by JN Chaney
“There’s always new surprises,” Thistle used to tell him, back in the early days. “Every single day, there’s possibilities. That’s why we can’t let our guard down, kid. You never know what’s around the corner.”
John had listened and believed, without question. He could see the truth in what the old soldier said, and it stayed with him, even now. He thought about it often, and it kept him ready.
Always ready.
The morning suns dragged into the zenith, looming overhead and passing between a set of clouds, providing random fits of shade. The temperature on this planet was more or less the same as Earth, but it was hard to know how much it varied. Maybe if he stayed here long enough, there’d be snow. John had only ever read about blizzards, since the weather back home was generally lukewarm most of the year. He wondered if he’d find out.
The whole reason he came here in the first place was to locate Terry. So far, he’d found nothing. Maybe Lena could help him. Could Everlasting, with all of its advanced technology, track down a missing person? When he actually thought about it, John wasn’t so sure.
On the one hand, Lena said the city had a satellite, which allowed them to scan large sections of the surface. They’d know there were people here before they arrived. On the other hand, they’d believed John and his team to be part of a local tribe. This, despite their armor and weapons, their physical differences. How useful would such technology be if it couldn’t tell the two apart?
Oh well. He’d still talk to them and try, should the opportunity present itself. In the meantime, his team would continue to expand their search through the neighboring valleys and forests, exploring and scanning as much of the landscape as possible. With any luck, he wouldn’t need to rely on these aliens for help at all.
“Boss, you got a sec?” called Short, standing near the CHUs.
John was currently on his way to the latrine, but stopped when he heard her. “Make it quick. I’ve got business.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she said. “Just wanted to let you know, Lena says her people are on their way. Should be here soon.”
“Why didn’t she tell us before now?” he asked.
“She told me as soon as they called her. At least, that’s what she’s saying.”
“Alright, give me a few and I’ll relieve you. When I do, I want you on the perch with Hughes. He needs his spotter in case things go south.”
“I got you, boss.”
John continued on his way, and Short returned to the CHU. The portal was scheduled to open once an hour now, so he’d send an update over to Mei as soon as he could. After the initial encounter with Lena’s crew, a decision was made to shorten the time between openings. The portal was their only line of communication, and for now it could only be opened from the other side. Perhaps in time they’d find a way to activate it from this side, but not yet.
Hopefully, if Mei was successful, a delegate from Central would already be on their way. If not, then John might be all on his own. He’d be stuck as the first human representative to an alien species, a job which he was absolutely unqualified to do.
John checked the timestamp on his pad. Twenty more minutes before the next portal opening. That wasn’t too long. He’d probably have plenty of time.
******
Brooks’ voice came over the radio. “We’ve got company!” she announced.
John came running out of the latrine, still holding his unbuttoned pants around his waist. “You gotta be kidding me,” he said. “What kind of short notice—”
“Boss!” yelled Short, coming out of the CHU. “What’re your orders?”
“Tell Lena her people are here,” he said. “Ask her to come outside.”
The aircraft landed in a matter of seconds, gently touching the ground. The CHU door opened and out walked Lena Sol with Short by her side. John joined them, and together they waited for the door of the ship to open. When it finally did a few moments later, a strange man appeared. “Hello,” his suit said, translating his speech.
“Uh, hey,” said John.
“My name is Master Gel,” said the man. He held a case in his left hand, marked with strange symbols. He stepped off the ship and joined them on the ground. “I apologize for the delay. Leadership had to convene to provide authorization for our meeting.”
“Alright,” said John. He glanced at Lena, who stood quietly to his side. What would have happened if their superiors had decided against this meeting? Would they have left this woman here alone? “I sent for someone to come and talk to you. An ambassador. They haven’t gotten here yet.”
“Do you not speak for your city?” asked Gel.
“I do today, I guess,” said John, half-smiling. He scratched his neck.
“I brought a medical scanner to examine you for contaminants. I hope you understand the necessity. We don’t want to risk the spread of disease. You are from another world, after all.”
“Sure, I get it,” said John. “No needles, though.”
“Rest assured, Sergeant Finn, our scans are extremely accurate. There is no need to penetrate your skin.” Gel looked at Lena. “I hope our analyst was not unpleasant for you.”
“She was fine,” said John. “Already knows English and everything.”
“That’s good news,” said Gel.
The scans proceeded soon afterward. Brooks volunteered to go first, followed by Short. John took the opportunity to step away and place a call through the portal, since the allocated time had come for it to open. Mei was already waiting for him.
“They’re back already?” she asked upon hearing the news.
“Yeah, I only got a few minutes’ notice. Guess that ambassador of yours needs to get here ASAP.”
“I haven’t heard back yet. I’m supposed to talk to Harper in a few hours. Think you can play nice with the aliens until then?”
“I’m no politician, but I’ll do my best. Can’t say I’ll enjoy it.”
“Thanks,” said Mei. “Skip the next call, and I’ll try to have something for you in two hours. With any luck, Harper will know who she’s sending.”
“Sounds good,” he said.
“Stay safe over there,” she answered.
He ended the call, then joined the others near the ship. When he arrived, Gel was putting the scanner back inside the case. “Already done?” asked John.
“Yes, thank you. Your people don’t seem to be carrying any deadly illnesses, and whatever microorganisms you have are nothing for us to be concerned about. Though, before we allow you access to Everlasting, we will need to perform an examination on the rest of your team.”
“What about germs?” asked Short. “Our immunities are different, right? Won’t you get sick?”
“Everyone in Everlasting has received extensive gene therapy to prevent such illnesses. However, they are not definitive, which is why we had to perform the scans.”
“So, you guys don’t get sick?” asked Short.
“Illnesses have been known to happen, but such incidents are catalogued and used to prevent further outbreaks. Our medical teams work diligently to avoid contamination.”
“Hold on a second,” said John. “Did I mishear you, or did you just say something about entering Everlasting?”
“You heard correctly,” said Gel.
“Are you inviting us to visit your home?”
“The Leadership has authorized me to escort you back to the city under certain conditions. Should our exchange go well today, you will be granted limited access and permitted to meet with some of the Leadership.”
John wasn’t sure what to say next. He didn’t want to seem like he wasn’t up to the task, but he was no ambassador or diplomat. He needed to wait for Mei to find someone.
“We have some questions to ask you, if you are willing, about your home and your people. Leadership has also given me permission to provide you with answers to a range of questions, should you decide to ask.”
“I’ll try to think of something,” said John. He
had no idea what to ask them. What the hell was he even doing in this situation in the first place?
“Would you mind if we spoke privately with our analyst? There are some things we must discuss.”
“Go right ahead,” said John. Whatever he could do to stall until Mei called him back. There was no way he was going to Everlasting without someone else to do all the talking.
Lena and her companions boarded the ship and closed the door.
“Wonder if she’ll tell them about the wild animal almost killing her,” said Short.
“Hope not,” said John. “If they really look down on killing like she says, we might have a problem.”
“You don’t think they’ll understand?”
“Who knows? We’ll have to wait and see. If she’s got any brains, she’ll understand that we did what we had to do.”
“Not sure brains are the problem, boss. Seems more like common sense.”
John grunted. “Theirs or ours?”
******
Lena sat aboard the Red Door and removed her helmet. It was good to have it off at last. She took a seat near the back of the aircraft with Master Gel. “How was your stay?” he asked her.
“It was not unpleasant,” she answered.
“How is your grasp on their language?”
“I have memorized approximately six hundred words so far. Their language is more complex than some of the tribes’, but not entirely foreign. It still operates on the same basic structure of many other languages in our database. The slang is rather jarring, though. They use it frequently.”
“Excellent. I’m pleased to hear your progress. I was also told to ask you about their behavior. Did you see anything especially concerning about them? Anything I should report to the Leadership?”
Lena paused at the question. If she mentioned the animal attack, Master Gel would almost certainly not approve. Killing was forbidden in Everlasting, even when it came to animals. However, she did not believe these people to be intentionally hostile. They simply had no other choice. As Johnathan Finn had said, they had no toxin with which to incapacitate their enemies. Still, the thought of actually killing another living thing made her feel uneasy. That people should have to do such a thing in order to survive…it was unthinkable.
“Analyst?” asked Gel. “Was there something you wished to share?”
Lena turned over the various possibilities in her head, going through each of the discussion paths her answers might provide. The Rosenthal satellite could scan this entire region in great detail, so there was a chance the attack had been recorded. Given that she was the primary analyst for this sector, it stood to reason she had been replaced, albeit temporarily. No doubt, Master Gel had likely requested ongoing scans of this facility, especially given the arrival of an alien species. He would probably already know of the event, and so would the rest of the Leadership. In fact, such a scenario was far more likely than the alternative.
At the same time, Gel had still arrived, bringing promises of further discussions and dialogue between the two groups. The Leadership must have seen more value in maintaining the relationship than dismissing it over the death of a wild animal, no matter how forbidden such a practice might be.
So, they likely already knew, and probably didn’t care. If her line of thought was accurate, she had no choice but to tell them the truth. “There was an attack on the facility by a wild animal, resulting in its death,” she explained. “I did not witness the event, but I was nearby.”
“We already know,” said Gel, holding his hand up. “Leadership believes there was no alternative to the ordeal, based on what was observed. However, they have authorized a memory purification session for you, should you need it.”
“Thank you,” said Lena, but not meaning it. She had no interest in a memory purification session, despite the promise of a Sin-Din injection afterward. Twelve hours of ecstasy was hardly worth the cost of losing one’s memories. “I appreciate the generous offer.”
******
Somewhere in Kant
February 13, 2351
Terry and Ludo followed after Plead as he led them to his shop. Once inside, the bearded merchant shut the door behind them. “Give me a moment to get everything together for you,” he said, heading to the rear pantry.
“What are you talking about?” asked Terry.
“Hux gave me a few sacks of coin in exchange for your accommodations. You can stay here tonight in the guest room upstairs, and I’ve got food for the journey. It will take me some time tonight to prepare everything, but don’t worry. I’ll have it all ready for you by the morning. We can leave as soon as you want.”
“Hux gave you money for us?”
“He did,” said Plead. “A generous amount, too, I should say. You’ll tell him I helped you, yes? He’s a good customer. Always brings me the best materials from Tharosa.”
Plead disappeared into the back, leaving them alone in the shop. “Hux is a good man,” said Ludo. “I should like to thank him when I see him next.”
“Me too,” said Terry.
“The border is not far from here. Less than a day, if I remember correctly.”
“Do you think we’ll run into any trouble?”
“There are no checkpoints between here and the temple,” said Ludo. “But anything could happen.”
Terry thought back to the attack on the farm. Gast Maldeen had captured them and burned their house to the ground, and neither Terry nor Ludo had seen it coming. I won’t be caught off guard again, he thought.
Plead reappeared after a few moments with a stack of bread and cheese in his arms. “I’ve brought a snack,” he exclaimed, cheerfully. “Something to tide you until the bird is ready.”
“Thank you so much,” said Ludo, smiling.
“Think nothing of it. Any friends of Hux are welcome here!”
Terry took a piece of bread and several slices of cheese, devouring them. As he did, he grew even hungrier. The pain in his stomach intensified, surprising him. Had he really been so famished?
The meal itself was ready within the hour. Roasted matta, a type of bird, with sides of krinto and pallin, two delicacies exclusive to this city. The krinto was similar to mashed potatoes, but crispier and spicy, while the pallin had the texture of a bean with the taste of honey. Every dish was different and new, and Terry found he enjoyed them all. Was this what it was like to travel to different places around the world? Was this what Hux’s life was like?
They finished eating, and Plead showed them to their room upstairs. “I’ll wake you in the morning,” he told them, and left them to themselves.
As he did on most days, Ludo took the time to meditate. He had missed a few sessions, but still found time whenever possible for the practice. It was a necessity, he would say. A part of one’s life, the same as breathing or sleeping.
Terry joined him, taking a seat on the floor beside him.
Soon, he found himself inside his own mind, walking in the summer fields of Ludo’s farm. The warm breeze blew hard against his cheeks. Birds fluttered overhead, and in the distance the soft flow of a river gushed through a forest.
Terry smiled and took a deep and pleasant breath. No matter where he walked in life, no matter what cities or continents he visited, he could always return to this scene.
Hux had spoken of his own home with such longing and reverence, despite his desire to travel. It was good to have a place to come back to, and while this farm no longer existed in the real world, at least it would not be lost to him, not as long as he had it here inside his mind.
Not as long as he had the memory.
CHAPTER 10
Ortego Outpost File Logs
Play Audio File 932
Recorded: February 13, 2351
CURIE: Has the board come to a decision on the matter of who they want to send? We need someone as quickly as possible.
HARPER: I’m happy to say that we have.
CURIE: Wonderful. When can I expect them?
HARPER: Right now, I’d guess.
CURIE: You mean they’re already on their way?
HARPER: Oh, not quite. I was referring to you, Doctor Curie.
CURIE: Me? What do you mean? I can’t—
HARPER: Of course you can. You’re more familiar with the situation than anyone else. You had to know we were considering you as a representative.
CURIE: Not really. I’m no ambassador.
HARPER: Neither is anyone else in this city. Remember, we’ve been alone for two centuries, and it’s not like anyone’s sitting around training for the job. Nobody ever expected us to find another group of survivors, let alone an alien race. Considering you’ve already spent time with them, you’re more prepared than anyone around here.
CURIE: I don’t know how I feel about representing Central in any sort of negotiations. I’m not even a board member.
HARPER: You know as well as I do how useless the board is. Imagine if we sent one of those idiots there. They wouldn’t know what to do.
CURIE: Aren’t you a board member, too?
HARPER: And look where I am. Sitting behind this desk answering calls from a scientist in the field. No, Doctor Curie, you’re the one for the job. There is no one else.
End Audio File
Bravo Gate Point
February 13, 2351
John watched as the portal opened, and Lena Sol and Gel standing beside him. They had asked to see the activation process in action. John couldn’t see the harm.
The ring erupted into a dark void, swirling chaotically as it transformed itself into a window. A second later, the cloud settled, and an image of the other side appeared.
Mei walked through, two bags in her hands.
Sophie stood behind her near the back of the room. John waved at her, and she returned it right as the event horizon collapsed.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” said Mei, stepping off the ramp.
