It was cold as hell, and Kenneth could see his own breath steaming. Winter had come early. It was only October, but the Aurora calendar was different. Winter would last longer here.
Ideally, he should have been more careful out here on clear nights such as this. The snow wasn’t deep, but it already covered everything. His tracks would be clearly visible for anyone searching. It was as if he wanted to get caught, just so he could speak his mind. To finally let off some steam, after keeping everything bottled up for so long. If only someone else could see what he saw. They were heading in the same direction as back on Earth. Havelar had such a firm grip on them all now. Aurora was turning into a repressive, authoritarian place, just as America had been under President Andrews. And except for his talk with Maria Solis a while back, it seemed he was the only one to have taken notice. It was so frustrating, he sometimes wanted to scream.
His introspection was interrupted by a sound. A twig breaking just a few steps behind him, back where he’d left his small backpack. He spun around, just in time to see a shadow coming at him, knocking him backward. He tried desperately to fend off the assailant. He couldn’t say whether it was a man, or some native beast, and he didn’t care. It was all movement and shadows and something grabbing at him. He punched out with his fist as hard as he could, and he hit something hard. Then, to his surprise, he heard muffled laughter, and stopped punching. Someone, a man, was hunched over him, slowly staggering back on his feet, laughing with blood dripping down on the snow. The man held both hands up to his face, but the voice was familiar.
“Shit, Professor. You really do know how to throw a punch.” Thomas Dunn bent and scooped up a handful of snow. Then he held it up to his chin, grimacing. “Didn’t know you were such a fighter.” Kenneth opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
“So, Professor… What are you doing out here all by yourself?” The younger man cocked his head to the side. “Anything you’d like to tell me?” he pressed on.
Kenneth suddenly realized he should be asking the same thing. What was Thomas Dunn doing out here in the middle of the night? He ignored the question, as he had questions of his own. Offense had always been the best defense, in his opinion.
“So why don’t you call your buddies over there? All you need to do is step out there and shout. I bet they’d be happy to see what you got for them.” Kenneth realized he’d already said too much, but he hardly even cared. He’d had his suspicions about Dunn for a while, that maybe this guy was more than he let on. It was a gamble, but either way, he couldn’t keep it all to himself any more.
“You’re Havelar’s man, right? So come on, just do it! Be an obedient dog!” Thomas Dunn didn’t say anything though. He just peeked at the patrol slowly moving across the field. The soldiers were moving away from them, and soon they’d be too far to hear, even if Thomas decided to shout. Then the young man inhaled deeply. When he let it out, his shoulders slumped a little, and he smiled briefly.
“As a matter of fact… no. And neither are you, I think.” Kenneth held his breath, waiting. Thomas just stood there until the soldiers were out of sight, rubbing his bruised chin absently.
“Professor, I believe we have a common acquaintance. I don’t think you remember meeting him, if you ever did, but I remember him well. His name was Richard Thatcher, and he was a man of vision.” Thomas stared intently at his hands, stained from his own blood.
“A great man. If not for him, I wouldn’t be here. Neither would you, Kenneth.” Their eyes met, and suddenly Kenneth realized. He’d always thought it strange that he was picked for the journey. He’d never been a vocal critic of the Andrews administration, but he wasn’t naïve about how or why he got here. He knew he’d never have been selected, unless someone with clout — covert clout — had hoped to sway the outcome of this final human outpost. He’d heard about Senator Buchanan, and who knew how many others there were. And here he was, standing right next to someone he’d thought he knew, only to realize the younger man had to be one of these shadowy figures who’d infiltrated what should have been a mission to restore the old regime on a new world.
“Richard Thatcher, the architect behind the biggest conspiracy of all time. And you and I are parts of it, even though I don’t think you ever knew. Suspected, maybe. I take it you must have wondered. After all, you never did like it, did you? The way we deteriorated into a nation of restrictions and constant surveillance, the way people were treated if they disagreed. The way people, such as yourself, turned quiet... I am right, right?” Kenneth nodded, staring out into the night. He had no words. Then their eyes met again, and it was as if a heavy load lifted off his shoulders. He finally had someone to talk to, really talk to. It would take him a while to learn how to trust again. But in time, he would learn.
Chapter 6
MARIA SOLIS
Geena shut the door behind her, and Maria helped her with her coat, shaking off the snow. There were already wet pools on the floor from melted snow, and they tiptoed across to the living room, where the others sat comfortably, each with their favorite drink to keep them warm, and already chatting lively. Maria had lit candles, and the pizza was almost ready. The smell brought water to her mouth, and she realized how hungry she was. The facemasks would make the eating a slow and cumbersome affair, but she’d refused to serve soup, when someone suggested it.
“So, who’s up for some of my Pizza Solis Especial?” she asked, and everyone laughed and talked about the wonderful smell or how long it had been since they had pizza or how funny they all would look eating it. Maria smiled warmly. These were her friends, and she loved them. Jeremiah of course, the staunchest, fiercest friend you could ever have. Geena Travis, who would light up any room she entered, and always managed to stay optimistic and cheerful. Well, except when playing at farming. Tori Peters, who was Miss Practicality herself: helpful, reliant, and trustworthy. Sophie Breckinbridge, who barely managed to pick herself up from a deep depression when her boyfriend was cut from Selection, a student of law who now worked in the governor’s administration. She’d told Maria that her job was to make sure that every plan proposed by the administration was in accordance with the law, so she had finally found an outlet for her talents, it seemed. Finally, she had invited Kenneth Taylor, with whom she’d had several chats since the evening when he’d told her about the Mars incident, and made her think. Really think. None of their chats afterward had been as deep as the first, but she had come to like him, and it felt only natural to invite him to the party. The final guest had sent her a message just an hour ago, telling her that he wouldn’t make it. No wonder. Thomas Dunn seemed to be busier than ever. She wondered whether she was sorry he wouldn’t come. Even though she had become quite friendly with him, he had something unsettling about him. She liked him. Quite a lot actually. But there was something creepy about him. Something she couldn’t quite place.
“Maria, I’m just wondering…” Geena said, grinning.
“Why this party? I mean, I appreciate it, and I can’t wait for the pizza, but there’s something else, right?” Maria laughed, and shook her head.
“Geena, you nosy little… All right then.” She straightened, and looked at them, waiting for her.
“According to my calculations, and taking the time dilation effect into consideration, which is pretty weird come to think of it… I’m thirty today.” Geena smiled even broader, nodding knowingly. Everyone stood up to congratulate her, and Jeremiah brought her a beer, with a straw to insert through the mask. Since waking up on board the Exodus, no one had paid much attention to birthdays, and with relativity, cryo sleep, time dilation, and the fact that time was different on Aurora than back on Earth, it just became too complicated. She’d heard someone was working on a new calendar, but everyone had just been too busy.
“I’d have guessed twenty-nine,” Tori said.
“Oh shit, that would make me…” she paused and Sophie nudged in between them to give Maria a big hug. They all laughed and smiled, and Maria felt more c
ontent than she had in a very long time. She had been an insecure teenager back when all this began, and Selection had been too demanding to enjoy much of anything. Since coming here, she had seen her father change into a more quiet, serious man, and her mother seemed to be having a hard time coping with her new life. The first months on Aurora had been tough, and the death of that young boy and the restrictions placed upon them made it all less of an adventure. Now though, this very night, Maria felt like nothing could make her unhappy.
After dinner, they sat chatting, Jeremiah being the loudest as always, with Geena a good second. Everyone seemed to have a good time, and even Sophie looked like she enjoyed herself.
“So what’s with this curfew?” Jeremiah asked out of the blue, and everyone quieted down. “I mean, what’s the reason for it? I just don’t get it.” Maria noticed he’d had quite a few beers, and she laughed and patted him on the back.
“Come on, Jeremiah, it’s not the end of the world,” she said. Jeremiah shook his head though, and pressed on.
“What, we’re supposed to stay indoors, like we were ten or something? I’m an old man…” that brought cheers, and he broke off, grinning.
“All right then, I’m not as old as y’all think, but still…” He got a more serious look, and continued.
“We should be out there, exploring. For God’s sake, we’ve got an entire world to discover, and all we’re doing is hunkering down in this godforsaken little camp. I wanna see what’s out there!” That brought nods from more than one, and Maria found herself agreeing with her mentor. He wasn’t finished though.
“Hell, you’ve all heard what we discovered this summer. And I have no problem with the rule telling us not to go out all by ourselves. I see that it could be dangerous, and that we need to work together here. But it’s been months, and almost every expedition proposed has been stalled or downright forbidden, even though the strongest indication we’ve ever had of intelligent life outside our own species was discovered months ago. Nooo, we stay here, curfew and all, while all tracks vanish and whatever is out there moves on, possibly lost to us forever.” He slumped back in his chair.
“I’m telling you, Havelar and his folks don’t care one bit about science or human discovery. All they care about is control, control, control. Because, you see, those fools are paranoid. They are still scared of terrorists. They actually believe terrorists have managed to infiltrate us, and that someone might blow up the reactors or whatever.”
“And why do you think that’s so strange, when you think about what happened to the last colony?” Sophie interjected. Everyone turned around, surprised. Sophie never spoke up, and Maria was taken aback by her sudden fierceness. Jeremiah set down his beer and spread his hands, before answering.
“Maybe that was the problem, Sophie. A colony, dependent on some homeland on a planet far, far away. Our homeland probably doesn’t even exist anymore, and still people think of this as a colony! Y’all get that, don’t you?” He looked around.
“This should be our homeland now. We should make our own rules and choose our own path, not follow some plan set out back on Earth!” Then he belched, and someone laughed. As the others turned their attention to other topics, Maria sat down next to him and handed him his beer back. Sophie didn’t say anything, but Maria noticed her red cheeks and tight lips, and hoped she would make up with Jeremiah later, when everyone was sober. Then she looked over at Kenneth, who had been quiet throughout the exchange, and noticed him looking at Jeremiah, and she thought she could see a sparkle in his eyes. Or maybe it was just the booze.
TINA HAMMER
The winds had finally subsided, leaving a quiet that was intensified by the blanket of snow that covered almost everything down to the water. Tina Hammer stood on the north bank of the Trickler, watching the dinghy come closer with every stroke. Two men sat beside each other, backs bent over the oars dipping into the water in perfect rhythm. Sometimes the oars would crack a thin layer of ice that was trying to form despite the currents. A third man sat in the stern, with a heavy hood masking his appearance. As they reached the shore though, his gait immediately revealed his identity. Tina had grown familiar with the man during those years as his second-in-command. As executive officer of the Exodus, she had been Admiral Greg Hamilton’s closest associate, and he was one of very few she would have trusted with her life. After he relinquished command to Governor Havelar, she’d only occasionally talked to him, as he had been preoccupied with some project or another, while she had been busy building a small community around her boat-building business. But there had been rumors about him having a falling out with Havelar, and lately she’d started to believe them. As far as she could tell, he didn’t seem to have any role whatsoever, except for the science projects, where he was putting his physics degree from the Naval Academy to work.
“Careful there, sir. The water is cold.” She said as he leapt onto the dock. He straightened and threw back his hood, then gestured toward the river.
“Won’t be long until we can walk across,” he said. Tina smiled at her former boss.
“Yes, sir. And here we were thinking we could be left alone to build boats and fish, eh? Although with the currents here, you might have to go a ways upriver to stay dry. We’ll see when the ice gets thicker,” she said. He smiled back, a smile that only lasted for a second.
“Yeah, I guess time will tell. No peace and quiet to be had though.” He turned around, and squinted.
“Won’t be long until Fort Andrews spreads all the way up to the river, I guess. And long before that, this will be firmly within the perimeter.” Tina sighed. She had come here, with Henry, Dean, Kim and a few others, to start the shipbuilding business, just weeks after first landing. They had talked about it back in Selection, and after seeing the planet for what it was, they had immediately known there would be a need for such a business. The planet needed to be explored, and the rivers and oceans would be fished and harvested. So they had set up camp north of the Trickler, and started building. With the abundant woods, there was no shortage of materials, and Dean had worked on a small wharf before joining the Navy. He had learned enough to get them started here, and their first few endeavors were teaching workshops. Now they were able to work without him overseeing every little detail. So far they had built six fishing boats and one raft carrying supplies back and forth, as well as a few small dinghies. Four of the fishing boats had been sold, and they kept the rest. Tina and her people planned for the long term.
They had built themselves a nice spot here, and what people had started calling Port Hammer had already grown into a small village by first snowfall, as more people had joined them. Now it consisted of a cluster of cabins. A bit ramshackle and improvised of course, but those living here took pride in doing everything themselves, instead of relying on Fort Andrews. Of course, Fort Andrews lay just a few hours walk to the south of the Trickler, so it was close enough to regularly visit for supplies and trade.
Sometimes, and more so lately, Tina had wished they had been further away. Relations with the Havelar administration were chilly, to say the least. Of course, if Havelar wanted to come see this place, she would receive him as an honored guest, but somehow she thought that very unlikely. Just as well, she thought. The governor hadn’t exactly tried to stop them going off, but it was obvious that he didn’t like their stubborn independence.
Walking up the narrow path from the dock, they soon reached her cabin. It didn’t look like much on the outside, she knew. It was cozy enough inside though, and surprisingly spacious. It still needed better insulation; it would be far too drafty for what looked to be a rough winter ahead. In the middle of the main room, a wood stove, with a pipe that reached up through the ceiling, kept them warm. She grabbed the coffee pot sitting on top of it, and poured them each a cup. Then she motioned for him to have a seat, and they both sat down with their cups in hand.
Neither of them said anything. Tina waited for Greg to say something, but she could tell he was reluctan
t to speak his mind, even where only the two of them would hear. She understood. Years of serving had taught them both to obey their superiors, and although they were both officers, used to making decisions, there were certain boundaries none of them would cross easily.
“I’m afraid of what the outcome will be, unless someone steps up against what’s happening,” he finally said. She felt the relief washing over her. For a moment, she’d been afraid he would stick with loyalty, and side with Havelar.
“I’m glad you see it that way, Admiral,” she said, smiling briefly. His shoulders seemed to slacken, just slightly. Obviously he’d been unsure of her reaction as well. There was another moment of awkward silence before he spoke.
“The problem though, is what to do about it.” His lips twisted.
“It’s not like we can just announce that we don’t like what is happening here, and expect things to change,” he said. Tina finished her coffee and set down her cup.
“Of course. We need to organize some kind of opposition. When we have enough strength to be reckoned with, we can start making demands. Havelar can’t go completely against us if there are enough of us,” she said. Greg let out a deep breath.
“Maybe so, Tina. What you are suggesting makes sense. A political opposition… That should be the obvious answer, of course, but there is a risk as well. I can’t be sure that Havelar won’t try to simply crush us before we constitute a threat to him. Violently. This is Andrews’ boy we’re talking about, let’s not forget that.” Tina walked over to the stove and put another log into the fire. When she slumped back into her chair, he continued.
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