by Dan Oakley
After a few more minutes, Bobby finally began to sweat, but he was still smiling and enjoying himself.
The men in the circle surrounding us called out encouragement, groaning when we missed and cheering when we made a hit.
Lieutenant Burke shouted above the noise. “I think it’s time to level up, what do you say, gentlemen?”
A deafening cheer rose up from the men. I looked at Bobby to see if he knew what Lieutenant Burke meant. But Bobby looked as confused as me.
I stared after Lieutenant Burke as he strode over to a panel on the wall and began punching buttons. “What’s he doing?”
Thankfully, Bobby was just as distracted as me and shrugged. “Beats me.”
When the lieutenant turned away from the panel, I began to feel something was wrong. I felt dizzy. My stomach rolled, and I felt like I was falling. Only I wasn’t. My feet were still on the floor. I looked around the room in confusion.
Bobby guessed what was happening before I did. “He’s turned off the gravity. Find something to hang on to, and kick-off from the wall or the floor to propel yourself. Otherwise, you’ll be a floating target in the middle of the room.”
He pushed off from the floor and seemed to leap in slow motion towards the wall. I blinked in amazement. It almost looked like he was flying.
I tried to copy him, but put a bit too much force behind my jump and ended up somersaulting as I hurtled towards a wall. I finally righted myself and took the brunt of the impact with my forearms and hands. Then I tried to find something to hold onto, but the smooth, molded material lining the wall was hopeless. My fingers slid over the surface, and I scrabbled wildly as I began to float away from the wall.
Flaming fires.
Bobby was on the other side of the room holding onto a white strap.
I looked around for another strap and saw one close to where I’d landed attached to the wall, but now I was floating away from it. Typical.
I had to give Bobby credit. He could have kept quiet about the gravity and used it to his advantage in the fight, but he didn’t. My grudge against him was fading. Not that it helped me much. Like Bobby had said, I was about to become a floating target in the middle of the room.
I heard the echo of laughter and turned to see Zarak cheerfully holding onto a strap on the wall and enjoying my predicament.
I tried to turn and propel myself, but it was no good. Without something solid to push off from, I was stuck, drifting aimlessly.
I was saved before Bobby could attack by Draylan, the man with the small crescent scar beside his eye. He gave me a shove and sent me hurtling back towards the wall and the strap.
This time I managed to grab onto it and then twisted myself round to look for Bobby.
He raised the zapper. “Ready?”
I nodded, even though the lack of gravity was making me feel dizzy and a bit sick.
Bobby pushed off from the wall and hurtled towards the center of the room. I did the same, letting go of the strap and pushing myself in Bobby’s direction, my weapon in front of me.
We were both traveling at speed.
Were we going to collide?
I felt myself start to turn and fought to stay upright. Bobby was only five feet away and looked like he was coping with this lack of gravity thing far better than me.
He raised his head, and his eyes glinted.
Four feet away.
Bobby lifted the zapper and positioned it, so if I continued with this course, it would hit my midsection.
The only way I could defend myself was to use my weapon to smash Bobby’s out of the way before it hit me.
Three feet away.
I adjusted my position, my gaze fixed on the zapper.
Two feet away.
Bobby raised his weapon a fraction, screwing with my plans.
One foot away.
At the last moment, I lifted the zapper and held my breath.
The impact as the two weapons collided sent a shockwave through my body. Even my teeth rattled. Sparks flew everywhere, and the men in the room laughed and cheered.
The collision didn’t stop our momentum, though. It just changed my trajectory, and I spun off toward the wall, making a desperate grab for one of the straps.
My fingers clutched the strap, and I let out a sigh of relief. I’d made it. A grin broke out over my face.
I liked competitions, and I was finding this fun. It felt good to be part of a team, too. It wasn’t like any fights I’d had in the past, where I was targeted because I was different.
I turned around, looking for Bobby, and saw he’d made it to the opposite wall and was grinning at me. He raised his arm to signal he was ready for another clash, and I pushed off of the wall. This time, I was planning a way to surprise him. We were about to collide again when suddenly I fell like a stone to the floor and landed with a thud. I smashed my elbow on the floor, and despite the padded mat, pain shot up my arm and made me catch my breath.
I looked around in confusion. Everyone else had fallen ungainly to the floor as well.
Someone had turned the gravity system back on. But who?
“Which idiot turned the gravity field back on?” Lieutenant Burke roared.
Everyone looked blankly around the room. Someone had to have done it, but no one came forward.
But then the door slid open, and I realized what had happened. Someone had overridden the gravity from outside the training room.
The lieutenant’s face was red and contorted with fury. I was glad that anger wasn’t directed at me. Someone was about to get a serious dressing down.
But when three people entered the training room, the lieutenant’s jaw dropped. “Oh, I’m sorry, Commander Taggert. I didn’t realize it was you.”
I got to my feet, rubbing my sore elbow, and saw Ensign Borrack standing beside the commander watching me through narrowed eyes. Trella stood behind them.
I smiled at her, but she stared straight ahead, ignoring me.
The commander walked towards me, and I tried to straighten up. My elbow still hurt. Was I supposed to salute? I looked around to see if someone would give me a signal, but everyone had their gazes fixed on the floor.
“We’ve been watching you, Tomas, and I have to say, I’m very impressed. As someone with no training, you held your own remarkably well, especially against young Bobby here.”
He nodded at Bobby, who smiled and looked pleased with the compliment.
“Yes, very impressive,” the commander continued. “It indicates you could handle yourself on Tor.”
Lieutenant Burke, who was standing close by gasped and looked shocked. “I didn’t know the young mage was being considered for the mission.”
Commander Taggert ignored the lieutenant and looked at me expectantly. I was supposed to reply, but I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t think of a way to respond without annoying Trella.
In the end, I settled for a simple, “Thank you, Commander.”
The commander gave me a broad smile and then turned back to Lieutenant Burke. “Sorry for the interruption, Lieutenant.”
“Not at all, Commander. I’m always happy for you to come and see how the squad is improving.” He clutched his hands together.
It was strange to see the big man so nervous. I knew the commander held a position of power, but I felt that the way the men were acting was odd. This wasn’t just respecting a senior officer. It seemed like fear.
Were the men afraid of him?
I looked again at Trella, who kept her expression blank.
The commander said a few words to Bayliss and Cartwright and then left with Ensign Borrack.
When Trella began to follow them out of the room, I rushed over to her and put my hand on her arm. I didn’t want her to stay angry with me. I hadn’t meant to upset her, and if I was going to go on this mission, I needed to be trained. It wasn’t fair of her to keep ignoring me.
“Wait, Trella,” I said and tightened my grip on her arm.
Her arm s
eemed to rise to super-hot levels beneath her uniform, burning my skin and forcing me to withdraw my hand quickly.
She gave me a pointed look.
I guess that meant I shouldn’t have grabbed her. “I’m sorry,” I said.
Her green eyes flashed. “I suppose you’re the commander’s little pet now so you can do anything you want.”
I was taken aback by the anger in her voice. “What’s the matter with you? Are you jealous?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she scoffed. “You just don’t understand.” She leaned close to me, her voice low and her lips close to my ear so no one else could overhear. “I’m scared for you, Tomas. You need to lie low. You don’t want the commander’s attention.”
I didn’t understand her cryptic comment, and I didn’t want to lie low. I hadn’t been trying to impress anyone. Despite my reluctance to participate in their training session, I’d enjoyed the brief time I’d spent with the defense squad. For once, I’d felt like part of something, a member of the team, and I liked that feeling.
“I can’t win,” I said. “Either I upset the commander, or I upset you.”
She regarded me in silence for a few seconds, disappointment shining in her eyes. Then she shrugged. “I tried. Remember that.”
She turned and walked through the sliding door.
I stood there for a moment, hoping she’d change her mind and come back to tell me we had a training session later, but she didn’t.
After a minute or so, I felt Lieutenant Burke’s large hand clamp onto my shoulder.
I turned and looked up at the giant of a man.
“Sorry,” I said, thinking he was angry with me. “Was it my fault Commander Taggert paid us a visit?”
He pressed a finger to his lips and shot a look at one of the panels on the wall. I couldn’t see what he was gesturing at, but I guessed he was telling me our conversation could be overheard. It dawned on me that the whole session was probably recorded, and the commander was able to see what we were up to at all times.
“I just wanted to say,” the lieutenant said quietly with his back to the panel of buttons, “that I wouldn’t have invited you to join in if I’d known it would make you eligible for the mission.”
He looked down at the floor as though he didn’t want to meet my gaze, and that made me nervous.
“Why? Is the mission that dangerous?”
The lieutenant frowned. “It’s no place for a newbie, that’s for sure.” He scratched his forehead with a meaty finger. “If the commander does pick you to go, stay close to the experienced members of the team, won’t you? Stick with Trella. She’s one of the good guys. She’ll watch your back.”
I saw the fear and concern in his eyes and felt a stab of fear. “I will.”
“Don’t try anything silly. No crazy-heroic stunts, all right?”
I nodded.
He squeezed my shoulder. “Good lad.”
Trella was afraid, and now the tough, battle-scarred lieutenant was worried for me. I didn’t like my chances.
If I was picked for this mission, would I get off Tor alive? It was starting to look unlikely.
Chapter 16
The friendly and relaxed atmosphere in the room evaporated after the commander’s visit.
Lieutenant Burke told everyone to pair up for practice drills then turned to me. “You should probably go now, kid.”
I tried not to show I was bothered about being dismissed. I was used to being alone. Why should it matter?
I nodded and left them to their practice, then wandered aimlessly around the ship, wondering whether I should go back to the mage zone. I was contemplating practicing some magic on my own when there was a ship-wide announcement.
The female voice echoed from speakers that ran along the ceiling.
All non-essential personnel should return to their quarters and prepare for the jump. Remember to remain in a sitting position and use a full harness.
The jump will take place in fifteen minutes. I repeat. You have fifteen minutes to get back to your quarters and take your position for the jump. Mission details have been posted to the noticeboard.
My stomach somersaulted. Had the commander made his decision already? Did the mission details include a list of the crew who’d be sent to planet Tor?
I walked faster, looking around the maze of corridors, trying to work out where I was. Everything still looked the same to me, and I was walking along a passage which had no color-coded stripes. Typical.
I broke into a jog, worrying I’d get into trouble for being out of my quarters during a jump. Technically, I would be safe because pull-down seats lined every corridor, and harnesses could be attached to the walls. I was more worried about disciplinary action if they discovered I hadn’t returned to my dorm as requested.
I waited for the retina reader to scan my eyes at the next door and when it slid open, I was glad to see a grey stripe on the left-hand side of the corridor. That indicated the way to the rookie dorms.
With a sigh of relief, I turned left. I didn’t slow down and jogged along the corridor. It was surprising that I didn’t bump into anyone on the way. Maybe they were all back in their quarters already.
I made it to the grey zone of my dorm, exhaled and slowed to a walk. At least now I wouldn’t get in trouble for being out of my zone when we jumped.
I entered my room and checked the time on my console. There were still twelve minutes to go until jump time, plenty of time to review the noticeboard and inspect the mission details.
My mouth felt dry as I logged onto the console and located the digital noticeboard. At the top of the screen, highlighted in yellow, were the words Mission to the Tor Colony.
My finger hesitated above the touchscreen. What would I do if I was picked?
Maybe I could fake an illness or tell the commander I didn’t feel I was ready to participate in missions yet, but even as the thoughts passed through my mind, I knew I wouldn’t do anything to evade my duty. I had a deep sense of right and wrong, and refusing to help a bunch of scientists who were in danger felt cowardly. If I were assigned to the mission, I would have to go no matter what happened.
I tapped the screen then scrolled to the mission crew notice. Holding my breath, I read the list of crew assigned to the mission. There weren’t as many names on the list as I’d expected.
Trella was listed first. Then there was Bobby and Zarak. I was surprised the commander had chosen rookies for this mission. If it was as dangerous as everyone said, why would he pick crew with no experience?
I scanned the other names—Bayliss, Cartwright, Draylan, Borrack and found my name right at the very end of the list.
I blinked at the screen, trying to process the information.
Although I’d expected to be chosen, seeing my name on the screen drove it home. I was going to have to go down to planet Tor and battle those lizards…this time, for real.
The bottom of the notice instructed us to meet on the jump deck at eighteen hundred hours. That was still a couple of hours away, but I had no idea where the jump deck was. I supposed I’d find someone to ask. Even if no human wanted to talk to me, I’d ask one of the androids or a bot.
Feeling dazed, I pulled down the seat from the wall and made sure all the buckles were working correctly, then I sat down and fastened myself in, waiting to experience the jump.
I guessed Trella would be busy on the jump deck, preparing her magic. I wish I could have seen how she did it. Ideally, I would have shadowed her for a few months, learning how to handle my magic, but we didn’t have the time for that now. They were going to throw me in at the deep end. It was sink or swim time.
I closed my eyes and leaned back against the hard wall. A few moments later, there was an announcement that the jump had been delayed for five minutes. Then a few minutes after that, another announcement told us the jump was postponed for a further fifteen minutes. I rolled my eyes and tried to get comfortable in the hard chair.
Despite how uncomfortabl
e the seat was, sitting there with nothing to do, I found myself drifting off. It was amazing considering the turmoil in my mind that I managed to sleep at all. But I did.
And I dreamed.
In my dream, I was back on Terrano. I was standing at the edge of woods, looking out at our cabin. A breeze ruffled my hair, and my breath formed a cloud of steam in front of me. It was night time, but the full moon enabled me to see well. Everything appeared to be just as I’d left it. The animals were safe in their pens. The vegetable garden was well-tended. I smiled, but when I turned a movement near the left side of the cabin caught my eye.
I stared into the darkness as Lucillia appeared with a torch in her left hand. The moonlight shone on her pale hair, and the flames from the torch lit up her pointed face. She leaned down and held the flaming torch against the wood at the base of the cabin. She was going to set our home on fire!
I tried to move, but my body only jerked and stayed in position. I opened my mouth to scream, to shout curses at Lucillia and to warn Maureena, but no words left my throat.
I was paralyzed and helpless and could only watch as the flames licked at the bottom of the cabin and began to take hold. I tried again to move, but I was locked into position and held firm. The smoke curled towards me, heavy, acrid and bitter.
I opened my mouth in a soundless cry for help. Then woke abruptly and found myself back in my dorm room, strapped tightly to the jump seat.
I was pouring with sweat, and my pulse was racing. It was just a dream. None of it was real.
I tried to calm down. Everything about the dream had felt so real…the smell of the smoke, the haunting, evil smile on Lucillia’s face as she leaned down with torch…
I rubbed my hands over my face and took a deep breath.
An announcement declaring the jump had been delayed for another fifteen minutes, startled me. I’d left my console on and could see the time from where I sat. The jump had been postponed for over an hour and a half.
I sighed with frustration and settled back to wait. A moment later, I was startled again. This time by my dorm door sliding open. Everyone was supposed to be secured in jump seats, and no one should be wandering around the ship.