The Lost and The Wicked

CHAPTER 1

Hey, Mandy. What are you doing here again? asks Angelica as she trudges into the engine room. Like always, Kylie is beside her. It’s so gray and boring in this part of the ship.

My sisters, with their identical shoulder-length brunette hair and large blue eyes, can almost pass as twins, except for the fact that Kylie is seven and Angelica is nine. They’re both small for their age, though. It must be a side effect of the spaceship food they’ve been eating for most of their lives. If dry packaged rations with flavors like banana chicken, grapefruit beef, and papaya squid can pass as food.

Yes, whatcha doing? asks Kylie.

"It’s not whatcha, it’s what are. I push the plug into place. And if you must know, I’m fixing the power converter. It went out last night and has been causing blackouts throughout the deck."

Angelica grimaces. Do it later.

Why would I do that? Besides, you know how Captain Glau gets when work doesn’t get done.

"Why do you always call Mom Captain Glau?" Angelica asks with a frown.

I remain silent as I pretend to go back to work.

So what are you princesses up to? I ask, hoping to change the subject.

Walking around, responds Angelica. She’s the more talkative of the two. There’s always an unfinished sentence in her mouth. Kylie, on the other hand, is much more reserved. I’m sure it has something to do with her slight stutter. We were playing hide and seek with those Hyatt girls, but that got boring fast. There’s nowhere to hide in this ship. We’ve been evvvverywhere.

I believe it, too. E.A. Driftwood has been our home for the past six years. It’s just a little over one hundred and fifty feet long and has three different levels. The princesses (that’s my nickname for them) have spent every day of those six years running up and down the ship. I am sure there is no corner of it that they are unfamiliar with.

We’re here because Mommy sent us on a very extremelily important mission, struggles Kylie.

I’m about to correct her pronunciation, but she flashes me that cute grin of hers. Darn, I can be such a softie of a big sister sometimes. "Oh, is that so? What is this extremelily important mission the captain has sent you on? From time to time, the captain will send the princesses on important missions."

Kylie continues, Mom said she wants to see you at the bridge…Actually, she wants to see all of us.

Why didn’t the captain simply tell me this over the personal communicator?

Angelica shrugs. Don’t know.

I connect the remaining wires on the power coupling. I press a few buttons. The green light turns on. Success!

Well, I suppose we better not keep the captain waiting too long. Kylie, will you please pass my jacket? It’s beside you.

She hands me my thin brown leather jacket. Besides my memories, it’s the only memento I have of my dad. Will he recognize me when we see each other again tomorrow?

Mandy? Angelica asks. Tell us more about Earth. What’s it like?

I have already told you about Earth, my little princesses.

C’mon, Mandy, tell us more, Kylie insists.

Sometimes I forget that both Angelica and Kylie were just infants when they came onto the ship. Besides the few holo-videos they’ve seen, they know nothing of Earth. They’ve never witnessed an evening sunset. Never known how it feels to swim in the ocean. Never known how it feels to walk the buzzing city of New York. Never stood in awe in the presence of the Grand Canyon. I intend to remedy that once we get back, though. I’m going to take them on a tour around the world. No more of those holo-videos.

Why tell you when I can show you? Once we get back, you will see all Earth has to offer. I promise.

Angelica twists her lips as if struggling to make up her mind. Okay, deal.

"I can w…wait!" exclaims Kylie gleefully.

"Can’t," I correct as I take both their hands. We make our way out into the corridor. It’s unusually empty. The silver metal walls give the ship a lifeless aura. Even after all these years, I can’t get used to it.

Angelica rubs her chin. Where is everyone?

Probably back in their rooms, resting for tomorrow, I say. The captain excused everyone early today, except for the bridge and engineering crews.

Technically I’m supposed to be in my room resting, since I am not officially a part of the engineering or bridge crew. But I’d rather be working than doing nothing.

I reach my room, which I share with my sisters. Since Captain Glau sleeps in a room next to the bridge, she rarely spends the night with them.

Mandy, why, why, why are we here? T…the bridge is the opposite way.

"I know where the bridge is. We’re here because I have to change. Look at how dirty I am. I’m not going to report to the captain looking like this."

Okeydokey, says Angelica. She and Kylie busy themselves with a hand-clapping game.

I slip out of my jeans and shirt. I throw the sad-looking uniform into my overfilled laundry hamper. Crawling through the vents fixing and replacing cables for ten hours takes a toll on any uniform, no matter how durable the material.

Slowly, I dig deep into my drawer as I search for something to wear, anything. My decision to skip out on laundry day last Thursday is coming back to haunt me. Finally, after what seems an eternity, I find a neatly folded blouse and pair of pants in the bottom drawer.

Standing in front of the mirror, I slip on the white blouse and brown denim jeans. A slim girl with wavy brunette hair, light-olive tanned skin, and green eyes stares back at me. I pull my hair back into a ponytail as I gaze at my sisters through the reflection in the mirror. I grimace, saddened at all the memories that they have missed because of the captain’s selfishness.

Are you o…okay, Mandy? Kylie asks. I can’t get anything past her.

Yes, I’m fine, my little princess. C’mon, let’s go. The captain is waiting for us.

We walk into the corridor, which is as empty as before.

Race time! shouts Angelica. She takes off at full speed. Her small legs move much faster than I had expected.

Kylie takes off behind her.

I join the race, running half-heartedly.

In no time we reach the elevator. You two are too fast for me. I huff loudly as I pretend to catch my breath. But what are you going to do now that you are cornered? There is no escape. I grab them both and tickle their ribs. They’ve never been able to resist that. Unfortunately, neither have I, and they know it.

They return the favor. Seconds later, the three of us are on the floor, laughing so loudly that I don’t hear when the elevator door opens.

Ahhh hmmm… comes a familiar voice.

My heart skips a beat. I look up. Zhane stands inside the elevator, staring down at us. I quickly pick myself up and flick a wild strand of hair behind my ear. Hi, Zhane.

Hey, Mandy. I didn’t expect to find you here. I was actually headed to your dorm. Needed to talk to you.

I smile back at him, not really knowing what to say. Lately I’ve found myself losing myself in his clear blue eyes. At other times, my palms sweat when I’m around him. Which is much more than I’d like to admit since we serve in engineering together three times a week.

Do you have some time? he asks.

Oh yes, I manage to whisper.

Ah, it wasn’t really important, kind of dumb really. It’s just that I was wondering if…if…. He rubs his hands together. Well, you know that dance your mom is throwing tomorrow night to celebrate our return to Earth? He scratches his chin as his eyes wander aimlessly. Would you like to perhaps go with me? I mean… If you aren’t going with anyone else, that is.

My breathing intensifies. The captain announced the dance two weeks ago, but Zhane has never bothered to bring it up in our conversations.

Wooo! shouts Kylie.

Yes, of course she would like to go, adds Angelica.

I shoot the look at them, the one I give them when they do something wrong. Quiet, both of you. Go over there and wait for me. I motion toward the corner of the elevator. They pout, but they do as they are told.

Zhane stares back at me. Golden-brown hair, medium build, clear skin. He looks so much different than that freckled, skinny kid I met six years ago.

Yes, of course I would like to go, but I warn you, I’m a horrible dancer. Sheesh, why did I have to say that? A simple yes would have sufficed. And now my hands are sweating.

Oh, that’s okay. I’m not much of a dancer either. We can learn together, you know, the blind learning from the blind.

I laugh. That’s one of the things I love about him. He always knows what to say to make me feel better. Okay then. I’ll see you tomorrow night.

Tomorrow night it is. He stumbles out of the elevator. Once he’s out, he waves goodbye as the doors close.

Once I’m certain he can’t see me, I allow myself to smile.

≈≈≈

Crewmember Glau reporting, I say, taking my usual rigid stance.

You’re finally here. I was beginning to think you would never show, exclaims the captain as soon as I step foot in her ready room. The ready room is exactly as the name implies, a room directly next to the ship’s bridge. This way the captain is ready to take control of the helm at any moment.

I’m sorry, Mom, Angelica says. But Mandy was busy talking to Zhane.

The captain stares at me with that look of disapproval I have gotten so used to. She wears a blue and grey uniform that all E.A. officers are expected to wear. It fits perfectly on her medium-sized body.

Mandy, you know how I feel about him. He is a good boy, but he can be a little hardheaded sometimes. She sighs. Maybe not being from Earth and growing up in the colony with no parents made him that way.

Yeah, I know the feeling of growing up with no parents. At least that’s what I want to say, but I restrain myself. I’m aware of your feelings, captain.

Girls, thanks for finding Mandy for me. The captain marches toward Angelica and Kylie. Now give me a goodnight hug and go off to bed. Mandy will join you in a minute.

Okay, Mommy, answer my sisters as they hop into the captain’s arms. I watch from a distance, secretly wondering how it feels to receive a hug from that cold woman.

Once the princesses leave, the captain walks up to me until we’re face to face. Seeing her this close makes me realize how much of a toll the last six years have taken on her. Her once jubilant face is marred with wrinkles. White strands intermingle with her dark hair.

Mandy, as you know, we will be arriving at Earth in a few minutes. It will take a few days for the Alliance to give us clearance to land, but for all intents and purposes, our six-year mission has come to an end.

I remain silent.

"I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for all the hard work you have done these past six years, Mandy. Ever since you set foot on the Driftwood, you have worked tirelessly to help everyone, working double shifts, and sometimes even triple shifts when the situation called for it. I can’t even begin to count all the times I have gotten good reports about you from the crewmembers. I’m so very proud of you." She reaches out and caresses my hair.

My body instinctively pulls back. What’s going on? She has never acted like this before.

A pained look comes over her. As if I hurt her feelings or something, if she had any to hurt. An instant later, her shoulders stiffen and she’s back in her business tone. I called you here to inform you that you won’t be able to live with your father once we return to Earth. Her voice has a tone of finality in it that I don’t like. You will come and live with me in New York. It is for the best.

Blood boils inside me. Who does she think she is to tell me what to do once we return to Earth? She’s not content with the work she’s done separating the family. Now she’s going for broke.

I’m sorry, Captain! I snap. But you have no authority over me once I return to Earth. I am taking my sisters so they can at least meet their dad.

Mandy, listen to me. I’m your mother.

No, Captain Glau. You lost that right when you broke apart our family and abandoned my dad. You lost that right when I cried myself to sleep every day for years because you dragged me out into space on some…some pride mission to further your political agenda. You lost that right when you weren’t there for me when I needed you the most. My body shakes. My teeth clench. I can’t believe I lost control in front of her. I shouldn’t be this weak.

She bites her lip. Listen, Mandy, I never….

I stumble forward as the room suddenly shakes from side to side. A loud bang rings in my ear, followed by an even harder jostling of the room. The captain and I crash to the floor.

The voice of Ritchart, the ship’s navigator, comes through the room speakers. Captain! Captain, are you there?

Yes, I’m here, replies the captain. Her voice is strained. What’s going on?

What he says next stops my blood cold.

We’re under attack, Captain. Earth Alliance cannons are firing on us!

CHAPTER 2

Come again, Ritchart, says Captain Glau. There seems to be a problem with the communicator. I thought I heard you say that we were being fired at by Earth Alliance cannons.

No problem, Captain. You heard right.

Hail them immediately.

I tried. No response.

Captain Glau rushes out onto the bridge. I stumble behind her. I suppose it’s times like this that a ready room comes in handy. The half dozen crewmembers that are currently on bridge duty look up at me from their assigned stations.

Ritchart sits at his post, desperately pressing his navigator screen. He is a skinny man, too skinny if you ask me. He has black dreadlocks that reach to his lower back. He is dark skinned, though at the moment he looks paler than usual.

The captain switches on the communicator. "This is Captain Glau of the E.A. Driftwood. Cease fire. I repeat, cease fire immediately. We’re friendlies." She awaits an answer. Static is the only response.

Captain, we are picking up a password-encrypted transmission.

Open it, orders the captain.

Ritchart shrugs his shoulder in defeat. Can’t. It’s encoded. Could take days to break.

Here, let me see that, I say. I stare at the words and numbers that flash across the screen. My eyes dart back and forth. For a regular person, the transmission is a jumble of words and numbers. But I see a pattern. I have always been able to understand engines and numbers.

It’s a code that uses the launch dates of the last three Earth Alliance colony settlements, I blurt out, feeling a sense of accomplishment. Ritchart, type the following access code: 5, 3, W, 7, Q, L, E, A.

Ritchart does as I instruct, and a face I recognize from a lifetime ago appears on screen. It’s Commander Larks, except he looks much different than I remember. His clothes are ragged, and there is a nasty gash across his left cheek. His hair doesn’t seem to have been combed for weeks.

"This is Commander Larks, head of the Earth Alliance, or rather what is left of it. If you are hearing this message, then you have deciphered the code and are indeed human. It is imperative that you flee. We fought bravely, but Earth has been lost. Run, run, and keep humanity alive. I will be gone soon, but I hope this message reaches someone, anyone. Goodbye. I wish you luck on your journey."

The face of the commander disappears, replaced by a red line that beeps at a steady pace.

What was that? Ritchart asks.

No one answers. Everyone on the bridge looks baffled by the cryptic message. You are indeed human… Earth has been lost… Run… What does it all mean?

Before I can make sense of the message, another shot slams into the ship. I fly clear across the bridge and crash into the hard metal wall. I taste blood coming from my lip.

Captain Glau clings to a console. Damage report!

Ritchart replies, Propulsion system is offline, Captain. Five life signs just went out in deck three, and life support has been compromised.

"What do you mean by compromised?"

That last hit damaged the power converters that provide the ship’s life support. We have about ten minutes before they shut off completely. He takes a deep breath. And without propulsion, we have no control of the ship. We are falling down to Earth, Captain. Time of impact is twenty-two minutes.

The captain nods calmly. We need to deal with life support first, then we can take care of the propulsion system.

I can’t help but admire the captain’s tenacity. She doesn’t buckle under pressure; to the contrary, she seems to excel in it. I guess that’s why she took on this godforsaken mission.

She turns on the communicator she wears on her wrist. Chief engineer Dietz, come in. No answer. "Chief Engineer Dietz, this is