Elysium Shining

by Terri Kraemer

  The guns all stopped. Zoey folded her hands on her lap with the microphone in hand. Then the shots continued to her dismay.

  “You tried,” said Il’lyse, activating the engines. She lifted the craft several meters into the air before moving forward.

  “I love this place,” said Zoey, “but remind me later to never come back this way again.”

  “Noted.” The radio buzzed, prompting Il’lyse to pressed a button twice. “Good, it sounds like we’re ready to go.”

  * * *

  Dasos stood behind the protective glass and waited. The first confirmation signal had gone out, and the crew in the area was waiting for a response. Today they were bringing his sisters home. Today, their family would be whole.

  Tong-Chang worked with Doctor Wilde to make one last check of the machine they had rebuilt with all the help that the Hoshi-Lacartan Alliance could muster. It was a technological breakthrough, but it also was going to rescue two people being hailed as heroes. Damned fools, but heroes nonetheless.

  Beside him, Dasos saw his father and grandpa looking on. It was hard to tell if the two of them were talking nowadays or not, and Dasos had heard that it’d been this way since his father married the other man’s daughter.

  The crew stirred in the main room. Bon’sinne directed the men and women from the same side of the bunker where Tong-Chang and Doctor Wilde were working. A few minutes passed. Then the air twisted and formed a stable wormhole. The sight of it made the captains in the room with Dasos both whistle. The event horizon was turned away from the protective glass or opposite wall, and instead toward the machine that did most of the work, despite being the size of a bathtub.

  A stiern-boat flew through it and over everyone’s heads. It turned half of a circle in the air and slowed to a stop after a few meters. Everyone who was under the vessel had gotten out from underneath it, but the craft moved toward the wormhole’s location while it closed. Dasos caught sight of Zoey laughing on the starboard seat, and Il’lyse working the controls on the other side. The stiern-boat turned once more so its rear faced the protective glass, and it landed before the glow of the thrusters all went out.

  People clapped when the door opened. Dasos ran out into the main chamber to witness both girls come out of the craft. While so many people gathered around, the scientist, Doctor Wilde, coddled the machine like it was his baby. If Doctor Rakendaya could see him now, Dasos thought.

  “Terra-almost-firma, we’re home,” said one of them. Dasos guessed it to be Zoey, with her persistent high energy and knack for words no one knew.

  Tong-Chang hugged them both at once and said, “You need a bath, but I’m glad to see you two.”

  “Yeah, we do. Thank you for bringing us home.”

  Tong-Chang kissed the one that Dasos suspected to be Zoey, who kissed back. “Yep, right one. You have some making up to do for running off like that.”

  “You’re right. I’m so sorry, Tonny.”

  “I’m sorry too,” said Il’lyse. “It’s my fault we chased after Chan-Yeol. Brother! It’s a group hug. Get your ass over here.”

  Chuckling, Dasos walked behind them and wrapped his arms around the girls. He loved them all. He loved this moment. Their immediate family was there. Their parents and grandfather were there. He wasn’t letting go.

  “Excuse me, Admiral,” one man said to Bon’sinne.

  She groaned and said, “Wait for the paperwork to file next week, at least. What is it, officer?”

  “Which one do we take again?”

  “I’ll let you know after my family has had a couple days to be together for once. Now, girls, could you do me a favor and get out of those things before I have you both arrested?”

  “We’re naked under these,” said Zoey. “Can we get a bath first? Ooh, and maybe get some breakfast?”

  “It’s a good thing I came prepared with changes of clothes for both of you.”

  Dasos heard his grandfather bellow with laughter. The older man said, “They’re like my own daughter. Bonny, my dear, you have your hands full.”

  “Yay, we’re a handful!” said Zoey.

  “I don’t think that was a compliment,” said Il’lyse.

  “With our family, wasn’t it though?”

  [ Epilogue]

  Nine months later

  Il’lyse sat upon a couch reading a news magazine while the monitor in front of her was on a string of commercials. She was wearing white pants with blue flowers printed on them. On top she wore a gown of blue and green. The majority of her scars were gone now, as far as her physical appearance was concerned.

  With a glance behind her, around a wooden table, she saw a group of girls who had been looking her way, each one dressed like she was with some differences to the prints on their pants. Half of them looked away. The Ginserei girl who had helped her, and her siblings, during the final Hulda’fi conflict waved her way. Il’lyse nodded her way, and went back to the magazine.

  They were in a clinic that specialized in mental trauma, and Il’lyse was one of several individuals—not brothers and sisters without a name, not a mass of disposable pawns, but all their own, personal selves—being treated against brainwashing and its effects. Judgment had been passed on the cultists who’d been caught. Il’lyse’d dreaded the big day for her own sake, after seeing the worst offenders sentenced to life in prison and the least violent sent to clinics like this one. She remembered well the day, and the intimidating voice she‘d heard.

  Il’lyse Thalassas, alias Soror Valide, you are charged with over 370 billion burras in property damage, ninety-seven counts of murder, three counts of espionage, thirty-four counts of theft, two counts of kidnapping, and piloting a spacecraft without a permit. How do you plead? She’d winced, both back then and now, and pleaded guilty. She had told them she was done running. You have also shown a capacity beyond your peers to grow as a person, to show more remorse than the majority of those sent to seek aid, and to put your life on the line for the sake of others. You have shown cooperation with the law in ways that have saved our society, you came to our aid to strike down a man guilty of high treason and worse, and you elected to bring your true sister home rather than run, knowing well the consequences that await you here today.

  This is a dark time. Too many, already, are being sent away to never be seen by society. Never to be seen by the families they had forgotten. You love your family, do you not?

  Yes.

  As stated before, you came to our aid and saved your sister. Many among us have looked at your case with meticulous care and heavy hearts. Some have argued for a reduced sentence. They were, however, proven wrong and overruled. Il’lyse Thalassas, by the power invested in me by the Hoshi-Lacartan Alliance, I hereby grant you a provisional pardon.

  That day when she had first heard the words, Il’lyse broke down crying. She felt the pain she had caused. Now, as she sat, a tear fell again. It wasn’t fair. Provisional or not, she didn’t feel right to accept the amount of freedom she had.

  So that was how she came here. Society would forgive her if she saw a therapist once a week, and this place fulfilled that requirement. Civilization as she knew it would take her back if she helped pay for her damages by an acceptable degree; so, barring the birthday morning feast she bought for Zoey, and bare minimal living expenses, she kept an eye on the news of markets so she could convince her parents to invest her burras for a cut of the profit so that they would donate her share of the gains to good causes. What little she received from it was a pittance compared to what she had hoped to gain from the practice, however.

  The commercials ended, and a daily talkshow resumed with a new guest. It was Laeknar Veran’uvia Saludalta, heir to her family’s fortune and spokeswoman for the new version of synthonectar. She had lobbied to have a supply of genesis nectar, found a year ago, and again during the Hulda’fi conflict, catalogued for molecular synthesis with greater accuracy.

  Laeknar Saludalta had argued the same then as she was doing now—months after
the deed was done—that the lives that could have been don’t need to be thrown to waste. Those lives never got to start, no one got to make their own choices, but no one needed to suffer when the sacrifice had already been made, as terrible as it was. It was the same argument as before, because it was unchanged in merit, but changed in that the catalogue had happened. Now the improved version of synthonectar needed to hit the market.

  “Miss Thalassas?” said one of the clinical guards.

  “Yes?” she said, being closer to the door than the guard had been expecting.

  “You have a visitor.”

  “Is it that time already?”

  The guard said nothing and led her to a visitor room. No one patted her down anymore. She handed the guard the magazine that she had been reading and entered the room expecting her usual company. It was another man.

  It was a half-Ginserei. He turned from whatever he had been looking at, and smiled at her. There was something big in his arms, but she stared stunned in his eyes. “Hello, Il’lyse,” said the man.

  “You?” Il’lyse said.

  “I don’t know if you remember me, but I’m Brach’geros. We used to go to public school together when we were children. Oh, here’s this.” He handed her a wooden box with roses inside. “I-I wasn’t sure what you liked, and this was probably dumb; I should go—mmf?”

  For a reason she could not fathom, Il’lyse kissed him. Memories from their youth came flooding in. This wasn’t their first time.

  “You haven’t changed much since the last time,” she said.

  “The last time?” he said.

  “Surely you know.” Then she whispered in his ear, “I am the lady of the haunted wood.”

  “It’s really you, isn’t it? Why did you do that, all those revolutions ago?”

  “I don’t know. Part of me thinks I was always a strange girl. I think part of me was sorry that the prank scared you off for good. Why come back now? How did you know I was here?”

  “Zoey told me. I’m an assistant manager at her work, you see.”

  “You are? Thank you for not firing her. I would have blamed myself eventually if you had done so.”

  “No, we chalked it up to a family emergency on top of all the chaos and discord across the city of Trullwick. Zoey’s a good worker. A shame that she’ll be out of town for a couple weeks.”

  “You sound like you admire her.”

  “Professionally? I mean, when she started with us I thought, maybe, it might go elsewhere, but she’s still with the same girl, and only her. I’m probably never going to find anyone, am I?”

  Il’lyse giggled. “Well, you brought me these roses when you didn’t need to. You followed me into the forest that one day when I didn’t know what I wanted. Now I think I might want someone stable in my life.” She caressed the side of his face with her free hand that wasn’t carrying the roses.

  “I don’t want to impose. I mean . . .”

  She kissed him on the lips again. “I’m allowed three visitors a week, not counting my therapist. If you’re up to it, then I really do want you to impose. Bring a movie, bring dinner, bring me stories about what you’re doing with your life. Play it right and I’ll have you bring more.”

  “Y-you want to? With me?”

  “Redemption is a bitch. That doesn’t mean I have to be. So yes, I do.”

  “Then, as your sister would say, I’ll see you on Tuesday, whatever that is. What are all these days of hers, anyhow?”

  * * *

  While they rode in the car past the fields of wheat to one side, copper in color between the dual suns and the large planet in the sky, and plum orchards to the other side of the road, Zoey held the baby boy. She saw none of that evil man in the infant, and much of the Leezu family members that she had seen or met so far.

  Next to her on the right was Tong-Chang, and Dasos sat on the right side of the backseat of the royal salir. A week before her girlfriend had given birth, Zoey had teased the idea of carrying their next child when they were ready. Tong-Chang tried to talk her out of the idea by reminding Zoey that such a thing could be made to happen with today’s medicine, and with ease. Zoey said to remind her again when they were both ready to raise a child.

  Today? Today Tong-Chang was giving her son a loving home that was willing to take the baby in. After months of thinking about it and talking to her relatives, she had decided that this was the best course of action.

  High House Leezu was built atop a raised plateau along with water towers that had been reinforced and protected with barriers in the event of invaders. It was one of the historical landmarks Zoey couldn’t wait to see before the car entered the opening on one side of the plateau. From the opening the road split north and south, both of which climbed up the respective sides after wrapping around and continuing east for half of the length of the plateau. The car entered through the south gate and parked over a lot made from sets of granite half the size of Zoey’s feet.

  The group in the backseat got out of the car, and Tong-Chang took one last deep breath before they trod the walkway to the mansion, spanning a third of a kilometer. Tong-Chang carried the baby, Zoey carried a smaller container in her own hands, and Dasos held his hands behind his head as he looked around. The trio had been informed before the ride that their driver would cart their luggage to the manor.

  On either side of the walkway was a garden with square stepping stones made from brick. The gardens were in square spaces with flowering shrubs for borders. A group of children played with one another between two spaces to Zoey’s left, and a stone marker, similar in shape to the emblematic hair growth on Tong-Chang’s chest, stood to her right.

  On the porch outside the front of the mansion a man and woman sat on the floor, looking toward the gardens and coming visitors. Tong-Chang stopped before them and descended to her knees. She bowed her head to them, and they to her. Zoey had heard that the man among them had been among the competing siblings for the head of the High House.

  The voices of the children reached Zoey’s ears. She could hear them as they sang a tune. She recognized the melody from times when Tong-Chang had hummed to her child before and after birth.

  Life it goes, and go it may

  Life it wills, and will all day

  One day has gone, and fields are run

  When day will come, with more astray

  Well maybe life, it carries you another sun

  “It has been an age, hallowed twin,” said Tong-Chang.

  “Too long, hallowed twin,” said the man. “Is this the child?”

  Tong-Chang held out the boy, and the woman was the first to grab the baby. The woman on the porch smiled, which was followed by her husband taking the child, and Tong-Chang letting go.

  “I’ve heard about your condition, and I apologize,” said Tong-Chang. “May this child bring you the love and happiness you both deserve.”

  “You honor us, sister,” the man said.

  “I ask only this in turn; be the right people for this child, raise him to one day be the right person for the next, and so on.”

  “Hallowed honor upon you, sister.”

  Zoey had read that, in texts, to mean praise for Tong-Chang’s wise request, and that her brother recognized her as a superior in the family hierarchy.

  Tong-Chang stood back up on her feet. As she did so, Zoey restrained herself from walking up and smacking her girlfriend’s bottom in front of her relatives. Zoey never used to be like this, nor was Tong-Chang ever angry about it since it was between them. How did Zoey get to be lucky with her?

  “Tell me,” said Tong-Chang, “I see our nieces and nephews out here, but where are our brothers and sisters?”

  “Inside,” her twin brother said. “They are entertaining a guest.”

  The door slid open manually from two sides with the aid of two Ginserei who were dressed in simple garments. Zoey took them for servants of the house. Beyond the entrance, however, was a procession of men and women in robes, with the two elde
st in front. Tong-Chang took a step back when she saw the people inside the door, throwing her hands up to her mouth, and she once again went to her knees, bowing.

  The older couple walked out while Tong-Chang signaled at Dasos and Zoey, with her hand, to go down. Dasos had already begun to bow in an Aelfen manner, but Zoey read the situation and bowed the same as her girlfriend did.

  “As I understand it,” said the older Ginserei, “neither of you need bow to me. Not in this manner. Rise, my new friends. Tong-Chang II, head of High House Leezu, welcome home.”

  Tong-Chang and Zoey arose as the former said, “Thank you, Your Holiness. I know not for what we owe this honor.”

  “As formal as your father was when I was crowned emperor of Heudee, and that man was my childhood friend. Pah! Enough of this. Will you introduce me to this lovely young woman in your life?”