The Future In the Sky (The Empyrean Saga Book 1)

by Steve Stred

  It was an odd thing to see. Lizzie didn’t remember paper, or the use of paper for anything anymore, but somehow, they knew exactly what it was.

  “Why do I know that the thing on your lap is a notepad?”

  Dr. Light smiled, looked at the pad, flipped some pages before looking back at Lizzie.

  “We try to create a calm environment and a safe place for debriefings, especially the first one. The VR set allows the use of low light ocular suggestions to the subconscious so that things are familiar.”

  “You can brainwash me?”

  “Ha! No, no. Nothing like that.”

  Dr. Light’s sudden laugh surprised Lizzie, but also acted to reassure that they were a real person and not a simulation.

  “Dr. Light, where are you? Why don’t we do this face-to-face?”

  “Excellent question. I am located on the Medical Level. We are stationed here for our own safety. People react to debriefings in a few ways. It might be a euphoric experience for some, or it may greatly disturb them. Because of the unknown way they may react, we stay separated at first to prevent any potential violent outbursts or injuries. It may sound arrogant, but the doctors and therapists living here are prized citizens for their knowledge and training. We need to be protected.”

  “Makes sense,” Lizzie replied.

  “You don’t sound confident.”

  “Should I?”

  “I’m here to help you, Lizzie. Nothing more.”

  “Why do you and Dr. Glow have last names but I don’t have one?”

  “It’s a category thing. If you became a Doctor or a Dentist, you’d be gifted a last name as well.”

  “That’s strange.”

  “Is it?”

  “I don’t trust a lot of people.”

  “Do you trust Eric?”

  Lizzie wasn’t sure why, but the prospect of Eric being mentioned hadn’t occurred. It created a dagger-into-the-heart effect, forcing them to sit up straighter on the rigid chair.

  “I do. Absolutely.”

  “Do you love Eric?”

  Lizzie felt both cheeks flush, having never considered the question.

  “Maybe... but more like an older brother?”

  “You don’t sound confident.”

  “I’m not.”

  “You never had siblings, did you?”

  The white room returns before Lizzie’s eyes. Now a bed is in one corner, another across from it. A girl plays with a doll while Lizzie watches their movements, unsure how to interact.

  “Stop watching me,” the girl says, face pulled back as though having spotted something repulsive.

  “Can I play?” Lizzie asks, swinging both legs over the side of the bed.

  “No,” comes the reply, the girl now singing a song to her doll, her voice so low Lizzie can’t hear the words.

  Lizzie watches as time speeds up. New girls call the bed across from them home for a very short time, as they come and go with such rapidity that names and faces blur into a container of spilled paint. All the while Lizzie remains, sitting, watching, waiting.

  “No. I never knew my parents.”

  “How did it feel to end up as a Ward of the government?”

  “I never knew what that meant. I never knew what a mom or dad was.”

  “Until your mom adopted you?”

  Lizzie felt a panic growing. Tears were about to come.

  “I’m going to cry. Is that OK?”

  “It is, don’t worry about the VR set. People cry while attached all the time.”

  “Thank you,” Lizzie whispered, thinking back to the arrival of their mom.

  Lizzie sits on the edge of the bed, alone in the room. The other bed had long been removed, all the other Wards who’d been abandoned on the revolving ship long since adopted out.

  All but Lizzie.

  The door opens, a man and woman step into the room.

  “Lizzie, would you like to come outside with us? There’s someone who would like to meet you.”

  Lizzie nods, slides from the bed, fails to put on shoes.

  They lead the child from the room, down a short hallway to an access door. A card is swiped, a hand scanned, and a four-digit code typed in. The door hisses and pops open. The adults push it further open, waiting until it has swung fully to the side, before the three make their way down some steps and stand in the sand. Lizzie is perplexed. The bottoms of their feet have only experienced tile. Sand is a new sensation, and without any shoes on, ten toes wiggle and take it in. Before the adults can say anything to stop them, Lizzie runs and jumps in the wide-open space, sending sand flying all around.

  Someone joins Lizzie. They are running, jumping, laughing and throwing sand along with the child. Lizzie looks, seeing a beautiful woman. Long black hair, dark eyes, a smile that warms their heart. Lizzie leaps into the woman’s arms, the hug a moment of predestined euphoria that sends a message from child to adult and back again.

  We are whole, it says. We are meant to be one. Together.

  The woman kneels, letting go of the child. She smiles, Lizzie reciprocates. It’s only then that Lizzie spots the insignia of the Higher Levels on the woman’s shirt.

  The two adults have now arrived, both giving Lizzie a lecture on respecting royalty and acting appropriately.

  “Enough,” the woman says, shutting them both up instantly.

  “Lizzie, would you like to come live with me?”

  “Very much. Yes, please.”

  She stands, taking Lizzie’s hand.

  The two walk away from the adults, Lizzie aware of a man walking with them, but not paying close attention.

  Lizzie leaves the Ward Level behind, never to return.

  “You miss your mom, don’t you?” Dr. Light asked, shaking Lizzie clear of the memory.

  “Of course.”

  “Do you think you’ll find your mom in your orb?”

  The question shattered Lizzie’s understanding of what the orb contains.

  “Excuse me? That’s a possibility?”

  “Maybe. You see, the orb is for you to grasp and absorb. We don’t know where or when it’ll transport you to your ‘future’,” she said, emphasizing future with air quotes. “You may relive your life or purely go from the point of absorption and live from that day on. It really is quite fascinating.”

  “What if you don’t catch one? What if I miss?”

  “Do you think that’ll happen?”

  “I’ve missed 174 times, haven’t I? Why will no one answer what happens if I miss?”

  “Why do you think people won’t answer?”

  “Either you don’t know, or for some reason you won’t tell me.”

  “Honestly, I don’t know. I can ask some colleagues and see if they know. Does that work?”

  “I guess.”

  “Tell me about your mom.”

  “What do you want to know?”

  “Did she think you were a ghost?”

  “No. She thought I was special.”

  A river flows through the heart of the High Level. Royalty comes and goes, sitting at the edge, some wading into it. Lizzie has never seen water like this before. Each day is a new achievement of sensations and experiences.

  Lizzie sits on a bench, while nearby a lady plays an instrument.

  “Mom, what are those?”

  She looks at where Lizzie is pointing, smiling when she sees the birds.

  “Birds, my dear Lizzie. They are animals. Oh, the wonders that Earth used to provide.”

  “What are they doing?”

  “They are flying in the sky. A bird uses its two wings to propel itself. Much like how we run, they fly. Truly amazing, isn’t it?”

  Lizzie nods excitedly, watching the creatures swoop and dive.

  “Shall we go have some lunch?”

  The two return to their home, a strange thing for Lizzie to comprehend.

  A home. Where Lizzie has a room all to themselves.

  A mom. Lizzie has a mom.

  Lost in t
he substance of those ideas, Lizzie is surprised when arms wrap around them and suddenly Lizzie is spinning and laughing.

  “Mom, put me down!”

  Collapsing in a pile of laughter and tears, the two hug and remain together, their hearts connected and beating in sync.

  “Lizzie. You are so special. I’ll never tell you otherwise. I’ve never loved anyone like the love I have for you.”

  Lizzie snuggles in closer, enveloped by the warmth only a mother can offer.

  “How do you feel about being selected for Salvation?” Dr. Light asked.

  “My first thought was ‘why me?’ My second thought was, ‘what does it matter, I’m not going to catch my orb anyways?’”

  “Do you think your defeatist ideology is because of being a Ward and constantly being passed over?”

  “Yes.”

  Lizzie sits beside the river, watching kids play. They frolic and wrestle as only children of that age can. Lizzie keeps looking for a way in, a point to inject themselves into their activities to allow for inclusion.

  “Just go ask,” Mom says, giving Lizzie’s shoulder a nudge with her own.

  “No thanks.”

  “You’ll never know unless you try.”

  “They can’t reject me if they’re not given the opportunity.”

  “Now, Lizzie. Bug. You need to try a little, yeah? You’re infinitely special. Some friends other than me would do you some good.”

  “No thanks,” Lizzie replies, standing and walking back towards their home.

  “Then how about school? There are classes I can enroll you in?”

  “If I enroll in school, I’ll be in the pool for Salvation or Eradication, won’t I?”

  “You will.”

  “Do it.”

  “How did you find school?”

  “Hated it.”

  School

  Chapter Eight

  School took up two levels of the revolving ship.

  The first level was for the starters, the second for the finishers. It was a mishmash of ages, all co-mingling and learning ideas and teachings together.

  On Lizzie’s first day, they sat beside Savannah.

  Savannah, even at just twelve years old, was stunningly attractive. Lizzie felt an odd attraction, as those at the beginning of sexual maturity would find. Something about Savannah excited them, but what exactly? Well, that was unknown.

  “Hey.”

  Lizzie hadn’t expected anyone to talk to them, let alone on the first day, so when Savannah spoke, it was a surprise.

  “Sorry, did you just speak to me?”

  “I did. My name's Savannah.”

  “Oh... uh... Lizzie. Everyone calls me Lizzie.”

  “Nice to meet you Lizzie.”

  An unexpected friendship was fostered from that tentative initial introduction.

  Each day, Savannah waited for Lizzie’s arrival at school. They sat beside each other in class, ate lunch together, and waited together after the last bell. Savannah never asked about Lizzie leaving through the Royal’s Only Elevator, nor about Lizzie’s mom. Lizzie never asked Savannah about her background. They were just two friends who laughed about silly things and shared what they thought their futures held.

  Still, each night, Lizzie gets home and when Mom asks how the day went, Lizzie finds they hated it.

  “I don’t learn enough. Our teacher focuses so much on what it would mean if we are selected for Salvation. I don’t care. I want to learn.”

  “Being taught about Salvation is learning, Lizzie. You need to open your mind and allow your teacher to share things unrestricted. Going in with a prejudice won’t allow you to grow and adapt.”

  “Your mom was a smart lady,” Dr. Light said. Lizzie saw she was smiling.

  “She was.”

  “Savannah sounds like a great friend. Do you still see her?”

  “I do. Not as much as I would like. She’s on the Labor Level now.”

  “How did that happen?”

  “Her mom grew scared that our class would be selected for Eradication. So, she arranged for a job for Savannah and removed her from school.”

  “How did that make you feel, when Savannah was removed?”

  “Lost. Like my best friend had been ripped away. Jettisoned.”

  “Why do you think Empyrean chooses classes for Salvation or Eradication, Lizzie?”

  The question was unexpected. No one had ever discussed this before, nor had the question been one they’d thought about in any great depth.

  “I wouldn’t know. Maybe this is something we need to ask Mr. Eldridge?”

  Dr. Light nodded, appearing to write something on the pad before her.

  “Have you been taking notes this whole time?”

  “I have.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you’re fascinating. And because, as your debriefer, I will need to file my findings in your chart.”

  “Why do you find me fascinating?”

  “I’m afraid I can’t discuss that. Are you working to deflect away from my Empyrean question? Would you like to know why?”

  “I would.”

  “When the world crumbled, the human race faced a decision. Empyrean had already successfully launched the off-world revolving ship, which we call home. But it wasn’t as immense nor as spectacular as it is now. Mr. Eldridge had put provisions in place for a slow development, but when the grids began to fail, the oceans rose and society dissolved, that plan was accelerated. To the point that the revolving ship quadrupled in size in the first year and then quadrupled again the following year. The ship is sustainable, but only to a degree. Mr. Eldridge always believed we’d return to Earth.”

  “If you grab your orb, do you return to Earth?”

  “Is that what you believe?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Dr. Light scribbled some more on her pad, before taking a drink from a glass that Lizzie hadn’t noticed was beside her. Had the table it sat on been there this whole time?

  “Lizzie, did you know we have an Expedition Level?”

  “No. What’s that?”

  “In the Before Time, the old world, they had people called Astronauts. Astronauts were specialists trained to leave Earth and go into outer space. Empyrean has an Expedition Level where specialists, known as Returners, make trips to the surface to analyze the environment. They are key in us returning to live on the surface.”

  “That’s amazing.”

  “It truly is. Do you know what they’ve been finding?”

  “No, how would I? I didn’t know they were a thing until you just told me.”

  “That’s fair. The Returners have been finding the planet has reclaimed itself. The buildings humans built all those years ago have been overrun, no longer visible. The concrete jungles that you see in old news stories and teachings simply don’t exist anymore. It is as though humans never built a single thing, never existed on the planet.”

  “If we’ve been sending classes all of these years to jump and catch their orbs, where are they?”

  “Where do you think they are?”

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake. Seriously, Dr. Light? Please just answer the question instead of asking another?”

  Dr. Light put up her hands in submission, the look on her face remaining calm.

  “I’m sorry, Lizzie. You’ve been selected to jump. We need to push your buttons and see your responses. Some of my replies are meant to engage and some are meant to enrage. Empyrean can only sustain a specific number of people on the revolving ship for so many years.”

  “Is that why people who commit crimes are jettisoned?”

  “Correct.”

  “So, if we’re being honest with each other, Dr. Light, it doesn’t matter if a class is selected for Salvation or Eradication. We’re all jettisoned from the ship.”

  “Correct.”

  Lizzie started to remove the VR set, an aqua alarm flashing on the screen.

  “Please stop, Lizzie. This session is far from
over.”

  “I don’t care, Dr. Light. I’m a nobody. Inconsequential. I was ‘selected’ but really, it’s just another way for the powers that be to get rid of people, so they don’t have to feed them.”

  “Lizzie, it’s not like that. Empyrean wants you to live a full and amazing life. That’s why the orbs are there. You’re selected to catch one, to live an amazing life and enjoy whatever it is you discover in absorption.”

  “But what if I miss my orb?”

  Dr. Light looked to be contemplating a response, when Dr. Glow re-entered the screen before Lizzie. He gave a quick wave, before whispering into Dr. Light’s ear. To Lizzie’s surprise, he gave Dr. Light a kiss on the cheek before departing.

  “Are you two... together?”

  “We are.”

  “Has he been listening the entire time?”

  “No. Dr. Glow has been in another session. He came in to pass on some information that I’ve been instructed to share with you. Mr. Eldridge was very close with your mom. Great respect for her. He’s asked that we share what we know with you about the orb and absorption.”

  “Mr. Eldridge is still alive? How old is he?”

  “Unknown. Truthfully, I don’t know if he is alive physically or purely consciously. No one has seen him in person for many, many years.”

  “I met him once.”

  Lizzie is standing in the kitchen. Mom is making bacon, which is a rare delicacy, as only Royals have access to pork products once a decade.

  Someone clears their throat behind Lizzie. Turning, they find a man who is instantly recognizable.

  “Mr. Eldridge. An honor,” Lizzie says, bowing to the High Royal and Creator of the ship.

  “Lizzie, no need for such formalities, but it’s great to see your mother has taught you so well.”

  He steps forward, extending a hand. For a second, Lizzie is startled, before realizing he simply wants to shake hands. When they do so, Lizzie finds his hand cold and stiff, as though his body is beginning to rot.