The Slave Planet

by Seven Steps

  “Why did you do that?” Kiln asked.

  Nadira narrowed her eyes and examined his face, “You were hot. I felt it.”

  “Only the strongly bonded can share sight,” Embrya said. “That bond will help you greatly on Earth.”

  “Earth?” Nadira let the word roll off her tongue like water.

  “Yes,” Embrya said. “Arees has been sent to Earth. But you must be cautious. Earth’s atmosphere only allows Earth’s thoughts. Breathe in too much of it, and you become one of them, an Earthborn. The Toma will guard you from their atmosphere but only for a short time, four of their days at most. If by sunset on the fourth day you are not on the ship, you will forget everything, and your mission will end.”

  “If that happens, what will you do?” Eva asked. “Will you come for us?”

  “I’m afraid that neither my people nor I can go,” Embrya said. “The Earthborn will take one look at us, and we will become their prey. Earthlings are... closed-minded when it comes to differences. Besides, I cannot risk us losing our connection to Zenith.”

  “Why can’t you just send one of the Zenithians with the Toma?” Eva asked.

  “We already have the sight,” Embrya said. “If we compound upon it, sight upon sight, it will kill us. If I send one of my people with the fury, it will possibly kill them. Four days is too long to be filled with the fire seed. No, it must be you.”

  Eva began to argue again, but was cut off with Embrya’s icy look. To her right, Lex hovered between the ground and the ceiling.

  He opened his eyes, seeming to see Eva for the first time.

  Embrya nodded at him. “Oh, Lex. You will find that you are more powerful than you can ever imagine.”

  Eva scowled. “What about me? What can I do?”

  Embrya walked over to her, placing a hand to her shoulder. “The Toma hasn’t called you yet.”

  “What do you mean, yet?” Eva asked.

  “These things take time,” Embrya said. “The Toma grounds you, connects you with us. To begin that process, you must have a clear mind and a pure heart. If you don’t, well, you are no better than the ambassadors that dance in my ballroom. A good person but not worthy of greatness.”

  Eva glared at Embrya. “Are you saying that I’m not worthy to wear this?”

  Embrya’s eyes filled with pity. “I am saying that sometimes, it takes time. Unfortunately, you will lose your memory when you arrive on Earth. But because you are surrounded by the Tomas, it will be much slower, gaining you an extra day at least. But don’t worry. If you follow Lex, you will have nothing to fear.” Embrya dropped her eyes from Eva’s accusing stare and turned back to the group. “You have the Tomas now. Find Pennick. Find Seven. Then find Arees. Everything that you hold dear depends on it.”

  CHAPTER 23

  How dare she call me unworthy! Eva thought. Who does she think she is calling me unworthy? She’s the one who deliberately gave me the broken Toma. She’s had it out for me since I got here. I just know it!

  Eva reclined in her yellow, cushioned seat and stared unseeing out of the side window of the ship. This is the worst trip ever! Why is mine the only Toma that won’t work. I feel like an outcast. I wish that I could just go back home.

  She felt Nadira’s hand on her knee. Nadira had just returned from changing into new clothes. Her white shirt was cropped and sleeveless. The hem of her loose, white pants fluttered midway around her sculpted calf.

  Eva had changed into the same clothes earlier.

  “You’re not okay,” Nadira said.

  Eva shook her head. Hurt and anger dueled violently within her, fighting for dominance. She unclenched her teeth and took a deep breath, trying to keep some form of control. “Nadira, I just want to go home.”

  “There isn’t anything to go home to.”

  “What if I didn’t want to go with you to Earth?” Eva asked.

  “Is this because your Toma hasn’t called you yet?”

  “That’s exactly what this is about. Why is mine the only one that doesn’t work? It’s like Embrya is deliberately trying to single me out.”

  “I’m sure that’s not the case.”

  “And there’s something else too. She said that Lex is our leader.”

  “Yes?”

  “Nadira, he’s a man. They haven’t lead anything in thousands of years. Are you sure that she’s making the right decision?”

  “She’s Embrya. She can’t make the wrong decision.”

  “She’s not infallible.”

  “She’s close.”

  “By the Mother Goddess, Nadira, don’t be so easily lead! We should have asked more questions, gotten clarification. I mean, why did she push Arees in the first place if she knew that we would have to retrieve her?”

  “She didn’t push her. Dell Una did.”

  “But Embrya made the black hole.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “Nadira stop!” Eva cried. “Just because you have the Toma does not make you a robot. You are allowed to have doubts, questions. We should have questioned this. By Venus I wish that I had said no.”

  “I don’t think you had a choice,” Nadira said. “You would have had to come with us regardless. You know that.”

  Eva looked back out of the window. “What you’re suggesting is kidnapping. Are you kidnapping me, Nadira?”

  Nadira didn’t respond.

  Eva felt like everything was spinning out of control. Just days ago she was the leader of her own life. Not even her mother had the final say over her. Now, Embrya had taken the reins of her without even asking. The very thought of it made Eva’s blood boil. No one would control her. Not now, not ever. Control was freedom, and she was determined to keep hers.

  Eva continued to pace between the seats. Everything about this mission seemed wrong. From her Toma, to Lex’s leadership, to Nadira’s blindly following Embrya’s directions. Did no one think for themselves anymore? Would no one question the great Embrya?

  She plopped back down into her seat, her mind settling on the best way forward.

  I will question it, Eva said. I will question everything. If not, then something may go wrong and I can’t let that happen. I can’t let some winged creature control my fate. I won’t allow it.

  Nadira pulled Eva’s head down to her shoulder. Eva sighed, but didn’t resist. Despite everything, Nadira was still her best friend.

  “What would make you happy?” Nadira asked her.

  Eva thought a minute. “For things to be back to the way they were. When I knew what was happening in my life. When I wasn’t chasing down some mad Councilwoman. When it was just me and you, sitting in boring meetings and passing notes. When my life was normal. Nadira, this isn’t normal.”

  Nadira kissed her forehead. “It’s reality. It’s our reality now.” She lifted Eva’s chin. “I’ll make you a deal. You come with us to find Arees, Pennick, and Seven. We’ll have one last adventure together. And then, when we bring Arees back to Zenith, I will personally escort you back to Venus.”

  Venus. Just the thought of her home brought Eva more joy than she thought possible.

  “Do you promise?”

  “Yes. But I can’t promise you that it’ll make you happy.”

  “That will make me happy,” Eva said.

  Everything will be back to the way it was, Eva thought. I will be in control of my life again.

  “I can’t promise you that it’ll be what you expect. Venus is in pieces.”

  “I can help. I’m sure I can.”

  Nadira sighed and patted Eva’s knee. “Yes, Eva. You can help.”

  “Will you come with me Nadira?” Eva’s eyes searched hers. “I’m pleading.”

  Nadira pursed her lips and put Eva’s head back on her shoulder.

  Lex appeared to Nadira’s left. His eyes were downcast, his shoulders stiff and unsure.

  Nadira looked up at him, then at Eva.

  “I’ll go help Kiln,” she said, before slipping away to sit next to Kiln i
n the pilot’s chair.

  Lex sat in Nadira’s empty seat.

  “Long day,” he said, clasping his hands in front of him.

  “Very long day,” Eva replied shortly.

  “I’m sorry about your Toma.”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  “I’m sure that Embrya didn’t mean to-”

  “Of course she meant to. She hates me.”

  “I’m sure she doesn’t hate you.”

  She whipped around, and pushed her Toma into his line of sight. “Then how else would you explain this?” She cried. “Or the way that she dismissed me when we saw her at the fountain? Or the way she’s so short and unfeeling with me.”

  “Eva-”

  “She has had it out for me since the beginning. And I’ll tell you something else. I don’t want to go to Earth and get Arees or anyone else. We should go back to Venus and focus on overthrowing Jun-Su.”

  “That’s not what Embrya wants.”

  “Who cares what Embrya wants!” Eva roared. “Who do you want to please more, your Empress or Embrya?”

  “Eva, of course I want to please you, but-”

  “But what? But you want to serve the Magistrate? Is that it? Your loyalty goes to the Magistrate, but not me? Is that how it goes?”

  “Eva, I have no choice. If we defy the Magistrate, who knows what she’ll do.”

  “She won’t do anything. She said it herself. She can’t leave Zenith.”

  “True, but she can send Zenithians after us, just like she sent Dell Una after Arees. And don’t forget, I’m Glorium, servant to Heedon. If I defy Embrya, or Heedon, I don’t know what will happen.”

  “Embrya. Heedon. It’s always about someone else. What about me? What about what I want? Don’t you want me to be happy?”

  “Of course I do.”

  Eva’s eyes blazed. “Then turn this ship around and take me home.”

  Lex sucked in a breath. When he spoke again, it was slow, careful. “I can’t do that.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because it could kill us all.”

  “What if you’re wrong?”

  “What if I’m right?”

  Eva stood, her hands on her hips, her body leaning over Lex. Her voice dropped to a growl. “If you continue on this suicide mission, I will never forgive you.”

  Lex stood to his full height, several inches taller than Eva. His eyes turned a shade she’d never seen before. The blue, orange, yellow and red danced together like the flame of a candle.

  “I am trying to protect you. Even if you never forgive me, I’m only trying to protect you.”

  They stared at each other for a pregnant moment. Defiance, anger, and longing made the space between them heavy.

  “You’re right, Lex,” Eva said. “I’ll never forgive you.”

  CHAPTER 24

  Earth 7010

  “What happened to the moon?” Kiln asked from the pilot’s chair.

  The moon was broken, cracked into a thousand shattered pieces.

  “Do you think a meteor hit it?” Lex asked. His fire red hair seemed dull under the low lights in the ship. His crimson eyes looked nearly black.

  Kiln’s eyebrows furrowed, “I don’t know.”

  The ship, the Jewel, carefully maneuvered through the broken pieces of what was once Earth’s moon. Within the ship, Nadira, Eva, and their former slaves Kiln and Lex, flew through the blackness of space towards their ultimate destination, Earth.

  “This can’t be right,” Eva said. “With no moon, it can’t be safe for us to land.”

  “If it wasn’t safe, Embrya wouldn’t have sent us,” Lex said shortly. He examined the broken moon before him. “Why don’t you and Nadira prepare the packs? We’ll be touching down soon. Whatever happens down there, we want to be ready.”

  Nadira scurried to the back of the ship.

  Eva huffed and rolled her eyes. Just days ago, Lex had been Eva’s Prime Servant, and the only man who had ever held her heart. But that was before everything changed. Before they escaped Venus, before they defeated Czarina Arees, and before the Magistrate Embrya divided them all with the Tomas. Eva’s eyes dropped to the necklace hanging around her neck. She flicked it with her fingers and watched the Toma rock from side to side. She then looked at Nadira. Her Toma was bonded to her, sticking out of her bronzed chest like a seashell in the sand. Why was hers the only non-working Tomas? Did the Magistrate think that Eva wasn’t worthy of the power that the Toma imparted?

  Eva shook her head, and refocused on Nadira, and on Lex’s recent commands.

  “Can you believe him?” she asked. “Why don’t you and Nadira prepare the packs? Who does he think he is?”

  “Eva, please just do what he says,” Nadira said. She gathered her long, dark, kinky hair atop her head and fashioned it into a bun. “Embrya says that we should follow him. He’s our beacon.”

  “She didn’t say anything about manual labor. Besides, I can’t follow him. Embrya said that in four Earth days, if we’re not back on this ship, we’ll lose our memories and be stuck down there. Do you really want to leave your future in the hands of a man?”

  “Just another reason to get in and get out, fast.” Nadira set a completed pack down and picked up another. “Then, you can get back to Venus.”

  Eva frowned. “I guess so. You’re still coming with me, right?”

  Nadira kept packing, but didn’t look at her. “We’ll see.”

  “You always say that when you don’t want to give me a straight answer.”

  “Say what?”

  “We’ll see, perhaps, maybe. Why can’t you just tell me if you’re coming or not?”

  “Eva, it’s a big decision for me to make,” Nadira said.

  “Aren’t I worth it?” Eva stuck her lip out in a pout.

  Nadira chuckled and pulled Eva into an embrace. “Of course you are, and you don’t have to do that lip thing with me. I’m not your mother.”

  “Well, it works sometimes.”

  “Yes, sometimes.”

  The ship passed the broken moon, zipped through space, and entered the Earth’s atmosphere.

  When the last pack was completed, Nadira moved to her seat and looked out of the window. She let out an audible gasp. She’d seen pictures of Earth before, but it never looked like this.

  The continents were gone, replaced with three large round mega-islands and considerably more water.

  “What happened to it?” Nadira whispered. “It’s nothing like the pictures.”

  Breaking through a line of clouds, they passed over a vast jungle that spread toward the horizon. A flock of yellow-beaked, green-feathered birds flew close to the ship before steering left, disappearing into the canopy of the massive trees. Something like thunder rumbled in the distance.

  Lex pointed to a narrow stretch of bare earth next to the mouth of a wide river. “There’s a clearing. Everyone strap in. We’re about to touch down.”

  The ship bucked then tilted into a slight, downward angle. It leveled out and tilted down again. It continued this pattern for a full minute before they heard the landing gear click into place. They landed on the shore, the ship’s wheels sinking into the soft mud.

  Lex let out a breath, unlocked his seat belt, and turned toward Eva and Nadira. “We’re here.”

  “We noticed,” Eva said.

  Lex glanced heavenward.

  “Do you have a plan, fearless leader?” Eva asked.

  “Not yet, but I’m sure I’ll figure something out.”

  Eva shook her head in clear disapproval. She saw the flames grow in Lex’s eyes again as he pressed the button next to the door.

  The ship’s door opened to a wave of wet heat and filtered sunshine. They stepped out onto the soft and spongy ground and examined the jungle before them.

  “Are you sure this is where we’re supposed to be?” Eva asked, adjusting her heavy backpack.

  “This is where the coordinates said to go,” Lex said.

  Trees wit
h curved branches greeted them. Long, thick vines hung down from the canopy above. Large insects flew low over their heads. The pungent odors of foliage and dirt hung heavy in the air. A cool breeze blew over the surface of the river and along the shore, giving them some reprieve from the heat. Ahead of them, something growled and roared, causing Kiln to jump. He felt a wave of fire threaten to crash out of him, took a deep breath to calm himself, and stepped closer to Nadira.

  Nadira took Kiln’s hand. “Where to?”

  They heard the rumble before they felt it. The ground heaved and rolled. For several seconds, wave upon wave of earth moved below them. They rode it out, keeping their knees bent so they wouldn’t topple over.

  When the ground stilled, Eva sidestepped to regain her balance. “What was that? Was that a quake?”

  “I think so,” Lex replied.

  Eva’s eyes, wide with fear, looked from side to side as if expecting the ground to roll again.

  “We should get moving,” Lex said. Remembering that he was Glorium, he squared his shoulders and pushed vines out of his way as he marched into the jungle. “We need to find the others as quickly as possible.”

  If they’re even alive in this wasteland, Lex thought. He allowed Nadira and Kiln to move ahead of him, purposefully waiting for Eva to catch up.

  Her face was set in serious determined lines. He tried to take her hand, but she snatched it away.

  “Don’t touch me,” she growled.

  His heart stopped, and he took a step towards her.

  “Why? What did I do that was so wrong?”

  “You think that because Embrya said you were the leader that we’re just supposed to fall in line. Well guess what? I follow no man, and I especially don’t follow her.”

  “But how is any of that my fault? I’m just trying to do the best I can.”

  For Embrya, he thought. For Heedon. For you.

  “Are you, Lex? Are you really?”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “When you saw that my Toma didn’t work, what did you do about it?”

  “What was I supposed to do?”

  “You were supposed to speak up, to say something in my defense. Instead, you just allowed her to talk down to me as if I were a ma-”