THE CONTROL PANEL blinked a kaleidoscope of colored lights and screens displayed bits of information, transmitting data to the pilot as the ship descended and entered Earth’s atmosphere at a vigorous rate. Varalika observed the changing numbers, gauging the timing and tracking her position from her chair on the bridge. Her mind focused, she watched the ship’s altitude continue to decrease and near her targeted destination. She flipped off a beeping indicator that notified her of the ship’s approach. Her hand lifted and hovered over the panel, stopping over one button, her fingertip grazing it. Watching the clock as the digital display of seconds ticked down, she depressed the button at the precise time necessary and watched the screen. An object ejected from beneath the ship. The ship continued to fly, never stopping as the projectile plunged downward until it hit the shores with a tremendous splash and then sank into the murky water.
Varalika sat back in her seat, her eyes staring past the panel of lights. She jumped when someone placed a hand on her shoulder. She hadn’t heard the door slide open behind her. She smiled when she saw her husband, and she slid her hand over the one that squeezed her.
“She asleep?” she asked.
He moved to her side and sat next to her in the copilot chair. “You kidding? She’s on her mom’s ship. I can’t get her to relax. She’s back there playing pilot with her dolls.”
Varalika smiled at him, her eyes appreciating his strong build and muscular arms. She reached across and took his hand. “Guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”
“No.”
Tevnor watched his wife’s attention drift. He knew by her actions that something was troubling her, but her fear worried him most. He could feel it within her. “So,” he said, “you going to tell me what this is all about?”
She glanced at him.
“This isn’t like you, V. Why the sudden exit?”
They’d left Eudora a day earlier after Varalika had arrived home and asked him to pack a bag for them and Destine. When he pressed her for more information, she’d only said that she would explain later and to trust her. He’d done as she’d asked, and they’d left that night. His wife, an experienced pilot and gifted Red-Line, made frequent trips between Eudora and Earth, and he’d figured this would be another routine trip, but her uncharacteristic nervousness and her vigilant presence at the bridge made him think otherwise.
She stood and neared the panel, the flickering lights illuminating her face.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
She swiveled her head toward him. “I can’t tell you, Tev.”
“Can’t tell me what?” he asked.
“It’s complicated.”
“I’m your husband.”
“All the more reason.”
He stood and walked up to her. From the window on the bridge, he could begin to see the terrain of the earth below as they continued to descend. Their radar veil in place, they could not be detected by any human technology. He’d been to earth once before, staying here for six months. It was here he’d met V six years earlier. A year after that, she’d Binded with him, and Destine had been born nine months later. They’d made their home on Eudora, but Varalika’s work took her away from them often, and he’d wondered if perhaps she dallied in more than just aviation.
“Does it have something to do with why we left?”
Her fingers tapped a dial. “Yes.”
He took her by the arm. “What is it? Are we in danger?”
As she opened her mouth to speak, an alarm sounded. Varalika scanned the controls, reading the data that ran across her screens. The alarm continued to sound as she fingered keys on the panel.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
She continued to type, punching at various indicators.
“V?” he asked.
Her eyes on the instruments, she said, “Get Destine.”
“Destine?”
“Bring her up here. Buckle her in.”
He started to ask why when the ship lurched and he stepped to balance himself. Another alarm blared.
“Go,” said V, finally looking at him. “Go and get her!”
He left the bridge as another jolt made him reach sideways to balance himself. The door opened, and he disappeared.
Varalika punched at the panel, running diagnostics to ensure her readings were accurate and trying to find the cause of the ship’s malfunction. Despite her efforts, the ship continued to pitch in its attempt to maintain altitude. She shut down the alarms, not wanting to scare Destine when Tev brought her forward. Her daughter had always had a fascination with her work, and Varalika had brought her to the bridge many times, letting her play with the various buttons and keys, watching her face light up as the lights twinkled on the screens.
Moments later, Tev returned, carrying Destine in his arms. Her brown hair disheveled, her dark eyes caught sight of her mother.
“Mommy!” She reached out, a small purse swinging on her arm. “I want to play with the lights.”
Varalika smiled at her daughter, hiding her fear. “Not right now, sweetheart. Daddy needs to strap you in.”
“Are we landing?” she asked.
Tev sat his daughter in a seat, securing her with the seat belt.
Varalika answered. “We will soon, dear.
The ship dropped then, causing Varalika to grab at the console to keep from falling. Tevnor grabbed at Destine’s chair.
“Get to your seat,” said Varalika.
Getting Destine safely secured, Tevnor moved up to the copilot chair and managed to sit before another violent shudder rocked the ship.
“What’s happening?” he asked. He snapped his belt over his shoulders and waist. He watched Varalika do the same. She leaned over and continued to work the display. “What’s wrong?”
“We’re going down,” she said.
He gripped his armrests. “We’re what?”
“I can’t stop it. I don’t know what’s causing it. The ship’s diagnostics aren’t functioning.” Another lurch made them both grab on before the ship righted itself again.
Tev looked back at Destine, who was playing with her purse. As the ship dipped again, the purse slipped and an item fell from it, then hit the ground and rolled along the floor.
“Mommy,” said Destine. “My mirror fell.”
“It’s all right, honey. We’ll get it after we land.” Her gaze never left the indicators that were flashing on the panel.
“Are we going to crash?” asked Tev, speaking low. Another steep drop made him suck in a breath.
Varalika’s hands worked the panel. “I’m trying to slow our descent. Hopefully, when we hit, the impact will be minimal.”
“Hopefully?” he asked. Sweat broke out on his skin, and he stared out the front window. The terrain loomed larger than before. “Where are we going to land?”
She glanced over, reading his mind. “I’ll put us in a remote spot. Our distress signal will alert our people.” She noted his worried face. “We’ll be okay,” she said. “We won’t be found.”
He bit back a retort and let her return to her frantic attempts to control the ship. Another lurch made his stomach drop, and he looked back at Destine to ensure she was okay. His stomach dropped further when he realized she was no longer in her seat. He searched for her. When he found her, she was crawling toward her lost mirror.
“Destine!” he yelled, and he reached for his seat belt to release himself.
Varalika turned her head at his shout, and she saw that Destine was unbuckled. “No,” she said, grabbing at her own restraints.
“I’ll get her,” said Tevnor, pulling at his belt. But it would not release. He struggled with the buckle, but it held fast. He watched Varalika undo her buckle and leave her chair.
“V,” he yelled.
The ship jerked hard, and Varalika and Destine slid sideways into the wall. At the last moment, Varalika turned to protect her daughter and took most of the impact.
Tevnor continued to pull at his belt, but it had jammed and he could not get free. “Get back to your seat!”
Varalika gained her balance as Destine began to cry. She pushed up from her knees and carried Destine back to her chair, grabbing on the armrest for support when the ship tilted again. Destine clutched at her neck, but Varalika pulled her daughter’s arms away and pushed them back up underneath the restraints so she could buckle her back in.
“Mommy,” Destine cried.
A loud pop sounded in the ship, and smoke begin to enter the cabin. Tevnor felt the ship careen just as it lost lift.
“V,” he screamed. “Get back in your seat!”
Destine now secure, Varalika pushed back. She lost her balance and fell but managed to reach out for her chair, grabbing at the base to gain enough traction to pull herself forward. Still, the force of the ship’s fall worked against her and she struggled. Their descent slowed, and for a brief moment, she found her footing and pushed herself into a sitting position as the ship stilled, almost hanging in mid-air. She gripped the arms of her chair, pulling herself up and getting her legs beneath her. She had scrambled into her seat and was reaching for her belt when the ship suddenly tilted at a sharp angle and dropped again.
Tevnor shouted as his wife bounced up and out of her chair, and then the hard hit came. The cracking and tearing sounds of metal and breaking glass and the blaring of alarms blasted the air as they rolled upside down. The ship’s momentum took over, and they rolled again, ripping the earth beneath them as smoke bloomed within the cabin. The controls sparked and the bridge window shattered, showering them with glass.
The interior lights winked out and everything went dark, but then an emergency light went on and the ship’s movement slowed and then stopped. The lights from the bridge sparked again and went out as smoke billowed, following the current of air that now drifted through the remains of the bridge from the broken window. After a world of noise deafened them, all became quiet, with only the sounds of falling debris interrupting the silence.
Tevnor opened his eyes and saw the destruction of the ship. He shifted in his chair, feeling for any physical injury. His chest was sore from the impact, but he could move. Scanning the area, he searched for Varalika, but saw nothing. He grabbed at his belt again but could not undo it. His hand dug into a pocket, and he found his knife. Grabbing the belt, he cut it, freed himself, and dropped to his knees. The shock of the crash hit him and he breathed deeply to calm himself. Smelling smoke, he jumped into action.
Destine was still in her chair, crying softly to herself. He crawled over to her and checked her. There was blood on her head and arm, but it didn’t look serious and they appeared to be her only injuries. Reaching for her buckle, he stopped when he heard a moan.
Squinting in the dim light, he turned when he heard a noise. He could hear the sound of broken glass crunching on the metal floor. Leaving Destine in her seat, he crawled forward and gasped when he saw his wife. She lay crumpled at the front of the ship, and as he approached, she tried to move, and a large piece of glass imbedded in her leg scraped against the ship’s floor.
Tevnor saw that her eyes were partially open and she was semi-conscious. She lay on her left side, with her left arm splayed outward and her right arm covering her belly.
“Oh God,” he said, reaching her. “V.” He touched her face.
Her eyes moved, and she found and focused in on him. She moaned as blood spilled between the fingers of her right hand. The fingers of her left hand moved, and he could now see the object she was grasping. It was Destine’s mirror. He gripped her hand, the mirror still between them.
“No,” he said. “Please…”
“Tev?” she asked.
“I’m right here, sweetheart.” He squeezed her hand. “I’m right here.”
She made a whimper but stayed focused on him. “Destine?”
“She’s okay. She’s fine.”
Varalika managed to nod her head. “Tell her I love her.”
“You can tell her that.”
“Tev?”
The pool of blood collected beneath her, and he swallowed a lump in his throat, fighting back panic and tears. “Just relax. I’m going to get some help.”
“No.”
“V…”
“Listen.”
He could feel her losing strength. “Don’t talk…”
“Take Destine,” she said.
“What?”
“You have to take her and hide.”
He leaned in close. “Hide? Why?”
She sucked in a strained breath. “…not an accident.”
Tev felt his stomach go cold. “What do you mean?”
Her eyes closed for a moment. “Protect Destine.”
“V…please. Don’t die.” His body trembled, and he felt her energy dissipate. “Don’t leave me.”
“Protect Destine.” She coughed, and blood speckled her lips. “Don’t know who to trust.” Her fingers gripped his hand with a brief show of strength. “Promise me.”
A tear escaped and trickled down his face. “I will. I’ll take care of her,” he whispered.
“They’ll come for you,” she moaned. “Stay hidden.” Her eyes faded again.
He cupped her face with his other hand. “V. No.” He couldn’t contain his anguish as he felt her wane.
“I love you,” she whispered.
A sob bubbled up as he caressed her face. “I love you, too.”
The light in her eyes dimmed, and her body went limp as the energy of her life force slipped away and then winked out. Emptiness filled the air. A kernel of grief ignited and flared in his belly, and a groan of agony ripped through him. He took her in his arms and held her, rocking her as he sobbed.
**
A flash of light popped in Sarah’s mind and the vision shifted away from the turmoil of the ship. She saw an open heavy wooden door in front of her at the end of an empty hall. Light blazed around it and from within it. Sarah walked forward, but the door began to swing inward. She increased her speed, eager to reach it before it closed, but just as she neared, the door hit hard against the frame and slammed shut with a bang, startling Sarah. She opened her eyes. Blinking, she looked around. Becoming aware of her surroundings, she felt hot tears sliding down her cheeks and the hard floor against her back, and she saw the worried face of Ramsey looking down at her.