Generations (The Nimbus Collection Book 3)

by Clemens, D. C.

  “Just stick with your story. It’s too late for regrets.”

  Looking down now, he said, “All my energy went into learning how to go about this sin. It was eventually quite clear to me that I would virtually have to go all in. I still had enough sense not to actually join the cult, but I would still have to give them a significant donation of credits and time. For years I worked on saving as much credits as I could. I also stole from my well-meaning family just before I left them. Those years I also had to work on actually contacting a cult member. You would think it would be difficult to contact someone from that clandestine group, but it really wasn’t. A few searches on the net and I was communicating with low level members who had connections to the real deal. Zach came to see me at my clinic one day, though at the time I didn’t know he was a Depraved worshiper. He was simply there to evaluate my potential. He checked on me several times more, and when he confirmed he was indeed a cult member, I donated much of what I had saved to an account he had setup to prove my intentions to aid his cult were real. I then made it clear to him what I wanted from them. Finally, with the promise of more donations and some personal volunteer work from myself, Zach agreed to give me what I desired.”

  “And you just left your family? Just like that?”

  “Yes. I could not involve a single one of them on my plans. If any of them knew what I was planning to do, they would have gone far to stop me. They very well could have, too, which scared me at the time. Believe it or not, my deranged mind actually had me returning to my family someday. They would think me strange, of course, but they would have to accept my new life and eventually share in my joy.” He snickered. “I obviously did not go through with that notion. Instead, I had the Depraved hackers and doctors at my disposal create a new identity for me, which included fake accounts of family members for me to use later. In addition, to make sure you could not easily discover her, I had them eliminate any trace of Victoria they could find. A surprisingly easy thing to do to anyone dead longer than a few months. Who checks on the old pics and vids of the dead? She had friends, of course, but they would keep their own private records of her to themselves, so no trouble on that front. Her closest relatives did not care for her, so that angle was safe as well. With all that done, we moved on to the next phase.”

  “Wait, if she died in an explosion years before, then how did you get her DNA?”

  “Oh, I still had several packs of her blood in cold storage. I had forgotten about them until I heard the story on the cloning station. Speaking of her blood, I recognized that DNA testing could be another road to Victoria and her family, but the cult was the one to help in coming up with a solution. You see, after you were born from the artificial womb, I couldn’t just raise you on my own. Too many complications existed on that possibility. No, you had to be raised by someone else, but where I could still see you bloom. Orban was chosen because the isolated world would not have the best of record keeping and I knew which agency would take you in. The cult assured me that one of their own would be doing the blood test to find your closest surviving relatives. So instead of finding out you were Arcadian, they could keep you in Coalition space where my new life could start without fear of running into a problem in my home territory.”

  “Gods, and when you learned who I was going to be adopted by, you saw that you needed to be their family physician to make sure they would not find out about what my blood really said.”

  “That was part of the reason, yes, but bigger reasons overrode that concept.”

  “Like how you basically began s-seducing me from childhood?!”

  “I did nothing of the sort, Odet,” looking angry at the notion.

  I was angrier. “Stop saying my name! How long did you try thinking of a way to name me yourself?! So that I could be your perfect Victoria again?”

  He forced himself to stand up. “Our time together is drawing to a close, so will you hear me out before I leave?”

  “It’s the only reason I’m even still here.”

  “Like I said before, my only regret is this day, the day I knew I would be the reason for your pain, but I regret nothing else. I was able to give you a child I know you will love and cherish more than anything else in this universe and beyond. I was able to give to you something Victoria did not have, a loving family. I was able to achieve life again because of you. I was able to experience thirteen years of love that I know to be stronger than the thirty years I experienced with Victoria. I would have done what I did for only the feelings that came when you told me of your love for me. Hate me forever if you wish, but I will always love you, more than you know. Goodbye, my dove.”

  As the door slid open, and between my tears, an alarming possibility made me ask, “You’re not going to, to hurt yourself, are you?”

  The smallest of grins appeared at the outer edge of his lips. “No, for you are still alive. What I do next will be decided by you. I will stay here for however long you decide to keep this between us. If you choose to tell the authorities about my deeds, then I suppose I’ll be arrested someday. But no, keep yourself from harm and I will do the same.”

  I had never felt as empty as I did the moment he vanished from my sight.

  The baby came eight days later. I had already decided on a name by the time I saw him. He would carry both my father’s name and surname; Richard Spire. I moved in with my parents a week after that. I didn’t tell a soul about why I was away from my husband. I also made the decision to keep everything between George and I. The more I thought it over, the more I did not want to suffer through everything again through official channels. The galaxy did not need to know I was a clone. Rescue clones had been integrated into galactic life before, but there was no escaping the looks they received, as though they were somehow at fault for living in a reality that might still hold the memory of their original. In addition, I honestly did not wish for anything bad to happen to George. To have the father of my son locked away for decades as Richard grew up made me sick to my stomach. In any case, I knew I could always go to the police later if I changed my stance. Our entire divorce happened over the net some two months after we separated. He was obliged to send me child support, but he actually sent me more than was required every month.

  Raising our growing son often reminded me of George’s real family, which was the most nagging consequence of my remaining silent about his actions. I knew he couldn’t return to them without some kind of legal consequence, but to at least let them know he wasn’t dead would have made me feel better. In what was my first message to him since the divorce eight months earlier, I messaged him about this peeve of mine. He replied that he had already let them know he was alive. This surprised me and I asked how he went about this maneuver without implicating himself. He explained that he had contacted his mother using his trademark trickery (my words) so that he couldn’t be traced. He also did not give her details about his whereabouts and doings. He simply told her that he had a mental breakdown and did terrible things he could never be forgiven for, things that would likely prevent meeting with them again for a long time.

  George was straight forward in his answers to me, knowing trying to sprinkle in any kind of emotion would not do us any good, but gods help me, I was happy to hear from him. His lies still infuriated me when I thought about them, but the man himself I felt sorry for. I could never marry him again, but I began to think that some kind of forgiveness wasn’t out of the question, especially when I did not want to raise our son without him knowing something of his father. So, a month after the last one, I sent George another message, letting him know that if he wanted to talk, then I would be waiting for him at a particular time and at a particular place.

  When the meeting day came, with my nerves surprisingly at ease, I exited the auto-cab and saw the city park was little changed from the first time I met George here. The weather wasn’t much different either. The skies were grayer and the air wasn’t as brisk, but the leaves still fell and I was bundled, along with the s
leepy little companion I held. Walking up to the old dojo showed that he hadn’t arrived yet, so I sat down on the raised concrete and waited for him. I expected him to come the way I had, so I was startled when his voice said my name from behind me. I looked back to see a haggard-looking George, though he seemed in good spirits. He didn’t appear to know how to greet me, so I went first.

  I stood up and said, “Tell me truthfully, how are you?”

  “I’m mostly at peace with everything. My head has been clearer than it’s ever been now that I don’t have to constantly worry about you learning of my past.”

  “You sound almost glad everything came out in the open.”

  “That’s not entirely wrong. I was certainly happier when I was with you, but I was living in a fantasy world I needed to wake up from, for both our sakes, and for the sake of Richard. Whatever good happens to me is a bonus and whatever bad happens to me is deserved.”

  “Don’t talk like that for Alethea’s sake. You really have a blank slate as far as I see it, or are you already starting on the next me?” He raised a wary eyebrow. “Gods, I was joking, believe it or not.”

  He shook his head. “It seems you’ve progressed faster emotionally than I have.”

  “Richard has forced me to. He’s also the main reason I asked you here. You know how important family is to me… Frankly, I was thinking I could grant you visitation rights, if you want them.”

  He was silent a moment, likely steeling himself from some emotional outpouring. He eventually replied, “I would appreciate the gesture.”

  “Then would you like to hold him?”

  After another brief period of bracing his response, he walked toward me. I gently handed him our slumbering son. I don’t think I had seen Richard so comfortable. When George placed a little kiss on his forehead, my vision became blurred by tears. I sat back down. George joined me. I cried silently for a minute. I was glad George had the sense not to comfort me.

  On collecting myself, I asked, “How are you not crying?”

  “I’m all cried out. Besides, the thought of crying in public petrifies me.”

  “Well, good for you.” He handed Richard to me when I reached for him. The baby finally began stirring, but his eyes remained closed. “Richard is the main reason you’re here, but he’s not the only one. You’ve lost much, George, more than anyone I’ve ever met. Your first wife, your family, and maybe even the grace of the Sacred. You likewise lost the right to call me your wife or lover ever again, but you haven’t yet lost all of my love. I don’t know if time will make it fade or not, but I do know it’s still enough to persuade me not to completely abandon you. You also pretty much fucked up my outlook on dating other men, so there’s little chance of you being replaced anytime soon. I want to be clear to you, you are on atom-think ice. If you’re serious about helping me raise our son, then you must accommodate me at every turn. The only goal is to give Richard the best life possible, not revive something that can never return. Do you understand, George?”

  “Perfectly. My life will be devoted to our son and Faldiri.”

  “Faldiri?”

  “I’m sure it won’t be enough to purify my soul, but I’ve recently been looking into the process of becoming a priest, specifically under the guidance of Faldiri, given my specialty. There is no doubt in my mind anymore, now that you have given me a chance at some form of redemption, I am certain the gods will give me the same. It will take about a decade, but I could sell the clinic and use my free time to dedicate my life beyond my own needs.”

  “Hmm, you’re right, it probably won’t be enough to purify your soul, but it’s a step in the right direction. I just wouldn’t mention anything about seducing a little girl.”

  “Gods, you don’t truly believe I was doing such a thing, do you?”

  I shrugged. “Should I?”

  “Of course not. It would be more accurate to say that I was ‘seducing’ your parents, if we’re only using that word. I honestly thought I would have to wait until you matured some before I could do anything resembling seduction. It wasn’t until a party at your parent’s house did I even see that you already might be interested in me. You had just started college and you mentioned how you weren’t interested in dating men with single-minded thoughts. It was a pleasant thing for me to hear. That is when I saw my opening. Anything else before then was amiability and respect for you. If you ever choose to believe anything from me ever again, let it be that.”

  I kept my eyes to a squirming Richard, though my ears absorbed his side of the story well enough. I choose not to respond to him, as I was sure he would take my silence to mean something better than condemnation. Meanwhile, Richard had finally opened his eyes and was lazily looking about at his new surroundings.

  After softly cooing a smiling baby, I said, “It’d be best for you to move here as quickly as possible if you don’t want to miss Richard’s first anything. He’s already crawling everywhere. I have to watch where I step sometimes.”

  “Yes, um, Ms. Spire.”

  “Geez, George, you can say my name.”

  His eyes smiled. “Very well, Odet. This is probably too soon to ask, but do you know what you’ll say to our son about us?”

  “Oh, sure. I’ll tell him that Daddy made Mommy in a tube because he was insane with grief. I believe I’ll tell him this when he’s at the ripe old age of five.” I sighed. “One day at a time, George. If I think any other way I’ll start drinking. By the way, I’ll assume you took up the habit and so I’ll have to ask you to stop.”

  “Consider it done.”

  An uncomfortable silence rose between us when I couldn’t think of anything more to say. It was probably the first time since we knew each other that such an event occurred. He was usually adept at filling empty spaces with word or feat, but his passive state allayed his tongue on this instance.

  Unable to think up a way to continue our talk, I stood up and said, “I should get back home.”

  “And I should get started making a new life here.”

  “How many new lives does that make now?”

  “I’ve lost count, but I know this will be the last one.”

  “This will be the only time I’ll say this, George, but I really do hope you don’t do anything to fuck up this chance. I have no desire to have the entire galaxy know of our irregular lives. I suppose, in a weird way, I do have you to thank for being alive, and in turn our son, but if the insanity that made me ever creeps up again-” He started laughing. “This isn’t a good sign, George.”

  “I’m sorry. Let this also be the only time I tell you this. The day I awoke from my fantasy was the day I realized I could stand on my own. I was ready to face the penalties that came from my choices, whether that only meant your separation from me or a criminal trial. Even when I was with Victoria I was an incomplete, weak person. I felt I needed her to be whole. I may still not be as strong as I should be, but your love prepared me for something I should have accomplished a long time ago. As long as any scrap of your love or the love of our son exists, I have a cane to lean on. Again, I apologize for the handicap I’ve placed on our lives, but I will not repent the fact that we three are standing here now.”

  It wasn’t perfect. George did end up missing Richard’s first steps, I still couldn’t find a career in music, and it took a couple of years longer than planned for George to become a priest, but George was a wonderful and attentive father when he was around, which was as often as possible. My family was eternally curious at this setup we had, my sister never ceasing to prod me about what had happened to initially break my marriage apart. She was positive it was another woman, something I couldn’t exactly refute. Still, all that mattered about my past was wondering how to tell Richard. It would be years before I told him, but I knew that I would. I hoped it would teach him that he should expect life to often take unexpected turns, but that these surprises shouldn’t discourage him from trying to take back control of his life and steer it the way he wants it to go. Yo
u only live once, after all.

  Jane

  January 21st, 3522 S.E.

  The Nimbus galaxy was arguably at its peak of prosperity. Great wars had long since become distant memories in even the eldest of eldrick. One of the two major human empires, the Coalition, enjoyed friendly and respected relations with most species, allowing for extensive trade throughout most regions. However, not all of its worlds enjoyed the material wealth as evenly as others did. One of these planets was Anat. It was originally found with abundant resources near the end of the Silent Age and was relatively easy to terraform, permitting it to hold one of the largest human populations after a few centuries. Now in the Nimbus Age, much of the world has been stripped of its most valuable assets and most of the working population is dependent on buildings several centuries old. Development had decreased significantly ever since the bulk of the mining industry departed with their spoils. Among its nearly one hundred million human inhabitants, there lived a young family who are coming to realize that the tranquility of a quiet galaxy only existed for those living in the bubble of the wealthiest worlds being defended by great fleets.

  Spire was the family name and it consisted of three people. The first was the father, Vincent, who worked as a mechanic to machines that fixed other machines. There was then the mother, Jane, who served her Coalition as a First Sergeant in the army. Lastly, there was their one and a half year old son, Thean. Their modest one bedroom apartment was positioned seven hundred feet in the air of a mega housing structure that had accommodated the mining workers of an age past. The layout of the affordable home was small, though it was efficiently furnished and neatly decorated with some local yellow flora. Toys and other objects being used as toys by the lively toddler were the only items not deliberately set by the masters of the home. As they were each rousing in their respective cribs, the morning eyes of the star and the ears of the child fell on an especially tense scene between father and mother.