AWOL

by Traci Harding

  From the initial sound of it, Zeven conceded she was probably right.

  The cell was dimly lit, which was no doubt due to the fact that this prisoner had spent fifty years in isolation and near darkness. Still, Ringbalin’s healing would have corrected any damage incurred by Ahura’s body during his incarceration, so this allowance was probably unnecessary.

  The Dropa Prince had been laid out and fastened to a metal table with cuffs that were all bloodied from his frustrated attempts to free and harm himself. He appeared to be in a mental delirium, babbling and screaming in anguish.

  ‘Kaveh Ahura Mazida.’ Zeven’s address temporarily silenced the prisoner; it must have been some time since he’d heard his true name spoken.

  ‘Angra Mainyu,’ he insisted, as he resumed his fruitless struggle against his restraints once more, bloodying his wrists further.

  Zeven lost his patience and forced the man via PK means to lie still, leaving only his head at liberty. He wasn’t entirely sure that the Dropa Prince even spoke his language. ‘You are not evil and never were,’ he told Ahura to test the waters.

  The Dropa Prince screamed and shook his head to protest the claim, which led Zeven to conclude that he understood well enough.

  ‘Listen to me!’ Zeven lifted the steel bed into a vertical position with a thought, then gripped hold of the taller man’s face to gain his attention. ‘You were cursed right before you coupled with the Qusay of Phemoria.’

  Ahura rejected the claim by refusing to look at Zeven as tears rolled down his face.

  ‘That curse left you immediately following the incident and since then it has been controlling your son.’

  With a gasp of disbelief the prince turned harrowed eyes to Zeven. ‘A son was born of my wretchedness?’ he whimpered, even more distressed.

  ‘It was not you who —’

  ‘It was me!’ Ahura roared, repelling Zeven backwards into the cell wall with a burst of energy conjured by his will. ‘What I did to her …’ The prince did not elaborate, but wailed out his remorse.

  Winded from the impact, Zeven peeled himself off the wall. Ahura was at least as powerful as himself and could have broken free from his imprisonment at any time — just as he could now.

  ‘I am dangerous.’ Ahura’s gaze turned back to Zeven, and there was a caution in his tone. ‘I have no control.’

  Zeven noted the prisoner was wearing a restraining device that still appeared to be working. ‘Does your device not hinder your Power?’

  Ahura began to laugh hysterically, before his expression fell deadly serious once again. ‘Nothing hinders it.’

  ‘Whoa!’ The mind boggled; Khalid was probably far more powerful than he’d ever imagined. Maybe instead of empowering him, the entities at Dead Man Downs had been suppressing Khalid’s power?

  ‘My offspring is evil,’ Ahura assumed.

  ‘No,’ Zeven insisted, ‘the curse is evil, the man is good.’ ‘In another place, another time perhaps?’

  Was Ahura reading his mind? ‘Same soul,’ Zeven argued. ‘My friend —’ His voice wavered upon recollecting Wu Geng and the time they’d spent together in the universe parallel. ‘He died to save my life, and I shall do the same, if need be.’ He assured the prince that his view on the matter would not be swayed. ‘Now, I can put you back in that cell to wallow and rot for all eternity, but consider this … you suffered that curse for but one night; your son has suffered it for fifty years!’ Zeven paused so that he might absorb that premise. ‘Do you want to do something to correct the damage done him or not?’

  Ahura was wide-eyed at the prospect, and seemed to be having a sane moment. ‘I am damned,’ he hissed as if Zeven was daft.

  ‘You are only deceived,’ Zeven appealed, whereupon he found himself airborne again as Ahura responded with force.

  ‘You are deceived! I was there …’ The prince exhausted his anger and began to weep once more.

  Frustrated by a second winding and losing patience with diplomacy, Zeven decided it was time to take action. ‘This place sucks.’ Zeven strode towards Ahura, not prepared to accept psychosis as an excuse.

  ‘Sucks?’ Ahura appeared concerned by Zeven’s intent.

  ‘I believe a wee change in scenery is in order,’ Zeven advised, gripping hold of Ahura’s shoulders. ‘Then I’m going to give you a brief lesson in Phemorian history.’

  It was way too soon for a father and son reunion, so Zeven delivered the Dropa Prince to the coast at the opposite end of Lappis Island to where Vadik based himself. Here the sun was sinking into the ocean and streaking brilliant colours across the horizon. Two of Frujia’s three moons were already glowing brightly in the evening sky above, and Ahura could only gasp as he took in all the beautiful elements around him at once.

  ‘Argh!’ He released a cry both pained and exulted, and then breathed deep the sea air. ‘So, so long.’ With a shake of his head, he closed his eyes — perhaps to deny himself the beautiful sight, maybe to give silent praise for it, or take in the sound of the lapping waves and the lively jungle behind them. ‘I am not deserving,’ he said at last.

  ‘I have indisputable proof that you are.’

  Ahura, finally calm and coherent enough to be curious, focused his sight on Zeven. An intense moment followed as Ahura siphoned everything Zeven had learned about Khalid, over three timelines and two universes, right out of him.

  ‘ARGH!’ Zeven cried under the strain of the information flowing through his mind via no will of his own. Yet he attempted not to impede the information flow — that was like being caught up in a wave you couldn’t surface from — but this was certainly easier than a verbal explanation.

  ‘You are right.’ Ahura released his hold over Zeven’s mind, and Zeven was a little dizzy in the wake. ‘I was compelled by a force beyond my reasoning, but I fathom it now.’ He looked to the darkening ocean with renewed hope. ‘All can be amended.’

  ‘Yes!’ Zeven was excited to note that Ahura seemed to have joined the program.

  ‘And my son is on this very island!’ He threw his arms out wide and moved towards the water.

  ‘He’s not ready —’

  ‘I know.’ Ahura turned back briefly to assure he knew all that Zeven did about the situation. ‘But this doesn’t suck,’ he added, having fathomed the meaning of that term in the process of their mind meld.

  Zeven grinned to agree. ‘So glad we concur on —’ But he’d already lost the prince’s attention.

  The prison clothes were abandoned on the beach, as Ahura ran for the water and dived beneath the waves.

  ‘I remember!’ he cried as he surfaced in a great spray of water, laughing like a lunatic.

  ‘Now I see the family resemblance,’ Zeven uttered under his breath, but it was more than this that had him smiling in this instance; it was knowing that, for once, he was lost in the right direction.

  In honour of the Princess Satomi’s recent resurrection from the dead, those on board AMIE had decided to hold a special dinner, so that she, along with Kalayna, could be formally welcomed aboard the project and be introduced to the rest of the crew.

  As daughter-in-law to the guest of honour, Aurora had decided to cook for everyone, and Kalayna had insisted on lending a hand. Aurora was one of the few people on board Kalayna knew, and she was keen to cultivate their friendship.

  When Taren arrived to check how things were going, she found Kalayna and Aurora dancing and singing away together as they worked. It was not at all surprising to see them getting along like a house on fire — they’d been lovers once upon another timeline.

  ‘You can summon everyone to come and be seated,’ Aurora told Taren when she spotted her by the door.

  ‘Can I help?’ Ray, Aurora’s six-year-old daughter, entered and immediately began eating leftover pieces of pastry off the bench.

  ‘Don’t get all covered in flour before dinner,’ Aurora appealed, just as Ray was about to wipe her fingers down the front of her clean dress. Ray froze, unsure how to disp
ose of the excess pastry sticking to her hands.

  ‘I haven’t seen you since you were a baby.’ Kalayna came forth with a kitchen towel to wipe the child’s hands clean. ‘I can’t believe how you’ve grown!’

  ‘I’m nearly seven,’ Ray said proudly.

  ‘Smells fantastic in here.’ Jazmay stuck her head in the door.

  ‘Look.’ Aurora pulled a tray from the oven and having to get by several people to find a clean space of bench to put it down she took charge. ‘Why don’t you all go and set the table?’

  ‘I’ll help!’ Ray wriggled her clean fingers at her mother for inspection, and then took hold of Kalayna’s hand.

  ‘Very good, you do that.’ Aurora smiled at Kalayna, thankful for her aid.

  ‘You can show me where everyone sits.’ Kalayna allowed Ray to lead her out into the mess room.

  ‘I usually sit between my mum and dad, but I think I shall sit between Grandma and Grandpa tonight.’ Ray outlined her plans on the way out the door.

  ‘It would be nice if Zeven were here,’ Aurora commented to Taren just as she turned to leave.

  ‘Yes, it would,’ Taren agreed, ‘but there will be other dinners.’

  Aurora was not usually sentimental or argumentative, but obviously she felt compelled in this case. ‘What could possibly be more important than meeting his mother who has not seen him since he was a newborn?’

  Taren understood this was an extraordinary circumstance. ‘I wish I could tell you.’

  ‘But you can’t.’ Aurora tossed her tea towel aside in a huff, and then calmed to appeal for more information. ‘Is he in danger?’

  Taren considered the query carefully. ‘No. No, for once I think Zeven is in full control of the situation.’

  ‘In control? Zeven?’ Aurora forced a laugh. ‘I’d pay money to see that.’

  Taren grinned. ‘Perhaps he’ll surprise us all.’

  ‘If you say so.’ Aurora’s disappointment lingered. ‘Still, it would have been nice to have a normal family life for just one evening.’

  ‘Well, to have a normal family life, one needs a normal family,’ Taren posed in jest. ‘Never going to happen.’

  Aurora gave up the bad mood and laughed. ‘It must be time for a drink then?’

  ‘Yeah!’ Jazmay cheered from the door. ‘Let’s get this party started!’ With a wave of her hand, music began pumping through the loud speakers all over the ship, and Jazmay began to dance around. ‘That will save you paging everyone.’ She grinned at Taren, as the rest of the crew began entering the dining hall, some inspired to dance in and some not so much.

  ‘Whatever works.’ Taren decided that she liked the music and began swaying around.

  ‘And for you.’ Jazmay manifested a bottle of mescaline and a bunch of shot glasses.

  ‘Goodness.’ Aurora boggled at the challenge and Taren had to laugh, knowing that Aurora wasn’t that much of a drinker.

  ‘Or?’ Taren conjured them up a nice bottle of Frujian passionberry bubbly as an alternative, which Aurora pointed to as her choice.

  ‘As I’d like to make it to dinner.’ Aurora held out a fluted glass to be filled, as Taren popped the cork.

  ‘Chef’s choice.’ Jazmay shrugged off the rejection and, spotting someone who was surely going to join her, she grabbed her bottle and held it up for him to see. ‘Hey, Mythric!’

  Mythric excused himself from the guest of honour as Satomi was led to her seat by their granddaughter, and ducked over to the kitchen doorway to say, ‘A lovely thought, Jaz, but I am trying to be on my best behaviour.’

  ‘Well you’re all no bloody fun.’ Jazmay looked from Mythric, who frowned apologetically, to Aurora and Taren.

  ‘I know Kalayna likes to indulge,’ Mythric suggested.

  ‘Oh yeah, the newbie.’ Jazmay grabbed a couple of glasses and wandered off to get better acquainted.

  ‘I will have one of those.’ Mythric entered the kitchen proper, as Taren poured the bubbly, and when she handed him a full flute he emptied it faster than she’d filled it.

  ‘You’re nervous,’ Taren guessed the cause of his thirst.

  ‘First night with my wife in thirty-odd years, yeah, a little,’ Mythric admitted, and held out his glass for a refill. ‘And she is the same age as our son now!’

  ‘Satomi adores you, that’s why her spirit stayed by you all these years.’ Taren gave him another half glass, and he polished it off too.

  ‘Aww, it’s so adorable that you would doubt yourself.’ Aurora squeezed his cheek to emphasise her view. ‘Are you sure Zeven is your son?’ Her joke made them all laugh, but Mythric sobered first.

  ‘I could use a pep talk from him right about now.’ Mythric lowered his head but raised his eyes towards Taren in quiet appeal. Aurora mimicked him.

  ‘Oh come on, guys!’ Taren didn’t like disappointing them both. ‘If Zeven could be here, he would be. Still, I know what he would tell you, Mythric.’

  ‘And what’s that?’ Mythric let his wish go, as it was obviously going to be denied.

  ‘He’d tell you that Satomi has been your soul mate throughout every timeline we’ve known you in. She doesn’t know how to love any other man, so you have nothing to be anxious about.’

  ‘How lovely.’ Aurora toyed with her drink, wafting away in a little romantic daydream.

  ‘Would he now?’ Mythric obviously didn’t think the advice sounded very much like Zeven. ‘I rather thought he’d say something like … “just focus on how hot she is!”’

  Aurora nearly spilled her champagne as she burst into laughter. ‘Now that sounds more like my man.’

  Taren couldn’t argue that either, but assured Mythric, ‘It’s all true.’ She served him a slap on the back as Zeven might, and joined the growing party around the table.

  It wasn’t until after dinner that the subject of Zeven arose again, as Taren stood to make a toast on his behalf. ‘Dearest Aunt.’ Taren raised her glass to Satomi, and repeated the gesture in their new crew mate’s direction. ‘And Kalayna. I know Zeven wanted to be here to welcome you both aboard AMIE —’

  ‘Where is Daddy?’ Ray tugged on Mythric’s jacket.

  ‘Sweetie.’ He placed a finger over his lips to let the child know this was not the time to ask.

  ‘Zeven played a vital role in delivering you both safely to us,’ Taren continued, ‘and although other vital work prevents him delivering these good tidings to you himself, please know that we could not be more thrilled to have you both alive, well, and with us on board this craft. To the Princess Satomi and Kalayna!’ Taren held her glass high.

  ‘Just Satomi,’ the princess insisted, as they all rose and raised their glasses.

  ‘To Satomi and Kalayna!’ they all repeated, ahead of drinking and being seated once again.

  ‘Hey, where did Ray go?’ Fari, the only other child at the dinner table noticed her missing from between Mythric and Satomi, and with a quick check under the table, he reported, ‘Nope, she’s not under there either.’

  Aurora’s jaw dropped. ‘I know where she is. That little minx! That’s why she wanted to be seated between Mythric and Satomi — they both have psychokinetic ability!’

  Ray had no Power of her own. She was known as an adaptor; she assumed the power of any psychic in close vicinity to her.

  ‘She’s gone after Zeven!’ Taren realised, quietly panicked.

  ‘Ray has been asking where he is,’ Aurora explained, ‘and as we keep fobbing her off, I guess she decided to go find out for herself.’

  ‘I’ll go after her,’ Satomi was happy to volunteer.

  ‘No,’ Taren forestalled her. ‘I’ll go.’

  The princess obviously didn’t appreciate being overruled by her young niece. ‘I have been waiting decades to see my son —’

  ‘I realise,’ Taren sympathised, ‘but Zeven specifically requested that no one from this crew follow him —’

  ‘I am not on your crew,’ Satomi served Taren a stern reminder, and then vanished in
pursuit of her grandchild.

  ‘Holy shit!’ Taren freaked out, suspecting Satomi was about to come face to face with her murderer.

  ‘What is it?’ both Aurora and Mythric appealed to know.

  ‘I have to go.’ Taren willed herself after Satomi but found she was unable to follow. ‘What the hell?’

  Mythric winced. ‘She’s cast a physic shield in her wake,’ he informed Taren. ‘It’s this little trick she perfected when running from the secret service. Even I have no idea how she does it.’

  ‘Bitch!’ Taren cussed, frustrated by the delay.

  ‘What?’ Mythric didn’t like her attitude.

  ‘How long will it last?’

  ‘Long enough for you to give up,’ Mythric warranted, not seeing the harm. ‘She wants to be with our son and granddaughter, what is wrong with that?’

  For the first time in a long while, Taren was angered speechless. She just threw up her hands and walked away to compose herself.

  ‘What’s the problem?’ Mythric appealed to the captain.

  ‘Taren doesn’t give orders just to piss you all off; most often they are for your own protection,’ Lucian explained.

  ‘Is Ray in danger?’ Aurora panicked.

  ‘Not with her father present,’ Lucian advised, ‘but only the universe knows what she has just interrupted!’

  ‘She’s just a baby,’ Aurora defended, as Lucian was clearly vexed. ‘She didn’t know —’

  ‘Ray and Satomi must understand that as long as they are on board AMIE, they follow orders like everybody else!’ Lucian was not going to be lenient in this matter. ‘When the princess and Ray return, they are to speak to no one before I debrief them.’ Lucian directed his order at both Aurora and Mythric. ‘AMIE is not a family holiday resort; we are not playing games here! This is a huge breach in USS security … that’s the problem,’ Lucian enlightened Mythric, before joining his wife in the hallway to have a quiet word about how to proceed.

  Zeven had re-assigned Vadik to babysit Ahura on the other side of the island; this was mainly to watch that the fallen prince didn’t regress into self harming. He seemed high on life and fairly coherent at present, so Zeven didn’t think there was much danger of a relapse. He left Vadik a communicator and a warning — if his charge did anything odd he was to call at once, as Ahura was far more powerful than any of them and could quite possibly seem a little nuts.