A few days passed with nothing special happening. The rain is getting worse and worse by the day though with no real signs of letting up. With the rain we've all been cooped up more, working on the ship in our new spare time. Gabe slowly fixes up the old plasma rifles we found at a military base. Were these normal times I'd say a kid shouldn't be so fixated on guns or killing in general. Down here you don't get far without learning how to use them though. Mia has been working diligently as well. Somehow that girl reads a manual and can completely configure electronics together, as socially unaware as she is she's quite the genius. I've been welding together the finishing touches to the body of the ship. We'll almost be sky bound here soon.
"When we get off this chunk of rock, where exactly are we going?" Mia said, startling me from my own thoughts.
"Uh good question. I guess we'll trace the old ship's signals once we get up there."
"The signals have been dark for years, there's no way to trace it now."
"Well I hadn't thought about it that much then."
"I have." Mia said staunchly.
"This is the part where you tell me Mia don't leave me hanging."
"We need an astronomer to come with us, someone who can track the stars and where we are."
"Wow Mia, that's actually a really good idea."
"I know." She turned back to her work as if we weren't talking to begin with.
I pulled my goggles down and started welding the last brace for the frame.
"I think I might know of someone."
Interrupted again…
"Who would that be Gabe?"
"I've heard rumors about a crazy girl who watches the stars like her grandparents did before the original ships took off."
"The one a few miles from here?"
"Yeah, that's just a rumor I heard, can't say for sure."
"Who'd you hear it from?"
"Just the guy who I trade for bullets with."
"Hmm, that might be worth checking out then.
"Let's go together then now, I want to test something." Mia cut off our conversation and walked over to the van. She started fiddling with the van fuse box.
"OK, I'm ready." She hopped in the back and sat in her spot waiting patiently.
Me and Gabe looked at each other and we both shrugged. I guess we should go. This is the first time I've seen her take this kind of initiative for something other than her own gain. Me and Gabe both got in. His tattooed arm was covered by his rifle and tattered up sleeve.
"All buckled up?"
No response well ok putting the key in the ignition and turning it over.
"Oh my god, what is this dirty feeling?"
"Mia you didn't?!" turning around she was looking past me with a small grin.
"I'm an intelligence for the most pristine of ships, please don't tell me I'm in that old van now."
"Mia, why did you do this?" I asked damn well knowing it's going to be a nonsense answer I get.
"I thought since we're putting our lives in danger by shooting to space in a dinghy we should at least make sure he's capable of short trips first.
"Mia, that's not a reason to… Actually that's a pretty good reason to bring him. Good job!"
"I know." Spoken as cold as the rain outside again.
I can't with this girl. Putting the van in reverse and driving past our gate windshield wipers at max speed yet I still have to drive at a slow speed now. The rain isn't how it was in the old days. There's so much pollution up there now the rain is like tar falling leaving streaks of black across the old rusty white van we drive in.
"Why does this burn so much! Every bump you hit is like torture I can barely think let alone help keep you safe like this!"
With those words I regained full control, not much different from before now I just have to monitor my speed instead of Kayle doing it.
"Mia, would you like to tell us why he's in pain?"
"He simply said he'd get revenge on me for messing with his volume. I don't get payback, I get further ahead."
"You question how I'll do in space, you're the one who needs rewiring you psycho!"
"I'm perfect as is, sorry you can't see that." I saw that smug smile through the rear view mirror.
We should be pulling up to the satellite observatory soon, hopefully without any more surprises. I'm not sure I've seen Mia have as much fun with anything else then she does messing with Kayle. Scary as she may be, it hasn't been too detrimental yet.
"There it is up the road there!" Gabe shouted and pointed.
I could see vague images of it between the wipers washing away the black rain. Pulling up on it I could see that there's a keep out sign on the gate and that it looks like it hasn't been opened since humanity fled. "Hang on" Gabe grabbed his gun and hopped out. Shooting the lock off the fence and kicking the gate back he hopped back in.
"Sorry I'll clean it later, let's hurry on in."
I couldn't tell why he was so eager. something got into him I can't tell but he's not acting normal either. Driving up to the front entrance under a pavilion.
"Thank you so much I can think again! There's definitely someone in there playing with some electricity but I can't pinpoint it without being on the ship."
"Alright we'll take it from here." Gabe said already two feet out of the door.
"I'm not sure what's gotten into you Gabe but I'm watching."
My nerves were high as we opened the front door. I couldn't have possibly creaked any louder than it did.
"Hello!" Gabe began shouting following the dim light down towards an office space.
"Gabe shh we don't know who is there."
"I'm sure it'll be fine." He seemed so sure.
As we got to the spot the light was emanating from all the lights suddenly came on. "Hello." Gabe shouted again, spinning looking at the wide space with mounds of paper stacked everywhere.
"Luna, are you here?" He said.
"Luna? What aren't you telling me?" Whipping my head to look at him.
"Do I know you?" A small squeaky voice came from behind one of the stacks.