Airborne

by Kimberly P. Chase

  Aurora wanted to hug Zane for saving her. Even if she didn’t understand how that was possible.

  And Aurora also couldn’t deny that she felt like hugging Sky too. He’d broken protocol and came all this way to save them.

  How was she supposed to choose between them?

  It was at that moment that reality hit. She couldn’t choose between them. All three of them had to work together, survive together. Aurora needed to make them all trust one another.

  So focused on unraveling the two boys in her mind, she jumped when Sky moved beside her. Like gravity, she leaned toward him. His strong arms wrapped around her.

  ‘I’m so glad to see you awake,’ Sky said. When he released their hug, Aurora immediately missed his warmth.

  ‘I’m glad to see you too,’ she admitted, even if his presence confused her more than ever.

  Sky tilted her chin up so she was looking at him. ‘I’ve missed you,’ he whispered.

  ‘You have?’ Aurora met his eyes, startled at how open he was being.

  ‘Well, yeah, there aren’t many girls on the lunar station.’ A teasing light filled his eyes.

  ‘Wow, you’re so sweet.’ Aurora weakly pushed his shoulder.

  He caught her hand as she pulled away. ‘You haven’t called …’

  ‘I, uh …’ Aurora bit her lip. She’d been so confused she hadn’t known what to do. And there really hadn’t been time. ‘It got pretty busy,’ Aurora said lamely. ‘Listen, some things have changed.’ After the things they’d shared in the observatory, Aurora and Zane were definitely together now, even if they hadn’t spoken about it specifically.

  ‘You and Zane finally worked things out, huh?’

  Aurora shrugged. ‘I think so. We haven’t exactly talked about it.’

  Sky grabbed onto this piece of news like it was a lifeline. ‘I just want a chance, Aurora. You’re young and shouldn’t settle down without knowing all that is out there—’

  ‘You don’t understand,’ Aurora said. How could she explain the connection she felt with both of them?

  ‘Yeah, I do,’ Sky said. ‘You like Zane. You like me too. And you know what? That’s okay.’

  Aurora didn’t bother denying it, the lie would have tasted too bitter on her tongue. She’d almost just died, leaving her with a new perspective. She cared about her fellow cadets deeply. How deeply didn’t really matter at this point. ‘We need to get home.’

  ‘Yeah, we do.’ Sky’s lips whispered over hers. ‘Let’s go fly.’

  Chapter 50

  Aurora

  ‘Wait, that’s your plan?’ Aurora yanked her hair back into a tight bun. She’d only flown the lunar transport a few times in a simulator. This idea was suicide.

  ‘That’s the plan. Fly the lunar vehicle to Earth and land.’

  ‘Land?’ Aurora’s voice sounded shrill to her own ears. ‘You mean crash into the ocean?’

  ‘Should be easy enough.’ Sky grinned like this was going to be a walk in the park.

  ‘That won’t work, Sky. It doesn’t have the capabilities of a shuttle. The lunar transport is meant for light g only. We’ll most likely burn on re-entry.’ The lunar transport carried lunar rocks in a zero g environment, not seven passengers on a one way, hundred thousand mile an hour ride to Earth. Oh, and let’s not forget the crash ocean landing it would have to survive.

  ‘That’s why we’ll need Zane to make a few modifications,’ Sky replied calmly. Like he’d already figured it all out and was just waiting for Aurora to catch up to his logic.

  ‘I just feel like we’re rushing this.’ Aurora glanced at Zane, waiting for him to back her up that this plan was insane. Insane with a capital I.

  But Zane only glanced at his watch before quickly agreeing with Sky. ‘We have a little less than twenty-four hours before we get sick from carbon dioxide.’

  So they really were screwed either way.

  Sky took that as an excuse to continue, focusing on Zane. ‘First, I’ll need you to remove any and all flight restrictions. Specifically any speed restraints she may have. We’ll need to strip her of everything non-essential to keep our weight down. Carrying seven passengers is going to be tight. Also, we’ll need to see if we can up the heat shields. Is there any way to do that?’

  Okay, so maybe Sky did have it all figured out. If Zane could do all of those things … and let’s face it, there wasn’t much he couldn’t do.

  While Sky and Zane hashed out their plan, Aurora thought about all the things that would need to go right for this crazy plan to work. One mistake could kill them all. Aurora was still recovering from her last near death experience. She would not beat the virus only to die trying to get home. Once the virus was out of her blood, wouldn’t the Alliance send a shuttle?

  ‘Guys, wait. When the virus is out of my system, we’ll just test my blood and ask the Alliance to send a shuttle.’

  Zane and Sky stopped their discussion; both glanced at her with sad eyes.

  ‘I know we don’t have much time with the carbon dioxide levels rising, but maybe the Alliance will get here quickly, now that I’m getting better?’

  ‘The Alliance has everything under quarantine. Getting a shuttle up here will take longer than we’ve got. I know I’m not willing to risk getting you back to the Academy, where you’ll get the best medical treatment possible.’ Sky glanced over at Zane. ‘Are you?’

  Before Zane could answer, Kaylana entered the room. ‘Your blood won’t show it’s clear of the virus anyway. Because of the way you were treated …’ Kaylana’s eyes darted around the room before she cleared her throat and continued. ‘The virus will remain in your blood stream. I don’t know how long that will last.’

  ‘Wait what?’ Sky asked. She was thinking the same thing, but Aurora knew Kaylana well enough to know she was trying to hide something. What that was though, Aurora had no idea.

  ‘I thought you’d contained the virus and created an antidote,’ Sky persisted.

  ‘It doesn’t matter,’ Akemi joined their conversation. He placed a hand on Kaylana’s shoulder. ‘All that matters is that we’re on our own and we need to get home immediately.’

  ‘Well then, let’s get home, I guess.’ They didn’t really have a choice.

  ***

  Aurora floated to the hatch, where Sky had docked with the station. The lock hissed as it unsealed. Entering the lunar transport vehicle, she noticed a cargo hold off to the right toward the back.

  She turned left and headed toward the cockpit.

  Glass panels covered the entire instrumentation board. Flicking the power unit forward, the screens lit in a neon green masterpiece that she needed to understand. For the next few hours, Aurora pored over checklists, trying to understand how they were going to bring this shell of a vehicle through Earth’s atmosphere in one piece.

  So deep in thought, Aurora didn’t hear Sky join her. His leg pressed against her shoulder as he moved into the captain’s seat next to her. He strapped himself in a way that said he was intimately familiar with the vehicle.

  ‘Are we really going to do this?’ This flight wasn’t happening in a simulation. This would be very real.

  Sky pointed to the instrument panel. ‘It’s not much different than the shuttle. What we’ll have to worry about is the actual flight path. We’ll need to position ourselves for the best re-entry angle. And then once we’re entering Earth’s atmosphere, I’ll need you to help guide our flight path.’

  ‘That will be like trying to fly a falling building,’ Aurora said.

  ‘I know I’m asking a lot of you, but we can do this. We have to do this.’

  Sky sounded so sure. Looking into his blue eyes, she found the strength to whisper, ‘Okay, we’ll do this.’

  They spent the next two hours with their heads bent together, walking through every impossible scenario. When Sky announced it was time to sleep, Aurora sagged in relief. She still wasn’t feeling one hundred percent. Though as she left the cockpit, she did feel better about t
omorrow’s flight home.

  Zane was in the sleeping room when she arrived.

  ‘Where are Akemi and Kaylana?’

  ‘They wanted some time alone before tomorrow.’

  ‘Oh.’ That made sense. At a loss for what to say, she just stared at Zane for a few minutes.

  ‘Thank you.’ Aurora cleared her throat. ‘For saving me.’

  Zane floated closer to her. ‘My pleasure.’

  ‘How did you do that anyway? Was it all the blood you gave me?’ From Kaylana and Zane’s earlier behavior, Aurora knew they were keeping something from her. Would Zane trust her enough to tell her?

  Chapter 51

  Zane

  It had worked. Aurora was awake once again and Sky was riling her up for what was sure to be a death defying flight back to Earth. Her skin was still pale and her breath came in short gasps occasionally, but if his blood hadn’t worked then she never would have woken up again. Her heart would have failed at some point during the night.

  The genetic engineering Collin Titon had done to him was saving Aurora’s life. When they made it back alive, he’d worry if there would be any other affects. Would it change her too?

  Zane’s mouth felt dry. He needed to explain to Aurora that his blood saved her, but he wasn’t sure how he’d explain. Even though he’d finally come to terms with what Titon Technologies had done, he wasn’t sure Aurora was ready to hear it.

  Zane decided he couldn’t tell her that part. At least not right now anyway. Not before the big flight home. So he said lightly, ‘Yeah, my blood apparently has super healing powers.’ He grabbed her hand, when she opened her mouth to ask questions. ‘Let’s not worry about the how’s and why’s tonight. We can talk about all of that when we get back.’

  ‘You can trust me you know.’

  ‘I know. I’m just too tired to explain it all. And tonight should be about more than that.’

  Aurora nodded, moving closer into his embrace.

  Zane folded his arms around her, holding onto this moment. Now that Sky was back in their lives, he wasn’t sure what it would do to the delicate relationship they’d been trying to build.

  He kissed the top of her head, knowing now wasn’t the right time to figure it all out.

  Sky cleared his throat and Aurora pulled away from him.

  He reluctantly let her go.

  ‘Guys, are you sure—’

  ‘Don’t start. I need the best pilot we’ve got to help land the lunar transport. If I’m not mistaken, that’s you.’ Sky glared at Aurora.

  Zane felt like he was intruding when they continued to stare one another down.

  ‘It is me,’ she finally admitted.

  Even if all of the other pilot cadets weren’t dead, Zane knew it would still be true.

  Sky stepped closer to Aurora, bending down so they were at eye level. ‘We flew the lunar transport once together, remember?’

  They had?

  ‘I remember.’ Aurora nodded. She glanced at Zane as if she wanted to explain. ‘Sky and I trained in the sim a few times back at the Academy. He helped me win the jump seat spot.’

  ‘I see,’ Zane said. And he did see everything clearly now.

  Aurora liked them both. Maybe she even needed them both. The thought didn’t bother him as much as it probably should have. But maybe that was because Zane knew Aurora would always be connected to him. She was his life, his home, and whatever she needed, Zane would give.

  ‘That makes sense,’ he added when silence stretched between the three of them. ‘I’m glad you’ve been training.’

  And he was. He sure as hell didn’t know how to fly anything. Besides, it was what she lived and breathed for and Sky could give that to her.

  ‘Let’s get some rest,’ Sky ordered, completely unaware of Zane’s inner turmoil.

  ‘Yeah. I’m tired.’ Aurora motioned around the room of sleep bags. ‘I guess we should probably stay here.’

  Zane agreed. Who knew what Kaylana and Akemi were up to.

  ‘So Akemi and Kaylana, huh?’ Sky somehow picked up on their thoughts, chuckling.

  ‘Yup.’ Aurora moved toward a sleeping bag and struggled to get inside. Once she was settled, she asked Stella to dim the lights.

  Zane remained frozen as Sky leaned down, kissed her cheek, and hopped into a sack beside her.

  He waited for a few seconds before making up his mind. He followed Sky’s steps, kissed Aurora’s other cheek, and jumped in the sack on the other side of Aurora.

  When she’d drifted to sleep, Zane met Sky’s eyes. What he saw there didn’t surprise him—longing along with a determination to take care of Aurora. Probably the same thing Sky would see in his eyes.

  Both of them watched her sleep as if they were both scared she wouldn’t be there in the morning.

  A few hours before sunrise, Sky fell asleep too. And he was left alone, watching over the both of them.

  Chapter 52

  Aurora

  Anything not strapped down in the lunar lander was thrown out. Aurora chucked drill replacement parts, boots, helmets, storage units, really anything and everything she came across that wasn’t essential for flight. Weight was the enemy and they weren’t going to need any of it anyway. They needed mobility and that meant they needed to be light.

  Every time Aurora bent over to pick something up her body would protest with aches and pains. The only thing that made it better was holding her breath and gritting her teeth through it. It didn’t matter that she was still recovering from whatever disease had killed half their crew. She had to do this. Everyone’s lives depended on it. Aurora gave herself a mental pep talk. She seemed to need them more than ever.

  They were good pilots. It didn’t matter that there weren’t studies on how the lunar lander handled re-entry or full earth gravity.

  ‘Watch out!’

  Aurora ducked as Sky threw something over her head. ‘Watch it,’ she snapped without heart, secretly pleased he’d distracted her.

  ‘Just being efficient. No need to be grumpy.’ Sky reached over to tug her ponytail before throwing something else out of the cargo hold. It slowly sailed out the door and into Aviary.

  ‘I know.’ Aurora sighed. ‘I’m still just tired, I guess.’

  Sky’s face lost all humor. ‘Once we land you’re going straight to Dr Stevenson.’

  ‘I see you’re back to bossing me around already.’ A smile crossed her lips before she could stop it.

  ‘You like it.’ Casting a mischievous grin her way, Sky reached out for her but stopped when Zane came through the door.

  ‘We about ready?’ he asked.

  On impulse, Aurora reached out and grabbed Sky’s hand in one of hers and with the other she grabbed Zane’s hand so that she held onto both of them. ‘We can do this,’ she said. Maybe if she repeated it enough, it would become true. ‘Together,’ she added. They had been working together to get this done. Without Zane making tweaks to the lunar transport or without Sky or Aurora to help fly, this wouldn’t work.

  ‘Agreed,’ Sky added. ‘We’re a team.’ He let go of Aurora’s hand and moved back into instructor mode, barking out orders. ‘Let’s get everyone in the cargo bay suited up and strapped down.’ Sky glanced around the barren room. ‘As you can see it’s meant for hauling cargo, not people. Find anything you can to strap yourself down.’

  Zane let go of her hand and reached for a few ropes that they’d kept.

  ‘We’re going to get set up.’ Sky floated toward the cockpit, leaving Aurora and Zane alone.

  ‘Look, I changed my mind. I want to tell you—’

  Aurora stopped him. ‘Now’s not the time.’ Even though she was totally confused and desperate to know why she hadn’t died from the airborne disease that had swept through the station, she did know that it involved Zane and would take way more of an explanation than they had time for. He’d been right last night not to tell her. Right now she needed to be focused. ‘All I need to know is that you saved my life. The rest ca
n wait.’ Aurora moved forward and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. ‘When we survive this crazy, stupid landing, we’ll figure it all out. Okay?’

  Zane tilted his chin down in acknowledgement, seeming resigned.

  ***

  While Zane, Akemi, Kaylana, Kylie, Quinn, and Reed were cramped in the cargo bay with no idea what was happening outside, Aurora was in a front row seat to hell.

  White flames licked the cockpit window and over heat warnings pierced Aurora’s ears. The lunar transport was on fire. From the outside, they probably looked like a small flaming meteor hurtling toward the ground. Thick white smoke trails billowed out behind them.

  ‘One hundred and twenty kilometers,’ Aurora called out their descent, trying to remain calm. Maybe if she focused on the instruments in front of her, she wouldn’t freak out.

  There was nothing she could do about the friction of heat caused by the air particles hitting the shuttle as they traveled down. She could only pray that the windshield held until they were down.

  Glancing away from the instruments, she looked at Sky for reassurance.

  ‘You ready?’ Sky’s authoritative voice somehow managed to calm her nerves.

  ‘Yeah,’ Aurora breathed. She tracked their flight path on the screen in front of her. The little green dot that represented them fell straight down at terminal velocity.

  ‘Once we hit the upper atmosphere, it’s going to take everything we’ve got to slow her down and land. And by land I mean hit the water.’

  Aurora swallowed. Their flight path needed to be accurate. The plan was to hit the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida, so that the Academy could send the Taurus to pick them up.

  ‘Seventy-five kilometers,’ Aurora announced. This would be the hottest point. The cool white flames that had caressed their window earlier were now an orange and red inferno as they entered the oxygenated atmosphere.

  ‘On my count, we’ll turn.’ Sky grabbed the joystick between his legs, just as she touched hers. They were coasting past California right now and needed to steer the vehicle toward the Atlantic Ocean that would be under them in a matter of minutes.

  Together the two of them pulled on the stick. Straining her arms to keep the aircraft on course, Aurora pulled back and to the left in tandem with Sky.