PLANETBOUND

by D M Arnold

  “In the charge of unauthorized transit and transport, Mr Kyhana will receive another reprimand. Otherwise, the charges are dropped. The sentence of economic incarceration is abrogated, and he is returned to full ExoAgency status and privileges. The case is closed.”

  “Congratulations, Nyk,” Kronta said. “Don't worry about those reprimands. I doubt this committee will second-guess anything you do, now.”

  Nyk headed with Andra toward the tubecar platform. “You gave Kronta the genealogy.”

  “Yes -- I did. I was so distraught after you disappeared -- I looked in the genealogy. I looked for your name, and knew you must've made it safely back to Earth. It dawned on me, it would also exonerate you. I hope you're not too angry with me.”

  “No -- I'm not angry. I just wish I had some warning. You didn't take it to Korlo?”

  “He was too busy to meet with me.”

  “Too ... busy?” Nyk shook his head. “That doesn't make sense.”

  “I took the transcript to Tomyka Wells. She didn't want to know about it -- so I took it to Kronta. It's why Wells is in custody -- she should've closed the case then and there. Instead, she tried to suppress the evidence. She let her emotional involvement overrule her civic responsibility.”

  The tubecar arrived at the hostel. Nyk escorted Andra to their room. “Did Kronta tell you what was in the datacel?” Nyk asked.

  “Yes -- proof you marry Sukiko. You can return to Earth and the two of you can live happily ever after.”

  “No. Andra -- that document lists Suki's death as 1-September 2001. It's less than a year away!”

  Andra gaped at him. “NO! Oh, Nyk -- you must do something!”

  “I can't -- I can't do anything. It's Quinn's Postulate -- I have precognizance! I can't change history.”

  “What will you do?”

  “There's only one thing I can do -- I must live each remaining day to its fullest. And on that dreaded day -- I'll stick to her like glue -- and hope when the moment comes -- she'll die in my arms. Oh, Andra!” He collapsed against her and wept.

  Andra held him and stroked his hair, weeping along with him. She began kissing the tears from his cheeks. “Drink my tears,” she said. He kissed away hers. “We've cried over the same hurt and tasted each other's tears -- we're bonded...”

  “We're already bonded, Andra.”

  “...Stronger than ever -- the deeper the hurt the stronger the bond, and I can't imagine a deeper hurt. Nyk -- I'll do anything you ask -- anything you need -- to help you through this. If there's a way...”

  “Let me look at this.” He took the datacel and slipped it into a handheld vidisplay. “You were right -- I AM better off knowing this... I can't believe it -- not only does Suki die on September first, so does her father!” He flicked through the document. “It starts with her great- great-grandfather -- the one who emigrated from Japan. It goes straight through to Koichi and his children. They're all here -- George, Yasuko, Suki, Nicky... Nykkyo Nicholas Kane Kyhana, born 5 December, 2000... I don't want to know when he dies.” He scrolled through the document backwards. “Nicky married Jenna, who gave birth to Jeremy...”

  “What does it say about you?”

  “Nothing -- except that Suki married Nick Kane after Nicky's birth. No dates, no other family references -- nothing. It's the story of my life, Andra -- I'm nothing. Everyone around me is something. My dad, my mother, Senta... I'm not even a real Kyhana, and I'm not important enough to be in this document except as a footnote.”

  He showed her the display. “George and Suki die together on 1 September. I don't know why or how...” He buried his face in his hands -- then looked up. “Maybe something happened on that date -- some historic event. Come with me -- we're going to the museum.”

  * * *

  Nyk sat at a vidisplay in the library of the Floran Museum. “It's no use! The Encyclopedia only shows dates through 1979.”

  “What are these documents?” Andra asked.

  “It's the contents of the database aboard the Floran -- they intended to build schools on the Centauri colony, and they needed an encyclopedia. It contains all significant historic events up through the launch of the mission.”

  “But, the mission was launched in 2201.”

  “In order to discourage temporal mischief, the entries for events in Earth's future are classified. Every twenty to thirty years or so, they declassify recent entries -- after they're safely in Earth's past.”

  “If, according to Quinn's postulate, no one can change history -- then, why the top-secrecy?” Andra asked.

  “No one can alter a historic event -- but, with precognizance, one could do plenty of temporal damage -- or, use the knowledge for personal gain.”

  A young man approached them. “Nykkyo -- good to see you.”

  “Korlo -- this is Andra Baxa.”

  “Andra Baxa...” he mused. “I remember -- you sent me a telemessage stating you had an object of interest you wanted examined.”

  She produced the datacel. “It's this.”

  Golmya took it. “This is an ordinary datacel.”

  “It's what's on the cel that's of interest. It contains Koichi Kyhana's lost genealogy.”

  The color drained from Golmya's face. “The genealogy? Why ... why didn't you say so? We've been looking for that for ... for generations. I apologize for dismissing you -- so many people come in here claiming to have found this artifact or that, and they end up being two- hundred-year-old pieces of construction debris. If I had only known ... I'm undone by my own arrogance ... you have humbled me today... Come -- come upstairs and let's have a look.”

  Golmya led them into his office, slipped the cel into his vidisplay and read it. “This looks like a transcript of the genealogy -- it's written in Esperanto, but in Floran characters. It is not original.”

  “I have the original data capsule,” Andra replied. Golmya's eyes popped. “Well, I think it's the original. In addition, I have another datacel -- one I couldn't read.”

  “Where are these?”

  “At the Residence, in Sudal.”

  “I would hope you'd consider donating that capsule to the museum -- it's an important artifact... When you said you couldn't read the other cel -- did you mean it was unreadable -- or, you couldn't understand what was there.”

  “It was unreadable -- or maybe not.”

  Golmya brought up a page from Koichi's journal. “Did it look like this?”

  “It might have,” she replied. “Now, I can't recall.”

  “If it did -- what you had might've been the raw contents in Roman characters.” He picked up her cel. “This would be the transcript.”

  “Is it genuine?” Nyk asked.

  “That's hard to know without seeing the original. On the face of it -- it does have the same format as other genealogies I've seen. Since those genealogies are classified...”

  “Classified?” Andra asked.

  “For the same reason as the Floran Encyclopedia entries,” Nyk interjected. Andra nodded.

  “Since those genealogies are classified,” Golmya continued, “It would be unlikely someone could produce such a convincing forgery. I would very much like to examine the original, however.”

  “Korlo,” Nyk said while attempting to maintain a dispassionate composure, “the genealogy lists a pair of deaths on 1 September, 2001. Would it be possible to see the corresponding entry in the Encyclopedia?”

  “What is the current Earth date?”

  “April 5, 2001.”

  “I'm afraid not -- that material is classified.”

  “Are there any assurances I could give?” Nyk asked.

  “It wouldn't help, Nykkyo. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't give you that information. You see -- even I don't have access to it."'

  * * *

  Nyk lay on his back on his childhood bed. The storm shutters were open and the nighttime land breeze wafted through the open structure of the Residence. He could hear the surf washing against the rocks at the base of t
he bluff.

  Andra pulled herself against him. She kissed his cheek. He stroked her arm and shoulder. “Oh, Andra -- I still don't know what I'll do.”

  “I'm in anguish, too, Nyk.”

  “I have to get over it. This is Destiny's plan. What a cruel plan -- to give us this love and then take her from me. To take Nicky's mother...”

  “She's enriched me, Nyk. We'll always keep a place for her in our hearts.”

  “Listen to us -- we're talking as if she's already dead. She's not -- not yet. I don't think she'd approve our grieving like this -- do you?”

  Andra shook her head.

  “Then, let's carry on with life. That is what I'll do -- I'll return to Earth and pretend I know nothing of September 1.”

  “Let's -- we can celebrate your exoneration -- and, the fact you're returning to her in two days.”

  * * *

  “My shuttle leaves in two segments,” Nyk said to Andra. “I don't know how I'll function, cursed as I am with this knowledge.”

  “You are better off knowing.”

  “According to that genealogy -- I marry her. I must do it quickly -- before September 1. You're right -- I am better off knowing. I must marry her and become Nicky's legal stepfather.”

  “Remember, Nyk -- anything you need of me -- I'll do. Without hesitation, I'll do anything to help.”

  He reached into his xarpa and withdrew a green polycard. “I almost forgot...” He stepped into his study and placed a vidphone call.

  “Janna -- the day we discussed has arrived.”

  “Then, by now you must be exonerated. Congratulations.”

  “It's a bittersweet victory -- with more bitter than sweet. I'll let Andra explain.”

  “Let me speak with her.”

  Nyk stepped from the study. “Andra -- someone to speak with you on the vidphone. Take it in my study.”

  “For me?” She stepped into the study and closed the door.

  Andra emerged, her eyes red from crying. “Janna told me. I asked for her help and she didn't shirk.”

  “It was the least she could do after you helped her.”

  “I told her of you and Sukiko -- she's deeply troubled and offers any help she can.”

  “I knew she would. Not even the powers of a princess can help me, I'm afraid. Well -- I'm off. I must be on the packet that's being diverted to Earth for me.”

  “Stay in touch, Nyk.”

  * * *

  Nyk lay, holding Suki under his arm. She brushed tears from his face. “I'm happy to see you, too.” She kissed his cheek. “It was quite a reunion we just had.”

  “Suki -- let's make love every night -- without fail -- no excuses, no too tired or headaches.” She kissed his cheek again. “And another thing -- let's plan the ceremony. My divorce with Senta is final. She withdrew her objections -- there's nothing in our way.”

  “We have plenty of time,” she replied. “We don't need a piece of...”

  “No -- you and I don't need that piece of parchment. But -- Nicky does. Suki -- What am I?”

  “You're my Nick -- my fiancé.”

  “I'm nothing -- in the eyes of Earth law, I am nothing. I'm your live-in boyfriend. If ... anything were to happen to you -- what would become of Nicky? I have no claim on him. Suki -- I came here to replace the man who was to be in your life. It would all be for nothing if...”

  She caressed his face. “I never thought of it that way.”

  “If I were your husband and his legal stepfather -- I might have a stronger argument for custody if...”

  “All right -- we'll set a date and plan a wedding. I think a fall wedding would be pretty -- with the leaves on the trees turning colors. Maybe the second week of October.”

  “No -- it has to be sooner -- right away, if possible -- mid August at the latest.”

  “Mid August? Nick -- it takes time to organize.”

  “I'm sure you and your mother can put your heads together and come up with something.”

  She ran her hand along his arm. “What are weddings like on your world?”

  “Remember -- marriage on Floran is more about family alignment. There are love matches, but most are for furthering family politics. There's no religion on Floran. The services are civil -- performed by a magistrate. They're usually done in the home, with a handful of guests -- close relatives and friends.”

  “That sounds nice,” she replied. “I had the big, overblown event for my first wedding. I swore I'd never go through that again.” She closed her eyes. “Yes -- I can begin to visualize it. I'll talk to Mom tomorrow. She'll be over the moon.”

  * * *

  Nykkyo carried his briefcase to the lower level. Yasuko handed him an envelope. “For you -- it was in yesterday's mail. It looks like it's from Jonathan.”

  “Thanks.” He slipped the envelope into his pocket.

  Suki took his hand and headed with him out the door. “Commuting to this job at Pace is almost like the one at NYU,” she said. “Just a few stops further downtown. What did you get from Uncle Jonathan?”

  “An installment from selling the gems.” He slit open the envelope and showed her the check inside.

  Suki whistled. “You and he must be doing all right.”

  * * *

  Nyk sat on the desk in Seymor's office. “Seymor, I need a personal favor.”

  “What's that?”

  “I need to borrow five hundred thousand dollars.”

  Seymor stared at him. “A half-million? Whatever for?”

  “There's some property on Long Island I want to buy -- a summer house. The seller is asking three-quarters of a million. I have about a quarter-million put away.”

  “A quarter million dollars -- where on Earth would you get that sort of money?”

  “I've brought some Floran diamonds of my own, and Suki's uncle is moving them into the market.”

  “So -- you're the one responsible. Lev told me some Chinaman in Queens was starting to eat our breakfast.”

  “He's Japanese... I don't want to hurt the Agency's business, Seymor. We're sticking to gems under four carats. So far, we've sold a few dozen. I'm sorry -- I should've told you sooner.”

  “Don't worry about it, lad -- it's nothing Earthbound agents haven't been doing for hundreds of years. Consider it a perk of being stationed here. Besides ... Lev will be retiring soon. It's good to have another pipeline into the market.”

  “I think I can pay you back within a year or two -- it's just the owner wants to close in the next couple of weeks. Suki's dad has offered to loan me the money -- but I don't wish to be beholding to him.”

  “I trust you, Nyk. I'll draw up a promissory note and I can have a check cut this afternoon. Are you sure a half million is enough? You'll have some expenses.”

  “Add any contingency you think I need. I appreciate it, Seymor.”

  “By the way, lad... If, by chance, you haven't filled the position of best man...”

  “I'd be honored, Seymor.”

  “No, Nyk. The honor is mine.”

  16 -- I'll Never Forget This

  Nyk stood on a chair adjusting an object atop a tall cabinet in the living room. Suki approached him. “What are you doing?”

  “This is a wireless video camera. I'm going to videotape the rehearsal to make sure we have good coverage.”

  “Are you going to videotape the ceremony?”

  “If you'd like. I'm setting up this camera so Andra can see the wedding. I'll feed the signal into the laptop computer. Before the ceremony, I'll start a vidphone session and she can watch the whole thing. It'll be the middle of the night on Floran, but she said she'll stay up to watch, and to be with us as best she can.”

  Nyk stepped off the chair and returned it to the row from which he had taken it. The living room had been transformed. Furniture had been moved or removed, folding chairs to accommodate the twenty-odd guests had been placed in rows, and a podium for the presiding judge had been set up. A folding table for the catered reception
was set against a wall.

  Suki's mother walked into the room. “This all looks delightful,” Nyk said to her. “You've gone to so much effort for us. It's gift, Yasuko -- an expression of love. How much more needs to be done?”

  “The florist is delivering the flowers tomorrow. Our participants should be here any moment for the rehearsal. It will be a unique ceremony, with elements of a Japanese and a western wedding.”

  The doorbell rang and Yasuko answered it. A Japanese woman lugging a log-shaped device entered. She and Yasuko bowed and greeted each other in Japanese. Yasuko turned to Nyk and Suki, “This is Yuriko Sakai, and she'll be providing the music.”

  Nyk and Suki bowed to her. “Pleased to meet you,” he said.

  “The pleasure's mine,” Yuriko replied in accented English. Yasuko pointed to the platform they used for meals and Yuriko looked it over. “This will do fine,” she said and she began setting up and tuning her koto. She played a traditional Japanese tune.

  Nyk whispered to Suki, “That music affects me the same way as miso soup. I feel it, resonating deep inside me.”

  Suki's father walked in the front door accompanied by a large, stocky man. “Greetings, all. This is Donald Hassinger, the judge who'll be presiding over your ceremony.” Nyk and Suki approached him. “You know my daughter Sukiko. This is her fiancé, Nick Kane.”

  “It's been years since I last saw Sukiko. Mr Kane, nice to meet you.”

  “Thank you, your Honor for taking the time to preside over our ceremony.”

  “Please -- we're not in my courtroom. Call me Don. And, the pleasure's mine. I don't get too many opportunities to perform these. In recent years the trend has been for church weddings -- even for non-believers. It has cut down on my trade.”

  The doorbell rang again. A young man escorted a slightly-built woman into the house. She wore opaque glasses and carried a white cane. Suki approached her and took her hand. “Thank you for coming.”