Naomi Star and the Hunt for the Apollo 11

  Archaeolaster:                       Ar*che*ol*ah*ster     Origin: From Greek words arkhaios meaning ancient and aster meaning star or constellation.             Noun 1.     A lifeform that specializes in the scientific recovery of ancient societies’ relics and technologies through exploring lost spaceships and other nonplanetary locations. Sentence 1.     Teams of archaeolasters have been exploring the wreckage of an ancient space shuttles floating through space for the past eight hundred years. 2.     Naomi Star is the greatest archaeolaster of all time. (That one was by me)               It was a common belief that to properly retrieve an item as important as the Declaration of Independence one needed a team of the best and brightest, and it was for that reason that I always ended up one step ahead. While others were calling in favors or wasting time assembling people from across the galaxy, my ship was casually coming up on the millennium-old hull of the 2053 Presidential Evacuation Shuttle Transport.             “Steady… ease in there and hover, like you’re stalking your crush.” I commanded my lone ally and pilot, Derik Slance. “Don’t wanna get too close and scare her off but also be close enough that you can swoop in to thoroughly embarrass yourself.”             “You know, I can spin this ship around right now, and you will get nothing.” He turned to me, briefly taking his attention away from the controls in front of us. “Just get your suit on. We don’t know how long until someone else gets here.”             “Fair, although it won’t change the result.” I shrugged and turned to grab my sleek, black space suit. “I mean, it hasn’t so far.”             “And why would it? Only 36% of deaths happen because of other archaeolasters.”             “You said the same thing about asteroid fields.”             “Because they kill 21%!”             “You’ve got no faith.” I chuckled. “Besides, you can’t ignore the most obvious statistic, 100% of the things that could’ve killed me haven’t yet, and I don’t know about you but 100% trumps 36 any day.”             “Much to my misfortune.”             “Ouch, someone woke up on the wrong side of the ship.” I finished slipping on the space suit and tossed my exploring pack over my shoulder. “So, anything else I need to know?”             “Standard stuff. The ship was launched so long ago, you shouldn’t have to worry about any life remaining on it. Your tools should be able to break any lock or security they have guarding the things, and unless you alter the steering, we shouldn’t hit a sun or asteroid field for another hundred years.”             “Any ships inbound?”             “The scanners aren’t picking up any incoming trajectories. Of course, if someone is trying to recover the Declaration of Independence, I doubt they’ll waste time relaying a signal so other ships know to move out of the way. If I were a betting man, I’d place my solar dust on several groups on their way at this very moment.”             “No matter where I go, people can’t seem to help flocking to me.” A grin stretched across my face as I slipped on my helmet and jumped into one of the airlocked tubes. Once the door closed behind me, I switched on the radio. “Testing, testing, can you hear my lovely voice?”             “Sorry Naomi, we seem to have picked up some interference. All I can hear is an ungrateful egotist’s screeching. I’ll try to switch to a different frequency to determine where it’s coming from, and oh… this is awkward.”             “Laugh all you want, but I’ll remember everything you say when I’m back up there.”             “You mean if… the galaxy can always hope.”             “Ha! Like you could go on without me to constantly praise. We may be able to create energy, but we can’t create perfection. That stuff is finite, and I’m our biggest remain source, so next time…” I didn’t get a chance to finish as the airlock opened, and suddenly, I was thrust into spaced. My body spun, and the empty void pulled me further from the ship. For the inexperienced, getting pushed into space was often described as a near death experience as it felt like all control on whether you lived or died was ripped from you much like during a free fall off a skyscraper, which I’d also done, but fortunately, this was far from my first time.             Taking a deep breath, I tilted my head and waited until my eyes landed on the remains of the President’s Evacuation Shuttle Transport. Twisting, I activated the boosters at the tips of my gloves, steadying me with my feet pointing away from the ship, and then, I activated my rocket boots, launching me forward.             I crashed into the side of the ship and before I could float off, I secured myself to the shuttle using a magnetic grappling hook from my belt. “Landed. Are you proud of yourself for that one?” I asked over the radio, and while he was thinking of a witless response, I retrieved and opened a pressure tent, which was more of a large cube with the bottom missing, from my pack. “In fact, I am. I think I’ll have to remember that technique as a way to finally shut you up.” He responded as I attached it to the outside of the ship so that it encompassed me while providing no gaps for space to seep in.             “We’ll see who shuts who up when I get back up there. Is it safe to tunnel?” The portion of the ship I was entering hadn’t been breached which meant I had to be careful not to open it up to the vacuum of space while entering. “Yes, it is.” Derik responded as the tent released a hissing sound as the pressure and temperature were stabilize, and smiling, I pulled out a breacher, a drill with a bit twice the size of my head at the end. “By the way, three calls just came in. Apparently, word’s spread that we’re here, and the buyers are making the usual offers. Would you like me to tell them off all at once or let them down slowly and gently?” “Tell them it’s not you, it’s us.” Given the prestige associated with possessing relics thousands of years old, it was common practice for billionaires to buy recovered artifacts directly from archaeolasters. It was thanks to them that some archaeolasters were able to retire after only one lucky find, but it was also thanks to them that so little of the relics actually made their way to an appropriate storage location. Still, at least they didn’t hire their own teams of thugs crafted solely specifically to recover artifacts, regardless of any damage they inflicted on said relics of history, and the hideous, smirking face of the Count briefly flashed through my mind. “Don’t lump me in with you. I for one would actually like to settle down on my own, personal resort planet.” Derik’s voice drove me out of my thoughts, and I activated the breacher and pressed it against the wall of the ship, cutting through what was supposed to be the most advanced metal, at least a thousand years ago, like it was butter. “And yet you still choose to spend your time with me. That’s so sweet, although if I was in your shoes, I wouldn’t want to leave me either.” I chuckled as I slipped through the hole.             Inside, the grey walls were lined with hundreds of paintings and documents, each of which would be a fantastic discovery in their own right for a normal person, but being a normal person was not what led me to being here today. The velvet carpet stretched ups to hug my boots as I walked forward, pausing for a brief moment to take in the sight. Lost for over a thousand years, this ship was equipped with state-of-the-art technology at the time and designed to transport the President and hundreds of valuables to a bunker on the moon while the Third Country War raged. Of course, the shuttle did the exact opposite when it misfired and, instead of going to the moon base, was launched into the void of space.             “Derik, do a scan and tell me where the electronics are most concentrated.” I ordered my partner as glanced up at the ventilation system running through the ceiling and noted that they seemed to be large enough to fit a person.             “Yeah, take your current location and go right until you hit a divergence. After that, go right, left, right, right, left, right, left, and you should come to what I assume is the vault. Judging by the layout it’s the only location that isn’t vital to the ship that seems to have an increased amount of power directed to it.”             “Does the power still work?” My fingers tingled at the thought of actually getting to see some of the old technology in action, but time passage was a cruel mistress.             “Unfortunately, no, the circuits and capacitors have been either worn or out dislodged overtime. Perhaps the or the pilot controls are functioning, but we don’t have time for…” Although I couldn’t see him, the way he trailed off, I knew something bad had just happened. “Naomi! Three ships just arrived, all with the Count’s sigil. Get out of there now!”             “Stall them.” I instructed as I raced forward down the hallway.             “You know what’ll happen if he catches you. His men will be there at any moment!” Derik screamed, but I had no choice but to ignore him as I sprinted through the halls, grateful that Ancient Americans had at least invented artificial gravity before launching this shuttle. Eventually, I came across what I was looking for, a massive door with a combination of electronic and manual locks keeping it shut.             The electronic locks were the easiest as I pulled out a min-generator and code receiver from my pack and attached them to the door. The generator immediately sent a small spark of electricity through the door, causing the locks to receive a random input. The locks rejected the initial attempt, but in doing so, my code receiver was able to intercept and reenter the correct data to open the lock.             For the manual locks, I pulled out several nanokeys, designed to reassemble to match the lock, and used them to disarm the remaining barriers and open the door. Inside, I found half a dozen historical objects from the painting, Avenue in the Rain, to the journal of Former Presidents, but my eyes only belonged to the document in the middle of the display, which I quickly assumed was the Declaration of Independence.             Racing inside, I pulled out a storage wrapper from my pack, and slowly, the near-invisible material expanded and coiled around the Declaration of Independence, forming an airtight, protective barrier, around the artifact. Picking up the now, safely sealed declaration, I dashed out of the vault, only to skid to a stop the second I was out of the vault.             “In a hurry, Ms. Star?” A voice so pretentious, it could only belong to one person, rippled through my ears, and I turned to the four figures blocking my escape. Leading them was a tall, slender man whose space suit looked more like a crimson bathrobe. In his right hand, he gripped one of the three remaining staffs from the Antili Tribe, an artifact that should’ve been preserved at all costs for it was one of the few remnants the pre-colonized Orkin race. Of course, knowing that was likely the main reason that the Count even used it.             “I’m sorry, Count. I just assumed you were used to ladies trying to get as far from you as possible.” I gave a mocking bow. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”             “More than you could you ever pay.” He stepped forward. “I’ll be taking that.”             “There’re plenty of other artifacts for you to ruin. I’m preserving this one.”             “Ms. Star, that statement wasn’t open to your input. I was simply doing you the courtesy of informing you of my decision.”             “I would say how generous, but I’m pretty sure that word’s foreign to you.” I took a step back as I tried to formulate an escape plan. “Surely one parchment doesn’t matter that much.”             “No, but it’s history is quite useful to a case I’m making. You see, the taxes the government has been placing on my businesses are disruptive to my income, and with no one properly defending my side on the governing council, I do feel it’s important to call back to a time when a group was taxed without representation.”             “And having the literal Declaration of Independence will help you?”             “It’s a renowned document that somewhat supports me. Any parts that don’t I can erase.”             “Well, with such a noble cause, how can I refuse.” I smiled at him, and lowering my voice, I whispered into my radio. “Derik, get the ship ready to take off. In five minutes, I’m jumping out my entrance, and you better be ready to get us out of here.”             “Speak up, Ms. Star.” The Count motioned for his men to advance, and I gripped the Declaration even tighter.             “One more step and I’ll destroy it.” I threatened, but the Count just laughed.             “I fell for that once, but not this time.” He snapped his fingers. “Gentlemen, don’t be afraid to rough her up as you grab my new collector’s item.”             “And here I thought you weren’t the type to hit women.” I grimaced, and turning, I sprinted down the hallway away from the group and my original entrance.             “I’m not. I’m the type who tells other people to hit women.” The Count called out as the heavy thudding of footsteps echoed after me.             In normal situation, I might’ve been able to outrun them and maybe even loop around to reach my initial entrance, but with the Declaration of Independence weighing me down, that option was out of the picture. Fortunately, I happened to be equipped with the greatest weapon known to the galaxy, my brain… and a sword.             Spinning, I withdrew an electrical rapier, a light, maneuverable sword with a thin blade that could extend and retract into its handle. The leader of the three never stood a chance, and I thrust my blade into him causing his eyes rolled back into his head as lightning race up his body.             The other two aggressors did not let my attack deter them, and advancing, they drew their weapons, one being a magnetic bow staff, a long metal rod that could break apart and reattach at any point, and the other being a nanoblade, a sword that could reform and manipulate its shape at the owner’s will.             The man with the bow staff struck first, and swiped at my feet, clearly careful not to put too much force into it in fear of damaging the Declaration or one of the paintings along the wall. I jumped his attack and then sprang forward and swung. The man raised his staff to block, but at the last moment, I retracted my blade causing my handle to swing to the other side of his body, avoiding his defense, and with his right side now exposed, I unsheathed the blade and brought it back towards his legs.             My attack fell just a few inches short as the second henchman caught my blade with his and deflected it away from his comrade. Retreating backwards, I parried the next few attacks and then attempted a counterattack, but just when I got the better of one of them, the other rushed forward.             Fighting this battle was getting me nowhere, and even if I won, I knew the Count had at least a dozen more men waiting on his ship. It was time to unleash my hidden technique of running away like a coward, and retracting my blade, I turned and raced down the hallway. Knowing what had happened to their first comrade, the other two waited a moment to follow me, careful not to be caught in another of my tricks, and using the head start to my advantage, I glanced up and locked my eyes onto a ceiling vent.             Jumping up, I used my rocket boots to thrust me upward until I collided with my target. Fortunately, my significantly advanced spacesuit combined with the force from my rocket boots was more than enough to crash through the vent cover, and as I wiped the debris from my helmet, I pushed my way inside, dragging the Declaration after me.             “Seriously!” A voice echoed beneath me. “What does she think she’s doing?”             “Cornering herself.” The other henchmen replied. “Come on let’s tell the boss. He’ll get more guys to flush her out.”             Breathing a sigh of relief, a smile crept across my face as the thugs raced back the way they’d come, and it was safe to assume, they’d have guards waiting for me at all exits. The Count liked to think he learned from his mistakes, but overfocussing on what I’d done last time, would blind him to some of the new factors in play.             Crawling through the vents, I first found my way to the cockpit, and after preparations were ready, I wormed back into the vents and over to where I’d first arrived. Unsurprisingly, The Count along with half a dozen other henchmen and archaeolasters were waiting for me, and after tapping real loudly to alert them to my presence, I opened the vent and jumped down in the middle of them.             “Long time, no see, Ms. Star,” the Count mused.             “But not long enough.” I gripped the Declaration of Independence with one hand and my sword with the other. “So, how do negotiations work? I’ve never been in a situation where somewhere had leverage over me before.”             “Of course, you haven’t.” He rolled his eyes. “Well, you need to escape here alive, and I need the Declaration. What do you say, you hand it over and I’ll let you leave with one random painting? I have so many, I doubt I’ll miss it.”             “I would very much like that, but what if we trade place and you get to leave with one random painting?”             “Why would I take that deal?”             “Why would I?”             “Because I have you pinned.”             “Do you now?” I glanced around mockingly at his men. “Normally, the phrase is you and what army, but in this case, I think it’s you and what brain cells.”             “So, it’s going to be like that is it.” He sighed. “Well, I guess I’ll just have to take you as prisoner. There’s far too large of a chance you switched that out with a fake, and I wouldn’t put it past you to have some other trick up your sleeve.”             “Actually, I have several, but I’m only going to show you one.”             “I look forward to it.” He nodded to his men. “Grab her and put an end to this little game.”             “Have naïve of you, Count. As long as there’s relics to keep out of the hands of people like you, this little game will never stop.” Just behind the Count was the exit, and taking a deep breath, I plunged my sword into the ground.             For a moment, everyone looked at me in confused silence, but then I pulled out a remote and activated the generator I’d placed up at the cockpit. Immediately, a fierce roaring echoed through the ship, and the thrusters sprang back to life. The Count realized what was going on just in time to have his face turn bright red as the ship lurched forward, sending everyone tumbling backwards.             Keeping one hand wrapped around the Declaration, I was the only one who managed to stay put as my sword anchored me, and the second my body grew accustomed to the acceleration of the ship, I jumped towards the exit, sealing the hole shut behind me.             “Derik, are you there?” I asked as I dislodged the pressure tent from the side of the ship and kicked off, thrusting me into the endless, black void.             “No, that’s why I can respond.” I glanced up to see our ship descending towards me, and altering my path just slightly, I landed inside one of the ejection pods. A hissing sound followed me as the door to the outside closed, and a minute later, the flap to the inside opened to reveal Derik, plopped comfortably in his pilot chair. “What took you so long?”             “Don’t lie that you didn’t miss me.”             “It’s only been eight minutes.”             “And it means so much that you counted.”             “Whatever.” He turned back to the controls. “Strap in, we’re out of here.”             “Gladly.” I hopped in the seat next to him and glance over the Declaration of Independence. “Uh oh.”             “What?”             “How do you spell declaration, and is there any chance that it starts with an e?”             “No.”             “Oh… Okay… In that case, I definitely grabbed the wrong one.”