"Do you think we are alone?"

"No, the crew is here," capt. replied.

"I mean out there," Ada said "The universe is huge. It's probable that we aren't alone?"

"It's possible."

"It would be a sad reality if in this vastness we are alone. That humanity is all that is out there" she said crossing her arms.

"Wouldn't it be worse if we weren't?"

Ada dropped her arms to her sides. Her eyes glazed as she looked at one particular spot as though she was drilling a hole in the ship. Suddenly, she looked up at Capt. Hawk no longer oblivious of his existence.

"No. What would be worse is if they were out there and we couldn't communicate with them."

"What if you could? What would you say?"

"I ... I don't know."

"Would you be terrified?"

"I ... maybe. It would depend -"

"Two possibilities exist, either we are alone in the universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying." interrupted Myra.

"Who said that?" Capt. asked.

"I've heard that before," Ada replied.

"Some Earth ancestor," Myra interrupted again.

"Clark. Something Clark."

Ada stepped away while Capt. Hawk who focused his attention on the comm. It was her first time inside the ship even though she had seen it on numerous occasions. It vacated the Neputnions to nearby habitable planets before the sun could engulf them. It was a ferry to a new world.

"Can we get out? Aren't we pressurized yet?"

"Didn't need to be, Capt." Myra replied, "The pressure is quite normal."

"What does that mean?" Ada asked.

"Never mind," Capt. growled, "Let's get out of here."

Ada heard Myra giggle through the comm as she rushed after Capt. He had stormed out of the compartment leaving her behind. She managed to catch up to him as he turned left at the passageway.

"The passenger's quarters are down here. You will be staying with the others until we reach our destination."

Ada continued sprinting behind him taking in glimpses of the ship. It was nothing like she had expected. It was faded and dull unlike the shining stainless steel appearance she imagined it would have. It looked old and tired.

"What about you?" Ada asked.

Capt. stopped in front of a wall but ignored Ada. He tapped on the keypad and punched on some numbers on a worn out keypad. The wall slid revealing a doorway.

"Your room number is 42," Capt. said, "There is no passcode. It's fingerprint identification."

"What about Myra?"

The door slid back in place.

"The crew has separate quarters from the passengers," he said, "I'll ask her to come to meet you when she takes her break."

Ada turned to the door waiting for it to whiz open. She stepped through with no intention of saying goodbye.

"Ada. Passengers are not allowed out of this area. So you will stay out of trouble."

The door whizzed shut between them.

"Like hell," mumbled Ada.

Ada glanced around room 42. It was nothing special. Nothing more than the other rooms. The usual amenities; a bed, a chair but not a single window to look out into space. She double backed her way. She was among the last few to leave so she didn't expect to meet anyone.

"Let's see if I got it right," she mumbled.

She closed her eyes and tapped the numbers she saw tiptoeing over the capt. shoulder. On the third attempt, the door slid open and she quietly slipped through it. She went down the corridor she had come. She knew the passage on the left would take her back to the decompression chamber and further it would lead her to the cargo bay. She when straight and after another right turn she arrived at where she wanted to be. She had overheard the passcode from Myrna. The doors slid open and she hopped into the control room.

"MYRA!" she yelled.

"Miss Ada!"

"Don't call me Miss. It makes me feel like a teenager."

"What are you doing here?"

"Visiting you, of course"

"Ada, you can't be here."

"Who says?"

"The captain."

Ada shrugged and plopped on the nearest chair. She gripped the panel with her palms and swiveled around admiring the bridge.

"So this is where it all happens," she said.

"You're going to get us both in trouble," Myra frowned, "You have to leave."

"Alright. Fine." she replied, "Who's driving this thing?"

"It's on autopilot. Now, come on."

Myra leaned over to grab Ada's arm when the bridge door opened. Capt. Hawk stepped in and took his chair. Myra stood stock still.

"You can take a break now. I'll watch over things here."

"Yes, sir."

Ada batted the air from the kneehole she was hiding in to let Myra know where she was. She watched Myra's feet walk away and off the bridge. She waited a few minutes expecting to be dragged out but she wasn't. She was hidden behind a row of panels.

"Capt. Hawk to Commander Cygnus. Do you copy?"

Ada heard tapping followed by static. It was followed by more tapping and then silence. Ada hugged her knees tightly and perked up her ears.

"Hello, Commander. We have picked up the last humans and will be arriving on schedule."

Screech!

"It will take 2 light years but we will take the nearest black hole."

Screech!

"The Phoenix X-1."

Ada covered her ears every time the display screeched. She understood what the Capt. said but the screeching felt as if someone was trying to cut her skull open.

How can he listen to that? Don't his ears hurt?

Slowly, she snaked out from under her hiding spot and crawled as far as she could. She was still hidden from the captain's view. She made herself as small as possible and took a deep breath. She peeked out at the huge display screen and almost choked in shock. Quickly, she shrank back. Goosebumps ran over her and she shivered.

"We are not alone," she whispered.

This is written for the Ultimate Science Fiction Smack Down Round 1 Prompt 1.

Word Count -1000