6 years later
Years pass by slowly, especially if you are the only twelve-year-old on big ship full of old people.
Finally the journey was coming to its end. After six boring years of being trapped in that ship, Kayden was going to step a foot out of it. Just a few more days.
Actually he couldn't say it was always boring, well maybe most of the time, but sometimes, very rarely, he was glad he is where he is. Kayden had fun when they were flying through Galactic center and they had to constantly dodge massive objects.
Other than that he entertained himself by pranking his father and that one grumpy lady that constantly screamed at him.
Also a year ago, Sonia gave birth to a baby, so he wasn't the youngest at last.
Kayden walked out of his room to find his father. Everyone called him Captain so he started doing it as well.
He opened the door of his room and found it empty. He must've been in control room. As he thought of that, Kayden swirled around on his heel and changed his direction. He came to know every bit of that ship and he could easily find his way around even if he was blindfolded. With now long steps, he crossed the small distance very fast. He was just about to come in when he felt a tug on his shirt.
Beside him stood Bay; Sonia's daughter. She looked at Kayden with big smile and stretched out her small hands. He picked her up chuckling and came into control room.
"Kayden, Bay, what are you two doing here?" Captain asked. Kayden looked down at Bay noticing small pink stain on her gray t-shirt.
"We just came to see what you are up to", he said as he tried to remove it knowing how angry Sonia will get when she finds out Bay has been fiddling with oh-so-precious washing helpers, "When are we going to land?"
"Well, we are landing sooner than we thought, kid", his father answered enthusiastically. Kayden looked up and widened his eyes.
"What? When?"
Captain smiled to himself and shook his head. He loved seeing his little boy happy. A genuine smile made his eyes shine brighter. He had never seen that before and it just confirmed his beliefs that his boy was one of a kind. He, for some reason, liked annoying people, but he could never hurt anyone - not even a bug. And the way he took care of little Bay surely made him proud. Captain knew that, when the time comes, he will be a wonderful father â definitely nothing like him. He did try to make up for his mother's betrayal by being the best version of himself for his son, but it just wasn't enough.
Sometimes it seemed like Kayden completely forgot about her though, but Captain could not even if he wanted to. It was such an injustice â what she did to his son... and to him.
"In an hour or so", he replied after Kayden had called his name a few times and then motioned Kayden to come closer, "See that blue planet? That is our new home"
Kayden looked out in awe and laughed excited.
"It's beautiful", he said and jumped up and down slightly from excitement. Bay whined and slapped his hand. He laughed again and ruffled her hair.
"I think you should take her to her mother and tell everyone to get ready for landing, kid"
He nodded enthusiastically, ran out and did what his father told him to do.
* * *
Loud beeping started and it was a sign to sit tightly. Kayden was still running around and checking on everybody.
First wave of shaking hit the ship and it was really time to get to his seat - first row of course.
Kayden smirked at the thought of landing soon. He could almost feel the hard ground and not hear that annoying constant buzzing of the ship. He will finally talk to someone his age... maybe even a girl. He did hear they were mesmerizing.
If only he knew what was waiting on him down there...
As fast as he could he ran to control room. Gray walls merged into nothingness and he was there.
He almost drove in door, just an inch closer and his nose would have been smashed.
He really had to work on his stopping.
He reached for the handle and opened the door.
Another wave of shaking started and this one was way more intense than the last one.
Kayden lost his balance and fell on the ground. Captain, hearing someone falling turned his head for a second.
"Kayden! Sit, now!" he yelled as he struggled to maintain balance of ship for his son to sit.
Kayden did as he was told. He jumped to nearest seat and tied himself quickly.
"Hold on tight! This is going to be one hell of a ride", Captain said and the shaking begun once again.
Just a few more minutes - few painfully long minutes that somehow seemed longer than those six years.
The word excited couldn't describe what Kayden felt.
Everything became blurry and really warm. Slight nausea rose in Kayden's belly. Just a few more minutes â he kept repeating to himself.
"Kayden, open your eyes you have to see this", his father yelled through the deafening noise.
He slowly opened his eyes and looked through the window. The ship started to slow down, but he still couldn't make out shapes in distance. He only saw a lot of colors mixed together. He shook his head, rubbed his eyes and tried again. The noise slowly started disappearing.
Still nothing.
"See what?" he asked.
"Our new home", his father said.
Kayden smiled. If they got here so quickly it means his mum was going to come even faster. Then he would see Adrian and his aunt.
He decided he was going to forgive his mother. Maybe she was scared. He couldn't blame her for that.
Abruptly the ship stopped and Kayden flew up despite the fact he was tied tightly to his seat.
"Ouch", he said rubbing his head.
"You okay, kid?"
"Yup"
As he said that, he jumped and run to his father.
"We did not land yet, get back to your seat", he commanded.
"No way, I want to see"
Captain smiled and started slowly landing his ship to a big opening.
Everything here was so much different than what he thought it would be. For example the grass was green, the sky was blue and the star was yellow. Well, that last thing he knew, but still...it was so weird.
He ship touched the ground and a few moments later, Captain turned off the ship. He dreamed of that moment for so long and it was finally here.
He took microphone in his shaky hands and brought it close to his lips.
"Your Captain is speaking", he said licking his lips, "We have landed. The door will be opened in few moments. Five men I choose yesterday will be first ones out and soon we will all touch the ground"
He said that and put microphone down.
"Prepare them", he said into his ear communicator.
Kayden smiled and looked outside. Whole different world was now begging to be explored.
And the humans... oh, how he wanted to meet one of those.
As he was looking out he saw a shadow in distance and a reflection of something. He narrowed his eyes and tried to get a better look of whatever that was.
When he didn't see it, he blamed it on exhaustion.
The main door opened and he could see five bravest going out. He wanted to be among them, but his father wouldn't let him. Apparently he was still a kid. He sighed and decided to focus on the historic moment taking place in front of his eyes. Men carefully walked around looking in every direction. A moment later he saw them relax and look up to the blue sky. They laughed.
Kayden turned to his father.
"When are we going to..." Kayden started asking, but he was cut off by a loud sound - unknown to him.
He jerked back and saw one of the men falling down. He widened his eyes confused. What had happened?
That sound again - another man falls down.
Nice mood from a moment ago disappeared and it was replaced by some weird tension.
"No, no, no, this cannot happen", Captain started mumbling and pressing random buttons. Everything happened so fast.
"Captain...Captain", Kayden called him a few times but he didn't answer, "Dad! What's happening?"
He finally turned to him. His eyes were filled with worry.
"What we feared", he just said and continued pressing buttons.
Kayden looked at their men outside. They were all dead.
"Ultrron station, it's ship number 1649352pTh18. We have landed few moments ago. The ship is under attack. Natives are hostile â they have killed five of our man. Friendly approach is not suggested â I repeat friendly approach is not suggested"
As he said that he pushed big red button. Kayden saw the door closing. Oh, hell no.
"Dad, what are you doing?"
"If we stay they'll kill us all"
"I can't be on this ship anymore, please", Kayden begged.
"I know, kid, but we have no choice", Captain said sadly.
Kayden nodded and got back to his seat.
"Attention! Everybody - go back to your seats!" his father said into microphone.
Door was still closing. It was too slow.
Loud cracking sound had begun just a second before red alert appeared on the screen.
"Damnant!" Captain yelled.
Kayden widened his eyes in surprise. His father never spoke their language, especially to curse â not even when they were going through the Galactic center.
Loud piercing sound could be heard. Kayden took his head in his hands. It made him deaf for a few moments. What was that?
His head hurt from it.
He looked up and saw his father calling him.
"Kid, listen to me!", he commanded, "Things are not looking pretty. Now I need you to be calm and take Bay.
All of us will go out on the front door to try to talk some sense into them and you two need to run. Go on the back door and run as fast as you can. Do not stop and do not turn around no matter what you hear. Understood?"
Kayden looked at him in disbelief. They were so close.
He couldn't possibly understand why someone would do something like this. They wouldn't hurt humans, so why are humans hurting them?
"Do you understand?" he asked again.
"I understand", he said quietly.
"Good. Now go!" he said and pushed him through the door of control room.
Kayden just stood there for a few seconds trying to comprehend the whole situation. Time was running out. He had to move, but he couldn't.
His brain was a void. Nothing. He could think of nothing.
"If you don't leave the vehicle, we will have to blow it up â THIS IS THE LAST WARRNING!" deep voice from outside yelled.
It was a wake-up-call for Kayden. He shook his head and focused on his mission - to save Bay.
He ran as fast as he could to her chamber.
There he saw her alone sitting on the bed. She had no idea what was happening.
"Come", he said and she listened.
He took her in his arms and ran to the back door. He didn't care for his stopping right now. That will be an issue later.
He ran through small back door and, not looking where he goes, continued running.
He heard screams, he heard pleads and he heard that sound over and over again. He knew that the screams were of his people. His father's words just kept repeating in his head.
He couldn't stop. It wasn't just him. Bay was there. He had to take her to safety.
Suddenly he felt pain in his left leg and he slowed down. He didn't want to. He had to.
He looked down.
There was something around his ankle. It was metal and it hurt like hell.
Bay held onto him for her life. He clenched his jaw in despair.
He failed. He couldn't protect her.
He should've watch where he is going.
His leg hurt so bed and he just couldn't physically walk anymore. The worst thing was that he was getting sleepy.
He shook his head. His eyes were closing. He had to stay awake.
"Take them!" someone from behind screamed. Kayden kept going. Slowly, but he didn't give up.
Suddenly he felt tight grip on his hands. He tried to fight, but he was so weak. What did they do to him?
"Let me go!" he tried to yell.
Another one took Bay from his hands and she started crying. The one who was holding him started dragging him back to the ship.
"Give her back, please", he asked. Maybe they didn't understand? Of course they did. He heard them speak in English a second ago.
"Why isn't he asleep? I gave him enough sedative to knock down an elephant", the one who was holding him said to another.
"Let me go", Kayden said again. They ignored him.
Soon they were with the rest of his people. His head was becoming heavier by a minute. He needed to stay awake.
"There are the ones who tried to escape", the guy holding Kayden said.
"Good", big, fat, bald man in green uniform said, "Take them - ten females and ten males into the base"
When he thought about it, all of them were wearing green uniforms. Weird.
"What about the rest of them?"
He didn't have any strength in him to fight. Shapes were fading away. The world was becoming black.
"Kill 'em"