by C B Williams
“And us?” Spider asked. "Can you move us along with the ship?"
“We’re going to find out,” Wren said, “when Eloch takes me there.”
“It should be me,” Perin said, raising her voice over the commotion.
“We can’t ask you to risk your life like that, Perin,” Wren said quietly.
Perin shook her head. “We know I will get there. The True Dream told us that. And since I will get there, Eloch must have brought me.”
“She makes a valid point,” Eloch told Wren.
“I need to go, Eloch. I don’t want to be separated from you again,” Wren said. “Not ever again.”
Aiko had never been jealous of Wren and Eloch, but in that moment, the look they shared did something to her. That look, she realized. I want that. I’ve always wanted it.
“Then it will be the three of us,” Eloch said.
With a nod, Perin sat back, arms folded.
“How’s this going to work?” Aiko asked.
“That’s why we’re all here,” Eloch. “We have to make some decisions.”
Wren nodded and sat up straighter. “We’re at a crossroads, and we each need to decide what’s next for us as individuals,” she said.
“My mission is not your mission,” Eloch said. “I must continue forward. I must speak with these higher-frequency people and somehow get them to stop interfering with the Sisters of Vela Kentaurus, as well as keep them from expanding into our galaxy.”
Spider raised his hand. “I know this is just semantics, but let’s come up with something to call these people. Something other than ‘higher-frequency people.’ It doesn’t sit well with me. There’s nothing higher about them, other than the dimension in which they’re living, and it’s just about wavelengths. They’re living in a different place, and that’s all. No better than us, no worse.”
“So you’re objecting to the word ‘higher,’” Genji said.
“Yes, I am,” Spider responded. “Makes me feel lower. And I’m not lower. That’s the point I’m trying to make. We’re living in the same place, only in different frequencies. They’re ghosts to us, and we're ghosts to them.”
Grale leaned over to Aiko, “I kind of liked the ghost ship idea. Ghost people. Ghosts.” He waggled his fingers and made a face. “Boo.”
She covered her grin with her hand.
“How about our Frequency Neighbors?” Mink asked.
“They are more like Frequency Neighbors,” Wade agreed.
“If they’re ghosts to us, and we’re ghosts to them, perhaps they’re unaware of the destruction they are causing,” Perin said.
“Good point,” Wren said.
“I like Frequency Neighbors,” Eloch said.
“So do I,” Genji said.
“Works for me,” Wren said.
“Anything is fine by me,” Grale said.
Aiko lifted her hands. “No opinion.”
“Spider, you good with Frequency Neighbors?” Wren asked.
“Can we shorten it a bit?” Spider asked sheepishly.
Grale rolled his eyes. “Freak Neighs?”
Spider laughed. “I know I’m being a little anal. Frequency Neighbors sounds nice, but it’s a mouthful. Can we just go with the initials? FN?”
“FN,” Wren said. “Everyone good with that? We’ve got more to cover.”
“I’ll say,” Genji said. “Like what will we do when the FNs return?”
“And, more importantly,” Eloch said, “who wants to continue on with me, and who wants to go home?”
“There’s a choice?” Kalea asked, straightening.
“Of course there’s a choice,” Eloch replied.
Chapter 15
Choices
“How?” Wade asked. “How can some of us go home and others go with you? Are you going to split the ship in two?” He smirked.
“That’s exactly what I’m prepared to do,” Eloch said. “Maybe not quite in two.”
Aiko raised a brow at Grale.
He shrugged, mouthing Knack Man
“I know we were all prepared for this to be a long journey,” Eloch continued. “Maybe even a journey we wouldn’t return from. But like Wren said, we’re at a crossroads, and I think it’s fair to make it possible for those who wish to go back to do so.” He looked at Kalea, “Don’t you think that’s fair?”
Kalea lowered her eyes. “Very fair,” she whispered.
Genji looked up from the stake he’d been studying. “This technology is fascinating.” He glanced around, his enthusiasm dimming. “I’ve missed something, haven’t I?” He glanced at Kalea. “What am I missing?”
She kept her eyes lowered and shook her head.
“Look,” Wren said, “Why don’t we take a break and think about it? Right now, I think it’s important simply to know it’s possible for those who want to go home to go home. Nobody here had any idea there was such a choice. And now Eloch has offered it, so let’s just mull this over and see what happens.”
She clasped her hands on the table in front of her. “In the meantime, let’s all grab a quick meal, then get busy. We need to plan how we’re going to face the FNs, and we need to see how that,” she grinned at Genji, “fascinating thing works. And of course, Eloch, Perin, and I need to practice traveling between Frequency Neighborhoods.
“Aiko, can you, Grale, and Wade check and double-check the new tech that was installed? We’ll want to see more than an anomaly next time.”
“Give me an hour to wash up and eat something, and I’ll get right on it,” Aiko said. “I literally crawled out of bed ten minutes before this meeting began.”
Wren smiled. “I’m sure we’ve got time for that. Do you need longer?”
Aiko finger-combed her hair. “Nope, I’m good.”
Wren nodded. “Genji, Kalea, Spider, and Mink, you four want to analyze the device? See what it can and cannot do?” She laughed when she saw Genji and Spider’s expressions. “Okay, think I hit the sweet spot with that one.”
She got to her feet and turned to Perin and Eloch. “Perin, Eloch, I’ve got some questions for you both before we begin our neighborhood stroll. Shall we go to the Solar Farm with a picnic and relax a little bit while I ask the questions I’ve been saving up?”
Eloch stood and wrapped an arm around her shoulders “You won’t get an argument from me.”
“Nor me,” Perin said.
“Great!” Wren said, “I’ll put the picnic together and meet you both in Eloch’s special spot.”
“Spider and Mink, I’m skipping lunch and going back to the Lab,” Genji said.
“I’ll go with, Genji,” Kalea said.
“Sure, see you in a few,” Spider said. “Don’t try to do it all on your own. Save some of the fun for me.”
“There will be plenty of fun left for you,” Genji said with a laugh as he and Kalea left the Galley. “Let’s hurry,” he said, taking her hand, his enthusiasm quickening his pace. “I want to take this device apart ASAP, try to understand how it works and what it’s used for, because I doubt that it’s used solely to capture the energy of a planet.
“I agree with Eloch. There must be a valid reason for why they need so much energy. And assuming we’re ghosts to them as they are ghosts to us, then perhaps they don’t even understand that they’re draining planets of their life force. Perin thinks so.”
He glanced over at Kalea and froze. “What is it, love?”
“Kind Genji, my beloved mate,” she said quietly, eyes searching his face. “I wish to go home.”
“Oh.” He sucked in a breath. “Oh, I see.”
“My Nuri wishes to fly free in Longwei’s skies. I willingly left, Genji, to follow you and explore. I did. And I don’t regret a single moment. But,” her eyes sparkled, “Eloch says there’s a choice. And now all I can think about is the smell of the salt air and flying high above the volcano, playing in the thermal spirals.”
Genji flashed to a memory of Kalea taking a swan dive off a cliff and transforming
into her Nuri form, soaring and spinning in the air currents. He remembered how it felt, skimming through heated air saturated with the moist, heady fragrances of a thousand tropical plants.
Genji reached out and gathered Kalea to him, felt her arms wrap around his waist, their mirrored tattoos blending. When was the last time she had let her beautiful hair tumble all around her? He looked at the spike still in his hand. “I can take things apart and learn from them anywhere in the universe, Kalea,” he said. “But there is only one Longwei, and that is where you and I truly belong because we are Nuri.” He drew back a bit and gazed into her luminous eyes. “Shall we go home, love?”
Eloch had done a great deal to repair his world within the ship’s hull, and he was pleased with the results. The uprooted and destroyed foliage was beginning to grow, reminding Eloch of springtime after a long Entean winter. He led Wren and Perin down to the lake, once more back in place, and the three settled near its shore.
Wren guided Perin to a blanket Eloch created for them, and when she was settled, Wren handed her a plate of fruit and cheese Eloch also created for them. She took the second one and began to eat.
Between bites, she and Eloch took turns describing Little Wonder’s antics to Perin. The mini-sniffer was thoroughly enjoying all the sights and smells, racing around, leaping high in the air and rolling in the sweet grasses. When she had worn herself out, she returned to the trio. Wren allowed the tired sniffer to curl up on her lap.
"So, Eloch," Wren began as she wiped her fingers on her napkin and set it down beside her. Fingers cleaned, she stroked the sniffer’s soft fur, smiling at LW’s rumbles of pleasure. "If you took us to that higher frequency, where would we end up? Floating in space?"
Eloch shook his head. "I don't believe so. When I took myself, I was still in the same place, on the ship, in bed in the med lab."
“I don’t understand.” Wren picked up her napkin and tossed it onto her plate. She giggled when the sniffer’s paw darted out to swipe as it sailed past. "We were also on the ship and saw you disappear. The Valiant didn't disappear around us. You did. So if you disappeared, but you said you were still sitting in bed…”
She shook her head. “How can that be?” She chewed her lip. “Unless, since this ship is a part of you, some of the ship travelled with you? Or maybe part of the ship is already vibrating at that level? But then wouldn’t the FNs have seen that part? Spider said we’re ghosts to them."
She tugged on a coilmat, frowning. "I don’t get it. If we do manage to travel to the FN frequency, what will they see? A whole ship? A part of a ship? Three people suddenly visible, bobbing around in space?”
Eloch sighed. "Let's leave the science to Genji and Spider, Wren. I honestly don’t have an answer for you," Eloch told her. "Besides, do we really need to know how it works as long as I can make it work?”
"And it will work," Perin said. "I have seen it."
Wren threw up her hands, jostling Little Wonder. "You're both right, of course," Wren said. “But it’s hard to do Caution First when I have no idea what’s going to happen or how it will happen.”
Little Wonder gave her a disgruntled look and moved off her lap and onto the picnic blanket between Wren and Eloch.
Wren watched the sniffer resettle herself. “Okay then, if it works, it works, and that's what counts," she said, putting an apologetic hand on Little Wonder. "And how we get onto their ship doesn't really matter right now anyway. We haven’t even reached their neighborhood."
Perin chuckled.
"But we know we’ll get there because Perin had a True Dream," Eloch commented.
“I did,” said Perin.
"Let's do this now," Wren said suddenly.
"Now?" Eloch asked.
"Why not? This is your favorite place on the ship. I'm thinking it would be the easiest place for you to practice. I'm ready. You ready, Perin?"
"Yes," she said. "I don't like putting things off if it's not necessary."
Eloch got to his feet. "Okay, then.” He paused, frowning. “I’m not sure how to begin. Let’s see... Why don't we all three stand and join hands?"
"Shouldn't we have a witness?" Wren asked as they stood.
"Not this first time, if you don't mind," Eloch said. "I don’t want distractions until I get comfortable with the process."
"It will be well," Perin assured Eloch. "Your light shines bright." She held out her hands.
"I appreciate your trust, Perin,” he said, taking her hand, grasping Wren’s with his other. When they were joined, he took a breath. “You should know that when I traveled there, I became very heated. It was nearly unbearable. I will do my best to keep you both safe, but if it is too much for either of you, squeeze my hand and I will stop immediately."
“Got it,” Wren said.
“And close your eyes until I say you can open them,” Eloch said. “Close your eyes now, and I will begin on the count of three.”
Eloch waited. As soon as their eyes were closed, he silently counted to three and focused on repeating what he had done the previous time.
The heat was intense, and flashes of colored lights danced against Wren’s eyelids. It was like being plunged into the middle of a one of Longwei’s lava pits, and she was sure her skin was turning as black as her animated leg.
She gasped and held tightly to Perin and Eloch’s hands, refusing to signal for Eloch to stop, even though the heat was becoming intolerable. Just when Wren made the decision to squeeze Eloch’s hand to make it stop, the heat ceased.
“We’re here,” Eloch said, his deep voice a salve to her frayed nerves.
Wren opened her eyes and looked into Eloch’s. His eyes still sizzled with power, deep green embers gazing back at her.
Wren sucked in a breath. “Ouch,” she said.
Perin’s knees buckled, pulling Wren down to the picnic blanket with her. She landed on her knees beside the Seer. “Perin?” Wren scrambled over and helped her sit up.
Eloch squatted down on the other side. “Steady,” he said, a hand on Perin’s shoulder.
Perin ran a hand over her face and took a breath. Letting her hand fall to her lap, she took another deep breath and opened her eyes, blinking. “Wren!” she said. “I can see you! Just like my True Dream. I see you.” She looked over at Eloch. “And you. I see you, too. Not just energy, but real.” She held her hands out, her mouth forming a silent O as she turned them palms up, then palms down.
Wren looked at the blanket where they were seated. “Where’s Little Wonder?”
“Back in that other dimension, I assume,” Eloch replied. “I didn’t bring her.”
Wren looked up and gasped. Arching high above them was a web of energy, pulsing in different colors and hues. Beyond that, she saw only black space dotted with stars. “What is that?”
“I’m assuming that dome is what our ship’s hull looks like in this dimension,” Eloch said. “When I traveled here before, I was concentrating on removing the stake and didn’t look up. It’s quite beautiful, isn’t it?”
Wren nodded. “Reminds me of a vid Spider showed me a long time ago.” She swept her hand above her. “Brain neurons look just like that.”
Perin stopped looking at her hands and looked up. "That's not what I see."
"What do you see?" Eloch asked, standing and helping the two to their feet.
"I see you, Eloch," she answered. "I mean, I see the energy...the light...that I see when I look at your body back in our dimension." She squinted up at him. "Here, when I look at you, I can see your features overlaying the light. And above is only the light." She gestured at the blanket, "This blanket is just a blanket, but the trees surrounding us all are overlaying the light that is you."
She looked at Wren and smiled. "You, with your eyes all wide looking at me, have a different light spilling out of you. Different from Eloch’s."
"Huh," Wren said, and looked around. "I see the neuron-looking things in the shape of trees. I can still see trees and the lake and all that, but the n
euron-looking things are all there, too.” She looked down. “The blanket still looks like the blanket. Maybe everything that isn’t Eloch will still look like what we normally see,” she mused, shifting her gaze to Perin. She beamed. “And you, Perin, look like yourself, only your eyes aren't cloudy white. They're the most beautiful blue."
Perin beamed back. "I think I like it here. I feel..." she searched for the right word. "Normal. I feel normal here."
"Interesting," Eloch said, his voice hushed. "One thing you are both saying which stands out to me is how connected I am to this ship, this world I've created. It really is me. Everything I have created is an extension of myself."
Wren nodded. "We knew that, Eloch, but now we know it."
They stood in silence, looking up. “It’s so beautiful,” Wren breathed.
"Ready to return?" Eloch asked. "I want to think about this, figure out a way to make the transition easier for us if possible.”
“The heat,” Perin and Wren said in unison.
“Fortunately, the heat isn't nearly as intense on the return." He stretched out his hands, and they clasped his like before.
Perin looked around one more time. "I love being able to see this way," she said. "It’s been so long. I look forward to coming back here."
Wren squeezed her hand.
Eloch nodded. "For now, we go. So close your eyes again, and count to three like before."
The transition was nearly instantaneous. Wren opened her eyes and looked up at the ceiling. "We're back," she said and looked down. “And there’s Little Wonder again, still asleep.” She laughed, then clutched her stomach. “I’m feeling kind of funny,” she said.
“Me, too,” Perin said. She made a gagging sound.
Eloch rested a hand on each of their shoulders, sending them healing warmth. He waited until the color came back to their faces before he removed his hands. “Better?” he asked.
“Yes,” they said in unison.
“But I think I’d like to sit and rest for a little bit,” Perin said.
“Me, too,” agreed Wren. She took a deep breath and blew it out. “That was a wild ride,” she exclaimed. And then, staring into the distance, “...a wild ride.”