The World Above Us

Chapter 8

DeShawn and Robert

DeShawn and Robert sat in their habitat, feeling too scared to open the blinds. Both of them feared that any action, no matter how small, would jeopardize the life they planned to build here. DeShawn's heart pumped quickly in his chest. Maryanne Holland wasn't known for being the most forgiving of people. The consequences for him and Robert could be catastrophic. Robert ran a hand through his blonde hair anxiously as he paced the room.

DeShawn remembered their comic book collection. Ever since they were kids, both of them had been obsessed with the idea of Superheroes. How could they not? Both of them had grown up in a world that was slowly falling apart around them. How could anyone not wish they could control the weather when it was constantly too hot to go outside and play, or when the sea levels rose and destroyed whole nations?

DeShawn remembered dreaming that he could solve climate change with a snap of his fingers when he was younger. Robert wouldn't be an orphan and they wouldn't have lost every home that they'd found. He dreamed that they had technology like Wakanda's. Then maybe people wouldn't have had to rely so much on fossil fuels. Then maybe Earth wouldn't be the dying world that it was.

Maybe then they wouldn't have had to train for months to escape to a new planet. One that was a desert, at that. There were no oceans or rivers on Mars. There were no beaches where DeShawn could feel the water splashing over his feet. He sighed. He couldn't dwell on the past. It would only make what he and Robert had done more painful.

DeShawn was a computer genius. There was no way he and Robert's ruse would get discovered. Robert's illegal presence wouldn't be revealed. There was no law enforcement up here. Even if Robert was discovered, there was nothing anybody could do about it. It wasn't like they could send DeShawn's brother back to Earth.

Robert stumbled through the hallways, struggling to see in the dark. The artificial light created by the Dome streamed in through the open circular windows. DeShawn and Robert figured that was all they needed to live by. It was best that they didn't draw attention to themselves. Nobody would look twice at the two of them if they didn't do anything out of the ordinary.

Both Carson brothers jumped when their holos lit up. DeShawn felt his heart start to pound when he saw a voice recording from Maryanne Holland herself. CEO of Novae Terrae enterprises.

He tapped on the message, fearing it would read that Robert would be subjected to some horrible punishment.

To his surprise, it was an invitation to the Novae Terrae headquarters. The message didn't say why. DeShawn felt himself start to panic. Robert looked like he was going to be sick. DeShawn shook his head as he placed his hands on his brother's shoulders. "We're gonna be alright, man. It's okay. We haven't done anything wrong," he assured.

"I know. Who knows what Maryanne Holland has access to. We gotta and see for ourselves what she wants with us. You're right, DeShawn. We haven't done anything to make them suspicious," Robert agreed. The two brothers slowly grabbed their coats and headed for the door.

"Here goes nothing. We're going to either be rewarded for something or our bodies are going to join the Original Tens' in the desert," DeShawn muttered under his breath. The fact that he and Robert had done nothing wrong only made them warier. Maryanne Holland had access to cutting-edge technology. DeShawn had a gift with computers, but even the best hackers got caught eventually.

When DeShawn and Robert walked outside, they saw a black hovercar waiting for them. Robert's heart pounded in his chest. He was the whole reason DeShawn was in this mess in the first place. If it hadn't been for him, his brother wouldn't have to live in fear and paranoia for the rest of his life. Robert ran a nervous hand through his light blonde hair. His blue eyes blinked rapidly as he scanned the outside of the hovercar for sensors that could detect his fear.

He sighed. If the car couldn't detect how scared he was, then Maryanne Holland would. There were rumors she could smell fear like a bloodhound. Robert didn't want to find out if the rumors were true.

He and DeShawn climbed into the hovercar and gently shut the doors. Neither of them dared to say a word as the car hummed to life and shuttled down the roads of the Dome. Robert tapped out a rhythm on the floor with his shoes. He tried to take himself to a better place. He remembered dinner with the Carsons back on Earth. Before DeShawn's parents both passed, they had taken care of him. He wondered if he would see them and his biological parents again if Holland decided to erase him from this planet.

DeShawn and Robert were shaking with fear as they hovercar stopped outside the giant glass building of the Novae Terrae headquarters. Two burly guards waited for them on the front steps. DeShawn and Robert couldn't see either of their eyes because of their dark-tinted sunglasses. Both of the guards wore blank expressions on their faces. They said nothing to the two brothers as they approached.

"DeShawn and Robert Carson. Dr. Holland wanted to see us," DeShawn said, trying to sound calm. Each little waver of his voice caused a bolt of fear to shoot through his body. The guards said nothing as they turned around and let the brothers inside. Robert ran another hand through his hair and glanced around the long, white hallway.

"This place is like a lab," DeShawn noted under his breath. It probably was, he added in his head. Who knew what kind of experiments Novae Terrae conducted in its headquarters. What else could they be used for? DeShawn wondered to himself.

The guards led them to Maryanne Holland's office. The CEO's white hydraulic doors made a loud hissing noise as they slid open. DeShawn and Robert walked hesitantly inside, taking in the woman in front of them. Maryanne Holland's eyes were cold and her dark hair was beginning to go grey. She didn't smile at the brothers. She only gave them cold glares.

"Hello, Dr. Holland. You wanted to see us?" Robert asked, trying to keep his face neutral. Maryanne Holland leaned forward in her chair. Her eyes darted back and forth between the brothers. DeShawn could see the gears turning in her head. Her coldness filled the room like fog. It wafted off of her and off of her security detail.

"I did. I'll just skip the introductions. You must be the Carson brothers?" the CEO asked. Both Robert and DeShawn nodded.

"Great. I summoned you here today because my company is conducting research on an experimental drug that has the potential to change the space industry forever. How it works is it stimulates the part of the brain responsible for happiness. Thus erasing the homesickness and depression as a result of being stuck up here," Holland explained.

DeShawn and Robert exchanged glances. Both of them were wary. Why had Dr. Holland chosen them? Why DeShawn and Robert Carson over all the other researchers in the colony?

"Well?" Holland asked again, snapping both brothers out of their trances.

"We accept. Thank you for choosing us. We're proud to be a part of this groundbreaking research," Robert rambled. He felt like kicking himself. He sounded guilty. If he sounded guilty, there was no reason Novae Terrae wouldn't look deeper into their identities. Somewhere along the line, they would find out DeShawn hacked the system. Then who knew what.

If this drug trial was a way to earn Novae Terrae's trust, then it was a risk DeShawn and Robert would have to take.