Airborne

by Kimberly P. Chase

  If she couldn’t figure anything out from Nathaniel’s schedule, she’d have to admit defeat. And that was something she wasn’t ready to do. Aurora had even asked everyone on board questions about Tor’s schedule. When they’d last seen him, where they were, what were they doing, etc. Aurora had made them answer her questions, even if it was through a muffled door. Some of the cadets still believed if they stayed away from everyone, they’d be safe.

  No one was safe.

  And no one had the answers she needed.

  Aurora glanced down at her watch—only an hour until her theory was tested. Without anyone showing signs of sickness at this point, her theory was right on track. What would happen if she were right? What recycled every twenty-four hours?

  Aurora knew the shuttle and all its components, but the station was another story. Plenty of things probably changed every few hours. Their water, shifts, their air, the list went on. The answer seemed to be on the tip of her tongue, but no matter how hard she pushed, the answer didn’t reveal itself.

  Aurora needed Zane. She tracked him down in the medical lab.

  His dark hair was disheveled and his face was pinched in concentration as he stuck a needle into his arm.

  ‘How can you do that to yourself?’ Aurora asked, gliding to sit beside him.

  At the sound of her voice, he flinched, causing the needle to go in deeper. ‘Shit.’

  Aurora winced. ‘I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.’

  ‘That’s okay.’

  Blood pooled into the glass sleeve. When it was full, Zane slowly pulled the needle out of his arm and swiped a cotton ball across the injection point.

  ‘Why are you doing that?’

  Zane didn’t look at her when he answered. ‘Just making sure I’m still clean.’

  ‘Why?’ Aurora placed her hand on his temple. ‘Do you feel sick?’ His forehead was cool to the touch, but he didn’t look sick.

  ‘I feel fine.’ He secured his vial of blood onto the table and turned to look toward her. ‘What are you up to?’

  Zane never did anything without a purpose. So he had to be worried about something specifically to be drawing his own blood.

  ‘What aren’t you telling me?’ Aurora wasn’t about to let another secret get between them. ‘Are you okay? Were you trying to get infected? I thought we talked about that and decided that was stupid.’ Aurora would have kept ranting, but Zane placed a hand on her shoulder.

  ‘Shhh. It’s okay. I’m just making sure I’m healthy enough to be around anyone. I wouldn’t want to risk you.’

  Wow. Aurora swallowed. Maybe she was reading too much into it. ‘Okay.’

  Zane massaged her shoulder. ‘So tell me what you wanted to talk to me about.’

  ‘I wanted to ask you about the station’s operating components.’

  Zane’s lips twitched. ‘Really?’

  ‘Yeah. Is there anything we recycle or that only comes on for a few hours a day?’

  ‘Our water is filtered. Every night, all water that was used or produced during the day gets recycled—’

  ‘Produced?’

  ‘Through urination. Or any liquid discarded from an experiment.’

  ‘Right.’ Aurora tried not to think about that very often. ‘Anything else?’

  ‘The circular portion of the station is constantly in motion. The main AI computer that helps run the station resets at midnight every night for one minute to analyze for any issues.’

  This was good stuff. Aurora motioned for him to continue.

  ‘Umm, okay. The lighting is set to mimic a standard twenty-four hour day. So they’re dim at night and on full force during the day.’ Zane stopped rubbing her shoulder as if he’d thought of something important. ‘The air is recycled through the station.’

  ‘The air?’

  ‘Yeah. Every night the common air is pulled through a bypass air filtration system and then redistributed through the station. That way our air is always fresh.’

  Aurora pursed her lips. That had sounded promising, but the filter would capture any germs before they could be spread. Unless … ‘Are the filters replaced to ensure they’re always working properly?’

  ‘Every six months. Why? What’s going on, Aurora?’

  ‘Kaylana and I were talking last night and we think people are only infected every twenty-four hours.’

  ‘So this is why you wanted to know what programs recycle?’

  ‘Stupid, huh? But it’s the only thing I could come up with.’

  ‘No, that’s not stupid at all.’ He gently pushed her shoulder. ‘Better than trying to get yourself infected.’

  Aurora laughed. ‘True.’

  ‘Why don’t I go check out the water filtration system? Make sure it was replaced recently. I know the air filter was just taken care of because Tor replaced it our first night here and if that’s what was infecting us, he would’ve gotten sick first.’

  ‘Okay. Good thinking.’

  When he left the room, Aurora stared at Zane’s blood. When he wanted a problem solved, he did anything to figure it out. What was she doing to help?

  A thought struck Aurora. Zane had said Tor replaced the air filter their first night on Aviary. That meant a new one had been shipped up to the station. And just because Nathaniel had shown the first signs of sickness didn’t mean Tor wasn’t already sick too. From what she’d gathered from Kaylana and Akemi this past week, it was that everyone could show various signs of symptoms. Maybe Tor didn’t know he was sick. He’d died not long after Nathaniel.

  What if it was the bypass air filter that was defective?

  There was only one way to find out.

  Chapter 40

  Aurora

  Aurora knew in her heart what needed to be done, even if her brain was telling her she was crazy, stupid. The problem was her heart demanded she do anything to save Kaylana, Akemi, Zane, and the rest of the crew. It was obvious no one from the Alliance was going to risk coming to help them. If her father had been successful with his attempt to steal or buy help, she’d have known by now. They were running out of time.

  As much as she wanted to, Aurora couldn’t really blame them for not coming. Something was happening on Aviary that couldn’t be explained and they didn’t want it to spread.

  Airborne.

  That was the key to everything.

  The only way to know if she was right would be to expose herself. If she told anyone of her plans, they’d stop her and that wouldn’t get them anywhere. She had to do this. Once Kaylana and Akemi knew it was spreading through the bypass air filter, they’d know how to contain it. Once the virus was contained, the Alliance would send them a shuttle and Aurora could be cured back at home.

  The schematics she’d downloaded onto her techiwatch showed the bypass filter in the hallway of the circular wing. Dream-like, she padded toward the air filtration unit. The hallway was deathly quiet, no one in sight. The panel was way above her head. Of course, she didn’t have zero gravity when she needed it.

  Only after she’d dragged a stepladder down the hallway was she able to unscrew the panel and pop it off. Aurora pulled herself into the ductwork above and squeezed into the tiny space. The filter looked clean and there was no sign of damage. Maybe she had it all wrong?

  A hum filled the small room as the bypass filter began pulling air from various rooms throughout the station to filter for carbon dioxide. Every night at one am, the filter turned on. Whoever had been roaming the hallways during the next hour would have breathed in whatever was scrubbed through the filter. Most of the cadets slept during this time, but obviously not all of them … Aurora and Zane had been unknowingly lucky when they’d snuck into the observatory. Waiting until everyone was deep asleep, around three or four in the morning.

  Aurora didn’t bother trying to hide where she was because it was too late to stop her.

  She took a deep breath. There was nothing to lose. Either she got sick and helped solve this puzzle or she got sick
at some random point in the future with no further answers. For a few horrible seconds she felt as if the toxin was already working its way into her lungs and heart.

  Pushing those thoughts away, she pictured Zane and Kaylana’s faces. They gave her the courage to slowly breathe in and out. Aurora remained by the bypass filter until it had finished its job.

  When it was done, Aurora climbed down and sealed the panel behind her. She went straight to the medical lab, where she’d wait for Kaylana and Akemi to wake up.

  Soon the real work would begin.

  A few hours passed before Kaylana found Aurora in the medical bay. She’d left her a note the night before, explaining what she’d planned to do. Knowing that explaining her reasoning in person would never work.

  By the time Kaylana stormed into the room, Aurora already knew she’d been infected. Her theory was right. Aurora had never been sick in her life, so the sluggishness and aches she felt were the first signs.

  Kaylana’s face was a mask of fury. The crumpled note flew from her hands and sailed by Aurora’s head.

  ‘What the hell is wrong with you?’ Kaylana stopped in front of her and put her hands on her hips.

  Aurora licked her lips, before deciding to lie down on the cot in the medical bay. ‘Once it’s official that I’m infected, you need to pull out the bypass air filter. Then you need to call the Alliance and tell them the virus only spreads every twenty-four hours and that they need to pick us up as soon as possible. I haven’t been infected for that long, so tracking my progress should give you the information you need for a cure too.’ Aurora needed to get everything she’d figured out in the open. In case she passed out.

  Kaylana’s shoulders hunched as she settled onto her knees beside Aurora’s bed. ‘Why?’ she croaked.

  ‘How else were we going to get the Alliance to come get us? We needed to determine the source. Once they know I’m the last infected and that it’s safe for the next twenty-four hours they’ll come back. And having the virus from initial infection will help you find a way to treat me.’

  ‘But what if I can’t? What if you exposed yourself for nothing?’ Kaylana’s voice cracked.

  ‘I didn’t. And you will.’ Aurora patted Kaylana’s hand.

  Kaylana pulled herself together, determination hardening her eyes. ‘This was so stupid!’

  Five vials of blood later and Aurora was tired. She watched Kaylana through half-hooded eyes as she bent over a microscope in the corner.

  At some point she must have fallen asleep because when she opened her eyes Akemi was standing dutifully beside Kaylana and together they studied Aurora’s blood work.

  Zane slammed through the door a few moments later, startling everyone. He strode directly to her bed, ignoring everything else.

  Chapter 41

  Zane

  ‘What did you do?’ Zane’s voice choked out in a strained whisper as he kneeled down beside Aurora.

  ‘What needed to be done,’ Aurora said, her voice lace over steel.

  His jaw clenched as he tried to regain control of his emotions. ‘It didn’t need to be done this way.’

  ‘Yes, it did. Hail the Alliance and have them send a shuttle. It’s safe.’ Aurora glanced at her techiwatch. ‘For the next twenty hours.’

  Sweat dotted her temple and her cheeks were flushed. He didn’t need anyone to tell him that she’d succeeded. Aurora was sick.

  Zane placed a hand on her forehead. ‘So it’s spreading when the bypass air filter comes on?’

  ‘Your hands are cool.’ Aurora sighed.

  ‘You have a fever.’

  Aurora only nodded.

  Zane’s temper flared.

  ‘It’s airborne. Strikes every twenty-four hours. I don’t know why it took me so long to realize it, but it’s in the filtration system.’

  He stood up, pacing in front of her bed. His first night on Aviary, Zane had watched Tor replace the bypass unit. Remembering how he’d explained it needed to be replaced every six months to regulate the carbon dioxide levels. He would never have thought something brought on board the station—tech that was designed to help the station, would be the cause of their issues.

  Zane scrambled off the bed and Aurora’s eyes widened.

  ‘It’s in the air filter!’

  ‘Yeah.’ She chuckled, a brittle sound that broke Zane’s heart.

  ‘There’s no replacement for it,’ he growled out. ‘We have to remove the filter, secure it, and then get off the station. Once we remove the filter, there won’t be anything to keep the carbon dioxide in check.’

  Aurora slowly nodded, like he was being stupid for not getting her point all along.

  ‘Call the Alliance. We go home. I get cured.’ Aurora lay back down on the bed as if talking that much had exhausted her.

  What if they didn’t get a cure for her in time?

  Zane’s heart skipped a beat.

  ***

  Wearing a mask that covered his nose and mouth and a thick pair of gloves, Zane safely yanked the bypass filter from the filtration unit and placed it inside a plastic bag. Once the filter was sealed inside, he breathed a sigh of relief. Now that it was removed from the station, the virus would be contained. No longer able to spread its disease every time the air re-circulated.

  With Kaylana and Akemi taking care of Aurora, Zane ran to the communications center. After the chaos that occurred when they’d discovered Aurora was sick, the remaining cadets locked themselves on the opposite side of Aviary as a precaution. Once he made the call to the Alliance, he’d have to remember to get them out.

  They were going to be okay.

  Thanks to Aurora.

  Zane wanted to strangle and hug her all at the same time for what she’d done. The Alliance had to come now.

  ‘Hail the Alliance Command Center,’ he barked out.

  ‘Hailing Alliance Command Center,’ Stella responded.

  ‘Aviary to Alliance. Do you read?’

  ‘Loud and clear. Status report?’

  ‘We’ve found the source of the virus and have it contained. You can safely send a shuttle to get us now.’

  ‘How many are still sick?’

  ‘One.’ He swallowed. ‘And she needs help. So get up here.’

  A few moments passed before the Alliance representative responded. ‘I’m sorry. Only once all souls on board are free of the sickness will we send a shuttle.’

  Zane beat his fist against the side control panel before speaking. ‘Aurora Titon is the one that’s sick. We need to get her home and get her help.’

  ‘The only way we’d come is if you quarantined her in the sick bay while we pick you up. You’d all have to be fully suited as well.’

  They wanted them to leave her behind. Hell. No.

  ‘That’s not an option,’ Zane said, his voice hard.

  ‘Our decision is final.’

  The transmission cut off.

  His head dropped to his chest. So many thoughts and feelings whirled inside. He didn’t know how he didn’t explode from them all. The Alliance wouldn’t take any risk. He realized that it would be a risk to pick them up now, but he’d hoped they’d do it anyway.

  Hope. What a bitch.

  And all that hope now lay on … Collin Titon. He’d promised to send an unauthorized shuttle up to help no matter what it cost.

  How the tables had turned.

  Chapter 42

  Aurora

  Airborne, Airborne, Airborne.

  An airborne mantra repeated in her head. Even as Kaylana, Zane, and Akemi argued around her, she couldn’t really hear them.

  Their words bounced off her like rubber.

  I might be delirious, she thought.

  What if Zane didn’t remove the filter? Why was this happening? What virus was on the filter, most had been eradicated years ago? Who was going to help pilot the shuttle her father sent if she wasn’t there to help? How long until the CO2 levels rose?

  ‘Aurora, are you listening?’

 
‘Huh?’ Aurora looked up, startled. She’d somehow forgotten her friends were beside her.

  ‘I said how are you feeling?’ Kaylana approached, frowning.

  ‘Okay, I guess.’ She could feel a wave of coughing coming, but she desperately pushed it aside when she noticed Zane in the room.

  ‘Did you get the filter?’

  ‘Yes.’ Zane nodded.

  Aurora sagged down in the bed. Thank the stars. The rest of them would be safe now.

  Zane approached the bed until he stood only a few feet from her. For the first time he was letting her see all of his thoughts—lost, confused, unsure, desperate, and worried.

  Zane cleared his throat. ‘Akemi, Kaylana, will you give us a moment?’

  ‘Sure.’ Akemi nodded and reached for Kaylana’s hand as they left them alone.

  ‘What is it?’ she asked. ‘Why are you worried?’ With the filter contained, they were safe.

  Zane sat down on the bed and scooted closer to her. He placed his long, cool hands over hers. ‘I can’t lose you.’ The words were so quiet Aurora wasn’t sure she heard him correctly.

  ‘I don’t want to lose you either.’

  His face was a mask of loss and confusion. Aurora knew Zane was losing control if he couldn’t hide his feelings anymore.

  ‘You’re the first person I’ve ever cared about.’ His gray eyes locked on hers. ‘You’re the only home I’ve ever known,’ Zane whispered.

  His words revealed the feelings she had always known were beneath the surface.

  A tear glided down Aurora’s cheek. She finally realized what his face had been telling her from the moment he walked in. He’d removed the air filter, but the Alliance still wasn’t coming.

  Too much of a risk.

  ‘We have to get out of here before the CO2 levels get bad.’ If they didn’t, Aurora had risked her life for nothing.

  She couldn’t hold the cough or terrible pain in any longer.

  Letting go of Zane’s hands, Aurora hunched over, coughing into her sheet.

  When she was finished, the sheets were red.

  Chapter 43

  Sky

  Pacing back and forth in this tin can of a room wasn’t helping Sky’s anxiety, but he didn’t stop. Veronica Harley’s annoying know-it-all voice boomed around him, every word a slap on the face. He’d rather go back to being the center of their world than have her report about the deaths occurring on Aviary.