VC2 Chapter 7-Missing

Sector 2100

Planet 2101

October 20, 2052

Charlie watched as Parks grabbed her bags and climbed aboard her Apocrypha cruiser in the loading bay.

“Come on Sarah, it was a joke.” Charlie pleaded her to stay as he grabbed her arm.

“Let go of me.” Parks shook away from Charlie and went inside the ship.

“Damn it!” Charlie kicked a nearby resource crate as he watched Parks' ship fly out into space and warp out.

“You alright sir?” a tall officer in full combat gear walked overhearing the commotion.

“I'm good, thanks.” Charlie watched the officer remove his helmet.

“Captain Rob McClelland.” the officer offered his hand.

“Admiral Charlie Chu. I haven't see you before...” Charlie squinted his eyes to think.

“I'm with the research division. Perhaps that's why?” McClelland guessed.

“Maybe.” Charlie crossed his arms.

“Don't worry too much. Women need space.” McClelland chuckled.

“I just don't get it...” Charlie sighed.

“You never will. Now go find another girl to talk to in the time being. Keep your mind elsewhere.” McClelland pointed at a distant girl watching them.

McClelland waved at the girl and motioned her to come over. As she got closer, Charlie noticed it was Natalia in her cadet training uniform.

“Yes sir?” Natalia walked over and saluted the men.

“Enjoy.” McClelland whispered into Charlie's ear and patted his back before walking away.

“Umm, how long have you been standing there?” Charlie inquired.

“A while actually. I was going to ask you if you have seen Irene, but then I saw you with Commander Parks having a...discussion.” Natalia chose her words carefully.

“Yeah, let's go talk to my office where I can access logs where Irene has checked in.” Charlie nudged gently.

The two made their way into Charlie's office which was decorated with lots of medals and awards hung on the walls. Behind his desk were two flags, one Canadian and one Australia, on each side of the back window overlooking the base.

“Take a seat Natalia.” Charlie pointed as he sat down in his chair.

“I see you know Commander Parks when she was young?” Natalia couldn't help but notice some photos of Parks that appeared to be younger.

“Ah that was a long time ago. I think you are too young to know about the Earth incident.” Charlie grabbed the photo frame and smiled.

“All I know what that we lost Earth from an outbreak of diseases making it uninhabitable.” Natalia watched as Charlie touched the picture of Parks' with his index finger.

“That's right. We abused the planet's natural resources and disregarded our wastes. When the virus appeared, we were almost wiped out to extinction. We had to leave the planet in search of new homes and join outer colonies in deep space.” Charlie took his sleeve and brushed off some dust on the photo before putting it back to its original spot.

“You love her?” Natalia studied Charlie's facial expressions.

“I do. I tried looking for her with hopes that she survived the outbreak and got off the planet, but I found nothing and thought she died.” Charlie reminisced.

“Ahhh.” Natalia tried to understand what Charlie went through.

“Nonetheless, enough emotional talk. We got a person to find, yes?” Charlie snapped out of his trance as he looked at his computer.

“Yes, Irene is not in her quarters nor attending her training classes.” Natalia nodded.

 “Ok, Irene Papagianni...where are you....?” Charlie typed in his computer as he looked at the data logs and then browsed through surveillance footages.