This month's WEP fiction continues a previous entry from March, with an excerpt:
Part 1 - My Eyes Don't Lie, Do They?
It is written: We were the last ship of twelve that departed together from our dying planet. Our ships could go no further by the time we arrived at this cluster of rocks, as our onboard systems were starting to fail. Ship's historian, SRS-1 Colony
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| Asteroid Images, Science NASA |
The log entry was signed and dated one month after the asteroid colony was established. As I left the library viewing room, I heard someone call, "Wait up, Dak!"
I know that voice. He's the only person that agrees with my ideas. Both of us want to escape this place one day. First, we need a map. . .then, we need to hide aboard a seeker transport.
"Hi Rafe! I've got training duty for this time block. Can we meet after that?"
"You haven't heard the news then, have you?"
"What news?" My heart jumped.
End of part 1
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Part 2 - A Crossroads
"We're getting visitors. Two humans from the planets. . .our Rangers on patrol found them on the surface of asteroid AC89."
"Found them? Were they lost?"
"They were collecting crust samples. Didn't even have their guns activated when they were approached. It's what saved them though, the two Rangers knew they weren't pirates."
"I can't believe a spacer wouldn't have his gun ready. Are they here?"
"No, they aren't prisoners. In two shifts time, the news alert said they are coming back. This will be our best chance to stowaway, while everyone attends the welcoming ceremony. The visitors have to leave their ship somewhere on Landing level."
"But they'll have guards, Rafe. Armed guards."
"Are we going to do this or not? You getting scared?"
"I'm not scared. We'll do it."
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Two workshifts later, the strangers returned and were taken to be presented to the leader of the colony. The honor guards appointed to accompany the visitors followed the colony delegation as it left.
Later . . .
On the edges of Landing level, we keep to the shadows as we look for the ship which delivered the visitors. Our black surface suits make us nearly invisible. We only have a certain amount of time to get inside and find a place to hide. Crouching, we move along the hanger walls, stopping when we reach the flyer. Its flat black body seems to disappear in the darkness, built for stealth and accented with a thin blue line which ended in a 'V' on the main entry hatch. One day, I'm going to pilot a beauty like that.
Rafe interrupted Dak's thoughts and motioned him to move on. Workers and maintenance 'bots would report for duty soon. Then, a sound off to their right, a faint whirring noise. They dropped to their knees behind the side of the ship as a guard-bot went trundling past. It never paused.
"You go first and signal when you're inside. Make a noise, something I can hear over the suitcom."
"Okay. You won't back out?"
"Never. Blood-honor swear."
Rafe slipped in the side cargo door, and was out of sight as he looked for hiding places. Dak took one last look around and was about to follow when a gloved hand grabbed his shoulder. His heart pounded against his chest. Caught. Rafe is going to think I didn't follow . . .
"Just hold on there, young man. This is my ship. Do you make a habit of entering someone else's spaceship uninvited?" One of the visitors towered over Dak, clad in a surface suit different from any Dak had ever seen. It was white. Stark white.
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Sweat trickled down the back of Dak's neck inside the fitted head cover of his own black surface suit.
"Well? Can you hear me?"
"Yes, sir, I've never done this before, just talked about it. I'm Dak. We didn't want to steal nothing, we wanted to hide on your ship to get away from here. . ."
"You want to get away from here? Isn't this your home?" The man in the white surface suit released his hold on the boy, as he could see Dak wasn't going to leave his friend.
"We hate it here. Me and my friend Rafe. He's inside your ship wondering where I am. . ."
"What about your family?"
"Don't have any family. They died in a pirate raid a long time ago."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Dak. I'm Morgan, and I grew up as an orphan, just like you. I lost my parents when I was young. Too young to remember them. I know what it feels like. I remember that I wanted to leave my home planet when I was your age. Because of that, I'm going to give you a second chance and not report this 'exploration', on two conditions."
"We won't be sent to detention jail?"
"I'd prefer not to, but it's up to you. If you agree to finish your training and become one of the Rangers, I'll say nothing. Some Rangers are pilots, some aren't. Next time I come, I'll be bringing someone important that you might want to meet. He's a scientist ."
"You mean it? Can I tell my friend inside? He's probably thinking I left him . . ."
"Please ask him to join us."
"Rafe, come out of the ship, it's ok. There's been a change of plans, and there's a new friend I want you to meet."
The path of two young boys, aged 9 and 10 had just diverted to loftier ideals.
End of Part 2. There will be a Part 3.
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Have you had to make a Crossroads type of decision? Did you have a role model when you were younger? Have you heard of the WEP blogfests?
Please leave a comment to let me know you were here, and thanks for dropping by! I'll respond.
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Denise's WEP Site:
http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.ca/
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