by L K Hingey
Before Katherine could bring out Eve though, a rustling came upon the door. After a few bangs and crashes, the door swung open and a flash of color and pattern swirled in. Zaak, Adam, Brie, Tegan, Tauren and Hunter spilled in, loudly cursing the wind. They had armfuls of supplies and as soon as they spotted Kimber and Tristan, they all but dropped the goods on the threshold to greet their brother and sister. Food and medicine went everywhere as the Auroras said their greetings.
After the second flurry of color had settled down, the supplies were picked up and a glowing Eve emerged from the staff room door. Kimber’s eyes grew wide in amazement. She had anticipated the growth rate of Eve’s baby to be accelerated, like the gestation period of the Mothers had been, but seeing her sister showing a belly bump took her by surprise.
“Oh Eve,” Kimber whispered.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you in person, Kimber,” Eve lamented with an apologetic smile. “Would you like to meet Oriana?”
Kimber sank to her knees by Eve’s stomach and placed a kissed on her belly. Though the act was tender and intimate, it did not strike the Auroras in the slightest as unusual. Kimber had grown up next to this girl who would soon be the first full-fledged Aurorean mother. Call it sin, call it fate, or call it divine perfection... it made no difference to the Auroras. This little life was precious, and they all felt a responsibility to protect it.
“What if he is a boy?” asked a grinning Tristan.
“Orion,” answered Eve serenely. “He, or she, will be named after the stars.” Kimber looked at Eve, whose colors were blossoming in the hazy midday light. Motherhood will suit her well, Kimber thought.
Once the formalities were over, and everyone was seated, Kimber stood up. Suddenly she felt the weight of the safety of every one of her brothers and sisters on her shoulders. She had never intended to lead, nor to carry the torch of her species’ emancipation, but here she was, navigating them through the choppy waters that had become their lives. She would not let their leaf capsize. In a clear, calm, and deliberate voice, she began to unravel the tale of their journey.
She looked at Tristan, and Tristan alone, when she got to the part about the subterranean laboratories. They could all hear the pain dripping off her words as she told them of her many discoveries and observations. She held nothing back as she told them of the mutated animals in the jars, the terminated fetuses, and the bodies scattered around the facility. She did not waiver as she spoke of her mother’s involvement in Sophia’s death. When she finished as much as she could muster the strength for, she turned the floor over to Tristan to tell the group of the discovery of the Cheyenne Mountain Complex and their trip back home.
The entire room was silent as they finished their story, ending with their summarization of the council’s intent and involvement in all the controversial activities, both before and after the flare. A tear rolled down Kimber’s face once the silence seeped in. Her brothers and sisters now knew what she had found. They knew what chaos they had been born out of and the atrocities that their leaders, not to mention Kimber’s own mother, had committed. Kimber did not know if they would hate her forever for it. She did not even know if she hated herself. Her tear hit the ground and shattered into a million shards of crystalline light.
Aeneas said nothing, but he reached his hand out and placed it on Kimber’s knee. Hunter, Micaiah, Eve, Brie, Jameson, and Zaak followed. Gentle looks were passed around the room as Adam, Hanna, Naomi, Adalaide, Kat, Renee, Jordan, Tegan, Tauren, Lo, Jameson, Mariam, and lastly, Tristan, followed. Everyone who could have placed a hand on Kimber’s legs, arms, or shoulders did, and those who could not reach, rested a hand upon a brother or sister that was touching Kimber.
Kimber could feel the rush of support. She looked around at the sea of beauty and had never felt so overcome with gratitude. She was overcome by their unwavering loyalty. She was overcome by the desire to protect them. She was overcome by the tide of anger welling up in her heart that she would soon unleash upon the council. She was overcome for the first time in her life, by the pride in being Aurorean.
Kimber’s colors burned brightly, and with sudden clarity, she knew what she had been called to do. She needed to pave the way for Inanna to vote in a new chapter of governance and the only way to do that was by knocking the council off its lofty pedestal. The people, and the Auroreans, deserved a fair, just, and progressive democracy. She needed to get Aaron and Raquel out of restraints and into a place of leadership. Aaron and Raquel could protect the Auroras and act as a liaison to the humans to create a long-lasting relationship of peace.
These steps would all take time. And as the garden of a brighter future was being sewn, she, with Tristan by her side, would be journeying west into the unknown. They would try to contact the known survivor city, and someday, bring news back to Inanna. They would find a haven for Eve and little Oriana. They would find a place in this world where they belonged. It all started with one single step. One single rise to the challenge.
Kimber looked fiercely out over the tide of color. It was time to rise to the challenge of the council. Kimber’s eyes shone with resolve as she nodded fiercely and stood up.
“The days of the council’s leadership are over. Inanna deserves to know the truth. The people think today is the trial of the Grafted, but they are wrong. Today is the trial of the council.” There was a change in Kimber’s tone, a new tenacity that sounded both firm and calculated. She could feel the change in her voice and body and knew that her brothers and sisters could sense it. Recognizing the subtle shift was invigorating. In the darkest hours, she had become the leader that they now needed, and though she had never asked for the responsibility, she knew she would die before letting them down.
“The evidence alone will bring the council to its knees. I plan to elect Aaron and Raquel to be our representatives in future transactions as a bi-party democracy. The people of Inanna are only guilty of being subjected to the propaganda that the council has fed them all these years. And since the council has been so clever and slow about it, it is hard to tell how much damage has even been done. Once the people know of the council’s history, the trust in the leadership that they have never needed to question will be broken.”
Kimber looked around as she spoke, making sure her brothers and sisters had no hesitations regarding her intent. She figured there was no better pair to represent the Auroreans than Raquel and Aaron and judging by the quick nods, it seemed the rest of the Auroras agreed.
“That doesn’t mean that trust in new leadership will automatically be there. It will be a bumpy road for a while. The only way to reverse the damage is with kindness and patience. It may take years. And much of the direction the council has laid out for Inanna will need to be maintained, because deep down, I think we can all agree, much of what they fought for was what they truly believed was in Inanna’s best interest.”
Though a little more reluctant, nods again went around the room.
“I will propose an interim government in which the Inannian senior trade masters, to include Aurorean representation, will be called upon immediately. Then, in one year’s time, every able Inannian citizen can vote to either extend the democracy as-is, vote to elect a president, or vote in any number of small changes to start to guide the city towards its first true democracy.” More resolute nods circled the welcome center, and Kimber continued, a little less aggressively.
“Now on to the most pressing of matters. Eve...” Kimber smiled at her sister, her voice softening. “Your and Oriana’s well-being is the most important thing of all. It’s what all this is for. You get to make the choice whether to stay in Inanna or to travel west with us. And by us, I mean myself, Tristan, and whomever else wants to make the journey.” Kimber paused. “Once the government changes, there will be no question of whether or not Oriana will be safe. She will be the first of her kind, and it is your choice whether or not you would like her to grow up here. We have no idea what we will find, but the journey will, without qu
estion, be tough. Cheyenne Mountain may be a haven of acceptance and freedom, or it may be a city long lost to starvation or disease.”
“That goes for everyone,” Kimber’s voice raised back up after a brief pause. “We cannot stress how hard the journey might be. We will follow the interstates west, passing right through the heart of Kansas City, and heaven only knows what we will encounter there. We will scavenge for food like always, and soon, the windstorms will be calming down. The rainy season will be on winter’s heels and hopefully, that means easier passage, but there’s no telling what middle and west America’s climate is like. My best guess is that the trip will take months. If we find nothing, we may be forced to turn around and come home. And if we are not back in a year’s time… that probably means that we didn’t find nothing.”
Kimber’s eyes sparkled when she talked about the challenge and the danger of the unknown. She was born for this. She looked around and could see her brothers and sisters contemplating.
“Of course, Inanna still needs support. Our city still needs supplies and its access to the surface. We will not abandon them. If we must, we will rotate scouting parties every few years to make sure we are not forsaking our home. Inanna will always be our home. Search your heart and decide which path is right for you.” Again, Kimber paused to look around and to let her message sink in. Her gaze locked on Naomi’s, and her voice softened again. “And remember, this is not goodbye. For those who stay here in Inanna, and for those who choose to embark on this first contact journey, it is not goodbye forever. It is goodbye for a year at the least, and perhaps we could set and limit on five years at the max.”
The room was quieter than a cavern at night. No one spoke, for everyone was lost in their own thoughts. This was fine with Kimber, whose own thoughts drifted to her mother. Was Kimberly even still alive? If she were, could Kimber leave Inanna knowing that it would undoubtedly be the last time she would ever see her? It was Tristan who broke the silence.
“We have supplies enough for a few,” he said gesturing around at the gear they had brought back. “And we can take extra packs and equipment from the decontamination room. Anyone is welcome, and there will always be opportunities to find new supplies and gear once we get underway. There will be no turning back though, so use the next couple days to think it over. We will leave in two or three sunrises.”
Everyone nodded. Tristan was a natural leader and right now, his frank manner of speaking was much appreciated. It was clear that he and Kimber would captain the expedition, and everyone seemed comfortable with the pairing. Kimber and Tristan could see the gears turning in the minds that surrounded them. Still no one spoke. Uneasy glances were shared between the brothers and sisters as everyone contemplated the reality of leaving home to forge the perilous path west or staying behind and missing out on the most exciting thing that had ever happened in Inanna. The news had hit them like a bucket of ice water, and no one had yet recovered.
Aeneas looked directly at Eve and was the first to speak. “I will stay by your side no matter which you choose.” His speech was blunt, like Tristan’s, but was tempered by the melody of his accent. Tristan nodded appreciatively. He was relieved to know that if they were to be harboring a pregnant woman and a soon-to-be infant, that another strong and able helper would be close by.
Eve’s voice was stuck in her very emotional, and hormonal, throat, and all she could do was nod and place her hands protectively on her swollen belly. The group looked at her tenderly, sharing in her concern. The human father, Dameon had not been able to be reached since Tristan had escorted Eve safely out of Inanna. What Tristan and Kimber did not yet know that everyone else did, was that Dameon had not been present at the address. Eve, much like Kimber regarding her mother, feared the worst.
Kimber looked around as if coming out of a reverie. “Just remember that no matter where we are, we are a family, and that will never ever change.” She smiled weakly around at her sisters, already desperately missing them.
“Well?” Tristan asked, drawing in nearer to Kimber.
“Well,” she responded with a nod.
The rest of the Auroreans stood up. They all knew that it was time to go. A pathway to the door was made for Kimber and Tristan, who were followed by Eve and Aeneas. Kimber squeezed Renee’s hands, hugged Kat, and gently wiped a tear from Naomi’s cheek on the way. The three girls fell in behind Eve and Aeneas, and the rest of the Auroras fell in behind them. The group of twenty-one marched across the park like a tidal wave, the colors splashing across the scorched red Earth and pooling into the darkness that was the passageway to Inanna.
The shadows of the cave’s entrance subdued the group’s vibrancy as they descended away from the sunlight. Firelight replaced the glow of the borealis and suddenly, they were home. Only now, home was a hostile place that they were fighting both for and against. The Auroreans, with Kimber and Tristan at the head, snaked through the corridors towards the Rotunda, accompanied by a cloud of determination and duty.
The Rotunda opened before them in its familiar sight, smell, sound, and sense. The lamplight, which burned brighter and more often here in the openness of the large cavern, was greedily sapped away by the blackness that infected the caves. The damp air of the empty space was cooler, the warmth collecting in the domed ceiling dozens of feet above them. The sound of water droplets falling off the stalactites that lined the entrance of the cavern seemed as deafening as the rustle of the two hundred gathered people inside. Most importantly though, was the sense of apprehension that buzzed in the chamber like trapped molecules being heated. The nervous energy was palpable and rose to a crescendo as the Auroreans appeared in the Rotunda’s entrance.
Abruptly, all the whispers in the chambers ceased. Even Inanna’s youth seemed mesmerized as they gazed into the hardened faces of the colorful humanoid species that the educators had denounced, claiming that the Auroreans were causing a ruckus. The group marched in, determined, fierce, and collected. They funneled into place behind their rainbow painted rocks and stood, not knelt, in bold defiance. They stared as one, onto the scene in front of them on the Rotunda’s stage.
The council, the senior trade masters, and the enforcement division occupied the stage center, right, and left. The Mothers were nowhere to be seen, and Aaron and Raquel were seated cross-legged with bound wrists and passive, docile looks on their faces. Too passive, thought Kimber fighting the instinct to fly into an immediate rage. She swallowed her anger slowly and calmed her heart rate. The council was baiting them. She was the right person for the job, and she knew it. Just breathe, she reminded herself.
With arms wide open, Dr. Nicholas Quinn peered down at Inanna. The entire room seemed to be holding its breath and behind her, Kimber could feel the Auroreans shaking with silent, lethal anger. The situation was already on pins and needles. Well played, thought Kimber, who, despite the inaudible noise swirling around her, was becoming calmer by the second. She exhaled deeply as Dr. Quinn began to speak.
“Friends, citizens, good people of Inanna. Welcome to this, rather unusual, meeting. I apologize for cutting into your precious family time, but urgent matters are afoot that need the attention of our great city. It seems the… disturbances, that we encountered a week ago, are not going to heal on their own. A certain sect of our city seems to be delighting in their sudden ability make demands and we, as one people, need to cauterize the wound of insubordination before the venom breaks down the lifeblood of our delicate system.”
Quinn gestured to Aaron and Raquel. “There is no room for boisterous and senseless rebellion when we are fighting for our very survival. It is immature, ungrateful, and is wasting valuable time and resources. Perhaps we have been too gracious in our many years of supporting the independence of this dangerous group. I apologize that we must deviate from tradition by invoking an emergency vote for what to do with defectors who have no purpose other than to create upheaval. Please, correct me if I am wrong, that these two dissenters, along with the entire Aurorean
sect, were given very fair and clear explanations as to why their demands are both unreasonable and unsafe?” Dr. Quinn opened his arms again as if welcoming the challenge, or perhaps, as if embracing the collective agreement that, yes, the dissenters were given clear explanations.
Kimber did not know how much longer the Auroreans would be able to remain quiet. Slowly and deliberately, she walked forward. She has been clenching Sophia’s wristband in one hand, had Colton Thatcher’s access card in her other, and wore the many sets of dog tags around her neck. Her pack was slung across her chest and in it were the sheets of papers and folders ready to be exposed. Quinn jumped back as if she were going to lash out, and then motioned for the enforcement division to snap-to.
Kimber took a deep breath as she turned around to the sea of faces and spoke in her clearest voice. “Inanna, in my hands, I have secrets that the council has been hiding from all of us for twenty years. I have proof that we are NOT the only survivor city, and more importantly, proof that the council is responsible for countless murders in an effort to cover their tracks of inhumane genetic mutilation.”
Dr. Quinn’s faced drained. It slowly dawned on him that Kimber must have broken into the Ireland Clinic. He blinked in surprise and coughed, trying to cover his astonishment and repulsion. He motioned quickly to the enforcement division, but Kimber had said the magic words. She had piqued the curiosity of the entire city in less than three sentences, and suddenly daggers were being thrown from the eyes of every citizen at the enforcement division. The enforcement officers stopped in their tracks, exchanging uneasy glances between themselves, the people of Inanna, and the council.
Kimber looked over at the four additional council members, who were kneeling on their rugs. One looked shocked, two looked mad, and one of them just looked confused. Kimber stole a glance at Tristan, who was one step ahead, annotating which council members appeared to be aware of Kimber’s accusations. Dr. Quinn was fumbling and tried to speak above the glares that were now coming in his direction. “Control this girl!” he demanded, mustering up as much authority as he could.
