by Steve Stred
Lizzie looked at Eric, thankful for the suggestion.
“Yes. That would be wonderful.”
They placed their plates and utensils in the collection bin, and left the still gorging students.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“I want you to know that I really do love you.”
Lizzie looked at Eric, who nodded.
“I don’t want you to think I’m only saying it because we’re about to jump.”
“Oh, Lizzie. I’d never think that.”
“My heart has always been locked. You were the key.”
Lizzie placed a hand against his chest, leaned in and kissed him. It was a quick, gentle, emotion-filled kiss. Enough to share their feelings and say their goodbyes.
The sounds of approaching students forced them to step away from each other. They hurried ahead, finding their assigned spot.
Once they sat, the process began.
Their assistant came and fitted them with their jumpsuits. They were thinner and tighter than the simulator suits. When Eric lifted his arms up from his sides, thin, membranous wings unfolded.
“Neat.”
Next the assistant aided their boot selection. They were also snug and light. Lizzie wasn’t sure why, but the cushioning and tread on the bottom was better than expected, an odd detail that stuck in the mind. The gloves were better than the simulator gloves, Lizzie happy to see how well these ones fit each finger. The simulator ones had to fit everyone, which typically left an inch of loose material when Lizzie wore them.
Last was the helmet. Significantly lighter and more aerodynamic than the simulator helmets, Lizzie found once the helmet was clipped in place it was still possible to breathe. The visor wasn’t fogging up, and it wasn’t pressing hard into Lizzie’s nose or jaw.
“Look at this,” Eric said, visor retracted. “Wish the simulator ones did this.”
“No expense spared for the ones about to be eliminated.”
“Now, Lizzie. Come on. This is a big deal. People from the ship will be watching from the Observation Level. This is important.”
Lizzie had forgotten about that part.
Savannah would be watching.
The Observation Level was two above where they were now, overhanging enough so that the ones who came to watch would be able to see the jumpers’ descent until the orbs arrived.
A rush of feelings came with the thought of Savannah watching. Lizzie missed her dearly, but was comforted with Eric as their jump partner. It was a different love for Savannah than for Eric. If Lizzie was forced to choose, it would be impossible.
“T-minus five minutes,” a robotic voice sounded from a hidden speaker in the room.
That’s when it hit. This was happening. The mood in the room deflated, and all of the students understood that in less than five minutes, they’d be forever leaving the place they’d always called home.
Last second checks were done on all of the jump suits. Clips tightened, zippers zipped, shoulders patted, good lucks wished.
When the voice came back on to announce the first students were to report to the platform, it was as though time had sped up.
Assistants hustled, getting the students into their respective jump order.
Lizzie knew there was no going back from here. Breathing changed, vision blurred on the periphery, the room grew brighter. Eric put one hand on their shoulder, squeezing with some encouragement. Lizzie hadn’t considered this moment to mean all that much, but now that it was happening, it meant so much and more.
What would the orb hold? What was the future that was to come? The possibilities were endless and unlimited. All of the worlds wide open, shining and sparkling like broken glass shimmering underneath lights in the dark.
“When I got out of bed today, I swear I didn’t think any of this was real,” Lizzie whispered to Eric. “I have no idea where my body will go. But, I hope wherever my soul ends up, it ends up with you.”
Eric looked into Lizzie’s eyes and smiled. His own shone with the wetness of tears. This was their goodbye. Their time together on this plain was over. With the helmets on, they couldn’t kiss. So, he leaned forward and gave Lizzie’s helmet a gentle tap with his own. Then he flipped his own visor down and took Lizzie’s hand, wrapping their fingers together.
They were up next, the line progressing. They watched as two students stepped into place. Jack spoke to them, the deafening roar of open space not letting his words carry back to Eric and Lizzie. The countdown started, came to zero, and the students jumped.
The timer reset, Jack looked over and waved to them.
It was their turn now.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Do you feel alive?
“I do.”
“Are we going to spend the rest of our lives together?”
“I wish we could. But I don’t think that’s something that can happen.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because of that,” the girl said to the boy, pointing as the sky grew red and the heat rushed forward.
Chapter Twenty-Six
As proud as they could, they walked to the platform, looking at Jack, glad that the visors didn’t allow for direct eye contact.
“You two ready?” he yelled.
The opening before them was the single most intimidating thing they’d ever seen.
Open space.
The sound that greeted them was reminiscent of a symphony coming into key and time together. A jumbled mixture of loud with soft running between the strings.
Lizzie braced on the platform. While the level was pressurized, the vacuum of space still worked to pull anything not bolted down out of the ship, out into the vastness of its clutches.
“Start the timer!”
The screen blinked into life and started to count down.
“Eric. Lizzie. We from Empyrean wish you the greatest of futures to come. Thank you for your contributions to our society. May you find peace and whatever your heart desires.”
Eric squeezed Lizzie’s hand, Lizzie squeezed back.
“You may jump in… three… two… one… GO!”
They lowered, legs coiled and feet pressing firmly against the surface of the ship.
Then, with one explosive push, they jumped, leaping towards open space and the final free fall of their lives.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The first thousand feet was silent.
Beautiful.
The atmospheric changes between space and the Earth created a crystal effect. Purples and blues and greens danced through Lizzie’s eyes. A kaleidoscope of infinite variations.
If Lizzie could, they would’ve turned and looked back once more at the ship, watched it grow smaller. One last attempt to catch a glimpse of Savannah.
Would she miss me?
The force applied to the jumpers didn’t allow for this, so instead Lizzie focused on getting into the correct position and searching for the orbs that would begin to float towards them.
Lizzie realized they were still holding hands with Eric.
Below them, the green and blue of the land mass was all they could see. Lizzie squeezed Eric’s hand once more and let go.
Their partnership had reached the very end, for as long as they could stay together.
Now, in free fall as an individual, Lizzie began to seek any sign of the orbs.
Off on the peripheral left, something flickered. Moving only their eyes, Lizzie saw a group of orbs rapidly approaching Eric. He was going to achieve his dream first and Lizzie was going to be able to watch.
A flood of wonder washed throughout as the orbs grew in size and number. Lizzie took a few more looks to see if any were coming towards them, but as of yet, none.
Lizzie watched as Eric spread his arms, zoned in on a cherry colored orb and prepared for contact. If Lizzie could’ve seen his face, they were positive Eric would be smiling.
As the orbs neared Eric, Lizzie found the sound of space was growing in volume. The helmet was doing a grea
t job of dampening the noise, but a rumble of discomfort was forming deep in the brain.
The sound became unbearable as Eric was one hundred feet away. Travelling at the speed they were, it was a blink of the eye and Eric crashed full on into the cherry red orb. Lizzie saw a moment of blinding light, and then… Eric and the orb disappeared. Lizzie let out a hitch, a sob stuck deep in the throat, as Eric was taken and removed forever from their former shared world.
There was no time to mourn Eric, as Lizzie was still catapulting towards Earth, travelling faster and faster.
A new thought started to fester. Previously the worry had been about not catching the orb. Now, only one thought sat at the forefront of all the others.
What if no orbs come?
Pushing the thought away, Lizzie followed protocol, getting their arms and legs positioned correctly.
Come on orbs, where are you?
The Earth continued to grow in size, the space between the jumper and the surface becoming smaller and smaller.
Then.
Then, little dots far below. They started to grow, larger and larger until Lizzie practically shouted inside the helmet.
Orbs!
Lizzie pushed out every other thought that tried to interfere. This was no simulation, this was the real deal. Failure here would be catastrophic.
The balls of light danced and wavered, approaching Lizzie as though unsure what was hurtling through space in their direction.
Lizzie realized a smile was plastered across their face, suddenly excited about what may become possible with the arrival of the orbs.
They flickered and shimmered, colors morphing as though playing a game with the perspective person.
Lizzie tried to track down the orb just for them. In the simulation the color had been obvious, but as their instructors had said time and time again, ‘during the jump, your orb will be just for you, so watch for the one that means the most.’
Lizzie kept those words solidly at the front, pushing back every other memory and distraction that tried to wiggle its way around it.
The one that means the most, the one that means the most, Lizzie told themselves over and over.
The orbs were closer, the Earth was nearer and nothing was coming to Lizzie. Panic set in, anxiety trying to move vomit from the stomach to the mouth, but with the helmet on that wasn’t an option. Lizzie gulped it back down, blinking and trying to clear their vision.
There it is.
Between the reds and blues and oranges, the orb that would mean the most singled itself out from the rest. Lizzie couldn’t believe it.
Instead of a solid color, or a glowing sphere, Lizzie’s orb was a scaled down version of the Earth and it was speeding directly towards them.
Now, all Lizzie needed to do was catch it.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The Earth-orb spun around and around, the outlines of each continent highlighted by the dark blues of each ocean.
Lizzie hoped that absorption would mean being reunited. With Mom. With Eric and Savannah. With some semblance of normality.
The orb was only one hundred feet away.
Seventy five.
Lizzie’s life flashed through their mind.
The sorrow of the Warding Level.
Adoption.
Moments of pure joy, extreme sadness, mixed between blitzes of laughter and anger.
Mom’s last breath. Lizzie’s pained howls as they laid in the bed with the deceased.
Fifty feet.
Twenty five.
Arms stretched wide. Legs positioned for the optimum angular chance.
Lizzie had never felt anything like this. No experience had ever come close to the realization that the orb was directly before them, the Earth shining bright with every single moment of the rest of their lives seconds from being caught and absorbed.
Every hope, want and dream about to become a reality.
Was this what Eric had experienced?
AND THEN.
Lizzie blasted into the orb, the entire spectrum of the universe illuminating and osmotically travelling from the skin of the sphere, across the synapses and deep into Lizzie’s brain.
The noise that erupted within caused both ear drums to scream and pop, which created a muted, dull hum. Lizzie was surprised to not feel any panic. Instead, Lizzie realized that the orb was still within their arms and the immense, real Earth was approaching at a far greater speed than before.
Lizzie screamed at the top of their lungs, holding tight the glowing globe within their arms as the first hints of flames from re-entry began to form and swallow the human and the ball in a self-contained burning prison.
‘Do you think it’ll hurt when we burn?’
‘I don’t think we’ll feel anything.’
‘I can feel the air getting hotter and my skin starting to bubble.’
‘I’m sorry that this is the end.’
‘Don’t be. I’d rather die having known you, than live without ever having met you.’
‘That’s very kind.’
‘I mean it.’
No pain was felt.
Lizzie continued to accelerate towards the surface of the abandoned planet, gripping the orb as tightly as they could.
When they were only a few miles above the surface, Lizzie braced for impact, expecting a cataclysmic explosion to occur on arrival.
Much to their surprise, everything went black a few feet from the ground, the flames having long ago burned themselves out.
Earth
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Returning to consciousness on the scalding pavement, Lizzie rolled over and rushed onto the grass. The simmering ash remains of their orb were plastered on the cement where they’d crashed to the surface. As Lizzie looked at the place of impact where obsidian specks of pavement popped and sputtered before sizzling until quiet.
Looking skyward, Lizzie watched. It was speckled with orbs travelling from the planet, heading towards the jumpers. Every so often a small flash would occur, the meaning not lost. Those were the successful absorbers, something Lizzie was not.
Don’t cry, Savannah’s voice said, filling Lizzie’s mind with hope.
Looking again, Lizzie could see a larger shining object beyond the orbs. The revolving ship. Former home. It was such a strange thing to look up at and realize that Lizzie was now standing on the planet they’d looked at lovingly for almost two decades.
Are you hurt?
Now it was Eric’s voice talking inside Lizzie’s head. Friends were forever.
“No.”
Good. You need to walk. Do you see where the orbs are coming from? People are there. Your future awaits.
Lizzie nodded, heading towards where the orbs were originating from. They had no idea what would be waiting for them, but walking under the open space being filled with the futures of so many young people gave buoyancy to the hope that a place for Lizzie now and for the rest of time would be waiting.
As they started to walk another orb rocketed up into the atmosphere.
End
To be continued in Book Two: The Bandaged Man…
Nothing had ever prepared Lizzie for the dread induced feeling of walking on the planet. Animals made noises and scurried around, the wind picked up, smells assaulted Lizzie’s nose. Under the open sky, with no walls as boundaries and no windows showing the Earth beyond it, Lizzie felt nauseous and frightened, as though a single step would cause them to be propelled from the grass that lined the side of the cement path that they were following.
I thought this planet was void of life?
The thought kept nagging at Lizzie.
Whenever anything made a noise or moved off in the trees or bushes, Lizzie immediately panicked and had to work as hard as they could to not take off running, afraid of what might happen were they to do so.
Instead, Lizzie steeled their resolve and confidently walked towards the location of the orbs.
Sensation overload reared time and time again. The bea
ting sun, the lush breeze, the uneven surface. Simply walking in this new world was a brand new experience that tested Lizzie’s body in strange ways. And while Lizzie had experienced the Empyrean designed-and-created sun and wind before, this was completely different. Real.
The cement pathway, which was as wide as any hallway Lizzie had been in, travelled further ahead, before disappearing up a hill into the trees. Lizzie knew it would lead them to their destination.
The middle of the pathway had faded markings on it. Thinking through some of the lessons Lizzie could remember, this must have been something called a highway. The markings were placed to separate the users moving back and forth in opposite directions. It was during this thought that Lizzie spotted a large metallic object on the side of the cement path. It was scorched and hollowed out.
Approaching it, Lizzie recognized the body of what used to be a car. Looking around, they could see the remnants of burn marks through the trees around the area. A strange calm arrived, Lizzie sensing a familiarity that shouldn’t be there.
Continuing to walk along the side of the forgotten highway, Lizzie arrived at the base of the hill. Still above, the orbs soared and popped. How many more jumpers were there? Lizzie was unsure. Surely, their class wasn’t the only group selected? Forced was more accurate. What was even true anymore?
A new noise stole Lizzie’s attention. A babbling brook, just over the edge of the grassy area. Realizing just how thirsty they were, Lizzie hopped down and landed on the soft dirt by the water. Kneeling, Lizzie cupped their hands and grimaced as the ice cold water filled their mouth. This might’ve been the coldest drink they’d ever had.
It tasted divine.
Lizzie cupped mouthful after mouthful of the sublime drink. Finally, their stomach filled, Lizzie stopped, feeling content and ready to attack the final stretch of the path ahead.