A free bonus scene from the Squad 51 Universe.
Artificial sunrise spread over Rhea, lighting up the domes and avenues of Demetehar in soft golden tones, bathing the moon in the same color as Saturn and its inspiring rings. The suns were so far away, Nikili Echols didn’t know the difference between an actual sunrise and one generated by the dome sweeping invisibly overhead. The gases emitted by the shielding of the dome turned the sky the right shade of blue, but she had only lived on colonies and knew nothing of Earth’s ways.
Dressed in her shiny new red uniform embellished with the markings due to a chief, she blinked against the onslaught of pride and the beauty before her. “I did this,” she whispered.
“You look dashing and are up awful early.” Lucy Ashida joined Nikili at her side. “I suspected you would be.”
“Everything must go perfect today. It is the official opening of DAT (Disaster Aversion Team). Our dream to make the Sol a safer place.”
Lucy inched closer. “I like the way you said our.”
“I couldn’t have done any of this without your help. You’re my dearest friend.” Nikili focused on her friend for a few seconds, smiling warmly.
“Are those tears in your eyes?” Lucy’s thumb swiped them away.
“We’re lucky to be here after Spaceberg. I mean, that monster chunk of ice took out Titan. I’m surprised the Saturn System welcomed us at.”
“Hmm,” Lucy replied. “Some not so much.”
“There are always the Innling snobs.”
“Always.”
“They hate when an Outling shines.”
“You shine so bright.”
A blush crept into Nikili’s cheeks, warming them, tickling her mouth into a broader grin. “I can’t wait to show this off to the ORS (Orbital Rescue Services) and CHOPs (Council of Human Occupied Planets) dignitaries later.”
“They’ll be impressed. To think this was an abandoned warehouse and an eyesore. It’s no wonder the governor gave us this building.”
“A relic from the rebellion against the corporations, I’m surprised the citizens of Rhea allowed it to stand as it was for so long.”
“Perhaps as a reminder.”
“To know where we came from is sobering. The Sol has come a long way.”
“And still has a way to go.”
“Let’s look around inside and make sure everything is set up as it should be. Will you run through the ceremony with me too? It must go perfect.”
Lucy brushed long strands of dark hair away from Nikili’s face. “I love when you wear your hair down.”
Exotic, powerful, and lively, Lucy Ashida never failed to catch Nikili’s attention. She wore her dark hair in perfect long ringlets and had also put on her dress uniform. “Lead the way, Chief Echols.”
Nikili caught Lucy’s hand, squeezing. “I love the way the title and my name go together.”
“You’re as shiny as a kid getting what they want,” Lucy laughed. “The title is well deserved and suits you.”
“Thank you, Captain.” She dropped Lucy’s hand and led the way inside the gleaming new station. Most of the building was a hangar with the fleet of new Hueys, the red rescue vehicles capable of space flight, parked on their launch pads. The ships sat ready under sections of the roof that opened and retracted to allow the Huey’s to launch. Besides the hangar, there was a small front lobby, a large briefing room, a gym, the bunks and locker room, the kitchen and recreation area, dispatch, and a few offices off the briefing room. Everything had a new, untouched look to it.
“I almost hate walking around in here,” Nikili commented. “Our shoes are messing up its perfection.”
“DAT has no purpose without us, so we make it more perfect,” Lucy replied.
Chairs, a podium and a small pool were set up in the briefing room. The pool sat between the podium and the first row of chairs. The slanted sides around the pool made it appear as if it was a permanent part of the station. Nikili walked up to it, her hands clasped behind her back.
“Do you think the jump the shark ceremony is necessary?” she asked Lucy.
“This is a huge accomplishment, Nikili. Others before you have tried to set up a Sol-wide emergency team to watch for, coordinate, and respond to emergencies throughout the Sol. “Yes, the pomp is necessary.” She took Nikili’s hand and led her to the back, retracing their steps. “Let’s practice and do the run-through like you suggested. Everyone is sitting out there waiting for you.”
“Except Saverna,” Nikili frowned. “She said she probably couldn’t make it.” Her daughter had mostly forgiven her for the years she neglected Saverna, but their relationship had more mending to do.”
“She’s in college, Nikili, and has her own life. You must trust she loves you and will be there when it counts.”
“I feel like today counts.”
“Don’t hold it against her. You’ll never fix your relationship with her if you do.”
“You’re right. Let’s get on with the ceremony.”
“Right. Everyone is sitting there, the music starts.” Lucy snapped her fingers. “E51,” she called to the DAT AI, “start the music.” A loud club number rattled the walls, the heavy bass thrumming the floor.
“That doesn’t sound like The Honor of Stars processional, E51.”
“My apologies, Chief Echols,” the AI responded. “The selection was altered.”
“By whom?”
“Oh, I can make a few guesses.” Lucy shook her head. “Let’s make the most of it, Nikili.” She shimmied and grooved up the aisle. Nikili joined her, bumping her hip from time to time and laughing.
“Change it back to The Honor of Stars, E51,” Nikili commanded.
“Aye, Chief.”
Pretending the room was filled with dignitaries, Nikili quit dancing, stood tall and strode the rest of the way up the middle aisle, stopping at the pool. “Should we queue the shark and jump it?”
“I think we should practice,” Lucy said.
“E51, queue the hologram.”
A giant rabid mouse loomed up from the pool with sharp fangs. Not expecting something so big and freaky, Nikili jumped back and grabbed a chair. She swung it over her shoulder, ready to attack the creature. “Not a shark, E51. I assume that was altered too.”
“My apologies, Chief.” The hologram shifted to a shark, swimming calmly in the pool.
Nikili started up the sloped edge, slipped and fell face first into the pool. Pushing herself out of the water, she sat up, gasping and sputtering. “I think the edge is too steep.”
“Let me try and double check.” Lucy got a running start and made it up the ramp easily. However, she didn’t make it to the other side, her toes barely touching the side of the pool. Her lost footing dunked her into the pool, soaking her thoroughly. “Too steep and too far.”
Nikili laughed at the soaked and dripping Lucy. “A ceremony to remember.”
“Indeed.” Lucy chuckled.
“Let’s get this fixed.” Together they adjusted the sides of the pool to be closer together and not as slanted. They test jumped it several times before going onto the next part of the ceremony.
“Time for your speech,” Lucy said and sat in the front row. She stared up at Nikili with affection and encouragement.
Nikili cleared her throat. “Tragedy should never happen, but when it does, we must take the lessons and make the Sol better. DAT takes the tragedy of Spaceberg, the loss of Titan and so many souls, and keeps their memory by making sure something like Spaceberg never happens again. Thank you for your commitment and support in making DAT a reality. Yada, yada, yada.”
Lucy clapped and pointed at the cake to the side of the room. “I’ll wheel this over and light it while we sing to honor the Sol and first responders.”
“I love that song,” Nikili beamed. “On the edge, we stand as one. In the dark, we’ll see it done. With the stars to guide our way, we’ll face the night, we’ll save the day.”
Tapping her hand to her hip, Lucy kept the beat and joined in. She then lit the candle on the cake commemorating the citizens lost during Spaceberg. The wick fizzled and the cake promptly exploded. Frosting and cake coated them and covered everything in the room.
Not knowing what to think or say, Nikili stood frozen for several seconds with her mouth gaping. “Are we cursed, Lucy?”
Lucy scraped cake off Nikili’s face and ate it. “You taste good.”
Laughing, Nikili surveyed the room. “What a mess. We better get this cleaned up.” They walked into the foyer to get to the cleaning supplies. Saverna kneeled at the front door, setting down a mat.
“Wh-what happened?” Saverna’s eyes went wide.
“A few snafus.” Nikili waved her hand like it was no big deal. “Did you bring the mat?” The mat was shaped like a shark and said welcome.
“Yeah.”
“Aww. I’d hug you but…” She indicated her cake covered self. “Thank you, Savs. I didn’t think you were coming.”
“This is a big deal. I didn’t want to miss it, Mom.” She stood and glanced into the cake-splattered room. “Why don’t the two of you get yourselves cleaned up, and I’ll take care of the cake.” She took the cleaning supplies from Nikili and Lucy.
“You’re the best, kid.” Unable to help herself, Nikili leaned in and kissed her daughter on the cheek. “E51, order a new cake.”
“Already did, Chief.”
She walked with Lucy to the locker room. “I thought this day was adding up to a disaster, but now it’s perfect.”
