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The computer issues a pleasant tone. “System command on stand-by.”
I glance back at the crew. They are weathered and weary, hurt from battle. None of this should have happened, but in a year, we’ll be home. We’ll stumble out onto Earth and breathe the oxygen we know and yearn for.
They buckle up and sit back.
Before Turin follows, I grab his hand. “Can I do this?” I ask.
He smiles and kisses my forehead, trickling his fingers down my back. “You’re going to do so much more than command a starship, Captain.”
I smirk. Because of his confidence, I believe in myself.
I take a breath and close my eyes for one brief moment. All of this will be in the past. Soon, we will be one among the stars again.
I exhale. “Okay, system command. Clear off stand-by. We’re going home,” I say.
The control panel lights with color, and all the ship’s vital signs display on the screen in front of me. Everything appears to be normal.
“System command, ready for take off.”
I hit the buttons to turn on the thrusters. I wait for the engine to roar before hitting the release on the rockets. “Ready for take off,” I whisper.
A great, familiar roar resonates outside of our window. Suddenly, I can hear the light tapping of someone running toward us.
My chest tightens as I scramble to see what is outside.
Roy curses. “Shit, it’s Halloway.”
On the display, I can see the mutant running toward the ship. He dives into the water, out of sight but not out of mind.
Hugh starts to hyperventilate. “Naomi, get us off the water.”
I try to remember the commands, but the system is completely different from what I’m used to working with.
“Ready for take off,” I shout.
“System command, ready for take-off?”
“Dammit,” I yell and turn to the crew for help.
“He’s almost to the entrance hatch,” Roy shouts.
The Captain jumps onto the hatch, screaming like an ape. He pounds and dents the metal, trying his hardest to get inside.
He runs to the side, drags his nails against the windows.
He’s not the Captain I knew. He is infected.
I panic. “Turin, what do I do?”
Turin leans forward against his belt straps. “You’re going to lead us out of here,” he says.
That’s not what I intended to hear, but as soon as he says those words, it clicks.
I ignite the rockets and feel the starship weigh forward before the velocity of its take-off pushes our bodies back against the seats.
The Captain screams and holds on as we soar across the ocean.
“He’s not letting go,” Roy says.
