[scifan] plantation 04 - beyond the river of time Read online

  Commander Eldritch says half-amused and half-curious. I can feel his gaze focusing on me

  scrutinizing and impenetrable.

  I have to choose my words carefully. “No, you’re right,” I say. “There’s no need for

  authorization. But why don’t I know about Finn getting off the space station?”

  “I sent them,” Lainey cuts in. “I didn’t realize I had to report to you first about every decision I

  make.”

  “Them?” I say.

  “Yes, Finn and Ella. I need information so I can better coordinate matters between all our

  growing communities. That’s what I do, remember? I coordinate things?”

  Lainey isn’t particularly fond of me. She thinks I bring more trouble than good. It’s nothing new.

  It’s definitely nothing I particularly care about or can’t handle. But today I resent her tone. Finn is part of my team. I need him and not being informed of his whereabouts isn’t an option.

  “Let us all take a deep breath,” Joshua offers. “There’s no harm done, Freya. They will be back

  soon. We all assumed Finn would tell you himself. We know how close you two work together.”

  I turn and steal a glance at the commander. He’s calm and collected as always. I can’t read much

  on his expression other than the fact that he’s somewhat more interested in all this than he should be.

  It would probably be my duty to report what Theo has shared with me but I can’t bring myself to do it.

  Not before I talk to Finn and ask him if he’s seen anything out of the ordinary while visiting Spring Town.

  When we’re done with the official part of the meeting, I go over to Lainey and Commander

  Eldritch who are discussing something in private. They politely turn to me as I approach them.

  “I know this is none of my business,” I start to say but then I change my mind. Of course it is my

  business. “Why did you pick Finn of all people for this?” I go on. “He’s on my team, not yours.”

  “Will you chill down a little?” Lainey says tapping her long fingernails on the desk. She’s an

  impressive woman by all standards. Nearly perfect features, body in perfect shape, perfect diction

  and poise.

  “I will chill when you explain to me what happened.”

  “It’s not a big conspiracy, Freya. I went to talk to Ella. Finn happened to be there and he heard

  everything I had to say about Spring Town. He volunteered. He’s a big boy.”

  I consider her words. “This doesn’t sound like Finn at all.”

  Lainey throws her arms up in the air. “I don’t know what else to tell you,” she says rolling her

  eyes.

  “Each new day will bring a surprise,” Commander Eldritch says. “It doesn’t sound like Finn

  taking off without informing his team. On the other hand, you don’t sound like yourself either right

  now, Freya. Care to share with us what’s really going on? I don’t understand your reaction, to be

  honest.”

  Once again, I’m having second thoughts about my decision to keep quiet on the energy field

  issue. Eldritch is our commander and leader after all. The sensible thing would be to inform him that the shield over Spring Town has been compromised and let him know that anyone who has been in the

  area during the last forty-eight hours is a suspect.

  “Freya and Ella are both really fond of Finn,” Lainey says. “I imagine it’s a girl thing.”

  “Is that so?” the commander says and his expression goes back to that of pure amusement.

  Lainey could have handled this better. She could mind her own business since none of what goes

  on in the hearts of Finn, Ella or me is relevant. But maybe it’s for the best that she’s being nosy. It kind of solves my problem for the time being if Commander Eldritch thinks this is a personal matter.

  It saves me the trouble of having to give him an explanation.

  I shrug while Lainey and the commander exchange looks of complicity which makes me think the

  rumors about them might be true. Maybe there’s more than meets the eye with these two. In which

  case, the wise thing for me to do would be to step away.

  I head back to Theo’s lab with a million thoughts racing through my head. I find Theo and Zoe

  bent over a digital spatial blueprint. When they work together like that, the whole room seems to

  vibrate with robust ideas and sizzling energy.

  “Hey, Freya,” Zoe says without looking up.

  “How did you know it was me?” I tease her. “Is your third eye at work again?”

  Now she looks up and cracks a smile. “More like my third ear. You’re the loudest person I

  know.”

  I glance to Theo with pleading eyes. He picks up on my need to talk to him.

  “Since you’re here, Freya, I need to show you something,” he says. “On Main Command Deck.

  Zoe, keep your eyes on the map.”

  “All right,” Zoe says. “I think I got it anyway.”

  “Right,” Theo says and pushes me out the door.

  “She didn’t get anything,” he says as we walk down the corridor. “It’s almost impossible to

  trace the electromagnetic energy left behind by a tiny asteroid trailing through our galaxy.”

  “Finn’s in Spring Town,” I cut him off.

  “Okay,” he says.

  “With Ella. On Lainey’s orders. You don’t think those two would deliberately try and mess with

  the shield, do you?”

  “Finn?” Theo says narrowing his eyes.

  “No, of course not. Ella and Lainey.”

  “Why would they do something like that?”

  “I don’t know. To mess with me?”

  Theo scratches his forehead before he pulls me further down the corridor and into a nook. “Finn

  would never be involved in something nefarious, Freya. We both know that.” I can feel the tension

  boiling underneath his calm voice.

  “Not knowingly,” I say.

  I see that he is struggling with this. In Theo’s mind, things are always clear and perfectly simple

  in their complexity like mathematical equations. He deals with numbers, graphs, data. He likes to

  stand on solid ground and test every idea thoroughly. “We’re not going to agree on this,” he says.

  “I want you to be right, Theo,” I say. “Just remember, you can’t breathe a word to anyone.”

  “I won’t. What are you going to do? You have a plan, don’t you?”

  I shrug. “What else is there for me to do? I’m going to Spring Town, of course.”

  *

  I WALK TO THE DINING HALL with Rabbit by my side. I blurt out that I will leave for Spring

  Town in the morning and he somehow gets it in his head that he has to go with me.

  “C’mon, Freya,” he says. “I’ve never been to Spring Town. I’ve never even seen the new

  district. I want my feet back on the ground.”

  “Now is not the time, Rabbit,” I say. “Next time, I promise.”

  “I won’t be in your way,” he insists.

  I sigh when I take a look at his face. He longs to be out in the open fields again and who am I to

  stop him really? “I get it. You need some fresh air,” I say. “But it will be a short trip and you have to be on your best behavior.”

  “I will be a model citizen. I promise,” he says. “What do you think I’d do? Challenge Torik to a

  race to the death?”

  “Just don’t make me regret it. I know how impulsive you can be.”

  “I can’t help it,” he explains. “My heart literally beats faster than everyone else’s. And besides,

  everything up here moves so slow.”

  “It will be a nice break for both
of us,” I agree.

  We reach the sliding doors of the dining hall. They slide open silently and just as I am about to

  step inside, I hear Damian’s voice behind me.

  “No, not here,” he says. “I have something else in mind.”

  I turn and look at him. He has changed into a simple white T-shirt and jeans. I can’t remember

  the last time I saw him dressed as casual as this. Maybe never. I need a moment to catch my breath.

  “What do you mean?” I finally say.

  “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about our date,” he says with a disappointed look on his face.

  “Ah, I guess that’s my cue to leave,” Rabbit says and darts into the dining hall.

  “I’m confused,” I say. “Did you say date?”

  “It’s a joke, Freya.”

  “What’s with you and all these bad jokes? You don’t do jokes.”

  “It’s the human side messing with me. It’s annoying. I’m sorry.”

  I’m not convinced. Every time I think I know what he’s all about, he does or says something that

  sends me back into the realm of complete uncertainty.

  “C’mon, don’t look so suspicious,” he goes on as he pokes me gently on the shoulder. “I just

  thought it’d be nice if we had some privacy to talk.”

  I follow him through several corridors to a door with a sign that reads: BALLROOM. I’ve

  passed through this area before but have assumed the room was out of use as I’ve never seen or heard

  of anyone using it.

  The room is dark when Damian opens the door but a moment later it gets illuminated by blue

  spotlights and artificial candle flames.

  “What do you think?” he says as I let my gaze rest upon the glass chandelier, the silver

  candleholders and the heavy, velvet drapes that cover up two imaginary windows. In the center of the

  room there’s a round table with several dishes laid out across the lace tablecloth as well as a bottle of wine with two tall glasses.

  “What on Earth, Damian?” I mumble trying to make sense of the surroundings.

  “I think you mean, What on Exodus? ”

  “That one was clever, but what is all this?”

  “You deserve nice things,” he says and folds his arm around mine. He leads me to the table and

  pulls the chair back for me.

  “I’m freaking out a bit,” I say as I sit down.

  “I don’t have an agenda, if you were wondering,” he says and takes the seat opposite mine.

  “How did you make this happen?”

  “It only took me a couple hours to put everything together,” he says filling our glasses with

  bubbly white wine.

  “Damian, seriously. What’s going on?”

  “Okay, I’ll come clean,” he says. “I’m not actually responsible for any of this. A certain

  someone planned this for someone else but things didn’t pan out as expected so I had an epiphany. It

  turns out I was at the right place at the right time, so here we are.”

  “Who? Who did this?”

  “I’m pretty sure I’m not supposed to tell you.”

  A suspicion enters my mind. “It wasn’t Finn, was it?”

  “As if I would ask Finn for any favors. Especially one that involves you.”

  I watch him as he sips his wine. “I’m being paranoid, aren’t I?” I say. “Third time today.”

  “No, not paranoid. Just plain old crazy,” he says smiling.

  “Shut up, funny boy. Who are you to talk?” I say and throw a piece of bread at him. “How many

  times have you gone looking for death? That’s as crazy as it gets.”

  “Death is no match for me,” he boasts.

  “Few are,” I concede.

  His smile becomes more serious. “But you are. Your power goes way beyond your receptor or

  even your genes.”

  His sudden honesty startles me. “It is refreshing to hear you talk from the heart,” I say after a

  short pause.

  “Maybe I’m not the great manipulator you’ve always thought I was,” he says just before he

  empties his glass. He takes a look at my glass, still full to the brim. “You’re not drinking,” he says.

  “I never drink, Damian. Not since that night at Zolkon’s castle that almost cost me everything.

  Despite all that’s happened between us, we barely know each other, do we?” I say as I explore his

  handsome features in search of signs of mockery or arrogance. I find neither.

  “I can’t argue. No one could delve into your depths,” he says. “You are a vault of secrets and

  mysteries.”

  His face gets softer, lighter somehow. He looks down at his hands and I feel the distance

  between us getting narrower. There is finally some tranquility in him, some peace of mind. It is very difficult for me to see through his intentions and maybe the thought scares me. It is a very fine line that I’m walking and I know quite well how easy it is to get back to that place where all I want to do is

  have a chance with him. A real chance. It’s a good thing that the lighting is dim so he can’t notice the flush on my cheeks.

  “Where’s Tobi?” he says.

  “With Mandy. She babysits for me sometimes.”

  “I know Mandy,” he says and then points at the big platter on the table. “One thing I know about

  you is that you like eggs. This dish is called a quiche Lorraine. You’ll love it.”

  I take some onto my fork and let it melt in my mouth.

  “Well?” he says.

  “It’s really good.”

  “Just good?”

  “It’s… it’s delicious, okay?”

  “You should tell Biscuit.”

  “Is he the one whose date fell through?” I say.

  “Hmm, nice try.”

  “Just so you know, you are a mystery to me, too,” I say while chewing on the quiche with a new

  kind of hunger. The hunger for fine things.

  “Maybe we always need mystery,” he says.

  “I’m not sure what you mean,” I say.

  “Whatever energy makes up love, maybe that needs mystery to thrive.”

  The marvels of this changed Damian never cease to amaze me. “I love Tobi more than anything

  else,” I say, “and he’s not a mystery at all.”

  “Isn’t he? Could you honestly say you know everything about him?”

  I put my fork down and stare into his eyes. “He might be a mystery to you but only because you

  chose it to be so.”

  He laces his fingers together. “Show me some of those neat tricks you can do with your

  receptor.”

  “I don’t do tricks,” I say.

  “C’mon, Freya,” he urges. “The rainbows and the confetti and the stars. I’ve heard people talk.”

  “What people exactly?”

  “Don’t be naïve. You’re not the kind of secret anyone could keep. Everyone’s talking. Your

  legend precedes you.” He picks up his glass again.

  “Is this your brutish way of flirting, Damian?”

  “Are we not beyond that?” he says with an almost innocent expression.

  “I thought so, but you’re acting so strange I don’t know what to think.”

  “I want to know why Kroll is here, that’s all.” He leans back in his chair. “Is there something

  you’re not telling me?”

  “Maybe we should stick with the tricks,” I say lifting the receptor out of my pocket.

  With a swift motion I create a pulsing crystal ball made of silver energy. I hold it between us

  now, suspended in the flimsy blue light of the candles and the chandeliers. I push it toward him until it gets dangerously close to his face.

  “Look into the light and you can see you
r future,” I tell him.

  He shakes his head. “How appropriate, there’s nothing there,” he says, “but I have a feeling

  you’re about to reveal it.”

  Damian’s eyes glisten in the silver light.

  “You’re going back to Earth tomorrow,” I whisper. “And I’m coming with you.”

  “Is that an order?” he says.

  Before I can give him an answer, my touchpad starts buzzing. I take it out and check the screen.

  “It’s a message from Malzod,” I say. “He’s at the Dark Legion camp. Zolkon has disappeared.”

  3

  When I set foot back on Earth, dawn is just breaking. My eyes widen to the soft, crisp sunlight. It

  feels like the first time I have ever felt the cool air whispering across the mist and spreading the

  magic touch of morning. I’ve been away too long.

  I run my fingers through my hair and breathe in the lush humidity of Spring Town and its

  surroundings. My nostrils and lungs welcome the pleasant sensation as it expands within me and

  rejuvenates my starving cells.

  Spring Town has evolved by leaps and bounds during the last months. The multi-level residence

  buildings are finished and the non-residential buildings are now half-built. The tents and huts are all but gone. A once rudimentary street plan is now producing a steady flow of young citizens coming and

  going. Somewhere out behind all of these buildings the energy generators are pumping away and the

  fields are producing their first bountiful yields.

  I spot Finn chatting happily with three Sliman guards outside the Administration Offices. Ella

  stands a few feet away with a group of playful children. They seem so natural here. I immediately

  regret my desire to check on them and begin to feel completely out of place in their carefree space.

  Finn notices none of my uneasiness and puts his arms around me and kisses my cheek. “What

  took you so long?” he says. His eyes shine with a brightness that only he can emanate.

  “Excuse me,” I say and pause for a moment to pick my next phrase. “What’s with you leaving

  without telling me?”

  “I left you a note,” he says and I can tell by the way he looks at me that he is honestly perplexed.

  “A note?” I say uncertainly. “I didn’t find any note. Who leaves notes anyway?” My mind races

  trying to remember if I saw a piece of paper lying about and simply chose not to bother with it.