Their Little Human

Raven

“I wasn’t expecting you today,” Raven said.

Raven tried to herd Tori into the sitting room, but she made a beeline for the living room.

“You’re not exactly filling me with confidence about leaving,” Tori said.

Tori picked up the empty liquor bottles and went into the kitchen. She paused at the door and glared at Raven. A sea of bottles greeted her. Raven looked to the ceiling, chuckling.

“Had a party with some friends. I didn’t drink all—”

“Don’t. You’re just going to piss me off,” Tori said.

“You didn’t call first,” Raven said.

Tori started to toss everything away. The whole place was in disarray. Raven didn't bother cleaning since the last time Tori stopped by.

“Don’t worry. I won’t burn down the apartment while you’re gone. Go,” Raven said.

“I would be worried about that too if you cooked,” Tori said, closing the bare refrigerator.

Tori sat at the table, running her hands through her hair. Well, no hiding it now. Raven pulled out a new bottle.

“Papa isn’t here anymore, and I won’t be able to look after you like I used to,” Tori said, taking the bottle.

Raven had no choice but to drink at home or go to the liquor store after being banned from all the bars. It was easier to hide it then. Tori was a stickler about it even when their Papa was alive. Now that he was gone, she was a tyrant about it. Raven sighed.

She was the one who got Commander Cole to pull strings for Tori to go on the mission in the first place. The whole point was for her to follow her dreams and leave Raven to waste away.

“This is what you always wanted. The higher-ups reconsidered. Please don’t miss out because of me. Okay? I swear I will stay alive until you get back. I’ll have three solid meals a day,” Raven said.

Tori studied Raven’s face for a moment, then nodded.

“You’re supposed to ship out again soon, right,” Tori said.

“Yeah, I’m like the water girl this time. I won’t see any action,” Raven smiled.

Commander Cole had her kicked out last week. It was either that or face execution again. She did her job, and now they wanted to throw her out like trash. Papa didn’t lie about how they used their assets.

“If you’re sure you’ll be okay on your own and promise to be safe,” Tori said.

“I promise,” Raven said.

Tori went in for a hug, and Raven hesitantly gave in.

“Sorry,” Raven whispered.

“No, don’t be. Everyone heals their way. So, I’ll see you in three months,” Tori said.

“I’ll be at the station to pick you up,” Raven said.

Raven held up her wrist with the gold bracelet on it. Tori smiled and held up her matching one. After their parents died, they made a promise to each other.

“Love you, Ray,” Tori said.

“Love you too,” Raven said.

***

“I want to speak with Commander Cole. He’s been dicking me around for the last three months,” Raven said.

The receptionist glared and threw her hands, gesturing to the hectic office. Everyone was running around and yelling. The war had spilled out to the rest of the world, and the damage was irreversible. Tori’s mission had ended three months ago. Raven waited for her at the station. Everyone returned but Tori and her team. No one knew where Tori and her team were. People just don’t disappear—especially your nation’s prized scientists.

“Just like I told you for the last three months. Things are a little crazy now, and he will—”

“Give him this message. Either he speaks to me tonight, or I will go to the Press with some things he rathered stayed secret. I think the citizens and our enemies would like to know who to thank for all of this,” Raven said, gesturing to the hectic office.

The receptionist's mouth went slack. It was ballsy on Raven’s part, but it would get his attention. The receptionist walked around the desk and pointed to a closet. Raven followed her.

“Jasmine and Theo didn't raise a fool. So, don't act like it. For God’s sake. I made sure you received Tori’s benefits. She’s gone. I'm sorry, but move on, or there will be no one to bury or mourn you,” she said.

“If I could bury or mourn her, I would move on, but no one knows anything? Bullshit, and I won't stop until I know what happened to her,” Raven said.

Tori was all Raven had left. She wasn't losing her too.

“Fucking pain in my ass. Fine, but don't confront them,” she said, peeking out the door.

“Do you know something,” Raven asked.

“About Tori, no. I do know after the assassinations six months back, things are heading downhill. Everyone is preparing their nukes. The talks aren’t going well. You're smart, so hear me. They're holding a selection to find the best, the brightest, and the richest for the Bella. Get on that ship. It's heading for Alpha, and you'll have a better chance at finding her,” she said.

Commander Cole would be a problem. He wanted Raven just to disappear. He would lie about Tori anyway. This would save Raven time squeezing it out of him. It was her best option.

“Thanks,” Raven said.

“Don't thank me. I'm doing this for your parents,” she said.

***

“Come on. Just a couple of shots,” Raven said.

“You’re cut off, SFO Fox. Captain’s orders,” the bartender said.

Just like on Earth. It was getting old. The whole bar agreed. What the hell she ever did to them?

“I don’t blame him. You sent three men to the medic bay last week,” a passenger said.

“They deserved it,” Raven said.

She honestly didn’t remember who she sent to the medic bay or if they did deserve it. Raven blacked out.

“No one wants a crazy drunk pilot at the helm,” an officer said.

“I remember a different tune when I got us through the Black Eye,” Raven said.

The officer mumbled and went back to his drink. She leaned in close to the bartender.

“I got stuff to trade, and I’ll pay,” Raven whispered, padding down her pockets.

“That gold bracelet looks nice,” the bartender whispered.

“Not for sale,” Raven said.

She hid her wrist in her lap.

“Then get the fuck out. I have customers to serve, or should I call the guard,” the bartender said.

Raven glared. She didn’t want to get thrown in the pit. Her pay would get cut, as well as her getting cleaning duty.

“Why don’t you do something about the air quality in the upper decks? It’s stale,” a woman said.

She stopped by Raven’s seat spilling her drink everywhere.

“Everyone receives the same amount,” Raven said.

“Not everyone paid the same amount. Just cut the lower floors, and it should balance out for those who deserve it,” she slurred.

“You think you’re better than them,” Raven asked.

“I know,” she said.

Some people didn’t pay money. Others paid in blood, with their bodies or their minds.

Raven’s blood began to boil. She sucked her teeth and hopped off the stool. The woman continued to yell across the bar as Raven left.

The corridor at this time was quiet except for the hum of the ship. They were still weeks away from Alpha. What was she going to do?

“SFO Fox,” a man called out.

Raven groaned and leaned on the wall. She waited as the old man caught up. He had an older woman in tow, both smiling. The old man always had kind words and looked out for everyone on his floor. Raven wasn’t in the mood tonight for glory stories or for him to try and pry into her feelings.

“Your dick is going to fall off at this rate,” Raven said.

“I got one foot in the grave. I’m going to make the most of it,” he said.

“What can I do for you, sir,” Raven asked.

“I need someone to watch my granddaughter while I’m busy. All the sitters are taken,” he said.

“Find someone else, Jack. I’m not a good pick,” Raven said.

“I’ll meet you in your room,” Jack said.

The older woman smiled and walked off. He reached into his bag and produced a bottle—whiskey. That caught Raven’s attention.

“For the night terrors, right? I hear you at night sometimes screaming on my rounds,” Jack said.

Raven averted her gaze. Was she that loud?

“There’s no shame. You survived—like me. Take it, but save it till after I return. I’ll be back in three hours tops,” Jack said.

Raven took the bottle.

“Unit 001. Does Abigail like cards or dolls,” Raven said.

“She liked the game you all played last time,” Jack said.

Raven’s eyes went wide. Abigail and her friends had big mouths. Raven was working the late shift. They managed to sneak past the guards, but Raven caught them. She knew what earned them their ticket—espionage skills as young as they were.

So, instead of turning them in, she gave them tips and other lessons to increase their chances of being more useful on Alpha—to survive and ensure what happened to her wouldn’t happen to them. Raven made it into a game to keep their attention.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, old man,” Raven said.

He smiled, “See you later.”

Raven headed for the lower decks. As she waited for the elevator, the ship shook then the lights went off. She cursed under her breath and hit the communicator.

“SFO Fox, reporting in. Lights are out on mid-deck. Over,” she said.

“All flight crew, report to the control center now,” a voice said.

The ship continued to rock and jolt around. People started to come out of their units in a panic.

“Everyone calm down and go back inside. Just some space debris and the system needs a reset. Don’t worry. I’m going up now to do it,” Raven yelled.

The worried faces of the crowd relaxed, then transformed into aggravation. They stood in the hall and voiced their displeasure. The group was too big to pick a voice out. She cracked open the emergency hatch to climb up. She sealed it behind herself so no one would get hurt. As she climbed up, each floor was louder than the next, and her worry started settling in. Others began to enter the emergency line and climb.

She pushed the control center hatch open and slid in. People were rushing around, grabbing drives, packing weapons, and other stuff. Raven went over to her station and started the reset. She looked out of the windshield and released a heavy breath. Raven pulled out that bottle of whiskey and began to drink in earnest. A space storm—the vortex of colors and meteorites licked the ship.

“Everyone gather around,” Captain said.

The room was as quiet as the battlefield before the first shot.

“Grab what you can. We’re leaving in fifteen minutes. I’ve opened the upper decks and our floor paths to the pods. Don’t be late, or you get left behind,” Captain said.

Raven frowned as she pushed her way to the front. The Captain was quick as he made his way into the hall. Raven ran after him. He was already in the escape pod room, loading up pods, when she caught up with him.

“Sir, what about the lower decks? And everyone else,” Raven said.

“What about them,” Captain said.

Groups started to climb in with luggage—all from the upper decks.

“Open the lower decks,” Raven said.

“There’s no time or space for them,” Captain said.

“If we open it now and they leave their bags behind, it can be done,” she said.

“Everyone quickly. Thirteen minutes left before we take off,” Captain said.

“Are you listening to me?” Raven yelled.

“Do your fucking job, Senior First Officer,” Captain glared.

She returned to the control room and entered the Captain’s station. She snatched the badge and went back to the escape pod room. She swiped it and punched in the Captain’s code.

Raven slammed her fist into the emergency evacuation button.

“What the hell are you doing?” Captain said.

He threw a box into the pod.

This heap of crap had kept them afloat for all this time. After everything, a space storm would end humanity’s last hope. The Bella was the last ship able to travel from Earth.

It groaned as pieces flew off into the vast dark.

“They put their trust in us. We took an oath,” she said.

“Raven, stop being stubborn and get in. First-class passengers and essential personnel only. Tori would tell you the same thing,” Captain said, helping others inside.

The same ones complained about not having enough fresh air in their units and demanded they cut other passengers’ air percentage. He climbed in and held out his hand.

“She said a lot of things,” Raven said.

“You can die here with the rest of them then,” he said, closing the pod.

One by one, each pod started to pop out into the stars. People began to gather up in the shaking hall. The crowd became frantic at the sight, pushing and rushing to the last pod.

“Listen up! Children go into the last pod. I need ten volunteers to help me land this beast, and everyone else, strap in. We’re going to have to make a detour,” Raven said into the intercom.

“What if we can’t land it?” someone yelled from the back.

“All this time you’re wasting on talking, we could be landing. Shut the fuck up and do as I say, or I will throw you out of the airlock.” Raven scanned the crowd.

To her surprise, no one else argued. Maybe the sight of the assholes fleeing, leaving them to die, kicked in their survival instincts.

She picked out a few people to load the kids up and locked everyone else in their seating area. Jack pushed his way to the front.

“Get your ass in the seating area,” Raven said.

“Look who’s wasting time now,” Jack said, pushing past her.

She and the volunteers made it to the bridge, to the consoles blaring “Danger” messages.

Strapping in the Captain’s chair, she set a course for the closest planet. It was either this or float out here until they died. They had ten minutes before the ship fell entirely apart.

She couldn’t wait to get out of this coffin. Rocks pelted the ship hard. She gripped her stomach, hoping to coax the food back down. Bright explosions erupted in the distance.

Bang!

“When I call out your station, hit your button. So help me if you mess up, and we’re not dead,” she said.

“Yes, sir,” they called out in unison.

The dash turned red, and warning messages littered the screen again. She cursed to high heaven.

Raven pressed the pod escape button and launched the kids on the Captain’s route. She punched the override button and pushed the speed to max.

“Station one! Red!”

They would make it; it was only minutes away. Raven got eyes on the kids and smiled. Their pod made it out of the storm in one piece. The ship broke through the atmosphere and flew apart at the seams.

“Station two! Red!”

Another glorious message informed her that the landing gear was busted.

“Everyone, get to the seating area in two minutes! I’ll eject it, and the secondary system should take over,” Raven said.

“No! Are you insane? The ship will split in half. You’ll be exposed if you’re not burned to a crisp first,” Jack said.

He tried to unbuckle her. They wrestled over straps. There was no guarantee that the air on the planet was safe. Or that it was safe in general. The storm knocked them way off course.

“I’ll stay behind. I got one foot in the grave already. The devil won’t have to work as hard. Just swear you’ll get to Alpha and take care of Abigail for me,” Jack said.

“I don’t plan on dying, old man.”

Raven forced a smile and held up a suit.

“Plus, how could I face my sister again? Make sure they don’t kill each other once you land. Abigail needs you,” she said.

Jack gave her a strained look before taking off. Suiting up was difficult, but she managed.

She was not religious, but she prayed that they would survive this as she rubbed her gold bracelet. Her eyes wailed up as she thought about Tori—her parents. Their promise she was about to break.

Cracks raced down the windshield. She and Jack spent too much time talking. She hoped he was as quick running as he was chasing ass. Once the screen went dark, she pressed the ejection button.

***

Arenk

The reports were longer than the ancient files. A few more hours and he could go home. The rookies this cycle were worst than the last. What was the academy teaching them? The door slammed closed, bringing Laro along with the wind. His hair was messy, and his wrinkled shirt was untucked in the back. Laro plopped down in his chair with a grin.

“Fix your hair and clothes,” Arenk said.

“Oh, thanks,” Laro chuckled.

“You took a long break,” Arenk said.

“Was it?”

Laro shrugged and got to work. They were in charge of guarding the atmosphere border today. It was tedious to give ships access to either leave or enter from the capital and surrounding cities. To keep an eye out for enemy ships and smugglers.

Arenk pushed back from his desk to stretch his legs.

He needed something to wake him up. The shifts were long and taxing. As he headed for the drink synthesizer, the alarm blared.

He rushed back to his desk and tapped the transparent screen. It worked a lot better than the old analog systems still in circulation. Hopefully, the King would change all of the systems over soon. A tiny dot appeared—red.

A ship? They’re barreling past all of the checkpoints—no distress call.

“Give me a closer look at the fifth quadrant,” Arenk said.

The computer never lied. So who the hell was entering their planet without clearance? He rubbed his chin. No identification number. Black-market ship? No. They would use cloaking to avoid the scanner.

A rookie brought up the live feed on the main screen.

“Zoom in.” He leaned closer to the screen.

What language is that? The ship broke apart before he could see the entire word. The fiery ball crashed in the forest outside the quadrant. The rookies could use the practice.

He reached for his earpiece.

“Hold it. We should go. I need a new cruiser and have my eye on that new place. A two-way split is better than five,” Laro said from behind his hand.

“No, we follow protocol,” Arenk said.

Just before Arenk pressed it, Laro leaned back in his chair.

“I guess you don’t want one of your own 'cause it won’t happen in our lifetime at this rate,” Laro said.

“We will be rewarded when we’ve earned it,” Arenk said.

It was something he truly believed. Work hard, and the King will grant it.

“I’m sure our fathers said the same thing. Too bad we can’t ask them,” Laro said.

“Most can’t,” Arenk said.

“Isn’t that something you want different for your future youngling? Or are you content with your bi-monthly sessions with Lyka and no hope of raising your youngling? That’s if you even know if you made one or not,” Laro said.

Arenk let out a sigh and rubbed his chin. He could care less about the credits, but an arrest could move him up a few spots on the list to get a mate—to start a family. The list order changed so often.

It was due to males making backroom deals, favoritism, and every other underhanded trick. A male could be at the top and still wouldn’t see a mate in his lifetime. Still, Arenk would try anyway.

“Rookies, divide into two teams. One on surveillance, and the other on standby in case backup is needed. This is a code black,” Arenk said.

Laro had a spring in his step as they exited the building. They would either hit the jackpot and live well or be taken out by whatever was on that vessel.

The sweet smell of leather and metal greeted them as they strapped on their armor and weapons. Laro didn’t bother to put on his complete set.

Arenk wouldn’t be caught dead without every single piece.

“Put all of it on. We don’t know what’s out there,” he said, starting the cruiser.

“It’s probably a smuggler, and they’ll be long gone before we get there. Don’t worry so much,” Laro said with a big smile.

“I want the arrest of the smugglers if we find them. You can keep the stripped parts,” Arenk said.

“Sounds good to me. We’ll split it half and half if we don’t find anyone,” Laro said.

“It has to stay quiet either way. So, be careful when you sell everything,” Arenk said.

Laro slapped Arenk’s shoulder and hopped in the cruiser.

They followed the smoke in the sky to the first crash site. These vehicles were great off-road. They ripped through the forest like a boat on the sea.

Laro stuck his head out the window, eyes closed, feeling the wind through his hair. It was almost long enough to wind sail with.

“We’re approaching,” Arenk said.

They first checked the surrounding area for anyone hiding and put out the flames. The ship was a wreck. Still, there could be something of value on board.

It would be a nice payday, even if they stripped it for parts. It was dark inside despite the bright day. Wires dangled and sparked as they made it to the cockpit.

“How old is this ship? We can’t sell any of this on the mainstream market. I have a few buyers that are into antique ships. I’ve never seen anything like this before, though,” Laro said.

Neither had Arenk. This wasn’t a smuggler or enemy ship. This was a first contact.

He placed a hand on his gun as they moved slowly. Capturing an undiscovered species could move him to the top of the mate list.

“Up there.” Arenk crouched with his gun aimed at the hunched-over body in the captain’s seat. They approached with caution. “Hands up, you’re under arrest for illegal entry.”

As they surrounded it, Laro kicked the body. It fell with a colossal thud. He began to try and pry it out.

“Wait, don’t take it out of—”

The suit hissed and opened.