by Nancie Neal
"So far I have, basic culture, engineering, and available materials to work with." She pulled out one of the data crystals, "The city's system and how it works." Amnika looked up to Rhada. "I kept him separate from the main system until I'm sure he's stable. Otherwise, I wouldn't need these data crystals."
"Considering the components you made me out of, that was a wise choice," the box said.
Rhada looked amused. He crossed his arms and studied Amnika.
"Yes." Amnika blushed. "I didn't want to bring the whole system down like I did the last moon-cycle."
Rhada laughed. "Well, it did make the leadership put in smaller generators to spread the load. You've shown that if one of those large generators at the gate goes down, everything goes down."
"I had to be scanned for that one," Amnika bemoaned. "Father wasn't too happy."
"You are reformable," Rhada said, "You had nothing to worry about."
Amnika sighed. Rhada wouldn't understand. He couldn't understand. Natisiens can't sense energy or to know what it was like to have anyone in their head.
Amnika could feel Rhada brush his hand on her upper back. It was a comforting gesture that Natisiens would give others who were in distress. She must have shown her discomfort on her face.
Amnika looked at him and gave him a reassuring smile.
"Do you have enough energy with those mini-generators?" Rhada said after a moment.
"I should," Amnika said. "They use the old rods, though. I'm not sure how much time they have on the rods, but the Natisien vendor assured me that I would have enough until I start formal schooling. Of course, that is, just as long as I don't power any energy weapons." Amnika put her hand up over the generator to feel the energy. "I may use my gifts to buy new generators, but they're hard to come by as a non-citizen."
"But that will change very soon," Rhada encouraged. He walked around the table, studying the box. Then he took a closer look at the generators.
Rhada was born in the caves to the Tribal leader, Nahaeda. Despite the primitive beginning, he made sure that Rhada knew the basics of engineering.
"They should handle a complex process, right?" Rhada pointed at the generators.
"Oh, sure," Amnika said, "Those generators are supposed to be powerful enough to power a small warship when they're new. I thought I only needed one, but to be safe, I got two."
Rhoda grunted an affirmation.
"Then maybe you should give it an engineering test," he suggested.
Amnika thought about it.
"You know, the new raiders are causing a lot of problems," Amnika pondered. "Maybe a new warship?"
"That seems to be a good idea," Rhada agreed, "Then you can share that with the city. Technically, it's still yours, you know."
Amnika waved at the slots on the side of her project.
"Yes, and that's why he doesn't have enough information. I only have materials and some known research. Until I'm a citizen, there's a lot of information that I don't have access to."
She walked over to the bins and pulled out a small metal box. Amnika then opened it to reveal several data crystals.
Amnika pulled one out of the metal box and put it into one of the empty slots. The data crystal lit up in different colors as the AI read the information.
"Space physics, mathematics, basic engineering, and basic energy engineering." Amnika read off some of the labels. She stopped and thought for a moment.
"I'd rather do research and exploration," Amnika said. "I have always admired those who discovered the new planets and star systems. Maybe, I'll make a research ship. The weapons and our defense system are off limits to non-citizens." Amnika looked at the box in her hand. "But there is more than enough information here to create a research ship with a basic defense system."
"I can do that," the box said.
Amnika filled the rest of the slots with the data crystals.
"So that's your test," Amnika said, "You are to design a research ship that can withstand the abuse of space. If you can with the limited information, the ship needs to be able to at least hide from the raiders. Maybe, you can make some form of a defense system. Also, the cabin should be insulated from all energies if possible, most of all from rikta energy."
"The defense system will be a little difficult but possible," the box said. "It will take a few days before I can come up with an initial design. I need to analyze the data first."
"I understand," Amnika said, "but I will have to go to the caves soon. Then I'll be gone for a few days. I can check in frequently until then." She gave an uneasy look at Rhada. Rhada was her friend, but she didn't look forward to going to the caves with him.
Father walked into the room and spotted Rhada. "Oh good, you're still here."
Rhada gave Amnika's father a curious look and waited for him to continue.
"Your father wanted you to spend the night. You have to guard tonight."
Rhada grunted an affirmation and nodded.
"Guard?" Amnika asked.
"I have to sit-sleep," Rhada explained.
"Oh, like your father does at the caves." Amnika understood.
Rhada grunted an affirmation.
"You are safe here, but I have to practice. If you travel to Hemeria or Nahbor, I will have to be there to protect you."
Amnika nodded. She understood. Rhada was training to be her protectorate.
Amnika went to her room first to get dressed in her nightclothes. She put her dirty clothes in the bag they came in and send them down the chute. From there they'll slide down into a bin that travels to the textile buildings to be cleaned.
"Alright," Amnika called down the lift. "I’m done."
Moments later, Rhada shows up at the top of the lift. Then Amnika got into bed. She realizes that Natia must have closed her bed sometime after she went to the market. The mattress and bed linens smelled clean.
Rhada took his outer shirt off. Then he looked as though he was going to remove his undershirt.
"Rhada," Amnika said, "You are not at the caves, remember?"
Rhada gave her a mischievous grin and made a motion to continue taking his shirt off.
Amnika shook her head and sighed.
Her friend laughed and put his arms down. "Come now; it's not any different than the skin on your arms."
"My arms are covered."
"Your face. The skin on your face." Rhada reached for her cheek.
Amnika jerked back, horrified. "Rhada!"
Rhada brought his hands back. "Sorry, some of us are curious."
"You are supposed to resist that."
"I know. I apologize."
"I'm not mad. I don't know how many Natisien children touched my cheek while I'm at the caves. I know it's just a cultural difference."
Rhada chuckled. "They know they're not supposed to do it, and it's exactly the reason why they do it. It's funny to them. Kind of like some of the adults thinks it funny to walk completely naked when an adult Inersien is around."
Chuckling, she noticed the rikta walls were starting to dim. She buried herself under the covers, taking care to move closer to the wall to make room for Rhada.
"Mother must have set the timer." Amnika yawned. "I need sleep."
Rhada then sat on the edge of the bed with his back against the wall. He then brought up his right knee and put his right arm on it.
By then, the room was almost dark.
Amnika turned to face the wall. She could hear Rhada steady his breath. After a moment, she looked back at his outline.
"I don't know if I can sleep with you here," Amnika said.
"You didn't give it enough time," Rhada said.
Amnika saw the glint where his eyes were disappeared. After a few moments, one glint appeared.
Amnika still stared at him.
"My vocals aren't fully developed," Rhada chuckled. "I can't purr you to sleep, yet."
While Inersiens relied on energy, Natisiens relied on sounds. They used low sounds and clicks to communicate when h
unting. They used rumbling sounds to flirt and to heal. They would sing to bring out sadness or happiness when they are telling stories. Sometimes they would sing to bring out visions. Rhada was referring to a sound they made to help each other sleep.
Amnika sighed, "I know. It's just odd that you are here. Maybe it's good that I don't have to share a room with siblings. When Trinka is here, she uses the other bed, and I can hear her breathing."
"If you shared a room with siblings, you would be used to it." Rhada leaned over towards her. "I could sing," he whispered. "It's a song that my mother sings to help me to sleep."
"Okay," she said.
Rhada began to sing. It was a familiar lullaby. Amnika heard Natisien women sing the same song to their babies and small children. During the day, she would only catch parts of it, and she thought it was a lovely song. With all the noises of a busy city, the song didn't have much of an effect on her.
In the darkness of the room, Rhada's boyish voice sounded soothing. It wasn't as low as an adult, but he kept the tune well. Amnika couldn't stay awake long enough to hear the end.
Chapter Four
Amnika woke the next morning, Rhada still sat in the same position on her bed. After a moment, he opened an eye and looked at her.
He chuckled.
"Are you awake for the day?"
"Yes." Amnika sat up. "Did you sleep well?"
"Of course I did." Rhada put both feet on the floor and stretched. "Natisiens can sleep anywhere!" He stood up and grabbed his outer shirt.
"I'll wait for you on the lower level. Then I'll go with you to see the ones coming back." Rhada then went down the lift.
Amnika took her time getting dressed. She didn't want to go down the lift yet because she knew she had some hard questions to ask her parents. After she put her cape on and stared at the entrance to the lift for a few moments before going down. As she stepped out into the main room, she saw her mother at the door, looking at her tablet.
"Are you going out?" Amnika asked, unable to ask the real question that bugged her.
"Yes," Mother responded without looking up. "I have to gather a few things from the research building. Celebrations are tomorrow, so I have no classes."
"Are you going to see Trinka's parents return today?"
"I will be meeting you there," Mother looked up and smiled. "Your uncle is going to be there, too, you know."
"I don't think he likes me too much." Amnika sighed and walked over by the door.
"What makes you think that?"
"Every time I see him, he scolds me for something." Amnika looked at her hands.
"I would be more concerned if he ignored you." Amnika could feel her mother's hand on her shoulder. "He wants you to reach your full potential."
"I suppose." Amnika looked up at her mother. "Or maybe he just doesn't want me to be an embarrassment to father."
"Amnika!"
The tone of Mother's voice startled Amnika, and she instinctively looked back down. "I apologize, I didn't mean…"
Mother sighed. "Try sharing with him sometime. I bet you'll find that you are mistaken about his intentions."
Amnika nodded and hugged her mother. There was a limit on how much her mother could share, but she was able to share her love. Amnika shared the love back.
"I need to step out for a moment to meet someone nearby." Mother opened the door. "I'll be back in a moment." The door slid closed behind her.
She looked towards Rhada who was watching from the cooking area. He took a bite from a bar in one hand. As Amnika walked closer, she noticed that he had another bar in his other hand.
"I'm sure if you want more, you can have some," Amnika said. "Father can order more bars. Everyone knows you're here."
Rhada gave her a sad smile and cleared his throat.
"This one," He said, holding up the unopened bar, "is for you. I thought we could go to the market this morning. Everyone gives me food, so I don't need to worry about starving."
"They just give you food?" Amnika echoed.
"I'm the tribal leader's son. Everyone wants to feed the tribal leader's son."
Amnika nodded. She was no stranger to perks herself. Although, most of her perks came from the Natisiens. Inersiens made a point to teach children that they should earn their place in life. Even the adults expected Amnika to treat her gifts as if they were an investment in her.
One Natisien vendor tried to give her a free component, knowing that she was building her project. Her father made her take it back and pay for it because, in his words, "Vendors rely heavily on their pieces to pay the housing fees."
"We'll go after father gets back," Amnika said. "I need to talk to him."
Rhada walked over and handed her the other bar and sighed.
Amnika took the bar but didn't open it. She had too much on her mind to focus on Rhada. If her mother's time was up, why didn't her father tell her? He would know.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Rhada said.
Amnika's eyes went towards him, but she still looked past him, trying to figure out what words to use. Finally, after a moment, she forced her eyes to focus on her friend.
"I think father married old," Amnika said. "I mean, we all kind of knew that, but I think it's getting close…" She trailed off.
Rhada put his hand on her upper back and grunted. She looked up at him and leaned on him.
At that moment, the door slid open, and Father walked in. He hesitated. Amnika watched as his eyes went from hers to Rhada then back to her.
"Amnika?"
"I'll wait outside," Rhada said, and he walked past Amnika's father to go out the door.
"Father," Amnika said after the door closed. "How much time does mother have?" She did all she could to keep her voice even.
Father looked at her a moment and sighed. Then he put his arm around her and guided her to the gathering room. They both sat on the long, plush chair.
"Medical says she has about three cycles."
"You were going to tell me?" Amnika's voice was quiet.
"Medical checked her out last night." Father sighed. "We went after you were in bed. We were going to tell you today after we meet the researchers." He glanced over at the door and paused. "Your mother didn't want to ruin the mood. You know your mother." He gently guided her to the plush seat and sat down. Amnika sat down next to him and nodded. Death was part of life, but that knowledge didn't make it any less painful.
"She lived her life well," Father said, "And she will continue to live it well for her remaining three years."
Amnika scooted closer to her father and leaned onto his shoulder. Father put his arm around her. They shared their sadness.
A few moments later, Amnika's mother walked in. She looked at her husband and her daughter for a moment then sighed. "I guess you know now."
Amnika nodded. A hot tear trickled down her cheek.
"Oh, Amnika." Mother sat down next to Amnika and hugged her. "We were going to tell you."
"I know." Amnika buried her face into her mother's shoulder. "I know."
Amnika began to cry. Father put his hood on and then he pulled Amnika's hood up for her and embraced them both.
After what seemed like a long time, Father finally lets them go and sighed.
"At one time, we didn't know when someone was going to die," Father said. "Now, we can predict within three cycles accurately. We have time to say our goodbyes."
Everyone was silent for a moment.
Remembering that Rhada was waiting for her, Amnika glanced at the door. "I was planning…" Not being able to continue she paused and tried again. "Rhada is waiting to…"
"Go," Mother said, "I'm going to spend some quiet time with your father for a while, anyway."
Amnika gave a sad smile. Then she went into her room to get her pieces. When she was back on the lower level, her father was waiting for her.
"Let me see your pouch," he said.
A little surprised, Amnika handed him her pouch. He put a few more p
ieces in it.
"Get yourself something from a non-citizen's booth," Father said. "There's a particular booth that sells sweets that you might be interested in."
Amnika smiled and hugged her father.
"Thank you."
Rhada was still waiting for her outside. Amnika couldn't look directly at him.
"Are you going to be okay?" He asked.
"I'll be okay."
Rhada brushed her back and straightened up. "Let's go to the market. I'm hungry! I can eat an entire Patri!"
Amnika let out a rueful chuckle. They walked down the lane of community homes to the stairs that when over the transport tube. They reached the other side and chose to only go halfway down and take the bridge over the inlet to the pond. She rested on the rail and looked around the garden. The smell of the black berry flowers carried on the light breeze. Two leaf insects flutter by.
Amnika sighed. "Mother has three years."
"I see," Rhada said. "So, then, you were right. He put his hand on her back. "It explains why you were sadder when you walked out than when I left you. Your eyes were red."
"I was crying." Amnika looked down at the gold and silver-blue striped fish in the water and felt a little nostalgic.
"I remember when Rodgistan caught me putting energy bursts into the water when I was little." She said.
"Why did you do that?"
"I wanted to see how fast the energy dispersed in the water." Amnika felt better and chuckled. "I didn't know that it was stunning the fish. I was so upset when he told me."
Rhada chuckled. "You were always empathetic, even with food fish." He leaned on the rail next to her.
"You know, I tried it again on the walkway by the generators. It's where your father first saw me. I was afraid of him at first."
"There's no reason to be afraid."
"I know that now, but as a small child, Nahaeda was huge! I also knew that he was the tribal leader. I think that is what intimidated me the most."
Rhada grunted, and they continued walking. Amnika stopped by the tuft flowers. The deep purple flowers waved at her in the breeze. She stooped down to get a closer look. Some of them were already fading, and some were already in the pod stage. Soon the pods will burst to produce a white fluff with seeds.