[scifan] plantation - books one to three

by Stella Samiotou Fitzsimons

  know what I’m doing anymore, but what I do know is that it ends here.

  In Sector One, I run into Finn with Ella. They are laughing and gently shoving each other. I am

  reminded of a time when that would have been me walking next to Finn. He would make fun of my

  quirky habits and encourage me to go after what I wanted. Then, he would take me in his arms and

  he’d whisper, “It will be all right, Tick. I’m here for you now and forever.”

  10

  Zoe makes a face of disgust. “This must be the worst excuse of a cake ever,” she says. “What

  did they make it with? Cardboard?”

  “It’s actually brown wheat, flax seed and quinoa flour, synthetic egg whites and probiotics

  blended with an herb juice,” Biscuit informs us from the next table.

  “Yikes,” Zoe says, “cardboard would have been better.”

  “I’ll let the cook know,” Biscuit says. Then whispering, “She is completely useless in the

  kitchen but she has a great singing voice and she’s really good at playing pool.”

  “Why don’t you give her some lessons?” Tilly says. She and Biscuit have steered clear of the

  cake and eat the banana pudding instead. By the look on their faces, it’s not that much better.

  “I don’t want to hurt her feelings,” Biscuit says. “I intervene from time to time when she’s not

  looking, adding herbs and spices, thinning or thickening consistency as needed.”

  It’s lunchtime in the dining hall but very few people have lunch here and dessert is practically

  never on the menu at this time of day. So it was kind of a surprise at first to see cake and pudding

  served but now we know that we have been served what turned out to be a failed attempt for the usual

  dinner dessert.

  “Nothing goes to waste here,” I remind Zoe. It was one of the first things that we realized when

  we saw how much space and effort was dedicated to recycling and repairing. Which makes sense as

  they don’t get the chance to replenish provisions and stock all that often. The aliens allow them to

  visit Earth in search of useful materials and food only once a year.

  “That’s not a bad thing,” I say. “And we’re not exactly used to luxury either.”

  “Cake isn’t luxury, cake is necessity,” Biscuit says.

  “This cake makes the bathroom a necessity,” Zoe quips.

  “Zoe!” we all say.

  She grins at us while I notice the clock on the wall behind her. Then I reach inside my pocket to

  touch the receptor.

  “Hey, have you talked to Damian yet?” Zoe asks.

  I clear my throat of an imaginary cough. “I did,” I say. “Yesterday.”

  “So how did it go?”

  “I’m not sure. He promised he’d make an effort to be more careful on the condition that Tobi and

  I stay out of his way. But who knows what he will decide tomorrow.”

  Zoe drops her spoon on the plate. “I’m sorry,” she says. “I know it must be difficult. You’ve

  never really told me what happened between the two of you. All I know is that there is a baby. Don’t

  even get me started on what a bomb that news was for the Saviors. Nobody could talk about anything

  else for weeks. Questions were flying around like bloodthirsty mosquitoes.”

  “Nobody asked me anything.”

  “No, how could they? With all that happened, with Damian being so…”

  “Weird?”

  “Distant. Well, I’m asking you now. How did it all start?”

  “It was just that one time and there’s really not much to say beyond that,” I say but then our

  touchpads start buzzing.

  “That’s strange,” Zoe says. “I’m wanted on Main Command Deck.”

  “So am I,” I say. I steal a glance at Biscuit and Tilly. They are happily lost in their conversation.

  They haven’t been called.

  Zoe and I take our trays back to the counter and then jump on a motorized cart to get to Sector

  Three. Zoe insists on driving. She always does and I let her because she has discovered a true

  passion for driving.

  “I have a confession to make,” she says.

  “What kind of confession?”

  “I’m going to ask Joshua out on a date.”

  I must be hearing things. “Joshua? On a date?” I repeat her words back at her.

  “Yes. Why do you sound so shocked?”

  “He’s like forty years old,” I tease her.

  “No, he’s not!” she protests. “He’s twenty-nine. I know I’m only nineteen and have zero

  experience but he’s the only guy I ever liked.”

  She is right. Joshua would be a catch for any woman in this enclosed community. He’s

  handsome, polite, sensitive and confident. Which makes it practically incomprehensible that he’s

  single still. Maybe it was meant to be for Zoe and him.

  “Well, I wish you both the best,” I say. “He’d be the lucky one, by the way.”

  “I just feel I haven’t lived at all. Look at you, you’re one year younger and you already have a

  child, you have been pursued by two men and you have magic powers. I feel like I need to up my

  game and live a little.”

  “You don’t have to explain yourself to me, Zoe. Just know that I’d gladly change places with

  you. My life hasn’t exactly been blissful,” I say as we reach Command Deck.

  When we step on the deck, we know something serious is going on. Commander Eldritch is there

  on his wheelchair looking rather stern with his gray hair and official uniform which he saves for

  public speeches and presentations.

  There’s also Joshua, his second-in-command; Ella who handles communication systems; Wade,

  the young pilot who’s in charge of Flight Deck on Exodus L21 and Lainey, the community’s

  coordinator. Rumors say that Lainey and Commander Eldritch are lovers even though she’s a good

  thirty years younger than him. I think they are just rumors. I’ve never noticed anything special going on between the two of them. One thing’s for sure, Lainey doesn’t seem to get along with anyone other

  than the commander.

  There’s also Finn, Theo, Doc and Damian on Deck – the oldest six, as we call ourselves.

  The walls of the circular room are covered with screens of all sizes. This is the Command

  Deck. The screens monitor outside activity, some providing digital analyses, others connecting to

  servers that provide all kinds of tools for the Main Command of Exodus L21. The console in the

  center of the deck has so many switches and lights on it that I find it unlikely anyone could know what to do with them. Yet, there he is, the commander himself, the man who makes sure nothing goes wrong

  on the space island he’s running.

  “Good, you’re here,” Joshua says and points to a couple of empty seats at the table.

  “Now that we’re all here, can you tell us what this is all about?” Finn says.

  “We’ve received a message,” Commander Eldritch’s voice booms in the enclosed space. “We’d

  like you to watch it with us.”

  “What kind of message?” I say but the commander brings his index finger to his lips to shut me

  up.

  Wade turns off the lights and a hologram forms on the console. At first it’s blurry but gradually it

  turns into a clear, transparent image.

  My skin crawls and my heart beats like a heavy, wet drum at the sight of the shriveled up, gray—

  skinned tormentor of my early youth. I remember him pretty well. He’s an alien and he’s a director on

  Plantation-8. His voice sounds like nails on a blackbo
ard when he starts talking.

  The time has come to reach a final understanding with the human girl. No second chances

  will be offered. There will be no more waiting for us. This is an ultimatum for you. We know who

  you are. You call yourself Freya. We know where you are. On Exodus L21. We know everything

  about you and those that protect you. But nobody can protect you or them now. Come to

  Plantation-8 within five days or everybody in the plantation will die. Including this one.

  The hologram changes size and consistency to include a panning view of Plantation-8. Then the

  camera zooms in to bring into view a single person. It is the emaciated face of what seems to be a

  young man in his early twenties. He looks hungry and unhealthy but not tortured or injured. Maybe he

  was tortured in the past because his brown eyes are full of gut-wrenching fear. Then the camera

  zooms out again to reveal the entire plantation, booby-trapped with heavy explosives in the most

  prominent spots. The hologram returns to its original image. The face of the alien looks straight into the camera.

  I have been informed that this human boy used to be your brother. He was brought in from

  the mines. He will die along with every single child on Plantation-8 if we don’t get a response. The whole plantation will be blown to pieces. Think about it carefully, human girl. If those children

  die, it will be your choice. Surrender to us and you will be treated kindly. Defy us and you will be put in chains. It is of no consequence to us either way.

  The hologram shuts down with a flash and we’re left in a dark room. I count backwards starting

  from ten. When I reach three, someone turns the lights back on. I should say something now but I can’t think of anything. Whether we intended to or not, we have brought war to our hosts’ doorstep.

  I slowly scan those around me and catch Commander Eldritch’s inquisitive eyes fixed on me. I

  try to meet his gaze steadily but I soon feel the urge to lower my eyes and stare at the carpet instead.

  “Look at me, child,” he says and his booming voice creates a lingering echo in the room. “Why

  do they want you? What have you done to them?”

  “We’ve been betrayed,” Finn whispers.

  I look at Finn with pleading eyes.

  “I think I know what this is about,” Joshua offers right as I’m about to open my mouth.

  “You?” Commander Eldritch says raising his eyebrows.

  “I should have informed you. The blame is on me,” Joshua says.

  “Speak up then!” the commander says.

  I have no idea what Joshua is thinking. How could this be his fault?

  “Right before we brought the twelve fugitives to Exodus L21, Freya and Finn went on a mission.

  They freed Damian who was a captive in Plantation-15,” Joshua says.

  The commander remains silent. When he starts talking, his voice isn’t booming anymore. It’s

  calm and thoughtful and directed at me.

  “Weeks ago,” he says, “my intelligence team reported that they read a message that was

  transferred to all plantations. It spoke of a fugitive girl that was the most wanted individual in the history of the Empire. Was that you?”

  I make up my mind fast. I look straight into his eyes now that I have made my decision. “I don’t

  know,” I say. And then all in the same breath, “But it could be.”

  “Why you?” Ella says. “How could they know you’d break into the plantation? And what about

  you, Finn? You went along, too.”

  “It’s not about that,” Finn says. “We’re fugitives. We escaped from the almighty plantations.

  There are rumors about us. They want us back.”

  “Yes,” the commander says rubbing his beard. “But they want Freya a little bit more than they

  want the rest of you. I believe they’ve made that pretty clear.”

  “We don’t know why Freya has become so special to them,” Zoe says.

  “Oh, yes, you do. If we are to endanger the entire station for you, we need to know why we’d be

  doing that,” the commander says.

  “You don’t need to worry about that,” I say. “I will go back.”

  “We can’t let you sacrifice yourself!” Joshua cuts in. “No one said anything about you having to

  go back. We’ll figure it out, do what’s necessary.”

  “We can’t put everyone’s life at risk, Joshua,” Lainey says as she throws a hostile glance in my

  direction.

  “Commander, your thoughts?” Joshua says.

  “Oh, I think that Freya knows what she’s talking about,” he says. Then he turns to me, “Can I

  speak to you alone, my child?”

  “Of course.”

  Everyone exits to leave me with Commander Eldritch. Damian who hasn’t said a word this

  whole time stops a few steps away from me and stares right into my eyes for a moment. Then he

  salutes the commander and leaves the room.

  “You know, Freya,” the commander begins when we’re alone, “they call me Commander and

  I’m in charge of our little army of trained fighters but I’ve never been in a battle. Not even close. I’m going to guess that doesn’t stand true for you and your friends.”

  “We’ve lived in a different world than yours,” I say.

  He smiles gently. “You don’t need to be so modest with me. I know a little bit more than I let

  show. Intelligence has hinted at a girl who fights like an alien. Until today, I didn’t know she truly existed and was right here with us.”

  “That intelligence you’re talking about, how do they get their information?”

  “Ah, the sources would not appreciate me answering that, would they?”

  “Fair enough. We all have secrets.”

  “Some juicier than others, I think,” he says and then points at the Command Deck around us.

  “We’ve had to pay a terrible price to be allowed to live up here,” he says. “We had to close our eyes

  and ears to the cries for help coming from Earth. We had to pretend that we did this for the survival of the species. As if the universe wouldn’t go on without us. We are a community of deserters, Freya. I

  cannot judge you.”

  “Commander, I never meant to lie to you,” I say. “We didn’t want to frighten you with the truth

  of what we are and what we have done. I’m not saying we were right. But at the time it didn’t seem

  unreasonable.”

  A signal comes through to the commander’s communication device but he turns it off instantly.

  “What’s done is done,” he says. “The important thing is what happens next.”

  “I’m going back to Earth,” I say. “I’m not changing my mind about that. I believe the aliens will

  not bother with you after I’m gone. I plan to keep them occupied.”

  Commander Eldritch considers my words. “What are you exactly?”

  “I’m their worst nightmare. And it’s about time I reminded them of that.”

  *

  FINN, ZOE, DOC AND THEO wait for me at the meeting hall in Sector One. I throw myself

  into a chair and start to untie my shoelaces. I do this slowly, deliberately, counting by three’s as I go on. My body feels heavy but my mind is exalted. It’s been too long since I walked in the sun.

  “What did you and the commander discuss?” Doc says.

  “Let’s just say he has a pretty good idea of what we are. He wants to keep quiet about it though.”

  “What did he have to say about you?” Finn says.

  “Me? He didn’t say much. He said I could stay.”

  “And what did you say to that?” Zoe asks.

  “That I’m going, of course.”

  “You can’t just give y
ourself up, Freya. We need a plan,” Finn says.

  “I’m aware of that. I’m also aware of the fact that nobody else is going to die because of me

  ever again.”

  “That’s too bad, cause I’m going with you,” he says.

  “Me, too,” Zoe says.

  “Me three,” Theo says.

  “Me four,” Doc says.

  I see a spark in their eyes I haven’t seen in a long time. “I’d have to use the receptor to stop

  you,” I say. “You are all crazy and suicidal.”

  “Takes one to know one,” Finn says.

  “I expected nothing less from you guys,” I say.

  “We’re not called the Saviors for nothing,” Zoe says with a wink.

  It takes all that I am to avoid tears in front of my true friends. To have people who would die for

  me with a smile on their faces even though they know more than all others my selfishness and flaws is

  beyond humbling.

  “Without you I’d be nothing,” I manage to say. “We need a plan. Like always, I need you guys to

  show me the way. We can’t let them blow up those kids or attack Exodus L21.”

  The five of us clasp our arms together. Between one instant and the next, between the past and

  the future all we can hope for is that when our destiny arrives we have prepared for it and we have

  the courage to face it.

  I leave the meeting hall floating above myself, feeling untethered to all those around me. I rush

  into childcare to find Tobi. I lift him up into my arms. I squeeze him tight until I remember who I am.

  11

  A team of ten men and women from the ranks of the Exodus L21 fighters have been assigned to

  escort Finn, Zoe, Theo, Doc, Nya and me back to Earth. They are to stay by our side until my mission

  is resolved one way or another.

  I’d rather they didn’t make such a fuss but both Commander Eldritch and Joshua are adamant

  about it. They can’t just send me off to my cruel destiny without pretending they can do something to

  shield me from it. Of course, those aren’t their words, they are mine. But I’m sure they would

  recognize the truth in them as well as I do.

  Rabbit, Biscuit, Tilly and Scout all wanted to go as well but I saw no point in putting them

  through this kind of danger. Their skills will not be of much use to me now. Besides, I need as many