Isle

“No man is an island entire of itself…”
– John Donne

 
Gasping for breath, Isle glanced over her shoulder. Her leather boots barely touched the sand as she raced away from the town.

She could hear motors starting behind her. 

The Rounders would be after her soon.

Isle hiked the backpack up on her shoulders and continued running. Sweat trickled down her forehead and into her eyes.

Wiping her sleeve across her face, she cleared her vision. Quickly, she looked back again.

The Rounders were flying over the town’s wall. As the circular machines sped towards her, Isle put on another burst of speed. 

Leaping over a patch of thorny bushes, the young girl stopped. The ground in front of her fell away into a deep ravine. A few rocks beneath her boots dropped into the blackness.

“Hey, kid! Stop!”

One of the pilots stepped out of his vehicle. Raising his hands, he slowly moved closer to Isle.

She drew back until her heels were on the edge of the cliff.

“Are you crazy?” the pilot yelled. “Get back here before you get hurt!”

Looking up, Isle saw that the flying machines had formed a semicircle around her, blocking escape routes. 

The pilots dismounted and began walking closer. Isle’s chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath.

“You might as well give up. We don’t want to hurt you.” The man gestured to his men. “You don’t have anywhere to go.”

“There’s one place,” Isle answered.

Spinning around, she jumped off the cliff. 

The men shouted in horror and sprinted to the ravine’s edge. A metallic blur whisked in front of their faces and into the sky.

Isle smiled as she pressed the lever. The top of her cockpit sealed shut.

Her small ship accelerated, leaving the desert sands behind.

Taking off her backpack, Isle put it behind her seat in the cargo space.

She knew she was safe. The short-range Rounders would never be able to get this high in the atmosphere.

Leaning back in her seat, Isle set her ship to automatic. She gazed out the window as the world outside faded from blue to black.

Bright silver specks sparkled in the distance.

“Time to head home,” she whispered.

The evening breeze brushed Isle’s hair back as she stared at the heaps of rubble below. She lived where the city dumped their metal and other trash. The waste that would not conveniently burn away.

When Isle’s parents died, the debt collectors took their house, property, and everything else. 

Isle lasted a few months in the Foster Refuge before running away.

At the age of seven, she started living on the streets alone.

For the past five years, Isle had made the scrapyard habitable. A large, abandoned rocket stood at the end of the rubbish heap, farthest from the town. 

The bottom of the structure was empty. Isle made the hollow top section into her home.

A semicircular platform stuck out at the bottom of the wide windshield, which had been broken for years. 

A long rope hung from the opening. It had large knots along it so she could climb up and down. 

The height of the rocket protected her from wild creatures. Once she pulled up the rope, Isle was safe from the rest of the world.

As the sun sank over the town in fiery red and gold, she drew in a deep breath. Sitting on the platform, Isle swung her legs over the edge. 

She held a pencil and a small stack of scrap pages that she had wired together. The last rays of the sun warmed her skin as she sketched. 

Drawing always calmed her after a mission. Once dusk thickened, she could sneak into town and get her money. 

When the yellow glow faded, Isle turned away and went inside. 

She hated when the final light disappeared and the sky went from gray to black. Seeing all the stars made Isle realize how small and alone she was in such an immense, enormous universe.

“Okay, time to get going,” she whispered to herself, shoving her sketchbook into her pocket.

Grabbing her green jacket, she glanced at her reflection in an old mirror. She had found it in the scrapyard. 

A short girl with dark brown skin and tangled black hair stared back at her. Her faded blue pants and gray shirt were threadbare and dirty. 

A bruise from jumping off the cliff into her ship was beginning to form on her arm.

Isle scowled. She should never have picked up the mirror. 

She considered shattering it and throwing it out of her shelter. Isle had never liked the way she looked. 

Her mother had been a tall, thin woman with deep brown eyes. Isle always thought her mother was the most beautiful woman in the universe. 

She wished she looked like her mother. But Isle looked like her father—small and muscular, with thick hair.

When she had moved into her current home, Isle tried to stay neat. 

She braided her hair and washed her few clothes in a nearby stream. However, after a few months, she gave up. 

It wasn’t worth it. No one cared what she looked like anymore. 

She was just like all the other abandoned parts that formed her home. 

Filthy, unwanted, forgotten.

Isle jerked her hood up, so she couldn’t see herself. Picking up her backpack, she stepped onto the platform and pulled on a cable. 

A screen fell over the opening to her house. Isle threw a rope over the edge of the platform. Seizing the rough cord, she let herself down.

Once she reached the ground, she trotted past her spaceship to where she had hidden her airsail. Carefully, she pulled the scrap of sheet metal aside and set the machine on the ground. 

She lifted the pole with the sail attached and fastened it to the top of her board.

Isle stepped on the power lever and stood on the board as the engine rumbled to life. She grabbed the cords attached to the sail and worked them. 

The airsail was flying several yards above the ground. Isle stepped on the power lever again. The airsail went speeding towards town.

The wind knocked her hood off as she flew across the scrapyard and over empty fields. 

When she reached the town, Isle took apart her airsail and hid it in some bushes.

She crawled under the town’s wall through a hole she had dug years ago. It was time to sneak in and get her money.

The streets were deserted. She stayed close to the buildings, making sure she was in the shadows. Finally, she reached a rundown shop. 

Silently, she opened the door and slipped inside.

A large man wearing a burgundy-red robe sat behind the counter. His head leaned back as he tossed candied melon slices into his mouth. 

Crossing the room, Isle pulled off her backpack and dropped it on the counter in front of him.

“Where’s my money?” she demanded.

The man dropped his food in surprise. His stubby fingers grabbed at the backpack eagerly.

“I didn’t even hear you come in, girly.”

“My name is Isle, not girly.” Isle narrowed her eyes at the man. “Now, where’s my money?”

“Give me a minute to examine the goods.”

The man’s eyes widened as he pulled out the glass tube with green electricity inside. “Sure as my name’s Greely Gorpchack, I don’t know how you pulled that off.”

“I keep my secrets, and you keep yours,” Isle answered shortly.

“Here’s your pay.”

Greely reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pouch. Isle held out her hand. He dropped the coins into her palm.

“I wish you would change your mind and come work with my crew. You’re the best thief I ever hired. You were born for a life like this.”

Shrugging, Isle looked away. She didn’t want Greely to see how his words hurt her.

“We sure could use a little one like you, girly.”

“That’s not my name,” Isle said, placing the coins in her pocket. “And why would I want to work with your crew?”

Greely stood up and walked around the counter. His heavy body dwarfed Isle’s small frame.

“I worry about you, sweetheart. I just want to help.” Greely started to smile but belched instead. “A tiny girl like you shouldn’t be on her own.”

“I have been fine by myself.” Isle crossed her arms. “I don’t need your help.”

“All right then.” Greely wiped a hand across his greasy mouth. “What about another job?”

“Already?”

“Yep.” Greely pulled a piece of paper out of his shirt. He laid it on the counter and gestured for Isle to join him. “This one is worth a lot.

"You get this, and we can all retire.”

Isle looked down at the painting. It showed a bronze sphere with silver light trickling out of a small opening.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Don’t worry your pretty head about that. You just focus on getting the target and bringing it back to me.” 

Greely handed Isle several more papers. “These are the maps you’ll need to get to the planet and find it.”

“Anything else?”

“Yes.” Greely plopped his hand on Isle’s shoulder. “Be careful. This is a dangerous one.”

“Aren’t they all?” Isle muttered.

“Not like this one. This isn’t stealing an artifact from a museum or robbing a science lab.”

“Then why are you sending me? Why don’t you send your crew?”

“I can’t. This one has to be you.” 

Greely heaved a sigh that shook his whole body. “This planet has a defense mechanism that keeps us out. The shield that they created would blast my crew into space.”

“It senses the heartbeat signature of humans within its perimeter,” he continued, “but it doesn’t register kids. You’re too young and small for it to lock onto your signal. That is why it has to be you.”

“Okay, but why is it so dangerous?” Isle looked down at the maps. “It doesn’t look like they have any guards or protection around the target.”

Greely dropped to his knee beside Isle, wheezing with the exertion. His breath smelled like rotten eggs. 

Wrinkling her nose, Isle pretended to study the maps so she could turn away from him.

“The people on this planet aren’t normal. They’re not even people. If they catch you, there’s no telling what they will do. They’re savages.”

“I can handle myself.” Isle tilted her chin up confidently. But she felt her stomach tighten into knots.

“Sure you can, kid.” Greely patted her head. “Come back when you got the goods, and I’ll give you your cut.”

Isle nodded and put her backpack on. Pulling her hood up, she walked out of the shop and into the night. 

She just had to get through this last job. Then she would be done with Greely forever. 

She wouldn’t need him or anyone else ever again.

“Okay, here goes nothing.”

Isle pushed the throttle forward. Her ship picked up speed, heading towards the planet below. 

Looking out the windshield, Isle could see flames as she entered the atmosphere. 

Isle clenched her hands around the controls as the ship shook violently. Her grip was so hard, her knuckles were turning white.

Heat seeped inside and warmed her skin.

Pushing the throttle to maximum capacity, she held her breath. The engine roared and sputtered loudly. 

Suddenly, the flames died away. The black space outside transformed to a bright blue. Isle sighed in relief.

“We made it!” she cheered. “Let’s go steal the last target we need so we can get out of this business.”

Isle grabbed her steering mechanism and eased her ship to the ground. 

This planet was different than her home planet or any others she had visited. Most of them were deserts. They all had patches of water and life, a few oases, but only the wealthy lived in these. 

However, this land was covered with green fields, forests, and shining water.

Looking back at her map, Isle released her landing gears. Her ship settled in the middle of a clearing. 

Isle pressed the lock, and the door swung open. Greeley had made notes on the map. She wouldn’t need her oxygen mask or suit for this planet.

Stepping out of the spaceship, Isle looked around. She was surrounded by tall trees and bushes. 

The air felt clear and warm. Isle wanted to explore, but she knew that she had to move quickly. She didn’t want to be discovered.

Opening the cargo hatch, Isle pulled out her airsail and assembled it. Her backpack was already stuffed with everything she thought she would need for this mission.

“Okay, you stay here,” she told her ship. “I’ll be back soon.”

Isle patted the side of her ship before hopping onto her airsail. 

She was only a few miles from the target’s location. Isle tied her thick dark hair back with a thin cord and pulled on a pair of fingerless leather gloves. 

She grabbed the cords and maneuvered her airsail around the trees. A mixture of fear and excitement surged through her body. 

It only took her a few minutes to reach the end of the forest. 

A shimmering blue lake stood in front of her. It had a grassy island in the middle.

Isle knew the target was hidden in a hollow section in the top of a tree.

Skimming across the lake, she approached the island. Isle could feel the familiar tightening in her stomach. She always felt it on a mission. 

Flying upwards, she urged her airsail to the tree. A faint glow was coming from a hollow branch. 

Isle smiled. She was almost finished with her last mission.

Carefully, she reached into the opening. Just as her fingers closed around the object, Isle felt something hard strike her shoulder. She fell back against the sail with a cry of surprise.

A boy appeared from behind the other side of the tree. Flight rollers were strapped to his feet. He was holding a sling shooter. 

Smugly, looking proud and superior, he grinned at Isle. He grabbed the bronze sphere from the tree branch. 

Skating through the air, he fired one more shot at her before flying away.

Isle dodged to the side and fell on her airsail board. The stone whizzed by her. 

With a swift jump, she got back to her feet. Her shoulder ached where the first rock struck. 

Gritting her teeth, Isle stomped on the power lever. She could see the boy skating through the air ahead of her.

“Better luck next time,” the boy yelled over his shoulder.

Isle fully extended her sail. Instantly, she lurched forward. Within a few minutes, she was alongside the boy. 

He yanked out his sling shooter and aimed it at her.

“Not this time,” Isle said.

Before he could shoot, Isle knelt and pulled a tiny black triangle from her boot. Flipping a switch on the back of the triangle, she activated the magnetic pulse. 

Immediately, the bronze sphere leapt out of the boy’s hand and jumped over to Isle. She placed the ball into an ivory container and threw it into the air.

“Better luck next time!” Isle mimicked, copying him.

The boy tried to reach for the container. He didn’t even come close.

A rocket turbo emerged from the bottom and shot it into the sky. 

“What did you do?” he yelled. “Where did you send it?”

Isle could see the boy’s hazel eyes narrowing as he raised his sling shooter. Before he could press the trigger, she jumped off her airsail and tackled the boy. 

Her attack caught him by surprise. They both plunged into the lake.

The cold water sent shivers through Isle’s body. Shoving the boy away from her, she kicked her legs and rose to the surface. 

After inhaling deeply, Isle dived back under and swam for the shore.

Her feet touched sand. Immediately, she pushed out of the water and began running.

She had only gone a few steps when her legs were yanked out from under her. 

Isle rolled onto her back and threw a handful of sand at the boy. He turned his face away but kept his hands around her ankle.

“Let go of me!” Isle commanded.

“Give it to me, and I’ll let you go,” the boy replied.

“I can’t.” Isle tried to jerk her leg away, but his grip was too strong.

“Look, I can’t give you the target because it’s not here. 

“I put it in my space rover. It flew out of the atmosphere. It’s already shooting through space.”

The boy let go of Isle’s ankle in surprise.

Gathering her legs under her body, Isle prepared to run…after she caught her breath.

“That was a space rover?” he asked. “I’ve never seen one so small.”

“Yeah, because they’re not usually built that size. I made it myself.”

“Where did you program it to go?” the boy said.

Isle shook her head. “I’m not going to tell you. You’ll try to beat me there and steal it.”

“You don’t understand.” The boy tossed his curly brown hair out of his eyes. “I have to bring it back with me.”

“Well, that’s too bad. I’m not telling you where it is,” she said.

“Then I’ll take you with me, and they will make you tell.”

Isle stuck out her chin stubbornly. She didn’t like this boy and his arrogant attitude. He had no right to threaten her or tell her what to do.

“I’m not going anywhere with you, and you can’t make me,” she snapped. “Stay out of my business.”

Crossing his arms over his chest, the boy eyed her, looking at her hard. Isle could tell he was trying to decide what to do next.

Slowly, she inched one hand towards her backpack. She had the airsail remote controller in a side pocket.

When her fingers wrapped around it, she jumped to her feet and began running.

Isle knew the boy would catch up to her soon. She raced to the nearest tree and started scaling the branches.

“What are you doing? You’ll have to come down eventually,” the boy called from the ground.

“Or I could keep going up,” Isle replied.

Looking out towards the water, she could see her airsail hurtling towards her. 

The boy activated his flight rollers and soared up next to her branch.

Isle broke off a stick and held it out defensively, but he wasn’t paying attention to her.

“Take my hand,” he said.

“What?”

“Hurry up! Take my hand and jump on my back!”

“Why?”

Isle turned in the direction the boy was staring. Her eyes widened.

There were dark gray shapes moving through the trees on all fours.

The figures were thin and bony and had no faces.

“Do you want to die? Grab my hand,” the boy shouted.

Isle hesitated for a moment. She didn’t trust him, but she remembered Greely’s warnings. 

Her airsail was not going to reach her before the creatures. Leaning forward, she grabbed the boy’s hand. 

He threw her onto his back and began skating through the air.

Isle glanced back. “They’re catching up to us,” she yelled.

“I’m going as fast as I can,” the boy replied. “These flight rollers weren’t meant to take this much weight.”

“Head towards my airsail. It will hold us both.”

Veering to the side, the boy obeyed her. The airsail was speeding over the treetops towards them. 

Isle looked back again. The gray aliens had gained on them. 

Isle’s mouth felt dry. She could feel her heart beating rapidly in her chest.

“Hurry, hurry!” Isle urged.

The boy grunted and sped up. One of the creatures leapt off a branch and reached for them. 

Isle screamed and ducked her head away. Its fingers brushed her hair but didn’t grab her. 

As the alien fell, the airsail flew up next to Isle. Immediately, she hopped off the boy’s back and onto the board.

“Get behind me and press the power lever.” Seizing the cords, Isle released the sail and moved them into the wind. “Hold on!”

Jerking the airsail to the side, she dodged through the trees. She was heading for her ship. 

Isle swiftly weaved through the woods until she could see the clearing. They were almost to safety.

Suddenly, a thick wire wrapped around Isle’s waist and pulled her upwards. Twisting around, Isle could see the boy was dangling in the air as well. 

They were suspended with a metal cable from a tree branch.

“It’s a trap,” the boy said, struggling uselessly to free himself.

“Obviously,” Isle snorted.

Slipping her fingers inside her sleeve, she pulled out a laser cutter. Isle began cutting through the wire. 

The branch holding them shook violently. The laser cutter fell from her hands.

“I think you should stop showing where you’re hiding all your gadgets,” the boy hissed.

Isle looked up. Several of the gray creatures were standing on the branch above them. 

Isle’s stomach churned nervously. She gripped the sides of her pants tightly to keep her hands from trembling.

The aliens grabbed the wire and lowered themselves down. Once their feet touched the ground, they were surrounded. 

Isle’s backpack was yanked off. Her wrists were bound behind her back.

“What do you think they’re going to do to us?” the boy whispered.

“I guess we’ll find out,” Isle murmured quietly.

The aliens rose up on two legs. One of them drew nearer and held out his palm. 

A blue mist rose from his hand. He blew it into their faces. 

Isle could feel her vision clouding over. Her legs buckled. 

Before she hit the ground, her body was lifted up by thin, stringy arms. 

Isle fought against the darkness, but her mind slipped away into unconsciousness.

“Are you awake?”

Groaning, Isle opened her eyes. Her head ached. Her mouth was dry as sand. She pushed herself up and looked around. 

The boy was sitting next to her. Their ankles were chained to the same post. They were in a canvas tent with a small hole at the top. 

Tilting her head, Isle listened intently. She couldn’t hear anything from outside.

“Where are we?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” the boy replied. “I just woke up a few minutes ago.”

Scooting forward, Isle pulled the chains on her legs. They were too tight for her to squeeze through. She would never be able to pick the locks without her tools.

“I don’t suppose there’s any chance you have another laser cutter in your other sleeve.”

“Nope, I only carry one.” Isle gave up with the chains and sat back. “And thanks to you, I lost it.”

“How was that my fault?” the boy protested.

“If you hadn’t tried to steal the target from me, neither of us would have been captured. I could be safely back at my place.”

“If you had given it to me instead of running off, we could have had time to escape,” the boy argued back.

Isle huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. She could feel angry heat rising in her face. 

She had never been caught on a mission before.

This one would have settled her for life. 

Instead, she was being held prisoner because of this stupid boy. Turning away, Isle scowled at the ground. 

The silence lasted several minutes before the boy spoke again.

“What’s your name?”

Isle narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Why would this boy want to know her name? No one cared enough about her to ask that.

He was probably trying to trick her.

“What’s your name?” he repeated.

“What’s yours?” Isle retorted.

“I’m Kadon.” The boy extended his hand. “I’m from the Silverstream Galaxy.”

Hesitantly, Isle took Kadon’s hand. Since he told her his name, she might as well tell him hers. 

He wouldn’t be able to find her anyway. No one on her planet knew her.

Not even Greely could remember her name.

“My name is Isle,” she replied slowly. “I live in the Glowcourse System.”

“The Glowcourse System?” Kadon’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.

“Which planet in the Glowcourse System?”

Isle hesitated. There was no way he would be able to find her, she reasoned.

No one ever visited the trash heaps.

“Darana,” she said.

“That’s a long way from here.” Leaning back on his elbows, Kadon looked at Isle curiously. “How did you find a small long-range ship you could operate by yourself?”

“I sort of made it,” Isle replied shyly. “I found a ship and just added some things and adjusted some of the mechanics to make it long-range.”

“You did that?” Kadon’s mouth dropped open. “I don’t believe it. That’s impossible.”

“No, it’s not.” Isle glared at the boy. “Because I did it.”

“So, you can make a spaceship, but you can’t get us out of these chains?” Kadon teased.

“What am I supposed to use to pick the locks? My fingernails?” Isle said sarcastically.

“No, they probably won’t be strong enough. Try your toenails instead.” Kadon grinned, teasing her.

Isle couldn’t help returning his smile. It had been years since someone had joked with her.

She was surprised this boy was even speaking to someone like her. He was dressed in a sharp uniform with black leather boots. 

Isle tugged at a hole in her pants, embarrassed. Her clothes were stained with grease and dirt. She knew her hair was sticking out in every direction.

“So how did you get a long-range ship?” Isle changed the subject hurriedly. “Did your parents buy it for you?”

“No.” Kadon cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t actually have parents.”

“Oh.” Isle shifted uncomfortably. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Kadon forced a smile. “It’s been a long time. I’m used to it.

"What about your parents? Did they help you with your ship?”

“No.” Taking a deep breath, Isle looked down at the ground. “My parents are dead. I live alone and work by myself.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I’m used to being on my own.”

“Must be kind of lonely,” Kadon commented.

Isle shrugged without speaking. She didn’t want to admit that she was tired of being alone. Especially not to this well-dressed, handsome boy.

“Don’t you have friends?”

“Not really.” Isle heaved a sigh. “I mean, why would anyone want to be friends with someone like me?”

“I would.”

Surprised, Isle lifted her head. Kadon was looking directly at her. 

Narrowing her eyes, Isle tilted her head and studied the boy. “No, you wouldn’t.”

“Yes, I would,” Kadon answered stubbornly.

“Why?” Isle demanded. “Why would you want to be friends with me?”

“Why wouldn’t I? You’re smart and brave and pretty…” Kadon trailed off, blushing.

“No, I’m not. I’m just a thief,” Isle confessed in a small voice. “I steal things for a man so he can sell them. I live in the trash. Stealing is all I’m good for.”

Turning away, Isle bit her lip and blinked rapidly. The last thing she wanted was to cry in front of Kadon. 

Her vision blurred with tears. She quickly rubbed her sleeve across her eyes.

Silently, Kadon reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. Touching Isle’s arm, he offered her the soft fabric square. 

Isle awkwardly took it and scrubbed her face clean. 

The two sat in silence for a few minutes before Kadon spoke quietly.

“My parents gave me away when I was six years old. They were too poor to keep me.

"They gave me to the Silverstream Galactic Alliance.”

“You work for the government?”

“Yeah,” Kadon replied. “The SGA has been training me for the last seven years. Ever since my parents gave me away. I've lived with the SGA all that time. 

“I know what it’s like to not have friends. I know what it feels like to be thrown away.”

Handing Kadon the handkerchief, Isle nodded at him gratefully. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had tried to comfort her.

“Thanks.”

“No problem.” Kadon smiled shyly at Isle. “So you build all of your equipment? Your airsail, rover, laser cutter, and ship? How do you do it?”

 “My parents were both inventors. They taught me.” Isle explained. “They said I had a knack for it. A gift. It just comes easy to me. The scrapyard provides all the material I need.”

“No kidding. You’re a genius.”

Isle blushed. She hadn’t been praised for her inventing skills since her parents died.

Unbuttoning the side pocket on her pants, Isle pulled out her pad of scrap paper.

“Do you want to see what I’m working on now?”

Taking the journal, Kadon eagerly flipped through the drawings. Carefully, he studied the sketches and diagrams with notes.

“These are incredible!” he exclaimed. “I should hire you to adjust my flight rollers and make them faster.”

“Well, my rates are very high,” Isle laughed. “I doubt you could afford me.”

“How much are you getting paid to steal the generator?” Kadon asked curiously.

Isle hesitated.

“Come on.” Kadon flashed her a small smile. “It’s not like I’m going anywhere.”

“I guess you’re right.” Isle grinned back.

“Of course, I am. Plus if we’re going to die soon, you might as well tell at least one person.”

“I’m getting paid enough to never have to steal anything again,” Isle admitted. “Once I do this job, I’ll be set. 

“Greely just wants this one last thing. What’s it called again?”

“It’s called a generator.” Kadon ran a hand through his hair. “I was sent to retrieve it for the Silverstream Galactic Alliance.”

“Why do they want the generator?”

“They told me the aliens are building weapons to attack other planets. The generator creates a shield that keeps the SGA from seeing the weapons or their plans.”

“How did they find out about the weapons?”

“They sent an experienced adult agent to infiltrate this planet. He saw the weapons being built and managed to send a message out.”

“That doesn’t make sense.” Isle frowned. “How did an adult get through the generator shield?”

“What do you mean?” Kadon asked.

“The only reason Greely sent me instead of sending his men was because only kids can get past the generator shield. How did the SGA get an adult through?”

“I don’t know,” Kadon answered. “I wasn’t told about that part of the generator.

"They said they were sending me because they wanted to see how I would do on my first solo mission.”

Frowning, Isle started to speak, but the tent flap swung open unexpectedly. 

Four gray aliens entered and unlocked their chains. Wrapping their bony fingers around Isle’s upper arms, they pulled her outside and led her forward.

Outside, the bright sunlight blinded Isle. She blinked until her vision adjusted. 

She was standing next to Kadon in a field. Isle shot a worried glance at him. 

He looked just as scared as she felt. 

One of the tall, bony creatures was standing in front of them. It bowed its head towards them. A small silver light came from its chest.

“What’s it doing?” Kadon whispered.

Unable to speak, Isle shook her head. 

The alien tapped its chest. The light flowed from its chest. Thin, glowing strips zigzagged across its empty face. Soft clicking and hissing came from the light.

“I think it’s trying to speak to us,” Isle said softly.

The alien cocked its head and pressed its chest again. Squeaking sounds came from the crossing strips of light on its face. The creature repeated the process multiple times.

“How many languages is it going to get through before it reaches ours?” Kadon wondered.

“Hello, humanoid children. The planet of Tellman hails you.”

“Well, that answers your question,” Isle murmured under her breath.

“Hello,” Kadon greeted the alien nervously.

“We apologize for the treatment you have received. It was necessary for the safety of our people. 

“The generator shield for Tellman has been stolen. Our defense force believed you had taken it. 

“However, it was not found on your persons or in your possessions. Therefore, we are releasing you from custody.”

“Great, can you point me in the direction of my ship?” Isle asked.

“Of course. We are pleased to escort you to your transportation.”

“Wait,” Kadon interrupted. “That’s it? You’re just letting us go?”

“What are you doing?” Isle hissed. “Shut up.”

Turning away from the creature, Kadon pulled Isle to the side. He lowered his voice so they would not be overheard.

“Look, there’s something wrong here. I was told that these aliens were dangerous creatures that would kill us immediately. 

“They are the complete opposite of that. Aren’t you curious to know what is going on?”

“No,” Isle whispered back. “I just want to go back and get my money.”

“What is it with you and that money?”

“I just need it.”

“Why? Why is that money more important than the truth?”

“I need it to get my home back!” Isle exploded. “I just want to have a home. Can’t you understand that?”

Looking away, she wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

Gently, Kadon placed a hand on her shoulder.

“You can tell me anything.”

“I’ve been saving my earnings for years so that I could buy back my family’s house someday. This last job would give me enough. I just want…”

“A home,” Kadon finished her sentence.

Isle nodded and pressed her lips tightly together to keep them from trembling.

“I understand,” Kadon whispered. “I barely remember my home, but I miss it. 

“I miss my parents and brothers and sisters. But do you really want to buy your house back with this money?”

Twisting a strand of hair around her fingers, Isle hesitated. This was supposed to be her last mission. After this, she could stop being a thief. 

She just wanted to be free from Greely. But she knew if she took this money, she would never be free from her doubts. 

Finally, Isle sighed and shrugged.

“Okay, we might as well find out what’s going on since we’re here.”

Kadon clapped his hands together. His bright smile lifted Isle’s spirits. 

Even if she ended up in the trash again, she would always have this memory.

“Come on.” Kadon took her hand. “Let’s go solve a mystery.”

They crossed back to the alien with the glowing light. It turned toward them as they approached.

“We were wondering why someone would have stolen your generator,” Kadon said. “We could look for it on our planets, just in case.

"Not because we took it. We would definitely return it to you and not sell it for money.”

“Real smooth,” Isle muttered.

“The generator shields us from outside forces that wish to harvest the natural resources from Tellman.”

“How do you know that’s what people would do?” Isle asked.

“It has happened before.”

The alien lifted its head. A rich, sweet note came from the strips of light on its face. 

Nothing happened for a moment. Then the wheat in the field around them lifted into the air. 

Isle watched, open mouthed, as the wheat transformed into multiple golden butterflies.

Their flight patterns in the sky transformed into a story.

Several large warships landed on a planet. The soldiers came off the warships and ran across the land. 

As they moved forward, they stripped the land bare and killed everything until only one tree remained.

Finally, one of the aliens stepped forward with a small sphere. 

A surge of energy came from the sphere. It knocked the soldiers off the planet.

The alien placed the sphere into the lone tree.

“Since our ancestor invented the generator many seasons ago, it has shielded us from harm.” 

The alien repeated the same note. The butterflies flittered back to the ground. They changed back to wheat. 

“We were able to rebuild with its protection. The thief did not turn it off. Therefore, the protective shield is still in place. 

“However, whoever holds the generator can penetrate our defenses and enter Tellman.”

“And then they would destroy everything,” Isle said.

“That is correct.”

Isle looked at Kadon. His hazel eyes widened as he thought about everything the alien told them.

“That’s the real reason they sent me,” he whispered. “They lied.”

Placing her hands on her hips, Isle thrust out her chin defiantly. Her dark eyes flashed as she remembered the lies Greely had told her.

“They’re not going to get away with it,” she vowed.

Isle pulled herself over the edge of the platform. Standing up, she gestured for Kadon to follow her.

“This is where you live?”

“Yep. I’ve been here ever since I got kicked out of town.” Isle pulled on a cable. The screen in front of her shelter lifted. “Come inside.”

Kadon wandered around the hollow rocket while Isle opened a small hatch on the wall.

The rover was safely inside. Opening the ivory container, she pulled out the bronze sphere.

“I’ve got it,” she called over her shoulder. “Let’s get out of here.”

Kadon hurried down the rope. Isle tucked the generator away.

Grabbing the knotted rope, she went hand over hand until she reached the ground.

“We better hurry before your people come after us,” she said.

“It’s a little late for that,” a gruff voice said from behind.

Isle whirled around. 

A group of men in dark red uniforms were standing behind her. Two of them were holding Kadon with a gag over his mouth. 

One of the men stepped forward and held out his hand.

“We know you two have the generator. Now give it to us.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Isle replied. She held onto her backpack tighter. 

“We can track the generator’s location. It's on this planet. Your skill as a thief has led us here.”

“Well, you’ve been led to the wrong place then.” Isle moved back a few steps. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Give us your backpack, and we’ll leave you alone.”

“Not a chance.” Isle narrowed her eyes.

“In that case, we’ll hurt your friend.”

The man snapped his fingers. The gag was ripped off Kadon’s mouth. He was dragged forward.

“You can’t hurt him. He works for you,” Isle protested.

“We have plenty of other agents. He’s expendable. We can throw him away,” the man responded, emotionlessly.

He nodded to his men. One of them pulled out a thick baton.

An electric current crackled between two prongs at the top of the club. 

Isle felt hard knots form in her stomach.

“Don’t tell him anything!” Kadon yelled.

“Give me the generator!” the man ordered, lowering the baton towards Kadon’s neck.

Slowly, Isle pulled off her backpack and held it in front of her.

Looking at Kadon, she raised her eyebrows. He nodded back slightly.

“Come on, girl. Hand it over.”

As the man reached his hand out, Isle stepped forward. She hurled the backpack at his face. 

Kadon took advantage of the men’s surprise to wriggle free. He grabbed the backpack. 

Together, they began racing through the scrapyard. Kadon tossed the backpack to Isle. She put the straps over her shoulders.

“Whose ship is closer?” Isle panted.

“Yours!” Kadon shouted back. “Mine is on the other side of the scrapyard!”

They dodged around the piles of metal and trash. The men were closing in behind. 

As soon as they could see the ship ahead, Isle pulled out a green cube and pressed a button on it. Her spaceship’s engine powered up. The door hatch swung open.

Isle put on an extra burst of speed, sprinting the last few yards.

Leaping into the ship, Kadon flipped the turbo engines down. The ship rose from the ground several feet. 

Isle jumped towards the door. A hand seized the collar of her jacket and yanked her backwards. 

Twisting around, she tried to punch the person who held her. The man grabbed her arm and wrenched it behind her back.

“Whoa, girly, it’s just me.”

“Greely?” Isle gasped. “What are you doing here?”

“You did good, kid.” Greely patted her head. “We got rid of those government goons. You did good hanging on to the target for us.”

“We have to return it,” Isle interrupted.

“What?”

“If I don’t return the generator, the planet of Tellman will be destroyed,” Isle explained. “I have to take it back.”

“Look, kid, you’re too young to understand.” Greely clicked his tongue. His men surrounded Isle. “Just hand over the target. I’ll make sure you get your share of the money.”

“It’s not about the money,” Isle protested. “It’s about doing what’s right.”

“This is what’s right.” Greely belched and squatted down. “I know you want this money to have a family.

"You can have that. Just give me the target, and we can be your family.”

“No, don’t listen to him,” Kadon yelled from the ship.

“Come on.” Greely held out his hand. “Be a part of my family, girly.”

“Isle, please don’t do this,” Kadon begged.

Isle looked away from Kadon and slid off her backpack. She dropped it onto the sand in front of Greely. 

Immediately, the men clustered around the backpack and ripped it open. Greely plunged his hand inside. 

He grasped the object inside and pulled it out. A pouch of coins was in his hand. 

He turned back to where Isle was standing, but she was gone. 

Looking up, Greely saw the girl’s small figure in the window of the spaceship as it blasted into the sky.

Isle dipped her toe into the flowing river. The cool water brushed over her skin. It sent tingles up her spine.

Sitting down, she stared out at the dark purple and pink night sky. The constellations made by the stars were silver. And beautiful. So different from the trash heap.

“Can I join you?”

Looking up, Isle nodded. Kadon plopped down next to her. They sat in silence for a moment.

“What made you decide to refuse Greely’s offer?”

“It wasn’t too hard.” Isle pushed her hair back from her face. “Greely only cares about himself. That’s not family. He didn’t even know my name.”

“Why’d you stick the generator in your pocket instead of your backpack?” Kadon asked.

“I figured that we might need a decoy just in case.”

“You lost all your money. You lost your chance to get your home back.”

“I realized that a house is different than a home.” Isle shrugged. “Houses are just spaces to live, but a home is where your family is.

"I’ll be fine living in the trash. Maybe that’s where I belong.

“Anyway, there are worse things than money that I could have lost. Like a friend.”

“I didn’t want to lose you either.” Kadon flashed his bright grin at Isle. “And you don’t belong in the trash. You belong with a friend.”

“Well, so do you.” Isle returned the smile.

 “So what do we do now?” Taking off his shoes, Kadon put his feet into the stream next to her. “The Tellmans said we can stay here.”

“Have you ever wondered what’s out there?” Isle turned back to the horizon, looking at the sky. “All my life, I’ve been told that only vicious monsters lived on other planets. That wasn’t true on Tellman.”

“Let’s go find out.”

“You’d go with me?” Isle stood and extended her hand to Kadon.

“I’ll go anywhere with a friend,” he replied, rising to his feet.

The two stood, hand in hand. The vast space before them was filled with unknown adventures.