Page 18 of When Eden Falls

“Zam!” Rooke threw her another authoritative glare. Zamya raised her hands in surrender before leaning back against the wall.

“We have enough food to last two years,” I said. “If we remain organised with the wiring repairs and keep on top of the destruction that occurs every night, we’ll continue to have power. The sun is strong. Solar energy will suffice.”

“Until it starts raining,” Zamya mumbled.

“What happens if those things get inside?” Cora asked, warily.

“We won’t let that happen,” Kobe said. “The scouting ship was in a far worse condition to start with. They didn’t stand a chance. We do.”

Rooke pushed away from the desk he was perched on. “Okay, we’ll take a vote,” he said, rubbing his hands together. “Who agrees to remain here and wait for Solarfleet to arrive?”

Kobe and Cora raised their hands. I joined them. Rooke nodded his acknowledgment, then asked, “Who agrees to risk using the dropship and return to The Orka as soon as possible?”

Zamya raised her hand, slowly followed by Oz. I looked across at Rooke. As the commanding officer, if there was a voting draw, he’d have the casting vote. He nodded his head in understanding. Biting his lower lip, he flared his nostrils. I watched his mind tick over in contemplation. Everyone remained silent, waiting for his decision.

“My vote…my vote is to use the dropship.” A stir of mixed emotions murmured around the circular room. “But…only if Troy agrees to it. It’s his life that’s at stake.”

I nodded my approval. Rooke passed me a look of gratitude before leaving the room. The others spoke amongst themselves and began to build the makeshift bunker. Without a word to anyone, I scurried to the flight deck.

I had made the transferral of clean fuel barely half an hour ago, but that didn’t mean I was going to allow it to become contaminated with salt water again. No one had suggested that we may be able to complete the repairs tomorrow and leave on Parvos. I wasn’t going to sit back and let that remote option become extinct.

I watched the sea drift closer, waiting for another fuel transferral to complete. The sun began to set over the horizon, and the sound of unusual growls filled the air outside.

The clattering of metal and running water coming from the kitchen area behind me shifted my attention. I glanced over my shoulder and found Rooke standing in the cockpit doorway, holding a kettle of water. The hilts of two small guns were visible in his hip holster.

“I thought I said not to go anywhere alone.” He raised his eyebrows.

“I did hear you.” The fuel dial on the dashboard changed to red, indicating the fuel had been redeposited into the redundant tank. “It was only for half an hour. I wanted to spare the remaining fuel. You know…just in case we can use it.”

I stood up aiming to leave the restricted area, but Rooke was still lingering in the doorway, a soft smile dancing across his lips. Lifting his free hand, his fingers traced my jawline. “I like this confident, optimistic side to you.”

Slightly taken aback, I scowled at him. “Stop mocking me, Rooke.”

He laughed. “I’m not.”

I pushed past him, snatching the kettle from his hand. Clicking it onto the power terminal on the kitchen side, I pulled six metal cups out of the cupboard below.

“Do you really think we could survive five months here?” Rooke asked. I looked at him. He was leaning in the doorway, hands in his jumpsuit pockets.

“Yes. As long as Zamya doesn’t kill us all first.”

He chuckled. “She does seem angrier than usual.”

“Ha, coming from Mr. Angry, himself.” I smirked, distributing the soup granules equally into each cup.

“I’m the commander. I’m allowed to be angry.”

“And no one else is?”

“No.” He chuckled again. “Everyone else needs to be on their best behaviour.”

“Go around voicing that statement and you’ll end up with a mutiny on your hands.”

Rooke screwed his face up fractiously. “Ha, and I’m guessing you’ll lead the charge…Commander Riley.”

I stuck my tongue out at him and he started poking at my ribs with his finger. I elbowed him away, but he continued relentlessly.

“No, stop it. Stop it…Rooke!” I glared up at him. He stopped playing, dropping his hand on the curve of my hip. His face mere inches away, eyes locked with mine. Too close, he was too close for comfort. The look he held was solemn, unreadable, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. My heart was pounding in my ears as Igazed into his mesmerising eyes, shamefully glancing at his sultry lips, wondering what they’d feel like against my own.