“Yes, that is Barl,” Karo said proudly. It was his father’s name, and Paleen was Ableen’s mother’s. “And that is little Karo Jr.”
“Do they stay this tiny?” Jules asked.
“No, dear,” Ableen said. “They’ll grow up like you are, and eventually, they’ll be as large as me and Karo, just like you will grow to be much like your mother.”
Jules nodded and beamed at her mom. “I’d like that, Mom.”
“Me too, honey,” Mary said.
“What brings you all? Weren’t you going on the starship? I didn’t expect a visit for some time,” Karo said.
We all sat down, and Jules handed Noom back, and Karo set the child into a fourth bed of light. They all slept soundly within minutes, Maggie lying in front of them all on her side.
I explained the portal on the starship, and Karo’s eyes went wide. “That’s spectacular. Who would have thought?”
“Your people are very inventive,” Ableen told us.
“What have you been up to?” Karo asked.
I told them about the mission we were on, and talked about the Ghosts, pulling a job for Zoober at the Tri-System Station, and then about Sergo sneaking on to our ship, and his eventual attempt at betrayal.
“I shouldn’t have trusted him,” I admitted.
“It doesn’t sound like you did,” Karo said. “I can only hope he gets what’s coming to him at some point.”
“I have a feeling he already has,” Mary said.
“And what’s next for the Horizon?” Karo stood up, bringing us beverages from his kitchen.
“We’re heading to the coordinates we received from Zoober, and Mary and I are going to Bazarn to talk with Regnig, and ask for the frozen world,” I told them.
“The shrunken one?” Karo asked with a shudder.
“The very same.” He’d been the one to pluck it from the shelves, last time we’d been to Fontem’s collection with Regnig. “I was thinking about stopping by and seeing Garo Alnod while we were nearby. Rivo says he’s healthier now, and it’s been a while.”
“We do have nine months to kill,” Mary said, and as if the time period reminded her, she made the announcement. “Speaking of nine months. I have a few left to go.” She stood up and ran a hand to her stomach.
“You’re with child?” Ableen asked. Mary was in baggy clothing, and it was impossible to tell.
“Congratulations! Pretty soon, you’ll catch up!” Karo exclaimed.
“I don’t know about that, but we’re excited about it,” Mary said.
Jules was sitting quietly, and she scribbled in her notebook, using a crayon, her tongue sticking out the side of her mouth.
“Do you know if it’s a boy or girl?” Ableen asked, and we shook our heads.
“We’re going to, but we didn’t consult with Nick before we left. I kind of like the suspense,” Mary said.
“If you ever feel the need to practice with a baby again, feel free to borrow one or three from us,” Karo said.
“Don’t listen to Karo. He loves his litter,” Ableen said, shooting a glare at Karo.
“Is anyone hungry?” Karo asked.
I found I was, and Jules put away her notepad and raised her hand. “I’m hungry, Karo.”
“Then pizza it is,” Karo said.
Ableen rolled her eyes. “What is it with him and pizza? I assume I have you to blame for this.” She looked right at me.
I shrugged. “He took the recipe from me when I first met him. How was I to know?”
The Theos had remarkable technology, and a minute later, the smell of a fresh pepperoni and mushroom pizza floated through their home. We washed up, and Maggie found her perch under the table as dinner was served. The babies stayed where they were, soundly sleeping in unison. Tiny planets decorated the blankets wrapped around them, and they were lit up; images moved on the woven material.
Ableen noticed me staring at the covers. “A gift from Regnig,” she said softly.
“Are they like this all the time?” Mary asked.
Karo laughed, and Ableen joined him. “I think this is the longest they’ve stayed quiet since they’ve been born.”
“I guess we’ll have to visit more often,” Mary told them, and Jules agreed.
We had dinner and chatted like old friends for another hour, and eventually, Ableen and Karo fed the babies and loaded them into a lightweight cart, custom-designed to carry four Theos children and any supplies they might need along the way.
It was still daylight outside, and the entire group went for a stroll through the evacuated city as the sun began to set. Karo slid a device from his pocket and pressed a few icons, and the streets along our path began to emit a soft blue light, guiding our way.
“That’s handy,” I said. “Can you control the entire city with that?”
Karo handed it to me. “See these bars? Lift to increase the light, and each of these icons controls another section of the city. You can illuminate as much or as little as you choose.”
I fiddled with it and selected all the icons, keeping the light levels dim. The entire city lit up as far as we could see, and Jules gasped. “Papa, that’s pretty.”
“It is. Do you ever imagine this city being full again?” Mary asked.
It was a sensitive subject, the whole Adam and Eve scenario. Could the Theos repopulate with only the two of them to start the species again?
“We’ve been doing some digging, and with Lom of Pleva’s hybrid technology, we could find a way to create Theos,” Karo said. “There is a race that creates their entire population from a lab, after their reproductive organs were affected by an incurable sickness. I know there are moral gray areas about the subject out there, but we do want to see this city thriving once again. The people created in their labs are every bit as real as you and me.”
“Garo might know how to secure those details. I’ll ask him,” I told Karo.
“Thank you, friend,” Karo said, and we continued on our walk. Maggie stayed close by, off leash, and Jules watched everything with the innocent curiosity I’d grown accustomed to seeing from her.
Karo and I lingered behind, me matching the slower pace of my white-haired friend.
“What is it?” I asked him when we were out of earshot from the others.
“The world you’re visiting…”
“What about it?”
“Be careful. Many races came and went, often destroying themselves or being destroyed by others as they each gained interstellar travel abilities. If this race is gone, truly gone, there was a reason. And the fact that they were attempting to blackmail entire planets because they successfully shrank the globe from Fontem’s collection tells me they weren’t one of the good ones,” Karo explained.
“I understand your concern, but if they’ve been gone for this long, what harm can there be?” I asked.
“There are always lingering dangers, Dean. You, of all people, should know this. Also…” He stopped in the middle of the street, and met my gaze.
“Karo, we’ve known each other a long time now. Tell me,” I urged him.
His eyes spoke of a distant memory, an unfocused train of thought. “It’s Jules.”
My blood ran cold, and I almost grabbed him by the collar to shake it out of him. “What about her?” I forced myself to ask as calmly as I could.
“I think my hypothesis is true. Jules is Iskios,” he said.
My heart pounded in my eardrums, and I instantly felt unsteady on my feet. Karo’s hand snaked out, steadying me. “Dean, it’s not as bad as it sounds.”
“How so?”
“I don’t mean she’s fully Iskios, only that their essence is in her blood. She carries a lot of power in that tiny vessel of hers. You saw my people’s history. You know that the Iskios and Theos once lived among each other in peace.”
I cut him off. “Until the Iskios couldn’t stop doing torturous acts to other races, and they were forced to leave.”
Karo nodded. “They weren’t all
terrible. Do you remember the vision I shared with you? We counted numerous Iskios as friends. Many mourned the moment we exiled them from this planet,” he said.
I peered around the city, recalling how they’d both once coexisted here. “You killed them all. The Theos expertly hunted them and destroyed them all,” I told him, mindful not to sound accusatory in my tone.
“We did, and look what happened to our great race as a result. I think Jules being here means my family can grow and live on. She’s the counter to the Balance,” Karo said.
It was starting to make sense. “The Theos couldn’t exist in the portals, not after I banished the Iskios vortex Mary was controlling into another dimension using Garo’s Shifter.” I crossed my arms as I pondered this.
“Correct. They faded from the portals, causing the failures. They had to move on. Perhaps I could no longer exist if there were no remnants of the Iskios left.” Karo’s eyes were green too, and I wondered about that as well. They were different from Jules’, not quite as luminescent.
Maggie barked, stealing my attention away, and she ran to me, jumping onto my legs. Her head cranked sideways and her droopy cocker spaniel ear hung freely to the side. I searched my pockets and found a treat. She sat and stuck a paw out, waiting to trade a trick for the cookie. I crouched to her level and scratched her ear. Up ahead, the others waited at the edge of the street, chatting amongst themselves. Jules was walking around in circles, touching every surface she passed.
“Because Jules is here, you can survive.” I said the words, feeling the power and pressure behind them.
“I believe so. Without her, my children might not exist,” he told me.
“We can’t be sure,” I said.
“No. You’re right. We cannot be sure of this. As I said, it’s a working theory.”
“Should I be worried? About Jules?”
“I don’t think so. She’s as sweet a child as I’ve ever seen. She has your tenacity, and she runs head-first into danger when she thinks it’ll help someone. Even when she was yet three years old, she fixed the portals. She knew she could help. It’s astounding,” he said.
“Karo, she’s been drawing a symbol for a portal world. I’m working on finding out if we have any useful information on it, but she’s adamant we need to help them,” I said.
“Interesting. What are you going to do?” Karo asked.
“That’s a good question. I can’t risk leaving and running to danger anymore. As you said, she’s exactly like me, and I need to teach her patience and level-headedness, two things I’ve never been good with. I want to see the world, but I need to make sure nothing bad will happen first. I might know more when we return to Horizon.” I stepped forward, and he followed.
“What else is there? I can tell there’s something you’re withholding from me,” Karo said.
“She… she snuck into the portal room and brought Patty with her. The guards didn’t see a thing. It’s becoming dangerous. She could have left. They’re five and four!” I said, and lowered my voice when Jules turned toward us from up the street. “She’s also… she can move things. I’ve seen her do it when she doesn’t think I’m watching. It started on Earth. Only little things so far, like a pencil or a water glass, but where is it going to end?” I asked.
“This is most bizarre. The Iskios were powerful, and a few of them did have telekinetic abilities, but it lay dormant in most of them, and eventually, it was almost bred out of their race,” he explained.
“I think she’s able to convince someone she’s not there. She said something about not wanting the guards to see her. I don’t know. I try to tell her to not use them, but she doesn’t understand. It all seems so natural to her,” I said.
“That’s because she was born to it, and it’s simply part of who she is. She’ll grow older, and she will understand the value and importance of safety. You and Mary are great parents and role models. She’ll make the right decisions in life,” Karo told me, smiling widely.
That lifted my spirits. “Thanks, bud. That means a lot.” We were catching up, and Mary glanced over, as if she was trying to read my mind. I winked, letting her know everything was okay.
Ableen set a hand on Karo’s forearm, and the tall Theos man took over pushing the cart with his four sleeping children inside. “I think it’s time to call it a night. Jules, what do you say?”
“I think we should stay up late,” Jules said, making us all laugh.
“Not this time, honey. We’re going to go see Regnig tomorrow, and you need to get some sleep,” Mary told her daughter. I was glad for it, because I hated to always be the enforcer.
“Regnig!” Jules started flapping her arms again, and she ran out in front of us, leading the way to Karo’s house. The Theos city dimmed behind us, and I took in the view before entering their house, hoping that one day it would be full of life, laughter, and love once again.
Fifteen
We slept in their guestroom, which was spacious and warmer now that Ableen had taken hold of their household. The bed was stacked with blankets, and instead of cold blue lights, she’d added in some soft glowing orange crystals to the walls.
Karo had tapped the wall, a second bed extending from it, and that was where Jules slept, more soundly than normal. I didn’t hear her talk to herself once or flail about like she did most nights. She was calm, and Maggie curled up between her feet, contently snoring the night away.
Morning came, and the lights activated, slowly brightening to wake us. I heard the little Theos’ cries through the doorway, and Mary rolled over, flopping an arm on me.
“Good morning,” she said, smiling at me. A piece of her dark hair hung over her right eye, and she blew it away.
“Good morning to you too. What has you in such a good mood?” I asked. Usually, she was the first one up, always ready to start the day. She was different here; more relaxed.
“This place. I like it. It’s almost as if the vibrations from all the crystals and stone this planet is built on are good for the mind. What do you think?” she asked.
“You’re probably right.” I nodded toward our daughter across the room. She was a sleeping angel.
“She likes it here too. What were you and Karo talking about last night?” she asked.
I’d been waiting for the question. I didn’t want to worry her, but I wasn’t going to keep Karo’s theory from her. “He thinks Jules has some Iskios in her.”
Judging from the look in Mary’s eyes, this didn’t come as a surprise. “We knew that,” she said.
“We’ve never said it out loud,” I told her. I had suspected it from the moment she was born, and I saw those glowing green eyes. Now I wasn’t sure what to think about the news.
“What does it mean for her to have some of their traits? Should we be worried?” Mary asked. She was still lying down, and we turned to the center of the bed, facing each other.
“He doesn’t think so. He sees the wonderful person Jules is becoming… has always been. You remember the two races were extremely close, right?”
“I remember the stories,” she said. “What else did he say? I can tell there’s more.”
“He…” I paused, making sure Jules was still sleeping. “He thinks she’s the yin to their yang. She Balances him and his family.”
“No pressure there,” Mary said, letting out a sigh. “So nothing changes.”
“What do you mean?”
Mary jumped out of bed and moved toward the guest bathroom, pulling her tank top over her head. She turned to me and smiled. “It means we go on like we always have. If anything arises, we deal with it.”
“You’re okay with it all, then?” I asked, sitting up on the bed.
“It doesn’t mean I’m okay with the fact that the Iskios tricked us and lured us into their trap, and it doesn’t mean I’m okay that they possessed me while I was pregnant with Jules.” Mary spoke quietly, and surprisingly, she was bereft of anger as she talked. “But I’m not going to let it affect me like i
t used to. I have other things to think about. Like this baby I’m carrying.”
“You’re right,” I said, and she stepped into the bathroom. I heard the steam shower turn on, and I walked to the doorway. “Do you want any company?”
Mary was about to answer when I heard Jules sit up in bed. “Good morning, Papa.”
With one last look toward the fogged-up crystal walls in the shower, I returned to our room. “Hello there, my sweet princess. How did you sleep?”
“Very well. I had a lot of dreams.”
“You did? But you were so still all night,” I said.
“You watch me?”
“Not all night, but I make sure to watch over you,” I said.
She rubbed her eyes with her hands, clearing the drowsiness away. “I like that, Papa. Thank you.”
“I’ll never stop watching over you.” I leaned over and kissed her on the top of the head. Maggie rolled around, and she sneezed a couple of times, landing on her back. Jules gave her a tummy rub, and I threw some pants on.
“Do we see Regnig today?” Jules asked, and Maggie’s head cocked to the side. She never knew what to make of the tiny bird-man.
“Yes. We’re going to see Regnig. Why don’t you go see Mommy, and she’ll help you get ready?” I left her in the bedroom, and called Maggie to follow me. The dog hopped off the bed and clattered across the stone floor, joining me down the stairs, and into the main living space of the house.
“Hello, Dean,” Karo said. The four kids were hovering in chairs made of energy barriers, and four robotic arms emerged from the table, each with a bottle of milk. Two of them were crying but quickly went silent as the food arrived.
“Good morning, guys.” I took Maggie outside, and she ran across the street to do her business. The skies were clear today, the sun bright already, shining through the local crystals. The Theos had built a wonderful city.
New Horizon (The Survivors Book Nine) Page 12