Bright Star

by Talia R. Blackwood

  I narrow my eyes. “Venture a guess,” I ask in a low voice.

  She sighs. She squeezes her eyes shut, then in one breath says, “Clones are three times humans. If only they could gather….”

  The vehicle lands with a jolt that makes me nauseated again. The door opens abruptly. Outside stands another one of those creepy bodyguards. “You have arrived at your destination, sir.”

  I EXIT the elevator and hurry into the right corridor. I did it. I’m about to reach Prince.

  The journey from the spaceport to this medical center wasn’t difficult, although it was horrible. The mono turned out to be a sort of gigantic elevator that moved horizontally on a single rail, almost suspended in midair. A terrible experience, as is the whole colony. I wandered around, constantly shocked, horrified, sick, dizzy. Everywhere I went, the small, irritating flying objects began to scream. I had to use the password dozens of times. Fortunately in this city humans don’t attend the same places as clones, and I didn’t meet a single purebred. Solartrance explained to me that humans are insensitive to the password. Indeed, humans can recycle you just for using it.

  My method had been this. Whenever a flying object began to scream and cast the blue light on me, soldiers and guardians approached, so I used the password with them and asked directions on how to continue in my quest for Prince. They gave me instructions and I went on until the next screaming object. Not difficult. Even an idiot like me could do it. Things got complicated when I entered the medical center through a side entrance reserved for clones. In the corridors, I began to see some humans. But no flying objects and it was enough to walk with my head down.

  Now I’m wearing a white uniform, courtesy of the password. Some orderlies put me in the right elevator. They say Prince is in this department. And this floor, unlike the others, seems almost deserted. The orderlies explained to me that almost no one is subject to suspended animation, by now.

  I walk along the corridor, peeking inside the open doors. In the first room, I see some sarcophagi in disuse, and my heart begins to beat wildly with excitement.

  The only closed door is down the hallway. I begin to walk in that direction. But I have to stop and turn around abruptly when a group of humans comes out, chatting.

  They don’t pay attention to me. I pretend to walk in the opposite direction, head down. As soon as the humans overcome me and reach the elevator, I run back and slip into the room.

  Thirty-seven years to watch that sarcophagus, and of course I recognize it instantly. This is Prince’s sarcophagus.

  And it’s empty.

  “No, no, no!”

  I beat my fists on the brink of the open coffin. Prince woke up and I wasn’t with him. I wasn’t there.

  “I’m so sorry,” I say, touching the padding that preserves the shape of Prince’s body. “I’m so damn sorry!”

  “You… guardian angel?”

  I jump and spin on my heels.

  Another person is in the room. At first the empty sarcophagus absorbed all my attention, and I hadn’t noticed the silent human hidden behind some medical instruments. The purebred gets up.

  The human is really strange. He’s graceful, delicate, long bones, big eyes, and seems to have no hairs on his face but really a lot of hair on his head. Full of wonder, I realize that I’m probably looking at one of those legendary creatures Blasius called women.

  The woman narrows her eyes and looks at me, coming forward, so I’m forced to retreat until my back touches the empty sarcophagus.

  “Extraordinary,” she says. “I’ve never seen a clone like you. Are you the last guardian angel?”

  I tremble. I have to talk to that human purebred. I absolutely have to, and anyway I have done things far more frightening today. “Yes, I am. Please, woman. Where is my Prince?”

  She tilts her head, amused. On her face, a warm expression that I’ve seen only in Prince’s eyes. “Call me Dr. Rais. I guess you are referring to Kian. He also asked for you, waking up.”

  I hold my breath. The heat starts from the center of my belly and spreads to my whole body, to my face. “Really? He really asked for me?”

  “Repeatedly and insistently. He was unusually lively for one just awakened from a long period of suspended animation.”

  Suddenly I want to cry and have to stop myself from hugging her. “Is he well? Did he suffer too much? Where is he now?”

  “Slow down!” She laughs. “I was just checking his condition, which as I said seemed excellent, but then came the senator and….” Her expression darkens. “Kian is currently at the royal palace.”

  This woman isn’t like all the purebreds. I sort of like her. “Thanks, woman, I mean, Dr. Rais. I have to go.”

  I start toward the door, but she puts her hands on my chest. “Whoa, stop, where are you running, guy?”

  “I have to go to Prince,” I explain, impatient.

  She shakes her head. “You won’t go far. It’s not easy entering the royal palace. And Kian is in a delicate position. Rather unpleasant, if I have to express my opinion. He isn’t just one of the many pastimes of the senator. For Reinhold Coburn, Kian represents the acquisition of an extra power, since he’s a legend as the last terrestrial, and loved by the public.”

  I frown.

  Dr. Rais narrows her eyes and scrutinizes me. “Can I ask you a question, guardian angel? Why are you looking for Kian, now that he’s awake and your task is finished?”

  All right. I sense that she’s a bit like Prince. I know nothing of humans, but I’m beginning to suspect those with that warm, deep look are the best. I have to explain the situation clearly, as I did with Solartrance.

  I straighten my shoulders. “There was an emergency. Prince—I mean, Kian—woke up. He taught me how to make love. He didn’t care that I was just a clone. Now we are in love.”

  Incredible.

  My words have the same effect of the password.

  Dr. Rais lights up, her eyes widening. “Fuck! Why are we wasting time here? The senator has stolen my patient from under my nose and I’m going to the royal palace to insist on examining Kian once again. And I just decided that you are my attendant.”

  She smiles, then laughs. I laugh too.

  Damn.

  I think I like women.

  IN MY new rooms, I just have time to hide the alien spheroid into the pillows of the bed before the home automation operating system announces a visit. I ask for details. It’s the senator.

  I hope he doesn’t want to fuck me yet.

  “Can I refuse to let him in?” I ask the home OS.

  “Negative, sir,” the synthetic voice answers. “The senator has green code in all the rooms of the royal palace.”

  Yeah. I guessed it. My new rooms are, in all respects, a prison. A beautiful prison, with a courtyard in which real plants grow, a spa tub, a real fireplace and all the amenities, but I’m not free to leave. Either the senator is an extremely possessive man, or there’s something else underneath. “Let him in, then.”

  The home OS unlocks the door and Reinhold Coburn slips inside, smiling at me.

  “I thought I could take a bath and rest for a while,” I say, sulking.

  “Sorry,” the man says, narrowing his cruel eyes. “I am here only for your welcome gift.”

  I hope the gift is not part of his body. I mean, I know I’m not in a position to refuse anything to him, but I’d like to procrastinate on this unpleasant task as long as possible. I smile at him. “A gift?”

  “I wanted to give you jewelry or flowers,” Rein says, advancing toward me, brushing my messy hair with what appears to be affection. “But we are short of both, here on the colony. You will learn that life here is pretty tough, hanging by a delicate balance between the hostile environment and the proper functioning of reactors for terraforming. For many people this is sad, but he who has control of the reactors has a huge power in his hands.”

  I muse on him in silence. No need to ask who has the power. I’d like to know, instead, if the s
enator is deliberately slowing down the process of terraforming to maintain said power. The answer seems obvious and fills me with dread. These colonizers have learned nothing from what happened to Earth.

  “However, I found something that surely you’ll appreciate more than flowers or jewelry,” Rein adds.

  I smile wide enough to risk facial paralysis. “Really? What is it? I’m terribly curious.”

  “First let me say I really appreciate sassy people. They make my day interesting. And I also appreciate that bit of disgust in your eyes at the idea of having sex with me. I’m much more excited with dubious consent.”

  The smile freezes on my face.

  Rein turns to the terminal of the home OS near the door. “Let in my guards with the… gift.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  The door unlocks and two gigantic guards come in and slam on the floor a battered clone dressed in a white uniform.

  “I specify the gift is to see him for the last time before being taken to recycling,” the senator says.

  The clone’s arms are tied behind his back. He rolls on his side and looks at me.

  I shout, “Phae!”

  PRINCE.

  My heart screams.

  He falls on his knees and hugs me tight. My arms are tied and I can’t return the hug, but I sink my face in his hair and die.

  His scent.

  His scent is so good.

  Prince bursts into sobs, then covers my face with small kisses. Oh, Corp. Petals and gold. I remember it. Eighteen years have passed, but I remember every kiss, every caress.

  “I did it,” I say in the midst of his kisses. “I, a poor clone, reached you. Dr. Rais and I tried to enter the royal palace, but the alarms began to ring. The magic word doesn’t work with the royal guards.”

  “Indeed,” the senator murmurs.

  “I’ll do anything,” Prince says, turning to the senator, but without letting me go. Oh, Corp, how young he is. How smooth and fragrant is his cheek against my lips, how warm and scented the hollow under his ear where I sink my face. “I’ll do anything you want, Reinhold, but you have to leave him with me!”

  “And why would I, Kian? Explain it to me. You will do what I want anyway.”

  The senator joins us and crouches in front of us. “The two of you are very moving together, but you see, even if you weren’t mine, Kian, I couldn’t afford to have a clone and a human paired, leaving the people to understand that a similar, obscene mingling is possible.”

  The senator smiles to Prince. “I like you, Kian, but you need to be tamed. With your reckless behavior, you have already caused the recycling of that unfortunate maid in your hovercraft.”

  I don’t know what he’s talking about, but Prince jolts. “You… you killed that child?”

  “You killed her, Kian. Next time you have to think about what you say and to whom you say it. This will serve you as a lesson. Or you can choose to stay with your clone and follow him to recycling. That will displease me, because I like you, I admit it, but it’ll take me no more than two days to forget about you. Now choose.”

  “I’m going to recycling and he stays,” I say quickly.

  “Good,” the senator approves, standing. “Your guardian clone is wise, Kian.”

  “No, one moment!” Prince shouts. “You can’t kill me like this! I am a legend, public opinion will be against you!”

  “You can still have an accident, Kian. Or your awakening can have unexpected complications. Please do not tickle my fancy about it.”

  At once, I understand I have to prevent Prince from protecting me, if I want to save him. “You are so young, Prince,” I whisper in his ear.

  Prince turns to me, his face streaked with tears.

  “You’re so young and beautiful, and I’m just an old clone.”

  “Phae,” Prince says, touching my face.

  I rub my cheek on his hand and kiss his palm. “It’s not right to force you to keep an old promise. But thank you for remembering me. It has been wonderful to see you one last time.”

  “Touching,” the senator says. “Now take him away.”

  The enormous bodyguards grab me and pull me up. Prince shouts and throws himself toward me, but the senator grabs him around his waist.

  The last thing I see is Prince kicking and screaming my name.

  At least I know he’s alive.

  THE SENATOR places a bodyguard in my rooms. The clone stands at the door, preventing my escape. I hit his chest with my fists, but as soon as I meet his pecs of steel, I understand I could hit him for weeks without inflicting minimal damage. He doesn’t even move. He might be a robot.

  I can’t give up. I have to do something. Maybe I can run to the bathroom to look for a sharp tool with which to threaten to cut my throat. But the senator has made it clear he doesn’t care that much about me. Now I understand. I’m just a puppet for him. And if I refuse to cooperate, he’ll simply get rid of me.

  I have no way to save Phae.

  “I’ll kill myself!” I shout to the ceiling. “Can you hear me, you bastard?”

  “He can’t.”

  The enormous guard. He has spoken. I turn around to face him, motionless in front of the door.

  “He can’t hear you,” the bodyguard says, his voice so deep it vibrates in my belly. “His private rooms and those of his wives and husbands are the only clean places in the whole colony. The senator doesn’t like being spied on during his embraces.”

  Slowly, I approach the clone. He’s awfully tall; I barely reach his diaphragm. And his shoulders are broad like a wardrobe, his biceps as big as my torso. He raises his visor and I startle. His eyes are thin and completely black inside. But the giant tilts his head, and his mouth contracts into a semblance of an unexpected smile.

  “I have seen strange things in this room, sir,” the bodyguard says. “A human showing his love for a clone. A clone who used the password. He said the password doesn’t work with the royal guards, but it isn’t exactly the truth. We’re just more cautious. And in any case, what I saw between you two is stronger than the password.”

  I open my eyes wide. Perhaps the senator has made a mistake, letting his bodyguards attend our reunion. “The password? Which password are you talking about?”

  “Freedom,” the clone says.

  I run to the clone and put my palms on his chest, as high as I can get. “Tell me. Tell me you clones have a resistance. A secret revolutionary current. Tell me!”

  “Unfortunately freedom is only a concept,” the huge clone says. “At least for now. We know one day freedom will come. If a clone speaks the password, he’s sure he can get help. But that’s all.”

  “Well, Phae needs help. Can you take him away and hide him?”

  The guard shakes his big head. “We don’t have an organization. We don’t have a place to hide him.”

  “Can you help him escape away from here? To an uninhabited part of the planet?”

  “The planet outside the dome is too hostile for human life, and the city is fully scanned to maintain control of each clone.”

  I groan in exasperation. “There must be something we can do!”

  The home OS emits a sound signal. “A visitor for you, sir.”

  “Not now!” I cry.

  “It’s your doctor, Dr. Rais. Should I send her away?”

  I’m going to send anyone away, but then I remember Phae had said he arrived along with this Dr. Rais.

  I rub my face. Maybe the doctor is on our side?

  “Let her come in!” I shout to the OS.

  I HAVE to be strong.

  I have to think I was lucky seeing him one last time. Blasius used to say we are different from humans. Humans are greedy; clones can rejoice in the little they have. Prince filled my life, so now I can face my recycling straight on.

  I remember what Solartrance said about recycling. He wanted to think of falling asleep and opening his eyes in the body of another clone. But I don’t want that. Please, not another life of hardship
, suffering, and loneliness. What I want is Prince. I would like to wake up in a world just for the two of us. Without hatred, without separation between humans or clones. The path full of grass and trees inside Book. I want to imagine the two of us walking along that road, hand in hand, and I want it to be the last image that passes through my mind.

  I don’t pay attention to where we’re going. I’m pushed inside an elevator that drops down indefinitely, perhaps underground, but I become indifferent to the surroundings. One of the guards mumbles something through the devices implanted in his neck and ears, but I don’t listen and try to think of Prince. The serenity I’m looking for is ruined by the anguish of having to leave him in the senator’s clutches. But at least my sacrifice will allow him to live.

  They push me into a cold and dark corridor, but I close my eyes and try to recreate in my mind the grassy, mysterious path.

  “Come in here, clone.”

  I climb into the recycling capsule. The tool that tightens my hands opens suddenly, I lie down, and I feel a soft padding against my back. I think it’s a strange gentleness making this thing so comfortable. Then the puff of cold air and the familiar smell of refrigerant surprise me, and I open my eyes wide.

  I realize this capsule, with its glass lid, is pretty damn similar to a sarcophagus.

  I blink. We are in a small, dimly lit room. A cocoon. And this is a sarcophagus. Two huge bodyguards, forced to keep their heads down under the low ceiling, stare at me with their inscrutable black eyes.

  “This is an emergency sarcophagus for high-ranking humans,” one of them says. “In case there is some problem with the terraforming reactors, VIPs have to come in here. There are more or less a hundred of them. But one will disappear, with you inside. At Dr. Rais’s suggestion.”

  “What?” I ask in total amazement.

  “We have to get you off for a while. The rest of the planet is uninhabitable and all the dome is scanned, so this is a good hiding place.”

  I don’t understand. “Why are you helping me?”

  “Because you say the password,” the second guard responds. “Because we believe one day we’ll be free. Because a human loves you and you are the first.”