Chapter 8: Manuel

Manuel can't get enough of the sky. He loves the way the stars twinkle on the sheet of deep black, the slow rotation of the planet changing his view as time passes. He could lie on the bulkhead outcrop all night, cradled by the old ship.

When the first of the small, shining objects passes overhead, he smiles. They are so pretty zipping along, dipping toward the surface. He reaches out with one big hand and swipes at them, as though he could touch them and bring them closer. They disappear over the curve of the Horizon and out of view. He sighs in regret.

The first explosion lights a fire under him and he is up and moving. He notices right away, Minnesota is already gone from her own resting place. He feels panic for the first time in his life and slides down to where she had been, catching a glimpse of her disappearing out the door of the engine room in pursuit of the sound. He looks up. There is no way she would have known he was there, watching her.

Manuel races after her, not thinking about what he is going to do if he catches up with her. He almost runs into her when the hatch comes into view. She stands in the doorway, staring out. Manuel can see an orange glow light her cheek. He eases around behind her and looks out, too.

The colony is on fire, the small specks he thought so lovely attacking his home. Manuel knows immediately there is nothing he can do. Minnesota obviously has other ideas and he sees her gather herself to leap out onto the ground.

He lunges for her, certain he is too late to save her.

***

One Hour to Contact

Manuel wandered the deck of the ship in silence. It never occurred to him to call out to Miguel. In his mind, his brother was far smarter and it was Manuel himself who was lost.

He always wanted to explore the Horizon ever since he was a boy and saw his first cargo ship. There was something about space he found so fascinating, so appealing. He told Miguel

once about his secret desire to go to space someday and never did it again. Miguel teased him mercilessly and made him feel so pathetic Manuel never dared mention it to anyone.

He didn't mind so much Miguel was mean to him sometimes. They were brothers. Besides, without Miguel, Manuel was nothing but a dumb nobody who did what he was told and never had any fun. He felt grateful Miguel came up with great ideas to keep them amused.

Manuel walked the long corridor with one hand on the bulkhead, enjoying the feeling of the ship as he went. He reached the end and was about to turn around and go back when he heard a noise. Curious if Miguel found something interesting, he followed the sound to its source.

He froze in the doorway to the engine compartment at the sight of feet sticking out from behind a panel, small feet on skinny legs he recognized right away. Manuel didn't dare breathe. He didn't want Minnesota to know he was there. He didn't know why, but she was another topic of interest he never mentioned to his brother, ever.

It wasn't that he meant to stare at her or watch her. It was just she was so interesting and bubbly and full of energy. He never met anyone as smart as her with machines. Not even Miguel. Besides, she was one of the only kids their age who was nice to him at all. Most of the others treated him like he was just a big dummy. And he may have been, but Minnesota made sure he didn't feel like one when she talked to him.

When she didn't move after a few minutes, Manuel snuck into the room and peeked around the panel. Her little hands curled toward a big wrench, tucked under her chin, sound asleep. He figured the sound he heard was the heavy tool sliding from her hand as she relaxed deeper into oblivion.

Manuel stood there for quite some time, admiring her. He had no idea if someone stumbled on them they would have been afraid for the slim girl under the console. Manuel was unaware the intensity of his gaze was remarkable, overwhelming. Frightening to most. Of course he'd heard the whispers of others, how they acted nervous around him, children and adults alike. As though he would harm them, that his bulky size and silence was some kind of sign he was a monster.

If only the other colonists understood. Manuel's heart beat pure and kind inside his huge body.

He could have done something about their attitudes, perhaps. But it seemed unnecessary. As he stood there, staring at the girl he adored, his young heart swelling, it was enough for him to

know he would never, ever do anything to hurt her. She looked so sweet in sleep, her glowing dark cheeks rounded, wide lips pulling into a small smile. He really liked the way her long lashes brushed against her skin and the way her little fingers twitched as though she was fixing something.

Manuel finally moved away from her. As he did, bare sky above caught his attention. She opened the hatch at the top of the room, exposing it to the night air. He saw, too, there was a flat spot on the top of the bulkhead, the perfect size for him.

He scrambled silently into place, his big body strong, but quick. No one knew how quick he really was, or even how powerful. He himself didn't think about it very often.

He settled himself in on the ledge with Minnesota sleeping quietly beneath him. Manuel wasn't tired. In fact, he rarely felt tired. Instead, he took the time to examine his prized possession. Inside the pocket of his overalls rested a small square of laminate. He unfolded it slowly, with great love and attention. When it bloomed open like a well-worn flower, he ran his fingers over the contours of the picture.

The shining form of the once-new Horizon dominated the page. He smiled at the image, the plastic-wrapped paper so worn it was chipped around the edges. Manuel knew he wasn't smart like Minnesota or clever like Miguel and he knew he would spend the rest of his life in the mines. He was okay with that. But he could have this dream, this longing, and it was all his.

Space drew him like a magnet, the stars calling his name. And now that he was on board the Horizon, the real thing all around him, not just the worn and weary photo he secreted into his possession when he was six years old, Manuel felt like he was finally home.

He pressed the photo of the ship to his chest and smiled out at the scattered stars while, in his head, Captain Manuel Diego piloted the Horizon on another great adventure.

***

Contact

Spacers

Archer was amazed to see Sammel standing there, the laser pistol shaking in his small hands.

He felt a surge of pride, an emotion he never connected to his brother before. Archer got to his feet and went to Sammel, holding his hands out, approaching slowly. Sammel's eyes were huge, the pupils gaping wide, his lower lip trembling in terror.

Archer eased the weapon from his brother's stiff fingers, sliding it into his own belt before hugging him.

"Good job, little man," he said. And didn't judge him when Sammel started to cry.

It took Archer a moment to understand his brother's sobs weren't the only ones he heard. He glanced over his shoulder at the unconscious girl, the governor's daughter, but she was silent.

Archer turned in a circle, Sammel still clutched to his chest, until he found the source. He detached his brother from him to kneel and pull free a vent panel. He peeked inside and met the eyes of the lovely girl he had so admired upon boarding.

She lurched forward from the tight space, locking her trembling arms around his neck.

Archer made soothing sounds as he slid her free and got her to her feet. Sammel stayed close, hunched and shivering, but the crying seemed to have brought him back to the present.

"I saw them," Sammel whispered. "I know where they are."

Without waiting for them to follow, Sammel turned and retreated down the corridor. Archer slid Sun's arms free of his neck before shouldering Bronwyn's dead weight and following.

It wasn't far. Archer eased the unconscious girl to the deck and crouched beside Sammel. Sun squeezed her way in between them, her soft gasp barely audible as the ship shuddered and pitched.

The gaping hole in the ship's hull shimmered blue, the protective force-field the only barrier between the Day Wanderer's interior and the emptiness of space, as the blackness attached like a disease to the hull of the ship wrenched its way free. They caught only a glimpse of some kind of space vehicle, definitely alien in origin, as it spun on its axis and vanished.

***

Grounders

Minnesota tried to scream when huge hands settled on her, one sliding around her waist, the other clapped over her mouth. She tilted her head back, eyes frantically searching the dark as she struggled to identify her attacker. Manuel's brown eyes stared back at her. Minnesota sagged in relief. When she did, he gently let her go.

"We have to help them!" She looked out the hatch at their home, anger rising at him for stopping her.

"Nothing we can do," he said. She was startled by the deep, resonating sound of his voice. It was the first time she remembered hearing him speak since they were little kids.

Minnesota wanted to argue, but she knew he was right. A shift in the shadows behind him made her tense. He reacted to her fright instantly, putting himself between her and whatever approached. Minnesota dodged around him so she could see.

Quinn emerged from the black of the ship, supporting Miguel as the smaller boy limped along. Manuel took his brother and helped him sit, making sure they were in shadow. Minnesota exchanged a sad look with Quinn before they too crouched in the dark and watched their settlement burn.

***