They reached the ship to the sound of screaming behind them. Lisa gathered some unused uniforms and rested Timothy down on them.
Luke and John provided cover for the remaining Troopers to get on the ship. They held out for as long as they could before jumping inside and pressing the emergency closing that slammed it shut.
The ship began to creek and bellow, as the Alachins climbed all over.
Luke shouted. “It’s time to go, Yvonne.”
“I got that,” she responded, “Now everyone – strap in.”
Everybody complied. The ship began to rattle, Then lift-off.
The primordial screams of Alachins falling to their death was almost inaudible over the roar of the engines.
The pull on their bodies weakened, the roar of the engines stopped. A pen glided through the air.
“We’re in orbit,” Yvonne advised. The relief audible in her voice.
Luke and John, took off their straps and went up beside her.
The planet was on fire. The damage to its cities, infrastructure and environment visible even from orbit.
“Those poor people.” A tear rolled down Lisa’s face.
“Are we safe?” John asked. There was no immediate answer.
Yvonne frowned. “There isn’t enough fuel to reach anywhere. Our best bet is to hope that we’re so small that we’ll just be ignored.”
Mark's Writing Corner 