by Wid Bastian
Shayla picked up the faded red disc and, following her brother’s instructions, sent it flying back to him. “Awesome!” Shayla yelled. “Let’s toss it some more.”
It was a beautiful mid-August summer afternoon. They were in a designated gathering area fifty meters from the city gates. Neron and Shayla were frolicking in the sunshine along with thirty or so other children. Present, but concealed, were armed guards. A surveillance blimp tethered to a mooring platform hovered, hidden in a cluster of trees a few hundred feet away from the clearing. Inside scouts were watching carefully for any sign of the enemy.
“Let’s try another game,” Shayla said. “I like this game but… what’s its name again?”
“Frisbee,” Neron answered.
“Yeah, Frisbee. I want to play baseball. That’s the one with the mitts right?” Shayla asked her brother.
Neron looked back at the pile of toys. One of the other kids had just returned two mitts and a ball. Neron grabbed them, handed one to his sister and told her to run out a few meters.
“Remember how to do this?” Neron asked.
“I think so,” Shayla said. “I just fling my arm toward you and the ball goes out. Right?”
“Give it a try,” Neron said.
Shayla tossed the ball and it made it halfway to him. He smiled, picked it up and softly tossed it back to her. They played catch for a few minutes until Neron abruptly stopped, threw his mitt to the ground and grabbed his little sister, shielding her behind him.
“What’s wrong? What’s out there?” Shayla said. “You’re scaring me.”
Neron said nothing, but he brought his finger up to his lips indicating for Shayla to keep quiet. There was something or someone in the trees a few meters away from them. Although some animals still occupied this area, most of the wildlife had been destroyed decades ago.
Every child in the gathering area had an alarm they could trigger in case of an emergency; Neron now had his at the ready. He knew triggering the alarm would be the end of the recreation period, perhaps for the entire day, because the security teams would have no choice but to conduct a thorough sweep of the area. Just before he was about to sound the alarm the observer made himself known. Neron breathed a sigh of relief.
“Why do they always appear when you’re around?” Shayla wondered aloud.
“I don’t know, but I’d sure like to meet one. They fascinate me,” Neron said.
“Now’s your chance. Go and say hi.”
“He’ll just run if I do,” Neron said.
“You never know. Take it slow. They’re afraid of us; at least that’s what Mom always tells me.”
Neron crept slowly toward the trees, hands out and palms up, hoping he was portraying the universal sign for “I’m friendly.” Neron saw an ice blue eye peaking through the foliage, a boy about his own age Neron guessed, who was dressed in some type of animal skin. His skin was pale white with an iridescent bluish tint. His face was painted with white stripes.
The boy backed off as Neron got closer. “I just want to say hello,” Neron said. “You don’t have to be afraid of me.” Neron tossed the Ice Boy a piece of his energy bar. The boy picked it up, smelled it, and then consumed it in one bite.
“See,” Neron said softly. “I’m a good guy.”
When Neron got within three meters of him, the boy took off in a flash toward the thick trees and disappeared.
“Maybe next time, Neron,” Shayla said walking up behind her brother. “You know that they almost never speak with us. I’m not sure if they can even talk.”
“That’s as close as I ever got to one,” he said. “They look so beautiful. I wonder where they live and sleep and what they eat.”
“Ask Mom, she knows.”
“I will,” Neron said scooping up his sister as he walked back towards the center of the clearing.
Chapter Twenty
Every time she did this Elian was nervous. Not nervous, scared to death. The penalties for leaving the city with a forged security pass were severe. She could lose her job or be subject to other harsh discipline, even banishment of her and her family.
But what else could she do? Neron needed medicine or he would surely be discovered and taken away. She could not let that happen. Elian had lost the man she loved to war, she could not bear to lose her son the same way.
So while she was anxious, Elian was resolved. She disguised herself as a sentinel dressed in full combat gear including a facemask. She was just big enough to pull off the ruse with her high platform shoes and garments with padded shoulders. The part of her face she would be forced to show the guards on her way out was made up to look as masculine as possible.
Elian passed through security and left the city without incident. Once into the thicket of trees, Elian felt more at ease. It was late, the sun and the moon were out in what passed for night in New Fairbanks this time of year. Iss Konge had assured her safety. From the moment she left the city an escort silently followed her until she arrived in a meadow some four kilometers from the gates.
Walking through the forest was wonderful. Elian felt as if she was alone, a rare experience for a resident of New Fairbanks. The air was pure and crisp and the temperature was still hovering just above freezing. She could hear birds singing. Looking up at the sky stars were barely visible through the light of a fading sun. Passing by what could only be a deer bed she smiled. The small patchwork of branches and fern nestled amongst the trees gave her hope. Perhaps someday the forests would again be populated with non-mutant animals.
Per Iss Konge’s instructions, Elian stopped at the designated area and ducked behind a huge fallen log. She was doing this so the People of the Iss who were following her could be sure she was not being trailed by city folk. After two minutes of hearing nothing, she knew the coast was clear. Elian rose, stretched and continued walking.
When she arrived, Elian moved to the center of the meadow and sat down on a granite slab. Before she could even situate herself, she heard rustling in the trees and saw the flashing outlines of the Iss scurrying about. She knew that Iss Konge never traveled without a substantial escort. While he would approach and speak to her alone, he was never isolated. The Iss survived not only by great cunning and being attuned to their Arctic environment, but because they were always cautious.
This went on for about two minutes then, without a sound, she saw him emerge from the pines. He was always dressed the same, in an oversized animal skin coat with a hood that draped over his face. The coat looked to be as ancient as he was it had been patched and re-sewn many times. Underneath his coat Elian noticed very modern looking clothing, perhaps a cold weather suit of some type. Iss Konge never exposed any skin to her other than his face.
“Elian, you look well. I’m glad to see you,” Iss Konge said, in his deep, scratchy voice. Elian imagined him to be very old, although his skin was the same youthful pale white with a bluish tint as all the other Ice People.
“Sir, I’m happy to see you too. I know I say this every time we meet, but thank you for what you’re doing for Neron. I will never know why you’re helping him, I guess, but thank you.”
Iss Konge handed Elian a small box. She opened it. Inside were six vials of serum – they were the key to keeping Neron in New Fairbanks.
“Has Neron been expressing more recently?” Iss Konge asked.
“Yes. He still does not recall any of the experiences. Last week he broke a boy’s arm in gym class. His coach told me it happened so fast he had no opportunity to intervene.”
“The coach is a fortunate man. Had he gotten in the way Neron might have hurt him as well. Elian, the time has come for us to talk, for me to answer some of your questions.”
“Yes!” Elian said. This was exciting news. “Yes please. Ever since you approached me years ago I’ve been dying to know -.”
“What I have to tell you will be enlightening, but also disturbing. But the moment is at hand.”
“What moment?” Elian asked.
“My dear,” Iss Konge said. “Let us talk freely.” The Iss commander removed his hood and goggles. His face was beautiful, a bit different from the rest of his people. His skin was the same as the others, but his features were of an older man, someone fiftyish, not a young person as all of the other Iss seemed to be.
“We watch your colony and all the others. As you know we have direct contact with your leaders from time to time, we exchange goods and intelligence on The Plague armies. But there is more, much more you need to know.
“For generations we have watched and waited. A few of your children have special gifts – outstanding mental and physical powers. Neron is exceptional even among the gifted. You have not seen even a fraction of his potential. The dampening effects of the serum have suppressed his latent power. If he stopped receiving the serum now you would begin immediately to see physical and other changes.”
“Do you give the serum to any other children in New Fairbanks?”
“No, it is unnecessary. Neron is the only special child amongst you. But Elian, the effects of the serum wont hold up much longer. Once Neron fully develops as a man, as he grows older, the effects would diminish completely.”
“You never… why have you kept this from me?”
“There was no need to tell you until now. In fact, this is likely the last dose of serum you will receive from me. Neron could change at any time. Near puberty is when the final changes occur.”
“How many… have you monitored children like Neron before?” Elian asked.
“Yes, hundreds over the decades. They came from all over the northern colonies.”
“Who are you?” Elian asked, now realizing that the Ice People, or at least their king, were far more than simple indigenous people who had adapted to the cold after exposure to the nanogene.
“I was once like you, fully human. In fact, if there is one person on the planet who could be called most responsible for the horror The Plague has caused, it’s me.”
“That makes no sense, sir. The Plague have been around for half a century or more.”
“I was there when they were created, Elian.” Iss Konge hesitated, and then said, “My personal history is not important. What is important is that you listen to what I’m telling you. Neron will soon become what he is destined to become. I sense in him a power that could change the course of history. He may have abilities that could prove vital, essential, for the war effort.”
“No!” Elian shouted. “I thought you were doing this to save Neron from those government bastards. No! I will not -.”
“Elian, you must understand. Neither you nor I can stop Neron from becoming. I do not have the power -.”
“Yes you do. You want him to express his ability and for the government to haul him off to wherever it is they take special kids. I will not offer up my son to be slaughtered.”
“Neron may have the ability to destroy our enemy by the thousands, the millions. I don’t know for sure, but he has the greatest potential of any human being I have watched. Would you deny the world an opportunity to destroy The Plague? To perhaps destroy Cassia?”
“This is insanity. I…” Elian stood to leave. “What, are you going to kill me now? Have your people tear me to pieces?”
“My dear,” Iss Konge said, laughing. “I have no desire to do anything other than protect you. Why would I want to harm you?”
Elian started to cry. Iss Konge reached out, touched her shoulder, and gently squeezed it. Reflexively she reached over and hugged him. They held each other for a few minutes without speaking a word.
“What do you want… what do I need to do now?” Elian asked, wiping away the last of her tears.
“Watch Neron carefully. Once you see physical changes… a strange growth spurt or increase in muscular development.”
“Then what?”
“Once you see any kind of noticeable change bring him to me immediately. I will then tell him who he is, what he is becoming. I will complete the process and do my best to prepare him for what is to come.”
“How much longer will it be before he turns?” Elian asked.
“There is no way to know. It could happen tomorrow or a year from now. My guess is the time is very near. You must be vigilant.”
“Okay. I mean, who else can I trust?”
“Trust no one else. I have great affection for you and Neron both. Your little Shayla is a beautiful child. As you know she is not gifted, just a precious little person. I will do my best to protect you and your family for as long as I am able.”
“Who are you?” Elian asked.
Iss Konge got up to leave and put his hood back over his head. He turned to walk back towards the trees, stopped and said, “I’m a man who once made a terrible mistake. Get back to your city. My people will escort you. Take care, Elian. Hopefully we will see each other again soon.”
Elian watched as five of the Iss emerged from the trees and surrounded Iss Konge. Then they disappeared back into the forest. She was distraught, trying to deal with an overwhelming sense of hopelessness. The twilight night didn’t seem so peaceful anymore. Neron was “destined” to be a warrior? Her sweet, gentle little baby boy? It was her worst nightmare come true. Soon they would come for him and take him away. She would never see Neron again.
She had to do something to prevent this from happening, but what? All the way back to the city Elian was mulling this problem over, running through scenarios in her mind.
Her fear of re-entering the city was now less of a concern. She passed through the gate easily, without even a perfunctory I.D. check.
Elian went straight to Neron’s room and looked at her boy. It was almost time for him to get up, to start his day. She wanted to stop time, to let Neron dream pleasant dreams forever. But she believed Iss Konge. He had never lied to her.
She had to do something, but what? There had to be options, there just had to be.
Chapter Twenty One
“Do you ever lose?” Kurt Folger asked rhetorically.
“On occasion,” Neron said with a smile. “But it’s been a while.”
“You should be a pilot or something. With your reflexes … I mean you’re not much to look at, but you’re freaking amazing. You anticipate my next move and, so it seems, anyone’s next move. How do you do that?”
“What was the bet again?” Neron asked.
“Five credits. Here,” Kurt said, handing Neron a token, “I’m a lousy player, but I’m no welcher.”
“Let’s go again. Any game, you pick. Double or nothing,” Neron said.
“Nah, find a new sucker,” Kurt laughed. “I gotta keep some credits. My parents can’t send me any more until next week.”
On Friday and Saturday nights New Fairbanks opened its Game Room. Inside was a treasure trove – a mixture of ancient and new video games. Every person under the age of eighteen jammed their way inside. The games cost nothing to play, but betting between players was not only common, it was expected. Neron looked on the Game Room as a form of steady employment. He was subject to the same rules as everyone else, students were not allowed to have a full time, paying job until they reached the age of sixteen, but Neron could usually make fifty to a hundred credits a weekend in the Game Room.
It’s not that Neron liked playing video games all that much. For the most part they bored him, but he loved the credits. He used them to buy little treats for Shalya or his mom, surprising them with gifts or special food. Elian knew what her son was up to, but she did not stop him. While he wasn’t playing fair in the strictest sense of the word, he wasn’t cheating either.
After Kurt turned down a rematch, Neron left the Game Room. He’d already made enough credits and it was time to do something he really enjoyed. He walked across the city to the town gymnasium.
Target ball was game where a small, hard ball was scooped up by a stick with a basket on the end and then flung towards a target. When the ball went into the target, a goal was scored. The team that scored the most goals over two thirty
minute periods won the game. A certain amount of physical contact was allowed in target ball and, depending upon who was playing and who was watching, more than a certain amount of physical contact was allowed. Neron heard target ball had come about when a group of guys tried to play American football using Lacrosse equipment.
“You again?” the older man said when Neron walked on to the target ball court. “Last time you played Kenny lost three teeth.”
“Come on Mr. Morgan,” Neron said, hoping the man was impressed by the fact that he remembered his name, “it was just an unlucky bounce. Coulda happened to anyone.”