“This guy is Stan, Fi,” Louis replied. “The guy who ran Diaspora.”
Fi’s eyes widened. What? This was the guy? Dr. Stanford Bristol was STAN? Motherf…. She bit her tongue and tried not to scream. “So this is the guy my father told me about? The Stan who was in charge? The one who you stole the Diaspora plans from?”
Though she’d known what he meant in the first place, Louis’ tight nod of confirmation brought a rush of blood to her cheeks. Despite the peace Fi had tried to make in her mind for those who’d made “hard choices,” the image of her father being lied to by this man made her blood boil. She’d never expected to meet anyone who had betrayed her father personally. At least there was a speaker and thousands of miles between them, she thought. She didn’t know what she would have done if she’d actually been in the same room with him.
Stan continued his story, his voice grating. He even sounds like an a-hole, she thought angrily. “…No one knows how it happened, though a failure of the seals or ventilation system seems most likely.”
Wait, what? Fi thought, suddenly paying closer attention.
“Of course, it was hard to avoid a panic. No one was truly prepared for a wholesale failure of the colony, particularly so early, when the Famine was still claiming lives.”
At this, Fi felt her rage burn higher. Oh, so they were afraid because everyone hadn’t died yet? They were scared of the violence, the chaos, and the unimaginable terror happening Topside? Yes, that would be scary, now wouldn’t it?
“Authority broke down and everyone scattered. Half the colonists headed for the forest, determined to take their chances on survival in the wild. The other half of us headed for Diaspora II. That was a tough choice because it meant crossing the Great Plains from Colorado to North Dakota. I’m sure I don’t have to describe to you what the Great Plains look like now.”
At this his voice wobbled, and he seemed to pause, as if to regain his composure. Fi felt a fluttering in her chest as she imagined the miles of devastating, unending wasteland; the dust so thick that ochre clouds rained down mud, the rocks exposed where the soils had been scoured away. Nothing but death as far as the eye could see. It took amazing courage to test yourself against that, she thought, suddenly feeling conflicted. It was kind of…impressive. She bit her lip.
“We took as many supplies as we could and set out. We tried to stick close to sources of fresh water, but it wasn’t enough. We’d been in the wastelands for close to six weeks when we were rescued. All of us were close to death. When we saw the Jeeps coming, I actually thought it was a hallucination until we heard them shouting. It turned out that Diaspora II sent out a search party a week after they lost our radio signal. We were the only survivors they found.”
Beside her, Louis grunted. Fi frowned in question and he shook his head. “Wasn’t expecting to feel any compassion for him. Not sure what I feel, actually.”
As he admitted this, Fi realized that her own anger had begun to ebb as well. Even though he’d been meant to escape the Famine, Stan had been forced to face it. And death had nearly come for him. Like Louis, Fi felt torn between anger and sympathy. She sighed and blew an annoyed raspberry.
“We don’t know what happened to the other colonists, including the President and her family. That’s why we’ve been broadcasting, trying to search. Some who went to the forest may have lived, may have found a way to use a radio. They all knew that Diaspora II had one.” He sighed into the microphone. “It’s an extraordinary surprise to find Eden instead, but I have to say that in some strange way, I’m not surprised to be speaking to Louis.”
“Louis, you’re famous,” Fi whispered.
“Infamous, Fi,” Louis smiled. “It’s not the same thing.”
“That’s all,” Stan added. “That’s the story of Diaspora as it stands. The question is, ‘What now?’” The words hung in the air.
“I guess that is the question.” Larry addressed those in the radio room. “I think that we need to establish a second meeting with Diaspora and take some time to confer.”
“I’m certain that they’ll want time as well,” Miles Coburn added, his white mustache and beard tugging up at the corners.
Larry turned to Tom. “Sulu, make it so.” The entire room relaxed into nervous laughter as Tom turned back to the radio panel to arrange the next discussion with Diaspora. It was decided that they would connect again the following day at the same time. In the meantime, everyone had a lot to consider.
“Phew!” Fi sighed in relief as people began to file out and cool air rushed in. “Louis, we’ll have to chat more about Stan sometime.”
Louis only nodded. He still looked stunned, though she could understand. It must have been like seeing a ghost, she thought, to hear Stan’s voice after all these years. She felt a little emotionally drained herself, but she had to admit, she was excited. They had actually talked to a Diaspora colony! It was amazing to think that deep below the soil of North Dakota there was an exact copy of the Eden colony, filled with other brilliant researchers, and most importantly, stores of heirloom seeds.
She met Asher at the door. “Isn’t this exciting, Ash? Think of all the additional information you’ll be able to get for your book.”
Asher’s book chronicling the Famine had already grown tremendously with the addition of Eden’s colonists’ stories, but the connection with Diaspora would help them to learn so much more. Once they had put together everyone’s stories, documented what they knew, then maybe they could figure out where it all went wrong. Maybe it would help keep them from making the same mistakes.
“I know!” he said, as they headed out the door. “I’m very excited about that too. I’m also excited that Reconnection has really begun. I mean, we’re talking with a group of survivors in North Dakota, Fi,” his voice grew fervent. “Think about that! It’s the first tiny glimpse of something that we could do in the old world.”
He choked and Fi whirled to face him in the dim tunnel. The others had all gone on ahead and they were alone. Embarrassed, he brushed away his tears and tried to laugh, but she shook her head. Tears welled in her hazel eyes as she stood on tiptoe and wrapped him in a tight embrace.
“I know,” she murmured. “I know. It’s exciting, but somehow it just…”
“Brings it all back.”
They held each other in silence as the energy of the morning ebbed away. It was nice sometimes, just for a moment, to forget the world above. In Eden they were finally safe, after years of fighting and struggling to survive. But the world above was still shattered. And it would take everything they had to put it back together again.
Asher patted her back. “Time to go back to regular life.”
“Yeah.”
"Hey," his face brightened, “are you going to the swap tomorrow?”
“Ash, you know everything I own,” she laughed. “I donated all my books to the library. No one else wants any of my clothes. What do I have to swap?”
He grinned and grabbed her hands, eyeing the sparking sapphire and diamond ring that he’d placed on her finger just months ago. “Are you kidding? I bet you could get anything you wanted for that rock.” She yanked her hands back like they were playing Slaps, feigning offense.
“No deal. Not for all the second-hand jeans in Eden.” She raised an eyebrow and pointed at his chest. “You don’t get off that easy.”
Asher burst out into a true belly laugh and leaned down to kiss her. “Good, I just wanted to make sure you weren’t thinking of trading up.”
“Nope. Not yet anyway, but if we were to get some new jeans…” she teased, and jogged away as he swatted at her.
Within the week, Eden had established a regular conversation with Diaspora. They learned that the Diaspora colonists had not left the confines of their colony at all since the one attempt to rescue survivors of the failed Diaspora I. They were so frightened by the failure of that colony that they prohibited any action that might threaten the seals around their own fields. Of course, the leade
rs of Diaspora were shocked to find out that the colonists of Eden did leave the colony regularly.
“Not at first, of course,” Larry explained to General Zelinski. “At first, while we were still worried about active pollen strains with the genetic modification, we didn’t allow anyone to come or go. But as winter fell we knew we’d be safe from any large scale contamination and we began arranging excursions we call Seeks.”
As a Seeker, this part was boring to Fi. To her, Seeks were just like the raids she and Sean used to run. Even with all the pre-planning Eden had done, there was no way for them to have stocked enough of everything for three hundred people. They still had to go Topside to get things like clothing, linens, and toiletries, things that they couldn’t easily manufacture themselves.
While Fi daydreamed, Larry explained the aspects of the Seeks that were tied to Eden’s reconnection plans. He told them about their success with repurposing small solar arrays from highways and ghost towns where there were solar trash compactors, traffic lights, parking meters, ATMs…any small machinery really. Nearly everything that could be solar powered had been outfitted with panels in the past decade.
A yawn took Fi by surprise and she quickly covered her mouth. Sitting still and listening for hours was not really her strong suit. As exciting as the discovery of Diaspora was, Fi couldn’t wait for the winter to end so that they could go Seeking. Being cooped up for months on end made her depressed and antsy at the same time. And spending hours each day in the tiny radio room didn’t help. Fortunately, the next planned Seek was only six weeks away.
Leaning back into Asher, she forced herself to focus on the conversation. Only six more weeks, she thought, until I can go outside.
Sara’s Surprise
----------- Fi -----------
Fi gave Asher a quick kiss before she turned to leave. The main rec pod was the second largest space in the colony after the field cavern, but it was entirely man made. Beneath the LED lights embedded into a ceiling painted with fake clouds were two full-sized soccer fields, a workout area, a playground, and a games area. Off-duty colonists frowned over tablets, playing icy games of chess, while others laughed and goaded each other at the old-fashioned dartboard. The workout area was filled with Seekers in training. The air was heavy with sweat and grunts as bodies pushed up from blue mats and pummeled heavy punching bags. Drenched and fatigued after a solid session of training, Fi was ready for a shower.
“I’ll see you at dinner, right?” Asher half-asked before turning away. “Let’s go people, onto the mats,” he barked.
She smiled as she watched him for a moment, training Gary’s new Seeker recruits. Who would have thought she’d end up engaged to a twenty-year-old newsman-slash-warrior? Then again, he probably wondered how he ended up with a sixteen-year-old biology nerd-slash-warrior himself. Her heart warmed as she watched her love instruct an older man. The man’s face twisted, and Fi stifled a chuckle. She knew how he felt. Asher was an excruciatingly good teacher. He encouraged and criticized in equal measure until the only terror one felt was that of letting him down.
“Fi?”
She turned at the sound of Sean’s voice. He was still sweaty from training, dressed in his dobok. She smiled as she thought for a moment of Sensei Bob, the kind instructor who’d helped them, she and Sean, to get ready…to fight for their survival once the world went mad. No matter how many people called that uniform a gi or saam, she just couldn’t think of it as anything but a dobok, as her Sensei had taught. Sean stood holding hands with Sara, who had come to watch him train, as she did every day now. Since they’d admitted their feelings for each other it was like they were glued together. Sometimes Fi wished she’d get a little “alone” time with each of her friends, but she couldn’t begrudge them their happiness. Sara gave her a quick, nervous wave.
“We have something we want to talk to you about.” Sean’s voice wavered. Hmph. He sounded nervous too. What was up?
“Ok guys,” Fi shrugged. “So talk.”
Sean and Sara exchanged a glance and Sean shook his head. “I think we need privacy.”
“Well then, lead the way,” she waved, annoyed. Sean led, while Sara skittered behind him like a spooked cat. Fi rolled her eyes. Whatever it was, their behavior told her she wasn’t going to like it.
Twenty minutes later, Fi stood in the Skillman’s living room, aghast. It was worse than she’d thought. “Absolutely not, Sean! Are you trying to get her killed?” Sean and Sara sat side by side on the charcoal grey couch, their dark eyes forming a mirrored plea. Fi scowled and Sara bowed her head, her ebony hair cascading forward to her waist and hiding her eyes.
A small sound made Fi turn and she saw her little sister, Kiara, and Sean’s youngest sister, Zoe, peeking around the corner.
“Give us a minute, girls,” Fi waved with exasperation and they vanished in a cloud of giggles. Since Sean and Sara had begun dating, he’d been bringing her to spend more time with his family. Of course his mother Lucy and his oldest sister Rachel both adored her. Just like Sean, she had a quiet manner and a knack for numbers and logic. Though she would be the last one to sit down and write hours of code, her abilities made it easy to appreciate Sean’s brilliance, and she was quite obviously his biggest fan. Sara was a lot of wonderful things, Fi thought, but one thing that she definitely was not, was a Seeker.
“Sara, please,” Fi pled with her. “You can’t believe this is a good idea. What are you thinking?” When Sara raised her head, Fi was startled by the troubled look in her eyes.
“I have to go with him, Fi,” Sara insisted. “I have to experience Topside myself and not just stay hidden away down here in Eden forever.”
Fi shook her head as she paced. “But a Seek, Sara?” She turned to Sean as she struggled to control her frustration. “Can’t you arrange for some safer way for her to experience Topside?” Bringing Sara with him on a Seek was a terrible idea. It was too dangerous.
“Do you think I want to put her at risk?” Sean pled. “I can’t convince her otherwise. Sara is very stubborn.” The two shared a sideways smile and Sean cocked an eyebrow at Fi. “Unlike some people I know.”
“Don’t start with me, Sean,” Fi retorted. “You know, you can get all cute with me if you want to, but this is serious!” To calm herself, she drew a deep breath and blew it out. She had to sit down. There were two small chairs and she grabbed one and straddled it. “Sara, why do you need to go on a Seek specifically?” To be honest, Fi was curious. Why did Sara want to go on a Seek? Most of the colonists would rather have teeth pulled without Novocaine than risk going Topside. To call Seeking a high-risk job was a ridiculous understatement.
“That’s a fair question,” Sara said. “I have to go on a Seek with Sean because I have to experience the danger.”
“What? That’s ridiculous, Sara.” Fi was irritated.
Sara rubbed her neck with her free hand. “How can I explain? Ok, imagine if you had never been through what you went through those two years Topside; that instead you came to Eden when I did, and had been living here in safety the whole time. So you missed the whole thing, the whole Famine. Like me,” she said, and Fi nodded. “And then Asher came here and you met him, and you fell in love with him.” The words came out in an embarrassed rush, and Sean squeezed her hand. “Imagine the gap, Fi. Imagine that wall between you.”
Fi was taken aback. She’d never thought about that. What would it be like if she weren’t a fighter, if she were still just an average, sheltered, girl? And Asher, what if he had been through so much, and she couldn’t relate? How would she possibly bear the difference?
Fi searched her friend’s face. Sara’s jaw was set, ready to resist. “Sara, I think I understand what you mean, but you have to realize that Seeking is very dangerous. I know that Sean would give his life to protect you,” she began, and Sara sucked in her breath. Fi raised her eyebrows. Maybe her point was already made? “But…he might not be able to protect you, or worse, he could get killed trying.”
> Tears welled in Sara’s eyes. “I don’t want to put anyone at risk. Least of all Sean. But I have to know him better. I have to see it for myself, to understand…”
Fi dropped her head. “You’re right, Sean. She’s stubborn.” She rested her chin on top of her folded arms and was quiet for a moment while she thought. “You know I can’t forbid anything anymore.”
“So what are you thinking?” Sean’s voice was hopeful.
“I’m thinking that there’s no way Gary is going to let you take her out there without any preparation. Seeks are not for tourists.” This she emphasized to Sara, who crossed her arms.
“I know,” Sean said. “I told Sara that Gary would be a no-go, but then I told her that you would be a no-go as well.”
“Just for the record, Sean,” Fi snorted, “I am a no-go on this. I think it’s a terrible idea. But if she’s dead set on becoming a Seeker, then she has to train. If you let us train her, and if she works very hard at it,” she turned to Sara, whose eyes were widening, “then on a future seek, maybe Gary would approve. I think if Asher assured him that she was ready, he would consider it.”
Fi nodded as she reviewed her plan and then startled at she met Sara’s gaze. There was a flush to her cheeks and her lips had parted as if she were breathing faster. Suddenly Fi was struck by the strangest feeling that Sara had been trying to tell her something. She remembered the flash in her eyes that first day of school when she’d asked Fi about surviving Topside. And the intensity on her face whenever she watched Sean train. Fi had always assumed that her focus was a reflection of her pride in Sean, but maybe it was really something else.
“Sara, I know that you’re convinced that you have to do this to truly understand Sean, but I have to know.” She narrowed her eyes. “Are you also serious about it for yourself? I mean, on some level, do you want to Seek?”
Seeds of War Page 2
