Wednesday nights were always busy on the lifts. Wesley had explained to her that many of the cargo ships dock for delivery on this day of the week. The line for the civilian lifts seemed to go on forever. On occasions such as these civilians would sometimes squeeze in with the cargo lifts to be dropped off on the way down. The line was much shorter for this, and since Ava had no patience these days, chose that same route.
After a few minutes of waiting, Ava was able to squeeze in the cargo lift with a few other civilians and two tall men with a large metal crate on a cart with wheels. Ava couldn’t help but notice the two men, leaning casually on the crate. One of the men looked tougher than nails. Tall, muscular, with steely gray eyes and platinum blonde hair cut into the crew cut styling. Her eyes glanced at the large faded scar that ran down his right forehead and through his eyebrow. She almost sensed something strange about them. The other man appeared less menacing, however still creepy. He was tall, slim, had short dark brown hair and blue eyes. He desperately needs a shave, Ava thought, looking at the dark five o’clock shadow on his face. She noticed what looked like healed burn scars on the tops of his hands and forearms. He avoided her gaze. Both men were dressed in distressed dark gray jumpsuit-uniform type attire with the words “technician” printed on the left side of their chests. The descent down to level 9 seemed to take forever. The blonde man stared hard at Ava when she turned her back to them. She could feel his gaze on her. She began to feel very uncomfortable. Having never suffered from claustrophobia in the past, Ava began to sense what it would feel like now. She concentrated on her breathing, which had quickened and subconsciously moved as close to the side of the lift and up towards the front with the other people as she could. The other people seemed not to notice the two men, or her anxiety. Ava started to feel as though she were having a panic attack, her mind kept telling her she was in danger. But in danger from what? Only a few more levels until nine, she thought.
Kaden studied this young woman with hard, narrowed eyes. He sensed the energy emitting from her. She was no ordinary human, but was she one of them? No, she couldn’t be, the potency wasn’t there. This is very odd, if I touched her I would know for sure, he thought. The lift began to slow for the stop on nine. Kaden slowly raised his right arm, getting ready to reach out towards this strange woman. Ava felt the hair on the back of her neck starting to stand up. The doors opened and Ava practically shoved her way out through the people in front of her, narrowly missing Kaden’s hand on her shoulder. As the other people cursed her for her rudeness, she stared at the two men staring back at her as the doors shut and the lift continued its way down. She sighed a breath of relief, feeling as though she wanted to cry, and ran to infinity. She wanted to get her shopping done and get home as soon as possible.
Kaden looked at Torian when the doors closed. “What do you suppose she was?” He asked.
“Don’t know. She had the strangest energy for a human . . . almost like ours, but much weaker.”
“She didn’t feel like one of us. We would have sensed it for certain.”
“Well, whatever she is, she’s going to be toast in a few days.” Torian laughed heartily. Kaden joined him as the lift slowed to their destination, Level 12, the core of Orionis. The two men wheeled their crate out of the lift and down towards the main energy core, preparing to get started. They had much to do prior to their departure Friday afternoon before the Andromeda was scheduled to dock.
Ava could not put her conflicting thoughts behind her as the door silently slid shut behind her when she arrived home. She could still recall the strange sensation she felt when she was in the cargo elevator. She tried to pull her thoughts together while she put her groceries away. She did not remember sensing anything from the people in front of her, they seemed like any other group of people she had ever been around. And then there were the two “technicians” behind her. Ava had trouble deciding if it was their rough appearance that bothered her of if there was something else. Since her release from the hospital she had been more sensitive in general. She had noticed the pain in her leg more recently and had become, in her opinion, much more emotional since then.
Ava had been creeped out before by strangers, especially when she first arrived on Orionis. That was more of a feeling. She realized what she noticed was more of a sensation. It was similar to the sensation she used to feel when Wesley embraced her after they first started dating, only with a profound negative twist. Was it possible to feel energy emulating off of someone or something? Is there such a thing as bad energy? Ava’s only tangible contact with energy was electricity, either static electricity or when not properly drying her hands after washing and pushing the button to turn off a light. Mild electric shocks, not harmful, but strong enough to get your attention. Ava again thought of Wesley, Naomi, and the others and recalled their handshakes with what seemed like mild electric shocks. Then with Wesley, a sensation that seemed to fill her, to warm her, and slowly fade when he was gone. What did it all mean? All Ava knew was that the energy that filled the elevator seemed very negative, almost evil. “Am I losing my mind?” she thought. She sat down on her couch and rubbed her left hand on her forehead. “What is happening to me? I feel so lost” she thought. Ava decided to kick these thoughts out of her head, they sounded ludicrous to her. She got up and marched into the bathroom to take a hot shower, hoping that the heat would soothe her raw nerves.
Chapter 20: Choices
Somehow Ava made it to Friday. Seeing, and feeling, those two men in the lift on Wednesday night really shook her up. Ava knew it was crazy, but it just felt like they were bad people. Her nerves started up again. I never used to be this worked up, Ava thought, remembering when life seemed much more simple, before her illness. Wesley will be coming tonight, she knew. Part of her felt overjoyed, she knew she was always safe with him, and she did love him. However, part of her was still angry over the three things she wanted answers for. She still had not decided on how to approach him for the explanation of things. She would have to take it slow tonight and go with the flow and seize an opportunity for discussion when one surfaced. I can be patient, she told herself, I just need to be calm.
Kaden and Torian spent the entire day Thursday unpacking their crate and creating a hook up for their master creation, their bomb. With very few interruptions from Orionis residents, they pretty much had the place to themselves on Level 12. Much to their surprise, no one questioned what they were doing. People just assumed that they were working on repairing the system. It did not matter. Kaden was prepared to remove any human threat to his plan. Humans did not matter to him. He began to wonder, perhaps once Kyanos was his, he might go around and take care of all of the space stations. He chuckled at the thought.
Friday. Tonight is the night, Ava thought. Since she did not eat much of a dinner the previous evening, she felt ravenous this morning. Ava pulled a container of oatmeal out of her cabinet. She hadn’t touched it in weeks. For one, she had been consuming protein shakes left and right to quell her hunger, and two, for it was extremely hard to open. The snap never seemed to give on it. Of course, Wesley had absolutely no problem opening it for her. Since she wasn’t in the mood for a cool shake, preferring a warm start to her day, she grasped the container firmly between her hands and pulled with all of her might. Pop! The container opened almost effortlessly for her and in her effort completely pulled apart, throwing oatmeal all over her and her small kitchen. She couldn’t believe it! Ava sighed as she looked at her hands, each holding one side of the container, and then at the floor, now dusted with a fine layer of flakes. She did not have time to deal with this now. She shook the oatmeal off her clothes and out of her hair, opened the fridge and took out the pitcher of protein shake mix she always kept ready. After downing a full glass, Ava walked out the door, making her way to work.
The moist heat near the core of Orionis had begun to irritate Kaden. He preferred the cold dry air of his ship, maneuvering around in space. Torian had completed welding the bomb into o
ne of the exterior support beams of the reactors. Now they had only a few hours to complete the delicate soldering of the wires together and program the detonation time. He wanted to make sure that he and Torian were well on their way back to Sceptrum before the bomb went off. He smiled a crooked smile as he worked, imagining the horror and confusion that the humans would go through, and hopefully, the destruction of the Andromeda, with its captain and crew. “Even if they survive”, he thought, “it won’t be long before I find them and finish them off.” Torian, sensing Kaden’s satisfaction nearing the completion of their task, chuckled under his breath.
Ava’s day passed pretty quickly despite her thoughts wandering back and forth from the episode of super strength she had this morning and then to what she planned to say to Wesley tonight. Over all it was a quiet day at the clinic and before she knew it, it was time to go home.
During the day Kaden and Torian had completed their task at hand and made their way back to the hangar for their scheduled departure back to Sceptrum. They didn’t flinch as they passed through the ITO security station for clearance. Long after they had gone, the Andromeda arrived, as scheduled into the hangar. Wesley promptly exited the ship, eager to pass through security and be with Ava once again. He wondered how she was coping with the increased energy she now possessed.
Ava arrived home and showered. She put on some nice, but casual clothes, anticipating Wesley’s arrival. She cleaned up the spilled oatmeal from this morning, she didn’t want Wesley to see it. She sat down on her couch for a few moments to collect her thoughts and practically jumped when Wesley rang the doorbell.
“Ava!” He said enthusiastically as he swept her up in a passionate bear hug and kissed her. She returned both sentiments as she was, deep down, very happy to see him despite her suspicions. “What’s wrong? Are you all right?” He inquired, looking directly into her eyes, seeming to sense her emotions almost immediately.
“Nothing’s wrong,” she replied calmly. “I’m fine.”
He held the back of his hand up to her forehead gently, and then to her cheeks, feeling for signs of illness perhaps. How does he always know? Ava thought. “I’m not sick. Really, everything’s okay.” She decided now was not the time to launch her questioning session with him. “How was your flight and your mission this week?” She changed the subject.
“Smooth sailing, as always.” He smiled at her. “I’m happy to see you again.”
Ava stood there with him and tried to concentrate on the sensation of his presence, and the sensation of his touch on her skin. There it was, she could feel something. She wasn’t imagining things. She truly could feel some type of warm energy, flowing through him. He looked directly at her with a knowing glance, as if he understood what she was doing. He ignored it. “Are you hungry? I’m famished. I was going to suggest we meet up with the crew, but why don’t you and I do our own thing tonight?”
“I’d like that,” Ava agreed.
“Come, let’s get going.” He gently placed an arm around her shoulders after she grabbed her ID and then they were out the door.
Dinner was not as awkward as Ava imagined it would be. They fell into their usual behavior of being lovebirds. Holding hands, laughing, smiling, and catching up. Ava seemed to feel more balanced when he was near. She couldn’t explain it. There were a lot of things going on that she could not explain lately, she thought.
After they had finished eating and Wesley took care of the bill he asked her what she would like to do next. Ava knew what she wanted. “Why don’t we take a walk near the Square? I don’t feel much like sitting still tonight.”
“All right, the Square it is.”
Wesley sensed that something was on her mind and that she wanted to talk. He prepared himself to potentially answer her questions. He didn’t really know what to expect from her tonight, she seemed kind of lost. He sympathized, the energy within her was probably affecting her ability to remain her normal focused and calm self. It’s only temporary, he reassured himself silently. They stopped at a kiosk and he bought them some flavored coffees to sip on as they walked.
Ava struggled to find the words. She didn’t really know where to begin. “Wesley?”
“Yes.”
“I have noticed that I feel a little different since I got out of the hospital.”
“How different?”
“Well, for one, I’ve been really hungry. I mean, it’s extreme. I know that if I consumed the calories that I do now before I was hospitalized I’d probably weigh 250 pounds.”
“Go on,” he replied patiently.
“And, I’ve also noticed some other things as well.”
He waited for her to continue.
“I’m really moody, even Dr. Tom noticed it.”
“Dr. Tom?”
“He stopped by my desk this week to ask me how I was doing.”
“Dr. Tom needs to move on. His little crush on you is starting to irritate me. Would you like me to speak with him?”
“No. That won’t be necessary. I told him I was not interested. I practically yelled at him. It was hard for me to control myself, I felt so angry.”
“Good, he needs to know how you feel.”
“My point is not about Dr. Tom. It’s about how I’ve been feeling really sensitive lately. To emotions, to sensations, . . . to you. It’s unusual for me.”
“Sweetheart, you went through a very emotional time in the hospital. Near death experiences are stressful. No wonder you feel off center.”
“Stop trying to change the subject. You always try to assure me it’s nothing, but I know it’s not!” Ava raised her voice and some people passing by looked at them. It’s happening again, she thought, I’m losing control.
“Ava, please calm down. Let’s go back to your quarters and talk about this.” He gently took her hand in his and unloaded his empty coffee cup into a nearby recycling bin.
Ava took a deep breath and nodded, feeling relief that he was willing to listen to her and that he was right about needing privacy to discuss the subjects she wanted to talk about.
Deep down in the core, Kaden’s project of pay back ticked away. There were mere seconds left. It was the perfect crime. No one suspected anything, no one knew anything, and no one interfered.
Wesley and Ava were nearly out of the Square when he stopped suddenly and grabbed her, startling her, causing her to drop her coffee. No one knew what was happening as they heard the loud noise of the explosion and then felt the aftershocks. The explosion rocked the station mercilessly. The sounds of thousands of screaming people were muted by the creaking and groaning of millions of tons of twisting metal. Lights flickered and sparks flew as unknown parts of the wall and ceiling began to collapse. Orionis’ core had been breached and the station was now unstable. Red emergency lights flashed and sirens started shrieking. The sound was even more deafening than the screams and cries from the crowds, who had nowhere to go.
Wesley had Ava on the ground, his arms protectively wrapped around her. The massive jolt had knocked almost everyone down to the ground. Everywhere people were screaming, trying to get up, and running. Ava, dazed and as yet unable to comprehend what had just happened, gasped as Wesley scooped her up and ran down the nearest avenue and into a well supported store front, away from the stampeding crowds. She could not believe the strength and agility he possessed, it was almost unreal. When he stopped he set Ava down on her feet. Amidst the chaos and the debris raining down he spoke to her, practically shouting to be heard.
“Ava, are you all right? Are you hurt?”
“No. You?”
“No.” He kept an arm on her and stood protectively in front of her while he grabbed his PCD that was blinking wildly and started shouting rapidly in French into the device. Ava’s ability to speak French had improved greatly during her friendship with the crew, but, unable to keep up, she was at a loss to understand what was being said now. It seemed like an eon that Wesley conversed with the Crew on the ship. Over the roar of the crowd
s she could hear Andre’s voice as Wesley held the PCD close to his ear to hear it. He finished his conversation and put the PCD back on his belt.
“What happened Wesley?” Ava’s voice trembled.
“There apparently was an explosion near the core. The whole station is unstable. The system shows that parts of Level 9 through Level 12 are collapsing. We have to get out of here now!” He grabbed her arm and started guiding her towards the hangar.
“Wait!” She resisted. The gravity of the situation had finally struck her.
“Ava, come on. We don’t have a minute to waste. The ITO has initiated the evacuation procedures. We have to leave now so that the rescue ships that have been summoned can enter the hangar to save as many people as they can.”
“That’s just it Wesley, I can’t leave with you now.”
“What!?”
“I have to stay with the OMC patients. It’s part of my job to lend assistance to help with the evacuation and care of the patients. I have to report to the OMC!”
“Ava, forget about the OMC! Do you realize what is happening? The whole station is compromised. There could be another explosion at any minute, not to mention the gravity stabilizers are failing. I can already sense the station is turning on its axis. Pretty soon we’ll all be walking on the walls; that is if the oxygen leaks don’t kill us first.”
“I have to go to the OMC. I can’t leave all of those people! They are helpless!” Ava was very familiar with the OMC’s rules regarding evacuation. They had a drill once a month at the clinic. Each staff member knew their duty. Surprisingly, despite the corrupt ITO system, patients and medical staff were among the first priority for evacuation. Ava had been through the drill many times and knew exactly where to report. She was supposed to rendezvous to the main lobby in the OMC and receive direction as to which patients to escort to the hangar from there. “I can’t abandon my job, Wesley, they need my help.”
The Solar Wind Page 24