Aftermath: Yesterday, Episode 1
Page 12
*****
The last part of the tour was of the Growing the Future medical facilities. Noah turned the group over to a female doctor, and they learned more about the procedures awaiting them in less than a year. For now, the girls were supposed to stay fit, virginal, and happy, and adjust to life in the Dome.
They returned to their room at 1800, with some time left to relax before bed. Beth immediately hit the sonic. Anna looked for her computer, finding it right away built into her desk. Again her handprint was the key, and a large, semi-transparent screen sprang into existence in front of her eyes. She could use her hands, voice, or a flexible keyboard to make her way around the airnet. It was a current model with many more features than the one her whole family had shared in Nampa, and she had it all to herself.
A chime sounded from the door, and a low voice warned her: Male present.
“Who is it?” she said.
“It’s Noah. Can I come in?”
“Um, are you allowed to?”
“Sure. You can have visitors.”
“Just you because you’re special or any boy?”
“Any boy. Do we have to talk through the door?”
“Just a minute.”
Anna went over to Beth’s fresher and opened the door. “Come out with clothes on or stay in there. Noah will be in the room.”
“Uh—” Beth said.
“Door open,” Anna said. She wondered if there were cameras in the room, in spite of what Teress said, since boys were allowed.
Teress might have been a plant to make us think we weren’t spied on in our room. Could I have been wrong about her open friendship? Oh, look who’s getting paranoid.
Noah strolled in, looking comfortable in the girls’ quarters, and flopped into the chair next to Anna’s bed. He was wearing a white, knee-length flowing robe cinched at the waist. Anna didn’t know much about Domer styles, but she figured it must be something dressy a man would wear out in the evening.
Either that or sleeping clothes. Hmm. Certainly not the first time he’s visited females in their rooms.
“I have a request to make,” Noah said. “The Defenders are interested in that weapon you used on the skimmer—what is it?”
“A woomera.” She pronounced it WOO-m’ra.
Here it comes. They’re going to take it away.
“I’m not here to take it away, if that’s what you’re thinking. They knew about it, but thought it was a hunting tool for rabbits. They had no idea it could be so effective against Devos, even when used by a girl.”
Anna bristled. “I don’t know what you’re used to, but Burban girls know their way around weapons.”
“Sorry. Just quoting the commander. I didn’t mean it that way, or I wouldn’t be here. I think you’re very skilled, and I want you to teach me.”
“It’s not as easy as you might think. Burbans start practicing when they’re three or four years old. It takes a long time to become good at it.”
“I’m a quick learner.”
And overconfident, too.
Anna’s brow furrowed. “What are you going to do after you learn? Leave the Dome and hunt rabbits for your Admin family?”
It came out sharper than Anna had intended. Noah lowered his eyes but didn’t respond. She didn’t need empathic skills to figure out she’d hurt his feelings.
“Sorry,” Anna said. “I guess we’re even on the insults.”
“Fresh start, then. The Defenders think woomeras might make great additions to the armament. Something low-tech that will work at a distance in case of failure of electronic weapons, to keep everyone safer.”
It made sense. Burbans never relied on a single weapon. Usually when Anna carried her woomera, she also carried two knives, one for throwing and one for close-up work.
“Okay, but I get to keep my woomera when we’re done training. You’ll have to make your own.”
Noah inclined his head deeply, almost resting his chin on his chest. It was a gesture of formal commitment. “Deal. Anyway, I want to learn how to make my own. I have to teach the other guys. Ready for the first lesson?”
“Now?” Anna pictured heading out for some practice range.
“Not to shoot. Just show me yours.”
“I’ve heard that before,” Beth called from inside the fresher. “Watch out, Anna!”
Laughing, she retrieved the weapon from her closet, along with one dart, and brought them over to Noah. He stood up and held them each, tested their balance, and admired the carvings on the woomera.
“You did this?” he said, looking at the detailed depictions of animals and scenery. “I can only draw stick figures. What is this infinity symbol doing on here?”
“That’s my meditation symbol. I use it when I’m trying to control my—” Anna stopped abruptly. She wasn’t ready to share her empathic skills with Noah. There was no telling how Domers would react to something like that. After all, it could be considered slightly Devo. “—my temper.”
“Your temper?” He raised his eyebrows. You won’t need that here. There’s nothing to get mad about in the Dome.”
She looked into his gray eyes and found no deceit there, but her empathic ability was strangely quiet. She couldn’t read Noah well, and wondered if mental defenses were part of his Admin training.
“Nothing to get mad about? That means I expect to be treated as your special guest,” Anna said.
He inclined his body in a comical bow. “Anything for the heroine of the Skimmer Battle.”
“Is that what they’re calling me? The two girls who died wouldn’t think much of that.”
“You made some friends in the Dome with what you did. Including me.”
He pulled Anna close, bent his head, and gently kissed her on the forehead. Walking toward the door, he called back over his shoulder. “You can close your mouth now, Beth.”
There was a snap as Beth’s jaw closed.
End of Episode 1
Watch for more exciting episodes!
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About the Author
Shirley Kennett is the author of the PJ Gray futuristic series of thrillers, utilizing immersive virtual reality to help investigators reenact crime scenes. Kennett also writes science fiction, both for Young Adults and Adults.
As Dakota Banks, she writes the Mortal Path series of fantasy/thrillers based upon Sumerian mythology translated to present times.
Kennett is a graduate of the Washington University School of Engineering (B.S. in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science) in St. Louis, Missouri.
She is a St. Louis native, a member of Mystery Writers of America, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Horror Writers Association, and is a past board member of International Thriller Writers.
Also by Shirley Kennett:
Gray Matter
Fire Cracker
Chameleon
Act of Betrayal
Time of Death
Burning Rose
Writing as Dakota Banks:
Dark Time
Sacrifice
Deliverance
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