Essence: Book 1 - Septima

by Nick Braker

  “For some reason, Sep, the memories of you are the strongest,” Troy paused, “as are the feelings. I would like that.”

  Her eyes widened in surprise. She replaced it with a smile. They both knew what the other was thinking. Troy made love to her again. Her tears of sadness from earlier replaced by tears of joy.

  Chapter 8

  HAYDEN

  Pira - Seven Piran Days Later

  The shield wall surrounded their community of survivors. It was generated by a machine buried deep within the facility that made them invisible to electronic detection. It did nothing to hide them from prying eyes and, if it weren’t for their remote location on the planet, the Reptaurans would already have found and destroyed the last remaining Pirans in the universe.

  Troy lived in a military complex and had for the last two weeks. It was all he knew other than the late night burial run to get rid of Brice’s body. He had stayed inside the complex, primarily in Septima’s quarters, spending all of his time with her. It was what Alta wanted but, more importantly, it was what he wanted. His physical relationship with Septima had continued and, Troy mused, it was the honeymoon she never got to enjoy. Troy’s feelings for her were strong and the last several days had been amazing. They ate together, laughed together and made love as often as they could. The headaches never ended but the medicine she gave him always helped. Septima had spent the week with Troy, but today she told him she had work to take care of and it could no longer wait. As soon as she left, after breakfast, Troy formed a plan.

  This place is a prison.

  Alta had given strict orders not to let him leave the complex but today he was standing at one of the outer bulkhead doors.

  To hell with Alta.

  She seemed genuine enough but her rough edges made it hard for him to like her. He had tried to leave the complex several days ago but the picture of Septima in her wedding dress had changed those plans. Today would be different. He stood a few feet inside the complex. On the other side of the bulkhead door in front of him was a place they called Gen-Pop. It was an open area inside the shield wall but outside the main military complex. Troy hit the activation button, letting the large bulkhead doors slide open.

  Troy walked out a few feet, standing in the sun of another star system. It had a slightly orange tint to it and it was smaller than Earth’s sun. Did that mean it was farther away or was it really smaller than Sol? It was one of many questions he wanted answered. Septima could only tell him so much. The Pirans out here could tell him much more. They knew Tohmas in different ways and he would use this time to learn as much as possible.

  There were tents, fabricated huts and houses scattered around the complex. People filled the area around it, moving to and fro. Troy guessed there were about 200 Pirans in the area. It reminded Troy of a third-world country. Men, women and children, living their lives as a community, working together to survive.

  The winter wind bit through the cracks in his clothing but Troy had come prepared. A parka-like coat covered his head and reached down to his knees. The jumpsuit and thermal lined gloves and boots did the rest. He hadn’t yet talked to Septima about her ability to handle the cold but his guess that Pirans were resistant appeared correct. The people outside were dressed in simple jumpsuits with light gloves and boots. They wore no head coverings. Their jumpsuit colors varied as did the amount of dirt and grime on each, but the people all seemed comfortable.

  Okay, I’m going to stand out like a sore thumb.

  Troy stepped back into the complex, removing the heavy parka. He threw it into a corner near the entrance and walked out. The chill cut through him, ripping the heat from every exposed area. The cold was so strong, it burned his flesh. He wouldn’t last long but, he told himself, he wasn’t going to stay long either. He squared is shoulders and strode forward.

  “Look, it’s Tohmas,” a voice called out.

  Soon other voices joined in and within seconds he was surrounded by well-wishers and people wanting to meet him. They asked questions about how had he survived, whether Borit’un was dead, were the Reptaurans going to die, and a host of others. He told them a story about how he had gotten away and that Borit’un was still alive. He explained he had lost memories in the process though he didn’t know why and, yes, the Reptaurans were going to die. Troy was amazed at the spark that spread through the ranks of people around him. They were genuinely excited to speak with him.

  Troy clenched his teeth, trying to keep them from rattling. He started to shake involuntarily. The cold was going to kill him. Troy realized he couldn’t stay outside but a few minutes longer. He wore light gloves and though his hands were not exposed, they burned as if he placed them within a raging fire. Troy rubbed them together, trying to generate some heat but it did little to offset the frigid temperatures. He decided to get back inside when another Piran approached him. The man’s jumpsuit was ragged and dirty and his face creased with worry.

  “Tohmas,” the man said, “my name is Petresi.”

  Troy nodded at the man but quickly glanced back at the bulkhead door that represented warmth.

  “Please,” Petresi continued. “I beg you. Join me in my home.” Petresi pointed to a nearby tent. “It is very important and only you can help.”

  Troy nodded, following Petresi inside his tent. The temperature in the tent felt warm compared to the bitter arctic air outside. The tent was square and made of several layers of dark brown material. It was suspended by poles on each corner and a larger one near the center. It looked weathered but sturdy. There were two thick mats in one corner covered with several blankets. In another corner was a small table and a single chair with a young Piran woman, perhaps 18, holding a small tablet-like device in her hands. She seemed completely oblivious to both of them even after the man introduced her as his daughter, Hayden. She nodded politely but returned to the device in her hands.

  “My daughter spends all her time with computers and anything electronic,” he told Troy.

  “Games?” he asked.

  “Oh no. She would never waste her time on such trivial things. No, she spends her time learning as much as she can about them. How to operate them, program them and who knows what else. I do not understand it myself but that is why I asked to speak with you.”

  “Is this about her then?” Troy asked.

  The man’s hands shook slightly and he seemed nervous about what he was going to ask.

  “Tohmas, she wastes her life here. I cannot offer her the future she deserves, now that the war has taken her adopted mother and everything we have away from us. My wife found her by chance after the first Reptauran attack. We were trying to get out of the city, hoping to find safety in Paradon. We found her alone and hurt after the first wave. We took her with us and nursed her back to health. She’s been with us since. The wife and I consider her our daughter as we do not know, and she will not speak, about her past. She has a kind and sweet soul, unlike any Piran I’ve ever met. More importantly, I’ve never met anyone as good as she is with computers. Please Tohmas, I ask that you find a place for her and that you protect her.”

  “Your wife died in Paradon, didn’t she?” Troy asked.

  “Yes,” he said, lowering his head. “I could not protect her nor can I protect our daughter. I promised my wife before she died that I would do everything, anything, to keep Hayden safe. I am afraid of what is to come but, with you, Tohmas, you can keep her safe and that is why I must ask that you do this. She will not be a burden to you. She will earn her keep and do so gladly. I have already spoken with her about this, at length, once I learned you had returned.”

  How much did Petresi know? Had the rumor mill moved that quickly?

  “How and when did you know I had returned?” Troy asked.

  Petresi looked sheepishly at Hayden who still seemed unaware of the conversation between them.

  “She broke into the research center’s computer systems and has been keeping up with everything going on within the complex. We both know ab
out the army that Alta plans to build and of the attack on the Reptauran citadel that is to come.”

  Troy suppressed a shiver from the cold. He needed to get warm.

  “Have you spoken--”

  “Oh no, no,” he said, vehemently. “I would never speak of such things to anyone.”

  Troy sized the girl up. The tablet Hayden held was larger than Maria’s, the young girl he had met from the train station. Hayden’s screen seemed alive with activity and her fingers moved quickly over its interface. Troy knew enough about computers to know she was writing a program. She never paused as she entered each line of code. The screen continually scrolled up as the code moved virtually from her head, through her fingers and into the tablet. The two were one.

  “I will give her a chance to prove herself,” Troy said, rubbing his hands briskly. “I will send for her when I have made arrangements.”

  “Thank you, Tohmas,” the man said, bowing to him.

  “Keep her out of trouble,” Troy said, “and out of our systems. If Alta or the council find out she’s hacking-”

  “I understand. I will speak with her,” Petresi said. “She will be very eager to work for you.”

  Troy laughed.

  “I don’t think working for me will be her real interest,” he said, smiling.

  Troy left the tent and was again approached by those waiting outside. He wanted to stay and speak more but he couldn’t tolerate the freezing temperatures any longer. His body wanted to shake but he forced himself to remain still.

  “It was good to speak with each of you,” Troy managed to say, “but I have business to attend to. Keep preparing. I will return soon to talk again.”

  Troy didn’t know Pirans well but they all seemed to be in better spirits when he started walking back inside. He continued to struggle trying to keep his shoulders high and not sprint into the complex. His body shook and his teeth rattled as hypothermia set in. Troy staggered through the bulkhead doorway, bracing himself on the wall. Once inside, he grabbed the parka and shuffled to Septima’s quarters. He stripped and stood under the heat of a shower which, agonizingly, they were allowed to use for only two minutes each day. The automated system turned the shower off, leaving him shaking and cold. It wasn’t enough, so he dried off and crawled into bed still shivering.

  ____

  Pira - Midday

  It was several hours later before Alta found out about his visit outside. She summoned Troy to her office, sending Cienna to escort him. Cienna remained outside Alta’s office.

  “You were unbelievably stupid,” Alta said.

  Troy stood in front of her desk, letting her vent. She had been chewing his ass a new hole for the last five minutes. He’d had enough four minutes ago but he promised himself he wouldn’t hurt her this time. Cienna wasn’t here to protect her so the thought did cross his mind, numerous times now.

  “What the hell were you thinking?” Alta continued, pointing her finger at him. “I told you to stay out of Gen-Pop. You’re not ready to answer any tough questions. If someone were to suspect you’re not actually Tohmas, the whole process falls apart. Why am I having this conversation with--”

  “It’s not really a conversation now is it?” he asked, his own anger rising.

  “Don’t you dare interrupt--”

  Troy put his hand up, mimicking the motion Alta had used on him the first time they met. Her face was almost as red as her hair. He hadn’t known her long but she was beyond angry. Maybe fury was a better word. He laughed inside.

  “How dare you,” she said, coming around her desk to stand in front of him. “Do you know who the fuck I am?”

  “Yes,” Troy said. “I realize how important you are and that, honestly, you pretty much run the show around here. I bet the council goes along with everything you say. Hell, even Brice answered to you when he was alive but it probably festered in his craw for years and likely contributed to his mental breakdown.”

  “Are you kidding?” she screamed. “You want to try to blame Brice’s death on me? You’re the sneaky little shit that crept up behind him. You couldn’t face him like a man. I know why you did it but don’t blame me for it.”

  Okay, that one hurt.

  Alta certainly liked going for the jugular with her insults. Part of him wanted to put her in her place but he had also found a certain level of respect for her over the last week.

  “And then you covered up the evidence,” she continued. “You’re weak and stupid. What happens in the spring when the ice and snow melt?”

  What Troy wanted was to stand here, wait for her to finish and then get back to spending time with Septima, but Alta’s words changed that and his control slipped.

  Weak? Stupid?

  He slapped her.

  Troy couldn’t take it any longer. He wanted to put her in her place. She needed to learn respect and to know who was really in charge.

  Alta looked downward, her eyes and mouth wide open in shock and anger. Her arms were slightly apart like she was facing a snake in front of her, unable to move. She managed to step back from him taking a deep breath, forcing herself to relax. She put her hand up but quickly put it back down, stopping the motion. Her eyes were still wide as she stood there not making eye contact. Troy wasn’t sure but she looked like she wanted to kill him. He laughed inside again.

  I’d crush her.

  “Look,” she said, speaking in a normal tone. “This isn’t going well for either of us. I’d like to ask that we talk later after we’ve both had a chance to cool off.”

  She turned and walked out of her office.

  I think she learned her lesson.

  He smiled.

  ____

  Pira - Late that night

  Troy returned to Septima’s quarters. He had not spoken to Alta since their encounter and, as far as he was concerned, there was nothing to talk about. It had felt good and she had deserved it. Had he done the right thing? At this moment, Troy wasn’t so sure. He sat down on the couch in Septima’s living room.

  “Sep,” he said, raising his voice enough so she could hear him. “Got a moment?”

  The bedroom door slid open and she stuck her head into the living room.

  “Yeah?”

  Troy patted the seat next to him. Septima finished buttoning her blouse as she walked to the couch. She raised her eyebrow and then sat down next to him.

  “I, uh, wanted to tell you about today,” he said.

  “Was it a good one?” she asked.

  “Well,” Troy said, letting his voice trail off. “I...”

  Hell, just spit it out.

  “Alta found out about me visiting Gen-Pop on my own,” Troy said. “It pissed her off. It was so bad, she lost it. After I couldn’t stand listening to it any longer, I...”

  “You what?”

  “You remember when I attacked Alta in the lab the first day I met her?” he asked.

  “Yes...”

  “This time I controlled myself and-”

  “And what?”

  “I slapped her,” he said, keeping his eyes on hers.

  Septima didn’t react. Troy expected her to at least be surprised, instead she simply nodded slightly.

  “I see,” Septima said. “I need you to be careful. You need to know that Alta is more dangerous than Cienna. You should not underestimate either of them.”

  “Okay, but more dangerous?” Troy asked. “She’s an egghead scientist.”

  “Want to hear about my day?” she asked.

  Troy blinked several times. Septima changed the subject.

  “Of course, was it a good one?” he asked, mimicking her question from earlier.

  Septima laughed. She told him that one of her jobs was to supervise the Piran military training programs which currently focused on a massive counter attack. The Piran community worked every day, preparing for war against the Reptaurans. Troy asked questions throughout regarding their current state. She told him that some Pirans created weaponry while others made armor. So
me were assigned to security which was a huge concern and anything related to it was priority one. They could not risk being discovered before they were ready. In all, it sounded like her preparations were good but a question nagged Troy.

  “You don’t have enough people for a war,” he said. “How-”

  The answer came to him. He remembered the cloning process and Alta’s comments about it. She planned to create an army. It seemed unethical to create life for the purpose of war but what would Troy do in a hopeless situation like this?

  “She’s building an army,” he said, answering his own question.

  Septima’s head dropped and her eyes went to the floor.

  “Yes, but let’s not talk about that right now.”

  “Okay,” he said. “Oh, I forgot. I ran into a man named Petresi. He has a daughter that is a computer whiz. I asked Bleah to find a role for her. I just wanted you to know it was happening. I’ll handle all the details.”

  “Computer whiz?” she said.

  “That a problem? We can use her. She can help,” he answered.

  “No. No,” Septima said. “I’m not sure we can trust her. I’ve not met Hayden.”

  “She’s a Piran,” Troy said. “Why wouldn’t you trust her?”

  “It’s not that,” she said. “Sorry, forget I said anything.”

  “Okay.”

  Troy rubbed his temple. Septima stood as if to walk away but then stopped. She pulled her comm-device out, reading it.

  “Oh,” she said, looking down at him. “It’s a message from Joliza. She says to tell you that your friends are ready, meet her in the lab as soon as you can.”

  Septima returned to the bedroom.

  ____

  Pira - Later that night

  Septima had told him to meet Joliza in her lab. He left their compartment and began the trek to the lab. The hallways were still in semi-darkness but he knew the way now. This time, he encountered several Pirans moving through the complex which lined up with Cienna’s story that they did indeed order the hallways cleared for his first meeting with Alta. Troy didn’t have any facts to indicate they were lying to him and it appeared they hadn’t but he still wasn’t sure he could trust them.