Sorry it took me so long to write the next part. Hopefully it won't take so long for the next chapter. Thanks to all the people who left a review (inserts happy grin). Anyway, enough of that... Enjoy the story...
Among the stars
Part II
The vital functions of the ship were slowly restored one after the other. Computers that had been asleep for decades woke, suddenly filling the aircraft with mechanical noises. Routines necessary to life in deep space switched on, readying the spaceship for the new visitors.
Soon lights flashed in the enclosed space, glowing, reflecting on the silvery surfaces. The warming rays propagated from the central area to the outer parts sheltering the storage rooms. The air-filtering system buzzed and started to clean the air, rejecting deadly components into the void. A clear haze surrounded the ship for a few minutes then disappeared mixing with star dust.
The protective hull covering the integrated greenhouse opened, letting the dull light coming from the sun go through the special glass and bath the dead forest. In the perfectly calculated procedure, there was one tiny insignificant glitch. The microwave generator supposed to clean the hydroponics cultures didn't start.
With a loud whoosh, the doors to the cultures opened letting air rush through the gigantic space detaching crispy leaves of all shapes, textures, and colors. Some fell on the ground, creating a vegetal carpet. Some instantly disintegrated, charging the air with a multi-colored dust. Others flew past the huge containers and the now dry pound in the direction of the central part of the ship. It took several minutes for the atmosphere to reach oxygen levels suitable for human life.
The artificial wind had left a desolated landscape in its wake. What used to be a luscious forest with exotic plants and trees form all planets was now a cemetery with ghostly naked shapes. Now devoid of all canopy, light finally reached the textured barks slowly warming tiny yellow irregular patches. The combined action of light and air seemed to awaken the substance for it started to expand and create filaments that soon recovered all the trees.
xXx
Jesse used the gravity field of Venus to propel them further and faster in the galaxy in the direction of Jupiter. Their speed increased the pull of gravity on their bodies, waking Emma from her dreamless slumber. She blinked a few times wondering how she could have fallen asleep in one of the simulators. It was only when she saw Jesse moving with difficulties that she realized this was not just another dream. She turned her head to see that Brennan had left her side and was now helping the molecular with the delicate procedure. All along the two men were talking animatedly about the next basketball season, arguing endlessly about the future champion.
Smiling at the slightly incongruous talk, she settled as comfortably as possible in her seat. She still had ten minutes before taking her shift with Shalimar. Despite the new reactors, they would have to wait a few more days before finding the source of the signal. And then they would have to improvise. The psionic couldn't help but think back of their time in Antarctic and their fight with the Protoconthe. Finding a way to stop that thing had nearly cost them their lives. The thought was enough to free the anguish she had locked back in the deepest recess of her mind. Waves of fear crept up her spine, licking the shore of her mind, spreading the seeds of panic. It took all her willpower to find her breath back and will down her fears.
Adam chose that moment to come back in the piloting area with a stack of papers. Without a word he sat beside her and gave the young woman four sheets of paper. She smiled briefly before taking them. Her eyes widened and an irrational fear took over her mind as she saw what was on it. She was used to the strange coding the first message used; but what was in front of her eyes was beyond anything she had ever seen. In between the numbers, strange rounded symbols were mixed at seemingly irregular intervals. Her eyes went over the four sheets quickly, evaluating the distance and shape of the symbols. There was something in the symbols. She started over with the first sheet thinking that her mind was playing tricks on her; but she was not mistaken, the symbols held a pattern just like in her dreams.
"So, what do you think?"
The psionic took a deep breath and looked up at him. Every little detail in his demeanor told her that he knew about her nightmares and the connection to the mission. Any other time, it would have hurt her to think that the man supposed to take care of her was not acknowledging her problems. She didn't care anymore. The young woman had come to a decision during those last few months. No matter what happened, it was her last mission.
"More cryptic messages. We don't even understand the second part of the initial message. I guess what is out there has detectors. It reacts to our presence and sent us an expanded message. It doesn't reassure me."
Her supposition only confirmed his initial theory. His eyes traveled from her hands holding the papers to her face, hoping to find traces of her usual smile. But, as soon as his eyes met her focused one, he was reminded of the distance she had put between them since the beginning of the mission. She quickly focused back on the symbols and he knew that she was keeping something for herself.
"Emma? Is something wrong with the other part of the message?"
She handed him the papers back and unfastened her seat belt. Her two first steps were hesitant in the low gravity environment. Shalimar had already taken Jesse's seat and was waiting for Emma to replace Brennan.
"No, Adam. Nothing is wrong."
They both knew that it was a lie, that her lack of trust would cause trouble one day or another.
xXx
The doors opened with a muffled sound and she eerily stepped in what appeared to be a medical unit. Light coming from the hall flooded the room; but her shadow was missing, like she was transparent. Emma dismissed the thought with a low chuckle. The door closed, isolating her and for the first time she took in the sight of the giant planet they were orbiting around. Orange light came from a huge bay, giving a breath-taking sight on Jupiter ever-moving sky.
Her eyes went quickly over the defect-less walls to settle on the middle of the room. Several low metallic cabinets were surrounding a medical bed. The place was so calm, she wanted to lie down and sleep for a few hours. However, she could not. She was on a mission to find something but the memory was distant.
Suddenly the doors behind her opened and she felt people rushing past her, through her as if she was only a ghost. The experience was strange and frightening. A sensation that could have fuelled her insecurities if only the people in the room were not so familiar. Her heart nearly stopped as she saw that it was her teammates carrying someone. The body on the table was so familiar she was afraid to look at it, afraid it was the one person she could not loose. It took her what seemed to be an eternity to find the courage to look at the man lying there. Her shout resonated in the room but she was the only one able to hear it. She wanted to run and help him but she couldn't. Her feet were rooted to the ground. Minutes seemed to fly past her but her friends were moving in slow motion. Hours could have passed. It was only when Adam shook his head and dropped the medical instruments he was holding that she knew.
He was dead.
Emma bolted upright on her bunk, tears staining her cheeks. It had just been another dream; more intense than others. She rubbed her forehead and whipped a few drops of sweat off her skin. They were getting closer to the signal and her nightmares had been getting worse. She sighed and looked through the tiny window. Two days had elapsed since they had first received the extended message. Now she could see Jupiter and its golden swirling clouds. 'Just like in your dream'. She had always thought that the sight would calm her. But it only made her feel even more distressed. 'A dream! This has to be a dream!' Her feet touched the cold metallic ground, sending a shiver up her body masking the slight tingle of her com-ring. Images from her dream kept flashing before her eyes. The simple thought that it might become true made her sick and she had to run to the adjoining bathroom.
Minutes later, Brennan found her leaning on the sink, pale as a ghost, and with tears staining her cheeks. Their eyes met in the mirror and he knew that she was hiding something. The elemental came to her side and wrapped her in his arms, momentarily forgetting why he was here in the first place. The psionic clung to him with all her strength, her head resting in a place where she could hear his steady heartbeat.
"What is going on, Emma?"
He could have used their connection to figure what was wrong. But it would feel like a violation of her mind and he respected her too much for that.
"Nightmares. And they're getting stronger."
Her voice broke as she pronounced the last words making him tighten his embrace. There was more to her nightmare he could feel it radiating from her. He brushed her hair in a soothing gesture hoping he could calm her sobs. Only one thing could cause such a reaction.
"Who died in your dream?"
His heart nearly stopped when she looked up at him with teary eyes. Her lips moved but no sounds came out confirming his worst fear. She had seen him die. Had it been anyone else's dream, he would have dismissed it with a laugh. But it was Emma; and she had seldom been wrong. Fright crept over his soul though he wanted to deny it, to push the thought away. He smiled at her sadly before wiping the tears with his thumbs. There were days when he wanted to ask Adam to find a cure, to give her a normal life and spare her the maelstrom she was going through every day. But he couldn't. It was part of her; her mutation had changed her and made her become that amazing woman. So he did the only thing that could take her mind of the dream. He kissed her senseless, his lips and tongue exploring as if it were their first kiss. When they finally parted he rested his forehead against hers.
"Nothing's gonna happen to me, Emma. I promise I'll be extra-careful."
The young woman smiled at him knowing that he would do his best to keep his promise. She kissed him softly one last time.
"Why did you come here?"
"We have reached the source of the signal. It is a starship and we are going to have to get in. The others need us."