Christine Peymani
AFTER EARTH
KITAI’S JOURNAL
//////// ENTRY 1
Today is the biggest day of my life so far: the day I become a Ranger, one of the defenders of our planet, Nova Prime. At least, it better be. Sure, thirteen is young to make Ranger, but I’m not just some kid. I’m Kitai Raige, son of Cypher Raige, Commander General of Nova Prime and the greatest hero our planet has ever known. Seriously—he’s the first person to ever single-handedly kill an Ursa, the most perfect hunters of humans ever created. Makes sense, since they were bioengineered specifically to kill us. This alien race, the Skrel, hates us so much that they have been fine-tuning these monsters we call “Ursa” for centuries just to try to wipe us out. No one knows why—we’ve never gotten any communications from the Skrel, just the arrival of these killer beasts. The crazy thing is, the only way these Ursa can see us is by sensing our fear, since they have no eyes, and since fear is the one trait all humans share. Or, almost all. Not my dad. He literally has no fear. Really. That means he’s invisible to the Ursa, which means they can’t kill him. What he does, it’s called “ghosting,” and so far there are only seven people in the world who can do it. They’re the best protection our planet has, and my dad is the best of all of them.
It probably sounds awesome, having a dad like mine. Except the thing is, he’s not around much, not since I was little anyway. I mean, I get it—he’s been Commander General since before I was born, which means he’s basically in charge of our entire planet. Technically, we have three branches of government, and the Savant and the Primus help run our colony too. But when we’re under constant attack like we have been since the Skrel started sending the Ursa to kill us, the science and religion branches kind of have to take a backseat to the military. My mom is a scientist, so she wouldn’t exactly agree with that. But it’s the truth.
Today my dad is coming home for the first time in what feels like forever, and I can’t wait to tell him that I’m a Ranger, that I’m making progress toward being just like him. It’s the only way I can think of to make him proud. Maybe then, he’ll finally feel like getting to know me. It’s the best chance I have.
Last night, my mom came into my room to talk. Her coat was covered in dust and her hair was wild and windblown. She’d been working up on the ridge all day. She told me there were a lot of orographic uplifts. That’s when mountains or other terrain forces air upward. I know things like that because she quizzes me on science stuff all the time. We learn some in school, of course, but she wants me to know more than that. She hopes someday I’ll take over the turbine research division for her. Yeah right.
I get it. She respects what Dad does, but she wants me to be safe, and her work is important too. But I wish she would give it up. Can’t she see I was born to be a Ranger? How could the only son of the Original Ghost be anything else? She wants me to believe I have options, but really, I don’t. Not while the Skrel are still sending Ursa to kill our people and destroy our colony. Our safety has to come first. That’s why the Commander General is the true leader of Nova Prime, not the Primus, who leads our religion, or the Savant, the head scientist. Things like that are fine in peacetime, and I know they help people even now, but they aren’t what matters most. I want to—I have to—do what we need most. Even if it kills me. Mom knows me better than anyone else, but I don’t know if she understands that.
She asked about my Ranger test. I didn’t want to talk about it then. Sure I think I passed, but I don’t want to assume anything. I told her my plan—to tell the Commander General on Senshi’s birthday that I got into the Ranger Program. That’s why he’s coming home now, so we can all be together on my sister’s birthday. I think it would help all of us, if we had something to celebrate on that day again.
Mom reminded me that not everyone makes Ranger on their first try, but that won’t be me. I’ve worked so hard for the chance to make my dad proud. I’m not going to fail now.
I get into my uniform and head over to the Ranger Academy to get my results. On the way there, I pass a statue of my father in the quad, and then images of him carved into the walls of my school. It’s weird seeing him everywhere, when I never actually see him in real life.
Not much longer to wait now. My stomach is all twisted up in knots. I shouldn’t have any reason to worry.
No reason at all.
//////// ENTRY 2
I want to scream. Commander Velan is the worst Ranger Instructor ever. My scores are better than everyone’s, and he fails me for it? I can’t even believe it. Maybe he’s jealous that I’m so good. Maybe he’s jealous of all of us Raiges—a lot of people are, actually. Especially the Kincaids, but that’s a story for another time. When I’m less angry. Maybe when I tell my dad, he’ll see what a dumb decision Velan made, and he’ll overrule it. He could, if he wanted to. He’s the only one who’s really in charge.
But no. My dad—correction, the Commander General—would never do that. He trusts his people and he hardly even knows me, so why would he take my word over Velan’s? He’ll think I’m too young. That I can’t handle being a Ranger yet. But I can. Maybe if Senshi were here, she could talk to him… . But if Senshi were here, everything would be different. Then my dad would still care about me. Maybe he’d even be here sometimes, if not for me, then for her at least… .
I’m not gonna cry on this recording. That is not conduct befitting a Ranger—I mean, a Cadet. Better try this later.
Okay. Calmer now.
Here’s what happened: I went into Commander Velan’s office, expecting to be told I’d passed my Ranger test.
He said, “Your test scores are very impressive. In the classroom, you are an outstanding Ranger. But in the field, you collapse.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
And then he said the words I dreaded most, “I’m not advancing you.”
It felt like a punch to the gut. It took everything I had not to double over, or fall to the floor, or scream in his face. But he kept talking, and I knew I’d better listen. “You are emotionally unpredictable. You have improper threat assessment and you confuse courage with recklessness, which, at the end of the day, is just a far more dangerous way of being scared. You may try again next year. Dismissed.”
I was practically hyperventilating. This could not be happening. I wouldn’t let it. “Sir. Permission to address the Commander, sir,” I said, keeping my voice as steady and clear as I could.
“Denied,” he said. But when he met my eyes, I thought I saw an invitation there so I rushed forward with my argument anyway. “Sir, I am dedicated, have studied, and consistently displayed conduct becoming of a Ranger. I request that the Commander reconsider his assessment, sir.” I stood there, shaking but trying not to let it show as I waited for his answer.
“I understand what it’s like to see someone die,” he said. “I know what that does to you.” I had half-expected a reprimand, half-expected him to change his mind. But I wasn’t prepared for empathy.
I felt tears welling up at the kindness in his voice and fought them back. “Sir,” I said softly. “My father is returning home tonight. I haven’t seen him…” I trailed off. I couldn’t even remember exactly when I saw him last, but I didn’t want to admit that. It was embarrassing to have so little connection to a man who everyone knew. “Today’s a special day for our family. And I have to be able to tell him that I have advanced to Phase Two. I have to be able to tell him that I am a Ranger, sir.” I hated the note of pleading that entered my voice then, but there it was.