Travel
Wynnona
"So, here are the rules." I start to speak to the three couples sitting before me. The twins are off stressing about something while I tell the couples the rules. Brett and Keya role their eyes at me, Giovanni, and Jake sigh, not wanting to listen to this again, and Oriana and Lillian aren't even paying attention. Athena shakes her head at me as I rattle off all the rules I'd thought up for them to follow. Hopefully. My ship, my baby, has come together very nicely as I've spent the past year fixing her up.
"We will take off in an hour." Athena tells everyone, turning to lead them all to their rooms and get settled while I go to the control room.
"Dayna, run a diagnostic of all ship systems." I say as I click some buttons.
"Everything is running smoothly." She says.
"Thank you, Dayna." I reply.
"You're very welcome." She resides back into silence, waiting for further instructions. I leave the control panel to check the outside of the ship. As I look at everything and do a last check of the boosters, a small child runs over to me.
"Miss Wyatt." Shouts a little boy. He is Jubillian, meaning he comes from this planet that is full of plants; its people are creatures that resemble the plant life there. He is a rose, tall with flaming red hair that layers to resemble flower petals and white skin, orange eyes with green legs. He would be a very handsome adult.
"What can I help you with Roe?" I ask him, squatting down to his level. His planet was destroyed by Needledrop shortly after they joined us. He was the last of his kind.
"I don't want you to leave." He cries slightly.
"Hey, listen to me sweetie." I speak softly, reaching out to cup his petal soft cheeks. "We are going to be fine. It's a simple hop, skip an' a jump there. Then I swear I'll run back here as fast as I can." I promise him, pride filling me when he smiles. I spend a lot of time with little Roe, in a way, I guess I became a parental role in his life. He'd grown on me and I loved him. Some motherly instincts in me I didn't know I had coming forward whenever he was around.
"Only if you promise." He stomps his foot for emphasis. I smile softly at him, impulsively kissing his forehead.
"I swear." I promise him. I hug him tight and he hugs me back. "Now hurry back to the rest of the children." He nods, smiling at me. He starts to run off but turns back around.
"I made these for you and Miss Athena." He pulls two necklaces from his pocket. Both are beautiful roses, one a deep red the other a brilliant purple. The purple rose is only a pendant. Both roses have something in the middle of them that glows softly, looking almost like a diamond. "They will connect you to Miss Athena. If she is hurt the rose will start to wither." I smile brightly at him, taking the two pendants.
"Thank you so much." I thank him, taking my necklace off and slipping the purple rose onto it. I grab a small key from off it, placing it in his hand. With a wave of my hand over it a small gem appears on it, glowing a soft blue light. The key duplicates, the gem on the other a golden colour. I allow him to choose one, him instantly going for the gold gemmed key.
"This will allow you to do the same." I tell him "It is also my promise to always come back to you." He smiles brightly, making a chain for the key to hang on out of vines. He places it around his neck, hugging me tightly.
"Thank you, Miss Wyatt." He whispers to me. Turning to run back to the other children, I watch him go with a large smile on his face. I smile warmly at him, a feeling I think only a parent could feel when looking at their child fills my chest. When he's fully from my view I slip the key back onto my necklace, putting it back on, and turn to see Athena leaning against the ship, a wide smile on her face.
"How much of that did you hear?" I ask her, crossing my arms and raising an accusatory brow at her.
"Enough to know you care very deeply for that young boy." She comes over to me. Her hair is down today, a braid on either side of her temple connecting in the back of her head to go down into one big braid. It looked like Keya's handy work. "Would you put the necklace on me please?" She asks when she makes it to me. I nod as she turns, lifting her bright white hair out of my way. I do up the vine clasp around her neck, leaving the rose to dangle just above her breasts.
"It looks beautiful on you." As everything always does, I almost finish the sentence aloud. She smiles warmly at me. She heads back into the ship, me following swiftly once I finish my check up on the outside systems. Heading back inside, I find everyone setting up a game of monopoly.
It's old, but Keya insisted she could beat everyone. The seven of them set up around the table, putting everything together. The game is magnetic, set up in a way that if I need to maneuver the ship in any way, the game won't go flying everywhere. I smile at them, mentally preparing myself for the shouting that will come and grab a book, heading to the control room.
I take control, having the ship take off then enter light speed for the day's long journey to the twin's home planet. There is one pit stop we must make along the way, but we should be there by tonight. Tomorrow we have all day to try and convince the Mechenia colony to join us. I settle into my seat, opening my book to read, listening to the antics in the dining area as the group play Monopoly. Every couple minutes I check on our course and correct it as needed. After several hours of travel, I get up to check on everyone, making sure that no one has killed each other and get something to eat for lunch. Giovanni moves his character and lands on a spot that looks like it has a hotel on it. He cries out in frustration as Jake cheers, jumping with joy.
Jake had been recovering well. He was still healing but his body had regained much of his lost strength, though he was still far too slim. He'd been putting on weight so his body would flush out again soon enough. Billy had cleared him to come with us, giving him a million rules to follow.
"This game is rigged." Giovanni growls, handing all his money and properties over too a smirking Jake
"You only say that because you lost first." Jake teases him. Giovanni glares at everyone, coming up behind me to get some lunch. Athena made something for everyone this morning when she had time. He places his head on my shoulder, giving me his best puppy eyes.
"Don't look at me." I tell him. "Brett, Keya, and I have a Monopoly campaign that lasted seven years. Keya won as she always does." I laugh at the expression of everyone playing.
"But you are ruthless and stubborn and the best fighter I've had the pleasure of facing." Oriana says, shocked.
"Sometimes, those things do not win every battle." I shrug, pouring myself a cup of tea. Athena doesn't like coffee but loves herbal teas. She has managed to convert me into a tea person.
"Athena's turned you into a wise old lady." Brett sounds astonished. Athena turns to look at him, Star curled up in her lap sleeping as she pets him.
"Is this a bad thing?" She asks at the same time as me. I give her a smile as I sip my tea. A part of me wants to walk over and give her a kiss on the cheek, but the side of me that knows that there is a possibility for rejection stops me. Instead, I grab the second mug of tea I made and take it to her, placing it in front of her.
"Thank you." She smiles up at me sweetly. It makes my heart flutter and insides melt. Brett is very desperately in love with Keya, but I may be just as in love with Athena. Athena has me wrapped around her fingers. I am headed back to the control room, Giovanni promising to come keep me company when I hear a crash come from down the hall. I set my tea down, heading towards the crash quickly and quietly, pulling my blaster from the holster on my thigh. I stalk forward, blaster at the ready. I turn the corner, raising my blaster with Oriana right behind me, only to see a familiar face. Oriana has no idea who this kid is, she just sees him as a threat.
I grab her wrist, the one with a blaster raised, and point it at the roof. She fights against me, but my strength overpowers hers. Little Roe runs to me, his small arms clinging to my hips.
"What has gotten into you?" Oriana growls at me. Athena rushes around the corner, Star on her shoulder. She spots Roe and opens her arms to him instantly. He rushes to her, clinging to her as pale blue tears fall down his cheeks.
"Roe isn't a threat, he's an orphan from the rebel base." I tell her sharply. Then my mind catches up to the situation. Roe's people and her people have been at war for centuries. Some instinct in her is telling her she needs to kill off the last of his race. Understanding dawns in Oriana's gold eyes, so I release her. I step away but realize this is a mistake. She raises her blaster at Roe who is still in Athena's arms.
"No." Athena and I say together. She pulls Roe behind her the way a mother would as I jump in front of her, into the line of fire to protect the two. The scene looks exactly like the one from years ago when my dad died. The blaster goes off, hitting my shoulder. Roe and Athena both scream. Everyone else gasps as Oriana lets off the shot. Thank the Elder Gods she's an awful shot.
"Oriana enough." I growl, allowing the power I hold to fill my aura. My shoulder hurts like a bitch, but I ignore it. My need to protect these two is much stronger than the pain of the bullet graze on my shoulder. She seems to snap out of whatever was controlling her, dropping the blaster, and falling to her knee before me.
"I am so sorry for my actions, please forgive me." Oriana sounds breathless, not accustomed to apologizing for anything. I summon her to stand, turning my aura back to normal. Giovanni smiles softly at me, again as if he knows something I do not. It is starting to bug me.
"Fuck that hurt." I growl, going to hold my grazed shoulder.
"Miss Wyatt!" Roe cries, coming to hug my waist tightly. He cries into my stomach. I imagine it is from fear.
"Sh, it's okay kid." I tell him softly, crouching to wrap my arms around his slim, shaking form. Athena comes down to hug him from behind, the two of us working together effectively calming him down. Once he is calm, I decide to ask him what he's doing here. "Roe, what are you doing here? I thought I told you to stay on the base." I speak in a soft, motherly tone. I wipe the remaining tears from his pale cheeks.
"The other kids said you were going to pass through the bad people's territory. Mrs. Kim said that your luck had to run out this time." He speaks through sniffles. My heart breaks for the kid and I make a mental note to keep him as far away from Kim as possible. She's never liked me and blames me for a lot I had nothing to do with.
"It is alright Rowen, Wynnona is alright." Athena soothes him, rubbing his back as Roe continues to clutch onto me by the neck. Star whimpers from beside us, nudging the boy. He starts to go limp; I assume he's fallen asleep. "Take him to our bed to rest." Athena whispers to me. It makes my heart flutter as she calls it ours. "It seems the graze has already healed." She says looking at my shoulder. I nod, lifting him up into my arms to carry him to our bed.
We get there, Athena lifting the blankets so I can place Roe into the middle of the bed, then she tucks him in. We both go to leave when I feel a small hand grab mine.
"Please don't leave me mom." Roe's ever so soft voice fills my ears making my heart ache. He views me as a mother. I feel my heart warm at the thought of it. A year ago, I never wanted to be a mother. I hated the idea. But after meeting Athena, after everything we've already been through, the thought of being a mother keeps popping up in my mind. I turn to look at Athena for conformation. She only smiles widely at me, eyes sparkling.
"Rest." She tells me. "You did not sleep well last night; you need to rest." I am about to voice an argument when she places her hand in the centre of my chest to stop me. "Giovanni and I will keep an eye on the ship, sleep." She lightly pushes me towards the bed where Roe rests peacefully. I nod, turning to change into my sleeping clothes. She exits the room as I change my pants from my deep blue skinny jeans to dark grey joggers, the hip on each side a triangle full of red, green, and blue rectangles. My shirt is a simple t-shirt that has been knotted around my waist, a flag that used to identify queer groups on the front of my chest. I found it in a dumpster years ago.
After stripping off my clothes and changing, I climb into the bed quietly so as to not wake the sleeping child. Once in, Roe snuggles into my chest, fisting the white material of my shirt in his tiny, white fists. I smile softly at him, allowing him to burrow into me as I wrap him tightly in my arms. My eyes grow heavy, darkness soon consuming me.
There is a knock on the door to my childhood home. I am back in the body of my younger self. Papa smiles widely at me, mischief dancing in his eyes.
"I'll race you to the door." He challenges me in a whisper. I give him the same smirk, rushing to the door as fast as I can. Dad stands in the door of his office at home, smiling widely at the two of us. Brett stands at the top of the steps leading upstairs to our rooms. Papa and I get to the door at the same time. "Together?" He asks me. I nod and we both open the door at the same time.
At the door stands a tall man. He looks young, much younger than Papa and Dad. His hands were stuffed into the pockets of his oversized sweater. It looked like the sweater was being weighed down in the front by something heavy. I hear a light, fast foot pattern running to something and a hushed voice talk fast.
"Who are you?" I ask the man; I look up at Papa and see his eyes wide in horror. His hand has come up to twirl the wedding ring Dad gave him around his finger.
"Liam Smith?" Asks the man, ignoring me. Papa reaches down to grab hold of my shoulders, pulling me away from the man and closer to him.
"Can we help you?" I sass the man.
"You've taken everything from me!" Shouts the man, pulling the heavy object from his pocket.
"Mark!" Papa shouts, his eyes never leaving the scary man. Dad came rushing to us, standing between the crazy guy holding a gun to me and Papa, and Papa.
"Callum, it's Callum, right?" Dad asks, trying to calm the situation. Papa pulls me behind his body, shielding me from the man. Dad stands in front of him, one hand on his waist and the other outstretched towards the man.
"Callum isn't here right now, but Malinda is." I then notice the way the man shifts his hips; the same way women do when they walk. "You'll remember better when you no longer have these worms blinding you, keeping you from me."
"Malinda, you're sick." Dad says in a voice that I can tell is masking fear. He is scared what is going to happen, what will happen to him, what will happen to Papa, what this crazy witch is going to do next. He's scared of all of it. I am too. "You are unwell, you need help."
"The only thing I need is you my love." They return, pushing the gun closer to us. Papa buries his head into Dad's shoulder, whimpering ever so slightly in fear. I think that is what sets Dad off. Sirens can be heard in the distance. Dad rushes the person, grabbing the gun and pointing it to the ground. Malinda fires off a shot. My ears ring from it. Dad punches the person across the face, still fighting for the gun. Another shot rings out in my ears as my worst fear comes to pass.
Dad is clutching his chest, coughing up a red liquid, he falls back into Papa. Tears stain Papa's eyes as he gently places Dad on the floor. My hands go to the bullet wound on Dad's chest, applying as much pressure as I can as I cry.
"You don't get to leave me." Papa cries, clutching Dad's cheeks.
"I'm sorry Liam." Dad cries. He coughs again, choking on his own blood.
"Marcus Henry Smith, I swear to whatever higher being exists that I will follow you to whatever life exists after this one to torment you." Papa cries, placing his forehead to Dad's. Dad smiles lovingly up at Papa.
"I love you so much Liam." Dad lifts his hand with his wedding ring to clutch onto Papa's wedding ring hand. Papa leans down and places a kiss to Dad's lips. One last, lingering kiss. When he pulls away, he places his forehead back to Dad's unmoving body. I can't feel his heartbeat anymore.
"I love you so much too Mark." Papa whispers as paramedics come into the room. Papa takes me into a tight hug as the police come to question us on what happened. Two more paramedics come to see if we are okay as Brett comes down the stairs, crying into Papa's chest. A week passes by, I am at school sitting off to the side during the break where the other kids play together.
Papa comes rushing to the school field, the principal following shortly after him. Papa comes over to me, looking like a mess as he has the past week.
"Baby girl, something awful has happened. Where's your brother?" Brett comes rushing over, sweaty from running around with the other boys. "Oh good. I am taking the both of you home with me. That man who killed your father," Papa takes a deep breath to steady himself, "He's escaped from the police and is coming for us." Fear grips my stomach as I see a hooded figure charging towards the school. One of the other students has noticed as well and gotten the attention of the principal. He calls forward the two police officers that were with Papa.
"Papa!" I shout as he turns to see the man raise a gun. In a rush of adrenaline, I rush in front of him while Brett takes cover. I hear the gunshot go off, then I feel a searing pain in my shoulder, finally I smell blood and lots of it. I fall to my knees, my hand on my bleeding shoulder with my mouth open in a silent scream. I look up to see the light grey sweatshirt Papa is wearing stained red around his chest.
"Papa!" Brett cries softly, rushing to his side to apply pressure to the wound. The police officers have gotten a hold of the man, keeping close watch over him. All the kids are watching the display in horror. I rush to Papa's other side as sirens are heard.
"I love you both so much." He strokes our cheeks. "Your father loved you both deeply too." He chokes on a sob as he hugs us close with shaking arms. "It's going to be okay; we are in a better place now. Don't worry about us, worry about yourselves. Survive." His grip is fading, his eyes dulling. "We love you." He whispers. Brett and I lean in, both placing a kiss to either side of his face, to his cheeks. It's in that moment I feel his heart stop, crying out at my failed attempt to protect my family.
I wake from the memory, the only bullet wound in my left shoulder pulsing with a sore pain. I sit up, massaging and rolling the shoulder. I feel something wet on my cheeks as I lay back down, noticing I've been crying in my sleep.
Then Roe and I are flung from the bed.