by Capri S Bard
She turned back left, past the library door and on around the hall to the great dining room. She searched about for a moment before seeing a commotion through the serving windows. She strolled closer to investigate. She poked her head through one of the open spaces at the cooks, laughing and dancing. Many were holding glasses.
“What’s all this?” she asked.
“It’s the end of the world,” someone called out with a slur of their words.
A cook raised a glass and proclaimed proudly, “Oh, the things you can make with potatoes.”
“You’re drunk, Artie,” Deni said.
“I am indeed,” the bleary-eyed man admitted plainly. “Come join us,” he motioned with his glass as he spilled much of its contents.
“Not now, I’m looking for Tala. Have you seen her?” Deni asked.
“Not tonight dear.” He laughed and took another drink before announcing, “And probably not ever again.” He danced around the room with the others who had gathered to drink away their last hours of life before the particle wave was scheduled to collide with their ship.
Deni’s blood ran cold and she shivered as she stepped back, stumbling over a chair behind her. Clamoring to her feet she said aloud, “Where would she go?”
She hesitated only a moment and then the answer was clear. She ran to the elevator and punched the ‘up’ button.
Jumping through the doors as they opened, she slammed the ‘OD’ button. She headed to the observatory deck with full confidence Tala would be there.
The doors opened and the deck was quiet. She stepped out and looked to her left and then looked to her right. She saw no one; heard no one. She was alone.
She walked forward to the tall surrounding window and looked out over the desolate emptiness of the Hoth sector.
Her eyes strolled from the top of the sections down to the quarters below where the overseers had lived. Now there were just broken pieces of what was once someone’s entire life. Someone actually lived there. Someone actually died before old age had taken them. Someone’s parents had been there one day and gone the next. These thoughts were, for the first time, running rampant through Deni’s brain.
“My Tala is somehow connected to all of this loss,” she whispered to herself. “Holy shit, what have I done?” She knew she was connected to the loss as well because she loved someone who bore this heartbreak.
Deni dropped the book she had carried from the library and put her hands on the window. She continued to scan the astonishing scene of destruction and devastation.
Tala quietly came round the bend and saw Deni. She quietly drew near to her. She too, placed her hands on the glass and leaned her forehead to face the loss.
Deni raised her head to face Tala but couldn’t find the words to tell her how she felt. It was as though every thought she’d had from the time she heard Tala was Hoth until now was swirling like a black hole; sucking everything in but not allowing anything to escape.
Tala broke the silence. With one hand she pointed downward. “Fourth row from the far left and twenty-seventh from the bottom was my grandmother thirteen generations ago. I am Goweli. I am Denizen. I am Anthro. And I am Hoth.” Tala turned to Deni as if baring her soul for the first time.
Deni reached out her hand and took Tala’s with care. With her other hand still on the window, she looked back at the Hoth sector and finally found the words she was looking for, “I’m so sorry for your loss.” As soon as she had the words out of her mouth she crumbled into tears and the lovers held each other in mutual mourning.
From every corner of the ship people were living the end of their lives.
Teltel, Merari, Benai, Rasta, and Mathis were watching videos of Chris’ diaries. They were joined by many others from the Egress.
Bug and Trina lay in Bug’s bed letting their fleshly passion overtake their fear of death.
Beau and Molly had gone to Molly’s quarters. In many areas of the ship couples had come together for many reasons; some for love, some for comfort, and some for escape.
With Beau and Molly though, their reason was simple; to do what they had never done.
Molly was Denizen and so she didn’t wear the flowing dresses of the Goweli, the stiff britches and button up shirts of the Tsila, or even the ceremonial robes of the Neph. As it had grown colder she had begun wearing blue jeans and a red hoodie; both passed down to her from her foremothers.
For Beau to keep warm he had added a bright blue mantle over his usual white tunic. The mantle draped over his left arm and came under his right. He looked more like the Neph than a Goweli.
Being the first time in Molly’s room he looked around as if interested. Seeing a desk with many papers and pens scattered he picked up a sketch.
“I didn’t know you could draw?” he said with a smile.
“I suppose there’s a great many things we don’t know about each other,” Molly said.
“I know your middle name is Irene like one of the cousins and your Father’s name is William. I know you like carrots only when they’re cooked but you like tomatoes raw.” He put the drawing back on the desk. Closing the distance between them he continued. “You only allow your mother to cut your hair instead of going to the maintenance shop like the rest of us. You wear only one earring because you secretly believe it will keep you safe and that earring belonged to your grandmother.”
Close enough to breathe the same air, he asked, “Am I right?”
“No,” Molly said hinting a smile and moving even closer without touching.
Beau raised his eyebrows and tilted his head forward as he awaited an explanation.
“The earring was my grandfather’s,” Molly said. Then like runners at the starting line, a silent pistol was shot and they raced to rip the clothes from their bodies. Falling to Molly’s bed their animal instinct drove them to ecstasy. Molly writhed in Beau’s long slender embrace until her head arched back with groans of ultimate pleasure. Beau gasped for air as his body collapsed to the bed beside her.
For several minutes they struggled to regain their steady breath.
As Molly inhaled long and let it go slowly Beau said with a laugh, “I don’t remember your grandfather wearing an earring.”
Molly laughed and rolled her body on top of his.
“I didn’t say he wore it,” she said with a laugh followed by a long kiss as their hands scanned each other’s bodies.
Regaining their breath once again the two lay prostrate as they faced each other.
Whispering, Beau asked, “So what else is on your to do list before the wave?”
Molly smiled.
“I mean I’m glad to help you with anything else, or just more of the same. I’m good with whatever you have planned,” Beau said with ease.
“How did you know all that stuff about me?” Molly whispered.
“Molly, I’ve seen you every day of our lives. I’d have to be pretty dim not to know a million things about you.”
“So what’s Trina’s middle name?” she quizzed him.
“Uh! I don’t know.”
“How about Merari?” she persisted.
Beau shrugged one shoulder.
“How about Benai?” she continued with a giggle.
“I think its Lake, no, it’s River…Oh! It’s something to do with some historical word for water,” he said with comical frustration.
Again Molly asked her question but this time it was almost a sultry whisper.
“How do you know about me?”
Beau rolled to his back and stared at the ceiling as he grew serious.
“I don’t know. I just always thought we’d end up together,” he said.
“Like this?” Molly asked.
“No, I mean…I just thought we’d…you know…be partners…you know…make a life together.”
“What? Really? You thought that?”
“Well look at our class. There’s Bug and Trina who have been together since they were little. Merari was always so bookish and serious. Mathis is Hoth and t
he youngest in our class. And Teltel is so angry and Benai is so childish it makes you wonder what he’s hiding. Then there’s Rasta. She scares me a little with her pushing ability. You know what I mean? Plus we’re the oldest.”
Molly smiled and nodded.
“So as I figure it, we’re the most normal. We have a lot in common. You know; we’re the oldest, the smartest, the most beautiful, the most sensible…” his voice trailed off in a sweet laugh.
“Us?” Molly questioned with a giggle. “Well, what else do we have in common?”
“Well for starters, this was on my ‘to do’ list too,” he said with a smile.
Molly rolled her eyes.
“Well,” he began as he pushed his blonde bangs from his eyes. “Not really on a list of any sort. I just thought it was something I’d do before…well…you know…before I die at least.”
“What else did you think you would do…you know…before?” she asked.
Beau turned his body back to face Molly but saw she gave a little shiver. He pulled a heavy blanket over them both and pushed his body closer to hers.
As they stared at each other for a moment Beau confessed, “I’ve always wanted to lie on the observatory deck and watch the stars…with…you.”
“Me?” Molly said.
“Do you think it’s silly?” asked Beau without taking his eyes from Molly.
Tilting her head slightly, she gave him a quick kiss and jumped to her feet.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, growing very self-aware.
She grabbed her clothes and dressed in haste.
“If we’re going to get to the observatory deck before…you know…before we die and all, then we should probably hurry.”
Beau jumped up with a smile and threw on his tunic and mantle. They raced from Molly’s room and ran to the elevator.
From all over the ship the captain’s voice could be heard.
“This is your Captain speaking. We have come to the hour of impact. We’ve rerouted all possible systems to help power the deflector shield so we do not have sensors running to tell us how much time we have until,” his voice broke, “until impact. From my vantage point out my portal I see nothing. Fifteen minutes until we go black as our courageous crew tries to bring up the shields.” There was a long silence before he added in a composed but shaken voice, “This is Lindle, Captain of the Egress, which carries the people of Reen and of Earth. It’s been a pleasure people.” With another pause he added faintly, “May we always fly.”
Tala and Deni held each other and wept.
The party continued in the kitchen as the alcohol flowed freely.
In the great dining hall a couple quietly discussed taking their lives.
In the area of the keepers’ class a growing group watched the stories of Chris, the Denizen.
In different quarters some chose to be alone; some read, some listened to music, some curled into a fetal position and cried themselves to sleep, and then there was Tanik.
She chose solitude in her quarters. She recited the prayers and psalms she had been taught; the same ones she had taught so faithfully. She sang the songs of what she believed to be absolute truth. She danced the stories of the past. She prayed only the approved prayers that had been passed down to her. There was never a thought in her head to do anything else.
Tala and Deni held each other until all went black.
Together they fumbled their way to the ground, held each other, cried and waited.
“Now? Really?” Tala said as she felt Deni’s fingers inching their way up her thigh.
“I’m looking for my light,” Deni said as she frisked Tala’s hips.
“Click,” went the sound of the light turning on.
“I already had it in my hands,” Tala said.
“Is anybody there?” someone called through the darkness.
Tala shined the light toward the elevator.
“Who’s there?” Deni called out.
“It’s Beau and Molly,” Beau said. “We’re in the elevator and the door is stuck.”
Tala and Deni dashed to their rescue. Shining the light at the elevator door Deni immediately saw the problem. The door was barely ajar.
With Deni on one side and Beau on the other they tried to pull the doors open. They grunted and groaned but could only budge it a few centimeters.
“If we only had something to pry it open,” Molly called.
“Wait I think I have something,” Tala said. Deni saw that she was pointing upward.
The long overhead light was incased in metal.
“How are we going to reach that?” asked Deni.
“You forget, I am a dancer,” Tala smiled. “Just shine your light right there,” she pointed at a place between the overhead light and the interior curved wall that encircled the large elevator.
Backing up several paces, she took a running start. She sprang off the wall with one foot, which rocketed her body into the air. She caught the metal with both hands.
“Ah!” she screamed as she quickly did a pull-up then dropped her body down hard while still holding the metal. She and the metal casing came crashing down together.
At once Deni was by her side.
“Everything alright out there?” Beau called.
Deni shined the light down on her lover.
Tala held her hands out in front of her as her blood flowed freely.
“Give us a sec,” Deni yelled her answer.
Turning back to her partner she asked quickly. “My shirt or your dress?”
“Use my dress,” Tala said with a muffled moan.
Deni ripped the dress she was wearing straight down the front. Tearing two long strips she wrapped Tala’s hands quickly.
“Damn, girl. If you wanted me naked that badly you could have just asked. No need to go to all that trouble of slicing your hands open.”
Tala winced between laughs. “It is your best look.”
“There now. How does that feel?” asked Deni when she had finished with the bandages.
Tala looked at her wrapped hands and shook her head. “I’m so silly.” She looked up into Deni’s golden eyes and smiled. “Just thought I’d show off a little. Make you proud and all.”
Deni bent down and gave Tala a long slow kiss.
“We could leave them in there,” Tala said referring to Beau and Molly.
Deni giggled and kissed her again and then said, “Let me help you.”
She took Tala by the waist and pulled her a short distance so she could lean against the window of the deck.
“Beau,” Deni called awkwardly. “What are you wearing?”
“Um, my tunic and mantle,” he said. “Why?”
“Could I borrow your mantle?” she asked.
Bright blue fabric came through the tiny opening.
“Thank you,” Deni said as she threw it over her left shoulder and tucked it under her right.
Deni picked up the sturdy metal casing and slid it through the narrow opening of the elevator door.
“Just be careful. The edges are sharp,” Deni called to Beau.
Together they forced the doors open enough for Beau and Molly to escape.
Seeing the part of Tala’s ripped dress on the floor and Tala’s bandaged hands Beau simply said, “I see.”
“Thank you,” added Molly.
“What are you doing up here?” Tala asked.
“We just wanted to look at the stars,” answered Molly.
“Well that’s something you can see from up here. That’s for sure,” Tala said as she tried to get into a more comfortable position without using her hands.
Beau and Molly sat down near the window as they all let the silence take its place among them.
After a long silence Beau stared downward into the vacant Hoth sector and said, “Such loss. I suppose we’ll join them soon.”
Deni looked at Tala and patted her open hand lightly on her chest and smiled at her love, showing she had felt Beau’s words deep within her.
“The stars are up there,” she said.
Molly laid her back to the floor and gazed upward. Beau lay beside her and did the same.
“How about I read for a while,” Deni said.
“Sure,” Molly answered.
“Yes, I like the stories,” Beau said as he took Molly’s hand and looked at the stars.
Deni flopped down on her belly beside Tala and frisked her hips again.
“Back pocket,” Tala whispered.
“I was getting there,” Deni giggled in a whisper.
“Take your time,” Tala softly spoke in her ear.
Pulling the book from Tala’s back pocket she quickly kissed Tala’s neck, then leaned on her elbows and opened the book.
“Should we tell them of what we’ve already read?” asked Tala.
“How about you do that?” Deni said.
“Well, there was Emperor Tapsin who started the sparsing. You’ve heard of the sparsing right? “
“That’s what Atenilek saved Tinnen from,” Molly said.
“Head of the class that one,” Beau said with a smile.
“Sparsing meant killing and during that first sparsing there was a girl named Hrilla who helped hundreds of people escape from the absolute massacre. She led them into the place of the dead and out the other side. She got food for the Nen to help strengthen them during their trip to the surface. Now they are on the surface for the first time and Hrilla went off in the dark to find her best friend Fbathin.”
“And she’s about to ‘join paths’ with Dhobin,” Deni added.
“Deni always remembers the mushy part,” Tala teased.
“I don’t mind mushy,” Beau admitted.
Molly leaned over and kissed his cheek.
“See I don’t mind mushy at all,” he repeated with a wide grin.
Tala twisted around and leaned her head on the small of Deni’s back as she too, gazed heavenward.
2,300 BE
On the surface of the planet REEN
Dhobin stood at the edge of the crowd for a moment. He looked at the people and then into the darkness.
“Take this,” Hrilla’s mother said as she handed him a stone of light.
He dashed off into the black. Often he stopped and held the stone out in front of him to get his bearings.