Fractal

by Rachel J Mannino

  “Where is she?” Captain Fayn asked, a smile turning up the corners of his mouth.

  “Not now, Fayn.” He detested the rodent-faced captain more than any other man in the galaxy. He brushed past him and proceeded up the hallway.

  “It will have to be now. We have a problem.”

  “What?” Varick stomped along the corridor

  “This planet isn’t federated.”

  He swerved around

  “It isn’t on any of the registers for the Star Alliance, the United Association of Planets, or any other list of federated planets. We scanned all of their planetary communications. There are a lot of theories on alien life, but no officially acknowledged visits.”

  Varick cursed and spun away from Fayn. He ran his fingers through his hair, pulling at it. He fought the urge to pummel the wall.

  “Why did we not know this before we landed?” He rounded on the captain with a snarl

  “You were in such a hurry to find the Vadana, we didn’t have time to check and do everything in order.” Fayn’s expression turned smug.

  His temper snapped. He took one giant step forward, peering down into Fayn’s gray eyes. Varick smelled his noxious breath and the sweat coating his skin

  Fayn shoved at his chest plate. “Ay, no need to be in my face. This is your own fault.”

  “Listen to me, Captain…” He grasped Fayn’s dingy uniform, and backed him up against the wall. Fayn snarled at him and grabbed at his wrist.

  “Surprise, surprise. I find Captain Fayn and the Protector at odds again,” came a voice from Varick’s right.

  He glanced up to see Councilman Meroca standing a few steps away, in his customary dark-brown robes, a silken belt tied around his protruding stomach. The councilman’s face held none of its usual mirth. He wore a stern expression, and Varick sensed a forthcoming lecture.

  Shoving his irritation to the pit of his stomach, he released the front of Captain Fayn’s uniform. Fayn knocked his hands away. He rested against the hallway wall, straightening his uniform.

  “Councilman.” Varick tilted his head in a perfunctory nod as he stepped away from Fayn

  “The Vadana is not here?” Councilman Meroca folded his hands on his rotund figure.

  “She is, but she knows nothing of Dahrel, or why she’s here, none of it.” He paced in the small space between Captain Fayn and Meroca

  The councilman pursed his lips, studying the floor. His brow crinkled in that expression that told Varick he was gravely worried.

  “Well, we can’t stay here. If a federation finds out what we’ve done, we’ll all be imprisoned.” Captain Fayn pushed himself off the wall.

  “We’re not leaving without the Vadana.” Verick took one step in his direction

  Fayn clasped his fists at his sides. “We have to. I know you weren’t trained in interstellar travel, Protector, but even a Guardsman of the Realm knows we can’t be here.” Fayn raised his fists and moved into a fighting stance.

  “Enough.” Councilman Meroca boomed.

  He and Fayn veered away from each other, angling themselves toward the councilman.

  “We will move and put the ship in stealth mode. That should protect us for long enough.” Councilman Meroca glared at them both

  “With all due respect, councilman, we have no idea how long it will take Varick to do his job. Making the ship invisible won’t protect us indefinitely. They can still track us using other methods. More time consuming, perhaps, but they can still figure out that we landed here.” Fayn folded his arms across his chest

  “You shouldn’t be worried about Varick doing his job. You just need to worry about doing yours. Your job, Captain Fayn, is to protect this ship from capture for as long as possible. Move the ship to a nearby location, and ensure we are hidden well.” Councilman Meroca’s lips drew into a thin line. “Varick, follow me.”

  The councilman trod toward the lifts. Varick followed in his footsteps. They entered the lift and Meroca let out a great sigh. He ran one hand over his graying beard

  “One day, either you and Fayn will get sick of scrapping with one another, or one day I won’t be around to referee, and you’ll tear each other apart.” Councilman Meroca threw him a look of disgust. “At this point, I’m not sure which I’d prefer.”

  He shuffled his feet, clearing his throat. “I’m sorry, councilman.”

  “You can keep your ‘I’m sorrys’. I’d rather trade them in for some peace on this vessel.”

  His gaze focused on the floor. He woke up this morning convinced today was the day he would find the Vadana and save his people. He walked off the ship onto solid ground, with the cheers of millions ringing in his head. In a few moments, it had all gone wrong

  The lift stopped on the atrium level. Above, the apex of the ship came together. No matter how many times he stood here, he marveled at its construction. The peak was made of a light, reflective metal. Its incredible resistance to heat made it ideal for entering and exiting a planet’s atmosphere, yet sunlight could filter through when heated. Meroca commandeered this section of the ship to grow plants. The fresh food from the atrium supplemented their cybernetic food and often tasted much better

  The councilman strolled over to a fine crop of young vegetables set out on a long worktable. “Tell me what happened with the Vadana. Why did she not expect us?”

  “I have no idea. She kept saying she didn’t know what I was talking about. She didn’t know anything about Dahrel. She…yelled at me. She commanded me to go away even though I pleaded with her to help her people.” Varick rested one hip against the table.

  Councilman Meroca clasped his hands together, his eyes on the vegetables before him. He shook his head

  “Where were her parents? They swore they would prepare her.”

  “They died, she said, years ago.”

  Varick remembered the flash of pain in Anna’s eyes when she spoke of her parents. He could read every emotion that passed across her expression: fear, anger, pride. As thoughts of the Vadana preoccupied him, the councilman leaned on the table, his arms trembling. The color drained from his face as he gripped a towel in one meaty fist. His jaw opened and closed, but nothing came out, until he cleared his throat.

  “Perhaps they didn’t get a chance to tell her.” Councilman Meroca’s voice quivered.

  Varick pushed himself away from the table to pace beside it

  “They should have educated her from birth. If they’d raised her on Dahrel, she would have grown up on stories of her ancestors, lessons on our etiquette and customs. They would have groomed her for her position every second.”

  The ship shuddered. A moment of intense gravitational pull grabbed at his body before the ship’s stabilizers kicked in.

  “Tell me, Varick, if they had prepared her since birth, how would the child have been able to cope with living where she was?”

  Varick glowered at the councilman as he paused in his steps. “I don’t understand the question.”

  “Her Protector evacuated her from the planet as an infant. If they had raised her as a ruler here, on a planet with different people and different customs, exactly how would that have gone for her? Would she have been able to live among these people, blend in and hide, all the while knowing she should live in a palace and rule an entire planetary system?”

  Meroca leveled a hard gaze in his direction. He nodded his understanding. They wanted to protect Anna. He understood that

  “I’m sure it’s an inconvenience to you now, but if you were her father, I don’t doubt you would have done the same thing. They raised her as an Earth-dweller. I’m sure they intended to groom her when she was older. On the other hand, perhaps they had planned to conceal her identity until the homing beacon activated. They could have had any number of intentions, Varick. We may never know their reasons.”

  Councilman Meroca poured soil into an empty pot, spilling half the contents onto the table. He seized a young vegetable by the stalk and yanked so hard and fast the pot went fl
ying across the table. He took a gasping breath and dropped the plant into its new, larger home. He wouldn’t meet Varick’s gaze, but Meroca’s eyes glistened.

  “I’m sorry… I forgot her parents were your friends.”

  Meroca placed his hands on the table and hung his head. Varick grasped his shoulders. The smell of damp dirt and bitter greens drifted up from the table.

  “You should come with me to talk to her. You’ll reason with her. She’ll listen to you.”

  “No.” Meroca twisted away from his grasp, wiping tears from his eyes. “You are her Protector. She must trust you with her life. More than any other Vadana has ever trusted a Protector, she must trust you. You must reason with her, explain why she is here. Gain her trust, Varick. Our world depends on it.”

  He nodded. The ship shook again as it landed. Varick stepped over to the wall of the atrium to give the councilman some privacy. The ship settled down alongside the town, just over the crest of another hill. An expansive meadow spread out below him.

  From his new vantage point, he could see the house the Vadana was in at this very moment. Even now, in his mind’s eye, she stood in that doorway, her crystal-blue eyes radiating anger right at him, while the breeze swirled her chestnut hair around her shoulders.

  “Return to her Varick, alone. Dressed as these people dress. Win her trust.” Councilman Meroca placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

  “How?”

  “You will find a way. You must.” The councilman squeezed his shoulder.

  Chapter Two

  “Why would I want to be queen of anywhere? I have enough trouble just keeping Brendan in line and running a flower shop.” Anna bent over her worktable, elbow deep in repotting a large fern, while Hannah perched on the ledge of the window across from her.

  She’d closed and locked the door to her shop to keep out the sheriff, the firemen, every townsperson within a mile, and the press, who all came knocking today. Who knew they had reporters in these mountains, anyway? Anna didn’t. Not until that spaceship dropped out of the sky and turned her life upside down.

  Now a fleet of TV cameras were aimed at her front door. She had to take the phone off the hook and confiscate Brandon’s phone when he got calls from the press. Thank God they had enough food to last for a week or two. She dreaded leaving the house for any reason.

  Hannah rested on the windowsill ledge, her legs hugged to her chest, rocking. Anna hated it when she sat there, afraid she would fall and injure herself someday. But she never listened, and Anna was tired of telling her, so she focused her attention on the plant in her hands. She pounded soil around the base.

  “Why would you want to be queen? I don’t know. Why not? It would be adventurous, exciting, challenging. Maybe even dangerous, if you’re lucky.” She teetered right on the edge.

  Anna held her breath for a moment before Hannah caught herself with a start. She stopped the rocking and crossed her legs, one over the other. Anna’s shoulders relaxed, and she returned to the work at hand. “Why don’t you go be their queen, then?”

  “Ohhh. Don’t you ever get bored? Don’t you just want to get out of this town and do something amazing?”

  “No, I don’t. I want to take care of my brother and run my shop and enjoy my morning coffee.” Anna finished repotting the plant in her hands with a pat. She shoved it off to the side.

  “Look, all I’m saying is you could’ve at least heard them out. A group of handsome men came halfway across the galaxy for you. Why did you have to send them away?”

  She laughed. “Is that what this is about? You didn’t want me to go anywhere or do anything exciting. You just wanted to get yourself a date?”

  Hannah glared at her. She smiled back, enjoying an opportunity to tease her for once. It was her first laugh of the day.

  “Exactly how many single men do you think there are in this town? There were at least two dozen soldiers. We had the chance of finding a good man for a minute or two before you yelled at them to go away.”

  “Hannah, you’re unbelievable. If you want to find a date just go up to Twin Oaks or go down to Wilkesboro one night, but don’t go looking to hook up with an alien or two.” She laughed again and selected the next plant for repotting

  In truth, the plant didn’t need repotting, but the smell of damp soil soothed her. It reminded her of her mother, who was always in her garden while she was alive. Today she needed to feel close to her parents in whatever way she could manage.

  This morning had shaken her, right down to her roots. Her stomach knotted, and she jumped at every knock on the door. It was too elaborate to be a hoax. The ship, the noise, the burn marks left in the grassy field. News vans came from miles around to film it, to interview people, to collect cell phone pictures and videos, to try to interview her. She didn’t know what it all meant. Why her? Why claim she was their ruler?

  And that man, Varick. He had sauntered toward her with such absolute confidence. He had proclaimed her his queen and acted as if she was supposed to jump up and go with him. Like she should’ve expected him. Yet, she had no idea what Dahrel was. It nagged at her, and it left her wondering if he had been telling the truth. Anna shook her head. It was impossible

  “I can’t go to either of those towns by myself and you won’t go with me. Ugh, and that one who was talking to you? He’s the most handsome man to ever enter the town limits.” Hannah folded her hands and rested against the window with a sigh.

  Anna’s lips parted in a small smile as poured potting soil into the larger pot. Warm, green eyes floated in front of her vision, and her smile widened

  “I knew it! I see that smile.”

  “What? So what if he’s handsome?”

  “What did he call himself? Your prince?”

  “Protector. Who even knows what that means?”

  “It means you’re crazy for not at least inviting him for coffee.” Hannah giggled as she teetered on the edge of the windowsill again. Anna chuckled

  The bell tied to the flower shop door jangled. It was well after dinner, and she’d locked that door. She whipped around. “We’re closed.” She froze

  Varick stood just inside the doorway, dressed in jeans and a button-down shirt covered by a short, brown coat to ward off the evening chill. He gazed at her and hesitated for a moment.

  “How did you get in here?” she demanded

  He swallowed, and cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. I heard your voice, and I wondered if I could speak to you for a few minutes?”

  “We thought you left.” Hannah rested her head in her hand and propped herself up over her lap.

  “We had to move the ship. We’re not far. So we can be nearby without attracting a lot of unwanted attention.” Varick tore his gaze away from her.

  Anna huffed. It was far too late for that. They’d attracted the attention of the whole state, possibly the country by now.

  His words started and stopped in stilted phrases, as if he was still trying English out. A flood of questions sprang up in her mind, about him and his people and why they were here. She pushed them away, reminding herself she had a life here and a brother to look after.

  “I told you to leave me alone.” She took off her gloves

  He flinched

  “What she means is you should have coffee with her.” Hannah jumped down from the windowsill and took a few hops over to land in front of him.

  Anna groaned inside.

  “I’m Hannah by the way.” Hannah extended her hand.

  He stared at her.

  “I’m Anna’s best friend.” Hannah donned her brightest smile, usually saved for flirting and talking her way out of trouble. A stab of annoyance ripped through Anna’s chest.

  “Hannah…” Anna threw her gloves onto the worktable.

  “Hello, I’m Varick.” He smiled down at her

  “Yes, I heard.” Hannah put her hand down at her side. “Okay, never mind with the handshake. I guess you don’t shake hands on your planet?”

  “No
.” His brow furrowed. “Is that a custom?”

  “Yes. That’s all right, though. How about some coffee?” Hannah gestured toward the kitchen

  He shook his head. “I don’t know what coffee is.”

  “We’ll teach you—it’s a drink. People tend to have coffee when they’re going to discuss something important.” Hannah spun away from Varick and bounded up the three steps to the door that led to the kitchen. “You said you wanted to talk to Anna, yes?”

  Hope shined in his eyes. “Yes.”

  Anna stiffened at the soft, pleading note in his voice. “No.” She folded her arms across her chest. This man was crazy. He could keep his secrets. She liked her life

  Hannah jumped down the stairs and grabbed her most accessible hand. She pulled her toward the kitchen. “Don’t listen to her. She’s just stubborn.” Hannah smiled at him

  “I’m stubborn?” Anna extracted her hand from Hannah’s firm grip.

  An average-sized kitchen for a farmhouse, cabinets and counters lined up on the left where she stood. Varick surveyed the kitchen while Anna dragged Hannah off to the side to tell her exactly what she thought of this idea. Anna hissed her displeasure, and Hannah responded with soothing tones and smiles.

  They glanced over at Varick, and he moved a few steps more to the right. He hovered over the table in the far corner of the room, stacked with papers and books. Examining everything, he fingered the checkered curtains around the windows as if he’d never seen anything like it before.

  “Are you hungry?” Hannah held up an orange.

  He twisted to face them.

  Anna eyed him, her arms still crossed.

  “No. Thank you.” Varick took a step over to the table, pulled out a chair, and gestured. “Your Majesty?”

  She resisted his invitation, drawing further into herself. What he was doing here? He was confident this morning until she told him to leave. Now he seemed unsure. Yet, he’d returned, still intent on speaking with her. She hated to admit it, but her own curiosity was now getting the better of her