Leaving the father and daughter to their battle of wills, Becca exited into the corridor, Travis at her back.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her against him, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “I’ll find you in a bit.”
She nodded. He strode off to find his dad. Lloyd had said the captain was busy, but the captain was also a mum, and Becca’s mum was never too busy of her daughter.
Becca hovered outside the bridge. The door was shut. This was the out of bounds area, a place she’d only seen once—on the tour upon arrival. But her mother was on the bridge with BEK and Becca needed to see her. To talk to her and look into her eyes and have her say that it was really going to be okay, that she could do this, that Lloyd was wrong. She raised a hand to activate the two-way intercom just as the door swished open and her mother came striding out.
Her eyes widened when she saw Becca. Her pupils flitted back and forth as if she was wrestling with a decision, and then she stepped back onto the bridge. “Come in.”
Had she heard right?
Her mother grabbed her arm and tugged her into the room beyond. The door closed softly behind them, and Becca was once again awed by the beauty of open space staring back at her. The bridge was a window to what lay beyond, and a blue-black blanket rippled before them.
“What is that?”
“They call it the Starlight Blue,” BEK said. “When the company’s first space probe travelled to Earth 2, the photographs of this phenomenon were one of the talking points of the summit that met to decide whether we would be moving forward in our evacuation of Earth 1.”
“They call it the doorway to our new world,” her mother said. “The planet is already visible to us, just beyond the haze.”
“What is it?” Becca stared up at the shifting miasma of blue-black laced with turquoise.
“A mixture of gases and particles of space dust from long dead planets,” BEK said.
It was beautiful and terrifying. “Are we going to die?” The words were out of her mouth before she could think them through.
Her mother sighed. “I don’t know.”
Ice flooded Becca’s veins because her mother always knew. Those words had never crossed her mother’s lips, not when it came to Becca. When it came to her daughter, the captain would always have a firm answer. It made Becca feel safe, but now it was as if the net had been ripped out from under her.
“Becca,” her mother said softly. “Whatever happens, I will always be with you. I promise you this. You will never have to be alone.”
Becca took a shuddering breath. “I want to be here, on the bridge, with you.”
“No.” Her mother stood taller. “That isn’t possible.”
“But Sarah gets to stay with her dad.” She hated how childish and whiney she sounded.
Her mother gripped Becca’s shoulders. “If you’re here with me I won’t be able to focus. I need to focus, Becca. Do you understand?”
She did, of course she did. “I’m sorry. I just.” Damn the tears clouding her vision. But then her mum’s arms were around her and the scent of soap and shampoo filled her nostrils. The clean aroma, her mother’s signature scent, filled Becca’s head. After several long beats her mother pulled away, and Becca watched as her expression smoothed out.
“Go find your friends. Keep busy. I’ll come speak to you later.” The captain was back.
Becca left the room to her mother issuing instructions to BEK.
Less than thirty-six hours until they found out whether they lived or died.
Her mother’s kiss lingered on her forehead. The smell of the lavender soap she liked to use still filled her head like a phantom scent.
“I’m scared,” Sarah said.
Lloyd had put his foot down in the end, and here she was with the two of them, in the lounge. Jenkins and Reynolds had yet to join them.
“Where’s your dad?” Sarah asked Travis.
“On the bridge,” he said tightly.
Oh crap. Why hadn’t he told her? Becca shot him an enquiring glance, but he kept his gaze straight ahead. The seats they occupied were bolted to the floor and they’d been instructed to strap themselves in. Here, in the belly of the craft, they’d be safe from most of the impact. But if the ship exploded, it was all over.
They’d been given an exit plan, instructions to leave the ship as soon it was on the ground. Becca hoped their exits weren’t compromised. Where were the others? Jenkins and Reynolds and BEK? Mother had said BEK would be here with them.
The lounge door opened and the doctor and technician came striding in. They strapped into seats, faces solemn. Travis swallowed hard. He was probably thinking about his dad on the bridge with Becca’s mum. But then the door opened again and Father Darwin entered, followed by BEK. Travis sat up enquiringly, but Darwin’s expression was stormy.
Reynolds was the one to ask. “What happened?”
Darwin took a seat and strapped in. “She locked me out.” His jaw was tense.
Oh no. She was all alone on that bridge. She shouldn’t have to do this alone. Travis grabbed her hand as it reached to unlock the security belt. Anger flashed through her veins like the first lightning strike of a terrifying storm. It was okay for him. His dad was here. His dad would be safe. But then her mother’s voice filled the room.
“We knew from the start what we may need to sacrifice to preserve our race. That the cargo came first and our lives second.”
It wasn’t coming from the intercom. The voice was coming from BEK. A recording. Was that what her mother had been doing on the bridge yesterday?
Her mother continued. “BEK and I have run every possible scenario, and there are none in which the bridge remains intact on impact.”
No…
“Becca, I meant what I said. A part of me will always be with you. BEK has my mind map. My body may be gone, but I will be with you for as long as you need me. Be strong. Be wise. Live.” She broke off for a moment. “It has been a pleasure knowing you all.”
The communication ended and Becca’s world crumbled just as the ship began to shudder
They were entering Earth 2’s atmosphere.
Travis grabbed her hand, but she barely felt it. Her mother was on the bridge. Her mother would die.
The shuddering intensified until her teeth were rattling in her head, until her brain was slamming against her skull. This was bad, this was too much, this was—
Something slammed into her chest. Bone-crushing force knocked the breath from her lungs and turned the world upside down. Her head slammed back against the back of her seat, and then there was darkness.
Chapter 3
Becca woke to pounding in her skull and fire in her chest.
Damn.
She sat up, every bone protesting. Light flickered in the dark—intermittent flashes illuminating the carnage in short, sharp bursts. Her eyes were heavy, filled with grit and protest.
“H-hello…” It hurt to talk.
Her fingers traced the safety belt across her chest. It chaffed and squeezed. Too tight, way too tight. Had to get it off before she suffocated. She fumbled for the release button, her fingers too clumsy as her mind struggled to control them. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t breathe. Deep breaths, she had to take deep breaths. If panic got the better of her, then she wasn’t getting out. End of. This would be her death place. Her mother would be so pissed off with her if she let this be her final resting place.
Her mother.
Becca found the release and the belt snapped away. She sucked greedily at the air, finding little relief. They’d landed. Crash-landed and her mother had been on the bridge.
Her ribs ached from the straps and whatever had struck her in the crash. Despite the flashes of light, her vision remained too hazy to make out definite detail. At least there were no broken ribs. Dr Jenkins would have to check her out to be sure.
The struggling lights died and a green dot sprang to life, bouncing about in the dark. Must be BEK.
“Becc
a?”
For a moment, just a little morsel of hope was given centre stage. Her mother was alive, was calling to her and coming to hug her and tell her she was fine and there’d been no need for the goodbye message, how silly of her.
“Becca? Are you okay?”
It wasn’t her mother’s voice. It was Dr Jenkins and she was pressing a hand to Becca’s forehead.
“I-I’m fine.” Becca brushed her off and got to her feet. What a damn lie. Tears stung her eyes, leaving burning traces down her cheeks.
Her mother was on the bridge.
“BEK,” Reynolds said. “Damage report.”
“Dad?” she heard Sarah say before BEK could respond.
“Some of the cargo has been lost in the crash.” BEK said. “The ship is grounded and all living personnel must leave immediately in line with exit instructions that were provided. Power has been lost to this section of the ship, but escape is still achievable. We must exit now.”
“Living personnel?” Dr Jenkins said. “BEK, please report the condition of people aboard the ship.”
“Aside from the lost cargo, there is one casualty.” He took a moment to answer, as if a human were about to break the bad news. “I am afraid Dr Lloyd suffered severe head trauma.”
Becca heard Sarah gasp.
“His injuries proved to be fatal.”
“Dad? Dad?” Sarah shrieked. “Get the lights on, get the lights on. Get the lights on!”
“We have to leave,” BEK said. “That is of upmost importance. I will bring Dr Lloyd outside once you have departed.”
“Dad!”
Becca wanted to run to her friend, but she couldn’t see a damn thing aside from BEK’s green dot. He hadn’t mentioned her mum. Her stomach tightened. BEK had given that report and her mum had been left off it.
Could she be alive?
She followed the green dot, Sarah’s wailing ringing in her ears. Her knee collided with something solid and pain exploded up her leg. No crying out, just sucking the air through her teeth and pressing on.
Sarah, oh Sarah. It was awful, so damn awful. Poor Dr Lloyd. What the hell were they gonna do now?
Mum. All she could think about was her mum. However loud the sobs were, or how loud the voices trying to provide comfort were, no matter how much her chest and knee hurt, all she could do was hurry. Impatience pushed her on, smacking her with guilt at her selfishness. A part of her didn’t care. Her mum could be alive. BEK may not have mentioned the captain because the captain was alive.
Becca stumbled, almost falling on her face. A hand grabbed her shoulder and steadied her.
“Thanks,” she said to whoever it was.
“You’re welcome,” Travis said.
His voice was so good to hear.
It took mere minutes to get out of the chamber, down the emergency corridor and out into dazzling sunlight.
Her eyes burned under the powerful rays. The heat hit with full blazing force. It was like the summer days of old, those really amazing summer says that most people hated because it was too hot, but ones she loved. There was nothing like a day on the beach under a baking sun with friends, relaxing the hours away. But this was too much. She couldn’t see. Hand shielding her face, she watched the people gather around her. Sarah was on the ground, in lush green grass, pouring her grief out.
Wobbly feet and a spinning head, she fell on her butt, hard.
Sarah coughed and continued with choking sobs.
Becca should crouch beside her, pull her friend into a hug, let Sarah bury her head in her shoulder. Let her know she was there for her. But her mum was gone too, her mum—
“Oh my god,” Dr Jenkins said.
Becca blinked over and over, her vision clearing. There he was, eyes wide open and blood pouring from his nose and down his chin. Dead. Their brilliant doctor who won prizes for all the wonderful things he could do with genetics, one of the most important men left.
Dead.
Sarah screamed.
A shadow fell over her.
“Captain Rivers is still conscious,” BEK said. “According to my scanners. I will go to her now.”
“She’s still…still conscious?”
“And fading.”
Becca scrambled to her feet. “I have to see her. Mum! Mum!” She pushed past BEK, running back toward the ship.
Reynolds blocked her. “You’re not going in there.”
“Get out of my way.”
“No. It’s not safe.”
“My mum is in there. Move!”
“Your mother is not in there,” BEK said.
“You, you—” What had he said? “My mother isn’t in there?”
“No. She is some feet away.”
“Captain!” Father Darwin yelled.
“She has been spotted,” BEK said.
“What the hell?” Becca shoved him and ran as fast as her feet could churn up the grass.
Father Darwin was on his knees, bent over a body. The body had no legs—they were nearby, strewn across the grass as if they were an irrelevant toy to a bored child. Blood, so much blood.
Becca gagged and swallowed the bile rising in her throat. Her mum’s face was charred, half her hair burned away. A scream bubbled up Becca’s throat and she slapped a hand over her mouth to quell it. She’d never seen anything so awful in her life. Captain Rivers, the legend, was now a creature of death and devastation. There was no colour to her, and she was barely breathing.
“Mum.”
Her mother’s eyes looked up at her, mouth twitching.
“May the Lord Jesus protect you and lead you into eternal life,” Father Darwin said. And then he recited the Lord’s Prayer.
Becca fell to her knees as the words spilled from the father’s mouth. The crew gathered at her side. Sarah screamed from some feet away, calling out for her dad. Silent tears spilled down Becca’s cheeks as she held her mother’s gaze. There would be no words from this body, she was sure of that. It would not speak. Her mother was leaving. This was nothing but a shell holding her back. Captain Rivers wasn’t this mess.
As the final light left her mother’s lovely eyes, Becca joined the symphony of grief with her friend, screaming into the warm air of this new world.
Chapter 4
An hour later, all Becca could hear was birdsong as she lay on her back. The sky was a magnificent sapphire with no cloud to taint it. The tears had dried up. Everyone had given up trying to talk to her, because words did nothing. Her mum was dead. What the hell could anyone say apart from the usual? Even Sarah’s cries had faded into a buzz. It was over. Everything was over.
Dr Jenkins had done her thing, made sure all was okay, and left her to it.
“There is another geneticist in the city,” BEK said.
“We’d better hope he or she is still alive, then,” Dr Jenkins said. “This is awful, so bloody awful.”
“She,” BEK said. “Dr Vine. “I also have Dr Lloyd’s mind map installed, as I do all of yours.”
“We still have a job to do,” Reynolds said. “Whatever happens, we have to stick to the mission. Loss is part of it—we all know that.”
“You dickhead!” Sarah yelled.
There were footsteps and grunting and Sarah screaming, but Becca’s limbs felt unresponsive and numb. If she didn’t move, neither would time, she could stay like this forever. Empty under a blue sky.
“Get a grip!” Reynolds yelled.
“Sarah! Stop!” Dr Jenkins cried.
“You cold-hearted bastard! My dad is dead and you say that? You say that? He’s dead! He’s dead!”
Be wise and live… Becca sat up. “Sarah.”
Sarah’s head snapped round, her hair flinging everywhere. Her friend’s eyes were wild with heartache.
“We’ve lost them,” Becca said. “But we can’t lose those we were meant to save.”
It wasn’t over. What were they to do? Sit back and let everything go to hell? She wanted to, oh how she wanted to. Even sitting up like this was the
biggest chore in the universe. But they’d crossed that gateway, that Starlight Blue, to a new world. It had to be worth something. The deaths could not be allowed to be pointless. Some tears sneaked out, but she wiped them away and got to her feet.
“We have to get to the city,” Becca said. “We have to do it for mum, I mean, Captain Rivers, for Dr Lloyd. All of their hard work has to be for something.”
“Yes,” Dr Jenkins said. “I know this is terrible, and I’m so sorry. But we have to carry on.”
“God has spared us for this,” Father Darwin added. “I take comfort in that.”
Becca nodded. She didn’t truly know where she sat with the God thing, but it gave her a sense of comfort. Even if it was just words, it made her walk over to her friend and put her arms around her.
Sarah fell into her and sobbed. Becca sobbed right back.
“We-We’ll say goodbye,” Becca whispered. “Then we’ll d-d-do t-t-them proud.”
A hand sliding across her back, an arm snaking round to embrace her. Travis. He rested his head on hers, and she felt him breathing. She sobbed some more, locked together with her friends.
“The ship is safe to return to,” BEK said. “But the power is erratic.”
Becca listened, not ready to come out of her bubble.
“I need to get in there,” Reynolds said. “Route all the power to the cryo chamber. Can you help me with that, BEK?”
“Of course.”
Later, in the middle of the afternoon, Reynolds and BEK returned with shovels. Not the typical kind, but powerful instruments to churn up the dirt. To dig a grave. All Becca could do was watch.
After the burial, after the candles and the lovely words, they gathered outside the ship, remaining supplies packed for the journey.
Becca had finally taken in her surroundings. A meadow of green, the flora and fauna like home, but the colours different. The green of the grass was tinged with silver, and some of the daises took the shape of tulips, but were still daisies. Buttercups, at least that was the closest thing they looked related to, were blue. That whole liking butter test was moot on this world—unless there was blueberry butter or something. The meadow stretched west, up into a hill, and was swallowed by a forest to the east.
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