“Tell me about it,” I replied. I tried to slip past him, but he reached out and caught me by the shoulder. I turned and looked at him. What now? I thought, but Queykay didn’t say anything. He just stared at me, studying my face. It was creeping me out.
“It’s not my fault, Queykay.”
He pulled his lips back, sucking in air as if charging his lungs to speak. His teeth were narrow and pointed and just as white as his skin.
“What!” I asked.
“The Scion arrives next cycle. You may not be the Tonat, but I’m certain she will ask for you. Do not mess this up.”
“Ketheria? Ketheria is coming?”
The alien let go of my shoulder and turned away without a word.
“Queykay!” I called after him. “Mess what up?” But he was already gone.
I woke the next cycle to the hum of cart-bots. I stepped outside my room and saw a dozen motorized baskets writhing through the corridors like the jointed tail of a sea dragon. The only other time I had seen this much commotion was during the preparations for the Harvest of Life back on Orbis 2, and that only happened once every seventy rotations. I reached out and snatched a peachlike item from a bowl of fruit. It was one of the few items I could actually recognize on the carts, besides the enormous bouquets of flowers.
I stopped a Honine carrying three bolts of silk and asked him, “What’s all this for?”
“The Scion is coming,” he gushed, and hurried past me.
“When?” I yelled after him in vain.
I turned to go back into my room and found Max standing in the doorway.
“Hi,” I said softly.
“Can we talk?” she said.
“Sure.”
Once we were inside my room, the door closed behind us. The building was big enough that each of us had our own room, but they weren’t really more than large closets with a sleeper. Max found a spot on the floor and leaned back on a pillow against the wall.
“I’m sorry about last cycle,” she said. “I didn’t realize how bad it was.”
“Me neither. That’s what I tried to explain to you.”
“You don’t have to, JT. As much as I don’t want to accept it, you are a Space Jumper.”
“I’m not a Space Jumper. Being a Space Jumper requires training. It’s something I have to choose, and I haven’t chosen it.”
“Why not?”
“You know why not.”
“Say it again anyway.”
“Max!”
Max stood up and wrapped her arms around me. “Say it,” she whispered.
When Max was this close to me, I usually wasted most of my time worrying about when it was going to end. This time I forced myself to focus on Max.
“It’s because of you. I’m doing it for you. You know that.”
Max pushed me away.
“For us!” she said.
“That’s what I meant. I made you a promise.”
“But you understand why, don’t you? I don’t want you to do this just for me.”
“But Max, I don’t really understand.”
“Space Jumpers are horrible, JT. They’re trained for one purpose — to destroy things. They’re hired killers, just like Neewalkers. They have no life outside of the Trust, and they certainly don’t get to make any choices for themselves. I know that’s not you, JT. If you choose that path, there will never be an us!”
I slumped on her pillow.
“I don’t know who I am anymore, Max. When I came to the Rings of Orbis, I just wanted a home. A place to belong, to grow up. A place to have some fun. But I don’t get to have any of that.”
“Me neither, but we still can. We simply need to stay out of their way. The Keepers, the Space Jumpers, the Citizens, the Neewalkers, they’ve been fighting since the beginning of time. They’re not going to stop whether you’re a Space Jumper or not.”
“Then what am I, Max? I’m certainly not normal.”
“You’re mine,” she said, and climbed into my lap. “That’s all I care about.”
“I know that.”
Max frowned.
“I mean, c’mon, Max. They’re not telling us everything. First the softwire thing, then Ketheria becomes the Scion, now I’m bouncing through space if I sneeze. I don’t get it. It has to mean something. I’m really beginning to believe we’re here for some other purpose.”
Max didn’t say anything. She just stared at me for an uncomfortably long time.
“What?” I said.
“No, we’re not. We’re a bunch of kids from Earth. You’ve said that a million times. It’s just a freak coincidence what happened to you and Ketheria. How come no one else from the Renaissance has any of these abilities or powers? Don’t you find that strange? If someone had planned this, then why aren’t we all softwires, or Scions, or Space Jumpers? Why just you guys? Look, we have one rotation left, and then we can go do what we want. They’ll forget about us, pin their hopes on some new knudnik, and we can live life the way you always said we would.”
“That’s another thing. What’s that going to be like? I don’t think I can live like those other knudniks in Murat. It’s horrible.”
Max sat back. “I know,” she mumbled. “And it’s so sad. Do you know some of them become knudniks again?”
“Drapling told me. I’m certainly not going to make that choice.”
Max kissed me. “We’ll figure it out together, all right? Nothing’s changed. Everything is still the same. Nothing will come between us.”
There was the sound of a chime in the room, and then the door opened. Queykay was standing there. I thought I noticed him grimace slightly when he saw Max in my lap.
“Your sister is here,” he said. “She’s asking for you.”
Before I realized what I was doing, I had pushed Max away from me and rushed toward the door.
“JT!” Max complained.
I turned and found her on the ground. Had I pushed her that hard?
“I’m sorry,” I said, and helped her off the floor. I made a mental note to make it up to her later.
“I want to see her, too,” Max said, pushing me out of the room.
It was easy to tell where Ketheria was. All the knudniks who had been working in the building were now crowded around the open door of the room where I’d made my first unwanted jump. Max and I tried to nudge our way through the crowd, but they were having none of that. I looked at Queykay, and he rolled his eyes.
“Move back!” he demanded, and the crowd parted. Then he turned to me and said, “The Citizens should be thankful that you’re not the Tonat. I doubt you could make the Scion’s enemies very nervous.”
I ignored Queykay and examined the circular room. It was filled with Citizens and bathed in a soft blue light from huge crystals lodged in the ceiling. Some aliens were draped in clothes that sparkled under the godly light, while others wore fitted suits with their Citizen’s emblem displayed prominently, as if their arrogance wasn’t enough to announce their status. I found Ketheria engulfed in some sort of ceremonial chair at the center of the room under the brightest crystal. I could swear the air around her seemed to sparkle. She was dressed in a pure white version of the robes we all wore.
“Wow,” Max whispered.
I hung back, watching the crowd watch Ketheria. With each delicate move she made, an anxious shiver rippled through the crowd. Ketheria’s hair seemed fuller and longer, covering most of the silver band that was still wrapped around her head. The amber crystal at the center glowed brighter than I remembered.
“She looks different,” Max said.
“It’s scary,” I said.
“These people worship her.”
“That’s even scarier.”
Aliens dressed in navy jumpsuits and masked in ashen helmets that extended beyond their chins to form narrow chest plates kept the perimeter of the room clear. Queykay strode along the open passage, and Max and I followed. When we stepped onto the riser supporting Ketheria and her chair, she saw u
s.
“JT!” she exclaimed. She stood up and glided over to hug me. I swear her feet never touched the ground.
Over her shoulder, I watched the crowd react to her affection. Their admiration now seemed to consume me as well.
“Are you all right?” I whispered. “The last time I saw you, you didn’t look too good. I was worried.”
“I’m wonderful,” she said, squeezing me tighter. “I feel fantastic.”
She pulled away and then hugged Max. “I’ve missed you so much,” she gushed.
“Me, too,” Max replied.
Then Ketheria took Max’s hand and placed it in mine. She smiled at Max, and I felt my skin flush. Then I saw them. Her eyes. Ketheria’s pupils were gone. Well, they were still there, but they were strange-looking. As if the glow was still circulating through her eyes, weaving through her irises, surfacing occasionally, and then settling back where her pupils once were. I caught Max staring.
“There’s so much to do,” Ketheria exclaimed. “So much.”
“What?” I asked. “What do you have to do?”
“We! We get to do it.”
Just then Queykay began to address the crowd. “The Trading Council is pleased with your presence. The honorable Citizen Hach Ba Fay and myself welcome you, our closest friends, to this privileged viewing, but as you are aware, the Scion will not receive guests until the next phase,” Queykay announced. “The Scion must begin her work. Believe me when I tell you how excited I am that the Universe has chosen a Scion from among us. It echoes our belief that the Rings of Orbis are truly an important place. Again, the Trading Council thanks you for your patronage, and we are looking forward to a long and special relationship with the Scion. I am personally handling her security for the Trading Council, so everyone can leave here knowing that she is safe. You are all welcome to return to hear the Scion speak at the Cycle of Witnessing. Admission to this rare and distinguished event will be available for a nominal fee.”
Many in the crowd moaned, but most turned for the door. No complaining, no pushing or shoving, just an orderly reaction to Queykay’s announcement. As the visitors streamed out, six Nagool masters squeezed in and waited patiently in the wings.
Ketheria acknowledged them and then whispered to us, “We’ll talk more later. I have so much to tell you.”
She turned away and moved toward the Nagools.
“Ketheria?” I said, but the Nagools had swallowed her up. I felt cheated. Where was my little sister? Who was this diplomat they had replaced her with? Queykay nudged me toward the door.
“Don’t touch me,” I spat, not caring whether he’d punish me for my rudeness.
Queykay squeezed my shoulder, digging his fingers into my skin.
“Do as you’re told, knudnik,” he sneered.
“But why do I have to leave? She’s my sister.”
“That is irrelevant. She is far more important than that label. Now, do as you’re told and run along, knudnik.”
I reached across with my robotic arm and grabbed Queykay’s wrist. I applied just enough pressure to make him grimace and his fingers retract from my skin.
“Do not underestimate me,” I warned him.
“JT, what’s gotten into you?” Max cried. “Stop it!”
Then I felt a stinging sensation run up my arm as if something bit me. I pulled away, and Max grabbed my wrist, dragging me toward the door. I looked back and caught Queykay smirking.
Outside the room, Max continued to drag me away from everyone else. When we were alone, she pushed me up against the wall.
“What are you doing?” she hissed.
“What am I doing?
“Yes! That’s a Trading Council member you just assaulted. Do you want to get thrown into one those blue cells again, or worse? What’s wrong with you?”
“With me? There’s nothing wrong with me. I want to see Ketheria! If that even is Ketheria. Did you see her eyes?”
“Yes, her eyes seemed a little strange, but she said it herself: she feels fantastic. You should be happy right now.”
“Well, I’m not. That’s not my sister in there. She’s changed.”
“You’re the one who’s changed, JT. You avoid me for a whole phase — I have no idea why. You freak out at the slightest thing and then disappear into thin air.”
“It has to do with her. I’m sure of it.”
“Then what happened at Kasha’s? Ketheria wasn’t there. It was just you getting angry again. Soon you’ll be jumping who-knows-where around the ring.”
“If I could just talk with —”
“I don’t have time for this. Figure it out and let me know.” With that, she turned and stormed away.
“Max! Wait!”
I stood frozen, my brain unhinged, waiting for any part of my consciousness to take control. My body ached as the sound of Max’s boots against the hard floor faded. Go after her! But I turned to find Ketheria instead.
I returned to the hall where I had left my sister. I didn’t feel completely in control. I was relieved to not feel the nausea and headaches I had been experiencing for phases, but still I felt different. I had an overwhelming urge to be near my sister. I only hoped nothing was wrong. I found the room still lit, but empty. I spotted another door at the back of the room behind Ketheria’s chair. I slipped through it and moved quietly, hoping Ketheria was still inside with the Nagools.
“Ketheria?” I whispered. The room was so still that I could hear my own heartbeat.
I moved into another room, hoping to find Ketheria, but instead I found two Space Jumpers guarding an archway. I knew my sister was through there.
When they saw me, the Jumpers stiffened and closed the space between them. I hesitated but tried to act as if I was supposed to be there. As I moved toward them, the Space Jumper on my left said, “She’s not seeing anyone right now.”
“I’m . . . I’m the Tonat,” I lied, hoping it would work.
“The Tonat? Really?” the other one said. “As far as I understand, you’ve chosen not to be one of us. Instead, you let the insects who run the Council do what you were born to do. Where is the courage in that? Now, get out of here before you get hurt.” His words hissed through a face mask that covered the lower part of his face.
“Well, then, tell my sister that her brother wants to see her.”
“Go home, popper,” scoffed the first one.
“What does that mean?”
The other one gave a knowing grunt.
I moved forward, trying to squeeze between them. They both reached for their weapons and pressed their shoulders together. The clacking of metal and the hum of their plasma rifles changed my mind.
“Ketheria!” I shouted. “Ketheria!”
It felt childish, but what else could I do? It was my sister back there. Why couldn’t I see her? They would let you pass if accepted your destiny. You are the Tonat, someone whispered inside my head. It wasn’t Vairocina — that’s for sure. The voice rattled me. I stumbled back, waiting to hear it again.
“Go home,” one of them growled.
“I don’t have a home!”
“JT?” I heard Ketheria’s voice from inside the room.
“Ketheria! These space monkeys won’t let me through!”
My sister squeezed between the Space Jumpers. “It’s all right,” she told them. “We’re finished.”
Three Nagool masters slid out from behind her and slipped away. My skin prickled as their robes brushed against me. One glanced back at Ketheria, and she nodded, smiling. All I could do was stand there and stare. I was not part of Ketheria’s world anymore.
“I’m glad you came,” she whispered to me. “Come. There’s lots I want to tell you.”
“Finally,” I said under my breath.
“Popper,” one of the Space Jumpers muttered as I elbowed my way past them.
Inside Ketheria’s room, I stepped around bowls of fruit and flowers. The same ones I had seen delivered earlier that cycle. Long silks clung to the pale s
tone walls, and lights seemed to sparkle through pinholes in the rock. The floor was padded with a thick carpet that swallowed up the soft tones that resonated off metallic bowls of water placed about the room like sculptures.
I spotted Nugget sitting in the corner. He saw me as well and jumped to his feet.
“Nugget! What are you doing here?”
“I take care of Ketheria,” he proclaimed, standing in front of me with his fists on his waist and his feet planted shoulder-width apart. The bald little beast had hardly changed. His pink skin seemed a little more burgundy, but he still sported the same thick, protruding lower jaw, and he had it raised proudly (as usual).
“Good for you,” I said.
“Someone has to do it,” he grunted.
I chuckled. “You, too, huh?”
“Let him be,” Ketheria said. “He makes a good bodyguard.”
“Do you need a bodyguard now?” I asked.
“So they tell me.”
I didn’t want to get into an argument with my sister, so I turned away to admire the room.
“What is this place?” I asked.
“It’s my place,” she replied.
“You mean you’re not staying with us?” I knew it was a dumb question.
Ketheria shook her head, smiling and resting herself on a long cushion on the floor near a shallow metal pan. A blue flame flickered from is center. Ketheria tapped the cushion, inviting me to sit, which I did. I couldn’t help but think how much older she seemed.
“Isn’t it amazing?” she gushed.
“Isn’t what amazing?”
“All of this,” she replied, stretching her arms out.
“Is it? I wouldn’t know.”
Ketheria frowned. “Why do you have to be like that? Aren’t you the one who always talked about having some sort of purpose on Orbis, something to do? That’s all you ever talked about. I loved listening to your stories about the rings when we were on the Renaissance. Now we have everything you ever wanted. Why is this so hard for you to accept?”
“Because I don’t see it that way at all.”
“What do you mean?”
I stood up, feeling an argument coming on again. I inspected the room once more and noticed several antechambers that led from this main room, each with the same sparkling walls. The place was so still, I could hear myself breathe.
Awakening on Orbis Page 5
