Homeward Bound
04 Dec 2016Kyla Emmerich
Previous Log
I think this has been the longest two days of my life - and I’m not including the parts where time dragged on before I got to Amundsen. Out there, I had no sense of how much time was passing, but here, there’s clocks everywhere. Regardless, it was finally time to hand my ship over to whoever was delivering it back to the Bubble for me, and hop into a stasis pod. I wasn’t entirely sure how they go about bringing my ship home, but I preferred not to think about it.
I stepped into the docking bay, where the Bubble-bound transport waited to load its passengers. A sleek, white Orca was docked, fuelling up and preparing to continue its journey. Damn, I should have paid for the proper cabin pass, I thought as my eyes were glued to the curvy, white vessel. But here I am, about to hop in a pod and fall asleep for a while.
The last boarding call reverberated for the hangar, and I lined up to be assigned to a pod. I stepped inside and the pod door closed in front of me. There was a hiss, then I felt the needles pierce my skin and start to inject the stasis drugs, then slowly, the world around me blurred and begun to fade.
Here I am, a starry eyed graduate of the Pilot’s Federation Academy. I see mum in the crowd as I step up to the stage to receive my graduation certificate and my pilot’s license. Today is the first day of the rest of my life, and I cannot wait to take off in my new Sidewinder. Mum waves to me as I look in her direction. She looks so happy for me. One year of hard work, lots of sim time and training finally paid off.
After the ceremony is over, everyone makes their way outside. I look for mum among the crowd. I spot her sitting on a bench. She’s holding my newborn brother, Jared in her arms - the most adorable little thing I’ve ever laid eyes on. A tear slowly rolls from her eye as I approach her and give her a hug.
“You be careful out there, Kyla. Promise me you will visit often,” she says in a sad tone.
“Of course, mum,” I reply. “I’ll visit as often as I can. Besides, I have to see the little guy grow up! Don’t forget to tell him how awesome his big sister is.”
“I’ll miss you, sweet heart.”
I feel sadness engulf my chest. “I’ll miss you too, mum. I love you.”
Everything is pitch black, but I can hear the ambient sounds of the starship. I try to move, but my body is paralyzed. I feel immensely groggy and disoriented. I try to say something, but instead my eyes slowly close, and the world fades away again.
“Well, Dad. I graduated. I’ll be leaving Aymifa tomorrow.”
My Dad is sitting back on his chair, reading something on his datapad with a cigar hanging out of his mouth. “Good.”
I frown. “What do you mean, ‘good’?”
Not looking at me, he scoffs. “Exactly that. Good. You could have studied at an esteemed university and had yourself a rewarding career, but instead you’re going to fly off, making chump change in a beat up little bucket of bolts.”
A tear rolls down my cheek. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean, Dad?”
He raises his voice, finally taking his eyes off his datapad. “It means you’ll never amount to anything! I’ll bet within three months you’ll be on my doorstep begging me to take you in. You’re useless, just like your mother!”
I’m now finding it hard to hold back my emotions. “At least my mother has some fucking decency to stick around and actually raise her kids, instead of sleeping around. Have fun with that bint of a girlfriend of yours, you piece of shit.”
Before I let him reply, I turn out the front door, slamming it as I exit.
My eyes jolt open suddenly. My breathing feels heavy, and the sadness still fills my chest amidst the grogginess. My cheeks and eyes feel wet, and I once again try to move. My limbs barely twitch before my eyes slowly close.
I enter my old home and find Mum holding Jared’s hand. I came back to celebrate Jared’s second birthday, but Mum is packing.
“Mum! What is going on?!”
She takes Jared off to his bedroom down the hall. She returns alone, her face is remorseful.
“Kyla, I’m going into indentured servitude.”
My eyes widen and my jaw drops. “What?! How?! You can’t!”
“I have to - otherwise I lose the house.”
I grab her hand. “But, Mum… There has to be another way. How long will your term be?”
She sighed, looking down at her feet. “Six years.”
“What about Jared? What’s he going to do?!”
She looked at me reassuringly. “Jared will be taken care of. He will be able to stay with me and go to school when he comes of age. Don’t worry about him.”
“How can I not, Mum? He’s two years old! He’s too young to be going through all this!”
“We’ll be okay, Kyla. You just worry about you, okay? Now, it’s time to wake up.”
I look at Mum, perplexed. “What?”
“Wake up, Kyla.”
My eyes open again, it’s bright and blurred silhouettes of people mix in the light. Slowly my vision returns and there’s a man in a white uniform looking back at me.
“There you are, looks like your pod malfunctioned and didn’t administer the stasis drugs properly. I take it you were having vivid dreams?”
I nodded. “Yeah, like… Memories were coming back or something.” My voice was soft.
The man grinned. “That’s what happens when the dosage is incorrect. You dream vividly, usually of old memories. The good news is, you’re back in the Bubble. Welcome to Cleve Hub.”
I step out of the pod, stretching my arms. “Cleve Hub? Where’s that?”
“Eravate, the nicer part of it.”
Of all places… The middle of Fed space. Lovely.
“And my ship?”
The man smirked. “Should arrive in about half an hour. Thank you for flying with us, ma’am. Hope the side effects of the stasis drugs don’t bother you too much.”
He strode off to assist another passenger.
Easy for you to say, you weren’t crammed into a faulty stasis pod.
Half an hour later, almost on cue, a notification flashes on a large screen in the pilot’s lounge confirming the arrival of Moon Shot. I’m sitting back on the uncomfortable seating provided in the pilot’s lounge, and my mouth curves to a wide grin, knowing that very soon, I’ll be home again.
Sitting in the cockpit has a very different feel back in the bubble. I’m no longer filled with dread at the thought of an arduous flight, instead I am filled with relief. I set course for Aymifa and boost elegantly out of the mailslot. Before jumping, I flick Mum a message.
Hey, Mum
I’m coming home early. I didn’t make it to Jaques. I’ll tell you when I get to Valhalla.
Love you!
-K
The flight home is pretty uneventful. Not even an attempted scan from local system authorities between jumps which is not too uncommon for someone like me. Moon Shot begins the familiar rattling as the ship enters the atmosphere of Valhalla. I’ve almost forgotten how to handle the ship in atmosphere and I struggle to keep the ship level while the shields stress to protect the ship from the pressure of reentry. Eventually I steady my ship just on time to see the starport of my home city come into view. Finally. I’m here.
Mum’s front door creaks as I slowly push it open. It’s the middle of the day, calm, bright and pleasant. Mum’s house is a small apartment among many others in the small apartment complex. Inside is tidy, the walls are a mild cyan and the floors are a soft, cream carpet. Mum is sitting in her living room on her favourite recliner, reading a book as I walk in. She looks up to me with an inquisitive smile and pops her book down on the coffee table in front of her.
“You’re back early, sweetie,” she says as she walks up to me.
My lips tremble. I am fighting back my emotions. Eventually I drop my bag of things and break down with my head on Mum’s shoulder. She comforts me in her arms for a while, running her fingers up the back of my head.
I regain most my composure, still hugging Mum.
“Mum! It was a stupid idea to try and go out that far. It was horrible!”
She lets go of me, looking at me with a sensitive expression.
“What happened out there, Kyla?”
“Nothing! It was just… I couldn’t deal with being so isolated. I couldn’t do it.”
“It’s okay sweetie, you’re home now.”
She dabs a handkerchief over my eyes and I smile. “When’s Jared home?”
“Not for a couple of hours yet.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. “Good, I don’t want him seeing me like this.”
Mum picks up my bag and walks out to the hallway. “Why don’t you put on a cup of tea for us and I’ll go get your room ready for you? I take it you’ll be staying a little while?”
I nod slowly. “I’m not leaving for at least a week, if that’s okay.”
She smiles sweetly, with the look that always makes me feel better. “Of course it is!”
She disappears into my old bedroom and I head into the kitchen. I finally feel at peace again. I plan to stay home for no less than a week, where I will spend some time relaxing and hanging with my family. Then I’ll need to go back out and find me some work to bring my credit balance back up to something less depressing.
Now I just need to work on looking alright before Jared gets home.