to walk. He called out from where he leaned on Thorn. ‘My, he has you pegged.’

  I sneered at him, and then let a smile soften my face. ‘Well, it’s good to see you too.’

  Rae draped his arm over her shoulder and Alwin let go of Thorn to lean on her. The smile on Rae’s face made her tear-filled eyes glisten. We’d been through so much and I really couldn’t believe that Alwin was with us, that we’d made it.

  Thorn gestured for us to follow him out of the hold. Mother, Vee, Rae with Alwin followed him.

  Slick held back for me. ‘Sorry it took so long to open up for you all. I had to get us away first and then once I’d set the course, I needed to re-pressurise the hold so I could open the pods. I couldn’t do it any faster and I had to be careful because there were two and I didn’t know who was in which, or whether you had split up.’

  ‘You did great. We just didn’t know if it was you or the pirates that had snatched us, so we were a little anxious.’

  ‘I didn’t think about that part. I’m sorry.’

  I stopped walking and threw my arms around Slick and hugged him. ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you. You were brilliant.’

  Vee and Opeia slowed to wait for me. Rae had stopped too, looking back as Alwin rested.

  Slick gaped at me. He looked from Rae to me. ‘Are you Essa?’

  ‘Yes, of course I am.’ I punched him in his skinny arm. ‘Rae would never let you get away with calling her a harpy.’

  A stupid smile transformed his face. ‘Well I never thought…thanks and you’re welcome.’

  Chapter Fourteen

  Endings and Beginnings

  Mother resisted letting me tend her in the med bay, until Thorn raised his voice at her. ‘Just get in there and get seen to woman. I won’t have any peace until you do.’

  Vee was in her quarters, resting. Her rehabilitation, if that was possible, would take a while. Whatever spark she’d been born with had been beaten out of her. Well, Mother could pay for the best therapists, and she had taken to her clone like a long-lost sister. It comforted me to know I’d done the right thing in going back for Vee.

  Rae was quiet but there was a calm stillness to her. She had her Alwin back. He’d refused to let us treat his injuries, saying nothing on this ship could heal his scar and, as the rest were superficial, he could deal with them later.

  ‘Rae said I’d never pass for a pirate.’ He’d run his forefinger along his scar. ‘Well, she was wrong.’

  Rae had replied. ‘I take it back. You were a very convincing pirate.’

  Then Rae was there beside me, helping me look after our mother. We were still to get the full story from Alwin about what happened. Rae sent me a smile and I understood how she felt. I’d never cared for anyone before, not like I did for Thorn. Somehow, Captain Hunk had manoeuvred into a position where he ranked equally with my family.

  Alwin was using the computer terminal like he’d never had a break from it. I ignored him as Mother needed my attention more. Rae ran the scan over our mother’s upper abdomen, while I checked the readouts. The huge haematoma had turned purple and streaks of red ran from it.

  ‘There was a small bleed, but it has stopped. The system recommends oxygen, monitoring for shock and maybe a blood transfusion until we can get her seen to.’

  Rae went to the cabinet and brought out a pouch of universal blood. Mother saw it and shook her head. ‘I don’t need that. I’m okay.’

  Opeia tried to get off the bed. I whacked the oxygen mask over her face. ‘Stay still. Humour us, please.’

  I read the instructions to set up the IV to get the blood into her. It looked simple enough.

  Her gaze flicked between us. ‘All right.’ She lay back down and folded her hands over her chest.

  ‘You need to clean your hands first,’ Rae said.

  There was a san unit niche in the wall. I waved my hands under it until the indicator flashed green. I was looking forward to inserting the IV. I’d never done that before.

  ‘You’ll feel a bit of a pinch.’

  I slid the cannula in and hooked up the IV. All seemed to be going steadily. Mother’s vital signs improved. Her blood pressure rose and her heart rate steadied.

  ‘So.’ My eyes locked with Rae’s. ‘Spill.’

  Opeia glanced over to Alwin, who was busy at the computer terminal. As if he sensed we were looking at him, he looked up.

  ‘Mrs Gayens?’

  ‘Did you get it?’

  Alwin nodded and held up a tiny button.

  ‘What’s that?’ Rae asked.

  ‘A tiny camera. I took a picture of the man in charge and a few others besides.’

  ‘You took photos?’

  My mother noticed my puzzled expression. ‘AllEarth Corp is a large corporation. There are employees, some in high places, who I’ve never met. The images Alwin has managed to take could help us find out who they are and whether they work for me.’

  ‘So you let Alwin get hurt?’ There was a catch in Rae’s voice and a look of disbelief on her face.

  Alwin came over and rubbed her shoulders. ‘Your mother tried to protect me. I took the risk. It was my plan. There was a risk that, as we were compromised, the pirates would strike. They did. That only proved that it was someone high up, someone with a means to get information.’

  ‘And what does it show?’ Mother asked, nodding at the console.

  I checked her vitals and they were within normal range. Her pallor was improving and there was a healthy shine to her eyes. She was going to be okay.

  Alwin went back to the terminal. ‘I’m running the images against the company’s database. They disguise themselves, some have even had facial refits, but there are some biometric indicators that can’t be changed.’

  He stared at the screen and rubbed his chin. ‘Mmm interesting. Inyaface is your outer planetary chief of operations. Hector Guilford.’ His eyebrows rose. ‘A few of his henchmen work for you too. One in security, which is how information about our trip was leaked. All up, five of them work for you.’

  Opeia sighed and shook her head. ‘Do you think that’
s it?’

  ‘I think it’s the head of it. We’ll just keep cleaning up as we go.’

  Opeia nodded. ‘Take that IV out now, girls. I’m feeling much better.’

  I shrugged and Rae nodded so I started to slip it out.

  ‘Al can you get an order ready for me and I’ll authorise it. By the time we get back, they should be rounded up.’

  Thorn chimed in over the intercom. ‘No sign of pursuit. We are almost back at your ship, Mrs Gayens. There appears to be a number of vessels waiting there.’

  ‘I think that must be the security force I sent for,’ Rae quipped.

  You? I sent for them.’ I insisted.

  Alwin grinned. ‘That must be why there are so many of them.”

  * * *

  Rae went over to drape herself on Alwin, who smiled as he gazed into her eyes. I sighed heavily. Seeing them happy after so much despair filled me with joy. Everything was going to be all right.

  Mother sat up and called out so she could be heard on the intercom. ‘I’ll talk to them. They can recover my ship. I’ll stay on board if that meets with your approval, Captain.’

  Mother was staying aboard? I wondered what she was up to.

  ‘Roger that and you’re most welcome to stay. We’re about to hit the accelgates next. You want Earth or Jupiter station?’

  ‘Earth,’ Opeia said and looked at Rae and me. ‘You two need to get back to school and I’m sick of space for the moment.’

  ‘About the school thing,’ I began. ‘I’m not going back.’

  ‘Oh yes you are, young lady.’ She tried to get up but I pushed her back down gently.

  Rae came over and held Mother’s hand, her wide dark eyes assessing me.

  ‘No, I’m not.’

  ‘If you think you’re going to live off your inheritance and not work, you have another thing coming.’

  ‘I’m not after the inheritance. I have my own money, my own business, in fact.’

  My mother screwed up her face. ‘But you could achieve so much more with your life.’

  ‘I want to make my own way.’

  Thorn walked in and stood there on the threshold of the med bay. I glanced over to him and nodded. We’d barely had a chance to speak. My pulse was rather ragged and I had a strange feeling in my stomach, like there were seven dwarves in there all packing their suitcases ready to rush out the door.