Page 12 of A Million Stars and Shadows

The tumbling and shaking seemed to go on and on forever.

There was an unearthly silence as everyone onboard seemed to hold onto their breath, praying we’d get out of the turbulence intact and alive.

I was straining against the chair, hoping and praying for it to stop. Will it be like this the entire way to New Earth? Will it ever stop?

After some time, I felt the easing of the weight. A sudden lurch and lifting as though the ship itself had a heavy burden lifted from its shoulders.

A lightness filled the ship, and then we seemed to be floating.

At that point, Thomas reached over to release a lever, and the ship seemed to level off. The lightness adjusted, and my body settled into the chair in a normal position.

Thomas clicked on the mic and said, “Congratulations everyone, we have left Earth and is now on our way to New Earth. I have leveled off the ship, and you are free to move about the ship.”

He turned to me and said, “How’s that for a first timer?”

“Not bad,” I said. “Not bad for a Pop Idol Boy.”

He gave me a cold stare, which made my stomach flutter. He was drop dead sexy when he looked deadly. Then he gave me a thumbs up. “You’re not bad either, Bunny.”

FIVE

EVIE

“Dad,” I said. “You were so swoon-worthy, the way Mom described you. “Thomas was Dad,” I sighed. “And Old Earth… the people there must have been so desperate to leave their planet to go off to space without knowing what would happen out there.”

JANA

There was a collective sigh of relief as the officers and crew on deck unbuckled themselves and began moving around. Dr. Herbert came towards me and Thomas. “Sir, that was a perfect launch, if anything,” he said to Thomas. “I’ve been on all the test launches, and none had gone as smoothly as this.”

“Thank you, Dr. Herbert,” Thomas said, breaking out into a grin. “Well, let’s just say it’s beginner’s luck.”

Dr. Herbert’s eyebrows shot up in exclamation.

Thomas patted Dr. Herbert’s shoulders and said, “Nah, I had one test flight beforehand. Now, can you show Jana her room and then the Engineer’s department? I understand you worked with her predecessor?”

“Yes, of course,” Dr. Herbert said, taking my suitcase to help lead the way.

“No, that’s okay,” I said, reaching for the handle of my rolling suitcase. “I can take my own luggage.” I was after all, raised to respect the elder, and Dr. Herbert was a good thirty years older than me. He was old enough to be my father.

“Nonsense,” Dr. Herbert said. “I may look older but I’m as strong as an ox.”

I looked him over. He did walk as sprightly as a man half his age.

“Before I signed up for this team,” Dr. Herbert said, “I had a physical, and it showed that I’m in great shape.” He did a jump in the air, showing he was flexible and still coordinated. I laughed.

“You could give Michael Jordan, the famous basketball player, a run,” I said.

“Speaking of basketball,” Dr. Herbert said, “We have a nice gym with a basketball court. Every crew member and officer is required to join a team.”

“Why?” I asked.

“To keep in shape, to provide entertainment for the passengers,” Dr. Herbert said. “To keep up morale. It’s important to build community. And for team-building amongst us.”

I nodded. “I understand. After all, we’re going to get to know each other pretty well on this ship for the next three years and after when we end up building the first colonies in the new world.”

“Exactly,” Dr. Herbert said. He walked through a few more hallways and then to a quiet corridor that resembled a modern hip hotel’s hallway. “And this,” he said, “Is our quarters. The Officers’ Quarters.”

He stopped in front of a door with the number Seven on it. Taking out a card from his pocket, he swiped across the door. “I hope you like purple,” he said.

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