A New Divide (Science Fiction)

by Sanders, Nathaniel

  I looked away from her down at the city. "Sorry, I was caught up in the moment."

  "The ability to create life—it's the most amazing thing we will ever be able to do. Just take a moment, stop and look at yourself. We can do anything, and as long as we are free to choose our way of life, we never have a reason to be unhappy."

  She had this way of looking at the world; everything seemed so simple to her. Her profound expressions gravitated me to her. This universe was her own world, her own home. She couldn't help but give all of her love and compassion to everyone that inhabited it. But it was how she would inspire me, the idea she would give me.

  I looked at my own reality now from a different angle, under a different light. It was this idea that we were part of this whole bigger thing. I could feel that every single one of us, in this endless ocean of light and darkness, were connected somehow. She inspired me to go to the void, but I learned it from her first. No person has ever made me so vulnerable, and so warm at the same time. And this feeling, this emotion, actually made me feel nervous, something I was not used to.

  "Oh my . . ." She was gazing up at the night sky when I turned to her. She had a look of awe. She was amazed at the sight before her, the Aurora Star Stream. I could only smile.

  "The Aurora Star Stream."

  "It is . . . incredible."

  "I've only seen it one other time. The day my dream for gravball began."

  "Can we get a closer look?" I smiled, and quickly turned the bike up to the star stream. Helena slipped off the handle and landed in my lap. I looked down and smiled at her, and as we shot through the sky, she wrapped her arms around my waist. She had the most beautiful smile; I will never forget that moment.

  We shared something there, not just traveling to the star stream, we shared an emotion. With that look in her eye, I saw it, a new emotion, something felt by neither of us. This thought brought great warmth to my heart; it revived my joy that had been surrounded by the fog of tragic thoughts, from the events of the short past. Until that point in my journey I wasn't sure if those feelings of hatred, sorrow, and uncertainty would flee from my consciousness, but they did with her. In that moment, they were gone, my head had finally been cleared.

  Just like the Seven Wonders of the World our ancestors knew on Mother Earth, there were the many unexplainable phenomena occurring all around Eden. Just to name a few, there is the Temple of the Void on Remora, the underground caverns beneath the surface of Salaras, the Beacon of the Vakken in the northern tundra's of Rayden, and the Great Aerial River on the independent world of Farfalla, and on Gannon, there was the Aurora Star Stream.

  The Aurora Star Stream was a natural occurrence where the ice crystals flowed through a narrow channel between the planet's magnetic poles. It was, more a less, a calm magnetic storm that gathered the dust and ice in the upper atmosphere. The magnetized crystals emitted a strange luminosity that surged throughout the entire stream. It slowly, and faintly, surged colors of purple, red, green, and blue. From the surface of this world it looked like a river of slowly changing bright lights was flowing through the sky.

  We neared the star stream, so I decided to take the bike, and shoot it through the dust cloud. Hardly anything was visible for the first several seconds. "Collin, I can't see, it's so bright and blurry," Helena said as she clutched my hand tightly.

  "We're almost there."

  "Collin, please it's hard to breathe."

  "Trust me, Helena, just a few more seconds."

  "But it's so . . . oh wow." She was completely overwhelmed when we entered the vortex of the stream. It was a large portion, where the air was clear and breathable. We were inside of the stream, and it was truly something to behold. I took the bike and glided along the bottom of the vortex; we were directly below a flowing stream of stars. Helena took her arms and stretched them out wide. Her fingers glided along the stream that created ripples on the internal surface of the vortex. The stream illuminated our exasperated expressions.

  "Oh Collin."

  "I know. I think it's the second most incredible thing I have ever seen."

  "After the Temple of the Void?"

  "The Realm, Helena." She brought her arms down and she gently caressed my head. She leaned in close and I could feel the warmth of her breath on my face.

  "Where have you been all my life?" she asked, as she opened her eyes to the beauty around her. I remained silent, and I started to blush a little bit. She leaned in, pulled me in close, and pressed her forehead against mine. We closed our eyes and basked in the moment; I had never felt like that before. I had never felt more nervous, excited, or scared ever in my life. I never wanted that moment to end. I wanted to live in it forever. Time always has a way of slipping. This was proved when I was rudely interrupted by my holoband going off. It surprised me so much that I flinched, and I almost flipped the bike. Helena was shocked and backed up, as I angrily answered the call.

  "Damn it all! Who the hell is this?"

  "Am I interrupting, kid?"

  "Your timing is always impeccable, Virgil." Helena giggled.

  "Is Helena with you? I need to talk to her."

  Helena looked intrigued. She pulled my arm in close, and tapped the holoband on my wrist. "Something the matter, Virgil?" she asked as she started to frown slightly.

  "Your boss called saying something about a report?"

  Helena had the look that she had forgotten something very important. "Oh damn it! I will be by the hotel in a few."

  "Collin, you should get to bed, man. Mark plans on leaving here in a few hours, the suns are about to rise."

  "What? What time is it?"

  "Early, and we are leaving, early."

  "All right, I will be there whenever. See you soon, Virgil. "I tapped my holoband and turned the transponder off, while leaning my head back in frustration as I turned to Helena.

  "Oh how time flies by."

  "Well it was a blast while it lasted, Mr. Iceman."

  "It's way past your bedtime, little lady. Hold on tight." I dipped the jet cycle down through the stream at a steep rate. Helena jolted up and grasped me very tightly. The fireworks had stopped and a very dim light was rising in the north. The city's festivities had ceased. The drunk had passed out and the city slept, in least in the sector where our hotel was.

  I flew down to the hotel's plaza and I docked the bike. After a short walk I led Helena to her room. "Well, 406 B, this is me."

  "Excited for a few hours from now?" I asked as she unlocked her door.

  "Ugh, Remoran soldiers apparently don't believe in rest and relaxation."

  "Or maybe we are just wild for the night."

  "I do love these hot summer nights, they are the greatest," she said as she gazed into my eyes. I smiled at her as she leaned in, and kissed my cheek. She then pushed me back and made a cute face at me as she shut the door. "Good morning, Collin."

  "Until next time."

  Virgil was leaning against the wall in the hallway outside as I made my way towards the exit. He looked to me and nodded as I wore a very satisfied smile on my face.

  "Party hard enough, Virgil?"

  "Well, when in Arcadia do as the Arcadians do." He followed me as we made our way down the large hall and out into the outdoor plaza. The first sun had risen, and its red glow pierced through the low clouds of the early morning, reflecting off the many silver skyscrapers.

  "Are you going to ask?" I was curious to know what Virgil thought of my relationship with Helena since we met on Remora.

  "You and the scientist? Ain't my place, kid."

  "Well, what now, old man? I sure as hell don't feel like sleeping."

  Virgil smirked as we walked towards his airship. "Let's grab a bite to eat. I know just the place."

  "Insomniacs unite!" I shouted in the early hours of the morning.

  Virgil could only agree. "Indeed."

  ***

  Helena had closed the door to her room and took a seat by her window. She stared out at the morn
ing light that peaked through the dark clouds in the distance. She sighed, removed a holoband from her bag, and placed it on her wrist. She pressed the button on the holoband and spoke into the hologram that arose from the interface.

  "Doctor Helena Roland, patch me through to Doctor Evan Reselles, please."

  She rested her head on the wall behind her when Doctor Reselles appeared on her holoband. "Good morning, Doctor Roland."

  "Good morning, sir."

  "You look tired, Helena, have you slept?" Helena wiped her heavy eyes, and crossed her legs in an attempt to remain more alert to her boss.

  "No, sir. Arcadian nights live up to their reputation, especially with the opening of the PGL season."

  "Need I remind you, Helena, you are not on vacation; you are assigned to Collin to gather information on his evolutionary and mental qualities. What have you learned?"

  "Collin has shown no interaction regarding his, umm, supernatural abilities, since our arrival to the void. I think he is waiting for something, sir."

  "Waiting for something?"

  "Yes, sir, I believe he is avoiding trying to figure out the useful nature of his mutation."

  "Listen, Helena, you have one month to observe his biological mutation and report your findings to the organization. Your job depends on it."

  "Yes, sir," she said as she began to frown.

  "What has kept you from your task, Miss Roland?"

  "Sir, with all due respect, he is an extraordinary human being, and should not be treated like a lab rat. He has been through hell. You cannot force this, you do not understand, sir."

  "What I understand, is that I hired you to gather information on him. You know, and I know, this is more than just a job. Your citizenship in Remora depends on this, Helena."

  Helena clenched her lip in disgust. "Yes, sir."

  "My god, Helena, you are in love with him, aren't you?" Helena remained silent. "Get your head out of your ass, and get to work. If I do not have results that we can use for our research in one month, you will have to find a new place to live."

  "Sir, you can't do that—you are abusing your power! You know what happens to Remorans who abuse their power. Well, maybe you wouldn't actually, since you live on Dilo!"

  "Shut up! I can do whatever I want. I am an outside contractor for Remoran society; my brother is a member of the great Remoran Triangle! You think you have value? I will replace your ass in a heartbeat. Get it done, Helena, or I will strip you of your certificate, and your home! Understood!"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Good."

  Doctor Evan Reselles ceased his transmission, and Helena then took her holoband and threw it at the wall in a rage. "Asshole!"

  She crouched into the fetal position on her chair, and began to slightly weep. She had realized how dangerous kindling a relationship with me would be.

  ***

  The morning light had given way and a diner by the ocean where Virgil and I sat. The fierce ocean wake pounding against the rocky bluff gave a certain atmosphere to the moment. The seagulls chirped in the background, while we looked out at the sun-gleaming ocean that shined like a field of diamonds. I took a bite of my burger as I took in the misty, but clean, ocean air.

  "Mmm. My god."

  "Good, heh?"

  "Brings back the memories. This right here, is the best sandwich of my life."

  Virgil and I sat on the boardwalk, shoveling down our delicious food, at the restaurant where my father had taken us after the first time I had arrived in Arcadia fifteen years ago. It was a pinnacle that would forever remain sacred in my diverse collection of memories.

  I burped loudly and Virgil gave me a strange look as he lit up a cigarette. "What?" I asked.

  "You haven't changed one bit since you were a kid. Look at you licking your fingers."

  "I'm serious, I might have seconds. Hey. Just one second, Virgil," I said as I snatched his lit cigarette away from him.

  "Boy, I swear."

  "Relax, Virgil, I know you have extras."

  "I'll relax after I'm done beatin' you senseless, kid."

  We laughed and Virgil lit up another cigarette. We sat in silence for a moment, and after my smile had faded I asked him a question. I had been curious for so long, I wanted to know.

  "Virgil?"

  "Yeah, kid?"

  "How do you know Commander Wyman and President Harris?"

  He took a puff of his cigarette in an attempt to get comfortable. He then leaned back in his chair, and ran his hands through his grey hair, as he spoke.

  "We go way back; long ago, all four of us were in the GDR's first recon. We were soldiers."

  "You were a soldier for the GDR? Jesus, how long ago was this?"

  "I have always been a soldier, kid. And this was over four hundred years ago, and over a thousand years after we departed from Earth."

  I rubbed my head and picked at his brain again.

  "You are so old that you have lived to see our relative time change twice. You really are a dinosaur, so old, you are so damned old."

  "Are you done? You little prick?"

  "Hell no, you intrigued me. You said there were four of you though. Who was the other?"

  "He was the most interesting, righteous, and most intelligent man I imagine that I will ever meet. He once told me that a picture can paint a thousand words but the right words can paint a thousand pictures. He really had a way of putting things in perspective. Mark modeled his leadership ideals off of him. I can't even remember his name, but I remember what he did. Things change and sometimes the people do too."

  "Why have you never told me about this?"

  "Damned brats, you always want to know the 'why' of things. Repression is a very powerful tool, kid. I used that tool to survive; I hope that you never have to do the same. We had the opportunity to create something, something new, and beautiful and revolutionary, to humanity, and . . . it all just went to shit. I can never talk to David again after he rejoined the GDR."

  "What happened? What was it?"

  Virgil rubbed his head in frustration and then shook his head. I now knew that he had a secret that he was not ready to share with me. "I don't remember, no, I don't wanna remember. I had to forget it, and I think that's one of the reasons I am still alive. I got bad things coming to me, so I'll carry that burden until it comes round. For now I'm going to focus on helping you out. I do have a promise to keep, after all."

  We sat in silence for a few moments while we slowly smoked our cigarettes.

  "Well, after this is over, after you've fulfilled your promise you keep going on about, I want to help you, Virgil. It's the least I can do. I mean, hell, if it weren't for you I wouldn't even be alive."

  Virgil laughed as he tossed his cigarette into the vaporizing ashtray next to him.

  "Ha-ha, fair enough, kiddo. I think we have a deal." I heard a familiar voice right behind me just then; it was strange, almost like I sensed his presence before he spoke.

  "You know you shouldn't smoke. It's a terrible habit."

  Virgil stopped his attempt to grab his cigarette back from me when he looked over my shoulder, and saw the man who was speaking. Virgil's eyes opened wide, and he slowly melted back into his chair, and he looked shocked.

  "I thought you quit those nasty things, Virgil," the mysterious man said.

  "Well, you know old habits die hard." I took a puff of the cigarette, and turned around to see the man who had addressed us. When I laid my eyes upon him, I didn't recognize him at first. I was puzzled. I knew who he was, but I could not pin it down. My question would be answered when the man, who wore a rough black beard, along with a tattered vest and torn-up jeans, stepped out of the shading of the awning, and into the light of the rising suns.

  "No, it can't be," I said to him.

  "It's been . . . far too long, my son." I dropped the cigarette and my jaw in disbelief. I knew this man, his voice, his posture, and composure. My father was alive, and he was standing right before me.

  CH
APTER 11 - THE SHOW MUST GO ON

  The air had accumulated a certain thickness, and I felt it weigh heavily on my shoulders. I instantly felt uncomfortable. I felt a warm, compassionate stare as we sat there, in silence, for almost a minute. A minute to wrap my head around what had just happened, and then he spoke.

  "I'm so sorry, Collin."

  I slowly stood up and pushed my chair in. The cigarette had rolled to the underside of Virgil's boot. He stomped on it, as he also stood to his feet. He was still in awe at the appearance of this most unlikely guest.

  "Collin, we should talk. You see, I—"

  I took my arm and hooked him as hard as I could in his jaw. He stumbled backwards and fell over a table. It caused quite a commotion at the restaurant. People gasped, and Virgil quickly rushed towards me. He attempted to grab my arm, but I quickly made my way out of the restaurant. I ran, and I ran.

  ***

  [--]

  -The Alexandria-

  The skies of Arcadia were swarming with traffic; Mark did not consider, with PGL's ban on the Salaran teams, that attendance for the games had dropped significantly. Therefore, visitors for the opening games were leaving much earlier than expected. This caused an aerial traffic jam at the exit points of the GDR's sector defense network. The ships in the Gannon sky were at such a number that they created clusters that began to cast a shade over the planet.

  So in the meantime our Good Commander decided to pursue other matters. He was aboard the Alexandria coordinating his fleet's position all over the solar system, when the Alexandria's pilot came rushing forward. "Commander Wyman, sir?"