Borrowing Amor Boxed Set

Chapter 4

4

The bus pulled up in front of a large dome. It looked otherworldly, made of nothing but windows. When Bev stepped outside, she could see mechanics working in what must have been the hangar, a massive add-on to the main building. They were working on what looked like a cross between an airplane and a spacecraft. She wondered if that was what they’d be flying in. Her heart thudded. In three days, she’d be looking down on the earth. It was all so surreal, like she was watching a movie.

“If you’ll follow me,” Julie said, “we need to get security badges for all of you. As you can imagine, we don’t let just anyone inside our facility.” She turned on her heels and walked at a brisk pace up the sidewalk. Bev quickened her pace to keep up, but she kept getting distracted by the beautifully manicured garden that surrounded the building. A fountain in the center featured a replica of the spacecraft she had seen through the windows just moments before.

Julie led them through a glass door directly beyond the fountain and to a desk where a security officer sat. “Please present your I.D. here. Officer Bridge will scan your fingerprints, as well as have you sign a release form.”

“Another one?” Katie said to Bev. “They really take their paperwork seriously. This would be Bob’s dream job. He’s been driving everyone in the mayor’s office crazy.”

“More so than usual?” Bev asked as they formed a line at the desk.

“Apparently there’s a new regulation and he’s been personally seeing to it that everyone is following it. Including Sam. You’d think the mayor would be exempt from daily checkups, but apparently not.”

“You should ask Officer Bridge if they’re hiring,” Bev said with a laugh. “I think it would be a win-win. Bob would be in regulation paradise and everyone else would get a break.”

Bev skimmed through the form while Officer Bridge took a digital scan of each of her fingerprints. It was all the usual stuff, making her promise that she wasn’t a criminal and that she wouldn’t take any pictures, except when permission was given. There was one clause that made her promise she wouldn’t steal trade secrets and sell them to Galactic Enterprises’ competitors. Bev was pretty sure she’d signed this same form about twenty times already.

“Hmm…a publicity release clause,” she said, showing Katie some fine print at the very bottom of the form. “Do you think they’ll be filming us?”

Katie shrugged, but her eyes gleamed. “I wouldn’t mind it.”

Once Bev had signed the form and was in the clear, they took her picture and gave her a lanyard to wear around her neck with her security clearance badge.

“Do not lose this badge,” Julie warned them as she led them down a long hallway and through double doors that required her to scan her badge. “You won’t be able to access all areas of the building, but this badge will allow you entrance to the ones you need.”

The teenage boy was so excited, he was bouncing on his toes as he walked. “I’m Austin,” he said to Bev. “Isn’t this the greatest thing ever?”

“You better believe it,” she said. “I’m Bev.” She put her fist out and Austin bumped it with his own. That was what the cool kids did now, right?

Austin kept looking at his badge, like he couldn’t believe it was real, and Bev knew that as soon as this was all over, he was going to frame that thing on his wall.

“How old are you?” she asked him.

Austin straightened up, trying to look taller and older than he really was. “Fourteen. I’ll be fifteen next month. This trip is an early birthday present.”

Bev tried not to gape. A birthday present that cost a quarter of a million dollars. She liked the kid, though, and tried not to hold it against him. It wasn’t his fault that his parents were ridiculously rich. “You are a very lucky guy.”

Austin nodded. “I know.”

His dad had been trailing the group, checking something on his phone. Typical. When he noticed Bev talking with his son, he slid the phone into his pocket and quickened his steps. “Hi, I’m Mitchell,” he said, thrusting his hand toward her.

“I’m Bev,” she said, taking the outstretched hand. It was a businessman’s grip. “And this is my friend, Katie.”

Mitchell nodded to Katie, then turned his attention back to Bev. “This is something else, isn’t it?” He grinned and the businessman persona melted away. He almost seemed as giddy as Austin.

Bev smiled. Maybe she had misjudged him. “A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” she said, glancing toward Katie. “Or so I’ve been told.”

Up ahead, Julie made an abrupt left turn through a door that had the first aid cross on it. She turned to face the group. “I know you have all had your medical screenings completed by your own physicians, but some of those were completed months ago. We need to do a final screening to make sure you are healthy and able to withstand the pressures of space travel. This will involve both a blood and urine sample. Over the next couple days, you’ll undergo a series of tests that will assess your physical endurance as well as prepare you for the launch, though we don’t require that you be in the type of physical shape that NASA would expect of their astronauts.”

Candi groaned and said, “You act like you’re sending us to the moon. We’re going to be weightless for what, four minutes? My doctor’s evaluation is sufficient.”

“Wimp,” the knitting woman muttered.

Bev stifled a laugh, but really all she wanted was to shake the girl. Most people didn’t get to be weightless for four seconds, let alone four minutes. Not only that, but Bev had done her research before coming. Leaving Earth wasn’t easy on the body, no matter how long it was for.

“You may choose to have a health screening by our professionals as a final protocol, or I can send you back on the bus,” Julie said. Apparently she was done with Candi’s attitude as well.

Candi seemed taken aback, like she wasn’t used to people talking to her like that. She looked at Brady with a nervous glint in her eyes, then nodded. “Okay.” Why was she acting so weird about a routine health screening?

Julie nodded. “Who wants to go first?”

Katie raised her hand. “Might as well get it over with.” She disappeared into the back and returned less than five minutes later. A pink bandage was wrapped across one arm, where they had drawn blood.

“I’ll go next,” Bev said, also anxious to get it over with. She knew she was healthy, but she hated needles. Thankfully it was quick and nearly painless, and she joined Katie, a matching pink bandage wrapped across her arm.

Candi was last to be screened and walked into the back room as though to the electric chair. When she came back out, she was nearly in tears. “Asking us to pee in a cup—it’s undignified is what it is. We’re not part of their laboratory experiments,” she muttered. She scratched at her bandage, refusing to make eye contact with anyone, including her boyfriend.

Julie looked at her watch. “I think this would be a good time for a lunch break. I’ll show you the way to the cafeteria. You’ll be eating all your meals there. If you get hungry between activities, your security badge will open the door. Small items like fruit, bagels, and juice, will be available at all times.” She walked back out into the long hallway and continued past a couple of doors before turning right, then left, then right again.

“I hope I don’t get lost in this place,” Katie said. “It didn’t look so big from the outside. What if I end up somewhere I shouldn’t be?”

“Are you afraid you’ll stumble upon a secret lab and they’ll have to erase your memories or something?” Bev teased.

Katie laughed. “I guess I’ve been watching too many of those sci-fi movies with Ruby.” Her sister-in-law had nearly every science fiction movie imaginable. Except Star Trek. They had given Ruby season one of Star Trek: The Next Generation one year for Christmas, but it had never appeared on her movie stand with the others.

After one more left turn, Julie scanned her badge at a set of double doors, and they entered the coolest cafeteria Bev had ever seen. Rockets hung from the ceiling, stars littered the walls, and a glowing moon cast a cheerful glow across the room. It wasn’t anything like Bev’s elementary school cafeteria, which was what she had been expecting.

“From eleven to two, lunch is served,” Julie said. “We have anything from pizza and spaghetti to salads and shish kabobs.”

“You got any Mexican food?” Katie asked. “I could go for some green chile.”

Bev smiled. When Katie had first come to Amor, she hadn’t been able to handle anything spicy. Now, she rarely ate anything if it didn’t have a kick to it.

Julie laughed and clearly appreciated the question. “The whole left side of the room has nothing but Mexican food. If you’re going to come to New Mexico, you need to try it at least once. My personal favorite is the huevos rancheros, but all of it is amazing.” She glanced at her watch again. They must be on a tight schedule with the way Julie kept checking that thing. “We have forty-five minutes to eat, then will need to move on to your first class.”

“Class?” Brady balked. “There won’t be a test, will there?”

Candi placed a hand on her boyfriend’s arm, nodding in agreement. “Yeah, that wasn’t part of what we signed up for.”

Julie studied them for a moment. “Space is an unforgiving place. You need to know at least a little about where you are going so you understand and appreciate the magnitude of what you are about to do.” Her gaze scanned the rest of the group. “You’ll also learn more about Galactic Enterprises and why we do what we do.” Julie clapped her hands. “Okay, let’s eat.”

Bev followed Katie to the Mexican side of the cafeteria. Austin and his dad moved in behind them, while the knitting woman followed Brady and Candi to the other, “safer” side, as Candi made sure to point out.

“Quite the variety of people here, isn’t it?” Mitchell said, eying Candi and Brady, who were trying to order something that the cafeteria obviously didn’t have.

Bev and Katie agreed. They both took Julie’s suggestion and got the huevos rancheros, which was fried eggs on a tortilla with an amazing cheese and green chile sauce poured over it. Rice and beans were served on the side with an additional warm tortilla. If this was what space travel was all about, Bev could get used to it.

They sat down, but before Katie had even touched her food, she pulled out her phone. “I’m going to call and check on Liv. Just in case.” She stared at the screen, then frowned. “How do I not have reception here? Maybe I can get service in the hallway.” She started to get up from the table, but Bev placed a hand on hers.

“Sit down and at least eat first. They seem to operate on a tight schedule here. Besides, I’m sure Liv is fine. Ruby would have called you if she wasn’t.”

“All right,” Katie said, sitting back down with a frown. “I suppose you’re right.”

They were just finishing their meals when Julie walked over to where Candi and Brady were eating a couple of tables over. She leaned down and whispered something to Candi.

“I’m not going back to your office with you,” Candi said loudly. Julie whispered something else to her, but Candi shook her head. “No, I’m not having this conversation.”

Julie straightened up, looking lost as to what to do next. “We have to talk, and I’d rather do it in a private location.”

“What’s going on?” Brady asked. His handsome features were scrunched up in confusion.

Candi’s features, however, were filled with panic. Bev realized that Candi knew exactly what the conversation would entail, which was why she was so opposed to having it. “It’s nothing. They are just trying to make things difficult.”

Julie sighed and rubbed her eyes. “You knew you couldn’t go on this flight before you came,” she finally said. “We can postpone for a few months. You’ll still be able to go, just not right now.”

“Why can’t she go?” Brady asked, looking alarmed. He turned to Candi. “What aren’t you telling me?”

Julie didn’t say anything. She watched Candi, as did the rest of the group, waiting for the truth to come out.

“It’s nothing that should keep me grounded,” Candi spat out. “I should be able to fly up there, same as everyone else. I paid for this flight, didn’t I? Not only that, but I’ve been going on and on about it to my fans for months. What will they think if I don’t actually go up there?”

“So…you’re worried about how your fans will react?” Julie asked slowly.

“Of course,” Candi said. “As well as everyone else.” Her voice dropped to a soft murmur and Bev had to strain to hear her. “That’s what this kind of life is all about, isn’t it?”

“Is it worth risking the life of another?” Julie asked. “If you go up there, it will kill the baby. I have no doubt about that. Heck, even the activities we put you through to prepare for the flight could cause you to miscarry. It’s not worth that, is it?”

Candi looked up and stared straight at Bev. Her gaze wandered over to Austin, who sat very still, seeming apprehensive about what was happening. Tears filled Candi’s eyes and she shook her head. “No, it’s not.” Her whole demeanor, her act, crumpled. She stood up from the table, now just a sad and scared girl. She turned to Brady, who was still seated. “I’m sorry,” she said.

Brady stared at her, and he seemed to be having trouble wrapping his head around what was happening. “You’re pregnant?” he whispered. “But I’ve been away for six months shooting a movie—” His voice trailed off. It now seemed apparent what she was apologizing for.

“Would you like to postpone your flight with hers?” Julie asked Brady, her voice soft.

Brady shook his head. “No, I’ll stay.”

Julie nodded. As she led Candi out, Bev heard Julie say in a soothing voice, “Look at the bright side. At least the reporter hasn’t arrived yet, so you won’t end up in the gossip column. His flight was delayed.”

A long silence permeated the room, no one daring to say anything, or to make direct eye contact with Brady. Despite Bev’s initial dislike of him, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. Galactic Enterprises employees began filtering in for their lunch hour, but those there for the flight continued to sit quietly.

“I wonder if they’ll send someone in her place,” Mitchell said, breaking the silence.

“That’s a bit insensitive,” the knitting woman said, surprising everyone with the fact that she actually spoke.

“Unfortunately, that’s how a business has to operate,” Julie said, walking up from behind them. “We can’t afford to have any empty seats, especially on the inaugural flight. Our newest crew member will arrive within a couple of hours.”