Page 77 of Alien Breed

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Naomi

The sun reflects a golden hue over the ocean. Its rays dip below the water, softly wavering away.

As we sail to the starship, we all sit in silence, staring at the jungle that will always remain an anomaly.

This place wasn’t supposed to exist. We were used. There’s a lot to come to terms with here, but we’ll get through it.

At this point, I’m pretty sure we can get through anything.

I reach into my pocket, tracing my fingers against the rough edge of the photograph of my parents. I pull it out and gaze at it, unsure how it really makes me feel.

I used to think of it as my blanket. It was an object to house all my melancholia and frustrations, so I wouldn’t have to keep blaming myself for what happened. It kept me safe. In the end, that blame still found its way inside me.

It made me do stupid things. It made me turn on those I trusted. Worst of all, it made me fear the unknown.

I’m still scared. I still haven’t learned the lessons that I should have. We’re leaving this hell-hole, and I’m worried that I’ll pass my sadness and pain onto my child.

I have to make a choice to let the past go for good. I can’t keep pretending to be better when it still feels like shit.

My sister isn’t coming back. None of those people are. But they will always be a part of me, and I should be glad I had the chance to know them.

That day at the diner was the best day of my life.

I look away from the photograph. I let go of the corners. I watch as it flies away, and I feel a great weight lift from my shoulders.

There is a new day waiting for us back on Earth. And when we get there to see and experience it in all its glory, our wounds will be healed.

For the first time, we will be whole.

Turin massages my shoulder. “We’re here,” he says.

I blink my eyes and realize the entrance to the Starship Tera Earth-373 is right in front of me. Everyone is on board, waiting, except for Turin and I.

“Come on, Captain,” Hugh shouts. “It’s time to head on home.”

Roy leans against the metal railing. “You sure you’re ready?”

Fassbender is dead. The Captain is, well, he’s somewhere deep in the jungle now. We’ve really lived through the unbelievable, haven’t we?

I stand and salute, feeling prideful. “You have been the best crew anyone could have ever served beside.”

Roy chuckles and salutes back. “Shucks. You too, Naomi.”

We didn’t complete the job. On the contrary, we failed the mission. But by failing, we actually won. We made sure they didn’t get their way.

Maybe we didn’t shut down all of Earth Federation’s operations. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if Fassbender was right. But we did what we had to do, and we survived.

No one will remember what we did. It won’t be written about in any great historical textbooks. Our story will end up as it should – forgotten.

We own this story, and that’s the way we want it to be.

I step on board our ship. The door shuts behind us, and the interior lights with neon reds, blues, and greens. Finally, I can breathe a sigh of relief.

Back to the familiar.

“Welcome back,” the control center states.

Cautiously, I step into the captain’s chair. The seat automatically buckles me in. The hydraulics push my butt into the air.


Tags: Penelope Woods Science Fiction