Astra: Synchronicity

by Lisa Eskra

  "Who else knows?"

  "Nadine. Lyneea, which is why she left me, of course. I just…I wanted you to know."

  After the words left his mouth, she put her hand on his arm. Her cool touch paralyzed him faster than XTX. He wanted to hold her close, to run his hands through her hair and kiss her soft lips until morning in the shadow of the Xuranian desert. He didn't need to fight his feelings for her and yet he was.

  "And that's the reason we rode for an hour to the middle of nowhere? To tell me something I already knew?"

  He closed his eyes and lied to them both. "Yeah." He stood and brushed off his pants before returning to his bike and straddling it.

  "That's a shame," she said after she climbed back onto the hoverbike behind him. "I hoped we would have sex."

  His ears got very hot and started to throb. He turned around and stared at her. Judging by the warmth of his skin, his whole face must've been flushed.

  "Why?" The word came out more defensively than he'd intended it to.

  Amii shrugged. "Everyone seems to be interested but you. You're the only one I like though. Maybe those two go hand-in-hand. I don't know. Don't feel pressured. I know you've been through a lot."

  How can I not feel pressured now, he thought. "I do want to, Amii, but…we're going to get back to Astra and you'll go off with Xander and I'll never see you again. I like you too much to settle for a casual relationship with you." He handed her the helmet and started his bike.

  She'd told him when they first met she'd break his heart. He could already feel it happening. For that reason alone, he refused to kiss her.

  So they returned to the city, and he tucked his hoverbike back into the bowels of the Schenectady. Back in their room, Xander lay snoring on the couch. Magnius thanked Astra for that since the thought of answering for staying out with Amii infuriated him.

  While she made herself a cup of tea, Magnius headed to the shower. As the cold water pelted his body, he couldn't stop thinking about her and how he'd passed up the perfect opportunity. But in a week she'd be gone from his life again, leaving another gaping hole in his heart. If it weren't for Xander's unlikeable personality, he'd run away with them. He doubted Tiyuri or Aliane would give up the chase anytime soon, and his uncertain future plagued him.

  Anxiety spiked in his brain, and once the sensation faded, he peeked out the frosted door to make sure he was alone. Part of him expected to see Amii standing there naked waiting for the right moment to make something happen. Deep down, he wanted her to be.

  The wisdom he'd accumulated over the past 115 years fought his emotions like the War of the Roses. A truce could not be struck between the warring factions because his attraction to her went beyond her physical attributes. Her mental toughness and fearlessness surpassed that of most self-proclaimed tough guys he knew. She hadn't said a word about the hoverbike being unsafe or his questionable antics on it. At the same time her insight and intelligence surprised him, given her whimsical charm. Perhaps her blind trust in him was more than it appeared since he would not knowingly put himself in danger to prove his macho pride.

  He planned to say something to her about it after he got out of the shower and pulled on some pants, but he didn't have the chance. She'd fallen fast asleep on the bed in her clothes. There was only one problem with that: she didn't sleep on the bed. Magnius did. She'd planned to sleep on the sofabed next to Xander, but it wasn't pulled out. Instead of facing another night on the floor, he decided to lie next to her.

  He lay there for a long time staring up at the ceiling, fighting the swirling lust he felt for her. And even though he was so tired he wanted to pass out, the anxiety of the situation kept him awake. In a moment of feeble exhaustion, he wrapped his arm around her and cozied up next to her. In a few minutes he would be asleep. Nothing was going to happen. And if it did, he could think of worse fates in the world.

  The next morning when Xander shook him awake, he realized it was the worst thing in the world.

  "What time is it?" Magnius asked in a daze, blinded by the bright room lights above him. Amii still lied next to him asleep. He didn't remember dreaming at all and felt as though he'd only taken a short nap.

  "Morning. Time for you to get your shagging hands off her," he hissed.

  Magnius glowered at him after he jumped out of bed and stared at Xander for a long, cold minute before saying anything. "Amii's a psion, isn't she?"

  A smile crept across his face. "Hardly."

  "And what happened to her? Why doesn't she remember anything?"

  "Dissociative Fugue State," he clinically responded. "What does it matter to you anyway?"

  "I'm not the asshole keeping secrets from her. She could be a psion and not even realize it."

  "Her parents were not psions, you dolt."

  "Right…because you can tell a psion by looking at them." Magnius shook his head. "Idiot."

  Xander's nose flared. "Look—go find someone else to snog. Just stay away from Amii. I don't want anything to happen to her. She's the only person I've got." He stormed away and disappeared through the bathroom door.

  Magnius sighed heavily and put on his clothes for the day. He couldn't even tell it was morning due to the lack of windows in the palace to let in the sunlight. He wondered how the Xuranians could live in buildings with no visible access to the outside environment. To watch the rain. To see the stars. It was one of those facets of life he couldn't imagine living without.

  Once he was satisfied with his outward appearance, he left the room and headed to see Nadine. He didn't want to be around when Amii woke up. He feared she'd say something quirky and charming and he'd want to stay in bed with her all day. And while he still fought with all those romantic notions in his head, he realized he couldn't let her disappear from his life.

  He had a strong feeling fate wouldn't let her either.

  ***

  "There are essential differences between the Pan-Asian Union and the Allied Confederacy in their social systems and foreign policies. However, the two sides agree that planets, regardless of their social systems, should conduct their relations on the principles of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, non-aggression against other states, non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. Intergalactic disputes will be settled on this basis, without resorting to the use or threat of force."

  Chairman Dodd stood at the podium, addressing a multitude of humans and Xuranians. The sun hung high over their heads and made the perspiration on his balding head sparkle. He paused and took a long drink of water before continuing.

  "The people of Astra will work for a just and secure peace with the Xuranians: just, because it fulfills the aspirations of peoples and nations for freedom and progress; secure, because it removes the danger of alien aggression."

  Amii sat sandwiched between Nadine and Magnius with the rest of the AC delegation. She crossed her legs and shook her left foot. She hadn't seen Magnius all morning until he'd sat down next to her, and she worried she'd made a terrible mistake in their conversation the night before.

  "Astra supports individual freedom and social progress for all people, free of outside pressure or intervention. We believe that the effort to reduce tensions is served by improving our communication—which by accident, miscalculation, or misunderstanding has strained our relationship. We hope that by learning from the mistakes of our past, humanity will continue to grow as an important partner with Xur."

  Amii noticed Nadine and Magnius were glaring at each other with mild annoyance. She looked back and forth between them, as though there was some telepathic conversation going on that she wasn't part of. She distracted herself by glancing down at her implant. The date and time jumped off her wrist in bright blue: April 10th, 18:41.

  "Coalitions should treat each other with mutual respect and be willing to compete peacefully, letting performance be the ultimate judge. No planet should claim infallibility, and each
star system should be prepared to re-examine its own attitudes for the common good of the prospective alliance."

  The crowd in attendance applauded while Chairman Dodd yielded the floor to Chen Jintao. Amii marveled at how similar Jintao looked to Sibo aboard the Kearsarge, as though he could be the lieutenant's older brother. She felt Magnius staring at her, and she turned to look at him momentarily before casting her eyes back toward the podium.

  "Some citizens of Astra believe the Xuranians seek to contain us and to prevent the development of our economic, political, and military influence. Frankly speaking, this litany of propaganda against our neighbors does not serve our mutual interests. It promotes a sense of mindless nationalism that can get out of control when relations are tense between our two coalitions."

  The bright sunlight caressed Amii's raw soul, and she closed her eyes. She focused on Jintao's inspirational words to the people of Astra, considering herself fortunate to be on-hand for such a historic moment. If everything went well, this could be the start of an incredibly prosperous age for all humankind.

  "A thwarted, dissatisfied Astra is not in the Xuranian's best interests. We would like to see a stable, prosperous Astra that can work with the Xuranians in a constructive manner to face the problems that matter to us both. I'm speaking specifically of environmental protection, economic development, and trade rights. I have no doubts that a resolution on these issues would be fruitful if we set aside our differences and joined together in mutual respect and understanding."

  The loyal PAU crowd cheered at his statement. He thanked the applauding patrons and stepped down while the two of them politely returned to their seats. Amii knew others in the PAU government did not agree with Chen Jintao's optimism. Like the AC, a conservative majority dictated their course. The desire of the younger generation to end the policy of isolation represented a huge step in the right direction for Astra.

  A tall Xuranian approached the podium with a smile. "I would like to thank our privileged guests, Mr. Dodd and Mr. Chen. Another round of applause, please." The Xuranian delegation was quite animated in their response, like they were his personal fan club. He was the one and only, Divine Chancellor Gliel. His green eyes shone with unnatural intensity, and fist-sized jade shells provided external ears. His indigo hair seemed less repulsive than the rest, as though he truly did glow with celestial mana.

  "Fellow citizens, we are gathered here today to mark the first step of a glorious journey that will bring us together as neighbors and allies. We meet because we have chosen hope over fear, unity over conflict and discord. And even though we may not worship the same divine power or agree on each and every law in the books, we seek an understanding that transcends spiritual and political divides."

  Amii felt Xander's unnerving stare bearing down on her. Without saying a word she glanced back at him and wondered what might be going through his head right now. She didn't quite understand why he disapproved of Magnius. His fatherly impulses had grown tiresome, and it was only a matter of time before the two went head-to-head over it.

  "Many of you have wondered what an advanced race such as ourselves would have to gain by an alliance with Astra, and the answer is simple. Our sun is dying." The announcement drew a buzz from the listeners, but after Amii's midnight ride with Magnius last night across the desolation, she was not surprised.

  "What was once fertile farmland is now barren desert. Droughts are commonplace, even in temperate northern communities with high annual rainfall. Our numbers have dwindled due to starvation. We have been searching for a new system to call home. That is how we found each other. The star you call Gamma Pavonis is an ideal candidate, though its proximity to Astra might be an ongoing source of strain between our races. Though the system is in unclaimed territory, we are fully prepared to share knowledge with your people. Technology that would help in your day-to-day lives. Information that would take generations to acquire."

  The drone amongst the attendees grew louder on the human side. Some weren't sure of what to make of this new information, and others began to doubt the idea that an alliance could be struck in good faith. The human race had always been xenophobic and divisive. When one form of discrimination ended, another emerged to take its place: religion, skin color, sexual orientation, psionic ability. Aliens would be the latest victim.

  Gliel continued his speech, unfazed by the apparent dissension of the audience. "I realize you may have reservations, but a fruitful alliance would strengthen Astra. Because our situation on Xur is not yet dire, allow us the opportunity to prove ourselves to you. True friendship does not happen without trust, and there can be no trust without transparency and openness. The first step is to set up long-range communication relays between Xur and Astra. Communication is, after all, the cornerstone of friendly relations. The second step I propose is the establishment of embassies on Xur, New England, and Kashtivone. It is my hope this will facilitate intercultural trade and travel to realize the benefits an alliance would have for all our people."

  Amii gazed absentmindedly toward the eastern sky, shielding her eyes from the blinding sunlight of Vopa. A small ship sailed across the cloudless azure ocean above them, leaving a white trail in its wake. Something about it didn't seem quite right. She hadn't seen any other such vehicles on the surface since they arrived yesterday afternoon. The Xuranians had teleportation technology for traversing vast distances, and as such they had no use for small people-faring vehicles.

  She nudged Nadine in the side and nodded in the direction of the ship. The second lady glanced in its direction and after a moment, she furrowed her brow. Her eyes glowed a deep, venomous violet while she glared at it.

  As it approached, Amii noticed it was a transport from one of the AC ships. While it made more sense, that didn't explain what it was doing here. There was no reason for any of the remaining crewman to leave their ship. The implant communications still worked and no one was scheduled to leave until tomorrow.

  Suddenly, a loud sonic boom swept over them, and the horde of onlookers turned in that direction. The small ship had picked up speed and was bearing down on their location at a high velocity. A chill paralyzed everyone seated there with fear.

  "Oh my God," Nadine uttered. She'd closed her eyes and dropped her head into her hands. After several irregular, shallow breaths, she glanced up toward the transport, sailing over them like a missile. "I can't stop it."

  The vessel swooped over their heads before turning in a wide arc and circling back around, careening out of control toward the palace. All any of them could do was gasp in horror as it smashed into the side of the majestic structure, disintegrating on contact and erupting into a terrifying fireball that cascaded through the entire length of the building. The explosion sounded like a bomb had gone off right in front of them. Shards of debris rained down on top of the cowering masses. That was when the screaming started.

  Thick plumes of black smoke unfurled like a mushroom cloud overhead. People fled the area in a chaotic panic while the palace smoldered above the crowd. The eastern tower of the building teetered precariously on its base as though a wisp of wind would cause it to topple, killing everyone below.

  Amii couldn't breathe. As others scattered, her legs turned to stone—unable to move even if she wanted to. Gripped by terror and frozen by fear, she watched the tower break in half and fall toward them.

  "Run!" Magnius shouted.

  Xander stood too far away to take Amii and head for safer ground. The scientist grabbed Lyneea's hand and sprinted into the chaos with her. Nadine tripped over a chair and stumbled into Amii, knocking both of them to the ground. They scrambled to their feet, but it was already too late to avoid the massive chunk of rock hurling towards them. Magnius hadn't moved either, and she feared this would mark the unceremonious end for them all.

  As they watched the gigantic chunk of debris fall, Magnius lifted his arms as though he planned to actually stop it. The insanity of the gesture didn't have time to cross Amii's mind because the h
uge conglomerate of stone actually began to slow. His arms shook from exertion as he winced and fell down onto one knee.

  "I can't hold it!" he bellowed while the rock continued downward in slow motion. "Run!"

  In the chaos Nadine put her hand on his shoulder, and a bolt of electricity flashed between them. She held her arm up against it, and her face quickly crumpled in pain. Amii had no idea what was going on, but the tower stopped midair about twenty feet above them. Thick acrid dust covered them while they watched in disbelief and waited.

  His display of amazing strength left her speechless. Such power was frightening yet awe-inspiring. In one fell swoop the secret he'd been guarding his entire life was outed.

  Nadine appeared to struggle with it for several moments as though unsure about what to do next. She said something to Magnius that Amii could not make out, and in one final force of exertion, the two of them flung the crumbling fragment of the palace away toward the ocean.

  The three of them got up and ran frantically toward the Kearsarge. Amii searched the fleeing mob for Xander, but she didn't see him anywhere. All she could do was hope he made it aboard with Lyneea and the Vice President, whom she hadn't seen since before the attack. They were the last few humans to escape from the scene, but in less than a minute they caught up to the others.

  As they drew closer, Amii heard Commander Mundammi's distinct voice calling out for people to return to the ship they'd arrived on and go back to their quarters. Rashad somehow kept his cool amongst the terror-stricken mass around him, though she wondered if he felt the same way the rest of them did inside. She hadn't noticed until now that Magnius had taken her hand so the two of them wouldn't get separated, but the warmth of the act was lost in the flight for their survival.