Part Twenty-One of my NaNoWriMo challenge. Total words written to date is 43,800, with 42,200 uploaded with this episode.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“I'm going to miss Anastasia,” Ruby said. They had all said their farewells the previous days. After being together so long, through so much, moving on was proving very difficult.
“She'll be alright,” Emerald responded, hearing the concern as well as the sadness in her sister's voice.
“Will we ever see her again?”
“I'm not sure. You will be able to communicate with her from Mars. And we will. She won't ever forget you.”
“I won't forget her either,” Ruby exclaimed.
Anastasia had seen them off at the old airport. Too many of the world's airports had been destroyed, it was any wonder there was still an aircraft industry left. They had heard word of the new shuttle systems being built on Mars. Maybe one day, if peace ever returned, Earth too could utilise such a system. Allow people to travel quickly and cheaply to all parts of the globe. But for the time being they all had to rely on what was available. At least they had an airport with working planes to take them out of the war zone, to the European Space Centre. War had spread to so many parts of the world. Or at least it had certainly tried to. Encouraged, it seemed, by those that had so much to benefit from all the chaos and carnage. But most of Europe had remained eerily calm. A sense of grey hung over the continent, like an anticipation of things to come, leaving the populace in a state of melancholic dread. If the war had arrived then it wasn't physical so much as it was their minds being worn down. Their strength to keep going was under attack. Perhaps that was the strategy being applied. Anastasia had heard about the various parts of the world through her work colleagues, and being at the refugee camps now would afford her the opportunity to hear so much more, especially given how far behind she felt they had become. But Europe was safe, she reminded herself. They'll get to the Space Centre, and in a few days will be on their way to Mars. She felt the greatest sense of happiness and joy knowing that Ruby was going to do well, and be taken care of – a new family, a new home, even a new planet. New life all round. But she felt the sadness too. She had grown accustomed to having her around. To being her protector. But their roles had all changed. And opportunities had lead them all elsewhere. “I won't ever forget you, Ruby,” she said as she watched the plane fly out of view, “no matter how many years go by.”
Ruby enjoyed the plane flight, but not like the helicopter ride earlier. Too big and too enclosed, she thought. I could see everything from the helicopter. Still, she was here with Jelena, and all the new children. So many of them, she had no idea of the number. Some of the children seemed to get along, perhaps they knew each other, or had become friends in the camps. Ruby wasn't sure. She hadn't had the chance to meet any of them yet. But most, she noticed, seemed to be a lot like her. Quiet and uncertain of the future. Ruby was looking forward to what was coming, but it was all so different. So much change in so little time. Still, she had Emerald to ease her into it, to help transition to the life ahead. That's one way to heal the trauma – have your very own angel.
“How long does the Shuttle take to get to Mars?” Ruby asked Jelena.
“It's ten weeks, I believe,” she replied.
“What is the shuttle like?”
“I've not seen inside it, but my guess is it's like a giant cruise ship, but for space. We have out own room. I guess we just need to pass the time until we get there.”
“Maybe I can make some friends in that time,” Ruby said, trying to remember the last friend she had that was her age, and not related to her.
“I think that's highly likely, Ruby.”
“What happens to all the children when they get to Mars?”
“They will be adopted out to families that can't have any children of their own. Which is a good thing to see, but with all things, so many are left behind. So many miss out. A universal solution to the problems created by humans would help eliminate so much human misery.” Jelena stopped herself from continuing with the point she was making, not wanting to dump so much on the child. Not all at once, anyway, she thought.
“Why don't we just stop creating human misery in the first place?” Ruby asked.
Jelena found herself about to tell her it just wasn't that simple. But chose instead to just sit with those words and direct the question back to herself. Why isn't it that simple? she thought. “We have no control over what other people do, but perhaps if we each do what we can in our own lives. Maybe that will help, in some little way.” She remembered being so optimistic when she was younger. Not as young as Ruby. Life had forced her to confront too much too soon, it seemed. But she had once been eager enough to want to change the world, as if she were the first and only one afflicted with that particular virus. The arrogance of youth, she thought. It's not such a bad thing. But cynicism creeps up slowly, heartache and regret not far behind. We each have to confront these things on our own, I suppose. I still try to help, she reminded herself. I haven't completely lost my will. But the magic wand, the elixir of change – did such a thing exist? Could people really heal this broken world?
“Mars will be different though, won't it?” Ruby asked.
“Well there's no war on Mars, so everyone has the best chance of living a peaceful, meaningful life.”
“A happy life!” Ruby added.
“Well that would make me happy. How about you?”
“Yes it would. And then maybe we could remind the people on Earth how to be happy. One day.”
Yes one day, Jelena thought. If they will listen. Or more to the point, if the monsters of control would get out of the way and just let the people live. Let them breath. Let them be truly human again. And how do we deal with those monsters, those human like creatures who lord it over the rest of us, spreading the disease of death everywhere they go? The big question, she told herself. Time to join the back of the philosophical queue with all the others seeking an answer to that question. She sat silently pondering the conundrum, as she started to notice, in her peripheral vision, Emerald emerge, as if to remind Jelena of her existence. “That's why I am here,” she told Jelena. “Just like the myths of old.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
They entered the Space Port ready for their flight to a new world. Ruby walked hand in hand with Jelena, but kept Emerald close to her side. Unseen by all, even Jelena, Emerald and Alexander had silently accompanied Ruby on her voyage, knowing it wouldn't all be moments of excitement. There would come times of sadness, or terror. Those were the times when she needed Emerald the most.
Ruby was struck by the enormity of the complex. Just the building where they all stood, waiting to reach the Shuttle left Ruby speechless. They traveled down endless corridors, through so many gates, before the sight she had been waiting for. The panorama that opened up from the viewing area, with the giant Shuttle parked out a little way, so still and motionless, yet this beast is going to get us all to Mars, she thought.
“How does that get off the ground?” Ruby asked, marvelling at what looked like a giant metallic beetle just sitting outside their window.
“I believe they fly it over there, out over the Atlantic Ocean, and then up she goes. But technically, I have no idea. Although I am glad they worked out how to make space travel a reality.”
“How do we get onto it?” Ruby asked, unable to make out any connection with the building they were in. Its sheer size hid a lot, including any entrances. But Ruby wasn't concerned. Perhaps we enter the ship via magic, she thought. She was hoping that would be the case, imagining how exciting it would be to materialise on board. She was sure Emerald could do that, if she truly wanted to. Maybe she just doesn't want to freak people out. It would only be the adults that would be freaking out. She imagined them all running around madly losing their minds at the thought of her and Emerald just appearing out of thin air in front of them all. The children on the other hand would be loving it. They'd probably want to have a go themselves.
As they waited, watching all the activity around them, Ruby noticed soldiers appear, not heading anywhere in particular, but stationed in certain spots, in pairs, holding their guns close to them as if anticipating something. They were in a vast space which was already holding many hundreds of people, but she could still see them. She didn't want to see them. There are soldiers all over this world, she thought. Is there no place that is free of them?
She stood silently close to Jelena, pretending not to notice the soldiers presence. They weren't looking her way. Why should it be a problem, she thought? But they made her nervous. She turned to see where Emerald was – she was standing right beside her, as always. “Did you see the soldiers?” Ruby asked Emerald.
“Yes, I have seen them,” she replied. “I don't want to alarm you, but there are quite a lot of them here now.”
“What do they want?” Ruby asked, cutting straight to the chase.
“It seems Omar and Benjamin are not too happy with us.” Emerald told her.
“Are they here?”
“No, it's a different army here. But they all take their orders from the same people.”
“And those people want to stop us?” Ruby asked her sister.
“They want to study us. Extract our secret.”
“But for what reason? Why can't they just leave us be?” Ruby asked, calmly but with an ever increasing sense of confusion creeping in.
“Because this power that lies here,” Emerald said pointing to the two of them, “is a threat – in their eyes – to their structure of control.”
“They are scared of us?” Ruby asked, starting to get the gist of it. “They are scared of two girls?”
“Yes, that pretty much sums it up,” Emerald confirmed.
“So what do we do then?” Ruby asked, hoping Emerald would confirm her earlier wish for magic to be the way they entered the giant shuttle.
The three of them all had a chat about the situation they now found themselves in. Alexander watched on, but he was no threat to anyone. He could just come and go as he pleased. He wished he knew Emerald's magic though. Then he would help out.
They were in a large crowd, hundreds of bodies mingling around, creating perfect hiding places, but they would eventually flush them out. “There will be soldiers guarding the entrance, I'm sure,” Jelena said. “If it's us they are after? Will they be looking for me, or just you girls?”
“They haven't been able to confirm if we are with you or not,” Emerald said. “Remember, the flight was booked out. So if you get stopped, then that's what you tell them. We're not here.”
“But what about you two? How will you get through?” Jelena asked.
“I have my ways,” Emerald said, choosing to remain mysterious. It's magic, I know it is, Ruby thought, hoping they would get to take out even more of the evil men who blocked their way. Maybe then they will leave them all alone.
“How long before we have to be onboard?” Ruby asked.
Jelena looked at the time, “we have three hours to be on the shuttle. I don't think it leaves for several hours after that, to get everything sorted for take off. Keep that in mind, in case those soldiers try to board later.”
“Do you think they would board?” Ruby asked.
“Not unless they wanted to risk a diplomatic incidence with Mars.” Emerald responded.
“So once we get on board we should be okay?”
“That's right,” Emerald answered. “And we will get there. Even if we have to tie up all of these soldiers also,” she added, smiling broadly to Ruby. She's scheming, Ruby told herself. That's her scheming smile.
Ruby followed Emerald off into the crowd of people mingling in the waiting area. The giant shuttle could still be seen some way off through the windows of the viewing area. The large flat planes stretched for miles beyond, land needed to allow for the enormous ship to manoeuvre itself into position and start it's journey to Mars. Ruby took one look at it, before being swallowed by the sea of bodies filling the space. We'll be with you shortly, she whispered to the ship. We have some bad guys to deal with first. If it has to it will wait for us. We are all on the same side here. She bid the shuttle farewell and allowed Emerald to lead her to where they needed to go.
Ruby knew her sister could sense the soldiers. She had no need to actually look for them, or count them. Nothing obvious like that. They emerged from the crowd at the back of the assembly area, and found the escalators to the lower level. They hurried along the corridor directly under the room they were in. Not as many people here, Ruby noticed. No soldiers either. But no where to hide if they show up. Ruby was holding tightly to Emerald's hand, with no intention of letting go. If she runs then I'll run too. I'm not going to miss this for the world, she thought.
They were a long way down the side corridor, traveling the length of the building. Many food stalls and smaller shops were around. Ruby wondered what people would be buying. Perhaps you can't get these things on Mars? So why leave it to now. She was happy for the activity though, as it kept the area looking busy, provided hiding places. She found herself passing a coffee shop, when Emerald dragged her into it.
“Sorry,” she whispered, placing her fingers over Ruby's lips to keep her quiet. “Soldiers,” she said, pointing in the direction she saw them. Ruby looked around and where she now found herself, and noticed someone looking directly at her, with a puzzled look on his face. “Emma,” Ruby said, pointing in his direction.
“He can't see me, remember,” Emerald explained, telling her the message to relay to him.
“Oh, sorry,” Ruby quickly said to the coffee man. “I'm just hiding, from those men with guns,” she added.
He looked down the corridor before realising who she was referring to. Ruby wondered if he would turn her in. She hoped not, he looks like a good person, she thought. I don't want him to get hurt. Maybe he has a daughter of his own, she wondered. “It's okay,” he said gesturing for her to stay low. “Hide over here, they won't see you.” He lead Ruby behind the counter, unseen to anyone standing on the other side. Only if they choose to look back here will they see us, she thought. Well they will see me anyway. But they're not that bright. That's why they are hunting Emma, so they can capture her smarts. She crouched down low, next to Emerald. The coffee man stood watch, pretending to be awaiting the arrival of new customers. Ruby watched for any signals from Emerald, any indications to make a run for it, or for the fireworks to begin. Still nothing she thought. She could feel the anticipation building.
“Are you guys after a coffee? How do you take it?” the man behind the counter asked, sounding as casual as he could. But they knew he was speaking to the soldiers they had just seen. There were two of them standing on the other side of the counter. Guns close to their chests. They couldn't see them from where they were hiding, but they could sense their presence. That ominous vibration of death looking for a target onto which to spread its tentacles. Ruby started to imagine a giant dark Octopus inking out all the waters around it. They're like ravenous dogs, she thought, sniffing the air, in search of their prey. She wondered what they would look like with ties around their arms and legs, just like what all those other soldiers experienced. She kept her eyes on Emerald, but nothing much seemed to be happening. Give it time, she thought.
The soldiers never answered the coffee man. They just stared at him, and into the back of his shop. But they made no effort to look further. They don't know we're here, Ruby thought. That's good, hopefully we can go soon. She started to feel herself relaxing when one of the soldiers poked his head around the corner of the counter and saw Ruby crouching down out of sight. “She's here,” he shouted to the other soldier, moving his gun into position to have it aimed at the child. The man behind the counter shot his hands into the air. Ruby looked to Emerald, “what now?” she asked. “Is it magic time?”
The soldier was thrown back with an immense force into the far wall of the shop, several metres away. His gun dropped out of his hands as his body was tossed back like a rag doll. The impact left a small crater in the wall, as the soldier's body fell to the floor. The other soldier looked in fear at what was taking place in front of him, until getting his bearings again and pointing the gun at Ruby.
“Would you shoot a girl?” she asked him, taking one step towards him.
“If I have to,” he nervously replied, looking around to see if the whole room was shaking or if it just his knees having that effect. He turned to the man behind the counter, but he was still standing with his arms stretched up, frozen first by the sight of guns, then by the drama that had quickly unfolded in front of him.
“Then why haven't you shot me yet?” she taunted him. She knew he couldn't. Her sister would never allow that to occur. She wondered if she could tease him into surrendering.
He raised his gun, trying to aim it at Ruby. The shakes in his hands were betraying his lack of confidence and faith in his ability to follow through. Beads of sweat started rolling down the side of his face. Ruby watched as his gun was removed from his hand, by a force only she could see. The soldier stared in disbelief, as his own gun moved away from him and turned and pointed back at him. She could hear the other soldier groaning behind her. Well at least he is still alive, she thought. Our army still hasn't killed anyone. No guns, no deaths. And they're shaking at the sight of us. Ruby wanted to smile, but she decided to give the soldier the best ominous look she could. Does he think I look scary, she wondered? He's still shaking, so I guess so.
“What do we do with them?” Ruby asked Emerald.
“I have a plan,” she said, as she moved her hands towards both soldiers and sent them immediately into a deep sleep. Emerald dragged the second body and lay it next to the soldier that had been thrown into the wall. The coffee man continued to watch but had given up trying to understand what he was witnessing. He had just watched a body drag itself across his shop's floor. On it's own. If only he could see what I can see, Ruby told herself.
“They will sleep for a long time,” Emerald said. “But we should get going.”
Ruby thanked the man, but left him standing, unsure of what he had just seen, or even how he would begin to describe it to people when they come asking.
Emerald lead the way as they rushed back down the corridor towards their destination. Ruby couldn't see any more soldiers. Not that it would bother her if they did. But she didn't want to see too many people get hurt. Even the soldiers.
“We can't enter through the main entrance to the shuttle,” Emerald told Ruby. “Down here is the service entry. Emerald placed her hand over the security pad, causing the door to open. Ruby heard the noise, like buttons were being pressed, but her sister had the pad covered. It's magic, she reminded herself. They entered the hallway and made their way towards the stairway, entered it and made their way down to the ground level.
Emerald looked around, as if trying to find someone. Ruby watched her, curious as to the next part of the plan. They were on the ground level now, and she could see the outside area not too far in the distance.
“Hey, you can't be back here.” Ruby heard the voice, and turned to face it, hoping mostly that it wasn't a soldier. If it wasn't one then she realised she wouldn't actually know what to do. She hoped Emerald would take over from here. A man approached, dressed in what looked to Ruby like a captain's uniform. “Who are you?” he asked Ruby.
“My name is Ruby,” she responded. “I need to get on the shuttle, but I can't use the main entrance,” she continued.
“Why not?” the man asked.
“There are soldiers looking for me.”
“They all looking for you?” Ruby had his attention. He was no fan of soldiers, having chosen the Space Corps over being a soldier, mostly because he had no desire to kill anyone. He was impressed that this child in front of him had caused such a scene. “My name is Richard,” he told her. “I'm the captain of that giant shuttle out there. The one you need access to.”
'Nice to meet you Richard,” Ruby said shaking his hand.
“And it's very nice to meet you also. I would be very interested to hear how you managed to upset all those soldiers.” He looked at Ruby, curious as to what had taken place for the army to get involved in trying to prevent her from leaving Earth. It had never happened before, to his knowledge. Certainly never to a child. What is she, Supergirl perhaps? he wondered. Anyone that can piss the army off has my attention, he thought. “I tell you what, let's make a deal. I let you onto that ship without any soldiers seeing you, and you tell me your story. Is that a deal?” he asked.
“Yes,” Ruby responded, “that's a deal.” They shook hands to confirm their agreement, as he lead Ruby towards the shuttle. “Follow me, Ruby,” he said. “We've got a shuttle to catch.”
Chapters One and Two (Part One)
Chapters Three and Four (Part Two)
Chapters Five and Six (Part Three)
Chapter Seven (Part Four)
Chapter Eight (Part Five)
Chapter Nine (Part Six)
Chapter Ten (Part Seven)
Chapter Eleven (Part Eight)
Chapter Twelve (Part Nine)
Chapter Thirteen (Part Ten)
Chapter Fourteen (Part Eleven)
Chapter Fifteen (Part Twelve)
Chapter Sixteen and Seventeen (Part Thirteen)
Chapter Eighteen (Part Fourteen)
Chapter Nineteen (Part Fifteen)
Chapter Twenty (Part Sixteen)
Chapter Twenty One and Twenty Two (Part Seventeen)
Chapter Twenty Three and Twenty Four (Part Eighteen)
Chapter Twenty Five (Part Nineteen)
Chapter Twenty Six (Part Twenty)
This fiction is my own work, written for Steemit
Image Credit: Unsplash.com
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