Chapter Four

The uneasy sensation that I was once again being watched returned. It was a feeling I had grown accustomed to over the past few months. Someone always had eyes on me or was somehow tracking my every movement, but this time it felt different.

She knew I had found out about her precious plan. Troy had never been the enemy, he was the one person who was trying to save the human race. Did I think he was completely innocent? No. He had a role in this entire thing, but he was dead now. She had tricked him to doing part of her dirty work. The war against Troy was just part of her plan. She wanted to look like the victim, even though she was really the instigator.

My fingers pinched the bridge of my nose. "We need to figure out if there is a way to reprogram the Ciphers?"

Audrina's face crinkled. "I think it's a little more complex than that. Just look at us. We aren't programed."

"I agree," Gave responded. "But, there has to be a way to stop them from waking up. Someone or something has to be monitoring—"

"Like Dr. James," I said matter-of-factly.

"Yes," Gave looked around the room. The expression on his face turned sour. The corner of his lips angled downwards. "I'm sure she is reading all of the Ciphers' data being sent back to her from this ship."

"Crap," Audrina followed behind him. "Esa is right. We need to go."

"243107," Luther said as he turned around to look at us.

"What?" I asked in response to his random comment. "What does that mean?"

"That's the code...243107. Remember it. You will need it in a little bit."

"Wha—"

Before I could finish the word an image of Dr. Marie James appeared in front of me. Her long white hair was pulled up into a tight bun. An ugly scowl covered her face. I hated the sight. "Capt. Esa James. It's good to see you are well and functioning. I will board in exactly five minutes and then we can discuss the rest of our mission."

Her voice made me feel like hundreds of ants were crawling on my skin. I didn't really want to see her. Not now. Not ever.

I thought about responding, but then decided against any attempt at communication. She didn't deserve my attention. I was done with her.

Instead, I looked over at the rest of the team. We needed a way off of this ship and we needed to get to Merak before Dr. James. If that was even possible.

"Luther, we have four minutes. Can you get us loaded up on one of the exploration ships by then?"

"Yes! Run back towards the way we just came!"

I looked over at the rest of the group and caught their gaze for a brief moment before we all took off running in the same direction.

"Go left," Luther's voice said as we all ran in the direction he had just commanded down the hallway. "Stop!" The wall in front of us disappeared and we were standing on the edge of a platform that looked as if it was in the middle of the vessel and overlooked the massive interior core of the ship.

"Hold on," Luther's said as the platform began to ascend up towards what looked like a small rocket.

"Will we be safe inside of that?"

"Not sure, but it's really our only option unless you want to stay here," Gave looked up towards the approaching vessel. A blast of cold air hit us as the platform moved next to the ship's main door. It slid down as we walked onboard.

Theo put his hand on my shoulder and leaned his head towards mine. "Esa, I'll be sitting next to you, but you are the only pilot in our group. Do you think you can handle this thing?"

"What? That's not possible," a sense of dread washed over me. I didn't know how to fly or at least, I didn't remember how to fly.

"You've got this," Audrina said as she came up next to Theo. "Come on. We'll all be with you. I've co-piloted with you many times before so I can help."

"Guys, stop! This isn't funny. I don't know how to fly a ship like this. Someone else will have to take the controls. I'll just sit back here." I made my way towards the rear of the ship.

They all paused. Then Luther's voice cut through the silence. "We have forty-five seconds before she lands. Esa, we've got to do this now. You need to get up here and fly this baby."

"No."

"Esa, seriously, we don't have time—"

"Fine, you've all been warned that I don't have any clue about how to fly anything," I said walking towards what I assumed was the pilot's chair. I let my fingers slide across the controls as I took my seat. "Close the main door and find a spot. Audrina, let's run a quick diagnostics test of this thing. Luther, start the engines. Theo, make sure everything is locked down. Gave, figure out if we have hyperdrive on this thing."

"Will do Captain James," they responded in unison.

It suddenly dawned on me. We still hadn't seen my brother. "Should we wait on Samuel?"

"No," Audrina responded. "Let's get out of here. Samuel will find us eventually. He always does."

"Okay." My hand rested on the arm rest. "I'm not sure this is the best idea, but I guess it will be a true test if my old self is still somewhere inside of me. Let's do this."

"Ten seconds before she lands," Luther's voice cut through my thoughts.

"All of the diagnostics look good," Audrina buckled into the seat next to me. "It's going to be fun flying with you again Esa. Let's go."

"You may not think that in five seconds," I said as I typed in the code Luther had mentioned earlier. 243107. I could feel the energy inside of my body ignite as the engines came to life. "Three, two, one, go."