by G. E. Stills
She plopped heavily onto the sand in shock, her mouth agape as she stared at the smoldering ruin. “I did that?”
“Yes. The module buried within you stores energy. It can convert it into a burst of electricity, a bolt of lightning that you direct through your fingers.”
“I feel weak”
“Your strength will return shortly. You will feel less drained the more you use your abilities. You also have the ability to quickly heal injuries to yourself and others, not fractures but cuts, scrapes and minor burns.”
“I have the power to heal myself?”
“And others.”
“U-seely!” It was the first time in her memory that Kat’sar cussed out loud. “I can heal injuries?”
“There is much to learn about the new you. I will help you access your knowledge, if you will allow.”
“Yes,” she said, “Instruct me about me.”
“First things first.”
She climbed back to her feet. Again, her eyes moved without her control. Her gaze focused on several buttons located near the bottom of the case. She pushed the one Jar’san pointed out. A drawer slid open. Following his instructions, she lifted a small black article of clothing from it.
“Panties,” AI explained. “Put them on.”
“Why?”
“Just do, please.”
She brushed sand from her butt, stepped into them and drew them up her legs following Jar’san’s instructions. It felt strange. This was the first time in her twenty years of life that she’d ever worn any article of clothing. As if they had a life of their own, the panties adhered to her, covering her…barely. Her attention focused on two triangular scraps of material.
“And these?”
“Put them over your breasts to cover them.”
“Why? Why should I cover them?”
“I will explain later. For now, please do as I request.”
“Fine!” In disgust, she picked them up. They seemed to magnetically adhere to her skin.
There was one more article of clothing in the drawer. She reached for it.
“Not yet,” Jar’san said. Instead, he instructed her to press another button. .
Another drawer opened. This one contained a belt with a scabbard, pouch and holster attached. “Weapons,” the AI explained. “A knife and a pistol.”
Information on their purpose and usage flooded into her mind. “Why? Why do I need these?”
“In case you need to protect yourself.”
“But San’ar keeps me safe. He has always protected . . .” She stopped and recalled the time that had elapsed. San’ar was no more. She did not need the computer to tell her that. She was the only one who could protect herself. Meekly, she looked at the ground, and then picking up the item, belted it around her waist. She tied the straps around her thighs and secured the holster and scabbard. To her surprise, the padded belt rested comfortably against her bare skin.
“I know that you have been curious about these, and now, you will have an answer.”
Without him saying so, she knew Jar’san referred to two pale white strips that ran parallel to her spine, from her shoulders to the small of back.
“For this first time I want you to say it out loud. After this, you will only have to think it.”
“Wings,” she said, following his instructions.
Excruciating pain lanced through her back. It felt as if she was being torn apart. From the corners of her eyes, she watched them grow and sighed in relief when the pain ended. Turning her head to each side, her mouth dropped open. She estimated the new wings she’d grown stretched four meters from tip to tip. Their thin membrane was nearly translucent and supported by a light, skeletal frame. The base of each wing ran from just below her shoulder to the small of her back. Stepping away from the case, she followed Jar’san’s directions on how to use them. Flapping them briskly, she rose into the air. At first, she flew barely off the ground. As her confidence grew, she gained altitude, first to treetop level and then, higher still.
Looking around, she saw she was on an island which did not appear to be inhabited. In no time at all, she soared like a bird. Finally, she returned to the ground.
“So, I can use my flying ability to leave this island?” she asked Jar’san.
“Unfortunately, the answer is no. You can fly several kilometers but not across an ocean.”
She folded her wings as compactly as she could. “Oh,” she said dejectedly. “I can see this is going to be very awkward, though. Having wings will make it very difficult to walk.”
“Think or say, ‘Wings away’.” the AI suggested.
“Wings away.”
They vanished into her back. The only way she knew they were a part of her was because the muscles along her spine were sore. “So, this is what transpired in that room on Tran’ort while I slept? It was an operating room. I was being implanted with these incredible abilities.”
“Yes,” Jar’san answered. “Now, you may put on the other article of clothing. There are shoes for your feet in one of the other drawers.”
She slipped the dress over her head and let it settle onto her shoulders. The pitch black article of clothing hung loose, hiding her curves and the weapons she wore. A cutout left the jewel in her navel exposed. Two pocket slits in the sides allowed access to her knife and pistol. The garment hung to her knees and was made of some impressively light material. She lifted the sandals out and slipped them onto her feet, tying the straps around her ankles to secure them.
“Of course, you cannot wear this dress when your wings are out. That is the reason for the breast coverings.”
She rolled her eyes. “Uh-huh. As if they conceal much of anything.”
The AI continued as if she had not even interjected her snide comment “When not in use, this dress can be folded and stored in the pouch next to your scabbard.”
As the sun dipped below the trees, her stomach grumbled as a reminder that she had not eaten since she had awakened. She glanced at the lush green foliage that surrounded the clearing with a mixture of dread and anticipation. While flying, she discovered much of the island was covered in dense undergrowth. She could easily get lost. Then, with a smile, she remembered her wings. From above the trees, she could easily find her way back to this location.
It’s going to take time to get used to these new abilities of mine.
“I’m hungry,” she said out loud. “I need to find some berries or something to eat while it’s still light.”
“You can, but for tonight, I suggest returning to the Mil’ort. There are attachments that will give you intravenous nourishment.”
“And sleep for millions of years more? I hardly think so.”
“You will only sleep eight hours. During that time you will learn even more, much more than I can teach you while you’re awake. In addition, I’m sure there are predators around. They might attack.”
“Fine, I’ll do as you suggest, but I want to take these clothes off. I find them uncomfortable. I’m here alone on an island in the middle of nowhere. What difference does it make if I wear clothes?”
Without waiting for Jar’san’s response, she removed the clothes, put them back in their drawers and climbed into the capsule.
When the lid closed, light diodes provided dim illumination. A cuff wrapped around her arm and soon her hunger vanished.
The Mil’ort lifted from the ground and slipped beneath the surface of the lagoon for the night.
“Kat’sar–”
“Shut-up. I’m thinking.” She considered pressing the spot on her collarbone.
Silence.
For a long time she lay gazing at the lights, immersed in thought. At last, from boredom, she donned the headphones. When information began pouring into her mind, she learned more about her father.
****
&
nbsp; San’ar and his colleagues were scientists from another world. The hairy ones, called apes, were the highest order of intelligence on the planet. San’ar and others like him, spliced and fashioned genes, combined them with those of the apes and used females they held captive to grow creations in their wombs. Kat’sar, and others like her, were those creations.
Most were returned to the surface in small communities spread over the globe. A few, like herself, were deemed special and remained on Tran’ort for further experimentation.
San’ar’s soothing voice spoke to her. “Do not judge us harshly, Kat’sar. We are attempting to fashion a strong civilization on this planet, one that will rapidly advance. Our race, called the Men-gar, is old. Our leaders are corrupt and do not wish to share their power and knowledge with others. They seek to keep other races from advancing. When other measures fail, they destroy those that would someday compete. We found this world far away from our area of the universe. We came here in hopes of hiding our endeavor, until the civilization here was advanced enough to challenge the Men-gar.”
The recording was momentarily paused, as if San’ar had been interrupted.
“But we have been discovered. Even now a punitive force is headed here to destroy what we have built. There is not much time. You, and those with powers-abilities like yours, will be encased in Mil’orts and deposited in secret places around the globe.”
Another pause.
“It is done. You are the last, Kat’sar. I could not bear to part with you before this. I only hope that I have not waited too long. You are a product of your mother’s genes, my own genes and ones I designed. You are truly my daughter.” His voice had become wistful.
“You have awakened things in me that I thought were long dead. Emotions. Not since my mate…but that was another place, another time long ago. When you listen to this recording, I will have been dead for ages. I hope you do not hate me for what I have done. I love you, Kat’sar, and wish you the best.”
Tears formed in the corners of her eyes, trickled down across her temples and dampened her hair. “Father,” she sobbed.
His final moments played over and over in her mind. Each time her heart rose to her throat.
San’ar flew recklessly at top speed just above white-capped waves. Behind him, she saw Tran’ort suspended majestically in the sky. An eye-searing flash of light, brighter than a sun, caused her pain. She witnessed it as if it had happened now, not millions of years ago. When the brilliant light faded, Tran’ort was gone. Mushroom-shaped clouds rose sporadically on the surface behind the fleeing car.
She saw the Mil’ort resting at the back of her father’s air-car, certain it was the one she was in now. She watched it drop. With a huge “splash,” it sank beneath the surface of the ocean. She saw another blinding flash directly behind him, and then another that encompassed the air-car. After that, nothing. Everything went black.
She wept, knowing she had seen San’ar’s final moments. She had witnessed her father perish.
CHAPTER THREE
The capsule rose from the lagoon bottom and glided to the shore. After settling to the ground, the case seals made a soft whooshing sound when the lid opened. This time, Kat’sar was prepared. Gradually, she opened her eyes allowing them to adjust to the bright daylight. Swinging her legs over the side, she stepped onto sand.
When her wings grew from her back it hurt very little this time. With a few flaps, she took to the air. Alighting on the beach, she folded them, walked to the water’s edge and sat. For a time, she watched waves break and lap gently along the beach.
“So, what now?” She gazed at the seemingly endless body of water again. “What am I supposed to do? Just live here until I eventually die of old age?”
Jar’san answered, “May I inform you of San’ar’s plan?”
“Please do.”
“It was San’ar’s plan for you to remain in suspended animation until it was deemed safe to wake you. That has occurred. His last wishes were for you to carry on his work and develop the people on this planet into a space-faring race to challenge the Men-gar.”
She laughed harshly and shouted at the waves. “Right. So, alone, I’m supposed to prod a bunch of hairy apes, who can barely be described as intelligent, into a civilization that travels through space? That’s a pretty daunting task my father has charged me with. A huge, impossible task. In case you hadn’t noticed, Jar’san, we’re stranded here on an island in the middle of an ocean with no way to get off.”
“Much has changed while you slept, Kat’sar. For one, the world is no longer dominated by apes.”
“We’re still stranded here. I’m still just one individual.” She paused. “And just how do you know that apes are no longer the dominant species here?”
“I’m usually subordinate to your commands, Kat’sar, but I took the liberty this time, while you were sleeping, to send out electronic exploratory feelers. The ruling race here calls themselves humans. There is a large number of what the humans refer to as satellites circling the globe. I accessed some of them and obtained a wealth of information.”
“Interesting.”
“There are others of your kind. Some of them are your sisters. They will help.”
She thought of the other women that had lived on Tran’ort. With a thousand helping, provided she could get off this island, the task given to her by San’ar seemed a little less impossible.
“So, where are my helpers?”
“I could tell you, but with no reference, my descriptions would not make sense. If we return to the Mil’ort, though, I can show you.”
Standing, Kat’sar took to the air and flew back to the case. Following Jar’san’s direction, she pressed one of the buttons on the lid. An image formed in the air in front of her. It coalesced into a globe.
“Each of you has a locator implant that can be accessed by me, your AI. I deactivated yours so you can see just the others.” Five red dots appeared on the globe and began to blink.
“Five? Only five in a thousand? Where are the rest?”
“The attrition rate was high. The Men-gar decimated this planet you now inhabit, destroying many. Over the vast amount of time that has passed, geological changes of this planet destroyed more. Only six remain.”
Her positive outlook for completing her task plummeted. Her throat constricted. Tears formed in her eyes. Emotions, San’ar called them. At this moment, she wished they were not a part of her. Only six left. Still, five helping was better than trying to complete the task alone.
“Okay,” she said, dejected. “How do we get off this island to obtain their help?”
“With your permission, I will secure transport for us.”
“You have my permission.”
In amazement, Kat’sar felt him go to work. His actions were almost too rapid for her to follow. He accessed the wealth of electronic information floating through the air to begin his search. Quickly, he filtered through the information, consolidating it down to ocean vessels navigating close to the island. Using electronic signals, he narrowed his search even further, eliminating larger ones and narrowed it to one boat. Next, he accessed the nearest GPS satellite and linked to that boat’s transponder. With the link established, it was now a simple matter to slowly alter the course of the autopilot.
“Done,” he told her. “Our transport will arrive in a day or a day and a half at most.”
“Great.”
“I advise you to get dressed. Humans regard nakedness as unacceptable when displayed in public. When viewed by the opposite sex, it is arousing. The boat approaching will probably contain at least one male. I also suggest that you change your name to one more fitting with the present. I suggest changing it from Kat’sar to Katrina, or Kat, for short.”
“Alright.” She sighed. “So, I’m to be addressed as Kat?”
“Yes. That is what I recommend.�
��
Opening the drawers, she got dressed. Afterward, she strolled into the surrounding jungle to wait for the boat’s arrival.
****
Nolan sat back in the fishing chair, staring at the ocean behind him. He could not stop thinking about the woman who had ripped his heart out.
She said she regretted our relationship.
Anger seethed within him. “To think, I wanted to marry that bitch,” he shouted at rolling waves.
He had used nearly all his funds to buy this boat. He was determined to fulfill his lifelong dream of sailing from Hawaii to Australia, even though his father and friends had tried to dissuade him from going alone.
Drunk, he shouted, “I hadn’t planned on going alone. She was supposed to come with me, but that ain’t fuckin happening now, is it?” He lifted the bottle wedged between his legs and drained the last of the beer in a single gulp.
“Another dead soldier.”
He shoved the empty into the bucket beside him, to join the already impressive number there. Staggering, he went below to get another. “Guess I should take three of them up with me this time.” He sniggered and guffawed. “I probably will not be able to walk after the next one.” Grinning, he grabbed three more bottles of beer from the fridge and wobbled back to his chair.
The autopilot, following its electronic instructions, made yet another course correction.
By the time darkness fell, he was undeniably intoxicated. I guess I should go up top and check to make sure the boat’s on course. Come to think of it, I haven’t checked it all day.
“Fuck it. Wouldn’t be able to read the damn thing anyway. Probably couldn’t see well enough to even shut the pilot off.” He laughed drunkenly.
Staggering, halfway crawling, into one of the staterooms, he passed out on the unmade bed. While he slept, the boat followed the new course heading.
Daylight, shining through the porthole, woke him and a pounding headache forced him to his feet. He stumbled into the head to get some aspirin for his hangover and looked in the mirror. Bloodshot eyes stared back at him. His wavy dark-brown hair fell to his shoulders and was mussed and matted. A day-old beard blackened his face.
