10
"The next time I plan to blow up a ship, I want someone to remind me what a terrible idea it is," Caoimhe said.
"It is a terrible idea," Bahran said in her communicator.How their communicator was working perfectly, and she couldn't hardly talk to the others in her party, she didn't know.
Well, that wasn't true.She had a suspicion.
She twisted and turned the escape pod--which had the worst controls she'd ever tried to handle--to line her up with what she hoped would be the least likely way to get damaged while landing on that central moon.Naturally, she headed for the one that looked like a demonic ball with all the black and red veins all over it.
She hoped it wasn't a premonition of what was to come, but unfortunately, she thought it could be.
Two blasts fired at her, hitting the pod.Lights started blinking red and yellow all over the displays.The cautions and warnings were very adamant in letting her know that the shields were failing.
"My shields are almost gone," she said to Bahran.
"Keep heading for that moon.I have your back."
She glanced at her display."Is three percent enough shielding for passing through the atmosphere?"
"It will be fine," Bahran said.
Warning.Warning.Warning.
Shielding will not withstand atmosphere entrance at this angle.
"Of course not," Caoimhe said.She hit a couple of commands, and it showed her a more stable angle of entry to help her get through."All shields forward on the ship to protect from atmosphere entry."
While the escape pod lit up red and started awful buzzing alarms, the systems did comply as she headed into the atmosphere.Shields attempted to protect her as she entered.Heat slammed into her, and her displays started to glow like fire from the entry angle.
"I'm either going to live or die," she whispered, sweat immediately dampening her forehead.
She took a breath.
This was the moment.It all came down to this.
She needed to get through this very beat of life so that she could live for another.To get through this would get her to where she was going to be.
But if she didn't, who would she be?How would she be remembered?
And would it matter?
Her mother came to mind.Tall, graceful, beautiful.Sharp and able to negotiate better than most men.She could control the room with her smile, and many times did.A legacy Caoimhe would never be able to live up to.A single memory of her mother came to her.
"Mother, how can I be as good as you?"Caoimhe asked as she brushed her mother's long dark hair."You are the bestest Empress that the Empire has ever known."
She looked at her."My child.You should not try to be me."
"Then what should I be?"Caoimhe asked.
"Be you.Do what you feel drawn to.Do not try to emulate me."
"Why not?Everyone says you're the bestest."
"Do not try to be the best, only be you.Let history debate who you were.There will always be those who love you and those who hate you.Do not let those stones block your path."
Her mother pulled her into her arms, and they hugged, Caoimhe still clutching the hairbrush.
She still had that hairbrush.It always reminded her of her mother.
