GENESIS

CHAPTER 12: UMTHEMAR

'Alright, I need the lower decks secured, bring up a visual of Umthemar. Aurora, you note down all Alisa's weaknesses and your enemies, Mira down to help at the lower decks. Adrienne; co-pilot, Noah, and Marco obtain comms and power usage, and Persephone get enough Ensta Suits to accommodate everyone. And kids,' Ria ordered, 'Buckle up.'

Her fingers were gliding along the controllers and buttons, with the help of Adrienne. I quickly grabbed a uniglass and typed away. Everyone else stationed themselves at their places.

'All right, energy is on max and runway clear,' Ria muttered, 'Ok, Adrienne, boost power and... Lift aircraft!' Everyone watched as we lifted up into the sky, the deep indigo mixed with orange early in the morning.

I was jotting down my list when Noah and Ria sat next to me. I raised my eyebrow in question. Ria put her hand on my knee.

'That's really pretty-' Ria started but I interrupted her. 'What do you want?' I asked. She sighed and leaned back. She seemed genuinely sad.

'Well... We won't be a team for long. Sooner or later, in a couple of years, we'll separate paths. But... I want you to be with someone, someone you trust,' She said, her gaze falling, 'Don't take this the wrong way, but you don't really come off as the type to handle themselves on their own.' My eyes light up and I put an arm around her back.

'Are you trying to say you want to come with me? We could travel together!' I try, but she shakes her head like I was oblivious. She does that a lot.

'No, dumbass, I have a boyfriend. I meant you should take Mira,' She said, 'Plus, she doesn't have anywhere to go, I don't think. Actually, let's ask her.'

I shake my hands in denial, but she calls her anyway.

'Yea? What's wrong?' Mira asks as she sees me. I look up and blow the white strand out of my eyes.

'Uh, Ria is trying to annoy me. And you,' I signed out, 'But, uh, I wanna ask if you're free- I mean, if you'd want to-' She interrupted me, and her smile faded.

'Oh, I overheard you talking before. And, um... I have to go back to Beltraska. They offered me a position there on the National Beltraskan Circle...' She said and smiled weakly. I nodded my head and gulped. I understood. I mean, I just met her and, honestly, if I was her, I wouldn't want to be with me either.

☆

We flew for hours, everyone getting bored even more. We started watching a movie at one point called 'The 5th Wave'. We were halfway through when Adrienne interrupted.

'Um, guys... Is this normal?' He asks, bringing up a visual of a strange aircraft. It had a logo emblazoned on the front. It was a white butterfly with green-

A huge explosion set off the alarms. Adrienne and Ria started tapping buttons and gritting their teeth. Red blaring lights rang in our ears.

'SHUT IT OFF!' Everyone shouted. Ria bared her teeth and reached up to slam the button. The alarm stopped, only to be followed by a huge distributor blast. It pushes us all to the ground.

Alisa stepped through the smoke and debris, a wicked smile showing. She raised her hand, a long arrow entangled between her fingers. I cough, the dust seeking under my mask. The ship suddenly faltered and we all slid backward. I could see everyone panicking. The ship was falling!