The Ascendants

Chapter 8

The girl introduced herself as OKimma on the way back to the shop they met outside. "How do you know where I need to go just by seeing my pod?" Seraphina wanted to know.

"I'll tell you later, but right now you need some new clothes." OKimma said.

"What's wrong with the clothes I have?"

"You don't fit in here, and the place we need to go you'll need some more clothes."

"I, the place I need to go." Seraphina corrected.

"Honey, with you and your attitude, you're not gonna get far. Trust me, you need to get far or else all of us are screwed." OKimma laughed. She took keys out of her pocket and unlocked the back door. OKimma gestured for Seraphina to get inside, then she glanced up and down the alley before joining her. Seraphina followed her down the hallway, and climbed the stairs up to the second floor. They were in the back of the shop, with giant, tall boxes with very careful instructions printed on the sides.

"What exactly do you sell here?" Seraphina asked. OKimma glanced back at her with a vacant stare and kept walking up the stairs.

"That doesn't matter, c'mon keep moving." They made it to the landing and OKimma opened a door to her room. Her room was plastered with posters of people that Seraphina assumed were famous. There were a few books on OKimma's dresser, and her bedsheets were skewed on her bed. OKimma was probably just like every other teenager on this planet, so why was she so guarded? "My boss won't show up until tomorrow morning, so you can sleep on my bed for the night."

OKimma opened her closet and started filling a bag with clothes and shoes, anything she could grab. "I can help you get to the Great Moon."

"The what?" Seraphina wondered.

"The place you need to go, I have a ship don't worry...Well, it's not really mine." OKimma told her.

"What do you mean it's not really yours?" Seraphina was confused.

"It's my boss's, we need to steal it but he has the keys." OKimma explained with a serious face.

"We're stealing a ship?" Seraphina questioned.

"We're stealing a ship." OKimma confirmed.

                                                                                      ★★★★★ 

Seraphina fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. OKimma slept on the couch downstairs, at least that was what she had told Seraphina she would do. When Seraphina woke up there was a pile of boxes in the room, all filled with things OKimma had packed. Seraphina went downstairs, but stopped on the last step when she heard an unfamiliar voice.

"One! One! Did you organize the shipments like I told you to?" A male voice shouted.

After that Seraphina couldn't hear anything else, she snuck back upstairs and closed the door to OKimma's room. There was an argument downstairs, nothing but shouting and yelling. It was another hour, then OKimma joined Seraphina in the room around noon. OKimma didn't say hello or anything, she walked right past Seraphina and opened up the blinds. It was still pitch black outside, OKimma peaked into the alley below, where a needle-nosed ship with blue details was parked.

"That's my boss's ride, right down there." Seraphina said.

"Did you get the keys?" Seraphina asked. OKimma jangled them in front of Seraphina's eyes.

"Help me with the supplies, will you? We have to move quickly, my boss left for lunch." OKimma walked over to the largest box and picked it up with one arm. Seraphina was surprised by how strong she was. OKimma waved with her other arm,"Next one, please"

Seraphina picked up a crate and set it in OKimma's empty hand. "Are you sure you can-"

"C'mon! Pick one up already and let's go." OKimma walked out the door and down the stairs. They made their way into the alley and OKimma set the boxes down,"Go back up to the room and grab the last few, I'll start loading these in." OKimma opened the door of the vessel, and slid the boxes inside. Seraphina went back into the shop and stopped immediately in her tracks.

There was a customer at the counter, they were shorter than Seraph and wore a dark brown cloak. Underneath was nothing but darkness. Strapped to the person's back was a rifle, and a belt hung tightly around their hips, filled with vials and knives. Seraphina backed up and glanced back into the alley. OKimma was gone from sight, she had disappeared into the ship.

"C-Can I help you?" Seraphina asked, trying but failing to hide her fear. The person didn't even move their head, didn't even make move. Then faster than the speed of light, the hooded figure whipped out a small blaster, and pulled the trigger.