17 Months Ago

Valorie hid behind the couch in the break room. Her thoughts were clouded, but there was one thing she was absolutely sure of: this had to be dream. It was a memory from when she was sixteen, on her first job away from home. A kitchen drone on the MRH Vollan, it was your average summer job.

From her hiding spot, she heard the heavy clap of an open palm meeting flesh followed by her friend crashing to the floor. Valorie flinched, balling up even tighter. The smug laugh of the attacker still sent shivers down her spine.

It had been an easy job until this moment. Cleaning all day and deliveries all evening. She found time to chat and she made friends with the odd Communications lady. Laeila had dark eyes, gray hair, and lousy self esteem. For a shut in, she was easy to talk to.

Valorie could hear as Laeila started to get back up, and the strike that followed. The couch shuddered as her friend crashed into it. Valorie wanted to stand up. She wanted to help. Instead, she hugged her knees closer and pressed her forehead against them.

A month prior, Valorie had found one of the smaller lounges that went unused. She had the brilliant idea of meeting Laeila here. They could cook in the half kitchen or watch something on the big screens. Valorie got a kick out of it every time Laeila reacted to something average with awe. This was their fifth meeting. Valorie had saved a couple of the cupcakes from the leftovers of her day job as a surprise. Laeila’s face lit up the way Valorie hoped it would.

That was until the door swung open, revealing Laeila’s partner in Communications. Her ward. The twisted look on her partner’s face made a knot in Valorie’s stomach. When Valorie saw the ship captain enter after the ward, she ducked behind the couch.

The partner kicked aside a table, crushing the cupcakes. That warm feeling seemed a million miles away now.

“I wanted to let off a little steam. You know the drill. We have a little fun, and then it’s all over. But you… you made me look for you.” Laeila’s partner leaned in, pinning her against the couch. “That’s just plain disobedient, Laelae.” Her voice made the hairs on Valorie’s neck stand up. “Right, captain?”

“Yes, yes.” The captain’s voice was disdainful, “But this should be done somewhere more private. Somewhere easier to clean.” He added without a hint of concern.

Valorie’s tears seeped through eyes snapped shut. She knew she had to stop them. Even if it was two on two, she had no experience in fighting. The age gap left her at a disadvantage but she couldn’t listen any longer. She willed her legs up, and started to inch up along the couch.

“Don’t.” Laeila whispered, stay still. Valorie froze. Had that been out loud?

“You don’t get a say in this.” The woman snapped, before dragging Laeila up to her feet. “Lead the way, sir.” She said. Valorie heard the door to the lounge slide up, and three sets of feet march out. What she never heard was protest from her friend. After that incident, she never heard from Laeila again. There was no news from command, no report of what happened.

That job had been the catalyst for her decision to join the SCT as a Ward. She couldn’t help Laeila, but she could be there for another. It was the best she could do.

The room was quiet. Was the dream still going? She stretched her tense fingers, and noted with a sinking feeling the realness of it all. Taking in a deep breath, she peeked over the couch. The room was in disarray, but there was a teenage girl sitting on one of the chairs at the center. Nine years younger than Laeila, but she shared the dark eyes, gray hair, and lousy self esteem.

“Evie?”

“Valorie, I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“I saw the people in the hall, but not the fires…I didn’t even think of the physical danger…”

“Are we… did we die?” Valorie asked. It escaped her mouth before she really thought about what it meant. Evie’s eyebrows furrowed and she looked down at her hands, folding and unfolding them in her lap.

“My body has passed. Yours… you are…” Evie trailed off.

“I’m still alive?” Valorie said. Evie flinched, and Valorie added, “But not for long?” Evie nodded. Valorie looked around, and with the revelation the room seemed to shrink around her.

“I am sorry.” Evie said. She was gripping her hands in her lap. Valorie waved the sentiment away, there was no sense in it now. With moments left to live, she found herself feeling curious.

“You said your body passed. Why are you… here?” Valorie said. She stumbled at the end realizing this was no physical location, but a memory, one in her head. Evie looked up, and her hands paused.

“I wanted to say goodbye. You lost all motor function, but you’re still tethered. You’re still here. Coming here was my only chance.” She said. Was it suppose to make sense? Valorie saw only one way it could.

“You… aren’t human, are you?”

“No.” Such a simple answer created so many new questions. Valorie grasped at the first one that came to mind.

“What are you?” She asked. Evie blinked, and her brows furrowed as she thought.

“Uhm, well, we don’t have a physical form. We need to attach to something alive to interact with the physical world.”

“What will happen to you now?”

“Without a physical vessel, I will be here. I mean, the real here. Where I died.” She paused scratching the back of her head, “Of course, nothing in space stays still. The wreckage will drift, and I cannot keep up. Until I am found, I will always be here.” She sighed. There was fear in her eyes she was trying so hard to suppress.

“Trapped? Was Laeila the same?”

“What? Oh. No, she was not.” A sour look crossed Evie’s face, “They had a temporary vessel ready for Laei. Though, she has yet to receive a proper one. Bastards.” Evie said as her face contorted in a way Valorie had never seen on her before. Valorie felt a wave of relief followed by revulsion at Evie’s words, and for a moment her mind was muddled about why. She leaned against the couch.

“I’m running out of time.” She said. Evie was on her feet, easing Valorie to sit down. Evie’s concern was heartwarming, and Valorie leaned into it, gripping her hand. The way her thoughts of only a moment ago slipped away frightened her, so she focused on the hand in hers. Evie’s eyes were shining.

“Valorie, you have to know, how much we, I mean, how grateful we-”

“Shh. Not now. You need a body to escape, right?” Valorie said. She focused, and she focused hard.

“Val?”

“Could you use mine?”

“There… There are conditions.” Evie stammered, as if unsure of what she was saying. Valorie chuckled at the thought of throwing this odd being off her game. Evie was still Evie.

“And they are?” Valorie asked. The tears in Evie’s eyes spilled over as she blinked to clear them. She looked ready to protest, but Valorie stopped her. “Kind of got a time limit here, Evie.” She said.

“Mother says we must have permission from the tethered,” Evie said.

“The poisonous air won’t stop you?”

“We don’t need the brain for control.” Her clinical response made Valorie uneasy, but she had asked. Something occurred to her.

“What will happen to me? I mean, my mind?” Valorie asked.

“It won’t stop… what is happening…” Evie said, her gaze falling to her hands. Valorie reached out, pulling her friend close for a hug. She rested her head on Evie’s shoulder, pale skin and gray hair filling her vision. In stilted movements, two arms wrapped around her, and she closed her eyes. Her choice was easy to make.

“You have my permission.” She said. Evie’s shoulder shook, and Valorie caught the soapy scent of the standard issue shampoo. She smiled.

“Val, I don’t…”

“Live, Evie. Please. Help Laeila, like I never could.” Valorie said. Evie went rigid. She was quiet. “Help your sisters.” Valorie felt her hold slipping, a foreign numbness in her arms. The two arms crossing against her back remained, awkward but warm. She felt at ease.

“I will. I swear.” Evie said. The effort strained her voice, but she did not let go. “More than you may ever know, you are the light of humanity, Valorie Davis. Thank you.”

***

Valorie pulled herself up. The air was still rotten, and her movements were stiff – unnatural – but she did move. She ignored the body beside her, and stumbled to the kitchen exit. There was no one left in the hall, but she could sense them ahead. When she reached the door, she pulled at the override, and hit the manual open harder than she meant to. The sting went up her arm.

“Sorry,” She muttered, cradling her hand. The door finally opened, and fresh air rushed in to greet her. She breathed and it dispelled a little of the discomfort. Her movements smoothed as she made her way down the empty hall to the life pods.

***

Present Day

Valorie found herself unable to take her eyes off the figure in the mirror. She was still not used to her reflection, her friend’s anxious eyes meeting her gaze every single time. The tether had faded before reaching the kitchen exit. From that moment on, only Evie had remained. The body had healed, but the mind was silent. Evie took a slow breath. Closing her eyes as she did so, before facing her reflection once more.

“I will live. I will find a way to free my sisters. I will not waste this gift.” She said. She had made progress. She bowed her head. “Thank you, Valorie.” The pain in her heart eased as she repeated her mantra.

The buzzer for her front door went off, jolting her out of her reverie. She still had work to do.