Blast Off
My fingers pressed down the buttons and pulled on the controls as I ascended from that small bunker. The bear cub moved from the noise and was starting to wake up but my attention had to be on taking off. The smokey clouds made it hard to see but not impossible.
Just then a shuttle approximately 50 miles from me came onto the COM, "Century, this is Beta B-4, I have an unidentifiable object heading straight towards m—!" An explosion sounded to finish his sentence right before the COM was cut off. A couple seconds passed and two others came on to report the same predicament. Even though we're leaving Earth because of all the warfare damage and destruction of our home, people still somehow insist on using them to their advantage. Their selfish desire that if they can't survive then no one can. That's exactly why they didn't deserve to come on this expedition with us.
As soon as my shuttle announced a UFO had locked on, I announced it to my fellow Elders. Sweat began beading my forehead and my cub was making small whimpers. I pushed even further on the controls in an attempt to escape these savage pursuers. I'm almost into space, just a couple more seconds. The object was too close for comfort behind me. Even though my eyes were wide open, my vision went black with fear. I have a job to do on the station I can't be finished off here.
"You have now left the atmosphere and are currently in space." My ship said to me. I'd never thought I'd be so comforted by leaving Earth before. A loud boom sounded behind me, probably the missiles, I thought. As I thumbed through the controls to check my gas and oxygen levels, a light snoring from the baby flooded my suit. It's only been an hour or two and they've already grown on me. I'll name them and find out their gender on Century, I reminded myself.
"Alpha A-5, this is A-6, just wanted to confirm your safety." An Elder said on the radio with a hint of sadness in his voice. One of the people we lost must be an Elder then, I thought to myself. I didn't know who it was but I already felt sadness and pain; we're divided up into different categories and those categories only hang out with people in their group. Every Elder is my close friend.
"This is Alpha A-5, confirming safety. I'll meet you all at Century, I have a surprise that'll hopefully lift everyone's spirits." I said in the radio with a touch of cheerfulness. I know the Elders dislike surprises because they prefer to prepare for everything but it's also not like I can undo my actions.
As I was in transit to Century, the young one woke up and yawned. The zero gravity on my ship only aided them when they were crawling closer to my head. Those dark brown beady eyes felt as if they were staring into my soul. In a way, I felt the cubs sadness and loneliness and I think they saw mine back. We made a bond right then, or so I assumed before they lunged up and bit my chin. "You little crackhead, I can't believe you did that." I said as I furrowed my brows and looked sternly at them.
The ship announced that we were nearing our loading port and to prepare to attach to the Century Station. I pulled up to the station to my designated lot and backed in. A smile grew on my face as I realized I could take a shower and get all this smoke smell, ash and dirt off of me. I'd also be able to wash and feed the young one and get them feeling better. After my ship got centered with Century's gravity, I unstrapped myself from the seat and walked over towards the door. Taking out the cub, I realized he'd been pretty cold despite being in my suit. I removed the suit and stepped into the decontamination chamber, holding the cub with one arm and the other covering their mouth and nose. Sprays hit us in all directions and upon finishing I interlocked my fingers behind my back to hide the baby, certain there'd be fellow elders waiting in front of the door to greet me.
Slowly, the exit doors of the decontamination chamber opened and ten of my closest friends were waiting to see me. Giant smiles formed on all of our faces until mine fell when I only counted ten and not eleven people. "Is Veronica not here yet?" I asked with doubt laced in my voice. "She got hit by one of the missiles. We're having her funeral tomorrow before we begin our journey." A-6, Landen, announced.
"Cora... what's that behind your back? Please tell me you were kidding about your 'surprise'." A-9, Kristie, asked with curiosity in her voice.
"I may or may have not brought a +2 with me haha.." I stuck the cub in front of me and noticed it was a boy, "This is... Kai.. I rescued him in the woods by my old house. His mother was under a pile of burning trees and I couldn't just leave him there. I take full responsibility for him." I said with a half smile.