Fractured Jewel

by Brenda Hiatt

  Carrying my books up to my room, I reached out to Rigel again. Are you doing that promo stuff downtown this afternoon?

  Yeah. Just got out of the shower, so we’re heading to town now. You?

  Yep. Aunt Theresa just reminded me. Think Trina will be at her dad’s store?

  Rigel’s mental laughter made me smile. Are you kidding? Not a chance. See you soon, M!

  Though the whole idea of posing for pictures so local store owners could use us in their advertising seemed lame, at least I’d get to do it with Rigel. Plus I’d be spared seeing a bunch of pics of him in the paper next to Trina, like last year.

  Rigel was right—there was no sign of Trina when my aunt and I got to the electronics store twenty minutes later, though both her parents were there. I shared a secret grin with Rigel as I moved to his side where the Court was already lining up for pictures.

  Aunt Theresa, meanwhile, was clearly in her element, basking in the reflected glory of my position as Junior Princess.

  “I’m sure Marsha was elected because she’s such a likable girl,” I overheard her confiding to Freshman Princess Andrea Perkins’s mom, who sang in the choir with her at church. “Always so helpful around the house.”

  Like she gave me a choice? To tune her out, I smiled up at Rigel. I’m already looking forward to the end of football season, when we can spend more time together.

  Me, too. The look he slanted my way made a delicious warmth curl through me. Everything was so great last fall, before—

  Before all the political stuff got in the way. Now it can finally be like that again.

  Even though I’d deliberately avoided Sean’s name, both of us involuntarily glanced over to where he and Missie, this year’s Homecoming King and Queen, were getting their pictures taken. Aunt Theresa, I noticed, was now exchanging barbed pleasantries with Trina’s mom.

  “I hope your daughter wasn’t too disappointed at not being voted onto the Homecoming Court this year,” she was saying, though not loudly enough that anyone without Martian senses was likely to overhear.

  Mrs. Squires gave a brittle, tinkling laugh. “While I’m sure you’ve been gratified to see your niece finally blossom a bit this past year, my Trina has been winning far more important competitions and pageants since she was twelve. Why, the mayor of Jewel himself crowned Trina Cornsilk Queen at this summer’s county fair and last year’s State fair, as a member of the Miss Soybean court, she shook the Governor’s hand.”

  I saw Aunt Theresa’s lips tighten. “Cornsilk Queen? I’ll have you know my Marsha was awarded—” She broke off, her cheeks going pinker. From the sudden alarm I detected from her, I could guess what she’d nearly blurted out.

  “That is,” she continued after a moment. “Marsha has always been far more focused on her academics than on popularity—or boys. It was her friends who worked to have her nominated for Homecoming Court.”

  “Whatever you say, Theresa. I heard it was a very close contest this year, so unless Marsha and our star quarterback avoid more of their frequent breakups, she’s not likely to win a nomination for Homecoming Queen next year. But who knows? She might get lucky again.” Mrs. Squires turned away with a smile that reminded me of Trina.

  Aunt Theresa glared after her, her earlier alarm at her near-slip now swallowed up by frustration.

  Huh. My aunt might not want to talk to me about what she’d learned on Saturday, but she was clearly dying to tell other people what a big deal her niece really was. Getting a medal from the President obviously topped being named Cornsilk Queen.

  Though I was sure Aunt Theresa was way too sensible to let temptation get the better of her, I really should remind her how important it was to keep everything she’d learned secret. If I could ever get her to listen.

  3

  Inclusions

  “BANNER day at the lot,” Uncle Louie announced when he got home that night, barely in time for dinner. “It’s why I’m so late. At least two dozen customers came in and I personally sold three cars—on a Monday!”

  He sat down and took a big gulp of iced tea. “A bunch of others promised to come back tomorrow or the next day, said they’re planning to buy, too. Didn’t I say that company moving its headquarters here was good news? Shoot, if this trend continues, you can quit your extra job at the florist, Theresa.”

  I glanced at my aunt, who seemed more surprised than happy.

  “Wow, that’s great, Uncle Louie,” I said to make up for her silence. “Three cars!” I was pretty sure his previous record was three in one week.

  “Did the other salesmen do as well?” Aunt Theresa asked, now looking cautiously pleased.

  “Joe sold two and Buddy one—it’s just the three of us there on Mondays. But get this—several people asked for me personally! Said I’d been recommended.” He beamed at us across the table.

  “Recommended?” Aunt Theresa echoed doubtfully. “By whom?”

  “Satisfied customers, obviously. Maybe the O’Garas? I heard one guy mention them to his wife. Probably others, too. Most people like me, Theresa.” He was obviously a little hurt she wasn’t more enthusiastic about his triumph.

  At mention of the O’Garas, my aunt flicked a glance my way before looking back at Uncle Louie. “Sorry, dear. Of course I’m happy for you—for all of us. I was simply curious. So many people moving to town all at once, well…it’s going to take a bit of getting used to. For everyone.”

  “I’m sure not seeing any downside so far.” Uncle Louie scooped up a big forkful of beef stroganoff. “Bring ‘em on!”

  Most nights Uncle Louie dominated the dinner conversation and tonight was no different, especially since he had so much to talk about. As he went on to describe the cars he’d sold and the people he’d sold them to—including a comment on how good-looking most of the newcomers were—I could sense my aunt’s growing uneasiness. She was definitely getting suspicious.

  I waited until she and I were putting the dinner dishes in the sink to say, “Aunt Theresa, there’s something you should probably know about these new people in town, this company—”

  She glanced pointedly at the clock. “Aren’t you supposed to be at the O’Garas’ by seven-thirty? It’s nearly that now. Try not to be any later than you can help, as it’s a school night.”

  With a little sigh of resignation, I nodded. “Right. I’ll, um, try to be home as early as I can. G’night Aunt Theresa.”

  When I arrived at the O’Garas,’ the entire seven-member Echtran Council greeted me by bowing in unison—Kyna, Nara, and Connor holographically, since they didn’t live in Jewel. Malcolm and Breann had moved here last spring, and of course Mrs. O’Gara and Mr. Stuart—Rigel’s dad and the newest member of the Council—had lived here even longer.

  After we all exchanged brief greetings, little Nara as enthusiastically as always, I took the only unoccupied chair.

  “Excellency, I suggest we get right to business.” Kyna was currently the oldest, most level-headed, and longest-serving member of the Council. She’d taken over as leader after Rigel’s grandfather, Shim, left to become my Regent back on Mars. “Connor, you have your report on the status of the new Echtrans?”

  Nodding, he stood. One of four Royals on the Council, Connor was tall, blond and almost absurdly handsome. Glancing off to one side at something not visible in his holographic image, he began.

  “As you know, Excellency, due to your persuasiveness while in Nuath, nearly five thousand of our people emigrated from Mars over the summer—many, many times more than during any previous launch window. With so little time to prepare for such an influx, our first challenge was to arrange lodging for them all in Bailerealta, Dun Cloch and other, smaller, Echtran enclaves.

  “Our standard orientation training had to be accelerated in order to process them through quickly, thereby making room for newer arrivals. This entailed fabricating an unprecedented number of new identities, records and personal histories before allowing them to leave their Echtran compounds to begin their in
tegration into Duchas society. Despite those challenges, all has proceeded relatively smoothly thus far, as I stated in my preliminary report last month.”

  I frowned. “I didn’t receive that report.”

  “No, Excellency.” I detected disapproval in the glance Kyna gave Connor and a few of the others. “Some here felt that was unnecessary.”

  Breann, a stunning brunette and, incidentally, another Royal, smiled at me in a way I found slightly condescending. “You already had so many responsibilities to deal with, Excellency. We thought it best not to add to them when this was a matter the Council was well able to handle ourselves, as we have handled all other Echtran affairs over the years.”

  Before they’d discovered I was alive, in other words. I already knew the Royals on the Council weren’t nearly as happy as they pretended to be that a sixteen-year-old girl now had authority over them. It wasn’t like I’d asked for this job—rather the reverse. But it was mine now, and I was determined to do the best I could.

  “While I appreciate your concern,” I said, not hiding my sarcasm, “I should have been told right away about something as important as a large number of Echtrans suddenly moving to my hometown.”

  “Not so very sudden.” Malcolm’s smile also seemed irritatingly patronizing. “You may recall, Excellency, that even prior to your trip to Nuath last spring we discussed the establishment of an Echtran center of operations here in Jewel, as it is your home. It’s why our Council meetings are now held here, and why a small number of Echtrans had already relocated to Jewel, to include myself and Breann.”

  “Of course I remember. But it was presented as something that would happen well in the future—months, even years from now.”

  “That was the original plan,” Breann confirmed. “But we were forced to move more quickly when so many of our new arrivals expressed a desire to live in Jewel.”

  I blinked. “They did? Why?”

  Breann’s smile seemed more genuine now. “Because of you, Excellency. You apparently painted such a glowing picture of life in this town that nearly a quarter of those you convinced to relocate requested that Jewel be their new home.”

  Oops. “I just used it as an example, since it’s what I know best. I never meant—” I broke off, frowning. “A quarter? That’s over a thousand people! Jewel can’t possibly accommodate that many Echtrans all at once. There’s not room, for one thing.”

  “Of course not, Excellency,” Connor quickly replied. “And not nearly that many are actually moving there. While a large city like New York or Chicago can absorb a few hundred Echtrans easily enough, smaller communities—”

  “Like Jewel?”

  He nodded. “For those, we’ve had to be more innovative to avoid drawing unwanted attention. Fortunately, some of that groundwork was already laid. Early this year we created a corporation, wholly owned by the Echtran community, with the intention of eventually moving its operations and people to Jewel. To that end, some months ago that corporation purchased a defunct factory and a few hundred adjacent acres of unused farmland on the outskirts of town. That property is now being developed well ahead of our original schedule.”

  “Developed…to do what? I mean, what are we telling people?”

  Kyna answered me. “NuAgra’s stated purpose is to conduct research into genetically enhancing food crops to increase production and decrease the need for artificial pesticides and fertilizers. Press releases to that effect have already been sent to the local media.”

  Thus that article in the Indianapolis paper yesterday.

  “What will they really be doing? And what if people try to check out that story?” Given the grumblings I’d already heard about “hiring locally,” I was sure someone would. Maybe a lot of someones. “Won’t it look strange that this whole company practically sprang up overnight?”

  “Not at all,” Breann assured me. “On paper, it appears as though NuAgra has been in existence for years but has only now chosen to move its headquarters to Jewel in order to expand operations.”

  “As to your other question,” Malcolm said, “Echtrans really will be using the facility to develop ways to better provide food for both our own people and the Duchas…among other things. The sensitive nature of even their purported research will provide ample justification for secrecy, as well as for bringing in their own, specially trained people as employees.”

  That so many details had already been worked out was mind-boggling—and irritating. “I absolutely should have been told about all of this much sooner.”

  Connor cleared his throat noisily. “I was in the process of preparing a report that would have been shared with you last week, Excellency, but our priorities rather abruptly, er, changed. At that point the Council felt it would be unwise to distract you with other matters.”

  I huffed out a breath, only partially mollified by that reasoning. “Okay. So how many people are we talking about?”

  Again, Connor consulted something I couldn’t see. “By the end of the week, one hundred eighty-six new Echtrans will have relocated to Jewel.”

  “One hundred—!” Okay, it wasn’t a thousand, but still…

  “For now. More will undoubtedly arrive after the next launch window. By then the Jewel Duchas should have grown accustomed to the first wave, making integration of subsequent groups even easier.”

  Jewelites, in my experience, tended to be pretty mistrustful of anything new. The Stuarts and O’Garas had managed to fit in pretty quickly, but Rigel and Sean being star athletes had helped a lot. Which prompted me to ask how many of our new arrivals would be kids.

  “Only eleven.” Nara spoke for the first time since her initial, effusive greeting. “On my recommendation, families with children younger than twelve years old will remain in purely Echtran communities for the present, as youngsters pose a greater security risk.”

  That made sense. Kids, even teenagers, did tend to blurt things out without thinking. I’d done it plenty of times myself. “So just middle school and high school age?”

  “Yes.” Nara consulted her tablet. “According to my notes, seven will be attending Jewel High School, ranging in age from fourteen to seventeen. All should be enrolled by the end of this week. If you’d like, I can send you my report on them.”

  “That would be good, thanks. I take it their parents have already found places to live here in town?”

  Malcolm nodded. “Most arranged to buy or rent homes in Jewel as soon as they were approved to come, well before leaving the compounds. NuAgra is also subsidizing the completion, renovation and construction of more housing units to help meet future demand.”

  Which probably included that Diamond View Terrace addition Uncle Louie had speculated about last night.

  I must have still looked concerned, because Connor said, “Not to worry, Excellency. Everyone approved to relocate there underwent rigorous screening before being released from their training compounds. We couldn’t risk allowing someone with anti-Royal leanings to move to your community, particularly given that recent, public attack upon you.”

  Which Rigel had prevented, even though he hadn’t yet gotten his memory back at the time.

  “Did you ever find out who sent that man after me? Or was he working alone?”

  “I’m afraid we weren’t able to discover that, Excellency.” Kyna’s expression was troubled. “The night before he was to undergo a memory extraction, he was found dead in his cell.”

  My eyes widened. “Dead? You mean someone killed him before he could talk?”

  Kyna grimaced slightly. “Our Healers’ preliminary examination indicated he died of natural causes—a heart attack—but the timing…”

  “I’ve been assured there will be a complete investigation and autopsy,” Connor said. “If he was deliberately silenced, he was likely on an anti-Royal mission, just as he claimed. We know they’ve resorted to violence before.”

  I suppressed a shudder. “How did you make sure no anti-Royals are moving here?”

&nbs
p; I agreed in principle with what the so-called Populist Movement stood for: equal representation for all Martians. In fact, it was something I hoped to eventually bring about myself. But if they’d actually killed that crazy guy to keep him from talking, they’d lowered themselves to Faxon’s level. That dictator—now deposed—had also resorted to violence, intimidation and murder to subdue opposition.

  “Nuathan records are quite thorough on some points,” Breann assured me. “Thanks, ironically, to Faxon. He kept careful track of anyone outspoken about their Royalist sympathies. The very people he most sought to oppress are the safest ones to have living here.”

  Traditionalists, then—which I also had mixed feelings about. Back on Nuath they’d been my first supporters, but also the first to turn against me when the news about Rigel broke.

  “That probably explains the attitudes of the three I met downtown yesterday,” I muttered.

  “I hope they did nothing inappropriate.” Kyna raised an eyebrow. “We required those relocating to Jewel to undergo additional training to minimize the chances of that, should they first encounter you in a public setting. One reason they were among the last to be released from the compounds.”

  “Well, they didn’t bow or squeal or anything,” I told her, “but they were downright rude to Rigel—which seemed pretty inappropriate to me, considering he helped save the freaking world Friday night! Is it possible not everyone has read your statement yet?”

  Malcolm shifted in his chair, averting his eyes from mine. At the same time, I felt discomfort emanating from Breann and Mrs. O. Immediately, I was suspicious.

  “You did send out that bulletin Saturday explaining how we stopped the Grentl, right?”

  “A report was sent, Excellency.” Kyna’s expression was distinctly disapproving as it swept over the four Royals. “However the Council voted, four to three, to edit out several, ah, details first.”

  “What details? You told me the whole story about what Rigel and I did—together—would go out over MARSTAR and the Nuathan networks.”