Destiny: Quantic Dreams Book 3

by Elizabeth McLaughlin

  “Honey, I'm just worried. I almost lost you with the epidemic. I’ve watched you work twelve, sixteen hours a day since coming up here. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but you’ve lost weight.” She pushed herself up on her elbows and poked me in the stomach. I looked down and had to admit she was right; the tip of her finger definitely went in less than it had before. “You’ve got circles under your eyes, and your hands are starting to shake.”

  I shut my eyes and sighed. “Do you think staying here is a better idea? If you leave me here all that’s going to happen is I’ll worry about you in addition to watching nine hundred people start wasting away while they blame me for it!” Eliza didn’t reply and I heard the soft impact of her bare feet on the floor.

  “Come here.” She took my hand in hers and stroked the back of it. “I’m only trying to protect you.”

  “Best beloved, you know very well that I’d rush into danger anyway.”

  She chuckled and kissed me. “Okay, let’s go greet the masses.”

  The preparations were coming along well. Close to the shelter entrance lay a mountain of supplies. Ten sleds were lined up, side by side, their contents tidied away in plastic and metal containers. The sleds were formed from metal piping crossed into the shape of an ‘X’ and webbing stretched across the gap to form a rudimentary sling. The smallest ends of the crossed piping was wrapped in padding to protect the shoulders of the person carrying it. I hefted one of the heavier looking loads over my shoulders. Despite the fact that I was carrying a load multiple times my body weight, I didn’t feel overly encumbered. Part of me wanted to be amazed. Another part reminded me that I might not feel so light and carefree after five miles.

  Dad seemed to have relaxed at the sight of a new adventure. If I could really call it relaxed. He spent most of the day walking in between the rows of resources being gathered, stopping at each bundle to circle it as if personally inspecting it. It was better than having him staring Eliza down, barely keeping his opinion to himself. The camp buzzed with a collective anxiety. There were fewer of us who understood the science behind saving the food supply than I would have liked and already rumors swirled. These people had been deceived too badly and too frequently to blindly trust in promises at this point. No amount of credibility was going to make a difference. That made me nervous. I truly believed that people still intended to work together, but we were going to come across the unknown out there. Having the group fragment halfway through the journey was not an option.

  I checked in with the group I had chosen to oversee the distribution of the food. They hoarded everything into an enclosed area, around which they installed an electrically charged fence. It wasn’t impossible for someone to sabotage the simple perimeter but the threat of a nasty shock would certainly slow someone down. I also recruited two of the biggest guys I knew alongside one of the security officers to specifically guard the stockpile. They were especially happy to take on the job after Eliza gave them carte blanche to pitch any would-be thieves over the nearest hill. I had the same concerns about the people we left behind. Leaving the colony without their elected leader was iffy, but Eliza took after my father. It was her duty to run headlong into danger before everyone else. Thankfully her leadership was so new that the colony as a whole hadn’t yet come to rely completely on her. Leaving the right person in charge would make all the difference.

  As luck would have it, she ended up choosing Nicole and Jason, two integral players in leading the exodus to the surface. They were both young but well liked, and both were familiar with the essentials of keeping the colony running. When I asked her why she chose a pair instead of a single leader, Eliza made the excellent point that an opposite sex pair ensured that there would be no gender bias against their decisions. The evening before we left, Jason and Nicole along with about a dozen others presented us with the best gift imaginable: new clothing. They had secretly sacrificed the productivity of the 3D printers for twelve hours in order to produce two sets of clothes for each of the hundred. The first set was lightweight and sunlight resistant; the fabric provided us an SPF of about 50, and the sleeves and pant legs were long to minimize the amount of exposed skin. The other set of clothing was similar to thermal base layers. As with the first set of clothing it was long-sleeved. The folks who designed the garments had really gone out. They were far and away more advanced than anything I had ever seen. Water-repelling, compact, easy to keep clean…Trying the outfits on felt like I was an ancient knight dressing herself for battle.

  We rose before the dawn the next day to prepare. The early morning air was crisp, condensation thick on every surface. People worked in silence, the only sounds the murmurs and crying of family members bidding their loved ones goodbye. Perhaps for the last time. Eliza and I worked to pack up our possessions in quiet, the only communication between us present in body language so familiar it was as clear as speech. The realization that we were really joining this epic, final quest slammed itself into my mind and suddenly I was brought back to the days when the world felt too small. Who was I kidding, taking on this kind of journey? I wasn’t young and strong anymore. My middle-aged body had plenty of aches and pains. It was still recovering from the epidemic; I found it just a little bit harder to jog or run. It was like my lungs had been permanently altered. I shuddered to think what other side effects the strange illness had on my body. When it came down to it, how much could I really stand? If we were faced with a real threat, would I be able to defend myself?

  I jumped at the touch of someone’s hand on my shoulder. It was Dad. He threw his hands in the air.

  “Easy! It’s only me!”

  “Sorry, sorry.” I screwed up my face and blinked hard to wipe the fear from my expression. “I guess I’m just a little jumpy. It’s been a quick transition for me, you know. Virtual world to shelter to outside to who the hell knows where now. I didn’t really think about it before.”

  He pressed his lips together in sympathy. “Believe me, I know how it is.” Anger flashed through me. I knew that he was only trying to make me feel better but he had no idea how it had been for me. In less than six months I had uprooted-no—been ripped from my entire life only to have things get progressively more shit as each went by. I knew that I shouldn’t complain, everything that had happened moved us toward a more stable life, but god damn it if I didn’t miss sleepy mornings with my family. Laying in bed with my wife. Drinking coffee.

  “Yeah.” I gave him a quick embrace. “Thanks, Dad. Everybody going to be ready to go on time?”

  “I think so. You’re not thinking of volunteering for plow horse duty, are you?” He waved toward the sleds.

  I poked at my stomach, miming the presence of extra fat. “I don’t know, I think I’ve gained a few pounds.” He laughed. Even with the feast of potatoes and meat, there wasn’t a single colonist that had a spare ounce of adipose on them. Before I could devote any more time worrying about our caloric intake I heard a clear bell in the darkness. Time to get moving. We caught up with Eliza and Marcus at the growing gathering. As expected, one hundred brave and foolish individuals lined up in front of the shelter’s entrance. The whole group was clad in their ‘cold weather’ clothing and looked quite comfortable next to shivering colonists in lighter fabric. Maybe this whole marching into the abyss thing wasn’t so bad. At least I’d be warm.

  Eliza left my side to take her place next to Jason and Nicole. “Good morning, everyone. And thank you for getting up at this ungodly hour. Those of us who are departing today are grateful for your presence. I’d also like to point out that our rations of hot drinks will be yours shortly, so there is a consolation prize in it for you.” A few laughs could be heard. “At this time I’d like to invite anyone to the front who would like to say a few words.” At first, no one moved. Then a bespectacled young man made his way to the front of the crowd. He wore a close-cropped beard and I saw a kippa on his head.

  “My name is Lucas.” His voice was soft and gentle, almost boyish in a way that b
elied a kind personality. I saw this firsthand when a little boy and a girl ran up to him, wrapping their arms around his legs. “And these are my children. For those who are unfamiliar, the cap on my head denotes that my family and I are Jewish. I am not a rabbi, but if it’s all right I’d like to say a prayer for those leaving us today.” Lucas looked to Eliza for her approval and she nodded.

  “May it be Your will, Lord, our God and the God of our ancestors, that You lead us toward peace, guide our footsteps toward peace, and make us reach our desired destination for life, gladness, and peace. May You rescue us from the hand of every foe and ambush, from robbers and wild beasts on the trip, and from all manner of punishments that assemble to come to earth. May You send blessing in our handiwork, and grant us grace, kindness, and mercy in Your eyes and in the eyes of all who see us. May You hear the sound of our humble request because You are God Who hears prayer requests. Blessed are You, Lord, Who hears prayer.” It was clear the words were old. I didn’t know that many people still held strict religious beliefs anymore. The notion of faith had fled from most people’s lives long before I was born. “Thank you to each and every one of you who are leaving the safety and comfort of familiarity today to seek a better future for us all. May God keep you safe.” Lucas and his children made their way back into the group and I saw a woman hug and kiss him before turning back to regard Eliza.

  “Anyone else?” She spread her arms to gesture the next speaker forward. A few others took their turn in presenting prayers or parables they held dear. Just as my PDA beeped, reminding me that we had to set out soon, I saw one last person take their place. My father.

  “This is a song that my father used to sing to me as a lad. It’s from an ancient text that describes the epic journey of a group of warriors seeking better fortunes.” He shut his eyes and took a deep breath.

  “Far over the misty mountains cold

  To dungeons deep and caverns old

  We must away, ere break of day

  To seek our pale enchanted gold

  The dwarves of yore made mighty spells

  While hammers fell like ringing bells

  In places deep, where dark things sleep

  In hollow halls beneath the fells

  Far over the misty mountains cold

  We must away, ere break of day

  To claim our long-forgotten gold”

  I burst out laughing and Eliza’s eyes shot to meet mine in a glare that could kill. Looking around I could see that no one else got the joke. Dad was singing verses from a song out of an old book-The Hobbit. Many a night was spent with him by my bedside weaving tales of ancient treasure and Smaug the dragon. It wasn’t inappropriate for the occasion; we were heading into lands where there be dragons. The people whose expressions I could see tried desperately to hold onto a respectful gaze—even if they didn’t understand a thing my father was saying.

  With that, we were off. The first fingers of dawn creeped over the horizon, staining the deep blue with rivers of deep red. Against my better judgement I volunteered to carry one of the sleds. Keeping the load balanced on my shoulders let me settle into a rhythmic pace with the group. Left, right. Left, right. Before we were out of sight of the colony I turned back to see that people were still standing there. Some waved, and a couple even cheered, but most just stood still. Watching their loved ones disappear into a whole new world.

  It took almost two miles before I realized that my feet were killing me. Unlike Dad, the last real exercise Eliza and I had gotten was a couple of decades ago. Even with the extra protection of boots, I knew the trek was going to hurt like hell come the morning. More than once Marcus tried to take the sled from me but I refused, citing the need to bulk up for the journey ahead. The silence of the world was unnerving. I strained my ears to pick up any sound outside of the breathing of my fellow colonists and found nothing. The grass was slick underneath our feet and smelled of fresh Earth. The whole scene was surreal; I would have believed it if someone told me we were back in the virtual world. This place seemed too perfect to be true. I wasn’t the only one. Looking around, the expressions on people’s faces ranged from incredulous to afraid. We were strangers in a strange land.

  Never a dull moment.

  Chapter Eight

  According to our rudimentary celestial navigation, we made it nearly fifteen miles that first day. That was better than expected, but the light seemed no closer to us than it had at the colony. After we had made camp the first of the potatoes brought with us were doled out and heated over a fire. It was simple fare, each person provided with a packet of spices to flavor their meal with. Like the space missions of old, the best food came first. We would quickly run through our supplies of potatoes; it was best to enjoy them while you could.

  The meager light pollution of the colony had more of an effect than I had realized. Out here, it was almost as bright during the night as it was during the daytime. Once everyone was settled into their tents, the silence that had pervaded our journey during the day gave way to a symphony of animal noises. Some were recognizable, like the rustle of grass as the area’s rodents sped through the night. Others were completely unidentifiable. I jumped at a long and lonely howl of what sounded like a wolf, only to see a large goose-like bird waddle from the brush. It peered at me with reflective green eyes before taking off with a frustrated chuff.

  Like being in any new environment, I couldn’t sleep. I tossed and turned but even the texture of the ground underneath me kept me from drifting off. Around three in the morning I gave up and slid as carefully as I could out of the sleeping bag. Eliza shifted slightly and I froze, but she didn’t seem to wake up. Good. God knows she had been through enough today. It was downright chilly outside now and I exchanged my lighter pajamas for a warmer covering. I stepped out from the tent and yelped as I remembered that we were camping on grass speckled with rocks. A quick dash back into the tent to retrieve my shoes and I made my way to the fire pit, now empty save a few embers still glowing in the dark. The air was permeated with the smell of fire and food. I heard faint snores from the surrounding tents and smiled. We had chosen a good group. Maybe I was getting ahead of myself, but I had high hopes for the journey.

  Using my tablet, I queued up a program that superimposed the constellations and planets against the night sky and held it up. Translucent labels sprung to life, connecting themselves to the endless white dots in the sky. I used my fingers to zoom in, spreading the stars apart. Dad had told me stories about the night skies on the surface. He would weave tales of how the constellations got to be there, sagas of heroes and villains, monsters and men. Legends that were thousands of years old, and that would survive thousands of years more. Looking up now, the tablet superimposed the figures over the stars for me. I could see the massive paws of Ursa Major, claws stretching across the night sky. Not far away were the mighty weapons of Orion the hunter, the three studs of his belt easily picked out from the rest of the figure. There was Leo—the proud lion strutting across his eternal kingdom. Something deep in my chest tugged at me. The genetic memories of my ancestors? Or a sign of some kind?

  My head whipped around at a crack in the brush at the edge of camp.

  “Hello?” No one answered. I strained my ears to hear anything else. Perhaps someone else had gotten up during the night to use the latrine and stumbled over a twig on their way back. Something told me that wasn’t the case.

  “Hello?” I stood from my seat at the fire pit and looked around for any sign of a human being. I was about to return to my tent when I felt the hair on the back of my neck prickling. From far behind me I felt, more than heard, a deep snarl that made me shiver. Turning slowly, I saw the bright yellow eyes of a panther. The name wasn’t really appropriate for the animal. These were no bigger than a large bobcat. The danger they posed lay in the massive claws dangling from their front paws. Gifted with powerful back legs and fangs half the length of my fingers, the cats posed a formidable threat even to a well armed human. The nearest tents
were further away than I cared. The better choice was going to be to back away slowly and keep eye contact with the beast. If it decided that I was too big of a hassle it might leave me alone. That was what I hoped, at least.

  The cat creeped closer, staying low to the ground. Something on its face glinted in the soft reflection of the camp lighting and the smell of it drifted over to me.

  Fresh blood.

  Clearly kitty had already eaten dinner and I was on the menu for dessert. Shit. I spread my arms wide to make myself look as huge as possible. Was I supposed to make myself as big as possible? Was I supposed to play dead? My breath sped up and I was certain that the panther would smell my fear. The creature’s eyes narrowed as its pupils expanded to find me in the dim light. I bit my lip to keep from yelping as I hit the ground hard, twisting my ankle as I stumbled over a rock on the ground. The panther took my injury as his opportunity to run forward. Almost as if it was in slow motion, I saw the predator leap, claws outstretched, lips pulled back in a roar that my ears couldn’t hear. The last thing I thought was this is such a stupid way to die.

  The beast fell to the ground in a heap. Seconds later the reason why I didn’t hear the animal roar became clear. My head bashed against the dirt as I clutched my hands over my ears. A shotgun blast ricocheted through my skull, the noise making me nauseous. For a minute I wasn’t sure if it was me or the animal that had been shot. A hand pressed against the side of my face and I turned my head to see Eliza above me. Her lips were moving, but I couldn’t make out what she was saying. I blinked hard and tried to sit up but I couldn’t. Even the smallest movement of my head sent electric shocks across my vision. I pushed myself to my elbows and wobbled with the effort. My mouth had been open when I fell and I spat, trying to clear the taste of blood and dirt from my tongue. Slowly, the sounds of the environment around me returned to my awareness.