The Vernal Memory: A Dystopian Sci-fi Novel (The Variant Saga Book 4)

by JN Chaney

  “I trust your words, but just as you place value in your own kind, so, too, must I. As the queen of this country, it is my sworn oath to put my people first.”

  Terry could hear Jinel’s pulse pounding, even beneath her armor. She was understandably livid, having sailed five days to get here, stuck behind a breathing mask. “We’ll figure it out,” Terry assured her. “What’s the issue in the mines?”

  The queen looked at him, eying his ears but saying nothing. “Our workers are missing. Many are blaming the Sneaks.”

  She said the final word like it disgusted her. “What does that mean?” asked Jinel Din.

  “Creatures,” said Portia. “We’ve encountered them before, but they’ve never attacked anyone. It’s the first time.”

  “They’re in the mines?” asked Terry.

  The old woman nodded. “Before this season, we had free reign over the tunnels, but for some reason they recently attacked us, dragging our people into their nest. We have no idea what has changed their behavior.”

  “You didn’t go after them?” asked Jinel.

  “What few soldiers we have were sent to investigate, but not many returned. The animals are too fast to fight, especially in such closed spaces.”

  “Where are the rest of your men?” asked Jinel.

  “Most of our forces have been deployed to the eastern front,” said the old woman.

  “What’s going on out there?” asked Terry.

  “A small conflict,” she answered. “The fifth house has had their ships attacked by the neighboring island tribes. Many were killed, so something had to be done.”

  “It should be quick,” said Barniby. “A few months at most.”

  “That’s too long to wait,” said Jinel.

  “It is the only way. Until the mines are safe to work, we cannot lend you any of our supplies, including oryx metal,” said the queen.

  “Oryx metal?” asked Terry.

  “Orinchalium. That’s what they call it here,” said Jinel. She looked at the queen. “What if I go in and find whatever’s threatening your miners?”

  “You alone?” asked Portia Castchain, then laughed as if it were a joke.

  “I’m serious,” insisted Jinel.

  “But you are just a girl. How can you—”

  “I’m a soldier of Garden. I’m no stranger to combat.”

  “Nonetheless, I cannot permit such a reckless act. A dead foreigner would look most distressing to traders.”

  “I’ll go with her,” said Terry.

  “Still, that is only two. It is hardly—”

  “As will I,” decreed Hux, grinning widely.

  Barniby laughed. “If the three of you are going, My men and I will join, too. We can’t have a pirate and some foreigners handling our problems for us.”

  “Is that enough?” asked Jinel.

  The queen looked at both her son and nephew. “You understand the dangers of what you’re asking.”

  They both smacked their chests. “It is for the good of our house,” said Barniby.

  The queen hesitated, taking a moment to consider their proposition. She tapped her chest with her fist. “Very well. I welcome the help, but please be careful.”

  “Thirty armed conflicts and I’m still standing,” said Jinel Din. “A little animal won’t be the thing that takes me down.”

  CHAPTER 12

  Ortego Outpost File Logs

  Play Audio File 1612

  Recorded: April 2, 2351

  MICHTELL: It worked!

  Despite my many reservations on the likelihood of success, the alien gene responsible for Variant compatibility has been successfully fused with the Lanrix drug. I have no words for what I am feeling, except to say that…I only wish Doctor Curie was here to see it. If this new formula works…if we can use this to cure Variant exposure once and for all, then everything we have worked for will be worth it. Archer’s dream, for all its flaws, will be realized.

  I don’t know what will happen next. I don’t even know if the drug will work once it is used on a subject. Because of this uncertainty, I have taken to using my own cells in order to test the viability of the new blend. If it holds and proves viable, I will proceed with human trials. In other words, I will use the cocktail on myself.

  I am sure the board would protest this decision, but it is the fastest method available to me, and I must follow it. Everlasting is in disarray. If Garden succeeds in destroying the domeguard, the city will succumb to the elements and fall, leaving an entire population to suffocate. Doctor Curie, if she is still alive, will be placed in further danger.

  I cannot let that happen. One way or the other, I shall have my results.

  End Audio File

  Everlasting

  April 2, 2351

  John sat with a group of Everlastian soldiers in a hangar bay, waiting to receive his new weapon—a short rifle capable of firing the nerve toxin with exceptional precision. This would make it much easier to subdue and capture the soldier and rebel leader Jinel Din, thereby granting them the leverage to discover Mei’s true location and, with any luck, extract her safely.

  A woman approached with a case in her hand, stopping in front of him. She presented it like a gift and he took it, curiously. “Is this it?” asked John, staring at the gray box.

  “I was asked to retrieve your personal rifle as well,” she said, ignoring his question.

  He cocked his head, thinking he must have misheard her. “What?”

  “Your weapon cannot be allowed onboard the ship, per Master Gel’s request,” said the woman.

  “Why the hell not?” asked John.

  “Due to the fatal nature of the ammunition it contains, your firearm brings too great a risk to the mission at hand. It is far more efficient to—”

  “I’m not giving you my gun,” he said, flatly.

  “But, sir—”

  “No. Not doing it.”

  She started to say something, but stopped. Her eyes dilated, indicating she was receiving something through her implant. “Ah, very well. Master Gel says he will allow you to carry your rifle, but asks that you please refrain from using it.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll use yours instead. I’m just not giving mine up.”

  “Of course. Thank you, Sergeant.” She gave him a slight bow, and left.

  He sat there staring at the box, which looked more like a briefcase than anything. Searching and failing to find any sort of mechanical lock, he instead discovered a small rectangular piece of black material. Touching it, he felt the casing tremble in his hands, then snap open. “Must be some kind of scanner,” he muttered.

  Inside the box was a small pistol, the same kind he’d seen some of the soldiers carrying all over the city. John still recalled the first time he encountered one of these, back when Lena Sol and her team had arrived at the portal site and, incidentally, paralyzed nearly every single member of his team. This was the first time he’d ever wielded the weapon himself, which was fine. He much preferred the comfort and familiarity of his own rifle over this tiny piece of alien tech.

  He touched the pistol in his hand, wrapping his fingers around the grip. The basic design was the same as any other sidearm, but with a few alterations. For one, the barrel was about half the size of a standard pistol. The weapon was also much lighter than he expected, maybe about a third the weight of a normal gun. Regardless, as long as it worked when he aimed and pulled the trigger, he couldn’t complain.

  Gel’s request for John to come alone, without his team, still bothered him. He wasn’t used to working with another group of soldiers, especially considering these people weren’t even human. They also had completely different training and backgrounds. Nothing like his own. How could he trust them to have his back out there? How could they trust him?

  It might have been a mistake to do this alone, but oh well. Too late to go back now. Gel had made a fair case regarding the need for secrecy, stating that Garden had eyes almost everywhere, including in his own dep
artment. Besides, with Mickey and Hughes injured and recovering, John’s team needed a break. He knew better than to ask Short or Track to join him, not when their minds would be heavy on their friends. The rest of the team—Brooks, Meridy, Hatch, and all the others—needed to stay back and guard the portal and their camp, should anything else happen. The Blacks currently served as the only line of defense between Kant and Earth, so it certainly wouldn’t do to spread their numbers too thin.

  But still, John couldn’t help but feel like he was missing something. Another set of eyes to watch his back. Another voice to tell him when to be on guard. He didn’t trust these Everlastians, not as much as he wanted to. Not when Mei was missing in their city and he couldn’t find her.

  As the soldiers formed up and boarded the Red Door, John lifted his pack and slung it over his shoulders, tightening the straps. He took another look at the bay, then climbed into the aircraft’s side.

  The journey would take a few days, according to what Gel had told him. First they would touch down in the Northern Ilse at the Love and Grace Laboratories, whatever that was, to pick up a few personnel more familiar with the terrain and local wildlife. From there, it was only a short flight to the continent. John had no idea what to expect from this trip, but he hoped it wouldn’t take long. Every second he was away from Everlasting was time away from wherever Mei was being held. Time he could have used to find her.

  The Red Door shuddered, lifting off the bay landing pad. It eased its way through the outer door and into the sky above the trees. In the distant horizon, two suns dipped, reflecting midafternoon. I’ll find you, Mei, thought John, looking back at the city as it fell into the distance. No matter what it takes, no matter what I have to do, I’ll bring you home. I swear.

  ******

  Galathane City, Tharosa

  April 2, 2351

  Terry awoke the morning after his meeting with the queen, opening his eyes to the suns’ light as it pierced the open window of the seaside lodge. The cool northern breeze blew through the opening and caressed his cheeks, reminding him of how far he’d recently traveled. It was a stark change from the warmth of Ludo’s farm or the sickly cold of the underground Garden base. Here, the chilled air felt fresh and invigorating. The usual grogginess of waking up ceased entirely, replaced with a burst of energy.

  “Time to seize the day,” exclaimed Hux, who had taken the twin bed near his own. The sailor was already on his feet and ready to go. “We have much to do before it’s done.”

  Terry could already hear people in the hall, shuffling around. Ludo’s voice stood out as he proclaimed a good morning to anyone who would listen. At the same time, Terry observed, Jinel was lecturing Lena to stay put and out of trouble, back in their room.

  He leapt up and got dressed, following Hux to meet the others. Lena stayed behind with Ysa and Ludo, who promised to have dinner ready by the time the rest of them returned. “I want to see the market here and try the food. I’ll have a feast for you!” exclaimed Ludo, always eager to feed his friends.

  Lena gave Terry a hug before he left. “Be careful,” she said from behind her breathing mask.

  He smiled. “No need to worry. I’ve got Hux and his cousin to help me, and don’t forget about Jinel.”

  Jinel Din grunted. “The sooner we finish, the better.”

  Hux, Terry, and Jinel made their way through the city gate and toward the mountain. Barniby met them at the stairs, sword in hand and an eager expression. He beat his chest with the hilt of his weapon. “Fair day, cousin Hux!”

  “Fair day!” returned the wavemaster.

  “Follow me, friends, and let’s make quick work of this.”

  They traveled through the cave city and into a series of long corridors. The mine entrance was some distance from the Galathane City, deep in the heart of the mountain. They passed by many splintered paths along the way, which Hux explained had once led to other mines, but were now bled dry of resources. “Why did they stop?” asked Terry, upon hearing this.

  “For many reasons,” said Hux. “An underground river blocked progress, while an unstable wall collapsed another. The miners dig and dig, sometimes in several places at once.”

  The tunnel descended as they went, which took them over an hour to traverse. When they reached the actual entrance to their destination, they found a massive metallic door. Terry stared at it with some curiosity, gripping the hilt of his sword. “Is this the same metal as—”

  “Indeed, it is,” said Barniby. “Oryx metal, like the weapon at your side.”

  Hux touched the door. “Not pure, though. The crafters use it along with other ores to create a sturdy blend. Only a fraction of it is needed to strengthen other metals beyond their own capacity.”

  Barniby nodded. “Rightly so.” He gripped the handle. “Ready to go inside?”

  Jinel checked her rifle’s safety, then nodded. “Let’s make quick work of this.”

  “You heard the fine woman,” said Hux.

  Barniby gripped the handle and pulled, opening the door and flooding them with a foul and ancient taste. “In we go,” he told them, and together they entered the mines.

  ******

  The Red Door

  April 2, 2351

  The Northern Isles was home to the Love and Grace Laboratories, a small outpost of about fifty scientists and analysts from Everlasting. There were many similar locations scattered all across Kant, but each had a separate purpose. Love and Grace was created specifically to observe and catalogue all life in the nearby region, which included the country of Tharosa and its many islands. At least, that was what John had been told during his short briefing ahead of the mission.

  The Red Door flew across the snow-covered peaks of the Atlian Mountains beyond Everlasting and headed straight to the Northern Isles. It took only a few hours to reach, which was fine with John. The sooner he landed, the sooner he could proceed with the next portion of the mission and eventually return to the city. He had no desire to be out here, except for the eventual goal of finding Mei, and afterwards Terry. He’d come to this planet seeking his friend, but along the way he’d lost another. What good was he if he couldn’t even keep the ones closest to him safe? What kind of value did he have?

  He pressed his head against the aircraft window. No, he thought. I’ll find them both and bring them home. Whatever it takes, I’ll do what I have to do. I’ll—

  The Red Door shuddered, beginning its descent. John could see the labs below, white and gray domes, dotting the island like mushrooms on a log. It looked like a nice place, and any other time he might enjoy a tour, but his time was precious and the job couldn’t wait. With any luck, the ship would soon be in the air again.

  On the landing platform, a team waited to greet him. He recognized one of them immediately, a woman with familiar eyes.

  “Welcome to Love and Grace,” said Emile Res. “It’s good to see you again, Sergeant Finn.”

  “Emile, is that you? I didn’t know you’d be here,” he said, surprised to see her. Emile had been one of the first few people John had met after arriving on this planet, along with Titus Ven and Lena Sol.

  Emile waved. “This is my permanent duty station. I was only with the investigation team because of my archeological expertise. The technology used in constructing the portal is ancient and outdated, but I have some experience with it.”

  “I’m sure the team misses you now that you’re gone,” said John.

  “The feeling is mutual. Be sure to give Bartholomew and Zoe my best whenever you see them.”

  He nodded. “Did anyone tell you why I’m here?”

  “Of course,” she answered, as though it were obvious. “You are after a wanted fugitive. I’m set to join you as well, per Master Gel’s orders.”

  Her words surprised him. The mission stated something about a few extra crewmen, but nothing regarding Emile. Maybe he simply missed the name at some point. “What are you coming with me to do?”

  “Our research team is in char
ge of cataloguing and charting this region, so I have more than enough experience to assist.”

  “I’m just surprised it’s you,” said John.

  “Master Gel selected me for that reason, actually. He believes you will be more comfortable working with me as opposed to a stranger.” She smiled. “Familiarity breeds productivity.”

  “I guess it does,” he said.

  “Don’t worry, nearly everyone on our team has an intimate understanding of the cultures and customs in this region, as well as the geography. I can tell you where the predators are and what to avoid, too.”

  “Sounds like you know your stuff,” said John.

  “Says the veteran soldier,” remarked Emile.

  She led him through the hangar and into the facility. Unlike Everlasting, which had been pristine and clean, not a speck of dirt to be found, this facility felt lived-in and real. Walking through the halls, he saw supplies strewn about, with dust on the windows, and places where the dirt had been dragged in. When asked about it, Emile shrugged. “We’re not prudes like the people back home. Can’t really be that way when you live in the real world.”

  “I thought everyone was afraid of contamination,” he said.

  “We are, but the fear is overblown. You can’t get hurt from the gas unless you breathe it in. Even then, it doesn’t do anything more than suffocate you. We go outside all the time with nothing but our regular clothes and a filtration mask. We only wear the full body suits if we’re exploring a new area.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “Sometimes you find radiation swamps, maybe some chemical waste from before Extinction Day. It’s hard to predict unless you know the area. When I visited the portal site, we had concerns about the energy supply powering the facility.” She paused. “Oh, and sometimes it simply helps to have the armor in those suits. You’ve seen the wildlife. I’m sure you understand.”

  John recalled the attacks on his camp and the many animals he had to put down before finally securing the site. “I have an idea, yeah.”

  “While the ship refuels, is there anything you need to do?” asked Emile.