The Split Skies (The Possessor Wars, Book 4): The Possessor Wars, Book 4

by Chad Spencer

  “Pretty much. I’m really surprised it took them this long to name them all. It’s really weird what adults will argue about.”

  “Anyway,” Amanda continued, “the girls and the chaperones will stay in the Amsterdam’s crew cabins. The boys will stay in the main cargo hold. Since most of the adults in the colony are certified now to crew ships, the chaperones are going to be the crew. I just need one more pilot for the morning shift.”

  “Sure. I’ll do that. How long will we be gone?”

  “It’ll take a few hours to get there, plus three days there to explore and stuff, plus a few hours to get back. So four days all together.”

  “Hmm,” pondered Jeff. “Four days. I’ll have to check with Stacey and Sirsen Huntington first.”

  Amanda’s face darkened, so Jeff quickly added, “But now that the Living Miner is growing, I don’t see why they’d need me around. I should be able to go.” Jeff really, really hoped it was true.

  An idea suddenly occurred to Jeff. “Hey!” he exclaimed. “If the colonial government has finally named all the planets in this system, does that mean they changed the names of Akio and Harriet?”

  Amanda shook her head. “No, they kept those names. Since we’re following Federated Alliance law, you have naming rights on those two planets. I got to name the one that I landed on. I called it Grace. That was my mother’s name.”

  Jeff saw Amanda visibly wilt. ‘Her family died on that planet,’ he recalled. ‘Of course it would still hurt.’ He put his arm around her and pulled her close. Laying her head on his shoulder, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

  “My mom died too,” he whispered, “back on Luna, Earth’s moon. I didn’t lose as many people as you, but I understand a little of what it feels like.” He could feel her tears trickling down his neck where her face was pressed against it.

  “I’m ok,” she said, apparently trying to convince herself it was true. “Most days I’m ok. Sometimes … sometimes it’s so hard.”

  Stroking her hair, Jeff gently consoled, “I know. For a long, long time, it feels like an iron fist is squeezing your heart. But it really does get better after a while.”

  “I’m glad I have you and your sisters.”

  “You should try to make more friends than just us.”

  “I suppose,” she agreed. “But it’s hard. We’re different. No one knows it but us. But it makes it hard to get close to people that aren’t like us. I always feel like such an outsider. Sometimes I feel like there’s an invisible wall between me and everyone else around me.”

  “No,” asserted Jeff. “There’s not. Yes, we’re different. But we shouldn’t let that keep us apart from everyone else. I’m really trying hard, Amanda. I’m making good progress with getting along with Porsche and Dirk. And I’ve made friends with lots of people on the Living Miner project. You can make friends with people too. There’s no reason for you to feel alone.”

  She raised her head and gazed up at him through tear-filled eyes. “What about us, Jeff?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Those two planets you named, Akio and Harriet.”

  “Yeah?”

  “You said you named Harriet after a girl you knew; the one whose picture is in the pocket watch you carry. She wasn’t just a friend, Jeff. I know it, so don’t try to tell me she’s just a friend.”

  “Amanda, Harriet is probably 10,000 light years from here. By now, she’s in her thirties. She and Akio went through a war. But by now Harriet’s probably married to someone and has kids. She probably even thinks I’m dead. She’s … she’s in the past, Amanda. You and I are right here right now.”

  “What about the future, Jeff? Do we have a future together?”

  “I … I don’t know, Amanda. I’m only 17. You just turned 18. I really like you. I like you a lot. But I don’t know if I’m ready to talk about marriage. I know everyone’s getting married young here in the colony. But do we have to decide that right now?”

  “No. I guess not.”

  “Let’s just go to Ghostlight and try to spend a lot of time together. I can take a break before I start back into my cyberuniversity classes, so I won’t have anything else to get in the way.”

  Wiping her tears, Amanda managed a smile. “That sounds good,” she agreed, laying her head on his shoulder again.

  18

  Jeff’s shuttle pod skimmed low over the vast plain of ice geysers on Ghostlight. Maneuvering the pod deftly, he brought it to a landing on the top of a hill. His passengers, the graduating seniors and some of their chaperones, popped the hatch and gushed out onto the snowy blue landscape. They ooo’d and aaaah’d appropriately at the frozen wonderland. Then one of the boys made a snowball out of the flakey snow and threw it at another boy. A snowball fight quickly erupted. Even the chaperones joined in.

  Both Jeff and Amanda hesitated. After they climbed out of the pod, they stood together on the crest of the hill holding hands. ‘Not that you can really feel another person’s hand when you’re both wearing space suits,’ Jeff thought.

  The sounds of squealing and laughter from his suit’s radio echoed in Jeff’s helmet. It seemed a strange counterpoint to the unearthly silence of the airless vacuum and the stark, blue-lit, snowy landscape around them. As Jeff and Amanda watched, several of the graduates dove onto the slope of the hill and slid down to the bottom. Being relatively new to space, Jeff was always leery of doing such things. He was afraid of damaging his space suit. But he knew he didn’t have to worry. Modern space suits were easily able to stand up to that kind of horseplay.

  Unimaginably far in the distance, the dim sun shone over the horizon. ‘It really doesn’t look like a sun,’ Jeff observed. ‘It’s barely brighter than the other stars in the sky.’

  And there were lots of stars in the sky. The section of the galaxy they were in was closer to the galactic core than anywhere in human space. There were more stars and they were closer together.

  Holding Amanda’s hand, Jeff gazed up at the hard red light of a particular star that had a ring of hazy gasses surrounding it.

  The dim light from the stars above reflected over the landscape and added to the blue luminescence that came from Asiel. It gave Ghostlight an eerie glow that enhanced the otherworldly feeling of the planet they were on. Jeff could easily see how this planet got its name. The two thin rings in the sky overhead added to the netherworldly effect.

  Leaving the others, Jeff and Amanda meandered down the opposite side of the hill from the frolicking group. They stopped to watch when a massive ice geyser far in the distance sent a towering plume into the sky. The ice crystals rocketed upwards and expanded into an ever-thinning cloud, sparkling like diamonds.

  “Some of that will go into orbit and get sucked into the rings,” commented Jeff as he pointed to the twinkling mist above. “The rest falls back down as snow.”

  Still silent, Amanda squeezed his hand. A peaceful warmth spread through Jeff. He held her hand tighter. ‘I’m glad I came on this trip,’ he thought.

  Suddenly, Mamsen Avery’s voice sounded over the radio. “Amsterdam to Jeff Bowman, Amsterdam to Jeff Bowman. Come in Jeff.”

  “I’m here, Mamsen Avery. What’s up?”

  “Jeff, you’ve got to get everyone back into your shuttle pod and come to the Amsterdam immediately. The ship must return to the colony as fast as we can.”

  “What?” Jeff sent back, incredulous. “We just got here. Why do we have to leave?”

  Mamsen Avery’s voice was strained. “Jeff, I just got a message from Governor Connors. He’s ordered everyone back to the Lethbridge Drift immediately.”

  “What’s happening?” queried Jeff.

  “The Ellsworth is outside this system collecting water. They spotted a ship of unknown design coming out of hyperspace. It’s unlike anything anyone has ever seen before, and it’s headed straight into this star system.”

  “A ship?” Jeff quavered as he remembered his last contact with Eden. “A ship is really coming into
the system?”

  “Yes, Jeff. And given its radically different configuration, the Governor isn’t even sure it’s a human-made ship. We have to be ready to defend ourselves. So get everyone back here right now.”

  “Wait!” Jeff exclaimed. “That ship isn’t hostile. It’s from the Alliance. It’s supposed to be here.”

  “What are you talking about, Jeff?”

  “I’ll explain later. Just tell Governor Connors that the ship isn’t dangerous. It came … it came to get me.”

  “You knew a ship was coming?”

  “Not really, but kind of. I’ll have to explain later. Jeff out.”

  Jeff quickly announced to the group what was happening. Shocked, the graduates and chaperones almost sprinted back to the shuttle pod. Minutes later, they were airborne and on the way back to the Amsterdam. As soon as they arrived, Jeff raced for the bridge with Amanda close behind.

  “Any news?” Jeff demanded as soon as he burst onto the bridge. Mamsen Avery, at the communication officer’s station, shushed him. On the ship’s main screen was a video feed from the Ellsworth.

  “Lethbridge Drift,” said a voice that Jeff immediately recognized as Marcos Martinez, the Ellsworth’s communications officer. “Lethbridge Drift, are you getting this? Look at the size of this thing. It’s as long as a megafreighter and easily five times the width.”

  “Why doesn’t the Drift answer?” came a voice from behind Jeff. He turned to find that Sirsen Talley, one of the chaperones had followed them to the bridge.

  “They probably will,” Jeff answered in a whisper, “but the Ellsworth is outside this star system. Radio signals take about an hour each way to cross the distance. What you just heard, Sirsen Martinez said an hour ago.”

  Sirsen Martinez continued his narration of the Ellsworth’s discovery by announcing, “We scanned for life signs, but didn’t find anything at first. Trent Ward just did another scan and found that the ship’s actually full of people–more than 4,000 of them. They’re all in cryostasis. And the crew isn’t human. It’s a bunch of androids. And look at this.”

  The view zoomed in on the housing of one of the unusually plentiful gravity mirrors. There was writing.

  “That’s Japanese,” stated Sirsen Martinez. “This ship appears to have been made in the New Tokyo Shipyard. Man, look at how beat up it is. There are blaster burns on it. It looks like it’s been through some sort of battle.”

  Panning down the ship’s length, the view next focused on some long, streak-like scars. “Looks like it’s been through some asteroid clouds as well. I think this ship’s been in transit for years.”

  In the background, Jeff heard Captain Vorless say, “Try hailing them again, Sirsen Martinez.”

  “Yes, Mamsen,” Sirsen Martinez answered crisply.

  Jeff listened as the Ellsworth called out to the massive ship.

  “Why does it have so many gravity mirrors?” whispered Amanda. “No ship needs that many.”

  Staring at the strange ship, Jeff could see that she was right. But after a few moments, he had an idea.

  “I think,” he speculated, “that that ship can make its own wormhole.”

  “What?”

  “That’s the only way it could get here. There’s nothing else that all those mirrors could be for. That thing is a combination of a ship and a hypergate.”

  “That means …”

  Nodding, Jeff finished her sentence, “… that it can go anywhere in the universe. And I’ll give you one guess where it’s supposed to go.”

  Sirsen Talley, overhearing them talk, loudly broke in with, “What do you mean? Do you know something about that ship?”

  All heads on the bridge turned to stare at Jeff. Flushing red at the sudden attention, he stammered, “It … it looks like that ship is a combination of hypergate and ship. That’s why it has so many gravity mirrors. It’s just a guess, but it makes sense.”

  The adults turned again to the main viewer. A couple of them nodded, as if the idea made sense to them as well.

  Sirsen Martinez’s voice came across the communication channel again, “No response, Captain. They’re completely ignoring us and making for the star system. I’m detecting long range scans. They seem to be looking for something.”

  Realizing what they were probably looking for, Jeff asked Amanda, “Will the communications array on this ship reach out that far?”

  “Sure,” she nodded.

  Moving quickly, Jeff moved to the communication officer’s station, gently displacing Mamsen Avery. “Sorry,” he said to her, “but I’ve got to use this.”

  “Unidentified ship,” Jeff called. “This is Jeff Bowman. If you can hear me, use your scanners to follow the pulse I’m transmitting to you on channel 144.” He started a beeping pulse broadcasting on that channel. “Wake your crew from cryostasis and tell them that you’ve reached your destination.”

  The voice of Jeff’s father sounded from the radio. “Jeff! What are you doing?”

  “Where are you, Dad?”

  “I’m on the way back to the Lethbridge Drift. We just left a few hours ago for planet Akio but Darius ordered us back. What do you think you’re doing?”

  “I’m guiding them to the colony, Dad. I think I know why they’re here. I’ll explain when you get back.”

  Governor Connors came across the airwaves. “Jeff, don’t lead them back here. We need to know more about who they are and what they want before we let them near the colony.”

  “Ok, Governor,” complied Jeff. “Dad, can you meet us here and take all our passengers?”

  Kent shot back, “What are you planning, Jeff?”

  “I want you to take everyone but Amanda and I aboard the Porsche’s Haven. The two of us are going out to meet that ship.”

  “Jeff …” Kent began.

  But Jeff cut him off, “Dad, I need you to trust me. Please. That ship is here for a reason and I have a pretty good idea what that reason is.”

  There was silence for a moment. All the adults on the bridge of the Amsterdam stared at Jeff. He began to sweat.

  “Ok, Jeff,” acquiesced Kent. “I’m transmitting a rendezvous point.

  “Plot a course to the rendezvous point,” Jeff directed Lilia Holloway, who was manning the Amsterdam’s helm. “As soon as we dock, get everyone off this ship.” To Amanda he suggested, “I think we need to talk privately.”

  Wide-eyed, she nodded, “I think we do.” Together, they quickly exited the bridge and went to her quarters.

  As soon as they entered, Amanda demanded, “You knew a ship was coming?”

  “Yeah, Eden told me. She told Danae too.”

  “Why didn’t she tell me? Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I didn’t believe her. I never thought Eden could be right about a ship getting here. I mean, who ever heard of a ship that can make its own wormholes?”

  “Well, somebody has because there’s a great big one coming right at us!” Clear frustration passed over Amanda’s face. “So what are you planning?”

  “Eden said that ship was here to take me to her. It’s looking for me. The safest thing to do is let it find me.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Gravely he stated, “We have to make sure the colony is protected. If that ship is hostile and it only wants me, then it’s best to let it have me.”

  Horrified, Amanda countered, “Jeff, you can’t do that!”

  “Yes,” he asserted, “I can and I will. You can get off this ship when we dock with the Porsche’s Haven if you want. But I have to go there and make sure everything’s ok.”

  “No, Jeff. You’re not going alone. I have korei too. If there’s going to be a fight, I need to be there with you.”

  Smiling gently and gazing into the clear blue of her eyes, Jeff said, “Thanks, Amanda. Thanks a lot.” He surprised himself by taking her in his arms and tenderly kissing her.

  Amanda held him tightly and buried her face in the front of his shirt. “Jeff, are we always going to be t
ogether?”

  With a living warmth flowing through him, Jeff softly replied, “I hope so.”

  19

  Danae stood stubbornly on the bridge of the Amsterdam with her hands balled into fists and placed firmly on her hips. The scowl on her face showed she meant business.

  “What do you mean,” demanded Kent, “that you’re going too?”

  “I have to be there with Jeff and Amanda,” she asserted with an uncharacteristic defiance.

  “Why?” quizzed Kent.

  Porsche didn’t wait for the answer. She commanded, “No, young lady, you do not have to be there with Jeff and Amanda. You have to do what you’re told.”

  “Mother,” growled Danae tightly. “Normally I do whatever you tell me. But this once, I know more about what’s going on than you do. For once in your life, you have to trust me.”

  “What do you know?” hissed Porsche. “You’re 14 years old!”

  Ignoring her mother, Danae turned to Jeff and Amanda and asserted, “It’s time to tell them.”

  Planting his palm firmly on his face, Jeff moaned, “Do we have to? Aren’t things tough enough as it is? We’re all finally getting along.”

  Kent demanded, “Tell us what? If you have something to say, Jeff, just say it.”

  Resigned to his circumstances, Jeff sighed and explained about Madison Burke, Eden, korei, and the powers that the three of them possessed. He told how his powers enabled him to survive his year alone on planet Akio, protect Denise and Danae, save Dirk’s life, and even save all of the colonists from the gravitic bombs.

  Porsche spat, “Are you NUTS? You expect us to believe a crazy story like that?”

  As much as he didn’t want to, Jeff levitated himself from the floor. Kent and Porsche stared in amazement.

  “It’s a trick,” Porsche accused.

  Jeff burst into flame. Fire roared around him, but he wasn’t burnt. Everyone but Danae and Amanda yelled and scrambled backwards.

  “Careful, Jeff,” warned Amanda calmly, “you’ll set off the fire suppression system.”