by Gini Koch
“True enough. Because the DNA, when it landed, landed on a different planet. Many different planets. And, if the meteor spaceship opened right, it seeded that world. And the DNA adapted to that world. To all the worlds. It probably didn’t take everywhere, probably some of the DNA was more adaptable than another type depending on the world, but it took in a lot of places. Some places, like Earth, it all took. Some places, like Cradus, only some survived. And all the DNA that survived adapted to its world.”
“What about the ships that didn’t make it?”
“If a meteor spaceship was, say, hit by a real meteor or comet or whatever, if the DNA got into or onto that, then it landed wherever that body landed. And presumably did the same thing.” My music changed to “My Alien” by Simple Plan. Unless Algar was trying to tell me that Jeff needed me, was still coming up very short in the figuring out the clues department. Seemed to be my theme for this portion of the intergalactic road trip.
“Okay, I understand why that first system was so important. But why does this system matter?”
“Because of what, or rather who, is here. One of their first attempts at sending living people was the Mykali. They sent them across the galaxy to a planet that had a lot of water, which the Mykali need. But it was a long way away and their sun wasn’t getting any younger or less unstable. So they had to hurry up. I figure they found a system that was closer. Maybe it moved and that made it more desirable, maybe they’d just missed it, maybe it wasn’t quite as good as Earth but would do in a pinch.”
“So they, what? Tossed everyone in spaceships, aimed them this way, and hoped for the best?”
“Yeah. They’d seeded the galaxy already, so they knew their races and way of life would go on. And most of those spaceships made it. And they had the pure DNA added into their spaceships, too, Just in case.”
The Kristie-Bot looked around, specifically at the tapestries. “But not all the spaceships made it to the world they’d aimed for.”
“Right. Not all. Some landed on other planets. Some probably fell short or went too far. Most landed on Helix Noblora. And some landed here. I’d assume that once this world discovered they weren’t alone, they reached out to the other planets. Either they were ignored, the messages never arrived, or the people on the other planets weren’t interested in helping for whatever reason.”
“Ixtha said that they consider this world to be evil. Her people have been afraid of this world for as long as their history shows. They think it’s where bad people go when they die.”
“Makes sense. They think they’re on New Eden and that makes this Hell World. Fitting. Wrong, but fitting. I mean, they had to have had contact somewhere along the line—they both call the sun Helix Prime, right?”
“Ixtha does, yes.”
“So that means they had to have agreed on the name, long ago.”
“Maybe it was agreed to before they left,” she suggested. “That would be why they both call their planets Helix Whatever, too, right? Or maybe their original sun was called Helix.”
“Right and either theory makes sense.” Heaved a big sigh. “But that’s why this all matters. This system contains the descendants of the original Cradle of Life for, most likely, our entire galaxy. Losing it to the Deep Black not only seems wrong, but I’m willing to bet that it’ll be dangerous for our galaxy, too. Galaxy-ending, most likely, for whatever reason.”
“No more DNA that’s in the stars and the planets and all of us would be my guess,” the Kristie-Bot said. “Or no replenishment of the DNA or something like that. Or maybe a galaxy dies if it loses its Cradle of Life.”
“You don’t think I’m crazy?” Lee Press-On And The Nails were now singing “Hidden” for me. Had a feeling Algar thought I was crazy, but in the wrong way right now.
“Like a fox. No. I’m a cyborg. We’ve gone all over the galaxy and are now floating outside of it. Nothing you’re saying sounds crazy. But, unfortunately, nothing you’ve said is a plan for how to get this back into the Milky Way, though I’m now with the cause a hundred percent.”
“So are the rest of us,” Jerry said in my ear. Kristie’s too, if her jumping a little was any indication. “I was going to ask you something when I heard you two discussing what’s going on and decided not to interrupt. It sounded important, so I broadcast it to the others.”
“Glad I didn’t say anything about my sex life.”
“Oh, we all know all about that,” Jerry said with a laugh. “But we all also agree with your assessment, the team still on Helix Noblora in particular. Because they did break the code and what you described is pretty much what they’ve just gotten translated via Butler and Mother.”
Kristie punched me gently on the arm. “Look at you, right again!” Realized I’d started thinking of her as Kristie, not as the Kristie-Bot. Yeah, she’d moved into the Friend Zone. And I’d correctly figured out how life in our galaxy had come about. It was a trip filled with stranger and stranger things.
CHAPTER 106
“ALL THAT’S NICE, but we’re still no closer to figuring out what to do.” My music changed to “Inside You” by Pop Will Eat Itself. Well, that was a duh. At least I thought I had this clue right. “Lilith, any ideas?”
Not really, and yes, I am sharing this with everyone’s minds, or all those on the call, at any rate. I could do some, but I cannot do all. To do this requires great power. Moving the ship with a Z’porrah power cube was one thing. I cannot contain the entire solar system. And there is a matter of rotation. The speed we will need to achieve to reenter the galaxy is great. I cannot do it alone.
But you could if Fairy Godfather ACE helped.
Jamie?
Yes, Mommy. Fairy Godfather ACE and I are just talking to you and Lilith, not the others. Not even Daddy, because we think it will upset Daddy to talk to him like this right now.
Oh, right you are, sweetie. But I can’t ask Fairy Godfather ACE to risk it any more than I can ask Lilith to risk it. And, as your mother, I have to say that you are not allowed to risk yourself in this way.
It is not a risk. This was ACE. ACE will not allow Jamie to risk. ACE will leave Jamie, as Lilith will have to leave Kitty, in order to assist.
Doesn’t that increase the risk for both of you?
It does, Lilith said. But it lessens the risk for you and your daughter.
I can do it, Mommy, Jamie said stubbornly.
I’m sure you can, Jamie-Kat, but you’re a little girl and that’s asking a lot of you. Of course, she hadn’t had ACE inside her when she’d time-warped from New Mexico to D.C. to save me, Jeff, and Christopher by holding a Z’porrah spaceship in the air and lowering it safely.
Stop selling your daughter short, Lilith said, right on cue.
Look, I’m her mother. I’m supposed to protect her, not the other way around.
The other kids want to help, too, Jamie said. Charlie has a good idea.
Perfect. Now my toddler son wanted to get in on the action. Jeff was going to flip out. Um, what idea is that?
Charlie says that he can lift the sun.
God forbid that he actually could. That’s not what we need, sweetie. We need to move the solar system back to where it was, not move it around where it is.
We know. Jamie sounded exasperated. Clearly I was missing her point. But Missus Denise says that when we all work together all the tasks are easier. We’ve been practicing, even Becky and JR.
Fantastic. Now I’d have Jeff and Christopher freaking out. Probably the other parents, too. I mean, I wanted to freak out, but had to control it. Oh? Um, good for all of you!
Mommy, you don’t have to worry. We know what to do. And we know we can’t do it alone. Fairy Godfather ACE says that what we want to do is be like Auntie Abby and Auntie Mimi were, and how Auntie Abby and Auntie Mahin are, only more so.
“SuperStar could move an entire solar system,” T
im said before I could mention that those women were full-grown adults and one of them was technically dead. Realized that the chat in my head was going a lot faster than I’d have figured. That had happened earlier, too. Presumed it was because Lilith was inside of me.
“But we don’t have anyone like that with us now. Our rabbits and the Most Weasels have telepathy thanks to the Nazez water and the Orange Scourge, but none are as powerful as SuperBun was.” My music changed to “Metal Heart” by Garbage. “We can’t ask SuperStar or Cradus to help with this—it puts them at too much risk.” The volume on my music turned up for a few seconds, then lowered. Algar really wanted me to pay attention.
“The only ones who’ve gone into a sun and survived are Kitty, Wruck, Lilith, and SuperBun,” Chuckie said. “I’m saying that before Kitty feels the need to remind us.”
“Oh, blah, blah, blah, dude. Besides you’re not quite right. The Anti-Mother went in and came out, too. Oh. Oh my God.” Thought about Algar’s current musical cues. Part of the chorus from “Hidden” was “everyone jump like the gators do,” and using alligators had been considered totally insane. And yet, they’d helped us save the day during Operation Drug Addict. But that had only happened because I’d gone with the crazy.
“No,” Jeff said strongly. “You cannot be thinking what I know you’re thinking.”
“I’m thinking that I need to do the craziest thing I can think of, and that’s talk to the Anti-Mother, yes.”
“It’s better to let this system float into the Deep Black and die than release that monster,” Christopher said. “You know that, Kitty. Why are you even considering this?”
My music changed again, to “Faith” by George Michael. Mephistopheles had repeated that he’d always have faith in me the last time we’d talked. Maybe I needed to live up to that faith. “I need to get up to the Distant Voyager.”
Everyone started arguing. The call shut off for me, though I could tell that it was still on for Kristie. I stood up. Kristie tapped her communicator and stood up, too. “You turned the call off, too?”
Nodded. “I have to at least try. Maybe I can get through to the Anti-Mother in some way. I was able to connect with her son, after all.”
“I’m in.” She shrugged at the shocked look I was giving her. “They all want to argue, but none of them have any ideas. This sounds crazy. But crazy is Code Name: First Lady’s specialty.”
Looked around. We were going to have to steal a shuttle, and that was not going to sit well with anyone. There is another way, Lilith said. Take hold of the cyborg.
Grabbed Kristie’s hand and felt something go around us, just like I had when ACE had taken us to Alpha Four during Operation Invasion. Felt the gentle tug and we sailed from the throne room of Helix Rime through space into the cargo hold of the Distant Voyager as if we were ghosts. There was something different about the system, but didn’t have time to figure out what it was.
“Wow,” Kristie said when we landed. “That was amazing.”
“Yeah, traveling via superconsciousness is the best way to go. Z’porrah power cubes are faster, but you get to see the sights with a superconsciousness in the driver’s seat. Help me with this.” Went to the lead container and moved it out of the corner where Chuckie and I had shoved it.
“Now what?” Kristie asked.
“No idea, honestly. I’m going to try to reach the Anti-Mother telepathically. If I can.” She wasn’t an animal, it was going to be tricky.
Heard a sigh in my mind. I’m right here, Lilith said. I can tell you’re not used to this kind of combination. Hang on. Waited a few moments. My music changed to “Inside of Me” by 3 Doors Down. The Anti-Mother and Cradus will speak to you now.
Cradus?
I am here, Kitty. It is good to talk with you again.
Wow. I hadn’t realized your essence went with everything from your planet. Um, I had to use your present to save the other solar system.
I know. Spehidon and I are overjoyed that our gift was so useful for you so soon, and that by giving the gift of ourselves, you were able to save the system that is soon to join with us.
So, you can connect with yourself even if a part of you is separated?
I can. Spehidon can, too. We both agree that what you want to do is the right thing.
Um, great. So, the reason for my speaking to you is who we have imprisoned inside of, um, you, I guess.
You named me The Anti-Mother, she said. And I, too, am here, Kitty.
Had no idea how to start, so just gave up and started wherever. Um, do you like that name?
Well, it was fitting.
Was. Do you mean it’s not fitting anymore?
I have had . . . time to . . . think.
To think about what?
As you’d understand it, my sins.
You’ve had less than a week.
In your time, yes. The Anti-Mother chuckled. Have you not realized that mind time goes much faster than time out of mind? The music changed to “Time Out of Mind” by Steely Dan because Algar enjoyed DJing a lot. Noted that the music seemed to be keeping up with time as I’d think of it, but was pretty sure that, when this was over, Kristie wouldn’t be asking me why I’d spent fifteen minutes staring at a metal container.
Yes, I’ve started to pick that up. So, what did you decide about your sins?
That I now understand why you and my son became . . . friends. There is more to this life, this existence, than domination. Life should be preserved and encouraged.
I’m sorry to seem incredulous, but that’s a hell of a change of heart.
Cradus has been . . . helping me. There was something in the way she said it, the tonal or mental inflection.
Oh my God, are you two like an item or something now?
In a way. The Anti-Mother sounded happily embarrassed, as if, if she was a person, she’d be blushing and looking over coyly at Cradus.
Yes, Cradus said, sounding pleased. As you would be able to understand it. We have spent every moment together since you submerged the trap inside of me. And in that time, we have come to an understanding.
Cradus taught me about his people. And about what he and Spehidon know is out there. And about you. He showed me another way. A way that, I believe, is a better way than I have ever known before.
Um, I hate to ask this, but what does Spehidon think of this, ah, relationship?
She is pleased, Cradus said. We are eagerly waiting for SuperStar. To have another sentient star join us is a source of great joy. The Anti-Mother is a powerful consciousness. To have her with us is also a source of joy, now that she has come to understand how we see our worlds and galaxy.
“Me, Myself & I” by L7 came on. So, um, does that mean that you’re all sort of one, even though you’re all also separate.
Yes, in a way. Cradus sounded like Olga normally did when I’d figured out something—a kindergarten teacher pleased with a prized pupil.
So, you guys want me to believe that the Anti-Mother has become a force for good now? And I should believe that this isn’t some sort of trick and the moment I let her out, she’ll turn evil again?
You can’t really ‘let me out,’ the Anti-Mother said. I need to remain inside of Cradus now. We have combined and the trap is dissolved.
Better and better. Focused on the good side—I wouldn’t have to stick my hand in mercury or get into the Moon Suit right now. If I can’t take you out, how do I get you into the sun?
You send us in just as happened before. The star’s heat can melt Cradus, but if we’re going fast enough we will still hit the surface. As long as we do that, we can join with the sun.
Then what happens? The supernova we’re all dreading?
No. We will have the power to move the sun.
Really hated what I was thinking now. Because I was thinking about Charlie.
CHAPTER 1
07
HE FEELS HE CAN lift the sun, Lilith said, obviously reading my deeper thoughts. Lifting this container into the sun will seem easy.
He’s a little boy, practically still a baby. Just because he thinks he can do something doesn’t mean he can.
He’s your child. He, like your daughter, is exceptional. And the other exceptional children will help him. And each other.
Why are you okay with this? Why is ACE?
Because we understand two things you do not. This is the only way, and your children are going to do what they think is right, with or without your permission. Wouldn’t it be better if their mother was helping them, rather than working against them?
Argh. All that makes sense. However, their father is not going to be so easily convinced.
You may be surprised.
Someone nudged me as my music changed to “Children in Bloom” by the Counting Crows. Had that right. “We are not alone,” Kristie said.
Turned around. Sure enough, Jeff was here, along with Jamie and Charlie. “How did you get here so fast?”
He shook his head. “Our children wanted a family powwow.” He cleared his throat. “So Jamie and ACE brought me over like Lilith brought you and Kristie.”
“Well, that saves time, I guess. Where’s Lizzie, then?” I asked Jamie.
“She’s getting the other kids ready,” Jamie said calmly. “We’ll talk to their mommies and daddies, too, but not yet.” Presumed they wanted to get me and Jeff on board first, which made sense. The kids were many things, but dumb was not one of them.
“Okay, so, what are we talking about?” I mean, I knew, but why not be polite?
“If Daddy is a king, and you are a queen, Mommy, then that makes Lizzie and me princesses and Charlie a prince. And princesses and princes are supposed to do what’s right for their kingdoms. That’s what Auntie Rahmi and Auntie Rhee always say.”
“They do, that’s true. But they’re grown up.”
“They were protecting their people when they were little,” Jamie said. They were Amazons, I was certain Jamie wasn’t making this up but had been told about it by the princesses. Probably many more times than once.