Realm I

by H. G Ahedi

  “What are you saying?” said Anastasia.

  “The odds of two identical comets hitting two planets at the same time is next to impossible.”

  “Unless someone or something planned it,” suggested Mykel.

  “Hmm. If it were an invasion, wouldn’t they want the planet intact? Why destroy it?” asked Anastasia.

  “That’s a good question. Our scans show that Proserpina was flourishing. Thirty percent of it was water. A humanoid species occupied all five continents. The population was close to three billion. There were hundreds of different species of plants and animals, just like on Earth. We found several infrastructures, automobiles, industries, and military establishments. We think they were on the verge of discovering space travel. It would have been an excellent resource for the invaders, then why destroy it?” said Mykel.

  No one had an answer to that question.

  “Captain, we need to go back to that planet and do a thorough search,” Anastasia said. “A century ago, if our fighters hadn’t broken Nemesis into pieces, that would have been Earth’s fate. We need to know who’s sending these comets and why.”

  Mykel turned to look at her. “What do you think the Imperial Command is going to say about this?”

  Titan, Deck 10, Brig

  Emmeline sat in the dark brig. She remembered reading novels about criminals who were confined for a long time. Some of them went crazy, and some didn’t change, while others changed for the better. She wondered which she would be. Would she be able to accept that she’d made a mistake, get over it, and die in peace? She thought about all her friends and how her choices had made their lives so difficult. It wasn’t fair that they had to suffer for something she’d done.

  Emmeline’s heart skipped a beat, not for fear of death but for fear of the man who stood in front of her. She bowed her head. He hadn’t come to see her since she’d been sent away. She knew either Argon or Anastasia must have urged him to talk to her.

  Arthur remained silent as the guard stepped out and gave them their privacy.

  “Father . . .”

  “I told you not to do anything stupid.”

  Emmeline looked up. Dressed in white, in the dim light, Arthur looked like an angel. She thought it was best not to speak and to accept her fate. If she argued or explained herself, it would just make things worse. But she felt she should say goodbye. She pushed herself to face him. “Dad, I’m . . .”

  “Why didn’t you fight?”

  Her eyes lowered. “I-I couldn’t . . .”

  “Yes. You could have. You should have! You didn’t even explain yourself properly! You should have stood your ground. You should have fought for your life!”

  “There’s nothing to fight for.”

  “There is always something to fight for.”

  She turned away from him. “Nothing I do will bring Delta back.”

  “True,” said Arthur. “That is a mistake you must live with. Do not make another one.”

  “That’s why I should go away.” As soon as she said those words, Emmeline felt as if a slab of rock had fallen on her. The silence was overwhelming. She turned to make sure her father was still there.

  He stood still like a statue, lifeless. “Why are you doing this?”

  “I have to make this right!” Emmeline said. “I have to make this right!”

  “You can’t,” Arthur told her.

  Emmeline shook her head. “But I have to protect my friends. I can’t let them suffer because of my mistake. I let Delta down. I won’t do that to the others!”

  “This doesn’t have to be your fate.”

  “It is my fate, Dad. Just like you said, I ruined everything! Just like Grandpa!”

  The expression on Arthur’s face didn’t change. “You’re right. It is your fate. I’ve accepted that. I don’t like it, but I accept it. You were always different, even when you were a child. Chasing butterflies into the unknown. Entering dark caves just to fulfill your curiosity. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you.”

  Emmeline’s face fell.

  “It was your destiny to find the device that no one thought existed. You found it. But you lost one battle; you did not lose the war. Everything is worth fighting for.”

  She blinked several times. She didn’t understand what he wanted. “Dad . . .”

  “Tell me one thing, if you got a chance, will you take it? Will you fight?”

  “Ahh…”

  “Please…for the sake of your mother. For the sake of the people who love you, tell me you will take the chance. You will fight. You will not surrender.”

  Emmeline took a step back. She tried to push herself to think, “Dad…I don’t know.”

  “Soon a choice will fall on your shoulders. Things will change. They’re going to change fast. Remember, I’ll do anything for you and I’ll always love you, no matter where you are.” His words rang like a bell in Emmeline’s head as he walked away.

  “Dad! Dad! What do you mean?” she called out.

  But like a monk who had taken an oath of silence, he stepped out, and the heavy door closed behind him.

  Titan, Deck 3, Midnight Orchid

  Argon tried to enjoy his whiskey, but it was hard. He tried not to get frustrated about the situation, but he felt he was the only one who was trying to save her or set things right. But he had a distinct feeling Emmeline didn’t want to be saved. She wasn’t thinking straight. He knew everyone would do their best, but in the end, it was up to him and Arthur; they had the most to lose. Everyone else could move on, but he didn’t know if he could. He didn’t know if he should.

  He looked at the pad again and read the update about the preliminary hearing. Things were changing fast. He felt a shadow over him and turned to find Clio, Byron, and Micah glaring at him.

  “What are you doing here?” Clio asked.

  Argon looked around. There was a large crowd spread across the hall. “Just like everyone, I came in for a drink.”

  Byron sat down beside him and signaled the bartender. Micah and Cleo sat on his left.

  “Sorry about what’s happening,” Byron said.

  Argon held his head. All this time, he had been trying to avoid talking about this. But it seemed there was no avoiding it. “It’s all ruined.”

  “No, it’s not,” said Byron. “Patience. We’ll sort this out.”

  Argon sat back in his chair. “You haven’t heard?”

  Everyone shook their heads.

  “Two hours after our gathering in the meeting room, the Imperial Command passed on a few orders. The first one was to remove Emmeline from Titan.”

  Everyone’s face turned grave.

  “They’re coming to take her away tomorrow,” Argon said.

  “I’m so sorry,” said Clio. “Is there anything we can do?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Any other orders?” asked Byron.

  “Take a wild guess.”

  “They want the piece,” said Micah.

  Argon nodded. “And everything she’s discovered over the last two years. The maps, the algorithms, Alexander ’s secret rainbow letter, the plaque, all the data about Nemesis and the rock sample she found on Earth . . .”

  “They’re going to take everything from her,” muttered Byron.

  “Bloody politicians,” said Micah.

  “No. Bloody admiral,” cursed Argon. “I could see the look in his eyes when he found out about the piece. He’s going after it. He is hungry for power, and that piece could give it to him.”

  “Well, we can get a legal representative and get her out,” Byron said.

  “Yes,” Clio agreed.

  “Once she leaves Titan, we don’t know what will happen to her,” Argon replied numbly.

  Soft music played in the background as everyone became silent.

  “So, what’s the plan now?” Micah asked. “What are you going to do?”

  “There is no plan,” Argon replied. The bartender refilled their glasses. He sipped his drink in silen
ce.

  “We know you better than your own shadow. You always have a plan A, B, C,” Byron stated.

  Argon managed a bleak smile. “What can I do? I’m not an admiral. I’m not a scientist. Even the commander of Titan can’t do anything!”

  “I can think of plenty of things,” Micah said thoughtfully.

  “Come on. Anastasia’s already managing it. We have to trust the process,” said Argon.

  All his friends gawked at him.

  “Really?” said Micah. “And you want us to believe that?”

  “It’s the truth,”

  For the next hour, they remained at Midnight Orchid, chatting and drinking. After the group left the bar, they moved to sit around a table near a wide window. In the dim light, Argon saw Arthur. He sat at the bar and ordered a drink.

  Argon continued to chat with his friends but kept a close eye on Arthur. A few minutes passed. Arthur turned with a drink in his hand, and their eyes met. Arthur gave him a slight nod, then finished his drink and left. Argon felt a bit of relief, but also sadness. Soon, everyone called it a night.

  Titan, Deck 4, Emmeline’s quarters

  It was 0300 hours, and Argon lied when he said he was fine. He had been planning, thinking, and worrying. There was a lot at stake, and he knew it would cause his family pain. But he had to do something. There was very little choice. Selina’s words echoed in his head.

  “You are going to leave us all…”

  How did she know? Did she see the future? Last night he wanted to talk to his sister, but he couldn’t. He wasn’t that brave. He couldn’t see her cry.

  He paused in front of Emmeline’s door and looked up and down the passageway. When he was sure he was on his own, he punched in the codes and entered the room. He put down his travel bag in a corner and surveyed Emmeline’s quarters. He’d never been in her quarters alone and felt uncomfortable entering her bedroom. He opened the closet, kneeled down, and opened Emmeline’s secret compartment. He was glad it was still there.

  He reached for the backpack and unzipped it. The plaque, the preserved document, the black stone in its glass container, and the piece were still there. He knew, although Anastasia had every right to keep the piece on Titan, in time, they would have to hand it over to the Imperial Command, who could use it as evidence in Emmeline’s trial or give it to the Crystal Lab. But he felt that it didn’t belong to anyone but Emmeline. The plaque originated in her family, and the piece belongs to her.

  He left the bedroom and took a seat in front of the computer. He smiled and remembered how he’d helped Emmeline set everything up when she’d first been assigned her own quarters. He wondered if she’d changed the access code to the computer. He punched in the code.

  “Access granted.”

  He smiled. Argon spent a few minutes trying to locate all files regarding Emmeline’s work. He instructed the computer to download all the files onto a pad. Then he got up, walked into her room, and grabbed the travel bag from her closet. He packed the picture of her family and all the small gifts he’d given her. Everything he knew she’d appreciate. Then he chose a few clothes she could wear.

  “Download complete,” the computer announced.

  He picked up the bags and rushed down to Deck 10. He walked past the small fighters and cargo ships. He glanced behind him. Today, it seemed it was taking him longer than usual to reach Hanger 23. When he got there, he stood silently to look at Raven. The door opened, and he entered the ship. He walked to the cockpit and placed the bags on the floor. He sat in the pilot’s chair and stared out. He thought about his family. He knew his mom would understand, but he wasn’t so sure about his dad. He was going to miss his little sister. Tears gathered in his eyes, and he sensed a pain in his chest. He was going to miss his friends, Anastasia, his life. He didn’t know what was going to happen. He sat back and wondered if he was making the right decision.

  Titan, Deck 4, Argon’s Quarters

  It was close to five in the morning when Argon returned home and snuck into his little sister’s room. Selina was asleep on her bed, holding her bunny. He kissed her forehead and watched her sleep for as long as he could. Then he entered his mom’s room. He kissed her on the forehead and sat down beside her.

  Aceline opened her eyes and smiled. She touched his face. “What is it, my dear?”

  He kissed her hand. “Nothing, Mom.”

  She smiled. “Go to sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  He nodded and watched her fall asleep again.

  Titan, Deck 1, Anastasia’s office

  Anastasia watched Prometheus preparing to leave. Part of her didn’t want it to leave. It was silly. Her personal feelings didn’t matter. Sometimes, she wondered if commanders or captains could have feelings. If the Orias were to attack Titan, she would have loved to see him one last time, even for just a moment.

  Prometheus’s engines came to life. The massive ship slowly moved away from its docking space and turned in the direction of Earth.

  Tears gathered in Anastasia’s eyes. With twenty thousand souls aboard Titan, she still felt all alone. She couldn’t understand herself. The crew was on her side. Titan was armed to the teeth. Freedom and Marion were here, and they had four more ships that could defend them. There were shields around the perimeter, and Titan’s shields were impeccable. She knew she should feel safe, but she didn’t.

  On top of all this, Anastasia had been ordered to remove Emmeline from Titan. She didn’t like that one bit. She’d tried to get around it, but the Imperial Command was adamant. They also wanted her to give them the piece. She was torn as to whether she should fight to keep it or release it to the authorities. What good would it do on Titan if Emmeline was gone?

  She felt like she was losing hope. Would she be able to save Emmeline? She’d already let Delta die. She should have controlled the admiral.

  Anastasia looked down at the pad. It contained all of Emmeline’s notes about the mythical device. Emmeline had been right so far, and Anastasia thought that if this device had power, they could use it to protect themselves from the Orias. Only if the Imperial Command would give her time, things would be better.

  She had been preparing a powerful presentation to steer the science committee away from condemning Emmeline and the Crystal Lab. She had also been studying laws laid by the Imperial Command. She knew her enemy very well, and if she was to face the admiral to save her crew and command, she had to be prepared. Mykel had been right; Jacob wanted to take Titan away from her. She couldn’t let him do that.

  Titan, Deck 1, Bridge

  Adrian couldn’t sleep, so he began his shift early and sat on the bridge, watching the computer as it ran a final diagnostic test on the perimeter. The receptors were working perfectly, and Titan was prepared to recharge the shields if necessary.

  Prometheus had left an hour ago. He watched it fly away. He’d already made up his mind. He was going to help Emmeline as much as he could. Delta was gone, but he could save her best friend. Then he would resign. Titan didn’t hold any more interest to him. He had a sinking feeling that the commander would be replaced. He didn’t know if he could work for someone else, and he refused to work under Jacob. The truth was he’d remained on Titan for so long because he was attached to the idea of a woman he could never have. An idea of love that didn’t exist. Even if it had existed, he’d never had the courage to find out.

  He shut his eyes and remembered the day he had seen Delta on Titan. Since that day, her absence had haunted him. Whenever she’d gone away, he’d spent most of his time brooding. It was no use now. She was gone, and he felt more alone than he’d ever felt in his entire life. Evan had been right; he should have told her.

  The computer beeped. Like a robot, Adrian pushed a button, and the computer continued its work. Then another beep. Adrian became alert. It wasn’t his console; it was in the science station. He slowly got up and walked over. Putting the weight of his body on the panel, he pressed a few buttons. His eyebrows shot up, and he narrowed
his gaze at the screen.

  “That can’t be right.”

  Titan, Deck 9, BRIG

  Argon waited patiently for the guards to change duties. He took in a deep breath, disregarding any thoughts that told him this was a bad idea. He knew it was a bad idea, but he had no choice. As planned, one guard exited the brig, and the next guard began his duty. Argon remained hidden as the first guard walked past him, entering the elevator.

  The lights in the corridor flickered. A smile spread across Argon’s face. With internal security disabled, he had sixty seconds to break in and escape. He ran toward the brig, and the doors slid open.

  The security guard slowly stood up. “Argon?”

  Argon pointed a disruptor at him. “Don’t move. You know I won’t miss.”

  The guard raised his hands. “This is a mistake.”

  Argon fired. The shot stunned the guard, and he fell to the ground. Argon pressed the codes and opened the door of the brig. “Emmeline?”

  Emmeline stepped out of the dark brig. “I knew it! I knew you’d do something stupid!”

  “Yes. It’s stupid. It’s illogical. Don’t tell me the math! You can spend the rest of your days in prison, or we can find this mythical device!”

  Her face turned thoughtful.

  “Make your choice because it will define you.”

  She remained silent as if weighing her options.

  “Emmeline?” Argon pleaded, extending his hand.

  She grabbed it. “Once we get to the ship, I can mask our signature using an algorithm I created.”

  They rushed out of the brig. “Okay. First, we have to get to the hangar deck,” Argon said. “Then we take Raven and travel to the Vesta colony in the asteroid belt. Your father has arranged a ship and a pilot who will steer us past the perimeter.”

  “Argon, we have to figure out where the second piece is.”