“Are you too blind to see anything?” spat Grayell, glancing up to be sure that Eve was out of earshot. “She’s one of them dammit! She’s a Lumina!”
Ryann laughed out loud, but then his face fell as he saw the look in his father’s eyes.
“She’s a part of this ship Ryann — a facet of the host’s personality playing out, just like those drones — that messed-up queen. It’s all an illusion — none of it’s real!”
Ryann stared at his father in horror, unable to take in what he was saying.
“No, no Dad. She was a prisoner, her ship was captured. She was taken prisoner.”
“And did she ever tell you the name of the ship that she crewed? Or why she removed the badges from her flight-suit? It’s because they were from the Battleship Oak, Ryann. First-Officer Eve Ellissonne. Just like the rest of the crew, she was taken by the Lumina entity twenty five years ago.”
Grayell stared down at his son sadly.
“I’m sorry Ryann. I don’t know — perhaps in her mind this part of her consciousness really believes that she is trapped — a prisoner. But you’ve seen the other projections of her mind. The drones — that queen, they’re all part of that same consciousness. Just remember, it was Eve that destroyed your homeworld Ryann, and almost killed both of us. We cannot trust her.”
“But, we can still save her!” exclaimed Ryann desperately. He glanced across to Eve, and as he did so she happened to look up at him. A beaming smile broke upon her face before she self-consciously looked away. Ryann found that he was smiling back at her, then caught himself and turned angrily back to his father.
“We can still save her,” he repeated forlornly.
“No Ryann. We’re leaving — the moment she gets the outer doors open,” whispered Grayell, leaning up close to Ryann. “And when she does, we’re going to have to stop her from betraying us.”
Ryann looked down in horror to Grayell’s hand resting lightly upon his rifle.
“We can’t take the risk son. If we don’t kill them first, the Lumina won’t think twice about killing us. And that includes her — she has to be stopped.”
“Then you’ll have to go through me,”replied Ryann in a leaden voice. For a moment, he thought his father was going to strike him, he looked so angry.
“Dammit Ryann! Can you just stop acting like an idiot long enough to let me bail you out of trouble one more time? This isn’t some damn movie we’re in —so stop behaving like a petulant child. There’s more than just your life at risk here. Just think for a minute!”
“It’s you that’s not thinking! You never do!” hissed Ryann. “Not beyond what’s good for you! If it doesn’t suit building the myth of the Great Grayell Wade, then you don’t even see it!”
“Now isn’t the time for some teenage meltdown Ryann,” cursed Grayell, looking back to the rest of the team.
“You really don’t see it do you? We can save her dammit! And if she is what you say she is, then think of what we could learn from her! She can tell us more about the Lumina than anything we have learned since the start of this war!”
Grayell paused a moment, taken aback. He looked up at his son with an air of mistrust.
“Please,” begged Ryann. “She’s done nothing but help us so far.”
Grayell remained silent for a moment longer before letting out a long sigh.
“Very well. But the moment I get even a hint of her acting in a way I don’t trust — then don’t get in my way Ryann. Son or not, I won’t let you bring down everything I’ve fought for.”
And with that he got to his feet, storming off to where the rest of the team were waiting.
Ryann watched his father with a burning anger as the old man spoke quietly to the others, occasionally glancing back their way.
“Everything okay?”
Eve’s voice at his side made him jump.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, seeing the look upon his face.
“It’s nothing,” he muttered morosely. “Me and my dad had a bit of a disagreement.”
Eve gave a half-smile and shook her head.
“That’s parents for you. They certainly know how to push all our buttons.”
Ryann looked at the way her face lit up when she smiled. Her skin was so pale it reflected back the low light of the control room as though she glowed.
He stopped himself, suddenly remembering what his father had said she was. It was as though the moment Ryann had seen her again he had forgotten. He couldn’t reconcile this smiling woman with the rest of the ship and all its otherworldliness — the drones, the Hive Queen.
“What is it?” she asked, glancing away self-consciously at the way he looked up at her.
“Nothing, nothing,” stammered Ryann. “I was just thinking how lucky we were to have found each other.” He glanced at the floor as he felt his cheeks flush. At that moment he wished his features were still hidden behind the visor of his helmet.
Eve’s smile grew wider, and she went to reach her hand out towards him, and then stopped.
“Hey, I found you, remember?” she replied, unclipping her flashlight and shining it briefly into his face. She laughed mischievously. “And I’m glad it was you.”
She leaned in closer towards him, looking up into his eyes and Ryann felt a surge of excitement in his chest. Then she whispered, “Though, I don’t think your father likes me much.”
And with that she laughed out loud again.
“It’s just so good to be free,” she whispered. “I didn’t think that I’d ever speak to another soul ever again.”
“You’re safe now,” said Ryann, and he was happy to see Eve’s smile.
“Ryann!”
Grayell’s harsh voice instantly broke the moment between them.
“What’s the hold-up?”
“I’ve just set the diagnostic routines running before I can reboot,” replied Eve, stepping back as Grayell approached.
“Keep this with you. At all times,” muttered Grayell angrily, pushing Eve’s helmet into her hands.
“Oh, thanks,” replied Eve. “I
