Page 3 of Hope Forged
Intermittent booms hit the underside of the ship, increasing in pace, then with one jarring shudder, theHailelurched forward and slammed into something. For a second, all the force came to a halt, hard enough to yank her within the constraints, then they were sliding, grinding, scraping, becoming airborne, then thumping down, rattling her teeth. They slowed until, at last, they stopped. The tinkle of heated metal and her ragged breathing dominated the unnatural quiet.
She patted the padded interior beneath her fingertips, searching for a release mechanism. Screams rang in her ears, amid sobs and whimpers. When she gulped in air, she realized the ruckus was coming from her.
“Oz,” she yelled, wiping her cheek with her shoulder. “Is… Is everyone all right?”
“All is well. For the most part.”
With a hiss, the panel slid aside. Hot air bathed her, adding to the sweat on her skin. The stench of burned electronics, melted metal, heated air, and the sickly sweet smell of fire retardant stung her nose.
When Padya appeared before her, she swallowed a gasp.
“Status update,” he said while setting her free.
Behind him, a sharp rock split the fore-screens in two.
“Engines gone,” Oz said. “All fires extinguished.”
With her hand in his, Padya led her along the passage to the lounge. More boulders pierced the ship where her cabin had been. The medical facilities, storage, laboratories, and sample archives were solid walls of rock. The engine room was now a gaping hole staring at a scarred landscape. Their landing had carved grooves into the terrain. Odd-shaped trees in orange and green were on fire. She frowned at Oz’s blatant lie.
She raised her hand to point at the destruction, but the sight of her mother standing in the fractured metal hole caught her attention. Mudya gazed out at what lay beyond—a waterfall cascading off a plateaued mountain and into a tranquil lake with a multi-colored forest off its shore.
When she glanced at Ziamee, her face was pale. “I have set off the beacon.”
“Good.” Padya drew Mudya against his body. “We’re alive. That’s a start.”
“True.” Mudya’s lips twitched as she fought tears. “Not a bad place to crash.” She lifted her chin to the ceiling where one light flickered, and a few cables dangled from a gaping cavity. “Where are we, Oz?”
“Vora. The archives are limited regarding this planet’s environment.”
“But you knew it’s habitable?” Mudya asked.
“Yes.”
“Well, let’s take stock of what survived.” Padya rubbed his palms together.
Mudya tutted. “This isn’t another adventure, Amet,” she said though a smile forced its way past her pursed lips.
“Life is.” Padya pressed a kiss to her temple before bounding off.
They left Ziamee at the jagged edge. She drew in a breath of fresh air tainted with organic and burnt smells. The sky wasa too-bright turquoise, and two faded moons hung low on the horizon. The hotter temperature made her shiver with relish.
They were alone. Stranded, but hopefully not for long.
She stepped over strips of mangled metal, around burning bushes in a deep purple, and hiked the fresh-turned hill. When she reached the top, the sunlight having warmed her even as a breeze cooled her, she spun on the spot.
Below, parts of their shipHailelittered the area. The engines lay on opposite sides—the right having hit the ground first since it was the farthest away. Gleaming chunks of silver marked where the rest of the ship had torn off and tumbled to a standstill.
Black great-winged birds drifted high while tinier colorful birds darted over her, lower and more energetic. Sounds came to life: chirping insects, bird calls, the gentle lapping of the lake’s waves, and in the distance, the muted roar of a waterfall. Orange-capped mushrooms meters tall competed against fat, flat-topped trees with dark-green bark.
“And?” Padya asked, climbing the ridge to reach Ziamee.
She forced a smile, hoping to mimic her mother’s tone. “Could be worse.”
Chapter One
PlanetofVora
Five years later
