Ann
Standing at the shattered window, Ann watched the horde of Dentolura finish off her sister. The people below stood in mute horror and confusion, as the creatures had blitzed the Hangar, only to divert themselves to chase after a single person on a hover-pad. Now, even more inexplicably, the creatures turned away, shuffling out of the Hangar and into the thin atmosphere of Prospero. When the last lura had stepped out of the massive door, she signaled to Bert to close it up. "Sir," he asked as the door clanged closed, "is it over?" "I think so." Ann sighed. "We still have clean-up. That will take its own time." She took a deep breath. To her surprise, she was crying. Looking around, she saw her crewmembers and all the survivors staring at her. "Healing always takes time," she said with a weak smile. Below them, the crowd began to cheer. Their long night of fear was over. They deserved to celebrate. Exiting the tower at its base--using the elevator instead of the unorthodox approach that Charalee had elected--Ann met a press of people. Most were anxious colonists. Some were her Security force, smiling and happy to see the invasion successfully repulsed. A short man with narrow eyes and short-cropped hair worked his way through. "Captain Rall!" said Ann, throwing him a sharp salute, though her entire body wished that she could curl up and sleep. What she wouldn't do for some Calm right now… "Chief Timpson," said Rall, returning the salute. His stern face broke into a genuine smile. "You've done a remarkable job. We will begin the evacuations immediately." "Is that still necessary, sir?" "Won't the creatures attack again?" "I don't think so," said Ann. "They were here for the infant. We gave it back." "But is this place safe?" He looked at her shrewdly. "Are they likely to forgive us?" Ann paused. "I don't know. You'd have to ask Senton Trapp." Captain Rall's face clouded. "The doctor in the Brig?" Ann nodded, her head thumping. "One of my assistants was moving through that area--" Ann's eyes widened. "That's dangerous, sir. There's a lura inside one of the cells." "There's a lot going on in the Brig, Chief Timpson, but that wasn't her largest concern. My assistant said that Doctor Trapp isn't likely to survive." "What?" Ann straightened. She didn't like the doctor, but she didn't want him to die. "How?" "Allergic reaction is our best guess. The man…it wasn't a pleasant ending, I'm afraid." Ann tried to feel bad, but her emotions were too drained. She'd been through too much. She'd seen too much. Done…well, what was done was done. She had to focus on that, even if it was a cold comfort. "I need a full debrief." "Yes, sir." "But evacuations first." Ann nodded. "It's your colony, sir. You decide." "I stand by my offer to send everyone through who wants it." He nodded at the Portal, which was shimmering, like a tear in the air, on the platform where Charalee had died. "Does that thing work?" "I guess so. I don't know…" A flash of light drew everyone's attention to the Portal. The light continued to brighten, illuminating the Hangar's shadows until it was too bright for anyone to look directly at it. As suddenly as it came, the brightness dropped. A person, dressed in the military gear of Desert Peaks, walked through. Though helmeted, it was clear that the person was a woman. She was unarmed--at least, she wasn't carrying a sidearm or rifle--and looked about in confusion when she saw the bloody remains of Charalee near her. Judging from her posture, she wasn't particularly happy with what she saw. "I think that's something you'll have to deal with, sir," said Ann, smiling without any real mirth. Captain Rall straightened. "I don't suppose you're up to talking to our investors?" "That's above my paygrade, sir. I just had to save our colony." "And I thank you for that." He took a deep breath. "Wish me luck," he said. He must have taken some of that luck, for the DP rep was less angry and more anxious. Relief was dispatched through the Portal, and soon Prospero was connected more fully to the Vanguard than ever before. Essential help to clear out the final Dentolura came across, as well as food, medical supplies, and additional humanpower. Most colonists decided to take the generous severance package from DP and find a new home. Some chose to stay, rebuilding what had been broken. The clean up process would take an unknown amount of time, during which precious little work would be done in the mines. All in all, it was a massive loss for Desert Peaks. Ann, however, didn't much care about that. As she sat in her office, looking out at the now-familiar tree line, she felt only emptiness. In the drawer behind her was a package of Calm, if she only wanted to… The door chimed. Her aedee told her it was Bertram. She fingered permission to open the door and her newly-minted Deputy Chief walked in. "You wanted to talk to me, sir?" he asked, standing at attention. "Sit down, Bert," she said, though she didn't turn away from the view. "We need to talk." As he sat, Bert said, "About what, Chief? I've been going over the records one more time. It looks like we'll be able to put this behind us once the DP reps have given the approval." He held his hands out. "Within two months of the most catastrophic loss of a colony in the history of postlapsarian humanity, we're almost back to where we were. You were instrumental to this success." He shrugged. "The only thing that we have left to do is get roaring drunk and find some willing partners for a night of debauchery." Ann turned around, her expression empty and hollow. Bert's smile dissolved. "Cripes, Chief. I'm sorry, I didn't…" She held up a hand. "Bert, I don't want to be here anymore. The dreams, the pain." She shook her head. "Every time I head into the Dorms, I think of the lura that killed so many. I can't pass through the Laboratory wing without remembering how it all started." She sighed, her shoulders slumped. "I can't keep up with it any more. The depression. The sadness. The desire…" She thought of the Calm again, but decided to move on. She didn't need the drugs, she needed a new home. "I'm retiring, Bert. I want you to take over." He gave a weak laugh. "Sir, with all due respect, I've barely managed to figure out what to do as a Deputy Chief. I don't want your job." "Neither do I. I'm taking the severance offered by DP. I'm going to try to overcome this." Bert shifted in his seat. "But, what about all the little details? All the parts that I don't know how to do?" "You'll learn. It's how I did it." She shook her head. "I wanted to let you know, Bertram, that I appreciate your support and help over the past few weeks. I couldn't have done it without you." "You're welcome, sir." Ann gave him a slight smile. "You know, I think you deserve your party." She nodded to the door. "Go. Celebrate. You deserve it." "But…what will you do?" he asked, standing slowly. Ann rubbed a hand across her face. Despite the worry, fear, sadness, and trauma that she still suffered, she felt a genuine feeling of hope return to her. By leaving Prospero, she could seek out the thing that haunted her the most--banishing the echoes of her sister's screams. They were there, every night. She needed to be free of that. She had to see if there was a possibility that she could find, perhaps, absolution. One thing was certain, she couldn't find it on the brave new world of Prospero. She could only find that in the stars. "I think," she said, accompanying her friend to the door, "I'll take some time to heal." |
What is this?This is a NaNoWriMo project that publishes, day by day, the chapters I'm writing for 2017. If you're confused, go to Chapter 1 Ann and start there. ArchivesCategories
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