Saphora: vol.1 Retention (The Athena Universe)

by Jaz Johnson

  “Well, Fran. If you feel the need to change your mind before the state does, give me a call,” he offered. “Enjoy the rest of your day.”

  Lupin hung up the phone with a sigh, placing the phone back into his pocket as he looked up at Johnson, who had her arms crossed.

  “Well?” she asked. Lupin shook his head.

  “She doesn’t want to put her in an institution,” Lupin said, resting his elbows on his knees and folding his hands.

  “I thought she would listen to you,” Johnson argued. Lupin shrugged.

  “I suppose there is only so much one will go through before a motherly defense kicks in,” he said with a chuckle. Johnson grumbled.

  “We need that time to stall, Lupin,” Johnson reminded him. Lupin nodded, dismissing the concern.

  “Oh, I’m sure that Saphora will convince Fran on her own that she needs to be admitted. It’s only a matter of time,” Lupin reassured.

  “How much time?”

  “I give it a few days. If anything, if it takes too long, we can take it upon ourselves to declare her unsuitable for society. Whether Fran likes it or not.”

  “If it’s true … If it’s not just some mutation in her genes. Do you think she’ll come quietly when we go to take her?” Johnson asked.

  “Drug her before taking her.”

  Johnson sighed, looking off to the side, shaking her head.

  “I can’t believe this is happening under my watch. An alien? Aliens? This has got to be some sort of joke. Maybe the results came back wrong. Maybe Glover is just in trauma,” Johnson said, trying to reason with herself. Lupin shook her head.

  “Science doesn’t lie, Officer. We have to turn it in.”

  “But what about Fran? I mean, just ripping her away from her like that? She raised that girl. How is she going to react when we take her?” Lupin shrugged.

  “She may not be as surprised as you think.” Johnson’s brows furrowed as she studied the knowing look on Lupin’s face.

  “What, you think she knows?”

  “I mean, let’s be realistic. Raising her from however young she was. Surely she had to know something was different about her. Her features for one thing.”

  “But why wouldn’t she tell anyone?”

  “Well, I don’t think she knows she may be an alien, per say. But even giving up small information about Saphora. She was, and is, for all intents and purposes, her mother. No mother is going to risk losing her child,” Lupin explained. Johnson sighed, crossing her arms again.

  “And what about the second set of prints we found? They’re wacky too. Is there really a Tebias?” Lupin nodded.

  “Why did you tell us her story was false? That she was mentally unstable?” Lupin pushed up his glasses.

  “I was protecting my client. And I didn’t know at the time if my assumptions were correct. I had wanted to get skin test done of her back, but wasn’t able to. But now that you have gotten results, I don’t need to. I know I’m right.”

  “So what now?”

  “The government takes her, interrogates her. Find out if she’s a threat to the planet. They may even attempt to visit hers.”

  “And what happens if they do?” Lupin smiled.

  “Then we could be the first to visit another planet with life,” he said, standing up from his seat. “This could be the single greatest accomplishment of our time.”

  “She seems to be doing well this time,” Hydra noted, looking at Saphora from the kitchen. Maverick nodded, still seated on the sofa. He had been watching her the entire time, making sure that she was okay. She had fallen back against the sofa, eyes half shut and body limp, breathing slowly.

  “So what happens when she remembers everything? You take her home?” Hydra paused, giving a nod after a moment.

  “Ideally …” she answered. “She has to return at some point. And it has to be soon,” she answered truthfully.

  Maverick nodded, gripping his knees a little tighter. He knew there was something between them. Something that he believed would turn into something amazing. But leaving Earth … To live the rest of his life on a planet unknown to him. His mind was being fickle. One moment he was determined to go, the next he was wondering if he would even be able to breathe on the planet.

  Maverick’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Saphora’s phone ringing. Hydra flinched slightly at the sudden melody and turned to face it on the kitchen’s island counter.

  “Someone’s communicator,” she pointed out, watching the screen light up and listening to the sounds of electric guitar. Her brows furrowed. “What an odd sound.” Maverick tilted his head upwards, standing up.

  “What does it say?” Hydra scoffed, picking up the phone.

  “I cannot read this, mortal,” she said, tossing it to him. Maverick fumbled to catch the phone, not wanting it to land on Saphora and disturb her. Looking down at the phone’s screen, he saw that is was Fran, and an instant wave of nerves washed over him.

  “Oh god, it’s her mom,” he breathed.

  “Impossible,” exclaimed Hydra, standing up from the stool and looking in his direction. Maverick quickly shook his head, going to clarify.

  “No, not … her mother. The woman that raised her here. Fran.”

  “Oh. Why do you not answer it?”

  “Well … She doesn’t exactly know who I am.”

  “And what if she is delivering important information?” Hydra asked, extending her open palm. “Give it here. I will answer it.” Maverick looked up at her, deciding that that would have been worse, and answered the phone.

  “… Hello?”

  Immediately recognizing a significantly deeper voice, Fran went into questioning.

  “Who is this?”

  “Uh, this is a friend of Saphora’s.”

  “Friend? Are you that boy that drove her home?”

  “Yeah…”

  “Who are you?” she asked with a more motherly tone.

  “Err, my name is Maverick, ma’am.”

  “Where’s Saphora?”

  “She’s uh, she’s sleeping right now,” he answered, looking back at her limp body. Fran’s voice went up an octave.

  “Sleeping? Why is she sleeping there with you? Were you two sleeping together?” she asked, almost short of breath. “Put Saphora on the phone!”

  “Oh! No, no ma’am we weren’t sleeping together! I … She was just tired, ma’am. I don’t want to wake her up … Can I give her a message?”

  “You tell that girl to get home as soon as she opens her eyes!” she snapped, hanging up the phone. Maverick cringed at the tone of her voice, inching away from the phone. He sighed, lowering the phone from his face, and looking up at Hydra with a grimace.

  “What did she say?” she asked.

  “It’s time for her to go home.”

  Tuesday afternoon, Saphora was meditating on her bed. Swiveling items around her room, including fireballs. She had spent the morning with Maverick and Hydra doing training, but she figured that with the message that Fran left Maverick, she thought it would be a good idea to be home when she came home from work. Seeing as though she didn’t return home until late yesterday evening, she thought angering her further by not being home would not be a good idea. So she took training upon herself. She had gotten a little better with hand to hand – or close to it, and decided to just practice her control of the elements.

  The session had gone well. She was able to remember Artemis, and her relationship with her mother. She knew now, based on her memory of her, that she was probably the one letting her know that Saphora was in danger, or was going to be. It warmed her heart to know that they were stilling looking after her, even when she had thought she had been abandoned.

  It wasn’t long before Fran arrived home, even a little earlier than Saphora had expected. She worked to move everything back to its place before getting up, wanting to go greet her, and start the session of apologies. She walked to the doorway of her bedroom and listening to the door close behin
d Fran.

  “Saphora?” she called out. Saphora gave a silent nod.

  “I’m here,” she said, moving towards the staircase. Fran looked up the stairs at Saphora as she struggled to take off her jacket. Without Fran knowing it, Saphora helped her with the heavy jacket, gently helping her slide it off of her shoulders. Fran hung it up on the rack beside the door and huffed, moving into the house.

  “Good. Come down here,” she ordered, going into the kitchen. Saphora’s bottom lip stiffened at the tone in her voice, as a child would to the scolding tone of their parent. She made her way down the steps, and slowly into the kitchen. Fran was taking out two glasses, aiming to fill them up. One with water, one with red wine. Turning around as Saphora walked into the kitchen, she walked over to the table in front of her and set the glass of water down towards Saphora.

  “Sit,” she said, taking a seat in the chair to the left of her. Saphora looked down, doing as told and sitting in front of the glass. Fran sighed, taking a sip of the wine and pushing her hairline back. There was a silence that lingered in the room before she spoke, which made Saphora’s heart work to keep a steady pace.

  “So, his name is Maverick.” Saphora looked up at the mentioning of Maverick’s name, and then quickly averted her eyes, noticing that she had. She nodded in silence. “And you were … sleeping at his house?” Saphora hesitated to answer. “Is that where you’ve been going when you leave home? When I can’t find you?” Saphora looked down, not wanting to give away her hiding place. “What have you been doing with this-“

  “Nothing, Fran. I was just-“

  “Why don’t you call me mom?” she asked suddenly, gripping the bottom of the wineglass. Saphora stopped, her eyes in the beginning stages of shock as she looked up at her, seeing the distress in her eyes.

  “What?”

  “I’ve taken care of you since you were a little girl. Given you everything you need, anything I could do to help you. And now you keep running away from me. Why won’t you call me mom?” Saphora’s mouth hung open, completely unprepared for such a conversation. One that did not have a simple answer. She shook her head somewhat, averting her eyes.

  “Do you hate me that much?” Fran asked with a sorrowful smile as she leaned her forehead against her hand. Saphora frowned.

  “No, Fran, no, I-“

  “Is it because I didn’t defend you when they called you crazy?” she suddenly brought up, making Saphora tense, her eyes going dark. Fran shook her head. “I didn’t mean not to,” she tried to reassure.

  “Fran …”

  “I swear, I didn’t.”

  “Fran, give me the glass,” Saphora said softly. Fran scoffed, taking another sip.

  “I’ve had one – two sips. I’m fine. Answer my question.”

  “People call their mother’s by their name all the time …”

  “Not at the age of eight.”

  “I’m different. I’ve always been different, Fran. I don’t call you Fran out of spite.”

  “Who is that boy?” she asked, with a slight shake of her head.

  “I told you. He’s my friend.”

  “Your boyfriend?”

  “No, Fran he’s just – And what if he was? What would you say to that?” Fran shook her head, lowering it slightly. “I’m a grown woman, Fran. I think I can choose who I would like a relationship with, if I was with him.” Fran was silent, deciding to drop that topic as well.

  “Why did you leave Dr. Lupin’s office yesterday?” Saphora’s reaction was subtle. She assumed that Lupin would end up calling her and telling her what happened. It was his job, after all. But she wondered what else he had told her. And in how much detail.

  “He called you?” she mumbled.

  “Of course he called me. Did you think he wouldn’t? Saphora, do you realize how you appear to be acting to someone like him?” she asked, leaning forward with genuine concern. Saphora looked to the side, reaching her hands forward to grip the cold glass of water.

  “Why? What did he tell you about me? That I’m crazy? Tell me something I don’t know.” Fran hesitated, taking another sip of her wine and sighing.

  “Dr. Lupin spoke to me yesterday.” Saphora looked up at her, her heart pounding.

  “About what?”

  “He suggested putting you in a mental facility.” The room grew quiet, as Saphora’s mood took a turn for the worst. The audacity of that man. She scowled, looking around the room in astonishment. She found herself speechless for several moments, before her brain could even begin to take the task of forming a non-threatening sentence. She took a deep breath, and gripped the glass in front of her.

  “What did you say?” she asked, as calmly as her constricting throat would allow. Fran shook her head.

  “I refused,” she said flatly. “I’ve heard enough from that man. Enough is enough.” Saphora’s brows rose, as she looked up at Fran with genuine surprise. She was ready to shatter the glass in her hand, along with every other fragile item in the kitchen, had Fran told her she was sending her to a mental institution.

  “You did?”

  “Of course I did. No one is taking my baby away from me. He’s done enough,” she argued, taking another sip of wine. The corners of Saphora’s lips curved upwards in the beginning of a smile. “I mean really. Accusing you of destroying your own files. He’s got some nerve,” Fran continued. Saphora’s smile faded as quickly as it had arrived. So he had told her. She frowned. It bothered her to know that the one time Fran may have actually had the right to be upset with her, she wasn’t. It made her feel dirty, knowing that this time she had actually done something wrong. Fran looked up at Saphora, and she quickly remembered to give a reaction.

  “My files are gone?” she asked, with a tone of surprise.

  “Yes, and I have the right mind to think that he destroyed them himself, just to say something absurd like that. That man in starting to disgust me.”

  “Why would he do something like that?”

  “I don’t know, but he is working on my last nerve. It’s one thing after another with him,” she spat, shaking her head. For once, she was putting the blame on Lupin, instead of Saphora. And even thought this time Saphora was to blame, she was letting Fran rant. Once she had wine in her, there was no stopping her anyway. She must have been really stressed. She only drank when she was stressed.

  “Let’s talk about something else … Are you ready for the dragon? Is it still coming tomorrow?” Fran exhaled through her nose, combining it with a giggle as she nodded.

  “Yes! It’s finally here. It’s being unloaded tonight, Brad told me.”

  “Oh, you didn’t want to take the night shift to help?” Fran grinned and waved her hand dismissively.

  “Nah. Let them do the work. I have no problem being surprised in the morning.” Saphora chuckled. “You’re coming with me, right?” Saphora nodded.

  “Of course. I wouldn’t miss this for the wo-“ Saphora was cut off by the sound of her phone ringing in her pocket. She looked down at her pocket, then back up at Fran. She rose her eyebrows.

  “Who’s that? Your boyfriend?” Saphora grimaced, taking the phone out of her pocket and going into the living room to answer it.

  “Hang on,” she told Fran. Fran nodded, raising her glass to her lips again.

  “Hello?” Saphora answered in a low voice once entering the far end of the living room.

  “Saphora. Saphora?” came the voice of Hydra. Saphora blinked, looking at her phone, before putting it back against her ear in slight confusion.

  “Hydra?”

  “Saphora,” she said with a tone of urgency. Saphora’s heart immediately skipped a beat. Why was she on Maverick’s phone? Where was Maverick? The tone in her voice didn’t lead her mind to happy thoughts.

  “Where’s Maverick?” she asked, her voice already near trembling.

  “Right here.” Saphora exhaled, leaning forward slightly and pushing against the wall.

  “What is it, then?”

 
“Arol. I sense him. He is here.” Saphora’s brows furrowed, as her head tilted back in slight confusion.

  “Arol?”

  “Your guardian. I can sense his presence in this village. Artemis said that he was being put on some sort of display.” Saphora started to shake her head when it all clicked. Her eyes widened as she almost dropped her cellphone. She spun around to stare in the kitchen’s direction, her mouth agape. How could she had been so stupid? She had known where Arol was, and when he was coming the entire time. The dragon at the zoo. How else were they going to have a dragon?

  “The zoo …” she breathed.

  “Zoo? What is a zoo?” Hydra asked. Maverick could be heard chuckling in the background.

  “Oh no way,” he laughed.

  “What is a zoo?” Hydra asked again, turning to face Maverick.

  “Have Maverick explain. Be there tomorrow,” Saphora instructed before hanging up the phone and going back into the kitchen.

  “Be where? What is it? Saphora?” Hydra looked down at the now dim phone and scoffed. “She ended the transmission!” Maverick chuckled, reaching into his bag of chips with a grin as he nodded.

  “Yeah. Around here we call that getting hung up on.” He tilted his back, dropping the handful of chips in his mouth as he smiled, shaking his head. “I can’t believe we’re getting a dragon.”

  Saphora huffed as she sat back down in the chair at the kitchen table. Fran had already finished her glass, and had gotten up to pour herself another one. Saphora watched, tilting her neck to the side.

  “Another one?”

  “Mhm,” Fran hummed. Saphora frowned. She would ask her what was wrong, but she knew better than to question the obvious. Especially to a drunk Fran. So she let her have her second glass of wine. And her third, as she tried to ask her more questions about the dragon – about Arol.

  But with Fran a glass away from falling asleep on the table, she was hardly any help in answering any of Saphora’s questions. And if she were able to, she would have snuck out to the zoo to see Arol. But with Fran drunk, she felt obligated to stay home and take care of her while she was indisposed. She always had. She made sure she went the whole night safe and sound. Even though Fran just usually crashed in a heap on her bed for the entire night, Saphora liked to make sure herself. And that usually meant not getting much sleep.