____________
Mary and I sat side by side on a couch, hot coffee on the table in front of us. I felt like I’d never be warm again, even though I’d been inside for an hour already. Her arm was bandaged; otherwise, she looked no worse for wear.
Her hand slid over to me, intertwining her fingers with mine. We left the rest unspoken. We’d both thought there was a chance we’d lost the other today, and the relief was great as Slate and I showed up at the gates. They’d told us Magnus and Mary had returned with the missing people. I’d fallen to my knees as they said the words, half from the pain in my calf, half from happiness that they were all right, no thanks to me.
Magnus walked into the room, smiling wide at the sight of us on a couch. “You guys make this all seem so normal.” The hospital waiting room was cramped, and with Magnus in it, the space we had shrank in half.
“I just want to see my sister,” I said, butterflies dancing in my stomach as we waited. Mary assured me she was going to be fine. Isabelle had been bitten by one of the creatures and had lost a lot of blood, but she was in good hands.
We gabbed, me finishing my story about the Shandra while drinking coffee. An hour or so later, a nurse approached us and told me I could come in.
“Are you coming?” I asked Mary.
She shook her head. “You go alone. She needs her brother.”
I understood but still wanted her by my side. Setting my cup down, I got up on a sore leg and realized just how exhausted my body was. I’d end up in a hospital bed myself if I didn’t get some rest soon. I took tentative steps while following the nurse down the short corridor, and after a few doors, she led me into a room with beeping machines and blinking lights. My sister lay on the bed; bags were hooked up to her, and her eyes were closed.
I went to the bedside, reaching out to grab her hand. She looked so small and pale. Someone moved in the corner of the room, and I noticed we weren’t alone.
“Hey, are you a doctor?” a familiar voice asked.
The day had been rough, so when I saw the man’s face, I nearly dropped to the ground. I hadn’t seen him in a long time, not since a few months after the Event.
“Dean?”
It was James.
My old friend came toward me, a questioning look on his face.
“James! What are you doing here?” I asked.
“What am I doing here? What are you doing here is the better question!” Both of our voices had risen, and I saw Isabelle stirring from her slumber. “You’re supposed to be dead.” He lowered his voice; the word dead was nearly an inaudible whisper.
I grabbed the man, hugging him fiercely. Seeing someone from my pre-Event life brought it all back, and I stood there holding James, tears flowing freely from my eyes. When we pulled apart, his eyes were red and puffy, probably a match for my own. “I’m not dead,” was all I could bring myself to say.
“Am I?” a small voice asked from the bed.
“No, Issy. You’re not dead.” I turned to her, really seeing my little sister for the first time. She looked so much older than the last time I’d seen her. Seven years was a long time. Seven years with interstellar travel, and life on a harsh colony planet, could be a lifetime.
“But… how?” she asked.
James pulled up two chairs, and we sat there, each telling our stories of how we ended up together on this night. Theirs was far longer than mine, but luckily with much less danger. Until today, when Isabelle had gone out to help a lame horse in the snowstorm.
“And you two?” I asked, looking from face to face.
James nodded. “We heard you were dead. Magnus held a ceremony for you all, one that Dalhousie wouldn’t sanction. He said she never believed you were lost. Issy and I were among the few that knew you, and the only people there that knew you before everything. From our old lives. We’d both been through a lot, just like everyone, and our connection drew us together. She saved my life, Dean.” He said the simple words, used over and over by people over the ages, but in this case, I believed him. His face was full of lines, his hair gray and receding, but there was a sparkle in his eyes that only the love of another human could provide.
“I couldn’t be happier for you two. I’ll come back later with Mary. We can go on a double date.” I laughed at how silly it sounded, but maybe something so normal would be good for all of us. “You sure you’re okay?”
Isabelle slowly nodded, her eyes sagging closed. “Dean. I’m so glad you’re here. I love you.”
“I love you too, sis.” I patted the back of her hand lightly, and her eyes fully closed.
“She needs some sleep. Coffee?” James asked, and we stood, leaving the room to its beeping machines and blinking lights.
____________
Terran Five was quite the complex. I could hardly consider it a normal city, since most of the buildings were connected via corridors and pedways. It reminded me of the alien bases and cities I’d seen. Were we heading in the same direction as those other races? They did it here because of the long cold months, where being outside for more than a minute could result in frostbite, or worse.
Our rooms were in a visitor apartment, not far from the landing pad and military base, and we were grateful for the private suite.
Light crept in through the windows, the midday sun occasionally peeking past the thick cloud cover that T-5 never seemed to get rid of. Mary was still sleeping soundly beside me, her chest rising up and down slowly in a mesmerising flow, lulling me into a semi-conscious state. I’d slept for a solid eleven hours, and I still felt like I needed more.
Mary and Magnus had left me in the transport, worried I was dying of some unknown cause, and I let them know they were right to do so. The lives of the colony people were more important at that moment. They followed the tracks into the cavern and were ambushed by a few of the creatures as they entered the room where I’d seen the blood. All in all, they killed twenty or so of the wild animals before the rest scampered away, but they got their say in, biting Mary in the arm and Magnus in the thigh.
One of the colonists had been dead on arrival, but the other three had made it back, Isabelle being the worst off. As I watched Mary sleeping, I wished I could have been there to help, but knew the resource I’d found was more important. I’d told Magnus and Mary about it, and we decided to keep it under our hats for the time being. If we passed the details on, we had no idea what kind of abuse the Shandra would suffer, or for whose cause. No, we would keep the information to ourselves, and make that decision when the time came.
“Dean?” Mary asked as she rolled over and rested her head on my chest. It was familiar and comforting.
“I’m awake. Just thinking.”
“I was dreaming that we took a vacation. I don’t know where we were, but there was a beach, and some drinks.” Her warm breath was lulling my eyes closed.
“We should go on a vacation. Or find somewhere on New Spero to relax for a while.”
“We should. Let’s talk to Magnus about helping us set it up,” Mary said before her breathing deepened again, and I decided to close my eyes. Today could wait; I needed more rest.
Sleep came, and I rolled fitfully as I dreamed of the Shandra, the star map, and the palm-sized Deltra device I still had stashed away.
TEN
“I can’t tell you how good it was to spend some time with you. With both of you,” I said, looking across the table at my sister and James. “You look great, sis.”
“I feel about a million times better. You didn’t have to stay all week, you know. James was here for me.” Isabelle glanced over at her husband. I’d learned they’d been married last year. It brought a dichotomy of feelings to me. On one hand, I was so happy they’d both found love, but on the other, I was upset I hadn’t been there for either of them, and I’d missed my little sister’s wedding.
“It’s been great to see you too.” Mary had met them each once after the Event, but both occasions had been a whirlwind of rushing, interviews, and polit
ics. For us to be able to spend a week with them, just talking and playing games, was priceless.
It still felt strange to see everyone around us seven years older. It was as if we’d blinked and missed out on such a huge important chunk of everyone’s lives.
“Mom would love seeing us like this. She always wanted us to spend more time together. I’m sorry I was such a spoiled brat when I was younger. I don’t blame you for not coming to the coast with us. You had your own life, even though I didn’t know it back then,” Isabelle said. “I’m sorry about Janine too.” She looked sideways at Mary and gave a small smile that said, “Sorry for bringing her up.”
“Thanks. It is all pretty unbelievable.” I’d told her about Mae, and how it was really Janine, the woman I’d met those long years ago in Central Park. To Issy, that was fifteen years ago. Hearing my sister talk about our mother and father over the past few days brought up a lot of pushed-down emotions. It was easy to forget all the things and people who made you what you were when you didn’t have anyone reminding you of them.
“You guys are off?” James asked, stating the obvious. We were at the Terran Five landing pad, inside the hangar to keep the cold blowing snow off of us while we waited for the rest of our crew.
“Back to Terran One, and then we don’t know. We’ll be in touch, one way or another,” I said, spotting Slate coming through the doors and heading our way. Magnus had left the day after the mountain. He needed to get back to his family, but Slate wouldn’t leave until we did. His loyalty was to a fault, and I really appreciated it. We’d been through a lot together.
We took turns doing the hug goodbye dance, Isabelle and I locking eyes for a moment, and my heart longed to go back to those days in the country. Dad would be tinkering in the garage, and Mom’s nose would be stuck in a book, sitting at the front door, letting the sun cast its glorious rays on her for the afternoon. It made me miss them both so much.
Mary must have seen the misting of my eyes, because she kissed my cheek and led me away.
“Keep in touch, buddy,” James said, waving when I looked back.
“You know I will.” These were the people I needed to protect. They all needed protecting, and deep down, I knew we had to go on the offensive. There would be no beach vacations for Mary and me. Not until the Bhlat were dealt with.
The transport vessel that was earmarked for us sat fueled and ready to go, the doors already open. Mary would pilot it, and Slate took the back seat so he could stretch out.
Soon we were lifting off, my tablet full of downloaded images from my sister and best friend’s wedding, my heart full yet heavy at the same time.
____________
“You’re telling me there’s still no word from them?” I asked Patty. She looked like any other woman of sixty in our living room, wearing jeans and a sweater. Some things never went out of style, even on a colony planet.
“None.” She sipped her tea and leaned back on the couch.
“And you still think it’s Naidoo cutting off communication with us?” Clare asked from beside the former Earth president.
Patty nodded. “I do.”
We were in our new house’s living room, which was spacious when it was just Mary and me there, but the space was getting tight with our whole crew and extras hanging out. Magnus and Nat were there, with little Dean in tow. I was positive the kid was far better behaved than I’d been at his age.
Slate stood behind us, listening thoughtfully but not saying much. I’d grill him on his thoughts later, maybe over a Scotch in the backyard after dinner.
The back door closed and Nick sauntered into the room, a beer in hand, wearing an apron that said “Kiss the Cook.” They’d really gone all out, bringing supplies from Earth. “Burgers are almost done. Grab your buns and get ‘em while they’re hot.”
I couldn’t believe we were having a barbecue in a house on New Spero. Not just any house, but one that Patty said they’d built for us years ago. It had stood empty and was only a few miles from Magnus and Natalia, which suited us just fine.
Carey nudged my leg as he came in from outside, leaving his perch beside the barbecue that any red-blooded dog would be happy to drool by. The younger pups came along with him, following his lead, and Maggie plopped down on my right foot. I scratched behind her ear, and Carey looked up at me before moving over to Natalia. He hopped up and lay his head on her lap. I caught Nat looking over at me, to make sure I was okay. I loved my time with Carey, and when they left later than day, I would give anything for Carey to stay behind, but I knew he couldn’t. It had been too long. He had a new family now.
“Dean?” Mary elbowed me lightly. The room was looking at me, waiting for a response.
“Sorry, what was the question?” I had been so lost in thought, I hadn’t heard them.
“Do you think we should send someone to Earth?” Patty asked. I didn’t like the way she was looking at me, like there was a secret being passed between us.
“I think it might be a good idea. Maybe it could be resolved by having a face-to-face with them. I’m sure she was pissed after her little puppet man from the station was apprehended, trying to keep our arrival quiet.” Or the Bhlat had already shown up, destroying Earth and stripping it of all its minerals and water. I closed my eyes and pictured people around the world, chained to each other, faces dark with dirt and backs slumped in exhaustion. I wasn’t going to tell the rest of them what I really thought might be happening.
“Food’s ready,” Mary said, changing the subject. I knew she was tired of speculating. “Patty, if you want to send someone to Earth to check on things, I say do it, but know that Dean and I won’t be on that ship. We just got here and can’t leave it all behind again.” Mary’s words poured out hot and fast, her back turned to us in the living room.
I noticed Patty’s eyes widening just slightly before settling back to normal. “I wouldn’t dare, Mary. I was thinking of asking for volunteers.”
Magnus grunted, and I caught the tail end of Nat’s elbow hitting his stomach. That was her way of telling him there was no way he could stick his hand up. Magnus made eye contact with me and winked.
For a minute, no one spoke, everyone seeming to ignore Patty’s comment.
“I’ll do it,” Slate said, speaking for what felt like the first time that evening.
Patty brightened. Slate and I had discussed a plan, should the need arise, but I wasn’t sold that the need was there quite yet.
“Good. I need a strong young man like you beside me.” Patty stood up, moving toward the kitchen, where the food was laid out on our table.
“Wait. What do you mean, beside you?” I asked, following her. Maggie slipped off my foot and trudged along behind me, sitting between my feet when I stopped.
“I’m going,” she said matter-of-factly. “If it’s just the new woman being spiteful, then I’ll talk to her and explain the truth. If it’s the worst, and the Bhlat are there, we need to know.”
“Your people need you here,” Mary said, coming to my side.
She shook her head slowly. “These aren’t my people. I’m not their leader anymore. I’m just Patty. They have leaders at each Terran site, and we have people like Magnus in place to care for us. And now you.” She looked side to side from Mary to me, a sad smile on her face.
“It’s too dangerous.” I didn’t know what else to say. She made a good point. She might be the only one who could talk sense into Naidoo.
“What you all have done for our people hasn’t been dangerous? I’ve sent you across the galaxy only for you to have to kill again, and then come back to see your lives turned upside down. Let me have this. I need it.” Patty grabbed a plate, putting potato salad on it, and prepared a bun for her hamburger.
Doing something as normal as having a barbecue while talking about sending our former president on a ship to a potentially hostile Earth wasn’t the strangest thing I’d seen in the last few weeks.
Should I tell her about the Shandra? I wanted to,
but I also didn’t want the details to leak out. If she went to Earth and was taken by the Bhlat, they would have ways to make her talk. I needed to keep the stone portal in our tight little circle.
“I can’t argue with that,” I said. “What do you have to say, General?”
Magnus shifted uncomfortably on his feet. “Believe me, we’ve had this discussion a few times. I never win. I support her at this point.”
Patty walked by him to the pile of burgers Nick had set down. “Damn right you support me.”
“I’ll go,” Clare said, surprising me.
“You will?” Patty asked.
“Me too.” This from Nick. “I have nothing here but some distant family I don’t even know. I’d rather be useful than static.”
“Quite the team I’m amassing. Thank you, everyone.” Patty moved back to the living room, her plate full.
Mary and I stood flabbergasted in the kitchen. Guilt coursed through me, but I wasn’t going to leave so soon after coming. We had a new life here. “Then good luck to you all.” I raised my glass of beer in the air, and we drank to their venture.
Magnus put some music on, trying to break the dark mood that was settling over the room. We chatted, ate until we were stuffed, and drank more than we should have, a group of old and new friends in our house.
It was close to midnight when people started to file out of the door, a friend of Patty’s arriving to usher everyone back to their own places.
“When will you be leaving?” Mary asked Patty as we stood by the door, the night fighting to get inside our house.
“In three days,” Patty said before turning and walking in an unstable line toward the passenger van waiting for her. Magnus and Nat were left with the dogs as the van drove away, a cloud of dust lifting as it moved down the gravel road. It was a lone sound in an otherwise silent night. The only other noise was a humming sound that echoed down the countryside every night as the sun went down, and Natalia explained it was a bug akin to our grasshopper.
The Survivors: Books 1-3 Page 51
