Once they were in the air, Trett yawned. “I think I’ll grab a quick nap.”
“Okay.” Ellin barely looked up from her flex. She’d pulled it out as soon as they were seated, and she was scouring news sites for more information on their new employer.
Trett closed his eyes and didn’t wake until the plane was descending two hours later. In that time, they’d traveled nearly four thousand clommets across the nation of Vallinger, from the east coast to the west. He turned to Ellin and took the hand she wasn’t holding her flex with. “We’re about to land.”
She spared him a quick smile, then pulled her hand away. “Almost done reading this article.”
A few minutes later, they stepped off the plane into dry, hot air. It felt more like summer than spring. Why any company would have its headquarters in the desert was beyond Trett’s comprehension.
As soon as they stepped onto the ground, a glidecraft pilot approached. “I’ll take you to the Merak Technology campus.”
“We have luggage,” Rona said.
“Someone else is retrieving it and will deliver it to your rooms.”
Trett exchanged an impressed smile with Ellin, and they all followed the pilot to her craft.
A few minutes into the flight, she pointed. “There’s the campus.”
Trett looked out the window. He knew Merak’s headquarters were outside the city of Amler, so he’d assumed there would be a few buildings surrounded by open land. Instead, he saw what appeared to be a small town with hundreds of buildings of all sizes. “Which buildings are part of the campus?”
The pilot laughed. “All of them.” She circled the area, showing them features of the campus: a compact solar array that provided all its power, plus countless research buildings, offices, and manufacturing plants. “Most of our employees live here with their families,” she said, pointing out an extensive housing section and a school.
She directed their attention to several buildings in one corner devoted to interns—dorms; a dining hall; classrooms; a small store where they could buy snacks, toiletries, and Merak-branded souvenirs; and a recreation building that included a pool, sport courts, exercise equipment, a Threed theatre, a coffee shop, and a restaurant. Then she pointed in the distance, where long-term employees had their own on-site shopping and recreation options.
They landed near the intern area, and their pilot gave them instructions on accessing schedules and maps on their flexes. Then she took them to their rooms.
When the pilot left, Trett walked into Ellin’s room. “We’ve got a few minutes before dinner. Want to explore?”
She tapped her flex a few more times, then collapsed it and wrapped it on her arm. “Sure.”
After telling Rona they’d meet her at dinner, they walked out of the dorm, holding hands. Smooth, ecophalt pathways ran through the campus, bordered by native desert landscaping. Trett admired the trees, with their wispy, brown fronds that swayed in the breeze. Underneath were countless varieties of squat plants with waxy stems and leaves. Not bad for a desert.
He shifted his attention to Ellin. “It’s nice getting some time alone.”
She smiled, but her expression looked strained. “I spent the whole flight reading up on Merak Technologies. It’s such a huge company. I can’t think how we’re going to stop them from digging in Therro.”
Trett saw the tension in her shoulders and felt it in her hand, which grasped his too tightly. They stopped next to a nondescript classroom building. He leaned against the wall and opened his arms, and she walked into them and returned his hug. Then he tilted her chin up and gave her a gentle kiss.
“I know what’s supposed to happen in fifty-four days,” he said. He kissed her again. “Right now, though, this feels good. Being here with you.”
She returned his kisses, but afterward her smile was still forced. “It does feel good,” she said, “but someone’s watching us.”
Trett looked around, not seeing anyone.
Ellin pulled away from his grip and turned, pointing at a fence about a dozen steps away from them. Trett had noticed the fence from the air too. It surrounded the whole property and, he now noticed, was nearly twice his height. The top half was comprised of closely spaced black metal bars with ornamental spikes on top. The bottom half was made of the same metal, but it was curled into beautiful, decorative shapes.
“See it?” Ellin asked, pointing at a tiny camera perched in the fence.
“Oh,” Trett said. “I suppose a place this big has a good security system.”
“Of course,” Ellin said. She turned back toward him and stepped close, speaking in a quiet voice, like she wanted to be sure anyone monitoring the area didn’t pick up her words. “It just feels weird, you know? They make this place so fancy, where you’ve got everything you need. You can even live here. Then they surround it with this fence that’s too tall to climb. It’s like they don’t ever want you to leave.”
Trett tried to laugh off the discomfort her words elicited. “Come on, Ellin. It’s a company, not a prison. I’m sure the fence is there to keep strangers out, not keep employees in.”
“I’m not saying they’d actually prevent anyone from leaving. It just gives me a weird feeling, you know? It’s like they want to both intimidate us and welcome us.” She stepped away from him. “Anyway, we should get to dinner.”
“I guess we should.” Trett took her hand again.
They walked back toward the street. The sun was low in the sky, and the shadow of the fence loomed over them.
TUESDAY, QUARI 16, 6293
-53 DAYS
Ellin had troubled dreams, though she couldn’t remember any details when she got up. Once she was ready, she knocked on Trett’s door. He was dressed and ready. Rona met them in the hall, and they all walked to breakfast. It was delicious.
After eating, they went to a classroom for their initial orientation. Within minutes, there were twenty interns in the room. Every desk was full, leaving Ellin wondering if they’d taken three other people’s spots at the last minute. That felt wrong, but with the survival of humanity at stake, she supposed some deception was justified.
Now that they were here, her goals were clear. She’d be the best intern they’d ever seen. She’d be confident, responsible, and trustworthy, earning the right to work in whatever department she chose. Within four weeks, she’d be at Cellerin Mountain in Therro, trying to stop the dig.
From the front of the room, a voice greeted them. “Good morning.”
Ellin shifted her attention to the speaker, an attractive, middle-aged woman.
“Welcome to Merak Technologies. My name is Tereza, and I’ll be guiding you through your initial intern training. You’re joining nearly sixty other interns who entered the program before you. Together, you comprise some of the most intelligent, driven young adults in Vallinger.”
The lights in the room dimmed, and a huge wallscreen behind Tereza lit up. As she told the interns the history of Alvun Merak and Merak Technologies, images and video played on the screen. It was slick, well-rehearsed, and, Ellin hated to admit, inspiring.
Alvun Merak’s mother had raised him, struggling to provide for him. She didn’t have a university degree, nor did either of her parents. Merak, however, had earned two degrees in four years, three fewer years than most people took. While he was in school, he’d started his first business, a technical support firm that, within months, was granted a contract to repair and maintain most of the deskscreens and wallscreens on the university campus.
During his university career, he’d also started his first charity. It connected struggling students to volunteer tutors. He was still on the board of directors of that organization, which now operated in over a hundred cities around the world.
Merak’s big break was when he’d invented Flexen, a substance that used nanotouch technology in an astounding variety of ways. He’d found investors and developed the first modern flexscreen. He even sold Flexen to other flexscreen manufacturers, but Merak mo
dels were still the best and most popular worldwide.
As Merak’s company had grown, so had his generosity. The Merak Foundation was the largest charity in the world and was always ranked in the top five in ethics and efficacy.
The presentation didn’t address Merak’s personal benevolence. Ellin knew from articles she’d read over the past week that Alvun Merak tried to keep his donations a secret when the money came from his own pockets, rather than from his foundation. Despite his efforts, word often got out, and experts estimated that Alvun Merak gave away between eighty and ninety-five percent of his impressive income.
Ellin tried to tamp down her growing admiration of Merak. This is the man who will destroy the world.
“And now,” Tereza said, “Mr. Merak himself.”
The screen filled with an image of Alvun Merak. He was in the nicest glidecraft Ellin had ever seen. His mouth widened into a kind, genuine smile.
“I’m thrilled to meet you all,” Merak said. “I know you’re wondering if this video is pre-recorded. I’ll assure the young man in the green sweater in the second row, I’m talking to you live.”
He waited for the excited laughter to die down before telling them how honored he was to meet them and how much he appreciated them choosing to intern at Merak Technologies. Then he bid them goodbye.
The rest of the session was filled with logistical details of their training and the possibilities for their future with Merak. Tereza was clearly capable, organized, and personable. Ellin was sure she could meet and exceed the internship expectations, just as she’d always done in school.
When they wrapped up, Ellin turned to Rona and Trett. “I’m going to go meet Tereza,” she said.
Trett grinned. “Of course you are. I’m surprised you didn’t sit in the front row too.”
“The two of you ate breakfast so slow, there weren’t any good seats left.” Ellin gave him a playful scowl before walking to the front of the room.
Tereza was still at the lectern, tapping on her flex. Naturally, it was the latest Merak model.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Ellin said.
Tereza looked up and gave her a warm smile. She held out her hand. “I’m Tereza.”
Ellin returned the handshake. “I’m Ellin.”
“I caught your eye a few times during my presentation. You certainly looked inspired by Mr. Merak’s story.”
“He seems like an incredible man.”
Tereza’s smile grew even wider. “You have no idea.”
“I’ve been reading about the archeological work the company is funding in Therro,” Ellin said.
“Oh yes, we’re all excited about that.”
“It’s fascinating!” Ellin tried to school her face into just the right expression—eager willingness without desperation. It was tough, considering how important this conversation was. “I’d love to work out there so I could see it in person.”
Tereza’s expression shifted just a smidge. She was still smiling, but professional politeness replaced her friendliness. “I’ll tell you one of the most important things you need to learn as an intern. We all find our greatest fulfillment as a part of Merak Technologies when we prioritize not what’s best for ourselves, but what’s best for Merak.”
Merak the man or Merak the company? Ellin didn’t dare ask the question out loud. Instead, she relaxed her face into an even wider smile. “Of course. How inspiring.”
Tereza regained her warmth from seconds before. “Inspiring is an apt word for it. For everything Alvun Merak does.”
Ellin engaged her in conversation for several more minutes. She focused more on Therro than anything but brought up several other Merak projects as well. Tereza’s eyes lit up as Ellin proved her understanding of the company’s work in various fields.
Eventually, Ellin realized there were others waiting to talk to Tereza. She said goodbye and walked back to Trett and Rona. When they were outside, she murmured, “Tereza isn’t Merak’s employee. She’s his disciple. A true believer. I don’t think we’ll get anywhere in this place unless we convince everyone we’re just as loyal as she is.”
11
TUESDAY, QUARI 16, 6293
-53 DAYS
Alvun Merak couldn’t sleep.
Truth be told, he hadn’t slept well since—well, he couldn’t think of a time in his life when he’d slept well, for any number of reasons. Messing up his internal clock by traveling halfway around the world certainly didn’t help.
He got out of bed and put on lightweight shorts, a shirt, and running shoes. Then he left his private cottage and walked through the compound. Using the flashlight on his flex, he navigated past silent buildings where loyal Merak employees worked during the day. The only ones awake now were the night guards, three of whom waved as he passed them. With all the confidential work being done here, Merak didn’t hesitate to spend money on excellent security.
Even at night, there was an energy about this place, a sense that they were doing something big. The radiation they’d found would change the world for the better; everyone here expected it. Or most of them, anyway. The overly cautious of the bunch would come around soon.
He arrived at the small glidecraft he kept behind his office. Once inside, he retrieved a black device about the size of his palm. After several seconds, every hair on his body suddenly felt like it was standing at attention. His skin still looked normal; the strange sensation was just the effect of activated antiradiation technology.
Two minutes later, he was in the air. It took only minutes to travel to the dig site. He landed the glidecraft and disembarked. Then he removed his flex from its protective case and firmed it. Once he’d set it to glow just brightly enough to light his path, he collapsed it and let it wrap around his forearm. He took off at a run.
Merak loved running at Cellerin Mountain. He’d been doing it ever since he’d started visiting here, years before they knew whether the government would allow them to dig. He’d always been certain he could convince them. It had required countless meetings, plenty of ass kissing, and a few creative incentives offered to the right people.
And it had all been worth it.
Merak ran to the edge of the huge mountain, where archeologists had barely begun their careful work. They called it a dig, but that was a misnomer. The archeologists and their crew were simply moving rocks.
According to data from their sensors, there was a small cave at the edge of the mountain. Its entrance was covered by a massive pile of loose stones that archeologists said had been there since humanity’s early days on Anyari. After so many thousands of years, the stones now blended in with the mountain itself. The pile extended nearly thirty mets from the edge of the mountain. At its tallest, it was over four mets high, twice as tall as Merak.
Researchers guessed the radiation source was in the hidden cave, and workers had started moving stones to access it. The Therroan government insisted they work by hand when possible to protect the grounds. So far, environmental inspectors seemed happy with the cautious nature of the work.
Merak slowed to a walk. He didn’t need the gentle light of his flex, as large floodlights illuminated the dig site. Running his hand along some of the ancient stones hiding his prize—the world’s prize—he considered the new hospital wing he’d just funded. What new technology could he bring there within the next few years, thanks to the discoveries being made right here?
He turned away from the stones and kept running. A few seconds later, he passed the night guard and waved. The guard returned his greeting; he’d likely picked up the signal from Merak’s flex as soon as the glidecraft arrived.
Picking up his pace, Merak exited the dig site and continued running along a narrow road at the mountain’s perimeter. Here in the southern hemisphere, the autumn air felt great in his lungs. It beat the weather back home on the other side of the equator—spring in the desert felt too much like summer.
The original Anyarian colonists had landed somewhere near this mountain. A few mu
seums even had metallic relics that had likely come from the colonists’ landing craft, but nature and ancient looters had reclaimed most of the treasures left behind by Anyari’s first residents. It didn’t help that the Therroan government had never approved much archeological research. No one knew what historical treasures might still be awaiting discovery.
Merak’s long strides took him over loose stones and past scrubby bushes. The road turned around a rock outcropping, and an old, green building came in sight. He jogged up to it and stopped, breathing hard.
The building had been a gift shop and café, but it wasn’t close enough to any trailheads to do much business. Its owners had cut their losses two decades earlier, abandoning the place. Merak was surprised the government had ever approved it in the first place. Perhaps the owners had offered their own incentives to select officials.
Merak Technologies had purchased the building a couple of years earlier, getting a bargain price with very little negotiation. Merak knew that once the dig really got going, tourists would be curious. If this little shop reopened, it would be even easier for people to visit and get in the way of the archeologists’ research. With Merak as the owner, the place would stay shuttered.
Of course, that was before they’d found radiation at the site. Besides the scientific potential of such a discovery, it had the convenient side effect of keeping people away. Tourists didn’t carry antirads.
Merak held his flex up to the electronic lock on the building’s back door. He’d been running for less than a clommet and had planned to go much farther, but his lack of sleep had led to heavy limbs. It was time for a break. He stepped inside and turned on the light.
There weren’t any chairs in the building, so Merak sat on the floor, leaning back against the large door of a walk-in freezer. He pulled his flex off his arm and firmed it.
The Seer’s Sister: Prequel to The Magic Eaters Trilogy Page 8