Page 8 of Across The Stars
I shrugged, crossing my arms. “Extra muscle, I think? Our military helps patrol and scan for hostiles. If there’s anything else, my dad didn’t mention it.”
“Hostiles. Like the gek things? Or the gray, icky ones? I saw a picture leaked online of one of those. It was really blurry. Hard to make out.”
“Of course, it was. Was a blurry picture of bigfoot next to it?” I snorted.
“Shut up. They’re real.”
I pressed my finger to my lips, bidding Sam to be quiet. It was my turn to step up to the security check and I was sweating all over. I greeted the man in the white suit that was standing behind the table, but he didn’t even take a glance in my direction. After watching the others go before me, I knew to slide my ID card into the little, silver divot on the table. I saw my information pop up in a blue hologram above it and watched the man skim through it quickly. I swallowed, anxiously waiting. Finally, his eyes shifted toward me.
“Documents?” he said, holding out his hand.
I fished the papers out of my pocket and handed them over, hiding the shudder in my hand. The man read over the information, glanced at me again, looked back down, and then handed them back. He turned to a computer that was extended on a silver platform in front of him and speedily typed some things into it.
“Innifer Harmon,” he said in a mechanical tone. “You’ll be on transport number 4. Have your pass available when you board. Welcome to the Nexus work force. Your service is important to us. Please step through the gate.”
I took my ID and calmly turned to walk through the entrance, holding my breath. I didn’t glance back at Sam until I was through the gate. I saw her mimicking my moves and waited until the man said the same words to her and motioned for her to leave. She started walking and I pointed at the ID badge still on the scanner. She jumped back, nearly bumping the woman behind her, and snatched it before she came to meet me. We stared at each other, wide-eyed and biting back smiles.
“I’m on transport 4,” Sam whispered.
“Me, too,” I told her.
We followed a few others toward one of the massive, white ships and suddenly everything became real. I reached over and gave Sam’s hand a squeeze before we got into a single-file line again. We pulled out our tickets and let the woman at the base of the silver ramp scan them with a handheld reader.
I hesitated for a short moment, looking up into the spacecraft. My mouth went dry and I felt like my knees were going to give out until I saw Locket up ahead. For some reason that calmed me and I started walking to meet him. I caught him at the top of the ramp and tapped his shoulder, making him turn.
“Hey,” he greeted. “Same shuttle, too?”
“Yep,” I said.
Sam and I followed Locket into the craft and found it filled with crates that were strapped down in the middle of the giant cabin. There were about fifty seats lining the walls, all with thick straps attached. There were three open ones near the front and the three of us claimed them quickly, sliding our bags into a lockable compartment beneath our seats.
“So?” Locket asked. “You two nervous?”
“Nervous?” Sam said with a laugh. “No. Never. Do we look nervous? No. Of course not.”
Locket lifted a brow as he stretched his safety straps around his shoulders and waist like a hiking backpack and buckled them in the center.
“You look nervous,” he said. “I’m a little nervous. But it’s natural. Training is one thing, but the real deal is always different. How much space training have you two had?”
“Um,” I said. “80 hours.”
“Really? That’s pretty good. Especially for a linguist”
A lot? Shit. I should have said something less impressive.
“I was asleep through most of it,” I joked.
Locket laughed. He was cute. Young and friendly and friendly was exactly what I needed right then.
We learned a little about Locket’s background and education as we talked. Admittedly, I was hanging on every word he said trying to pick up things that I could use later. Thrusters. Autopiloting. Manual drops. I figured a lot of it was similar to piloting anyways. It all became kind of a blur when a computer voice echoed through the cabin. I heard the ramp’s mechanisms whirring as the shuttle sealed itself shut.
“All Nexus workforce recruits,” the voice said. “Please make sure you are strapped in. NTS 4 is about to launch. We thank you for your contribution to Nexus research and development. When exiting the atmosphere, turbulence can be jarring. It was recommended that you do not consume any food or drinks priorto take off, but should you feel nauseous, please make use of the sealable bags placed on the side of your seat. Clothing and nourishment will be provided when you check in on the Nexus. Your service is important to us. Have a pleasant journey.”
As soon as the announcement finished, I felt the floor vibrate beneath my feet. I stiffened, clutching the armrests on my seat, and pressed myself firmly into the backrest. Sam grabbed my hand and squeezed it tight. Then I felt Locket grab my other hand and I glanced over at him. He was smiling excitedly, unlike us.
“We’re heading to space, ladies,” he said with a wink.
The whole cabin broke out in elated cheers and I couldn’t help but feel calmer for it. Sam and I tossed each other a look and then we both joined in.
