The Survivors (Book 12): New Discovery

by Hystad, Nathan

  Slate stood, walking the bridge. “Bring the Lucat to the hangar, Walo.”

  The Padlog woman buzzed her understanding, exiting the bridge quickly.

  The system had ten planets: one inhabitable, if you could call it that. The world was small by our standards, and from the zoomed-in viewscreen image, it was primarily sandy dunes. A few bodies of water were splashed in long veins along the continents, giving brief separation.

  The last day had been trying. My head still ached from talking with Fontem about the Delineator, as well as the possibility that Jules was a descendant of the god-touched race of Zan’ra. That meant the boy on our ship was too, and the voice demanding to be freed was from the very race of gods that had created her ancestors. I didn’t want to deal with ancient gods and magical beings, any more than I wanted to see Lom of Pleva return, but if Fontem was correct about that part of it, I could finally breathe easier.

  I wondered about not-Dean-Parker, the figure that had come to me inside the portals with warnings from the future. He could have used the time-travel tool to visit the past, but how had he done it in the stones? Was it even the real me, or was it my clone, the one walking around with my face and invading my property?

  “Captain?” Slate asked, nudging me with his foot.

  “Sorry.” I stared at the planet. “See if we can make contact. I see no indications of space travel, no satellites in orbit, and no structures on their moons. We need to be cautious. If they’re limited in their technology, we can’t alert them of our existence. We’ll drop off the Lucat where he chooses and be off.”

  “Good call, sir,” Slate said. He tapped his earpiece. “Sergo, we’re close enough. Walo.”

  “Go ahead, Commander,” her voice said through the speakers beside my chair.

  “Use the cloaked Kraski ship to bring him to the surface. Is Mary with you?” Slate asked.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Good. Take him home, Walo. Report and return,” Slate said, ending the communication.

  Rivo glanced back, her dark eyes shallow over her blue face. “I see no record of advanced technology below, sir. It seems they’re much the same as they were when the Lucat left home.”

  “On screen.” I stood, standing beside Slate as the drones we’d sent into the atmosphere showed us the region where our guest was to be deposited. Sand blustered around, and I saw his people. The Lucat were lizard-like, and they walked on four legs, their bellies nearly dragging in the sand, leaving a long track in the dunes.

  My gaze followed a pair of them as they entered a rocky outcropping, a sanctuary from the blowing dust. It didn’t look very hospitable to me, but at least we were doing our jobs. I was happy we could return so many of the Collector’s prizes home, and we only had to take Uce, the Philod, to Dechar before continuing on to deliver Brik to his people. They fascinated me, and I was looking forward to meeting Brik’s ancestors.

  I had an idea and thought it would be a good excuse for an excursion. I’d accompany Brik to Sterona, using our portal, before we dropped him off. I glanced at Suma on the edge of the bridge, and then at Slate. We’d lived there for a few months while Mary was pregnant with Jules, and I guessed they’d all like a quick visit for a stroll down memory lane.

  The drone footage kept playing, and Rivo zoomed again. “Sir, it appears the Kraski ship has landed.”

  I saw the puff of dust, and the billowing sand hit something invisible to the eyes. Soon our Lucat guest appeared as he climbed down the ramp and onto the ground. The ship rose, and I was glad to see them do the task with minimal effort. Mary was on that ship, and I wanted her to come home safe.

  We continued watching the Lucat as he strolled over the dune, heading for the rocks. Two of the creatures met him, and they all stopped, heads moving, tails waggling. Soon he followed them to shelter, and I wiped my hands in a finished gesture.

  “When our people are secure, set course for Dechar,” I said, taking my captain’s seat.

  “Yes, sir,” Sergo buzzed in excitement.

  ____________

  Jules’ head was spinning from the last few days’ events. She’d learned so much from Fontem, but she would almost have preferred to stay ignorant of the Zan’ra. Ancient beings with godlike abilities… and one of them had called to her to free him. Could she really help? She knew nothing about them and needed more information if she was even going to consider it. He’d been there for thousands, maybe millions of years, so what was another year or so to decide?

  “I thought I might find you here,” Dean said, coming to sit beside her at the booth.

  Her dad had been given the choice of restaurants, and one of them had a classic American diner, much like the one where he used to go for weekly breakfast with his own father at home when he was young. The tables were laminated, white-topped with dark speckles. The booths were bright red vinyl, and Jules squished over, making room for Dean.

  “You wanted to talk?” she asked, not looking up. She’d been avoiding him ever since the slaughter of the Sprites, scared to see the horror in his eyes again.

  “Sure I did. We’re both Gatekeepers’ apprentices on the ship, and we’re supposed to train while we’re here. Keep our skills up,” he told her.

  A serving robot rolled over, its voice monotone through a speaker in its mouth slot. “Can I take your order?”

  Dean glanced at Jules’ plate, saw the half-eaten burger and fries, and ordered the same. “Extra pickles.”

  Jules crinkled her nose at him. “You always ruin a good thing, don’t you?”

  He laughed, the sound shattering the tension in her chest. “Are you doing okay?” There it was. The soft voice, the “worried older brother” routine she’d grown to despise. Didn’t he see how she looked at him? It didn’t matter. They would never happen, and she was accepting of that. She had to be.

  “I’m great.” She finally met his gaze, staring hard at him with her eyes glowing bright. “I learned that I’m part of some ancient race called the Zan’ra, and that we were touched by some aliens who considered themselves gods, but were probably just accessing more than ten percent of their brains, and there’s this god thing underwater on a planet, where the cities are destroyed, forming the symbol for my race.” The words poured out in a tone that didn’t feel like herself.

  Dean lifted his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay. You win the teenager of the year award.”

  “What does that mean?” she asked, suddenly furious he was even there.

  “Look, Jules. You’re tough. I mean that. Stronger than anyone I’ve ever met. You’ve been like this little alien your whole life. Walking around at five years old, curly hair and glowing eyes, trying to help everyone in need. It was a little… intimidating. Don’t let your hormones, or whatever’s happening, stand in your mind’s way, because you’re better than that,” Dean said.

  Jules almost stood but couldn’t in the back of the booth. “My hormones?” she shouted, and people at nearby tables turned to stare at them. She lowered her voice and said it again. “My hormones.”

  “Or whatever. All I’m saying is, you don’t need to stress about all this. You’re Jules frickin’ Parker. You’re a damned hero. You saved the Academy. You rescued so many people from the Collector on Menocury L05. You’ve done so many powerful things, and I don’t want you to feel like” – he waved his hand toward her – “this any longer.”

  Jules blinked a few times, her fury dissipating. “You really think so?” she asked.

  He nodded, his food coming on a tray delivered by the rolling robot. “Thank you,” he told the metal man, and Jules liked him even more for it. Most people casually disregarded the servers on the ships, but Dean actually acknowledged it. That was what her father had always taught her to do.

  “So you’re not scared of me?” she asked, breaking his stare.

  “No way.”

  “What about the Sprites?” she asked, glancing at his plate. It might not be the best time to talk about that incident, not whil
e he was about to eat, but Dean didn’t seem to notice as he took a small bite.

  “They were about to kill me! And your mom! Would I rather not see you melt a hundred monsters? Sure. But believe me, I’m glad you did.” He took another bite, nudging her with an elbow.

  She grinned, happy he was so forthright. “Thanks. I was only trying to help.”

  “You always are.” He held out the burger to her. “Take a bite.”

  “Why? I have my own.”

  “But not with extra pickles. It’s a game-changer, I’m telling you.” He was so endearing as he sat there that she had no choice but to accept the offer, and she bit into his food, realizing this was the first time she’d shared food with a boy. She was fifteen, and she’d never even had a date. Maybe one day, when she didn’t have so many things on her mind. But for now, she had to focus.

  “And?” he asked expectantly.

  “It’s…” The taste wasn’t bad, just different. “Tangy.”

  He laughed again and set the burger down, opting for some fries.

  “Have you talked to your parents?” Jules asked.

  “Nah. They won’t even let me visit until they’re done with their mission.”

  “Must be dangerous.” Jules hadn’t been told much about it, other than the brief comments from her parents.

  “Guess so. Apparently, these Arnap people killed an entire world’s population before taking their planet. I mean, someone has to deal with them,” Dean said.

  “They’re far away, and not in our Alliance territory. Do we really have a say in what happens out there?” Jules asked, wondering how far the Alliance of Worlds’ power should spread.

  “Are you saying we shouldn’t investigate?” Dean asked.

  “Not at all.” She wasn’t articulating herself properly, so she slowed down, changing tactics. “I just want them to be safe and to return home to you.”

  He relaxed, eating more food. She took some of his fries instead of her cold ones, and he didn’t comment. “Either way, I’m glad to be stationed on Light with you guys. We have a couple of weeks before we reach Dechar. What do you say we do some hand-to-hand combat tomorrow? Maybe Slate and Loweck would join us for a class.”

  Jules perked up at this. “I’m always up for a chance to beat you.”

  “No… funny business, though,” he said, and his eyes grew wide at his words. “I meant with your powers, not…”

  “Deal.”

  “I spent a lot of time on Horizon and Fortune before that. The one thing you never expect is all the downtime between destinations. It can take months to arrive somewhere, and that feels like far longer when you’re trapped on a starship,” Dean said.

  “At least we have the portal. I need to see Regnig this week too. Do you want to come with me?” Dean would bite on a chance to go to Haven for a little break.

  “Count me in.” He wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Want to go for a walk?”

  Jules was having a great time, the best since graduating, and it was nice to hang out with a friend for a while. “Sounds good.” She didn’t want the night to end quite yet. They exited the restaurant, strolling down the bright corridors.

  Rivo stood outside the diner, staring at a tablet, and she was shaking her head, cursing in Molariun. Jules had picked up a few of those words from the other kids at the Gatekeepers’ Academy.

  “What’s wrong?” Dean asked Rivo. She was out of uniform, opting for the more common pantsuit she always wore while doing Alnod Industries business. It looked expensive.

  “I knew I shouldn’t have left them in charge. I only wanted a little adventure in my life. My father warned me of the monotony of sales figures, logistics approvals, and sourcing manufacturing, but the sheer volume of files being sent to me still has me wanting to quit,” Rivo said, staring into the screen.

  “Why don’t you sell?” Dean asked.

  Rivo glanced up, her bright eyes squinting. She was so small, only up to Jules’ chin, and sometimes it was hard to forget she was the head of a massive corporation.

  “Sell?” she asked. “How could I sell? Alnod Industries is my father’s legacy. I… could I sell?”

  Dean shrugged. “It was only a suggestion. If there’s anyone that understands what it’s like to live under a father’s shadow, it’s us three.”

  It was true. “I hadn’t thought of it like that.” Jules smiled at Rivo. “You don’t need to sell, but you should probably have the proper people in place to handle the business while you’re away. There’s no reason you should be seeing all those reports while you’re a crew member on Light.”

  “You’re right, Jules. My father was so hands-on, it’s hard to step back from it once you’re in so deep. I do have people I trust working for me, ones that have everything riding on the success too. I need to let them take care of things. They’re probably irritated that I’m even bothering with any of this.” She laughed, keying a message into the tablet.

  Jules glanced at Dean, and they slowly walked away, leaving Rivo to it. “Have a good night!” Jules called, but Rivo was busy with typing her directives.

  “Don’t ever let me work for a corporation,” Dean told her.

  “Technically, we are working for the Alliance, which is really a form of government, and because of that, there are a lot of similarities to a…” Jules stopped as Dean lifted a hand.

  “Please, don’t tell me that. Aren’t we Gatekeepers? What does that have to do with…?” He smiled, shaking his head. “Forget it. Let’s go find a coffee.”

  They continued walking, and Jules realized she hadn’t seen Patty in a couple of days. “Hey, where’s your sister been?”

  “I’m not sure. I saw her at the suite this morning.”

  “Did she have… anyone with her?” Jules asked, raising an eyebrow. They continued through the corridor, stopping at a circular hub in the ship. From here, they could choose from four directions to divert to.

  “What do you mean?”

  “She mentioned a boy. Maybe a boyfriend, but didn’t really get into details. There’s not many guys our age on the ship, so I thought you might know who it is.” The coffee bar was up to the right, and they ordered lattes, opting for the classic beverage from Earth. Her mother was obsessed with the things.

  Dean was frowning. “She better not have a boyfriend. Dad will flip his lid if he hears about that. I’ll find out.”

  Jules grabbed her cup. “If you barge in there asking too many questions, she’ll deny it. Let me see if I can persuade her.”

  “And if you can’t?”

  “That’s simple. Then we follow her.”

  Thirteen

  We were still a week out from Dechar, and I was obsessing over Fontem’s words. I wanted to think we were done with Lom of Pleva, but could it be so simple?

  I remembered what the other version of myself had said the first time I’d encountered him inside the portal. “Do you believe in something bigger than you? Vaster than the Iskios and the Theos?” What had he been referring to? My daughter’s race? This Zan’ra? Or was it the other race, the one Fontem had explained?

  That day had been ominous, the memory like a distant dream. He’d warned me about something eighteen years in the future. Five years from now. The last thing he’d said to me that day had been unsettling, to say the least. “Don’t make the same mistake I did. Don’t let them die.”

  “Don’t let them die,” I whispered.

  “Don’t let who die?” Slate asked.

  “Sorry, I didn’t think anyone was listening,” I told him. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

  “Sure thing, boss,” he said, standing from his commander’s chair. The bridge was quiet, nothing exciting happening during our journey to Dechar. It was a relief. It seemed rare to have a mission without being distracted by a distress call, or some random asteroid belt you weren’t expecting wreaking havoc on the shields.

  I led him to my office off the bridge, and once the doors were closed, I
motioned for him to have a seat.

  “This sounds serious,” Slate told me.

  “First off, don’t be upset.”

  Slate shifted in his chair uncomfortably. “That’s not a great way to start a conversation.”

  “I only kept things from everyone because I thought it would be for the best,” I told him.

  His gaze narrowed. “What did you keep from us?”

  “Too much.” I sat, rubbing my forehead. I told him about my secret cache of devices, stowed away through a portal under my house.

  “I figured you had something like that, so it’s not really a surprise, boss. What’s the big deal?” he asked.

  “Only Jules and I had access. It seems like I broke into my own stash and took the time-travel device I used to toss Lom into the future.” I watched for a reaction, but Slate’s face was like stone.

  “What does this mean?” he asked stoically.

  I explained what Fontem had told me about time travel, and he stayed quiet, contemplative. “It’s you, not a clone,” he told me when I had finished.

  “Me?”

  “Yeah. You used the device to come back here to steal it from yourself,” he said.

  I tried to wrap my head around this possibility. “Do you think?”

  He shrugged. “It’s as good an answer as any. You were warning yourself all those years back, and maybe things were so bad that you needed to prevent you from using it for something foolhardy.”

  “But that won’t affect his timeline. Not-Dean’s present would stay the same,” I said, unsure if I had that right.

  “So what?”

  “He still has to live with whatever I did, or he did.”

  “Dean, this is your only life. It’s not set in stone, we know that much. You told me what Fontem said, and there are literally infinite possible tendrils of times out there, each in their own dimension. We can’t worry about the other ones, only our own.”

  “You’re right.”

  He grinned at me. “Any other brain teasers you need me to help you with?”