Opodiam: A Space Story

Chapter Four | Confidence.

We stared at the wreck ahead of us. Pieces of our ship were spread across the ground; as well as floating in the water surrounding the machine. I couldn't help but feel a bit ashamed of myself. I was the one who was supposed to stop this from happening, yet I couldn't even do that... Then again who could have?

"So... What's the plan?" Questioned Milo. He was the only one of us that kept his suit on. 'I'm not scared--it's just--allergies!' He'd say. We knew he was anxious, though.

"Jackson, what's the chance of the Windsur blowing up within the next hour?" I asked as I peeked over the large ship towering over us. The Windsur was so big that it blocked out this planet's Sun for a good 100 feet.

I glanced over at Jackson to see him scanning over the words with a serious, yet confused look.

"It... It won't work..." He smacked the small machine a few times and furrowed his eyebrows.

"Um, d-did you try turning it on and off again?" Milo shakingly suggested. Jackson rolled his eyes and playfully glared at the oblivious Milo. "Sorry," he finished off.

"What does you mean? Should we run??" Taylor's voice came out as a squeak more than her usual tone, and that made me slightly unnerved. Should we run? Jack shook his head then turned to the rest of the group.

"The Optical Scanner isn't working. Something close-by must be messing with it. 'ERROR 404: outside force interfering with technology. Please bring back to charging station.'" He read aloud. It was silent for a few beats until Lucas decided to break it.

"Okay, so basically.." he started: "We kind of have to go in if we want a better chance of survival? A possibility of death for the possibility of life." Lucas sighed and took a quick glance at me with worried eyes, twisting my stomach through the process.

Now is not the time! I told myself. First we get things sorted out, and possibly then I can think about stuff like that. Until then...

"It's fine, you guys! Listen: even if it does blow up, there still may be some things worth salvaging in there, but everything that's in there while it's still okay, we need to get out." I scratched the back of my neck and squeezed my eyes shut for a couple seconds. I didn't want to be here. I imagined my mom, and how terrified she must have felt when they told her about our ship. I thought about my dad, and how horrible he had treated my mom and baby sister before I left. What was happening on Earth right now? Did he become more sympathetic because of my disappearance? Or did he use that to his advantage too? The questions swirled in my brain until they were gratefully shut up.

"So, d-do we have a plan? Like, maybe we split up... Assigned rooms..." Taylor trailed off slightly awkwardly, but her voice a lot stronger than when she last talked. It's the least to say that I was very grateful for that.

'Um, yes! Great idea, T!" I bit my bottom lip and imagined who would do better in what room; who would be able to carry the valuable things from those spaces. "Okay, Jackson: you can go to the tech room where the O.S scanner is and grab everything useful in there." His dark lips tightened into a line before giving a firm line. I turned to the anxious curly-headed boy with the same strong look Jack gave me.

"Milo, you are going to go to the kitchen and grab the water purifier and bring it out here where it's safe. If there's enough time, Jackson can help with the fridge, if he's willing.." I raised my eyebrows at Jack, and seen a tint of red hit his face. Awe how cute! I then glanced down to Milo's hands real quick and noticed that he was clenching his fists incredibly hard;in fact, it was hard enough to turn his red knuckles white. "Hey, you're gonna be okay... We're all gonna be okay." I turned to everyone with a hopeful smile then gazed back at Milo. "If it's easier, you could just go with Jack first and when he's done there--"

"--No." Milo interrupted in a shaky, yet confident tone. "I can do this. We need as much stuff as we can grab, and I don't want us to be short of something because of me. I can do this, Row.. I can do this." He took a deep breath, glanced at Jackson for a split second, then smiled down at me. 'I got this!" I patted his shoulder and turned completely around to find Taylor scratching her arm.

"Awesome! Okay, Taylor: could you head for the safety supplies in the closet? That should definitely be a quicky, so if you're done by then, would you mind helping someone out please?" She nodded with a small smile and I grinned back.

Okay, Lucas... Luke, Luke, Luke... I sighed and bit my lip as I looked at him. I was tempted to drag him around with me, but that would be totally bad leadership and very selfish. Ahhhhh what can he do?? Ummm--God, hurry! We might not have much--"Lucas!" I beamed unexpectedly. He jumped and let out a cute laugh. "You head to the Environmental Research Room and grab the specimens we grew and collected, then hopefully the plant growers so we'll have constant food." Hopefully. He saluted me with a giant grin and a "Yes Captain!"

"Alrighty! I'll go to the main control room by the ERR and grab everything in there that I can. Let's all meet out here in fifteen minutes--unless, of course, you see or smell something even slightly concerning, then make sure to let everyone know, got it?" I pointed to each individual person and made direct eye contact with them just to make sure they completely understood. They all nodded and exchanged nervous glances with each other. I gazed into Lucas's blue eyes one more time before glaring at the ship.

"Okay, let's go team..!"

A/N: I uploaded!! I'll start uploading more frequently,  I've just been kinda lazy recently lol. I hope you all enjoyed! What did you think of this chapter?

Feedback and ideas are ALWAYS welcome!!

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