by Selina Brown
An Aryan was striding past her. “Not to worry, Ara. Just our security systems removing any unwanted guests.”
She stared at his departing figure. Did they all know her? He turned his head and flashed her a smile without a break in his stride. They just killed someone, or someones, like it was everyday stuff. Looking around, no one seemed bothered by that. As she slowly walked up the long path that led to the grand looking accommodation block she was assigned to, she saw others porting around, though a few walked like she did. So much for Mum’s comment about people not using technology. It was as if a whole new world opened before her, had Kavela been right after all about her upbringing?
A voice behind her called out her name. She turned again and lifted her hand to shield her face from the hot star. It was Vinicus.
“Princess, good to see you.” He had tied back his dark hair and his almost black eyes looked serious.
“You too, Vinicus.”
“Do you mind if I escort you or would you like to experience the entire show as an independent?” He looked around, waving his hand in the air with a grin.
“Escort please. It was fun getting here but this all seems a bit daunting.” And dangerous. She waved towards the massive, pale courthouse made of some sort of sandstone, with pillars and lush gardens around it.
Vin tapped something on his arm. Within minutes, others transported around them tapping at their controllers.
“Your escort, my lady.”
Ara closed her mouth, shocked again to see it. They were all so casual about traveling around with their fancy transportals. Ara glanced at Vin and saw his amusement. She said her hellos to the twelve individuals. Most she had met at a club or dinner or the meeting at Delario’s. None were kings or queens so she felt a little more comfortable. They walked with her and chatted on the way, moving to the left of the courthouse. Mostly they pointed out various things they spotted or that Ara was interested in.
“You’ll be inside the actual courthouse, Ara, with the queens and kings, we’ve all been invited to attend the courthouse. The other four million, twenty-eight thousand, two hundred and seventy-eight Pure-Gens will have been assigned to one of the other eighty domed stadiums. Each stadium has its own blocks of accommodation. Very much like small units.” He smiled at her. “Informative enough?”
“Very.” She glanced around again. “How often does this happen? I mean, it’s a bit dangerous isn’t it, all the PuGs in one place?”
After the laughter, Vin shook his head. “The Cradle is one of the most secure locations in Iota. There’s something in the dimension that makes it so only heavy matter and high energy Pure-Gens can survive. And since we are all registered, I’m sure we are safe. To your first comment, not often. However, each station may book out a stadium and units for events of their own. Or sporting events. So they are used at least four times a year.”
“Don’t forget those special ones, Vin,” a dark skinned male reminded him.
“Ah yes. Some guards are subjected to special treatment, and are bombarded with matter and energy to allow them to carry out their duties for short terms. Since the procedure can only be done inside the Cardinal Unit, and it’s painful, it’s rarely done.”
Ara saw a few holes in that idea. “If the planet is so secure why the guards?”
“Other Pure-Gens, Ara. Internal bickering.”
She shook her head in disgust.
They walked on a wide path that ran along halfway up to the courthouse. She saw a mass of buildings in a pocket of hills down below them, behind the courthouse just to the left. Vin pointed to the closest building. It was a four-story building made of large stones. There seemed to be four wings attached to the main central building. Directly behind the courthouse ran a narrow mountain range like the long stick of an arrow. Vin led them to the stone building. Inside it was cool and entertained a grand entrance with grey slate floors, plants, a central waterfall and comfortable seats in the lobby.
“Are we all in the same block?”
Tyson laughed. He was a tall, lanky Aryan with pale blue eyes. “Yes, by some arrangement. This one is assigned to the top ten queens and kings, and you, and us.”
They glanced at each other.
“Yes, I’m finding most things are by arrangement when it comes to my life.” But she really didn’t understand their exchange.
Silence settled on the group but she smiled. Vin chuckled, locking gazes with her for a moment. Out of them all she got on well with Ziana, a dark, gorgeous female from Harmony Station, and Zarti, a massive male from Talaria, a tiny station with only nine hundred and seventy-four occupied systems. Most within the group were over three thousand years old but they treated her with gentle teasing and playful respect, well, that was Zarti’s version of the teasing.
“You’re the baby, Ara. We’re allowed to gush over you a little.”
“Well, old man. Gushing may be fatal.”
The group burst out laughing. Zarti chuckled, rubbing his broad chin and staring at her.
At a dong, she looked to her right. Several rounded transpads lit up in the lobby. Several kings transported in. Ara’s group had to stop and incline their heads.
One king stopped and walked up to Ara barely even acknowledging the others. “My dear, you don’t need to do that.”
She stared at him. He was a Lesser Province King but she still understood he was more than the usual PuG. “King Begrin, I believe all royalty should be respected.”
He studied her longer than she liked, smiled stiffly, and left her.
“That was odd.”
“Why?” Ziana asked her gently, her silvery grey eyes showing concern.
“I’m not just a baby but a farmer—no, farmer’s daughter. I don’t even have my papers for my apprenticeship. Why would he stop and favor me with his presence?” Her sarcasm was lost on the group.
Vin smiled and pulled her along, holding her hand. “That’s because there hasn’t been a queenling in the making for some time. They changed their system so much you don’t quite fit in anywhere.”
“Of course. Orphan Queenling.”
“You’re from the old stock, Ara,” Zarti said slyly.
She snorted. “Old stock. How fitting.” Of course, she’d been teased about it before but never believed anyone. “Dad gets rid of old stock at the end of every season, practically giving it away at the markets.”
They all stared at her before laughing. Ziana put a hand over her mouth, and took Ara by the arm. “My dear, you are very refreshing for a queenling.”
They were teasing her on the way up the stairs but when she was shown her rooms on the top floor but then tagged along to their rooms, her mouth gaped.
Zarti smiled. “Do you believe us now?”
“We could all fit happily in my room! My lounge room.” She walked out muttering, almost bumping into Vin. “Honestly! You’d think I would have been told how important I was. I could have demanded an extra slice of chocolate cake after dinner.”
Vin laughed and then followed her to the rooms. “Very nice, Ara.”
“It’s ridiculous. Can I ask for smaller rooms?” The cream carpets and walls opened the room making it feel even larger, while bright paintings, furnishings and bedding created character. Her bath was a heated pool, with lush plants hanging from the domed ceiling.
“You could order it, but I daresay they are booked up.”
“Well, they can use my spare rooms. There’s six of them. Is this half the top floor on this wing?”
He was studying her when she turned. She looked around her. “What’s the matter?”
“You are invigorating for a Pure-Gen, Ara. Someone called Korbet organized these rooms for you and for us. I think he likes you.”
She grinned and glanced at the massive table. She groaned.
“Ara?”
“Is that another manual? He can’t like me that much.”
“I’m afraid so, happy studying. I’ll come by to pick you up for lunch?”
“You’re welcome, Princess.”
She grumbled as the door closed on his laughing.
After finding something to drink, and struggling to choose from the large variety, she read the manual. Her interest spiked half way when she hit a certain clause. “That can’t be right.” She read it over and over. She grabbed her manual and strode out to Vin’s room, down the corridor to the right then left. She knocked. He opened it and his dark eyes fell to the open book. He looked over her shoulders and then invited her in.
“Have you read this?”
“I skimmed it, Ara.”
Her eyes fell upon the text. “This says that my vote, because I am old enough to vote but not yet reached the Age of Determination, may block the majority.”
“Yes.”
Her eyes went from the text to his eyes. “But … that can’t be right?”
He opened his and found the same text. “That’s what it says, Ara.”
She sat down heavily on the chair. He wandered off and poured them some drinks. He placed a drink before her. Unthinking, she reached for it and then snatched her hand back. “Well, surely I’d have no reason to vote with the minority. I mean, we are a fair people aren’t we?”
But her mind flashed some of the dissention brewing with the Avatara and the vague history of her people.
“You should vote according to your conscience.”
She sipped her drink while Vin sat near her. “I will, but … is this about the Avatara?”
“No one knows.”
“We’ll be given time won’t we? To weigh all sides?”
“Yes, there will be people available if you need clarification and we are encouraged to debate outside the official rooms. There will be speeches you can listen to, repeats of the case, or you may simply meditate your way.”
“Vin?”
“Yes?”
“Why would the vote be timed now? Why not wait for me to reach the Age of Determination? Isn’t it risky allowing one person so much power?”
“Perhaps it is urgent.”
“Yes, but … um … action may still be taken to control things. I wasn’t a big fan of history.”
He grinned at that.
“But when I think about things that did happen, that were available to me, and how the worlds are now, I don’t understand what could possibly trigger a vote unless it’s really, really big, or so small as to be insignificant in the grand theme of things.”
He twirled his cup around and then drank.
She sighed. “I’m sorry for interrupting you.”
“No need to apologize. We are willing to help.”
She looked around his much smaller room. “If you need to stretch your legs a bit come and visit me. A jog around should give you a good work out.”
He chuckled. “Thank you.”
She stood, slightly embarrassed now, and walked out after he opened the doors for her.
The doors closed behind her but then opened. “Ara?”
“Yes?” She turned.
“I don’t think this is a small thing.”
She stared at him and then nodded. Hugging her manual to her chest, she wandered back to her rooms.
Lunch was pleasant and they were shown around the courtrooms, the amenities, where to get food and drink, the gardens and the many offices that could be booked.
The night passed and she woke early, nerves firing. As she lay staring up at the ceiling, vague recollections of Puddy 2 began to pervade her mind. Why would she be thinking of that cat? She went on adventures with all her cats. The fog hadn’t just smudged memories, it had blocked memories. That’s right! Marc had just told her about being an Aether Being, and that seemed serious to Ara but Maya evidently thought not worth blocking. Ara had fallen asleep and then woke to find Marc missing. She had crept down the steps and Puddy 2 joined her. No, she corrected, Marc told her about being Aether much later. It was after Korbet called her “farmingbee” and that was after she told him about eating the strawberries. She had heard voices and they said something about matter levels rising and killing billions. All her fear that Maya had been blocking came rushing back.
Maya had been protecting her! From what?
This had to be about matter levels. This vote had to be about dealing with that. Ara’s heart beat erratically and she felt the sweat drip under her arms to the bed sheets and wiped it from her the back of her neck. She refused to believe that genocide would be first on the list, no, they would vote on the best solution. Yes, that had to be it, if this was about matter levels. Pure-Gens were responsible for matter levels but they couldn’t just make unanimous decisions! She’d been so silly about it. They were actually stopping the indiscriminate release of antimatter.
Feeling a little better, she started tidying up her bed as it looked like there’d been a tornado in it. Remembering the “helpers” who left her room after dinner, she attacked the suitcases, finding them empty. Opening the closet she saw that all her clothes were pressed and hanging. Color coordinated too, that would impress Tara. She had no appetite for breakfast but forced herself to eat something. Servants came and went; she kept thanking them. The way they looked at her was mostly kind, sometimes surprised.
She heard a loud clashing noise. Great, they’d be donged to death. Ara’s heart pounded, her hands clenched by her sides. Just try to walk naturally. Relax your fingers. Don’t chew them. Dinner had been strained and she tried not to gawk around at the opulent surroundings. She’d picked up on the nerves. At the dance, many asked her questions and she felt they were trying to find out what “side” she’d be on. She had snapped with either, “I don’t know why we are here, how can I possibly know that?” or “Are you saying some just vote with the majority?” and had received a light laugh and affirmation. She had been stunned when she returned to her table. Ziana had tried to engage her with lighter conversation. But Ara grew aware that she was receiving more and more attention. They all understood what power she had over this case. She kept playing it over and over in her head:
Generally, a verdict had to be unanimous but, by some flaw of the system, or sneaky deliberation, the vote was forced early, which meant the unanimous vote would not hold. But would it be an issue?
Why would she vote with the minority?
Repeat.
Why would she vote with the minority?
Of interest, had another Pure-Gen been fabricated… Wait, there had been but what had Korbet said? The other was being picked up by … someone. Damn, she tried to access the CU but was blocked. Whatever! That person wasn’t registered in Aryan Society so it wouldn’t count anyway, but had she been registered then if Ara voted “yes”, and that other voted “no”, it would be cancelled out. It was so bizarre.
Groaning, she pinched her arm to stop repeating herself. The sting relieved some of the worry building inside her. She lined up in the East Wing waiting for staff to direct her in. By this stage, she had waved goodbye to the others, who would all be in the back wings. She saw her position already, upper East Wing, on the row by herself. Those in the inner rings were the most powerful and/or oldest Aryans. Those in the back wings were the lowest.
Audrina’s tall, willowy figure was easy to pick out and she smiled at her across the carpeted hall. The queen strolled over, her soft, elegant, flowing dress hugging her body rather than hiding it. Ara couldn’t help but feel the female was a little overdressed but another part of her was relieved as it seemed to support her idea that this wasn’t life and death.
“Ara, dear. Are you ready for your first vote?”
“Yes, Queen Audrina.” Not really.
The long arm rose gracefully, the long fingers lifting Ara’s chin. Ara had no choice but to look into those large, dark eyes with long lashes. “You do understand what is at stake here, Ara? We are Pure-Gens.” There was a warning in those words hidden behind the silky voice and smile. The dark eyes drifted to behind her and she was startled. Ara glanced behind and
stepped away but a mist flowed up her body, on the left side, and hung there.
There were whispers around her. “It’s the Maya.”
It was creepy. But the mist slid down and dissipated.
Her heart was pounding again as she’d never actually seen Maya but evidently the other Pure-Gens had. How much had she missed out on and how much had the Pure-Gens been told to leave her alone? She seemed to remember some mist in that strange meeting too, in Delario’s library.
“I understand, ma’am.” She now said impulsively, “I’m sure I’ll be voting with the majority.”
Relief shone in the eyes but the energies didn’t match that relief. “Good girl. You’ll do us proud, Ara. Many of the Pure-Gens consider you to be very special and will rise to high ranks once you are older, at least one thousand.” Audrina smiled now. “The Maya loves you, Ara. It has gifted you with insights. You were chosen by the Maya itself.”
Ara nodded dutifully. Whatever! And it’s “Maya” and “herself”. Why did they always have to be so specific too? Was she? Yes, how many times had her Wilds teams rolled their eyes at her? Ara just wanted to go back to Wilds and resume work.
Sub-Log XXXI
A black suited male led her to her seat and she waited impatiently. The seats were all dark wood carved, with burgundy velvet padding in the seat, back and arms. Slightly to her left hovered a holo tablet that she could move by tapping it. She tapped it to float over her lap to watch the proceedings and would later use it to make her vote. They had apparently tried to connect everyone’s minds and create a virtual reality but no one liked it much. Most Aryans liked technology that was tangible and non-invasive. The implants were embedded in each Pure-Gen during the fabrication stage and that was acceptable apparently, but the Pure-Gens had made the law, with Maya’s approval, that all Iotans received the implant once born as well.
