His query triggered further questions in my mind.
Are Senthiens perfect?
Are any of the Descendants perfect?
Was Zamnan cleverer than nature itself?
I answered J without mentioning my thoughts. “The gene of interest that led to the Visionaire feature was meant to do something else. This gene was linked to GFP—”
“Green fluorescent protein,” J quickly repeated for Rick’s understanding.
“—and incorporated into random places in the genome and ultimately manifested itself as a new trait, which was to be able to predict future outcomes based on the current course of events. The protein was expressed mainly in the brain, and more precisely in the primary motor cortex.”
Rick frowned. “I don’t understand—what’s that?”
“It’s the brain center where body movements are controlled, and it processes a huge amount of data extremely fast,” explained J. “Even in a Human.”
I nodded. “But it took some time before the changes in the brain stabilized and the new ability was understood.”
“So,” Rick asked, “were your Visions ever wrong?”
“If I didn’t interfere in the process of the decision,” I said, looking at J, “then no, all my Visions came to be.”
“And for other Senthiens? Were they always right as well?”
“No. Senthiens do make mistakes. The Visions are only possible projections of the future. I cannot guarantee I will always be correct in my Visions. I can also make mistakes like any other Senthien.”
“Theoretically, yes,” Rick pressed on, “but in reality, no. Your other Senthiens have already made mistakes. But you haven’t!”
“This is true, but I am less than four hundred years old. I am sure I would have had some inaccurate Visions if I was older.”
“But don’t you think there is something else?” J asked, obviously heading in the same direction as Rick. “Don’t you think that this gene acts differently because you’re half Human?”
“Genes mutate over several generations, not in one person,” I said.
“But what if we’re not talking about gene mutation?” J continued. “What if your genes are still the same, but the genetic environment is different? Basically, what I want to ask: what if your Human genes improved the function of your Senthien genes?”
I was silent. I didn’t know the answer to that. I looked at the dying fire and glowing embers radiating light and heat.
Epigenetic influence… this could be possible…
And then somewhere, deep in my mind, a new thought started to form: an insight about Humans and Zlathars.
Why did the Zlathars push Humans to the bottom of the Uni society under all other Descendants? It’s all linked, somehow, somewhere…
“I don’t know,” I said, looking at them. “But from all the current premises, I assume this is a possible answer.”
We stayed silent for a few passes longer, and then J squeezed my shoulder and whispered, “Time to go to bed.”
I started to get up, but J stopped me. “Let me carry you! You need to rest as much as you can.”
“But I feel good, J.”
“Okay, then do it for me.”
I smiled. “All right.”
I didn’t mind being in J’s arms. Not at all.
Chapter 20
It was late morning and we were on the road for about two hundred passes. Although I got used to the captivating greenery of this world, every now and then I was swept away by yet another tree, yet another plant.
I stopped in front of one such fascinating tree and looked at it for a moment. J stopped, realizing that I wasn’t following, and returned to stand next to me. He followed my gaze with his eyes.
“What are you looking at?”
“This! Isn’t this just amazing?”
“Hmm.” He pressed his lips together, looking at the plant. “I guess so. What do you think makes it so amazing?” J turned to me.
I shook my head a bit, still looking at the tree. “I can’t really explain it, but… look!” I raised my arm, finger pointing to the tree trunk. “This one is different. I saw a similar type of a tree before, and normally these long leaves start only at the top of the tree, and the trunk is just bare, brown, and woody. But look at this one! This one has the leaves all around the trunk too, it’s just that they are light brown, and those on top are green. But it didn’t lose any leaves, you see?” I kept looking at the tree, and J continued looking at me. I turned to him, “J, you’re not looking at the tree!”
He laughed. “I’ve been seeing this type of a tree for more than nine years now. It’s not amazing to me. You are!” And he bent down to kiss me. My heart skipped a beat, and I momentarily stopped breathing.
“Hmm…” J gave a crooked smile as our lips parted. “It’s a real shame I have to shorten my kiss every time. I keep worrying how long you can last without a breath!”
At first I thought he was serious, but then I smiled, realizing his joke. “Ha! You’re being so funny!”
“I know.” J laughed. “And I’m so happy you released your Human side so you can get my jokes.”
I frowned. “I kept my Human side hidden because it saved my life!” I let go of his hand and continued walking, following the others a few dozen IPs ahead.
“Dora, I’m sorry.” He sped up to catch up with me. “That was really meant to be a joke.”
He gently held my elbow to stop me. “I’m sorry. I can only imagine how your life must have been before. And I think I understand it, I guess, the best I can without actually having to disguise my ancestry and being afraid for my life if my secret were uncovered.”
He leaned his head to a side, looking into my eyes, but I looked away.
“Dora, look at me.” He lifted my chin with his finger. “What I really wanted to say is that I am really happy that you brought out the Human in you, that you didn’t lose it, and that you can react to me like a Human can. Because… I understand that. I understand Human reactions, and it was difficult for me to understand Senthien ones.”
I looked at him, green eyes fixed on black.
“But the truth is… ” He lowered his gaze for a few moments and then looked back. “It’s the half-Human, half-Senthien that… I fell in love with.” He slowly tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and moved closer, his lips just about to touch mine. “You do know what falling in love means, don’t you?” he whispered.
My heart was beating madly. I’d heard the term before, from my mom. And now, I finally knew what that feeling was. The one that made my heart race, the one that induced uncontrollable desire deep inside me; the one that was nowhere to be found on my nanoprobes data.
Falling. In. Love.
“Yes…” I whispered back.
“Good.” He still did not touch my lips. “Now, kiss me,” he said softly.
I looked at him, startled, my breaths shallow.
“Kiss me and stay conscious,” he whispered again.
I understood what he wanted me to do.
For the longest moment, I gathered my courage, and then very slowly I came closer. Lifting up on my toes, I softly pressed my lips to his.
His lips were warmer than mine, and I felt as if they were molding perfectly into mine. I realized then that I would not lose consciousness. The intense feeling of excitement and anticipation, like a strong pressure in my chest, I now felt I could hold and enjoy.
He slid his arm around my waist, and with the other he gently circled my neck, bringing me closer to him. He leaned forward and with his lips he slowly opened mine, reaching out with his tongue to find mine. As our tongues met, my passion burned with a new flame; wanting, needing, craving… him.
He held me tight, our tongues exploring each other, my body reacting by itself with no input; yet, feeling such immense sensations, I realized I was only a few moments away from fainting. I held my hands against his chest to tell him we should part, but I could not stop kissing him.
He realized it and released his tight embrace, but still holding my arms as our lips parted.
We were both breathing heavily, taking a moment before we could speak.
“Wow,” he said, looking at the ground. Then he looked up at me. “Are you okay?” His voice was hoarse and broken.
“Yes… yes.” That was the only thing I could muster. “I… needed, you know—space… before I…”
“Yeah, I know. Me too.”
I heard footsteps coming back down the path.
“Boring, boring!” Peter laughed from a few IPs ahead. “Don’t you get tired of that?” he asked, folding his arms on his chest.
“Pity you’re so old, Peter. You forget what youth does to you,” responded J, his arms still around me.
“Yeah, yeah!” Peter muttered, still loud enough so we could hear him. “Let’s go, guys, we should be at our destination by early afternoon…if you don’t stall us all the time!” And he winked at us as he turned to follow the group up ahead.
J looked at me and smiled. He released me from his embrace but still kept my hand in his.
We walked without a word for a while, hearing the others talk in front of us. I didn’t know what to say. This was so unexpected, so strong, so primal, I couldn’t do anything but obey my body’s needs.
My Human rejoiced; my Senthien was out of her mind.
I looked at him, but he was looking away.
“What is it?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
“You don’t… seem very happy,” I said, feeling the anticipated pain of his answer. “You don’t like what we just did?”
He looked at me. “No, no, it’s not that. It’s just…”
“What?”
He exhaled.
What?
“The last time I kissed someone like that was… my wife. And, it… it just brings memories back, that’s all.”
I looked to the front and let go of his hand.
How can I compete with a dead person?
“Dora!” He took my hand again and stopped. I stopped as well but didn’t turn toward him. I had a lump in my throat and I didn’t want him to look at my eyes.
Then he embraced me in a hug, wrapping both of his arms around me. I leaned my face on his chest, feeling weak and vulnerable.
“I’m such a fool! What am I saying? Don’t listen to me! You are… you are a gift from heaven, you really are. I was just… I was certain that I wouldn’t want anyone else anymore, that I wouldn’t need anyone else… that I wouldn’t love anyone else… and then, you came. Ha! You literally dropped out of the sky!” He laughed at that. “And I don’t even know why you want to be with me—”
I moved my head back to look at him. “It was meant to be, J. Before there was any indication of this probability, of this possible future, I saw it, I saw you, I saw us so many times in my Visions, that—it couldn’t go any other way… I was yours before I even came here.”
He looked down at me, then cupped my face with his hands. “You are such an amazing woman, Dora. And I am so lucky you’re with me.” And he bent down and kissed me again.
Chapter 21
We reached the edge of the forest.
In front of us spread the ruins of a forgotten city. Blocks of concrete that used to be buildings, walls, and houses were overgrown with crawlers, moss, bushes, and trees.
I continued walking, and then realized I was the only one. I turned around. The others were standing still, their gaze empty and sad as they stared at what used to be a vibrant city.
Peter lowered his head. Simon walked over and put his arm around his shoulder. No one said anything for a long while.
I looked back to the city, then up at the sky.
The dark gray clouds hovering over the ruins threatened rain. Even the green of the plants looked gray under the thick layer of vaporized water blocking the clear sky.
I lowered my gaze to the city again and waited. It seemed to me the clouds only emphasized the history and tragedy of the place, and I wondered what it would look like in the bright daylight.
Rick, who’d spent more of his life in the untouched nature than in the high-tech world of the past, started walking forward. He came to stand next to me, then turned around and said, “Let’s go, guys. It’s easier to see things in daylight.”
Several heavy sighs came from the group as they continued walking, but I was focused on J. He was still standing, looking far away to the left side of the city. I looked in the same direction: several sharply broken skyscrapers and the collapsed remains of a large building, oval in its footprint.
“That’s a…” J pointed to the oval building but then dropped his hand. “That was a rugby stadium.”
He looked at me and then took my hand in his. Smiling sadly, he said, “Time flies.”
I smiled back, although I knew that his eyes carried a high degree of sadness.
“Let’s find some computers,” he said, winked at me, and tugged me forward.
We walked on the road. The only way I knew it had once been a road was because there were several patches of flat concrete spread in roughly one direction. In between them, grass, bushes, and vines poked out. The road was surrounded by bits and pieces of what were once building walls, but most of them were no higher than a few IPs. The rest of the buildings were crumbled on the ground, tangled among the dense vegetation.
We all walked a lot slower than we had in the forest, even though the path was a lot clearer. After passing under some kind of arch that amazingly still stood, we turned right and walked uphill. At the top, we entered what looked like ancient remains made out of stone rather than concrete.
“This was the South Cape University of Technology,” said Patrick as he turned to me. “This is where I worked.”
The group continued, but I stopped for a moment. I was in the middle of the field bordered by large square-shaped blocks of stone neatly set into the high grass. Unlike the concrete, the stones were not so densely covered in moss, and it made the distinct color contrast between the stone and grass even greater.
These must have been the remains of a large hall of some kind—an auditorium, perhaps. I turned around in a circle, looking at this structure that once held a roof, potentially even a few floors, imagining what it would feel like to be listening to the lecturer, closely—too closely probably—surrounded by so many determined and knowledge-driven people.
Would I fit in there?
Would I fit in the life that J had before his cryo-time?
Would he even notice me then?
“Hey.”
I turned to see J coming.
“Kingdom for your thoughts,” he said and stopped really, really close to me.
Even if I knew what he was asking of me, I wouldn’t have been able to answer with him being so close.
This was not the broken IP.
This was him—his face so close to mine, feeling his warmth, inhaling his scent.
I dropped my gaze and thought about his words again.
“I do not understand you,” I said, still looking at the high grass next to his feet.
He slowly bent forward until our foreheads touched. “I knew you wouldn’t,” he said. “But I like to teach you our ways, our language.”
Then he lifted his head and kissed my forehead. “What it means is that I would give up something very valuable simply to be able to know what you are thinking, because it is that important for me to know.”
I nodded, thinking of his original phrase. “Yes. I understand it now.”
He smiled. “So?”
“So what?”
“So what were you thinking?”
“Ah,” I had to laugh, “I don’t really remember anymore. I got distracted.”
He tilted his head sideways and gave me a mischievous smile. “I don’t really believe that, you know. Not a Senthien.”
“How about a Human?”
“Mmm,” he said, his lips twitching. “Okay. Fair point. C’mon, let
’s go. I think your expertise will be needed soon.”
He took my hand in his, and we followed the rest.
The area we entered didn’t have a wall around it, but some thin poles still stood around the complex, indicating that a fence was once there. There were several fairly well-preserved low buildings, only two floors high. Others had only a ground floor. They were all covered in green.
“Over here!” Patrick called. “This is the entrance.”
J squeezed my hand just a little bit and then let it go to walk over to Patrick. They were standing in front of a one-story building, which appeared to be almost entirely intact. It must have been built to far more rigorous structural standards. The entrance to the building was blocked by a solid metal door hiding behind a dense mat of creepers. On the side, just visible was a once-white access control panel with a number pad.
“All the doors opened automatically after entering the correct access codes, or at least they did in my time,” Patrick said, following the rim of the entrance with his gaze.
“That requires power,” said J.
“Which we don’t have,” Patrick responded.
“In Uni, these kind of systems work on multiple power sources,” I said. “On the newly terraformed planets and moons, all critical computer hosting centers had to have standard disaster recovery infrastructure. This included independent and self-contained power sources, with multiple redundancies, also including renewable energy. I would assume this is the case here too.”
Patrick nodded. “All right, what are we looking for?”
I raised my forearm to look at my E-band. It could override the access control circuitry, but it didn’t have enough of an energy charge to open the gates themselves. So I needed to find a local power source from which my E-band could draw energy.
I swiped the screen of the E-band. “I’m initiating a scan of the proximal area… I can override the access codes but I need power to open the gate... So I’m looking for a power sou—there, solar.”
“Solar power?” asked Rick.
“It’s not gonna work. All the electronics were fried, including solar panels,” said Frank.
The Senthien (Descendants of Earth Book 1) Page 19
