So, I realize that we were supposed to be on Earth a long time ago, but I guess the story is evolving and what not so…yeah. We'll get there. Don't worry. And sorry, no Bellamy (again) in this chapter. But the next one, I promise!
This is a short and silly chapter. Basically filler. I wanted to establish the team's personalities and chemistry before they were sent down. This is the first time all five are in a room together, so I hope this is entertaining. It's certainly a light tone considering they're about to be shipped off into to space to their possible doom.
Recap: Tevin has created a distraction for Micah's 'escape', and Alpha One is preparing to be sent off.
Warning: language and adult themes language ahead.
Faya Gada | 12
Tevin clumsily stumbled out into the hallway where a squad of guards were stationed.
"Shit – help! She – she got my face!"
One of the guards radioed. "-static- Squad 3 to Command. We've got an injured in Sector 3. She's in the restroom. –static-"
Another one stepped forward with a hand on his gun. "Identify yourself!"
"I – Graham. Tevin Graham! I was taking a squat when she barged in there!"
"Damnit." The guard stepped toward the door and attempted to open it, but it was held down from the inside. "Pike, we know you're in there. Surrender now!"
An idle guard nearby tilted his head at Tevin, noticing the lack of equipment.
"Hey, where's your arm piece?"
"That's how she got me. She got her hands on it somehow and broke my nose!"
"Okay, okay. We need to you to step back, Graham. Hey, Skarsgård, take him to the med wing?"
"Yes sir."
As the guard began to lead Tevin away, he relayed in his earpiece, "The scene is set. You've got about ten minutes."
After a few minutes of acute panic attacks, Micah was finally sat inside the shuttle in one of the seats against the wall. As she was strapped in, she looked around to see everyone else.
To her left was Morales, he was making sure all the packs were secure in the compartments. For once, his brown hair was nicely swooped back by some kind of hair product. He didn't have the top half of his spacesuit on correctly, but it seems that was on purpose. It seemed easier to carry crates back and forth with the thick material off. He wore a scowl on his face.
On the other side of him was the guard that saved her in the hallway earlier. The man had a youthful face, though one could tell his age from the way he carried himself. Thanks to the light above his seat, Micah could see the subtle scar under his left eye. Or it was possible that it was some kind of birth mark. But it didn't mar his skin at all. If anything, it kind of made him appear more endearing.
The man let out a big sigh and gave her a big smile. Micah was taken aback.
"You look nervous."
"Well," Micah gestured to the shuttle around them. "…space." This was the only explanation she felt was worth giving and he laughed.
"True. By the way, my name is Shamil Bhatt. I tried to introduce myself earlier but we were busy."
"Well it's sort of nice to meet you, Shamil." She knew she could put on her normal-person face every once in a while. "I just wish it were under better circumstances."
"Yes. Would've been helpful to have you in the briefings. We've been meeting about this for weeks now." Weeks? "I wonder what role you will be playing."
Micah scrunched her face. This insaneness has been occurring for weeks? And she had no idea? What kind of lieutenant commander was she? Granted, she'd never met either of these two men. But still felt somewhat responsible for this crazy ride that she's been on.
"We have roles?" she asked over the sound of a sliding door activating, Takada [1] appearing on the other side. "That sounds a little juvenile."
Annoyed, Morales butt in while still packing things away. "Nothing juvenile about it. I mean, this is a secret mission where we save the world."
The sarcasm oozing from this guy was not appreciated by the resident woman. "Alright, wolf man. Easy on the cynicism. If I'd wanted back sass with my rations, I'd have ordered it."
Seeing the two personalities clashing, Takada sped over in full gear with his hands stretched out.
"Okay! Seems like we've all met," he said with an awkward laugh. "By the way, if you haven't figured it out yet, you guys are sort of like the same person. So if we could just, I don't know…not do this—"
"Phsh. She's asking for it. She's a child, for God's sake."
"Oh, God," Takada rolled his eyes. This caused him to meet eyes with Bhatt, whom quickly averted them to play with his seatbelt. Both realized this was a gargantuan waste of time on their parts and turned away to leave the two stubborn mules to duke it out. So Takada left to the front of the shuttle and at in the center seat near the controls.
That's also when Cliff Martin decided to finally make his appearance. He was carrying a large duffle, presumably, with weapons of different kinds and gunpowder. He threw it in the storage and opened his mouth to say something, but opted out when he noticed both Takada and Bhatt shaking their heads furiously.
Micah blinked her eyes rapidly in disbelief.
"A child?" She gestured toward her breasts, which were nonexistent under the spacesuit—which she forgot. "Do I look like an underdeveloped, adolescent to you?"
"Right this moment? Yeah."
The three idle men groaned. Morales smirked, almost laughing at his own comment.
" –static- Command to Alpha One. Preparing for sendoff. Standby. Over –static-"
He pressed the radio on his hip, " –static- Understood. Over. –static- " And then he turned away from Micah to face the general direction of the group. "Emergency water and med supplies?"
"Check," Bhatt.
"Security and reinforcement resources secure?"
"Yep," Martin.
"Good. All the shelter and ration deposits are ready. We should be good to go," he nodded to the team before turning to Micah, his head dipped low to face her. "And is the wittle gwirl ready to go?"
Micah did nothing except glare extensively at him as he stalked over to his seat, strapping himself in. She noticed he wore that stupid smirk again. He called to Takada up front, "It's all you, El."
"Right. Everyone buckle in. –static- Alpha One to Command. Shuttle is green. Awaiting orders. Over -static-"
"Wait," Micah rushed out. It's like all of a sudden, her brain is thinking much more clearly and is realizing something crucial. "If we're taking a shuttle down to Earth—which we haven't done in a very long time—isn't it possible that we'll crash?"
"Eh, it's possible but we'll probably sooner die from the radiation if anything else," Bhatt shrugged nonchalantly.
"Radiation?"
Takada threw a glare at Bhatt for giving such information. "What?" Bhatt asked. "Is it not true?"
"If that's the case, then why are we doing this insane mission?" she asked, genuinely confused.
"Because someone's got to. We just happen to be qualified and crazy enough to volunteer," Martin answered from his seat in the back.
Oh, crap. Micah did not want to do this anymore. Not that she wanted to in the first place. But now, she really didn't want to be there.
Footnotes:
1 – Ross Butler's face is pretty close to what I envision Takada to be like.