The Rise of Planet Rubicon - Part Two

by Dasrim Hasik

  Chapter 1: Home and Hearth

  Coming home to Quiet River was done quietly and carefully. JANE had already gone back to being the fiery little sports car that could and Bridget had gone back to being very quiet.

  While they were on the water, Bridget spoke in a rush, trying to tell him everything about her life. He liked chatty Bridget, like that she wasn't afraid to talk to him about anything and everything. While everyone else had put distance between him and themselves, Bridget didn't seem to have any boundaries.

  She wanted to just talk to him, make him feel like another member of the group. He was completely down for that. In fact, he wanted to know that he was just another Reversian citizen. Of course, he couldn’t hide who he really was — not after that battle with the rebels.

  He knew he was something else, capable of being as destructive as he felt he needed to be. That was something that still made him uneasy. Sure, he was back there defending not only his life, but Bridget's as well. But when it came right down to it, Jack didn't want to fight.

  Deep down, he knew that there would be more fighting. They just couldn't ignore all of the problems that were lurking underneath all of the smiles and how-are-yous.

  The City needed fighters, but he wasn't sure how to raise the army he needed in the fight place. It was going to rest on a lot of hoping that everything fell into place.

  They trudged up to the front of the house and Jack held up his hand. The security system acknowledged him and then let him through to pass. That was probably a good thing that such security was in place. However, he wondered how easy it was to really get in.

  "It recognizes you because you're the owner. Nobody can fake that, I promise." Bridget's slow explanation made sense, but that didn't mean that he was a full believer. On Earth, technology often failed or had loopholes that could be exploited.

  Eventually, he would want to figure out what loophole existed here. That would be one of his top priorities, and he wasn't going to just sit around idle while such evil deeds were plotted and executed. He would get on top of the problems as he discovered them. There was just no other way to handle things, in his opinion.

  He just had to keep his wits about him, because there was no way he was going to sink back into old habits. It just didn't make any sense to do so.

  When they stepped in the door, Alara's face indicated that while she was still mad, she was more than willing to let bygones be bygones. For the good of the City, Jack was sure.

  It became obvious that Alara was as political as her father was — maybe even more so. He would simply have to tread carefully around her as he had planned to do since their argument.

  "You must be tired. Let's go to bed."

  The first sentence was filled with care and concern, but the second...well, the second indicated that going to bed didn't really mean sleeping, but Jack already figured as much.

  He didn't want any part of that, didn't want to feel like he was being offered pleasure in exchange for forgiving Alara for those awful words spoken in a fit of temper. Sometimes a person had to realize there were just things you didn't say to anyone because you just didn't know who you were going to hurt.

  Bridget had already made herself scarce, going into her guest room and closing the door.

  Jack stood up. "I'm tired. I think I'm going to go ahead and sleep myself. Good night."

  Alara huffed. "I thought we would sleep together...unless you’ve already moved on with her?"

  The her was given extra emphasis, but Jack didn't have time for the jealousy and the drama. He was really exhausted.

  "Look, these rebel guys showed up while we were touring the City Harbor and..."

  "Rebels? Oh goodness, Jack, you could have been killed! And then what would Reversia have done? It's not like you have a heir to the throne yet. That will be a while."

  Jack frowned. "I'm not thinking of that that part yet."

  Alara shrugged. "You need time to think about it, Jack. You have a lot of things on your plate now. I know that means a great deal but we're a couple and we work things out as a team. You have to understand that — I am not going to just leave you or have doubts about how well you can lead. I'm just saying that I'm there for you if you want me to be, okay?"

  Jack nodded. "I know. I really do appreciate it. But after being attacked and having so much information given to me...I just want to sleep. I'm really not trying to attack you or make you feel like I don't care about what you're trying to do for me. I just need some time to myself. If you're going to be next to me, that's fine, but just let me sleep."

  He got up and moved up the stairs, ignoring Alara's shocked face.

  "Sometimes you can be so cruel to me, Jackson Stonewell."

  He turned around once, blinked, and then decided the argument opening wasn't worth pursuing. He recognized it from all of the times Katja would say something just to push his buttons. Well, he wasn't going down that road.

  He climbed the stairs and froze as he could have sworn there was a dark cloud over and around his bedroom. Of course, being tired he assumed his nerves were just on fire.

  He opened the door and breathed a deep sigh. Nothing there. Nothing under the bed. Nothing out to get him. Nothing just waiting to pick him off in an uncaring fashion. He was just there, awake as ever.

  This was the best time to sleep — when he was completely exhausted. He knew that there would be many battles ahead of him, and he knew that he would need to handle them appropriately. For now though? Sleep sounded too good to miss.

  "Did you show him what he was meant to see, dear Sage?" The voice was ghostly faint, but it reported clearly enough.

  "Yes, Lady. You did your part well also — he assumed you were merely frightened. We showed him the perfect push to get him to stay. You will make sure that he stays charmed by you, yes?"

  "Trying. That insufferable woman seems to be making an impact on him. I'm going to figure out how to get rid of her without ruining our plans."

  "No, it is too late for that. You will just have to try harder, Lady. If you truly want to be queen, you will have to try with all that you have."

  "Yes, Sage."

  "By the way, I will expect your tribute for my services. It was difficult to fool my fellow Sister Sages, and if I am found out...I risk everything for this."

  "And when I am queen, you will be richly rewarded. For the time being, you need to continue handling this task. He will be back and you will have to make sure that you are feeding him the information he needs in order to stay. He only has a few days left and then he will never be able to go back."

  "This is true. Good work, Lady. Farewell for now."

  As the communication link faded, Alara looked at herself in the mirror. It was a game, but one that pleased her. Jack Stonewell was a Dreamer, a king that didn't really know how strong he really was.

  This wasn't the time to dwell on whether or not he could rule fairly — it was all about her ambitions. She would never be part of the Council.

  Her father made it clear to her even when she was a child that there was no way to clear the way for a woman to become part of the Council.

  It was a boy's only club, one that she had been shut out from. Of course, she did enjoy some of the spoils from being a Councilman's daughter. The money flowed nicely, and she didn't have to think about what she would have to do in order to get by.

  There was no such thing as struggle for a Reversio woman — they were the First Family for a reason. Directly connected to the Dreamer. It had always been that way, and as long as Alara could keep control of the wayward boy king, it would always be that way.

  In a sense, she felt bad for her little games on the si
de. However, life was about making sure that you didn't get crushed. Sure, it was nice to fall in love but everything was about the mission for her. She would see the City she loved restored in good time. No matter what, this is the way it had to be.

  Of course, it wasn't like she had choices. She knew that the consequences of failure would be worse than just being outed. She would have to live in Schaler, and that would be no life at all. She thought of other women she knew being pushed off to the rebel colony and how they never came back. She was too good for that, and she knew it.

  So it was chessboard games all the way. There was no reason to believe that she had to be fair — no one had been fair to her. She began to climb the stairs, laughing to herself...and very unaware that the door to Bridget's guest room was open just wide enough to hear conversations from the front room quite clearly.

  Bridget tossed and turned in bed, trying to ignore the roaring in her own head. She wanted to jump out of bed and strangle Alara for being such a two timing snake.

  Of course, she knew that it wasn't going to change anything. It wasn't going to make things right. It was just something that she had to play by ear.

  She thought idly of the way Jack had held her hand. He trusted her. But if she rushed in and told him about what she had overheard, he wouldn't believe her.

  She knew the nerdy boy that she chatted with after chemistry class on Earth would never accept that the so-called perfect girl for him wasn't very perfect.

  Bridget also realized that the consideration period for Jack's arrival was fading as well. If he didn't go back to Earth during those few days, the gateway really would close and there wouldn't be any going back.

  Since he had already departed and arrived, he knew the two worlds well enough. The gateway might not accept him again, and she didn't want to see him stuck on Earth without love.

  Could she really care for him compared to what Alara could offer him? Despite her outburst at the Remembrance Hall, Alara had a point — the class system wasn't going to go away, and everyone adhered to it.

  Although her family came from the merchant class, she had friends from all classes. But that didn't mean that class stopped mattering.

  It was just that Alara stopped paying attention to who stared at her and who didn't stare at her. It was a matter of ensuring that everything was in its proper place, wasn't it?

  She had never fit in. Hopefully Jack would fit in better. He deserved to have real friends. He deserved to have someone that really loved him. He deserved...

  There she went again, trying to save him without even asking the guy if he needed to be saved. That was presumptive and wrong of her, and she didn't think that it was really her place to say anything to anyone. There was just too much going on.

  So she would play it quietly. Make them breakfast. Ignore the insecurity coming off from Alara in waves. And hope that some way, somehow, Jack would come to his senses. The entire Planet was counting on him. And once you crossed that line, there's no going back. You could never go back.

  Chapter 2: Midpoints

  Each dawn is a new dawn, and I will rejoice in it because it is here. The simple affirmation was designed to be something he would want to say, but it wasn’t necessary anymore to provide justifications. As his mission grew, his resolve strengthened. He knew completely that this was the right thing to do, and he was in the right place.

  The rising double sun felt warm on his tanned skin, weathered by years of fighting. It wasn't like the fighting had started with him, or even with the war itself. The conflict had been there as long as the planet had been there.

  It was simply waiting to be birthed into a different vessel, struck from a different match, and made into something real. That was the point, was it not? To lead a rebel faction was only out of a need for a different world, one that would not come through any other means than violence. That could not be helped.

  "Sir! I do not mean to interrupt but..."

  "So don't."

  The man sighed at the eager student that rushed him, pushing him away from his thoughts. He didn't strike out in anger. After all, there would be plenty of time for chessboard games. There was always time for a good round of moves on the great chessboard his life had become.

  He assumed a more welcoming position, deciding to end his pacing and reveries for the time being. He settled onto a hard backed chair decorated with stones mined deep within Rubicon's rich caves. "You were saying?"

  The student coughed and bowed slightly. "My lord, word is that the king has returned."

  The man waved a hand, tiredly. "You interrupt me for old news that has no effect on my agenda. Anything important?"

  "Supposedly, we may have allies within his group. It remains to still be seen, but..."

  The man smiled. "Well, that is different. Tell me all about it."

  As the student began to speak, the man sighed to himself, pleased about the day already.

  The boy king has returned. That is fine -- we have been waiting for him all along. It now remains to be seen whether he will live through the times to come.

  Now that is something to rejoice in.

  Jack was not having a good morning. Life in Reversia was starting to look up in many ways, but that didn't mean that he was necessarily happy. He was worried about the future, and he was really missing life at home.

  He felt tugged in too many directions and tired of being pulled in a thousand directions over things that he wasn't even sure if he wanted or not. It was like waking up and realizing that it was time to make decisions, while also feeling completely nervous.

  It didn't help that he felt like Alara had deserted him. Her comments still stung, but he wasn't going to drown in pity. The people of the City deserved better, and he was going to give it to them.

  He hoped that he would be a good king, but he knew enough about life so far to realize that it wasn't enough to just hope. He needed to make sure that he really thought about the future in a different way.

  He had to take action and mean it rather than just worrying and fretting in a corner while the world around him collapsed.

  He knew there was no turning back, and that bothered him. He couldn't go back to Earth, even if he wanted to. He felt like all of his choices had been sucked away, but didn't he walk into this knowing what was really going to happen.

  It wasn't like anyone lied to him. No one had held back anything from him. It was just his own thoughts crowding him, keeping him from really thinking about anything in any type of depth for any length of time. In other words, he was all scrambled up.

  Alara hadn't been there when he woke up and he could tell by the way the sheets were still smooth on her side of the bed that she didn't go to bed with him after all. He could deal with that -- he didn't expect her to go to him, and he certainly wasn't going to beg for it.

  He had seen enough relationship drama on Earth to realize that Alara needed space. He winced at the memories he recalled. Were they really engaged? Was he head over heels in love with her, or was that a game too?

  Too many questions again. He figured he would just stick to politics for a while. It wasn't as if Reversia didn't need his attention. It was a City that needed a king, and the rest of the planet needed attention as well.

  He wanted to eventually expand past Reversia and make sure that the rest of the planet was taken care of. This was not something that he wanted to dwell on too much.

  He wondered if there were other leaders, or if it was just him. The power to manifest couldn't have just been his, could it? If this was his planet, did that make him some sort of god?

  He hoped not. He didn't want to be a master creator, locking everyone else out of controlling their own destinies. He wanted to be able to reach out, get things done, and really make sure that everything flowed in a certain fashion. That was the ultimate goal.

  Jack had already come to the conclusion that this overreaching goal would take a lot longer than most people realized. This would not be something that
was done overnight, or even in a few years.

  It was something that would consume his life, but he figured it was worth it. It would certainly be a lot more than what could be accomplished on Earth, anyway.

  He didn't regret his Earth life, but he knew that the road ahead of him would have been filled with a lot of rough starts and missed opportunities. He knew that the college route wasn't really a sure thing for him.

  His parents didn't have money to take care of him now, what money could they honestly just set aside for college? Loans weren't something he wanted to even consider, thinking back to all of the money his cousins had borrowed for college.

  Although they finished, they had a lot of student loan debt. As the economy worsened, they ended up having to take any job that they could find -- and certainly fields that didn't pay as much as their degrees had promised.

  It was a cycle that had made them bitter, tired, agitated, and ready to just give up. Instead of giving up, they just settled into their role in life, figuring that nothing would ever get better. He wanted to have a career that sparkled and allowed him some challenge.

  Be careful what you wish for, they said. Boy, were they right...

  He had a chance at something really big, and it would definitely challenge him at every turn. But what was life without a little challenge?

  There was a sharp knock on the door, and he invited the person to come in without worrying too much about his oversized clothes and what not. He liked to sleep in baggy things when he was sleeping alone, and he hadn't bothered to change yet.

  Bridget strolled in, smiling at him. "You didn't come downstairs, so I wanted to make sure that you were still going to have breakfast with me."

  Jack blushed slightly, remembering how much fun it was to be on the Harbor with her, just hearing her talk. He frowned at how he felt like he was doing something too secretive and tried to get those images to run back under the rocks in his mind. It was too vivid for him, and he knew it.

  Stick to your agenda, Stonewell! Yes, Jack. Focus on your mission. Though, I don't really blame you for checking her out. She's gorgeous.