It had been a long, and fairly uneventful day on the Bolian space station Quara 4. Kerina, a tall, thin, purple, young Shakarai was walking on the promenade with her Human friend Trish, when Jonathi, a Bolian, came bounding up to them.
"Hey guys, have you seen the new starship Fairburn that’s just docked? She’s a real beauty, state of the art."
"Yeah, I saw it. I reckon it’s my pick this week," Trish said with enthusiasm. It had become a tradition with the three friends to check out all the ships that docked in one week, and decide which was their favourite.
"Yeah mine too. What do you think Kerina?"
"Huh? Oh yeah, it’s all right."
"What’s up with you?" asked the inquisitive Bolian.
"She’s been like that all day and won’t tell why," Trish told him, a hint of annoyance in her tone.
"I’ve just been thinking that’s all. I’ve got a lot of things on my mind right now."
"Like what?" asked Jonathi.
"Well, mum’s been promoted-"
"That’s great, you should be celebrating. We could throw a party, I love parties; we’ll have..." Jonathi’s voice trailed of, as he caught the look Trish gave him.
"-on to the Fairburn," Kerina finished.
"Oh wow, that is so cool! I mean I’d give my left leg to be able to live on a starship," Jonathi exclaimed.
"I’m not sure it is cool. I mean, yeah I’d love to go, and I’m really happy for her, but I’d have to leave everything I’ve ever known behind. This place has always been my home, and I’d miss both of you heaps."
"Oh, we’d miss you too, but we can still keep in touch. I’m sure you’ll make new friends. It would be fun on a starship. But you’d have to careful with you know what." Trish said.
"Of course I would. But...yeah, you’re right; it won’t be so bad once I get used to it. Plus people move to new homes all the time."
"That’s the spirit," Jonathi said, trying to sound cheerful. "So, are we still having that party?"
"Jonathi!" both girls exclaimed, laughing.
"Is this party for Kerina or for you!?" Trish continued.
After that the three of them went to their favourite shop, Solar Sweets, together for the last time. There were so many different types of ice-cream they never knew what to choose.
"Well, I know I’ll certainly miss the ice-cream here!" Kerina sighed.
Later that day Kerina and her family were boarding the Fairburn. Everyone was excited but sad to be leaving. Kerina’s mother was just giving her children a last minute lecture - one of the millions they had been given in the last day.
"Now kids, I want you both to be on your best behaviour and don’t touch something if you don’t know what it is."
"Yes, mum."
"Have you both said goodbye to everyone?"
"Yes, mum."
"Are you sure you haven’t left anything behind?"
"Yes, mum!"
"Mum, you’re paranoid. We swept our rooms from top to bottom when we cleaned them. There isn’t a thing left that isn’t attached to the walls!" Riz, Kerina’s older brother, told her.
"Why don’t you just have a rest when we get to our rooms," Kerina suggested. "You’ve been working very hard lately."
"You know, that sounds like a good idea."
Kerina smiled at her brother. They both laughed.
"What’s so funny?"
"Nothing."
Two months later Kerina sat alone in the forward lounge gazing at the millions of stars as they flew past.
"Beautiful, aren’t they?" asked Riz as he sauntered up to her and sat down.
"Yeah, what are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same question."
"I’ve got nothing better to do."
"Shouldn’t you be hanging out with your friends or something?"
"Well, I can’t. You see, Jakob is in the brig for fighting and Sam has just left for a two day holiday with her parents. "
"Oh. Why don’t you try the holodecks?"
"They’re being used. Why aren’t you with your friends?"
"Serif’s using the holodeck and won’t let me join him. He said he’s doing some sort of Vulcan ritual or something. Toby’s gone to the cargo bay with some officers from engineering to check out some sort of leak." He shrugged. "The joys of being a cadet."
"Yeah. Why don’t you stay here? It seems we both could do with some company."
"All medical personal report to cargo bay three." the computer announced.
"Oh no."
"What?"
"That’s where Toby and the others are!"
"What do you mean? Where?"
"Cargo Bay Three. There’s been some sort of problem."
"What could have gone wrong?"
"I don’t know, but I intend to find out!"
With that Riz got up and ran out of the lounge towards the Cargo Bay. Kerina quickly followed. She knew that if the medical staff were all being called something must have gone terribly wrong.
When the two of them reached Cargo Bay Three the place looked a mess. Debris was everywhere and people were scattered all over the place, and in the confusion the two managed to duck into the Bay past Security.
The leak the engineers had been looking for had somehow exploded. The medical team were already seeing to the seriously injured. Riz started to look for Toby, but he wasn’t there.
"Maybe he got out before the explosion," Kerina suggested.
"I don’t think so. Call it intuition, but I’m sure he’s here somewhere."
Nearby a man was being dragged out from under a large metal pole. He’d heard the two mention Toby. At first the name didn’t mean anything, then he remembered who Toby was. Just before the explosion the cadet had been on one of the high walks, scanning for energy particles. He must still be up there somewhere.
"Toby," he rasped.
Immediately Kerina rushed over to the stricken man.
"Toby… do you know what happened to him?"
The man slightly moved his head in a nod.
"Where is he?"
He pointed up to where Toby had last been seen.
"He’s up there? But there’s no way up! Are you sure?" she pressed.
The man nodded again, then drifted into unconsciousness.
"Riz, there’s no way to get to him. We have to tell someone else so that they can find a way to him."
"We’re the only ones who can reach him right now."
"What do you mean? Oh, I can’t believe I forgot. But I haven’t done that for ages!"
"Well you’re better at it than me, so you’ll have to try," he said desperately.
Kerina closed her eyes and concentrated. It had been two months since she had last done this, and it wasn’t easy. She tried to see herself floating, the ground far below. Then she felt herself begin to rise.
"You’re doing it. Good on ya, Kerina!"
Riz’s shouts fell on deaf ears. As Kerina opened her eyes all she could think about was getting higher. She was already hovering two meters above the ground, but she needed at least another five to be able to reach the broken walkway.
As people turned to see what the shouting was about they gasped. They had never seen anything like it.
As she floated higher, memories came flooding back. Kerina felt like she’d done this just yesterday.
Suddenly she was level with the walkway. Toby was lying on the only part which hadn’t fallen, but it was very unstable. When he saw Kerina his eyes nearly jumped out of his head. He tried to move towards her but the walkway gave beneath him. It hung from the wall with Toby dangling dangerously from the bottom. It was about a ten meter drop, and right below him was a lot of broken metal.
Everyone watched in awe as Kerina floated under Toby, and put one arm under his knees and the other across his back. This way she could support his weight.
"You can let go now."
"No. How.. how do I know you can hold my weight? What if we both fall?"
"Just let go. Wrap your arms around my neck. If you don’t move too much we’ll be fine. If you want to get down this is the best way."
"All right."
Toby let go of the dangling walkway and put his arms around her neck. Kerina was surprised at how heavy he was, but she managed to hold him. Slowly they descended, and as soon as her feet touched the floor a loud cheer went up. What a rescue! Toby quickly jumped out of her arms and pinched himself. He winced; it certainly wasn’t just a dream.
"Riz, can you do that too?"
"Well yeah, but not as well as Kerina," he said proudly.
Toby turned to Kerina and thanked her. Then the nearest nurse gave him a complete check over.
"Well, you seem to be in pretty good nick considering what you just went through," she announced, "but I’ll have to take you to sick bay to fix those burns, and you’ve got a broken wrist."
"Ok Doc," he said as he turned to leave. "Thanks again Kerina!"
"Hey, no problem. One thing though," she said grabbing his arm, "What caused the explosion?"
"I’m not sure. It just came out of nowhere," he told her, then he turned and left.
By the end of the day everyone had heard about Kerina’s amazing rescue. Everywhere she went people asked her to show them how she floated. The Captain even thanked her in person. Kerina had never felt so good. She talked to Trish and Jonathi over subspace, and they couldn’t believe it either.
"I never thought my best friend would be a life saver!" Trish exclaimed.
"Neither did I. I didn’t know floating could be so useful," she told them.
"Well I’m glad to see you’re fitting in," said Jonathi, "You know it’s been fairly quiet around here without you. Will you be visiting soon?"
"You can count on it! The next time we come back they’ll have to drag me away."
"Well, I look forward to seeing that! We’ve gotta go. Keep up the good work! See ya."
"Bye."
Pretty soon things returned to normal, but Toby, Riz and Kerina never forgot what had happened.
fin
Stacey isn't a full memeber of the Fairburn project, but has kindly submitted this after being inspired by her character, Lily, in one of Annette's stories. She is 13 years old.
