Mothership (Invasion Survivor Book 4)

by Hayley Lawson

  It was crowded with many people wearing different colored uniforms. Red, Orange, and Blue Coats sat grouped together around several small tables all chatting and eating their suppers.

  There were several Green Coats there, too, but they were the vast minority. They mostly liked to eat in private without judgment.

  AJ spotted a table by a large window, so they headed towards it.

  “You stay here. I’ll go get some food from the bar,” AJ instructed as Paige and Dave took a seat at the table.

  A few spared them a glance since they were together and wearing different uniforms, but Paige ignored them.

  Maybe it was selfish of her to be indulging herself while her mother was in danger, the shortage of food, and everything else going on, but she felt like she deserved it.

  While she sat patiently, Paige wondered what AJ would bring for them to eat.

  With a quick glance around, Paige noticed that everyone ate and happily chatted amongst themselves. It was almost as if that small riot with the Greens had never happened.

  Lucky them, she thought to herself. They acted like they didn’t have a single care in the world. They certainly didn’t have a mom locked up in a cell, there was no risk of being caught and floated out, nothing like that. All they had to think about was themselves.

  Paige wasn’t jealous, exactly, just wishful that someday her life could look like that.

  AJ returned with a big tray. He brought them some mashed potatoes, fresh vegetables and some bread with cheese.

  I can’t believe they have actual food!

  “Do you see this? Did you ever imagine having this for supper?” He looked proud of himself, grinning at her as he put the tray down on the table and took a seat beside her.

  He took his plate and looked at his food in awe as if deciding what he wanted to eat first.

  “Yeah, I never thought I would eat something like this again,” Paige replied honestly while her mouth practically watered looking at all that food. “This is pure luxury.”

  She wasn’t even joking.

  “Not to brag, but I had better food in my suite upon arriving. There’s a private chef on the Red floor,” Dave said, and both Paige and AJ stared at him—not in a good way.

  “Don’t ruin this for me, please,” Paige complained.

  “The food on the tourist spaceship was barely edible, but this is awesome,” AJ said happily, lifting his fork, but then he paused.

  “I feel slightly guilty. They wanted to float children out because there is a real fear the food will run out soon, and here we are, eating when we don’t have to.”

  Paige knew exactly how he felt since she was thinking about that same thing just moments ago.

  “Don’t beat yourself up because of it. I get it, but even we deserve some kind of break.”

  He looked at her for a while before slightly nodding.

  Only then did she realize what he said. He said we, in front of Dave. She said it, too! Luckily, he didn’t notice. He was too focused on his meal. Despite his previous comments, he ate like it was the best thing ever. Paige sighed in relief.

  “This really smells delicious,” AJ eventually said, brightening the mood again.

  “So good,” Paige said with a moan, and they both laughed.

  Without additional words, they dove into their supper. Paige ate her mashed potatoes first and then some vegetables, bread, and cheese.

  Oh, my God! They tasted like nothing she ever tasted before.

  “This is really good,” Paige mumbled with her mouth still full when she was about halfway through the meal.

  “I don’t remember the last time I had a normal supper,” she confessed. It was before the whole zombie/alien apocalypse, but she couldn’t remember when or what the meal was.

  “Me, neither,” AJ said. “Maybe it was back in the school canteen?”

  “Probably.”

  “Mom made the best mashed potatoes with gravy,” Dave chirped in, looking at his empty plate.

  “Who knows when we’ll be able to eat like this again?” AJ said glumly, looking at his own almost empty plate.

  They had all realized the same thing. What would happen when they ran out of Earth food?

  Paige heard they had small botanical gardens on the ship, and bigger ones were being built on Mars, so fruits and vegetables would be provided.

  Still, so much delicious food was lost forever. That really put her in a funky mood.

  “Do you remember the wonderful meals we used to have at school?” Paige asked him dreamily.

  Rosehill College was no ordinary place, so they hired top chefs to serve the students for every meal.

  AJ nodded, looking out the window and possibly missing everything they left behind, just as much as Paige did.

  Paige used to love to sit with River at the cafeteria between classes, not just to eat, but to talk. Those were the carefree days when her biggest concern was how to speak with a boy she liked.

  She missed that girl; she missed that life.

  Paige didn’t know what awaited them, but if her recent history taught her anything, it would be hard and bloody.

  She drew strength from this moment of peace so she could carry on and fight.

  Outside the window was the black vastness of space splattered with stars. Paige felt so small in comparison, but looking at AJ and Dave, she reminded herself that she wasn’t alone.

  With them by her side, she could do anything.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  “Paige? Paige?” AJ was nudging her.

  “Hm?”

  “You looked completely spaced out for a sec, where did you go,” Dave wanted to know as AJ nodded in agreement.

  Paige shrugged noncommittally.

  “What were you thinking about?” AJ prompted.

  “About space I suppose,” she replied eventually.

  “What about it?” Dave asked.

  “We’re in the middle of nowhere,” Paige said while her eyes searched the scene out the window, chewing the last mouthful of her supper. “And it hits me sometimes, we really have nowhere else to go.”

  “I wonder how far Avignon is,” AJ voiced his own thoughts, changing the subject.

  “Yeah, me too,” Paige confessed.

  She knew the coordinates, but those numbers meant nothing to her.

  “Didn’t your Mom say anything?” AJ prompted.

  Paige shook her head. “She just said we needed to stop here, on the mothership for fuel.”

  “So, Avignon is really far away from here,” AJ guessed.

  Paige shrugged. “No idea, but probably.”

  “Yeah,” Dave decided to join in. “Brooke showed me on this vast space map. It's really far away.”

  They all pondered about that for a second.

  “If all goes well, we can get the fuel for the Viper and get out of here, in a couple of hours,” AJ voiced their own thoughts.

  Yet, there was a big if in that statement. So many things could go wrong, and mess everything up. Not that the heaviness of the situation would stop her from doing all in her power to save her Mom. Because everything could go right as well, and they only needed one chance for success.

  “Yeah, but first things first,” Paige replied. “We still have to free my Mom first.”

  “Exactly how much time do we have until the video loop starts?” Dave asked, checking his watch.

  “About half an hour,” Paige answered checking the time.

  “So, we don’t have to wait around long for showtime,” AJ replied, only half joking.

  “Where do you think we can change into the blue uniforms?” Paige wanted to know. Somehow going down to the Green’s level didn’t sound like a viable option.

  “There’s a bathroom not far from the common room,” AJ said, pointing with his head.

  “Great,” Paige replied relieved.

  “Yeah, I discovered it by accident, but it will work to our advantage. We can simply go and change quickly,” AJ said before ad
ding as in afterthought. “We don’t even have to change, simply put on the Blue Coats over our Green ones.”

  “Sounds like a good idea,” Paige nodded smiling. “Besides, that way we don’t have to look for a place to hide our Green Coats,” and that was something Paige didn’t think about until just now.

  “Exactly,” AJ agreed.

  “And what do you want me to do while you reenact Prison Break?” Dave inquired. And by his tone Paige knew he was a bit hurt, feeling left out.

  And Paige wished there was a way to help elevate that feeling.

  “Create a distraction,” Paige replied. “Even though I created a video loop, I still feel like it's better if those on the fourth level should be occupied with something else while we get my Mom. It will take them longer to figure out what's going on.”

  Dave was nodding while she talked. And it was plain to see he already started to form a plan of his own, as a small smile crept across his lips.

  “I see a party in my future,” he said with a grin.

  “Just don't go overboard, ok?” Paige cautioned. “We don't want you floated out.”

  “Of course,” Dave replied solemnly.

  With that settled, Paige absentmindedly looked around the common room. People finished eating their meals and were now slowly leaving the room.

  “We still have about fifteen minutes,” Paige informed the boys and nodded in agreement.

  “I think I'll go and score us something sweet,” Dave announced standing up and walking toward the bar.

  “I really hope this works,” AJ confessed in a rare moment of weakness.

  “Me too,” Paige replied in the same manner. Since they both appeared too gloom and doom suddenly, she decided to try and cheer them up.

  “Look, the thirty-minute loop will keep playing until people notice that it’s the same thing they are watching. But I really hope that everyone will be too tired to notice it.”

  “Everyone is tired around here,” AJ allowed. “The shifts are just brutally long.”

  “I agree but since we still have some time, how about we review our plan, and make sure there are no blind spots,” Paige suggested.

  “Okay,” AJ agreed instantly. “So, first, we go and put on the Blue Coats,” AJ began.

  “Then we’ll go up to Level Two to Colonel Brown’s office to find the keys, and then back down to Level Zero, where the cells are,” Paige finished in a whisper.

  Even though there wasn’t anyone around them, she still felt wary of speaking loudly about the plan.

  “While Dave stays here and causes a distraction.”

  “Exactly,” AJ said. “Then once your mother is with us, we’ll fuel the Viper and take off.”

  Paige smiled at the plan they made. So many things could go wrong with it but still, she nodded. “Sounds great,” Paige announced and held her cup of water high to make a fake toast.

  “To victory,” she said boldly.

  “To victory,” AJ mimicked her before drinking it.

  “They only had this pie left, I hope it's edible,” Dave returned with just one plate and three spoons, sounding like a snobbish food critic.

  It was adorable.

  “Thanks,” Paige replied with a sigh.

  They ate that delicious piece of pie in no time.

  After a few minutes of silence, Dave looked at his watch. “Okay, it’s time to get going, we only have five minutes before the repeat loop starts.”

  The canteen was surprisingly empty now, but Paige felt a bit nervous. Still, she nodded, and they got up from their seats in unison and made their way towards the bathroom.

  “I will escort them to the elevators then do my thing,” Dave informed them, and Paige was okay with that. No one asked questions when a Red was around.

  There was no need for Paige and AJ to go into separate rooms, as it wasn’t like they were getting undressed, so they simply stepped in together.

  “Behave you two, now. No shenanigans while inside,” Dave teased, and Paige groaned.

  Once Paige changed, she turned to AJ for assistance since she was worried someone could see parts of the green uniform sticking out.

  “Is my green uniform showing?” Paige asked him, turning around.

  “Nope, you look like a proper Blue Coat,” AJ smiled while buttoning the last button on his own blue uniform. “Are you ready, Paige?”

  “Always!” Paige said a little too loudly.

  “Remember, act natural, okay? Wipe that guilty look off your face or people will suspect that something’s wrong,” AJ warned, and Paige did her best to act all snobbishly, raising her chin slightly and pretending she was angry at the whole world.

  That part was easily faked.

  Just as they were about to leave the bathroom, AJ paused. He was frowning, grabbing his chest.

  “What’s wrong?” Paige panicked. He had the Black Mass inside of him, he couldn’t get sick, right?

  “Something poking me,” he informed, fumbling around his Blue uniform.

  Once he pulled his hand out, Paige simply looked in wonder at the content on his palm.

  “No way,” she murmured.

  “Yes, freaking way,” AJ replied while grinning.

  He was holding two keys, one for the elevator and other for the cells, or so Paige hoped.

  “What were the odds of that?” Paige thought out loud.

  “Don’t know, and don’t really care,” AJ replied cheerfully. “Now we don’t have to break into the Colonel’s office and I’m really grateful for that.”

  And that made two of them.

  “Let’s go,” Paige urged with renewed energy.

  This plan of theirs was going to work, she was sure of that now.

  They left the bathroom together and Paige was once again relieved that no one was there to see them, apart from Dave.

  “You look too happy,” he observed, eyeing AJ suspiciously.

  Paige smacked him on the arm. “It's nothing like that,” she said. “AJ found the key for the elevator in his uniform.”

  “Awesome,” Dave replied instantly, realizing the significance or that. “Let's go, I have to prepare for my act, you know.”

  Cameras were not the issue anymore but people passing by could be.

  I’m a Blue Coat, I’m a Blue Coat, Paige keep repeating the mantra over and over in her mind. Because AJ was right, she really needed to wash away the feeling of being up to something.

  She continued to feel confident while they crossed the common room and walked toward the elevator. But it seemed like it was taking forever for it to arrive.

  “Oh fuck,” AJ suddenly exclaimed, hiding behind the two of them.

  “AJ, what is it?” Paige asked, instantly alarmed.

  “That guy by the elevator,” AJ pointed at the Blue Coat, “He knows me, Paige. There's no way I can enter the elevator dressed like this.”

  This right here, was Paige's worst nightmare. That their plan would fail, and that all their work would be for nothing.

  “We'll wait,” Paige said. “Maybe he'll go away,” though that sounded unlikely even to her.

  “No, we don't have time for waiting around,” Dave reminded them.

  “He's right,” AJ said, scratching the back of his head before looking at Dave.

  “You have to go with Paige instead of me,” he realized. “That's the only way.”

  “You sure?” Dave asked in return.

  “Yeah, we have to trade places.”

  “Ok, just hurry up,” Paige agreed, and the boys jogged back to the bathroom to switch uniforms.

  Paige couldn't say who looked better to her. AJ in red or Dave in blue.

  Yum.

  “What are you going to do, AJ?” Paige asked once they returned.

  He chuckled. “Let's just say I'll put those salsa dancing lessons Mama forced me to go to, to good use,” he replied mischievously.

  And Paige would give everything to be able to see that. Unfortunately, she had other plans.


  “Good luck,” she told him.

  “You too,” AJ replied to them before they parted.

  Please let us have no more problems, Paige prayed.

  Once they entered, Dave pressed the 0 on the control panel, but nothing happened. The light on the 0 button didn’t flash.

  “What the …” Dave started to curse but then smacked himself across the forehead. “I need to use the passkey.”

  He took the plastic thing from his pocket and inserted it in the slot, then pressed the button again.

  And just like that, they were on the move.

  Even though Paige knew that was going to happen, she was still alleviated.

  “That was the easy part,” Dave murmured, and Paige sighed.

  “I hope she’s all right,” she voiced her worries.

  Dave placed a hand on her shoulder. “Your Mom is a total badass, so don’t worry so much.”

  That was easier said than done, but Paige nodded once again feeling grateful Dave was beside her, helping her, being her partner in crime.

  Always.

  “So, the camera is on the loop,” Dave said, looking at his watch.

  “Yeah, it should be. Hopefully, no one will notice it until we’re done with our business,” Paige replied.

  “Good, so I can do this,” in a flash Dave had her in his arms and kissed her so passionately her head swooned. Then released her just as fast.

  He flashed his trademark smile when she just stared at him.

  “You really have to stop doing that,” she protested, a bit winded.

  “For good luck,” he said winking and she could only roll her eyes while blushing profusely.

  The elevator stopped and they walked out trying to look natural.

  A few Blue Coats were coming their way, and Paige gulped.

  Dave gave her the Look and his meaning was obvious. It was show time.

  Confidence, Paige, she reminded herself, squaring her shoulders and marching forward. Even though inside she wished she was invisible.

  It was a silly thought anyway since Blue Coats already spotted Dave and Paige and even stopped once reaching them.

  “Hey, you two!”

  Paige pretended she didn’t hear them and continued walking.

  “Hey, wait a minute,” one of them called after Paige again and this time she had to stop. Crap. Paige didn’t dare to face her.