“I’ll call the Leviathan,” says the commander and hurries off.
Kai and I start toward the doors. I feel a hand on my arm.
“What about Alex?” asks Sean, his eyes full of concern.
I look to the far side of the room. “Go get him and meet us up front.” I turn to Rand. “Can you get Kai’s father and Cam?”
He nods and hurries off.
The rest of us push through the crowd toward the large doors.
I’m exhausted by the time we finally make it to the other side of the room and are standing up front. A line of soldiers guard our exit.
I send a message out and soon hear the satisfying sound of pings all across the room. Silence fills the large building.
“Now they’re quiet,” I mutter to Kai.
He chuckles. “Are you ready for this?”
“I love a good stampede.” I grin.
The others join us, and we wait anxiously for the Leviathan.
The first thing I notice is my ears popping.
I look up quickly.
“Sound barrier,” says Philip, his voice filled with awe.
I freeze as a shadow covers the building. It becomes dark as night inside.
The doors creak and bang against their restraints as wind picks up outside. Dust gets blown in through cracks and we cover our mouths and noses.
Kai wraps an arm around me. I cling to him as we watch lights flash through the pieces of wood.
I glance over to check on Cam. He’s sitting in the chair with Mr. Chao and Rand has a firm grip on the back of the grav chair. Katrina and Josh are huddled together to the side trying to keep the dirt away from their faces. Sean and Philip support Alex between them.
In the dim light I see the commander raise a hand as the deafening roar of engines rattle the building. The soldiers struggle to open the massive wooden doors.
Covering our faces as much as we can with our hands we step forward outside. My heart races in my chest as the wind settles some and we get our first glimpse of the giant spaceship.
“That’s it,” Kai whispers in my ear as he holds me to him tightly.
It looks bigger than any city I’ve ever lived in.
We walk slowly toward it as we watch the cargo ramp lower. It hits the ground with a sound like thunder. The commander waves at us and we start jogging toward the massive ramp.
I watch as Cam and Mr. Chao make it to the ramp and up into the bowels of the ship with Rand’s help. I breathe a sigh of relief.
Kai tugs me to the side of the ramp. We use the metal handrails as a shield from the wind created by the engines.
He leans in close, “Do you hear that?”
I make a face at him. “All I can hear is the loud engines.”
He shakes his head. “Listen. Deeper than the engines.”
I close my eyes and listen. Underneath the noise of the ship there’s a deep rumble. I open my eyes and squint past the warehouse. There’s too much dust blowing around to see much of anything, but I recognize that sound.
“We need to get everyone onboard,” I yell to Kai. My pulse quickens as the sound gets louder.
He nods and points to the commander, who’s on the other side of the ramp hurrying students into the ship.
We duck underneath the ramp and make our way to the commander.
Kai tries to tell the commander what we heard, but he can’t hear him over the noise.
I take out my tablet and open up a message. I type out the warning and shove it into the commander’s hands.
His eyes go wide and he looks around. I point away from the academy, to the north of the warehouse. He squints.
In the distance we see movement in the billowing dust coming toward us. I feel like I’m going to throw up. Half the students are still hurrying into the ship. A bottle neck has been created somewhere inside and the line slows.
Unseen somewhere out there are the Purists with explosives that could hit us at any minute. And rampaging cows are the only protection we have from them. But they also could harm us if we can’t get everyone inside the ship.
I frantically send a message to everyone to hurry as the rumble gets closer. Everyone is so desperate to get inside they’re not checking their tablets.
Kai steps next to me, and I shrug, hot tears threatening to spill.
He puts his fingers to his mouth and lets out a whistle. I’ve just covered my ears when he does it several more times.
Those closest to us pause to look at him. He raises his tablet and gestures frantically.
A few students look at their tablets. They glance quickly over their shoulders before turning to urge the students in front of them to get going. News spreads rapidly and finally the line of students is moving quickly into the ship.
“Thanks,” I lean in and say loudly.
“Not sure if we’re in time. Here they come.” He points over the crowd of students rushing into the ship. Out of the dust cloud that’s been moving steadily toward us comes the forms of hundreds of panicking cows.
I flatten my lips into a thin line. I look between the stampeding cows and the soldiers ushering the last of the students toward us. The soldiers are waving their arms and shouting for everyone to hurry. We’re now the herd being corralled.
The whine of the Leviathan’s engines change. I look behind us to see the wind created by the large ship increasing. I’m shoved from behind and stumble onto the ramp.
I grab for Kai, but he’s being propelled forward next to me by several soldiers. They give us a last shove into the ship and then hurry back down the ramp.
Kai and I cling to the wall out of the way of the crowd desperately trying to get into the ship. We watch the approaching cows, mesmerized by their power and speed.
“That’s a lot of cows,” Kai says and wraps a protective arm around me.
Secure in his grasp I watch helplessly as they get closer to the last of the students still outside the ship. All the lights inside the large bay flash and I turn my head to look.
I gasp as I see for the first time the dock we’re standing in is bigger than ten warehouses. There are several levels of metal railings and full-size ships hanging above from their cradles. Soldiers urge the front of the crowd to run toward the middle of the giant metallic monster in order to make room for those still outside.
I turn back as I feel the rumble of the stampede through the metal flooring. I place a hand on the wall next to us. The impact of the hoofs on the Earth vibrates through the metal and into my very bones. Kai gasps and squeezes me tight as a cow breaks from the herd and narrowly misses several soldiers. The crowd screams, which makes the last of the panicked students push forward and into the ship.
The last soldiers stumble in, along with a dust-encrusted commander. He bends over, his hands on his knees as the giant ramp starts to close behind him.
Outside the cows rush past. A breathing, snorting river of brown fur and panicked eyes. Their smell reaches me as the wind from the engines increases and blows across the herd. As one massive living thing, the cows turn away from the ship as the roar of the engines becomes unbearable for them.
The ramp thuds into place, and we’re enveloped in an eerie, hushed silence. Kai pulls me to the ground with him and hugs me close. I blink away tears as the huge spaceship pushes slowly away from Earth.
23
To Live and Thrive
Kai’s dark eyes glisten as he smiles down at me. We feel the ship shudder underneath us as we continue our ascent through the layers of atmosphere.
My tablet pings, and I hold it up so we can see it. The general has sent us a sat image of the area around the warehouse. It shows the moving cows running in an arc around the warehouse. On all sides are large trucks and tanks blocked by the living barrier.
“They were just on the other side of them.” My whole body shivers.
“Saved by the cows again,” says Kai. He holds me tighter and I can feel him shaking behind me.
I nod. I continue to watch
the cows run past the academy as in terror they blindly follow the contour of the valley.
“Look,” says Kai. He reaches over and points to a dark image where the academy is. All we can see from this angle is two large rectangles. One of the rectangles seems to lean outward.
“What is that?”
“The floor must’ve completely split. The tower is going down.”
I watch in horror as the place that was our home for the last year and a half collapses in on itself.
I turn off my tablet and lean back into Kai. “I don’t even want to think what would’ve happened if we were still trapped in there.”
Kai kisses my neck. “Then don’t. We’re fine now.”
I smile.
A ball of black and white fur is dropped into my lap, startling me. I hold it to my chest and look up.
“You found Mrs. Chao.”
Cam bobs his head. “I’ve got to help distribute food. Can you watch her for me? I’ve named her Blanca.”
I stroke the fuzzy kitten. She squirms against me until she’s buried her face into my neck and starts purring. “Of course.” I smile at my brother. “Save me some of Angel’s tacos.”
He nods and runs off, weaving his way through the crowd of people. The Earthlight Space Academy students are distinguishable from the other passengers since we’re still covered with dust from our narrow escape.
“You’re all right with him running off like that?” Philip stops and sits down cross-legged on the floor in front of us.
I grin. “We used to live on the edge of a river with almost a half million people. I think he can handle this.”
Philip’s shoulders relax. “I don’t know how you did it. I thought being packed into the academy with hundreds of others was bad. This is torture. My nerves are shot.”
“Have you thought more about which offer to take?” I lean forward, my back suddenly cold as I leave the warmth of Kai’s embrace.
Philip looks nervously around at the crowd. We were told once we got in here that there was almost two million people crammed into the different storage holds of the ship and above in the residential areas. Down here we’ve settled onto the cold metal floor to wait for our arrival at Jupiter Station. The first of several stops to distribute all the passengers.
He looks back at me and leans forward. “Is your offer still good?” He looks between me and Kai.
I feel the rumble of Kai’s chuckle as I lean back into his warm chest. “Of course. We’re family,” Kai answers.
Relief passes over Philip and he leans forward to gather us both in a three-way hug. He lets us go and bounces to his feet. “Thanks. I’d rather be with you guys than a bunch of strangers.”
“No, we’re the lucky ones to have the zero-G hacker on our side.” I wink at him.
He winces at the nickname that the media gave him. Not five minutes after getting settled onto the Leviathan, and after nearly getting trampled by cows, the media was telling the world about our exploits at the academy.
“Don’t call me that,” he whispers loudly.
I laugh. “At least you won’t be needed to help at Starlight Max.”
He groans. “When I find Rand, I’m going to—”
“You’re going to what?” Rand steps up right behind Philip.
Philip’s eyes go wide. “You could’ve warned me he was coming.” He narrows his eyes at me.
“What fun would that be?”
Philip turns and smacks Rand across his chest. Rand just stares calmly down at him, grinning.
A strangled noise comes from Philip and he side-steps around Rand. He points a finger at him. “I’ll get you someday for recommending me to restore the systems at Starlight.”
Rand shrugs, his new black security uniform fitting smoothly over his muscular frame. “It’s safe enough there now. Sean’s father was able to stop the rioting.”
“Doesn’t matter. That was mean. You know I can’t handle crowds. Or germs. Or enclosed spaces.”
“You’re going to be living in an enclosed space up here, you know. That’s basically what ships and habitats are.” Rand grins.
Philip pales. He turns and stomps off through the crowd.
Rand looks down at me. “We’re stopping at Luna first. I came to see if you wanted to say goodbye to your father.”
A cold shiver goes through me despite Kai’s warmth. “No, I have nothing to say to him right now. Maybe in a few years after he’s had some time in therapy, I’ll check in on him.”
The lights flash overhead. Rand holds his hand out to me, and I let him pull me to my feet. He hugs me tight. “Thanks for being my friend.”
I hug him back. When we part, I have tears running down my face. “You just take care of yourself down there. We’ll be back to visit.” I glance at Kai. He nods, smiling.
“You better.” His voice is gravely, and he lets go of me. “I’ll make sure your father gets down there. You and Cam won’t have to worry about him.”
“Thank you.”
I watch as Rand turns and makes his way across the huge storage bay and disappears through one of the doors on the far wall.
I don’t wipe away my tears this time. I sit back down, and Kai pulls me back to him. He places the kitten in my lap and wraps his arms around me.
“We’ve destroyed our home,” I say softly enough that only Kai hears.
“Yes. But it’ll heal in time.”
“I hope so.”
“We did all we could, you know.” He squeezes me again.
I relax into him. “I know,” I whisper.
I’m not sure if I really believe it though. But I’d like to think we did. I turn my head so I can see Kai’s handsome face. “I wanted to live in space my whole life. I worked hard to get here. But I’m not sure it’s worth the costs. Not after all we’ve been through.”
“Whether you worked hard in the academy or not, our planet would still be in this situation, Anja. This is not our fault.” Kai’s brown eyes pierce me with sudden intensity. “You worked so you could make a difference in your future. Although the survivors will now be living in space too, you and I and all our classmates will be more prepared. We can help others up here and make a difference.”
I smile. “So not an end to our story?”
That million-dollar smile I love so much slowly spreads across his face. “Just the beginning. The Purists agreed to cease fire and to move into the biolabs. All of our friends are here with us, as well as everyone we knew from the borderlands. We might’ve lost Earth for now, but we saved humanity.”
He kisses me.
“It seems trivial, but we didn’t get to finish our last year at the academy.” I frown.
“Just because we didn’t get an actual graduation ceremony doesn’t mean we failed. The commander is still graduating all Year Twos. And our government gave us commendations for our part in all this.” He waves his hand at the crowded storage bay.
“And funding to buy our first jump ship,” I say. I can’t help but to smile despite the heaviness in my heart.
Kai hugs me. “And we’ve got a great crew to start our new business. With Philip, Sean, and Alex with us we can’t fail. And Katrina and Josh will get their own ship, so we can all still work together.”
I twist in his lap to face him. “I almost feel guilty for all the blessings and opportunities that have come to us. When we’re leaving our home planet forever.”
“You shouldn’t. We’ve been on the brink of barely surviving for so long I understand you feeling that way. But we’ve worked hard for those opportunities. And we’ve gone through so much hardship and tragedy. We’re done just trying to survive. Now is the time for us to live and thrive.”
The ship shudders again as we push through the last layer surrounding Earth. A stab of loss passes through my heart. I listen to the sound of humanity all around me. Mundane conversations. Families reunited. Plans being discussed.
We’re more than survivors.
My heart fills with hop
e as I stare into Kai’s warm brown eyes. I kiss him firmly, warmth spreading throughout my body. I’m overcome with the feeling that no matter what happens in this new chapter of our lives, we’ll be more than just all right.
I lean back slightly. “And this time no one will keep us separated by a wall.”
THE END
About the Author
I was raised on a hippie commune by my mother, who had previously worked on the Apollo 1 program.
Today I’m a space enthusiast and fangirl of most things YA, sci-fi, romance, or paranormal. Addicted to traveling.
If you enjoyed this book, I’d appreciate it if you would leave a review on Amazon!
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Also by Heather Lee Dyer
Recycling Humanity series:
.5 - Sand and Starships - Prequel short story
1 - Recycling Humanity
1.5 - Escape from Rokyta - Short story
2 - Starlight Max
3 - Biolab Zeg
4 - Midpoint Station
5 - Talia’s Planet
Delta Fringe Series:
Station Coroner
Fringe Attack
Mars Colony
A Space Command Series:
Earthlight Space Academy: Border School
Earthlight Space Academy: Year One
Earthlight Space Academy: Year Two
Clashing Kingdoms Series:
(Co-written with Drake Mason)
Worlds Between - Book 1
Anthologies:
That Moment When (YA short stories)
Reinvented (Non-fiction)
Beyond the Galaxy (Space Opera)
Creativity Over Perfection: The World Needs Your Book!
Creativity Over Perfection: Writing as Medicine!
Earthlight Space Academy Boxset Page 57