by Eric Filler
Butwhenhervisioncleared,sherealizedshewasstillalive.Theinteriorof therocketseemedbigger.Forthatmatter,Sheri’shandseemedbiggertoo,even biggerthanhers.Withsomeeffort,Jerimanagedtoturnherheadenoughtosee shehadbecomeababylikeSheri,ifnotyoungerwhileSheriremained unchanged.IftherewasanythingtobehappyaboutitwasthatTeryhadalso becomeababy;helookedevensmallerthanher.
Andyettheseatshadshrunktoaccommodatethem,ashadtheseatbelts.
JericonsideredwhatTeryhadsaidagainaboutthingsnotmakingsense.Itwas
asifsomeonewantedthemtosurviveandescape,butasbabies.Whowoulddo suchathing?Who coulddosuchathing?NoscienceonPheracouldmanage that,unlesssomethinghaddrasticallychangedinayear.
Assheponderedthis,theshakingoftherocketlulledhertosleep.
Sheawoketoacrashthatthrewheragainstherharness.Allthreeofthem begantowailoncue.Tery,shewasgratefultonote,criedloudestofall.From whatJericouldtell,theywerestillthesameagesasbeforeshe’dgonetosleep.
Whathadthatcrashbeen?Hadtheyhitsomething?
Evenasshewonderedthis,thedoortotherocketwastornopen.Aman bentthroughtheopening.Hebarelyfit,hisbodysoswollenwithmuscle.He hadblackhairwithaneatblackbeard,butstrangerthanthatwerehisblack eyes.Jeriinstinctivelybegantocry.
“Hellomylittleexplorers,”hesaid.“Welcomehome.”
WiththathereachedoutwithonebeefyhandtoripJerifromherseat.
Therewasnothingshecoulddobutcryasthisstrangemancarriedallthreeof themoutoftherocket.Heheldthemaloftsotheycouldseetheywerehomeat last.
Part2
Chapter5
WhenJeriwokeup,shelayonahardbed.Shewasrelievedtofindshe didn’thaveherthumbinhermouth,nordidshesmellorfeeladirtydiaper.She putatentativehandtoherheadtofeelthebowandlongtressesfromwhenshe’d beenseven.Withthathereyessnappedopen.
Shewasinaprisoncellwithpolishedsilverwalls.Therewerethreebunk bedsscatteredabouttheroomandachamberpot.Hernosetwitchedatthe thoughtofhavingtogopottyinthat.EspeciallyinfrontofSheriandTery.
Theylayontheotherbeds.Fromwhatshecouldtell,theywereallroughlythe sameagenow.
Jerilookedaroundtherestoftheroombuttherewereonlywalls.No windowsorbarsorevenadoor.Howdidanyonegetinhere?Werethey trappedhere?
Shesatupandgroaned.Wherewashere?Shereplayedthelastdayinher mind.Theyhadkeptgettingyounger,untilshewasatoddlerandSheriababy.
Theyhadmanagedtoescapeonarocket,duringwhichtheyhadallbecome babiesandcrashed—
Sherememberedthemanwhohadtakenthemfromtherocket.Hadheput theminhere?Butthenhowhadtheybecomeolderagain?Noneofthismade anysense.
Sherigroanedfromherbed.Jeriwatchedherlookaroundandfeelherown headtoverifyshehadbecomesevenagain.Withanothergroanshesatup.She yawnedandthenstretchedouthermuscles.“Ohthankgoodness,”shesaid.“I wasworriedI’dstillbeababy.”
Jerididn’tsharetheothergirl’senthusiasm.Whileitwasgoodnottobea babyanymore,shewouldhavepreferredtobebacktoheradultself,eventhe chubby,grayingwomanshehadbeenbeforeallthishappened.Neverhassheso muchwishedtobebackoutinunexploredspace.
“Damnit,”Terygrumbled,“I’dhopedthishadallbeenafucking nightmare.”Thehigherpitchofhisboy’svoiceunderminedthevenomofthe sentence.Hedidn’tbothertogothroughaninventoryofhimself.Hejustturned toJeriandasked,“Wherethehellarewe?”
“Idon’tknow.Ijustwokeupafewminutesago.”
“NotlikeanyprisoncellI’veeverseen,”hesaid.
“You’dbetheexpertonthatsubject.”
“Well,excuseme,princess.”
Theunapologetic,caustictoneofTery’svoicelitsomethingwithinJeri.
Sheleapedoffthebedtostarttowardshim.“Thisisyourfault!Youandyour stupidescaperocket.Nowwe’restuckhere.”
“Sure,maybeweshouldhavesataroundtheshipuntilweallturnedto goo,”hegrowled.Hegotoffhisbedandthentappedherinthechestwitha finger.“Ifit’sanyone’sfault,it’syours.You’retheonewhotookusoutthere.”
“Iwasfollowingourorders!”
“That’swhattheyallsay.”
Thoughsheknewshedidn’thaveanychanceinafightwithTery,Jeri broughtherarmbacktopunchhim.Beforeshecouldtry,Sheriinterposed herselfbetweenthem.“Comeon,guys,stopit.Thisisn’tthetimetofight amongstourselves.Weneedtofigureoutwhereweareandhowwecan escape.”
“Escape?Haveyouseenyourself?We’rekids.Wherearewegoingto go?”
“We’llworryaboutthatlater.Firstwehavetogetout.Therehastobea weaknesssomewhere.”
“Yeah,right.Isthatwhat’sinthebook?”
“Sheri’sright,”Jerisaid.“Wecan’tstartfightingamongstourselves.We havetofindawayoutofhere.”
“Goodluckwiththat,”Terysaid.Hedroppedontohisbunkagain.“Wake mewhenyou’vegotitallfiguredout.”
JerishookherheadandthentookSheri’shand.“Comeon,let’slook around.”
***
Theysearchedtheentireroom,buttherewasn’tmuchmoretoseethan whenJerihadfirstwokeup.Thewallswereperfectlysmooth.Therewereno weakpoints,atleastnotfortheirseven-year-oldmuscles.Nohiddenchambers thattheycouldfindeither.Thefloorwasjustassmooth,withoutevenany seams.Itwaslikethey’dbeenputintoanironboxandyettheyhadn’t suffocated,sotherehadtobeaircominginsomewhere.
“Maybethere’ssomethingintheceiling,”Sherisaid.“Ifwecouldgetup there—”
“Sure,maybewecanstandoneachother’sshoulderslikecircus performers.”
“Wecouldstackourbeds,”Sherisuggested.Shetriedtomoveherbunk, butitdidn’tmove.Outofmorbidcuriosity,Jerihelped.Itdidn’tdoanygood.
Thebunkswereweldedtothefloor.
Jerisankontoherbunkwithasigh.Itwashopeless.Theydidn’thaveany wayoutofhere,notlikethis.Sherisatdownnexttoher.Shetriedinvainto
smoothdownhermussedhairandtuckitbehindherear,butthestrandsalways slippedoutthemomentsheturnedherhead.
ShesmiledatJeri,herdamnableoptimismunfazed.“OK,maybewecan’t escaperightnow.Wejusthavetobepatient.”
“Yeah,right.”
“Comeon,itcouldbeworse—”
Themomentthosewordsescapedherlips,awhiteboltoflightflashed throughher.Instantlyherbodythinnedandshrunkafewcentimeters.Her cornflower-coloreddressturnedtoadrabdarkgreendottedwithyellow.Her mussedhairsmoothedintoadarkbrownhelmettoppedbyapinkheadband.
Lastly,apairofblackplasticglassesappearedonherface,theglassessobig theyruffledherbangs.
Sheripattedtheglassesandhairassheturnedtofaceoneoftheglossy walls.“Ohdear,”shesaid.
Terysnickeredfromhisbed.“Youweresaying?”
“Shutup,”Jerisnapped.
“What?Ithinkshelookscute...forageek.”
Sheridroppedontothebunkandlookeddownatheruglybrownshoes whileshecriedsilently.Terycontinuedtosnicker—untilaboltofwhitelight torethroughhim.Thenhisbodybegantochange.Heshrunkagoodfifteen centimeterswhileatthesametimehisbodythinnedtothepointtherewasn’tan ounceoffat—ormuscle.Thatbodybecamecladinbrowncorduroysandadark blueargylesweater.Hishairgrewoutintoablackbowlcutwithacowlickin thebackthatstoodstraightup.Frecklespoppedupalloverhisface.Snot dribbleddownfromonenostril.Lastly,hegainedapa
irofblackplasticglasses evenlargerthanSheri’s.
“Whathappened?”Terysqueaked.Heturnedtolookintothewall.Ashe wipedathisrunnynosewiththebackofonesleeve,hischeeksreddened.“No, it’snotfair!”
“Nowwho’sthegeek?”Sheriteased.
“Shutup!”TerylaunchedhimselfatSheri.Justafewminutesagoit wouldn’thavebeenacontest.Itwasn’tacontestnoweither;withinseconds SherihadTeryonthefloorwithanarmpinnedbehindhisback.Tearsbubbled upinhiseyes.“Lemmego!”
AsJeriwatchedthis,shetriedtostiflealaugh.Shehadseenwhathad happenedwhenSheritriedtoputthemateaseandthenwhenTeryhadteased her.Someonehadpunishedthembyturningthemintogeeks.
YetasshewatchedTerysquirmandbegintocry,shecouldn’tholdbackher laughter.Itservedhimright—
Theboltofwhitelightfoundher.Unlikeontheship,shecouldwatchwhat happenedtoher.Herbodybegantoshrink.Asitdid,herheightconvertedto fat,especiallyagutthatinchedoutfartherandfartheruntiltheseamsofher pink-and-whitedressburst.Onceherstomachstoppedgrowing,thedress swelledtofit.Thefabricturnedtoadrabtanwithgreenflowers.Herhair shortenedtoshoulder-length,theendsflippingup.Itdarkenedtoagolden-brown.Liketheothers,shegainedapairofglasses,thoughhersweren’tasbig
—asmallfavor.
Shestaredatherreflectioninthewall.Shepattedherflabbycheeksand doublechin.Shewasrotundnow.Shewasugly.ShehadlaughedatSheriand Teryandnowshehadbecomegeekierthanbothofthem.Thebunkshriekedas shedroppedherselfonit.Sheburiedherfatfaceinherpudgyhands.
ShefeltahandonhershoulderandheardSherisay,“It’llbeallright, Captain.We’llfindawayout—”
Thatwaswhenasectionofthewallpulledaway.Jerilookeduptoseethe manwhohadrippedthemoutoftherocket.Hegrinnedatthem.“Hello, children.Don’tyoulookcute?”HetousledTery’shairashesaidthis.Theboy bristled,buthewastoosmalltodoanythingaboutit.
ThemancameovertoJeri’sbunk.HetookSheri’shand.“Comenow, sweetheart.It’stimeforustotalk.”
Jerileapedtoherfeet.“Whatareyoudoingwithher?”
“Nothingmuch.Justalittletest.Youdon’tmind,doyou?”
“Whateveryouwant,takemeandleavemycrewalone.”
“Howbigofyou.”HetousledJeri’shairnow.“ButI’mafraidyourturn willhavetowait.”
Jeristartedtoreachout,butSherisaid,“It’sallright,Captain.I’llbefine.”
Jeriwantedtoprotest,butSheri’sshysmilestoppedher.“Youbetternot hurther,”shesaid,thoughthethreatlackedanymenaceinhertinyvoiceand withherflabbylittlebody.
AfewsecondslaterSheriandthemanweregone.Jerisettledontoher bunktowait.
Chapter6
Asthemanledherdownthehall,Sherilookedforanopportunityto escape.That’swhattheytaughtinbasictraining.Whenasoldierwascaptured, itwasherdutytofindawaytoescapeandreturntoherunit.Nomatterhow littleandgeekyshewas,shewasstillasoldier,stillamemberoftheSpace Corps.
Atthepresent,though,therewasn’tmuchshecoulddo.Themanhada firmgriponherarmandevenifshecouldgetloose,therewasnowheretogo.
Aroundthemwereonlyblankgraywallsthatwereprobablyotherprisoncells.
Shedidn’tseeanyguardsorcameras,somethingshefoundodd.Shehadnever spentanytimeinthebrigasaprisoner,butshehadworkedsomeshiftsasa guardduringbasictraining.Thenagain,withhowwell-constructedthecells wereandhowyoungtheprisoners,maybetheydidn’tfeeltheyneededany activesurveillance.
They…theywho?Shedidn’tevenknowthatmuch.Themanwhohad takenherfromthecell—whohadtakenthemfromtherocketaswelltobring themhere—woreaplainblacksuitwithnomarkingsonit.Theonly ornamentationheworewasaringonhisfinger,silverwithashinyblackstone setinit.Shecouldn’trememberanyorganizationonPherathatusedsucha symbol.
“Whereareyoutakingme?”shefinallyasked.Maybeshecouldgetsome informationoutofhim.
“Don’tworry,sweetheart,itwon’tbeanywherescary.”
“I’mnotworried.IjustwanttoknowwhereI’mgoing.”
“Isupposeyouwould,beingthenavigatorandall.”
“Howdoyouknowthat?”
“Iknowalotofthings,younglady.Iknow,forinstance,youthinkyou shouldhavealreadybeengivenacommandofyourown.Buttheypassedover you,didn’tthey?TheypromotedallthoseothergirlstoCommanderandleft youbehind.Andwhenyouprotested,theysentyoufar,faraway.Isn’tthat right?”
“No,”Sherisaid,butherbottomliptrembledandherfacewarmed.Itwas true.Theyhadpassedheroverforpromotion.Nooneelsehadbetterscoresor efficiencyratingsthanher.Nooneelsehadconsistentlyearnedtophonorsfrom theirsuperiorofficers.Yettheyhadpassedheroverinfavorofwomenwhohad barelyscrapedbytheirentranceexams.
Why?Becauseshe’dbeentooyoung.Shewantedtolaughatthebitter
ironyofthat,nowthatshereallywastooyoungtobeincommandofanything.
Justasthemanhadsaid,whenshe’dgonetoAdmiralJenetoprotestthatshe wasready,theadmiralhadsentheroffontheexploratorymissionwiththat preeningidiotJeriandthatcretinTery.Shehaddoneherbesttokeepthe missiongoingbythebookandtokeepJeriandTeryfromkillingeachotherand whatwasherreward?She’dbeencaughtupinthattemporalphenomenonwith themandnowhereshewas,alittlegirlagain,onetooscrawnyandwithtoobad ofeyesighttopossiblyrejointheSpaceCorpswhenitwastime.Itwasn’tfair!
ThemanpattedSheri’sshoulder.“Don’tfeelbad,sweetheart.TheSpace Corpsisgone.Thisisanewworldnow,aperfectworld.”Hetappedtheendof hernose.“Aworldwhereacutelittlegirlcanbesuccessfulifshelearnsher place.”
“Whatareyoutalkingabout?”
“You’llsee.”
Thewallinfrontofthemslidasidetoletthemby.Onceshewasthrough, Sherisawanentirelydifferentbuilding.Thisonehadwhiteplastercorridors andcheckeredlinoleumfloors.Alongthewallswerewoodendoorswithfrosted glasssetinthem.Itwaslikesomethingoutofahistorybookthatdepictedthe Pheraofthreecenturiesago.
“Whatisthisplace?”Sheriasked.
“Thisisyournewhome,”themansaid.Heledhertothenearestofthe doors.Itstillusedabrassknob,whichheturnedtoopen.
Insidewasaclassroom.Sherisawagroupofgirlshersameage,allof themdressedinauniformofalightgreenblousewithadarkergreenjumper.
Lightglintedofftheringontheman’sfingertomomentarilyblindher.She blinkedafewtimesandthensawshehadchangedagain.Herdarkgreendress hadbecomethesameuniformtheothergirlswore.Shepattedherhead,buther hairandglassesremainedthesame.
Anoldwomaninagraydressstrodeovertothemandlookeddownat Sheri.“Who’sthis?”
“Thisisyournewstudent.ThisisSheri.”
“Student?ButI’mnot—”
“Don’tworry,sweetheart,you’rebigenoughforschoolnow.”
“No—”
Themangaveheraslightshovetoeaseherintotheroom.Theoldwoman tookSheri’shandinawrinkledclaw.Sheclearedherthroatandsaid,“Class, attention.”Theothergirlsturnedtofacetheoldwoman.“ThisisSheri,our neweststudent.Sayhello,Sheri.”
“Hi,”shesqueaked,herfacered-hotfromtheattentionlavisheduponher.
“Verygood.Now,gotoyourstationandwewillresumeourlesson.”
TheothergirlsturnedbacktotheirtablesandSherishuffledovertothe emptychairtheoldwomanhadindicated.Shesatdowntofindnobooks,only sewingsupplies
.Whatkindofschoolwasthis?
Theanswerbecameclearerastheoldwomansaid,“Nowgirls,asyouall know,onceyoufindyourhusband,hewillexpectyoutotakecareofthe domesticchores.Hewillexpectyoutoknowhowtodarnhissocks,hemhis pants,andreplacehisbuttons.Theproperstitchingtechniquewillbeessential.”
AroundSheri,theothergirlspickedupneedlesandthread.Theyinserted thethreadintotheneedlesandthenpickedupasocktostitchtheendofit.Sheri pickedupherownneedleandthread.Shestaredatitforamomentandthen triedtogetthethreadthroughtheheadoftheneedle.Thethreadbentagainst theheadoftheneedle,butwouldn’tgothrough.Sherisighedandtriedtohold hertearsatbay.
Sheunderstoodwhathadhappenednow.Itwasn’tjusttheshiportheir bodiesthathadgonebackintime.AllofPherahadgonebackwards,revertedto asithadbeencenturiesago,whenwomenwerelittlemorethandomestic servants.Andthatman,theonewho’dtakenthemfromtherocketandbrought themhere,heknewallaboutit.Perhapshehadevendoneit.Buthow?That waswhatshewouldhavetofindout.Ifshecouldescapefromthisnewprison.
***
Forthemostpartthisschoolwasn’tmuchdifferentfrombasictraining.
Everymorningtheywererousedatthecrackofdawnandmarchedintothe lavatories.Theretheytookaquickshowerthatwastimedtopreventany dawdling.Aftertheydriedoffwithequalefficiency,theysettoworkontheir grooming.ForSherithismeantshehadtocombouthersnarledhairintoits perfectlysmoothhelmet.Onceshegotbacktoherbunkshecrowneditwiththe plasticheadbandandthendressedinherblouseandjumper.
Thentheyweremarchedtothemesshallforabowlofoatmeal.Whilethe othergirlschattedamongstthemselves,Sherisatattheendofatablebyherself.
Itwasn’tthatshewasshysomuchassheneededtobeobservant,tolookfora wayofescape.Whiletherehadn’tbeenanyguardsontheprisonblock,here insidetheschoolshesawguardspostedbyalltheentrancesandexits,which includedtheloadingdock.Shewouldn’tbeabletogooutthatway.