Kodon

by Chris Mills

  “That’s smart,” Kim said. “I wish everyone could see it that way.”

  “I try and fail too,” Herald admitted.

  Me too.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Claustrophobia had never bugged Stephen in the past. He’d probably panic in a coffin more than anything. Beds aboard the Harbinger were each comfy, and a larger person may be a bit snug in them. There were eight beds to choose from, each bunked, and foot holes in the wall to access them. The height wasn’t great at all with the bottom being maybe only a foot off the ground.

  Stephen lay in his bed up top from the night before. A nap hadn’t come this afternoon like he hoped. Jared and Stephen talked pretty late last night. He had a story for about everything. Living on a ship like this had many thrills. Stephen got the feeling that not everything Jared did or had done in the past was technically legal. It sucked to talk about Stephen’s own past. There was plenty of truth - even if it lacked much. He’d miss Jared and this means of travel.

  “Not long,” Herald said. “We’re an hour ahead.”

  It had been estimated they’d arrive around 6:30 or 7. Jared had factored in a short stop or two originally to grab some food, but his stock onboard had been fine, and Herald agreed to pay more for what they took. It saved some time. Many shows he watched never really showed or told of the time it took to cross space. They’d be traveling in warp for about 36 hours total to reach Galat II, something that Herald thought impressive for a ship like this.

  Things would be different if Stephen got into traveling like this. He’d have to keep himself occupied. Personal starships got expensive the more one wanted. Now if he was on a Galatian Empire starship, then he’d have a lot to do, including work. The academy would have to come first, and he felt at this stage in life, it wouldn’t be worth it.

  Stephen rolled onto his side. A slight drop brought his bare feet to the cool floor. He yawned lightly. Gabe had taken to a game of Klesh with Kim in the other room. It played a lot like chess from their time. Unlike chess, each player had 30 pieces and a choice between too many appearances to them. Her comments towards him got worse in a playful way. He liked to win. Board games in the past sometimes got competitive when Gabe played with Stephen. Monopoly became who had the most and ha ha, I win. Stephen smiled. It was good to see Gabe grinning.

  If this journey ended soon, Gabe and Kim would still have a bit to get home. Had it been five nights now they’d been here? Stephen shook his head. It could press a week and a half before Gabe and Kim set foot in the past, Andy too - which seemed unlikely. Could there be a good response for any of this? Perhaps a temporary memory block existed.

  Stephen found a pair of fresh socks. Herald had been kind to pick up some items for them. Jared wasn’t oblivious to things. He saw they needed to rush somewhere with what they had on them. Herald appreciated the discretion above all else.

  Stephen really had nothing anymore from the past. His clothes were lost aboard the Explorer C along with his wallet. The thoughts of what value he had at his parents’ house faded.

  “Gabriel,” Kim said, her tone nice, yet a hint of irritation. “I don’t like this game.”

  “Come on, babe,” Gabe said. “You only have a couple more moves.”

  “I surrender.”

  “No. You need to finish.”

  Kim knocked over her golden tower onto the board. A black tower soon moved forward. A wizard appeared on top of it and did a little dance with a staff, pointing and making faces at her. She tried to smack him, causing the wizard to fall to the board. He soon came to a knee with the help of his staff and shook his finger at her. Stephen chuckled.

  “Come on,” Gabe said. “You got better.”

  “Stephen can play you next,” Kim said.

  “No time,” Jared said, as he closed the bathroom door. “We’re close. I’d like to see Mr. Heartfield take a fall and all, but I think you all will want to get into a room for the night.”

  “Isn’t there a little time?” Gabe said. “It took a bit to land on Earth.”

  “It does take longer,” Jared said. “If you want to play, play. The table is hooked to the external cameras. I always like to watch my arrivals.”

  “Oh,” Gabe said. “Cool.”

  Stephen took a place behind Jared on the bridge. The tease Herald did with Galat II would be over. This multi-story planet would finally show. The truth to the amount living in the heart of the empire would be revealed.

  “Soon,” Jared said. “I never like coming here.”

  “Yeah, you said that last night,” Stephen said.

  “I hate the idea of how high you live determines what class you fall into.”

  “Me too,” Stephen said. Unlike Earth, living on the ground meant you had nothing. The higher up, the better. “Do you like anything about Galat II?”

  “I used to fancy a girl who lived here.”

  “Fancy?”

  “I know, it’s off for me to say. I loved her. She had an apartment here. She spent a lot of time traveling for her company. I never got to see much of her place with the rush of things.”

  “What happened?”

  “It’s a long story for another time,” Jared said. “I like some restaurants she took me to and a park that I could escape the feel of the planet for a while. It’s sad they chose that poor planet for it.”

  “They chose it?”

  “Yep. Didn’t they cover that in school?”

  “Planets were not my thing,” Stephen said, shaking his head.

  “Me too,” Jared said. “I never went to school. My uncle did well, and I learned the rest first hand. Galat II long ago was a beauty. I saw pictures. This innocent planet was uninhabited by advanced life. The Telicions picked it to become the future of the Galatian Empire. Up things rose like wildfire. Sure, I hear they saved most species, but even the oceans are covered. It’s like technology replaced the planet.”

  “The Telicions really chose it?” Stephen questioned. “Shame.”

  “Yep,” Jared said. “I never got why they called it Galat II. Galat is one of their moons. Couldn’t they name it something else?”

  “That is strange.”

  “Yep. It’s something they did to honor their last emperor. He was a Galat. Damn, that was so long ago.”

  The empire was more than 800 years old, and Galat II had supposedly started near the beginning. The idea of the empire did make sense to Stephen. The council had total control and power split, a final rule needing most to agree. People trusted the structure enough to grow to that size. Stephen didn’t want anything to do with power like that or a decision to take an entire planet and do what Jared spoke of.

  Beep. Jared tapped the dash. Stars slowed. “Here we are,” Jared said.

  Other ships popped into the area not long after. Jared took little time getting them out of the entry zone. The traffic grew not long after. Stephen brought his hand above his eyes. There was plenty to see, but no planet. How far out did this traffic go?

  “Don’t worry,” Jared said. “My ship can move past the usual traffic. It has an ID for express business.”

  “That helps,” Stephen said.

  The Harbinger’s engines lit. Their path went around much of the line and behind a flowing line of large crafts, possibly futuristic semis, and other ships. Stephen had to chuckle as it felt like he was watching a jam on the other side of the highway.

  “It’s times like this, I’d use a horn,” Stephen said.

  “Half them wouldn’t care if they heard it,” Jared said. “What’s your favorite thing to drive?”

  “Classics,” Stephen said. “I like some reproductions from the early twenty-first century. My dad had a reproduction of a Ford Mustang made.”

  “That must have cost a fortune?”

  “He thought it was worth it,” Stephen said. “I haven’t driven that for a while.” The thing would be towed from the garage at some point. His father would roll over in his grave if someone scraped that convertible.<
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  “I wish I could see a picture.”

  “You could give me a way to get in touch.”

  “I’d really like to,” Jared said. “I would. My current line is compromised. Long story.” That line had been said a lot. “Do you have one?”

  “Herald has the line,” Stephen said. “I don’t have one personally right now.”

  “I can try to get it from the man,” Jared said. “I don’t think he likes me too much.” Stephen chuckled. “I’ll tell you this. I’ll get his line. If you do get back to Fluge’s in a couple weeks, he’ll remember you, and I know a server there that owes me a favor there. Kari by then will have seen me and have a new line.”

  “Do you have this issue often?”

  “No,” Jared said. “I haven’t had this issue for a long time.” How did a communication line really work? “Don’t worry, if fate wants us to talk again, we will. It’s been fun.”

  Stephen nodded. He’d have two lines if he had issues. Perhaps Jared had other means to get ahold of him, but a direct line tended to be the best. Herald’s was currently set up through the empire and contained messaging, video, and audio. Communication travelled far faster than a ship could and through different means which maybe Stephen would one day learn - after he figured out what the heck to do next.

  “Galat II,” Jared sighed.

  “That,” Stephen began. “Wow.”

  “Not my type of wow.”

  Blue, green, and lush were words Stephen thought of habitable planets. Galat II had an odd whitish glow that offset the dark orangish appearance. It was as if the planet gave off a light of its own for all to see. The closer they got, the more lights became visible upon it. The glow reminded Stephen of satellite views of Earth at night over a populated city and at a much larger scale than anyone could believe.

  Jeez. Stephen found his friends behind him. Their looks seemed to agree with his. If this was the heart of the empire - it sure was ugly. Masses of traffic floated about, moving at different rates, theirs among the fastest, cruisers of great size patrolled, stations the size of Nelespinster were in sight, and for the first time, they could set their eyes on real shipyards. This was the future - one he hoped humanity would never bring Earth to. No wonder Galat II had been chosen. No one was foolish enough to do this to their own planet.

  “Look at that,” Jared said. A box flashed repeatedly on one of his screens. “We’re cleared for entry.”

  “It looks creepy,” Kim whispered to Stephen. He could only nod.

  The Harbinger took a course towards the planet at a faster rate. Jared kept up the spot Herald had wanted. It might take them a half hour to get to the Galatian Empire sector from there. Jared may not question if he did drop them off there, but with everything, Herald was cautious. Jared also wanted a drop off where he didn’t have to pay. His plans were to lift off soon.

  Fire burned against the window. The Harbinger shook lightly, causing a hand to press against Stephen’s back. Wow. From the welcoming of space, Galat II looked much different here. A crystal glow radiated from the tops of many buildings. The upper city stretched endlessly, its beautiful architecture a mix of angles and curves unlike any he’d seen. Light streamed upon mirrored rooftops and gave warmth to the area. Streams of traffic moved fast in every which way. True levels were built upon this planet, and it went down to where not even the best eye may see. Beauty came to Stephen’s mind, yet he remembered the same when he came to New York - and the feeling of displacement that followed.

  The Harbinger pulled up over the upper city, joining a couple of ships looking for a hanger. Jared kept his hand moving over a screen and muttering under his breath. His ship soon lowered over a large circular platform where another ship started to take off.

  “This is a drop off,” Jared said. “We have to make this short.”

  Stephen soon took a place at the back of the Harbinger with the others. Herald kept being a bit standoffish with the communication line at the door, but finally gave something, along with a kedren chip. With that, Jared hit the panel.

  Wind whipped against them. The smell seemed too real for up here. Fresh air in a major city of this size should have something off-putting to it. It reminded Stephen of the area around his old apartment. He stepped down onto the platform. Horns erupted in the distance, the flow of traffic had true noise, and the swarm of a major city took him. He smiled.

  **

  It was too good to be real. Herald stepped into the Morsho Hotel and Convention Center with a smile. A tall tree towered high in the main lobby. Festive decorations floated about the tree at all times for holidays being celebrated around the galaxy. Beautiful purple and red ribbons wrapped it now. Orange crescent moons floating around. He stared up high to the top where a much larger holographic moon levitated.

  The main hotel room floors ran up around the tree, towering all the way near the top floor. Herald had been here three times with Alvin Porter. The two had been on the twentieth floor before, sitting on the rail after a long day. Alvin got in trouble once for a dare that sent a glob of spit to the lobby. That last high school trip had been the best. They spent an hour outside their room that last night having a very serious talk of what may come. The empire had been their future then.

  Herald walked up the steps to reception, running his hand along the smooth black rail. This place had been very nice to him the five times he visited, starting with his parents and the last before he moved into the academy. It was pricey, yes - and for good reasons. It rested only a little outside the Galatian Empire Sector. Like he thought, all the hotels inside were mostly booked.

  A Riftvore sat behind the dark wooden desk. Her head rose with a smile. “Welcome,” she said. “Have you a reservation?”

  “Yes,” Herald said. “Three rooms. It should be under Zumerkrin.” He thought a fake name would be better, but his signature would register him, and trouble may arise.

  “Very good,” the woman said. She pulled up the whole screen from the desk into the air. “Here you are. You’re verified. Herald Zumerkrin. Very good. I see you have four others. I’ll need your signatures for what rooms you wish to stay in. This will register with the lifts. We take pride with the measures we take.”

  “I know,” Herald said. There had only been five rooms left here, each with one bed. Their large size shouldn’t be too bad for any of them. Gabe and Kim might like their time here.

  Herald went ahead first. DNA scans could be manipulated. The direct touch he brought with his hand read more to him. Every Galatian Empire starship he had been on used the same method. The others soon had their scans in little time. The woman handed a packet for each room, her smile never fading.

  “This is really the place you came to visit?” Stephen questioned, as they neared the lifts. Herald nodded. “It’s really nice.”

  “Yeah,” Herald said. “I hope we can all get some rest. I’ll let you know what I hear after I’m done contacting them.”

  “A nice shower will do wonders,” Kim said. “Thanks for letting us get something quick again.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Herald found a spot not far from here while he looked for reservations. His new handheld had some issues with its initial setup, thanks to the custom OS he put on it. He wanted to be on a secure network before he plugged in everything that related to his financial accounts - an old habit. There were a few places to eat and a store that had apparel for decent prices. They spent about an hour there. The best part about universal space time was it matched here, and he didn’t have to worry about check-ins.

  It had pushed to almost eight at night. It felt right to finally be here after a long journey. Herald waved goodnight to the others. The view down had Kim looking a bit uneasy. He had never been up this high before when staying. The hologram crescent moon had more to admire.

  Tap. A small click sounded within the lock of the red door. Finally. Herald let the door close behind him. The room lit on its own, a greeting telling him of breakfast time
s and the line for room service. This place never ceased to impress him. It would be triple the price if in the Galatian Empire Sector. The security may be on the ridiculous side then.

  The bed had been made up and far too big for only him. His mind slipped to a woman. A foreign cold briefly rose in his heart. He rested his butt on the bed and stared out the window at the night traffic. The sun had about gone from this planet. A simple order let the window fade to the bluish color of the wall. He sighed. This should be where Darren should be spending the night. Damn. Tears fell.

  Darren had talked about wanting to leave the empire in a couple years and with the woman he had been seeing. He may have been a little ahead of himself with her. He deserved to have the future he wanted - not ash in space. He wiped his tears. At some point, he would figure out how the funerals would be handled.

  Herald cleared his throat and took an easy breath. He eyed the bag he brought with him from Fluge’s security guard. He had new clothes and a broken handheld he never let out of his sight before all this.

  The new handheld lacked but did what he needed. Herald brought it to life with a certain swipe and found the new communication interface this thing offered. He could eventually bring what he was used to, but it took time he didn’t want to spare now.

  Tap, tap. Herald brought the handheld to his ear. “Greetings,” a friendly voice came. “Please verify your identity.” Herald allowed the scan from the buzz to his ear and gave his verbal code he had for such emergencies. “Thank you, Herald Francis Zumerkrin. A note had been made on your account. I will connect you.”

  “Connect me?” Herald questioned. “Hello?” Only music. The melody came from a musical a decade back. This Telicion drama had big numbers, and Herald wished he could have gone to a live showing.

  Herald sighed and lay back on the bed. Sleep hadn’t been easy. This bed absorbed and called him to close his eyes. “Herald, about time,” a voice came. “Please, tell me you’re there?”

  “Councilman?”

  “How many times must I tell you to call me Jim?” Councilman Wallace questioned. “Herald, I am relieved to hear your voice. I wish I could have spoken to you on Earth. I understand your hesitation. Are you okay? How are the others?”