Airborne

by Kimberly P. Chase

  That yielded zero results.

  Next he tried a twenty-four-bit encryption, which was a pretty heavy secured password, but Zane could break it.

  When that failed, Zane cursed. He gripped the small laptop in his hands and his knuckles turned white when he squeezed. He resisted the urge to bang the computer against the wall. Destroying it would get him nowhere, even if it would make him feel better.

  Had he really thought it’d be that easy? That he could recharge the computer, open it, and have all of Titon’s secrets revealed? The odds that this computer held every answer he craved were so infinitesimally small that Zane probably shouldn’t even bother trying to break the code. And yet, no matter how small the odds, he couldn’t give up a chance to find answers.

  A one thousand and twenty four-bit military grade encryption was the only thing left.

  That program could take years to run.

  A quick knock on the door had Zane shoving the computer underneath his bed’s comforter.

  ‘Come in,’ he called as he placed a pillow over the laptop too.

  Zane shouldn’t have been surprised when Aurora walked in, her vibrant red hair bringing color to the room.

  ‘I didn’t expect to see you after—’

  Aurora paused in the middle of the room, her feet turned toward one another. ‘Yeah. My dad can be …’ She seemed to struggle for a moment before continuing. ‘He’s just worried about me. And maybe rightfully so. Even though I know Brianna’s okay now, it’s a scary thought.’ She looked at her feet. ‘And yet, I think I’m more afraid of my body not being able to handle it, like Brianna’s, than the actual risk to my life. Being too weak to even make it to space … I want to fly. To help save the world. I can’t imagine what it would feel like to be sent home before getting the chance.’ Aurora glanced at him for his reaction, like she was unsure of what he’d think.

  ‘It was scary.’ Zane wondered what it would be like to have a parent worrying about him. He dismissed the idea. They were adults and the decision was theirs. ‘I think it made everyone think about all of this.’ He gestured his hands in the air, encompassing the Apollo Academy. All of the cadets needed to understand what they were risking their lives for. Even though they were helping the world, it still needed to be a decision each cadet willingly accepted.

  ‘Your dad will eventually understand.’

  Aurora laughed, shaking her head. ‘He seemed pretty pissed.’ She shrugged her shoulders. ‘Maybe even more so because he knows he can’t change my mind—’ Her watch beeped and when Aurora glanced at it, her head sagged down onto her chest. ‘Speak of the devil.’

  ‘What is it?’ he asked.

  ‘It’s an email from my dad. I just … I can’t deal with it right now.’ Aurora swiped her hand across her watch, dismissing the message.

  Zane patted the bed, silently inviting her to sit down.

  Aurora stood a moment longer before finally taking him up on his offer. When she sat down on the bed beside him, she instantly popped back up.

  ‘What is that?’ She pointed at the bed right where Zane had hidden the computer.

  Zane was seriously starting to consider that Titon Technologies hadn’t altered his genes for the better. How could he be so stupid?

  ‘Oh, sorry. It’s just something I’m working on,’ he said, not wanting to lie. He moved the laptop from under the covers and off the bed.

  ‘Is that a Titon Technologies product?’ Aurora bit her lip as she watched him place the computer on the desk beside them.

  ‘Yeah.’ Please don’t ask me about it.

  Aurora looked like she wanted to say more, but stopped herself. ‘Why don’t we do something fun?’

  ‘Sure.’ Anything was better than watching the algorithm run endlessly on his computer, not knowing how long it would take to unscramble the password.

  ‘Okay, but it should probably be something physical.’ Aurora’s cheeks burned as she clamped a hand over her mouth. ‘I, uh, didn’t mean it like that. Just that we should uh … relieve some stress. Work out or something.’

  Even though Zane definitely wouldn’t mind spending time that way, it didn’t feel right. When he’d jumped out the window after their last time together, he knew he’d lost some of Aurora’s trust. Again. There was no way Aurora was ready for that. Especially after what happened with Brianna today. ‘What do you have in mind?’

  ‘I want to do something we don’t usually get to do together.’

  ‘So no working out then?’

  Aurora smiled. ‘No, Coach Harris keeps us busy enough.’

  ‘I wouldn’t mind going flying with you.’ A smile took over Aurora’s face. Finally. He’d said the right thing.

  ‘Really?’’ She wiggled her eyebrows. ‘You think you can handle it? Because we’ll need to do barrel rolls and spins. Maybe even a vertical takeoff,’ Aurora teased.

  ‘I think I can handle it.’

  ‘Famous last words.’ Aurora jumped off the bed, grabbed Zane’s hand and pulled him out the door.

  ***

  Zane followed Aurora into the simulator bay. While she ran ahead to the closest simulator, he took in the room. He’d never been in here before. It was large and split into two different sections. On his right, huge simulators stood on three-legged pods, a bridge attaching them to the other side of the room. Only one, other than theirs, seemed to be in use.

  The hallway and classrooms lined the other side. It was silent in here, but Zane could imagine what it sounded like when all the simulators were running—quiet, mechanical movements that would echo throughout the cavernous room.

  Lights illuminated the floor as he followed Aurora. She was already in the cockpit by the time Zane crossed the bridge.

  ‘Close the door?’ Aurora called back to him.

  Zane pressed the door closed. He passed the instructor control panel and seat, instead moving into the cockpit.

  Glass screens covered the lower level in neon blue and green lights. Above his head were various switches that he knew would control different components of the shuttle. Zane sat in the right seat, opposite Aurora. When he strapped himself in, his feet touched the rudder pedals and a joystick bumped against his right knee.

  ‘So I was thinking we could do a shuttle launch run.’ Aurora typed in her aircraft selection on the screen in front of her. The screen momentarily went black before reloading the shuttles cockpit. More instruments than Zane had ever seen on one panel appeared before him.

  ‘Whoa. Do you know what all these switches do?’ Zane indicated the row of monitors in front of him.

  ‘Yup. Those monitor the engine heat. One for every engine.’

  ‘Gotcha.’ Zane was impressed. Maybe he should spend some time in the cockpit, might learn more about his place on the shuttle.

  ‘The Lieutenant Colonel will have us in the sims almost every day, so soon it will probably feel like home.’

  ‘Well maybe one day it will be.’

  ‘That’s the plan, huh?’

  Zane nodded. He never let his mind take him too far into the future. Too many unknowns, but he could definitely see Aurora here. She seemed calmer here. In control. Totally comfortable in this environment. In a weird way, it reminded Zane of himself. How he was more comfortable around tech than people.

  ‘Are you ready?’ As Aurora selected switches, an unemotional female called out a checklist. The two of them worked together as she prepared the shuttle for launch.

  ‘How do you like the AI system?’ Zane had worked with it a few times in class and if she ever failed, he’d have to fix her.

  ‘She’s cool. And on an actual launch, we also have mission control in our ears.’

  ‘Sounds confusing.’ Zane always worked alone.

  ‘Nah. The Academy drills us in CRM.’

  Zane nodded. Crew Resource Management. That was a class that instructed everyone on how to communicate and work together effectively. Like a pumped up lesson about teamwork.

  ‘It won’t feel
completely like a real launch, but you’ll see …’ Aurora bounced her knees, excited when she was all done.

  It felt like Zane’s heart skipped a beat. He watched her gracefully move, not intimidated in the slightest by the responsibility of getting a shuttle off the ground. She was in charge in this space and Zane decided he could watch her here forever. He’d always wondered about the grin and excitement that would light her eyes every time she was about to fly or talked about flying. It was obvious she absolutely loved it.

  ‘Mind if we put some music on?’

  Zane was so startled by the question; it took him a moment to figure out what she’d said. ‘Music?’

  ‘Yeah. It’s against protocol during a real launch, but I think it will be cool. You know, fun?’

  ‘Fun?’ Right.

  Aurora laughed, her eyes sparkling. Zane still didn’t know what to say. He was content just observing her. Maybe he should be smiling or something?

  ‘You know music? What we danced to at Beat that one night.’

  Oh, he remembered that night all right. It was like his entire memory only consisted of their moments together, everything else in his life a distant past.

  Zane tilted his techiwatch toward him, expanded the screen, and searched the grid for the perfect song. A violin mixed with a techno beat slowly started, speeding up as the song rose in tempo.

  Aurora leaned over her seat toward his. ‘This is the first song we danced to,’ she whispered.

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘I can’t believe you remembered.’

  ‘Launch in ten seconds,’ the female automated voice called out.

  Aurora flicked one last switch, her attention immediately turning back to Zane when she was done. She studied his face as if she’d found something more interesting than flying.

  ‘Eight … seven … six … five …’

  Aurora leaned closer until her face was an inch from his. He breathed her in when she slowly pressed her lips against his. Their song, the AI computer counting down the seconds, nor the vibrations in the seat really registered as they lifted off.

  Zane could only feel the press of Aurora’s lips against his as she took him out of this world.

  Message sent by CollinTiton101 at 8.30 am on 5th January 2164 to AuroraTiton525.

  Status: Unread

  Aurora,

  Since you’ve made it clear that you wish to remain at the Academy, I wanted to at least keep you informed of Rowan Dagan’s movements. At this point, I do not know what he is up to, if anything, but please read the investigator’s report carefully. If he tries something, we’ll be prepared.

  4th January 2164 Subject left home in black hovercar at approximately 8.30 am and drove directly to work. (Frontier Solutions, located on W. Central Blvd) Subject remained in building until 5.05 pm and returned home. At 7.30 pm a man (identified to be Henry Dagan) entered the building. At 8.04 pm subject’s father left, seeming angry as he drove off.

  5th January 2164 Subject left home in a black hovercar at approximately 8.15 am and drove directly to work. Subject left work at 6.40 pm. Subject then went to Thai Sushi & Cuisine on N. Orange Avenue and parked in a handicapped parking spot. Subject remained in vehicle for five minutes before entering the restaurant, where he met with an unidentified man. They spoke and had dinner until 7.48 pm. Subject drove directly home.

  Follow Up Information:

  5th January 2164 Posing as a customer to Thai Sushi & Cuisine, I was seated two tables away from Rowan and his acquaintance where I overheard pieces of the conversation noted below:

  ‘Are you sure?’ Rowan.

  ‘Positive.’ Unidentified male.

  ‘So every six months? And how do we get it on board?’ Rowan.

  ‘That’s your problem. You’re lucky with the media storm you caused that I’m even giving you any information at all.’ Unidentified male.

  ‘I helped avoid the bigger media scandal.’ Rowan.

  ‘I’ll take care of it.’ Unidentified male.

  END OF REPORT.

  Chapter 13

  Aurora

  Aurora wanted to vomit and she wasn’t even in the tiny contraption, spinning round and round in front of her. Lieutenant Colonel Jackson paced in front of the gathered pilot cadets, briefly blocking her view of the spinning puke machine.

  ‘This g training is very important. As the shuttle leaves the earth’s atmosphere, the g-load on your body will be intense. You won’t lose consciousness, but what if there’s an emergency? Can you handle that additional pressure, save the aircraft; all while your body is pushed to its limit? This training could save your life.’ Lieutenant Colonel Jackson pointed to the tiny tin can attached to a long pole in the circular room that she’d decided to dub the Vomit Master. ‘Here, you’ll learn how to handle heavy g-loads. How to remain conscious after everyone else has passed out. The pilot cannot ever lose consciousness. How do we ensure this?’

  When no one else answered, Aurora spoke. ‘We train for it. We use the Hick’s maneuver, using deep breaths to force blood flow to our brains.’ Though Aurora understood the need to continue training, she thought it might be a little too early for this lesson. Brianna had been seriously injured a few weeks ago from a training lesson designed to test their body.

  ‘And how do you know you’re about to lose it?’ The Lieutenant Colonel continued his lecture, oblivious to their drawn faces. Rick looked torn. His left foot tapped against the floor and his fisted hands were shoved in his flight suit pockets. He’d taken Brianna’s departure from the Academy harder than most. Aurora didn’t blame him; it’d been a wake up call for everyone. Though his reasoning may have had more to do with the fact they’d been hooking up.

  ‘Our vision will turn to what’s called gray out. Everything will take on a hazy gray look followed by tunnel vision. Our eyes and necks will sag. And then unconsciousness. But if we actively force blood flow to stay with our brain instead of pooling in our legs, where it naturally would want to go, we strain and breathe rapidly to counteract it.’ The Lieutenant Colonel continued with his pacing as he spoke. ‘Today we’ll learn these techniques. All of you will pass out today and some of you will vomit. But you won’t learn how to counteract this phenomenon without knowing first what it feels like.’

  Jeanne-Pierre’s hand flew into the air. ‘We usually pull a few g’s in flight and we have a g suit to help. What kind of g range would make us pass out?’

  ‘Today we’ll put you through nine or ten g’s. We’re here to prepare ourselves for emergency situations. Hopefully none of you will ever have to test your abilities in real life.’

  Aurora swallowed. Nine g’s. That would be like weighing nine hundred and fifty pounds.

  Shit. She was going to pass out. Hopefully without vomiting first.

  ‘Are there puke bags?’ Nathaniel asked, echoing her thoughts.

  ‘You wouldn’t be able to put a vomit bag to your mouth even if you did have one,’ Lieutenant Colonel Jackson answered.

  Groans followed.

  This was going to be messy. And gross. Aurora hastily pulled her hair into a tight ponytail. She so didn’t want puke in her hair if it came to that. Thank the stars the Lieutenant Colonel kept the non-pilot cadets from watching.

  ‘Now, who wants to go first?’ her instructor asked, rubbing his hands together.

  ‘I’ll go first,’ Rick announced, surprising her. Maybe he was coming back around. When Rick noticed her stare, he quickly nodded in her direction and unclenched his hands.

  ‘I got this. How hard can rapidly breathing be?’ Rick sauntered into the machine and strapped himself down. His courage was inspiring. Even though Brianna’s accident had been unexpected, the Academy still had to test them. It looked like Rick had finally accepted that.

  After the training at Walt Disney World, the remaining class eight cadets had all been cleared for space travel. They’d all passed the test. Everyone here today would be okay. They might pass out or puke, but none of them should die from it.


  The machine circled around one time slowly before rapidly accelerating. Rick’s hair flew over his eyes and he slumped further down in his seat as the machine continued to spin.

  Apparently rapid breathing was hard.

  Rick passed out; totally unaware of what was going on around him.

  On his second attempt, Aurora heard Rick’s frantic gasping as he sucked in air and tried to remain conscious. An up-close projection of his face appeared on the wall in front of the watching pilot cadets.

  Aurora watched Rick’s eyes sag closed once again, his body slumping lower into his seat.

  ‘Nine g’s,’ Lieutenant Colonel announced.

  Rick’s body slumped completely and the ride stopped. When he awoke a few seconds later he puked in his lap.

  Gross.

  The Lieutenant Colonel spun Rick around again … and this time he managed to stay awake.

  The training seemed to take forever. Probably because every time someone puked, training had to stop for clean up. Rick and Nathaniel were the only ones so far to master the technique. Their deep breaths had helped them remain conscious. The hick maneuver wasn’t pretty, but it helped those who mastered the technique.

  Unfortunately, Jeanne-Pierre and Jeremy failed so many times that Lieutenant Colonel Jackson eventually lost his shit.

  ‘That. Is. It,’ Lieutenant Colonel yelled. ‘Jeremy and Jeanne-Pierre you’re being moved back in training.’

  ‘But—’ Jeremy began.

  ‘It’s obvious you two aren’t ready. You’re lucky I’m not kicking you out. From this point forward, you’ll be training with the class nine cadets.’

  Aurora swallowed. She didn’t realize that could happen. They’d basically be starting their training over with the newest cadets to arrive at the Academy.

  Jeanne-Pierre’s face was as pale as a ghost, but he was smart enough not to try to argue with the Lieutenant Colonel right now.

  As Jeremy stormed out of the room, slowly followed by Jeanne-Pierre, Lieutenant Colonel Jackson turned toward her.

  ‘You’re up!’

  Oh stars. She couldn’t mess this up. She wouldn’t go back in training. The training on the space station was this semester … her dream was on the line.