Berossus and Mianea were scheduled to meet with a wedding planner. His mother had arranged it a long time ago, when he was working with FIST. Getting to know and marry Mianea was the reason he had returned to Gemma Central.
She had a family line going back generations in the Andron home world, and she was the archetype of an attractive young Andron woman: short, with a curvy figure, a round face, and big eyes under shiny black hair, conveying an expression of innocence. She had a master’s in health education and a number of cooking awards for the desserts she had made for competitions. She wrote a poem every day and was hoping to put a collection out in the world. Smart and sweet, she was the perfect fiancée.
They had only a couple of weeks until the big day, but at the moment his mind was elsewhere.
There had been the message from Evie, and the surprise visit from Efia, the mediator Shade. The Dawn Alliance Navy had overrun FIST, the leadership captured, and Evie was on the run. After he had received her message, he had replied, but heard nothing back.
Berossus took the shopping bags from Mianea and opened the door for her. She beamed, and on tiptoes, gave him a kiss on the cheek.
They walked through a glimmering tunnel, and at its end, traversed a light-blocking force field. Behind was a virtual space, created with presence technology, that made it seem as though they had entered another world.
Walking through a portal, they stood in a clearing surrounded by a lush forest, and in front of them on the other side of the clearing was an idyllic wooden house in red. Smoke rose from the chimney and drifted in the slight wind. It was just like they had planned, but everything seemed fuller than before, more saturated. Like on a real planet.
She was all smiles. ‘It’s lovely.’
The gravity seemed to pull him harder. Beyond the treetops, the cloudless blue sky seemed to stretch forever. He felt a heaviness in his chest, and a tingle—
It can’t be… This can’t be happening now!
The last time he had felt that tingle was when he had landed on Eura on Vorlar Block’s ship. Until then he had been able to keep it at bay, but, forced to go on a planet, he couldn’t; he had turned into a monster and ended up losing his arm in a fight with Vorlar Block. That was before he had even heard of Mianea, and just the thought of changing made him tense.
‘Hey,’ she said, touching his hand. ‘Are you all right?’
He was at a loss for words. She was unaware of his secret. She didn’t know he’d turn into a raging monster if he ever landed on a planet. On space stations he would be safe. She would be safe. And this was but a presence room, so it shouldn’t have happened.
The door of the small house creaked open, and a tall, thin man in a red velvet suit stepped out, complete with top hat and cane.
‘Welcome to your future!’ he exclaimed with a grand gesture, and bowed. ‘Wexon Bevonenko, wedding orchestrator par excellence, at your service!’
Mianea clapped. The insides of Berossus grumbled.
‘And this,’ Wexon gestured with his open arms, ‘is your venue. What do you think?’
Mianea looked around in awe. ‘It’s lovely, just like we wanted it to be.’
Berossus looked around too, but in panic. His hands twitched, and his face was on fire. I have to go.
‘A marriage is a sacred vow and it is my honour to make your day the best start to your eternal companionship.’
Berossus swallowed. The portal through which they’d entered was five or ten metres behind them.
Mianea said something to Wexon. Berossus failed to hear the words, but she seemed happy.
‘The stage will be there.’ Wexon pointed with his cane, and a stage appeared. It was covered with greenery and had a big heart-shaped ornament.
Mianea said something as Berossus turned to the portal. His breath quickened and his chest felt as if it would burst—a feeling he hadn’t forgotten. If he were to turn, Mianea and Wexon would be as good as dead.
He took a step towards the portal.
Behind him, Wexon said, ‘…and the seating for your loved ones.’
White benches appeared all around them, causing Berossus to stumble.
‘Berossus!’ Mianea tried to grab his hand.
He got up, a burning sensation coursing through his veins, and yanked his hand away. He scrambled across the benches towards the portal.
‘What’s going on?’ Mianea shouted after him.
He didn’t feel his arms or legs as the burn reached his neck. He just ran over the benches, as fast as he could. In seconds, he’d be a monster.
He hurled himself into the portal, and back to the glimmering corridor. Staggering, he made his way out to the shopping street, where he leaned on his knees, panting.
I’m on Gemma Central. It’s a space station. This shouldn’t be happening.
Mianea’s red shoes appeared in front of him, and he straightened up. The feeling of turning had subsided.
She frowned. ‘What was that all about?’
‘I think I had a panic attack.’
‘Honey, why didn’t you say anything?’
‘I’m sorry. I guess I just freaked out.’
Her upper lip wrinkled. ‘Are you all right to go back?’
‘Go back? No way.’
‘Oh, my little cuddly-bear,’ she sighed. ‘We have to agree on the set-up.’
‘Perhaps you could do it?’
She shook her head. ‘I want us to do this together.’
‘How much do you want to get away from the station?’ he asked.
‘Huh?’
‘You know, when we have kids—’
‘We’re not having kids on a space station, period.’
‘Why not? I’ve lived my whole life on space stations.’
‘I know, honey, but I want our children to have it better, including natural surroundings, not imitation like everything is here.’
‘But what would I do on a planet? I love working with machines in space.’
‘There are plenty of opportunities to tinker planetside; think about the Bella Technology Centre Besides, real air will do you good, too.’
‘But…’ He wanted to say something about changing when he went down on a planet, but couldn't. He should’ve told her the first time they met, but he had been ashamed, and since then the shame had only grown. And now he had been holding the secret for too long. But how could he tell her? He didn’t even know why it happened.
‘No buts.’ Mianea pushed her index finger against his lips. ‘I’ve already found a perfect place down on Baleor.’
Later that night, Berossus sat alone in his quarters. The thought of changing brought back the memory of going down to Avalon on Eura and learning about E with his FIST colleagues in Spit City. Tredd, Jill, Henning, and Eddie: they were all great people with extraordinary powers. As a techie, Gus had made an impression—and then there was Evie.
The young Jindalar woman had pestered him throughout their journey on the Rutger, and had become an unlikely friend during their time at FIST. She had been a good friend, but the last time they met, things had changed. She had ended up crying, obviously because Berossus had behaved so foolishly. He understood it now.
She had sent him a message, but he had never replied. He hadn’t known what to say.
Now, with the botched visit to the wedding planner, he needed his friend. The words were hard to find, but he had to try.
He opened Evie’s message on his terminal and recorded a quick reply:
Hi Evie,
I’m sorry to reply so late. I hope you are well. It would be great to see you someday—please let me know if you ever plan on visiting Gemma Central.
Berossus
As he sent it off, Efia, the Shade god in the form of a sophisticated older woman, appeared on a comfortable chair surrounded by a tall lamp and a small round table. She set a book on the table and smiled at him like his mother always did.
As Berossus stepped closer, her smile turned into a frown. ‘What’s wron
g?’ she asked.
‘I went to a presence room and was about to change. Mianea is mad.’
‘Did she see you change?’
Berossus shook his head. ‘I don’t think so. I don’t think I changed, after all.’
‘Then you’re all right,’ she said, beckoning him over. ‘Come, and I’ll show you something.’
He wasn’t feeling all right, but perhaps he was just exaggerating Mianea’s reaction. He hadn’t changed physically in any way, and she had bought his explanation. Maybe his explanation was the truth, but it had felt so much like changing for real.
He stepped closer to Efia.
‘Your fiancée is a wonderful person, and I understand why Inanna wants you to get married now, but the times are against you.’
He sighed. ‘I don’t know how long I can keep it from her.’
‘I know it’s hard, but telling her now is not a good idea.’
Keeping secrets from someone so close was painful. Then again, he was too ashamed to tell her. But he knew all too well that at some point he would have to. ‘Why don’t you think it’s a good time now?’
‘I might know a way to cure you.’
The instant he heard that word, a tingle of excitement kicked in. ‘Tell me.’
Efia remained calm. ‘It responds to E, and I should be able to suppress it for a while. But for a permanent solution, there’s someone else I must contact.’
‘Who?’
She picked up the book from the table. ‘It’s related to this. Look.’
She turned the old pages of illegible scribbles, until a spread with one large image appeared. It looked like a black ink drawing of an ancient dark castle, but when he peered closer, the blackness spread, lines moved and the Shades appeared—they were Aalto, Shinzaburo, and Warrigal—their faces contorted in agony.
‘Warrigal was with Nenetl,’ he said.
‘She used him, and when he was no longer useful…’
The image changed. A woman stood on the castle wall, the castle now black and sinewy, and raised both her arms.
Below, a massive army of dark soldiers with gleaming metal parts, and behind them, a backdrop of another planet close by. It seemed somehow off. ‘Is that planet resting against the other one?’
‘It’s not a planet. It’s Grangar, a monster the size of a planet. Unwittingly, the navy helped Nenetl acquire it. Grangar masters E, and is perhaps the greatest power in her new army.’
‘What are those, then?’ Berossus pointed at the page.
‘Hybrid creatures, abominations.’
‘Black sinew and metal.’ Berossus contemplated the image. ‘Those black disks, are they the same as the ones in the news?’
‘I’m afraid they are.’ She turned the page. The spread had two black rectangular outlines, nothing else.
‘An empty page?’
‘It’s where your future will be. Nothing is certain until it’s on the page,’ she said, closing the book and setting it on the side table.
The book was another magic trick of Efia’s, but the situation with the Shades was probably true. And if the black disks on the news were of Remolan origin, it meant the universe was in peril.
‘Why are you showing me this? Who do you need to contact?’
‘You are an exceptional person, and I expect to see the pages decorated with your success,’ she said, a new expression on her face. ‘You might not be aware of it yet, but whether you want it or not, you will play a significant role in how this turns out.’
‘But I’m about to marry—’
‘Mianea,’ she said, ‘is lovely, but you shouldn’t rush things.’
‘But Mother will—’
‘She’ll be all right.’
‘How would you know?’
‘We go way back,’ she said, pursing her lips. ‘But perhaps you should ask her, the story is better from her point of view.’
‘What do you mean? How is it related to my secret?’
‘Talk with your mother,’ Efia said, and before Berossus had a chance to object, she waved goodbye as her form turned into a green shimmer and flew out through the door.
Chapter Five
Just as she had thought, Evie found Shosana in Daler’s house on the outskirts of the city. The small nondescript dwelling was apparently registered in someone else’s name and was located conveniently so as not to arouse any suspicions.
‘I’ll be in the basement if you need me,’ Daler said, and left Evie and Shosana in the living room. Naido was staying in a small furnished apartment in the city.
Shosana looked serious but composed, as if Evie was looking into a mirror. ‘Do they know where I am?’
‘No, of course not.’
‘Good.’ Shosana said, and stepped over to the window through which one could see the mountains.
‘What are you going to do now?’
‘As we’ve planned. Going in incognito is a good idea.’
Evie stepped beside her. ‘I’m talking about Angelina and Jonon. They’re worried.’
She paused and looked down as if bearing a heavy weight on her shoulders. ‘It hurts.’
‘They’re good people.’
‘That’s what makes it difficult.’ She turned and rested her face against Evie’s shoulder.
‘It’s gonna be alright.’
Shosana looked up at her, teary-eyed. ‘I can’t go back. It’s not an option.’
‘What happens after the mission?’
Shosana remained quiet for a while. ‘Daler has big plans for this place. Once Puissance is out of the way, he’s going to re-establish himself in Runcor, and we don’t need to live under the radar.’
‘What about—’ Evie was going to ask about what she planned, but then it hit her. There was just one double bed. Shosana’s clothes hung on the rack. ‘Are you two…?’
‘You mean, me and him? No!’ Shosana said, eyes wide. ‘What made you think so?’
‘Well, you’re sleeping in his bed—’
‘It’s not like that. He’s just being kind, letting me use his bed, while he sleeps on the couch.’
‘That’s good,’ Evie said. Besides, Shosana was an adult, and able to make her own decisions. Evie had been hanging around Naido long enough to see there was a kind person underneath that thug-like exterior. Perhaps it was the same with Daler.
As they spoke, Reuna was setting between the mountains of Wellanor.
Ever since they had come down to Runcor, Evie had wanted to know why it had been so easy for Shosana to leave the navy, but there hadn’t been a good time to ask. And when she had tried the indirect route, the answers were also indirect. She thought she’d tell her when they reached Runcor, but it seemed she had moved on as if nothing had happened. It was the hoola in the room. She had sacrificed everything—her career and her legal standing under the Dawn Alliance—to help Evie, a long-lost twin sister she had just met.
‘Why did you do it in the first place?’
The question floated free in the air between them for five heartbeats.
Smiling softly, Shosana turned to face her. ‘As I said, it was the right thing to do.’
‘Yes, but—’
‘But what?’
‘I’m flattered, but now you’re an outlaw. It’s but a matter of time until they get to you. And now you can’t go home.’
‘They had captured you, they wanted to exile you. I just couldn’t let that happen.’ She stared at her hands on her lap. ‘There is a special bond between us. You feel it, too.’
Evie did. First, it had been like a dream when she felt Shosana’s presence through the walls of her cell inside the navy battle cruiser. Now the touch of her presence had become the norm.
‘But how could you sacrifice everything?’
‘You’ve done it, too.’
‘Yes, but—’
‘It’s different? The moment you killed your boyfriend, your life changed forever. You became a fugitive.’
Evie had been in an abusive relationship
. ‘I was desperate.’
Shosana gave her a look.
‘So it’s not just me.’
‘No…’ Shosana trailed off and looked away. ‘I was in a bad relationship as well, or no, it was all good until I found out.’
Shosana seemed uncomfortable; she probably hadn’t talked about it before. ‘I’m here for you,’ Evie said.
Shosana nodded slowly. ‘I fell for Rick the first time I laid my eyes on him; a human man with an edgy haircut and clean-cut beard around his sharp chin, he was like a model. We met at a cafe while he was hauling in artisan roasted beans from Baleor where his family had a business. He— well, it’s not important.’
‘It’s all right…’
‘It doesn’t matter how we met, or what happened afterwards. One night, when we were intimate, things took a turn.’
Based on her own experience with Ash, Evie expected the worst. She swallowed. ‘What did he do to you?’
‘It was me. I saw this flash, and in front of my eyes I saw him in bed with the barista from the same cafe in which we met.’
Evie nodded slowly.
‘I thought I was just tired, and my confidence had dipped. Because he wasn’t with the woman in the cafe; he was with me. But it happened again, and again, always with the same woman.’
‘What did you do?’
‘I followed him.’
There was a heavy pause.
‘I went to his place when he thought I was on a training stint in another system. I heard noises from the bedroom, and when I opened the door it was exactly like the first scene I had seen in my mind; their positions, her moans, and even the time on his alarm clock were the same, but this time I stepped into the scene. The woman tried to act modest and pull the cover over her body, but Rick got up. His face went sour, and he clenched his fists. He stomped towards me and spat out things… that I had lied, that I was boring, that I was stupid—’
‘The bastard’s got a nerve.’
‘I ran out of that building, and I never saw him again.’
‘That’s good.’
‘It was a difficult time for me,’ Shosana said, now looking straight at Evie. ‘But Rick was not the reason I left the navy.’
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