A Hero Rising (11 page)

“Thought I’d crash your little party.”

Relief at the sight of his friend’s face washed over James and he shook his hand. “You came at just the right time.”

“We only made it because the ruckus of the ship drew the moonshiners up and cleared out the building. Thank you for coming back for us.”

James shrugged. “It’s what you raised me to do.” He pointed to Skye. “You should thank her, though. She’s the reason I’m still alive today.”

Dal’s eyebrow rose in a question and James knew the old man had put two and two together: a beautiful woman, James’s new “single” status, and
voilà
. Dal laughed. “Looks like you found more than just a ship.”

Skye’s brow creased and James changed the subject. “How many people did you round up to save?”

“Roughly three thousand.” Dal wiped sweat from his brow. “It got a little cramped down in the compound, let me tell you.”

James looked up at the ship. They had about five hundred people too many. But he’d make them all fit, every last one. “And it will be cramped again until we reach Outpost Omega.”

Dal waved this off. “We’ll live.”

Behind them, people poured onto the roof, so many that the voices of the mass rose above the hum of the ship. They carried plants from their underground facility, along with backpacks of supplies.

Dal’s eyes shifted from pleased to serious. “We’ve got to move. There are more moonshiners where those came from. I have a team below us holding ’em back.”

“I’ll start getting your people on board.” Skye gave Dal a nod. She broke away from them and jogged to open the hatch, ushering the first refugees onboard the
Destiny
.

Dal looked at Skye appraisingly as she left. He turned back to James. “She’s a keeper, I’ll tell you that. You see how she handled that beamer?”

“She doesn’t want to join our gang, Dal.” James smiled. “She hates gangs.”

Dal’s eyes twinkled and the corner of his mouth curved up. “Joining the gang’s not what I’m talking about.”

Chapter Seventeen

Exodus

People shuffled by James in an endless tide as he kept watch over the rooftop. His chest swelled with pride as businessmen, vagrants, mothers, soldiers, gang members, and families of all ethnic races, ages, and social levels filed onto the ship. He’d fought for this type of world his entire life. This was the justice he’d believed in. Everyone had an equal chance of survival. In his genetic DNA book, every person on Earth was worthy to live.

Dal tapped his shoulder, bringing him out of his trance. “We’re almost done. My team is on Level Forty-six, holding back the horde with hypergrenades. When everyone is on board, they’ll make a run for the ship.”

James nodded. “Good. I’ll go down and join them.”

Sirens blared like the call of lost souls all over the city, cutting through the hum of the
Destiny
’s engines. Adrenaline shot through James’s veins as he scanned the sky and looked to Dal. “It’s a warning. We’re out of time.”

Dal patted his shoulder. “You go on the ship. Prepare for takeoff. I’ll get the others.”

The old man disappeared into the crowd and James’s chest tightened. Would he ever see Dal again? For a second James considered going after him, but the only chance of any of them making it was if he got back on the ship.

Cursing under his breath, James pushed his way through the crowd. All he could think of was getting to his miniscreen and shutting off the autopilot mode. Dal needed more time, and he’d try to give him every last second.

Refugees cluttered the corridors of the
Destiny
, each group searching for a spot to make their own for the journey. James climbed over children playing on the metal grating and sprinted to the main control deck.

Skye waited for him, watching the city through the sight panel with nervous eyes. Carly sat belted in her seat, flipping through the pictures she’d taken on their journey.

Skye turned to him. “Thank goodness you’re back. They’re going to do it, aren’t they?”

James reached for the miniscreen and pressed the override key. “Sounds like it.”

“Is everyone on board?”

“Not quite yet.”

“Cyber hell.” Skye kicked her seat. “How much longer do we have?”

James had no idea, and he didn’t want to have to leave Dal and the other heroes down on the rooftop to save everyone else’s life. “We’re going to wait as long as we can.”

Skye paced the length of the sight panel, and James collapsed into the pilot’s seat, rubbing his temples. He checked the status of the ship. The systems remained online. All he had to do was press a key to initiate the takeoff procedure. His finger twitched just thinking about it.

“Thank you for saving us, James.” Carly’s sweet voice drew him out of his worries and James turned around. The little girl held out a picture for him, stretching her arm as far as it could reach. At first he thought she intended her present for Skye, but she looked directly at him and shook the paper.

James reached back and took the picture. The glossy sheen reflected the fluorescent light, and he tilted it to make out the image.

His own silly grin smiled back at him. He looked both overconfident and vulnerable at the same time and he wondered how the eyes of a little girl could capture so much emotion, how they could see into his soul.

James put the picture in his cloak pocket. “Thank you, Carly.”

“Carls,” she said. “Like how Skye says it.”

James nodded very seriously. “Carls it is.”

“James.” Skye’s voice was serious. He turned to face her, worry crawling up his back.

“What’s the matter?”

“You told me the reason why you didn’t make it on the
Expedition
was your heart. Are you sure you want to chance it now?”

He brought his hand to his chest, feeling his heart beat underneath his fingertips. “I’ll tell you one thing, Skye. I don’t want to get left behind again. It almost killed me the first time, and I know it would this time, too. My heart can’t withstand losing someone I care about. Not again.”

Skye put her hand over his on his chest. “But can it withstand the pressures of deep space?”

Placid calm trickled through him. He’d suspected Thadious Legacy played up his deficiency because he knew James would be a distraction to Mestasis, that good old TL never wanted him onboard in the first place. “We’ll have to wait and see.” He winked, trying to give her some reassurance without going into the whole Thadious Legacy conspiracy.

A beep from his miniscreen stole his attention.

Skye sprinted to him and watched over his shoulder.

Dal’s face flashed on the screen, bouncing up and down as if he was running with his miniscreen. “Almost there.”

James’s grip on the miniscreen’s frame tightened. “We’re ready to go, Dal. Get your crazy radioactive butt up here.”

The sirens trailed off on the video feed, and the only sound they heard was Dal’s heavy breathing and the hum of the engines.

Skye’s hand squeezed James’s shoulder. “What does that mean?”

James’s heart quickened as reality slapped him in the face. “Time’s run out.”

His finger paused over the buttons on his miniscreen.

Skye whispered in his ear. “Wait.”

They watched Dal’s video feed as he turned the camera back in front of him. The metallic hull of the ship came into view, and then the ramp. He yelled something back to his team. The lighting changed from shadowed gray to fluorescent as he entered the ship. His voice sounded haggard. “Everyone’s on board.”

Skye shouted, “Let’s go!”

James closed the hatch, released the electromagnetic field holding them in place, and initiated the takeoff sequence.

He clicked the main intercom. “Everyone hold on. The ship’s at maximum weight, so the ride will be bumpy.”

The
Destiny
shuddered and groaned like a beast awakened after a long slumber. The ship rose, and the city line disappeared beneath them as they crested the layer of smog. James had watched several colony ships take off, but he’d never flown in this category of uncontrolled air space. Exhilaration pumped through him as the smog turned into white clouds. The front sight panel rose from horizontal to vertical, and gravity pressed on his chest. His heart sped and he pushed away his doubts.

“You okay?” Skye shouted from her seat.

“I’m perfectly fine.” The doctors had said there was a chance his heart would weaken. Which meant there was another chance he’d survive the pressure. Breathing deeply, he increased the power of the engines and they catapulted through the atmosphere.

Behind him, Carly whooped and screamed, and Skye joined in. Finicky triumph trickled through him—they still had to clear the danger zone. Scientists hadn’t tested the hull of the ship under atmospheric pressure changes.

The sight panel changed from red and orange light to the velvety darkness of space. Dizziness came over him. His miniscreen floated up and he realized he needed to activate the gravity rings. Pressing the sequence he’d learned on his flight navigator program, he crossed his fingers. Deep clunks resonated around them.

“What is that?” Skye’s voice shook.

James watched his miniscreen rattle onto the controls. “It’s okay. The gravity rings kicked in. We’re officially cruising to the space station. Looks like at this current speed we’ll reach it in two days, as planned.”

James unbelted himself and tested his legs. He felt ten pounds lighter, the muscles in his legs barely working to hold him up. He had to breathe harder, but the simulated atmosphere and gravity was close enough to adjust.

He turned to Carly and Skye. “Try it!”

Carly rushed to unbuckle herself and jumped up, taking a picture of the sight panel. Skye came over and slipped her arms around his neck.

“Good job, Captain.” She pressed her hand on his chest while the other one caressed his back. “Your heart’s beating strongly. Looks like you’re home free.”

For once in his life, James was tongue-tied.

Skye removed her hand from his chest and pressed a finger against his lips. “Shhh. You don’t have to say a thing.”

Before he could breathe again, she kissed him. Her lips felt soft, warm, and inviting. He put his hands around her waist and pulled her closer. Soaring feelings of desire came over him as the palms of his hands caressed her curves.

He’d given up love for his people, thinking he’d be selfish to ask for more. Now he had it all.

…

Skye didn’t waste one second. Shyness had kept her from giving James the good-bye kiss he deserved before, but it wasn’t going to hold her back now. Feeling his lips brush against hers lit her body on fire. She lowered her arms from around his neck smoothed them across his back. Every muscle tensed up underneath her touch.

Dal’s voice broke her trance. “And you thought you couldn’t fly this thing!”

Skye pulled away, her lips burning hot. James shook his head as if he’d been caught smooching on duty. “Great to see you, Dal.”

Carly ran up to the old man and flashed her camera at him, taking his picture. “He’s been practicing.”

“Oh really?” Dal crouched down to her level. “And who, may I ask, are you?”

“Carly.” She shook the picture until the image formed and handed him the glossy paper. Skye was surprised how much she’d warmed up to people. Perhaps after meeting those aliens, everyone else seemed tame.

“What a beautiful name. You know who you remind me of?” His eyes grew distant as they flicked toward the sight panel, and then back to her.

“Who?”

“My own grandchildren, Elsie and Louise.”

Carly stood in an awkward pose, biting her fingernail. “Where are they?”

“Very, very far away.” His voice turned wispy with melancholy.

“Will you ever see them again?”

“I’m afraid not. But they’re in a better place now. We all are.”

Skye momentarily thought of Mestasis driving her own colony ship. Were Dal’s grandchildren with her? Skye’s chest panged as she thought of Carly leaving on a colony ship without her.
Poor Dal
. She broke away from James and offered her hand to the old man. “I don’t think we’ve had a chance to properly meet.”

He shook her hand. “Dal’s the name everyone calls me.”

“And I’m Skye.”

“This little cutie yours?” he asked, nodding to Carly.

Skye opened her mouth, but Carly piped in. “Yeah. Skye’s like my mom.”

Skye froze, her entire body blushing.
Did she say mom? Did she really mean it?

Carly started to hum and took off toward the sight panel. Skye wanted to freeze the moment forever and keep playing it back until Carly’s words sunk in. She’d actually used the word
mom
. James stared at her from across the main control deck. The curve of his lips told her she’d heard Carly right.

Dal scratched his head and turned to James. “I hate to burst our triumphant bubble here, but we’ve got to come up with a plan for Outpost Omega. They’re not going to welcome us with open arms.”

“I know.” James walked over to them. “I have some ideas.”

Skye placed herself between him and Dal and put her hands on her hips. “Risky ones, involving you and lasers?”

James grinned. “Those are always the best.” Skye knew how much James liked lasers, but she’d almost lost him once, and she wasn’t about to risk losing him again.

Dal must have seen the turmoil in her eyes because he put a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Hopefully it won’t come to that.”

If it did, then she’d want to fight with James. Skye turned it right back on him. “Whatever it is, I’m in.”

Chapter Eighteen

Uninvited Guests

Outpost Omega started as a speck in space, smaller and duller than a distant star. Skye watched the speck grow over the course of the day, her stomach clenching and unclenching as she thought of the confrontation awaiting them. Scavenging alleys, she’d only taken what others didn’t want. Tonight they’d try to take over a coveted spaceport, the final link connecting all of the colony ships.

She thought of Grease attempting to control Utopia, and wondered if he’d stewed about it as much as she worried over the Outpost. She’d turned into a gang member, whether she liked it or not, for the sole reason that she had no other choice. Outpost Omega was their last chance at a life.

Skye glanced at James as he watched news footage of Earth. His drawn face confirmed her suspicions, but she had to ask. “How bad is it?”

James rubbed his hand down his face as if to wipe off what he’d seen. “They nuked all the major cities, but the moonshiners continue to spread. Most of the news teams still broadcasting have moved to bunkers below the surface.”

So much for going back to visit.
“You think anyone will be left alive?”

James shrugged. “Good thing Dal thought of this starship business.”

Dal harrumphed from the corner of the room. He sat on the floor teaching Carly how to play cards with a real plastic deck. “It’ll only work if we can get ourselves on that little bubble of paradise. Go fish.”

Carly sighed and pulled a plastic card from the stack. If it was any other day, Carly’s acceptance of Dal would please Skye, but too many what-ifs plagued her mind. “You don’t think they’ll be willing to share with three thousand refugees, eh?”

Dal shook his head, studying his cards. James answered for him. “It doesn’t matter if they are or not. It’s our only chance. Dal had men pack up everything from our hideout, but we’re running out of food and water. This ship didn’t have much stored up, only enough for the last work crew. People are getting restless in such close quarters, and fights are starting to break out. We’re going to take Outpost Omega. We have to. Hell, they may call us space pirates—I don’t care. All I care about is finding a home for everyone on board. If that makes me a bad guy, so be it.”

Something beeped and James turned back to his miniscreen. His expression changed from angry to apprehensive, making Skye’s hair prickle on the back of her neck. “We’re close enough to establish a communication channel.”

Dal placed a few cards down. “Go ahead, but I think we’ll have to fight our way on it.” The pessimistic sound of his voice cut through Skye like a blade. “Those government bastards wouldn’t let us on even if it was the end of the world.” He slapped his forehead, making Carly laugh. “Oh wait. It is.”

“I have to try.” James’s fingers danced over his keypad. He glanced at Skye and she summoned an encouraging smile.

“Here goes nothing.” James opened the com link. He cleared his throat and spoke into the receiver. “This is the captain of the
USS Destiny
, requesting docking privileges.”

A sharp, questioning voice shot back at him. “What is the purpose of your visit?”

James looked at Skye and Dal for the appropriate answer. Skye shrugged. Dal scratched his head.

James took a deep breath. “We’re refugees from Earth seeking shelter.”

Silence buzzed on the channel, weighing down Skye’s shoulders.

“Access denied. This base is not a haven for the unchosen. Change course.”

Skye had never heard the word
unchosen
before, and it made her feel like she had a disease.

James raised his voice, his face turning red. “There are three thousand of us with nowhere to go! Haven’t you seen the news?”

“We’re well aware of the current state of affairs. Our mission is to preserve the communication between the colony ships. We don’t have the means to accommodate a large rescue effort.”

“Resources should be split among everyone equally,” James growled into the microphone, his fists bunching so tightly the skin around his knuckles turned white.

“A population that size would overextend our resources. We can’t allow you to dock. We
will
use force if necessary—”

James snapped off the com link with a frown. “I’ve heard enough.”

Skye pulled on a thread of her torn jeans, wringing it around her finger until her skin turned pale. “So much for asking nicely. Now what?”

“Plan B.” James turned to Dal. The old man had already shot up from the floor.

Dal nodded. “I’ll get the gang ready.”

Skye reached for her high emission beamer and clicked it on, feeling the energy chambers warm underneath her cold fingers. Adrenaline shot through her veins. “I’m coming with you.”