Childhoods Lost (Sentinels Saga Book 2)

by Linn Schwab

  “Who did we lose?” Jay asked them, having seen that same look on many occasions.

  “Pogo didn’t make it,” Thomas said. “I checked around, and his fighter isn’t here.”

  “That’s too bad,” Jay said with regret. “He wasn’t such a bad guy once you got to know him. But I ... kind of had a feeling he wasn’t going to last very long. He just didn’t strike me as—”

  A sudden loud noise from the airlocks interrupted him. The interior starboard doors slid open. A ravaged fighter hobbled forward into the hangar with its front tire flattened and nearly falling off the wheel.

  Thomas grinned and shook his head when he read the name underneath the cockpit. “Well what do you know,” he said, walking toward the plane. “It looks like he made it after all.” After briefly surveying the damage to the plane, he further qualified his observation with, “Barely!”

  Pogo climbed down and joined the others on the floor, then immediately bent down and grabbed his knees as if he was suffering from a sudden bout of queasiness.

  “Welcome back, buddy,” Thomas greeted him. He landed a friendly slap on Pogo’s shoulder. “You had us all worried there for a while. What took you so long?”

  Pogo took a deep breath and said, “Man, you guys were right! Those girls are just not very nice at all!” He paused and looked up at the holes in his plane. “They will not be getting any Christmas cards from me!”

  Thomas laughed and said, “Did you, uh ... get a chance to work some of your charm on one of them?”

  “Are you kidding!” Pogo exclaimed. “I never even laid eyes on one of them! All I saw were bullets coming at me! From everywhere! All at once!”

  “Yeah,” Jay said, trying to hold back a laugh, “better get used to it, my friend. You’re almost always going to be outnumbered in a dogfight. That’s just the way things seem to go out here. Their pilots operate in larger groups than ours.”

  Pogo nodded. “So I noticed. Why is that, exactly? Is there some official rule that says we can only have four fighters in a squadron?”

  “Not that I’m aware of,” Jay said. “I think it just has to do with differing priorities. We operate in squadrons of four because our objective is taking out as many enemy destroyers as we can. I think they tend to operate in larger squadrons because their objective is taking out our fighters. But no one really knows for sure. That would just be my guess, is all.”

  “I think we need to change that right quick,” Pogo said. “Can we start a petition to increase the size of our squadrons?”

  “You’re welcome to try,” Jay said with a laugh. “While you’re at it, you might as well ask them to send us home, too.”

  Thomas snickered and gestured toward the exit. “Come on, guys. I’m starved. Let’s hit the mess deck before everyone else cleans it out.”

  * * * *

  After entering the wreckage field, it took the Sentinel fighter squadrons several minutes to locate the Zephyr. The ship’s nose was so badly damaged it seemed to blend in perfectly with all the other wrecks around it.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Jenny complained, after scrutinizing the Zephyr’s mangled hull. “She wants us to land on that? I can’t even tell what’s still holding it together!”

  “Yeah, what a wreck,” Nancy agreed. “That ship has ‘death trap’ written all over it. You really think we should try to land here?”

  “We can’t just sit out here forever,” Jenny said. “Let’s get in there and refuel. We’ll take a quick look around to see how sturdy she is on the inside.”

  Circling around behind the Zephyr, the pilots were relieved to discover that the stern of the ship was largely undamaged. The airlocks appeared to be functioning normally. Jenny flew in at the head of the line and found the flight deck to be in good condition. When she climbed down out of her fighter, the ship’s captain came forward to introduce herself.

  “I’m Captain Wells,” she said. “Welcome aboard the Zephyr.”

  “Captain Wells,” Jenny acknowledged. “Isn’t there a commander on this ship?”

  “Not right now,” Captain Wells informed her. “Commander Hutchins transferred to another carrier when all of our fighters were reassigned. We were on our way to Bristol for repairs when Commander Eldridge ordered us to stop here. I’m afraid we’re a little short on personnel as well. You girls are gonna have to help service your own planes if you need them prepped in a timely fashion.”

  “Understood. What about repairs? Do you have any fighter techs on board?”

  “No fighter techs, just standard ship crew. We can probably make a few minor repairs, as long as it isn’t anything too specialized. Also, our techs are busy trying to patch up the ship, so they already have a lot of work on their hands. Which reminds me, I need you to pass along a warning to the others. Parts of this ship are still full of holes. If you see any interior hatches that have red X’s painted on them, it means the compartments beyond them are depressurized.”

  Nancy walked up to Jenny’s side and listened in on the conversation.

  “Thanks for the warning, Captain,” Jenny said. “I’ll make sure everyone knows not to open them. Are you in contact with Volaris? I sent one of my pilots back there earlier, and I’d really like to have some confirmation that she made it.”

  “Of course,” the captain said. “You’re welcome to put a call through if you like.”

  Jenny nodded and turned to Nancy. “I’m gonna head up to the bridge for a while,” she said. “I want you to take charge of organizing things down here. Make sure the planes get fueled and rearmed, and then get them all lined up by squadron.”

  Nancy grinned and crossed her arms.

  “What are you smiling about?” Jenny asked her.

  “You,” she said. “I couldn’t help but notice that you’re starting to sound more and more like a commander.”

  Jenny pretended to take offense at the remark. “Are you trying to get rid of me?” she teased.

  “Of course not,” Nancy insisted. “I was just thinking how happy we’d all be if one of us survived long enough to make commander. I happen to think you’d be good at it, Jenny. Maybe it’s something you should consider before a bullet shows up with your name on it.”

  Jenny rolled her eyes and headed for the elevator. “You aren’t getting rid of me that easily,” she said. “I have no intention of trying to cheat fate. If I let you take over for me, the bullet that has my name on it will just end up in you instead.”

  * * * *

  When Virginia returned to Volaris, the airlock doors opened up for her right away. Seconds later, she pulled inside the hangar and parked just behind the enemy fighter. She could see the station’s deck crew standing around the plane, staring at it as if in awe. It was almost like they’d never seen a fighter before and had no idea how they should react to its presence. She climbed down from her cockpit, walked over to them, and observed the mesmerized looks in their eyes. It isn’t the plane itself they’re thinking about, she determined. It’s the significance of what it represents. Something that has always been unthinkable before. Face to face contact between the two sides.

  “Where is he?” she asked one of the deck crew. “Is he still alive?”

  The girl looked at her as if in a daze. “They took him to the infirmary.”

  Virginia spun away from her and headed straight for the nearest exit. When she arrived inside the infirmary, the enemy pilot was lying motionless on a bed, and Major Richards was standing close to his side. At the moment, no one else was present in the room.

  “Is he still alive?” she asked.

  Major Richards crossed her arms and leaned against the side of the bed. “Alive, yes. Awake, no. Were you hoping to interrogate him?”

  Virginia stared at the pilot’s face as she contemplated a response to the question. Determined not to feel sorry for him, she blunted every trace of emotion inside her that bore even the slightest resemblance to pity. “No,” she said. “I’ll leave that to you. He’s fort
unate I didn’t kill him already.” With that, she stepped back out of the room and headed for the nearest elevator.

  Seconds later, Janine rushed into the infirmary, once again struggling to catch her breath. She stared at the enemy pilot in shock. “My god! It’s really true!”

  “Word spreads fast,” Major Richards observed. “I suppose the whole station knows he’s here by now.”

  “Have you told anyone about this yet?”

  “If by ‘anyone,’ you’re referring to Command–‌net, then the answer to your question is no. My first priority was to keep him alive. I haven’t had a chance to file any reports just yet.”

  Janine looked agitated and anxious, but the major’s answer seemed to calm her slightly.

  “Speaking of Command–‌net,” the major said, “did you find out when we can expect the Fourth Fleet?”

  Still captivated by the enemy pilot’s presence, Janine appeared not to hear the question. A few seconds later, she flinched and responded, as if suddenly coming out of daydream. “They’re not coming, now,” she said, her voice sounding distant and somewhat forlorn.

  “They’re not coming? Why? Does Command even know what we’re up against here?”

  “They had to be deployed somewhere else. We’re not the only area currently under attack. Our defenses are suddenly being stretched to their limits.” She finally looked up from the unconscious pilot and briefly glanced at Major Richards. “Excuse me,” she said, then headed for the doorway. “There’s another matter I need to attend to.”

  The major watched her step out of sight and voiced a sarcastic comment to herself: “And whatever it is, I’m sure it has nothing at all to do with this pilot, right?” She looked down at the pilot’s face and suddenly found herself feeling pity for him. I don’t know what it is she has planned for you, but you might end up wishing I would have just let you die.

  * * * *

  Virginia wandered through Volaris for a while before ending up in the cafeteria. The younger girls were seated at a cluster of tables close to one of the inner walls. She drew a cup of coffee for herself then squeezed in at the table where ECHO 5 was sitting. “Hi, girls,” she said, sitting down beside Mindy. “Mind if I join you?”

  Mindy moved aside to make room for her.

  Virginia’s eyes immediately focused on Chrissy. “Who’s the pipsqueak?” she asked with a friendly smile.

  “That’s Chrissy,” Mindy told her. “She’s Sheri’s replacement. She was in Robin’s nursery pack.”

  “Oh,” Virginia said, “nice to meet you, Chrissy. How did get yourself into this mess?”

  “They asked for a volunteer,” she answered. “They told me I could be in Robin’s squad. What happened to your arm?” she asked, noticing Virginia’s blood–‌stained sleeve.

  “Well, I got shot, is what happened.”

  Chrissy winced in empathy. “Does everyone get shot?” she asked with concern.

  Virginia frowned and nodded her head. “I’m afraid so. Almost everyone, anyway.”

  Robin saw the unease in Chrissy’s eyes and decided it was time to change the subject. “Virginia,” she interrupted, “did you hear there’s a man on Volaris?”

  “I know,” she answered. “I’m the one who brought him here.”

  Robin’s expression turned to confusion. “Why?”

  Virginia gazed down at the tabletop in front of her. “I’m not really sure,” she said. “I guess I thought maybe we could learn something from him. That maybe we could find a way to stop the fighting before any more of you end up getting hurt.”

  “Do you think it’s gonna work?” Mindy asked.

  “I have no idea. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens, I guess.”

  “I really hope it works,” Chrissy said.

  Virginia looked at her and nodded. “Yeah. Me too, kiddo.”

  * * * *

  When Janine arrived at the control room, the controllers were all back at the consoles again, watching for signs of threats from the battlefield. “How are things going out there,” she asked while trying her best not to sound too concerned.

  “There’s nothing happening right now,” Veronica told her. “It kind of looks like they’re just having a stare–‌off.”

  “I see. Listen, ladies, I need to ask all of you a very important question.” She waited as they all turned around to face her. “I’m sure you’re all aware by now that there’s an enemy pilot in the infirmary. What I need to know is if any of you have mentioned his presence here to anyone else outside this station.” The girls all quietly shook their heads. “No one?” she asked, looking at each of them in turn. “Not to anyone on a ship or another of our stations?” They all shook their heads again. “Good. Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen. We need to keep his presence here a secret for the time being. Understood?”

  The girls all answered her with a nod.

  “Very well. Carry on. Lieutenant Marlowe,” she said, turning to Veronica, “I need to have a word with you in private.” She gestured toward the corridor. Veronica got up to follow her out.

  “Lieutenant,” Janine said to her, “it hasn’t escaped my attention that you seem to be the go–‌to person on Volaris. Every time someone needs something on this station, you’re the one they seem to turn to first. And right now, I need you to do something for me. I’m really hoping you can help me out with this.” She stopped for a moment to scrutinize Veronica’s appearance, thoroughly eyeing her up and down. “How old are you, Lieutenant?” she asked, shaking her head in bewilderment.

  Veronica nervously replied, “Seventeen.”

  Janine seemed puzzled by her response. “Why is everyone on this station so young?”

  “It’s a training base. They send us here to learn our positions because it’s supposed to be relatively safe.”

  “Well apparently it isn’t so safe anymore. Listen, Lieutenant ... I need you to disable this station’s link to Command–‌net. And I need you to be discreet about it. Only the two of us can know about this.”

  Veronica looked at her in shock and concern. Her eyes briefly focused on Janine’s card key.

  “That’s right,” Janine said, reading her expression. “I can’t order you to do something like this. I’m asking you to do it, Lieutenant.”

  “But why?” she asked. “I don’t understand.”

  Janine sighed and averted her gaze momentarily. “Let’s just say that I have ... reservations about certain aspects of our command structure.”

  “What kind of reservations?”

  “Let me put it to you this way, Lieutenant. Did you trust Commander Jeffries?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you trust Major Richards?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you trust Commander Eldridge?”

  Veronica pursed her lips and glanced downward.

  “You see? That’s exactly the point I’m trying to make. Familiarity often breeds trust and respect. Major Richards has earned yours. Commander Eldridge has earned mine. When information passes outside this station, you have no idea where it’s going or who it ultimately ends up with. Particularly when it goes out over Command–‌net. Am I right, Lieutenant?”

  Veronica closed her eyes and nodded. “Don’t you know where it goes?” she asked.

  “No. To be quite honest, I don’t have the slightest idea where it goes, or who ends up ultimately making the decisions. Which is why I feel so strongly right now that we should keep this pilot’s presence here concealed.”

  “Are you saying you don’t trust Command–‌net?”

  “What I’m saying is that I’m not familiar with Command–‌net. Is that not clear enough for you?”

  Veronica looked at her in distress, as if she wasn’t quite certain what to believe.

  “Consider this…” Janine suggested. “We’re very good at winning battles, right?”

  “Yes. I think so, anyway.”

  “So why is it that we aren’t winning the war? Why are we still f
ighting after all this time when we’re so effective at winning engagements? We can’t really question the aptitude of our fleet commanders, can we? They’re winning every battle we send them to fight. So if there is a weakness in our decision making process, it must lie elsewhere, don’t you think?”

  Veronica appeared to be considering the suggestion, but her expression indicated she still wasn’t entirely convinced.

  “Look, Lieutenant,” Janine insisted, “we’ve been given an incredible opportunity here. An opportunity that might bring about the end to this war. I’m just trying to make sure we don’t squander it. Let’s keep this situation in the hands of officers that you and I both know we can trust. Alright?”

  “Alright,” Veronica said with reluctance. “As long as it’s both of them making the decisions.”

  “Agreed. Both of them should have a say in this matter. I’m convinced that’s in all of our best interests, anyway. So, can you do what I asked? Do you actually know how to disable the connection?”

  “Yes. I know a way to do it. But what’s gonna happen if someone finds out? Am I gonna be in trouble?”

  “If someone finds out,” Janine explained, “they’ll call for an official investigation.” She pointed to the card key in her breast pocket. “I’m sure you can guess where I’m going with this. Don’t worry, Lieutenant. As long as you agree not not to implicate me, I’ll make sure the findings don’t point to you either.”

  * * * *

  After complying with Janine’s request, Lieutenant Marlowe returned to the infirmary to check on the enemy pilot’s condition. She found Major Richards standing at the side of his bed, staring down at him in quiet contemplation.

  “Has he said anything yet?” Veronica asked, stepping closer to the major’s side.

  Major Richards shook her head. “No. He’s still unconscious.” She briefly glanced at Veronica and noticed some dust on the left sleeve of her uniform. That dust is from the maintenance tunnels, she realized. In an instant, she was sure she understood what must have happened. “What did she ask you to do?” she inquired, tugging at Veronica’s dusty sleeve.