Personal Instincts

Space travel had become more prevalent, and jobs had expanded into space exploration. Minda 208 was one of 20 ‘attendants’ on a ‘The Nebulas Gazer II’. Her team did sensitive deliveries, base infiltration/ and retrieval missions. They also did the occasional escort mission. Minda 208 came from a long line of Space Attendants. Her parents, grandparents, several aunts and uncles, were on ‘The Nebulas Gazer I’ and her much older brother and sister were assistant commanders on higher rank space military ships. Everyone on space systems got a number to replace their last names to protect their privacy when/if they returned to earth (or earth-like) life. Because of many ships using the same supply stations, Minda got to see her family sometimes monthly or at least four times a year- much more often than most people used to if they chose space-life.

Minda’s team always just called her ‘8’. They all just called each other by their numbers-it made things easier. But she felt just as close and loyal to them as any other friendship. They weren’t forced to be friends, but they were. Her best friend was 312, whom they just called ‘12’. The only reason to add the first number was if it was doubled- like Captain 220 because one of the maintenance attendants was 120.

The only people who didn’t call them by their numbers were their enemies. People who set out to steal goods, raid supplies, or do area take-overs. The most common enemy The Nebulas Gazers and similar ships had were The Revel Raiders. Revelers were so ingenuous and unimaginative they stole from DC’s ‘Joker’. The ‘leader’ was some nutjob who called himself ‘Rebel’ and wore harlequin masks. They had no idea where he got money from; theft obviously but nothing specific. Yet he paid his revelers who were always decked out in new-looking full chrome-black spacesuits to do his bidding and arresting them got nowhere. The Nebulas Gazer II had a cell-station built right on it for the Revelers-regularly updated cuffs that defied laser slicers and automatically mis-sent any signals with every inch covered in cameras.

Once captured, revelers were sent to earth for off-space punishment. Unfortunately, space laws and earth laws were NOT equal. So, the most that usually happened was the Revelers- or anyone who had broken rules- was forced to work what considered a serious step-down. A particular set of manufacturing plants was mostly formed by criminals. Wearing ugly uniform shirts, doing semi-pointless manual labor. They also lived in nearby shabby apartments. What a crummy, crappy life. But they did it over and over and 208 didn’t understand. Weren’t their parents/families ashamed of them? Didn’t they strive for better for themselves?

Well, 208 was about to find out. Due to a series of situations NONE of which were 208’s fault whatsoever, The Nebulas Gazer II was at the center of a botched military delivery job and after interviews, investigations, and a space court trial, 208 was basically hung out to dry by the rest of the attendants. She couldn’t believe it when her own Captain 220 pointed to her reports as the main fault of the delivery when he was on the witness stand. She had stood in the pouring rain just outside of Venus for TWO HOURS for him before and here he was throwing her under the bus. The other attendants either didn’t have anything at all or blamed 208 as well.

She was officially found guilty of Miscommunication for Military Space Operations and Negligence. She was ordered to no less than 3 nor more than 6 months of Earth Manufacturing ‘Rehabilitation’. She was placed in some isolated little nowhere town called Savannah- a common sentencing city. She was placed at a manufacturing plant for making window sealers. How worthless and unfair. You could only have limited phone calls. The only upside was the apartment was paid for, utilities included, and she only had to pay $100 of whatever she made to restitution until the $1000 of damages she was charged with was paid. No car. And only her ‘street’ clothes. None of her space-assigned things could go with her either. She HAD planned on being able see her cousin and sister at the next supply station. Plus it was the end of April- she was spending most of-possibly-all summer and fall- on Earth. The Summer Space was almost untouchable in beauty. Trips with the girls for vacation times they saved for and plus the three-week ship shutdown for upgrades and repairs. It wasn’t even her fault! She was just being the fall-guy.

208 was up, packed and ready to be dropped off the ship then Captain 220 and three security attendants plus two police officers. The security attendants and cops started going through her packed stuff!

“Hey! What are you doing?!” She cried.

“We have to go through items to be taken off-ship to make sure you’re not taking any space or ship items or any other contraband.” Captain 220 said in an official tone. He was in a military stance and not looking at 220.

He was treating her like not only as if she had done something wrong, but as if 208 was nobody to him. It was very hurtful.

“But why couldn’t you have done this while I was packing? Not until after I was all done?!”

“Protocol” 220 replied flatly.

After they made complete mess of her stuff they cleared it.

“Landing in 20 minutes, be ready to off board," 220 said as he left.

208 was hurt and angry as she hurriedly repacked.

No send-off, no goodbyes. Just practically shoved off the landing and shoved into a bus by the police. At the apartment, she was given her key and access code to the building. Then she cried as she unpacked.

The next day she walked drearily to the plant a few blocks away, did a quick orientation with the supervisor before being given the ugliest gray-brown button up in the world and was positioned at a machine with another girl’s back to her.

“Trainee is here,” the supervisor said and walked away. “Have a good day”

208 folded her arms and unsuccessfully faked a half-smile. But her annoyance gave way to fear as the girl turned around and it was a Reveler. A reveler 208 had cuffed many times. She was a regular Rebel henchman. 208 took a step back.

The girl raised her brows, not seemingly in fear, but confusion. “Uh....hey. Wait. I remember you.” she gave a chuckle “I didn’t know gazers got in trouble. So...What’s wrong with you?”

208 cleared her throat “Well, I guess I didn’t expect to be working with my enemy”

The girl looked more puzzled and then checked over her shoulder before pointing at herself “...I’m your enemy?” she asked.

“Uh, YEAH. Did yout think we were friends?” 208 asked sarcastically.

The Reveler rolled her eyes “No. I would say ‘acquaintances’. I never thought of you as my ‘enemy’.

“You’re a reveler.”

“Yeah. But it’s not personal. Not to me anyway. I don’t take being a henchman like gazers do.”

“We’re Not ‘henchman’!”

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t realize you were a captain”

“I’m not” 208 was confused now.

“So...you get paid to follow orders?”

“Well...I mean...yes”

“So...how is that NOT ‘henchman’?” The reveler cocked a brow.

“It’s DIFFERENT! I am a SPACE. ATTENDANT! I work for the good side!”

“Uh-huh. So uh...what got the hammer thrown at you that you’re here?”

“I didn’t DO anything! I was framed, I didn’t, hey STOP!” 208 interrupted herself as the reveler was nodding sarcastically.

The reveler threw her hands up “All right. All right. I’ll drop it. Let me show you how this machine works, okie, Gazer?”

208 folded her arms and begrudgingly agreed.

“How long ya here for?” the reveler asked a while after.

“Three months at least. Possibly 6” 208 said. “Why?”

“I’ll tell super to let me keep you limited since it’s short term”

They kept training for a few days, agreeing to just go by ‘Revel’ and ‘Gazer’- 208 didn’t want to get too personal anyway.

One day, Gazer found out there was rec center up the street that was paid for with the building. She went to work out one morning as she was on second shift.

Then behind her she heard ‘Hey, gaze, hold up’. She stopped and turned to see Revel jogging to catch up.

“Thanks for waiting”

“Yeah. What are you doing?”

“Working out, same as you.”

“Listen, I’m not telling you any Nebulas secrets or anything.” Gazer snapped.

“Grouchy in the am, huh, Gazer? I don’t want any ‘secrets’. I’m not working for Rebel right now.”

“What about when you go back?”

“Gaze, I told you. It’s not personal to me. I just get paid henchman money.”

Gazer tilted her head and sneered.

“Tell you what, Gaze, no non-factory work talk, okie? We won’t talk about any space stuff.”

“....Okie” Gaze said.

“Do you weight train or you a ‘cardio-only’ gal?” Revel asked.

“You’re trying too hard” Gazer said.

“I’m trying” Revel replied with a shrug.

They continued working out together and learned they lived on the same floor of the same building, just 4 doors down on the opposite side. And Revel didn’t ask a single thing about life or work in space.

`Every night when Gazer got home, she fully blacked out the calendar square for the day with a sharpie, then had long showers and early nights. She couldn’t afford a TV and she learned her ‘personal’ laptop wasn’t hers to take off the ship. They had limited weight for space travel, so she had no books-she had listened to audiobooks on her laptop. She was banned from calling the ship for two weeks.

At work, she avoided most people she could. She even tried to sit alone on breaks.

One Friday, they were shutting down even earlier than usual because of big machines getting full repairs. Revel came over to Gazer.

“Heeey, not bad. Early shutdown before a long weekend and there’s cupcakes in the breakroom” she smirked. “Doesn’t get better than that”

Gazer gave a half-smile “Yeah”

Revel looked at her oddly “What’s wrong, Gaze? Don’t eat sweets?”

Gazer shrugged “It’s just...this weekend and into next week is when my friends from...” she stopped, remembering their agreement.

Revel smiled gently and pointed up; Gazer nodded.

“Forgiven. Continue”

“Well, we would go on a spring break retreat; beaches, boating etc. I can’t even talk to them for another week.” Gazer sighed.

“I’m sorry, Gaze” Revel said. “I’m not usually the jealous type, but that does sound even better than cupcakes in the breakroom”

Gaze smiled. “Yeah.”

“Hey, I know. Let’s hang out this weekend. I’ll even see if the salon can fit a facial in for you too. We can go shopping and grab lunch.” Revel suggested.

“I can’t” Gaze said. Plus, hanging out outside of the gym and work with Revel seemed too personal. “Not allowed”

Revel cocked a brow “ ‘Not Allowed’? What you need adult supervision?”

“No, I’m being punished.”

Revel squinted “Yeeaah? You got a copy of you disciplinary notice, right?”

“Yeah”

“Show me the part where it says you can’t go shopping and get facials”

“Well, it doesn’t quite...”

“Gaze, your punishment is working here instead of up there. That’s it. What you do, within laws, is irrelevant. You’re just torturing yourself.”

Gazer looked down. “I guess...”

“So, now that you realize you’re not a grounded teenager, hang out tomorrow?” Revel asked gently.

“Y-yeah. O-okie" Gaze agreed.

“Sweet. Oh, hey get me another box of 2-12, will ya?”

The next morning, Gazer and Revel swam laps then sat in the sauna while Revel told Gazer about the sweet shop that they had get ice cream from.

“And, Helena DID have a spot available for you to get a facial too” Revel added.

The facial was amazing. The massage part lasted a long time, and Gazer had forgotten how indulgent a hot towel could be.

They also got walk-in pedicures, and at the shops, Gazer realized she could actually buy cute little trinkets and some physical books.

After lunch, they got the ice-cream (SO Delicious) and Gazer noted the great time.

“I wish it didn’t have to end after ice cream” she admitted.

“Why does it? Wanna come over tonight? We can make our own mini-pizzas, have wine, and watch karens crash out on youtube”

“Really? You’d let me in your apartment?” Gazer asked, shocked.

Revel looked at her like she was crazy “uh, Yeah. Duh. Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because...we’re..”

“Acquaintances who have hung out all day today and most days the last two weeks?”

Gazer smiled. “Okie. I’ll come over.”

Every night for several weeks, in fact, it became an automatic ritual. Gazer went home, changed into pjs, and went down the hall to Revel’s. They even read the same books to talk about them in their own little book club on Friday nights.

“Friends, books, and wine” Gazer said.

“Friends?” Revel asked.

They had a laugh and clinked glasses.

Then one Saturday night when Gazer arrived, Revel had champagne instead of wine and had some shrimp cocktails and a little chacuterie board.

“Fancy tonight?” Gazer said, picking up a glass.

“Yeah. Celebration”

“What are we Celebrating?” Gazer asked.

Revel blinked at her. “It’s your last weekend, Gaze. You get to go back to space next Friday”

Gazer almost dropped her glass like her jaw. “I do?”

“I thought you’d be counting down the days.”

“I guess. Wait, why are you happy about that?” Gazer asked, feeling slighted.

Revel looked down “I’m not happy for ME. I’m gonna miss you, Gaze. But I know you hate it here and want to get back to your ‘prestige’. It’s not personal that you’re leaving or here. I’m happy for you” and with that Revel lifted her glass towards Gazer.

Their glasses clinked softly.

Gazer had to give a lot of her items to Revel because of the ship limits. Revel didn’t see her off.

“It’s not personal,” Revel said. “Just rules”

Back on the ship, everyone almost treated her the same, like nothing happened. She was back to being 208. But things changed.

At a retrieval mission, they suited up to locate some prototype; the lower attendant never got a lot of details.

They got ambushed and were forced to split up; 208 and 312 had their weapons knocked from them, and they went running together to hide in an alley. Search lights from enemy ships were everywhere. They crouched behind a broken building.

Suddenly, they heard running towards to them. Then there was a chrome-faced Reveler, pointing a gun at them. They threw up their hands and looked at each other with fear. The Reveler looked at them a beat, mostly at 208, and then their radio went off.

“Did you find them?” a robotic voice asked.

The Reveler pressed near their shoulder and responded robotically through the mask.

“No, just their locator watches, they must of ditched them as a distraction. They have to be up the eastern quadrant.” the figure reached out and made a squeezing motion with their hand.

208 elbowed 312, they got their watches off and handed them to the Reveler, who snatched them and ran off.

“They didn’t capture us? We have to tell Captain 220” 312 breathed.

“No!” 208 admonished.

312 looked shocked.

208 sucked in her lips “They let us go, let’s let them go.”

312 looked unsure but finally agreed.

On Another infiltration mission, 208 was trying to get in a back entrance but was caught from behind. She slowly turned around to see Revel holding a weapon at her.

“This isn’t a Rebel thing!” 208 gasped.

Revel cocked a brow “I don’t support him, personally. I henchman for whoever gives me money”

“You’re going to shoot me?” 208 swallowed.

“I’m going to shoot at you; nothing personal”

And then Revel pulled the trigger and 208 ran out towards the field. She heard Revel tell someone to ‘stay on watch’.

Moments later, 208 was pressed to the ground under Reveler’s weapon.

208’s eyes were wide.

Revel said softly “The night you left, I poured two glasses of wine without thinking. I never had to clean two glasses by myself before.” she inhaled “We’ve got no cover to the west.” Then she ran back.

Then there was a drop-off that turned out to be a Rebel trap. 208 and eight other attendants were captured.

She was electro-cuffed near Rebel. Through the captors’ radios she knew The Nebulas attendants were fighting for control.

Rebel mocked her a little bit and then licked her cheek.

She couldn’t move away but wanted to throw up.

He started bringing his mouth closer and then suddenly his body shook violently, and electricity surged until he was a lump on the ground.

208 looked up with confused fear.

Standing right behind Rebel was Revel. Half-suited and unmasked, holding a shock-gun.

She looked at 208 and said flatly “That was very personal”

Revel freed one of 208’s hands, put the key at her feet, handed her the shock gun, then took out a .22 from Rebel’s holster and pointed it at 208.

“Point it at me, quick.” Revel ordered. “Later, Gaze. By the way, they answer is ‘instincts’.”

208 was lost but had no time to think as they were suddenly surrounded by armed attendants, including Captain 220.

“Drop your weapon, Reveler. NOW!”

Revel obeyed and got roughed up to her feet

220 saw the key and freed 208’s other hand. “Nice job, 8. How’d you get the key and weapon from Rebel?” He sounded impressed.

208 looked at Revel being arrested. They met eyes. “Instincts” she replied.

“You’re going right back to Earth, Reveler” an arresting officer said.

“Yeah, yeah” Revel smiled at 208.

“Personal Instincts” Gazer added.