Is this how the fear of confinement inspired one to feel and behave? He often wondered what comprised such an experience. Most especially as his entire life was enclosed to prevent this very unraveling of the mind. Although, he did not know of such a condition until after he left New Eden. Now, he felt akin to a caged animal, an expression he finally understood. Perhaps it was good he did not interact with others today.
The scent of pine and earth struck his senses and he awoke from his heated thoughts to find himself in the middle of the forested entry biodome room. A blue jay jeered from a branch and a small brook bubbled and gurgled to his left. Coal took in the familiar scene as hot tears prickled the back of his eyes. The gray, geodesic sky seemed to fall upon him and the trees pressed in, and Coal physically winced. Yet his heart soared with an overwhelming euphoria he could not describe, and he closed his eyes and allowed the scents and sounds of home to consume him.
For a moment, he swore he heard the clank of metal on metal as his father forged and repaired tools; and the soft, lulling hum of Oaklee’s voice as she weaved through the trees; the bright laughter of his brother and sister; followed by the comforting pressure of his sister’s hand upon his arm.
“Coal,” a soothing, female voice said near him and his eyes snapped open to find an actual hand upon his arm. He jumped back, gulping in a large breath as he did so. Dr. Nichols stood beside him, dressed elegantly as usual. But her usual playful smile and inquisitive eyes remained impassive, worry burning behind her gaze instead. “I was looking for you.”
“My apologies,” he said, blinking rapidly as he attempted to calm his pulse. “I removed my Cranium an hour ago and left it inside my room.”
“May we sit?”
Five weeks ago, he would have rolled his eyes at such a request. Now, he only complied. Looking around, he found a sturdy log just off the trail and gestured toward the makeshift bench. She sat down, crossing her ankles and tucking her legs to the side, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
“How may I be of service?” he asked, angling toward her on the log.
“I just learned a half-hour ago that you were here.” She brushed black locks from her shoulder, more self-conscious than coy. “We have been tied up in meetings all day.”
“I see.” He turned his head away from her to hide the offense. “Do you know why I am here?”
“Well, I believe Hanley plans to end the exchange.”
“What if I do not wish to return?”
Her eyebrow arched and she regarded him a moment. “What would you do?”
“Perhaps New Eden Enterprises has a position I could hold?” Coal plucked a piece of wild grass and spun it between his fingers. “I will continue to act as a media front. Or perhaps I could become a liaison between the Township and N.E.T. during the Second Phase? I am willing to do both positions if that is what is necessary.”
“Why is it you wish to stay?”
“I believe I would go insane if confined after knowing such an endless world.” Coal met her eyes. “I am altered by this experience and fear I shall never want for a simple life again. Nor could I handle being isolated from the world.”
Dr. Nichols studied him once more. “Understandable,” she said, quiet and thoughtful. “I feared this response, actually. However, the government only allowed twenty-five years and refused to allot more time while New Eden Township was considered an experiment for Mars colonization. I worry for your generation.”
“My Lady?”
She straightened her shoulders and brushed off invisible objects from her skirt. “Did you know of a Techsmith Guild within New Eden?”
“No. High technology exists inside the biodome?”
“Cranium technology and other high-tech devices and applications.”
Coal watched the grass spin in his hands, his thoughts spinning equally as fast. “Who possesses such connection to the Outside?”
“Your sister.”
The blade of grass stilled between his fingers. “I beg your pardon?” A memory hit him at once of sitting in the copper room with Hanley. Have you heard from your sister? Coal swore under his breath and grit his teeth.
“Yes. Ember has been trained as a communications director, proficient in several technologies, and ready to work as a liaison between Earth and Mars, should a colony truly exist on the Red Planet.”
Coal came to a stand and tossed the piece of grass. “Who trained her for such a position?”
A slight frown touched Dr. Nichols’ mouth. “Your father and Timothy Kane.”
“Unbelievable!” Coal stomped away a few steps and peered up at the fractured sky. Rejection surged through him in agonizing waves. He refused to accept that his father would keep such a secret from him, nor allow Coal to participate in the Guild alongside his twin sister. Coal whipped his focus back to Dr. Nichols and clenched his jaw. “How did you come across such information?”
She blinked nervously and touched a silver necklace around her neck. “It came up in the meeting today. One of the reasons Hanley and I were not available.” Her hand reached out and patted the log next to where she sat. Coal lowered himself once more and slumped forward, resting his elbows on his knees to support his head. “Skylar Kane is the leader of the Techsmith Guild,” she continued. “The rest of the Guild members are from the village.”
“I am at a loss for words,” he said, tucking his head in toward his chest.
“Perhaps the world will not feel so small with this knowledge.” Dr. Nichols rose from the log. “I will present your case to Hanley, but he makes the final decision and I fear, at this juncture, the decision has already been made.”
“I refuse to be enclosed.” Coal crossed his arms over his chest. He might sound like a petulant child, but he would not be bullied by a Nichols. They did not own his life, nor did they engineer him. He was the product of himself—his choices, his beliefs, his actions. “The Code states that anyone may leave at any time and for any reason.”
“True. But if you leave, you must reside inside N.E.T.”
“Then, I have made my choice. I shall take up permanent residence within the lab.”
Dr. Nichols tilted her head and searched his eyes once more. “Why would you prefer the lab over your family?”
“Reasons that are my own.”
“You have shared in several interviews that the expectation to marry young is strong.” A sad smile touched Dr. Nichols’ burgundy lips. “Do you fear if you return you will be required to marry?”
“That is merely one of my many concerns,” Coal said.
“You cannot refuse to marry?”
“I could,” he said. “But all a father or head of home has to do is declare that I touched his daughter inappropriately and I could be forced into a situation where I would be required to redeem the young woman’s reputation before the community, or face banishment. As a gentleman, regardless of false claims, what choice would I have? I would leave her in disgrace, while I awaited project shutdown within the comfort of the lab.”
“I am sorry,” Dr. Nichols said, lowering her head. Her eyes sheened with tears again and she lifted a hand to delicately cover her mouth as she tensed. Several long seconds passed before she found her voice. “Have many been forced or swindled into a marriage they did not desire?”
“It is hard to say.” Coal’s gaze roamed over the forest and studied the patterned lines of the mosaic sky. “For no gentleman would ever defame his wife. I have witnessed three public demands for marriage in two years. How many happened privately? I am really not sure.”
Coal shifted on his feet as he thought of Oaklee, and remorse clenched his gut, adding to the queasiness. At one time, he courted such trouble with the Daughter of Earth, her age the only block for Joel or Leaf to demand marriage. Yet Coal had secretly hoped for such a dilemma, one he would have willingly rectified. He had yearned to always remain bonded with Oaklee and could not conceive how another woman could ever take her place in his life. Stupid. So very selfish. Fo
olishness, indeed. But in his minor defense, after her father died, his fear was genuine and he thought only of her protection. He would go to the ends of the Earth to protect Oaklee. Although, no longer for romantic reasons.
The topic of marriage brought snippets of information from the collaborative hack to mind. He pondered the possibilities of Joel’s disengagement to Dr. Nichols. With the recent development of Joel’s financial legacy, it seemed clear to Coal that Hanley had a plan from the beginning.
Slowly, he locked onto Dr. Nichols’ eyes, steady and even. “Being swindled into marriage exists regardless of world, does it not?”
Her expression remained fixed, but her complexion visibly paled with his question. Coal stood and searched her eyes for a moment, trying to set his anger and betrayal aside. He had struggled with whether to divulge his feelings to either Dr. Nichols or Hanley. However, as he faced Lynden’s mother, the answer became clear. Coal had vowed to fight for Lynden’s heart all the days of his life, and so he would.
“There are several reasons I wish to stay, some I have already shared,” he said quietly. He sucked in his bottom lip momentarily. Finding additional courage, he whispered, “I am in love with your daughter.”
The familiar arched eyebrow reappeared and her fingers immediately flew to the necklace. “Is Lynden aware of your feelings?”
“Yes, My Lady. She returns my affections.”
“Coal...” Dr. Nichols’ delicate features tensed in a pained expression. “It is not so easy. You see—”
The door opened and Michael popped his head into the room. “Dr. Nichols, Mr. Nichols is looking for you.”
A small smile appeared on her face, one Coal knew was entirely fake, and she lightly fussed with her dark strands. “Thank you, Michael. Please accompany me, Coal?”
“He’s in the main meeting room,” Michael said, and Coal sighed. He had just left that room. With a nod of assent, Coal gestured toward the trail and followed Dr. Nichols, taking hold of the door from Michael. They traveled in silence. Upon reaching the large double doors, Michael turned and said, “I was just summoned by the Guardian Angels. I’ll be back.”
“You wished to see me?” Dr. Nichols asked as she sauntered into the room. Hanley sat in a corner seat, his fingers scrolling the air behind a privacy screen. “Della...” The older man paused when spotting Coal and a friendly smile replaced the professional facade. “Great. I was just going to ask my wife to find you. Please, have a seat.”
“I prefer to stand, thank you.”
“Yes, I’m sure you do. Just like your father.”
“No, just like me. I am my own person and wish to be viewed as such.”
Hanley considered him a few moments. “Of course.” He shifted in his chair, tapped the Cranium resting on his ear, and then folded his hands over his knee. “Sorry I wasn’t available earlier. Della and I were pulled into several meetings. Did she share?”
Coal looked at Dr. Nichols then back to Hanley. “She did share that you were in meetings today, yes.”
Hanley leaned forward and smiled again, one that did not reach his eyes. “The Moores and Carsons returned to New Eden earlier today.”
“Really? When?”
“Close to lunch time.” Hanley eased back into the chair and crossed an ankle over his knee. “John escorted both family groups to The Door and reported that the families were welcomed back with embraces and well wishes.” Coal flashed a surprised look toward Dr. Nichols, who remained stoic.
“After much deliberation,” Dr. Nichols volunteered, “we decided it was in the overall best interest of the Moores’ and Carsons’ wellbeing to grant their request and return both family groups to New Eden. Although you have shown remarkable adaptability and comfort with technology, my observations after spending significant time with these families are that the township would best benefit from transitioning together, as a community, with aid from the Techsmith Guild.”
“Techsmith Guild?” Coal asked, not sure if he should play along or not.
“Yes,” Dr. Nichols replied simply. “The training those in the Guild received, as I shared with you moments earlier, is also to benefit the community’s transition during Project Phase Two. It is long known in sociology that people learn best from their own.”
Coal crossed his arms over his chest and studied the aquarium. The heaviness in his heart throbbed, growing as he recalled images of the rotting permaculture gardens. How would they thrive as individuals let alone as an entire community post-project? He shifted his focus from the fish to Hanley. “The world barely supports those my age. How shall the second and third generations find meaningful lives after project shutdown?”
“The details are not important at this moment, but there is a plan. Right now, there are other matters to consider.”
“Are you at liberty to share, sir?”
“Your future.”
Hanley lifted a friendly smile again. Coal’s heart stuttered as each muscle froze in anticipation. Was this man a con artist like his father? The very thought terrified Coal, but he refused to cave in to the many thoughts wishing to reduce him to a useless shell. He needed to remain alert and guarded, but act as though nothing was amiss.
With a much shakier voice than he intended, he asked, “And do I, as your human experiment, have a say in my future?”
“Well, I am guessing you’ve seen too much and know too much to return.” Hanley leaned forward. Coal licked his dry lips, feeling a cold sweat break out once more. “Am I right?”
Was Hanley implying he knew about the collaborative hack?
Or maybe he was concerned Coal would share other information with the Watsons?
Perhaps just that Coal has seen too much of the world?
The experiment?
Or that Coal would find a way to use technology inside the dome and broadcast the Watsons?
The latter thought had merit and Coal hushed his mountain of questions. Perhaps Ember could assist him with this, regardless of which world Coal resided in? “Yes,” Coal said with a slight dip of his head. “You have expressed my own sentiments, which I shared with Dr. Nichols prior to meeting with you. In fact, I wished to seek employment at New Eden Enterprises or at N.E.T., perhaps as a liaison between this world and the biodome community during the Second Phase? I am willing to continue in public relations with the media as well.”
“Perhaps.” Hanley stood and walked toward the double doors and Coal held his breath. “I am unable to resume ongoing permanent guardianship of you in my home, though.”
The air left Coal’s chest in a relieved whoosh. “I am happy to reside at N.E.T., provided I am granted traveling rights to visit Seattle and Portland, and Lynden and Mack are granted permission to be my personal guests at the lab.”
“Portland?” Hanley asked.
“Yes, I wish to visit my grandmother, Sarah Hiddleston.” If that surprised the owner, he did not show it. Instead, Hanley stood before Coal with his typical unblinking stare and casual smile.
“And if I do not grant traveling rights or permissions?”
“Well, as you say, I have seen and know too much. Perhaps that grants me some leverage, no?” Coal lifted a corner of his mouth.
Hanley chuckled. “I like your fire, Coal. You have finally learned to harness it for your advantage. A confident, well-spoken man is someone I always respect.” The owner smirked, more as an expression of humor. “And my daughter? Did you guard her well?”
“Yes, sir. She has discovered how essential she really is.” Coal straightened his posture and cleared his throat. “It is an occupation I am most fond of, actually.”
“Perception.” Hanley allowed that word to rest before them a few moments. “I am glad you both have formed an attachment. It will be good press for New Eden and all Martians, present and future. The world needs to see you and all other biodome residents as fully human.”
Dr. Nichols fingered her necklace with a shocked expression, the pain and hurt evident on each of her featur
es as she met Coal’s eyes. But, as usual, she remained quiet when Hanley had the stage.
“Your daughter is not an asset for business,” Coal said, low and threatening. “And neither am I.”
“So, now your feelings are not genuine?”
“I love her. But I shall not allow you— ”
“Good. We’ll talk more on this later. Come, Della,” Hanley said, tipping his head to Coal as he stepped around him. Every muscle tightened as Coal grounded his feet and remained in place. He would not lose control in front of Hanley, nor Dr. Nichols. Glancing over his shoulder, Hanley continued, “You may have traveling rights to Seattle and Portland. I will personally grant you a stipend. As for Lynden and Mack, they may be your personal guests, provided they remain out of trouble.”
“Thank you, sir,” Coal said, unable to hold back a grin, despite the betrayal. The victory was small, but it was a movement in the right direction. “One more request, if I may?” Hanley tarried in the doorway and faced him with look bordering on boredom, as if to intimidate Coal from any further questions. But Coal was no longer afraid and pressed his case. “May I return to New Eden for a single day to give my farewells to my family?”
“Let me speak with Della and John, and I will get back to you.”
“Much appreciated, sir.” Coal bowed, grin still in place. Dr. Nichols paused in the door frame with a small smile and mouthed the words, “well done,” then followed her husband out into the hallway. But as soon as the door closed, it opened again. Hanley and Dr. Nichols were ushered back into the room by Michael, who frantically looked at Coal. “My apologies,” Coal offered and strode toward the door. “I was just leaving.”
“Stay,” Hanley said. “Go ahead, Michael.”
“The Wi-Fi repeater is up or disabled in the room?”
“Up.”
Michael sank into a chair and brought up a Cranium screen he did not bother to hide. With a tap, he selected the reverse screen option and then placed it on a chair to project onto a large whitewashed wall. “As you can see from the numbers, the CO2 has climbed considerably inside the biodome in the last few minutes.”
Elements (The Biodome Chronicles series Book 2) Page 57