Survivors

 

Friday morning breakfast arrived too soon for the boys. They still were not acclimated to getting up early for school. Warren skipped breakfast. Travis got snagged by Felicia and Carmen and found himself sitting with them as the chatty girls bored him beyond imagining. Matthew found Jordan and sat next to him, happy to have a friend, especially one who knew the mysteries of sex. Robert Charles and Lisa sat at a table near those two. In another dining hall Jeremy, Ryan, Douglas, Scooter, Mike, Brandon, and Stevie sat together at a large table. Alex had a bad night's sleep and skipped breakfast to sleep in.

 

"I'm so glad you're running for class leader, Douglas," Scooter had told Douglas as they walked together to the dining hall.

 

"I'm not so sure I'm happy about it,” Douglas moaned. “The only reason I'm running is that RC has made me. Robert Charles I mean."

 

“I like saying RC, it doesn’t take as long,” Scooter observed.

 

While Douglas was still peeved that he was even on this space ship, one thing he knew was the guys around him were making the trip seem a whole lot better--especially the blonde boy next to him.

 

"I think you're going to do great," Mike said, bringing Douglas’s thoughts back to the dining room. “You’re going to kick some serious RC ass.” The boys were quickly picking up on using Robert Charles’s initials in lieu of his name.

 

Mike always loved saying good things to his friends. He knew Douglas would need some encouragement, especially when he made his announcement in class this morning.

 

Douglas noticed Mike and Jeremy were not paying any attention to each other. He figured one person he would have to win over for the election was Jeremy. And if he won over Jeremy he probably would get Warren on his side as well. Just getting those votes would probably give him the win. Suddenly, he almost felt himself actually caring.

 

On the way to class Robert Charles stopped Jordan to talk. Matthew was hanging close so he could listen in.

 

"Did you find out who is running against me?"

 

"Douglas is."

 

Robert Charles started laughing hard. "That wimp? I thought it would be somebody with balls, like Alex or Jeremy. Even that asshole Mike has some guts. Douglas sits around and looks bored half the time. Why did they pick him? He's nobody." He laughed again. ”You know what, guys? I think they want me to win; that’s why they’re running Douglas against me.”

 

"Everybody seems to like him and they think he will be good."

 

"Well, he's not going to win, I'll tell you that right now. And he certainly isn’t any good."

 

The boys headed to class. The room filled up fast, and within minutes all of the upper level students were there.

 

Mr. Z. walked in smiling. "Good morning, everyone. Before we get into our computer lessons we need to do some other things. First, has anyone decided to run against Robert Charles for class leader?" Without even pausing he went on, "No? Good...."

 

"Uh...Mr..... Z."

 

The teacher turned around to see who was talking. He saw Douglas's hand up. "Yes, Douglas?"

 

"I plan on running."

 

"You? You're joking of course."

 

Douglas turned red. "No, I'm not joking, and why would you think that, sir?" Douglas made sure the teacher heard the "sir".

 

"You told all of us this place bored you, that you didn't want to be here, and that you didn't care what happened."

 

"I care now, sir. My friends have asked me to run and so I'm running." Douglas made sure he heard the word "friends".

 

"Well, then, as long as you are serious about this, you should be complimented for your decision. Robert Charles has a lot of experience and I have every confidence in the job he will do. You will have to earn that same confidence from me."

 

Douglas felt like saying, “You dumb shit, I was the student body president of my school which gives me a lot more experience than RC has. What makes you think I can't lead a class of 17 kids?” But before he could say anything he heard a sweet voice.

 

"Douglas was the president of his school." Douglas knew it was Scooter speaking up. "We all think he would make a good class leader."

 

"Well, Scott, let me tell you this," Mr. Z. said. "Being a student body president is running student government. And that means running it the way you're told by the faculty of the school. I expect my student leaders to lead and take charge. I expect them to think independently. And if you want the truth, I don't think Douglas is as ready to do that as Robert Charles is. And that is nothing against Douglas. It's a matter of age and experience.  Robert Charles will be fifteen soon. He has been trained to lead since he was little. And he has already shown me what he can do. If you want to run, Douglas, that's great. But I think you will have to work real hard to convince everybody that you're the best choice."

 

Douglas felt humiliated. This was not working out like he thought at all. His teachers on Earth encouraged him to do things. Mr. Z. was obviously unhappy that he was running against his pet.  Oh well, he thought, Mr. Z. doesn't vote.

 

Robert Charles looked at Douglas. "Good luck, dude. May the best man win." He put a heavy emphasis on the word “man”. To himself he said, “And we all know who that is”.

 

Mr. Z. started the class with a discussion of the history of space exploration. They got as far as the Gemini program when he said it was time for a break and then for their computer studies.

 

Groups met and talked during the break. Scooter was meeting with Jeremy and Warren. They talked about Douglas and Mike. Jeremy wondered if Douglas believed Mike when he said he wasn't the one who hit Ryan. Scooter told him he believed it and was sure Douglas did too. Jeremy wasn't so sure that was the case. He still felt Mike was the only person in a position to slug Ryan. He wasn't so sure he would vote for Douglas because of his support for Mike.

 

"Maybe you should listen to your roommate," Scooter said. "Talk to him again and then make up your mind. It seems you’re making judgments without knowing everything."

 

In another corner Robert Charles, Jordan, and Lisa were talking.

 

"That little dumb shit will not win," Robert Charles said. "I told you it was war and it is. Everybody is meeting in one of the spas, which he is going to take credit for. So how about the three of us meeting in one of our rooms to make plans. How do you see the votes right now?"

 

Jordan did some figuring. "I figure six votes for us for sure. With no doubt." He looked right at Matthew who again was just standing nearby listening.

 

"And for them?"

 

Jordan figured some more. "I figure six."

 

"So that makes five who aren't sure. And we need three of them. Or, we need to get some of the sure ones on our side. Let's meet and make war plans this afternoon."

 

Carmen and Felicia were talking too—talking about the boys, especially how Douglas never paid any attention to them, and Robert Charles and Travis did. If Douglas wasn't going to talk to them why should they vote for him? Michelle sat quietly by herself.

 

After break, Mr. Z. got everybody to their computers and the students did their computer lessons until lunch time.  Scooter and Douglas made sure to sit next to each other.

 

"Thanks for standing up for me, Scooter,” Douglas whispered.

 

"Mr. Z was being unfair to you. I don't think what he told everybody was fair at all. I don't know why he likes Robert Charles so much—anybody with half a brain can tell he is a big jerk."

 

"RC has some people fooled Scooter. We both know he has some votes. I figure at least six unless we can get some girls on our side."

 

"Do we really need them?"

 

Douglas looked at Scooter and smiled. He hoped that meant what he thought it meant. "For this election, we just might. We need to meet and talk about getting some of the girls on our side after our time in the spa."

 

The afternoon went by quickly. The big topic at lunch and at afternoon break was whether they were going to be naked in the spa. Only Warren, Matthew, and Michelle seemed against it. Warren and Michelle said they weren't going to the spa, but Douglas said that if it was being naked that was keeping them away then they would all wear their swim suits. Warren liked that Douglas was willing to compromise, but said he was tired and wasn't going to go anyway. Michelle didn't think her parents would let her go because they didn't even let her go to the games room.

 

Matthew told Jordan he wasn't going to the spa because he didn't want to be naked in front of all the big boys and in front of girls.

 

Jordan glared at him. "Remember, you promised to do whatever I asked you to. And I'm asking you to do this. You don't want all those big boys knowing what you like to do. Right?"

 

Matthew looked down at the floor. "Yeah, right," he said quietly.

 

Jordan smiled and told Matthew he loved him and would see him at the spa.

 

 

 

 

The ship had five spas. They each could seat twenty people. Douglas had spa #4 reserved from after school until dinner time. It was a sauna with dry heat. When Douglas had asked why there was no swimming pool or any hot tubs he was told because even with The "Starkeeper" being so big, water was crucial. The ship couldn't afford to waste all that water in a pool. Since water was scarce on almost all the outer planets the ship needed enough water for over four months. While much of the water could be recycled, it still had to be conserved. Even showers were restricted and had timers on them. Making dry heat was something the ship could do anytime, so they put in the saunas.

 

There was also an exercise room and showers in each spa. One spa, the one Douglas reserved, did have a small pool that was good for wading in after the sauna. It wasn't much, but to a kid on a long trip, any kind of pool sounded great. But passengers had to punch in their ID numbers to use the pool and the water came out of their shower rations. That was one reason why kids were rarely ever able to have a spa by themselves.

 

Jeremy and Ryan were the first ones to arrive. The door to the spa was locked. They figured somebody was going to come along soon to unlock it when Douglas arrived. Mike, Alex, and Stevie walked up next, followed by Carmen and Felicia. Like Jeremy and Ryan, they thought when Douglas arrived he would have the combination to get them in.

 

Robert Charles and Jordan were the next to arrive. They didn’t need to have their planned meeting since Robert Charles had come up with a plan during the afternoon lesson. They had come from the opposite direction. Lisa was with Robert Charles, who was holding her hand. Brandon, Travis, Scooter, and Douglas came next.  Douglas pulled a piece of paper with numbers on it out of his pocket. He punched the numbers into the keypad on the door. Nothing happened. He looked at the slip again. Punched the numbers in one more time. Nothing.

 

"Hmmmmmmmm. I know I punched the right numbers in." Robert Charles stood there smirking.  Douglas tried one more time. Still nothing.

 

"Having a problem, Douglas?" Jeremy asked.

 

"This number won't work. The RD gave me the printout after he entered the code.” The RD was the Recreation Director.

 

"Here, let me try it," Robert Charles offered. He took the slip and punched the numbers in.  Nothing happened. "Seems like these numbers are wrong."

 

"The RD gave me this printout, so they have to be right."

 

"Are you sure he gave you the current numbers, Douglas?"

 

"Well, yeah. I mean he entered the combination into the computer.  Why would he give me an old printout?"

 

Robert Charles looked straight at Douglas. "Or.....maybe he didn't give you the numbers at all.  Maybe you really didn't get this room because you don't have any power.  Maybe....maybe...you decided a while ago to run. Maybe you printed these numbers from your own computer. I mean numbers on a white sheet of paper look like any numbers on any white sheet of paper, right? Maybe you thought this little bit of make believe would fool us poor kids."

 

Douglas was turning beet red. "Maybe you might want to ask the RD. I was right there in his office and he handed me this printout."

 

"You're on," Robert Charles said. Jordan carried a crew communicator with him. He pulled it out of his pocket, punched in a number, and handed the phone to Robert Charles. Robert Charles talked into the phone about Douglas's numbers not working. He nodded his head. Then he laughed. He handed the phone to Douglas.

 

Douglas listened some. Then he said, "I was right in your office. You reserved the sauna. You gave me the numbers." He listened some more. "No sir, I'm not calling you a liar. But it seems like you're calling me one." Another pause. "No sir, I don't want to be restricted to my cabin........Yes, sir.........I'm sorry, sir."

 

Douglas handed the communicator to Jordan. The whole class was looking at him. Tears of anger were forming in his eyes, but he successfully fought them back. He had never in his life felt so humiliated and so angry at the same time. He turned and ran down the hall.

 

Scooter watched him go and turned to the group. "Excuse me." He took off after Douglas.

 

In the Recreation Director's office the new Colonial Governor for Alpha Orion IV was sitting in a chair across from the RD. "Thank you," he said. "I won't forget this. I told you this could help your career a lot. And you know I will carry through on my promise."

 

The RD looked at the Governor. "I feel bad. It was hard on that kid. I could feel the emotion over the communicator.”

 

"He's a kid, he'll get over it. He needs to learn life is unfair. It's a good lesson for him if he wants to be in politics. Dirty tricks are a part of the game, and you better be able to use them if you want to survive. This was a great help to my son. Believe me when I say he is the best choice to lead the kids here and keep them under control for the teacher and the crew."

 

Except for Douglas and Scooter the kids were still standing in the hallway in front of the sauna.

 

"Looks like some of you are backing a big phony," Robert Charles said. He pulled out a sheet of paper. "I just want you to know I have the code numbers for tomorrow.  Right from the RD himself. See you all here right at ten o'clock." He couldn't help but say one more thing. "And maybe Mr. Wannabe leader might show up. But I doubt it." He held up the code sheet. "Just remember who got you guys the real thing."

 

Douglas was waiting for the elevator when he heard footsteps running toward him. He was wishing he had a place to hide. He begged the elevator to hurry up. He couldn’t hold back the tears any longer and they were streaming down his face.

 

Scooter came up beside him, but Douglas wouldn't look at him. The elevator door opened and both boys got in. Douglas turned away from Scooter once again, unsuccessfully trying to hide his tears.

 

"You probably hate me now like all the rest. You think I'm a big fucking phony liar." Douglas was angry, he was humiliated, he felt like lashing out, he felt like jumping into the vacuum of space. He hated everything about where he was and felt completely helpless and betrayed. Robert Charles had warned him of consequences if he ran and he hadn’t listened. Taking on Robert Charles was turning out to be the biggest mistake of his life.

 

Scooter didn't say a word. He put an arm on Douglas's shoulder, turned him hard to face him, and gave him a super tight hug and a kiss on the lips.

 

Next: Chapter 10 Scooter and Douglas