by Nancie Neal
"Amnika," Nahaeda warned, "Do not hesitate."
Amnika pushed it out to Rhada. Again Rhada grunted. This time he took a step back and grabbed his chest. Amnika's nerves were on fire. She had a hard time standing. Father came up next to her.
"I'm okay," Amnika said, "but I'm tired."
Feeling better after her father gave her his energy, Amnika took a deep breath. She still had one more to go.
"Alright, now," Nahaeda said, "just twice and a half of the first one."
Amnika took a deep breath and drew the energy. She threw it at Rhada. He grunted and grabbed his chest again, but he didn't fall. Amnika's entire body burned as the pain radiated from her chest and out to her limbs. She breathed through the pain until it was gone.
Then, it was over.
"Are you sure you are okay?" Father asked.
Amnika nodded. "Just tired." She watched a Natisien walk over to the two of them and handed each a carved bowl.
"Riochi nectar," Father marveled after he took a sip. "From the farm, I bet."
Amnika grabbed her bowl.
Nahaeda nodded. "You both need it."
Amnika and Father drank the nectar. Amnika yawned then her Father followed suit. They both laughed a little.
Father motioned towards the horizon over the cliff. The sun was no longer visible. The two moons were nearing the middle of the sky.
"I don't think we can drink enough to stay awake this late," Father said. "It's time to go into the cave."
As he spoke, Nahaeda grabbed Amnika in one arm. Then he picked up Father, and they went down the mountain.
Enaenah greeted them outside of the cave entrance. Nahaeda kissed his wife, and she gave Rhada a hug. "Come now," she said to them, "The beds are ready."
Rhada took up a lot more space than the last time. While Nahaeda was on guard at the doorway, Father bed-shared with Enaenah. This was a common practice among Natisiens and Inersiens. It helped with the Natisiens' Immune system, and space was limited.
In the stillness of the night, Amnika could hear the singing in the city bounce off the cave walls. It was a faint echo that seemed to roll off the roof of the cave. Amnika thought she could hear her name in a whisper. She knew that a sometimes sounds from the outside change among the rocks and crystals in the cave.
It was colder than usual, and Amnika began to shiver. Rhada noticed and cuddled close to Amnika to keep her warm. Then he began to sing the song he already sang to her twice before. He kept his voice low as not to disturb anyone else.
Amnika closed her eyes and the next time she opened them the light of the sun bounced off the crystals and created dancing colors on the floor of the cave next to her. She felt a firm grip on her arm, and she looked up to see Rhada squatting next to her.
Pushing herself up off of the bed, Amnika could see her father at the entrance of Nahaeda's cavern. He already had his cape on.
"It's time to go, Amnika."
"Can Rhada spend another night with us?" Amnika asked as she sat up. Her father handed her cape.
"I'm afraid not." Nahaeda was out of sight, and his voice echoed off the walls. "He will walk with us to the city so you can say your goodbyes there."
When they reached the city, Nahaeda put Amnika and her father down. She turned to Rhada. He bent down and gave her a hug.
"Next time, I'll be able to carry you," Rhada said.
Amnika gave a sad nod. "I look forward to that." She pulled away and gave a weak smile. "But not forward to training you again."
Nahaeda grunted. "It'll be the last time."
They parted ways. Father and Amnika took the transport tube to the communities. Mother was waiting for them when they got home. Amnika noticed that she didn't seem tired.
"How did it go?" Mother asked.
"I miss Rhada already," Amnika said. "But that's nothing new."
"Next time," Father comforted. "He will stay in the city as your protectorate, and he will go where you go."
They stepped inside, and Father yawned pointed to his room.
Amnika nodded. Fatigued but not sleepy, Amnika decided to check on her project. She grabbed a bar and went into her project room.
She checked the data on the video display. It looked like everything was in working order.
"What have you accomplished so far?" Amnika looked over at the mess of a project. She looked forward to the funding that will get her the more efficient parts that she needs.
"I have a better model, but it failed some tests, so I have to make some more adjustments," Roniathan said. "Your mother left a storage box."
"Have you talked to my mother?" Amnika picked up the storage box. She opened it and found new crystals. This time the labels said "Nahbor," "Hemeria," "Mahla," and "staging bases."
"Only briefly," Roniathan said. "According to your mother, she told Zakkon about our test project, and he immediately approved more data crystals." There was a slight pause. "She seems slower compared to you and your father."
Amnika took one of the crystals out of the box and stopped. She contemplated her answer. "She's unwell." Amnika put the crystals into the slots. She didn't know how to describe death to a computer. Then she checked all of the connections to make sure nothing will fail. "Perhaps I will ask if I can have the medical crystals so you can understand. I have access to all the medical files, even as a non-citizen. I am not sure when I could ask. Father is asleep right now."
"Not really." Father leaned up against the door frame.
Amnika looked at her father with a smile. "Isn't that where you went? To bed to Sleep?"
"Fatigue can be confused with tiredness. Besides, it's too early to nap, too late to go back to bed. I took some riochi nectar, we have some here."
"Did you hear our conversation?" Amnika flashed the moment to her father. He understood.
"I'll see if I bring the crystals here." He straightened and sighed. "Not today. I've got some duties to attend to. Both your mother and I should be home early enough for the evening meal. I could have her stop to pick up some fresh food."
"That sounds good."
Father smiled at Amnika, and she watched him leave.
Amnika noticed a new tub of components on the table. "Did mother bring these as well?"
"Yes."
Picking up the tub, she started to go through it.
"Why do you wear fabric like that?" Roniathan asked.
"To protect us from the elements. We wear health monitor suits that will alert medical if something is wrong."
"Why do you look so solemn?"
"I'm fatigued. Everything gets droopy when someone is fatigued. Then I look solemn." Amnika picked out a component and studied it.
"What is sleep?"
Glancing at the project, Amnika sighed. She put the component back into one of the tubs. "It's when the body slows down. We pretty much shut down for the night." She picked up another component and studied it.
"Why do you sleep?"
Amnika put the component back into the box. "Our researchers don't know exactly why. Inersiens need sleep to regenerate their energy. If their energy depletes too much, they pass out and have to sleep for days. That doesn't explain sleep in general, though. Every living thing sleeps."
"Living? What is living?" Roniathan asked.
"It's breathing, cells regenerating, heart beating, you know, " Amnika answered, "alive." She realized that she needed to keep the explanations simple. It's like trying to teach Zonstan, except Roniathan had a more extensive vocabulary.
"What's the difference between a plant and an animal?"
"Animals have hearts and can move about. They have brains to function. Some depend on plants for food. Plants have roots in the ground. They have no brains."
"What are brains?"
"It's like your processing unit. The part that computes everything then produces an output." Amnika knew that this was going to take a long time explaining. "You know, once I get the medical crystals, you will know all this."
"Am
I alive?"
Amnika stopped. She didn't know how to answer this question.
"Well you are a computer, but I'm not sure about the definition of 'alive' right now. In a medical sense, I guess not. Philosophical, maybe? I may put in a petition to research such a question when I become Citizen."
"I understand," Roniathan said.
Not wanting to answer more hard questions, Amnika left the room. She glanced over at the long plush seat, paused for a moment, then continued to walk out the door. She thought a walk would do her good.
Amnika couldn't stop thinking about the past few days. Rhada hardly flinched this time. She knew it was vital for him to tolerate energy bursts. She knew that she will be a high level once she became an adult. Everyone acted like they weren't afraid, but she knew that they have this ritual because they were She heard the stories of Naehus. He was like her, the Natisiens even liked him at first. Then something happened to make him crazy. It was a strange conflict in her mind that she couldn't resolve.
Then there was her mother. Her father married old. She knew that as far as she could remember. Her mother's white hair depicted her age. So why was she surprised when her parents told her.
"Amnika?"
Amnika snapped out of her thoughts and looked around. She walked all the way to the communities' edge without noticing.
"Naei, Rodgistan." Amnika glanced over at his wife who talked with the other Inersiens. Rodgistan walked over to her. "Amnika, if you get deep in thought, you need your hood." Rodgistan gently pulled her hood over her head.
"I apologize," Amnika sighed. "I get lost the day after I go to the caves."
"I understand. You do know it's important, though." He motioned to the tiered seating. They both sat on the lower level. "And stop thinking you will become like Naehus. He was an anomaly."
"So am I," Amnika said.
"A different kind of anomaly. The protectorate is more for the Natisiens than it is for the Inersiens. As long as you remain connected to others, you shouldn't have to worry." Rodgistan looked around him. "Speaking of which, you came alone?"
"My parents have their duties, still."
"Ah, yes, leadership never rests. But your parents will be done be early, I'm sure."
"And I didn't want to stay to answer more questions for Roniathan right now. I have too much on my mind."
Rodgistan chuckled and nodded. "That's quite the project you have going there. Your father told me about him."
"The questions will slow down as he learns more. It will probably stop once he is able to get the answers on his own."
"But there's more, isn't there?"
Amnika quietly nodded and motioned to share with him.
When they were finished, Rodgistan sat straight. "Everyone will miss her, Amnika. She has lived her life well."
Chapter Eight
Amnika, her father, and her mother sat at the island between the cooking area and the gathering area eating the evening meal. It was a simple cooked meal, but no one mentioned it because everyone was too exhausted. Amnika helped clean up before going up the lift to her room.
The following day, the voices of her father and Trinka's father carried up the lift and woke Amnika. She sat up in bed, surprised that she didn't hear the door buzzed, especially since both her door and the door to the lifts were open. She strained to see if she could listen to their conversation.
"I don't understand it," Trinka's father said. "We are both very calm people, but my daughter cannot seem to be still. It's definitely a genetic anomaly."
"Well, Amnika seems to be a bit energetic," Amnika's father responded. "It seems to be normal. Your daughter is very creative. We hadn't had an artist in a long time. She is already set for formal education."
"Says the one with the daughter who is at such a high level for her age. They don't even know what teacher to assign Trinka to."
"Well, I can make arrangement for your daughter to spend more time with mine. I'll talk to Rodgistan to see if he can make some arrangements. We have been making exceptions with promising results."
There was a long pause.
"Maybe," Trinka's father said. "What if they find out…"
Father shushed him.
"Amnika, you're awake?" Her father called up the lift.
"Yes Father," Amnika said, "I woke up just now."
She got dressed as fast as she could and went down the lift. Her father hugged her, and he handed her a bar.
"I slept late, I guess." Amnika opened her bar and took a bite.
"We didn't get enough sleep the past few days." Father smiled. "You needed it. We both needed it."
She greeted Trinka's father.
"Isn't your brother coming over for a visit?" He asked.
Amnika glanced at Father who nodded.
"He'll be here," He said, "and his wife. They will be leaving for the mines early in the morning."
"When is he supposed to be here?" Amnika asked.
"They will be here for the midday meal. Your mother went to the market."
"Really?" Disappointed, Amnika wished she woke up sooner. "Can I go catch up with her?"
At that moment, the door buzzed. Amnika opened the door, and Trinka walked in.
Amnika and Trinka greeted each other.
"Never mind," Amnika said. "I'm going to show Trinka my project instead."
Father chuckled. "I think that's a great idea."
Trinka and Amnika went into the project room.
"Hi!" Roniathan greeted them.
"This is Trinka," Amnika introduced her friend. "We have been friends since I was in my sixth cycle."
"Amnika!" Trinka's eyes widened, and she stared at the box of tangled wires. "Your project talks like everyone else! Well." Trinka stopped for a moment. "Well, the voice has some buzz to it."
"That's what I programmed him to do, and the rikta display is sending sound." Amnika felt proud of her work, despite how messy it looked. It operated better than she hoped.
“Amnika, my processor temperature is higher than it should be,” Roniathan said.
Amnika walked over and put her hand near the box. With all the wires, connectors and components, she wasn't surprised that the processor was getting hot.
"It does feel a little too hot. Perhaps the cooling system is inadequate." Amnika peered into the box and carefully moved the wires to allow more airflow. "Or maybe it's a faulty sensor." She checked the wiring for the temperature sensor. "Only focus on your task for the ship. No unrelated questions until I can resolve this."
"I understand."
"Monitor your power. If you take longer to come up with a better design, then that's fine. I'll see what I can do to get a new cooling system."
For a moment, Amnika forgot her friend was there until she felt her friend's hand on her shoulder. "Oh, Amnika! My father bought me some charcoal sticks and writing boards from the market. Look!"
Amnika saw her take a large pouch hooked to a loop on her shirt. Then she pulled out a small square whiteboard. Amnika recognized the board as a writing tablet made of shredded plant fibers. The workers would mix the shreds in hot water until they broke down into a mash. Then they rolled the pulp out into large squares and squeezed the water out. Then they dried boards and cut into smaller squares. After, they would sell the boards in the market.
It reminded of what Amnika's father told her about the citizens would keep records by writing on the boards. Then they changed over to data crystals. When Naehus was Leader, he destroyed a lot of the board records in his tirade. Fortunately, many of them were already copied to data crystals.
Amnika looked at the board. "It's a picture of your old companion animal. I remember that thing."
The creature looked like a giant ball of tuft seed fluff. Trinka painted it as curled up on a plush chair. "My parents thought if they got me a tiaoga it would help me with responsibilities. When he died, I told my parents that I didn't want another. I missed him so much."
"It's not like you are able to get
one now." Amnika continued to study the picture. "At least not without your own pieces. City researchers determined that it doesn't make a difference with learning responsibilities. Breeders are now all non-citizens." Amnika studied the board for a moment. "Wow." she handed the board back to her friend. "This is really good."
"It took a while to get it right. Father was a little annoyed that I used so many boards."
"Did you show this to him?"
"Not yet," Trinka said, "I wanted you to see it first."
Amnika remembered the adult's conversation. "You do need to show this to your father."
Trinka nodded and brought the board out of the room. Father saw it first before she could present it. He took it out of her hand and studied it for a moment.
"I'd say we definitely have an artist," Father said as he handed the board to Trinka's father.
Trinka's father looked at her work. "Oh, Trinka. I didn't realize you were doing this. If you told me, I would not have been so angry about your use of boards."
"I wasn't sure if you would approve," Trinka said. "I mean I guess this would be better, but..." She trailed off.
"Always ask. The worse that might happen is that I say no." He gave her a hug.
The front door opened and Mother walked in. Natia was right behind her, carrying the market's groceries. Amnika noticed that her mother looked very tired.
Amnika's father walked over and put his arm around her mother.
"Perhaps." Trinka's father watched Mother. "We should go." They said their goodbyes and left.
Father guided Mother to the bedroom.
Natia looked concerned.
"Did father tell you about mother?" Amnika asked.
"Her time is almost up." Natia studied the door for a moment, then put the food in the cooking area. "It seems that she's more tired than she should be." After a moment, she turned to the food that was brought in from the market. "Your mother does a better job at making tasty meals. I'll try to prep everything for her first. If she is still sick, then I will make it."