Haven's link alerted her that someone was listening to thier conversation. Her father had taught and warned her about corporate espionage in his training. He had provided her with means to defend against snooping. It was a software that would use her Link to scan for signals frequently used in listening devices. Her Link had alerted her shortly after she finished speaking causing her to zone out as Jason answered her. Telling her that his suit wouldn't fit her.
"Hey, are you listening?" asked Jason
"Sorry my link is acting up, it might be giving me a false alarm." she said
"False alarm?" he asked looking slightly bewildered. 'How could a Link give a false alarm.' he thought
"Yeah long story short my dad gave me some software to protect me from corporate espionage, specifically listening devices. You know he is weapons designer. So He's big on security. Anyway, My link says there are listening devices in here that arent part of The Ark Security." she explained.
Jason gave a blank look as he grew nervous the more he thought about what haven just said. His thoughts had accelerated to a mile a minute. 'Did they find out,' he thought. 'No. That's not possible. They cant know im going to come clean to her. Then why are they listening in. Do they suspect me. Maybe its thier routine. It doesn't matter I cant lie to her anymore. I cant do to her what they want. If I don't do what they want. They will hurt my family, but if I do my family will be safe my mother healed and Haven would be mine in the end,' The last part wasn't a reward to him at the start. Now that wasn't the case. It had been only a few dates but he was head over heals for her, but the more he felt for her the more guilty his conscience made him feel. That's why he had orchestrated a date in a place where they could truly be alone.
"I wouldn't worry about it," he said with as much of a smile as he could muster. Haven was to preoccupied with her link to notice his odd body language.
"Here is your suit it goes on right over our clothes. So just do as I do." Jason said grabbing his girlfriends attention again.
Haven stopped with her link and looked over. Deciding not to worry about it. She went over and observed as Jason got on his suit. She didn't say anything and followed his example. The excitement building in her again. She was trusting him with her safety. Which for her was a big deal. The only men she truly trusted in her life were her father and his security staff. Old Man Drew her father's chief of security was like an uncle to her.
After ten minutes of checking and rechinking they were suited and ready to go. Haven followed Jason as he led her out of the storage area. They went down a short hall that led them to a small area that held a grav-lift. They entered a lift before jason hit the button the Maintenance lvl of the ark. They had went down about 10 stories. When they exited the lift they were greeted again by a small open area with a few halls branching from it. They entered a hall way that was labeled Air-Lock. When the reached the end of the hall. They passed through one last door with Jason's Link credentials an entered an airlock chamber with a 4 man team of operators behind a consul. There was also a ten foot tall 8 foot wide door that had airlock printed on it to thier right.
"Scheduled maintenance check," stated Jason as he approached the consul. The leader of the four barley looked at him. He Then nodded as he pointed at a scanner while saying "You know what to do"
Jason led Haven to the device that would check thier suits, and stood before it as it ran diagnostic on thier suit for errors and anomalies. The machine beeped indicating that Haven's suit wasn't secure in a few areas. They were common rookie mistakes. Which made the leader of the 4 operators raise a brow but didn't say anything. He'd seen it all before. Unbeknownst to everyone Jason's suit had given back a false report fooling the machine completely.
After correcting the mistakes. Jason led haven to the air lock. They entered a chamber that would release them to the world out side The Ark. After following the procedures of hooking up to thier suits to a tether and anchor. the countdown began has the chamber depressurized. Haven was nervous at this part but The feeling of becoming weightless for the first time was unforgettable.
Haven looked at Jason who was holding her hands a sweet feeling in her heart. He really was a romantic. Floating out of the chamber she saw an incredible sight. She couldn't help but smile under her helmet as she thought about it . They were out in space together holding each others hand before countless stars. They had connected thier links to speak through a ad hoc connection, it was truly private. They didn't need to use the suits coms. The coms were linked to The Arks so they weren't private. If they used them anyone with the credentials could have listened in. To Haven this was the perfect date.
Surrounded by points of lights as far as the eye could see. It was truly breathtaking. Even though she couldn't feel his hands through the suit she squeezed a little tighter while talking to him.
"Its so beautiful," she said looking away from the Ark. She could see a fleet of over 150 ships flying not to far away. The ark was massive making them seem like specs of dust floating on the hull of the ship a few tens of yards away from the airlocks. There were a variety of ships that were visible from thier location but she didn't want to give up on the romance of the moment to observe them. So she ignored them and directly observed the many stars that could be seen all around them.
"Yeah, it really is a sight to behold," he said as he spoke from the heart. " You know. When i used to come out here just to think. I would always say that out here was the most beautiful thing in my life, but now these last two months not so much."
Haven knew what he was hinting but played along even as her heart beat a little faster she said. " Why what changed."she asked wanting to here the answer that she could somewhat guess.
"I've been looking in the mirror lately and im not really sure what changed but i have to say there has never been another man more handsome than me." he replied.
Haven could here the laughter in his voice as he spoke. She really wanted to punch him. His corny jokes were ruining the moment, but before she could let go of his hand and respond he continued.
"Haven, I love you," he said. Looking toward her through the visor of his suit. They couldnt see each other face but Haven swore she could feel the heat of his gaze at that moment.
"I don't want you to say it back. I just want you to know that for me your better and more beautiful than all we can see out here. I know its only a little over 2 months, but im sure about this as about anything I've ever been sure about.
Haven felt her heart flutter as he spoke. She Wanted to say I love you back but she wanted to be sure she meant it. She liked him a lot but didn't know if it was love. She didn't want herself to be wrong about her first love. Haven really wanted to be like her parents. As a little Girl She would listen to the stories of how her parents were together from young and wanted that for herself. They weren't perfect and didn't always get along but she knew what they had was real. She also knew it wasn't realistic for that to happen to her. Her parents weren't the norm. So even as everything he was confessing was puller her deeper she remained cautious not because she didn't believe him but was really nervous,excited,expectant, and most of all happy. She was smiling from ear to ear as he confessed to her.
"That's why i want to come clean with you." he said
"Come clean?," she asked coming from bliss to panic in only a few sentences. Haven didn't know what to think at his last statement. All she knew was that her heart dropped. She didn't want to prepare herself to be disappointed. The more she thought about what he could possible say the more she didn't want to know. She came up with two questions. Two questions as long as he answered right everthing else could be forgiven. She came to a decision that she didn't know if she would regret later or turn back on later. After a moment of silence she said, "Don't."
"What?" he responded looking confused under his helmet. Jason had been expecting her to ask what it was. He was racking his mind to figure out how to start, but he had never expected this response from her.
"Is it another girl?" she asked feeling her heart hurt even at the idea. They hadn't been dating long and even she had a couple of suitors she had only dropped after the 2nd date.
"No," Jason said. "Its not that Its..."
"Are you after my families money" she asked not really believing that herself as she asked.
"No,"He said firmly. "That's not it. Just listen. When we met..." he started but before he could finish. she cut him off again.
"Then i don't care. I trust you Jason" she said activating her suits stabilizers through her link as she drifted closer to give him a hug.
"You said you love me, So that means you wont do anything to hurt me right?" she asked as they embraced floating amongst the stars. It would have been more romantic if not for the subject at hand.
"No I wouldn't," he said truthfully " Im happy when i can make you smile. That's why i cant keep anything from you Haven. I really do care for you. Ive never been sure about anything as much as im sure of this. I just..."
"Then shush and hold me, she said in mock scolding.Interupting again. "Your the first person that's not my family to tell me they love me and mean it. I want to say it back yet i cant. I like you a lot jason, but my dad always told me love is an action not an emotion so ill show you how i feel about you. You don't have to tell me anything. What ever it is that you feel the need to apologize for I forgive you. Just keep your promise."
Jason's mind went a little haywire at that wondering how he should respond. He had hoped to tell her about everything knowing most likely the relationship would be over after this. He didn't want to lie to her. He really cared for her and didn't want to do anything to harm her. Before she was just a face in a file. Now she was some he cared deeply about.
"Lets go back," she said.
"Wait?What?Why?" responded Jason. "I still want you to see the top of the ark. If you stand on it you'd really get to know how massive this ship we live on really is."
"Ill see it next time, come on"she said turning from him and hitting the return button on the tether. She didn't activate it yet and just brought up the prompt.
Jason sighed. He new she had made up her mind so he didn't convince her. He just had to explain in his report why he was making an early return. They had only been out for 15 minutes. He hit the prompt button to return and activated it. Yet nothing happened. He activated it again still nothing. He looked at Haven before saying "The tether is not working so ill go back with the stabilizers we arent far from the air lock it should take less than 5 minutes with the stabilizers."
"Ok, but cant you just hold onto me as mine pulls us both back?"
"That's what i said," he responded flying toward her ignoring his blunder.
Haven rolled her eyes under the helmet and reached out for him. As he got close his suit started to let out a gas into the vaccum of space.
"My suit is leaking" said Jason trying to go by his training and not panic. He was losing pressure in his suit fast , He could already feel a chill like he had never felt before.
Haven grabbed him and hit the return prompt immediately. They instantly accelerated back toward the air lock taking less than two minutes to get there. As they were traveling back Jason sent an emergency code through the suits com. Stating thier predicament.
By the time the tether had pulled them both back into the air lock and filled it with air Jason was unresponsive to Haven calls. When it was safe she ripped off his helmet. To look at his Face.His eyes were closed and his skin had a pale blue hue. Haven's heart wretched as she feared the worst.
*****
(A few Hours Earlier)
A blue plasma bolt hit The final security officer in the chest as the course was over for Lina. Kayden, Xeno, and Lori had all went before her each performing better than her. She had hit on 43 percent of her shots. Her face was flush with embarrassment. She had done the worst but she was only 9 percent behind the top score.
"As you can see Hitting a moving target that fires back is a lot harder than hitting a stationary or weaponless target," came the voice of Natalie Graham. "You guys did extremely well despite your scores. All of you pass the section. Anything above 40% was good for a days worth of training. You guys can get some rest. Tomorrow you will be studying non stop. There will be a test for you guys on the basic knowledge you'll need for the job. If you don't score above 65 you will not pass. So have a good rest. We start first thing in the morning." She said before she about faced and left the physically and mentally exhausted teens.
"I passed?" Lina asked making sure she heard right. She looked at Xeno who happened to be closer before repeating. "We passed?"
Xeno shrugged his shoulders and nodded. Giving her a helpless look. He had thought this would be easier with his experience in GBO, but even with it he had only managed a 45 % hit rate. "It was harder than i thought. Those guards weren't really even trying hard."
"What did you expect?" replied Kayden. "That a day of training and video games would make us elite soldiers?" Shaking his head as he picked up his rifle.
"I guess your right" said Lori the highest scorer. She felt she had gotten a few lucky shots in why she did better than kayden who shot at 50%. some of her return fire was just a unthought out reaction.
"Im going to keep practicing", said Kayden. As he walked over to the shooting range. " I made to many mistakes under pressure. I've got practice the basis."
Lori nodded and followed him. She completely agreed with his assessment. They needed to practice.
So they practiced all 4 of them until nightfall. Around 7 they stopped to order dinner and rest. The next day would be mentally exhausting. Bye 20:00 they were all asleep. but at 0:01 All the lights in the hall turned on an Natalie Graham walked in.
"I hope you all have rested well," She said to the four teens who were looking at her like she lost her mind. Natalie Grinned at them like the True demon she was. "What?" she asked in a mocking tone. "Didn't I say we would start the first thing in the morning?"
The Group groaned as they got up their Combat armor feeling heavier than normal. If looks could maim Ms. Graham would be seriously injured.
"Now Let's start with the basics," she said ignoring thier looks, as for desks rose from the ground.