Colonization (23 page)

A thousand angry questions echoed throughout the room. He waved them back. “I’ll answer all of your questions in due time. We’ll get to the bottom of this. Who is responsible for the evacuation announcement on the intercom?”

Everyone fell silent. A mother shushed her whimpering baby. Fear spread all over me. I’d have to own up to it, right now, in front of everyone. Corvus moved to stand by me, but I waved him back. I didn’t want to get him in trouble as well.

Nova climbed on the back of her pew so her head rose above the crowd. She pointed in my direction and shouted, “Andromeda Barliss, sir.”

Every head turned to me. Their eyes seared into my body, and the condemnation hung over me. I stepped forward and nodded. “It’s true.”

A vein in Lieutenant Crophaven’s temple twitched. “You breached security access codes and caused mass hysteria and panic. Do you have a valid reason for this?”

I gazed over at the main sight panel, but the storm hadn’t come. In fact, there wasn’t a drop on the glass. People eyed me with disbelief.

“I have reason to believe a storm of microbes is coming.” My voice came out crackly and weak. I looked to where Sirius sat, waiting for him to say something about the ridge. His mouth was sealed shut and he wouldn’t even meet my gaze.

What was I going to tell them? The ghosts of aliens told me about it? Where were they when I needed them the most? And Ray? Why didn’t he come out and show himself?

Because I was the only one who’d see them. My heart folded in on itself. Maybe I
was
crazy. I wanted to believe Great-grandma Tiff so badly. I wanted to feel important. I’d tried to save the colony and all I did was bring disgrace to our name. I was a big, epic failure, and they’d lock me in a greenhouse pruning weeds for the rest of my life. Boy, was Great-grandma Tiff wrong.

My voice shook. “Nova found a flower along with Amber and she brought it to me and my mom.”

I looked at Mom and she nodded. Her unwavering glance gave me confidence.

“We dissected it and found poisonous microbes inside, the same microbes that made Ray and Amber sick. When I reached the ridge, there was a whole field of those flowers, and a storm was coming with enough wind to blow them right into our colony.”

Corvus stood up. “She’s right, sir. I saw the field with the flowers.” He glared at Nova. “We all did.”

Voices rose in argument. Some people yelled to get back to work, and others asked when the hatch would be reopened. Lieutenant Crophaven gestured for security guards to take me away from the crowd before I could bring any more discord to the colony.

Above the voices and all the shouting, I heard the pitter-patter of something falling on the glass above our heads. The closest people to the sight panel gasped. I turned, wishing for once I was wrong.

Ooze drooled down in streaks, blurring our vision of the coastline. It clung like glue and spread, working its way into every clear space, as if reaching out for us.

It couldn’t get through.

That glass was so thick it had blocked out deep space, keeping us safe for a thousand years. It would do it again.

A woman’s voice rang out. “By the Guide, she’s saved our lives.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Offer

I straightened out my uniform as I waited for guards to open the door to the main control room. I hadn’t seen my grandpapa since that awful argument about Corvus and Sirius. I had so much to say.

A guard stepped past me and pressed the wall panel. “You may see him now.”

Although I’d waited for so long, I paused. The culmination of the moment overwhelmed me, and my eyes brimmed with tears.

“Are you all right, miss?”

“Yes, yes.” I wiped my eyes. “I’m fine.”

I walked past him and into the sterile air. My grandpapa’s pale profile stuck out from the chrome machines and my heart caught. His face looked skeletal and haggard. His cheeks were sunken in, and the harsh bone protruded underneath his thin skin.

“Grandpapa.”

“Andromeda, my dear. Come in. Come closer so I can see you.”

I stepped around the machines to face him. “I’m sorry I ever argued with you about the assignments.”

“Pah.” His hand rose slightly to wave it away. “I’ve been thinking a lot about it myself. I researched yours and Sirius’s genealogy lines, and the two of you
are
a likely match. I can make the switch if you still want me to.”

“No, Grandpapa. I love Corvus now. He’s done so much for me. Besides, it wouldn’t be fair. I failed the tests and deserve the position I have.”

His eyebrows creased and a thousand wrinkles collected in his old skin. “Nonsense. What is all this about failing tests?”

I looked down as though he’d chastised me. “Dad always told me to study, and I never did. I was unprepared.”

He shook his head and the wires rustled. “It’s impossible to fail. The tests are meant to determine each individual’s talents and to place that individual where he can utilize his natural abilities. It’s not about how much you study, it’s about finding your natural flair.”

He smiled fondly at me. “That aside, you did exceptionally well. I have high hopes for you, just like Great-grandma Tiff. So far you’ve proven yourself quite the hero, or heroine I should say. It’s time we moved you up.”

“I don’t understand. I enjoy my job working with Mom. I love Corvus.”

“If you want to keep your match with Corvus, so be it.” His chest moved as if he chuckled, but no sound came out. “As to your job, your actions have qualified you for a lieutenant training program, should you choose to accept it.”

The room twirled around me and my knees buckled. I fought against it and stood straight. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. Think about the job and make your decision in a few days. If you want the position, the training can start right away. If you want to stay with your Mom, you may. I think it would be a waste of leadership ability, though. The colony could use you in a more prominent role. Whatever you decide, I’m proud of you.”

Somehow we were getting away from what I really wanted to talk about. Amongst all this business and all the titles, I still had to remember we were just two people: a grandfather and his great-granddaughter.

“I love you, Grandpapa. I want you to live forever.”

He smiled, but his eyes were sad. “We all must travel this path that is ahead of me. It’s a natural part of life, and I’ve eluded it for too long. Go on to the awards ceremony, but remember to always believe in yourself and your talents.”

“I’ll try.”

I hugged him gently, fearing if I squeezed too hard he’d turn to dust in my arms.

***

“I’m afraid I’m going to trip down the aisle.”

Corvus laughed. He looked
so
out-of-this-galaxy hot in his ceremonial uniform. His hair had grown out into a full head of blond curls, and I wanted to run my fingers through them and pull his face down toward mine.

“You climbed hundreds of feet, and you’re afraid you’re going to trip now?”

I giggled, which I never did, and took his arm. “Let’s just get this over with.”

“Whatever you like.”

This time, his words resonated with meaning, with promise, over the light techno beat that echoed through the auditorium. It was the song we’d danced to at the festival: our song. I couldn’t hold in my emotions. From then on, they were free-flowing, dancing to the rhythm of the beat.

I shook my head. “How did you do it?”

He raised his eyebrows. “I have my ways.”

I took a deep breath and pulled him forward, proud to be on his arm.

The music crescendoed, the beat pulsing along with my racing heart. The entire population sat silently in their pews. Faces stood out from the masses. Amber sat with her parents, waving at me with her little hand. My mom’s vaccine had worked and the antidote had killed all the microbes in her body. My parents sat together, holding hands. Their faces beamed at me, and for once I knew they were proud.

Sirius stood by the podium, waiting for us. Behind him, Lyra, Alcor, and Nova formed the back row. Lieutenant Crophaven presided over the ceremony. Medals of gold, platinum, silver, and bronze glittered on a showcase table, the metals a last reminder of Old Earth.

Lieutenant Crophaven’s face was stoic. “We are gathered here today to honor those who saved our colony.”

Yeah, with no help from you.
I kept my mouth shut. He gave us the credit we deserved and that’s what mattered. If I did become a lieutenant, I’d have to work with him, and I didn’t want to spoil our relations now.

Lieutenant Crophaven clipped the bronze medals on Lyra’s, Alcor’s, and Nova’s uniforms, stating their names to the congregation. Next, he awarded Sirius with the silver one. Sirius accepted his with a downcast face. He’d lost the confidence I loved most about him. Even though he’d broken my heart and offered his love too late, I hoped he could still find happiness with Nova. I doubted it, since she made a face like she’d swallowed a lemon, probably because his medal was
only
silver.

Corvus received a gold medal. When Lieutenant Crophaven fastened it on, Corvus smiled at me as though it was all my doing. I rolled my eyes. He’d done at least half of the work, if not more. After Lieutenant Crophaven turned his back, Corvus made a goofy face only I could see and I bit down on my lip to keep from laughing out loud.

Finally, Crophaven reached for the platinum medal. Heat traveled from my neck to my cheeks and ears and I knew my face was as red as one of Mom’s humongous tomatoes.

“Andromeda Barliss, you deserve the highest honor.” As he fastened it over my right breast pocket, he whispered in my ear, surprising me, “I’m sorry. I was wrong about you.”

His apology shook my soul. Maybe he wasn’t that bad after all.

I smiled at him and nodded to accept his apology. We turned to face the congregation. Thunderous applause rumbled around us. Corvus took my hand and squeezed.

I couldn’t believe just a short time ago, I thought I’d screwed up a chance with the colony, a chance at happiness. It was even harder to believe I once thought living in the cocoon of the
New Dawn
was where I wanted to stay forever.

Paradise 21 really had grown on me. I’d grown as well. The sun shone on my back through the sight panel as if the planet had finally accepted us. As if I’d passed the test.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

There are so many people who have helped and supported me in this project and over the years! First of all, I’d like to thank my agent, Dawn Dowdle, for believing in my work. Next, Shilpa Mudiganti for taking on a book that doesn’t fit in the mainstream YA that you see on the shelves today. My fantastic cover designer, Najla Qamber, comes next for creating a cover that represents exactly what this book is about. I’d like to thank my editor, Rie Langdon and my publicist, Majanka Verstraete, and the entire team at Inkspell publishing. Thank you to my critique partners, Cherie Reich, Theresa Milstein, and Cher Green for all of your wise advice. My mom, Joanne, and my sister Brianne are my biggest supporters, and I want to thank you, too. I want to thank the person that has had the biggest influence in my professional life, my flute teacher, Peggy Vagts, for teaching me so much more than Bach Sonatas. Lastly, my husband Chris for putting up with all my crazy ideas.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Aubrie grew up watching the original Star Wars movies over and over again until she could recite and reenact every single scene in her backyard. She also loved The Goonies, Star Trek the Next Generation-favorite character was Data by far-, and Indiana Jones. But, her all time favorite movie was The Last Unicorn. She still wonders why the unicorn decided to change back to a unicorn in the end.

Aubrie wrote in her junior high yearbook that she wanted to be "A concert flutist" when she grew up. When she made that happen, she decided one career was not enough and embarked as a fantasy, sci fi author. Two careers seems to keep her busy. For now.
Her writings have appeared in Mindflights, Niteblade, Silver Blade, Emerald Tales, Hazard Cat, Moon Drenched Fables, A Fly in Amber, and Aurora Wolf. Her books are published by Entangled Publishing, Lyrical Press, and Gypsy Shadow Publishing. She recently signed her YA sci fi novel with Inkspell Publishing titled: Colonization: Paradise Reclaimed, which will release in October 2012. When she's not writing, Aubrie teaches flute and plays in orchestras. She's a big Star Trek TNG fan, as well as Star Wars and Serenity.

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