Althaea entered the room just then, quietly. She approached Juan Carlos from the other side, verified the monitors and rubbed his head. Then she went to Sofía’s side.
“Sofía, we have to talk.”
“Can we do it here? I don’t want to leave Dad now.”
“Of course, no problem. Remember when you were desperate about your dad, and you projected your scream in all of us?”
“Um, yes, I’m sorry...”
“No, don’t be sorry. I actually wanted to talk to you about it because it’s something extraordinary. We haven’t had much time to sit and talk since all this started, but I can assure you that the Atlanteans, modified with their nanites, from time immemorial have been able to have mental conversations at a few yards away from Atlantean to Atlantean, and at a much smaller distance, maybe less than a yard, to project them in general or to humans without a particular recipient. There is only one historical record of someone capable of projecting their thoughts in general to great distances,” explained Althaea.
“I’m sorry, at the time I didn’t notice, I didn’t mean to...”
“You don’t understand. Your projected thought didn’t just get to us. It went to the entire city and affected every human in Rho. In one moment of fury, you projected your mind to a radio five miles away and who knows how many more. If we hadn’t witnessed it directly, I’d have said it was a joke. It’s almost impossible to believe. You didn’t mean to do it, but you did it.”
Sofía sat there with her mouth open.
“As I was saying, there’s only one record of something similar and it’s almost a legend. Gea, a queen of Atlantis, had a similar capacity as yours. She governed the continent for thousands of years and was venerated by all of us.”
“Are you saying that...what are you saying?” Sofía asked, confused.
“It has to do with a combination of genes. During Gea’s last times, they used the resources that were left to create some new generations of Atlanteans, and hybrids of humans and Atlanteans. Tzedek continued with those experiments later. In your parents’ families, you have long lines of Atlantean genes. Those genes remained more or less latent throughout hundreds of generations, but with the random relations of humans, in most cases ended up being diluted. In yours, however...it’s as if you were a direct descendant of Gea herself,” Althaea revealed.
“When you screamed, you didn’t just project your fury to the whole city, but it had an objective: the person who was trying to kill your father. Everyone who at that moment was trying to kill someone else received a mental impact much stronger than the people who were prisoners or who were just trying to defend themselves. And we Atlanteans received it much more strongly, of course. When my message through the city’s communications system was heard, everyone was already recovering, but our people recovered first and Marsan’s men, demoralized on one hand by images of his death, and weakened on the other hand by your mental attack, surrendered without a fight. The fight ended practically at that moment.”
“Well, isn’t that great?”
“Yes and no. I don’t know if you remember, but the humans didn’t know anything about us. After everything that happened, it’s like there isn’t much of a secret left,” Althaea complained. “We talked about everything for a long time, and except for Damaris, we are in agreement that there’s only one path. And we don’t like to obligate you, but I invite you to speak to everyone. We believe that what has happened these last days, and what has happened to you, is a sign in some way.”
“A sign of what?”
Althaea inhaled, as if she weren’t sure how to say it, and then she decided.
“That we must recreate Atlantis, and you must be its queen.”
Sofía laughed. When she saw that Althaea wasn’t laughing, she got scared.
“Are you serious?” she asked.
Althaea didn’t say anything.
“What do I know about governing? It’s absurd. Who would take me seriously?” Sofía protested.
“I can assure you that after what happened, all of Rho is taking you seriously. You just have to speak with the people to explain to them in your own words what happened. It doesn’t have to be right now, it can be in a few days. We have to explore what your new powers are so you can control them. And later, you’d need to do the same in Delta.”
“They’re going to hate me. You’ve been Atlanteans for thousands of years. I just turned fourteen. I can’t give anyone orders, it’s ridiculous, I don’t have any experience, no one would pay any attention to me...”
Althaea sighed.
“Like I said, we talked about it between us. Damaris said more or less what you just said. Everyone else, especially Halius and Ponteus, who were in charge of the other cities, realize the advisability of what I’m telling you. Apollo was arriving at the city from Delta when the fight started and his people were also affected, so that’s more testimony in your favor. Everyone wants to talk to you and wants that you...we could say...assume your destiny. They are ready to help you, obey you, and serve as counselors. The only thing you need is confidence in yourself.”
Sofía started when Juan Carlos suddenly pressed her hand.
“Sofía,” he murmured slowly. “If that’s what it takes so that they stop trying to kill me every little while, do it, please.”
“Oh, Dad,” Sofía said happily, hugging him. “I was so worried. Were you listening?”
“For a little while, though at first I thought I was dreaming. Then I realized that the voices weren’t in my head,” he mumbled. “Although the last thing I remember is that we were fighting...”
“We won,” Althaea informed him, smiling, while she hugged him and gave him a kiss. “Sofía, can you go look for Raquel?”
“I should be able to do better than that,” she said. She concentrated for a minute and then smiled. Althaea looked at her, intrigued. A couple of minutes later, Raquel appeared at the door. “Did you call me?”
“Where were you?” inquired Althaea.
“At the Control Center, why?” asked Raquel.
Althaea looked at Sofía who was smiling.
“You see...confidence. Now, Juan Carlos is the royal consort. We have to do things carefully so that Sofía can take charge, if Juan Carlos agrees.”
“I agree. Why can’t you hand it over and be done with it?” he asked.
“We’ll do it. But first I’ll have to take charge. I haven’t done it officially yet. And Sofía isn’t ready yet, she has to practice in order to control her powers and be prepared to speak with the people of Rho and Delta. Between one thing and another, we’ll need at least a month to make myself known as queen and another so that everyone knows Sofía, depending on how her capabilities develop. Raquel is aware of everything and continues to make progress with the new nanites. She’ll help us.”
“Are you serious about Sofía as queen? Truthfully, the whole thing seems ridiculous. I was always taught to believe in democracy, you know?”
“Let’s do something, Sofía,” said Althaea. “The people who most need to talk with you are here, can I let them come in?”
Sofía looked at Juan Carlos, who shrugged.
“Go ahead,” Sofía replied.
Althaea left for a minute and returned. Behind her entered Damaris, Halius, Nikaia, Ponteus, Apollo, Harmonia, Niobe and Nogah. Fortunately it was a large room.
When they entered, they all bowed their heads towards Sofía.
“Oh, come on, don’t do that,” protested Sofía, but they just shifted uncomfortably and nothing else. “Lift your heads and look at me,” she ordered in a peremptory voice, and they all did it.
Sofía noted with surprise that they all looked at her with the same expression: fear. She looked at Damaris and felt a stitch of pain.
“Are you afraid of me, too?” she thought in Damaris’ direction. Damaris was startled, and she felt her embarrassment.
“It’s as if you’re another person, one of those heroes of antiquity like they t
aught you in school, pardon me if suddenly I feel a little...yes, afraid,” Damaris thought to her.
Sofía came forward and put her hand on Damaris’ shoulder, who tensed up and then relaxed a little. Looking at all of them, Sofía said:
“I’m still me. I haven’t transformed into that Gea and do not expect to take her reign just because I could...” she thought about how she had communicated with everybody and suddenly realized she saw the Atlanteans as if they were surrounded by a light green halo in different shades. On the other hand, she saw her father in a light blue one, and herself surrounded by a clear turquoise. She closed her eyes, concentrated and could see halos in the adjoining rooms, and then in rooms further away and then in nearby buildings. She concentrated even more and could see them in all directions—upwards in what she supposed was the Tower, and below, in what she guessed would be below ground. Almost all of the halos were pleasant to the sight, although some were reddish and dark, with others of a sickly color that turned her stomach. Of what use was this? Was she seeing the people in Rho? Was she seeing the intentions of the people, projected in color? She searched the halos close by and saw one of an ugly color in a nearby room. She approached mentally, and somehow ‘focused.’ She concentrated on wanting to know who it was and why the halo had an ugly color and suddenly she knew everything. She knew it was one of the men chosen by Marsan, wounded after the fight. He wasn’t sorry about anything and was planning to escape, waiting for the opportunity to hurt them when they weren’t paying attention.
“You won’t do anything of the sort, how can you hate like that?” she thought angrily. Suddenly she felt something touch her shoulder and disconnected, surprised. She heard shouting in the halls and the sound of people running. She saw again, this time with her eyes, and saw Damaris touching her and the rest of the Atlanteans had backed up a couple of steps and now, without a doubt, looked afraid.
They kept hearing running in the hall. A doctor entered and whispered something to Althaea, who looked worried, answered something and the man went running, not before looking askance at Sofía.
“Well, Sofía, if you think you can’t reign, I’ve got news for you, as I said, it isn’t force you lack, but confidence in yourself,” Althaea announced.
“What are you saying?” Sofía inquired.
“Everyone just felt you, as if you’d passed a sensor over every person around here. I suspect the whole city. But, besides, the doctor that came in just told me that one of Marsan’s men, who was in a room here, just went crazy with panic. He was sitting quietly under guard, and when you concentrated on him for a minute, he suddenly started to yell and then tried to hit his head against a wall. They think he was trying to kill himself when they were finally able to control him and sedate him,” Althaea explained.
Sofía’s mouth dropped open.
“Your Majesty, you’ve just tested it yourself. We will help you and counsel you, but we need you to understand that it’s your task, to accept your place before us,” Halius explained.
“And what happens if I don’t want to?”
“If you won’t want to, it’s okay. No one can make you. But that wouldn’t be the daughter I know. The one who never gives up until you finish your projects,” mumbled Juan Carlos, surprising her.
Sofía pressed her lips together. She was afraid, but her father was right. She sighed, dropping her shoulders. She looked around at everyone.
“I’m used to doing everything alone. I don’t know if I can deal with so many people...” she started to say.
Suddenly she remembered the structure. Her structure. Even though she hadn’t been able to solve the problem of redundancy, because she hadn’t thought about it, but the last time she had, she’d been completely human. Now, just thinking about it, she got the solution. She noted that the role of each strand was fundamental and there wasn’t any way to eliminate any one of them without destroying the whole thing. And in some way, the same thing was true with people. She wasn’t going to get very far alone. She was just one strand. They all were. And if Marsan was right, they still had to fight a fearsome force.
“...but it’s necessary. I’ll do what’s necessary,” Sofía concluded.
Althaea smiled.
FAREWELL
Rho, November 20, 2027. 7:30 p.m.
All of the Atlanteans and many people from the city were gathered in the main plaza, a few yards from the center.
Two pyres had been prepared and on them, wrapped in cotton cloth, were the remains of Tzedek and Musa.
Althaea stepped forward and addressed the crowd.
“With much regret, we must say farewell to two good people who have lost their lives. From witnesses’ statements about her last minutes, we know that Musa fought valiantly to free a group of human hostages, in spite of being weak from Marsan’s actions. She was a considerate and good person. Dedicated and loyal. And Tzedek, my father...” She swallowed hard and continued, “was a cold and calculating person, but he was always thinking about the common good. Even though I was his biological daughter, he never played favorites with me, and he treated me like just another Atlantean.”
Althaea thought about her mother, Kyra, who had died in childbirth and she had never known. Somehow, Tzedek never reproached her for it, but he was never affectionate with her, either. Since she was little, he’d handed her to others to care for, and when he saw her in person, it was to test her and measure her capabilities, never to play or show her any affection. And she always seemed to disappoint him. Althaea felt like it was her fault. Especially when so much time later her sister, Gea, was born, and not only did the mother survive, but she was always the one Tzedek spoiled.
Althaea felt a lump in her throat and had to stop her speech to control herself, but still the tears fell down her cheeks.
She lowered her head for a moment and managed to focus again, thinking of someone else.
“Today, another Atlantean is not with us who doesn’t deserve the honor. Marsan caused a lot of damage. Incalculable damage. Whatever the reasons he had, rational or insane, trying to exterminate an entire species and then kill his peers, being as few as we are, is unforgivable. He won’t have the honor of a fire, so that no one remembers him ever. As far as Musa and Tzedek...does anyone else want to say anything?”
Nikaia came forward.
“Musa was my friend, we were for as long as I can remember. Unlike other Atlanteans, she got along well with humans and admired their works of art. She was very sociable and very intelligent. She and I...we were more than friends for a long time. It isn’t fair.”
With that, Nikaia started to cry, leaning on Halius’ shoulder. Althaea continued speaking.
“None of this is fair. I know that no one will cry for Tzedek. He was often manipulative and merciless, but someone had to do it. There are countless things that never would have been done if it were not for his stubbornness and perseverance. We’re here living his last dream,” she said, gesturing around them, “a city that would be the birthplace of a new Atlantis. And I know that his dream didn’t include destroying humanity, but separating the best of them to advance with us.”
Althaea lowered her head again and with great effort, tried to finish.
“Our species is almost extinguished. The humans’ still has a good chance. Now that you know the truth about your origins, it’s in your hands to decide your future, if you’re going to help us protect the Earth or if you’re going to keep destroying it with your thoughtlessness. Tzedek, in spite of seeming cold, always believed in human beings.” She paused, took a breath for courage, and continued, “Let us honor them now with the final farewell.”
She lit a torch that she had ready and looked at the crowd around them. They all bowed their heads. No one said anything else.
She went up to the pyres and brought the torch close, first to one and then the other. In a few minutes, both were burning fiercely.
She thought about all the times she’d sought affection from Tzedek. Always trying to
improve herself, to do things the way that best suited her father. And he only found mistakes in everything she did. Gea, on the other hand...
While everybody watched the fire in fascination, rising several feet high in the last rays of the sun, only Juan Carlos noticed the tears that fell on Althaea’s face. He came up to her, and she held him when she noticed him. He felt the heat of her body and this time he didn’t reject her. He stroked her head gently as they watched the fire together.
DAWN
Rho, December 1, 2027. 6:05 a.m.
Sofía, Damaris, Althaea, Raquel, and Juan Carlos stood before the panoramic windows, watching the dawn from the Control Center. Sunrises and sunsets had turned incredible colors since the nuclear explosions, mostly reds, but there were also oranges and yellows that took one’s breath away. Besides, the Northern Lights, which now were not only in the north, and were visible all day, added green and blue tones to the show.
“How do immortals spend their time when they’re not fighting for their lives?” asked Juan Carlos.
“When they’re not in bed, you mean?” smiled Althaea.
“Look at those colors, it looks like a landscape from another world,” Juan Carlos observed, ignoring Althaea’s bait.
“It is another world,” she agreed.
“In more than one way,” Raquel added.
Juan Carlos looked at them and put his arm around Althaea. Raquel and Althaea looked at each other and smiled. Juan Carlos suspected that they were leaving him out of a private conversation, but that didn’t concern him. What mattered was that everyone was happy, and apparently they were getting there.
“No, seriously, what are we going to do now?” he asked.
“What do you think there is to do? If you want, you can be king. You can let everyone do what they want or you can put on the crown and guide us,” Althaea proposed.
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