“The Commonwealth started fighting? Why not stay on the other side of the galaxy?”
The Captain shook his head, “It wasn’t as simple as all that, the war hadn’t actually been officially declared at that point, it was just very tense, and the Federation were looking for an excuse to go to war. Luckily the UPC had been recreated by that point with the help of some of the first humans, so the old Federation couldn’t simply obliterate the Commonwealth. That’s when the Commonwealth decided to strike first.”
“Allegedly!” Garrett shouted out accusatorily, “There’s no proof that the Commonwealth actually threw the first punch.”
“Here we go…” Vyard said wearily.
I looked between the two excitedly but with a serious brow furrow, which was the best I could manage, “I sense some contention with this issue. Would you mind telling me what Garrett means?”
“He… It… Ugh, there’s a rather large conspiracy surrounding the incident that started the war. What happened was a Commonwealth transport, roughly the size of a city bus, got into Novasem under the guise of a ‘trade agreement’, and onto one of the core planets in the system, Eyopa. As it turned out, it was barely a transport at all, but rather a bomb that, the moment it touched down in the capital city of Dioytan, blew a crater so large that it swallowed the city and made the planet more or less uninhabitable for half a decade until the terraforming equipment corrected it.”
“And what is this conspiracy?” I asked when it became clear that he wasn’t going to say anything unless I dragged it out of him.
“The conspiracy runs on the idea that there was no way a Commonwealth transport could get through Novasem’s security without causing a lot of fuss. It states that the Federation must’ve either let it in so that there could be a war, or that the transport was never sent by the Commonwealth but rather a Federation ship designed to look like one. Either way it’s an absolutely ludicrous accusation. Though the Commonwealth has never taken responsibility, its government has done nothing to dissuade the galaxy of the notion.”
“Because it’s about the people, Jim, we know that the Commonwealth had nothing to do with it. Why would we choose to go to war with the Federation of ‘Lots-O-Stuff-That-Goes-Boom’? If it weren’t for the UPC there wouldn’t be a single person left in the Commonwealth.”
“What do you mean?” I cut in before Vyard started a punch-up, “How did the UPC help the Commonwealth?”
Vyard rubbed his wrinkled forehead and sighed, “They didn’t just save the Commonwealth, they saved us all. The Federation, in the first few weeks of the war, was very quick to use nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. It was heinous, and a very dark time for us. But the Commonwealth weren’t exactly clean, were they? Regardless of whether that first transport was actually Federation or not, your ilk started using it brazenly and without mercy. Autopilot ships that levelled cities, Federation frigates being used to destroy Starports.”
“But those things weren’t abolished, were they?” Garrett asked, his voice reaching for but not quite hitting anger, “No, it was just your nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons that got forbidden.”
“So who makes up the two sides?” I asked before the argument could escalate any further. Normally I’d never cut people off so often, but I’d never had to either. I thought for a moment that it was perhaps a mistake to have brought these two bitter rivals, but it was making for some alright banter.
“Pardon?” Vyard asked with surprised, having been clearly building up to some kind of way to berate Garrett or condemn the Commonwealth.
“What nationalities make up the two sides? Or are you two the only white people in a sea of blue?” The audience laughed raucously and I mentally sighed with relief, I had started to worry they were going to turn on me.
“Oh… Well, um… Most of the Asiatic countries’ descendants. China, Australia, India, they’re a part of the Commonwealth. There are parts of Japanese culture there, but most of them took an entire system for themselves, it’s basically run on the old samurai and Yakuza tenets. Then America and Africa were split down the middle between the Commonwealth and the Federation. Most of Eastern Europe joined the Federation, which was mostly comprised of Norse and other descendants of the north in the beginning. Other than that it’s scattered racially. We created new worlds, and it stopped being about our ancestors.”
“Speaking of which, just how far back are these ancestors? A few hundred years, or a few thousand?”
“More like a 75. The Pathfinders left Old Sol less than a century ago, their journey to Triangulum wasn’t very long at all.”
My eyes widened to cartoonish proportions, “You can’t be serious! You’ve accomplished so much in terms of society thus far.”
Vyard chuckled a little and grew slightly red in the cheeks, “Well, it certainly helps that we had quite a head start.”
I nodded appreciatively and smiled, “It certainly does. And I think that’s where we’ll end today’s show. Thank you very much Field Master Garrett and Captain Vyard, it’s been a pleasure.”
“It was great to be here.” they said in unison.
“Join us next week when our topic will be ‘The Mulligan Planet 3’ where we’ll catch up with John Prince and a surprise guest to discuss the progress of the story and their journey. Goodnight everybody!”
The audience clapped and whooped while I smiled at the guests and waited for Elisha to give me the all clear.
“Aaand we’re clear. Great job sweetie,” she said as she disappeared the audience and the characters from our plain of existence and walked over to me, “you did really well. How are you feeling?”
I nodded weakly and rubbed my throbbing head as I got off the chair, “I’m good, I think I’ll just head back to my room though, is that alright?”
She gave me a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek, “Take all the time you need. Love you.”
“Love you too.” I said, giving her the best smile I could muster before leaving the set and heading to my room as fast as I could.
My head felt like it was on fire, the high concept bull crap was starting to get to me. But I just kept chuffing along, pretending all was good in the world.
I pushed through my dressing room’s door and half-heartedly shut it behind me as I lurched toward my desk where a half full glass of scotch awaited me. I downed it in almost one go, and pulled another bottle out from beneath the table and poured it into my glass.
I looked into the mirror and saw you standing behind me and started to tear up.
“Just go,” I said to the overfilled glass in my hand, “just read the book and leave me alone.”
The Call
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d gotten so blind drunk. The large basement simply refused to stay in one place, but even with its desire to make me sick, it was a great hang-out, a really nice place to relax. The Xenia family were always a giving people, particular to the ones like us who were waiting for The Call.
The dozen or so people who’d been invited to the farewell party continued to chat in their small groups and play pool while my friends and I sat in the corner, the sound of some pop song or another was far from our ears, even when the orb-speaker decided to float past us and bless us with its technological majesty. I knew it was impossible, but I was convinced that the thing’s basic AI liked to show off.
Closest to me was Eira, she had her white-blonde, shoulder-length hair in a bun instead of the usual braid. She’s my sister and will stay that way regardless of the lack of blood-ties. Not in some wanky ‘BFF’ way either… well, maybe a little bit in the wanky ‘BFF’ way, but don’t ever tell anyone I told you, least of all her.
She’s my adoptive sister, you see. Is that right? I’m the adopted one. Kind of. Her family took me in when my dad… Eh, I’ll get to it.
She was tipsily trying to give the green-faced and freshly shorn Mouse a bottle of water while I struggled to stabilise the room with my hands. I’m the capable and responsible
one in the family. Apparently.
Mouse is a bit of an odd egg, came to us from the stars. Literally. She’s human, far as we could tell, but not an overly capable one. Smart? Yes. Funny in her own, strange way? No. Strong? Emotionally she’s pretty solid, if maintaining a constant twitchy, shy and overall ‘weak’ personality throughout every aspect of life counts, but physically? Still not so much. She was shorter than everyone our age and also one of the few with brown hair on Kaltjarna, when she could grow it out that is, and we were sure that she was the only one in Urbetes.
Then there was Tyr, Eira’s twin brother, he was, as always, incredibly energetic, while the rest of us were absolutely wiped out. He always did handle his drink better than us girls. He was taller than his sister by about three inches, coming in at six foot, but they were both about the same across the chest.
Not to say that he had the shoulder-width of your typical 16 year old girl, in fact he looked about five years older than he was, his decent amount of face-scruff certainly beating home that fact, but Eira’s shoulders were a little broader than most girls.
That didn’t do much to drive away the boys though, which I’m positive had nothing to do with Eira’s other ‘differences’ from her brother. I mean it’s not like she got boobs before the rest of- oooh wait.
Anyway, back to Tyr who, as if to progress the narrative that he had no possible way of knowing about, was shooting up to his feet, “Who wants to have a go then?” he shouted, shaking loose his two and a half foot long ponytail. He was exceptionally agile for his size, even after he’d had a few.
“Give it a rest brother,” Eira said drunkenly, “no one’s in the mood to fight tonight.”
“I think you mean you’re not in the mood. Come on! Is there seriously no one who wants to have a quick spar?” he said while jabbing the air.
I rose groggily to my feet and struggled to stay that way, “I’ll… eugh… I’ll have a go.”
Tyr regarded me with concern for a moment, he always took such good care of us and we were all convinced that he’d be a great father, “You sure Freyja? You look like you could use-”
“Oh, shut it Tyr. Come on, put ‘em up.” I said as I lazily raised my fists.
Tyr shrugged, “Alright then.” he said unsurely. He strode over to the pool table and rolled it onto its side, knocking the guy off who had been lining up his shot and causing all the marble balls to roll around loudly on the bare concrete floor. The player was offended for a second, but, after a threatening chest bump from Tyr, backed away.
I let my hair down and smiled as it fell and grazed just below my hips. I was the only one in the room to have ever had hair that long and it felt good.
In our society girls and boys were seen as equal in almost every aspect, so I knew my feelings of inadequacy had nothing to do with that. I’d have asked the others if they felt it as well, but I didn’t want to seem weak. Maybe it was something to do with my father.
“Let’s get this show on the road.” I half-slurred as Tyr and I started to circle each other, “Call officials’ll be here any minute, and I wanna bloody you up some first.”
Tyr smiled, “Just be careful of my eye, will ya? Don’t want it popping out again.”
I mock-contemplated, smiled an evil grin and shook my head, “Nah. Imma kick ya in the face.”
The Bus
My head felt like it was going to explode when I woke up. I guessed Tyr won the fight until I looked around and realised where I was. The third last row on a bus, which meant,
“Damnit!” I shouted.
“Shh…” Tyr pleaded while two medical officers worked on something on his face at the back of the bus, their hands were in the way and I couldn’t see, “I know you missed it, wasn’t all that interesting though. The Call went out, MPs came in, tazed you, and then we were on the bus.”
That explained the metallic taste that I was picking up on as I lapped at my cheeks, “That’s what happened to your eye? I’ll-”
“It was you, Frey. You kicked me in the head.” he said bluntly.
That made me smile a bit, “Don’t worry, I won’t make you get rid of your braid. If I can’t remember it, it didn’t happen.”
He growled and turned to face me, nearly knocking one of the medical guys onto the floor, and I couldn’t help but laugh, “Yeah,” Tyr said angrily, “laugh it up. One of these days Imma get you back.”
“Y-yo-your eye!” I stopped to laugh some more as his cybernetic dangled uselessly from its socket, “Again? Really?”
“Seriously uncool Frey.” he said before letting the doctors get back to work.
“What’s uncool is the fact that you aren’t in a hospital, or a mechanic, whichever.” I couldn’t help making the joke. I’m a terrible person.
“You’re really surprised? It’s Call day, and no one’s getting out of it, not over a boo-boo.”
My laughter died off as it came back to me for the third time. I never really forgot, but having it mentioned did not feel great.
I fell back into my chair and looked out the window as my home drifted away and heard Mouse mumbling something to Eira. I thought about going to sit with them, but I knew Eira would be sleeping in a second and that the bus was more than likely packed, I wasn’t paying enough attention to do a head-count.
Then my head started swimming again, like I’d been hit with a fresh shot. That happened a lot, I’d stop feeling woozy for ages but then the second I stopped talking and relaxed I’d be right back on the beanbag or, in this case, the weirdly patterned bus-seats.
“Tyr…” I groaned as my head lolled about, my dirty blonde hair getting my eyes as it did, “Tyr!”
“What!?” Tyr yelled back despite our less than ten feet of distance.
“Get over here and fix my hair.” I grumbled.
“Kinda in the middle of something here Frey, you know, getting my eye fixed.”
I did not appreciate his tone. Probably because he was acting like a big, stupid baby, or maybe because I was tipsy.
I like to think it was because he was being a baby.
“But my hair is in my face and I need your help.” I whined.
“Freyj-”
“You’re being selfish!” I said as I almost rolled out of my seat to look at him.
“Oh my Go- Fine! Okay, fine. Get off me.” he snapped.
“Bu-but your eye.” one of the doctors said as Tyr got up.
He sighed exhaustedly, took a deep breath and, as quickly as possible, tore the eye out from its plug and dropped it in the doctor’s waiting hand, “There, see what you can do with that.”
“Yay!” I cried as Tyr stumbled toward me, “Braid tim-” I didn’t get to finish the word.
The bus hit a bump and that was all that the already devoid of depth-perception Tyr needed to fall, cracking me in the forehead with his fist in the process while trying to grab a seat.
I hate getting knocked out.
Surprise
I awoke again and, to my great disappointment, realised I was still on the bus. Something was tugging at my hair this time though. I went to swat it away, but instead of being tangled in some way or another like it was normally I found a hand.
“If you need to hold my hand through this I seriously doubt your ability to handle war.” Tyr said before shaking me off.
“Wh-what are you doing?” I asked dozily.
“I’m braiding your hair, how hard di-”
“You punched me!” I shouted as the memory hit me, “What the Hells!?”
“You broke my eye. Again!”
“Pfft, whatever, stop being such a little girl.” I said dismissively, “Besides, can’t have even hurt all that much, it’s a bloody synthetic.”
He scoffed, “The first one wasn’t!”
“You said you could handle it!”
“A sparring match, not a brick to the head!”
Tyr had had this accident a few years before, you see, and when I say accident what I mean is I hit him in the head wit
h a brick. As a result, he lost his left eye and had to get it replaced, the replacement wasn’t all that noticeable though, so much so in fact that he turned it into a party trick when we met new people.
He’d say ‘Hey, I’ve got something in my eye, can you check it out?’ Then he’d wait ‘til whoever got close enough and switch over to night-vision mode and make it go all milky. Always scared the crap out of them.
Ah, good times.
“Eh, whatever, just stop yelling.” I said as I rubbed my throbbing temples, “How far off are we?” I asked, looking over to Eira, who was sitting with her head against the window next to Mouse a few packed rows past mine.
“How should I know?” Tyr said, losing some of the anger that he’d been building up.
“Eira.” I mumbled, ignoring Tyr’s gruffness and letting him work on my hair, “Eira? Eira! Mouse, can you wake up Eira?”
Mouse looked back and shook her head.
“Don’t be shitty Mouse.”
“Last time I woke her up she hit me!” she said in her adorable squeaky voice.
“If you don’t wake her up, I’ll hit you.”
Mouse smiled weakly, “No you won’t.”
She knew me too well. There was no possible way that I could raise a hand at her, and not just because that threat alone would probably kill her.
“Fine,” I said with a smile, “guess I have to do everything myself.”
“Yeah, except braid your hair.” Tyr said snidely.
I made a mocking face at Mouse, to which she giggled, then took off one of my ugg boots and threw it at Eira.
She immediately woke up and, not seeing the boot, punched Mouse in the arm, “Why’d you hit me!?”
“I didn’t do it!” Mouse cried while clutching her arm. It was obvious, even from where I was sitting, that Eira had pulled her punch by a significant amount. Still would’ve hurt Mouse though.
Guardians (Æthyrium Rising - Guardians Book 1) Page 2