by Mara Amberly
Elder Surayko spoke firmly. “I have examined the statement of events that occurred beneath the mountain dubbed Draconis, and it is acknowledged that Pandora claims to possess the knowledge and memories of those who came before.”
The other council members watched on silently and many turned to look Pandora’s way.
“That’s correct,” Pandora confirmed in a soft but matter-of-fact tone. “The metal dust in the box contained nanites and these were the cause of the changes in me. I believe I was intended to find and guard the box, and that this was a task entrusted to Elder Emily’s family line. While I believe I may not be a blood relation, this task was passed to me.”
The Elder’s eyebrows rose in curiousity. “Who passed you this task? It can’t have been your mother.”
Pandora looked around and she was certain no one would believe her. They’re going to think I’m crazy and probably ignore my whole argument, but they can’t afford to, can they?
“Elder Emily did this herself.”
One of the other Elders, a man name Renin, interrupted her before she could explain further. “That’s rubbish. Elder Emily is dead. She was dead before Pandora was even born. Are you saying Elder Emily is still alive?”
Elder Surayko glanced Pandora’s way, seemingly finding it a valid question.
“She came to me in dreams,” Pandora explained. “I know it doesn’t sound real, but she guided me to the locket with the key... that opened the box. She told me that her family had been charged with the task of guarding the box, and that it was their destiny, but they had died before it could be fulfilled. She chose to pass the task on to me. The family’s purpose had to be fulfilled.”
There was talk among the other council members and Pandora heard Renin mutter, “Just a dream.” Another voice called out, “The girl obviously doesn’t know dreams from reality.”
Elder Surayko raised her hand, silencing the discussion. “I don’t think we’re in a position to defend dreams or not here. Please, tell us what you remember and what you know of the time before. That is what we’re all here for and what we want to know, Pandora.”
Once again, the room fell into silence. Pandora fidgeted as she tried to find the best way to explain the depth of so much knowledge, and find key information among what felt like a massive reservoir. “There’s a lot to explain, Revered Elders.”
She looked at those gathered, trying to view them as benevolent men and women. People just like her; only now they served on the council.
“The cataclysm that claimed so many lives was caused by hatred between the people of Alverron. As technology advanced, wisdom didn’t advance to match it. Weapons used by multiple sides caused damage to the land and its atmosphere that couldn’t be corrected in any timely way. Most of the people on our world left it in three waves – each to different parallel worlds that hadn’t suffered the damage of this one. Some of the population wanted to stay here and try to rebuild our world over successive generations. The domes were constructed, even as the atmosphere grew in toxicity from the damage irrevocably done. Those who ordered the use of the weapons, those who delivered them, and some of the scientists involved in their construction were left on the planet unprotected from the atmosphere. That was where they died.”
Elder Surayko was clearly thinking over Pandora’s words. “You mentioned you had knowledge and memories of what occurred. Are these memories? If so, whose memories are they?”
Pandora thought on that for a moment. It was harder to answer than giving a name. “It’s gathered from a collection of memories, in combination with written historical records. I can give you the names of those people who were central to the cataclysm, and who had their memories scanned, if you would like me to compile a list.”
The Elder smiled. “I think I’ll have you do that in time. Please continue for now.”
Pandora tried to pick up where she left off. “The memories and knowledge were left beneath the mountain, which is in fact quite a bit more than that. You will find the arch at the mountain’s entrance isn’t just decorative, and the metal supports aren’t just for reinforcement. It and the red quartz-infused soil were designed to enhance the abilities of those who can open doorways – portals,” she said, looking around. “It was one of the locations where our people departed Alverron. There are three archways on the continent, all in different places. I can pinpoint the others on a map for you. Before our people left, and before the domes were sealed for the last time, the box was left for us to find, as they knew one day it would be.”
She knew some members of the council doubted her, but discussion of the arch and those with the ability to open portals had caught their attention, because they knew those things existed.
“Before I tell the council more, I have a request. Please forgive my asking, but I’m certain of it now. Can you please tell me what became of my sister Lucy, who was also rescued as a child?” Pandora had the council’s full and undivided attention.
“I don’t know anything about a sister,” she heard one voice say.
Elder Surayko glanced around and one of the other Elders stood up. It was Elder Calina who spoke, who was among the youngest of the councillors. “A second child was brought in the same time as Pandora and we’re sorry to say the child didn’t live. We thought it would be kinder not to say anything. I’m not sure how you learned of her but all we knew of the girl was her name from a bracelet on her wrist. It was engraved with the name, ‘Lucy’.”
Tears formed in Pandora’s eyes. She didn’t want to believe what the Elder was telling her, especially as they’d kept so many secrets from her, but she knew it was the truth.
“Are you sure?” she asked helplessly, and the Elder nodded.
“I’m sorry. She reached us too late.”
Pandora suspected that Lucy might have been Emily’s true granddaughter, but she didn’t know.
The Elder seemed a caring woman who didn’t like leaving Pandora upset. “I believe the bracelet would still be in the hospital’s storeroom. I will have it sent to you, as I should’ve done long ago.”
Pandora gazed down at the floor, then back up at the Elder. “Thank you.”
As she turned back to Elder Surayko, she was urged to continue.
Pandora spoke up, her voice more emotional than it had been before. “Your outsiders are almost certainly descended from the people of the settlements. The world outside is recovering on its own and plants are beginning to grow in non-terraformed areas. The outsiders are likely better adjusted to it because they’ve been out there for longer than most people from the settlements, but in time the majority of our people would begin to adjust too. If we are to help the world recover, we should work with the natural environment rather than terraforming over its attempts to heal itself. This has been a long time coming and it will take more time. Our best chance is if this knowledge is out in the open, and we can work together to make it happen.”
Elder Surayko smiled. “We’ve already determined as much and we think it’s about time we shared the good news with the people of the settlements. It’s time to bring back some hope.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Visited Dimension;
Local Road – 3:48 p.m.
The sun shone down on Nessa and James as they walked up the road toward the city. If this was James’s world, they would find it to be Derin, and hopefully James’s son staying with his mother.
“Evan might’ve stayed at home, so I’m going to start by checking my house since it’s closer.”
Nessa nodded in agreement; it sounded like a good plan to her. She’d followed her previous method of marking trees with chalk and the occasional ribbon. “What’s her name? Your ex-wife?” Nessa’s expression looked a bit sheepish, asking such a bold question.
“Lauren,” he said, appearing just a bit deflated.
Nessa squeezed his hand reassuringly. “Not everything in this world goes to plan but she gave you a wonderful son. Life has many opportunities for you yet
, and for me too.” The smile she gave him reassured him, but she also sought to give him hope. Whether this was his world or not, there were countless possibilities out there for him yet.
“That definitely looks like the same castle of Derin,” she said, noticing more details as they got closer to it. “I hope this wasn’t the world where we got shot.”
James winced. “I hope not. I’m not ruling it out but my instincts tell me it isn’t.”
Nessa looked around cautiously anyway. “Maybe we should’ve brought some axes or something?” she asked, noticing a grin from the former guard.
“You’re funny. We’ll just have to see for ourselves where we are.”
She hurried to keep up with him and they made it through the city gate without any sign of trouble. The streets looked familiar – both from her visit to James’s world and from the other world that was so much like his, only with an accompanying James of its own. By this point her feet were getting very sore. James must’ve been hurting from all the walking.
“There it is. My house,” he said in awe.
They walked up to the building’s front door. It looked just the same as his home that she’d seen before on the wrong world, and she prepared herself for possible trouble. James may not have been prepared to return home that morning, but he had his key on him. He tried it in the lock and it worked. Nessa hung back outside the house for a moment, then peered in through the doorway.
“You can come in. There’s no one here,” he said, a tone of excitement in his voice.
Nessa made her way inside and closed the door around behind her.
The house reminded her of a cabin – it was constructed of polished timber, and it carried the scent of wood. James’s home wasn’t lavish by any means, but it was straightforward, comfortable and warm, just like he was.
“These plates haven’t been touched in a few days,” he said. “They could be mine, unless there were multiple worlds where I got caught in the portal.”
Nessa looked unsure but hopeful about this world.
There were photographs on the mantelpiece, including ones of James and his son. There were no pictures of his former wife, and there was little sign of her influence remaining in the cabin.
“Is there any sign your son’s been here?” she asked.
James looked around, noticing details that she might have missed. “He was here but his belongings are packed. There’s a bag he had – a rucksack, and it’s gone. This is about the best thing we could’ve hoped to find. It raises the chances.”
They left the house, curious to see what else they might find. Once the door was locked, James led the way toward Lauren’s home. It took a full twenty minutes to get there, all the while Nessa was fearing the things that might go wrong – from the portal closing or guards riding through it at full gallop, to discovering this was the world where James’s counterpart had shot him and herself.
James eventually smiled and stopped beside a high wall. “The house is just up the lane. Maybe you ought to wait at the corner? It’s better if I don’t have to explain who you are to her. Lauren might not understand.”
Nessa nodded nonchalantly. “It’s alright. I’ll wait here.”
She stood with her back against the rock wall and kept watch while James went to talk with his ex-wife. It gave her added reason to study the house too.
James was gone for around twenty-five minutes, but that time felt much longer to Nessa. She was only too grateful for a chance to make up for her damage to James’s life, but now that he might have permanently found his way home, she couldn’t stop thinking about how it would be without him. She didn’t want to be in a different parallel world where he wasn’t. She wanted to see him again. She just wasn’t sure how that could possibly work when he had a son here and a life working for the city guard, and she had her life with Katy back home, such as it was. While her life back there wasn’t much to speak of, it was nevertheless her own and she didn’t think she’d fit in here. She was used to her usual way of life, and Katy was her remaining family. It gave her a lot to think about.
If only I could travel between these places whenever I want to.
She knew it might be possible, but until she had that power, she had to face the likelihood of being separated from James.
He soon came into sight, walking back with Evan. He was smiling before he reached her.
“It’s the right world, Nessa. I’d been reported missing but they didn’t know where I’d got to. Evan even has the cut on his arm he got not long before I left. It’s almost healed now. That means I have to be from here, doesn’t it?”
Nessa smiled. “I think that’s what it means. I think this is it, James.”
Evan grinned and James nudged him to speak.
“We’re coming back with you. Mother too. Father’s going to set up as a private investigator,” he said.
“Lauren and I aren’t together anymore,” James clarified, “but she has little fondness for this place. She’s ill and has been for a long time, and I’ve told her your hospital might be able to help her. I doubt our money’s good there but I have a quantity of gold saved. We would like to give it a go, and once we’re settled, I would like to court you, Nessa.”
Nessa’s eyes widened and she gave James a smile. Court? The truth was she wanted the chance to date him, but his family situation had seemed complicated. Maybe they could figure things out.
“Are you actually divorced? I never quite asked you because it didn’t seem like something you’d want to talk about.” Nessa felt like she’d raised a forbidden subject, but if he hoped to court her or date her, she had to know where she stood.
“We divorced a year ago. It felt mainly one-sided at the time – she didn’t give me a lot of choice about it – but I am free to court whoever I want.”
The smile James gave her reassured Nessa and she felt a surge of butterflies in her stomach.
“That happens to be you. That’s if you’ll let me,” he said.
“You should get settled in first, but I would like that James.” Nessa’s smile was brimming with warmth and happiness. She wanted to kiss him, but she felt there were things that had to happen first before they became closer, so she held his hand. She was radiantly happy and grateful beyond words that they wouldn’t be parted forever. This was more than she could’ve hoped for. It was the kind of future she genuinely wanted.
I’ve wondered before whether I might have a soul mate out there somewhere in the world. I wonder if I never found him because he was in another, parallel world. That would be kind of ironic, wouldn’t it? It made her wonder if there was another James in her world too, but one was enough to keep up with.
“Come on, I want you to meet Lauren now.” He guided her in the direction of the house, with Evan in tow.
“I thought she might not understand?” Nessa asked, wondering what Lauren would be like.
“She’s prepared now and she’s eager to meet you. It seems I didn’t have anything to worry about after all, and neither do you.”
As Nessa approached the front door, an older woman with long blonde hair stepped out into the sunshine. And so it was that Nessa met Lauren for the first time. It wouldn’t be the last.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Pandora's Home Dimension;
Terania Settlement, Alverron – 4:42 a.m.
Pandora sat on the wall of the park, gazing out through the crystal-clear dome as the sun rose over the red mountains in the distance. The stones of her ring caught the morning light, and she could feel the cool metal of her grandmother’s necklace; right where it belonged about her neck. She’d always felt like she should be somewhere else, doing something different, but she no longer felt that way now. There was peace in its place and like the sun dawning, she too felt like she’d discovered something new about herself. It wasn’t just the changes wrought by the nanites either; it was belonging. It had always been around her but she’d never embraced it. Now she’d found her way.
S
he knew she’d always treasure Lucy’s bracelet, whether the baby that had died was her sister by blood or not. Either way, she was family, and that was enough. As light glinted off the dome, she shaded her eyes, but she enjoyed the view. The world outside was healing and so was she. It was time to help set the world back on its course and Pandora had the tools to do it. She wondered about her people, generations long distant, who had escaped through portals into parallel worlds. Did they remember who they were or where they’d come from? Would someone return one day from one of those worlds only to discover Alverron renewed? She hoped so.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Nessa's Home Dimension;
Georgia, United States – 7:20 a.m.
It was early morning when a small group of people, who were gathered in the Valley of Derin, made their way through the portal single-file. Nessa was the first to arrive back home, followed by James, Evan, and finally Lauren. The house stood as it had for as long as Nessa could remember – Katy’s home, now cast in the early morning light. It seemed she’d tidied the back garden, but the seat was still outside where James had sat the day before. There was no sign of Katy or anyone else, but it was early and Katy didn’t like mornings.
“Katy may have stayed up late waiting for us. I’d guess she’s probably asleep now. Please, come inside.” Nessa led the way up to the house, opening the door for her guests. That was when she remembered that she hadn’t closed the portal behind her.
Nessa looked at James, and with her glance toward the back garden, he knew what she wondered about.
“I need to try and close it so no one else gets in.” She knew it was something James wasn’t looking forward to, but he seemed to take it in his stride.
“Go ahead, Nessa.”