Tree: Live to give, give to live (Numbered Book 3)

by Magus Tor

“Thank you for understanding,” Nicholas said quietly.

  “Thank you for your sacrifice,” said Aurelia. “Now I'm guessing that you could use some rest. Are you coming?” she asked Elza.

  Elza blushed and shook her head. “I think I'll stay here for a little while longer. I'll join you for dinner.”

  “Right,” said Aurelia, biting back a smile. Yes, there was definitely something going on here, and she was more than happy about it. Elza and Nicholas could be good together if either one of them allowed something to happen.

  Back at the main building, Aurelia ran into Jonathon just as she was about to go up to her quarters.

  “Hey, I was looking for you,” he said, joining her on the stairs.

  “Yes? Done with the important work, are you?” she said, more sarcastically than she'd intended. In truth, she was a little irked that she'd been left out of things.

  He regarded her for a second, then smiled. “I know you're mad that you weren't included. Come to my quarters; let's talk for a minute.”

  She followed him up to his room, and he poured her a glass of water while she got comfortable on the couch.

  “Aurelia,” he said, coming to sit next to her. “I'm not leaving you out, I promise. Half of the stuff your father and I discussed today was boring and logistical and of no interest to you whatsoever.”

  “Okay,” she said, drinking a sip. “But this isn't the first time that you've planned things without me. I'm supposed to be your partner in this. I have ideas. I'd like to be included in discussions.”

  He nodded. “I can understand that. And maybe it's force of habit. I'm so used to keeping information in compartments, having as few people as possible know details. It keeps all of us safer that way. The less you know, the less you can tell others, even accidentally.”

  Aurelia tried to be reasonable. She didn't want to argue with him. “I see your point. But I also think that from now on, you're going to need to be a little more open. We're all going to need to work together to do what needs to be done, and you know that.”

  “Yes,” he sighed. “You're right, and that's exactly what your father told me. I need to be more trusting of people. I'm sorry I didn't include you this morning.”

  She snuggled up next to him. “You're forgiven,” she said, curling her legs under her. “I had a pretty interesting day anyway.”

  “Oh yes? What did you get up to?” he asked, putting his arm around her.

  She told him about exploring the village, the school, and about visiting the settlement with Lukas, as well as about Lukas's outburst in the boat.

  “He's a smart kid, that Lukas,” Jonathon said. “And good at what he does.”

  “Well, when you're President, he can be your Minister of the Environment,” she said, smiling.

  It was an hour or so until dinnertime, and the two spent the time chatting and laughing. Aurelia's eyes were sliding shut with her head on Jonathon's lap when his com beeped.

  “Answer,” he said.

  “Jonathon, Aurelia with you?” It was her father, his voice brisk and sharp.

  “Yes,” he said.

  “I need to speak to you privately for a moment, if you don't mind. Aurelia, could you go to your quarters, please?”

  Aurelia pouted at Jonathon but got up. Her father didn't often give orders, so she knew that if he was telling her to go, there had to be a good reason. She closed the door softly behind her before the voices started talking again.

  In her own quarters, she changed into a clean uniform, finding a selection in a cupboard on the wall. She was just straightening up her hair when there was a knock on the door, and without waiting for an answer, Jonathon came rushing in.

  “Sit down,” he said. His face was tight and pale, the creases around his eyes deep.

  Obediently she sat on the edge of the bed. “What?” she asked in fear.

  “Your father didn't know whether you should be told or not, but I persuaded him that you had to be. We can't keep this from you.”

  “Keep what? What? What is it?” Her voice was rising in panic.

  He came and knelt down beside her, taking her hands in his. “Aurelia, it's your mother.”

  Chapter Nine

  Her vision swam for a moment, and she was afraid that she was about to pass out again. “What? Just tell me, Jonathon, please.”

  He took a deep breath and said as calmly as possible: “We've lost contact. We don't know anything more definite than that right now.”

  Okay, that could be bad or not so bad, she thought, trying to slow her racing heart. “And what exactly does that mean?”

  Jonathon rose and sat on the bed next to her. “Everyone who goes out on a job has prearranged contact times. Times that they call in and leave a certain message or speak to a certain person. That's how we know that everything's going okay. They have codes that they can pass along to tell us certain things. Your mother missed her contact call last night and missed her secondary contact call this morning.”

  Aurelia nodded in understanding.

  “It could be that, for whatever reason, she couldn't get to a com. Maybe she's sick, maybe she's in the middle of the job and can't interrupt what she's doing, maybe she feels she's being watched. Though missing two contact calls in a row is unusual. Or it could mean...” He hesitated for a moment.

  “It could mean that she's captured or dead,” supplied Aurelia, dully. “Yes, I realise the implications.”

  He put his arm around her and held her tight. “I know this is your mother, Aurelia; and I know that you have strong feelings for her that I, with my family, couldn't possibly understand. But I want you to know that we're trying to fix this, and the best thing you can do right now is work with us. Come downstairs and join our planning meeting, please?”

  She nodded against his chest. She felt empty, but there was a little spark of hope inside. She didn't believe her mother was dead and wouldn't believe it until she saw her. And if there was going to be a chance to save her, then she had to go to the planning meeting.

  “Things are moving fast, Aurelia. While you were gone, Elza received news from Lunar. The President is extremely ill. We need to get things in place down here so that we're ready for the election. Do you understand?”

  “Yes,” she said, sitting up. “Our work here must continue with or without my mother; I get that.” She didn't sound angry—she wasn't angry; she knew what she'd said was true, even if it hurt.

  “But we will do everything we can to find her, I promise.”

  He held her for another few moments until she was ready to leave. Then he helped her up from the bed and opened the door. “Be brave, Aurelia,” he whispered as they left her quarters.

  In the large circular room downstairs, her father was the first person she saw. She wanted to rush to him, to hug him; but there were others here, so she gave him a small smile. He nodded in return, seeming relieved that she wasn't going to be hysterical. His eyes were sad, but he went back to conversing with a small, dark man.

  “If everyone could sit, please,” Jonathon announced.

  Jonathon sat at the head of the table, Aurelia's father on his left, Lukas on his right. There were four other Workers Aurelia hadn't yet met. Just as they were settling into their seats, the door opened again. Elza walked in first, followed by Nicholas, still a little pale and with his left arm held tight to his body in a sling.

  “I couldn't keep him away,” Elza said, grimacing at Jonathon.

  Jonathon grinned. “Good to have you back,” he said to Nicholas.

  Now that all were seated, Jonathon cleared his throat and began. “I'm going to keep this as brief as possible. I want to fill you in on our plans and what preparations need to be made, so that you can then filter the information down to those you have contact with and we can get the ball rolling.”

  It seemed that everyone at the table had at least some idea of what he was talking about, and no one looked surprised as Jonathon continued.

  “Our basic aim for
the next couple of weeks is to inform those who need to know of our goals and to get support. That means the spreading of information and being a little less secretive than before. You all understand that means a risk.”

  Various heads around the table nodded, and Aurelia wondered where he was going with this.

  “In order to minimise this risk, Stefan and I have agreed that our best course is to speak with as many people as possible at one time and in one place, preferably a secure one. As I speak, we have people in City 05 working to arrange a large enough space for us to hold what will essentially be a political rally.”

  “Why 05?” asked one of the men Aurelia didn't know.

  “Because 05 is the most isolated City with the most clear ground around it,” Aurelia's father explained. “Getting people in and out will be less risky, there’s less chance of being seen, and we've been promised that there is a natural chamber underground and close to the City itself that will be large enough for our purposes and is safe.”

  The man who had spoken nodded, and Jonathon went on.

  “In essence, I need as many people there as possible, and not just those who are in the Resistance. I want leaders, the strong, the opinionated, those who can be expected to take control and persuade others. And obviously, we'll need the logistical things as well—food, water, transport.”

  “Medical care,” put in Elza.

  “Medical care.” Jonathon smiled. “To that end, Stefan and Aurelia will be travelling to each of the Earth Cities in the next few days to spread word of the rally, starting with City 04.”

  Ah, thought Aurelia as her father looked at her pointedly. That was deliberately planned.

  “Lukas, I will ask you to escort them to 04 and use your contacts at the shuttle bay there to try and arrange the transport that we're going to need.”

  Lukas nodded and looked at Aurelia. So he knew too. She was glad that he was going to be there to help them.

  “Elza and Nicholas, you will go together and speak with Clones at the various military installations. Can you do that?”

  “Of course,” said Nicholas seriously, though Aurelia noticed that Elza was smiling at her lap so that the others couldn't see.

  The rest of his orders were for the others and involved storage and essentials such as food. When he was done, less than ten minutes had passed. An efficient meeting indeed.

  “Questions?” Jonathon said.

  “One,” answered Nicholas. “How are we going to keep this secret? I mean, given that we're supposed to go around inviting everyone we think might possibly support us, there's a huge chance that either before or after the rally information is going to leak out, and we're all going to be arrested, and you'll never win the election.” He made it sound so matter of fact, like this was all just a puzzle to be solved, not a risk that could kill them and potentially hundreds of others.

  Jonathon glanced at Stefan, who gave him a nod.

  “There's a two-part explanation,” he said. “Firstly, none of those coming will be informed that I will be there. That will make it more difficult to persuade them to come, I understand, but will also prevent my name being linked with this. I'm not comfortable with remaining hidden, but Stefan has convinced me it's necessary.”

  “Fine,” said Nicholas. “Makes sense to me, but what about after the rally? What happens when everyone leaves?”

  “Ah,” Jonathon said. “They won't leave. Well, at least for a certain amount of time.”

  “What?” Elza said in disbelief. “You're going to keep everyone prisoner?”

  Jonathon looked down and blushed a little. “Sort of. The timing of this is important. We're going to keep the rally going, hopefully, until we hear the President has died. Once that happens, we let everyone go, unaware that they were being kept against their will, and hightail it back to Lunar in time for the election.”

  Nicholas astonished everyone by starting to laugh. “Audacious,” he said when he'd recovered a little. “It could work, though. The election process is fast, and news doesn't travel quite so fast, particularly when it's something as unbelievable as you holding a political rally in a cavern in City 05. The only problem could be,” he added astutely, “if the President dies before your rally starts.”

  “Then we just have to hope that he doesn't,” Jonathon said.

  The four men Aurelia didn't know slowly left the room, then Elza stood too.

  “Nicholas, if you want to be part of this, you need to rest tonight. We will make our plans to leave tomorrow,” she said.

  “Right you are,” he said, standing too.

  Aurelia had rarely seen him so tractable, and she thought that Elza was having a very good effect on him. They left, and Jonathon got up to close the door behind them.

  “You three will be going to City 04 first,” he said as he came back around the table to sit down again. “And I'm going to tell you something that I don't like saying but that needs to be said. You will make every effort to find Aurelia's mother, but you will not endanger your primary goal in City 04. Once you have persuaded those who need to come to the rally to come, then you will leave and go on to the other Cities. With or without Mrs. Cole.”

  He looked grim, and Aurelia understood that he was just doing what he had to do, but it was still blunt. She caught her father's eye.

  “Aurelia, know that your mother and I always knew the risks. Always. If she found out that you risked the whole point of our work just to rescue her, she would not only be angry but be very disappointed in you. If we can't find her, can't rescue her, if she's...” He paused for a second and swallowed. “If she's dead, then destroying Jonathon's plan will mean that everything we've worked for was pointless. Understood?”

  Aurelia nodded. “Yes,” she said quietly.

  “And you, what are you going to be doing?” Lukas asked Jonathon inquisitively.

  “I shall be going to City 05 tomorrow and making all the arrangements from there,” he said. “It's the best place I can be.”

  “And it keeps you out of trouble elsewhere,” Stefan added.

  Jonathon frowned but nodded, then looked at Aurelia. “I wish I could come with you.”

  “Me too,” she said simply but smiled; she knew why he couldn't.

  “Alrighty,” Lukas said, standing up and stretching. “I'm going to go figure out some transportation to City 04, and you guys had better get some rest, because it's going to be an early start and I'm not planning on waiting for latecomers. If I've got to wake you up, it's not going to be pleasant, trust me.”

  He disappeared to make arrangements, and Jonathon came over to Aurelia, dropping a kiss on her forehead. “I'll be there to say goodbye,” he told her before leaving, running a few steps to catch up with Lukas.

  “Bedtime, little girl,” her father said, offering his arm.

  Aurelia took it, and quietly the two walked up the stairs to the living quarters.

  “Dad,” she said, as they reached her door. “Do you think Mum is okay?”

  He pulled her into a hug and held her for a few moments, and she felt like the little girl he'd called her. It was a beautiful, safe feeling, and she appreciated the gesture.

  “I think your mum was doing what she loved to do, what was important to her. And if anything has happened to her, then know that she always lived her life right. Always. If she's alive, she’s okay. Your mother has always been a strong woman, just like you.”

  “But...do you think she's dead?”

  She felt him shrug. “Aurelia, you're too old for me to tell you stories. I have no idea. And I won't believe she is until I have proof. Look at me.” He pushed her away at arm's length so that he was looking directly into her eyes. “I love your mother as much as I love you, and it will destroy me if anything has happened to her. But until I know, I won't stop working. And I will always know that whatever sacrifices were made, they were made for the right reasons.”

  She saw the truth burning in his eyes and leaned in to kiss his cheek. “Love you, Dad
,” she said.

  “Me too. Now get to bed! My wakeup call will be even worse than Lukas's if I have to wake you up.” He grinned.

  Alone in her room, Aurelia gave in and stuck a sleeping patch on her arm. This could be her last chance for some decent rest; and she knew that, unaided, she would only lie awake thinking. She didn't want to think right now. She tugged her uniform off and climbed into bed, pulling the covers over her and calling out to switch off the light. She yawned; the patch was taking effect. Briefly, she wondered where her mother was sleeping, but her eyes closed and she fell into sleep before she could dwell on the thought.

  It was still dark. Looking out of the window as she hurriedly dragged her uniform on, Aurelia could see that the sky had a very faint tinge of grey; but it was still at least a couple of hours until dawn, maybe more. The com alarm had woken her, and once she was dressed, she ran down the stairs two at a time to the main room. She found the table piled with bags.

  “What's all this?” she asked Lukas, who was checking items on his personal screen.

  “Let's see,” he said. “There's food for travelling, a med kit, some basic survival stuff, and winter and summer uniforms for us all.”

  “Winter and summer?” she asked, confused.

  “It's damn cold in 04 at this time of year,” he answered. “And stupidly hot in 03—even hotter than here, so you'll have to be prepared. You should be able to pick up anything else you need along the way. Resistance contacts will take care of you.”

  “How are we getting to 04?” she said, picking up a bag experimentally and finding that it was much lighter than she had expected.

  “Ha! That's my secret for now. You'll find out. Gotta take a boat first, though.”

  Aurelia stuck her lip out. She wasn't fond of the boats at all.

  There was a flurry of activity. Nicholas, Elza, and Jonathon all came to say goodbye; and as Nicholas and Elza were helping Lukas and her father with their bags, Jonathon took her to one side.

  “I love you,” he said.

  He didn't need to say anything more. She knew. He held her for a moment, then kissed her and let her go.