you think it will."
"Of course it would help! I'm going crazy not knowing. Worse yet, now I'm hearing all kinds of crazy stories. I have no idea what the truth is. I just want to know the truth, good or bad. I need to know."
"Fine. Sit down."
"I want to hear it too." Mykee interjects.
"OK, but do you understand that everything we say can never be spoken with anyone outside this room. Ever."
"Yeah I understand."
"And that thing?" Adinaa interjects pointing to the shut off white orb on Mykee's lounge. "We can't talk with that thing in the room."
"Mom, I told you, I changed the settings. If Rico tries to use it again, it will warn us first and ask if we accept the communication. And he won't be able to see us, unless I say it's OK." Mykee pleads with his mom.
"Are you sure?" Andee interjects.
"Yes, I understand how it works pretty good now."
"And my sensors work. There will be no signals leaving this shed. We're safe Adinaa." Old Tom concurs.
"So far only Ricio's been telling me the truth. You're the one telling me stories. You said dad vanished one day, but that's not true." Andee snaps accusatory at Tom.
"It is true. He did vanish one day. We lost contact with him. Just before the purge."
Andee looks to Adinaa. "Mom, did you know this?"
She takes a deep breath. "I knew he was a pilot, but not his name. You know I don't follow the races."
"But he was Doggstar?" Andee turns to Tom.
"And a champion?" Mykee reacts unable to hold his excitement now.
"Yes he was?"
"Did dad die in a crash?" Mykee asks with a pout.
"No. But to be honest I don't know. He was a pilot, and because he was a champion he got to live in the city for a while."
"No way!" Mykee shouts with huge round eyes. Andee on the other hand shrinks. His whole posture collapses in dread.
"Yes." Tom responds
"And is he still up there?" Mykee asks beaming with excitement, followed by a conflicted glare.
"I don't know son. I really don't." Tom shakes his head.
"Wow! Dad was a champion! And lived in the city? Maybe he is still up there, and he's working, trying to get us there too." Mykee perks up. "Maybe that's why he's been gone. There's no way he would hide being a pilot from us. He's got to have a good reason." Mykee continues struggling to convince himself.
"Maybe, that's what it is." Andee responds meekly to his brother, then gives Tom a hard look. "Little man, why don't you go back and help the Ghost fix that light regeneration. Maybe if we can get it working we can find our way into the city as well."
"I'm not dumb. You want to talk in private. You don't believe dad..." But Mykee loses steam. The reality of what he wants to believe is just too much.
"Yes I do. Old Tom and I have a lot to talk about."
"Ok, fine. But you'll tell me later."
"I will, but there's a lot of confusion right now. I want to figure things out. Than we can tell you the truth."
"OK" Mykee responds deflated and walks off. He grabs the white panel of his lounge and joins Mirceu and the Ghost. As he approaches them, The Ghost studies the boy as if seeing him for the first time. He looks Mykee up and down then he turns his eyes to Andee. The Ghost takes a deep breath, and then closes his eyes as he releases a deep exhalation. Then with Mirceu they lift the large part and carry it, following Mykee into a deeper section of the shed. There they enter another room.
Andee and Nayaa turn to Tom.
"There's more. And this is the worst part. I don't believe it." Andee stats telling Tom Ricio's explanation about his father's treachery and eventual breakdown.
"Nonsense." Tom snaps agitated. "Son, look at me. I knew your father since he was Mykee's age. Hell, I raised him. He really is like my son, and you boys like grandsons. And let me tell you. No way. No way in heaven or hell your dad was a traitor, to us or your family. No way. He certainly wouldn't abandoned you for drink and cactii. Wealth was never a desire of his. Justice, yes. If he's up in that city, he's a prisoner. There's no riches in the world that would keep him away from his family. Either he is trapped, or he fears contacting you would get you banished or dead."
"I don't know." Andee counters indecisive.
"I do know. Listen to me. The reason we kept so many secrets from you kids is because the Bitani had no clue you were his. He kept you boys, and your mom, a secret from them because he didn't want you hurt because of who he was."
"But why would anyone hurt us?"
"To hurt him. He was a champion, and to the Bitani a troublemaker. The Sentinels would have tortured you, to get him to talk. Being in his position, having a family, was dangerous back then. So we kept your existence a secret."
"And you knew this?" Andee turns to his mom.
She nods. "A few things, but no details. The less we knew the better. I had to pretend he didn't exist. That's why I tell everyone your father died. If you think it's hard for you, you have no idea how hard it is for me." Adinaa's eyes start to crystallize with tears. Nayaa leaps into her arms with a loving hug.
"I don't understand this philosophy. The less we know the weaker we are."
"The less we know the less they could get from us if tortured."
"No one is being tortured."
"Not now, but back in the day is was the norm."
"Really?" Nayaa interjects surprised.
"But the Bitani know who I am." Andee counters. "And they've got a real sacred warrior after me."
"He's no sacred warrior." Tom counters.
Andee's head snatches back in surprise. "What is he then?"
"Something worse."
"What?"
"His name is not Husarii. He is a Husarii. The Husarii are the real sacred warriors, or at least behind the myth the Bitani created. In reality, they are Bitani assassins. Real bastards. You said this man was invisible. Well, that's what they do. They have ways of making themselves unseen. Sneak into places, spy on people, or hurt them, like he did you. That's who we've been trying to protect you from. It's too late now."
"But that device you gave us. That will make him visible?" Andee inquires.
"Nope. For some reason it doesn't work on them."
"Really? Why not?" Nayaa asks amazed.
"Don't know. Supposedly it's not tech that makes them invisible, but it's hard to believe."
"Then how do they do it?" Andee asks.
"I know about them, but nothing of them. Apparently they have some kind of supernatural power."
Andee frowns. "You don't believe that do you?"
"Son, I've never been face to face with one, you have. You tell me."
Andee shakes his head clearly frustrated. Old Tom pats him on the shoulder.
"Lets end this here. Last horizon is upon us. It's going to be dark soon, and I've had enough of this nonsense for now. We'll talk more another day."
Nayaa, along with Andee and his family leave Old Tom's shed together. The sun is gone and the sky is a deep bright purple, gleaming in the afterglow of the twilight following last horizon. As they step out the door, the old man releases a deep breath looking more tired and despondent than ever. The Ghost approaches and stares at him with focused eyes.
"These kids. They're not who I think they are? Are they?" He asks with a hard curious glare as Tom slams the door shut. Exhausted, Old Tom stares through the Ghost for a moment, then gently nods his head up and down.
The Ghost's face opens up with round eyes again. "Holly punking light-fairies!" And both men just stare at each other for a moment before the Ghost continues in amazement. "Holly hell my heart's jumping in my chest. Are you sure?" He asks staring at Tom with the excitement of a child. Tom responds with a simple dismissive scoff. "Wow! Wow!" The Ghost replies with admiration. Tom nods approvingly this time. The Ghost taps Tom on his shoulder. "Don't be so hard on yourself. You did good. You did real good. These kids... they're real impressive." But Tom's still nodding
in the same rhythm as if stuck in a trance. "The young one. He's so smart." Old Tom is still nodding up and down without words. "And Andee, wow, a warrior. I never thought I'd see the day." The Ghost seems thoroughly impressed. "He's not full Parzor yet is he?" The Ghost asks eyes growing wide, but Old Tom shakes his head in the negative.
"No, and he won't be. There's no one to train him further. Sensei took him as far as he could." Old Tom muses still looking dazed. The Ghost too becomes more sullen and joins Tom nodding, but then draws an invigorating breath into his lungs, and with strong eyes turns to Tom again.
"And the girl?" He continues, but Old Tom just gives him a long stare without answering. The Ghost holds the glare waiting patiently, eyes getting harder with the build up of anticipation. After a moment's hesitation Old Tom finally responds.
"You don't even want to know." Tom blurts out the words with a cold tone as he turns and walks away. The Ghost follows him with his penetrating eyes. He watches Tom walk to his worktable and take a seat. The Ghost's eyes get harder and harder as he stares mystified at the back of Tom's head. Then suddenly, his face lights up like a bulb, beaming with awe. "Indiraa!" He blurts out. Tom quickly turns to the bearded man. "She was pregnant. No-no-no-it can't be. You don't mean?" And the Ghost cuts himself off while staring at Old Tom in horror, or shock, or a combination of the two. Tom quickly sweeps his right hand, cutting the air in front of his chest, in a gesture preventing the Ghost from speaking any further. To the Ghost it's confirmation. He lifts his hands up to the sides of face in even greater shock than before. He runs them over his forehead and eyes, seemingly overwhelmed by whatever thought is in his mind.
Lightship Chronicles Chapter 10 : Last Horizon Page 8