by Lesa Corryn
“If I didn't, do you think Erins would have sent me with you?” She turned around and smiled up at me. Her slim face glowed more than usual with the bright red of the coil dancing across her cheeks. Her long hair was tied tight in a bun and secured underneath an engineer's cap. But a few wisps had escaped and they gleamed like strings of gold.
“Now’s not the time to play around,” I said in a half-serious tone.
“Whatever you say boss.” She turned back around and focused on the panel before her. “The coil is overheated by 50 Kelvins, it looks like cooling cell three is down.”
“Well, pull it up then, if this thing gets any hotter our job's difficulty is going to increase tenfold.”
“I didn't sign on yesterday. Just have a little faith in me.” She hunched her shoulders as she read over the panel. The smell of strawberries rose from the back of her bare neck. How cruel, I had thought, she knows this gets me every time. My mind drifted to our nights alone in the Edelweiss atrium, where she'd crawl close to me, her perfume engulfing me. Then I felt a bump as she pushed past me and ran around the coil.
“What are you doing?” I shouted. I ran after her and found her laying flat against the metal grating, opening up the cooling cell's control panel.
“The cell won't rise, the mechanism got damaged from the heat. I'm going to pull it up manually.”
My eyes grew large and soon I was racing back to the reactor's panel to look through the stats myself. The mechanisms were made from a Kryton Titanium alloy, the only way it could have been disrupted through heat was if the reactor was overheated by 80 Kelvins not 50. The temperature couldn't have risen this quickly, I thought, unless... I was supposed to be there to double check everything she did, to spot Yanda, but...
My fingers raced over the panel and found the reactor had now reached 85 Kelvins over normal, only 30 Kelvins away from a meltdown. “Shit,” I breathed. I pulled out my Companion, my fingers trembled as I pulled up Erins' line. Then a rapid clang of footsteps rang against the metal floor and I knew there was no need to call him.
“Thurman, what the hell is going on?” shouted Erins from the back of the reactor room. He was about 50 meters, but his voice echoed hard and cold against the walls.
“No time, no time,” I thought. I didn't wait to meet him or even bother to shout a reply, instead I raced back around to Yanda who cranked the cooling cell up with deep labored breaths.
“Thurman, Magname, get out now! The reactor is too hot, it's going to bust the coil, we need to shut it down and lock off this room,” shouted Erins from my Companion.
“Yanda, you heard him, let's go!”
“I've almost got it up, have some faith.” But then the coil blew, the plasma sprang forth, showering Yanda. I thrust my arm into the thick gas, seizing her small wrist and pulling her from the spray. What came out was lit bright by white hot flames, her aramid suit melted into her skin and thick clouds of smoke coiled into my nose and throat. I went to leap forward, to smother the flames and bring Yanda back, but several hands pulled me away. A thick blanket was wrapped tight around the arm that had found Yanda, choking the flames that engulfed it. Erins' voice was muffled in my ears, lost behind a loud hum buzzing around in my head. My eyes grew dark, Yanda's smile fading into the black.
Chapter 16
Fruit
“But I not think you fault,” said Flik. I'm not sure how much time had passed. Enough that the sun began to hide behind the mountaintops and paint the sky a warm lavender. Sweat collected around my wave goggles and the suction loosened. Soon night would fall and I could take off the goggles. I'm blind in the night as it is, no reason to wear the things when they aren't needed. Flik also watched the sun over the horizon, I could only imagine how much more vibrant the sunset must be for purple eyes.
“Not my fault? Even I agree with Teshe on this one.” A twitch spurred in my arm as if in retaliation, but though I hated to admit it, it was true. I didn't watch over her like I should have and her death, her death was on my hands.
“Why? You trust one you love, why that make you murderer?” I turned towards him, his eyes still on the violet sun. I had no words for him.
“Teshe trust Gin care for child. She not take care and I not do well protect. Is Teshe then murderer? I who fight to protect you and Lieutenant, fail to protect other. I murderer?”
“I, I don't know,” I replied. Flik always appeared the child amongst the crew. So small compared to the rest of us, he could have passed as a new cadet. But now, his face brown from the sun, his golden locks matted down by mud and sweat, and his eyes focused on the distance. I felt like the child.
“No do I. I think I murder baby. You tell me no true. Teshe tell you, you murder. I say no true. Who right, I not know.” Flik closed his eyes and raised his face to the warm glow. I too closed my eyes. I heard the sound of large furred feet padding the ground. The laughter of children. The creaks of the porch planks. I smelled the scent of the fruit cart's wares. The fragrant sweet nectar of the wildflowers along the road. The thick cloud of dust kicked up by passersby. The world kept moving even while I flew away.
“I do know,” said Flik, “You love Yanda. I know Teshe love Gin. I know Lieutenant want protect us all. I know I did not want baby to die. Is it enough?”
A woman passed by, a basket of strawberries, I could smell them, I could hear her light steps. “Maybe it is,” I said, opening my eyes.
“Maybe.” Flik turned to me, his eyes open, a smile on his face. It was a fragile smile but still a smile. Some time passed and we watched as the carts closed up and parents rounded up their children for evening meals.
“Flik, may I ask you something?”
“Course, Jek.”
“I saw you holding something before I came over. You looked kind of intense. What was it?”
He paused and looked at the ground. I expected a look of frustration over my prodding or anger about being bothered over such thing, instead his face twisted in confusion and his eyes searched the dirt beneath his feet.
“Well, I ask you question then.” He turned and retrieved his objects from behind a burlap bag.
“Okay,” I said, not sure what to expect.
“First, set goggles to 50%.” He had his back to me, hunched over his secret, his face looking at me from behind his shoulder.
“What? Why?”
“Please Jek.”
“Fine.” I did as he said. I placed my goggles back on and set them to Flik's specifications. Once he seemed satisfied, he turned with a fruit in each hand.
“Tell me what fruit is.” He raised the fruit close to my face, urging me on. Taking each one from him, I tried my best to recall botany class.
“Well they both have a thick, bumpy skin. They are about the size of a human fist. And they have this star shaped leaf at the top. I guess since the skins are a pale green it is a Baabaya fruit. Native to violet planets, right?”
“Yes, Baabaya on violet planets. My planet, Baabaya common part of meal. But also Shaanya.”
“Uh, Shaanya was,” I said, “don't tell me I know this.”
“Shaanya is Baabaya but not ripe.”
“I said don't tell me,” I muttered. I looked down at the fruit again. What was his point?
“So, are they Baabaya or Shaanya?” I asked passing the fruit back to Flik.
“Baabaya very sweet fruit. Usually bright green.”
“I just figured these were not as ripe,” I replied, gazing at the fruit.
“Shaanya very sour fruit,” he continued, ignoring me completely. “It hard get because short period before ripe to Baabaya. It pale yellow. That how tell Baabaya still Shaanya.”
“So they were Shaanya.”
“No.”
“Flik, I'm tired of this game.”
“Turn goggles back to full.” I turned them back and the landscape lightened up. I hadn't noticed the change before. But now, the change made me blink a few times just to adjust. “Look at fruit,” he said. I did. These were
not the same fruit. One had a pale yellow skin, the other a bright green. The goggle's adjustment affected how I saw color. It regulated how much the goggles converted the violet to a spectrum I could see, I just didn't know it could be this drastic.
“One is Shaanya, one is Baabaya,” I said. “But what's the point. You knew that.”
“Yes, I knew. Seller did not.”
“What?” Flik slid the fruit behind him again as I stared at him through the thick goggles. He was grasping at something, but I could not tell what.
“Seller not see where I grab from. I first buy Baabaya. He say I buy fruit that is not ripe yet, which is Shaanya, and he charge me more. I come later. Buy Shaanya. Again he not sure. He worry when see me again. He say I buy another not ripe fruit. I say yes. He looked pleased. He nervous. He cannot see violet light as good.”
“So maybe he has bad eyes. Maybe he did not understand the difference between the two fruit. Maybe he didn't understand you, they don't know Galactic and you barely know Bendalurian.”
“I think all these things. But too nervous. Something wrong. Teshe know. That I know.” He looked at the house where the others waited for us. The fragile smile broke.
“What do you mean?”
“Teshe talk like he hide something. Not hurt us I think, but he still not certain. I not know what is, but he know something. He live here three days, he must know something.” That reminded me, I still didn't know about how Teshe came here. Where were the others in his evac pod?
“How did Teshe come here?”
“Evac fall not far. Crash in many trees. Two die on impact. One he save. But he die later by spider. Teshe saved by those here.”
“They weren't frightened by our technology. Surely Teshe and the other had blasters on them.”
“Teshe say they not scared. Teshe say they take in and ask he help heal. No healer in town. Their technology low, but enough to help Teshe heal many. Even fix Lieutenant leg and mend shoulder. She still no walk good, but she no need stick.”
“How'd he know to find us?” I edged closer and closer to Flik. I didn't realize how much I was in the dark. Yanda wasn't the only thing Teshe had to share on their way over. Something was wrong with this village, with that crack in the perfect wall.
“Spiders come through town. Much fear but they know how protect. Spiders not like fire. They wave torch and spiders go. Teshe only follow to study. Follow spider trail much later. That when find us.”
“Oh,” I said. I still didn't feel I had my answer yet. It lied somewhere in Flik's story. I just didn't know where.
“The Bunchankar greet us. Name I do not know. Just title of head elder. He shadowed. He hide something. Lieutenant knows. She not like Bunchankar. She not liked. They raise hair when she near. They speak little when she around.”
“She can speak their tongue.”
“I think too. I not know what say, but they say secrets.”
“We need to talk to Teshe and Allouette.” I said rising from the porch, dust pillowing beneath my feet.
“Lieutenant,” said Flik, irritated. But he followed, rising with his fruit tucked in a burlap sack. They held the secret, Teshe held the secret, Allouette held the secret, and behind the crack the truth lied.
Chapter 17
Smile
The large house of the Bunchankar rested dark and sober against the rising purple light of the coming night. One light flickered in a second floor window. A shadow moved across the window haloed by the candle in his hand. His was not the only shadow. Others floated past on the floor above. No candles lit their way, just darkness. Their impression was so faint, only visible when the moonlight caught the sharp curve of their cheeks or the glint of their polished fangs. Almost like ghosts, they hovered back and forth, hiding from the light.
“What's on the third floor?” I asked. We were approaching the doorway. The desk attendant appeared to have gone home for the night.
“Don't know, not allowed.” Flik made his way to climb the stairs, but I grabbed his arm, my ears perked by hushed voices.
“Someone is talking up there.”
“No offense Jek, but no kidding, yah? You think they no speak just because tragedy.” He continued to go up despite my grip, but I strained my arm so my grip stiffened and became immobile. Flik tried to pull harder, but could not break my frozen fingers. “That cheating, Jek,” said Flik, his brow furrowed.
“If I have to live with this damn arm, I might as well make the most of it.”
“Now stuck like this long time,” growled Flik as he backed down the stairs.
“It will only take a few minutes, I'm starting to get the hang of freezing it and, well I guess, thawing it out,” I said. “Now look, I just want to hear what's being said. Teshe never talks when I'm around. The bastard hates me for one reason or another. Maybe we can get some information from him this way.”
“Not right.”
“Don't care, now can you promise me you'll be quiet?”
“Fine. Only because you right. Teshe hate you.”
“Yeah thanks.” We headed up the steps, keeping our climb as quiet as possible on the creaking floor boards. The voices were hushed. We needed to get pretty close to hear what exactly was being said. We reached the landing, the small hallway dark as the night. Only a dart of light from the open doorway pierced the black shadows. We kept to the wall and edged our way to the opening. Inside Allouette rested on a battered sofa, while Teshe sat in a chair by Gin's bed.
“What were you thinking?” said Teshe in his usual monotone voice.
“I was thinking that you must be somewhere on this planet, I knew you couldn't die, that you wouldn't die.” Gin's voice sounded bright and the glow of the candle made her cheeks rosy.
“And what of the baby, did your mind never think of that?” The words came out gruffer than I've heard from Teshe, even during our many fights. But still, to a passerby, it would have been unnoticeable.
“The baby was only a means for us to be together, why think so much about it?” Gin smiled and rose up in her bed. She grabbed his hand, while his other supported his forehead. He stared at the ground, his eyes studying the dust along the boards. Gin studied him, but failed to see Teshe. “We can always have another.” Her smile grew.
“Foolish woman,” exclaimed Teshe. He ripped his hand from her grip and rose from the chair, pushing it back, banging on the floor. Allouette flinched but continued to fain sleep. “That was a human life. A living creature, but you treat it like some sort of ticket to Hera.”
“Well it wasn't my ticket,” snapped Gin. “I had the spot on Hera remember. I was the personal liaison to the Allouette Pierce,” again Allouette flinched, “you, you were just a med tech at an Academy. What's the worse you ever had to deal with, an upset stomach, a broken nose after a fight in the mess hall. I've planned battles, I've choreographed deadly maneuvers, I've earned my medal. You've applied band aids.”
Teshe raised his hand, ready to strike Gin across the cheek. Flik made to rise, but I pushed him back against the wall. My eyes jumped to Allouette. She too looked ready to pounce, but her body relaxed. We both knew. I may not like Teshe, but even in our fights he never took a single swing at me. He wouldn't hit Gin. He couldn't even if he wanted to.
“How dare you,” growled Teshe. “You think that's all I ever dealt with.”
“Well, of course there was the L-47 incident,” said Gin. She sank down into her bed, her voice lowering, her eyes glazed over, looking away from Teshe and at the wall. “You did have to do that.”
“Is that so, is that what made it all worth while to you. To get pregnant and to persuade them to let me on Hera?” Teshe's voice was rough, my ears strained to hear it.
“No,” exclaimed Gin, “I've always loved you. You were tender with me. That time I got roughed up during melee training. Your hands were so smooth and caring.” My face grew red and I fought the urge to gag. Flik must have sensed it, a sharp jab of pain shot through my ribs, forcing me to hold back.
“You were so calm. You kept me sane during those long nights of studying old battle plans. I loved you even then.” Gin turned to Teshe, the candle lighting the streams pouring down her cheek and on to her quilted blanket.
“Then how could you disrespect our child like that. You threw its life away, nearly throwing yours along with it.” Teshe turned his back on Gin, his eyes sweeping past the door. Flik and I pressed against the wall as hard as we could. If Teshe saw us, he chose not to do anything about it. “That was a life. I vowed to respect all life and to fight for every life that came before my hands.” He paused. Allouette shook on the sofa. His eyes rested on her, but he continued. “I felt him in your stomach. My hand felt him move, felt him breathe. A life I created. It wasn't supposed to be another one I destroyed.”
“You didn't kill the baby,” said Gin. Her eyes large, the candle making them appear that of glass. She moved to the edge of the bed, but was still too weak to rise.
“Didn't I? It was I that you longed for, that you were more concerned with than the baby. If you had not been concerned about me...”
“If I had not loved you, the baby wouldn't have been alive in the first place. Is that your next thought?” Gin shouted. Her face was growing red and her words broken by heavy breaths. “If we had never been together in the first place, then the baby wouldn't have been born just to die.”
Teshe stood silent, Allouette stopped shaking, and the shadows above stepped softly before their dark windows.
“You need to let these things go. People die and it isn’t your fault. The baby was my fault, you hear me. The soldiers from the L-47 incident, they died because of the creatures that shot us down. It was their fault. That girl, she was dead before she even got to your table. That was no one's fault.”
That girl, I wondered.
“She was not dead.” Teshe's voice dropped and he grew small, hunching over, the candle's light failing to break the shadow in his face. “Her heartbeat was faint, but still there. Her skin burnt until she was nearly unrecognizable, but her eyes still glowed. They still teared. She wasn't dead. She even spoke to me.”