Nika’s attention darted to the door, and her expression brightened. Adlai twisted around in his chair to see Perrin walking in. She wore torn denim pants and an off-the-shoulder white sweater; her hair was bound into two loose, braided pigtails.
He forgot how to breathe.
“Sorry for the intrusion! Nika, can I talk to you for a minute?” She glanced his way, giving him a little wave.
“Sure.” Nika motioned for the others to continue, then went into the kitchen with Perrin, where they conferred out of earshot.
“What are we planning to do with the people in the stasis chambers once they’re awakened?”
“Adlai? Have you decided?”
Crap, he’d been staring and completely tuned out the conversation. Also, his cheeks were almost certainly burning. “Um, convicts will be given full pardons of their sentences on account of the government trying to kill them, as well as free regens for those infected with the virutox. The rest isn’t up to Justice.”
Katherine chimed in. “Administration will try to help them find new jobs and provide financial support as required. I admit we have a lot to make right here, but there’s only so much we can do.”
Perrin and Nika rejoined them then, and Perrin shot Katherine a dubious look. “You can do a lot more than that, I guarantee it. These people are going to be freaked out—even more freaked out than everyone else is. They’ve spent weeks or months as involuntary popsicles, and they’ll be woken up to be told the government planned to serve them as the main course to a bunch of galaxy-consuming aliens. Oh, and their jobs are gone. Possibly their homes as well. ‘We’re sorry’ isn’t going to cut it.”
“I don’t believe you’re qualified to weigh in on—”
Nika shot the Administration Advisor a scathing glare. “She’s done a damn sight better job of taking care of people in need than it sounds like any of you have done lately.”
“She also just contradicted you. I thought you said Asterions could take care of themselves.”
“I didn’t mean the people who’ve been infected with a contagion, kidnapped, forced into comas and prepped for alien sacrifice, for fuck’s sake. Let her speak.” She gave Perrin an encouraging nod.
Perrin wrung her hands but lifted her chin. “For starters, you need to provide a place to stay for anyone who had their housing forfeited or sold off while they were locked in a stasis chamber. Someplace cozy. Maybe together with other un-popsicled people, so they’ll have someone to confide in about their ordeal. Also, you should give them free access to counselors, so they can talk to someone qualified to listen the right way. Plus, yes, money and job support. Basically, you need to make them feel as if they haven’t lost everything they hold dear. Make them feel safe.”
Katherine sputtered out a response. “Nobody’s going to be safe for long if we don’t come up with a way to combat the Rasu.”
“And that’s way out of my league. But…I can help out on this, if you want. I mean, I still have a bunch of our own people to get settled, but after that?” She turned to Nika. “Tell me who here has the power to make the things I listed happen, and I’ll take care of the rest.”
Nika wrapped an arm around Perrin. “You don’t have to take so much onto your shoulders, which I happen to know are already well-laden. But, yes, we would welcome your help. We can talk details later tonight.”
“Okay. I’ll see you a little later.” Perrin sneaked a quick smile Adlai’s way and headed out the door.
He stood before he’d consciously decided to do so. “Excuse me a minute. I want to check on something with the office.” He spun and hurried out the door after her before anyone could question his intentions.
By the time the door closed behind him, Perrin was on the verge of turning down the next hallway and disappearing from sight. “Hey, hang on for a second.”
She stopped and looked back at him, then reversed course. “I hope I wasn’t too rude in there. I really didn’t mean to step on anyone’s toes. They were just being so…pompous and haughty and out-of-touch with the reality of what people are facing out there in the real world.”
“They were. And you set them straight so beautifully. You were wonderful.”
“Oh? Well, good.” They met in the middle of the hallway, but she didn’t come to a stop until she was breathtakingly close to him. “What did you want to talk to me about? I know you’ve been super busy, and I’ve tried not to bother you.”
“I cannot conceive of a scenario where you would be a bother. I wanted to talk to you about—” He reached up and cupped her face in his hands, leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her far softer lips, then hovered there for too long before dropping his hands and clearing his throat nervously.
What had he done? Stars, his body was leagues ahead of his brain when it came to her. “I, um, hope I didn’t misread—”
“You didn’t.” She drew him into her arms and enthusiastically returned her lips to his.
Adlai tip-toed back into the loft several minutes later. Maybe closer to ten. He’d kind of lost track of time.
An animated conversation was again in progress, and he tried to inconspicuously slide into his chair, only to find Nika staring at him pointedly. “Take care of what you needed to?”
“Ah….” He chuckled in spite of himself. He could still taste her on his tongue. She’d tasted like strawberries…strawberry lips and blueberry irises. “Yes, I did. Thank you.”
“Uh-huh.” She made a face but redirected her attention to the conversation, which was probably as much of a seal of approval as he was apt to get from her.
Dashiel was discussing…metals, perhaps? “I’ve clipped out the most relevant captures from the Wayfarer’s visit to the Rasu stronghold as well as those from Nika’s simex memory. Today I’ve gotten in touch with every person I know who knows the first thing about advanced materials, both inside Industry and in private scientific research and development, and asked them to study the footage. But I don’t know everyone. One way we can ask for people to help is by inviting any knowledgeable people to come forward. The more eyes on this problem, the better chance we have of discerning what the Rasu are and how they operate.”
Nika nodded emphatically. “It’s a great idea. This is exactly the kind of thing I’m getting at. Simply because someone doesn’t work for a Division or hasn’t done business with any of you, it doesn’t mean they won’t have worthwhile ideas to contribute.”
“I’m beginning to appreciate that.”
She reached over and squeezed Dashiel’s hand, and it was such a natural gesture, so like the way they used to be, that it threatened to give Adlai hope they all might actually survive this.
Maris had vanished while he’d been out in the hallway, but now she burst into the midst of the group in an explosion of fervor. “I have such wonderful news! Charles Basquan has offered us the use of the Mirai One Pavilion as a temporary headquarters building starting first thing in the morning. So, all of you can clear out of my living room and grant me some blessed peace. Not of mind, of course, but at least of silence.”
Katherine scowled again, if she’d ever stopped. “How much is it going to cost us to use the Pavilion?”
“I assume he will expect reimbursement over a long enough timeline, but he’s willing to hand-wave an IOU for now. And I do suggest we take him up on it.”
Katherine approached Nika as the meeting at Maris’ loft broke up. “If you have a second, there are a couple of things I’d like to go over.”
“Sure. What about?”
“You, actually.”
“Oh.” Nika forced herself not to adopt a defensive posture, but she did steel herself for an incoming blow. “What do you mean?”
“Since I had two spare minutes on the way here, I corrected your official records—the ones erroneously stating you voluntarily underwent full Retirement and Reinitialization five years ago. As a result of the correction, your former identity has been reinstated.”
“You mean I’m an Advisor again?”<
br />
“That part’s not so simple, remains tangled up in the in-process pardon, and also isn’t in my power to grant. But your bank accounts and property have all been returned to you. It turns out the Guides never liquidated them.” She offered Nika a data weave. “Here you go.”
She stared at the weave. What bank accounts? What property? “I…thank you. I appreciate you making the effort on my behalf.”
“You really don’t remember your past, do you?”
“I remember…scattered events. Moments. But they’re droplets in the ocean of the life I had, I’m afraid.”
“You’re doing a top-notch job of faking it. For good or ill, you are exactly how I remember you. Perhaps a little bit scarier. I didn’t used to be afraid you’d break my arm if I displeased you. I’m still not afraid, but now I believe you could. Anyway, if you’ll excuse me, I need to find some food before I faint right in the middle of the floor.”
Nika considered the emptying loft. Dashiel was deep in conversation with one of the other Industry Advisors, so she pinged him on her way out the door.
I have some errands to run. I’ll touch base in a few hours.
Okay. Be safe out there…or smart at a minimum.
Now you’re getting it. I will.
6
* * *
MIRAI
Nika’s hand moved to the lock on the door as naturally as if it were tucking her hair behind her ear; five years out of practice, yet the motion remained ingrained in her muscle memory. She was coming home, just as she had thousands of times before, for the first time all over again.
The door unlocked, and the open entrance awaited her. She trembled as she stepped through it.
Sensing her arrival, the lights illuminated automatically, and she gasped at the scene they showed her.
A cavernous living room was painted in bright whites, calming heather grays, soft powder blues and silver accents. A distressed wood floor gave the space a naturally lived-in feel, though no one had set foot upon it in years. Marble and stone walls displayed a rich variety of art and visuals. An abstract sculpture shaped of unburnished pewter in one corner instantly made her smile. A gift from Maris, no doubt.
A sunken area held three connected couches stacked with plush cushions and a wavy table at the center. A wide fireplace set into a column of natural stone cut into otherwise floor-to-ceiling windows stretching the breadth of the opposite wall, revealing a stunning view of the night lights of Hataori Harbor.
The far third of the living room held several equally plush chairs and small tables arranged in more intimate enclaves. Beyond them, a pane displaying scenic vistas from across the Dominion spanned most of the left wall.
She wanted to investigate every nook and cranny—every curio and fabric—but she should see the rest of the flat first, right?
The kitchen was similarly bright and airy, lined in marble countertops with rows of tiny lights suspended above them. Past the kitchen was a dining table so long it could seat half the Advisors, and a tall mirror mounted on the wall at one end created the illusion that it could seat them all.
She retraced her steps to turn left at the kitchen, where a frosted door opened on her approach. On the other side waited her bedroom.
If she blinked, it would surely vanish. The basic color palette carried over, with deeper silvers and darker nickel-grays giving it a more cozy, intimate feel. An enormous bed was topped by an exquisite woven throw, and soft icicle lights dangled from the ceiling above it. To the right, a spacious marble bathtub looked seconds away from bubbles and champagne.
A chaise sat in front of the expansive window to the left, which included a door leading to a balcony.
As if in a trance, she walked to the door and opened it to let the cool breeze ruffle her hair. The balcony curved along the building’s façade like an undulating ribbon and stretched the length of the flat.
She’d never felt more at home in her life.
Donning a goofy grin, she spun around and rushed across the bedroom and bath to the closet, which was nearly as big as her room at The Chalet. And stuffed full—all of her old clothes were still here!
Her jaw dropped as she scanned the rows of clothing and shelves of shoes. Barely a quarter of the items were black. While immensely grateful for a brand-new wardrobe, especially since after The Chalet’s destruction she owned a grand total of 3.5 outfits, the sheer vividness of said wardrobe was going to take some adjusting to.
She went back into the bedroom and threw herself on the bed with a cackle. Gods, it was even softer than it appeared. Oh, this was heaven….
After a few minutes of bliss, she reluctantly crawled off the bed and returned to the living room. The decor was all so elegant and refined, yet it felt real. The art on the walls no longer held any meaning for her, yet it wasn’t sterile or cold; it felt representative of a life lived in full.
She plopped down on one of the connected couches, because it wasn’t the type of couch you had the need to perch carefully on the edge of. It was a couch meant for lounging, for hanging out with friends.
That was what she’d done here, wasn’t it? This whole room was designed not just to make herself feel comfortable, but to make visitors feel the same.
She gazed around, and her vision populated with the ghosts of imagined gatherings. Of people flitting here and there, laughing, playing, eating, dancing. She couldn’t explain it, but she knew in her soul this had been a place of happiness and joy.
Her gaze fell on the wavy table situated between the couches, and she noticed a small inset in the corner, flush with the surface. Curious, she pressed it.
A carousel of images materialized above the table. The first image was a candid shot of her and Dashiel in formal dress, whispering to one another arm-in-arm as a light show proceeded in the sky behind them.
She reached out and flicked the image to the left, and the focus shifted to one of her and Maris bundled up in winter-weather attire, complete with scarves and fuzzy caps, surrounded by frozen drifts and snow-coated trees.
She flicked again.
Dashiel paused at the door, overcome by a wave of déjà vu. How many times had he opened this door? Thousands, certainly, if not tens of thousands.
As with so many other matters, the Guides had lied to him about Nika’s flat. They’d claimed it was sold at auction in accordance with the regulations pertaining to R&Rs, along with all the furniture inside and personal items that should never, ever have been transferred to others.
In reality, they’d simply assigned ownership to themselves, locked it up and buried the records.
He prepared himself for the blast of memories waiting on the other side and opened the door—
—and traveled back in time. Everything was exactly the same, if a little dustier than on his last visit.
Nika sat on the couch closest to the kitchen, always her favorite, with her elbows propped on her knees and her hands fisted at her chin, staring at a carousel of images floating in front of her. When she saw him, she hurriedly stood, wiping at her cheeks with the back of her hands. “I meant to ping you earlier. How did you know where to find me?”
“Maris told me that Katherine had returned your old property ownership records, because of course Maris knows everything the instant it happens. I…are you crying?”
She pursed her lips and wiped at her cheeks again. “Yeah.”
“Oh, Nika.” He went around the edge of the couch and wrapped his arms around her. “Are they happy tears, or sad ones?”
“I don’t know.” She sniffled against his chest. “All these things? Images, art, memorabilia, furniture, clothes? They’re all wonderful. This place is…amazing, and in my heart, it feels like home. But why can’t I remember the stories behind everything here?” The last few words caught in her throat as a sob wracked her chest.
He stroked her hair and caressed her back wordlessly. It hadn’t been a question, but rather a raging shout against an injustice that could never be undone, a wound t
hat could never be mended.
Abruptly she straightened up and grabbed his hands then flattened her palms on his. “Relevance. There must be encrypted memories that will be triggered by this place.” She closed her eyes.
After a few seconds, a frown darkened her features. “Maybe I need to think of something in particular. Something….” Her brow knotted up in concentration. Longer seconds ticked by.
She blew out a harsh breath. “There’s nothing. Dashiel, I can’t access any new memories. What if there aren’t any more at all? No, that can’t be. I wouldn’t have left myself with only such paltry crumbs to go on.” She pressed her palms harder against his and squeezed her eyes shut once more…but her pained, frustrated expression told the tale.
As gently as he could, he wound his hands around hers, breaking the connection. “Maybe you didn’t have time to encrypt any additional memories. Maybe you didn’t start to prepare until it was almost too late.”
“I suppose that’s possible.” Her shoulders sagged as she reopened her eyes to allow fresh tears to escape in jagged rivulets down flushed cheeks. “This can’t be all there is.”
He kissed her forehead. “It’s okay if it is.”
“No.” She choked back a sob. “It’s not! I want to remember this place, dammit! I want to remember these stories.”
He brought his hands to her face, tenderly catching the tears with his thumbs. “I’m so sorry. But you’ll make new memories. You already are.”
She made a passing attempt to compose herself. “If I have no more memories to call on…can you help me remember in other ways? Can I ask you—” she reached down and flicked through a bunch of images before stopping on an image of him and her standing in front a hovercraft on a beach “—where this was taken?”
“We went on vacation to an exploratory world, SR52-San. It has this exotic jungle island out in the middle of one of its oceans. Waterfalls and hot springs and colorful birds and whatnot. But no one had built a d-gate out to the island yet, so a hovercraft was the only way to reach it.” He chuckled lightly, though his heart felt so damn heavy. “You drove, and very nearly got us drowned skimming too close to a rogue wave.”
Asterion Noir: The Complete Collection (Amaranthe Collections Book 4) Page 65