by Selina Brown
He smiled, his round face red from working. “Our consignment of coffee is stuck at the first perimeter check point.”
“Kerretta then, please.”
He slid the two cups closer to her and she didn’t even blush. He knew why she was stressed. She wandered away, and noted the many furtive looks in her direction.
“Ara!”
She turned, seeing Korbet walking quickly towards her. Normally she liked to look at the brown-haired and eyed, handsome male. Today, he was just another face.
“I’ve made some arrangements so you don’t have to sit on your own. We can share an—”
“No, it’s alright. You shouldn’t have gone to that trouble.” She felt a little lightheaded.
He looked at her with some concern. “Ara, it’s alright. It was no trouble, and you shouldn’t be on your own for this. I was furious finding out you’d been closeted without support.”
A female in a black suit called them in. Ara spotted the coffee man as he headed into the main room. Korbet begged her with his eyes but she turned and went to her area. She made it to her seat and sipped at the strong keretta. Her guard, hooded, sat next to her. She handed him a drink.
“Sorry, out of coffee. They gave me the last cup but I drank it already.”
She felt less abandoned when he was close by. Something about his mind and heartbeat soothed her. Running her hands along her throat, she felt the bony protuberances of her collarbone and the looseness of her dress.
The user interface had given her access to Kavela’s personal diary. It didn’t tell her why he had used the CU as a place to store the data, so Ara wondered if it was just another game someone was playing. Maybe it wasn’t Kavela’s diary. Maybe it was some test to see if she would access them. Maybe it was to make her hate Kavela or use it as a threat. Whatever, she’d accessed some of Kavela’s diary while tripping down from her perch. He’d be mortified. But it was like a disease, she couldn’t stop herself. She didn’t know what was worse, what was coming or what had happened to him. She quickly wiped her eyes. She just couldn’t imagine being locked up in a cage for her early life in a stark lab. Why had the Establishment done that? Why hadn’t anyone helped him?
Ara cradled her cup, begging the warmth to warm her soul. She heard a commotion and saw two red-robed officials, the stewards, roll in the Superlunary, the Energy Artifact. She activated her monitor, drew it closer and read the announcement. Even her guard leaned forward; she sensed his excitement. It looked like a miniature black hole hovering over the dark metallic plate. The mist flowed around. Next, two black robes wheeled in the Nexus, for the mind, it was a web like globe. Finally, blue robed officials wheeled in the swirling whirlpool, more like a mini tornado, the Sawol, for the soul. The Superlunary, Nexus and Sawol were most sacred biological artifacts to the Aryan forming a Triad but here they were actual things. Ara squinted at them trying to see, and then moaned at herself and brought her floating holo closer again. Maybe they were just representations but there was something mechanical looking about them. For some reason they were linked to the Maya, and revered and feared.
Jamie eyed off the three Artifacts.
He’d warned Simon about the possibility of the Snake, Krait, stealing them. He couldn’t actually remember the details and wanted to access his NaPP notes on his leg but it might not be appropriate to drop his pants in the courthouse while in session. Ara might get a giggle out of it, but he’d probably be dragged out the locked door. He unconsciously rubbed his thigh, wishing he could link to the nanites, when the image of his list appeared as if burned on his retinas. A mental image would be better but this would do. Yes, the Snakes had talked about stealing the Artifacts but didn’t specify if it was all of them or just one. Jamie didn’t think they’d choose now and he wondered how Krait, AKA Tarus, would get the things out. They were much bigger than he thought.
Jamie was hoping Tarus would consider working with them and watched him closely over the years. He was sure Tarus knew they identified him in the department store and resort restaurant. Every time he visited Ara they tried to track him, and/or the other Snake, Viper. But if Trickster couldn’t track them, Jamie wasn’t sure they could. Jamie was also sure Tarus was dangling himself close at hand to give them a chance to find the others. His teams reported back regularly on the progress of the Function Tests, but they were steady and still at the same level as when Peter first found the control room.
His body ached in places he’d rather not think about and already he felt the struggle as his body tried to equalize with the extra matter and energy. It was never going to happen; he just wasn’t made that way. He felt he’d made the right choice now but worried about what happened after the vote. He had to go straight to the Cardinal Unit to reverse the treatment. That might be the most dangerous time for Ara, but Diane was as skilled and experienced as he was, so, he had to learn to rely on his team.
Ara was thinking of her climbs with Kavela. She’d been shocked by his words, and rightly so. Kavela was being manipulated by the Establishment and it appeared as if she understood that. Jamie had plans well in place to prepare her for her apprenticeship and the possibility of butting up against the Establishment. He dreaded the next one hundred years.
As they finished their drinks, Kavela had informed Ara that the Artifacts themselves were shrouded in mystery but rumor had it that if an Artifact was destroyed then mayhem would follow.
She had asked, “Like what?”
He made sure she was strapped into her climbing harness after their break. “Like if the Superlunary were destroyed, yours, my—” he had leaned in close “—and everyone’s energy would combine. No more separation.” He managed to make it sound sexual and she’d laughed with him.
“Of just energy?” She screwed up her face, trying to imagine that.
He tapped her nose and laughed. “It boggles the mind does it not? Good thing there isn’t a “Body” Artifact. Imagine all of us combined in one big blimp!”
Again, she had to laugh with him. And now, to her shame, she wanted to run away at what was being suggested and yet, after all he had been through, he was still here. And it was a personal diary, not a diary filled with Establishment or plots or plans. Just his thoughts and feelings over the years.
She jerked back, thinking about making love to him, and wondered if her responses would be inhibited now, and if he’d notice.
And now? Genocide!
She voted quickly, hoping still she was voting with the majority, a resounding “no”, better they all died. When the final tally rose from the floor, there were gasps of anger and surprise mingled with a collective sigh of annoyance.
There were murmurs about her youth and inexperience.
Queen Audrina sat at the bottom looking cool and regal. Kavela was sitting next to the elegant queen. Ara discreetly touched the tablet that was used to cast the votes, inputting a little program she had made while abandoned. They really should have watched her more closely. Kavela had voted with the minority. Somehow that did not relieve her. Majority voted in favor of genocide including Audrina. Yet she somehow knew that both Kavela and Audrina were of similar minds. How many levels did the intrigue go down?
“Or up or across.”
Startled, she glanced at her guard, unable to make out his possibly disfigured face through the shadows of the hood.
“I’m as handsome as always.”
A small burble of laughter slipped through her lips and the small distraction broke the spiral of dread.
The verdict was not carried.
All because of her vote.
The Genocide Vote changed everything for her. Eyes turned to her. She squirmed in her chair but she remained silent. So much for privacy. So much for the majority. She justified her program hack because of the lack of privacy but a little voice niggled at her that she was wrong to invade others’ privacy. Voices rose around her and to her right she was beckoned out by firm and friendly hands.
As she stood, her guar
d positioned himself between her and the crowds, some PuGs even shouting up at her. It was hard in the narrow space but he was determined to shield her with his body. As she bumped into him, she felt his hard body and weapons strapped to his waist, arms and legs. So she bumped into the chairs to her right instead but his arm came around her and pulled her back so she didn’t hurt herself. She was handed off to other minority voters. Let the killing begin, was her most frequently recurring thought. How was she going to stay one step ahead as instructed by the user interface? They didn’t allow her to navigate her Seeker home, aware of her shock.
Ara knew her life would be in danger. Somehow, she made it to her rooms. Her bags were packed already. She staggered to the bathroom and threw up. Waves of hot and cold spread over her body. Staggering around and looking into the mirror told her everything she needed to know—white face, with fear written all over it, blue eyes large. What it didn’t show was how sick she felt, the pain in her heart, and how her throat was closing up, blocking the airflow. Her guard stepped in and pulled her tightly against him. She clung and, before she knew it, she was sobbing. He stroked her hair and then, finally, as she calmed down, handed her some tissue. She took deep breaths. In and out. Wiping her eyes, she splashed some more water over her face as he rubbed her back.
Someone called out to her and she hardly recognized her friends and made it to one of the main foyers, her guard in tow. Vin gripped her hand while Zarti stood close by, shielding her. Someone passed her a hot drink and she wrapped her hands around it, numb to her core. She watched the liquid and ripples with fascination, unable to lift her gaze to register those talking over her head. She touched the rich fabric of the chair. When had she sat down? Hands removed the cup, and a firm hand was on her back. She was ushered into a small office. She thought it was her guard this time but when the finger tilted her face, she was looking into serious brown eyes.
“Korbet.”
“You were silly—”
She didn’t know why she did it. Anger filled her. “I’m not a silly, orphan, little girl!”
She dug into his mind to find out how he voted and was repelled with some force but, to her horror, she found herself pinned to the back wall. On Korbet’s cheek was a red mark.
A sob burst from her. “I’m … so sorry.”
“I was going to say you were silly not to join me.” He eased off her, and rubbed her wrists. He kept his face close, his face full of sympathy. “Poor choice of words on my part. I didn’t mean to be so forceful. It is I who should apologize. You are in shock, and have been treated poorly by your peers. I’m with the minority, honeybee.”
She reached up as he wiped her tears, and touched his cheek. He rested a hand over hers. “You needn’t worry. There are those who would be your friends.”
He had always been there for her. He had been so patient with her as a little girl when she interrupted him all the time. She caressed his cheek, sensing a shift in his mood. His eyes held such a depth of emotion she couldn’t even begin to decipher it. There was a knock and they had to part. She didn’t even get to say goodbye but his eyes were sympathetic, and, again, something indecipherable.
Many people hugged her and she tried to keep strong. Faces were blurred, voices, murmurs of a crowd, and gentle mental caresses along with blocks to prevent others from harming her. She was transported back home. She was vaguely aware her Seeker was in the cargo bay of some enormous vessel. She barely registered the HaV announcements and remained seated and strapped into a passenger’s or her cabin’s seat. As she went to step out, hands gripped the sides of her face. A familiar face came into focus. She blinked a few times.
“Ziana.”
“Ara. We are with you.”
“Are you?”
“There’s time for you to try to find another solution. That’s why you voted with the minority isn’t it?”
She studied the dark features, the gorgeous eyes.
“Yes, I had to buy time.”
“Well, you have us to help.”
“How far are you willing to take that help?”
Ziana leaned back on the bed.
Ara leaned forward on her safety chair. “Ziana, do not be scared. But the road I walk will be … chaotic.”
The dark eyes widened. She whispered, “Ara you must not think that way. The Jungar?”
Ara gripped her warm hand. “Yes, I must. It may be the only way.”
Ziana swallowed hard. “Then it is the way I must go too.” She then said with a kind of wonder. “Jungar!”
Ara needed key personnel. She had to research Chaos and Kavela knew about it. She had the urge to sign the papers. “Ziana, where are my apprenticeship documents?”
Ziana pointed to her drawers. “We put them in the top drawer.”
She stood and pulled them out.
Ara signed them with her Geno Seal and pressed “send”.
She felt better in one respect, her first, no, second step and working to find a resolution. The moment she voted with the minority, she had set out on a path; there was no point in now jerking around.
Jamie was tense.
While the queens and kings and those labeled as the “Majority” for genocide didn’t actually try to make an attempt on her life then and there, there were attacks from the Establishment and some Avatara faction who should not have known about the vote. They were being dealt with as opportunists who made use of so many notables being in one place. And that certainly was an issue. The Aryan Military had been on high alert for weeks now.
Security guards were running around while members of staff were trying to calm the agitated Pure-Gens. Jamie gave permission for Vinicus and Zarti to take Ara back home on their large ranger. They packed her Seeker that she’d been so proud to arrive in. His own ranger was on standby.
He found an unexpected person waiting in his ranger and he was immediately wary. She had breached his security and Marc had last told him not to trust her. “Aven?”
“Jamie, I think I can help you.” Her almost black eyes were huge, but there were shadows under them made more evident by her very pale skin. She was very slender, almost shapeless.
“How?” More lies? He didn’t need all this. He had one focus, Ara. There was one disadvantage to the procedure he had to get to the Planet of Law; he had to go back to the CU straight away. His systems were already shutting down.
“Jamie—it’s about the Vakar. They are nearer than you think. It’s why I’m raising it.”
Jamie felt sick as he began to close the hatch. Aven nodded. He sealed it. “How near?”
“They permeate the Core. I think some are pretending to be Pure-Gens.”
“How do you know this?” To impersonate Pure-Gens they had to be matter and energy heavy. Also, all Aryans, especially Pure-Gens, were registered.
She followed him down to the bridge.
“Because I’m the one who’s accessing the CU all the time. I know it well. I know you’ve been in there … and others.”
“Including the Vakar?”
She nodded and sat in the co-pilot’s seat.
“Why are you coming forward now?”
“I was in the CU when I noticed a lot of activity in the region. I mean more than expected. I tracked the rangers and noted some odd readings. The Vakar look like they are disconnected from the Maya but they aren’t. It took hours. By the time I found out, I saw movement to the Cradle. I think they are going to attack … ah, what’s wrong?”
Jamie shook his head, almost having given himself away. “But most have left…” Jamie’s Voice beeped. “I have to take this.” He lifted his comms to his ear. “Diane?”
Soon, Zarti, Vin and the others were sitting in Ara’s room. Ziana filled them in. Ara did not tell them about the Maya. None must know she was, in fact, vulnerable.
“Chaos? But how?”
“Kavela is the key, and the training I will receive under him. I will learn what I can but you must know I will have to take control. I know many of yo
u respect him.” The user interface told her Kavela was under the control of the Establishment but worked against them if he could.
“We will think on this, Ara.”
“Ara—” A rumbling caused them to sit up straighter and grab hold of whatever was near to steady themselves.
“What?”
Ara’s breathing increased, her head felt light. The vibrations were abnormal. People started yelling, and everyone staggered out of her cabin, bumping into the walls on either side. Ara followed but Ziana pushed her gently back.
“Stay here, Ara.”
She nodded, scared anyway.
Was it an attack already? Was this how her life was to be from now? Another rumble and then a thump. She heard voices, and she closed her cabin door, locking it with a shaking hand. Backing up, she fell onto the bed.
Someone started thudding on her hatch door.
Ara grasped the material of her pants, twisting it and then twisting to her right, she fell to the floor; she shook her bag, getting her daggers. The cold metal felt good in her hands. As she unsheathed another dagger, hands grabbed her from behind and a bag went over her head. Screams filled the ranger as she was carried out kicking and screaming.
Diane’s voice was full of panic and cold anger swept through Jamie’s body.
“Jamie, Ara’s been kidnapped!”
Jamie looked at Aven, and saw Aven knew.
The girl was crying. “I’m too late!”
“We’ve got to get to the Cardinal Unit.”
Aven stared at him, seeing his pain. She nodded, understanding now that if he didn’t get the procedure to unpack and offload matter and energy he would die.
The smells of blood, smoke, and melted metal filled Ara’s senses as she was carried over a shoulder. The person paused and then stepped over something. They continued and the smells cleared, something was beeping, there was a sound of a hatch closing and locking mechanisms, a system of some sort was humming in the background. No one talked. It was just sounds of machines and their feet thudding against the metal flooring. She shivered, feeling chilled now with shock, and it was cold. Her teeth chattered.
